Chapter 2581: Toppling This Era
Youming's heart was in his throat. Was this the big matter Jiangnan had come to discuss?
Before Jiangnan left the Minghe Star Domain, he had painted a grand picture for Youming, talking about the concept of the Carbon-Based Alliance!
He even said he wanted the Netherworld Race to join the Star Domain Sequence, to walk freely under the starry sky!
And every promise Jiangnan had made before—whether it was securing Chong Feiyu's mineral rights or giving half the resources to the Netherworld Race—he had fulfilled them all!
Youming swallowed hard:
Σ(Ŏ△≠|||) "You came here this time... don't tell me it's about..."
Jiangnan grinned: "My human side's operation is getting bigger and bigger. I've also set up a Star Project, and now we have to fight the Sequence Offensive and Defensive Battle. No matter how many resources we have, it's never enough!"
"I think it's about time we ended the resource supply to the Netherworld Race..."
Youming nearly choked on his own blood. So this situation wasn't going to last much longer?
(´-﹏≠`；) "Don't... don't do that? The Netherworld Race hasn't even had a few proper meals yet? How long have you been supplying us? Why stop now? Didn't we agree before..."
Jiangnan smiled: "What we agreed on before was that humans would supply resources to the Netherworld Race until the Netherworld Race joined the Star Domain Sequence and could walk freely in the starry sky! After that, you'd have to fend for yourselves. Am I right?"
"If you're about to join the Star Domain Sequence, wouldn't it be redundant to still have humans supply you resources?"
Youming's eyes snapped wide. He shot to his feet, so agitated he knocked over his chair, his face turning red.
(ಠ口≠*) "You... what did you say? Are you serious? This this this..."
Beside him, Bing Chacha was also flushed with excitement, grabbing Youming's arm:
(งᵒ̌ꇴᵒ̌)ง "Lord! We've made it!"
Jiangnan laughed: "You heard me clearly."
But Youming didn't let his emotions get the better of him. His expression turned solemn:
(˵ಠĹ̯≠˵) "Isn't it too early? Although I've been holed up here, I'm aware of the starry sky situation!"
"If the Netherworld Race rises now, do you think the Sacred Law Council would agree? They'd probably unite to suppress us!"
"The Netherworld Race has lived in the Minghe Star Domain for ages, trapped in a cage. Our foundation can't compare to those behemoths. We might be able to afford losses, but if we fail to break out, we'll definitely be suppressed by the ten thousand races of the starry sky. That would be a fatal blow!"
"Our race would be crippled. Then the Netherworld Race would truly have no chance of recovery. I can't gamble with our race's fate. Besides, we haven't prepared anything yet. This... this is too fast!"
Happiness came too fast, like a tornado? But this tornado could easily destroy the Netherworld Race if they weren't careful!
Youming knew very well what the ten thousand races of the starry sky feared. They feared the Netherworld Race's abilities, which inherently countered all races!
Danger was always to be nipped in the bud. The only reason the Netherworld Race still existed was because of the geographical advantage of the Minghe Star Domain—they didn't dare to attack!
Under such circumstances, how could the ten thousand races possibly let the Netherworld Race out? Just to add a threat to themselves?
They weren't stupid!
And how long had it been since Jiangnan made that promise? Was his efficiency too fast?
Youming wasn't a fool. He wouldn't just charge ahead after hearing a few words from Jiangnan!
Jiangnan said calmly: (｡･ˇ～ˇ･) "What's the rush? Let me finish! I don't think there's a better time than now. Some opportunities, once missed, will never come again!"
"Right now, we're in the middle of the Sequence War. The first round, the Cosmos Grand Hunt, is over. All races are preparing for the Sequence Offensive and Defensive Battle!"
"The Silicon race wants the overlord position, and the Dark Cosmos wants to rise too. All races are ambitious. The starry sky has suffered under the Bose race for too long!"
"Facing the Bose race's accumulation over several eras, their massive foundation, their troublesome abilities, and the prestige of the overlord established over 2.2 billion years, all races are helpless. No race can confront them head-on!"
Youming's eyes flickered: "I know all this. But what does that have to do with the Netherworld Race breaking out?"
Jiangnan leaned back in his chair, resting his arms on the back:
"Isn't there? Of course there is! Your Netherworld Race is exactly the blade to counter the Bose race! Stygian energy, Stygian force field—even if the Bose race falls into it, they're just a blob of jelly!"
"If we take this opportunity to bring the Netherworld Race into the Sequence Offensive and Defensive Battle as an allied race, what effect would that have?"
"With the Netherworld Race guarding the home front, I don't believe any race could break in, including the Bose race. You'd be invincible by nature!"
"And this... would be the Netherworld Race's first battle to return to the starry sky!"
Youming's eyes nearly popped out of his head!
Σ(ଵ口ଵ҉̛|||) "What? Not only do you want the Netherworld Race to break out and return to the starry sky, but you also want us to help fight the Sequence Offensive and Defensive Battle?"
"Isn't that throwing the Netherworld Race into the fire? The moment we show up, the Sacred Law Council will unite to sanction us, right?"
"Once the battle is over, the Netherworld Race will be done for too, right? This... isn't this killing the donkey after it's done grinding?"
Jiangnan rolled his eyes:
(꒪ั～꒪ั*) "I told you! Let me finish! I'm already forming the Carbon-Based Alliance! And the Netherworld Race will be one of its core members. This is the foundation for the Netherworld Race to stand in the starry sky in the future!"
"In the current plan, the top ten sequences—Dark Cosmos, Apocalypse, Gamma, and even the Insect race—are all on the cooperation shortlist. These are races with a voice in the starry sky!"
"Below them, the Pupil race, Hidden Spirit, Abyss, Cave Heaven, Purple Lightning, Star Farming race, and other carbon-based races are all candidates for alliance. And humanity is currently ranked third in the Grand Hunt. We have Star Devourers, we have industries, and we have me—so we have a voice too!"
"If all the alliance member races speak up to protect the Netherworld Race, take our side, and speak for us, it will be enough for the Netherworld Race to join the Star Domain Sequence and return to the starry sky!"
Youming swallowed. Damn, they were playing this big?
If what Jiangnan said was true, once the Carbon-Based Alliance took shape, it would be enough to rival the Sacred Law Council!
After all, four or five of the top ten sequences would be members. The Sacred Law Council wasn't a one-man show for the Bose race!
Even the Bose race couldn't overturn the decision of the majority!
Youming took a deep breath and sat back down, his eyes flickering.
"Still, even if the Carbon-Based Alliance takes shape, why would they speak up to protect the Netherworld Race? To pull us—such a threat—out of the Minghe Star Domain?"
Jiangnan narrowed his eyes: "Why? Because of the Netherworld Race's value! Your abilities can threaten all ten thousand races of the starry sky, and they can also threaten the Bose bodies!"
"If you're enemies, you're a threat! But if you're allies, you're the blade to counter the Bose race!"
"To put it bluntly, the Netherworld Race is a double-edged sword! It can cut the starry sky overlord, but it can also cut the Carbon-Based Alliance itself! For the Carbon-Based Alliance to stand in the starry sky and have a voice to go toe-to-toe with the overlord, they need to hold this double-edged sword in their hands!"
"And what the Netherworld Race needs to do is play its part, win over the member races to speak for you, protect you as you break out, and join the sequence. Be a good blade! This is the only chance for the Netherworld Race to gain freedom!"
Youming swallowed, his eyes shining brightly.
Jiangnan's words were direct, naked.
Why would the races speak for the Netherworld Race? Because the Netherworld Race has value! Only by showing value can they have a chance to be used!
Becoming the blade in the Carbon-Based Alliance's hand might sound unpleasant.
But this was also how the Netherworld Race could gain the long-desired sequence name and walk freely under the starry sky!
The world bustles, all for profit! The starry sky stirs, all for gain!
Youming knew this was indeed a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
He never expected Jiangnan to use this angle to help the Netherworld Race return to the starry sky!
"Will the major races really speak for the Netherworld Race? I'm afraid that won't be easy to negotiate. After all, they can't be sure whether our race is friend or foe. They don't know if letting us out is good or bad!"
"If they're unsure, it's better not to act."
Jiangnan's expression turned serious: "The original purpose of forming the Carbon-Based Alliance was to counter the starry sky overlord, to fight together, to huddle together for warmth. They understand the Netherworld Race's value!"
"If the Netherworld Race joins, the Carbon-Based Alliance's threat level will increase significantly, and it will have more say!"
"The dividends might even show up during the Offensive and Defensive Battle. It might indeed be hard to negotiate, but I'll do my best to fight for it."
"Think it over... Or do you think there's any other perfect opportunity that would make the ten thousand races of the starry sky agree to the Netherworld Race joining the sequence and growing strong?"
Youming lowered his head, his mind racing.
What other opportunity could there be? Even if the Styx River flowed backward, the ten thousand races wouldn't agree to let such a big threat as the Netherworld Race grow strong!
Jiangnan's clever approach might be unorthodox, but it had a chance of success!
As long as the Netherworld Race showed its value and played its role well.
Jiangnan said calmly: "My goal has never been to deal with the Bose bodies one way or another. What I want to topple is this era of the Thousand Stars—an era of severe internal conflict and lifelessness!"
"To do that, the Carbon-Based Alliance needs the Netherworld Race's power! And I... also need it!"
"Perhaps no matter what the future holds, it may have nothing to do with the Netherworld Race. The Minghe Star Domain will last forever, the Netherworld Race will endure."
"I don't recommend you gamble your race's fate. But if you want to seek change, to witness the brilliance of the starry sky and the splendor of freedom, you need to take the first step! If you don't fight for it, you'll get nothing!"
Everyone turned to look at Jiangnan, their scalps tingling.
Jiangnan's gaze was calm and deep, as if he were talking about something very ordinary.
But it was earth-shattering!
Behind him, Qing Ke's face turned pale with shock!
Toppling the entire Thousand Stars Era?
Sigh—
What kind of booming ambition was this? This wasn't just punching a hole in the sky; it was defying heaven itself!
Was the Jiang Devil actually doing something of such earth-shattering magnitude?
And she herself was part of it?
Thinking of this, Qing Ke's face turned even whiter. She really wanted to go back to farming…
(ོ′◔～◔`) Hmm…
But Youming said solemnly: "This is indeed an opportunity for the Netherworld Race. But the problem isn't with the Netherworld Race itself! It's whether the other races are willing to speak up for us!"