Chapter 1 The Booming Development

Funded by numerous interstellar consortiums, the once-desolate Shattered Star Ring was now a hive of activity.

All three explored star clusters were under construction, with planets being transformed and undergoing rapid changes. Engineering ships frequently appeared on radar, and the wide-area quantum channel was bustling with activity. The once-isolated Shattered Star Ring was finally beginning to integrate with interstellar society.

Han Xiao’s fleet routinely entered the Shattered Star Ring through the Garton Star System, where the Exploration Army officers were quite familiar with him, allowing him smooth passage.

Arriving at the Beacon Star outpost, Han Xiao greeted Tarrokov, extorted some local specialties, and then directed his fleet toward the Garton Star System to inspect his territory.

The Zihhe Star System, located at the edge of the Garton Star System, was the location of the inbound star gate and was Han Xiao's territory. Therefore, next to the Garton Star System military star gate, a new inbound star gate station managed by the Black Star Army had been added.

Passing through the deep blue star gate and entering the Zihhe Star System, the fleet followed the star chart, and soon a planet came into view.

"Army Commander, that is Black Gate Star, the gateway planet closest to the inbound star gate. According to the construction blueprint, it will be built into a large inbound transfer station, becoming one of the landmark gateways to the Garton Star System and the border planet of the legion's territory."

Han Xiao stood with his hands behind his back at the viewing window of the command room, gazing at the enormous planet. Beside him was a tall female secretarial officer, providing an introduction.

Sylvia was busy, so she had sent one of her secretaries to accompany Han Xiao on his inspection. Han Xiao remembered this female secretary somewhat, recalling that her resume was quite outstanding and that she was a trusted aide of Sylvia's.

"Mm, how is the construction progressing?" Han Xiao nodded.

"This planet previously utilized the Crimson Dynasty’s planetary modification quick-pack. The Logistics Department has planned a new blueprint based on this, with the construction direction being a hybrid of interstellar city, military fortress, and transportation hub. Because the current focus is on the construction of resource planets, the surface modification of Black Gate Star is only 4.9% complete. Daily facility power supply is primarily based on nuclear fusion power plants, while dark energy power plants are buried deep underground, mainly powering the military fortress in the future. However, there are no natural stars nearby, so additional energy is needed to maintain a habitable climate and artificial sun..."

Listening to the female secretary's meticulous report, Han Xiao suddenly thought of the mobile star chart from the Tyrant's Mechanical Heritage.

When technology reached a certain level, the constraints of environmental factors would continuously decrease. It was no longer a matter of individuals needing to adapt to the environment, but rather the environment needing to adapt to the individual. Universal civilizations were adept at this, each being a decorator of the universe.

Although the Tyrants were not the victors of the Exploration Era, they were a quasi-universal civilization with profound accomplishments in environmental modification.

‘Perfect, I can use this mobile star device to transform my territory, moving the star to a suitable location,’ Han Xiao thought to himself.

He always felt that this blueprint seemed to have an inexplicable connection with the Godoran Mechanic's [All Things Simulation].

Since his class advancement, Great Technician Han had studied every new ability, but he was somewhat clueless about the function of [All Things Simulation]. This ability simulated all natural laws through mechanical technology, which, in his opinion, had extraordinary potential...

Perhaps the astonishing technology used by the three great civilizations to modify the physical constants of their home star regions was also related to [All Things Simulation].

Seeing that Han Xiao didn't speak, the female secretary paused and continued, "Currently, there are not many people on Black Gate Star. Once the Shattered Star Ring is opened to the outside world, Black Gate Star will become one of the most populated landmark planets in the Garton Star System, handling a massive flow of tourists daily, which will bring you very considerable revenue. According to the Finance Department’s statistics, it will take about six to eight years to recover the cost of transforming the planet."

"That's good." Han Xiao smiled.

The fleet slowly approached Black Gate Star, and the star chart displayed the locations of several star gates, some leading to other star systems and some leading to other locations within the Zihhe Star System.

Because the territory had been determined, the primary task of the Black Star Army’s construction was to build a star gate transportation network for the seven territories.

During the exploration period, the entire star cluster already had its own star gate transportation network, but those were long-distance star gates, belonging to the star cluster's grand transportation framework. What the Black Star Army was doing was refining its own territory's star gate network, adding more transportation lines to ensure that the seven star systems were connected into one, with access in all directions.

Now, the preliminary form of the territory's star gate transportation network had been completed. From Black Gate Star, one could directly travel to multiple star systems, with efficiency far higher than during the first phase of exploration.

With convenient transportation, the time spent on the road was greatly reduced. Han Xiao led his fleet to traverse the seven star systems, touring all the construction areas.

This was his first time personally inspecting the territory.

"Zihhe, Long Night, Sigoma, Odolan, Ponsale, Fenrir, Adney… This is now the foundation belonging to the legion."

Seeing the area of the seven star systems with his own eyes, Han Xiao was quite satisfied.

His blueprint planned to transform the seven star systems into the core area of the Garton Star System, the most prosperous area. This would take decades, but the [Shattered Star Ring] second phase mission only required the completion of basic construction in the seven star systems… For basic construction, a few years would be enough. With a large amount of consortium investment, the legion's productivity was now very strong.

After completing a general inspection of the territory, Han Xiao came to the Sigoma Star System in the center of the star cluster to check the development progress of the Apostle Weapon mechanical civilization.

Blue light flickered in outer space as the fleet jumped, and a silver-gray planet came into view, with a large area of mechanical structures on the surface, quite conspicuous.

This was the first city built by the mechanical civilization, named Youzu City!

The city's ground had been completely transformed into machinery, and underground were base-like mining wells, continuously delving into the underground mineral veins to collect various mineral resources.

On the ground stood towering mechanical buildings. Under the leadership of Youzu and other Apostle Weapons, more than 100,000 first-generation mechanical lifeforms had built factories, repair shops, energy plants, refining plants, breeding rooms, and other facilities, integrating various mechanical technologies. At the same time, millions of second-generation mechanical lifeforms were being hatched. The whole thing looked more like the prototype of a military base.

In the center of the city was a huge mechanical statue, carving his own image, lifelike.

Seeing this, Han Xiao felt somewhat helpless.

He didn't know why, but people were always keen on erecting statues for him... Really, what's the use of erecting statues for me? It would be better to erect statues for Fording, maybe there would be luck bonuses.

The reproduction of mechanical lifeforms was scaled, requiring the consumption of their own fire seed energy, with a cooldown period. Therefore, the rate of the mechanical civilization’s population explosion rose exponentially. The more population, the faster the population explosion.

The Godoran Mechanic's [Mechanical Fire Seed Proliferation] and [Mechanical Civilization Enhancement] had the effect of strengthening the reproductive capacity of mechanical lifeforms, so Han Xiao planned to stay here for a while and create more first-generation mechanical lifeforms.

Currently, the mechanical civilization led by Youzu was just starting, and the overall population was not yet large, but it was a microcosm, complete with all organs. Mechanical lifeforms of various models and sizes worked in their own positions, looking quite lively.

Not far from the city, the Giant Vajra, with a height of hundreds or thousands of meters, led a group of giant soldiers, moving mountains and leveling a towering, bare ridge.

Without disturbing the others, Han Xiao independently connected to Youzu's quantum network frequency band.

Soon, a beam of blue light shot out from the ground, arriving in front of the fleet in outer space. It was the First Apostle Youzu, draped in a mechanical robe and holding a battle spear.

"Greetings, Overlord." Youzu nodded.

The hatch opened, and Han Xiao flew out, looking him up and down, raising an eyebrow.

Compared to the last time they met, Youzu had some new components, which he seemed to have voluntarily installed, appearing to fill some weaknesses.

That was the good thing about mechanical lifeforms: they would voluntarily replace parts to strengthen themselves.

"You've done well, keep up the good work."

Han Xiao gave a word of encouragement, and then a surge of blue-gold mechanical force popped out of his palm. He smiled and said,

"Consider this a reward."

Saying that, he flipped his hand and patted this mass of mechanical force into Youzu's body. This was the [Apostle Evolution] skill brought by the Godoran Mechanic.

In an instant, electric currents shot out all over Youzu's body, and the fire seed energy within his body suddenly grew stronger. The mechanical structure within his body received a baptism of strengthening.

Han Xiao watched from the side, and after a while, Youzu's evolutionary process slowly ended.

He experienced the changes in his performance and then nodded to Han Xiao,

"Thank you for the gift, Overlord. My power has increased."

"No need to thank me, you deserved it. Just do your job well."

Han Xiao waved his hand and opened his panel to take a look at Youzu's current attributes. [Apostle Evolution] had comprehensively enhanced Youzu's performance.

Apostle Weapons were able to participate in Super-A Grade battles, and after being strengthened by [Apostle Evolution], they could fight ordinary Super-A Grades more evenly with the Mechanical Force bonus, becoming increasingly independent.

According to Han Xiao's calculations, the current Youzu should be able to defeat an ordinary avatar of the Otherworld before its evolution in a one-on-one fight, provided that the avatar did not gain too perverted of an ability.

After sending Youzu back, Han Xiao went to the territory of the Black Spirits for a stroll.

Compared to the rapid development of the mechanical civilization, things were progressing normally on the Black Spirit side.

Although they had an efficient mind communication network, no matter how high the efficiency, learning itself took time. At this time, they were still slowly digesting the basic scientific and technological knowledge given by the legion and could not get on the right track for the time being.

The Black Spirits themselves were in an uncivilized, ignorant state, and this scientific and technological knowledge was too complex and profound for them, requiring them to start from scratch.

Only after the foundation of various disciplines was laid would the role of the mind network gradually manifest, completing the knowledge sharing of the entire race.

As long as they got on the right track, the evolution speed of the Black Spirits would become very fast, rapidly crossing the Stone Age, Iron Age, Enlightenment Age, Steam Age, Electric Age, and other periods in a matter of ten to several decades, entering the interstellar age.

Normally speaking, in addition to survival, the biggest problem for a civilization's natural development was the constraints on productivity and technological progress, requiring countless time to explore. However, with the intervention of the Black Star Army, these were not problems. With the biggest problem solved, development could not be slow.

The tech tree that Han Xiao equipped the Black Spirits with included not only improving various technologies but also developing mental abilities.

The Black Spirits, with the ability to mind network, had innate potential for Esper abilities and were best suited to become psychics and mages. Perhaps the awakening rate could reach an astonishing 90% or more.

Of course, if anyone wanted to change their class to the Mechanic class, he would not refuse anyone.

However, the treaty of the three great civilizations restricting advanced civilizations from interfering in the development process of lower civilizations was not without reason. Following the path of predecessors would only turn them into the kind of people that others wanted them to be, and a race's ability to innovate would inevitably be affected.

Han Xiao didn't have too many solutions to this problem. Wanting high-speed development without paying a price was not so easy... But the Evolver Totem could alleviate this problem to a certain extent.

The totem subtly optimized the race's genes, comprehensively improving the race's various indicators, including intelligence and innovation ability. With the uncertainty brought by the Evolver Totem, it was possible that those flashes of inspiration that were enough to drive the development of history would appear in the Black Spirit race.

Making a species better was the meaning of the Evolver Totem, and this was not a good thing. Thinking deeply, it was actually an incredibly despairing reality.

If a new species that did not conform to human aesthetics appeared on a planet ruled by humans, like monsters, but were not only physically stronger than humans but also had more developed brains, surpassing humans in all qualities such as learning ability and logical ability... Then, humans would no longer be qualified to call themselves the spirit of all things, and the only thing they could rely on was the technology accumulated over many years, which would be surpassed sooner or later...

It, is better than you.

Whether to coexist with it or slaughter it, or to enslave it and erase its intelligence, would become a difficult choice.

The crushing between species was bloody and had never been compassionate.

And this was the terrifying aspect of the Evolver Totem, which was why the Federation of Light and the EsGod could not sit idly by while the Crimson Dynasty monopolized the totem... But fortunately, universal civilizations were advanced enough and had certain gene modulation technologies, so they could control the desire for armed struggle.

…

Taking advantage of the impact of the Manison incident, Han Xiao kept a low profile, no longer causing trouble everywhere. According to the pre-set plan, he began to silently expand the mechanical legion, build his territory, and steadily improve his foundation accumulation.

This was an inevitable stage for a Mechanic.

And after Manison won the battle, he did not take other actions. He returned to the Ancient Star Desert and did not provoke the Black Star Army again.

As the two sides were at peace with each other and successively fell silent, the attention of various forces in the universe to both sides gradually decreased, and they shifted their gazes away from Han Xiao.

With the end of the first phase of exploration, the Shattered Star Ring was in a period of construction, and countless forces were watching the situation. Therefore, the environment of the explored universe entered a period of calm and stability.

Minor skirmishes occasionally occurred in different regions, but civilizations at the star cluster level and above did not break out into too intense conflicts, as if there was a tacit understanding that made them choose to recuperate.

And the Federation of Light and the EsGod's suppression and coercion of the Crimson Dynasty were still being carried out in multiple fields such as economy, politics, and people's livelihood. Although there were many frictions, the situation was still under the control of the three parties.

The Crimson Dynasty was under considerable pressure and was still persisting. Internal calls for opening up the right to purchase totems had gradually emerged, but they were still very weak.

If a theme were to be given to this era, it would be "Exploration and Expansion."

This was not the development of a single civilization; a new star field was being incorporated into the map of the explored universe. The meaning was like discovering a new continent, enough to change the格局 (geju, overall situation) of the world and was closely related to everyone's future.

Although there were frictions in the distribution of interests, the entire universe recognized the theme of this era and waited for the harmony to sound when the melody began.

Under the influence of this atmosphere, even the Super-A Grades chose to remain silent. The battle between Han Xiao and the Mech Emperor became the last event of a Super-A Grade confrontation before the period of stability.

In this subtle environment of mutual calculation, time quietly passed.

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Star Ocean Calendar, January 17, 716.

Shattered Star Ring, Black Gate Star.

The deep blue inbound star gate rotated rapidly, and the center of the vortex suddenly spat out a stream of light, revealing the figure of a medium-sized spaceship.

In the cabin, a large group of young people in various attire crowded in front of the viewing window, curiously staring at Black Gate Star in the distance, chattering excitedly.

"Is this the Black Star Army's territory? We're finally here!"

"I heard that Black Star has been staying in the Shattered Star Ring. It seems like it's been five years since we last heard news of him."

"Yeah, yeah, do you think we'll be able to see Black Star himself on this trip?"

"I wonder if he and Principal La Ji have the same style..."

"Shut up! Don't mention that forbidden name!"

One person painfully covered his head and fell down, his whole body twitching like he was having an epileptic seizure.

"Oh no, someone come help, his post-traumatic stress disorder has flared up!"

The surrounding people were immediately thrown into a flurry of first aid, and everyone watched as this brother who had unfortunately contracted "La Ji PTSD" was carried away, unable to help but reveal a tragic expression of rabbit-like sadness and fox-like mourning.

"Alas, another one down."

Several young people stood at the edge of the crowd, their aura different from the others. Seeing this scene, one of the male youths, who was about 1.7 meters tall, couldn't help but smile wryly.

"Isn't that too exaggerated? I don't think the principal is that scary..."

A delicate girl next to him, who was half a head taller than him, rolled her eyes. "Of course you're fine. Why don't you think about how much mental trauma those students with poor grades will suffer."

"Will they? I thought everyone liked the principal quite a bit..."

The male youth touched his head, muttering to himself.

This male youth was a human, about sixteen or seventeen years old, but he looked very young, with delicate features, rosy lips, and white teeth, like an ungrown elementary school student. He had a well-proportioned figure and was wearing a black and silver legion uniform with the Black Star Army's insignia on his chest.

The female next to him had a pretty appearance, full of energy and vigor, with healthy wheat-colored skin and a hot figure. She was wearing a martial artist's tights and was quite close to the male youth.

At this time, the captain walked over and patted the male youth's shoulder, saying:

"The garrison has sent a communication, answer it, it'll save trouble."

The male youth nodded and pressed a few buttons on the spaceship wall next to him, popping up a virtual screen. On the screen was the fleet commander stationed on Black Gate Star, with a stern face, speaking in a deep voice:

"What department are you from? Why didn't I receive an internal transit application?"

If it weren't for seeing the Black Star insignia on the spaceship, the garrison fleet commander might have captured the spaceship.

"We are the first batch of graduates from the Sea Blue Star Black Star Esper Academy. According to the academy rules, graduates can choose to join the training camp or work for the legion for two to three years to obtain opportunities for further study. We are here to participate in the legion's work. You haven't received the internal information, it must be an oversight."

"Wait a moment, let me check." The garrison fleet commander frowned and searched for a while, then his brow relaxed. "Mm, there is indeed a special application, but you're too late. You've exceeded the agreed time by a long time."

"Sorry, it's our first time in the Shattered Star Ring. We visited some places along the way, which may have delayed our trip. You can check the spaceship's logs."

The garrison fleet commander fiddled with it for a while and nodded. "Mm, the spaceship audit is fine, you can go through."

"Okay, thank you... By the way, can you do me a favor and tell the army commander that I'm here?"

Hearing this, the garrison fleet commander looked inexplicably puzzled.

This tone isn't small, what's his background?

He carefully sized up the male youth, but inexplicably felt a bit familiar, and couldn't help but ask in confusion:

"Who are you? What is your relationship with the army commander?"

"I am Nerón, Black Star is my godfather."

Nerón grinned, and a dazzling light flashed from his white teeth with a "ding."

"This time I'm here to give him a surprise!"