Biochemical Martial Arts: Supreme Heavenly Venerate

At the same time, the Great Song's Second Divine Envoy, Yu Huaxuan, also arrived above the Star Port area.

Located at the central position between the former Xuanhua and Tiantong prefectures, Lin Hao had selected a flat piece of land here as the future site of the Great Song Star Port.

Although it was deep into the night, the interior of the Star Port was still bustling with activity. From a thousand feet in the air, Yu Huaxuan looked down and saw construction occurring everywhere. On the sites, thousands of construction machines moved back and forth under the illumination of lights, resembling busy ants at work.

Yu Huaxuan then shifted his gaze to an area near the river, noticing patches of gray and white structures that appeared like box-shaped houses, with lights spilling out from within the buildings.

The brightly lit scene, filled with an air of demonic energy, made Yu Huaxuan feel somewhat uneasy, and his gaze grew more enigmatic.

This area by the river was the factory district established upon the petition of Cabinet Minister Lin Hao.

Machinery imported from the Outer Heaven Demons was being used here to process various herbs, grains, ores, and other resources from Sky Extreme Star into simple semi-finished products, which were then sold to the Outer Heaven Demons.

Not only did this reduce the product volumes, allowing the Outer Heaven Demons' ships to carry higher-value goods back to the Heavenly Demon Origin for improved trade efficiency and product value, but it also created a large number of high-income jobs.

The key benefit was the increase in tax revenue for the Star Port. The Divine Envoy Bureau had previously vetoed Lin Hao's proposal for universal education but approved the establishment of factories in the Star Port area primarily for this reason.

"Divine Envoy Yu!"

Nearby, the Great Wei's Third Divine Envoy, Cui Peipei, also wore an inscrutable expression: "I have heard that your Great Song hasn't even officially begun trade operations, yet you are already raking in piles of gold daily? Could Divine Envoy Yu perhaps reveal just how much silver coin your Star Port has made thus far?"

Yu Huaxuan cast a sideways glance at Cui Peipei and then at the Third Divine Envoy of the Great Cheng, Zong Xiushan.

The purpose of his trip to the Star Port this time was threefold: first, to lend his support to the event of the Star Port's opening and underscore the court's emphasis on this location; second, to urge Lin Hao to hand over the "license security deposit" and "land transfer fees" he currently held.

The third purpose was to escort these two Third Divine Envoys for an inspection tour.

The two of them had made it clear they could no longer abide their stay in the Great Song and proposed a condition to the Great Song Court: to explore the Star Port in-depth just once and understand its inner workings, after which they would depart for their home countries.

Tired of dealing with them, the emperor and the three Divine Envoys, including Yu himself, were overjoyed when they heard the suggestion. Coincidentally, Yu Huaxuan already needed to make a trip to the Star Port, so he was tasked with inviting the two guests.

Originally, Yu Huaxuan intended to say, 'This is a state secret of the Great Song and cannot be disclosed.' However, he recalled that this transparency was part of the agreed exchange.

All the secrets of the Star Port would be traded to bury the matter of the Abyss Divine Tablet being raided.

After some brief contemplation, Yu Huaxuan waved his folding fan and said, "The Star Port Department, assembled by Lin Hao, is tightly controlled by his trusted disciples. Secrecy within the department is rigorous, but the Divine Envoy Bureau estimates the current revenue falls between thirty to forty-five million taels of Divine Gold—perhaps even higher!"

Cui Peipei and Zong Xiushan gasped audibly upon hearing this.

Forty-five million taels of Divine Gold? That was roughly equivalent to nearly thirty percent of the annual land tax revenue of their two nations combined.

Cui Peipei's complexion alternated between shades of pale white and dark green.

About ten days ago, when Cui Peipei had been pressing the Great Song to provide manpower and resources to help recover the Abyss Divine Tablet, she had personally overheard the cacophony within the Great Song's Divine Envoy Bureau and Cabinet. Words from internal members like 'Such high revenues already?' and 'The land at the Star Port is this valuable?' and 'Even before opening, we've generated this much income?' along with someone exclaiming 'Worthy of a National Guardian Marquess' still echoed in her ears.

While Cui Peipei had suspected that the Star Port's financial returns would be astonishing, she had never imagined that mere revenues from land sales and licenses alone could reach such heights!

"Truly astonishing!" She cast a sidelong glance at Yu Huaxuan and scoffed, "Your Great Song Divine Envoy Bureau dares allow such a significant revenue-generating asset to fall into the hands of a mere child?"

Yu Huaxuan certainly did not wish for it. The Star Port Department was a tempting prize, coveted by the emperor and all three of the court's Divine Envoys.

The issue was that the Divine Palace did not permit such actions. Both the Divine Hierarch and the Great Celestial Master of the palace highly valued Lin Hao and favored him overwhelmingly.

It was evident that they had placed great hopes on the Star Port Department. Compared to the emperor and Yu Huaxuan's local inspections, which had been obstructed by various regional powers with minimal gains, Lin Hao effortlessly increased the court's effective revenue by thirty percent of the land tax. Naturally, this won him immense faith and expectation from the Divine Hierarch.

Not to mention the Grand Ancestor and the Grand Emperor of the Great Song's founding era.

The general public of the Great Song believed these two figures to have been laid to rest in imperial tombs, but in truth, they had escaped deep into Purgatory to hide.

According to investigations by the Purgatory Department, these Great Song ancestors were highly likely to have joined the ranks of the Three Gods of Purgatory. Among them, the Great Song's Grand Ancestor might even have infiltrated the Earth Federation in an alien form.

Would the Divine Palace allow itself to be unprepared against the emperor? Of course, it would rely on the First and Third Divine Envoys.

Alas, Yu Huaxuan's eagerness to unseat the First Divine Envoy and consolidate power alongside the emperor had already sown seeds of doubt within the Divine Palace regarding his loyalty.

Yu Huaxuan caught the undertone of dissatisfaction in Cui Peipei's words and replied with a neutral expression, "Lin Hao is no mere child. Since his integration into the court, he has racked up countless achievements. He currently holds the title of National Guardian Marquess and a Second-Rank Red Priest of the Divine Palace."

Bear in mind that even Yu Huaxuan himself was merely a First-Rank Lesser Celestial Master of the palace.

Lin Hao's status was already on par with that of the Candidate Divine Envoys.

"Speaking of which," Yu Huaxuan recalled something and inquired, "Where is your disciple Han Xian'er? Wasn't she supposed to have a duel with Lin Hao? When is that planned to occur?"