Thinking of this, Lin Yi couldn't help but turn his gaze to the dazzling figures on the battlefield.
These people are basically the backbone of Blue Star's future, and their talents and character have been fully proven in this long war.
" Liu Yuan, Elizabeth, and the other top talents have solidified their foundations and accumulated enough experience. Their Soul Power is also nearing its critical point. In a few more years, or perhaps even sooner, they should be on the verge of reaching the Star Core level."
"Once this Capital Recapture Battle is completely over, it's time to officially put the ' Star Core Special Training Class ' on the agenda. We'll pool resources, provide crucial guidance, give them a final push, shorten that final step, and prevent them from taking unnecessary detours."
Lin Yi silently calculated in his mind, and soon, an educational plan for these high-level Origin Warriors who had touched the threshold of the Star Core level gradually became clear and perfect in his mind.
"However, once they truly reach the Star Core level and gain the initial qualifications to establish themselves in the starry sea and be called 'Space Marines,' the current experience and skills, primarily aimed at Abyssal Beast and emphasizing frontal destruction and defense, will be far from sufficient."
"Perfect timing. In this training course, we need to find a way to teach them how to fight humans and deal with enemies possessing advanced intelligence. The Abyssal Beast at the Star Core level and above also possess considerable intelligence, some of which are humanoid; they would be suitable as training targets."
Having made up his mind, Lin Yi collected his thoughts and turned his gaze back to the imposing, surging battlefield below, like a tidal wave heading into the distance.
"Eat one bite at a time, walk one step at a time; for now, finish what's in front of you."
Lin Yi silently recited in his heart. " Xuanji."
" Principal, I'm here."
A calm, clear electronic voice sounded directly from the portable communicator he was wearing next to his ear.
"Those who performed exceptionally well in this operation will be selected and given the opportunity to receive direct guidance from me."
Lin Yi gave an instruction.
Then, his gaze swept over the figures charging bravely below, and he added, "Note that the selection criteria should not be limited to established high-level experts like Chen Yu and Elizabeth."
"For mid- to low-level Origin Warriors, even those who have just entered the initial stage of the Stardust level, as long as they demonstrate extraordinary courage, wisdom, or willpower in battle, they will also be considered and given this opportunity."
Xuanji responded quickly.
"Instructions recorded. Selection criteria updated: Comprehensive evaluation of individual contributions in combat, tactical execution, adaptability, willpower, teamwork, and individual growth potential. Weighting will be slightly biased towards outstanding performers who are not among the well-known powerhouses."
"The screening process will be conducted concurrently with the pursuit phase, combining battlefield recorder data with real-time system observation and analysis. A preliminary list of those who meet the criteria is expected to be submitted within 10 minutes of the battle's conclusion."
"Very good."
Lin Yi ended the communication and turned his gaze once more to the distant land that was being reclaimed by human forces with unstoppable force, his eyes deep and unfathomable.
His decision was not a spur-of-the-moment decision or simply out of kindness.
Although high-ranking powerful figures are the sword and banner of civilization, determining its upper limit and deterrent power.
However, the vast number of middle-class and grassroots workers are the cornerstone of civilization.
After all, he can't do everything himself, so cultivating capable middle and senior managers is equally important.
Therefore, in Lin Yi's view, ordinary soldiers who struggle and forge ahead in the mud and fire, shining with unique brilliance through their own efforts, wisdom, and even indomitable will, should also have the opportunity to receive guidance and recognition from higher authorities.
This in itself is a great opportunity for discovery and inspiration.
This may have a more profound significance for shaping the spiritual outlook of civilization and activating its long-term development momentum than simply killing a few more Star Core level Abyssal Beast.
--
Meanwhile, the torrent of steel never stopped.
Under the order to pursue with the phrase "the offensive and defensive positions change and the crowd surges," the allied forces, like a sophisticated yet ferocious war machine, swept through the fleeing abyss Abyssal Beast, leaving no stone unturned.
Scorched earth, ruins, and the scattered remnants of the Abyss Abyssal Beast putting up a stubborn resistance could not stop this torrent that combined human will and technological power.
The tank tracks and armored vehicle tire marks are deeply imprinted on the land that was once occupied by the Abyssal Beast, as if declaring the return of sovereignty.
Along the way, you might occasionally encounter small groups of Abyssal Beast attempting to launch a counterattack by taking advantage of the complex terrain.
However, under the overwhelming firepower and the rapid mopping-up by the Source Warrior squad, this resistance was like a stone thrown into a torrent, quickly extinguished before even creating a ripple.
The elite-level Abyssal Beast that were once feared have now become targets with clearly marked prices on the Merit System, and are being frantically pursued by people.
The advance was faster than expected.
In just over half a day, the massive purplish-black vortex of the capital's giant Main Body was clearly visible at the edge of the vanguard's field of vision.
However, unlike when they attacked large lairs before, the allied forces appeared much more relaxed this time.
About five kilometers away from the Core Zone the lair, in a relatively intact old city square and surrounding blocks, the troops began to quickly construct a simple arc-shaped defensive position according to Xuanji's blueprint.
No longer needing to be as sturdy as an " Iron Wall," it serves more as a warning, early warning, and fire support point.
Simple power base stations were quickly erected, flashing with a steady light, and " Sentinel " robots spread out, forming a mobile sentry network.
All the Source Warriors, whether they had come panting from the chase or followed in transport vehicles, seized this last moment of calm before the battle. Some sat cross-legged to absorb crystals and restore their Source Energy, while others silently checked and cleaned their weapons and equipment, replacing energy crystals.
The atmosphere was serious, but not too tense; a silent belief that "the situation is already settled" was flowing through the air.
Everyone knew that this giant nest was already a sitting duck.
After a brief rest, everyone's merit bracelets vibrated again.
[Final Stage Quest: Source of Purification ]
Mission Requirements: Stardust level Tier 4 and above personnel will participate in the Source Energy Neutralization of the capital's giant nest Main Body, according to their assigned batches. The remaining combat units will be responsible for the outer defense, eliminating any last resistance forces and interference units that may emerge from the nest.
Mission Rewards: 80,000 base merit points, with additional rewards based on contribution level and defense performance.
The commands are easy to understand.
Soon, the first batch of Source Warriors to participate in Source Energy Neutralization were selected.
Zhou Yuxuan closed the tactical tablet he was carrying, took a deep breath, exchanged a glance with Chen Yu, who was already eager to try, and the two walked side by side toward the Nest Vortex that exuded a suffocating sense of oppression.
Elizabeth straightened her collar and hair, which were slightly disheveled from the battle, and a hint of seriousness flashed in her icy blue eyes. She then stepped forward steadily with her second-in-command.
Andre grinned, patted his greatsword, slung it over his shoulder, and roared, "Brothers, this is the last job! Let's go home and drink after we're done!" This prompted a roar of response from his group of burly men.
More than three hundred top-tier Stardust level powerhouses from various countries and forces stood around the giant purplish-red vortex, which had a diameter of over a thousand meters and seemed to connect to the abyss of hell, following Xuanji's instructions.
"Everyone, heed my command, output in unison!"
The voice of a high-ranking officer from the Training Corps, who was in charge of on-site coordination, came through a loudspeaker.
"Three, two, one! Go!"
In an instant, more than three hundred beams of source energy, of varying thickness but equally condensed and dazzling, poured into the massive purplish-red vortex from different directions, like swords of dawn piercing the darkness.
"Buzz!"
The entire giant nest resembled a primordial beast that had been thoroughly enraged, emitting invisible waves a hundred times stronger than those of the previous large nests.
The terrifying pressure, like a tangible tsunami, assaulted the minds of everyone involved in the neutralization process.
However, unlike in the past when Source Energy Neutralization was carried out, at this moment, all the powerful figures standing here, though solemn, felt no fear.
Everyone knows that there is no other Abyssal Beast force in this vicinity that can compare with the nest before them.
It is now isolated and at its wit's end.
Chen Yu felt the source energy within his body surge out like a floodgate opening, flowing into that enormous neutralizing energy field.
He stared at the struggling, twisting vortex ahead, and even had the leisure to grin, calling out to Zhou Yuxuan, who was completely focused beside him, and Elizabeth, whose face was cold and aloof, not far away:
"Hey, tell me, isn't that what it calls 'help'? Too bad, keep screaming, scream as loud as you can! Look at this godforsaken place, who's going to come to your rescue? Screaming your lungs out won't do any good!"
His somewhat roguish words seemed abrupt in this serious setting, but they instantly drew low chuckles from many powerful figures around him. Even Elizabeth's lips seemed to twitch slightly, easing the tense atmosphere.
Zhou Yuxuan shook his head helplessly, but did not say anything to stop him. He simply focused more on regulating his source energy output to ensure it was stable and efficient.
Source Energy Neutralization is a long and costly process.
Under Xuanji's skillful command, more than 300 powerful individuals were divided into three groups, taking turns to fight in a relay.
Each batch lasted for about three hours before being replaced by the next batch. Those who were replaced immediately retreated to the back, sat cross-legged, and frantically absorbed the high-level Source Energy Crystal that had been prepared in advance, in order to recover their strength as quickly as possible.
Time flows slowly through cycles of change.
As the setting sun once again painted the horizon orange-red, creating a poignant contrast with the purplish-red vortex on the ground, the giant Abyss Nest finally teetered on the brink of collapse.
"Everyone, give it your all! It's about to give out!" The coordinating officer's voice was filled with barely suppressed excitement.
All the powerful beings who were currently unleashing their power, whether in the first or third wave, stepped forward simultaneously and unleashed all of their remaining source energy.
In an instant, the source energy shone brightly, as if hundreds of small suns were lit up at the same time, completely engulfing the distorted vortex.
"Crack. Bang!"
The purplish-red vortex, with a diameter of a kilometer, suddenly contracted inward, and then burst open like a punctured balloon.
There was no deafening explosion, only countless purplish-red fragments, like fireworks out of control, shooting in all directions, eventually turning into scattered specks of light that gradually dissipated.
The giant lair that had occupied the capital of Xia Country for several years has completely disappeared.
silence.
It lasted for several seconds.
Immediately, deafening cheers erupted like a volcanic eruption from every corner of the defensive positions and from the mouths of everyone who had participated in this final battle.
Many people embraced and wept, while others raised their weapons and roared at the sky in a cathartic display.
The notification sounds of the merit bracelets rose and fell, like the most beautiful melody.
The rewards for completing the mission arrived in the accounts one after another, and the generous amount of merit points brought smiles to countless faces.
Even more eye-catching is the beautifully designed badge pattern that automatically pops up on the wristband screen.
Against a backdrop of shattered vortexes, the rising sun and city silhouettes are highlighted, with the words "Capital Restored, Dawn Forever" below.
At the same time, the forum Title " Dawn of Xia " was automatically added after each person's ID.
Almost instantly, relevant sections of various platforms, such as the East Peak Military Academy's internal forum and the Source Energy Users' Home, were flooded with posts boasting about their achievements.
[Screenshot. jpg] See that? The limited edition badge! " Dawn of Xia "!
[A historic moment, I participated! Capital, we're back!]
[Haha, my merit points are in! I can finally exchange them for that "Skybreaker-III" battle blade I've been longing for!]
Joy and excitement filled the air.
However, in a temporary rest area at the edge of the square, the five members of the " Mountain Cat " team huddled together, staring at the screen of the merit bracelet on Old Cat's wrist, completely frozen, as if they had been hit by an invisible shockwave of source energy.
On the screen, besides the normal mission settlement information of 600,000 merit points and that enviable badge, there was also an additional message in bold, with a faint gold border:
[Special Award Notice]
To all members of the " Mountain Cat " team:
According to the comprehensive evaluation by the Xuanji System, your team performed exceptionally well throughout " Dawn Operation " (including the initial reconnaissance, defensive operations, and pursuit phases). Your team demonstrated decisive tactical execution, perfect teamwork, and turned the tide of battle on several occasions at critical moments, showcasing a tenacity and combat wisdom far exceeding your own level.
This is a special reward: You will receive a personal mentorship from Commander [ Lin Yi ].
Specific time and location will be notified separately.
Please keep your communication channels open.
"Fuck!"
The Monkey was the first to react. He rubbed his eyes violently and pinched his thigh, wincing in pain, before confirming that it wasn't a hallucination.
"Old... Old Cat, pinch me. Wait, look at this. Is this real? Commander Lin Yi personally guiding us?"
Big Bear stared blankly at the screen, his honest face full of bewilderment. He looked at the screen, then at his teammates, seemingly unable to comprehend the meaning of the words combined.
Even the Nightingale, with its aloof nature, couldn't help but breathe rapidly.
Old Cat took several deep breaths to barely suppress his excitement. He looked around at his teammates, wanting to say something but unsure what to say. Finally, he could only manage to stammer, "Brothers, I think the Merit System won't play a joke on us. We've been chosen."
"Aaaaaah!"
The Monkey finally couldn't contain itself and roared wildly, jumping high into the air and grabbing the still-dazed Big Bear next to it.
"Brother Xiong! Did you hear that? Commander Lin Yi! He's going to give us pointers! Give us pointers!"
Overwhelmed by a tremendous sense of happiness and honor, this grassroots team, which had been struggling from the bottom up and had worked their way up step by step through hard work and luck, was instantly overwhelmed.
They pounded each other's shoulders, expressing their excitement incoherently.
After the initial excitement, the Monkey, almost trembling, took a screenshot of the [Special Commendation Notice], concealing sensitive information such as the team number, and posted it directly to the " Source Energy Users' Home " forum, which had the widest audience and the largest traffic. The accompanying text was a simple yet eye-catching sentence:
"Guys! Am I dreaming?! [Screenshot. jpg]"
Within ten seconds of the post being published, the number of replies began to explode.
"?????"
"Holy crap!!! Commander Lin Yi personally gave guidance?!"
"So sour! I ate a ton of lemons!"
"Which team are you on, OP? I'm bowing down!"
"May this bring you some joy! Congratulations, sir!"
This is just the beginning.
Soon, several similar posts sprang up on the forum like mushrooms after rain. The posters had different IDs, came from different teams, and even different countries, but the core content was the same—showing off the golden [Special Commendation Notice].
Clearly, the " Mountain Cat " team was not the only one to receive this honor.
Some are lone warriors who hold key points in defensive battles, enduring heavy losses without retreating.
Some were well-coordinated pairs who cleverly ambushed and killed an extremely troublesome elite-level Abyssal Beast during the pursuit.
Another post claimed that the poster was just an ordinary soldier of the first tier of Stardust level. He risked his life in the chaos to replace the Source Energy Crystal of a " Ring of Judgment " and activate it, buying his teammates a crucial respite.
The appearance of these posts further proves the breadth and fairness of Lin Yi's reward program.
We value not only ability, but also performance and potential.
The forum was in an uproar.
Posts expressing envy, congratulations, curiosity, and analysis abound.
Finally, someone asked the crucial question:
"If you don't understand, just ask. I'm a newbie, so I'll ask a question: how many merit points is this opportunity for 'Commander Lin Yi to personally guide you once' worth?"
The replies below were varied, with some jokingly saying it was priceless, and others guessing it was worth 100,000 or 200,000.
Until one reply was quickly liked and pushed to the top, the poster's ID was prominently displayed with the official certification mark " Stardust level 6":
"Sigh, if only this opportunity could be transferred. I'd rather spend 500,000 merit points to buy it once, and I wouldn't even haggle over the price."
Five hundred thousand merits!
This number was like a bomb, silencing the forum for a moment before erupting into even more frenzied discussion.
Everyone realized that the value of this reward far exceeded their previous expectations.
Just as the forum was abuzz with discussion about this "guidance opportunity worth 500,000 merit points," in reality, everyone who received the reward, including the still-excited " Mountain Cat " team, received the same notification from Xuanji:
" Principal Lin Yi will be holding a Q&A session in the core ruins area of the lair in thirty minutes. Those with a 'Special Commendation Notice' may ask one question. Others may attend as observers; please proceed in an orderly manner."
The news caused a stir among the crowd, which had just begun to calm down.
Without any organization or orders, everyone who could spare the time—whether they were powerful individuals who had just finished a neutralization mission, soldiers responsible for perimeter security, or even logistics and engineering personnel—spontaneously flocked to the Core Zone of the recently collapsed nest, as if on a pilgrimage.
There, the original towering nest has disappeared, leaving only a huge crater with traces of vitrification, like a scar on the earth.
People spontaneously searched for their place on these ruins.
The top of the heavy armored vehicle was soon filled with rows of soldiers, who leaned on the weapon racks on the roof and looked on expectantly.
The surrounding buildings, which had been affected by the previous battles but had not yet completely collapsed, were crowded with people in every window, on every balcony, and even on every relatively stable edge of the floor.
Even the broad shoulder platforms of the surrounding "Guardian" heavy robots became highly sought-after viewing seats.
There was no scrambling, only a tacit order; everyone tried to remain quiet, their eyes focused on the center of the crater.
There were about a dozen people who were qualified to ask questions. Under Xuanji's invisible guidance, they silently walked to the front and formed a loose semicircle around the center point.
Chen Yu, Zhou Yuxuan, Elizabeth, Andre, and others were among them, their expressions solemn and thoughtful.
The five members of the " Mountain Cat " squad stood tightly together, able to clearly hear each other's heavy breathing and heartbeats. Looking at the powerful figures around them, whose names they usually only heard in rumors, they felt like children who had strayed into a land of giants.
I felt tense, excited, and filled with boundless anticipation.
The afterglow of the setting sun bathed the entire ruins in a warm golden-red hue, creating a strange harmony with the cold remains left from the battle.
Just then, a figure appeared silently in the very center of the pit, on the flattest patch of vitrified ground.
It was Lin Yi.
He was still wearing that seemingly ordinary combat uniform, and there were no powerful energy fluctuations emanating from his body, as if he had blended into the surrounding environment.
But simply by standing there, he naturally became the center of the entire world, attracting all eyes that converged there.
He didn't speak, his gaze calmly sweeping over those who had been granted the right to ask questions, and over the figures holding their breath on the ruins, on the roofs of vehicles, and by the windows.
A gust of wind blew, stirring up fine dust from the ground, making a soft whistling sound that accentuated the stillness of the moment.
A solemn and sacred atmosphere slowly permeated the ruins that had just experienced final destruction and rebirth.
From the sky, radiating outwards from that solitary yet powerful figure at the center are eager questioners, and beyond that, a dense crowd of people.
They stood amidst steel wreckage, broken buildings, and armored vehicle rooftops, bathed in the golden glow of the setting sun.
Destruction and rebirth, despair and hope, questions and answers, past and future—all seemed to intertwine and collide at this moment on this silent ruin, ultimately freezing into a magnificent scene.
Once he estimated that everyone had arrived, Lin Yi slowly began to speak.
His voice wasn't loud, but it clearly reached the ears of everyone present, as if it resonated directly in the depths of their hearts.
"Let's begin."