Chapter 257: Activate Level-3 Protocol
Sitting in his office, his eyes skimmed the latest Shadow report, which contained updates on everything that had happened in Nexara over the past month.
But this report went beyond the surface; it detailed intricate activities occurring underground, hidden from public view, carefully monitored by the Xu family's elite.
Just as he absorbed the last line, a knock sounded at the door. Before he could respond, the door opened, and An Zhihao entered, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
Flashing a playful smile, she quickly crossed the room and, without a moment's hesitation, leaped into his arms, her voice bright with energy.
"Brother Qiangqiang!" she exclaimed cheerfully, wrapping her arms around him in a tight embrace.
Xu Qianghua, momentarily surprised, reacted instinctively, holding her close as her warmth enveloped him.
An Zhihao, after 29 years, still radiated her lively spirit, her boundless energy filling the room. Her G-cup breasts pressed firmly against his chest, feeling somehow softer, fuller than before, her curves more pronounced.
He found himself looking forward to seeing how much more it would grow, as this was already beyond any scientific theory.
But with this world being one of cultivation, anything seemed possible.
Meanwhile, An Zhihao stayed in his arms, close enough that he could feel her warm breath against his neck as she buried her face in his chest. Her playful smile never faded, her joy infectious.
"Miss me?" she teased, her voice soft and filled with affection. She pulled back just enough to meet his gaze, her grin widening as he returned it.
"Always," he replied warmly, tightening his grip around her waist, bringing her even closer. She relaxed into him, her face pressed against his chest, savoring the closeness.
Before he could speak, Lin Yue entered right behind her, her calm and composed expression carrying a hint of a gentle smile as she stepped forward.
Her presence was as steady as always, her serene gaze reflecting years of wisdom and confidence.
"Brother Qiang," she began smoothly, "I've just completed the yearly divination." Her tone held no uncertainty, only quiet assurance.
"It seems that your prediction was wrong," she continued with a calm smile. "The Zerg have located Nexara and are already on their way.
From what I gathered, they'll likely arrive within the next few months, if not by the beginning of next year.
And from the looks of it, they have just devoured a resource planet, which means that the Zerg are carrying some much-needed resources."
Xu Qianghua nodded, his expression remaining calm. He'd spent years preparing for this moment, and while he hadn't expected it quite so soon, he felt no hesitation.
Hearing about the energy they were carrying made him want to laugh out loud, but he held back, allowing only a small chuckle to escape.
His confidence was unshakeable, built from years of growth, preparation, and his determination to make the Xu family stronger than ever.
The years of pouring every ounce of effort into growing the family, combined with his experience from the old timeline, had refined his temperament, mixing unbreakable resilience with calm readiness.
With the Zerg now confirmed to be approaching, his heart didn't skip a beat. In fact, he felt a certain excitement—he was eager to see how much the Xu family and Nexara had grown and how they would fare against this invasion.
"What do we know about their numbers?" he asked, curiosity evident in his voice.
An Zhihao, still settled comfortably on his lap, replied quickly before Lin Yue could. "They're sending around a hundred Nascent Soul cultivators.
For every rank below that, the numbers are doubled," she said casually, as if this large force posed no significant threat.
To her, it didn't. She understood the Xu family's true strength and knew that this number, while formidable for most worlds, wouldn't even force them to reveal a tenth of their potential.
It was something they were more than prepared to face.
"A hundred Nascent Souls," Xu Qianghua repeated thoughtfully, noting the difference from his previous timeline.
The last time, the Zerg's forward force had been weaker, but things had changed. A force of this scale could usually only be assembled by a highly advanced world, one that had spent centuries gathering power.
Yet here it was, and he knew this wasn't a coincidence. The Zerg's unique abilities and endless hunger had turned them into a force that even seasoned realms had trouble contending with.
However, he knew this time would be different. With the Xu family's might behind Nexara, this Zerg force was little more than an opportunity to test their preparations.
Lin Yue's calm voice broke through his thoughts, affirming what he already sensed. "And from what we can tell, they're coming straight at us, unaware of the strength they're rushing into."
Xu Qianghua allowed a confident smile. He felt no fear—only excitement for their arrival. Years of effort had gone into preparing his family and allies to grow as strong as possible in a short span.
The Xu family had not disappointed him. Along with his secret help to many small families with potential, he had ensured that more powerful families could stand up when needed.
He had made these preparations not out of pure necessity but to build a world that could stand on its own, a world where cultivators wouldn't rely solely on the Xu family.
His goal was to avoid the pitfalls he had witnessed in his last timeline—a powerful family burdened by endless demands and expectations, whose strength eventually led to its downfall due to overestimating themselves and losing their foundation.
This was not something that Xu Qianghua wanted for his family. Instead, he planned only to use a maximum of 50% of their total strength in any major events.
He did this so that he could put some pressure on the other families, encouraging them to grow at a much faster rate.
"Then we proceed as planned," he declared. "Place a level 3 notice and distribute detailed reports on the Zerg to everyone who needs to know."
An Zhihao grinned at him, her eyes dancing with excitement. "Consider it done, Brother Qiangqiang," she replied confidently, her voice carrying a hint of playfulness.
Lin Yue gave a steady nod, her serene expression unwavering. "I'll use the Crystal of Foresight to gather more information on their movements," she said.
Xu Qianghua nodded approvingly, his mind already shifting to the levels he'd established with Lin Yue and the other top clansmen.
Each level represented a different degree of threat, with level 5 for minor disturbances and level 0 for an existential crisis.
Above them all, however, was level S—a classification for entities so powerful that even considering resistance seemed foolish.
Yet, level S was a peculiar category. It didn't represent hostile forces but referred to beings of incredible strength who held no immediate ill will.
Instead, they held the potential for communication and negotiation, a strange but useful designation for entities of this magnitude.
The Zerg, however, fell well within the reach of level 3—a force to be dealt with but one that did not surpass their current abilities.
He gave this ranking even after considering the main force of the Zerg, as he knew their primary strength was engaged elsewhere and unable to send top-tier soldiers.
This meant the highest threat they might face was at the Incarnation realm, which, while formidable, posed no significant challenge due to the recent increase in Incarnation realm cultivators within the Xu family.
So he was not worried. Instead, he looked forward to it, seeing this as an excellent training exercise for the clansmen.
An Zhihao and Lin Yue spent a few more moments with him before leaving the room to carry out his orders, their faces calm and confident.
Watching them go, he felt a wave of nostalgia as he compared this life to his last, realizing that what had taken him a lifetime to achieve in the previous timeline was accomplished in less than 31 years in this one.
(A/N: I got the 31 years from the 29 years skip, along with the 1 year skip before, and the few smaller skips in between.)
But he knew he couldn't stop. He had to keep moving forward, ensuring that both he and the family stayed strong, ready to face whatever lay ahead.
However, the Xu family's success wasn't just because of his own efforts; everyone had played a part.
From the youngest clanmen to the most experienced elders, every clan member had worked hard, training and giving their all to make the Xu family into what it is today.
He knew that without their dedication, the family wouldn't be nearly as ready for what was coming.
This teamwork and commitment were what truly made the Xu family strong and ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.