Chapter 215: A Show of Strength

Here, although the number of warships and planets was astounding, everything was well-ordered. Each warship followed its designated route, and even when Yang Hao’s Doomsday entered the Milky Way, it was taken over by the Empire’s United Intelligence Brain of Earth, flying along a specially reserved orbit prepared just for Yang Hao.

Yang Hao had heard of the Empire’s United Intelligence Brain long ago, back in the Tri-Crystal Sea. After the Dual-Sun Campaign, he had once consulted with one of the Seven Great Branch Masters of the Tri-Crystal Sea, specifically the Grand Branch Master in charge of the Intelligence Brain, about the Intelligence Brain. It turned out that the Intelligence Brain was not an artificial computer, but a composite of intelligent beings. This intelligent lifeform was only produced on a certain planet at the outer edge of the Milky Way.

The exact coordinates of this planet, of course, had been classified as top secret by the Empire. The individual Intelligence Brain was very small, no larger than a human fist, and its transparent body sparkled like crystal illuminated by sunlight. Yet, within this tiny body was a structure more complex than a million human brains combined. These Intelligence Brains possessed extremely fast computing speed and logical judgment capabilities, with each individual grain-sized unit rivaling the best computers of humanity at the time.

According to legend, upon first discovering the Intelligence Brain, the Imperial Senate had concluded that this intelligent lifeform would become humanity’s future enemy, so they ordered the Emperor to eliminate them as soon as possible.

However, the Emperor only partially followed the Senate’s resolution. He ordered the Academy of Sciences at the time to develop the Intelligence Brain into a biological computer core system.

The Academy spent several years finally finding methods to combine and self-cultivate Intelligence Brains. From that point on, large-scale Intelligence Brains became the ultimate driving force for the Galactic Empire’s technological development. Many years passed. Now, even every warship had its own independent Intelligence Brain, let alone major military ports and manufacturing centers. The Empire’s United Intelligence Brain was a large-scale Intelligence Brain collective, composed of countless individual Intelligence Brains. Its estimated total volume was as large as a planet. Its computing power was beyond ordinary imagination. In short, all the Empire’s Intelligence Brains had direct connections to this United Intelligence Brain and were controlled by it. Therefore, the Empire’s United Intelligence Brain could entirely be considered the king of all Intelligence Brains in the world.

The scientists of the Tri-Crystal Sea had spent many years to free their Intelligence Brains from the United Intelligence Brain’s control, but they had lost over half of their computing power in the process. This showed its terrifying power.

The spaceship slowly and steadily glided along the noble orbit. On both sides, almost every few hundred kilometers, a battleship silently stood by the orbit, with all cannons aimed at Yang Hao’s spaceship. This kind of awe-inspiring pressure made the people on the ship somewhat uneasy.

Earth was right in front of them.

Looking through the specially designed transparent cabin at the top of the Doomsday, the once-blue planet was quietly waiting at the end of the orbit.

Throughout Earth’s billions of years of development, how many earth-shattering changes had occurred. That original interstellar dust from the Big Bang had greedily absorbed the nourishment of the universe, and after experiencing several great destructions, finally gave birth to the greatest intelligent race in the universe.

But now, that beautiful blue planet had long been exhausted.

“Do you feel it?” Hun Yuan Zi asked.

Yang Hao had always stood by the porthole, silently watching the solemn and magnificent scene outside. The Milky Way no longer had the appearance described in historical records of stars shining like silver plates. However, the countless lights from space stations and ships were brighter and more dazzling than the ancient silver stars.

The Milky Way today had become an almost man-made galaxy. Almost nothing was beyond human alteration. Black holes were eliminated, radiation was absorbed, meteors were shattered, and planets were transformed one by one into usable bases or fortresses. Unusable planets were either destroyed or pushed out of the galaxy.

All of this was for the protection of the small, central planet that was impossible to look directly at—Earth.

“I feel it,” Yang Hao extended his hand, but there was no energy in his palm. He smiled bitterly, “Since entering the Milky Way, I’ve felt it. The power of the stars here has become increasingly weak. Near Earth, there is almost no stellar power at all.”

Since entering the Kong Ju realm, Yang Hao had already been able to communicate with the heavens, sensing the power hidden in the universe. Although he still could not use this power, he could feel it. During his long cosmic journey, he had felt the metabolism of the universe, the emptiness of black holes, the activity of supernovae, and the gravitational balance between various planets.

But the stellar power in the Milky Way had declined. Every planet here no longer had its own power but relied on technology and energy plundered from other places to function.

“Earth has been exhausted,” Hun Yuan Zi sighed deeply. “It is a dead star.”

Hun Yuan Zi was right. As the Doomsday gradually approached Earth, Yang Hao also sensed Earth’s death. Of course, this could not be seen from the outside.

Earth’s original light blue atmosphere had completely disappeared, replaced by a gray-white oxygen layer controlled by the central gravity device in the core. Outside this oxygen layer, there was another layer of golden light, making Earth look like a throne in the universe, shining with golden light beyond imagination.

These lights had no other function but to highlight the glory of the Empire and the greatness of the Emperor. These false formalities made the Galactic Empire completely unaware of its own internal decay.

However, Yang Hao, as an outsider, could clearly see that Earth had stopped rotating and orbiting. For a planet, this was a sign of complete death, and even this entire solar system was equally lifeless.

Looking at the increasingly approaching Earth, not only Yang Hao felt his heart surge, even Long Yun nervously clenched his hands together. He chuckled nervously behind Yang Hao:

“I really don’t get it. Why did you agree to come to Earth? Don’t you know this is a trap?”

“How deep is the trap?” Yang Hao raised his eyebrows, expressionless.

“There are headquarters of the Ten Sword Streams in the Milky Way,” Long Yun calculated by counting on his fingers. “On Earth, there’s the Senate, the Privy Council, a large number of Imperial troops, and the Emperor himself, who probably won’t let you go either. Your enemies are more numerous than your hairs.”

“Trees that stand out in the forest will be destroyed by the wind. I’m just too handsome; it’s no wonder I have so many enemies.” Yang Hao lazily stretched.

“You could have refused to come, couldn’t you? The Emperor’s order didn’t specifically say you had to come to Earth. I bet the old Emperor knows you can’t make decisions in the Rebel Alliance. He probably just wanted to lock up Old Dog Zhao and Steve.” Long Yun couldn’t understand. “Why are you showing off like this? The Rebel Alliance doesn’t even treat you as one of their own. You’re walking into a tiger’s den, and they might even be happy about it.” Long Yun added with a grimace, “Except for the Queen and Old Dog Zhao, of course.”

“Exactly because of that, I had to come,” Yang Hao said, making Long Yun even more confused. After so many experiences, Yang Hao seemed to have changed completely. Although he was sometimes still mischievous, he had become more stable and shown signs of wisdom at crucial moments. “There’s no place for me in the Rebel Alliance. Staying there would only be a waste of time. If I want to have my own power, I have to take another path.”

“My own power?” Long Yun murmured, repeating the phrase.

“Whether it’s the Rebel Alliance or the Imperial Army, they are all other people’s power, unrelated to me. If I want to do anything, I must have my own strength.” Yang Hao smiled lightly, placing his hand on the porthole, but still feeling no cosmic force. “In the coming period, I will have my own sword master group, my own army.”

“What exactly do you want to do?” Long Yun really felt that Yang Hao was like an enigma he couldn’t understand. Since returning from the gods, he had been vague, and after breaking through to the Kong Ju realm, his enhanced strength made Yang Hao even more unfathomable.

“I don’t know yet, but I will eventually find out.” Yang Hao thought of the words spoken by the Intelligence Brain on the Titan ship, which was the main reason he came to Earth. He needed to find the King of Intelligence Brains and clarify his ultimate goal.

“Whatever you do, I’ll always be by your side.” Long Yun rarely said such sentimental words, even making himself uncomfortable. He clapped his hands, “But once we get to Earth, life won’t be easy. You’ve defeated so many powerful figures in the Empire and even seized several heirloom swords from the Ten Sword Streams. They’ll definitely come after you for revenge.”

This was indeed true. Although Yang Hao was now considered elevated by the Empire and granted the title of Viscount, and the official order did not mention the return of the spoils, his enemies were too many. The swords he had seized were treasures the Ten Sword Streams would never willingly give up. Therefore, Yang Hao was now a thorn in the flesh of the Ten Sword Streams, with a very high bounty on his head.

Once Yang Hao entered Earth, it would be like stepping into a wolf’s den filled with enemies. Those who wanted Yang Hao dead would come in waves, like a pack of bloodthirsty sharks, ready to pounce and devour him at any moment.

“Let’s see who will come first,” Yang Hao didn’t seem worried, and his eyes even showed some anticipation. “Didn’t I become stronger in the slaughter? The more of them come, the stronger I will become.”

As the ship glided, there was a slight vibration. After a long interstellar journey, the Doomsday battleship finally docked at Earth’s noble-exclusive port. “Let’s go,” Yang Hao said casually. “Let’s meet the first wave of wolves coming for us.”

Judging from his demeanor, it didn’t look like he was here to assume his viscount title, but rather like he was bravely heading to the execution ground.

However, after all, this descendant of Earth’s human lineage, along with the old ghost who originated from Earth’s belly, had finally returned to the place where their lives began—Earth.

“Long Yun, Maya, and the Promise Squad will come out with me,” Yang Hao said. “The rest of you and XII will stay here. If there’s an emergency, immediately take the ship and jump away.”

Yang Hao had indeed made the worst-case preparation. Looking at the dim landing platform outside the ship, under the yellowish light, who knew how many people were waiting there.

Previously, he had already divided the Hao Sword Group into squads. The Promise Squad, led by the young couple Da Nuo and Xiao Yan, was the most powerful and always served as Yang Hao’s personal guard.

Yang Hao put on the pale silver cloak reserved for Imperial nobles, then opened the ship’s door and stepped out first.

This was his first step onto Earth’s soil, although it was still the orbital platform. Yang Hao already felt a bit nervous inside, and the Hun Yuan Zi in his stomach was even more excited, rolling around and darting into his heart, liver, spleen, and lungs.

This was a closed space, actually still far from the actual ground. It was just a space station in Earth’s synchronous orbit. The only function was to allow arriving spaceships to stop here, then use the direct elevator here to reach the real ground.

Such landing platforms were common, but what made Yang Hao’s heart stir slightly was that it was too quiet here, eerily quiet.

Even Long Yun felt uneasy and whispered, “Before we entered the Milky Way, we had already notified the Imperial Foreign Ministry of our exact arrival time. According to the Empire’s regulations, for a lord of your level, even if the head of the Foreign Ministry doesn’t come, at least a deputy should come with a large group to welcome you.”

Yang Hao nodded. Although his titles as the Rebel Alliance leader and the Oracle Autonomous Territory leader were somewhat nominal, officially speaking, he governed over a population of billions and probably had power and status in the Empire not inferior to a department head.

But in this noble reception hall, there wasn’t a single person.

Yang Hao frowned. “We’ll go down ourselves.”

On one side of the hall was the giant elevator leading directly to the ground. The dozen or so of them stepped inside, with plenty of room to spare. Without pressing any buttons themselves, the elevator automatically started. In the blink of an eye, their group had already reached the ground.

This time, they had already stood on the soil of the most central planet of the Galactic Empire. Looking up at the pale golden sky, only the green-colored sky-reaching elevator was constantly running, while their spaceship was already out of sight.

Without the accompaniment of the vast universe, Yang Hao felt a sense of emptiness in his heart.

“Are you Viscount Yang Hao?” an old official with white hair and dressed in Imperial official clothes asked. His eyes were barely open, and he looked very old and tired.

Long Yun stepped forward, extending his hand to answer, “This is the Hereditary Lord of the Divine Elm Autonomous Territory, Sir Yang Hao.”

“So, Viscount Yang Hao then,” the old man sneered slightly, clearly showing disdain. “I am Sang Ge, a sixth-grade official from the Foreign Ministry, here to take you to the temporary guesthouse of the Foreign Ministry.”

“Temporary guesthouse?” Yang Hao muttered in his mind, immediately picturing a public toilet full of mice running around.

Long Yun was also angry, “Is it just you who came to welcome us? Do you think we are nobodies? The Lord of an Autonomous Territory is a high-ranking official granted by the Emperor himself. Are you, a sixth-grade official, even qualified to receive us?”

Sang Ge the old man yawned, indifferent, “On Earth, there’s not much about being an official or not. Especially for you who are assigned from outside, you are only treated according to your noble titles.”

“So, at least Yang Hao is a Viscount. Do you understand the meaning of a noble title?” Long Yun’s voice was like thunder.

“Is a Viscount so impressive?” Sang Ge sneered again. “This is Earth. Any official here has a noble title. As a sixth-grade official like me, I’m already a Viscount. Speaking of which, I and he are even equal-ranking nobles.”

They were really at their wits’ end, and actually came up with the terrible idea of stealing Yang Hao’s precious sword to curry favor with the Ten Sword Sect.

“It seems we’d better not provoke them,” even Long Yun came to his senses. “You already have enough enemies. There’s no need to add a bunch of nobles to the list.”

Yang Hao helplessly looked ahead as the arrogant guards brandished their swords with increasing menace, seemingly ready to charge forward and cut him down.

“This… this…” Yang Hao changed to a playful expression.

With a smiling face, he stepped forward and said, “Everyone, please be quiet for a moment and listen to me say a few words.”

When Yang Hao appeared, how could those people remain quiet?

“Hey, just watch me, Grandpa, as I kill you!” A fiercely courageous person charged forward. “Ahhhhhh!!!!”

Not even three steps away, the person was sent flying dozens of meters by Yang Hao’s single pointing finger. His mouth agape, he sprayed blood high into the air like a fountain.

This time, the world is truly quiet.

Yang Hao coughed slightly and said, “Brothers, I’m Yang Hao. I’m new here and don’t have much to offer. Please accept this small token as a gesture of goodwill.”

Yang Hao gave a meaningful glance, and naturally, employees from the Dan Ding Chun Pharmaceutical Group stepped forward to scatter large quantities of the prepared Dragon and Tiger Great Rejuvenation Pills.

“Dan Ding’s spring elixir!” The nobles were all connoisseurs; upon receiving it, they began exclaiming in astonishment, “Authentic stuff! High-quality product!”

Although the Dan Ding Spring Medicine Group’s products have only monopolized the western outer regions, they have long been famous throughout the entire universe. Even in the Milky Way, where there are no direct stores, clever merchants purchase these products wholesale from the outer regions and resell them. However, due to the long distances involved, the price of even the cheapest pill can increase a hundredfold by the time it reaches its destination.

Therefore, even these young men from wealthy families, who usually have difficulty obtaining just a few genuine Dan Ding Spring pills, were utterly astounded when Yang Hao generously produced and scattered over a thousand of them at once.

“Even if you send us aphrodisiacs, you must still leave your sword behind,” said the nobles, who, after accepting the gifts, felt somewhat uneasy. “We’ll pass on the money and women.”

“I indeed defeated the Ten Sword Sects. The Wang Clan, the King’s Swordsmen, the Black Wind Sword Sect, the Light Sword Style, and the Dark Shadow Assassins—all of them were defeated by me!” Yang Hao said proudly. Each name he mentioned triggered waves of astonished gasps from the crowd. After all, the Ten Sword Sects were like myths within the empire; every martial arts family revered them. It was already a great honor even to be mentioned by the Ten Sword Sects, let alone to defeat them.

“Even the Li Shijian Sect couldn’t defeat me. Do you really think you can take the sword from my hands?” Yang Hao’s voice was like a cold blade, slicing through the hearts of those nobles.

With sharp words, Yang Hao unleashed the Flame Dragon Sword technique. He and Shadowmoon transformed into a golden-red flaming dragon, streaking across the sky as if to tear the azure expanse apart. Scorching heat and an overwhelming aura of killing intent radiated in all directions, forcing the onlookers to involuntarily retreat several steps.

The power of Yang Hao’s sword strike was incomparably greater than that of the ten sword disciples whom those young nobles usually admired.

In fact, the experts they had seen before were merely low-level swordsmen, who originally didn’t possess much strength and only showed off their family backgrounds. However, Yang Hao is now a Great Swordsman with a combat power of level 60, and in the empire, there are very few people capable of challenging him.