The experience reward is similar to that of the Tyrant Challenge mission. Completing all requirements yields over 20 billion experience points. Basically, all missions that directly face Beyond Grade A characters have similar reward standards.
With the added benefit of Political Asset, Han Xiao's actual experience gained doubled, and his experience reserves increased significantly.
The other two rewards are Legend Points and Character Cards.
[Star Field Legend Points (Shattered Star Ring): [Battle of the Dragon Emperor] - Your resume will include your battle with Ames of the Dragon Emperor, and your fame will be passed down through generations.]
[Character Summon Card - "Dragon Emperor" Ames: [Force Field - Dragon Body] - Your body is covered by a force field, granting you an additional layer of rigid protective force field with 300,000 shield value, 3,500 defense, and a shield value regeneration rate of 30,000/s. When the protective force field is completely destroyed, it will regenerate after a 10-second cooldown. Additionally, each of your melee attacks deals 20,000 to 26,000 additional physical damage. When performing a strength check, you receive an additional 1,500 points. This effect lasts for 30 minutes, with a usage cap of 0/3.]
"The effect is quite good; it can come in handy in close combat." Han Xiao nodded and closed the panel.
After cleaning up the battlefield, Dragon Calm headed back home, and Han Xiao followed him.
The battlefield where the sparring took place was not far from Planet Aquamarine. It didn't take long for Dragon Calm to return to Planet Aquamarine and stop in outer space orbit.
Spaceships rise and fall on this blue planet. Now, Planet Aquamarine has integrated with interstellar society. The development opportunities brought by interstellar conglomerates have rapidly improved Planet Aquamarine's civilization level, and it now resembles an interstellar metropolis.
Back on his home planet, Han Xiao planned to take the opportunity to inspect the changes on Planet Aquamarine. After thinking about it, he decided to invite Ames to come along.
Although Ames appeared unconcerned about the defeat, Han Xiao needed to eliminate negative factors and maintain the alliance. Therefore, he took this opportunity to spend time with Ames, strengthen their relationship, and minimize the negative impact of the sparring match.
Ames spends her days looking down at Planet Aquamarine from the sky, but rarely visits the surface cities herself. Since Han Xiao invited her, she didn't refuse.
New West Capital, formerly the capital of Stardragon, one of the Six Nations of the Blue Ocean.
Black Star City, where Bennett is located, is the site of the Legion's branch base and the political core of the Aquamarine Federation. It has been expanding continuously on the original Gust Wilderness, attracting countless people, and is now approaching saturation. Later, interstellar conglomerates set their sights on other large cities with less strict control and created several economic metropolises. New West Capital is one such example, and it is now a first-tier city on Planet Aquamarine.
Just past noon, the bright sunlight infused the city with vibrant energy. The bustling streets were teeming with people, their voices rising and falling. Not only were there humans from Planet Aquamarine, but occasionally other interstellar races could also be seen. Hovercrafts moved steadily overhead, their anti-gravity engines humming softly as they passed by. Public trains carrying citizens traveled smoothly through the city's crisscrossing network of tracks, creating a peaceful and harmonious scene as far as the eye could see.
Han Xiao and Ames concealed their aura, deliberately reducing their presence in the eyes of outsiders, so that others could not notice them.
The two walked side by side down the street, casually observing the city, stopping and starting along the way, chatting idly.
Two children, chasing and playing, ran past Han Xiao, their faces beaming with carefree, happy smiles.
Han Xiao withdrew his gaze, somewhat moved:
"More than a decade has passed since the Mutation Disaster. The people of Planet Aquamarine have emerged from the shadows, embraced a new life with open arms, and have given birth to a new generation. It feels really good."
"These are all your achievements. Aren't you proud of yourself?" Ames chuckled.
"A little."
Han Xiao wasn't embarrassed to admit that although he chose to rescue his home planet, it was entirely out of self-interest, done only for the sake of the players on Planet Aquamarine. However, seeing the current results, he was quite satisfied; few people dislike beautiful things.
"During the Mutation Disaster, you invited me to visit your home planet. At that time, Planet Aquamarine felt filled with despair and tension; people were lost about the future, unsure if they could survive until tomorrow—a stark contrast to now." Ames shook her head. "You brought new life to this planet."
"I guess I'm what they call a turning point in history, haha."
Han Xiao chuckled twice. He wasn't so humble and polite when he was with acquaintances in private.
As they chatted and walked, the two unknowingly arrived at the city center. A towering building stood out from the crowd and came into their view. It was the former site of the Dragon Horn Building of the Stardragon, which had now been transformed into a new building, a branch building constructed by an interstellar conglomerate.
Upon seeing the building, Han Xiao paused, memories flooding his mind, and he couldn't help but feel a slight sense of déjà vu.
At this moment, Ames noticed something, turned her head to look to the side, her eyes lit up slightly, revealing interest, and immediately reached out to tug at Han Xiao's sleeve:
"Look, what's that shop?"
Han Xiao withdrew his gaze and followed her line of sight, seeing a shop on the side of the street with a sign that clearly read "Black Star Relics Exhibition Hall"!
"I've become an antique... and it's only been less than twenty years!"
Han Xiao couldn't help but complain, and his curiosity was piqued, so he followed Ames over.
The automatic sensor glass door opened, and two people entered the exhibition hall. It was a small three-story building filled with glass display cases containing all sorts of objects.
The small exhibition hall was deserted at the moment, with no one in sight. There was a counter at the entrance with a sign displaying the ticket prices. A woman, seemingly a clerk, was sitting behind the counter, her upper body slumped over the table, taking a nap. She didn't hear the two people walk in.
With his Beyond Grade A eyesight, Han Xiao instantly took in the entire interior of the exhibition hall and clearly saw what was inside the glass display cases. His lips twitched.
"What the hell is all this stuff...?"
The exhibition hall displays a jumble of random things, such as "the chair Black Star sat in," "the slippers Black Star wore," "the bread Black Star and Tu Shu took a bite out of," and even "the toilet Black Star used once."
Han Xiao swore he had never seen a toilet in this glass cabinet before!
Ames blinked, pointed to a display case, and asked curiously, "Did you really like wearing diapers before?"
"You're the one wearing it!"
"Who didn't wear that when they were a baby?" Ames shrugged.
The sound of their voices startled the female shop assistant who was leaning against the counter. She looked up, rubbing her sleepy eyes, got up, walked around from behind the counter, and walked up to the two of them, yawning as she said:
"This shop is a small business and does not accept Enas payments. The entrance fee is 400 Aquamarine Credits. I will explain the origin of each artifact. Interested... Hmm?!"
The woman suddenly realized what the two men looked like. She had just finished yawning, and her mouth was still open, her face showing utter shock.
Han Xiao had originally intended to ask where these "cultural relics" came from, but upon seeing the woman's face, he suddenly felt she looked familiar and said in confusion, "Wait, I think I know you..."
Before he could finish speaking, the woman's face suddenly became agitated, and she abruptly opened her arms, as if she wanted to rush forward and hug him.
But as soon as she made that gesture, her expression suddenly froze, as if she had thought of something. Her hands hovered in mid-air, and she hesitated, not reaching out.
The next moment, she awkwardly lowered her hand, her expression becoming flustered, as if she didn't know where to put it. She tentatively asked, "Han... no, Lord Black Star, do you remember me?"
Han Xiao frowned slightly as he carefully examined the woman before him. There were fine wrinkles at the corners of her eyes, indicating that she was somewhat old, but she still retained her charm. She must have been very beautiful when she was young, and she had maintained her figure very well, tall and curvaceous... However, under his Beyond Grade A vision, this superficial beauty held no appeal whatsoever.
Each advancement is a process of improving the composition of one's own matter, which is to say, sublimating the level of life. Beyond Grade A can see the most minute structures. In the eyes of Beyond Grade A, most organisms are covered in filth. In the eyes of Beyond Grade A, only organisms that are also Beyond Grade A are "clean" and will not be contaminated with filth and dust.
Han Xiao compared the faces in his memory and instantly found the matching image. He raised an eyebrow, somewhat surprised.
"You are... Li Yalin?"
The woman in front of him was his colleague from his early days in the Stardragon's intelligence agency.
Seeing that Han Xiao recognized her, Li Yalin became excited again, nodding repeatedly like a chick pecking at rice.
"It's me! It's me! You actually still remember me!"
"Forgetting things is more troublesome for me than remembering them now," Han Xiao explained, then asked curiously, "So you're still alive. I thought you died in the Mutation Disaster. Since you survived, why didn't you go to the Black Star Army base or the Library to look for me?"
"I barely survived. After the Six Nations were destroyed by you, I lost my job and received a severance package. I didn't want to fight anymore, so I didn't go looking for you. I bought a house here and opened an exhibition hall."
Li Yalin suddenly remembered the items in the exhibition hall and immediately felt embarrassed. She chuckled awkwardly, "Uh... well, these West Capital I found at the flea market, pretending they're things you used. I had to make a living, so please don't mind..."
"Don't worry, I won't hold it against you."
Meeting an old friend lifted Han Xiao's spirits.
"An old friend?" Ames, who had been watching quietly for a while, suddenly spoke.
"Yes, a companion from over twenty years ago." Han Xiao nodded.
Li Yalin's attention had been entirely on Han Xiao, and in her extreme shock, she had overlooked Ames beside her. Only now did she come to her senses and hurriedly bowed, "Greetings, Your Majesty the Dragon Emperor Throne. I apologize for not noticing you earlier; please forgive me."
Ames chuckled and nodded, indicating that it was alright.
"Hey, you and I are old friends, no need to be so formal." Han Xiao waved his hand.
"That won't do," Li Yalin somewhat awkwardly. "You're a real big shot now."
More than 20 years have passed, and her former friend has reached a level she can no longer reach. He is a planetary figure who frequently appears in the news. Li Yalin just stopped herself from hugging him because she thought of the vast difference in their social status.
Han Xiao also realized this, and couldn't help but feel a sense of loss and regret. After thinking for a moment, he smiled and said:
"I just remembered, I think I still owe you some money."
Li Yalin was taken aback, then waved her hands repeatedly, "That happened so long ago, I don't care anymore, you don't need to..."
"Alright, I've already transferred the money to you. Take a look." Han Xiao interrupted her.
Beep! The communicator in the room beeped as it received a message.
"Hey, I didn't tell you my account details, how did you know...?" Li Yalin looked surprised and had no choice but to take out the communicator from the drawer. She only glanced at it before she froze.
"This, this..."
"One million Enas, that amount should be enough to cover the interest paid over the past twenty years."
Han Xiao smiled, feeling himself radiating an aura of golden extravagance.
"Too much!" Li Yalin exclaimed, at a loss for words.
"This is nothing to me, just pocket money. You can keep it. You won't have to worry about making a living anymore..." Han Xiao glanced around and coughed, "So let's find some time to close this shop."
Ames couldn't help but laugh:
"You look just like those space pirates who used to pay me protection money."
"No one will think you're mute if you don't speak," Han Xiao said irritably.
Seeing that Li Yalin still looked incredulous, Han Xiao glanced around, took out a piece of paper from behind the counter, wrote down his communicator number, and handed it to Li Yalin.
"You can call me anytime from now on. If you encounter any problems, you can come to me."
Li Yalin quickly composed herself, carefully put away the note, paused, and said in an extremely earnest tone, "Thank you."
"No need, this amount of money is nothing."
"That's not what I meant." Li Yalin took a deep breath and bowed deeply. "I'm thanking you on behalf of the entire Planet Aquamarine. What you did saved everyone, including me. I never had the chance to tell you this in person before... You will always be my hero."
Ames chuckled softly and teased, "And what about me?"
"Ah, you are also a hero in my heart." Li Yalin hurriedly bowed again.
Just then, several more guests walked in together. Seeing this scene, they were all a little surprised. After observing it carefully for a while, they suddenly became excited.
"Lord Black Star?!"
"My God, it really is Black Star!"
The group swarmed around them, their faces flushed with excitement.
Out of a hundred people from Planet Aquamarine, perhaps only one wouldn't know what Han Xiao looks like, partly thanks to the landmark Black Star statue Bennett built in Black Star City, and partly thanks to textbooks.
"Can we take a picture with you?!" one person exclaimed excitedly, pulling out a communicator.
"Of course." Han Xiao smiled. He had nothing else to do anyway, so it didn't matter if he took some time out of his busy schedule.
The group excitedly took turns taking photos with Han Xiao, shouting and cheering. Some passersby were also attracted in, and soon more people came after hearing the news, forming a long queue outside. The small exhibition hall became crowded, extremely noisy and lively, as if it had turned into a fan meeting.
Han Xiao readily agreed to take photos with the happy citizens of Planet Aquamarine. The flashes of Frenzied Sword Fried Rice went off continuously, and the photos were posted on Planet Aquamarine's social networks by the jubilant citizens.
The news of the "great man's" appearance spread instantly, causing a frenzy among netizens on Planet Aquamarine, with countless people flocking to the site.
Watching Han Xiao busily taking photos with people and appearing incredibly popular, Ames's eyes sparkled with admiration that never faded.