Within the economic core of the Black Dragon Mountain Empire's middle trade zones, an inconspicuous building was purchased by Si Feng under a ghost identity. It had no banners, no loud advertising, no official heraldry—but from it flowed streams of high-value transactions that caught the attention of several lower-tier trade guilds and local galactic administrators.
The name on the account?Si Industrial Group.
It began quietly: chakra-alloy infused blade prototypes, enhanced laser rifles based on Terminator-era schematics, genetically stabilized bloodline potions designed by Orochimaru, and spirit-healing pills crafted with rare Earth-based herbs and refined under cosmic standards. Using Earth's biochemical data, merged with Skynet's database and Virtual Universe research, Si Feng's factory lines soon outpaced established corporations in both cost and power-to-efficiency ratio.
By the end of the first quarter cycle, he was trading with the Universe Bank itself, not local branches, but the central arms responsible for assessing new frontiers. The alliance granted him priority transaction rights and a dedicated material conversion stream.
An executive of the Universe Bank appeared through hologram, offering to open a universal cooperation license under a multi-year agreement.
"We see value in your unique synthesis of biology, cultivation, and technology," the banker said, bowing slightly. "We are willing to register your weapons and enhancements into the low-tier battlefield armory libraries. The payout will be proportional."
In total, Si Feng earned 43 billion Quan Wu coins—an astronomical sum for a newly integrated world. Luo Feng was stunned when the final number was tallied.
"I'm only preparing," Si Feng replied. "This is just infrastructure."
A few days later, Si Feng dragged Luo Feng into a massive stone citadel located in a lesser-known trade star, buried among the border trade hubs.
"What is this place?" Luo Feng asked.
Babata's voice answered grimly. "The Galaxy Slave Market."
They entered.
Vast cages floated in gravity chambers, each filled with humanoid figures—warriors, scholars, mutated beast-races, and strange alien lifeforms. Tags hovered above their heads: Stellar Level 1, Level 3, Level 5. The price tags varied from hundreds of millions to tens of billions.
One entire section was dedicated to the Manka Star Race, a warrior species famed for their regenerative capability and loyalty conditioning. Their bodies were muscular, with black-silver skin and glowing red eyes. Most were battle slaves bred for combat or security forces.
Luo Feng's face darkened.
"This… this is how they treat life in the wider universe?"
Babata's tone was cold but factual. "In the cosmos, strength is law. Bloodline potential determines fate. Without high-level genetics, you are cattle—fodder for empires, tools for the rich, or slaves."
He continued, "The universal genetic hierarchy is strict. At the top are natural born apex races—like the Golden Horned Beast or the Flame Crystal Clan. Below them are Sector Lord-level lineages. Earthlings…" Babata paused. "Earth's base gene line is unranked. You are nothing."
Luo Feng's fists clenched. "Then what happens when they find Earth?"
"They'll come to collect. Some may colonize. Others may enslave. At best, Earth will become a resource world. At worst, it'll be auctioned to the highest bidder."
Luo Feng was silent. His youthful ideals were being shattered by cosmic truth.
Si Feng, however, was calm.
He looked at the display console and selected twelve Manka Star Race Stellar Level warriors, placing a bid using one billion Quan Wu coins from Si Industrial's recent profit.
The deal was completed in seconds. The slaves were teleported via secure container to a hidden chamber aboard Si Feng's private warship.
"These will serve as my guard corps," he explained. "Their loyalty will be sealed through a spiritual contract. Orochimaru will integrate the bloodline serums into them. I will create a force Earth can use."
Luo Feng looked at him, troubled. "You… you're using slaves?"
"No," Si Feng said. "I'm repurposing a tool the universe already built. And unlike them, I'll offer loyalty through strength—not fear."
Back aboard their ship, Luo Feng stood silently at the window, gazing at the stars.
"Babata," he asked. "What determines bloodline rank?"
"A combination of soul strength, genetic potential, cellular resonance, and evolution threshold. Earthlings have none of those. You, Si Feng, and a few others are the exceptions."
Si Feng stood behind them, hands behind his back. His aura was still perfectly masked, but in his heart, his Stellar Level 1 strength simmered like a dormant sun.
"The galaxy is a cruel place, Luo Feng," he said. "But you have potential. And more importantly—you have time."
Luo Feng turned. "And Earth?"
"I will protect it. As long as I live, no one will touch it."