Chapter 1239 - 347: Preparations for Next Time_3

Although Chen Ming had previously speculated that the Destroyer might remain here due to the Insect Race’s influence,

he could not be 100% certain, as the strategic value of the Destroyer was quite apparent, clearly suggesting it had much better options to realize its value elsewhere.

However, with the arrival of this Insect Race ship, Chen Ming finally confirmed his thoughts.

And he thus had the opportunity to attempt to seize this Destroyer.

Chen Ming began to feel a bit excited.

But he quickly poured cold water on himself.

The number of Insect Race fleets he had left was already quite limited.

Repeated instances of large-scale battles in a short period have resulted in huge losses every time.

Being able to last until now was due to the Insect Queen developing long enough on that planet that could already be considered abandoned, allowing them to sustain.

However, no matter what, the resources originally possessed by the insects have been depleted to the point where they can barely support Chen Ming in continuing his operations in the territory of the Mechanical Race.

After the excitement passed, he focused back on his tasks.

At the very least, for now, he still had to wait, wait for the Insect Race to develop again.

This time, Chen Ming only had one Insect Hive Planet, merely about 500,000 cruisers of the Insect Race fleet, which gave Chen Ming the confidence to confront the Main Ship head-on with cruisers.

And the next time Chen Ming arrives at the Mechanical Race Star Realm with his fleet, it will definitely be much more than just that.

Given the reproductive efficiency of the Insect Race, it wouldn’t be long before Chen Ming could assemble a more terrifying and powerful fleet once again.

He would have chances in the future.

The Destroyer should not be moving anymore.

Only by ensuring logistics can they persist in the war.

As for Chen Ming, as long as the Mechanical Race is willing to ensure logistics, he still has the possibility of seizing the Destroyer.

There is one question Chen Ming did not understand even after high-intensity battles with the Mechanical Race.

Where exactly are the external reinforcements for the Mechanical Race?

Of course, Chen Ming’s question would not be answered.

However, once his Insect Race fleet number increased, he might attempt using a massive carpet-style transition with Insect Race ships to confirm.

For now, it was best to let it go.

Moreover, while he was busy battling wits with the Mechanical Race.

At this moment in the Audan Star Realm with An Wuping.

Minister Hou had also likely heard An Wuping’s account of the Black Mist Prosthetic seizing part of the Insect Race units to attack the Mechanical Race.

Of course, An Wuping’s account would certainly differ from what Chen Ming actually did, and there was quite a bit of concealment.

But it was mostly clear that the emphasis in An Wuping’s words was that an unknown entity shrouded in Black Mist had emerged.

Minister Hou, besides understanding An Wuping, was equally informed about Chen Ming’s intelligence.

So upon hearing the keyword Black Mist, he confirmed, "Are you sure it’s Black Mist? When did it appear?"

An Wuping replied, "It’s a very dense Black Mist, just now, shortly after I entered this room, something suddenly emerged from the shadows, wrapped in Black Mist... I don’t know what exactly it is, but roughly humanoid."

"After that entity emerged from the Black Mist, it immediately released more Black Mist to cover my Insect Race units, and all those insects were influenced by the Black Mist, disconnecting from the Insect Queen’s control."

"Black Mist..."

There was once a widely known Black Mist Spirit Ability User who, as a member of Zuo Jing, attempted to assassinate Chen Ming and Bai Quan alongside Chen Ming.

It was reported then that the Black Mist Spirit Ability User was killed by Chen Ming on the spot, with no corpse left behind.

Though there was no corpse at the time, Bai Quan’s testimony supported this account, which was thus recorded as such.

But now, upon hearing An Wuping mention the appearance of the Black Mist, Minister Hou instinctively wondered whether this Black Mist was related to Chen Ming.

Of course, this was just an instinctive thought, quickly dismissed.

Zuo Jing’s brainwashing ability was well-known.

Even recognized aware Psychics could be brainwashed; the Black Mist Spirit Ability User couldn’t possibly switch to Chen Ming’s side.

Moreover, back when the Black Mist Spirit Ability User attempted assassination, the Mind Control Psychic was not dead yet, and he doubted Chen Ming would specifically spare the life of someone who tried to assassinate him and Bai Quan.

Furthermore, Zuo Jing also had the presence of Thousand Faces, a Psychic known to imitate others’ spiritual energy effects and transform spiritual energy effects into Heart-Gathering Spirit Pearl for others to use.

He was also a troublesome guy, ultimately dying at An Wuping’s hands.

His presence made the Heart-Gathering Spirit Pearl of the Black Mist plausible to be lost and driven by others.

Currently, Minister Hou only heard the word Black Mist from An Wuping’s mouth.

Spirit Ability Users with effects similar to Black Mist do exist, not necessarily Zuo Jing’s people, even less likely to be the initial Black Mist Spirit Ability User.

The sudden appearance of the Black Mist truly makes it hard not to suspect matters related to Zuo Jing.

As Minister Hou knew, Zuo Jing had repeatedly been thoroughly dealt with historically.

The Empire had attempted numerous times, at great cost, to clear Zuo Jing elements throughout the Empire and had "succeeded" before.

But after a few or a dozen years, Zuo Jing would emerge once more.

This time with Zuo Jing’s Mind Control Psychic being eliminated, many Zuo Jing members confessed and surrendered ending the brainwashing, so many believed Zuo Jing’s source of psychic powers was eradicated, and Zuo Jing was finished.