Chapter 456: Heading to the New Star Body
“Marshal, since you’re back, please let me go to the New Star Body. I want to go protect our master.” After handing over the collected intelligence and recent fleet combat logs to Ying Yaoshi, Lan Xin eagerly made his request.
“In your dreams. These medicines are a gift from the Contractor, all packed and ready for you. Rest for a couple of days, then get ready to head back to Central Star. Your new mission is to protect Yu Mingche. Security clearance for the Qingluan Mountain villa is being transferred to you, as per the Contractor’s orders. Here,” Ying Yaoshi said, handing a box to Lan Xin with a tinge of jealousy, “several large security firms and unregistered S-rank Mercenary Corps have also been transferred to your name. These companies were all registered in the last few years. It looks like they’re her private assets.”
Lan Xin knelt on one knee, accepting the box respectfully. “Thank you, Master, for your trust. I guarantee I will complete the mission.”
Seeing Lan Xin’s dejected expression, Ying Yaoshi couldn’t help but console him. “Come on, the Contractor has Di Youlin and Qinghe with her, and she’s plenty strong on her own. Just focus on protecting Yu Mingche. Fulfilling this mission well will also be a great service.”
“I know, Marshal. It’s just… Lord Yu is quite strong himself, and he’s on Central Star, so he should be perfectly safe. Meanwhile, the master is on the New Star Body, which has so many undeveloped regions and those Extraordinary Influences circling like vultures. Her situation is clearly the dangerous one. Why won’t she let me go protect her? Does she think I’m too weak?” Lan Xin was usually very quiet, but Ying Yaoshi had taken him under his wing and mentored him. Over time, his feelings for Ying Yaoshi had grown to resemble those for a father and teacher, which was why he couldn’t help but reveal some of what was on his mind.
“Don’t let your imagination run wild,” Ying Yaoshi chided, his brow furrowed. “You’re not weak. Your Talent Skill, in particular, is extremely powerful. Yu Mingche is going through a special period right now, and Ning Xuan can’t rest easy, which is why she’s sending you to protect him. You must be cautious and never let your guard down. Understand?”
“Yes, Marshal.” Hearing the sternness in Ying Yaoshi’s voice, Lan Xin dared not say another word.
After Ying Yaoshi left the Chaotic Divine Domain, Ning Xuan had intended to explore it further. However, she hadn’t expected the Secret Realm to apparently adjust its difficulty based on the strength of those who entered. They were subsequently hit by one massive horde of Exotic Beasts after another. Dealing with them was so consuming that they had no time to search for treasure.
It was during these repeated battles that Ning Xuan witnessed the frightening capabilities of her newly acquired subordinates.
Their recovery speed was incredibly fast. They didn’t need Elixir Pills at all; their bodies healed automatically.
Previously, the chips had suppressed their thoughts, causing moments of hesitation in their actions. But now that Ning Xuan had removed them, their reaction speed and teamwork improved by leaps and bounds with every fight. They had saved her from being overrun by massive hordes of Exotic Beasts on several occasions.
“Master, the rules of this Secret Realm are strange. The danger multiplies for every extra day we spend here. Besides, our scheduled time is almost up. We have to get to the secret jump point as quickly as possible,” Di Youlin said to Ning Xuan.
This jump point had been constructed jointly by Ning Xuan’s Vermilion Bird Pavilion and Di Youlin’s family. It would only exist for an extremely short time. The coordinates and timing had to be perfectly synchronized—the slightest deviation would render the entire effort useless.
“Let’s go. We can come back another time.” Ning Xuan took out the key to the Chaotic Divine Domain. Countless red vines shot out from her palm, linking everyone together as she activated the Teleportation Array within the key.
With a low HUM, a ring of light several meters wide enveloped Ning Xuan and her companions. The next moment, the group vanished.
「On the New Star Body, at the Heavenly Might Corps garrison.」
Dressed in a silver-white commander’s uniform, Yun Han leaned against a massive white tiger. He touched the Contract Slave Necklace on his neck and gently pressed a small button on its inner side. A faint fragrance wafted from a slot in the necklace. Yun Han took a long, deep breath, drawing the scent into his lungs. ‘The master’s pheromones stored in the necklace are almost gone. Lately, my body has been heating up for no reason, and my emotions have been all over the place. I keep feeling this strange emptiness inside.’ This bizarre void had left him feeling extremely irritable.
“Marshal Yun, we have abnormal activity in Monitoring Area Three. We suspect a new ancient Secret Realm has appeared,” Qin An reported to Yun Han over the comms.
“A new Secret Realm? Excellent. You take the Second Regiment and scout it out. I’ll be there shortly. Keep the channel open.” A surge of exhilaration, of finally having something important to do, washed over Yun Han. ‘Only combat can temporarily fill this void inside me.’
As Yun Han and his men rushed toward Monitoring Area Three, Ning Xuan’s group was landing silently on the New Star Body in a small interstellar shuttle.
All interstellar jump lanes to the New Star Body were controlled by the Military Department and the various Extraordinary Influences, so Ning Xuan’s shuttle was making an illegal entry. To avoid detection, the vessel was extremely crude. It began to disintegrate the moment it hit the New Star Body’s atmosphere. Fortunately, the Ghost-faced Red Vine protected and tethered them all together. Otherwise, even if they had avoided serious injury, they would have been scattered across the planet.
“Master, how are you feeling?” Di Youlin asked, anxiously holding Ning Xuan as he saw her pale face.
“A little dizzy… We need to find a safe place to rest.” Ning Xuan relaxed into Di Youlin’s arms. She had just used the Ghost-faced Red Vine to keep everyone from scattering, and it had overdrawn her spiritual power. Her head felt heavy, and a dull, throbbing pain pulsed through her mind.
Ning Xuan closed her eyes, circulating the Soul Nourishing Scripture to covertly restore her depleted spiritual power. ‘Even with guards around me, it’s always best to be at full strength. It gives me a greater sense of security.’
After a brief rest, Ning Xuan activated her Light Computer. As she expected, even after nearly two years of development, the New Star Body still wasn’t connected to the Star Network.
However, signal base stations had been set up in some regions, so her Light Computer could intermittently pick up a few simple signals.