Him and their stars.

Chapter 2029 Shirley Running Laps in the Dragon's Nest
Yu Lian was satisfied with everyone's fearless spirit, but still felt that everyone should be given one last chance to choose:
"However, this is the last chance to choose. If we continue on our current route, we can enter the border of the Broken Light Sector, where it will become increasingly difficult for the enemy to pursue us. If we take another big detour, I am at least 70% confident that I can lead everyone to successfully escape from the Empire."

Some people did show hesitation, but no one spoke.

"If we take this route, will we have to break through the Six Realms Mountain Fortress in the Broken Light Star Sector?" Ina glanced at the star map.

“Since the commander dares to speak up, there must be at least nine ways to bypass this fortress, right?” Fei Fei said with a smile.

That's an exaggeration. Nine types are obviously out of the question, but three or more types are definitely not a problem.

"So why do you feel so familiar with the Empire, like you're at home?" Ina couldn't help but ask.

Her expression showed no sign of doubt, but rather seemed to be stating an objective fact. So Yu Lian simply didn't bother to reply.

Eleanor laughed and said, "Then there's no point in you starting from the Diamond Nebula, fighting your way through the Telais Sector, and then meeting up with us at the Gate of Glory."

Yu Lian looked up at the distant starry sky. But perhaps it was just his imagination, the stars there seemed much brighter. The history of the Tirelo people's cosmic conquest began there.

"Then we must turn back into the Wanfan Star Sector. However, I must remind everyone that from here onwards, we will be in the heartland of the Galactic Empire in the traditional sense. We will face a large number of Imperial fleets pursuing and intercepting us, we will face the fully mobilized Imperial military system, and we will face the Emperor himself. At that point, even I myself cannot guarantee that I will survive to the end," Yu Lian said.

He scanned everyone's faces, sensing their emotions, and awaited their final response.

Half a minute later, he heard his comrades respond.

Eleanor Bonaparte, as the deputy commander of the remaining fleet, answered on behalf of everyone: "We will conquer the heavens!"

The word "conquer" is a bit too strong. Yu Lian said that even the protagonists of his own era wouldn't dare to have such a wish. But as a slogan, it is indeed very inspiring.

"So, at least we can kick His Majesty the Emperor's ass!" Fei Fei laughed.

"Having reached this point, it's a victory, of course," Horatio Wayne declared proudly.

He then told Yu Lian, "Sir, please don't say anything like 'take everyone home.' We're all adults; we know the way home."

“I didn’t say that. In a critical moment, I will arrange for you to cover my retreat,” Yu Lian said.

“Then I will certainly obey without hesitation and fight to the death.” He revealed a frank smile: “But I know you won’t.”

This red-haired guy has grown up quickly, showing the makings of a renowned general. His imposing presence makes him seem fearless even in the Temple of Martial Arts, which makes him somewhat uncomfortable. To be honest, he actually prefers the previous, simpler-minded red-haired guy, who gets easily provoked and becomes enraged – that was so much more fun!
In short, whether they were revolutionary romantics or arrogant and reckless soldiers, they were all determined to live and die with Commander Yu.

Eleanor then convened everyone to devise a battle plan to attack the Red Obsidian Gate. This was a crucial transportation route from the Outer Ring into the Sector of Sails. The history of the Tyrellians' conquest of the Outer Ring also began here.

Of course, with the empire's territory expanded to this point, this place is no longer the most important military stronghold. Its fortress size is far from meeting the standards of Skyhold, and even falls short of the now-destroyed Gate of Glory I. But even so, it shouldn't be something that a fleet of less than 50 ships could easily provoke.

Strangely, no one present felt they couldn't take the fortress; their only concern was minimizing casualties while acting swiftly.

“The battle must be kept under 12 hours,” Wayne reported to Yu Lian.

“No need,” Yu Lian said.

Wayne paused for a moment, then seemed to understand something: "Are you planning to solve the problem by brute force and individual boarding again? I think the closer we get to the Heavenly Realm, the more likely we are to encounter powerful psionicists. If you get bogged down, the entire army will be at a loss. Even if you are injured, it will be a loss for you."

"I thought you would advise me to be cautious about using personal force. It's not good for the organization of the army."

"Why?" Wayne asked, puzzled. "Personal strength is also a weapon. Why not use it when necessary? I just feel that you are the embodiment of the entire army's fighting spirit. Your personal safety can determine the future of all of us, and the future of the war. Abusing such power would indeed be a losing proposition."

"I see." Yu Lian nodded slightly: "If I were just an ordinary psychic without the status of a commander, would I be able to abuse force?"

Wayne nodded very solemnly.

"Including Teacher Lan?"

"You've contacted Master Lan?" The man's face lit up with obvious joy. Yu Lian had no doubt that if Master Lan had indeed appeared here, this man would have begged him to personally intervene without hesitation, even if it meant kneeling down on the spot.

Very good, using every means possible, that's also a kind of general's demeanor.

"Unfortunately, there isn't one," Yu Lian said.

Feifei laughed and said, "I'm actually quite capable, and I'm just a mere adjutant. If we really need to break the deadlock with personal force, I can go again. In essence, that's how we took down the Gate of Glory."

Wayne was speechless for a moment, and his face showed obvious embarrassment and awkwardness.

Okay, although he has grown into a man of great stature, he is still easy to bully at heart.

Yu Lian immediately felt a sense of kinship and told the other party that he had already contacted other reliable allies. Furthermore, they didn't need to risk breaking through the Red Obsidian Gate; they could try a different approach and travel directly through the Dragon Realm.

After a full half minute of silence, Wayne finally revealed an uncontrollable look of astonishment: "So, what Colonel Irika wants to ask also represents my own question, sir, why do you return to the Empire as if it were your own home?"

Feifei covered her mouth and turned her face away, but her chin was trembling uncontrollably.

Yu Lian said solemnly, "Because those who are virtuous receive much help. Everything in the starry sky is my ally!"

If he hadn't already become a general, given Wayne's previous fiery temper, he probably would have lost his temper on the spot.

The remaining fleet then changed its course of action. They left behind some Bifang (a type of magical creature) that bounced around near the gravity well, creating gravitational disturbances to simulate the remnants of the fleet's voyage.

Meanwhile, the fleet itself began to turn, heading towards the entrance of the Dragon Domain to the Gaixian Galaxy, namely the Twilight Galaxy.

On their way, they reunited with Yu Lian's so-called allies.

It was a space pupa the size of a cruiser. Surrounded by the cannons of a group of Earth warships, it slowly approached the Silent One.

Then, a giant with insect-like wings emerged from behind the pupa and came forward to greet them. To show its sincerity, it didn't even have a royal guard or any kind of accompanying honor guard.

Of course, since he is a swarm lord, he can also form an army by himself.

"So it's a Zerg swarm!" The newly joined comrades from the Gate of Glory exclaimed in amazement, saying they had never seen anything like it. They once again expressed their profound admiration for the commander's popularity.

However, if they are veterans who followed the commander all the way from Said, it means they are emotionally stable.

So, it's just a swarm of insects, right? They said it was a piece of cake.

Yu Lian ordered the cabin to be opened and her to enter.

Shirley thus became the first Imperial citizen to board the ancient Enlightened warship—when she was still human, when she was still "alive," she was a proper Imperial noblewoman, a true noblewoman who could receive an annuity from the Herald Academy.

However, Yu Lian quickly realized that although this being possessed the complete appearance, aura, and energy level of Xia Li (Overlord form), it was definitely not her. This was a Lord, a hero unit or legion commander within the Zerg swarm. If appearance were disregarded, it was actually the same creature with the large head he had encountered before.

Ignoring the curious gazes of those around her, she bowed respectfully to Yu Lian, saying, "Lord 9527 pays his respects. I am the lord in charge of the Twilight Gate System Survey Corps."

Yu Lian said that he had never seen a lord like this in his previous life.

9527 seemed to seamlessly sense his doubts and immediately replied, "I am the Mimic Lord, and my greatest function is to replicate the mimicry ability of the Overlord. While maintaining the conservation of mass, I can transform into anything."

Your function already seems very unscientific, so why bother following this rule so scientifically?

Considering that the Silent One was able to dissipate gravity while passing through the gravity well, it became the most unscientific one.

So, despite its incredibly futuristic and advanced warship appearance, it lacks even the scientific knowledge of an insect. If this ship possesses a true will, doesn't it feel ashamed?

Yu Lian felt regret and disdain in his heart, and then he felt the floor ripple, and a sharp spike suddenly pierced the sole of his foot.

It hurts a little, but the skin isn't broken. Also, this ship really does seem to be able to grow nano mushrooms anywhere.

9527 continued, "Moreover, it can replicate all of the Overlord's combat techniques."

"Oh?" An insect's outer body? That's quite novel.

"However, due to the energy carrying capacity limit, it can only reach a maximum of 36 percent of the output."

However, as an external body, its strength is already quite considerable.

"If we can ensure that the distance between us and the Overlord is less than 10,000 miles, and disregard the lifespan, the maximum output can reach 74%. With the Overlord's current capabilities, it can maintain a maximum of 20 units in the same group."

"In other words, you are both lords and extraordinary combat units."

“Definitely.” 9527 nodded.

Okay, these mimicry insects clearly don't seem as intelligent as those brain worms, but they're very honest. Yu Lian also expressed his liking: "What about Xia Li?"

"We have just attacked the Imperial Army's war beast base in the Kader 77 star system, eliminating a total of 72000 military war beasts, including 12 Mountain King Warriors." The lord, who looked like Shirley, began to report seriously, like a strict, rigid, yet loyal secretary.

However, as she prepared to report more detailed data, she moved the shell that formed her eyelids, and her eyes suddenly became lively.

Needless to say, Shirley's will descended seamlessly.

"I thought we wouldn't see each other again until we actually reached the Heavenly Realm," Yu Lian laughed.

“I’ve heard about what you did at the Gate of Glory. I thought you were going to go straight back to the New World,” Shirley said.

"That was my original plan."

"And then you changed your mind?"

“Some things, if we don’t do them now, we’ll have to do them sooner or later. And the price we have to pay will be far greater than it was in the past.”

Shirley seemed to recall some painful past events, and gritted her teeth as she agreed. She didn't hide anything, saying directly, "I'm at Cader 77. The next plan is to attack the Imperial Marine Corps training camp at Durro 8. However, since you've already arrived at Twilight Gate, I can change the plan. It will only take a week to get there. In the meantime, you'll have to find your own way to hide."

She hesitated for a moment, then said with a smug expression, "Of course, I also have a way to traverse the Twilight Gate star system. If you ask me..."

"The gravity well leading from the Twilight Gate to the Dragon Realm is periodic. Today is February 25th, and the cosmic points that can sense the spatial entrance will be between XJH9877I and 77H. As for the Y-axis, it is..."

Yu Lian lowered his voice and recited a series of numbers.

Shock flashed in Shirley's eyes, but there was also a degree of doubt: "This, you, um, where did you find out? I've wanted to ask you this before. You come back to the Empire like it's your own home. I'm the real imperial nobleman, but I'm treated like an outsider."

This phrase sounds so familiar, Yu Lian said, he's heard it so many times that he's starting to get a little tired of it.

"Oh no, the nobility should have been overthrown; they shouldn't exist anymore. Wait, no, that's not right either. How did you find out the Dragon's Nest route code? Did King Suryuka tell you?"

Yu Lian didn't answer. He truly couldn't answer.

"What an extraordinary level of romantic madness! But that doesn't make sense! She should only know part of it."

That's wrong. She knows everything, just like me.

Yu Lian smiled and countered, "According to the timeline, you should have arrived near the Dragon's Nest by the end of January, but you've only been wandering around the surrounding star fields. Why is that?"

Shirley didn't feel like talking for a moment.

"Could it be that you only have the coordinates for March?"

Shirley remained silent.

"And it was just one day in March?"

The light in her eyes flickered twice before vanishing, and she returned to her stiff, mechanical demeanor as a lord.

She left. She came so decisively, and she left just as gracefully.

Then, Lord 9527, having regained his free will, saluted Yu Lian again and said in a measured tone, "I will follow your lead. For now, your orders will take precedence over the Overlord's."

Yu Lian was quite satisfied. If they wanted to dig up graves, the insects might be even more useful than the round, chubby Bifang robots. Moreover, having a Mimic Lord was equivalent to having an avatar seamlessly connected to Xia Li. Since they were allies going to kick the emperor's ass together, everything could be discussed.

Yu Lian then received news that Duke Barryen's main fleet had finally arrived in the Gaixian Star Region and was heading straight for the border.

At the same moment, the fleets of Sobek and Nobov, which had been hesitating for 12 hours, also began to move.

Gravitational signals simulated using nanomechanics cannot fool the enemy for long.

The staff led by Deng Zhengqing analyzed that if they continued to stay in the Mumen system, they would be blocked by the main fleet of the Empire near Mumen within 72 hours at the latest.

"Of course, we can still rush back to the Red Obsidian. But we only have less than four hours left to attack the fortress."

Just as Deng Zhengqing made this report, he received a report from Eleanor Bonaparte on the Aurora.

"Gravity well signal confirmed, and positive response from the warp drive. We... Your Excellency, we've found the entrance to the Dragon's Nest!"