Back in the Xu family subspace.
Xu Qianghua, whose face still retained a youthful appearance, now held an air of maturity and majesty—a presence so profound it could bring the strongest cultivators to their knees in silent reverence.
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."
"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.