Him and their stars.

Chapter 2196 Commander Yu's Divine Journey to the Heavenly Realm

Brunhilde continued to gently stroke her perfectly flat stomach, a slender yet powerful waist, a true work of art.

Of course, on another timeline, he had been playing with this waist for many years and wouldn't have lost his composure like this. He simply realized that this behavior was clearly a little trick by this woman to put pressure on him, but he wouldn't fall for it.

"It can't be twins again, can it?" Yu Lian laughed.

Brunhilde shrugged: "We had twins last time, and this time I hope to have both a boy and a girl in one go."

"Really?" Yu Lian laughed. "Keep it up! I expect you to surpass that little carpenter's adulterous wife."

Even Brunhilde, who was well-versed in Earth's culture, couldn't quite grasp the joke. He could only offer a businesslike analysis: "So, Miss Fifi is reminding me and the Empire that this war isn't over yet, is that right? Is this the meaning of 'Earthlings will never yield'?"

"No, she's just deliberately causing you trouble, and incidentally demonstrating the true nature of war." Yu Lian shrugged. "So, how is Miss Olivia now?"

If there's anything Yu Lian would feel a little guilty about, it's probably this lady with the golden and silver demon eyes.

Of course, it's also from a humanitarian perspective.

After all, she was the woman that the terrifying "ghost" couldn't kill twice in a row. If we round it up, it might even be an honor in the future.

In conclusion, although the two attacks did not cause significant damage, they were indeed a double blow to the upper echelons of the empire.

They had not yet fully recovered from the violent upheaval of the emperor's death and the attack on the capital when they had to face reality once again. This war was a total war, and it would not cease because of the upheavals at the top of the Heavenly Realm. It was spreading into a wider and more unpredictable realm.

However, even at this point, the imperial leadership still did not have a relatively clear understanding.

The only ruler who truly recognized the problem was probably Brunhilde. Even so, she had already chosen a different approach.

After she and she chose to put on this charade, they embarked on a completely different path.

“This will probably force me to leave the Heavenly Domain sooner,” Brunhilde told Yu Lian.

"So, you really have no interest in having a seat in the Regency Council?"

“More than one elder has asked me to come out of retirement, some even believing that only I am qualified to chair the Regency Council, but I refuse. Ha, what Regency Council? I wouldn't even be a dog!” She probably realized her tone was a bit extreme, so she changed her words: “Yes, there was originally no problem with the Regency Council, but with you, my nemesis, it's just a roadside road. Of course, the official line is still the same: after all, I lost to you in the War of Glory, so I have no right to issue orders in the Heavenly Domain. I should at least return to my fiefdom to reflect for three to five years.”

While you were reflecting on your actions, your best friends were still Grand Commander of the Knights and Admirals of various fleets, the former Chancellor was still Mayor of the Imperial City, and your followers and cronies were Star Sector Commanders. Even the Prime Minister's Office was a potential supporter of yours.

Although he was inwardly sneering, Yu Lian smiled and asked, "So, when do you plan to set off?"

“It’ll be in the next two weeks, right? Would you like to come back to the fiefdom with me? You can find your favorite milky white sand beaches there too,” Brunhilde extended a sincere invitation.

"Personally, I'd prefer to stay in your room and see if anyone causes trouble after you leave," Yu Lian said.

“This isn’t someone causing trouble; it’s you trying to provoke us,” Brunhilde laughed. “Of course, if I were you, I’d go even further and give lectures at Wisdom Palace University and Shire Memorial University. They actually contacted my butler, hoping to invite you.”

"...As expected, there are the most rebels in higher education institutions."

"Smart people become primary color molecules, isn't that what you said too? Speaking of which, your old comrade-in-arms is still studying there."

"You mean, Miss Amya?"

"Yes, she has indeed rendered meritorious service. I wanted to bestow upon her a knighthood and appoint her as my private political secretary, but the girl wants to take the civil service exam and enter the Prime Minister's system. Heh, what an ambitious girl. Her sister, Miss Agnes, who is also another of your old comrades-in-arms, has led a considerable number of ancient Meaia people to join the rebels, but that doesn't affect her future, does it?"

“Yes, civilized countries do not practice collective punishment,” he said.

"That girl also gave you some local specialties. Golden sand pomegranates cultivated by her compatriots on the Gumeiya Star Plantation."

Yu Lian felt that this old comrade-in-arms was quite easy to get along with. This kind of fruit, cultivated with a certain spiritual quality, was less of a fruit and more of an alchemical ingredient. The taste was naturally excellent, and it was also very nutritious.

"In addition, the Golden Pomegranate is perfect for pairing with 'Passion Supernova', so I used both."

Aside from putting on a blank, emotionless poker face again, he really didn't know what else to say.

"Don't worry, I only used a little. I'll bring you the rest later." Brunhilde tilted his head and looked at Yu Lian, moving his elegant nose as if to mock his stinginess. Then he added, "Besides, if I were you, I would be happy to attend various salons and talk to wealthy and leisurely young noblemen about things like the origins of things."

As expected of an empire, even their abstraction is so progressive.

Brunhilde then told Yu Lian that although the Ministry of Truth considered "The Origin" a forbidden book, it was impossible to completely ban it. In the high-class salons of Tianyu, "The Origin" had always been a very sophisticated topic.

"To us, this is an evil ideology. But the more noble we are, the more evil and taboo it is, the more classy we become!"

Admittedly, while this concept is abstract, it makes perfect sense when it involves the complex and contradictory nature of nobles.

"However, the most sophisticated topic in the salon has now changed."

"Discussing the election of an emperor? Discussing who has a better chance, you or Prince Wei?"

Brunhilde rolled her eyes, probably feeling that being placed on par with King Wei was a huge insult. In fact, although the election process hadn't officially begun, everyone generally agreed that if any king could truly threaten Queen Sue's position, it was only King Wei.

After all, he had a good reputation and was well-liked in academic and cultural circles. Many people felt that if he came to power, he would definitely be a wise and virtuous king.

Of course, his command skills didn't have any convincing achievements, but his military industrial management skills were beyond doubt.

After all, he was the one who spearheaded the development of Colossus Technology, so how can it not be considered a military achievement?

“No, of course we’re talking about you,” Brunhilde corrected.

“They probably idolize me,” Yu Lian said.

“Tsk, look at your unwavering confidence, of course you guessed it again. Heh, do you know how my elder brother describes you? He thinks you're the person he's met who understands the Tireiro nobility best. He feels like he's talking to a Privy Councilor of thirty years, or... even more." Brunhilde turned to look at Yu Lian, his gaze calm and frank:
"The Regency Council is debating your current status. However, in the eyes of many traditional military nobles, especially the younger generation, you are, after all, the chosen champion, leading a lone army, crossing the galaxy, and fighting your way to the heart of the Empire, facing His Majesty directly. This in itself is a heroic feat unprecedented in the galaxy for a thousand years, a heroic narrative worthy of being written into the epic. In fact, my brother thinks so too."

Yu Lian raised an eyebrow, gazing at the dome above.

He suddenly felt like going fishing again.

Fishing isn't actually difficult, but catching edible fish instead of ornamental fish is quite challenging.

"The number of Imperials who have died at my hands is probably already in the eight figures."

“That’s right. People can’t accept being utterly defeated by a foreign enemy, but if you interpret it as a civil war, it seems to make sense.” Brunhilde spread his hands, looking helpless: “The Tireiros are truly a contradictory people!”

This is indeed typical. They are arrogant, they are brave, they are greedy, they are enlightened, and thus they are extremely conflicted.

King Suliuka continued, "You ultimately chose to join forces with the Imperial Army to fight against the calamity of the Void Realm, and accepted the honor duel initiated by Brin in accordance with ancient knightly norms. In the eyes of some, this process is not a provocation, but rather a high degree of recognition and practice of the Imperial tradition and martial spirit."

Yu Lian shrugged inwardly. This was actually what Pudding wanted everyone to see, so he just went along with it.

In reality, this rumor had already been circulating in the Celestial Realm since the day he and Brunhilde moved into Dragon's Throne Palace. Therefore, how could someone truly ambitious for the throne not care about media relations?

However, how long can this argument hold true? Brunhilde looked at Yu Lian meaningfully, then suddenly took the initiative to embrace him and offered her fragrant lips.

This time, Yu Lian did not dodge.

After nearly half a minute, she took a half step back and let out a full sigh.

"If you speak like that, I might misunderstand and think I've been prostituted," Yu Lian thought.

She replied, "I'll be leaving the capital within two weeks. You're not a prisoner, so you can do whatever you want after that. Besides, this is an adult kiss, the kind an old married couple would share. Whether we continue tonight is up to you."

King Suliuka then left his boudoir, walking briskly and swiftly, as if he were about to go to war.

As for Yu Lian, he fell into another deep sleep on the soft couch that appeared to be alchemical equipment. Even in his peaceful sleep, his mind remained clear.

His body fell silent, his breathing became long and deep, and the rhythm of his blood slowed to a relaxed pace. However, his consciousness, like a fish breaking free of the water, leaped lightly into the "ocean" of a higher dimension.

At this moment, deep sleep became an excellent cover. His soul core, his spiritual body, and the spiritual energy soul belonging to Commander Yu Lian began to break free from the constraints of matter. They easily left the area of ​​the Sacred Tree Palace and entered the intricate galactic spiritual veins of the Heavenly Realm, beginning a silent journey.

Since his soul could extend to thousands of light-years away, saying goodbye to Shirley should be quite easy for him to move left and right in the celestial realm.

However, this is not the case.

What Yu Lian sensed first was an invisible network of spiritual particles that enveloped the entire galaxy, which resembled both an incredibly dense net and an impregnable city wall.

The occult protective array in the capital city has been partially restarted.

This array, which took four emperors and two hundred years to complete, has been continuously improved over the two thousand years since its construction, and is the greatest masterpiece of the Galactic Empire's mystical engineering.

It was never just a simple defense and detection tool; it was more like a massive life form that simulated "will" through spiritual veins, with its tentacles extending to every fold of space and every ripple of time.

Yu Lian could clearly sense the invisible yet "conscious" spiritual network instinctively rejecting and suppressing his existence; it was a tremendous pressure originating from the level of rules.

It is trying to expel, or lock away, this foreign spiritual signifier.

Yu Lian had experienced this before. Back in Tianyu, he was just an ordinary military attaché assistant at the embassy, ​​colluding with a troublemaking princess named Rainbow Rose to cause trouble.

That must have been the feeling when I bypassed the Celestial Array using the power of the Book of the Sun God, Yani.

However, back then I was just a small-time karami and didn't have such a profound understanding.

Similarly, the reason I was able to safely evade this impenetrable occult defense was because I used an unconventional method.

Now, it's time to pay the price for the "karma" of the past. His leading his army into the Heavenly Realm was one half of it; now it's the other half.

His soul hovered in the void, searching for the one who had escaped into this airtight net, and looking for even the slightest crack in this impregnable city wall.

Just as this omnipresent constraint was about to turn into a storm, Yu Lian finally caught a glimpse of the fluctuation he had been waiting for.

A nearly unrecognizable message pierced through the array's barrier, subtly drawing his consciousness in.

It darted through the regular gaps in the flowing array like a nimble flying insect. The information was a set of spatial coordinates accurate to the centimeter, but that wasn't really important.

Its actions themselves pointed out the safest path for Yu Lian.

It was a trickle of water, its winding course forming a riverbed that, though shallow, was still there.

"You're too slow. It's been almost two weeks." Yu Lian really wanted to express her dissatisfaction, but that would make her seem like a terrible client or an inhuman leader, so she held back.

Without further hesitation, he followed this mysterious guidance, adjusting his spiritual fluctuations to resonate with the rhythm of this subtle flow of information.

In an instant, the world he perceived changed. The previously heavy and stagnant spiritual vein dimension began to open up, as if a mountain path had suddenly opened up in the middle of a towering mountain that blocked the way ahead.

Although it was a narrow tunnel that could only accommodate one person at a time, it was still a mountain path.

His consciousness also transformed into information, rapidly traversing the vast void between stars along this tunnel, its target clearly the very source of those coordinates.

Yu Lian found himself entering a vast palace.

Compared to the imposing and solemn main hall of Dragon's Palace, this place is equally grand and magnificent, but its decorative style possesses a more elegant and mysterious feel. The magnificent statues on the massive columns are not emperors and legendary heroes, but rather sages of the realm of knowledge, clad in the robes of imperial scholars. They were only half human, yet they all dedicated their lives to the greatness of the empire.

Compared to Longlin Palace, this place is clearly much more diverse.

This is the Palace of Wisdom, the headquarters of the Galactic Empire's highest academic institution.

Yu Lian looked down at himself again, but saw nothing. He could clearly sense himself, yet he couldn't see his own body.

Now, his soul stands freely outside the temple.

I have already mastered the concept and techniques of His Majesty the Emperor's "spirit," or, in more mystical terms, "spiritual spirit."

Thanks to all the experts in the Empire and Brin for the giant rocket.

But what about Little Grey? Where is Little Grey?
Naturally, he didn't receive a response from the robot lady.

Well, as expected, she won't show up at such a crucial moment. It must be to maintain her "neutral persona."

What a principled and civilized AI!
Yu Lian expressed his respect (or contempt) for the void as he slowly walked forward.

Those outside the box who have experienced this posture know that walking with the soul is a completely different experience from walking with the body.

He merely had a thought, and his body floated through layers of barriers. His senses automatically extended to the surroundings, searching for any valuable targets.

Half a second later, what he first "saw" was a hidden compartment in the main hall of the Wisdom Palace.

Two figures were separated on opposite sides of the room by an exquisite coffee table, seemingly engaged in conversation or perhaps facing off. Their voices and auras were concealed by a sophisticated spiritual barrier, yet it failed to completely block Yu Lian's perception.

He is a demigod, he possesses cosmic awareness, he is now in the form of a heroic spirit, and he is right here.

"I am omnipotent." Yu Lian displayed such arrogance as he gazed at the starry sky.

As for the two people in that ambiguous state, they knew each other.

One of them, gentle and refined, with a humble demeanor, was none other than His Highness King Velent, my old friend, and the current acting Speaker of the Imperial Regency Council.

As for the person opposite him, he had a face that Yu Lian had never seen before. He looked like a fair-skinned, handsome boy who was at most in junior high school, but his appearance seemed too incongruous at this moment. The spiritual energy fluctuations hidden beneath the dark force field easily reminded Yu Lian of someone he knew.

For a demigod like Yu Lian, who has reached the pinnacle of perfection, he probably can't remember the scent, shape, or intensity of a former lover, but he can certainly remember the spiritual energy fluctuations of an "old friend" he has fought with.

Isn't he the chief of the thirteenth face, the top henchman of the Snake Organization who has always acted as the representative of the "future prince," and known as the "lawbreaker"?
Wow, another unexpected surprise?