Chapter 1014: Return to Old Trade, Familiar Path (Revised)

Chapter 1014: Returning to Old Trades, A Familiar Path (Revised)

The star gate corridor erected by the Black Star Army had become the premier choice for countless external factions, now standing as the most coveted and expedient route through the Shining World, with an endless stream of vessels crossing its threshold at every waking moment.

The reasons were twofold: first, the Army’s dominion was vast, spanning border systems in two divergent directions, linked by a direct star gate that spared travelers the detour through rival territories, carving a straight path that shaved away precious time.

Second, Han Xiao’s intimate knowledge of the stellar charts was bearing fruit; within his chosen borders lay a dense web of transit hubs and strategic choke points, regions that in his past life had pulsed with prosperity, now rapidly reclaiming their former glory… The consortiums that had wagered on the Black Star Army were already reaping their dividends, for Han Xiao had pledged to entrust a portion of the domain’s enterprises to these investors, and now their private forces swarmed the Army’s territory, breathing swift and vibrant life into its commerce.

With over half of all external factions opting to traverse the Black Star route, Han Xiao naturally offered no charity; as a daily tide of ships poured into the Goru Star Cluster, his hands grew weary from counting the tolls.

The entry star gate exhaled a dense swarm of luminous trails, weaving a hazy, silver iridescence that lingered long in the void.

At this hour, a succession of vessels bearing the Black Star insignia emerged from the gate, drifting slowly in the wake of the congested fleet.

“Here lies the threshold of the Black Star Army’s domain.”

Every warship carried a heavy complement of Army players, all pressed against the viewports, their faces alight with unbridled curiosity.

Black Gate Star leapt into view; far from the desolate outpost etched in the players’ memories, it now thrummed with relentless vitality, a ceaseless dance of ascending and descending ships, thick crowds, and sprawling surface architecture, while countless lights draped the planet like a curtain of jewels.

Beside it, a silver rainbow hung diagonally across the cosmic expanse, stretching to the very edge of sight. It was the accumulated wake of jump drives from countless passing vessels, ships streaking like meteors so frequently that their trails never faded, as though a silver brush had drawn an indelible line across a blackened canvas, piercing the entire star gate route like a celestial guide.

“Black Gate Star, the gateway to the Black Star Army’s territory, a landmark transit hub for the Goru Star Cluster,” Maple Moon murmured, reading the data flickering on her communicator.

“So alive,” Wild Blade sighed, unable to mask his awe. “It stands at the absolute opposite extreme from the last version.”

Only now, standing at the very edge of the Army’s domain, did the surreal scale of its transformation truly settle upon him.

Wild Blade had been among the first players to swear allegiance to Black Star, witnessing every step of his ascent; yet even he struggled to fathom that their faction had truly reached such heights, commanding a territory of such staggering breadth.

By sheer landmass alone, it rivaled ten galaxy-class civilizations, perhaps even brushing shoulders with certain star cluster-class powers—a truly terrifying expanse.

In his eyes, the mighty pillar of Black Star had only grown thicker.

As his thoughts drifted, Maple Moon leaned in and whispered, “The Shining World is a global server. We’ve arrived ahead of players from other star sectors, and this window is crucial. What are your plans?”

“Rest easy,” Wild Blade replied. “The guild needs to register as an auxiliary organization with the Army first. After that, we’ll follow their lead, likely pushing into the Phase Four exploration zones to seize the early advantage.”

“I never expected the Army to unveil such a transformative policy,” Maple Moon murmured, still marveling days later. “It practically grants the guilds independence from the Army, makes faction allegiance far more fluid, and completely overhauls the gameplay… It’s a boon for us, certainly, but from Black Star’s perspective, I can’t fathom his reasoning. Why would he willingly relinquish control?”

“Proves my old theories right,” Wild Blade said, wearing an expression that practically begged for praise. “As our overall tier rises, our influence over the cosmos will only swell. This version is bound to be the turning point.”

Initially, many players had wandered in uncertainty, unsure how to leverage their head start in the Shining World, until Han Xiao’s newly decreed system cut a clear path through the fog for every Army player.

The team merit points were a mechanism tailor-made for guild expansion, prompting nearly every notable Chinese guild to register as an official Army organization. Likewise, it sparked a frenzy of guild formation; during the journey alone, countless Army players rallied friends and strangers alike to forge new banners, proving Han Xiao’s strategy remarkably effective.

The fleet pressed onward, sailing through the days until they reached the Black Star Palace, the new primary base constructed during the version update, and its monumental scale left the arriving players utterly breathless.

This vanguard of players was ushered to the outermost ring of the base, gathering within a grand hall where Philip had summoned them for inspection.

They did not wait long before two figures stepped through the doors; every player turned in unison, their spirits instantly ignited.

They were none other than Army Commander Han Xiao, and the Army’s second Super A-Class, Hela.

“Whoa, long time no see. Hela’s only gotten more beautiful.”

“That face! That figure! That presence! Let me perish right here, I beg you!”

“Save your breath, it is all just hollow banter.”

“Ah, I miss the feeling of being beaten to death by Hela. Perhaps this is what love feels like.”

“No, that’s just perversion.”

“Women? Boring. Only a robust man like Black Star can leave you breathless with pleasure.”

A tidal wave of players surged forward, closing the distance in eager strides, their faces practically branded with the words “I want to farm affinity”; Hela found herself swallowed by the crowd, somehow drawing even more fervor than Han Xiao himself.

Cursing their blatant sexism under his breath, Han Xiao acted before an exasperated Hela could unleash a massacre, gently repelling the crowd with a wave of force, clapping his hands, and intoning, “Quiet. We have serious matters to discuss.”

At his command, the players gradually settled, dozens of curious eyes locking onto Han Xiao.

Han Xiao cleared his throat and spoke slowly, “Now that the Shining World has opened its doors, the influx of external factions has ushered the exploration of this new star sector into a fresh epoch. The former tranquility is gone, and countless conflicts will soon erupt over the resources of this new frontier. The Black Star Army must adapt to these shifting tides.”

“I trust you are already aware of the new system the Army recently enacted. This is but the first step of our evolution. You are my countrymen and comrades-in-arms, having grown alongside this Army. The Undying Corps holds immense significance to us; you are all meritorious veterans. I have decided to grant you greater autonomy, hoping you will wield your talents to carve out your own legends.”

As his words faded, astonishment rippled across the players’ faces; they exchanged glances, thoroughly caught off guard.

Was this the first time Black Star had openly addressed the matter of the Undying Corps with them?

Until now, though they had served the Black Star Army, they never truly felt indispensable. The outside world called them Undying, yet the Commander had never acknowledged it publicly, always treating them no differently than ordinary recruits.

Since Version 1.0, when the Sprout first studied them, similar circumstances had persisted; every player knew their immortality mechanic might pique NPC curiosity, but most dismissed it as mere flavor to deepen immersion, paying it little mind.

Yet hearing Black Star speak of it now stirred a strange sensation within the crowd, as though a long-ignored truth had suddenly resurfaced… We truly are unique. In their eyes, Han Xiao’s persona suddenly felt far more vivid and alive.

Beyond that peculiar emotion, joy swelled among them—to hear their faction leader personally affirm their importance to the Army stirred a quiet triumph and a deepening sense of belonging in many hearts.

Han Xiao swept his gaze across the room, reading every expression, before a sudden smile touched his lips. “Do not be surprised. Though Hela and I have ascended to Super A-Class, we share the blood of our home world. In this frigid cosmos, we are kin huddling for warmth. There is no need for stiffness around me. I place great hopes in you all… Remember, the Black Star Army will forever stand as your shield.”

At this, the crowd’s spirits soared.

Kin of the home world… Right, how could we have forgotten? Black Star shares that unbreakable bond with us.

Witnessing his demeanor now, the players felt only a renewed warmth; Han Xiao seemed far more approachable.

Within the crowd, Maple Moon pondered quietly, nudging Wild Blade’s ribs as she whispered, “Why do I feel like Black Star has changed somewhat?”

“Changed? Hah, you’re mistaken. He hasn’t changed at all!” Wild Blade’s face burned with excitement. “This is the Han Xiao I remember, not that aloof, untouchable figure of Black Star!”

His voice carried too far, drawing the sidelong glances of several nearby professional players.

“He has a point,” Tai Erzi muttered. “How long has it been since Black Star stood this close to us?”

“As his stature climbed, he grew harder to reach,” Mingyue Changzhong chuckled. “Yet he remains as grounded as in Version 1.0. It seems he truly considers us his inner circle.”

Murmurs of agreement rippled through the crowd, while Meat Bun ignored them all, focused entirely on recording the scene, a grin spreading across his face.

Han Xiao cast a subtle glance his way and gave a silent nod of approval.

In previous versions, as his status ascended, opportunities for players to interact with him had dwindled; over two updates, his image had inevitably grown distant and lofty.

But in Version 4.0, with the players’ role expanding dramatically, Han Xiao had chosen to shed some of that aloofness, deliberately bridging the gap to deepen their emotional tether to him—a factor just as potent as mere profit in swaying their loyalty.

Having been a player in his past life, how could he possibly not know exactly what buttons to press?

Seeing the delight painted across their faces, Han Xiao coughed lightly, spoke again, and finally revealed his true intent:

“Competition in the Shining World has grown fierce. I will soon mobilize a fleet to contest the Phase Four exploration zones against external factions. Your participation is voluntary. For every registered auxiliary organization that sends members, you will earn additional team merit points based on headcount. Furthermore, your organizations will be permitted to establish official outposts on planets within Army territory, under our protection. Additionally, all goods at the quartermaster will temporarily be sold at a seventy percent discount.”

As his voice fell, faction quest panels materialized before them, and the players’ eyes instantly ignited.

Not only was there a major faction mainline quest, but a steep discount at the faction store, and even the right to build legitimate guild outposts within Army space…

Black Star was indeed still Black Star, a walking fountain of rewards!

Sensing their eagerness, Han Xiao dismissed the assembly; the players scattered like leaves, sprinting straight for the quartermaster. The wealth hoarded from the previous version still weighed heavily in their pockets, their purchasing power more than ready.

The thirty percent price tag was a calculated promotion, designed to stimulate spending; though the players’ current mindset prioritized leveling, such a staggering bargain would inevitably sway them, a maneuver crafted precisely to harvest their experience points.

Han Xiao had not idled through those twenty years, hoarding a stockpile of quest completion cards; he currently sat at level 307, having gained a sliver during the update, needing only to reach 320 to trigger his next ascension.

The star clusters slated for Phase Four exploration were destined to be the most fiercely contested arenas, the primary stage for the global server’s struggles; this move was also a nudge, urging players to secure an early foothold there, ensuring the Army’s players maintained their lead and avoided being crushed by coordinated foreign rivals.

Moreover, permitting registered guilds to establish outposts within his territory was a masterstroke of interest binding… With their homes rooted in his domain, the sunk cost of abandoning the faction would become prohibitively high.

“Nothing but calculated schemes. I really am a little scoundrel…”

Han Xiao shook his head and laughed softly.

Guiding Hela out of the grand hall, the two wandered through the legion’s grounds, their conversation drifting in idle fragments, until Hela suddenly broke the silence:

"Black Star, I intend to deploy to the Phase Four sector as well, to join the legion’s vanguard expeditions."

"Eager for a fight, are you?" Han Xiao cast a sidelong glance her way.

"Indeed. I lack your luxury of commanding avatars from the comfort of home. I crave the clash of steel against more Beyond Grade A adversaries, and the present moment offers the perfect crucible." Hela gave a firm nod.

Even after ascending to Beyond Grade A, her relentless ambition knew no respite; acutely aware of the chasm that still separated her from Han Xiao, she remained steadfast in her pursuit of greater strength.

The Shattered Star Ring had offered little room for such trials, but here in the Shining World, where titans converged, lay an unparalleled forge to temper her blade.

"Very well. You shall take command of the fleet. But heed this warning: with dozens of Beyond Grade A powers clashing over Phase Four, that sector will likely remain the most treacherous expanse in the cosmos for the foreseeable future. Should you cross paths with a foe beyond your measure, summon me at once—my avatar will shadow the armada, ever ready." Han Xiao’s voice carried a quiet gravity.

These transcendent beings had not journeyed here for leisure; they were wolves circling the spoils of a newborn star domain. Freed from Han Xiao’s restraining hand within the Shining World, they would tear into one another without mercy. Hela was not alone in her preparations—Han Xiao, too, resolved to station his avatar there as a permanent sentinel.

Parting ways with Hela, Han Xiao made his way back to his quarters, idly summoning the long-neglected player forum along the corridor to track the movements of gamers across the star sectors while savoring the exquisitely polite banter of the internet’s delightfully unhinged denizens.

He scrolled through the threads for a time, letting the digital noise wash over him, until a freshly pinned announcement suddenly seized the top of the feed.

A single glance was enough to ignite a spark in his eyes—it was none other than the inaugural edition of the Star Sea Times since the dawn of the new version!

"You bastard, keeping us waiting for over half a month before finally deigning to drop an update?"