Chapter 1 The Explored Universe, A Barren Universe Belt

Star Alliance lurkers followed the news reports on the war's progress, feeling somewhat dissatisfied with the current situation.

"The three major civilizations repelled the World Tree's first wave of invasion. Despite the sudden chaos, they managed to stabilize the situation. As a unified cosmic civilization, they are indeed not so easy to deal with."

"The World Tree's offensive seems a bit weaker... no, it should be said that the three major civilizations are putting up too much resistance."

They leaked information, hoping to see the World Tree launch a massive invasion and bring despair to the three major civilizations, but the current situation was far from their expectations.

"The good news is that although the World Tree's progress in devouring territory is slow, it's a war of attrition, accumulating little by little. Sooner or later, it will put the three major civilizations in an irrecoverable situation, with no chance of turning the tables."

"That's right, the resistance of the three major civilizations will only gradually weaken. It's a slow death."

"I hope I can see that day before my lifespan ends."

Many Star Alliance lurkers steeled their resolve and regained their confidence.

In their eyes, this was a long-term war that might last for decades, or even centuries. They decided to wait patiently, no matter how long it took, to witness the defeat of the three major civilizations.

...

Harassed by the World Tree's full-scale invasion, the lives of interstellar citizens were plunged into misery, each day feeling like a year. They spent more than half a year in the midst of war.

The World Tree launched large-scale airborne invasions of various star systems more than once. The three major civilizations resisted ceaselessly, with back-and-forth battles. In more than half a year, hundreds of thousands of battles, large and small, erupted, scattering endless hot blood across the cold universe. Many places bore the scars of the fighting on both sides.

The Strategic Command Center tallied the losses. The scattered lost planets added up to a total area equivalent to about three and a half galaxies devoured by the World Tree. Compared to the star systems that often numbered hundreds of galaxies, this loss was not much. Moreover, the explored universe had more than a dozen star systems, and the World Tree's capture of those planets was just a drop in the bucket.

At this rate, the World Tree would theoretically need hundreds or even thousands of years to defeat the Interstellar Joint Army and devour the entire explored universe.

However, the three major civilizations did not relax their vigilance because of this. For them, every inch of territory was worth fighting for. Many players followed the fleets in their expeditions, accumulating experience rapidly. More and more players entered the Calamity Grade.

On the other hand, new Beyond Grade A existences like Karrot and Evans were also traveling from battlefield to battlefield. Where else could they find so many practical combat opportunities on ordinary days? These Beyond Grade A existences were growing rapidly.

Meanwhile, Han Xiao had been guarding the shallow dimensions alone. In more than half a year, the World Tree's dependents invaded seventeen times, large and small, but they were all defeated and fled in disarray, unable to shake the secondary dimension defense line he was guarding.

In addition, Han Xiao had been focusing on cultivating the Pivotal Snake, trying to get it to thrive, mate with the secondary dimension, and produce embryos.

Originally, he didn't have much hope, because the Pivotal Snake hatchling was, after all, just a baby, and reproduction was a pressure it shouldn't have to bear at its age.

But to Han Xiao's surprise, the experiment was successful. The Pivotal Snake hatchling not only thrived but was also incredibly vigorous, ravenously blasting three secondary dimensions that had given birth to nascent consciousness, leaving behind three embryos.

However, after studying the specially recorded "snake film" in depth, Han Xiao also found the reason.

Due to the World Tree's pursuit and the dangerous environment of the secondary dimension, the Pivotal Snake's living conditions were very difficult. Therefore, mating and producing offspring as soon as possible after birth might be an instinct engraved in their genes. Their reproductive ability was inherently mature, and they didn't need to wait until adulthood to create snake lives.

With three embryos, he finally unlocked the door to the breeding industry. Han Xiao had been focusing most of his attention on this during this period, causing the King of Unrestrained to bleed profusely (financially).

However, he did not convert the Pivotal Snake hatchling into a virtual life because of this. He planned to wait for the embryos to mature. Only after he had the second and third Pivotal Snakes would he try this plan. He said it was out of caution.

One day, Han Xiao received a message from Oathkeeper and Kasuyi, who planned to visit together. He invited the two to his base as guests.

In the circular corridor of the observation deck, the three walked side by side at a leisurely pace, chatting casually. The brilliant aurora outside the window shone through the viewing window, leaving mottled light and shadows on the three of them.

Han Xiao spun two mechanical balls in one hand and said with a smile, "Why do you have time to come and see me today? How's the war going in the main universe?"

"The Interstellar Joint Army has repelled another wave of the World Tree's invasion offensive. We can rest for a while, so we came to see you," Kasuyi said with a smile.

"What about him?" Han Xiao turned to look at Oathkeeper. "When did you two get mixed up together?"

"Are you going to control who I make friends with? Black Star, you have quite the official air about you," Oathkeeper said with a pout, his hands behind his back.

"What are you talking about? I'm afraid you'll be corrupted by Kasuyi. He's an old movie star who's not what he seems," Han Xiao tutted.

"You're the last person who should be saying that about me," Kasuyi rolled his eyes inwardly.

After the three of them exchanged jokes for a while, Oathkeeper brought up the main topic.

"Speaking of which, in the past half year of war, some Beyond Grade A existences have also died. When are you going to revive them?"

Han Xiao shook his head. "I don't have any plans for the time being. Although I have high authority, it will take about two to three months to go to the Sanctuary. It's easy for things to change if I'm not here. It's more important to protect the Pivotal Snake now, and I can't leave yet."

Oathkeeper nodded, then suddenly changed the subject and said, "When the war is over, I will leave the explored universe. I'll leave everything about the Covenant to you."

Han Xiao was stunned.

What's going on? What grudge do you have against me? You're suddenly planting a flag like that, it's making me panic!

At this time, Kasuyi next to him also smiled and said, "Me too, I'll leave with him after this battle."

What's this, are you two eloping?

Han Xiao's expression was strange.

"Is this what you came to tell me today? What are you doing, why are you leaving for no reason?"

Kasuyi shrugged. "It's just a long journey. Although staying in interstellar society is very convenient, it's just a corner of the world. The universe is so big, I want to see it."

... Give me a break, the Netherworld is also very big, do you want to go and see it too?

Han Xiao narrowed his eyes and complained inwardly.

"You can go whenever you want, it's not like I won't let you go. Or are you saying you want me to try and stop you?"

Oathkeeper: "That's not it. The unexplored universe is full of unknown dangers. We came to inform you in advance, hoping that you will use resurrection on us every time you enter the Sanctuary. If we are still alive, it will naturally have no effect. If we unfortunately die and don't send back a message, then you can conveniently revive us."

"That's it? So you're going out to have fun, and you want me to clean up after you at home?" Han Xiao said unhappily.

"That's pretty much what we mean," Kasuyi said without any shame.

Han Xiao was speechless and waved his hand. "Alright, I'll remember that... But aren't you talking about this too early? The war isn't over yet. Didn't you listen to the analysis of the staff? They estimate that this war will take another two to five hundred years under normal circumstances."

Kasuyi laughed. "That's for ordinary people to see. Do you think we higher-ups don't know? As long as your Pivotal Snake matures, it will be time for our official counterattack. We won't need that long."

"That's hard to say." Han Xiao shook his head and said, "The Pivotal Snake is similar to most creatures. It has six stages of growth: embryonic stage, infancy, childhood, adolescence, adulthood, and old age. Although the current Pivotal Snake hatchling is growing fast, it's only been less than a year since it hatched. At most, it's in its infancy, and it's still too far from adulthood."

"In any case, it definitely won't take hundreds of years for the Pivotal Snake to reach adulthood. I estimate it will take at most ten to thirty years," Oathkeeper judged.

"That's not short either," Han Xiao spread his hands and said, "So the expeditionary force will continue to operate, searching for the location of the World Tree's main body in parallel. Now that we and the World Tree know each other's secrets, we don't have to worry about information leaks anymore. The expeditionary force doesn't have to be as secretive as before."

Kasuyi suddenly remembered something and said, "Oh right, do you have someone named Harrison under you?"

"You know him?" Han Xiao was surprised.

"I went to support a battlefield before, and it happened to be not far from the Sea Blue Star Civilization's refuge planet. So after the battle, I took a stroll around Longtan. Ames was not at home, but her chief steward Jenny received me. She knows about our relationship and wanted me to bring you a message."

"What message?" Han Xiao asked curiously.

"She said she's pregnant," Kasuyi said with a playful tone.

"What the heck!" Han Xiao was shocked. "It's not mine! I haven't mated with her! Don't talk nonsense!"

"What are you thinking?" Kasuyi raised his eyebrows. "She said the father of the child is Harrison, not you. Why are you so excited?"

"Phew, that's good... Can you finish the whole thing in one breath next time?"

Han Xiao breathed a sigh of relief, secretly feeling a headache.

If Ames misunderstood that I had an affair with her sister, that would be a disaster...

Kasuyi looked him up and down and laughed. "You're a Super God grade existence, and you're afraid of just an Ames?"

"What do you mean afraid? What do you know? Martial force isn't for intimidating family members. I call this maintaining family harmony," Han Xiao said with a look of disdain.

Kasuyi remained noncommittal and said to himself, "Anyway, Jenny asked me to tell you that she hopes you can persuade Harrison to give up his position in the expeditionary force and stop taking risks. She doesn't want her child to lose his father as soon as he's born."

Hearing this, Han Xiao also put away his joking thoughts and asked Phillip to check on Harrison's current situation.

He wouldn't pry into his subordinates' privacy for no reason. He only found out about this today. He only knew that the two of them had some small ambiguous feelings before, but they hadn't confirmed their relationship. After a little investigation, he found that the two of them had only officially gotten together in the past half year.

For the past ten years, Harrison had been participating in the expedition in the secondary dimension and rarely contacted Jenny. He originally thought that he couldn't balance his relationship, but Jenny didn't know if no one wanted her or if she was getting old. She didn't want to waste away alone anymore. Not only did she not complain about this, but her feelings for Harrison became deeper and deeper.

Half a year ago, the expeditionary force's outpost was breached by the World Tree dependents, and the expeditionary force suffered heavy losses. Harrison escaped with his life. During the period when the expeditionary force was regrouping, he finally had time to return to the main universe. He had escaped death, and Jenny was like dry wood meeting fire. The two finally got together successfully. The long-distance relationship had blossomed. It seemed that they were determined to reproduce and did not take any safety measures, engaging in hot and heavy activity.

A month ago, Harrison returned to the expeditionary force and left Jenny's side.

Han Xiao glanced at the file and let out a surprised "oh." He said strangely, "It seems that no one summoned him. He actually volunteered to return to the expeditionary force."

Because of the Pivotal Snake, Han Xiao didn't continue to force Harrison to participate in the subsequent expeditionary exploration. Now he found that Harrison had done this voluntarily.

"Why is this guy so enthusiastic?"

Han Xiao was curious and contacted Harrison, who had a brand, through the King of Unrestrained as an intermediary.

A few seconds later, the communication was connected.

"Your Excellency Black Star."

Harrison's remote projection appeared and saluted Han Xiao, respectfully greeting him.

"No need to be so formal. It's like this, Jenny is pregnant. She asked me to persuade you not to take risks with the expeditionary force. Besides, the main force doesn't need one more person like you. How about it, do you want to go back?" Han Xiao asked bluntly.

Hearing this, Harrison shook his head gently. "I appreciate her feelings, but I won't go back."

"I noticed that you volunteered to join the expedition this time. What are you thinking?" Han Xiao asked.

Harrison was silent for a moment, then said slowly:

"When I was in Longtan, I came into contact with many refugees. Do you know what their current state is? They live in fear every day. Many people can't bear the pressure and choose to end their own lives, while those who are alive fear the unknown tomorrow. No one knows if they will become the target of the World Tree's invasion one day. New religions are becoming popular, and countless people are seeking comfort in them. Everyone is praying for the war to end as soon as possible.

You said that I'm very lucky and that I'm good at finding things. I don't know if it's true, but I hope you're right. I hope that this ethereal luck can play a role and contribute my meager strength to ending the war as soon as possible."

Han Xiao raised his eyebrows and chuckled:

"Not bad, you're making me feel a little respect... But you should know that we now have the Pivotal Snake in our hands, and our chances of winning are already very high. The expeditionary force is no longer the only way, and it may not be useful. The main force doesn't need you, and your actions may just be useless and risk your life. Why not go back and be with your unborn child?"

Harrison shook his head. "I don't want to enjoy myself under your protection with peace of mind because of these reasons. My colleagues are here, and I don't want to desert. Please don't persuade me anymore. I've made up my mind."

"Alright, then I won't persuade you. Be careful," Han Xiao nodded.

"...If possible, please tell Jenny that I love her."

Little brother, do you know that your death flag is flashing the moment you say that?

"Tell her yourself. Who do you think I am, your mouthpiece?"

Han Xiao tutted and hung up the communication before Harrison could answer.

Little brat, you don't need to thank me. I'm just helping you pull out the flag to save your life!

Kasuyi, who had heard the whole thing from the side, said with emotion, "You have a good cadre."

"He wasn't like this before. At most, he was just a curious kid, but now it seems that he's already an adult."

Han Xiao paused and said with a smile:

"This guy is a bit stupid, but the world ultimately needs some idiots like this. Maybe he can really bring me some surprises."