Chapter 1 Capable intelligent organisms are able to awaken super-powered genes, and then through various exercises, allow cells to produce special biological energy, which is qi energy. Qi energy is like a rushing river, and cells and genes are like stubborn rocks in the riverbed. As the river grows stronger, it washes over them day after day, and their own genes begin to transform, gradually becoming round and perfect, as if greatly compressing the long process of biological evolution over millions of years.

A-grade is a watershed, also known as the Disaster Grade. It is a high-level power in interstellar space. Very few super-powered individuals are fortunate enough to reach this level. When gene evolution reaches a certain height, they will invariably encounter an indestructible bottleneck barrier. To use a more mystical term, it's like "there's no road ahead."

During the Exploration Era before the Star Sea Calendar, the three major civilizations were still in a period of infighting, pulling each other's hair and scratching each other's faces. The world believed that various power systems were independent until Dr. Stewart Oner of the Glorious Federation created the energy level theory, which made everyone realize that "qi energy" was a common point among super-powered individuals, and integrated it into a large system, forming today's tier standards. At that time, the A-grade was considered the end point of individual power evolution, and no one had broken through the A-grade barrier.

War is a double-edged sword. Countless talented A-grade powerhouses died in battle, but at the same time, the battlefield is also a catalyst. If they are lucky enough to survive, their potential will be forced out to the greatest extent. By the end of the war, a super-powered individual finally broke through the A-grade. It was a completely different level, causing a great sensation.

The various civilizations did not expect that individual power could reach this level, and could even contend with the powerful armies that the three major civilizations were so proud of. Although it was still insignificant relative to the boundless interstellar battlefield, no matter how powerful the collective force was, it could not compare to the shock of powerful power being mastered by an individual. The existence of a Super-A grade was in itself a deterrent, and this was one of the many reasons that led to the truce between the three major civilizations.

After peace came, the existence of Super-A grade powerhouses had profound significance and a very high status. Gradually, the levels above A-grade were finely divided, with the next level being S-grade, and even higher levels above that. However, all super-powered individuals above A-grade are still collectively referred to as "Super-A grade." This is a commemoration of history and a respect for the strong, veiled in a layer of mystery.

In the current Star Sea Calendar, there are only four well-known Super-A grade powerhouses in the Shattered Star Ring, all of whom are famous, have glorious deeds, and possess countless titles. Ames' most widely spread nickname is the [Dragon Throne], a double entendre. The first layer comes from her Void Dragon Bone Throne, and the second layer symbolizes that she is the creator of Dragon Tamer Floating Island, which is her most famous achievement.

At this time, Ames floated in mid-air, and everyone at the pier felt a pressure from the bottom of their hearts, trembling with fear. More Dragon Tamer Guards arrived and surrounded the mercenaries, with countless guns pointed at them. The people from the three major mercenary groups were unsure of Ames' attitude towards them, and they were worried.

The Silver Spirit captive stood aside. Ames glanced at him and roughly guessed what had happened. She said with interest, "So it's a Silver Spirit. So you are the mercenaries hired by the Silver Spirit?"

Her voice was not crisp at all, but rather hoarse and magnetic.

Goya bit the bullet and said, "Yes, the Silver Spirit was sold to Dragon Tamer Floating Island, so we tracked them down. I'm sorry for causing accidental damage, but I hope you can let them go back." She wanted to make a final effort, and now she could only hope that Ames would spare them for the sake of the Silver Spirit, after all, the Silver Spirit was a cosmic noble with a strong background.

Ames just smiled faintly, completely disregarding the status of the Silver Spirit. "This is the Shattered Star Ring, not the Star Spirit Sea."

After saying that, she controlled the throne and flew towards her residence in the center of the floating island, leaving behind a sentence, "Bring all the mercenaries here."

The Dragon Tamer Guards escorted everyone towards the center of the floating island. Everyone had no choice but to act obediently. At least Ames didn't kill them immediately, so there should still be hope.

However, everyone was in a bad mood. Looking back, the Silver Spirit captives they had finally rescued were being escorted by another group of guards towards the slave market. Hollaid was in the group, with a smug look on his face. The Silver Spirit issue was just a small matter in Ames' eyes. She didn't want to bother with it at all. She only took action casually after hearing a report of someone causing trouble. As for other issues, she let her subordinates handle them on their own, so Hollaid benefited.

Hollaid received the Silver Spirit without any danger, and with Pai Ji's life or death uncertain, he didn't even have to pay, making him the biggest winner.

The mercenaries' intervention in the rescue originally made him very anxious, but now he only felt amused. This group of people had worked so hard, but they had allowed him to obtain the greatest profit, a complete joke! Hollaid felt secretly happy and complacent. He glanced at the mercenaries mockingly and swaggered away with the Silver Spirit.

The people from the three major mercenary groups were dejected and extremely depressed. Perth, with his straightforward personality, cursed all the way in his hometown dialect, as no one liked the feeling of failing at the last moment.

The guards escorting the Black Star Mercenary Group happened to be Sion's team. Sion pushed Han Xiao, sneering repeatedly, and said, "You're done for. You dared to attack the Dragon Tamer Guards. Her Excellency Ames will definitely use her great power to crush you into atomic powder!"

Han Xiao was pushed, turned his head, and glanced at Sion.

"What are you looking at? Walk your own path." Sion shouted.

He was pushed a few more times, but the force was like a light breeze, unable to move him at all. Han Xiao shook his head, ignoring Sion, and secretly pondered the situation ahead. According to his understanding of Ames, as long as he didn't injure her subordinates, there would be a turning point. Although Ames was protective, willful, and had unpredictable moods, she couldn't be considered brutal and bloodthirsty.

The center of Dragon Tamer Floating Island was Ames' residence, a huge fortress like a palace, decorated with dragon bones everywhere. The group passed through one room after another and entered an exquisite hall to await their fate.

After a while, Ames floated in from the side door of the hall. The throne stopped in front of everyone. She rested her cheek on her hand and said casually, "You attacked my subordinates. Although there were no casualties, I must punish you. Visandre, what are our rules?"

A thin person walked out from the side, almost like a bamboo pole, making people worry that a gust of wind could blow him away. He looked like he was joking, or rather, he was handsome in an inconspicuous way. He had a pair of horns on his head, his skin was fiery red, covered with纹路, and he also had a tail. Behind him were a pair of bony wings. This was also a mixed race, possessing some kind of demon genes.

This person was called Visandre, the captain of the Dragon Tamer Guards, a direct subordinate. He stepped forward, squinted his eyes, stroked his sparse goatee, and said casually, "According to the rules, all those who resist will be executed."

Everyone's hearts suddenly hung in the air.

Ames nodded. "Then lock up the people from Heavenly Ring, Blade's Edge, and Purple Gold, and let their legion commanders redeem them."

"That... the rule is execution..." Visandre choked and said cautiously.

"My words are the rules." Ames said indifferently, exuding domineering aura.

The corners of Visandre's eyes twitched, and he felt very aggrieved. "Then why did you ask me?"

Ames blinked. "I was just asking casually." She basically didn't care about anything and forgot what rules she had set before. She just asked casually on a whim, and at this time, the rules were changed as soon as she said so, which could be said to be very willful.

"Contact your legion commanders and let them pay money, and I'll let you go." Ames had a little friendship with the three major mercenary legions, occasionally hiring them to do some things. Each time, the three major legions didn't charge any fees, and each time, the legion commanders personally helped, just wanting to befriend her. Ames couldn't make things difficult for the people from the three major mercenary groups.

Hearing this, Goya, Fazellière, and Perth all breathed a sigh of relief. They didn't know that Ames knew their respective legion commanders, and only felt like they had escaped death.

However, Ames turned her gaze to Han Xiao, her expression playful. "Then it's your turn. If you don't have anything to say, I'll take action." The three major mercenary groups were fine, but there was no need to treat this small, unknown mercenary group specially.

The atmosphere suddenly became chilling, and the expressions of the people from the three major legions changed.

These mercenaries were not indifferent. They had fought side by side and had already developed friendships. They couldn't sit idly by and watch their comrades be killed in front of their eyes, and they became anxious.

The surrounding air became stagnant. This was not a psychological effect, but Ames' force field began to condense.

"Hey, this differential treatment is too obvious!" Merlot felt his urinary glands trembling.