Blocking the path between the Cang Qiong and the War Wu Vessel was the very Zhulu Warship that Zeng Han had summoned after his retreat.

According to the elderly Wu, this Zhulu Warship once belonged to a leader of an exploration team within the Yuan Kong Star Region, having been promoted to Zhulu Warship Captain for several hundred years.

With grim expressions, the grandfather and grandson looked especially conflicted at this moment.

Yet, Song Chi remained utterly composed, knowing that since the opposition hadn't struck immediately, they must have some reservations, and that was enough for him.

Soon, the Zhulu Warship in front of them sent a communication request.

"Junior, take out that red component. I have no desire to bully the young!"

The voice of the horse-faced Zhulu Warship Captain boomed low through the communication channel.

The information previously shared by Zeng Han and his companions had informed him of Song Chi's likely distinguished origin, which is why he hadn't attacked directly, hoping to have Song Chi willingly hand over the item.

"And what if I say no?"

Confronted with the horse-faced man's thinly veiled threat, Song Chi's response was decidedly firm.

His confidence was not unfounded; according to old man Wu, the Zhulu Warship, though over two hundred years since its promotion, had origins merely from an exploration team, making its combat power most probably below average among other Zhulu Warships.

Relying on Cang Qiong's current setup, if a fight did break out, it wasn't certain that they could completely suppress the enemy, but escaping unobstructed was definitely within their capability.

"Are you sure?"

The horse-faced Zhulu Warship Captain's expression chilled in an instant, as with a flicker of thought, bright lights began to emerge at the front of the Zhulu Warship, signaling the charging of its Main Cannon and Super Main Cannon.

Meanwhile, within the opulent hall of the Yuan Kong City Lord's Manor not far away, the actual ruler of Yuan Kong City, a seasoned Fourth Rank Zhulu Warship Captain, stood in front of a projection screen that was broadcasting the standoff outside the city in real-time.

Standing next to him, the Yuan Kong City Steward ventured a question.

"Lord, should we intervene and test the waters? Wu Sheng seems to be on the War Wu Vessel as well..."

Before the steward could finish his sentence, he was silenced by a raised hand.

"There's no need, let's first see what this Cruiser is all about."

Elsewhere within a luxurious private room inside a hotel in Yuan Kong City, a man and a woman were also observing the scene through special means.

"The fact that a Zhulu Warship is using diplomacy before resorting to force suggests that this Cruiser's identity might be noteworthy, young master!"

The man shook his head.

"Perhaps, but if we underestimate a Zhulu Warship just because of this, that would be recklessly overconfident..."

Before he could finish, the scene on the projection screen abruptly shifted, causing the young master's pupils to contract sharply.

"The Mythical Mecha Form... a Cruiser transforming into a Mecha form?"

Unlike the unidentified young master, the Deputy City Lord in the great hall of the city lord's manor was much more composed.

"Sentient micro-metal, by the looks of it a young dragon has crossed the river indeed. It's just unknown which family it comes from!"

...

Outside of Yuan Kong City, the warship-form of Cang Qiong transformed into a Mythical Mech, standing thirteen hundred meters tall before the eyes of all.

This sudden shift in the spectacle caused the horse-faced Zhulu Warship Captain's expression to subtly change.

A Third Rank Cruiser morphing into a Mythical Mecha Form, it was clear to anyone that the origins of the Cang Qiong were far from ordinary.

But it didn't end there.

The Mech Giant flash a red light in its hand, and the next second, a nearly kilometer-long sword glowing with intense red light materialized.

Song Chi had not used the Silver Dragon Spear. A weapon of the Silver Legendary Oddity was too conspicuous and might prompt some to desperate action. Compared to that, the Divine-weaving Sword was just right.

The appearance of the Divine-weaving Sword made the horse-faced man's expression stiffen further, now he could fully confirm that Song Chi's background was grander than he had anticipated.

The immediate emergence of the Law Dragon Whale beside the Mech Giant was like the last straw that broke the camel's back.

Under the watchful eyes of countless onlookers in Yuan Kong City, the Zhulu Warship chose to rotate its hull.

As a Zhulu Warship Captain who had risen from humble beginnings as part of an exploration team, the horse-faced man was all too aware of the gap between himself and the scions of major powers. First off, he wasn't sure he could guarantee a complete suppression of the Cruiser before him; secondly, even if he managed it, he could hardly fathom the vengeance that would come from the Cruiser's backers.

These considerations led him to turn around without hesitation.

As for his pride?

As a Torch Ship Captain who had worked his way up from a commoner, only he knew how much hardship he had endured. Pride? Was it something he could eat?

The spectators within Yuan Kong City, many of whom were Torch Ship Captains themselves, hissed disapprovingly at the anticlimactic standoff.

Song Chi, oblivious to their scorn, shifted his thoughts and the Cang Qiong reverted back to its warship form, all while his gaze turned back to the War Wu Vessel.

Old man Wu, under Song Chi's gaze, clearly understood the message.

With a flash of Ghost Light on his brow, the shimmering red component of the Spirit Summoning Demon Puppet was gently pulled out from the warship and quickly captured by Cang Qiong's hanger bay.

After completing this final step, the War Wu Vessel docked directly at Yuan Kong City's exclusive warship berth, while Song Chi, piloting the Cang Qiong, turned the ship around, showing no intention of lingering.

In the Battleship Main Control Room, Song Chi held the Spirit Summoning Demon Puppet component, a faint smile emerging on his face.

He was very pleased with his gains from this venture. As for revealing the Divine-weaving Sword and the Dragon Whale State, potentially leading to the tracking of his identity, that was inevitable. However, it was a deliberate choice by Song Chi.

He was bound to create a stir sooner or later on his journey to the Northern Dome Star Domain; he was merely accelerating the process as a precaution against the possibility that the Heavenly King Manor might resort to aggression without negotiation.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Aunomay Read