Chapter 175 All Is Ready…

"The Scarlet Dynasty's first phase of development in the Flickering World is nearing completion. Construction will commence soon, demanding significant funds and effort. The legion's finances are currently robust, bolstered by the dynasty's support. During the version update, I won't have to worry about resources, allowing me to freely pursue construction..."

Han Xiao nodded inwardly. The Evolver's Totem was a monopolized business. As a faction specialty, it generated massive cash flow, making him potentially the least financially constrained among all the dynasty's Super-A Grade allies involved in the joint development.

In his plans, the Machinery Civilization and the Black Star Race were prioritized for development. The former was his source of high-quality troops, while the latter was a clan with immense potential. Only within his territory could he confidently support and expand them.

Instead of passively observing the Black Star Race's natural development, he would personally intervene in the civilization's progress, imparting knowledge. The Black Star Race's formidable communication efficiency, their greatest strength, lay in their receptiveness. Once on the right track, their civilization wouldn't develop gradually but would skyrocket.

The version update from 3.0 to 4.0 spanned decades. Players would descend during the open competition phase, immediately facing an established power structure. The Flickering World's initial development would serve as background, while he would personally experience this initial blank phase, providing ample room for maneuver.

With his past life's experience, he knew all the powers competing in the Flickering World, granting him a significant advantage.

During this version update, the overall tone of the Star Field would be development and expansion. The Scarlet Dynasty might face considerable pressure, and he himself might encounter some trouble due to the Evolver's Cube. However, given his status and strength, direct threats from external sources would be minimal.

The Black Star Legion had only been established for over twenty years. The decades of the version update would perfectly allow the Black Star Legion to accumulate its foundation, completing its transformation from a "new force" to an "established power," laying a more stable foundation.

"Hela has been growing consistently, though not as fast as in my past life. With my help, her potential is even greater. In the decades of the version update, she might very well become a new Super-A Grade..."

Han Xiao's eyes flashed.

This would add another top-tier combatant to his side, strengthening the legion's influence. Even if Hela were to become independent, like the relationship between Dragon Emperor and himself, they would inevitably remain allies.

By then, the Shattered Star Ring would have six Super-A Grades, greatly benefiting the legion and significantly enhancing its position and influence.

—Xisco's days would become even harder...

Throughout Version 3.0, he had reaped massive experience points from major event missions and players, storing them within his interface. During the version update, with players offline and major events less frequent, these accumulated experience points would serve as a strategic reserve to weather the version update.

At his current level, the experience cost for leveling up was extremely high. Despite the vast amount of experience points Han Xiao had stored, he couldn't afford to spend them all on leveling up at once. With decades to spare, he had to conserve them.

In his plans, after reaching Level 300 and obtaining a new class advancement and species sublimation, he would focus on improving his skills, acquiring potential points, and upgrading all his professional knowledge to enhance his combat strength in this area.

The experience required for subsequent leveling would only increase exponentially. Developing new "leek fields" could improve the efficiency of experience acquisition. The world server in Version 4.0 would offer both competition and an opportunity to acquire a large batch of new "leeks."

Recently, the players had resolved the Gular Civil War, and the [Gular Civilization—Pioneer's Fire] quest on Han Xiao's interface was settled.

The quest reward was calculated based on individual performance. Since he had delegated it to the players without personally intervening, the quest rating wasn't high, resulting in a minimal experience reward. However, the quest reward was just a small part. The experience the players gained from it, which flowed back to Han Xiao through the purchase of faction products, far exceeded the value of the quest experience, which was the real profit.

After three versions of relentless effort, the Black Star Legion had achieved its current status. Having experienced so much, Han Xiao's attitude toward the version update had become increasingly calm.

"Now, everything is ready, just waiting for the first phase of development to end and the dynasty to allocate territories."

…

As the league concluded, the date of the version update drew closer. The legion players' focus gradually shifted from defending the league championship to the version update.

Many had stored a large amount of experience points, waiting for the next version to unlock a higher level cap.

At the Black Star Legion headquarters, countless players gathered, chatting with friends while waiting to log off. The place was packed, as noisy as a chaotic wet market.

In a corner of the square, a group of professional players watched the endless crowd, chatting idly.

"There are so many new players pouring in this version. You wouldn't have seen so many people in the previous two versions."

Flickering Fried Rice shook his head.

"The more people, the better. That way, the league will have higher ratings," Li Ge said with a smile.

Maple Moon asked curiously, "I wonder how long this update will last."

"It shouldn't be too long, right? Our Flickering World mission isn't over yet. We'll definitely continue exploring in the next version," Mad Blade chimed in.

"Ah, I'm really curious about what the Black Star Legion will become in the next version."

As they chatted, they suddenly noticed Wang Hou Jiang Xiang waving at them in the distance. Mad Blade and the others walked over.

The group gathered, and Wang Hou Jiang Xiang said with a chuckle, "Everyone's here, right? Let's have a meal during the holiday to celebrate our championship defense."

"I'm in," Li Ge was the first to agree.

"I remember we also had a social event after the league last year," Ming Yue Chang Zhong said, stroking his chin.

"Yeah, let's just make this a tradition for winning the championship. The winners are responsible for treating everyone, inviting all the Chinese players to travel together."

"Let's eat something good. We won the championship prize money after all. Don't be like Changkong last time and just take us to a roadside stall."

"Roadside stalls are the most affordable," Hao Tian mumbled.

Everyone cheered, and Wang Hou Jiang Xiang agreed with a helpless expression.

Soon, all the players logged off one after another, turning into streaks of white light and disappearing. The crowded square immediately became empty.

Han Xiao, who was monitoring the square from his office, also received a notification on his interface.

[Version 3.0 update is starting]

[Data saving in progress… Saving complete!]

[Player forum closed]

[Update time unknown, please wait patiently]

Han Xiao looked at the upper right corner, where the player forum option had turned gray and could not be opened.

"The players have all logged off..." Han Xiao took a deep breath. "It's time to plan ahead for Version 4.0."

…

Meanwhile, at the Shattered Star Ring's entry stargate.

A trade fleet emerged from the stargate. The spacecraft were egg-shaped with silver armor, smooth as mirrors, and had a simple yet futuristic design. The Möbius strip symbol of the Infinite Consortium was emblazoned on the spacecraft.

The main ship was a silver, giant flying saucer. Inside the command room, a tall man stood before the porthole, silently gazing at the universe outside.

This man was tall and slender with snow-white skin and handsome features. His eyebrows and eyes were gentle, and he did not exude the imposing presence of a big shot. He had a neatly trimmed goatee, and small, fragmented, arc-shaped silver scales grew at his temples. He wore luxurious and expensive clothing, giving off an air of wealth and power.

This man was the current head of the Infinite Consortium—Sorokin, one of the wealthiest people in the entire universe, a man who had truly mastered the art of using money to its fullest extent.

"Your Excellency Sorokin, we have arrived."

A subordinate dressed as a secretary stood next to Sorokin and said softly.

"Mm..." Sorokin responded faintly. "According to the itinerary, proceed to the Black Star Legion headquarters. Have the branch in the Shattered Star Ring compile their business operations for the past five years and send it to me."

"Understood."

The Infinite Consortium invested throughout the universe and had businesses everywhere. The Shattered Star Ring was no exception, but due to its harsh security environment, the Infinite Consortium had never paid much attention to it, and its business scale was small.

If it hadn't been for the suggestion of the three Super-A Grade shareholders, Sorokin wouldn't have wanted to operate on a large scale here.

Although this trip was to cause trouble for Han Xiao, fair business competition wasn't direct hostility, and Sorokin was also interested in meeting Black Star.

In his opinion, Black Star should be happy to meet a financial backer like him. Although one of his subordinate forces had been eliminated by Black Star, his identity had not been exposed. Black Star definitely didn't know that the Infinite Consortium was the mastermind.

In Black Star's mind, this should be the first time the two sides were interacting.

This way, Black Star would be kept in the dark, giving him a subtle advantage.

He could take advantage of this meeting to approach the Black Star Legion's Undying Army and achieve his original goal...

As Sorokin was thinking, the command room door opened, and a tall woman walked in, wearing a beautiful consortium executive uniform, with smooth white hair and delicate makeup, looking radiant and charming.

This woman came to Sorokin's side and lowered her head slightly.

"Father, do you have any instructions?"

—Lophil, Sorokin's daughter.

Sorokin had many children, all of whom received elite training and held different positions in the consortium.

Turning to look at her, Sorokin opened the communicator and sent her an invitation letter.

"Take the invitation letter for the Hegemon gathering and go to Heber's side. Attend the meeting on my behalf."

Lophil's eyes widened in surprise. "I thought you were going to invest in the Black Star Legion on this trip."

"That will depend on whether I meet Black Star or not. Before that, other investment opportunities cannot be missed," Sorokin said vaguely.

His transaction with the three shareholders was confidential. Apart from himself, everyone in the consortium thought he was in the Shattered Star Ring for a normal investment.

Although he was throwing money to compete with the Black Star Legion, there was a technique to throwing money. Sorokin didn't want to compete head-on with the Black Star Legion. Although money could seize the market, he didn't like losing money.

Sorokin wanted both the deal with the three shareholders and the opportunity to invest in the Flickering World!

As long as he invested in the right target, it would be twice the result with half the effort.

While competing fairly with Black Star and not angering the dynasty, after conducting research, Sorokin had the most suitable investment target in mind in the Shattered Star Ring.

After all, the Black Star Legion was not the only force capable of developing the Flickering World.