Chapter 395: War (Requesting Monthly Tickets)

"Oh?"

Fang Xing looked at the floating black solid crystal.

With his vision, he could clearly see that, after a million-fold magnification, the surface of the solid droplet resembled crystalline facets.

These facets displayed irregular shapes, constantly flickering with light.

Through these irregular facets, he could also see different parts of the Black Death God…

"Master… second spatial compression successful, confirmed final collapse into a triacontoctahedral structure!"

Xiao Lan's voice came through, projecting vast amounts of data.

"Hmm… this far is success. Still need field testing."

Fang Xing thought for a moment, then sighed.

Although the Federation's technology could reach the twelfth realm, for a Wu Shen, a mecha with tenth-realm combat power was the absolute limit.

Though technology advanced and eras evolved, breaking through this limit in the short term remained immensely difficult.

'Fortunately, martial cultivation prioritizes the self—mechas are merely transitional, used and discarded…'

Fang Xing extended his finger and lightly tapped the black triacontoctahedron.

The next instant, the black crystal melted like wax and fused with his skin.

But Fang Xing could feel that the Black Death God mecha existed only within a folded space, ready to unleash tenth-realm power at any moment!

'Even a Wu Shen is still bound by mechas…'

'But now, I'm effectively wearing the mecha at all times… I could even pass for a tenth-realm professional.'

'Of course, the true extent still needs field testing…'

'I'll wear it for a while first.'

Fang Xing stepped out of the underground bunker-turned-factory and clenched his fist.

'My base strength has already reached the tenth realm; with just the Faze insights of the Heart of Death or Heart of Flame, I can instantly unleash planet-destroying power… think about it—there are quite a few planet-destroying powers on Blue Star.'

'Heh… what did Blue Star ever do to deserve being wiped out so often?'

He stepped into the morning glow, squinting contentedly, preparing to take his private spaceship to a famous breakfast spot on Blue Star.

He loitered like this until noon, when several distinguished alumni invited him to lunch, even bringing along a popular actress as company.

After all these years, the current top actresses on Blue Star were no longer the ones he'd seen at the Augustus Estate.

Fang Xing chatted with great interest and had a thoroughly enjoyable time.

Several days later.

"Hm?"

Fang Xing looked at the briefing from Wei Jiali: "The Supreme Council is convening? All ninth-realm and above professionals must attend?"

The Blue Star Federation's Supreme Council rarely met; affairs were usually handled by the nine magistrates.

Now doing this clearly meant something major was about to happen.

Fang Xing put on his virtual glasses; his consciousness passed the 'Omniscient Brain' permission check and entered a mysterious realm within the virtual world.

A massive circular structure, resembling a Roman Colosseum, stood proudly against the backdrop of the cosmic star river.

At the very top of the Colosseum hovered a gray-white brain.

Countless grooves crisscrossed its surface, emitting complex fluctuations—as if unimaginable streams of data were processed every second.

'The Omniscient Brain? Even if this isn't the true primary consciousness, it must be an extremely vital consciousness cluster.'

Fang Xing felt a deep sense of awe.

At this moment, he glanced around and noticed many ninth-realm professionals had arrived—most of whom he didn't recognize.

A quick scan allowed him to count the number he'd seen: "521 people, still increasing…"

"The Federation's eighth-realm professionals are said to exceed fifty thousand… is the attrition rate from eighth to ninth realm one in a hundred?"

Even this count only included true eighth-realm professionals; those seventh-realm professionals who could unleash eighth-realm combat power were excluded.

"The number of professionals above the tenth realm remains the Federation's greatest secret, but it's probably not large…"

As Fang Xing pondered, a blue mecha-armor figure approached. It stood over a hundred meters tall, yet didn't feel cramped among the Colosseum's seats.

Behind the blue mecha were a pair of sword-shaped wings—Hengdong of the Academy Faction!

"Lord Hengdong."

Fang Xing greeted first.

Though he possessed tenth-realm combat power, he still had a gap compared to true tenth-realm professionals.

Not to mention, as a Federation Wu Shen, he had already reached the end of the path—in Blue Star Federation history, no Wu Shen had ever touched the eleventh realm.

But there were mecha masters who had reached the eleventh realm.

"Fang Xing, this is your first time attending the Supreme Council, right? Don't be nervous…"

Hengdong's demeanor was excellent.

After all, tenth-realm combat power carried far greater status than ordinary ninth-realm professionals.

Even within the Academy Faction, there were few such individuals.

Fang Xing sat beside Hengdong, like sitting beside a giant. Fortunately, the seats were spacious enough, though his size relative to his seat still looked wildly disproportionate.

At this moment, Fang Xing noticed a flash of silver light—two more Wu Shens entered.

"Dean Jianqiu!"

He stepped forward to greet them, then glanced at Duanhai Wu Shen standing beside Jianqiu.

They were all part of the Academy Faction, so their ties were naturally closer.

And they were all, as it were, Federation Wu Shens—tenth-realm combat power.

After a few words of small talk, Fang Xing asked curiously: "Why is the Supreme Council being convened? What's happened?"

"I heard… it's the Death Duel Faction's doing. Another war is probably coming."

Dean Jianqiu spoke calmly, as if long accustomed to it.

As a veteran dean, her connections were far superior to Fang Xing's—she'd already learned the agenda.

"I see."

Fang Xing nodded, then saw nine magistrates in white robes appear at the center of the Colosseum.

A beam of light descended from the Omniscient Brain high above, forming an elegant woman: "Six hundred thirty-seven councilors present, all magistrates in attendance—conditions met… Supreme Council is now open!"

No dramatic effects—only mechanical, rigid language.

These six hundred people were the supreme rulers of the Blue Star Federation.

'Without realizing it… I've reached this level?'

Fang Xing felt a deep sense of wonder, then his gaze fixed on the last of the nine magistrates.

He had long emerald hair and a face vaguely resembling Salin Augustus, but more resolute—he must be Uvi Augustus.

'The Federation's top combat power must be at least tenth realm… at most a few dozen.'

As Fang Xing thought, Chief Magistrate Ziols spoke: "Everyone… the Omniscient Brain has sent you the basic profile of the Fire Ro tribe. The Fire Ro reside in the 'Fire Ro Star Cluster,' and first made contact with the Federation in Star Calendar 553… They have always worshipped one of the Three Pillars: 'Chaos Fire.' Though Chaos Fire has remained dormant, it has birthed extraterrestrial deities such as the 'Lord of Entropy' and 'Laplace's Demon,' which have continuously harmed the Federation…"

"Recently, we received definitive intelligence: the Fire Ro are secretly preparing for war and intend to invade the Blue Star Federation. Therefore, Magistrate Salo proposes a preemptive strike, aiming to shift the battlefield into the Fire Ro Star Cluster."

"Now, we vote. The Omniscient Brain will oversee."

As Ziols finished speaking, three buttons appeared before Fang Xing.

"Approve, Reject, Abstain…"

He chuckled softly and pressed a button immediately.

Minutes later, the woman formed by the Omniscient Brain spoke in a mechanical tone: "Four hundred forty-five votes in favor, one hundred fifty-eight opposed, thirty-four abstentions… Motion passed. The Federation will initiate a preemptive war against the Fire Ro."

"Next, specialized meetings will be held. Councilors, prepare accordingly."

…

'So… it's war already?'

Fang Xing hesitated slightly, then a flash of light appeared—he stood inside a conference room.

Before him stood none other than Chief Magistrate Ziols.

He glanced around and noticed Duanhai Wu Shen was also present.

"Everyone… this is the Federation's Marshal—Ceng Yun!"

Ziols said: "This time, the Federation will employ a new tactic: using imaginary space to directly deploy high-realm forces onto the battlefield…"

"Has warfare technology advanced this far?" Duanhai exclaimed.

"If they can go there, so can we." Ceng Yun was young, yet carried the iron-blooded aura of a battle-hardened veteran: "The Federation's space-bubble technology is mature. We'll use imaginary space to directly deploy you into the Fire Ro Cluster. Since we control the rules of the space bubble, we can ensure advantages—like permitting high-tech equipment. According to imaginary space warfare principles, we need high-realm professionals who are low in realm but high in burst power—you all fit perfectly."

"Cough… when did we agree to go to the battlefield?"

Fang Xing coughed.

Though he'd voted yes, he always avoided the dangers of war.

"Of course, the Federation compensates every citizen who contributes."

Ziols smiled, and the conference room split into private chambers for individual talks.

Soon, he appeared before Fang Xing: "Principal Fang… I personally approved your appointment as principal."

"If needed, I can resign immediately," Fang Xing frowned.

"Of course, I only mean we have a connection."

Ziols smiled: "The Federation needs tenth-realm combat power, and naturally offers compensation… Principal Fang, you'll surely wish to break beyond Wu Shen. All Federation research materials on this subject—including magnetic martial arts—how about that?"

"Blue Star University has similar research."

Fang Xing said indifferently.

"Besides this, the Federation's war this time also aims to punish the Fire Luo clan for harboring Veneris..."

Zi Ao said: "This is revenge for you."

"I am grateful for the Federation's efforts," Fang Xing shrugged. "But you and I both know the true mastermind behind it all isn't her..."

(End of Chapter)