Chapter 1 Cosmic Vastness

The cosmos is vast and expansive. The distances between neighboring star systems are generally extremely far. According to the distribution of star systems, some star systems that are relatively close are classified into the same star region.

In the twelfth star region of the Wu Hook Star Alliance, although there are many civilizations, the 'Black Moon Civilization' is undoubtedly the most powerful.

Within the territory of the Black Moon Civilization, in the outer space of a habitable planet, an incredibly enormous spaceship was stationed. It was in the shape of a massive disk, with a diameter of 325 kilometers, and the hull of the spaceship was emblazoned with the image of a black war moon. Numerous small hatches on the giant spaceship opened, and a large number of small spaceships flew up from the planet, entering the main spaceship's hold through the densely packed hatches.

*Swoosh swoosh swoosh swoosh swoosh swoosh!*

Countless robots also flew through the air, entering the giant spaceship like rivers. Inside the giant spaceship, within a hall, there were only two people.

"Captain Enno," an old man with an exaggerated, curved mustache said with a smile. "All personnel on leave from the ninth squadron of the fifth fleet of the Tai Fan star system have returned to the mothership."

Captain Enno was a stern, tall man, draped in a Black Moon cloak. He coldly looked at the numerous data displayed on the screen within the mothership.

"What about the civilians responsible for development?" Enno asked, "Why haven't they all arrived yet?"

"They are still on their way," the old man said. "Civilians are not like the military; their mobilization efficiency isn't as high."

"All development personnel must enter the mothership within three hours," Enno coldly instructed. "Any civilians who have not entered the mothership by then will be executed. All cosmic citizens will be handed over to the military court." The old man's heart tightened, and he respectfully complied, tapping the screen in front of him to immediately relay the order.

Although he was the ambassador of this mission, Captain Enno was the real leader! Captain Enno coldly looked at the vast amount of data on the screen.

*Buzz*

On the huge screen in the hall, the image of a young man appeared. The young man said, "Captain Enno, please confirm once more before departure whether you truly need to bring three 'Stellar Annihilation Bombs'."

"Confirmed," Captain Enno nodded.

The young man nodded and then said, "Captain, the Blue Star civilization is just a newly advanced cosmic civilization, with only one habitable planet! The weapons and forces conventionally equipped on a cosmic mothership are already very strong. The star destroyer cannons on the mothership alone are enough to make the Blue Star civilization tremble in fear. But this time, you're bringing a legion of 'intelligent robots' and even Stellar Annihilation Bombs. Such military power is enough to threaten even the strongest Huan Liang civilization in the Milky Way."

"My foolish brother," Enno said coldly, "Let me teach you again.

"First, the Blue Star civilization is very rich! Being rich allows them to purchase some weapons and equipment that exceed our expectations."

"Second, in developing the Blue Star civilization, my opponents are sometimes not just the Blue Star civilization, and not even just opponents within the Milky Way. I must ensure that everyone behaves themselves and doesn't reach out."

"Since the Blue Star civilization is a newly advanced civilization in the twelfth star region, it must be us who occupy it…" Captain Enno said, "Even if mobilizing too much military force requires the family to give 50% to the military, it's all worth it."

"Because if we fail, the losses would be too great. I cannot afford the price of failure," Captain Enno said.

The young man nodded and didn't say much more, "Then I wish you a safe journey, Captain."

"I hope that when I return, you will have also reached the seventh level," Captain Enno said.

The young man nodded.

The image on the screen disappeared.

There were also many cosmic citizens on this enormous cosmic mothership.

Unlike civilians, cosmic citizens had much greater status and power! Even the 'Black Moon Civilization's' treatment and arrangements for them had to comply with the laws of the Cosmic Human Alliance.

"The Captain is really going all out this time, bringing our entire ninth squadron along," a cosmic citizen officer said, standing in front of the transparent hull, looking out at the large number of robots flying into the spaceship from the planet.

"Don't you know the Captain's personality? He's always extremely cautious in everything he does. Actually, I think the fifth-level civilization is very self-aware! During the civilization protection period, they didn't dare to sell off all their mineral resources. They still left behind a large amount of ore. Why?" a smaller cosmic citizen laughed. "Because they're afraid of angering us! So they left a lot of mineral resources for us to take over."

"Naturally, we will develop the mineral resources. They must also cooperate with us regarding the wealth they possess," the tall cosmic citizen scoffed. "A newly advanced cosmic civilization must gradually integrate into the Cosmic Human Alliance under our guidance, and we will naturally give them some scraps. This is the unspoken rule of our twelfth star region. Anyone who dares not follow the rules is an enemy of our Black Moon Civilization!"

Even with the restrictions of the Cosmic Human Alliance's laws, the Black Moon Civilization had plenty of ways to exploit a newly advanced civilization within the bounds of the rules.

"As long as our Black Moon Civilization spreads the word, no civilization in the entire twelfth star region will dare to trade with it," the small cosmic citizen also nodded confidently. "Then they can only conduct inter-star region trade, and each transaction will require additional inter-star region transportation fees."

"Economic sanctions are already quite gentle. They could easily be wiped out by cosmic pirates," one cosmic citizen said.

"Don't talk nonsense. We have nothing to do with cosmic pirates," another cosmic citizen said.

"Yes, yes, yes, nothing to do with them."

The group laughed, their smiles full of wantonness.

The cosmic citizens of the Black Moon Civilization naturally had a sense of superiority when facing other civilizations in the twelfth star region!

There was no other way.

Their civilization was too strong! Even a squadron of the fifth fleet of the Tai Fan star system had the right to look down on the Blue Star civilization.

Cosmic Mothership, Command Hall.

Captain Enno, his key subordinates, and the head of this mission were all gathered here.

"Captain, everything is ready. We are ready to depart at any time," a soldier said.

Enno nodded and ordered, "Depart."

"Whoosh!"

The cosmic mothership, which had been hovering in the outer space of the habitable planet, began to activate, and its speed rapidly exploded. In just over ten seconds, the cosmic mothership had already transformed into a blurred streak of light.

"Begin preparing for wormhole traversal."

"Countdown, thirty-three, thirty-two, thirty…"

When the countdown reached zero, the dark void ahead of the cosmic mothership twisted, and the entire cosmic mothership flew into that twisting void, disappearing completely.

When the cosmic mothership reappeared, it had already left the star system it was in and arrived in a dark, desolate region of space.

Most of the universe was a dark void. The faint glimmers of light seen in the far distance were just fragments of light barely transmitted from a vast star system.

"Beginning cooldown. Estimated 3 hours and 36 minutes until the next wormhole traversal can be performed."

"Coordinates confirmed."

"Personnel vitals check…"

"Energy check…"

One piece of information after another appeared.

Captain Enno didn't pay any attention to it. If there were any unexpected situations, an alarm would have already been issued. He looked at the endless darkness outside the spaceship.

Each wormhole traversal involved passing through the dark regions of space, and he even relished this feeling.

"The family only has two eighth-order cosmic lifeforms, and they are becoming increasingly weak. It wasn't easy to get this opportunity to develop the Blue Star civilization," Captain Enno muttered silently. "I cannot afford to make any mistakes."

"I must use the flesh and blood of the Blue Star civilization to make my family even stronger," Captain Enno thought.

"Captain, why don't you rest for a while? We won't arrive at the Blue Star civilization for another 39 days," a female officer said softly.

Captain Enno nodded, turned, and left.

As long as he was on the mothership, he could grasp everything at any time.

***

The Blue Star civilization was making preparations for the end of its civilization protection period. Although it believed it was well-prepared, it ultimately lacked any experience. Everything was just speculation!

As the number one expert of the Blue Star civilization, Xu Jingming was also working hard.

The second planet in the mysterious land.

"Huff, huff…"

Xu Jingming panted. There was a wound on his chest. Under cellular-level control, the wound no longer bled.

"During the trials in the mysterious land, although the body does not feel tired, hungry, or thirsty, injuries do not heal," Xu Jingming thought to himself. "Unless I fail and die, and try again from the beginning, will my body recover completely."

"I've been walking for ten days, and there are still eight hundred kilometers to the destination." Xu Jingming treated the wound, lightly tapped his personal panel, and changed into a new set of soft armor.

"The last eight hundred kilometers…"

Xu Jingming was full of fighting spirit.

After spending ten days on the Zerg planet, Xu Jingming understood the key to traversing the Zerg planet.

The most crucial thing was gathering information about the surroundings and making instantaneous decisions!

This information was all information!

Weather, geographical environment layout, other cosmic citizens in the distance, the methods that different Zergs were good at, his own strength… Rapidly gather all aspects of information and make immediate decisions! If he hesitated or made a decision too slowly, he might put himself in a difficult situation, surrounded by a large number of Zergs.

"The weaker you are, the less room for error you have. The higher the requirements for decision-making."

"Fortunately, I reached the ultra-first-class realm early on. Several times, I made wrong decisions but managed to get through them with my strength. However, I was also injured, and my strength has declined quite a bit." Xu Jingming was cautious. After ten days of experience, his ability to control the environment was almost instinctive.

Time passed by, minute by minute. Xu Jingming didn't relax for a moment. After more than seven hours, without making any major mistakes, he finally arrived at his destination.

"I've arrived."

Xu Jingming was like a phantom, dashing across the high mountains. There was nothing to hide on this high mountain. As long as he climbed this high mountain, he would naturally attract the Zergs to surround and suppress him.

"Based on the distance and speed, I can determine that they cannot form an encirclement." After Xu Jingming stabbed a Zerg to death with a spear, he took the lead in reaching the summit despite the seemingly terrifying pursuit of numerous Zergs.

Without any hesitation, Xu Jingming rushed directly into the dim, miniature wormhole the moment he reached the summit, leaving the second planet. Only the Zergs that had rushed to the summit were left roaring in anger.

After walking out of the miniature wormhole, Xu Jingming discovered that his injuries had completely disappeared.

"Ugh, so cold."

As soon as he arrived on the third planet, Xu Jingming felt a bone-chilling cold. The cold air penetrated into his body, as if passing through his muscles and burrowing into the gaps in his bones.

"This is too cold." Xu Jingming observed the surrounding environment. It was an icy white planet, with the ground covered in rocks and ice. He couldn't see any plants or animals.

This was a cold, desolate planet.