Pretending to be a genius starts with the civilization advancement assessment.

Chapter 225 Preparing for War, Meeting in the Stars (6.4K)

Inside the tea room of Cuiyu Xingzhou, the lingering fragrance of Qinghui Dew had not yet completely dissipated, and a faint aroma permeated the air.

Irelia's emotions were still turbulent. She didn't notice Lin Yi's subtle change in expression at all, and simply sighed, "Captain, this Clear Radiance Dew is actually my first time taking it. Its main effect is to greatly enhance a cultivator's comprehension in a short period of time, cleanse the dust from the soul, and bring it closer to the origin of the rules. As for increasing source energy, that's just a side effect. I wonder how you feel, Captain."

She originally thought that this tea would only increase her chances of breaking through to the Star Domain level, given that she was already at the Star Swirl level. She never expected that it would become the key to her final push.

"The effect is indeed remarkable."

Lin Yi nodded in agreement, then smiled and chuckled lightly, "My gains are so-so, though my source energy has solidified quite a bit. It's definitely not as great as Ellie's gains, stepping into the Star Domain in one fell swoop, that's a real great opportunity."

He showed no sign of it on his face, but he had already made up his mind: he must accumulate as much spiritual energy as possible! Next time he encounters something as good as Qinghui Dew, he can combine it with spiritual energy for a two-pronged approach, wouldn't his comprehension efficiency be heaven-defying? And he won't be in a situation where he easily loses his genius persona.

Irelia took Lin Yi's understated manner as mere modesty.

She thought to herself, "The leader is exceptionally talented and has an extremely high understanding of rules. Drinking this tea will definitely benefit him primarily in his comprehension of rules."

Although comprehending the second rule will be interfered with by the first rule already mastered, making it much more difficult, given the leader's extraordinary comprehension, the gains will certainly be substantial, far more than just "the source energy has solidified considerably".

Irelia thought to herself, "He's probably being considerate of my recent breakthrough and doesn't want me to seem boastful if he says too much, which might discourage me, so he's deliberately being so understated."

"You're too modest, Commander." Irelia's lips curved slightly, revealing a faint smile. "In Xia Kingdom terms, you are truly a gentleman."

Even with Lin Yi's thick skin, he couldn't help but blush a little upon hearing this. He quickly coughed lightly and changed the subject: "Ahem, Ellie, let's get back to business. After the mercenary group's personnel selection is completed, the next step is training. We have three years. When the supplies arrive in three years, that's when we'll set off."

He looked at Irelia and said seriously, "Regarding the Sheena family, the selection and preliminary organization of members willing to join the East Peak Mercenary Group will be entirely entrusted to you. They don't need to come to Blue Star; they can go directly to Purple Star to wait for us, which will save a lot of time."

Irelia nodded in agreement: "The leader's consideration is thorough. There are indeed some clansmen skilled in combat or possessing special abilities; I will conduct a rigorous selection process. However..."

She added, "In order to quickly form combat capability after arriving at Zichen Star, team cohesion is crucial. I suggest that after three years, when the batch of portable virtual network launchers we purchased from the Chamber of Commerce arrive, we should immediately have the team members conduct joint training through the Pan-Spirit Alliance virtual network. The virtual network is sufficient to simulate most interstellar environments and mission scenarios, which can effectively improve team collaboration capabilities."

"good idea."

Lin Yi had actually thought of this method before, since in his previous life, when the various teams were carrying out missions separately, they would also conduct joint training sessions regularly. However, it was more appropriate for Ellie to suggest this method.

Lin Yi agreed, saying, "Virtual training allows us to familiarize ourselves with the material beforehand without disrupting our schedule. Let's do it your way."

In this way, the core framework of the Dongfeng Mercenary Group can be initially built and refined in the virtual world before officially accepting missions.

After discussing some details, Lin Yi got up to take his leave and returned to the Blue Star Community headquarters to continue his cultivation.

The newly enhanced source energy and understanding of life rules need time to be stabilized and digested.
-
Time flies, and half a month has passed in the blink of an eye.

The recruitment of the first batch of personnel from the Blue Star civilization by the Dongfeng Mercenary Group has officially ended.

After Xuanji's initial screening and Lin Yi's review, the first batch of members was finalized, including two hundred Star Core level official members and more than eighteen hundred Star Dust level reserve members who had mastered unique skills.

On this day, all the selected members, whether seasoned Star Core level experts or promising Star Dust level upstarts, received a special order to return to Dongfeng Military Academy.

However, instead of returning to the familiar physical campus, they entered a "virtual Dongfeng Military Academy" through the newly issued virtual access pods. This academy was built under the leadership of Xuanji and incorporated a large amount of interstellar knowledge donated by the Human Race Merchant Guild.

The moment their consciousness connected, the scene before them shocked even veteran Star Core level beings like Chen Yu and Andrei.

They found themselves in the center of a huge circular plaza, where the sky above them was no longer blue with white clouds, but a dark cosmic curtain dotted with countless stars, and in the distance, they could see slowly rotating nebulae and scorching stars.

Around the plaza stand rows of futuristic, silver-gray buildings, labeled with names such as [Interstellar Tactical Simulation Hall], [Starship Control Simulation Center], [Orbital Drop Training Ground], and [Alien Environment Adaptation Pod].

"Attention all!"

The celestial bell rang in everyone's ears. "Welcome to Dongfeng Military Academy, Starsea Branch. From today until your departure, you will receive comprehensive basic skills training as interstellar mercenaries. Your past honors and strength are the foundation here, not the end. The goal is: within three years, master the basic abilities to survive and fight in the starry sea!"

Without a lengthy mobilization, training began immediately.

In individual combat training in a space environment, everyone is instantly transported to a cold, vacuum-like space.

Weightlessness, low temperature, radiation warnings—various negative conditions are clearly communicated to everyone.

The virtual instructor's voice rang in my ears.

"Adjust your energy sources to adapt to the weightless environment!"

"Utilize source energy or jet propulsion for maneuvering! Pay attention to source energy."

"The enemy may appear from any direction; maintain 360-degree all-around awareness!"

Soon, a swarm of virtual "space raider" drones surged in from all directions, their energy beams crisscrossing.

The Star Core level powerhouses were able to maintain their footing thanks to their formidable strength and rudimentary application of the rules, while the Star Dust level prospective members appeared rather disheveled, with people constantly being destroyed, their consciousnesses regenerating in the plaza, and then gritting their teeth and throwing themselves back into the fray.

Chen Yu yelled and brandished a battle sword simulated by source energy, slicing through beams of energy as he tried to get closer to the enemy ship, shouting, "This is much more troublesome than cutting down the Abyss Beasts, there are enemies all around!" But the excitement in his eyes far outweighed his complaints.

Elizabeth, on the other hand, was much calmer. Her body was surrounded by the icy power of the rules, which condensed into countless ice crystal shields and spears in the vacuum. She was able to handle both offense and defense with ease and was constantly adjusting her power output to adapt to the rules of the vacuum environment.

Those who are more mature and prudent, such as Liu Yuan, pay more attention to observation and learning, silently recording various data and coping strategies.

In the basic starship knowledge and operation training, everyone was divided into groups and entered the simulated starship cabin.

From the most basic assault boats to complex integrated attack ships, Xuanji provides detailed virtual tutorials. "Get to know every control unit in front of you, the engine power output adjustment, the shield energy distribution, the weapon system locking and firing procedures."

"Remember! In the Star Sea, warships are your mobile fortresses and strongest weapons. Even star-domain level powerhouses will be defeated when facing a well-organized fleet."

On the enormous virtual screen, structural diagrams of the warships, energy flow routes, and tactical commands scrolled down like a waterfall. For the powerful beings of Earth, accustomed to individual combat, this was a completely new realm.

Some people learn very quickly, such as Zhou Yuxuan, who is good at analysis and logical thinking, and he is like a fish in water.

Some people find it very difficult, such as Chen Yu and Andrei, who rely more on intuition and strength, and feel that it is even more difficult than understanding the rules.

Looking at the dense array of buttons and virtual screens in front of him, Andrei carefully tapped them with his thick fingers, muttering, "Why can't we give the intelligent life form full control?" This drew a chuckle from his teammates, but the laughter was quickly interrupted by a stern warning from the instructor.

What everyone found most novel was the orbital landing and the attack and defense of strongholds.

They need to break through a simulated "planetary defense system" on an alien surface with abnormal gravity and complex atmospheric composition, land precisely in a designated area, and then establish a defensive line or capture an enemy stronghold.

"Pay attention to environmental parameters: gravity, air pressure, radiation levels, and the presence of potentially toxic gases or protozoa!"

"The landing module is not invincible! Avoid attacks and choose the best landing point!"

"Establish a position, set up temporary energy shields and reconnaissance equipment!" Nightingale's figure stood out in this training.

Her "Shadow Thousand Kills" perfectly showcases her mobility in complex terrain, allowing her to dart like a ghost through jagged rocks and gaps in energy explosions, often eliminating key threats first.

In addition, there are numerous theoretical and non-combat courses such as [Interstellar Common Language Enhancement], [Anti-Spirit Alliance Common Equipment Identification and Maintenance], [Basic Star Navigation], and [Mercenary Mission Procedures and Risk Identification].

Every day, the virtual Dongfeng Military Academy is in a state of extreme tension and fulfillment.

Intensive training, realistic simulations, and fierce competition rankings have enabled these pioneers to absorb interstellar knowledge and skills at an astonishing pace.

They knew in their hearts that every drop of sweat they shed now might increase their chances of survival in the real world of space in the future.

In the virtual world, time flies.

Two and a half years passed quietly amidst this rigorous training day after day.

On this day, Lin Yi was in a private training room on the top floor of the community headquarters, guiding the increasingly powerful source energy within his body while carefully comprehending the mysteries of the rules of life.

With the lingering effects of the Qinghui Dew, two and a half years later, his understanding of the rules of life slowly but steadily progressed to about 7%.

Suddenly, Xuanji's notification sounded in his ear: "Principal, an encrypted signal has been received from the Human Interstellar Merchant Guild's 'Fast Delivery' service. The transport fleet marked 'Procurement of Supplies' has arrived at the preset coordinates—Blue Star LB-7392113-C. The guild's escort fleet requests to initiate the handover procedure."

Lin Yi suddenly opened his eyes, a glint of light flashing in them.

After a two-and-a-half-year wait, it has finally arrived.

He contacted Irelia: "Irelia, the guild's delivery has arrived, in airspace LB-7392113. Let's go pick it up together."

"Understood, Commander, I'll be there right away." Irelia's voice also carried a hint of anticipation.

A moment later, two streaks of light shot into the sky from the blue planet, broke through the atmosphere, entered the cold space of space, and sped toward the preset coordinates.

Soon, a silent star field appeared before them.

Here, far from the stars, only distant starlight provides faint illumination.

In the void, a sizable fleet was quietly suspended.

In the center are five large, somewhat bulky, disposable unmanned transport ships. Their surfaces shimmer with a dark blue light, indicating that the system is in standby mode, and the emblem of the Human Interstellar Merchant Guild is clearly painted on their hulls.

These transport ships were clearly specially designed with expanded interior space to carry all the procured supplies, including Borei-class warships, individual soldier equipment, and planetary defense matrices.

Surrounding the transport ship were three silver-gray frigates equipped with clearly visible weapon systems.

They spread out in a warning formation, with the scanning array at the bow of the ship occasionally sweeping across the surrounding airspace.

This is the standard escort force provided by the Chamber of Commerce to ensure the safety of goods during the final leg of their journey in "rapid delivery".

As Lin Yi and Irelia approached, the hatch of one of the escort ships opened, and a high-level intelligent robot made of precision metal with eyes that shimmered with a soft blue light flew out.

The intelligent robot approached Lin Yi. "Distinguished guest. By order of the Human Interstellar Commerce Guild Purple Gold Star Alliance, your order has been safely delivered to the designated coordinates. This is the packing list and the self-inspection report on the integrity of the packaging. Please check."

It raised its hand and projected a light screen displaying a detailed list of supplies and various test data. Lin Yi and Irelia quickly browsed through it, confirming that it matched the order, all supplies were properly sealed, and the energy reaction was stable.

"Confirmed." Lin Yi nodded.

"Thank you very much for your confirmation."

The intelligent robot bowed slightly. "The handover process is complete. The Chamber of Commerce's escort fleet mission is finished and will return in one standard hour. We wish your mercenary group great success on your journey across the stars!"

After saying that, it returned to the frigate with the other intelligent robots.

The engines of the three merchant guild escort ships glowed with a ghostly blue light. They adjusted their course and quickly transformed into three streaks of light, disappearing into the deep starry sky.

In the void, only the five fully loaded, disposable unmanned transport ships remained, quietly awaiting their owners.

Looking at the massive amount of supplies that were enough to arm an elite mercenary group and establish a preliminary interstellar base, Lin Yi felt a surge of pride.

He turned to Irelia and smiled, "Irelia, our belongings have finally arrived. Now, it's time to put them to use!"

Irelia gazed at the transport fleet, her icy blue eyes gleaming.

"Commander, we can begin the next step of the plan now," she said softly.

Lin Yi looked at the five massive transport ships in the void and gave Xuanji a command through his mind:

"Xuanji, inform all members to handle their personal affairs and settle their relatives and friends within one week. One week later, board the ship and set sail!"

"Instruction confirmed. The announcement has been sent to all members' personal terminals and the Dongfeng Mercenary Group's internal virtual network channel."

[Dongfeng Mercenary Group Internal Channel] [Leader's Order]: All initial members are to handle matters on Earth and settle relatives and friends within one week. One week later, on Earth Standard Day 10950, assemble and board the ship in near-Earth orbit LB-7392113-C, officially setting sail! The interstellar journey begins here!

The command was concise, yet carried immense weight.

The training within the virtual Dongfeng Military Academy came to an abrupt halt, and everyone's consciousness returned to reality.

Excitement, elation, reluctance, and determination—a complex mix of emotions surged within each member.

The Blue Star Origin Martial Arts Forum was instantly ignited by related topics:

[Pinned Hot Post] [A Historic Moment! The Dongfeng Mercenary Group is Set to Set Sail in Seven Days!]

"It's here! It's finally here! Seven days! Only seven days left!"

"Blessings to all warriors! May you have a safe journey and great success in your endeavors!"

"Waaaaah, my brother got selected! I'm so proud of him, but I'm also so sad to see him go."

"Form ranks! To bid farewell to the pioneers!"

"Silver Moon Blue, where the East's Edge leads! The Sea of ​​Stars is within reach!"

On the forum, posts expressing blessings, reluctance to part, pride, and encouragement were being refreshed rapidly, and the entire Blue Star Network was filled with a tragic yet heroic atmosphere.

Chen Yu rushed out of the training room almost immediately and hurried to the research center at the headquarters of the Blue Star Community.

He found Su Xiao in a laboratory filled with sophisticated instruments and energy circuits.

Su Xiao was still wearing a white lab coat, intently adjusting a complex energy source array model.

"Su Xiao!" Chen Yu called out, his voice lower than usual.

Su Xiao looked up, saw it was him, and a look of understanding appeared on her face.

"You saw the announcement?"

"Hmm." Chen Yu scratched his head, usually so eloquent, but now he was at a loss for words. "Um... I'm leaving in a week."

The laboratory quieted down. Su Xiao put down her tools, walked over to him, and carefully straightened his collar, which was slightly crooked from the rush. Her movements were gentle and natural.

"Be careful," she said softly, without any further instructions, just four simple words that seemed to contain a thousand unspoken words.

"Don't be reckless. Listen to the commander and Zhou Yuxuan in everything you do."

Looking into Su Xiao's clear eyes, Chen Yu felt a surge of warmth in his heart. He nodded emphatically, "Don't worry! I, Old Chen, am lucky and will definitely be fine! Once we've established ourselves in Xinghai, we might even be able to bring you over to do research!"

He tried to dispel the sorrow of parting with his usual optimism.

Su Xiao smiled slightly, but didn't reply. Instead, she placed a palm-sized metal box into his hand: "Inside are some highly effective first-aid gels and energy supplements that I made. They might come in handy."

Chen Yu took the box, opened his mouth, but ultimately just patted his chest forcefully: "Wait for me to come back!"

After saying that, he turned and strode away. Su Xiao stared in the direction he left, remaining motionless for a long time.

Andrei didn't go to say goodbye to any important figures; he went alone to a rebuilt residential area.

He knocked on a door.

The person who opened the door was a middle-aged Black woman with a weathered face but gentle eyes. Behind her was a little girl of about seven or eight years old, who was curiously looking at Andrei.

The sound of a boy reading could be heard coming from inside the room.

"Uncle Andrei!" the little girl called out timidly when she saw him, her eyes filled with gratitude and a hint of affection.

This family was rescued from the ruins by Andrei during an attack by a monster. At the time, the single mother was tightly protecting her young child. Andrei not only saved them, but also frequently visited them afterward, helping to repair things and bringing them supplies, becoming their pillar of support and benefactor.

“Marina.” Andrei gave what he considered his gentlest smile, yet it still appeared somewhat rugged. “I’m going on a long trip.”

Marina was stunned for a moment, then realized what was happening, and her eyes instantly reddened.

After all, the news had already spread far and wide.

She held Andrei's rough, large hand, her voice choked with emotion: "Mr. Andrei, are you... are you going to Xinghai?"

Andrei nodded, squatted down, looked at the little girl, and gently ruffled her hair with his large hand: "Lilia, listen to your mother, eat well, and grow up quickly."

The little girl nodded blankly: "Is Uncle going to fight bad guys? Like fighting monsters before?"

Andrei laughed heartily, "That's right! Uncle will go to the Star Sea to fight the bad guys and protect you." He stood up, took out a small bag from his pocket, and handed it to Marina: "This is a token of my appreciation. It's not much, but keep it. Take good care of yourselves from now on."

Without saying another word, he turned and strode away. Marina, holding the child's hand, stood at the door, watching him until he disappeared around the street corner, tears finally streaming silently down her face.

……

Inside the Lynx squad's camp, Nightingale had already packed her simple gear, including a multi-functional tactical backpack.

Old Cat took a deep breath and spoke on behalf of the team: "Nightingale, is everything brought?"

"Everyone's here." Nightingale nodded, her voice still cool, but her gaze swept over each teammate with obvious reluctance.

Big Bear stepped forward and handed Nightingale a metal wristband engraved with fine patterns: "Nightingale, this is made from the scraps of Star Steel I got as a reward from the last mission. It's very sturdy and can stop you for a bit. Wear it."

Nightingale did not refuse, took the wristband, and solemnly put it on her wrist: "Thank you, Big Bear."

Bamboo Pole handed over a data chip: "This is a compilation of our team's tactical and teamwork insights over the years. You might find it useful in the future, or you can teach it to new teammates." His voice carried a barely perceptible sob.

Nightingale took the chip and held it tightly in her hand: "I will look at it carefully."

Finally, it was Skinny Monkey's turn. Unlike last time, he wasn't excited; instead, he remained unusually silent.

He walked up to Nightingale, lowered his head, and took out a bracelet carefully woven from an unknown blue metal wire from his pocket. A tiny crystal that seemed to contain starlight was strung on the bracelet.

"Sister Nightingale."

The skinny monkey's voice was low. "This... is for you. It's nothing... just a keepsake." He didn't dare look Nightingale in the eye, and the tips of his ears turned slightly red.

Nightingale gazed at the shimmering crystal and the intricately woven bracelet, paused for a moment, then reached out and took it, feeling the cool touch on her fingertips.

"Thank you." She put the bracelet on her wrist as well, next to the metal wristband.

Skinny Monkey then raised his head, "Sister Nightingale, go with peace of mind. I keep my word, we'll meet again in the starry sea!"

"We meet amidst the stars!" Old Cat, Big Bear, and Bamboo Pole exclaimed in unison.

Nightingale looked at her companions who had shared life and death with her and nodded heavily: "Yes, we met in the starry sea!"

She didn't say anything more sentimental, picked up her bag, and turned to walk towards the barracks entrance.

At the doorway, she paused for a moment, without turning around. She simply raised her hand, adorned with wristbands and bracelets, and waved it gently before resolutely walking out, her figure disappearing into the outside light.

A week flew by in this atmosphere of farewell, blessings, and resolute determination.

Similar stories are unfolding in every corner of the Earth.

The admonitions of relatives and friends, the reluctance of a loved one to part, and the promises made to comrades.
All emotions ultimately transformed into anticipation and support for the journey to the stars.

The seven-day period will soon be over.

(End of this chapter)