Chapter 108: Battle
Chapter 108: The Battle
This was a star region Liu Shaoyu had visited before, having come from the future.
Staring at the map on the screen, Liu Shaoyu felt he hadn’t strayed far from his destination.
“Thomas, can you make the star map coordinates more accurate?” Liu Shaoyu complained to Thomas.
“To do so requires connecting to the Central Trust computer and downloading detailed data, which takes longer than the positioning itself. Considering the risk assessment, I do not recommend it,” Thomas replied.
Liu Shaoyu had anticipated this answer and wasn’t too disappointed. Sometimes, if you have no expectations, you won’t feel let down.
Fortunately, the War Dragon’s energy was sufficient to get Liu Shaoyu to his destination, even if he had taken a detour. Propelling the War Dragon in space consumed so little energy compared to combat that it was negligible.
Even so, by this point, the first power unit was depleted, and only kinetic energy from ice mines was left.
“Route revision complete. Preparing to jump,” Thomas finally announced. The metal surface of the War Dragon began to shift, gradually forming a metallic shell. Waves rippled through space, and the War Dragon vanished once more beneath the starry sky.
The War Dragon could indeed perform jumps—this was now evident.
Immense spatial energy compressed the external armor. Though shielded, Liu Shaoyu still sensed unprecedented power, those fleeting, elongated streaks of light born from spatial movement. He had never felt so close to such energy before.
It was like Daru Chengwu had never felt so near to humanity’s strongest force.
Indeed, the prototype for the War Dragon Mark Three was that very Daru Chengwu, whom Liu Shaoyu had once encountered in the Gaishan Hell.
Daru Chengwu scanned the surrounding wreckage of warships. Such devastation from merely a small test was beyond anything he had imagined before.
This was true power!
Long ago, Daru Chengwu had known he would pilot the War Dragon Mark Three. He was confident no one in the Federation was more qualified. But what unsettled him was the designation:
Number Three!
Daru Chengwu could not accept this. If there was a Mark Three, there must be a Mark One! In the Huaxia lexicon, the first was always the best.
Daru Chengwu wanted to prove himself. The best way was to defeat Mark One.
And naturally, Mark One was Liu Shaoyu. This was the meaning behind Daru Chengwu’s previous words to Liu Shaoyu. Perhaps Daru Chengwu had never considered that something so costly would not be used merely to vent personal feelings.
But now, he no longer needed to worry, for Liu Shaoyu was a deserter.
As Daru Chengwu connected, Liu Shaoyu suddenly initiated the jump, breaking contact. At the same moment, it was discovered that Wang Weifu had also disappeared.
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“I want to see just how formidable the genius Murong spoke of really is.”
The entire situation on Earth had become precarious.
Wang Weifu glanced at the time: 7:30. All Earth Federation star regions used Earth time, so it was morning on Earth.
“Time’s about right,” Wang Weifu whispered to himself, then turned to meld into the bustling crowd.
Interstellar Express, location: Tashimongun First Star.
Those familiar with cosmic geography would be surprised: “Isn’t that the base of the Dawn Thought Society?” At this moment, Wang Weifu’s actions caused a huge stir.
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“I want to know why. At least give me an answer. You know I need an explanation at times like this.”
“If I said I don’t know?” Xin Yan’s face was unreadable; it had been a long time since anyone had questioned him in such a tone.
“You know that answer won’t do.”
Though it had been long since anyone spoke to him like this, Xin Yan was not angry. “What do you want to know?” he countered.
“It’s not what I want to know, but what you did.”
“Since you came to talk to me today, I’ll take that as your decision, Comrade Ju Yehe,” Xin Yan said casually, though he enunciated the name Ju Yehe word by word toward the end.
Xin Yan’s words sent Ju Yehe into deep thought. The term “comrade” startled him awake.
“As a junior, I must say: you’d better know what you’re doing,” Ju Yehe adjusted his tone, though his words still sounded harsh.
“Hahaha, do I need someone to teach this old man what to do now?” Xin Yan’s laughter pierced Ju Yehe’s heart.
“Uncle Xin, this is the last time I call you that as a junior. You can turn back now, but next time…”
“There won’t be a next time,” Ju Yehe was cut off mid-sentence by Xin Yan. “Remember, I’m a businessman.”
With that, Xin Yan ended the communication.
After the call, Xin Yan’s expression grew weary.
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“Hahaha, never thought that after living so long, I’d be outwitted by a youngster,” Xin Yan’s laughter was tinged with self-mockery.
On the screen before his desk, Wang Weifu’s message remained open.
“Thank you for your generosity. Until next time. — Wang Weifu.”
The message came from an unfamiliar number. Xin Yan had Wang Weifu’s contact, so only two possibilities existed: either someone was using another’s number—impossible, as numbers were bound to citizen data—or Wang Weifu had changed his citizen identity.
After the God Plan, the Republic’s Glory computer had further integrated identity data. Even Liu Shaoyu’s previous information changes were recorded in the Republic’s Glory database.
Xin Yan was unsurprised that Wang Weifu could achieve this. What surprised him was that he had been outplayed.
Xin Yan had always held Wang Weifu in high regard, but apparently not high enough.
“This kid’s not simple,” Xin Yan pondered the relations before concluding thus.
Then, his thoughts turned elsewhere—this matter truly angered Xin Yan.
“Those damn cultists! They dare act now.”
Those Xin Yan called cultists were obvious.
Opening communications, Xin Yan restored his usual austere elder demeanor.
“All plans, advance,” he ordered succinctly before ending the call. This message would spread through the independent system of Galactic Universe Technology Corporation.
What followed would be taken care of by others.
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Jiuzhou Island
At the heart of the island, atop an artificial lake’s central islet, stood an imposing building.
“As Chairman of the People’s Republic of Huaxia, I hereby declare all territories of the People’s Republic of Huaxia to enter wartime alert.”
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To the readers:
I recommend a friend’s book, “Treading Beyond the Sky,” by Eternal Melody. Seeking his origins, he embarks on a journey to find his family. To trample his enemies beneath his feet, he yearns for great power. In a vast world where might reigns, demons roam, and blood stains the path, who will decide the fate?
Having read it myself, it’s quite good—a fantasy novel truly worth reading. If you’re interested, please check it out.