Kindling Network

Why not take the starship?

Sorry, but the earlier attack by the first-rank White-Wing Clan had severely damaged Song Chi's Cangqiong. It was currently undergoing slow self-repairs within the Kindle Ancestral Aperture, and it was not advisable to interrupt the process.

If he sent it to a specialized Kindling Starship repair facility, the repairs could basically be finished in a few hours. But Song Chi was unwilling to do that, because the technicians would have to board the ship, exposing everything aboard the Cangqiong to outsiders. That was something every Kindling captain with secrets found deeply objectionable.

So, the Cangqiong could only recover slowly within the Kindle Ancestral Aperture.

Fortunately, half a month had already passed, and it would be fully repaired within the next few days. Interrupting it now would mean spending a great deal of time nurturing it all over again, which was completely unnecessary.

The Jiangyuan Kindling Bureau was located in the center of Jiangyuan City, not far from East River District. The Pentium Type-3 Kinetic Flyer sped along for roughly ten minutes before successfully arriving at their destination.

Viewed from above, the Jiangyuan Kindling Bureau resembled a perfectly planned circular multifunctional base. Office buildings, starship docking areas, a kinetic flyer parking lot, physical training grounds—everything was there.

After parking the flyer in the designated spot as instructed by the staff, Song Chao led Song Chi straight toward the Kindling agent office building.

Not long after they entered the building, a middle-aged man in a Kindling uniform approached them with a smile.

"Uncle Shen!"

Upon seeing the man, Song Chi was the first to politely address him.

Shen Wenjie was one of the Kindling Bureau's inspection captains and also a second-rank Kindling captain. He commanded a frigate-class Void Energy starship and wielded considerable influence throughout Jiangyuan City.

More importantly, though, he was extremely close with Song Chi's father, Song Chao. They had been friends for many years, and their families had visited one another frequently ever since Song Chi was little. Song Chi was very familiar with Shen Wenjie as well.

Shen Wenjie exchanged a few pleasantries with Song Chao before turning his gaze toward Song Chi.

"Good lad. It's good that you awakened successfully. The rest doesn't matter. Come to Uncle Shen's place in a few days. Your aunt and I will give you a proper celebration."

Song Chi beamed.

"Thank you, Uncle Shen... Oh, right. Youran should be awakening soon too, right? It's been almost two years since I last saw her. Sigh."

Hearing the nearly imperceptible sigh in Song Chi's voice, Shen Wenjie and Song Chao exchanged a glance before bursting into laughter.

"You brat, are you still angry at your aunt and me? If you miss Youran, go to Jiangyuan City yourself. You're already thirty, yet you're still being so shy and awkward."

Faced with such undisguised teasing, even Song Chi, an old man with a mental age nearing sixty, could not help but blush slightly in embarrassment.

Seeing this, amusement flickered in Shen Wenjie and Song Chao's eyes. They did not continue teasing Song Chi, and the two men began chatting idly.

Amid their casual conversation, the three soon arrived before a room on the left side of the third floor. Song Chi glanced up at the sign above the door, where five words were written.

"Kindling Network Room!"

Shen Wenjie knocked on the door. Soon, a man wearing the Kindling Bureau uniform opened it. Upon seeing Shen Wenjie, surprise flashed briefly in his eyes before his smile became even brighter.

"Captain Shen."

Shen Wenjie nodded lightly, then beckoned Song Chi over.

Song Chi stepped inside.

This special room was responsible for Kindling Network activation. Even after Song Chi entered, the man who shut the door behind him did not lose the smile on his face.

Since Song Chi had been personally brought over by Shen Wenjie, the man had a fair idea of the situation. If he lacked even that much awareness, he could never have remained for years in the fiercely competitive position of "Kindling Network Auxiliary Activator."

As a job that was simple, safe, and extremely well-paid, positions as Kindling Network Auxiliary Activators at every city's Kindling Bureau branch were highly coveted. One careless mistake could see someone pushed out of the role.

"Song Chi, right? Sit over here."

Following the man's guidance, Song Chi sat inside a special metal pod resembling a Void Energy modification chamber.

As he was wondering about it, the man spoke in a gentle voice.

"This is a Kindling Network Auxiliary Activation Pod. Relax as much as you can, and don't resist.

"Since Captain Shen personally brought you here, the Kindling Network you activate will have authorization one level higher than that of ordinary Kindling captains. As for its more specific functions, you'll need to experience them yourself after activation. I'm only telling you this here. Don't mention it after you leave, and I won't acknowledge it either."

Song Chi nodded, somewhat surprised. He had always thought that everyone's Kindling Network permissions were the same after awakening a Kindling Seed. He had not expected something like this to be possible.

Still, no matter what, he was one of the special cases. Naturally, he would not act like those Long Aotian protagonists from web novels in his previous life, believing he could casually change the rules and uphold justice for everyone. That was the behavior of someone who had never been beaten down by society.

Wherever there were people, there would be intrigue. Wherever there was light, there would be darkness. If one did not understand such a simple principle, one would definitely die a miserable death sooner or later. With that thought, he muttered softly:

"No wonder Dad personally brought me here..."

After silently thanking Shen Wenjie once more, he closed his eyes.

Familiar Void Energy circulated within the activation pod before ultimately focusing entirely on the spot between his brows.

Song Chi felt a stream of icy energy continuously flow in through his forehead and into the Kindle Ancestral Aperture. It gradually gathered around the Kindling Seed within the aperture, seemingly attempting to establish some mysterious and profound connection.

He did not know how much time had passed. When Song Chi regained consciousness, he found himself lying on a single bed along the inner side of the activation room. The Kindling Network Auxiliary Activation Pod had closed once more, and someone else was attempting activation.

His Kindling Network had clearly been activated successfully, but he needed to wait twenty-four hours—until tomorrow—before he could officially log in.

Once he had fully recovered, Song Chi quietly thanked the auxiliary activator before leaving the Kindling activation room.

Outside, his father and Uncle Shen were nowhere to be seen. Relying on his memory, Song Chi made his way to the fourth floor, where Shen Wenjie's office was located. As expected, the two were sitting in the office chatting. Beside Shen Wenjie sat a rather handsome young man.

Shen Qing, the son of Shen Wenjie's elder brother and Shen Youran's cousin, had often hung around with Song Chi when they were children. He had likewise awakened a Colorless Kindling Seed two years ago and was now an ordinary agent at the Kindling Bureau. Of course, Song Chi guessed that he would be promoted before long. It was easier to rise through the ranks when you had people backing you.

"Little Chi!"

"Big Qing!"

Hearing that long-lost nickname, the two smiled knowingly. As for that nickname, it was a story that went back to their childhood.

P.S. Please keep reading!!!