Han Xiao was completely unaware of the little secret between the Federation of Light and the Arcane Church.
After leaving the Star Pupil Protoss's star system, Han Xiao's fleet continued its journey back to the Black Star Army headquarters.
At the last Tyrant's Gathering, Han Xiao concluded cooperation agreements with many local civilizations in the Shattered Star Ring, publicly selling usage slots for Evolution Cube in exchange for cooperation and channels from various civilizations.
This year marks the first year of cooperation. Since Han Xiao has been staying in the Shattered Star Ring, he plans to settle the quotas purchased by each cooperating civilization this year and complete the process all at once.
Over the past year, various civilizations had conducted rigorous internal selections to confirm the list of elites to undergo evolution, and had been waiting for this day. Upon receiving the notification, these long-awaited teams mobilized, and elites from numerous civilizations gathered at the Black Star Army headquarters.
Using the Evolution Cube as a bridge, the Black Star Army established friendly relations with multiple star cluster and galaxy-level civilizations in the Shattered Star Ring, marking a crucial step in its expansion.
In Han Xiao's blueprint, maintaining this cooperative network in the long term could form Pan-Star Field Interest Alliance with the Black Star Army as the transit point. At that time, the Black Star Army's power and influence would truly cover the entire star field. Therefore, Han Xiao was very concerned about the first year of the cooperation.
Moreover, there is an additional benefit: those selected by these civilizations are all elites, and among them are bound to be some well-known figures or protagonists.
Getting these people to gather on their own is far more efficient than searching for them yourself.
This could be considered a unique way of bringing all the heroes of the world to my doorstep... Han Xiao thought to himself.
One after another, spaceships of various designs landed at the Black Star Army headquarters. The hatches opened, and elites from various races disembarked. Led by reception robots, they headed to the accommodation area, and the dock was bustling with activity.
These elites are all top performers in their respective civilizations, mainly consisting of civilizations' Calamity Grade combatants, elite officers, potential superhumans, and researchers. When they disembarked, they sized each other up, their eyes filled with curiosity and wariness.
"This is the legendary Black Star Army."
Pamela opened her three large, watery eyes, curiously surveying her surroundings. She came from a galaxy-level plant-based civilization called the Flower Spirit Race. Her body possessed semi-plant characteristics, covered with a layer of leaf-like epidermal tissue, and she exuded a strange fragrance. In the Flower Spirit Race ' culture, each person had a unique scent, just like human fingerprints. Body fragrance, like appearance and figure, was part of the Flower Spirit Race ' aesthetic standards.
According to the Flower Spirit Race's aesthetic standards, Pamela is a rare beauty, and at the same time, she is also a scientific elite undergoing this evolution.
Just as Pamela and her group were looking around the dock, a small, floating robot flew in front of them and spoke in Phillip's voice.
"Welcome to the Black Star Army, everyone. The Legion Commander is still on his way. I will arrange accommodations for you. I will be with you during this time. If you need anything, just let me know.
"Understood." The captain of the Flower Spirit Race, a Calamity Grade expert, nodded calmly.
Come with me.
The reception robot gracefully circled the crowd once, then led the way.
The group followed behind, glancing left and right and talking quietly along the way.
"People from many civilizations have arrived; I even saw a star cluster-level civilization just now."
"They're all acquaintances from other civilizations... Uh, I don't know them. I've only seen them on TV occasionally; they're all impressive figures."
"These are all elites from various ethnic groups. It's truly a grand gathering. Should we visit some of them later? This is a rare opportunity to make connections; we don't usually get to encounter such a thing."
Hearing the conversation behind them, the reception robot turned around and said crisply, "While you're waiting, we'll give you a tour of headquarters and host a banquet, providing a platform for everyone to interact, so don't worry about not having a chance!"
"It's a bit like Tyrant's Gathering... but the participants have changed from one or two representatives of civilizations to a large number of elites..." The leader of the Calamity Grade team's eyes flickered, as if he understood something.
Pamela hesitated for a moment before asking, "Um... do we have any chance to speak with Lord Black Star?"
"Yes, it will. After the evolution is complete, the Legion Commander will hold a new banquet to celebrate. If you'd like to stay and attend, you can talk to the Legion Commander," the reception robot said with a smile.
"That's great, that's wonderful." Pamela's face turned green—in the Flower Spirit Race, this was a sign of blushing—and her expression showed some anticipation.
A companion teased, "Oh, are you shy because you're about to meet your idol?"
Pamela didn't say anything; her face was so green it almost turned blue.
Every Beyond Grade A has more or less admirers in the universe; even a notorious thug like the Sorokin has countless criminals worshipping him.
Black Star's deeds have spread throughout the universe. As an indigenous person of the planet's civilization, he started from scratch and built the Black Star Army. He single-handedly rewrote the fate of his home planet and performed many amazing feats. His rise to power was astonishing. Such a legendary experience has garnered him a large number of admirers in the Shattered Star Ring. Pamela is a deep admirer of Han Xiao Han Xiao, and she is impressed by his deeds.
"I wonder what kind of spouse Lord Black Star prefers..." Pamela murmured, lost in thought.
"Hey, are you serious? You've heard of reproductive isolation?" His companion asked, somewhat surprised.
"Do I, a Engineer, need you to remind me?" Pamela said helplessly.
The leader of the Calamity Grade troops frowned, turned around, and shouted, "Don't forget why we're here. Don't anger Lord Black Star."
"Can't I even dream about it?" Pamela said irritably.
Unbeknownst to her, the reception robot had silently recorded her words and uploaded them to Sylvia's file.
Sylvia, who was handling official business in her office, received the message, glanced at it, and snorted coldly:
"The 237th..."
As she spoke, she made a mark on Pamela's file and tossed in a document titled "Banquet Seating Arrangements (Corner List)".
Before the date Han Xiao had set, all the elites from various civilizations who had undergone evolution had arrived. Except for Krent, all the other star cluster-level civilizations in the Shattered Star Ring were present. Not only the local forces of the Shattered Star Ring, Crimson Dynasty also sent a new batch of elites.
During the waiting period, these forces were not idle either. Taking advantage of the rare opportunity to gather, the elites of each civilization visited each other, made friends, and created a friendly atmosphere.
These elites all realized that Han Xiao was making the most of everything. Under the guise of cooperating with the Evolution Cube, he was creating a social gathering for high-level forces of the Shattered Star Ring. In other words, he was indirectly stealing the business of the Tyrant, giving this event extra value, and intending to create his own "Tyrant's Gathering" to expand his own influence!
Although they understood the situation, the elites of these civilizations had no objections. They were also happy to communicate with the elites of other races, as it was a mutually beneficial arrangement.
As for the competition between Black Star and the Tyrant, they dared not express any opinions. Neither side was easy to mess with, so it was better to just blend in, observe the situation, and quietly enjoy the benefits.
A few days later, Han Xiao finally returned to headquarters. After resting for a few hours, he notified everyone to gather, as the formal evolution ritual was about to take place.
As groups of people gathered, the bright headquarters hall quickly became crowded. Upon receiving the news, Reynold, along with the mechanics from the logistics Engineering Department, immediately widened the hall to prevent it from becoming too crowded.
The space rippled slightly as Han Xiao emerged from the Void Dimension, hovering above everyone's heads, the Evolution Cube slowly rotating around him.
Everyone looked up at Han Xiao in mid-air, and a slight commotion arose among the crowd, with whispers breaking out.
"Black Star is here."
"This is the first time I've observed Beyond Grade A being up close. The energy contained within him is terrifying; just sensing it made me break out in a sweat."
"That's the Evolution Cube over there. Sisko recently announced that he was relinquishing ownership of this Universal Treasure... Such a small thing is the source of the recent turmoil. Several Beyond Grade A members of the Arcane Church have suffered because of it. How terrifying..."
"Black Star is indeed capable of safeguarding this Universal Treasure. A year ago, I thought his Evolution Cube would soon be taken away, but I was wrong."
The elites of each race looked on with awe. No matter how arrogant they were usually, they all put away their usual airs. In front of Han Xiao, they had no reason to be proud.
Before Han Xiao's rise to power, apart from Amethyst, all the star cluster-level civilizations present had the idea of suppressing Han Xiao. However, when the Tyrant's Gathering came, these people had no choice but to lower their heads and seek cooperation.
However, since Han Xiao was still a newly promoted Beyond Grade A with an unstable foundation at the time, their intention to suppress him had not completely dissipated.
However, recent events have proven Black Star's strength. This achievement has solidified Han Xiao's position in the universe and dispelled the last trace of hostility from these star cluster-level civilizations. They have completely given up their illusions of suppressing Han Xiao... Black Star has now fully risen to power, and their petty tricks are useless.
Looking at the respect and admiration on the faces of the crowd below, Han Xiao nodded secretly.
The recent turmoil has boosted the influence of the Pan-Star Field Interest Alliance's plans, greatly increasing the enthusiasm of these forces for cooperation and saving the plan years of accumulation time.
So although this is the first year of cooperation, a solid foundation has already been laid.
On the way back, Han Xiao had already looked through the list of all the elites in this batch. As expected, there were indeed many well-known figures from various civilizations in his previous life.
However, now is not the time to make contact. After completing the evolution, Han Xiao plans to get closer to these "old acquaintances" at the specially organized celebration banquet.
Most of these characters have side quests that they might not need themselves, but are very useful to the player...
Simply put, they are a group of walking fertilizer.
Various thoughts flashed through Han Xiao's mind. He looked around the room, smiled, and said with a playful tone:
"Before we begin, there's one more thing to do... Heber, stop hiding, I know you're in there too."
Upon hearing this, everyone present was taken aback. They looked around but couldn't find Heber.
Tyrant here too?
The crowd stirred, but no one stepped forward. Seeing this, Han Xiao raised an eyebrow and continued, "Stop fooling yourself. I've already seen you. Are you going to come out yourself, or do I have to drag you out? That would be embarrassing."
The crowd was filled with doubt and unease, and the commotion grew louder, but they still couldn't see anyone.
Han Xiao squinted and scanned the area, then suddenly relaxed and laughed, "Hehe, it seems Heber didn't sneak in. We can begin now."
Upon hearing this, everyone's expressions immediately froze.
"It was just a joke..." Countless people's lips twitched.
--Is it really okay to make fun of the Tyrant like this? And you're even trying to prevent him from sneaking in? He's Beyond Grade A, after all! How could he do something so tasteless...? Right?
"Perhaps Black Star and Tyrant are on good terms, which is why they can make jokes like that..." That's the only way they could console themselves, pretending they hadn't heard anything.
Han Xiao activated the Evolution Cube, and with a thought, a surge of dark Evolution Energy erupted, quickly covering the entire area. The elites present held their breath, transforming into black cocoons in the tension.
"That's a wrap." Han Xiao clapped his hands and casually instructed Phillip:
"Monitor their evolutionary process, and remember to invite them to stay and participate in the banquet."
"Okay, I understand."
Han Xiao didn't want to wait idly, so he casually put away the Evolution Cube, left the hall full of black cocoons, and headed to his room.
He prepared to change his clothes in preparation for the upcoming banquet.
On the way, Han Xiao casually browsed the forums.
The incident involving the Arcane Church has come to an end, and the long-term benefits I gained from this event will gradually become apparent over time, such as Urranrell's appreciation and the Empire's attention.
With the situation settled, the remaining issue was between the Crimson Dynasty and the Arcane Church, which was no longer his concern.
With no further trouble expected in the short term, Han Xiao had time to consider the players' situation.
From the players' perspective, it's been about a year and a half since the launch of version 3.0, and we've moved past the Galaxy stages and entered the mid-stage of the version.
In the past year and a half, players have experienced major events such as the Secret War, Crimson Tide, Rise of Black Star, Exploration of Shattered World, and the Battle of Lighthouse Star, as well as countless side quests. With such a rich storyline, level 120 players have already appeared, and more and more players will gradually reach the level cap of version 3.0.
Around the middle of each version update, news of a new professional league is released. Although there is still a long time before the start of this professional league, players have plenty of time to level up, learn skills, and change equipment. However, on the forums, the official league organizers have already begun preparations and widely publicized the event, attracting a new wave of attention from players.
In Han Xiao's memory, the 3.0 version of the professional league was particularly exciting.
Players in this version generally possess Grade B strength, and the Mechanic Class has been gradually rising since version 3.0. A large number of new professional players have emerged in this version, including Maple Moon. Many newcomers have shown their talent and sharpness, completing a generational shift in the professional scene.
The proportion of mechanics in the Shattered Star Ring is the highest among all star systems. In addition, the Black Star Army sells a large number of machines and blueprints. Coupled with the version advantage, Han Xiao believes that the mechanics of the Shattered Star Ring will shine in this league.
For him, the benefit lies in attracting more new players to switch to the Mechanic class, as well as more veteran players creating Mechanic Class alt accounts.
Then, as a Mechanic Class professor, I can generate income again.
"What a pity, three versions in the blink of an eye, the good days are almost over." Han Xiao shook his head, somewhat sentimental.
Among the various versions experienced by players in their previous lives, version 3.0 is widely recognized as a watershed moment, representing the transition from the early stages to the mid-stage of navigating the universe. After this, the player's influence began to truly emerge, and their impact continued to expand.
Nicknames like "Cancer of the Universe" and "Fourth Calamity" are the infamous names players earned in the mid-game versions after version 3.0!
This is also the source of Han Xiao's psychological trauma.
As for now, players are in a period of impending transformation. After this version, players' strength will exceed a critical point, and they will be able to do more and more things, thus becoming more inclined towards a chaotic stance. This is an inevitable historical process.
Version 3.0 is the last stage that players can easily control.
Therefore, Han Xiao placed his bet on Shattered World —the next version's faction free-for-all—which might inject new vitality into the Black Star Army and bring further opportunities.
Just as Han Xiao was holding his evolutionary feast, Heber, far away in another star cluster, also received the news.
As a rival, he had been keeping a close eye on the Black Star Army's every move.
Heber thus discovered Han Xiao's sinister intentions.
"Black Star is using the Evolution Cube as an opportunity to build a platform for communication among high-level forces. He wants to seize the influence of my ' Tyrant's Gathering ' in order to gain greater control over the Shattered Star Ring..."
After reading the intelligence, Heber was furious.
The Tyrant's Gathering was the product of his years of hard work, and Han Xiao came out to compete with him, which angered him, but he was powerless to stop it, so he was extremely frustrated.
When Heber learned that Han Xiao had publicly mocked him in front of elites from various civilizations, he finally snapped.
Why the hell!
Are we really close?!
They dared to openly mock me and smear my heroic and valiant image; it was full of malice!
This is outrageous!
One day, I'll beat you so badly you can't even take care of yourself!!