Chapter 564: Overflowing with Martial Virtue

The Terrors were not a barbaric or primitive race. On the contrary, they had created a unique civilization of their own! It was somewhat reminiscent of steampunk.

They used advanced energy sources and materials to build ships and fleets capable of warping through Subspace and navigating its turbulent currents. These vessels could even break into the physical world!

Unlike creatures from the material world, who would perish upon entering Subspace due to their inability to adapt to its dimensional shifts, the Terrors faced no such discomfort upon crossing into the material realm.

They were locusts armed with the weapons of civilization. Once they entered the material world, they would unleash frenzied slaughter and plunder everything in their path.

However, in Subspace, they dwelled amidst the various Wind Ruins. Wind Ruins were rare stable zones within Subspace. These areas were largely immune to the Subspace Dark Storms that raged across most of the realm.

For Subspace creatures, these stable zones were akin to Earth’s continents for humans. But if they strayed from the sanctuary of the Wind Ruins and ventured into the unstable regions of Subspace, they faced mortal peril. They could be torn apart by the ravaging Subspace Dark Storms or become eternally lost within its infinite expanse, doomed to death.

Lord No. 88, the King of Terror's avatar, resided within a Wind Ruin known as Black Iron. This was its stronghold. Much like a national capital or provincial seat on Earth, Black Iron Wind Ruin was the largest and most stable Subspace region within tens of millions of miles. Its size was comparable to that of an entire planet.

It was the first time Li Xiaofei was setting foot on it. There were hundreds of thousands of stargates of varying sizes on the outskirts of Black Iron Wind Ruin. These stargates encircled the Wind Ruin, forming a densely packed network of interlinked star chains.

Equipped with ancient but immensely powerful anti-matter energy cannons, the network could act as a hub for surveillance, defense, transportation, and communication. The only legitimate way to enter Black Iron Wind Ruin was by passing through one of the stargates. This process was relatively cumbersome, requiring multiple inspections, identity verification, flight path applications, and confirmations.

"This far surpasses Earth's civilization. This is true galactic technology," Li Xiaofei remarked, his tone laced with awe. "Though it is built upon advanced materials and energy systems..."

Standing on the bridge of the spaceship, Li Xiaofei gazed out through the massive starview window and took in the spectacle. When their ship passed through the Dave stargate, he was utterly amazed by the hundreds-of-kilometers-long metallic gate ring.

It was an experience reminiscent of the scene in Guardians of the Galatica[1], a Marvet[2] movie from five centuries ago.

Yet, according to Little Huang, the technological level of the Terror race was not considered advanced in the universe. In fact, it was often viewed as synonymous with primitiveness and backwardness. Even so, it far exceeded Earth's capabilities.

This tiny glimpse of Black Iron Wind Ruin's grandeur was already enough to highlight Earth’s civilization as feeble and infantile, akin to a toddler taking its first steps.

If the Terror race were to fully invade Earth...

Li Xiaofei shuddered at the thought. The consequences would be unimaginable. Fortunately, Earth was still well-protected for the time being. It was only because those damned Jiepeng people had opened a gate from within Earth that the Terrors had been able to infiltrate!

Now, Li Xiaofei suspected that the Yiggs people were also connected to the creatures of Subspace. As the so-called godfather of the Jiepeng, it made no sense for them to be unaware of Subspace beings. Once they knew, they would undoubtedly do everything in their power to forge alliances. No one could resist the allure of strength and authority.

As Li Xiaofei's thoughts spiraled, the spaceship beneath him came to a sudden stop.

"Master, we’ve arrived at the port," Barush announced obsequiously.

"Everything went that smoothly?" Li Xiaofei asked in surprise.

The Golden Lizard King swaggered over with a smug grin. "Surprised? You think I’ve spent all these years in Subspace doing nothing? Besides feasting on roasted meat, I’ve cultivated quite a few connections with the Terrors.”

"There’s a Terror merchant guild in this region called Red Fire Powder. I started it back in the day out of sheer boredom. Now, it’s become the largest consortium in this area. With their connections, getting in here was a piece of cake!"

Infiltration! This is true infiltration!

Even Li Xiaofei couldn't help but give the Golden Lizard King a thumbs-up.

"You’re practically an undercover boss at this point," he remarked with a mix of amazement and amusement.

Fortunately, with this network in place, the next steps would be much easier. The Wind Ruin had countless floating structures, all made of metal. Black Iron Wind Ruin itself was a sprawling 4D labyrinth of interconnected black metal constructs, creating a surreal, magical realm.

The spaceship navigated through this metallic expanse like a large fish swimming in the depths of an ocean. Bizarre buildings of all shapes and sizes stretched as far as the eye could see in every direction.

Li Xiaofei had to admit, the Terror race had no sense of artistry whatsoever. Their grotesque, twisted forms seemed to influence their architectural designs. The structures were crude and chaotic, resembling bird nests haphazardly woven from metal twigs. From a distance, it looked like an endless tangle of intersecting metal strips thrown together without thought.

"What’s the plan?" Li Xiaofei asked.

Little Huang smirked confidently. "Simple. We charge in and take down No. 88."

Li Xiaofei blinked in disbelief. That plan seemed a little too straightforward.

Sensing Li Xiaofei’s hesitation, Little Huang laughed and said, "What are you so afraid of? We’ve got the strength to crush them. Do we really need an overly elaborate plan against a small fry like this?"

Li Xiaofei turned to Guang-chan. The latter nodded in agreement. With their combined strength, taking down No. 88 would be a walk in the park. Li Xiaofei had to admit, what he had considered an insurmountable task, tracking and eliminating No. 88, was nothing more than a trivial errand for this lizard and rat duo.

Absolute strength, it seemed, had the ability to solve all problems. And this pair, brimming with excessive martial prowess, clearly embodied that principle. They were two complete brutes.

"Are you both really confident you can take down No. 88 with ease?" Li Xiaofei asked again, seeking reassurance.

The lizard and the rat nodded in unison.

"Alright then, I have a plan. Let me explain it to you, and you can tell me what you think," Li Xiaofei said with a sigh, motioning for them to come closer.

The duo leaned in, curious.

"We’ll do it like this..." Li Xiaofei meticulously laid out his plan. When he finished, he looked at the two uncertainly and asked, "So, what do you think?"

The two were staring at him in shock.

"That’s so despicable and devious... but I love it." The Golden Lizard King exclaimed, his tone filled with admiration. "Li Xiaofei, my brother, I once knew a guy who went undercover as the lowest associate of an intelligence agency. He worked his way up and eventually became the ruler of the Empire. I think you have the same vibe as him... Humans are truly terrifying creatures."

Guang-chan chirped in agreement, "Squeak, squeak, squeak."

In the distance, Barush watched the silhouettes of Li Xiaofei and the lizard-rat duo huddled together, whispering and plotting. For some inexplicable reason, Barush suddenly shivered uncontrollably. His instincts screamed that whatever plan Li Xiaofei was concocting, it involved him.

Mom, I want to go home.

Barush silently wailed in his heart, despair washing over him. His future as a Terror looked bleak.

Why did I ever decide to parasitize a creature from Earth?

If he could turn back time, he would have chosen to be a good, honest Terror, and obediently worked his regular job. He certainly wouldn’t have left his home in a moment of reckless ambition to ‘start a business’ on Earth.

A moment later, Li Xiaofei turned and waved at him with a cheerful smile. It felt like the fabled call of death itself.

“Mom, protect me.” He prayed silently.

Tears welling up in his eyes, he shuffled over to Li Xiaofei, resigned to his fate. However, when Li Xiaofei finished explaining the plan, Barush froze in shock. He slapped himself across the face—twice.

It hurt. This isn’t a dream.

Mom, I’m about to strike it rich!

His face swollen and bruised, Barush dropped to his knees, overwhelmed with gratitude, and howled in exhilaration.

"Master, I will forever be your most humble servant at your feet!"

1. Referring to Guardians of the Galaxy. ☜

2. Referring to Marvel. ☜