I Pick Up Talents on the Interstellar Battlefield - Chapter 527 - 426: The Promise, Arrival at the Royal Star (Part 2)
Chapter 527: Chapter 426: The Promise, Arrival at the Royal Star (Part 2)
“That’s a good thing.” Qin Tian sat up straight, his tone serious, “The Dan Tower gathers the Empire’s top alchemists. As the champion of the Azure Wood Star Realm, you can receive personal guidance from a Ninth Grade Alchemist. Such an opportunity is rare and must be seized.”
“Yes, I think so too… it’s just that.” Dongfang Mingyue raised her eyes to Qin Tian, “I won’t be able to see you during this time.”
Qin Tian was slightly taken aback, meeting her eyes that were as gentle as water, and felt a ripple in his heart.
He quickly collected his emotions and teasingly said, “How could we not meet? Aren’t we friends on the Star Net? We can video call anytime. What’s more, you promised to give me half of the elixirs you refine in the future. I remember that—I’ll come visit you every now and then for some ’medicine’, don’t forget.”
Dongfang Mingyue’s eyes lit up, the corners of her mouth curling up, “So, you’ll come to find me on your own, right?”
“Of course.”
Qin Tian nodded, “I’ll be stationed at Mingwang Planet, which isn’t far from the Royal star. Whenever I have a break, I’ll come ’scavenge’ at your place.”
“Great, let’s make a pinky promise!” Dongfang Mingyue suddenly reached out her slender, fair little finger.
Qin Tian chuckled helplessly, “Isn’t this a bit childish? Only kids make pinky promises.”
He intended to refuse, but seeing Dongfang Mingyue standing still, seriously looking at him, he eventually softened and slowly reached out his hand, hooking her finger.
At the instant their fingertips touched, a bright smile bloomed on Dongfang Mingyue’s face, as vibrant as an ephemeral flower in full bloom, lighting up the entire lounge.
At this moment, Qin Tian’s heart throbbed fiercely.
Through this period of being together day and night, sharing life-or-death experiences, how could he not see Dongfang Mingyue’s feelings for him?
Facing such a beautiful, brave, and kind girl, it would be self-deception to say he was not moved—he was a normal man, drawn to beauty, often harboring scattered thoughts in his heart.
Since coming to this world, he had always deliberately maintained a distance from those around him, be they friends or subordinates.
The most critical reason, of course, was the system within him.
He couldn’t explain the various peculiarities about himself; the closer the relationship, the easier it was for secrets to be exposed. This unknown risk prevented him from opening up to anyone or getting too close to anyone.
In his original plan, he intended to wait until he became an invincible strongman, then consider the matter of finding a life partner.
But now, looking at Dongfang Mingyue’s eyes filled with a smile, he had to admit—his heart, which had long been accustomed to being sealed, was ultimately pried open slightly.
…
Ten days later, the spaceship slowly exited the last Stargate. After several more hours of navigation, the view outside the porthole suddenly changed, causing Qin Tian and Dongfang Mingyue to hold their breaths, eyes filled with awe.
What came into view was a blue planet wrapped in a brilliant halo—that was the core of the Empire’s power, the Royal star.
Even more astonishing was the Royal star’s layered defense system: three gigantic satellites hovered around the Royal star like guardians, their surfaces covered with silvery-white energy cannon arrays, the cannon muzzles gleaming coldly, as if ready to tear through the void at any moment.
In the space between the satellites, thousands of large armed fortresses floated, each one resembling a giant steel disc, tens of kilometers in diameter, with dense launch ports on the surface from which warships continuously took off and landed. The side docking bays of the fortresses were even busier—all kinds of military warships moving in and out like swarming bees, with the highest level of vigilance.
“So this is the Royal star’s outer defense line…” Dongfang Mingyue murmured in awe, her eyes full of reverence.
Even as a member of the Holy Blood Clan, she had never seen such a scale of military deployment in person, every detail exuding an oppressing feeling of impregnability.
Qin Tian gazed out the window, his fingertips slightly tightening. He could clearly feel countless energy scanning waves sweeping over the ship, inspecting the ship’s structure, personnel identity, and checking for dangerous items, from the satellites to the armed fortresses.
Soon, the ship’s communication channel received orders from the Royal star’s defense department, requiring them to proceed immediately to the designated landing pad on Satellite 3 for comprehensive inspection, prohibiting any unauthorized approach to the Royal star itself.
“Do all ships approaching the Royal star have to go through satellite inspection first?” Dongfang Mingyue asked the captain.
“Yes, that’s the Empire’s iron rule.” The captain nodded, “As the center of power, the Royal star has the highest defense level. Any ship attempting to bypass the satellites and approach directly is considered a hostile target and will be attacked by the armed fortresses.”
As they spoke, the ship was guided towards Satellite 3 according to the instructions.
Along the way, they saw many ships from different star realms, both civilian and military, all strictly adhering to their flight paths without the slightest deviation.
The landing pads on the satellite’s surface were like gigantic hives, divided into numerous areas, each guarded by soldiers in standard military uniforms, with inspection processes thorough to the point of near-scrutiny.
After nearly an hour of rigorous inspection—from re-verification of identity information, spiritual energy wave scans, to cargo checks on the ship, even though Qin Tian’s status as a Royal Major General and recipient of the Imperial Radiance Medal was confirmed, the inspection was not at all lenient, until it was confirmed that there were no prohibited items, the defense department soldiers finally allowed Qin Tian and Dongfang Mingyue to pass.
Qin Tian bid a simple farewell to the crew, thanking them for escorting him all the way, then left with Dongfang Mingyue, carrying light luggage, towards the entrance of the space elevator on Satellite 3 as directed.
The entrance was a circular platform with a diameter of a hundred meters, at the center of which stood a silver-white metal column, its surface flowing with pale blue energy patterns, connected to a translucent channel extending into the sky, disappearing into the clouds—that was the track for the space elevator’s car.
At present, many people were already queuing in the waiting area beside the platform.
“Please present your identity credentials.”
After the guarding robot verified their information, the cabin door of the transparent channel slowly opened.
The cabin’s interior was spacious, accommodating over a hundred people, with soft white walls and the ceiling inset with starry sky simulation lights, the floor a layer of non-slip transparent material.
As the cabin door closed, a gentle announcement resounded inside the elevator, “Identity confirmed. Space elevator starting shortly, destination—the Royal star surface central hub, estimated travel time 23 minutes.”
Once the words were spoken, the elevator did not accelerate noticeably; it was just through the transparent floor they could see the satellite outline gradually receding and the Royal star surface becoming increasingly clear—from a mere speck at first, gradually unfolding, vaguely revealing the crisscross city veins on the surface, and the green ecological belts surrounding the city.
Dongfang Mingyue moved close to the transparent wall, her eyes full of wonder, “So this is the Royal star… even more magnificent than it looks on the Star Net.”
Being from the Holy Blood Clan in the Azure Wood Star Realm, she had seen many prosperous planets, yet never one like the Royal star, looming with a majestic, weighty pressure in the vast starry sky.
Qin Tian also gazed out the window, and as the elevator continued to descend, the Royal star became more distinct—he could see the floating traffic routes in the sky above the city, with flying devices flitting back and forth like streams of light; he could see the expansive ecological forests that were harmonious with the metallic city buildings; and most perceptibly, he could feel the spiritual energy waves in the air gradually thickening, far more abundant and stable than on other planets.
“Ding Dong—”
Twenty-three minutes later, the elevator slowly came to a stop, and as the cabin doors opened, a fresh breeze hit, carrying a faint scent of grass and trees.
Exiting the elevator hub, a grand circular hall stretched before them, with a massive dome painted with a star map of the Empire’s territory, and the channel entrances all clearly marked, each leading to different regions of the Royal star.
Outside the hall, sunlight streamed through the glass curtain walls, illuminating the distant skyline of tall buildings—each uniquely shaped, some resembling towering spires piercing the sky, others like enormous birds spreading their wings, with the energy shields of the buildings shimmering with a gentle luster under the sunlight.
On the streets, people walked in an orderly manner, with hovercars smoothly traversing designated routes, everywhere exuding a bustling yet orderly vibrancy.
“We… have finally arrived at the Royal star.” Dongfang Mingyue stopped walking, taking a deep breath, her voice full of emotion.
From the life-and-death crises of subspace to the runarounds on the starlit journey, at this moment standing on the Royal star’s ground, all fatigue and anxiety seemed to disappear.
Qin Tian looked off into the distance—the direction of the Royal Military Department, where he was about to begin his new post.
Having reached the Royal star, a new journey begins here.
