Chapter 961
Head of State
The reason why everyone was so certain was because this launch of the dark matter cannon was at maximum power, with a coverage area of one light-year!
Even if the other party has the ability to teleport, according to their estimates, it would not exceed several hundred million kilometers at most.
Because in their Crimson Cloud Empire's data records
Eighth-tier powerhouses can only traverse distances of a few hundred million kilometers at most. Beyond that, they would need to rely on interstellar gates or naturally occurring wormholes within the universe.
However, before everyone could rejoice for long, the voices of the fleet soldiers came over:
"Report. The detector has detected life-like fluctuations one light-year away. Based on data comparison, the similarity to the life-like fluctuations of previous targets is approximately 90%."
Upon hearing this, the expressions of everyone in the command room instantly froze.
"What a joke! How could he possibly cross a light-year in an instant? That's impossible!" an adjutant exclaimed in disbelief.
He was so shocked because they had clearly seen the dark matter cannon hit the target.
Given the terrifying speed of the dark matter cannon, even if the opponent notices it, they will have less than a second to react.
In a second, you can traverse a light-year!
How is that even possible?
It's important to know that the Crimson Cloud Empire's interstellar portal, which spans light-years, takes more than ten minutes to activate each time.
Crossing a light-year in an instant almost defies the laws of the universe.
Wright spoke in a deep voice:
"Let the fleet continue pursuing the target!"
Upon hearing this, an adjutant said:
"General, perhaps we should request support from the Empire first."
Wright said:
"The other party definitely can't use this ability continuously, and he probably can't deal with us, otherwise he wouldn't have run away."
Upon hearing Wright's analysis, the people present finally understood.
If the opponent's strength is truly terrifying, there's no need to run away; just eliminate them directly.
Since the other party chose to escape, it means that this ability cannot be used continuously.
In an instant, everyone's confidence was restored.
"You continue the pursuit, I need to meet with the Führer!" Wright instructed, then walked alone into the room next to the command center.
The others' expressions changed upon hearing Wright's words.
The head of state is the current supreme leader of the Crimson Cloud Empire.
Only when something extremely important happens can the fleet bypass the imperial central command and contact the Führer directly.
Clearly, this incident is of such importance that it needs to be reported to the head of state.
Wright walked into his room with a serious expression.
He took out a communicator from his person and began typing in a long string of code.
This code is the code that every Imperial General is assigned from the day they take office.
Once this code is activated, it can connect to the Empire's quantum computer and then directly transfer the connection to the Führer.
As the code started, the voice from the quantum computer quickly came through the communicator.
"Identity confirmed as Rear Admiral Wright of the Third Fleet. Please wait, we are transferring you to the Führer."
Upon hearing the words from the quantum computer, Wright placed the communicator on the table and then stood there solemnly.
A few seconds later, the communicator started flashing blue light.
Immediately afterwards, the surrounding scenery changed, and Wright was now in another room, a magnificent hall.
This is the palace of the head of the Crimson Cloud Empire.
The Wright who appeared in the palace at this moment was not a real person, but his consciousness.
This is a special holographic projection technology of the Crimson Cloud Empire, which can directly access the brain and place people in another scene.
Above the main hall, there is a high platform.
A tall, graceful woman sat on a high platform, wearing a crimson robe, her long, snow-white legs faintly visible beneath it.
At this moment, the woman was looking at the holographic screen next to the platform, where various data were clearly displayed.
The woman didn't even turn her head at Wright's arrival, but coldly asked:
"What's the matter?"
Wright, now devoid of the composure expected of an Imperial General, bowed deeply and said:
"Your Excellency, I have something important to report."
Wright recounted the previous encounter between the fleet and Chen Feng, including a description of Chen Feng's abilities.
After hearing Wright's words, the woman immediately looked at the holographic screen in front of her.
The holographic screen quickly displayed a series of documents.
This included information collected from the Moro Star Region, which detailed every transaction between the Moro Star Region and the Solar System, and included Chen Feng's name.
A moment later, the woman turned to look at Wright.
Her gaze was calm and indifferent.
"I understand. You continue the pursuit, and I will have the research institute assist you."
Hearing this, Wright felt relieved.
With the assistance of the research institute, he was much more confident in capturing Chen Feng. The Imperial Research Institute brought together the Empire's top researchers, who came from different civilizations and served only the Empire.
New technologies are developed almost every so often.
That's not the most important thing. The most important thing is that the research institute can quickly formulate an optimal countermeasure based on the enemy's situation.
They might even be able to develop technological weapons specifically designed to deal with such enemies.
As long as the Imperial Research Institute takes action, there is almost no enemy they cannot defeat.
Wright said respectfully, "Thank you, Your Majesty."
After thinking for a moment, Wright couldn't help but ask, "Your Majesty, Chen Feng also looks like a human. Could he also be from outside the Arm?"
Wright asked this question because the Crimson Cloud Empire was not a native civilization of the Orion Arm, but rather a civilization that migrated from elsewhere.
As for why they migrated, the history of civilizations does not record it.
The reason why the Crimson Cloud Empire was able to dominate the Orion Arm was precisely because they came from other star systems and their technological foundation far surpassed that of this star system.
Moreover, the race of the Crimson Cloud Empire is mainly human.
The female head of state spoke calmly:
"There are many human races in the universe, so it's not surprising that there are humans in Orion. Moreover, the chances of him coming from outside the Arm are not high. No one can sneak into the Arm without being seen through the defenses built by the Empire."
Lai nodded:
"I see, I was overthinking it."
"Okay, go ahead." After saying that, the female leader turned back to look at the holographic screen.
As the head of the empire, she has too many things to deal with every day, and the current focus of the Crimson Cloud Empire is on fighting another civilization. Although Chen Feng is special, he is not worthy of her attention.
After bowing to the female leader, Wright turned off his communicator.
Soon, the surrounding scenery changed, and he was back in his room on the warship.
Looking around at everything familiar, Wright breathed a long sigh of relief.
Wright was always very nervous when he met the head of state, which was understandable, since every head of state was a peak eighth-order being.
The current head of state is even more ruthless.
He still vividly remembered the purge thousands of years ago, in which many of the empire's elder statesmen were executed by the head of state.
In the blink of an eye, seven days had passed. During these seven days, Wright's fleet had been relentlessly pursuing Chen Feng.
Chen Feng continued forward, heading away from the solar system, without falling too far behind the fleet.
But each time he was about to catch up, he would use the scroll's teleportation ability to leave.
Each of his movements is within a range of one light-year.
This led Wright and the others to believe that Chen Feng's mobility was limited to one light-year.
During this period, Wright also used star-level weapons to attack Chen Feng many times, but almost none of them were successful.
Ten more days passed under this pursuit.
Chen Feng also arrived at a location 90 light-years away from the solar system. Ten more light-years ahead would be beyond the teleportation range of the scroll.
In the starry sky, Chen Feng's figure appeared here.
Through these days of pursuit, Chen Feng also discovered the tracking technology of the Crimson Cloud Empire, which should be similar to life detection technology.
He currently has no way to block it; he estimates that he would need to be at a great distance to avoid this detection method.
This place is far enough from the solar system that even if the Crimson Cloud Empire's fleet knew he was missing, they would only search for him in even more distant places.
Chen Feng looked around at the starry sky. He did not continue forward, but planned to wait here for the Crimson Cloud Empire's fleet to arrive.
He immediately sat cross-legged in the starry sky and waited quietly.
Chen Feng didn't have to wait long; just a few days later, Wright's fleet arrived.
This time, Wright's fleet did not attack Chen Feng either. He seemed to understand that it would be impossible to take down Chen Feng with just star-level weapons.
The fleet stopped not far from Chen Feng, with the two being less than ten kilometers apart.
The fleet had now merged together, and the dark matter force field enveloped the entire fleet.
After a long silence, a gap opened in the dark matter force field within the fleet, and Wright and several high-ranking fleet officers emerged.
The group looked at Chen Feng with solemn expressions.
“Mr. Chen, I think we should talk,” Wright said, speaking in the common language of interstellar space.
Chen Feng scanned Wright with his divine sense and immediately realized that the other party had the strength of the seventh level peak, which was roughly equivalent to the fifth step of the Dao Integration stage.
"Do you think we need to talk?" Chen Feng countered.
Wright smiled and said:
"Since you can trade with the Moro Clan, why can't you trade with our Crimson Cloud Empire? Our Crimson Cloud Empire is one of the top civilizations in the entire Cantilever, and we can certainly offer Mr. Chen a deal that will satisfy him."
Hearing this, Chen Feng was not moved at all.
Transactions can only take place when both parties are of equal strength.
The Crimson Cloud Empire is far stronger than him; making a deal with them is tantamount to asking a tiger for its skin.
Chen Feng didn't believe what the other person was saying was true.
The other party is likely stalling for time by saying these things to him, preparing to use methods to deal with him.
However, the reason Chen Feng was waiting here was to see what methods the Crimson Cloud Empire would use to deal with him.
To defeat your opponent, you must understand them better.
Chen Feng said, "Tell me first, what bargaining chips you can offer."
Seeing that Chen Feng seemed inclined to talk, Wright immediately smiled:
"Technology, methods to advance to the eighth rank, even some cosmic treasures—whatever you want, our Crimson Cloud Empire can give you!"
Wright said this with great confidence, and he was confident in that confidence.
Chen Feng said, "I want your star-domain-class warship. Can you give it to me?"
Upon hearing this, Wright's face immediately darkened.
The others also didn't look too good.
None of them expected that Chen Feng would ask for their star-domain-level warship right off the bat; he really dared to ask for that.
Starfield-class warships are the Empire's most core strategic technology; how could they possibly be traded to outsiders?
However, Wright spoke up:
"While star-domain-class warships are valuable, they are not untradeable. But what can you offer?"
Now he needs to keep Chen Feng calm and prevent Chen Feng from using teleportation to leave again.
So no matter what Chen Feng said, he would go along with it.
Chen Feng said, "I can produce something that your civilization doesn't have. You should know what it is."
Upon hearing this, Wright narrowed his eyes slightly.
He had learned a lot about Chen Feng during this time. Putting aside the cultivation methods he had mastered, Chen Feng's teleportation ability alone was extraordinary.
However, the Crimson Cloud Empire only engages in trade when facing opponents of equal strength, and Chen Feng clearly does not meet this requirement.
Just then, Chen Feng suddenly took a step forward.
This step covered several kilometers.
Upon seeing this, Wright and the others' expressions changed, and they immediately retreated back into the force field.
Chen Feng smiled as he looked at their nervous expressions and said:
"Don't be nervous, I just want to take a closer look at your warships."
Hearing this, Wright breathed a sigh of relief:
“Mr. Chen, since you intend to make a deal with us, then come back to the Empire with us. Our leader will speak with you personally.”
Wright wasn't worried that Chen Feng would suddenly make a move.
He was very confident in the dark matter force field, and believed that the opponent's strength was definitely insufficient to break through the force field in an instant.
As long as the force field isn't broken in an instant, they have enough time to react.
Chen Feng was about to speak when suddenly something changed above his head.
Suddenly, the starry sky above his head became empty.
A picture appeared in the starry sky. It was blurry at first, but it became clear in an instant.
At the same time, the surrounding starry sky began to twinkle, as if an invisible force filled this starry sky.
Then, two men in armor appeared as projections above Chen Feng's head.
The projection didn't last long; it quickly transformed into a physical object.
The two armored men looked around, and then immediately fixed their gaze on Chen Feng.
Almost simultaneously, Wright and the others retreated back into the force field's area of effect at top speed.
Chen Feng, who remained in place, immediately noticed the anomaly in the starry sky; the surrounding starry sky seemed to have frozen.
This power that solidifies the starry sky is neither the power of the world nor the power of the Dao Fruit, but an energy he has never seen before.
Under this frozen state, he found himself unable to move.
"A mere seventh-order ant dares to defy the imperial authority! Die!"
One of the armored men roared at Chen Feng.
Then a battle blade appeared in his hand, and he slashed it down fiercely at Chen Feng!
This strike seemed capable of shattering the starry sky; the surrounding, stagnant starry expanse became illusory in that instant. (End of Chapter)