Chapter 922: Meeting

Chapter 922: Meeting

Han Xiao glanced at the interface of his Career Knowledge Tree. At present, the number of Lv5 career knowledge points hadn’t yet reached the threshold of thirty required for the 【Knowledge Sage】 title, though it was only a few short. A few more low-level knowledge upgrades would suffice, but what was lacking were three ultimate knowledge skills at full mastery.

Another crucial source of potential points lay in skill mastery. The cost of upgrading skills escalated exponentially with the character’s level and the total sum of all skill levels. To bring a non-core ultimate skill from zero to full mastery required 120 potential points.

Before reaching A-rank status, grinding levels wasn’t suitable for Han Da-Tech. Even with his accumulated experience, it wouldn’t be enough to fully master all ultimate knowledge if spent solely on career advancement.

After a moment’s contemplation, he decided to fully upgrade the three ultimate knowledge skills: 【Eternal Energy】, 【Virtual Creator】, and another control-based branch ultimate skill. The two core knowledge skills wouldn’t incur the triple potential point penalty.

He opened his skill panel directly, investing experience to upgrade a few schematic skills, then immediately expended the earned potential points to fully enhance 【Eternal Energy】 and 【Virtual Creator】.

The final control-branch ultimate skill remained unlearned, though his faction contribution points were sufficient. However, to maintain the political asset’s effectiveness, he needed to keep at least 6,000 points untouched, sustaining the 【Reverence】 relationship. Only when his faction contribution reached 12,000 points would he have enough surplus to exchange for the last ultimate skill, a gap of three to four thousand points remaining.

After completing the upgrades and skill acquisitions, his stored experience had drastically diminished.

During the 2.0 version update, Han Xiao’s stored experience only sufficed to level from 170 to 207. But in the 3.0 version, the number of Legion players had multiplied severalfold, quest rewards at higher levels had increased, and various new products were harvesting experience, factors that caused his stored experience to far exceed what it had been during the 2.0 update.

Yet even this had its limits. The consumption of experience at this stage far exceeded that of earlier levels. He needed to reserve some experience for gambling schematics and enhancing his stamina cultivation method.

Han Xiao entered the quantum network’s vision, instructing Philip to procure stamina cultivation methods across the cosmos. With the Legion’s wealth, this was a minor task, requiring no personal concern.

Next, he reviewed the haul from random rewards. Two of the low-level skills acquired were rather useless, but the basic specialization, named 【Cerebral Enhancement】, proved useful. Its effect—intelligence attribute +4%—translated to a few hundred points of intelligence. Intelligence was the core attribute for engineers, making this basic specialization somewhat valuable.

Additionally, blank character cards and skill enhancement cards were among the more useful items.

A skill enhancement card he’d drawn long ago had remained untouched in his panel until now. Two such cards had accumulated.

“Which skills should I enhance…?” Han Xiao browsed his skill panel, murmuring softly.

Core abilities wouldn’t trigger skill mutations, only boosting base stats. His combat mode was already comprehensive, so enhancing any skill seemed viable.

After some thought, he applied one to 【Genetic Liberation】. Its burst capability was formidable, so strengthening it made sense.

【Skill Enhancement Card Activated. Target: 【Genetic Liberation Lv10】. Enhancing…】

【Enhancement Complete. 【Genetic Liberation Lv10】 has received a boost.】

No skill mutation occurred, Han Xiao wasn’t surprised. 【Genetic Liberation】 originated from a mutation of 【Will Burn】. In his past life, a powerful individual had tested it, and the mutation rate plummeted with repeated enhancements on the same skill—20% on the first use, 5% the second, and 1% thereafter.

Checking the skill description, the minimum damage boost rose from 220% to 240%, the maximum from 480% to 520%, the duration from 2 seconds to 2.4 seconds, and the cooldown from 7 minutes to 6 minutes and 20 seconds. The additional passive trigger condition increased from 20% to 28% of max health. The enhancement’s magnitude was satisfactory.

There was another enhancement card, but after half an hour of deliberation, Han Xiao found no skill in dire need of strengthening. He opted to save it instead.

Players could also draw skill enhancement cards, though a single card’s effect was modest. Only when accumulated could they potentially trigger a transformation—for instance, enhancing 【Lucky Curse】’s -90% luck to -100% luck.

Character-replacement cards and skill enhancement cards were all bound and non-tradeable, so the temporary character cards produced via juicing were in demand. Had he not realized this, Han Xiao would’ve already dispatched missions to gather them.

After handling all the pending tasks, Han Xiao closed the panel and left the combat training chamber. On his way out, he activated his communicator to contact Wei Ya.

“How’s the Black Star gathering coming along?”

“The event is officially scheduled for a month from now, all arrangements are in place. By the way, I’ve kept an eye on the warfront developments. This year’s Legion gathering has been rescheduled, aligning with ours.”

Han Xiao fell silent, then chuckled. “Little Legate, you’re upset again.”

“If I were Legate, I’d be angry too,” Wei Ya replied sullenly.

“There can’t just be one allowed to host a gathering. Others shouldn’t be permitted, and besides, I’m not close to him. Why bother looking after his interests?” Han Xiao scratched his jaw.

Wei Ya huffed, declining to comment on Han Xiao’s relationship with Legate, continuing on her own: “This year’s Evolver Totem collaboration partners have increased. More civilizations and factions’ representatives are attending, including guests from other domains. According to statistics, aside from the Imperial delegates and local Broken Ring guests, there are eleven Tier-6 civilization representatives, 413 Tier-5, and over forty civilian organizations, including your cherished A-rank allies.”

“Good, business is expanding,” Han Xiao nodded.

If the Empire opened up Evolver Totem procurement rights, and joined forces with my PY factions, the scale would multiply further.

“Make sure the guests are well-received. Don’t dawdle.”

He gave a casual instruction before ending the call.

The next steps required the Empire to carve up territories before activation. For now, he could only wait and prepare.

…

A month flew by, and the day of the Black Star gathering arrived as scheduled.

The event had been held several times before, and the Legion’s leadership, including Wei Ya, were well-versed in the procedures, greeting guests from afar with practiced ease.

Han Xiao, too, personally met key clients before the formal gathering, inviting Tier-6 representatives from the Broken Ring to convene.

“Haha, Black Star, long time no see!”

The representative from the Purple Crystal Civilization, Lev, was the first to step into the parlor, laughing heartily as he approached. Han Xiao smiled, rose, and embraced him.

They were old friends. Back when Han Xiao was a disaster-level threat, he’d leveraged the secret war to develop their alliance. Though he’d since defected to the Crimson Empire, their relationship remained amiable.

The Purple Crystal Civilization maintained neutrality, not pledging allegiance to the Empire. Only through Han Xiao’s request could they purchase Evolver Totems, making them the sole non-Empire ally client. The Purple Crystal Civilization highly valued their own Tier-A factions in the Broken Ring, ensuring a mutually respectful rapport.

Settling in, they exchanged pleasantries. Lev couldn’t help but sigh.

“Just now, I saw numerous representatives from other domains outside. Ah, in just a few years, your influence has grown so immense.”

“Some luck, perhaps,” Han Xiao smiled.

Lev shook his head, awed. A few years prior, the Black Star Legion had been merely a collaborating armed group with the Purple Crystal. In such a short span, they’d transformed into a entity hundreds of civilizations bowed to.

Even the Purple Crystal Civilization hadn’t wielded such power.

Looking at the tiny fish he’d once nurtured now grown into a behemoth, Lev felt a complex mix of emotions.

After some chatting, six more Tier-6 representatives from the Broken Ring arrived. No Tier-6 civilization in this domain would slight Han Xiao—even the neighboring Krun Empire sent representatives each time.

Meeting an old rival, Lev raised an eyebrow, teasing: “Hey, the Krunites are here again. I recall the Legion gathering this year was also held around this time. Aren’t they worried about Hober’s mood?”

“Pfft, the Legion has other colleagues handling that,” the Krunite representative scoffed.

The grudges from the secret war had never faded, yet Krun, an Empire ally, could only grin and bear it to appease Han Xiao. Though they were allies, if Black Star refused to sell Evolver Totems to Krun, they had no recourse. Thus, they couldn’t afford to ignore him.

These seven Tier-6 civilizations controlled the Broken Ring. Han Xiao conducted various business with them, his network of contacts and influence far surpassing Hober’s. Other Tier-6 representatives attended the Legion gathering to curry favor with Hober, while those at the Black Star gathering were here for mutual benefit. This relationship ran deeper—Han Xiao’s authority in the Broken Ring had eclipsed Hober’s.

While socializing with the group, Han Xiao’s communicator buzzed. He glanced down—it was Wei Ya’s message:

“Master, Sorokin has arrived.”

Han Xiao had instructed Wei Ya to watch for Sorokin. His eyes flickered, and he stood, smiling at the seven seated Tier-6 representatives.

“Everyone, I’ll be briefly absent.”

…

Sorokin’s fleet docked at the pier, immediately drawing attention.

The name “Infinite Conglomerate” was renowned across civilizations, though most representatives looked away upon catching a glimpse.

The Black Star Legion, a special A-rank Empire ally, was no small fry. Sorokin attending the gathering wasn’t surprising.

When Sorokin disembarked, his gaze swept the crowded pier, his expression subtly narrowing. He grasped Black Star’s power more clearly.

Though the Legion’s collaborators outnumbered those of the Infinite Conglomerate, within the Broken Ring, they were likely the strongest local powerhouse—never to be underestimated.

At that moment, the long-awaited Fitch approached with a smile.

“I am Black Star’s guardian, Fitch. Welcome, honored guests of the Infinite Conglomerate, to Black Star Legion. Sorokin, Black Star awaits your meeting.”

Upon hearing this, Sorokin retracted his gaze, focusing on Fitch. His breath caught, eyes flickering with a mix of awe and uncertainty as he scrutinized Fitch.

“You… are you male or female?”

"Perhaps it counts as such." Fading smiled softly, adding, "Though mainly the men."

"Oh... I see." Sirocco coughed lightly, "It would be a bother to have you guide me—I'm also very much looking forward to meeting the esteemed Black Star."

The group left the dock and made their way to another parlor.

Sirocco wandered left and right along the way, observing the Black Star Legion's situation. Halfway through, he couldn't help but ask, "I hear the Black Star Legion has a peculiar undead troop. This time, was it to witness them? Yet I haven't seen any along the way?"

Fading smiled, "Oh, you've come at just the wrong time—they're not here."

"...Oh, is that so." Sirocco's skin crawled.

A month ago, shortly after his arrival in the Broken Halo, reports came from the rear that all the undead conscripted by the cartel had vanished. He had thought it was an isolated incident, never imagining the Black Star Legion's undead would also disappear.

"Indeed, no matter how far apart they are, these undead are all connected..."

Sirocco had been observing the players, yet he could not discern their disappearance patterns. He could only helplessly admit his own misfortune.

—The plan to encounter the undead had clearly come to naught; the timing was simply not right.

Upon arriving at the parlor, Sirocco waited a while, and the door opened again, this time with Han Xiao rushing in.

Seeing him, Sirocco immediately stood to greet him. Though radiating an overwhelming aura as an A-level powerhouse, as a cartel merchant, he didn't treat his peers with any formality, so he eagerly extended his hand.

"Greetings. I am Sirocco, the head of the Infinite Cartel. It is an immense honor to meet the legendary warrior who has captured a god." Sirocco's lips curved into a faint smile, nodding respectfully.

"The honor is mine—please, take a seat." Han Xiao grasped his hand, showing no signs of surprise.

They took their seats. Sirocco smiled and spoke earnestly, "Though I reside far across the Star Soul Sea, I often hear of the Black Star's deeds. Long ago, I began to wonder when we might collaborate. Now, with this opportunity, I've come with sincere intentions, hoping today's first meeting marks a good beginning for our future cooperation."

"...I too hope so."

Han Xiao raised an eyebrow, smiling faintly.

First meeting? You scum—if it weren't for me knowing your every move, I'd have actually believed your pretense of sincerity..."

In his previous life, Sirocco's records were scarce. In the eyes of players, he was a low-profile A-level, with no notable achievements. Recently, Han Xiao had inquired among A-level peers, discovering that Sirocco had never clashed with other A-levels. The circle said his personal strength was mediocre, as if "A-level" was merely a convenient identity for his commercial negotiations.

Combined with all accounts, Sirocco seemed like an anomaly outside the A-level evaluation system, his merchant traits more pronounced than his A-level status.

However, to become an A-level, one must endure countless hardships. Without a strong warrior's mindset, one could not achieve A-level might. Han Xiao believed Sirocco might not be as bourgeois and superficial as he seemed; perhaps he harbored many mysteries.

With limited information, the only convenient way to understand the other's character was through direct contact.

Han Xiao's thoughts turned.

"Best come up with a way to pin him down, to force the battle information out of him..."