269: Chapter 269 We Need a Stepping Stone

“Drip, drop...”

Warm nutrient solution circulated within the repair capsule.

When Chen Xi regained consciousness, he found himself lying in the highest-level SS-grade life support capsule within the Heaven-Reaching Divine Domain fortress. His right hand, which had been reduced to bone, had now regrown with tender new flesh. The parched spiritual sea within him, like a lake after a long drought, was once again brimming with Creation Power even purer and more vast than before.

“Ugh...”

Chen Xi pushed open the capsule lid above his head and sat up amidst a mist of water.

“Captain! You’re finally awake!”

Li Murou, who had been waiting outside the capsule door with a steaming bowl of nourishing porridge, immediately cried out in surprise when she saw Chen Xi sit up.

“How long have I been asleep?” Chen Xi flexed his newly regenerated right hand, feeling that his strength had not only not diminished but had become even more unfathomable after absorbing a trace of the singularity explosion's afterglow.

“Three whole days and nights! You scared us to death.” Su Xiaoxiao walked in from outside the door, her usually cool face showing obvious fatigue, but her eyes held unconcealed joy. “If it weren’t for your Myriad Rivers Return to the Sea’s extremely strong self-repair mechanism, and Lin Shan blocking most of the high-dimensional backlash for you, your hand might really have been crippled.”

“How is Lin Shan?” Chen Xi quickly asked. That tough guy who had single-handedly endured the aftermath of an entire galaxy's explosion to protect the whole team must have been a hundred times more injured than himself.

“Don’t worry, he’s practically inhuman.” Ye Fei walked in with a basin of fresh fruit, saying with a smile, “That guy woke up after less than two days in the intensive care unit. The first thing he said when he woke up was that he was hungry. Now he's outside with Lei Zhentian, counting the spoils of war. And… it seems he mutated again after absorbing the law fragments from that high-dimensional explosion. His physical toughness is probably so high now that even you can't break through him.”

Chen Xi finally smiled in relief upon hearing this.

The well-being of his comrades was the greatest triumph.

He changed into a brand-new black major general's uniform and, accompanied by the three women, walked out of the recovery room onto the spacious deck of the Divine Domain fortress.

At this moment, the deck was a bustling scene of activity. Tens of thousands of Earth Expeditionary Force soldiers were busily transporting various spoils of war, with cheers and whistles rising and falling.

During these three days of clearing the battlefield, the Earth Expeditionary Force had truly made a fortune. Although the Star Abyss Tyrant had been blown to pieces, the hundreds of millions of mechanical insectoid swarm remnants it had previously devoured, as well as the countless high-grade star core materials not yet fully digested within its body, were all scattered in this void. For the nascent Earth interstellar civilization, this was an inestimable and astonishing fortune!

“Chen Xi, you rascal! You’re finally awake!”

Seeing Chen Xi emerge, Lei Zhentian, who was directing the transportation, strode forward and gave him a fierce bear hug. “You’ve achieved an unparalleled feat this time! Not only did you save Earth, but you also secured such a rich stellar territory for us!”

“Lei Zhentian, what’s the casualty situation?” Chen Xi asked with concern.

“A miracle! It’s simply a miracle in the history of warfare!” Li Zhenhai excitedly interjected from the side. “Because you and Lin Shan held off all the fatal attacks at the front, although half of our Expeditionary Force's warships were damaged, personnel casualties were less than ten percent! This is simply unimaginable in a battle against a High-dimensional Deity!”

Chen Xi nodded, his gaze turning towards the vast starry sky outside the fortress.

At this moment, the Sirius Sector was no longer the silent darkness it once was. The nine-colored nebula left behind after the Star Abyss Tyrant's death was slowly rotating, emitting a soft and mysterious light, illuminating the surrounding shattered planets.

“Beep—”

Just then, Chen Xi's wrist terminal lit up, and AI Morning Star's virtual holographic image reappeared. This time, however, her body no longer flickered with red warning lights but displayed a calm light blue.

“Administrator, I am pleased to see you safe and sound.” Although Morning Star's voice was still mechanically synthesized, it conveyed an unconcealed excitement and reverence: “You have not only rekindled the spark but also accomplished a feat that even the Imperial Marshal could not complete—slaying a High-dimensional Harvester. You are truly the Empire’s rightful heir.”

Chen Xi looked at Morning Star and smiled faintly: “Morning Star, what is the situation in the Sirius Sector now? The Tyrant is dead, so this star sector should be safe, right?”

“Yes, Administrator. After the Tyrant’s demise, its subordinate insectoid swarm has completely disintegrated. The physical constants of this sector are slowly returning to normal.”

Morning Star immediately brought up a star map: “According to my scans, although most of the planets in this area are damaged, three planets still retain complete cores and atmospheric circulation systems, making them very suitable as bases for us to rebuild civilization.”

Chen Xi's eyes lit up, and he turned to the two old generals, Lei Zhentian and Li Zhenhai:

“Sirs, did you hear that?”

“Earth is ultimately too small, and its location has been exposed. We need a springboard, a position where we can take root in the starry sky.”

Chen Xi pointed to the three slowly rotating planets on the star map, sweeping his hand grandly and declaring with soaring ambition:

“I propose that this Sirius Sector be officially established as our Earth humanity’s First Interstellar Outpost!”

“We will use the high-dimensional resources and ancient human technology here to build cities, construct warships, and train troops!”

“One day, we will make sure Earth’s fleet plants its flag in every corner of this universe!”

“Good!!!”

Lei Zhentian and Li Zhenhai were stirred to excitement by Chen Xi’s bold words, the two old generals trembling with emotion: “We’ll do as you say! We will immediately send a dispatch to Earth Command, fully initiating interstellar migration and large-scale production for construction!”

The soldiers on the entire deck erupted in thunderous cheers once again upon hearing this news.

Humanity was finally no longer prey cowering in a safe zone, but true conquerors who had stepped into the sea of stars and possessed their own interstellar territory!

Chen Xi looked at the scene before him, filled with hope and vitality, and a genuine smile curved his lips. He pulled out the High-dimensional Divinity Shard (Star Abyss) from his Huai, which radiated endless law fluctuations. The energy contained within this item was too vast; once he refined it into a card using Miracle Creation, the Nirvana Battle Team's strength would undoubtedly undergo a dimensional leap.

“It seems I can finally take a short break and properly research new cards,” Chen Xi said, stretching lazily.

However, just as everyone was immersed in the joy of victory, preparing for a grand interstellar celebration banquet...

“Alert... Alert!!!”