Early Delivery of Serious Criminals

The Federal Government's announcement was, as usual, long, tedious, and foul-smelling, stretching to dozens of pages.

But summed up, it was very simple.

The main point was that crime rates had surged in recent years.

The number of serious criminals had grown ever larger.

And prison breaks and jailbreaks had occurred with increasing frequency.

The Federal Government had decided that, two months from now, it would send a batch of serious criminals to Exile Planet two years ahead of schedule.

Under normal circumstances, hardly anyone would have cared about such an announcement.

Serious criminals were simply too far removed from ordinary citizens.

But this time was completely different.

Because Yi Chen was on Exile Planet.

"What's going on? Back then, in order to cut expenses, the Federal Government set the policy of escorting a batch of serious criminals to Exile Planet every ten years."

"Exile Planet has existed for over two thousand years, and that policy has never changed. Why has it been moved forward by two years this time?"

"It's probably connected to Yi Chen. The surge in crime rates, the growing number of serious criminals, the frequent prison breaks and jailbreaks—that's all bullshit."

"The crime rate began rising every year as early as a century ago, when we were beaten to a crushing defeat by Various Races, when all three Ace Fleets were wiped out, and when the Federal Government announced a change in strategy for the Human Race from offense to defense."

"Prison breaks and jailbreaks are even more ridiculous. There haven't been any serious criminals of major importance these past few years. Even if they escaped, what could they do?"

"So it's not probably related to Yi Chen. It's definitely related to Yi Chen."

The Federal Government's announcement sent all the citizens into an uproar.

"Suddenly sending a batch of serious criminals to Exile Planet ahead of schedule—what is the Federal Government trying to do?"

"What else could it be doing? It must be sending people to get close to Yi Chen, trying to obtain cultivation methods from him as quickly as possible, perhaps even directly control him."

"For such a major decision, the Federal Government is actually carrying it out directly without announcing it or holding a referendum?"

"Damn it, that means Federal Government agents have been planted among the serious criminals. And that person hasn't had their memories erased. That completely violates the Human Federation's laws and regulations regarding Exile Planet."

"That's nothing. What worries me most is that the Federal Government might try to steal a chicken and lose the rice used to bait it."

"Yi Chen's mind is absolutely extraordinary. His character is that of a true tyrant."

"Once he discovers the truth, I even suspect that, given his personality, he might quietly create a cultivation method that causes humans to suddenly self-destruct after practicing it for a certain period, then deliberately leak it for us to learn."

"Damn Federal Government. Instead of organizing researchers and geniuses to build upon Yi Chen's foundation and climb to a higher level, it insists on taking such an enormous risk by sending someone close to him."

"Protest! We must protest!"

The citizens' fury grew ever more intense.

Sending someone close to Yi Chen and finding a way to obtain the New Cultivation Method he had created within a short time did, in truth, serve the interests of all humanity.

But in many people's eyes, the risk was simply too great.

Unless it was absolutely necessary, or there was a foolproof plan, they could not take such a tremendous risk.

What made the citizens even angrier was that the Federal Government had carried out such a major decision privately without holding a referendum. This was completely inconsistent with the Federal Government's laws and regulations.

However, cold water was soon poured over their heads.

"Wake up, all of you. What are you protesting? Those things may be true, but where is the evidence?"

"The Federal Government's announcement merely says that it will send a batch of serious criminals to Exile Planet two years ahead of schedule. Everything else is just everyone's speculation."

"Without evidence, no matter how much you protest, it's useless."

"Besides, the Federal Government can't be foolish enough to fail to recognize these risks. It wouldn't rashly carry out such a major plan without any confidence at all."

"If this had really been a hasty decision, they wouldn't have set the early transport of serious criminals for two months later. They would have carried it out much earlier."

"There may also be many inner details we don't know about, such as the current state of the war with the Myriad Races and the struggle between various forces."

"We ordinary people can only watch obediently and wait obediently. We can only hope that everything goes smoothly and that we can obtain the cultivation methods Yi Chen created ahead of time."

"Making trouble now will only disrupt whatever arrangements the Federal Government may have. If we truly want to make trouble, we should wait until something happens on Yi Chen's side. It's still too early."

Under the guidance of certain unusual opinions and analyses, the citizens' anger gradually subsided.

Just as those opinions had guided them to believe.

If everything went smoothly and all humanity could obtain the cultivation methods Yi Chen had created ahead of time, that would be a tremendous blessing.

Making trouble now would accomplish nothing. Without evidence, there was simply no way to stop the Federal Government's plan.

Conversely, if the Federal Government's formulation of this plan was truly related to the current war between the Human Race and the Myriad Races, it might well lead to a catastrophic mistake.

Although ordinary citizens had all guessed that this matter was far from ordinary.

No one could truly guess how many schemes and arrangements were hidden within this plan to transport serious criminals.

The Federal Government, the Anti-Federal Government, top tycoons, ambitious schemers, spies from races hostile to the Human Race...

A storm and contest beyond anyone's prediction was converging upon Exile Planet.

And no one could foresee what kind of situation that storm would ultimately become.

At this moment, at the source of the storm.

Yi Chen was focused on comprehending Sword Intent.

Sword Intent was the power of sharpness, swiftness, and invincibility; it was also the unity of form, spirit, emotion, and reason, the harmony of emptiness and substance, existence and nonexistence.

Relying on talent beyond ordinary imagination, Yi Chen had gradually gained a profound understanding and insight into Sword Intent using nothing but a tree branch.

Several days later, the first Iron Sword forged through a thousand hammerings and a hundred refinements was delivered by someone sent by the High Priest.

This Iron Sword was like adding wings to a tiger for Yi Chen's comprehension of Sword Intent.

Time flew by.

In the days that followed, aside from helping the Four Routes Army deal with Ferocious Beasts they could not handle, Yi Chen remained in the forest, comprehending the existence of Sword Intent.

After spending about a month on it, he felt that although he had yet to truly grasp the essence of the sword path, he could at least create a sword technique that met his expectations. Only then did Yi Chen end this period of contemplation.

He made his way back to The Valley.

"Tribal Chief, I was just about to send someone to notify you."

After receiving word, the High Priest came out to greet him.

"Has the Four Routes Army run into trouble?"

Yi Chen asked.

As the Four Routes Army continued to expand, all kinds of powerful Ferocious Beasts had also continued to emerge. Troubles came one after another.

Yet he did not find it tiresome in the slightest.

Creating new cultivation methods to improve his own strength and that of his tribesmen was certainly important, but expanding his territory was equally important.

At present, the territory under his control had already reached more than seventy thousand square kilometers. His talent bonus had risen to just over seven percent, and results were beginning to show.

Most importantly, it was growing by more than two thousand square kilometers every day.

Compared with the beginning of the expansion, the speed had doubled.

And it could continue to increase.

The main reason was that although the Four Routes Army's troop numbers had not increased, their average strength had been steadily rising, naturally accelerating their expansion as well.

Furthermore, the Four Routes Army had subdued quite a few Ferocious Beasts with a certain degree of intelligence along the way.

These Ferocious Beasts could serve as mounts and vanguards to clear the path. They were also a tremendous aid in accelerating the pace of expansion.

With the situation looking so promising, Yi Chen naturally did not mind heading out every few days to help the Four Routes Army deal with Ferocious Beasts they could not contend against.

Not to mention that these Ferocious Beasts could also improve his practical combat experience.

Yet the High Priest unexpectedly shook his head. "It isn't trouble on the Four Routes Army's side. It's on Gu Li's side. In a Great Mountain more than fifty kilometers east of here, she discovered a strange Spirit Mine deposit."

"A strange Spirit Mine deposit?"

Yi Chen's eyes lit up. A Spirit Mine deposit was an excellent thing.

If this Spirit Mine contained worthwhile properties, then possessing an entire deposit meant that after Weapon Forging was created, they would be able to mass-produce large quantities of Spirit Artifacts with corresponding properties or functions.