Chapter 1 The Dark Energy Collection Room

Black Star Battleship top cabin, Dark Energy Collection Room No. 001.

A black metal sphere ten meters in diameter floated in the center of the room. The surface of the sphere was covered with neat, honeycomb-like holes, densely packed together. Most of the holes were connected to high-efficiency energy transmission cables made of non-resistive nanomaterials, extending to the ground and walls. Clusters of dark energy flowed along the cables to power the energy core and spaceship engines. The holes that were not connected to cables flickered with a dazzling black-red light.

The spaceship was equipped with multiple dark energy collection rooms to gather the free-floating dark energy in the universe. This black metal sphere was the dark energy collector and converter. Under normal circumstances, the energy core reactor was sufficient to sustain the spaceship's consumption. The function of this collector was similar to a solar panel, mainly used as backup energy, occasionally allowing the energy core to rest, and also providing extra energy for overload.

The collection room was filled with dense dark energy. Han Xiao floated in front of the collector, wisps of black-red dark energy encircling his body like ribbons. His entire body's cells released a suction force, voraciously devouring the free-floating dark energy, which was then converted by the Qi Strength Training Method (qili duanlian fa) to enhance his own Qi Strength (qili).

Whoosh—

After a while, the intense red light flashing in Han Xiao's eyes slowly dissipated. He exhaled a puff of hot gas and looked at the panel's prompt. The number of training sessions for [Dark Energy Universal Refinement Method] had increased by one again.

Among the Qi Strength Training Methods (qili duanlian fa) Han Xiao acquired, this set was among the best. It absorbed dark energy for conversion, allowing for a maximum of 240 training sessions. Each training session had a maximum effect of +10 Qi Strength (qili) limit, potentially providing up to 2400 Qi Strength (qili) limit points.

Since triggering the Advancement quest, Han Xiao had been diligently training his Qi Strength (qili) every day, never slacking off. His Qi Strength (qili) limit had already increased by several thousand points.

Landing on the ground, Han Xiao raised a finger and manipulated the disconnected energy transmission cables to reinsert themselves into the collector. Only then did he turn and walk out of the room, his mind entering the Quantum Network Vision, pinching Phillip between two fingers and bringing him to his eyes.

"Anything interesting happen recently?"

"Let me see, buzz..."

Phillip conjured a projection of a book in his hand, pretending to flip through it for a while before an animated lightbulb appeared above his head.

"In the past few days, dozens more organizations within the empire have sent invitations, hoping to get acquainted with you, buzz."

"They're at it again," Han Xiao said, exasperated.

The news of his travels within the empire was no secret. Most people were self-aware enough not to bother Black Star, but a small number still wanted to latch onto his coattails. So far, hundreds of organizations within the empire had invited him to be their guest, all of which Han Xiao had refused.

"If there aren't any invitations worth paying attention to, then just refuse them all for me," Han Xiao waved his hand.

"I've already screened them. There's one invitation that's quite interesting. I think you might be interested in it, buzz."

As he spoke, a message appeared before Han Xiao's eyes.

"To His Excellency Black Star:

I am the founder of the Interpace Consortium. I have long admired the Black Star Army and hope to cooperate with the Black Star Army to establish a new branch on the planet Radbuduo. I happened to hear that you were passing through, so I would like to invite you to visit Radbuduo for inspection.

—Lord of Radbuduo, Interpace."

Han Xiao read it once, not quite understanding.

"What's so special about this? It's just a normal invitation for cooperation. Just send someone from the branch. Is it really necessary for me to go personally?"

"The problem is, when I received the message, I checked his identity. The signature is wrong. He's not actually the lord of that planet, just a highly vocal candidate. I compared it to the information database, and after data analysis, it seems he's currently in a predicament, which is why he sent the invitation."

Han Xiao didn't have any impression of Interpace. Hearing this, he simply searched online to check out his background. Interpace's current situation was no secret to any virtual mechanic.

After reading it once, Han Xiao guessed Interpace's intentions and revealed an interested expression.

"He wants to... use me?"

And the undisguised kind at that?

Han Xiao's eyes twinkled with amusement.

The difference in their status was like heaven and earth. Yet, the leader of a small consortium actually wanted to use him, a big shot within the empire.

…Putting everything else aside, at least he was bold enough to think and act.

"Master, buzz? Should I reply to him?" Phillip reached out to grab Han Xiao's virtual soul's eyelashes.

Han Xiao tilted his head, causing Phillip to miss. After thinking for a moment, he chuckled.

"Accept his invitation. Tell the fleet to change course to that whatever-Radduo planet. Let's see what kind of guy has the guts to try and use me."

…

Inside a room, Interpace paced back and forth with a frown. His female secretary sat to the side, processing campaign documents, occasionally looking up at Interpace with concern.

"Beep beep!"

Just then, the communicator rang. Interpace perked up, strode to the table, immediately picked up the communicator, glanced at it, and his expression instantly changed.

"Brother, are you alright?" Seeing his strange expression, the female secretary couldn't help but ask.

"I'm perfectly fine! Black Star replied to me. He accepted my invitation and will be coming to Radbuduo soon!" Interpace excitedly slammed his fist on the table, overjoyed.

"He really agreed?!" The female secretary's eyes widened, a look of disbelief on her face.

She wasn't optimistic about Interpace's plan. In her eyes, there was no way a big shot like Black Star would bother with an invitation from a small fry like them.

"See for yourself."

Interpace casually handed the communicator to the female secretary, unable to contain his excitement. This move had been a bold attempt, and he knew the success rate was low. Even if Black Star could see his hidden intentions, that little bit of profit would hardly move him. But now that Black Star had agreed, it meant the cooperation was established.

Thinking of this, Interpace immediately instructed the still-incredulous female secretary.

"Make arrangements immediately. I want to personally welcome Black Star upon his arrival."

"Understood." The female secretary immediately stood up, suddenly hesitating. "Those families have already made some moves. Should we release the news now, let them..."

"No!"

Interpace flatly rejected the suggestion.

"Before Black Star arrives, this news cannot leak out. Otherwise, I'll be in danger. Also, cancel all schedules for this period. Don't give the enemy an opportunity!"

…

Representatives of the prominent families of Radbuduo gathered together, discussing matters noisily. A thin, pale man sat on the sofa to the side. Next to the pale man was a long, narrow box. His hand remained covering the surface of the box, never leaving.

"Interpace doesn't know what he's doing. He's canceled all his schedules these past few days, hiding in his heavily guarded home, not appearing in any public places. This way, we have no opportunity to make a move," one family representative said.

Another person looked at the pale man. "Do you have a way to kill him?"

This pale man was a high-level assassin secretly supported by these families, a B-grade Gunslinger. Hearing the question, the pale man shook his head.

"I've been keeping watch near Interpace's home for the past few days. He's hired a lot of bodyguards, including several B-grade superhumans. It's heavily guarded. Unless I can snipe him in an open area, it's impossible for me to launch a strong attack."

One representative said in a deep voice, "I've already contacted those B-grade bodyguards. They accepted the money, but told me that they could only pretend to be negligent at most. They couldn't betray their employer outright, otherwise, it would affect their mercenary reputation. So, we still have to wait until Interpace goes out for an event."

"If those B-grade bodyguards let their guard down, I have a 100% certainty of assassinating him," the pale man grinned, his smile chilling.

"Good, be on standby at any time." One representative's face was gloomy. "Radbuduo has always been our territory. We must not let outsiders control it."

…

Several days later.

Interpace, who hadn't made a move for a while, finally went out, boarding a bulletproof flying vehicle to the ground airport on the outskirts of the capital city, his purpose unknown.

The several families received the news and immediately took action, arranging for the assassin, the pale man, to follow far behind, waiting for an opportunity to strike.

Soon, Interpace arrived at the ground airport with his entourage, and under the protection of the bodyguards, came to the spaceship landing pad, silently waiting.

The pale man followed, and with the arrangement of the several families, quietly arrived at a storage room in the distant ground control tower. There were no windows in the storage room, but the Gunslinger's mark-locking ability was sufficient to aim at the target through the wall without visibility, making his assassination location even more concealed.

He opened the box he carried, which contained the components of a sniper rifle. In his hands, they were quickly assembled into shape, becoming a specially modified electromagnetic kinetic energy hybrid blast energy technology sniper rifle. He pressed it against the wall, adjusting its position, gradually putting Interpace into his crosshairs.

The group of bodyguards left a slight gap, which in the pale man's eyes was an extremely deliberate flaw. He smiled coldly, pressed his ear, and reported through the miniature earpiece inside.

"I'm in position, ready to fire at any time."

"Very good," the voices of several family representatives came from the earpiece.

In the city, several family representatives were also monitoring Interpace's actions through satellites. They had controlled this planet for many years and could mobilize countless resources.

Looking at Interpace on the satellite feed, the family representatives were puzzled.

"He's waiting for someone?"

"Strange, who would be looking for him?"

"He does have a consortium, maybe he hired some new bodyguards?"

"If they were bodyguards, he wouldn't need to greet them personally, would he?"

After discussing a few sentences, everyone couldn't figure it out, so they simply stopped thinking about it. No matter what his plans were, as long as they killed him, the problem would be perfectly solved.

One representative's eyes turned fierce, ordering the assassin.

"You can move…"

However, before he could finish speaking, the screen suddenly popped up with an emergency communication request, which was from the planet's outer space defense department.

The family representative paused, his heart skipped a beat, and he hurriedly accepted the communication.

"What's going on?"

"This is the outer space observation station. An unknown fleet suddenly appeared in the planet's outer space orbit without any notification. A warship has just broken through the defense network and is rapidly descending. The estimated landing point is the ground airport on the outskirts of the capital city."

Hearing the coordinates, everyone in the room was stunned.

Was this fleet the people Interpace was waiting for?

Coming on so aggressively, were they trying to show off their force?

"Hmph, what's the use of calling people? You're already dead!"

Everyone's faces darkened.

Just as they were about to ignore everything and order the assassin to attack, the observer's exclamation suddenly sounded in the communication.

"Wait a minute, I recognize them! This is the Black Star Army's fleet! Although it doesn't have any markings, it just happened to pass by nearby recently, and I paid special attention to it. The number and model of the ships are exactly the same!"

In an instant, the faces of all the family representatives changed drastically.

At the same time, the group waiting at the airport heard the sound of whistling airflow, looked up, and saw a spaceship rapidly descending from the sky, growing larger and larger in their field of vision. It quickly landed on the ground, precisely stopping in front of Interpace and his entourage, the rising airflow messing up everyone's hair.

Chi—

The hatch slid open, the gangway extended, and a tall figure in a black overcoat walked out of the shadows, having deliberately removed the facial disguise, revealing his true face.

"Black Star?!"

In that instant, the eyes of the family representatives widened, their faces filled with horror. One person even collapsed to the ground, his knees buckling.

They schemed and fought against each other on the planet. In their eyes, a big shot like Black Star was incredibly distant from them, people from completely different worlds.

But today, the person Interpace was receiving was actually Black Star himself?

How was this possible!

What was their relationship? Why would Black Star specifically come to this small place for him?!

It wasn't just these family representatives. All the bodyguards around Interpace were stunned.

Just looking at Black Star's figure felt like an overwhelming sense of pressure coming at them. The intense aura made it difficult for everyone to breathe.

At this time, the family representatives woke up from their dream, horrified, and almost desperately screamed into the earpiece at the assassin in panic.

"Quick! Leave there immediately! Cease all actions!"

All of them were frightened by Black Star's sudden visit. Before they knew what Black Star and Interpace's relationship was, no one dared to act rashly.

The pale man swallowed hard, trembling, dismantled the gun with lightning speed, shouldered the box, and fled the scene with the speed of someone running for their life.

Han Xiao's heart stirred. He glanced in the direction the assassin was fleeing, then turned his gaze back, walking down the gangway with Aurora, curiously sizing up the leader of the group in front of him.

"You're Interpace?"

"Yes, I represent Radbuduo in welcoming Your Excellency Black Star. Your arrival is our honor."

Interpace endured his nervousness, forcing himself to step forward and speak.

Although the plan had succeeded, and he had simulated countless times what he would say when they met, the moment he saw Han Xiao, his mind went blank. All his imaginings were shattered the moment he saw Han Xiao in person.

His mentality instantly wavered.

What kind of person have I summoned here…?

Han Xiao sized him up, then smiled gently.

"You have quite the… guts."

Interpace trembled all over, not daring to answer. A bitter premonition arose in his heart.

This time, it was probably easy to invite a god, but difficult to send him away.