## Chapter 2896: Head Above the Crowd, or Head on the Ground?
Seeing that familiar smile spreading across Jiangnan's face, many people let out a long breath!
Then they looked at him resentfully. If it really was just a joke, then it was way too realistic, wasn't it?
Even a golden figure wouldn't be worthy of you, okay?
But those who knew Jiangnan well understood—how could it possibly be a joke?
No one knew how much pressure was hidden beneath that smiling face.
Mila hesitated, (๑◔﹏◔ิ) "Jiangnan Gege? You..."
But before Mila could finish, Jiangnan directly spread his arms wide and grinned:
٩(๑⁼̴ꇴ⁼̴)۶ "Come here—give me a hug!"
A smile reappeared on Mila's face, and she dove straight into Jiangnan's arms, rubbing her cheek against his fiercely.
Jiangnan held Mila tightly, feeling the reality of this moment.
He hugged so hard that Mila even felt a bit of pain.
Mila didn't say anything. She just knew that at this moment, Jiangnan really needed this hug.
Jiangnan looked toward Zhong Yingxue and Xia Yao, signaling that he was fine.
But his eyes were even more determined than before.
So determined that it seemed not even the collapse of the world could shake him.
Zhong Yingxue opened her mouth but finally just gave a gentle smile.
Since he had already set his resolve, then let him go ahead and do it.
Wang Youzhi let out a long breath and jabbed Jiangnan in the ribs irritably:
(￢益￢٥) "Jumping and shouting like that, scared me to death! Are you really okay?"
Jiangnan grinned: "Don't worry. I know exactly what I should be doing right now."
Wang Youzhi crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow:
(๑◔～◔ิ) "Then tell me, what is it?"
Jiangnan immediately picked up Mila, pulled out a handful of incense beads from his pocket, and shoved them in front of her.
(。ớ₃ờ)ھ❂ "Good Mila, here—eat two! Eat more to replenish yourself. Our family is big, no need to save. When they're gone, I'll have Xing Cheng come back and drop some more. Eat—treat it like a meal!"
"Come on—open wide! Ah~"
Mila looked completely resistant, shaking her head like a rattle drum.
Σ(ﾟ﹏ﾟ٥≡٥ﾟ﹏ﾟ)
Why were we hugging a moment ago, and now you're shoving incense beads at me?!
I didn't do anything to harm you!
Xing Cheng was already sulking off to the side.
(◦`~´◦) Hmph~
I don't even have enough for myself!
Little Koi: (˵¯͒︶¯͒˵) Slurp~
Xing Cheng flicked Little Koi on the head.
"If you treat Sister Chengbao well, I'll save some for you in the future, okay?"
"Croak croak~"
Wang Youzhi: (•́ω•̀٥)
So the most important thing you need to do right now is feed Mila Xing Cheng's poop beans?!
Seeing Jiangnan in good spirits and still able to joke, everyone's hearts settled down.
He was the pillar of the Carbon Alliance now. If he fell, no one else could stand.
This little episode didn't bother Noah and the others. The curse-breaking operation continued as planned.
Over the next few days, the Carbon Alliance's actions seemed normal—still shrouded by the dark matter tide.
That annoying world loudspeaker kept broadcasting. Those two nursery rhymes—everyone in the starry sky could recite them backward.
Even the village mutt could memorize them by now!
The faces of the Quality Alliance and Bose had already been trampled into shoe insoles.
...
The Eternal Kingdom. A magnificent, prosperous sight!
At its center, the Eternal World was like a pearl embedded in the starry sky.
But this pearl was now tainted by embers, not very bright, yet still stubbornly shining with its own light.
The Eternal Kingdom radiated outward from the Eternal World, like scattered star sand around a pearl.
These were the vassal races the Bose Clan had recently taken in.
How could the big brother not have his little brothers?
Inside the Eternal Kingdom's inner ring, close to the Eternal World, a thick four-dimensional barrier blocked off a separate zone.
This was the forbidden zone of the Eternal Kingdom, reserved exclusively for the Bose Clan.
Only the Bose Clan—or those granted permission—could enter.
One could faintly see countless starships and star dragons entering and leaving the Eternal Kingdom.
This was the Bose Clan's stronghold, also a fierce war machine in times of conflict.
Outside the Eternal Kingdom's sky wall!
Long Qian stood with his hands behind his back. A crack opened in the sky wall.
A massive fleet of starships, transport ships, and planet-towing vessels were pulling in batch after batch of life planets and slave species, sailing through the crack.
Through the gap in the sky wall, one could see an ultra-giant star sea inside.
It contained an unimaginable amount of life. This place was called the Star Sacrifice Sea.
It was a specially designated area for storing slave species meant for sacrifice.
Once enough were gathered, they were sent straight into the Eternal World for Xun Zu's use.
The Star Sacrifice Sea had been emptied more than once.
Logically, sending them directly into the Eternal World would be more efficient, eliminating the need for a separate holding area. Although fewer could be sent at once, continuous input would work.
But the problem was that the Eternal World and the starry sky world had a dimensional barrier. They couldn't keep the passage open for long.
Once the channel was opened, the rules of the starry sky world would try to flood in. Xun Zu would have to expend energy to resist and maintain the passage—it wasn't worth it.
It was better to stockpile and send them all in one go.
But this just happened to give Jiangnan and his team an opportunity.
The current acting Saint Star leader, Bi Liang, was reporting to Long Qian.
(´-ι_-｀) "Reporting to Lord Long Qian. The latest batch of slave species has been fully delivered. The rest are still being arranged and transported. It will take some time."
Long Qian frowned slightly, glancing at the Star Sacrifice Sea.
(￢益￢) "That's all? What the hell is Saint Star doing? When we need you to pull your weight, this is how you contribute?"
"The higher-ups take this matter very seriously. It affects the specific timing of Xun Zu breaking the Divine Burial shackles."
"Naturally, the sooner the better. Don't tell me you want to keep enduring that damn noise?"
"I can't stand another day of this life!"
Bi Liang quickly forced a smile:
(⌒ㅂ⌒;) "I... I've done my best! All the races of insufficient value from the star ruins that could be transferred have been brought over."
"The useless races from the defeated clans that couldn't fetch a good price were also dragged here."
"This is essentially burning money to speed things up. But even if we burn, we can't burn our principal, right?"
Long Qian squinted: "Fool! Once Xun Zu breaks the Divine Burial shackles, the entire starry sky will be our principal. Can't you tell what's urgent?"
"Raise the star ruin sacrifice threshold another notch. This time, since the deadline is near, we'll offer this batch like this. Next time, I don't want to see these leftovers again."
Bi Liang smiled bitterly: "Yes, Lord Long Qian. I'll arrange it as soon as I return."
So they were going to burn through all the foundation Saint Star had built over the years? I wonder what Lord Xing Luo and Lord Lang Mu would think if they knew... ah...
Thinking of this, Bi Liang's face turned even darker.
(̿▀̿̿Ĺ̯̿̿▀̿̿‧̣̥̇)̄...
Long Qian continued:
(￢～￢) "The vassal races have all sent their sacrificial sons, right? No shortages?"
Bi Liang absentmindedly nodded:
(⇀‸↼‶) "They've arrived. All sent."
Obviously, there was a price to becoming a Bose Clan little brother and vassal. Sending part of one's own people to be "sacrificial sons" was part of that price.
It wasn't exactly a glorious thing, but if it ensured one's race could be sheltered in chaotic times, it was still a choice.
Long Qian glared and slapped the back of Bi Liang's head:
(〝▼皿▼)っ)´ﾛ｀;) "What the hell are you thinking? Slacking off on your report? Daring to space out while reporting to me?!"
Bi Liang was slapped awake and shuddered:
(•́﹏•̀٥) "No... it's nothing. It's just that same request I've made before."
"You see... this acting Saint Star leader position... can I... resign? I feel like I'm not cut out for this. There are plenty of people in Saint Star with more potential. I think I'm better suited for an office job, sitting at a desk."
"Just give me this chance, okay? Lord Long Qian, whatever you like, just tell me. I'll grease your palms however you want."
Long Qian was extremely impatient:
(￢益￢ꐦ) "Here you go again! How many times have you brought this up? Others are racking their brains to climb up, fighting tooth and nail to become one of the four faction leaders, even bribing the Elder Council!"
"But you? Day after day you want to resign, and you're trying to bribe me to let you quit? No! You're stuck with it!"
"Out of all Saint Star, you're the one I like the most. You were born for this! Work hard. Get through this wave, and promotions and raises will be a piece of cake. Who knows, you might even have a seat on the Elder Council in the future."
Bi Liang's face turned green!
Forgive me for being a coward, but I'm afraid I won't survive to eat the big pie you're drawing!
Did any of the original four faction leaders end up well? They're probably still in the Quality Prison playing billiards for others right now!
Every acting faction leader before me was killed one after another—all by Jiangnan!
I want to do it, but I'm afraid I won't make it to the day I rise above the crowd—only to the day my head hits the ground!
(‧̣̥̇꒦ິ口꒦ີ) "No! Lord Long Qian, I really can't. I'll kneel for you. And look at my name—it's unlucky! I beg you, let me resign. I'll kowtow twice!"
Bi Liang knelt right in front of Long Qian, clutching his leg, saying he didn't want to do it anymore.
But Long Qian shook his head:
(◕ˇ益ˇ◕) "Superstitious! The fact that you've survived to this day with that name is proof that your fate is tough!"
"This position is yours and no one else's!"
Bi Liang was about to cry:
(;´༎ຶٹ༎ຶ`) "Lord Long Qian, I really..."
Before he could finish, behind Bi Liang, Jiangnan's Eternal Glazed Body suddenly appeared, and the Divine Shadow took shape!
His eyes bulged, killing intent shocking the heavens!
Long Qian's hair stood on end, and he immediately ascended dimensions to dodge!
Bi Liang was stunned. He turned to look behind him.
"Slash!"
A glazed longsword brimming with dazzling silver light chopped down without hesitation!
One slash tore one side of the Eternal Kingdom's sky wall into nothingness.
The blade light even crossed the forbidden zone and fiercely struck the thick dimensional wall of the Eternal World!
The silver light annihilated completely, and the wall trembled lightly.
This single slash cut open the entire Eternal Kingdom!
Jiangnan held the Heaven Blade, his body burning with glazed flames. His eyes were icy as he swept his gaze across the Eternal Kingdom, looking utterly arrogant!
☚(ꐦ°᷄д°᷅)☛
What damn plan?
No plan!
My existence is the plan itself!
Just go straight in and do it!
Bi Liang's body, without exception, was directly crushed to dust by Jiangnan's fierce blade light. He didn't even have time to ascend dimensions.
The gap was too great!
He only caught a glimpse of Jiangnan swinging his blade down, and then he knew nothing.
[Bi Liang's resentment value +666...]
Long Qian: (•́益•̀٥)
Can I take back what I just said?
I admit, I was wrong...
This faction leader position really seems to be quite deadly for a Bose...