The dismantling of the interception circle signifies a new phase in the war. The World Tree holds the coordinate records of the Kunde Race exiles, and the army leaves behind temporary outposts along the way, splitting into multiple routes to advance towards the Shattered World, like endless green tree roots growing in the universe, slowly reaching into the territories of the Three Universal Civilizations, spreading inch by inch on the scale of cosmic space.
The Three Universal Civilizations employed beyond-visual-range weapons and harassment tactics to wage guerrilla warfare and delay the enemy's advance.
The player community didn't react much to the defeat in the interception zone; morale remained unaffected. In their eyes, it was just a normal development in the main storyline. At most, some story-focused players posted on forums analyzing the subsequent war's trajectory, but most of it was just speculation and guesswork.
The most affected aspect is the ongoing main storyline quests for players, whose requirements have been changed. The condition of guarding the interception zone has been crossed out and replaced with preventing the World Tree from marching as much as possible.
However, most players are quite happy, as the Space-Time Shearing tactic has found a use again, allowing them to find new employment after being laid off, with more job opportunities available.
During wartime, players who act as mercenaries are the happiest, as mission rewards are significantly increased, and their wallets fill up many times over.
During the harassment phase, the Three Universal Civilizations have a large number of suicide squad positions available for players, which is convenient for Master Han, as he doesn't need to be distracted by fertilizing the players and can focus his energy on other things.
Shattered World, Black Star territory.
A massive metal fortress, triangular in shape, floats in space, with slender magnetic field-constrained orbits extending from each corner. These orbits, resembling transparent pipes, are actually rapid-travel corridors that connect to a crescent-shaped mechanical device at the end. These three devices, like suction cups, hold three stars in their grip. These stars have been migrated and, through special treatments such as gravitational binding and energy confinement, are highly stable.
The three crescent-shaped mechanical devices are called star guides, used to guide the energy of celestial bodies. The model configured here is for individual cultivation, conducting training such as body tempering, energy charging, and endurance enhancement, and can adjust the output power of celestial energy.
This metal fortress is a specially constructed training ground equipped with various top-notch training facilities, such as a stellar training room for tempering the body with stellar power, an environmental simulation room for converting various cosmic radiations, an ultra-high density extreme gravity room, and so on. It also has cultivation-related Universal Treasure provided by the Three Universal Civilizations and many Beyond Grade A beings, which can stimulate the potential of different races and different systems. It can be said to be the most superior training base for superhumans in the entire Explored Universe.
Those who can receive intensive training here are not ordinary people. More than 95% of the Beyond Grade A Seed in the entire Explored Universe have been sent here, regardless of whether they are from civilian backgrounds or the direct lineage of civilizations. At the same time, there are also other potential Calamity Grade selected by various forces.
At this moment, in the open-air square of the training camp, a small group of people lined up, staring almost fanatically at the row of figures in front of them, with most eyes focused on Han Xiao in the center.
"You are all at the Calamity Grade, so I don't need to explain why you're here. From today onwards, all the facilities here are free for your use. We will set up training schedules for you, and in our spare time, we will answer any questions you encounter during your training..."
Han Xiao spoke loudly while scanning the crowd in front of him.
The establishment of this training ground was also the idea of Three Universal Civilizations. Originally, their direct descendants were receiving training at various military bases, but now they have all been packaged up and sent here by the Three Universal Civilizations. The people in front of us are basically high-level Calamity Grade, encompassing all the top superhumans below the Beyond Grade A in the Explored Universe.
Providing the best facilities, the strongest faculty, and the highest quality resources, all for the purpose of producing as many Beyond Grade A as possible within eleven years... Faced with the World Tree's suffocatingly powerful strength, the Three Universal Civilizations could no longer afford to worry about the imbalance of superpowers.
"Clear!"
Hadavy shouted excitedly, and hundreds of Beyond Grade A Seed who had already joined the Black Star Army immediately echoed him. Under their influence, people from other factions also responded one after another.
Han Xiao glanced at him; there were quite a few familiar faces among them. He had also added the Black Star Army's Beyond Grade A Seed to the training camp roster, including Lagi, Hadavy, Jotina, Nero, Mia, and others.
However, not all promising stocks participated in the intensive training. Some particularly promising investors received private tutoring, such as Carrot and Evans.
"However, let me make this clear from the start: everyone who becomes Beyond Grade A during the training camp must participate in the war unconditionally as your tuition. Otherwise, we will take back your power. This is a deal, and you can still back out now."
Upon hearing this, the excitement on everyone's faces remained unchanged; they already knew the price.
However, the value of this training camp is extraordinary. Most of the Beyond Grade A Seed present have grown on their own. They never had the opportunity to use such rare and precious materials at will, nor could they consult different Beyond Grade A anytime and anywhere. Even if they joined Beyond Grade A force, they would not receive such treatment normally. Compared to these benefits, participating in the war is nothing.
Just as everyone was getting excited, a dissenting mutter suddenly rang out from the crowd.
"Sigh, since we're going to die in the war anyway, what's the use of training harder..."
Han Xiao's eye twitched.
The style was so distinctive that he knew who was speaking without even looking, and immediately emphasized his words:
"Let me state in advance that our training course is mandatory, with no slacking off allowed, and rest time is strictly controlled. Some people would better take note."
"Alas, totalitarianism..."
The same voice was still sighing and complaining.
Han Xiao ignored this Lagi and continued:
"Alright, enough with the unnecessary words. I've already prepared a schedule for each of you. These instructors will be responsible for training you. Let's begin now. From this moment on, it's best not to waste a single second."
As he spoke, more than a dozen Beyond Grade A beside him stepped forward and led away batches of Calamity Grade to train separately.
Some ordinary Beyond Grade A with little room for advancement are keen on becoming instructors. As long as they train one more comrade-in-arms, they can share the pressure. Their experience is also valuable to the Calamity Grade.
"Hopefully, in eleven years, more than ten Beyond Grade A individuals will emerge from this group..."
Han Xiao thought to himself.
By concentrating all the potential stocks in the universe and forcing them to grow prematurely, it is possible to produce double-digit Beyond Grade A talents in eleven years, which is equivalent to prematurely ripening a batch of leeks that have already grown to a near-ripe state.
With his targeted training, Beyond Grade A personal instruction, and abundant resources, the probability of a high-level Calamity Grade player making the final push should increase many times over.
Watching a group of promising talents being taken away for training, Han Xiao turned to look at the other Beyond Grade A and nodded:
"We're the same. If you need any training advice, I can give you some."
The training camp consisted of two groups: one was at the Calamity Grade, and the other was at the Beyond Grade A. The two groups naturally had different programs, and he was directly in charge of the latter.
Many Beyond Grade A individuals had been observing from the sidelines, and now they looked at each other, feeling somewhat awkward.
Those who can advance to Beyond Grade A are all geniuses. They have all found their own path and have been exploring and cultivating on their own. Suddenly having to accept guidance from others is a bit of a challenge for many.
However, Han Xiao was highly respected, and everyone present had agreed to the training plan he proposed at the regular meeting. They couldn't go back on their word now, so they all came up to get needles, which gave Han Xiao a good taste of his own medicine.
Taking this opportunity, Han Xiao collected information on the vast majority of Beyond Grade A individuals and analyzed their abilities based on their characteristics.
'I feel like a Pokémon trainer...'
After analyzing it for a while, this idea suddenly popped into Han Xiao's mind.
On the other side, many Beyond Grade A cultivators were stunned when Black Star accurately pointed out their weaknesses and provided effective training plans.
They knew Black Star had a keen eye, but it was all hearsay; they had no real experience of it. Now that they had witnessed it firsthand, they couldn't help but become quite interested.
"You've grown so fast, could it be because of this skill?" Oulu asked in surprise.
"To some extent, that's true." Han Xiao shrugged.
"The title of 'Super Mentor' should be given to you. If you were in the Federation of Light, I might be unemployed," Velina said helplessly.
Don't worry, it's not too late to lose your job now.
Han Xiao was too lazy to speak human language. After distributing the training plan, he urged everyone to hurry up and start cultivating.
Although he was eager to spar with someone and try to extract abilities, the training camp had only just begun, and it was better to let others get used to it first.
The numerous Beyond Grade A dispersed, their training grounds not being this training camp. Han Xiao modified some nearby planets as temporary training grounds for Beyond Grade A. For the next eleven years, most of them would be active in this area. However, this only applied to ordinary Beyond Grade A and some High-level Beyond Grade A. People like Kasuyi, Manison, and Hila had their own special training routes and did not need to come here for training.
After finishing all this, Han Xiao was about to return to the machine workshop to continue his research when his communicator suddenly rang. The caller was none other than the department leader responsible for liaising with the Secondary Dimension Expedition Team.
"Lord Black Star, I have bad news for you. In our last communication, we discovered that the fleet carrying the envoy you dispatched has gone missing and we are currently unable to make contact with them."
"Disappeared?"
Han Xiao's eyes flickered, and he silently activated the Observation Mark.
When Harrison set off, he used his Void talent to set an Observation Mark for Harrison. Because there had been no results for a long time, he didn't check it all the time. The last time he checked and looked at the Tu Shu was a day and a half ago, and everything seemed normal.
With the ability activated, the vision suddenly changed, leaving only a deep, dark void, making Harrison's figure completely invisible.
Before he could observe carefully, his field of vision suddenly disappeared, proving that the Observation Mark had been destroyed.
"What did we encounter in this Secondary Dimension World?"
Han Xiao frowned. The ability to clear his Observation Mark likely indicated Beyond Grade A energy level.
Without hesitation, he donned the special Sovereign and teleported directly to the Throne that Harrison had taken.
With a flash of light, the surroundings spun around Han Xiao, who found himself in a space resembling a black, deep sea, with nothing else in sight.
The Throne should have been kept in Harrison's room, but at this moment, the fleet was gone, and Harrison and the other crew members had also disappeared, leaving only the Throne floating alone.
What place is this?
Han Xiao looked around and was surprised to find that his energy sensing seemed to have disappeared, and he could not perceive the situation in this deep sea. The mecha radar also failed, and his eyesight was greatly suppressed, making it pitch black.
He released a swarm of probes and connected them by Mechanical Force, but the probes had only flown a short distance when the connection was suddenly lost, and they could no longer be detected, as if they had been swallowed up by the black sea.
Han Xiao tried to shoot several energy beams in one direction, but they were like mud oxen sinking into the sea, without any reaction.
"A rather bizarre Secondary Dimension. What did Harrison encounter?"
Han Xiao's eyes flickered.
The Secondary Dimension World is full of possibilities; anything can happen. It's incredibly complex, and this expedition has been venturing deep into it for over a year. He couldn't say for sure what unexpected events might occur.
Just as Han Xiao was preparing to set off to search this Secondary Dimension, suddenly, immense pressure came from all directions, accompanied by a thunderous roar, as if the black sea was suddenly roaring and squeezing towards him.
At the same time, a chilling mental fluctuation suddenly invaded his mind, accompanied by a solemn and ancient voice:
"Advanced alien life form, leave immediately, or you will become the enemy of the King of the Boundless!"