Chapter 897. Xakira’s Strategic Advice and Eternal Trial Domain Reopening!

Chapter 897: Chapter 897. Xakira’s Strategic Advice and Eternal Trial Domain Reopening!

When Liu Shu heard about the new war between the Covenant and the Nexus, she was somewhat startled. While she had not expected immediate retaliation, Liu Shu believed that she had become a threat large enough for those two super-powers to take her seriously and use malicious methods to get her.

Her political moves had been powerful, but she had no influence in the Covenant’s sphere. All claims, regardless of how prominent, would get buried by propaganda if they had no support.

Therefore, what she did in the Covenant’s sphere of influence was meant to give the Golden Sap Empire a few decades, and at most, a century of peace. For Liu Shu, that could scale up to three centuries of peace.

Meanwhile, she would be dealing with the conquering of the Nexus and using them for growth while also fully assimilating and tightening the security around the nine Solar Systems surrounding her.

Those nine Solar Systems were, in a way, the "wall" defending the Ceperet Solar System. Their locations were also quite nice, creating a spread out but somewhat tight security sphere.

As for the Solar Systems she conquered beyond that, Liu Shu wouldn’t involve herself much beyond basic support, at least in the short time. Unless, of course, there was a reason to invest like Etheria or other incredible individuals.

Either way, no matter what, Liu Shu had expected her war with the Covenant and Nexus to start truly after just a few decades at most.

"...And yet, they have begun fighting each other?"

Liu Shu was truly bewildered. She was the clear threat. Or at least, she believed she had already revealed more than enough to be marked as such. And yet, instead of attacking her now when she was at her weakest, they choose to just... ignore her?

From her viewpoint, it was an incomprehensible move. Liu Shu, after all, didn’t know the complex situation within the Nexus and Covenant. So, this move felt nonsensical.

"Well, I can only say that I am lucky. Since the Nexus chose to attack the Covenant, they won’t mind if I just poke a few of their nearby Solar systems, right?"

Eclipse Solar System, the place where the first Nexus armies came from, was rather close in the starmap. If she put her mind to it, Liu Shu was sure that she would be able to extend her roots and arrive to it in less than a decade.

As she was pondering, Xakira, the gorgeous Hornet Queen, called her. "Liu Shu, dear, are you there?"

Liu Shu moved her main consciousness and saw the Hornet Queen resting on a comfortable chair. The chair was designed for tail-bearing creatures, having a wide hole behind to fit it. In the Hornet Queen’s arms, Liu Shu noticed a young hornet feeding on something similar to honey. Similar, because Hornets were actually carnivorous insects. So it looked like reddish honey, but it was made from pure animal and insect protein.

"Oh? Another baby? You’ve had a few lately, Xakira."

Xakira laughed, her lips arched in a satisfied manner. "This place gives me so much security that my instincts are just telling me to increase the population. Moreover, the girls who have grown up here are not aiming for my throne as much, so I feel more at ease having children."

As explained before, the Hornet Empire’s ruler was decided based on strength. So, Hornet Princesses attacking the queen and killing them to usurp the throne was not rare. It was not that there was no familiar affection, but their way of living was just like that.

Xakira, even if defeated, would not feel resentful. Their species didn’t work like that. Her brain would feel satisfaction and pride in whoever managed to steal her throne, feeling a sense of relief that the empire would continue strong.

Regardless, Xakira was still standing strong. Her talent had increased greatly, and since Liu Shu took care of her personally, she had received the absolute best resources of the Golden Sap Empire. Even then, she had some daughters to keep an eye on.

There were a few who, thanks to Liu Shu, were born with monstrous talents and had even listed to receive Apothea’s blessings from Level 100. Once grown, those would for sure become strong enough to surpass Xakira.

Therefore, Xakira was currently giving birth to as many children as she could, just in case her future was on a timer.

Liu Shu somewhat felt it and spoke. "I know it’s your tradition, Xakira. However, I told you I won’t let them kill you. They can dethrone you, but they can’t kill you. I won’t allow it."

Xakira had been her protector and someone who treated her with genuine love. Would she just sit back and watch as Xakira was dethroned and killed within her empire? Naturally not.

Her words, full of warmth and care, made Xakira’s lips arch. "...Alright. Thank you, Liu Shu."

Liu Shu used a root to coil around her arm. "No. I am the one who should say thank you. Without you, Rhazor’s situation would’ve been very dangerous."

"I am sure you would’ve been able to overcome it."

Xakira thought so with sincerity. What she achieved was preventing the death of a few people, not victory. In her opinion, Liu Shu’s core being was strong enough to withstand Level 200 threats.

Sighing softly and feeling grateful, Xakira spoke up. "I called you to suggest your next steps."

Liu Shu heard her. "Instead of targeting the Nexus, I feel that you can ignore it for now. Instead, target our empires."

Xakira and the two other kings have been away for a while. That didn’t mean they cut communication with their empires. Due to their absence, many power structures had silently shifted. Even then, their authority remained due to their Level.

Remember, Xakira was Level 199 before she left her Empire. Even if she was away, if someone dared to take over and Xakira returned as a Level 260, they would be, to put it simply, in deep trouble.

So, her authority, while damaged, remained solid and standing.

Liu Shu pondered. ’From what I know, the three Insectoid Empires cover around 36 Solar Systems in total. They are also not too far...’

Opening the star map, Liu Shu glanced over and calculated. "Hm... It would take my roots around 12 years in that direction. Then, if I want to cover all Solar Systems. Hm, around 50 years? Perhaps a bit more."

Here came the dilemma. ’Do I spread to a territory that’s already mostly conquered, or do I use this chance to strike at the Nexus’s side?’

Consolidate existing power or strike at the enemy’s frontlines when they are preoccupied?

Both had strategic advantages, but if she wanted to fully utilize either of them, she couldn’t divide her focus.

’How many Solar Systems are in between their empire and ours?’

Liu Shu activated the star map to show territories, and she noticed three small empires, each having three to five Solar Systems. There were also around 11 rogue Solar Systems. Among those 11 Solar Systems, five of them belonged to <Sect>-type powers. These powers didn’t conquer, but their individual strength was nothing to joke about.

A sect was a gathering of elites, and it was where Seraphina and Obsidianis had been before they came to the Golden Sap Empire. "What was the name of their sects... Ah, right. <Seven Star Branches Sect> and <Deep Maw Sect>."

Those two sects were among the five Solar System Sects in the 11 rogue Solar Systems. As for the last six, they were below Level 100 Solar Systems where Liu Shu could find hidden talents.

"So... if I gather all of them, that’s... 61 new Solar Systems."

Instead of eating away at the Nexus, she would become a massive empire on her own.

’The Golden Sap Empire would be decentralized, though.’

Ceperet was at the edge, so spreading in that direction would cause her empire to become egg-shaped.

Xakira knew Liu Shu’s worries. She was, after all, an Empress who had defended her empire from even Level 200 threats for centuries. So, she calmly listed the advantages.

"Liu Shu, you are too focused on... symmetry. I have noticed, but you have somewhat of an OCD impulse when expanding."

Liu Shu blinked, and Xakira chuckled. "I understand why you do that. Space looks far too open and easy to attack from any direction, does it not? Here is where you are confused, love. That’s not the case at all."

Liu Shu frowned. "Explain."

Xakira explained. "From your perspective as a World Tree, moving through space is almost instinctive, and you don’t really get lost. You know where your roots are heading at all times, and you can perceive the cosmos itself as a large, three-dimensional continent. Up, down, left, right, forward, backward—you understand each direction using yourself as the anchor point. We, the Humanoid Species, are not that way at all."

Liu Shu pondered over her words. Xakira explained a bit further. "Do you think that going from the Ceperet Solar System to a nearby Solar System can be done by an individual? Even a Level 300 might get lost. Our distance perception in the void is... null."

Xakira said this from experience. During the war, after fighting outside for a while, Xakira always had to check behind her to know where the starships were and how to return to them. Actually, around 1 in 50,000 reported deaths were because they got lost.

It was a very small amount, basically negligible. Nevertheless, it happened. Didn’t Liu Shu find a few stragglers of both the Nexus and Covenant sitting in asteroids with empty gazes in the past?

Some of them asked to be saved; others told her to scram. No matter their reaction, the fact was that all of them were just lost.

Liu Shu asked. "So... Are you saying that starships and attacks can only come from fixed directions previously mapped in a starmap?"

"Yes."

Xakira nodded. "There can be deviations. No doubt. However, it is not an all-choice buffet in terms of attack direction. Why do you think your circling strategy against the Nexus worked so perfectly? Carter must’ve been shocked that you managed to circle around the Solar System and take their back. I can picture his stunned expression in my mind even now. I know I would’ve been as shocked."

Liu Shu absorbed the information and pondered. "So... central Solar Systems are, in a way, impossible to reach without passing through the outer Solar Systems?"

"Mostly correct. There will be exceptions. Scouts pathing different routes, powerful treasures that can create temporary paths between stars, and more. However, those are exceptional means that are not used to guide large armies. Moreover, once you slip past the outer defense, aren’t you leaving yourself open to flanking attacks from behind? There is a reason why, when conquering a territory, you don’t just attack the capital."

"Hm... I am convinced. Using <Recolocation> and my <Soulseeds>, I can fortify the edges while also preventing the collapse of the central Solar Systems. If I don’t need to reinforce all Solar Systems equally, your tactic is much better in everything but making my opponents weaker."

With Xakira’s advice in hand, Liu Shu’s thoughts changed and she decided to completely ignore both the Covenant and the Nexus. At least for now. When the war between them caused sufficient damage, Liu Shu believed that her armies would’ve expanded enough to start a true takeover.

’There are enough Solar Systems around me to become a Globular Star System Empire after I absorb the Nexus.’

She would become a behemoth before anyone could even react.

As if <Destiny> itself wanted to help her, the <Eternal Trial Domain> that had been hiding stirred away.

From deep within, Aionthra’s voice reached Liu Shu. "Good morning, Mother. I am awake."

Liu Shu looked over excitedly and glanced at her baby, who had been sleeping.

***

Name: Aionthra, She Who Walks Between Seconds.

Level: 399

Overall Tier: SS Tier (22 Stars)

***

Liu Shu’s eyes widened. ’Branches Above! Baby has grown in the blink of an eye! She has even gained one Overall Tier. From SS- Tier to SS Tier!’

Of course, that didn’t matter at all. Soon, Aionthra was entangled in Liu Shu’s roots, hugged, and patted until the elegant empress smiled goofily with happiness.