Super Mechanic: God of Superpowers!

Chapter 194 Hunt

After confirming that he had sufficient experience reserves, Ye Xiu immediately took action and returned to the spaceship's training cabin to activate the control panel.

With the injection of 3 billion experience points, the profession level broke through three tiers in succession.

[High-level Psychic advances to Lv20 (max), Strength +350, Agility/Endurance +3 each, Mystic Attribute +6, 6 new Free Attribute Points and 1 Potential Point]

[Your main job level has reached the cap. You can continue to advance by completing the job change quest.]

[Job Change Requirements: Mystic attribute baseline value > 1700, Affinity for Special Abilities > 580% (Active skill amplification not included)]

"This time, the requirements for changing jobs actually require specific attributes?" A glint flashed in Ye Xiu's eyes.

Ordinary players often need to learn secondary professions to meet certain requirements due to their dispersed attribute allocation, but for him, these profession-related requirements are actually an advantage.

With its mysterious attributes as a core indicator, it has long surpassed the standard of its peers.

After investing all the newly acquired attribute points, the base value climbed to 1744 points. With the 10% increase from the Cataclysmic level and the 300-point bonus from research theory, the actual value approached the 2000 mark.

With the support of special skills and passive abilities, the basic affinity for special abilities reaches 686%, making it easy to break through the job change threshold with these two indicators.

"Looks like my luck has been pretty good lately." Ye Xiu rubbed his fingertips, wondering if the hidden effects of his previous contact with Fording were still lingering.

After confirming that he had met the requirements, he decisively applied his experience to complete the promotion.

Along with the stinging sensation on a spiritual level, a flood of new insights entered my consciousness.

[Job change quest completed!]

[获得新职业「星海异能者Lv1」，气力+180，力量+1/敏捷+3/耐力+3/神秘+8，新增6自由属性与1潜能点]

[Skills Mastered: Master-level Affinity/Super-fast Energy Regeneration/Quantum Ability]

[Acquired Specialization: Supernatural Abilities Theory System]

The Star Sea Ability User marks the official entry into the high-level realm of ability systems, and the level cap of 25 at this stage allows the holder to join the ranks of masters.

As far as Ye Xiu knew, most players with supernatural abilities broke through to A-level rating during this stage.

"Currently level 146." Ye Xiu paused the leveling process, enhanced the new skill to the maximum level, and retained the remaining billions of experience points.

The leap in combat power brought about by job change has already created a qualitative change, but the subsequent upgrade costs increase exponentially, and the existing experience is far from enough to reach the level 160 threshold.

In comparison, acquiring investment skills and potential is more urgent.

Current reserves are down to single digits.

Abundant energy surged through his meridians, and Ye Xiu clearly perceived the changes in his body after the transformation: the supernatural structure materialized in his mind, and his understanding of the essence of energy leaped to a whole new dimension.

Meanwhile, the alien army's deployment in the Garden system is progressing smoothly.

With hundreds of thousands of players forming a healthy operating system, the members who stayed on Aquamarine Star also passed the base's assessment one after another.

Apart from new players, all members have completed interstellar migration, and the mercenary group has exceeded one million in size.

This is rare even in large organizations.

The Legion continues to expand from its base in the Gardon star system, rapidly building its infrastructure network.

While consolidating his dominant position in the local employment market, Ye Xiu leveraged his network of connections to extend his business to neighboring star systems, and his rapid development caught the attention of the Godora civilization.

By regularly releasing challenging mercenary missions and developing new resource planets, player cohesion and legion strength are enhanced in tandem.

In an ideal environment free from external interference, the alien legion steadily grows stronger by strictly following its development blueprint.

By the time the last strategic node was deployed, two years had quietly passed.

……

Colton Cluster, the Hydegar system in the vortex of conflict.

Six interstellar powers, including the Godora civilization, are vying for dominance here.

Each side occupied strategic locations and deployed troops, creating a tense and protracted standoff, with small-scale armed conflicts erupting one after another like sparks.

Outside the military buffer zone where six forces intertwine, there are scattered supply planets where interstellar travelers rely on for shelter.

Due to disputes over the definition of galactic jurisdiction, these transit stations gradually evolved into no-man's-land, gathering all sorts of interstellar wanderers.

From scavengers to wanted criminals, from outlaws raiding fleets to uniformed garrison personnel, various forces have reached a delicate balance and maintained a fragile relationship of coexistence.

As a typical example of such lawless places, the Orange Star Transfer Station is currently gathering two special groups of visitors.

The Blue Fox team, led by Long Jian, Bai Yu, and Miao Tiaojun, is marching alongside the Super Beast team, led by Huo Yunfei.

During their exploration, the two teams accidentally triggered a hidden quest chain from the same origin, and the coordinates of the final link happened to point to this chaotic interstellar nexus.

Based on the personal relationship between Huo Yunfei and Long Jian, the two professional clubs decided to form a temporary alliance.

Two years have passed since the first Starsea League ended, and Super Beast Club has rebuilt its team around the league's new star, Yunfei.

This team, which is mainly composed of young players, is still in the process of tactical integration, while the revamped competition system for the second season of the league is about to be revealed. All professional players are racing against time to improve their combat power.

From in-depth exploration of the level 90 character cap to tactical combinations of rare equipment and special skills, every detail can be the key to victory.

"Captain, intelligence indicates the target is hiding on this planet, but the exact location is unknown."

"It's Guo Bao, the rising star of the Super Beast Team," Guo Bao asked in a low voice.

This exceptionally talented young gunsmith is the most tactically valuable member of the team besides Huo Yunfei, while the other team members mostly take on support roles.

Huo Yunfei stared at the neon-lit entertainment district at the end of the street:

"According to the progressive nature of the task chain, the final stage often requires autonomous intelligence gathering."

This gray area of ​​black markets and underground venues

Before he could finish speaking, Blue Fox Captain Long Jian suddenly pressed down on the particle vibration knife at his waist, and his tactical goggles flashed a warning red light.

"Before gathering intelligence, let's deal with the immediate problem first."

As he pointed it out, everyone noticed the shadows gradually gathering around them.

The interstellar refugees lining both sides of the street were greedily examining their sophisticated combat armor.

These wanderers had scarlet symbols of hostility floating above their heads, interspersed with dark yellow marks representing neutral forces, and not a single friendly green light could be found on the entire street.

As the encirclement tightened, everyone calmly activated their weapon systems.

As registered interstellar mercenaries, they are already accustomed to walking on the edge of a knife.

After all, the number of raider strongholds destroyed in the past two years is probably more detailed than the law enforcement records of some star system police.

Golden energy flowed around Huo Yunfei, and the metal helmet covered his head like liquid.

The mechanical components on the surface of the armor reassembled and deformed, and the blue and yellow interlaced heavy armor of the individual soldier revealed intricate relief patterns, resembling the Templar Knight armor forged by futuristic technology.

This rare cherry blossom pink armor was jointly funded by multiple guilds, with a huge sum of money commissioned to top equipment master craftsman Ye Xiu to create it custom-made.

In the current player level system, the armor called "Mountain" is considered the pinnacle of strategic equipment.

As the sounds of crystals colliding rang out one after another, the professional players activated their battle forms.

Looking around, all you see are purple or higher quality equipment that gleam with energy.

The professional clubs' operating model of using guild resources to support their teams naturally allows them to maintain top-tier equipment levels, which inevitably makes the Star Raiders envious and fall.

The air suddenly froze into ice, and the charging sounds of particle beam guns echoed throughout the alleyways.

Just as the pirate crew, poised for attack, assumed their stance, someone in the group suddenly had their pupils contract:

"Stop! They bear the marks of aliens!"

The previously ferocious faces instantly lost their color, and these cosmic thugs retreated as if bound by electromagnetic chains, their bewildered gazes shifting between the dark patterns on the players' armor.

Following their gaze, the same insignia was etched in concealed locations on all the armor and weapons.

The dark celestial body is outlined with a pure white border, and four straight cross-shaped light prisms extend outward, like starlight piercing the void.

The meaning of this symbol in the gray area is self-evident.

When the alien army's insignia came into view, the space pirates felt as if a supernova was exploding before their eyes.

Someone retreated silently, their combat boots scraping the ground, the hilt of their energy dagger soaked with cold sweat.

The sound of metal combat boots shattering the silence came from the street corner as officers in uniforms adorned with the star pattern of Godora broke through the morning mist.

The commander at the head of the group rotated his tactical goggles, his cold gaze sending chills down the spines of the space pirates who wore biochips on the back of their necks.

"Need tactical support, fellow aliens?" The commander stretched his neck, and a pale blue phase field quietly unfolded on his gauntlet.

The once arrogant interstellar thugs now trembled and curled up as if they had encountered the gravity of a black hole.

In the survival rules of the Hydegar system, attacking officers of the six major civilizations is tantamount to signing a death warrant.

Not to mention that the alien army and Godora have already formed a strategic partnership.

"Retreat!" With a roar from the quantum communication channel, the pirate crew scattered like a meteor shower.

The players tacitly sheathed their particle vibration blades; these mobs weren't even worth activating the tracking system for.

The Godora officers gave the crowd an interstellar salute, their dark gold cloaks fluttering in the antigravity field.

For them, protecting warriors bearing alien insignia has long been an instinct ingrained in their genes.

After all, this legendary legion had won the Brilliant Star Ring Medal for the Godora civilization.

As the bonds between the two factions deepen, what players jokingly call the "alien network" is gradually evolving into a physical force spanning across star systems.

When the cross-shaped starlight symbolizing alien planets illuminates, even the most ferocious interstellar jackals will flee in terror.

The two space pirates, who were vastly different in size, fled in panic for a long time. Only after repeatedly confirming that there were no pursuers behind them did they lean against the wreckage of the abandoned spaceship to catch their breath.

The short bandit's protective suit mask was fogged up with water droplets, and his chest heaved violently.

"I almost thought I was going to die there, but those lunatics didn't even chase after us."

"That's right," the tall accomplice said, taking off his mask to reveal an oily face.

"Now everyone in the entire Gamma Sector knows that, apart from a few advanced civilizations, anyone who touches the alien legions is courting death."

The short man wiped his forehead with his sleeve: "It's a good thing we couldn't even get on the bounty list, otherwise we'd probably be lying in the disintegration chamber right now."

He suddenly chuckled, "It's ironic, really. Being a space pirate to the point where you're not even wanted has become your lifesaver."

These words silenced them both for a moment.

Today, on the dark web of the interstellar bandits, proverbs earned through blood and tears circulate.

Better to crash into a dragon throne than to see an alien star.

Since that silver-gray fleet appeared out of nowhere two years ago, the entire Orion Arm space bandits have lived in its shadow.

Those well-equipped large raiding groups became the alien legions' favorite prey.

According to black market intelligence dealers, they have seized and modified more than 300 starships.

Six months ago, seventeen space pirate groups formed a temporary alliance and laid a trap in the Charon Nebula.

Unexpectedly, the alien commander seemed to be able to foresee the future, and a million mechanical warriors engulfed the entire star field like a silver tide.

The most chilling thing was the post-war handling.

The captured pirate leaders seemed to have vanished into thin air. Those who occasionally appeared at the official handover points were just "empty shells" with vacant eyes and traces of electronic modifications all over their bodies.

"I heard that last time they took 'Bloodclaw' Hawk to collect the bounty, the sheriff spent a long time comparing the genetic map and still couldn't recognize him."

The tall man suddenly lowered his voice, "The people who came back said that guy had a data interface plugged into the back of his neck, and his voice was synthesized electronically."

The short man shivered; the temperature control system inside his protective suit seemed to have suddenly malfunctioned.

He gazed at the Hyde Gate, faintly visible amidst the distant sea of ​​stars, his Adam's apple bobbing.

"Are you saying they're here to reenact the story of the Gamma Sector?"

"Who knows?" The tall man put his mask back on, and a distorted laugh came from the electronic voice changer.

"Anyway, in this godforsaken place now, apart from those old-established civilizations with their star system defenses, who isn't avoiding alien planets?"

The two exchanged a glance and simultaneously activated their jetpacks.

The azure stream of ions pierced through the dust cloud, hurtling toward the opposite direction of the stargate.

After searching the transit station for several hours, the Fire Cloud Team and the Dragon Sword Squad finally pieced together the last link in the mission chain.

Following the directions, the group found a secluded mechanical repair shop. Their target was a disabled technician with a weathered face.

This man had lost both arms, replaced by sophisticated mechanical prosthetics. He was currently focused on repairing a cracked communication device, and beneath his ordinary appearance lay a shocking crimson warning:

Codenamed Ronaldo, threat level "Annihilation".

Long Jian and Huo Yunfei exchanged a knowing glance and pushed Bai Yu, who had the highest charm value in the team, towards the counter.

The young man took out a yellowed letter from the equipment inventory and said in a gentle voice, "A client has entrusted us to deliver this."

Ronaldo stopped his repair work, which was glowing with a faint energy, and glanced at everyone: "State your identities."

"The Alien Legion Task Force." As soon as Bai Yu finished speaking, a sharp glint flashed in the old technician's eyes: "That rumored force led by superhumans? Too bad."

He shook the mechanical arm, the metal joints humming softly. "If we had met twelve months ago, I would have liked to have a go at your leader."

The team chat was instantly flooded with exclamations of surprise.

They clearly remembered that Ye Xiu, from their own faction, was an A-level superhuman, and any NPC who dared to say such a thing was no ordinary person.

Mechanical fingers deftly removed the seal from the envelope, and the encrypted text projected pale blue ripples into the air.

As Ronaldo read on, his sighs echoed through the room filled with spare parts:

"Tell your employers that when the storm comes, this old man will only want to stay at his workbench."

The system prompted players to update the task status in a timely manner, but professional gamers keenly noticed the keywords.

"What storm are you referring to?" Bai Yu asked tentatively.

The veteran technician rarely showed a look of approval: "The unusual movements of the seven star cluster civilizations in the past two years are like the restless flow of particles in the accretion disk of a black hole."

He tapped the communicator that was under repair, and a holographic star map unfolded on the oil-stained tabletop.

"You'll understand once you step out of the Garden Star System. This is definitely not a naturally formed turbulence."

The team members exchanged glances. Most of them had not yet crossed the boundaries of their star cluster, as the risk-reward ratio of interstellar exploration was truly worrisome.

Compared to blindly searching through the vast sea of ​​stars, the targeted missions issued by the alien legions are clearly more cost-effective.

When someone mentioned the three legendary civilizations, Ronaldo turned off the star map projection:

"How could the true mastermind reveal themselves so easily? Perhaps by the time we realize it, the entire Star Ring region will have already become a chessboard."

The metal fingers suddenly tightened, crushing the letter into data fragments. "I've said everything I needed to say. Please return now."

Players knew nothing about the inside story of the Conqueror's Summit, but that didn't stop Huo Yunfei, Long Jian, and others from realizing that this information might be related to the upcoming version update.

In the previous two versions, the alien faction had already foreshadowed the impending alienation disaster through plot easter eggs, and now similar omens have resurfaced.

Excitement gleamed in everyone's eyes.

Knowing the version updates in advance often means seizing the initiative.

As he was pondering, Ronaldo's expression suddenly shifted slightly: "Since you are subordinates of the aliens, please deliver something to me."

The unexpected assignment boosted the team's morale, clearly indicating that a hidden quest had been triggered.

Ronaldo picked up his pen and wrote rapidly, the glowing interstellar script winding its way through the parchment.

As Bai Yu received the metallic-looking list, a system notification popped up at the right time: "[Undecrypted Hunting List]".

"What exactly is this?"

Before Huo Yunfei could finish his question, Ronaldo pressed down on the mangled arm, his knuckles turning white from the force: "This is the death list."

His hoarse voice trembled as he said, "Their targets also include aliens."

The channel immediately exploded with countless exclamation marks.

The news that the alien, who was the core of the faction, had become prey shocked everyone and inexplicably gave rise to a sense of mission to protect them.

Long Jian quickly deployed in the team channel: "Seize the opportunity to dig deeper into the clues; this could be the trigger for the new expansion."

Bai Yu chimed in at the opportune moment: "Since it involves the safety of the regimental commander, could you reveal more details?"

Ronaldo stared into the void, as if recalling a bloody night:

"Every name on the list is a Star Ring Overlord, either ruling over a territory or intimidating the galaxy with force."

But recently, many of them have quietly disappeared.

"Who is orchestrating this hunt?" Bai Yu pressed.

"A mysterious organization." Ronaldo's Adam's apple bobbed. "I encountered two hunters whose A+ level strength completely overwhelmed ordinary superhumans."

He subconsciously touched the joint of the mechanical prosthetic limbs, "These hands are the price I paid."

"Are you on the list too?"

"No." Ronaldo forced a bitter smile.

That night I happened to be a guest at my friend's Skywalker Fortress.

When the hunters broke down the door, our combined efforts to fight them ended in a crushing defeat.

They only took away the real target.

That warlord who was on friendly terms with the Hutt civilization, and me, a heavily wounded bystander, am not even worth salvaging.

Gasps filled the channel.

Long Jian astutely grasped the key point: "Their ability to precisely filter intelligence indicates the existence of a vast intelligence network behind them."

Huo Yunfei stared at the metal scroll in his inventory and muttered, "A force that can turn an A-level expert into a background character... this pool of water is deeper than I imagined."

Ronaldo said in a deep voice, "Although the hunters are elusive, the signs of the names on the list disappearing one after another are becoming increasingly clear, and they are still continuing their operations."

Please be sure to forward this intelligence to Alien. Although we have never met, I feel obligated to warn your legion commander because of the assistance the Alien mercenaries had previously provided.

He harbored a secret motive: if he could establish a connection with the Dragon Throne forces, he might be able to leverage their strength to counter the Hunters.

If the alien army successfully breaks the deadlock, he will no longer need to live a life of seclusion here.

The choice to live in anonymity stemmed from that lingering fear.

Even though they had only clashed once on the brink of death, he had already developed a deep-seated fear of the hunter.

Suddenly, the tactical terminals on everyone's wrists simultaneously lit up faintly.

[Special event quest triggered: "Crimson Wanted"!]

The group exchanged glances, reached a tacit understanding, and gripped their weapons tightly.

The seventh sector of the Broken Star Ring.

The starship, riddled with impact dents, is accelerating to its limit in space, its exhaust trailing a dark blue streak across the black backdrop.

"Warning! Warp drive fuel is about to run out. Forced disengagement from warp drive in 60 seconds." The ship's AI issued a mechanical voice.

"Damn it! They'll definitely lock onto the jump coordinates!"

The purple-skinned sorcerer Kernid furiously pounded the control panel, and the purple blood seeping from the gaps in his armor condensed into suspended beads in the gravity field.

As the chief guardian mage of the Starry Federation and honorary advisor of the Spells Association, he was completely devoid of his usual elegant demeanor at this moment.

The expensive spell armor is riddled with cracks, and its energy channels are intermittently dimmed.

Three standard days ago, he was enjoying a hot spring on a resort planet when two mysterious powerful figures launched a surprise attack without warning.

What shocked him even more was that his proud ninth-circle arcane arts were completely suppressed by his opponent.

The latest novel is first published here!

With the engines shut down, the starship shuddered and returned to its normal voyage.

Kernid's pupils contracted sharply. The tremor of magical energy was penetrating through the twelve layers of protective armor.

A bright blue halo suddenly appeared in the middle of the ship, and two figures stepped out from the phase gate.

The man wore a long, silver-white trench coat with patterns resembling liquid mithril, and was surrounded by floating magical tomes.

The woman's mask was shaped like a cheetah, with energy threads of quantum entanglement wrapped around her fingertips.

"Coordinates corrected." The man flipped through the "Void Positioning Codex," and the teleportation ripples behind him instantly subsided.

With a deafening roar, the seven-layered composite protective barrier was pierced by the amethyst ray, and Kernid's desperate arcane torrent tore through the cabin structure and surged forth.

This cross-stellar hunt has entered its final stage.

boom!!!

In an instant, the man changed his hand seals, and the books moved without wind, instantly enveloping the two of them in a dark blue shield.

Arcs of purple lightning bombarded the barrier, exploding into countless starlight points, yet failed to budge the shield in the slightest.

Kernid transformed into a streak of light and burst into the cabin. Layers of magical runes lit up the surface of his runic armor, which crashed heavily into the energy barrier, enveloped in iridescent flames.

Having learned from his previous experience, he knew that he had no chance of winning in a long-range confrontation, so he launched a thunderous close-range attack as soon as they met.

All energy was concentrated at the fist's edge, with not a trace dissipating.

Such precise control was the work of a master; an ordinary A-level expert would surely retreat in the face of such a surprise attack. However, even so, he couldn't help but feel a little apprehensive when facing these two unfathomable and powerful enemies.

clang.

With a deafening roar like a tolling bell, the azure shield shattered, turning into countless crystalline dust particles.

"It's done!" Kernid was greatly encouraged.

But when the residual energy illuminated the other party's silver-patterned mask, those two eyes, as cold as deep pools, remained calm and undisturbed.

Before he could react, the countless crystalline dust particles suddenly coalesced into a blue-white beam of light, carrying back the shockwave that had been absorbed by the shield.

The runic armor emitted a piercing alarm, and Kernid was sent flying backward like a kite with a broken string. He swallowed the metallic taste in his throat and asked in horror, "What kind of spell is this?"

It can absorb and counteract all catastrophic attacks. The seemingly simple defensive magic actually contains an energy conversion principle that defies common sense.

Compared to the usual methods of stacking dozens of layers of shields, the power of this qualitative change is far more terrifying.

"I figured it out myself." The man's indifferent reply caused Kernid's pupils to shrink sharply.

A sudden, bell-like metallic twisting sound rang out, and the entire starship collapsed into an iron ball as the woman's five fingers closed.

Amidst a series of explosions triggered by an oxygen surge, the azure shield carried the two of them, suspended in space.

Not far away, the runic armor flickered erratically. Kernid watched the approaching tide of metal, despair rising in his eyes.

Under the woman's control, countless pieces of space debris coalesced into a giant cocoon, and the sound of bones cracking could be heard as the layers were compressed.

As the last struggle subsided, a clear, cold female voice echoed through the void: "Deep Purple Warlock, suppression complete."

The man swiped through the list on the screen, his fingertip pausing at a certain scarlet marker: "Next up is... Alien?"

"The legendary immortal body." Shana lightly tapped the ferocious armor in the projection. "A rising star who broke into the realm of natural disasters a few years ago, perfect for testing my new array."

"Is it necessary to deploy a trap?"

"No need." Ripples of space spread around the female mage. "Treating a low-level ability user like this, thirty percent of your strength is enough."

……

Inside the headquarters of the Alien Legion on Red Gate Star, Ye Xiu was handling routine matters in his office.

This interstellar mercenary group has developed rapidly in the past two years, and as industry observers predicted, it has gradually taken control of the core business of the Garden System.

They not only established branches on dozens of civilized planets within the galaxy, but also set up an office on the main planet of the Godora civilization.

Millions of active players generated huge profits for the organization, and Ye Xiu skillfully used resources to continuously enhance the legion's reputation, attracting more and more free mercenaries to join.

Currently, in addition to the basic player base, there are already 100,000 officially registered interstellar mercenaries, and the number of trainees in the training camps is three to four times the size of the active-duty force.

With its regular combat forces alone, the Alien Legion has firmly established itself as one of the top mercenary groups.

The training system is now geared towards a wider audience, with young people with dreams of stargazing signing up for training on planets where each branch is located.

The organizational structure has been systematically upgraded, resulting in a clear division of labor:

The regional commander coordinates hundreds of tactical squads, the elite special operations teams specialize in high-risk missions, the fleet commander is in charge of space combat capabilities, and the training director is responsible for talent incubation.

There are also special positions such as image ambassadors and commander assistants, each with their own responsibilities.

The position of deputy commander remains vacant, and only a Calamity-level powerhouse can fill it.

Currently, Ye Xiu remains the only Calamity-level being in the organization, and Qi Peijia is the closest among the cadres to this level.

Through targeted recruitment and talent scouting, hundreds of B-level superhumans have joined the mid-level team, including key trainees with special potential.

After completing the integration of the Garden Galaxy market, the business scope began to extend to neighboring galaxies.

Ye Xiu was well-versed in the principles of sustainable development, continuously reinvesting profits into infrastructure and fleet construction, thus building a spiraling operational system.

It currently has 26 task forces with different functions, covering multiple roles such as rapid response and strategic support, with a total of over 1,600 ships.

Combating interstellar crime has indeed brought considerable benefits.

The number of interstellar outposts has increased to thirty-four. In addition to the original Norios and Rossos, three new strategic partners have been added, including two well-known conglomerates and the official Godora organization.

Deep cooperation among multiple parties not only opens up channels for strategic resources, but also forms a close community of shared interests.

Today, the Alien Legion has become a symbolic force in the Colton Cluster, which in turn enhances the deterrent power of the Longtan Field Forces, making them no longer solely reliant on the prestige of individual strongmen.

Ye Xiu had keenly sensed the bottleneck in their development. As a mercenary organization, the marginal benefits of expansion were gradually diminishing.

The operating costs brought about by interstellar distances have risen sharply, and the current scale is approaching the ceiling of the current model.

More importantly, there are constraints imposed by organizational structure. Loose mercenary groups have a natural upper limit and will need to gradually transform into semi-military composite entities, similar to mature models in the field of warfare.

Although the time was not yet ripe, the leader knew that this would be the only way to break through the constraints.

"The only thing I don't need to worry about is my own power..."

Ye Xiu's eyes gleamed, and his fingertips tapped the table unconsciously.

The current level 170 interface is flashing on the retina. Compared to two years ago, it has only increased by more than 20 levels and is currently stuck at the threshold of the advancement trial for the peak stage of [Star Sea Ability User].

This is not proof that his strength has stagnated. Over the past two years, he has deliberately suppressed his level increase and sealed a massive amount of experience in a special container. At this moment, his reserves have accumulated to an astonishing level.

Even though the experience required for high-level breakthroughs is incredibly valuable, this inventory is enough to support him in continuously traversing dozens of levels.

But Ye Xiu remained restrained throughout.

In this era, no formidable adversaries have yet emerged that warrant our full attention, and he has transformed half of his experience into a skill set.

Use potential points to nurture the seeds of superpowers, and forge rare superpowers into unique skills.

A deeper consideration lies in the shadow of version iterations, with this update spanning an entire game era having a ten-year gap between updates.

Experience reserves are like survival supplies stockpiled before the apocalypse; we must be fully prepared for the long, harsh winter.

"Version 2.0 is nearing its end, and the closing of the professional league will mark the beginning of a new era."

Ye Xiu sighed softly, brushing the stray hairs from his forehead behind his head. The holographic attribute panel pulsed in his palm:

[Overall Rating: 170]

[Core Sequence: Superpower Overlord]

[Rating: A+]

[A级特质增幅：耐力係数+10/全抗性提升8%/峰值属性强化10%/基础属性增益5%/自由分配点+30/潜能结晶+5]

You are a predator in the darkness, a gazer of the abyss in the A-level realm.

Compared to the numerous obstacles to the development of a faction, the improvement of individual combat power is much smoother.

Even when faced with an epic advancement trial, there is still a mission exemption card as a trump card.

Although his inventory is now almost depleted, as long as his experience treasury remains unused, he can continue his rapid ascent on the path to becoming a powerful warrior.

Level is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to combat power.

The true transformation occurred in the realm of actual combat. The war machine constructed from the supernatural power field has transformed into an iron torrent.

The tactical system has undergone nine iterations of upgrades, and rare combination skills have yielded twenty-seven ultimate killing formulas.

If he were to face his past self from two years ago, he was confident he could crush six mirror images in the blink of an eye.

"Squeak."

The door opened with a click, and Sylvia stood in the shadows where the light and shadow met, holding an electronic file folder.

"Captain, we've been looking for you. The Iron Wolf Mercenary Group has come with encrypted intelligence."

Two years ago, she was still a naive and innocent girl, but now she has shed her childishness. Her slender figure outlines a well-proportioned curve, and her eyes have both the lively brilliance of morning stars and the calm and capable spirit.

As Ye Xiu's chief assistant, she has shown surprising potential through continuous training.

Ye Xiu's gaze lingered briefly on the special operations badge on her chest before turning to the visitor files on the light screen: "Which specific teams are they?"

"Look at this." Sylvia lightly swiped her finger, and a holographic image of Huo Yunfei, Long Jian, and others appeared in the projection.

Inside the reception room, as the group of weary mercenaries filed in, the repeated calls of "alien" made Ye Xiu's eyebrows twitch slightly.

He activated the leader mode interaction protocol, his golden eyes sweeping over the crowd: "It seems that even the dust of the star ring couldn't conceal your brilliance."

The slightly humorous greeting drew knowing smiles from the mercenaries; this unique way of communicating was precisely why they followed this faction leader.

"I heard you brought a special gift?" Ye Xiu leaned against the floating seat, his fingertips lightly tapping the data panel.

He knew these players' ways all too well. Without sufficient incentive, they wouldn't easily get involved in trouble.

Huo Yunfei took half a step forward, his tactical goggles projecting a blood-red list:

"We intercepted this in the Viper Nebula."

On the electronic reel glowing with a faint blue light, next to Ronaldo's mark was Ye Xiu's code name.

The tapping sound abruptly stopped.

Ye Xiu stared at the list thoughtfully, the turbulent undercurrents of the Broken Star Ring finally revealing their fangs.

The Red Empire's renewed expansion plan is like a gravitational singularity thrown into the sea of ​​stars, stirring up the murky waters of the 3.0 version "Red Tide" era, and dormant forces are taking advantage of the situation to surface from the abyss.

'It's time to consider activating the evolution protocol ahead of schedule.'

He secretly plotted a plan to break through the level cap, as the racial leap from level 170 to 180 would bring about a qualitative change.

But what's more troublesome right now is the A+ level hunters that this list points to.

That level of threat is enough to make any Calamity-level powerhouse feel like they have a thorn in their side.

"Alien planet, have you noticed the recent anomalous fluctuations in the magnetic field of its rings?"

Huo Yunfei suddenly lowered his voice, and his tactical glove drew an unusual energy trajectory in the star map projection.

This is encrypted intelligence they obtained from the Ronaldo black market, which is said to be related to the core storyline of the game.

Ye Xiu's pupil data flow accelerated slightly: "You mean those new types of armed groups that operate under the banner of freedom?"

"That's not all; there seems to be an even larger shadow looming."

The words "Red Empire" stirred up invisible ripples in the still waters of the crowd, causing their expressions to freeze.

Huo Yunfei's tactical goggles zoomed in and out uncontrollably, and the energy drink can in Long Jian's hand creaked under the strain.

No one expected that this answer, which could potentially overturn the entire star system, would be revealed so casually.

After receiving the answer, a subtle, strange feeling arose in everyone's hearts.

They had assumed it was a closely guarded secret, but the second person they questioned casually revealed the information.

The inside story of the broken star ring that Ronaldo searched for in vain was just an ordinary interstellar anecdote in the mouth of the alien.

The whole process went so smoothly it was unsettling, and Huo Yunfei and the others even began to doubt the true value of the intelligence.

After all, back in version 1.0, Alien had subtly predicted the alienation disaster of version 2.0. Now, he has once again foreshadowed the new version's direction, making everyone feel that Ye Xiu is even more unfathomable.

Even Huo Yunfei, who was the first to meet him, was surprised to find that he knew very little about this mysterious figure.

Ye Xiu suddenly changed the subject: "The information you brought is indeed useful. Now I have a request to make of you all."

His fingertips slid rapidly across the light screen, and the generated task panel displayed dazzling reward icons.

The rare perk of choosing equipment left everyone breathless, prompting them to hastily press the accept button.

After Sylvia saw off the overjoyed exploration team, Ye Xiu lazily sank into his chair, his fingertips rhythmically tapping the armrest.

He has always kept a close eye on the movements of the StarCraft players. Now all the players have moved beyond the starting planet and are searching for a place to belong in the vast galaxy.

His alien army has become the most sought-after cradle for new talents.

As the second professional league approaches, those players on Aquamarine Star who have been carefully nurtured by him...

A richer tactical system will be showcased on the stage with a level cap of 90.

This is not only about the glory of the Chinese Football Association, but also an excellent way to promote the team's appeal.

Once players unlock interstellar travel, all of this groundwork will become a powerful tool for reaping interstellar traffic.

"We can finally clear out our stock of gene-modifying agents."

Thinking of the hundreds of space pirate fleets he had drained dry, Ye Xiu smiled.

Just as he was about to head to the superpower laboratory, Sylvia hurriedly pushed open the door and entered.

"The Amethyst Civilization has issued a special conscription order."

The dominant civilization of the Colton Cluster has finally extended an olive branch to the alien army.

A glint flashed in Ye Xiu's eyes. Three years ago, he could only record the communication codes of the Purple Crystal officials from afar at the Gathering of Overlords, but now they were offering him an admission ticket to a star cluster-level civilization.

This not only adds a dazzling aura to a legion's resume, but also serves as a crucial springboard for acquiring cutting-edge knowledge.

Ye Xiu unconsciously tapped the star map projection with his knuckles, knowing that this was an excellent opportunity to break through his bottleneck.

Once unattainable star cluster-level commissions are now unfolding before our eyes like a dazzling staircase.

Ye Xiu composed himself and signaled Pipi Armor to transfer the communication to the main ship, while simultaneously establishing an encrypted communication channel.

The holographic screen flickered slightly, revealing a familiar face. Leif, the envoy from the Amethyst Civilization whom he had met at the Conqueror's Alliance Summit, was displaying his signature smile.

"Your Excellency from another planet, it's been a long time."

Leif's tone carried the familiar warmth of an old friend reuniting. After a few pleasantries, Ye Xiu got to the point: "What are the specific details of the commissioned task?"

"We need an elite force to carry out the annihilation mission." Leif tapped his fingertips lightly on the table.

"The target fleet is disguised as interstellar merchants, but actually belongs to a special force."

Eliminating them would be a powerful deterrent.

Ye Xiu's eyes narrowed slightly. The Purple Crystal Civilization's choice to use mercenaries instead of its official fleet clearly indicated that it involved sensitive forces.

He said thoughtfully, "Is Krent making some underhanded moves again?" He had long heard rumors that these two advanced civilizations were on good terms on the surface, but in reality, there were undercurrents running through their relationship.

Leif smiled but did not answer, instead looking out at the starry sky: "In the last three years, security incidents in the Colton Cluster have increased by 240%, and some people seem to mistake our restraint for weakness."

He projected several images of armed conflict, saying, "It's time to show deterrence."

Ye Xiu nodded in understanding. As the aftershocks of the crimson tide continued to spread, the hidden forces in various star systems stirred restlessly like disturbed interstellar mayflies.

As a neutral force, Amethyst was the first to bear the brunt of the attack. This action served as both a warning against potential threats and an opportunity to demonstrate its strength to the entire star system.

"Compensation standards?" Ye Xiu went straight to the point.

"Outside of the regular budget." Leif paused for half a second, his fingertips tracing the encrypted data stream.

"Given your relationship with Longtan, if a long-term partnership can be established, we may be able to grant you some of the privileges of our cutting-edge think tank."

Ye Xiu smiled knowingly. Zijing was clearly building an unofficial, shadowy power system; cutting-edge knowledge was merely a bargaining chip to entice mercenaries to serve.

He stroked the rim of his tactical goggles: "Mission coordinates?"

"Transmitting encrypted coordinates. Seven Class A mercenary groups are participating in this joint operation."

Leif's projection began to fade. "Detailed battle plans will be released after the assembly."

The moment the holographic image disappeared, Ye Xiu had already pulled up the star map and begun to deduce its meaning.

He was no stranger to this kind of multi-party collaborative black operation, but his intuition told him that this mission might uncover some truths buried by stardust.

(End of this chapter)