157: Set off

A week had passed since their last conversation.

For Su Luo, it was a week of relearning 'life' after five lost years.

He meticulously studied the "local specialty" Su Jin brought back—the Flower of Eternal Life's husk, now devoid of all spiritual energy—attempting to decipher the principle of its "soul anchoring."

At the same time, he would hold the Alliance's universal data terminal, absorbing the technological iterations of the Blue Star Alliance and the changes in the Tianyu Realm's situation over the past five years.

Su Jin, on the other hand, enjoyed this rare tranquility, spending most of his time organizing the spoils from Woma World.

And through the Alliance, he converted massive amounts of resources into tangible strength.

This morning, Su Luo put on a crisp researcher's uniform, the insignia on his epaulets gleaming in the morning light.

He finished the last sip of soy milk and wiped his mouth with a napkin.

"I'm going back to work," he said.

"So soon?"

Su Jin raised an eyebrow. "Aren't you going to rest for a few more days? Given your current physical condition, the research institute should grant you a long leave."

"My brain has been rusty for five years; if I don't get it moving again, I'll truly become an old relic."

Su Luo adjusted his collar.

"Besides, in times of war, no one can remain aloof. My research project might allow the soldiers on the front lines to shed a little less blood."

His gaze fell on Su Jin.

"You too. For the Blue Star Alliance to achieve final victory in the 'Three-Race Hegemony War,' your contributions are now known to everyone in the high command. The military's conscription order should be arriving soon."

No sooner had Su Luo finished speaking than Su Jin's wrist terminal emitted a crisp notification sound.

An encrypted red directive projected into the air.

[Blue Star Alliance Central Military Department · Level 1 Conscription Order]

[Conscription Target: Lord 'Su Jin']

[Reason: K-7 World 'Molten Heart' war zone is in critical condition, the Dark Star Empire's 'Obsidian Legion' has torn open a defensive breach, severely threatening the safety of thirty-two colonial worlds in the rear. The Military Department orders you to provide immediate support. A detailed mission briefing will be issued upon your arrival at the war zone's teleportation array.]

[Mission Level: Gold - High-tier]

[Departure Time: Within three days]

The father and son exchanged glances, everything understood without words.

"It seems the leisurely days are over."

Su Jin turned off the projection and stood up.

"Go."

Su Luo walked up to him and reached out to straighten his collar.

"The battlefield is not a laboratory; there are no second chances. Remember, any seemingly indestructible system has its logical singularity. Find it, and then... press it."

"Understood," Su Jin nodded.

"A qualified 'engineer' can always find the most effortless way to dismantle a machine."

Su Luo smiled and patted his shoulder.

"I'm going."

"Alright, you take care too."

No embrace, no extra admonitions, just two simple goodbyes.

Su Luo turned and left, his back as straight as he remembered.

Su Jin watched his father leave until his figure disappeared at the doorway, then he retracted his gaze, his eyes instantly becoming sharp.

Soon after, he appeared in Infinite City.

Su Jin stood in the Lord's Hall in the center of the city.

"Upgrade territory level!"

[Detecting Lord's authority... Resources, building levels, population, Soul Coins quantity meet promotion requirements...]

[Territory 'Infinite City' core level upgrading...]

[10%... 50%... 100%!]

[Promotion complete! Territory level upgraded to: Level 7!]

[Unlocking Level 7 building sequence...]

[Your barracks buildings meet evolution conditions!]

A series of notification sounds flooded Su Jin's mind.

Without hesitation, he poured the massive resources plundered from Woma World and the accumulated evolution points into the buildings that represented the foundation of his army.

[Elite Infantry Barracks (Level 6) → Promote → Veteran Infantry Barracks (Level 7) (Gold-tier)]

[Unlocking Gold-tier troop templates: 'Wanren Halberd Guards'! 'Furnace Iron Guards'!]

[Elite Archer Barracks (Level 6) → Promote → Hawk's Nest Arrow Tower (Level 7) (Gold-tier)]

[Unlocking Gold-tier troop template: 'Lieting Archer'!]

[Elite Cavalry Barracks (Level 6) → Promote → Thunderous Stable (Level 7) (Gold-tier)]

[Unlocking Gold-tier troop template: 'Abyssal Thunder Dragon Riders'!]

[Lingshu Sword Pavilion is undergoing exclusive evolution...]

[Evolution complete! Lingshu Sword Pavilion → Lingshu Heavenly Palace!]

[Your exclusive troop 'Spirit Pivot Sword Envoy' has been promoted → 'Ling Shu Sword Guard']

[Exclusive troop 'Ling Shu Sword Guard' unlocks new ability: 'Guiyuan Sword Domain' — Multiple Sword Guards can resonate their souls, linking their inner worlds to construct a sword domain that suppresses enemy minds and distorts physical laws!]

[Spirit Healing Sanctuary (Gold-tier) has completed promotion!]

[Shadow Veil (Gold-tier) has completed promotion!]

[......]

Accompanied by the system notifications, the entire Infinite City underwent earth-shattering changes.

The barracks, originally shimmering with a silver luster, were replaced by a deep, dark gold, with intricate and powerful energy patterns appearing on their surfaces.

At the top of the towering arrow towers, wind and thunder gathered, with faint electric flashes shimmering.

Most striking was the newly born "Lingshu Heavenly Palace."

It seemed to be carved from pure crystal, suspended above the city, emitting a heart-palpitating spiritual energy fluctuation.

A uniform set of Gold-tier military buildings.

This meant that his regular legions finally had the qualification to step into the Gold-tier.

An army entirely composed of Gold-tier units was something only the top few territories in the history of the Blue Star Alliance could achieve.

But thinking of the resources instantly depleted for this upgrade, Su Jin's eye twitched involuntarily.

This was no longer spending money like water; this was practically pouring an entire reservoir into it.

However, this sharp pain of an empty wallet also brought a strange sense of exhilaration.

No more dwelling on it, there was still work to be done.

"All troops, promote!"

As Su Jin's will was issued again.

On the training ground, light poured down like a waterfall.

[Consuming resources and evolution points, twenty thousand 'Zhenyue Halberd Guard' promoted to 'Wanren Halberd Guards'...]

[Consuming resources and evolution points, thirty thousand 'Mithril Heavy Shield' promoted to 'Furnace Iron Guards'...]

[Consuming resources and evolution points, twenty thousand 'Riftwind Archer' promoted to 'Lieting Archer'...]

[......]

As the troop units were successively promoted.

Waves of powerful pressure surged skyward, causing the airflow above the entire city to stagnate.

When all this was done.

Su Jin's gaze turned to the brand new special building—[Star Realm Beacon].

[Star Realm Beacon (Blueprint)]

[Description: Can establish a fixed, ultra-long-distance territory teleportation anchor point in the Realm Sea.]

Su Jin chose to build it without hesitation.

A hundred-meter-tall Obsidian spire rose from the ground, with a massive spatial crystal embedded in its tip.

The moment it was completed, Su Jin immediately received a communication request from the Alliance's central supercomputer.

"Lord Su Jin, we have detected the construction of a 'Star Realm Beacon' within your territory, this is a strategic-grade building."

"According to the 'Wartime Special Requisition Act,' the Alliance wishes to lease your beacon as a front-line jump point to the 'Molten Heart' world. All consumption will be compensated by the Alliance, and you will be paid additional Alliance contribution points as rental fees."

"Understood," Su Jin responded simply.

Moments later, a thick blue beam of light shot from the depths of the Realm Sea, connecting with the Star Realm Beacon's spire, forming a stable and massive teleportation channel.

Su Jin stood on the city wall of Infinite City, behind him, the army was ready to depart.

"Depart!"

The next moment, the massive Infinite City transformed into a stream of light, rushing into the deep blue spatial channel...