"Welcome to the Central Galaxy, Lord Black Star."
We've arrived. This is the center of the universe... Han Xiao's eyes flickered.
As the regional broadcast sounded, the uniquely-looking fleet slowly advanced. The flagship of the long-range fleet received the other party's communication request, and an officer wearing an Imperial high-ranking military uniform appeared on the screen. He had a small mustache and looked shrewd.
"I am the commander of the Imperial Mother Planet Seventeenth Guard, ordered to welcome our allies who have traveled from afar."
Han Xiao glanced at him, raising an eyebrow. This commander wasn't a big shot, but he was someone he knew. In his previous life, when players went to the Empire's home planet, they had to go through numerous checks before being escorted through the restrictions by the home planet guards. These home planet guards were like a group of old gatekeepers, and each of them was a familiar face to the players.
"Thank you for your hard work," Han Xiao said politely.
Please follow me.
Having said that, the mothership guard turned around and headed away, while the long-range fleet followed the route and flew slowly behind.
"This is your first time in the Central Galaxy, isn't it?" Ames suddenly spoke up, turning to look at Han Xiao.
"Hmm." Han Xiao remained noncommittal. He knew the environment of the Central Galaxy like the back of his hand, but according to his resume, this was his first time here.
"Let me introduce it to you..." Ames shook her head. She used to occasionally travel to the Central Galaxy and look for Iso, so she was quite familiar with the place. Since Black Star had never been here before, she felt it was necessary to help Han Xiao understand the situation here.
Listening to Ames's introduction, Han Xiao felt rather strange, as if he were being treated like a country bumpkin visiting the city for the first time...
Iso listened for a while and then interjected, "The Central Star Region is different from other star regions. All star system-level and star cluster-level civilizations here are vassals controlled by the Great Emperor. In other star regions, various civilizations have different stances, but here they are a unified whole. The security is the best among all star regions. Apart from a few thugs at the level of Sorokin, you can't see other small groups like space pirates or wanderers at all. Once they appear, they will be discovered and eliminated by the Three Universal Civilizations."
Han Xiao nodded. The Three Universal Civilizations dominated the Central Galaxy, which was their stronghold. It was basically under their complete control. Maintaining order was to maintain their own rule, so naturally they couldn't tolerate any dissent.
The two fleets moved away from the stargate station and stopped in a space.
The commander of the Mother Planet Guard said, "Please wait a moment, everyone. I will now open Spirit Form Flight Passage for you to enter the Mother Planet."
After saying that, the mothership's warships fired beams of blue and green light, which converged into a point of light in the distance. A blue-green halo gradually expanded, as if it had become a teleportation portal, with a dark green area inside.
"The Spirit Form Flight Passage is a passageway for safely jumping between coordinates within the Psionic Energy Restriction Belt. Once you enter the channel, your ship will receive a Spirit Form Coating composed of a specially coded and specially designed energy circuit, protecting you from the annihilation of the Psionic Energy Restriction Belt," explained the commander of the Mother Planet and the _Illustrated_Book Guard.
The Psionic Energy Restriction Belt act like layers of protective shields, enveloping the home planet and isolating it from various planet-destroying attacks.
This shield is not a shield in the conventional sense; it covers a large portion of the Crimson Ring Constellation Galaxy, with an extremely vast buffer zone. Only a cosmic-level civilization would possess such a grand scale.
Spirit Form Coating is one of the advanced applications of energy. Different codes and energy circuits are like different passwords. Incorrect coding structures cannot enter their respective Psionic Energy Restriction Belt, which is equivalent to a combination of a security pass and a key.
The fleet entered the eerie green portal, as if passing through a bubble. The ships were enveloped in a shimmering, iridescent film. Soon after, the mothership's guard also entered, and the portal slowly closed.
The Mother Planet Guard led the way, with Han Xiao and his group following closely behind. It would be disastrous if they went astray inside the Psionic Energy Restriction Belt. The two forces transformed into streaks of light, constantly changing course like marbles, and advanced along the safe route.
On the ship, Tenny chatted casually with Han Xiao, mentioning the situation on their home planet.
"The Psionic Energy Restriction Belt was built during the Exploration Era War to defend against planet-destroying attacks from advanced civilizations. The space within the ring can be considered a closed new world. During the war, scientists adjusted the physical constants within it, prioritizing safety above all else. However, in peacetime, these altered physical constants amounted to pollution. We spent considerable effort to restore our home planet's enclosed world to normal space..."
"The technology of the Three Universal Civilizations is far more advanced than before," Iso remarked, stroking his beard. "Resources, talent, and technology are highly concentrated, and their development speed far surpasses that of the second-tier supercluster-level civilizations. The gap is widening, and I really don't know what could possibly shake your dominance."
Han Xiao scratched his brow but didn't say anything.
At this moment, the two fleets passed through an area, and through the portholes, a faint blue light could be seen in the distance, shimmering brightly.
Seeing Han Xiao look over, Tenny explained, "That's a ball of Primal Psionic Energy. We mustn't get close, or we'll be assimilated and devoured. This is one of the defensive mechanisms of the restriction ring."
After two days of warp flight, the ship suddenly shuddered and finally broke free of the Psionic Energy Restriction Belt, revealing a dark red planet the size of a sesame seed in its field of vision.
"That's the imperial capital, the Crimson Ring Star Cluster, with Crimson Ring Star as its main star. There are sixteen satellites, sixty large official orbital living stations, and many space base clusters. The population is estimated at 470 billion," said Kebos, the adjutant next to Tenny, with pride.
Han Xiao clicked his tongue and said, "Then the house prices must be very high, right?"
"... That's true, but your focus seems a bit strange." Kebos's lips twitched.
I described our home planet as magnificent, and you asked me if housing prices are high. Are we even talking about high housing prices?!
As the fleet drew closer, it began to see detailed views of the Crimson Ring Star Cluster.
The Crimson Ring Star is extremely large. The Crimson Dynasty artificially modified the size of its home planet, and sixteen relatively small satellites orbit around it. These celestial satellites were brought here by the Empire using technology to offset most of the gravity, in order to expand the habitable area of the home planet. The surface is covered with buildings.
The planet is also dotted with large orbital habitation stations and numerous space fortresses.
"The capital of a cosmic civilization is truly magnificent to see in person," Ames murmured in admiration. This was also her first time visiting the capital of the Crimson Dynasty, all thanks to Han Xiao.
"I did come here once when I was still Ancient Ones, but the pomp and circumstance couldn't compare to yours," Iso remarked. "I wonder if the Pillar of the Nation of the Crimson Dynasty still remember me; I only met them once."
Following instructions, the expedition fleet docked at a spaceport. The Black Star Army members remained on the ships, while Han Xiao and his group transferred to a spaceship prepared by the Crimson Dynasty and headed towards Crimson Ring Star.
He deliberately didn't bring any Legion players on this trip. The players are too unpredictable, and it would be bad if they caused trouble here. Besides, if he brought players from the Shattered Star Ring, he might not be able to bring them back. He came to recruit people, not to send them away.
As they approached the Crimson Ring Star, the buildings on the surface became increasingly clear. The Crimson Dynasty was known for its iron-fisted, ambitious, and pragmatic nature. Compared to the Federation of Light and the Arcane Church, the Empire's culture was not as developed. Its architectural style was characterized by squareness, angles, heaviness, and symmetry, and it favored red, black, and metallic gray.
call--
The spaceship slowly landed on the outskirts of a massive city. The sunlight from the artificial star draped the square buildings in a golden veil. This was the main city of the Empire's home planet— Tyrant Hamill Palace, the power center of the entire Empire, vast in area and a city in itself.
A group of reception staff were waiting at the dock early in the morning. They came forward and said, "Your Excellency Black Star, we are the reception team. Please follow me to the Imperial Reception Hall in the Tyrant Hamill Palace to rest for the night. Tomorrow, the Imperial Leader will personally receive Your Excellency Black Star."
"Alright." Han Xiao had no objections, then looked at Tenny and the group of imperial elites, "And you?"
Tenny shook his head. "We're going to the military for a report; we're not going the same way."
Upon hearing this, Han Xiao nodded, casually summoned a set of orange-grade Beyond Grade A crafted floating guardian array, and handed it to Tenny.
"I'm giving this to you for self-defense. I don't know when I'll see you again. Keep in touch if you need anything."
Tenny paused, took the set of machinery, gave Han Xiao a deep look, and said, "Okay."
Han Xiao didn't neglect the other elite officers either, casually gifting them some machinery as a signal of goodwill. He had plenty of stockpiles; Beyond Grade A mechanical weapons were still quite valuable to the Calamity Grade Mechanic Class.
Watching Tenny and the others leave, Han Xiao secretly raised an eyebrow.
If it weren't for the opportunity to undergo reformation, he wouldn't have had the chance to get close to these future empire leaders. He built some relationships and laid a foundation along the way, gaining a lot. He doesn't know if he'll have another chance to cultivate goodwill like this in the future.
After the Imperial elites left, only Han Xiao, Ames, Iso, and Hila, along with other guards, remained. They followed the reception staff through the military security zone and into the Tyrant Hamill Palace.
However, the moment they stepped into the city, seven powerful energy fluctuations suddenly erupted from within it.
Boom!!
"Um?"
Han Xiao narrowed his eyes and stopped in his tracks.
These seven auras were all Beyond Grade A!
The seven auras lasted only a moment before being withdrawn on their own initiative, without any intention of provocation; they seemed merely to demonstrate their presence to him.
Han Xiao's eyes flashed. Seven Beyond Grade A experts... they must be the empire's own powerhouses and the allies they had gathered.
He thought about it and realized that this wasn't a show of force, but rather a way of greeting him, the newcomer, in Beyond Grade A manner.
"Lord Black Star, to welcome you to the empire, the Empire has specially summoned its Pillar of the Nation. Apart from those Beyond Grade A who are busy with affairs or have to travel far, all the others who are available have come, a total of seven."
The receptionist spoke up at the opportune moment, "After meeting with the Imperial Leader tomorrow, we will arrange for you to meet with the Pillar of the Nation."
"Pillar of the Nation, those guys have a pretty good title." Han Xiao chuckled casually.
"What are you talking about?" the receptionist chuckled. "You are now also Pillar of the Nation our Crimson Dynasty."
"The new guy has arrived."
Inside a room in the Tyrant Hamill Palace, several figures of various appearances sat on a sofa, their eyes fixed on Han Xiao with great interest, their gazes seemingly able to penetrate the barriers of the buildings.
"They didn't respond to us."
"Looks like this is the first time I've seen so many Beyond Grade A gathered together; they don't know the rules."
"It's normal for people from the Shattered Star Ring not to understand."
"Hmm? The woman next to him is also Beyond Grade A."
"Ames of the Dragon Emperor, I know her."
"That old man next to me looks familiar... Hey, that guy used to be one of your Ancient Ones, the one who could make prophecies."
"It was him, I remember."
"Heh, this new ally seems quite interesting."
"The Evolution Cube is in his hands. Don't go too far tomorrow; I'd like to borrow it a bit more."