187: From the virtual to the real, the God of War never walks alone

"Hello, Minister Lei."

Qin Jin responded softly.

In the communication screen, Lei Xianglong's expression grew increasingly serious.

He had previously seen Qin Jin's relevant information; during the Star Dome Breaking Limit Cup, a hidden selection process was also underway. Qin Jin, as the champion, had been listed in the Ancient Civilization Exploration Department's roster, and specialists were even dispatched to Wuyuan to communicate and seek cooperation.

After being rejected by Wuyuan, everything came to an end without success.

Following this incident, as the department that arrived at the scene first, Lei Xianglong also obtained some information and held no contempt for Qin Jin.

"Student Qin Jin."

Lei Xianglong asked with a serious expression, "After you were brought into that civilization graveyard, did you discover anything?"

Hearing this, Qin Jin pondered for a moment, then said, "I communicated with the consciousness that emerged from that space."

"The consciousness that emerged from that space calls itself the Seeker. Senior Su suppressed the spatial consciousness after arriving; you should have already made contact."

Seeing Lei Xianglong nod in the screen, Qin Jin continued, "According to the information I gathered during my communication with it, this ancient civilization was a special civilization with an extreme desire for evolution. They were committed to pursuing the 'Life Limit'."

"Life Limit?"

Lei Xianglong had clearly heard of related information: "Are you referring to the unbreakable boundary within the same level of life essence?"

"Exactly."

Qin Jin nodded.

With his current status in the Federation, it was more suitable for him to walk the most open and righteous path. He candidly stated, "They seem to have found a path, researching and creating a 'Civilization Treasure', intending for all life within their civilization to break through their limits and enter a higher dimension."

"This civilization could be referred to as the 'Seeker Civilization'. According to it, when this civilization completed this step, they violated the rules of the boundless Star Sea and ultimately declined."

Qin Jin's voice was calm as he slowly narrated, "It captured the warriors and mission specialists of the Pioneer Corps because it wanted to conduct an experiment using what it called the 'Civilization Treasure'."

"When Senior Su arrived, he sealed the 'Civilization Treasure'…"

Qin Jin paused here. In the communication screen, Lei Xianglong said, "Gui Xu Martial God has already sent the relevant item to the Federation Academy of Sciences."

Hearing this, Qin Jin continued, "When the Seeker activated this 'Civilization Treasure', my life origin conveyed a sense of rejection and aversion."

"This is basically all the information I know."

Qin Jin's voice stopped.

"I understand."

Lei Xianglong nodded.

There was one thing Qin Jin didn't mention, and Lei Xianglong didn't ask.

That was, while everyone else who entered the civilization graveyard fell unconscious, why did Qin Jin instead gain the opportunity to communicate with the spatial consciousness?

However, both understood tacitly. On a subconscious level of their communication, Lei Xianglong had also guessed the reason, but this involved the cultivation secrets of the Federation's top prodigies. As long as it didn't affect anything else, it shouldn't be brought directly to the table or recorded in books.

"Student Qin Jin."

He changed the subject, his tone amicable: "I've seen your performance in the Star Dome Breaking Limit Cup."

"After you graduate from Wuyuan, would you like to try working in our Ancient Civilization Exploration Department?"

"The boundless Star Sea has existed for an unknown duration, and countless ancient civilizations have fallen within it. In such an environment, encountering countless unknown things would also benefit your martial path."

"I'll consider it."

Qin Jin replied politely.

Hearing the hint of refusal in Qin Jin's words, Lei Xianglong was not surprised. He nodded slightly, said goodbye, and the communication disconnected.

The screen faded, and Qin Jin's eyes lowered slightly.

He did have some interest in exploring ancient civilizations.

But now…

For him personally, there was an extremely prosperous 'Immortal Dao Civilization' awaiting his gradual exploration. In the foreseeable long future, the Great Wilderness, and even the true world outside, were his goals for exploration, and he didn't want to be distracted by other things.

Under Wuyuan's system, after the three-year term, students enter the off-campus period, at which point there are many directions to choose from. It was still early, and Qin Jin had no plans to make a decision now.

Next.

Venerable Observer already knew of the Great Wilderness's existence. Qin Jin, having a portable base, simply settled down in the Forbidden Zone.

Life gradually stabilized.

After the academy's mission period completely ended, normal classes resumed. Qin Jin did not return to the academy, which attracted a lot of attention and many inquiries.

After replying, he began living in the Star God Forbidden Zone.

Every day, he attended various academy courses through Candle Kite.

He traveled to the Great Wilderness to explore foreign lands.

Within the Great Wilderness, undercurrents grew increasingly turbulent.

The Great Wilderness was already not peaceful, and the appearance of mutated lands created more avenues for conflict among the various Tribes. There was a world of difference between being able to enter a mutated land and not.

The Si Huo Tribe's current ally, the Shi Ri Tribe, had also recently clashed with other clans.

Along the borders of the Si Huo Tribe, there were also probes and constant skirmishes.

Days passed, and today, upon receiving a communication, Qin Jin left the Star God Forbidden Zone.

He was welcoming guests who had traveled to Lei Yu Star.

…

Great Wilderness.

During this period, the Si Huo Tribe had been exceptionally busy.

Divine light descended, creating a mutated land. Within the Si Huo Tribe, with the help of Qin Jin's power of vows, many tribesmen entered the mutated land to investigate and collect resources.

Even if it wasn't an ancient land, changes occurred.

Rivers turned into spiritual springs, astringent fruits became spiritual fruits, and some life forms, after being illuminated by the divine light in the mutated land, began to become extraordinary.

This was essentially a localized spiritual energy resurgence within the Great Wilderness.

The Si Huo Tribe's people explored and collected, but they did not exhaust the resources. They cultivated within the mutated lands closer to the Tribe.

In this environment, even the speed of fruiting significantly increased.

This was an excellent positive cycle, especially after the Heavenly Azure Method began to gradually spread within the Tribe. The appearance of mutated lands allowed for smoother cultivation of the Heavenly Azure Method.

At the Si Huo Tribe's borders, where it adjoined other clans, teams of young adults from the Tribe patrolled constantly, preparing for anything.

At this moment.

At the Tribe's border, a team of about a hundred people had set up camp. As dinner approached, the sizzling sound of roasting meat came from the grill. A figure stood in front of the camp, looking into the distance.

His physique was tall and straight, and his demeanor was extraordinary.

Ding Yang!

He was originally the Si Huo Tribe's top warrior. After cultivating the Heavenly Azure Method, his true talent gradually began to manifest, making him even more formidable.

After completing his initial assigned tasks, he remained in the border area, holding down the fort.

Their current location was quite complex, serving as a junction for three Tribes.

As he looked into the distance, and heard calls from behind, Ding Yang prepared to turn back to eat. Just then, his gaze swept, and his vision suddenly fixed.

In the distance, a faint dust cloud rose, and several figures, riding ferocious beasts, appeared. Golden-patterned chains were used to bind the beasts at their necks.

Ding Yang's gaze focused on the figures above. Behind him, the young adults of the clan stood up one after another.

Soon.

The other party approached.

The several figures above looked dusty from their journey. After they drew near, the leading figure leaped to the ground, appearing heroic and spirited.

This was a woman.

Sheng Yi of the Tu Yang Tribe.

"Brother Ding Yang."

"Long time no see."

The Tu Yang Tribe's exploration team had once visited the Si Huo Tribe as guests on their return journey, and they were familiar with each other.

"Sheng Yi."

Ding Yang's eyes showed some surprise as he asked, "Why are you here?"

Hearing this, Sheng Yi was silent for a moment, then said, "We have come to seek refuge with the Si Huo Tribe."

"What happened in the Tu Yang Tribe? Were you driven out?"

Ding Yang frowned slightly, made a guess, and said in a deep voice, "Our clan doesn't mind taking in others. Since you've come, from now on, everyone will be of the same clan."

"What are you thinking?"

Sheng Yi shook her head, her voice becoming a little more serious: "Brother Ding Yang, this time, our Tu Yang Tribe is migrating as an entire clan. We want to seek refuge with you and join the Si Huo clan."

Her expression was serious: "Considering that coming unannounced might be rash, I led people ahead, speeding to get here first."

"The entire clan?"

Ding Yang was startled and quickly said, "Your Tu Yang Tribe isn't a small Tribe. At a time of upheaval, why would the entire clan migrate?"

Sheng Yi was silent for a few breaths. She knew that Ding Yang held a high position in the Si Huo Tribe. Under his gaze, she did not conceal anything and whispered, "This is an order from Lord Sacrificial Spirit."

Her tone was calm, yet contained sadness: "Our clan's Lord Sacrificial Spirit doesn't have much time left."

"Our last outing, visiting various clans, was also Lord Sacrificial Spirit's idea, wanting to choose a suitable habitat for the future of our Tu Yang Tribe."

She looked at Ding Yang: "Originally, we planned to make further contact and gradually build ties with the Si Huo Tribe, but this mutation forced us to accelerate everything, after all…"

Her voice completely lowered.

Ding Yang understood her meaning.

The current Si Huo Tribe, with martial arts and the Heavenly Azure Method supporting it, had a certain self-preservation ability even without a Sacrificial Spirit.

But for most Tribes, the life and death of the Sacrificial Spirit determined the fate of the entire Tribe.

If the Sacrificial Spirit was alive and strong, the Tribe prospered.

If the Sacrificial Spirit was old and weak, the Tribe declined.

This was a direct impact caused by the power system, not to mention the current special period.

After taking a deep breath, Ding Yang said solemnly, "This is too big of a matter for me to decide."

"Sheng Yi."

He called softly, then selected two young adults from the camp behind: "Let them lead the way. You all go to the clan and meet our clan's Lord Sacrificial Spirit and our clan leader; they will make the decision."

"Mm."

Sheng Yi nodded.

They did not waste time, their figures sprinting, quickly moving away, heading towards the Si Huo Tribe's stronghold.

Seeing the figures leave.

Ding Yang reached out and took out a disguised communicator with an ancient aura.

Currently, within the Si Huo Tribe, teams of a certain size would carry communicators when leaving the clan. In the current environment, information communication was of utmost importance.

The call quickly connected.

Ding Yang organized his words and said seriously, "Elder Qi…"

…

Federation Office Building on Lei Yu Star.

For Gaia Planet, where a Star God is stationed, during its construction phase, it was quite pristine; the Federation had not yet established a governing body for the current Lei Yu Star. After all, the natives of Lei Yu Star came from the Five Major Survival Zones, and their numbers were scarce compared to an entire planet.

Once Lei Yu Star's development and construction reach a certain level, large-scale interstellar migration will be inevitable, and relevant measures will be implemented concurrently.

However, in the present, after the first planetary divine phenomenon emerged, individuals and families qualified to migrate to Lei Yu Star will undoubtedly undergo rigorous screening. Due to the unique nature of Gaia Planet, this initiative will be closely watched by many.

Upon entering the office building, greetings continuously rang out.

"Consultant Qin."

Qin Jin also held the position of [Planet Development Consultant]. Although he rarely participated, the weight of this position was not light, and he was known by many.

After a slight nod of acknowledgment, Qin Jin headed to a reception room.

The moment the electronic door opened, the soundproofing was deactivated, and the noisy sounds from within continuously poured out. Qin Jin's gaze swept across the reception room, and his eyes narrowed.

At a glance, there were over a hundred people in this large reception room, seemingly from different backgrounds, wearing various uniforms—some military, some research. Light screens crisscrossed the room, displaying complex information above, like different types of blueprints and data, accompanied by constant arguments and discussions.

"Aren't those the mech design team from the Pioneer Legion?"

"Are they arguing over the design plan?"

Qin Jin's gaze flickered, scanning the uniforms of some of the people, and he indeed saw the emblem of the [Weiyang Star System Pioneer Legion].

Then...

What about the others?

Thoughts flashed through his mind.

Inside the reception room, as Qin Jin entered, the previously noisy sounds quickly quieted down. Every gaze turned towards Qin Jin, their expressions quite complex, like a pie chart, encompassing scrutiny, anticipation, gratitude, and seriousness.

"Everyone."

Qin Jin cleared his throat and spoke.

"How about you all discuss a bit longer?"

"No need."

A voice from the crowd rang out.

As the voice sounded, the figures blocking the front automatically moved aside, revealing the owner of the voice.

It was a man, middle-aged, wearing glasses.

These glasses, of course, were not for myopia, but a portable multi-functional tool.

He had regular features and an upright demeanor. After looking over, he confirmed, "Qin Jin?"

Qin Jin nodded.

The man walked forward, extended his hand, and said, "Lu Xuan, a mech designer from the Federation Military Department's direct design institute."

"From now on, I will be in charge of your mech design work."

Directly under the Military Department!

Qin Jin's eyes narrowed slightly as he reached out to shake hands.

After the handshake.

Lu Xuan's expression turned serious: "Please follow me."

With that, he led the way, walking past Qin Jin and out of the reception room.

Just as Qin Jin was about to follow, a figure in a Pioneer Legion uniform approached him from the crowd behind, walking alongside Qin Jin.

He was slightly plump, appearing somewhat portly.

"Commissioner Qin Jin."

"I am Jiang Nianchu from the Weiyang Star System Pioneer Legion."

He continued to use the address from their pioneering mission. After introducing himself, he said, "This time, for the repair and design of your mech, the Pioneer Legion will provide full support to express our apologies."

Behind them.

Amidst the bustling crowd, Qin Jin followed not far behind Lu Xuan.

Listening to his voice, Qin Jin lowered his voice, looking at Lu Xuan, who was leading the way, and then at the distinct small teams around them, clearly from different places. He asked, "So, they... were all invited by the Pioneer Legion?"

"No."

Jiang Nianchu shook his head, his voice somewhat puzzled: "We only found out we would be cooperating with other teams after arriving here."

"Commissioner Qin Jin, they are not here because of us, but probably because of you."

Jiang Nianchu looked ahead at Lu Xuan's back and whispered, "This person is not simple. The Military Department clearly knew that so many teams would come here, so they sent a [leader]."

"Designer Lu Xuan."

There was admiration in his voice: "He is one of the Military Department's mech experts, a leading figure of the middle generation. According to the information I know, he has even participated in the creation of a new-generation mech for a Martial God."

"Anyone capable of participating in the creation of such a civilization-treasure-level mech is an extraordinary talent. Although he wasn't the primary leader, considering his age, he has a strong chance in the future to truly lead the creation of a Martial God's mech."

"Commissioner Qin Jin."

He was quite familiar, proactively providing Qin Jin with relevant information, then clicked his tongue twice: "To have this person serve as your mech designer, your standing is truly immense."

"To be honest, the elites our Pioneer Legion sent this time... it seems they can only provide resource support now."

Listening to his words.

Qin Jin was thoughtful; every cause has its effect, and he understood.

A group of over a hundred people, in a mighty procession, headed towards the open area behind the office building.

Under their gaze.

Lu Xuan walked at the very front, taking out a palm-sized rectangular remote control. He raised the remote control and lightly touched it, and light projected into the wide area ahead. The light intertwined and merged, actually forming the shape of a building. Inside the building, various precise instruments appeared as holographic shapes.

In an instant, this open area was filled with transparent, light-formed buildings, looking like a large research institute, covering different fields.

The next moment.

Those lights began to solidify, truly becoming physical objects!

This scene.

It was extremely similar to the construction mode in some games.

"What kind of cutting-edge technology is this?!"

Thoughts flashed through Qin Jin's mind. He casually glanced at the others behind him, and saw that some of them had normal expressions, while others also showed surprise in their eyes.

"It seems I'm not the only one who hasn't seen this before."

From virtual to real, the research institute was established.

Lu Xuan led the way, bringing everyone into one of the workshops.

"Qin Jin."

He turned his head, his tone serious: "Take out your current main mech."

...

Liuli Star System.

On a certain planet, inside a bamboo pavilion, two figures sat opposite each other, quietly sipping tea, appearing quite leisurely.

These two figures, no matter which one appeared in the present world, would be existences that would shake the Federation.

Ten Thousand Tribulations Martial God, Xi Tianqing!

Gui Xu Martial God, Su Buqi, War God of Gui Xu!

At this moment, Xi Tianqing put down his teacup. The Federation Marshal's attitude was amiable, and he said calmly, "The relevant matters have already been arranged."

"By now, they should have arrived at Lei Yu Star and met Qin Jin."

"You seem particularly concerned about this young fellow."

Xi Tianqing looked at Su Buqi, War God of Gui Xu: "Although you always pay attention to young people and offer guidance, such a level of importance is rare."

"Because Qin Jin is indeed excellent."

Su Buqi, War God of Gui Xu's tone was steady: "I saw him again on this trip; he has already entered the Grandmaster Realm, progressing at an astonishing speed. Moreover, he seems to have other hidden methods."

"The mech he currently pilots is also no ordinary item; among Grandmaster Realm mechs, it is definitely a top choice. Yet, such a mech cracked in battle."

"That crack was not caused by external force, but because the mech itself could no longer bear his power."

"For a Grandmaster Realm practitioner to perform like this, his future potential is completely unpredictable, making him worthy of our attention."

Xi Tianqing nodded slightly.

He took another sip of tea: "Even if you hadn't sent a message this time, preparations in related areas were already underway."

He rose from his seat, standing upright: "The Federation's powerhouses at high martial arts realms, and even Martial Gods, are never alone; they are always supported by large teams."

"Considering Qin Jin's age, these preparations might seem a bit early, but in terms of strength, he is already worthy of all this."

"Lu Xuan, in the field of mechs, is considered a top talent in the Military Department. In the past, it would have been inappropriate for a designer who has already participated in a Martial God-level mech project to design a mech for a Grandmaster."

"But because of that incident, Lu Xuan took the initiative, volunteering for the task. The age pairing of the two is also quite suitable."

His voice was long and drawn out as he stood under the bamboo pavilion, looking into the distance: "Starting now, a dedicated mech manufacturing team will be assembled for this young fellow, Qin Jin. In the future, as he continues to grow, the team will also expand."

"If he ever truly reaches the Martial God Realm one day."

"Then, the team most familiar with him can participate in the creation of a treasure-level mech, allowing him to obtain a Martial God mech that best suits him, enables his combat power to be fully unleashed, and helps him assault the ninth realm!"

...

Lei Yu Star.

Inside the workshop, hearing Lu Xuan's voice, Qin Jin nodded slightly, without hesitation, and took out the spatial device containing the azure lightning dark halberd.

With a flash of light.

The azure lightning dark halberd appeared.

The extraordinary mech possessed its own might; though not activated, the runes on it flickered, exuding an exceptional aura.

From its initial segmented form to its self-evolution under the influence of wish power, the azure lightning dark halberd had become even more extraordinary.

However.

On the mech's body, the cracks marred its aesthetic. These were genuine damages that would impede the flow of extraordinary power.

In battle, an enemy might also exploit these weaknesses.

After the azure lightning dark halberd appeared.

Lu Xuan's gaze fell upon it, observing.

After a few breaths.

He raised an eyebrow, looked at Qin Jin, and said, "The damage to this mech is from the inside out."

"It can no longer withstand the impact of your power."

He stated this with a confident tone.