As Lan Qing recounted his experiences of repaying a favor, Jinzi nodded repeatedly beside him, occasionally letting out a couple of enthusiastic “awoos” to chime in. Perhaps he was reminiscing about the arduous journey of purchasing the empire.
Shu Bao listened with a mix of emotions, his face dark with astonishment. He could only conclude that a determined snake would succeed at anything, though it seemed a little unfortunate for those three brothers who had once seemed destined to become classic “Dragon-Ao-Tian” protagonists.
After acquiring the empire, Lan Qing began its transformation. Compared to the former king, who was more like a good brother, Lan Qing prioritized sustainable and peaceful development. Being an avid survival game enthusiast himself, Lan Qing, while not directly involved in the core construction of the base this time, was an experienced player who understood how to build for long-term benefits.
Thus, Lan Qing initiated the construction of a resource circulation network. Leveraging his prior good relations with the Phoenix Clan, he established stable trade channels with other powerful races. Coupled with the abundant mineral-rich territories of Land of Gold Sources and Thick Soil Gobi, the empire’s resources not only remained steady despite halting expansionist invasions but even began to increase over time.
The primary reason for this was that more and more forces shifted their attitude toward the empire, from fear to trust. Naturally, when it came to trade, the empire became their first choice.
Moreover, as a snake, Lan Qing had none of the extravagant and peculiar indulgences typical of humans. Over the years, his favorite things remained fruits and vegetables and his top concern was still about the progress of his growing feet.
As for management and talent deployment, Lan Qing initially faced significant challenges. However, after acquiring a group of Magical Beasts capable of mind-reading, staffing decisions became much simpler. Reflecting on this, Lan Qing remarked with emotion, “Humans are truly suited to being managers, while magical beasts are excellent at managing those managers.”
Once the empire entered a phase of stable development, Lan Qing had more time to return to the Xia Wang Tribe to develop the base. With Shu Bao absent, the snake took the initiative to accept missions, obtain blueprints, and build the base.
While constructing the Xia Wang Base, Lan Qing had a sudden idea and began implementing blueprints in the empire as well. As the empire was under his control, the system automatically recognized it as part of the base’s territory, allowing the construction to succeed.
In this way, the empire in the chaotic world, despite its technological limitations, gradually saw the rise of functional buildings like paper mills, textile mills, and steel plants.
Conversely, the empire’s advanced magic system provided the Xia Wang Base with new structures, such as magic towers, magic shields, and devastating magical annihilation bombs. Lan Qing remained vigilant, knowing two ill-intentioned snakes were drawing near.
For ten years, Lan Qing tirelessly shuttled between the two worlds. Not only did he ensure the development of both sides without delay, but he also facilitated their mutual growth, enabling rapid advancement in both realms.
Today, Xia Wang City is brimming with products from the chaotic world, and the chaotic world has begun to adopt goods from the real world. With the system’s provision of magical and technological blueprints, the two worlds have effectively merged the best of both magic and technology.
Listening to Lan Qing’s narration of the development across the two worlds, Shu Bao couldn’t help but stretch out a little paw to give a thumbs-up. Even if Shu Bao hadn’t left, Xia Wang’s progress likely couldn’t have surpassed what it was now. All of this was thanks to the tireless efforts of his snake teammate.
Back then, Lan Qing had chosen to leave the influential Lan Snake Clan not only due to differing ideologies but also because he had the strength to stand on his own. Perhaps Lan Qing couldn’t single-handedly contend against the entire clan, but survival was well within his abilities.
Lan Qing was an exceptional Lan snake with formidable strength and remarkable luck. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have so quickly attracted two royal snakes who couldn’t wait to join forces to hunt him down.
Watching Lan Qing animatedly recounting amusing anecdotes with gloved hands gesturing in the air, Shu Bao got up and padded over to his snake teammate. He hugged him once more.
Lan Qing suddenly paused in his narration. Though he didn’t know why, he instinctively returned the favor, wrapping his furry teammate in a full 360-degree hug.
“You’re amazing! You’re the most formidable snake. In the future, you’ll be the mightiest dragon in this world!” Shu Bao sincerely praised.
Lan Qing froze for a long time before finally speaking, “Thank you, Shu Bao.” Ever since he left the Lan Snake Clan, everyone had avoided him like the plague, afraid that being too close might drag them into the clan’s internal power struggles. To them, he had become a natural-born loser.
Once, he had been an outlier but at least held the family’s high hopes. So many people had looked forward to him becoming the next King Snake. Yet the moment he left the clan, all that glory shattered. He became a renegade, a worthless outcast—a mere green caterpillar in their eyes.
Back on the Noah Starship, when Shu Bao extended a team invitation, Lan Qing had already felt deeply content. Over time, as teammates turned into friends, Lan Qing finally experienced something a Lan Snake was never supposed to feel in his lifetime: friendship. “The reason I excel is because it’s all worth it,” he said.
If he had encountered someone who merely intended to exploit him, Lan Qing wouldn’t have been so dedicated. It was Shu Bao’s pure and openhearted way of forming bonds that allowed Lan Qing to fully open up as well.
Jinzi, observing the two hugging, tried his best to scoot backward, then lowered his large head and nudged closer, letting out a couple of enthusiastic “awoos” to signal he wanted in.
And so, their little circle of hugs expanded to include a dragon. The three squished together, showering each other with compliments. By the time the hugging session ended, all three wore goofy grins.
When Lan Qing finished his story, Shu Bao naturally began sharing his own experiences in the Mechanoids’ ruins. However, halfway through, the chatty Yinzhu couldn’t wait any longer and burst out, eager to tell the rest.
Yinzhu’s storytelling was not only full of dramatic flair but also accompanied by video footage it had recorded in the Mechanoid City. The footage even had subtitles that it added itself. This multimedia narration left Lan Qing and Jinzi utterly dumbfounded.
Even Shu Bao, who had experienced it firsthand, listened with rapt attention, feeling as though Yinzhu’s retelling made the adventure even more thrilling and breathtaking.
When Yinzhu finally concluded, the trio couldn’t help but clap. Lan Qing went a step further, praising, “This story-telling robot is impressive. Can you make one for me?”
Yinzhu immediately projected an angry virtual emoji, complete with flames, “I am not a story-telling robot! I am a ten-in-one intelligent AI, modified from a Mechanoids’ sub-brain—but not part of the Mechanoids…”
What followed was a long, detailed explanation and rationale. When it finished, Lan Qing gazed at it with awe. “You’re incredible. So, can you make me a story-telling robot now?”
Yinzhu: “…” This snake was indeed persistent.
After the lighthearted banter, the group shifted to a more serious topic: the impending arrival of the Second and Third Princes.
“The divination mages have already prophesied. Based on the crystal ball’s imagery, they’re still three light-years away from this planet. At fifty percent of their fleet’s maximum speed, they’ll need six more years to arrive. Over these years, divination has been ongoing and we’ve almost fully assessed the strength of their starships. They are undoubtedly formidable.”
Although Lan Qing hadn’t been able to follow Shu Bao to the Mechanoids’ ruins, he hadn’t been idle all these years.
In addition to vigorously developing both the empire and Xia Wang, he had also recruited numerous mages skilled in divination, clairvoyance, and prophecy to investigate the princes’ interstellar fleets. After all, with magic as a cheat code, why not use it?
Lan Qing pulled out a crystal ball and projected the intelligence he had gathered over the years for Shu Bao to see. Upon witnessing this, Yinzhu immediately began recording and analyzing the data. After all, technology was its forte, and in this universe, no species’ technological development could surpass that of the Mechanoids.
Currently, Yinzhu possesses all the technological knowledge of the Mechanoids, except for its core systems. After a rapid comparison of the enemy’s interstellar fleet with the current strength of Xia Wang City, Yinzhu delivered its conclusion: “Given our current capabilities, the likelihood of defeating the enemy is 0.00000001%.”
Shu Bao: “…You could just say zero.”
“No! Science requires precision! What if their fleet malfunctions and explodes on its own? Then we’d win,” Yinzhu retorted firmly.
Shu Bao: “…”
Lan Qing leaned in close to Shu Bao and whispered, “This story-telling robot is kind of like Fu Qing—everything it says makes you want to hit it.”
Yinzhu displayed an unhappy emoji. “I’m just stating facts. As for this Fu Qing you mentioned, I’ll be sure to pass the message along to him.”
Lan Qing: “…”
Though the situation was frustrating, it was undeniably true. The Second and Third Princes initially collaborated to hijack an interstellar battleship, which they used as a springboard to continuously commit crimes across the stars. Aside from refueling, they rarely landed on any planets, making them incredibly difficult to capture in the vastness of space.
Over time, they amassed tremendous power. According to the last divination, their fleet now boasted more than a hundred interstellar warships.
The reason Yinzhu claimed there was almost no chance of victory was simple: the enemy’s warships were all equipped with orbital strike capabilities. They could lock onto Xia Wang’s position from outside the atmosphere and launch attacks without even landing.
Currently, neither Xia Wang nor the Empire possessed similar orbital strike capabilities. In other words, the enemy could attack them, but they couldn’t fight back, rendering victory nearly impossible.
“Yinzhu, if we start development now, what will our chances be in six years?” Shu Bao, unwilling to sit idly by, regarded the vast resources and knowledge he had brought back from the Mechanoids as their key to turning the tide.
Without waiting for further prompting, Yinzhu had already begun calculating. It factored in every possible variable, including geniuses like Tesla, abundant resources, the fully functional facilities left in the Mechanoid City, and more.
“Based on calculations, in six years, the chance of victory will increase to 50%. However, with my involvement, the chance becomes 100%!” Yinzhu gleamed brightly, flickering as if to emphasize its indispensable value.
Lan Qing and Shu Bao stared at the round, metallic sphere, wondering how such a talkative and narcissistic personality could have been created in the first place.
Yinzhu, maintaining its serious tone, insisted it was merely stating facts. It explained that the Mechanoid City contained a treasure trove of orbital combat equipment, including spacecraft and warships. Their use, however, required Yinzhu’s training expertise. Furthermore, it could assist Tesla in modifying these ships to integrate both technological and magical systems.
With such advancements, even if the fleet’s numbers couldn’t match the enemy, its quality would be extraordinary. Facing ten ships with one wouldn’t be a problem. “Let the enemy witness the terrifying power of the fusion between magic and technology!”
Yinzhu transformed into a bright orange-yellow hue, radiating like a small sun that was impossible to look at directly. After shouting its rallying cry, it began spinning excitedly, as if it couldn’t wait to get started.
Lan Qing folded his arms. He watch the scene and quietly murmured to Shu Bao, “Let’s hope my two brothers still have intact corpses six years from now.”
