Life Crystal

[High-energy metal ore detected. Estimated to be suitable as the core metal material for relatively high-quality warships, mecha, starfighters, and battle armor.]

[Metal classification: G-grade metal]

The Star Origin rapidly reduced the power of its propulsion systems while traveling at high speed. After several systems lowered their output, the ship came to a complete stop within five seconds.

"High-energy metal ore..."

According to the Star Sea Alliance's classification system, high-energy metal was an essential material for manufacturing high-quality conventional warships. It could greatly improve a warship's overall performance and basic attributes.

Combined with technological equipment of various grades and capabilities, the most powerful conventional warships were more than capable of rivaling high-grade starships!

As for all the other metal resources, regardless of their quality or rarity—even special metals said to withstand the gravitational pull of a black hole—they could be directly synthesized.

Among the Alliance's vast array of advanced technologies was a process that could break down all metals other than high-energy metals into the universe's fundamental particles.

Those particles could then be shaped into whatever metals were needed, using particle-forming technology and different alloy base structures.

This helped reduce the enormous burden of mining the vast quantities of metal needed to manufacture countless pieces of equipment.

Simply put, even ordinary iron ore could be transformed into a more advanced special alloy.

The conversion ratios varied, of course.

Even lower-grade high-energy metals could be made by processing ordinary metals, but there was no way the Morton Galaxy possessed such formidable technology.

"The core resource for manufacturing Knight Series warships has just fallen into our laps.

"Once we use our Alliance Military supply privileges to get our hands on some military-grade mining equipment, building up a force will be a piece of cake."

Feng Xiao looked thrilled.

Wang Hao used the Matrix to survey the size and reserves of the ore vein. There was no need to use the Heart of Dawn on a low-grade high-energy metal vein.

The Star Origin's warehouse was also equipped with two hundred advanced mining machines, all ready to go.

The mining machines were spherical, each about three meters in diameter.

Their mining method was much like that of the Star Origin's own large-scale mining equipment. They could use special energy beams to extract tiny metal particles and fuse them into ingots.

Each machine was equipped with a Dissolution Ray, which could dissolve extremely ordinary materials such as rocks and soil.

However, the ingots they produced would be scattered along the mine tunnels and on the ground. They had no storage capacity.

That wasn't a big problem. The Star Origin's unused ship holds lacked plenty of things, but auxiliary machines for all sorts of purposes certainly weren't among them.

"Roar!"

As the Star Origin's enormous hull slowly descended, huge roars rang out from the mountains surrounding the ore vein. Powerful life energy spread in every direction!

All of the Star Origin's Mecha Soldiers surged out. A hundred of them, armed with an assortment of weapons, charged fearlessly toward the areas teeming with life energy.

The piercing hum of energy beams and the thunderous boom of Energy Grenade Cannons rang out. Violent explosions echoed throughout the forest as flames spread wildly.

The natural energy swirling around several five-meter-tall golden beasts condensed into blades of wind, which struck a small squad of Mecha Soldiers with a thunderous crash.

The Mecha Soldiers' shields wavered for an instant, but they were otherwise unharmed. Meanwhile, the energy beams and particle cannons in their hands easily pierced the beasts!

The Star Origin's missile system activated while the ship hovered in midair. More than ten energy missiles shot toward various parts of the forest.

Those areas were home to large numbers of magical beasts comparable to first- and second-level Star Beasts. Even ten Mecha Soldier squads working together couldn't take them all out.

"We have to get mecha and starfighters as soon as possible. In some situations, a starship's overwhelming firepower isn't suited to the job," Ilde said helplessly.

The Star Origin really wasn't cut out for this kind of "delicate work."

Feng Xiao nodded. "I know. We also need to start recruiting crew members and an assault team. I already have a rough idea of where our next adventure will take us."

As they spoke, the ten frenzied mechanical squads wiped out thousands of magical beasts of various levels throughout the forest. Bodies littered the area.

Ordinary flesh and blood stood no chance against technological weapons designed to maximize offensive power.

"Hmm?"

"Boss, these life-energy crystals in the magical beasts' brains... They seem to offer a slight boost to esper abilities."

Wang Hao looked delighted as he examined the strange crystal that had been brought to him.

Feng Xiao had been about to meditate, but he immediately turned and headed for the ship's exit.

"Boss, where are you going?"

"Keep an eye on the mining operation. It'll be finished in four days at most. If you get bored, enter the Second World or look around nearby.

"I'm going to 'take a look' at the rest of the forest."

Feng Xiao's voice rang out in both their minds at once, but his figure had already disappeared.

Wang Hao and Ilde were speechless. Ilde turned and went back to his room to rest, while Wang Hao stared blankly around him, beginning to question his life.

Where'd he go?

Why was their captain so carefree?

What was he supposed to do?

Wrapped in Divine Sense, Feng Xiao shot out of the forest and into its depths at high speed.

He made no effort to conceal his presence.

He wasn't the least bit worried about his safety.

His Divine Sense was growing rapidly. Combined with the Ghost Millet Fruit provided by the military, it had already reached LV20. Killing a perfect second-level Star Beast wouldn't be difficult.

As mentioned earlier, this world was home to a group of lifeforms who called themselves gods. If he had to guess, those so-called "gods" were around LV70 to LV80.

Under normal circumstances, reaching LV40 on the K180 Continent already made someone an absolute powerhouse.

As he sped through the air, more than ten dark-blue giant eagles let out piercing cries, spread their sharp talons, and dove at Feng Xiao. Their bodies radiated a razor-sharp aura.

Judging by their attacks alone, these giant eagles, with wingspans of twenty meters, could even pierce a first-level Star Beast's defenses!

As the fierce eagles attacked, Feng Xiao's pupils rapidly turned gold, and a holy glow enveloped him.

The flock seemed frozen in time, suspended rigidly in the sky. Then they exploded into chunks of flesh.

Feng Xiao casually collected more than ten life-energy crystals, a smile appearing on his face.

Energy crystals—crystals containing life energy that could enhance esper abilities. Even each one of these would sell for at least 1,000 Star Points!

What a haul!

He had to gather as much as he could before other independent starships could enter. Once the Star Origin finished mining, they'd start killing magical beasts on a large scale.

For now, he'd make a little profit himself.

Come to think of it, dragons and High Elves seemed to have crystals inside them too—and theirs looked even more valuable!

Feng Xiao casually crushed dozens of ordinary magical beasts, his excitement growing.

High Elf beauties?

Were they as valuable as Star Points?

Obviously not.

Boom!

Feng Xiao accelerated again, turning into a streak of pale-gold light as he shot into the distance.

"Damn Demon Race! They'll pay dearly for this!"

Among countless hundred-meter-tall trees, several agile figures leaped from branch to branch, fleeing deeper into the forest.

Their light, elegant armor, perfectly proportioned figures, and beautiful faces made it obvious they belonged to the High Elf race.

The secret to wealth Feng Xiao had been "dreaming about day and night."

And the direction they were fleeing in just happened to be opposite the direction Feng Xiao was coming from!