Wow! The item-dropping rate is really high!-Chapter 1027 - 707: Star City (Part 2)

"Alright, I'll inform them. You can rest well." Yue Ying didn't hesitate for a moment and immediately turned to arrange the communication.

Although she didn't know exactly what had happened, the urgency and seriousness in Bai E's tone made her realize that this matter was fundamental.

After arranging this most critical step, Bai E finally took a breath and looked out the porthole.

The starry sky was brilliant, but it was already different from what was seen during the previous voyage.

The stars in the distance were denser, and the background radiation contained more complex traces of artificial signals.

"Where... are we?" Bai E asked.

Yue Ying quickly returned with Catherine, who held a data pad and reported: "Sir, you are finally awake. Your arranged communication has been sent. Additionally, according to the navigation display, we have just passed the last preset jump point and have officially entered the broad area of the 'Stability Zone of the Third Arm of the Galaxy Center.' We are about a day's standard voyage away from the host star of this Star Alliance Finals — 'Honor Competitive World' and its affiliated service starport 'Star City.' We have arrived nearly a month ahead of the original schedule."

A month ahead... This was the redundant time Bai E had set before departure.

Faced with unknown powerful enemies and complex environments, arriving early for adaptive training, intelligence gathering, and familiarization with the environment was crucial.

"Very good." Bai E nodded, "Notify all participating members that we are about to reach the Galaxy Center region. Before entering the airspace of 'Star City,' I need to know the specific arrangements of our foothold and the latest competition process."

Soon, Gong Yan, who was responsible for logistics and external relations for this trip, along with accompanying Elorin scholars and others, came to Bai E's rest cabin for a briefing.

Gong Yan's language was concise, "Sir, according to the confirmation letter and guidance information sent by the Star Alliance competition committee, the official designated stopover for all participating teams is the 'International Pavilion' area of 'Star City.' It is a series of comprehensive pavilion buildings specifically built for large Star Alliance events, equipped with independent ecosystem maintenance, training facilities, and basic defense. Different sizes of areas are allocated based on the scale and needs of the participating teams. Our 'New Bauhinia' representative team is assigned to 'International Pavilion Zone 7', with an independent accommodation building, a medium-sized tactical discussion room, two standard mecha adjustment warehouses, and a simulated training ground. The conditions are moderate to above average, sufficient for our initial use. Relevant permissions and identification codes have been issued."

The Elorin scholar also supplemented on the side: "'Star City' is a giant space city-state built relying on 'Honor Competitive World', and is also one of the most important transportation hubs and centers for business and cultural exchanges in the Galaxy Center region. The powers are mixed there, and the information flows very quickly. Your early arrival, Lord Bai E, is wise. This month is not only a time to adapt to the competition environment but also a critical window to observe opponents, understand the political ecology of the Galaxy Center, establish preliminary connections, or at least avoid pitfalls."

"Regarding the competition system," Gong Yan continued to report, "the official process of this Star Alliance Finals has been announced. The entire competition is divided into three stages."

"First Stage: 'Qualification Selection Matches.' The location is in multiple preset arenas of 'Honor Competitive World.' All participating teams will conduct a fifteen-day round-robin points competition. The competition formats include but are not limited to: individual duels, pair collaborations, tactical team challenges, survival in specific environments, and comprehensive projects like simulated fleet command. The top 64 teams in the points ranking will advance to the second stage. This stage aims to eliminate teams that are clearly lacking in strength and initially showcase the comprehensive qualities of each team."

"Second Stage: 'Glory Elimination Matches.' The 64 advanced teams will go through a single-elimination draw. Competition venues will be transferred to more complex and challenging special environment districts on 'Honor Competitive World,' which may include areas like deep-sea, lava, strong radiation, extreme gravity, or areas of spiritual energy disorder. The competition format emphasizes actual combat, adaptability, and team coordination. Until the top eight are determined."

"Third Stage: 'Peak Showdown.' The top eight teams will conduct the final public duels in the core main arena of 'Honor Competitive World'— 'Star Ring.' The competition system might be a traditional team arena battle or a high-difficulty challenge project temporarily announced by the event committee. This stage's competition will be broadcasted live to the main civilizations within the entire Star Alliance, garnering the highest attention. The champion will receive supreme glory, and... reportedly unimaginably generous rewards jointly provided by the Star Alliance and the seven 'Sons of the Empire,' including but not limited to cutting-edge technology sharing permissions, rare resource mining rights, and major political influence."

Gong Yan paused, speaking with a hint of seriousness: "Additionally, based on the non-public information we have gathered, in this competition, several traditional strong teams from the 'Sons of the Empire' seem to have sent stronger lineups than in previous years."

Bai E listened quietly, the fatigue still present, but his eyes had become sharp and clear again.

Arriving a month ahead, the time is still abundant.

The conditions of the foothold are sufficient, the competition process is clear.

The opponents are strong, the environment complex, but this is precisely the purpose of their coming here.

"I understand," Bai E said slowly, "After arriving at 'Star City,' proceed as planned. First, thoroughly check and adapt to our station facilities, ensuring safety and no surveillance dead spots. Second, under the guidance of the Elorin scholars, Gong Yan and Kuang Xin will be responsible for starting to systematically collect all public intelligence on opponents, especially the representative teams of the seven 'Sons of the Empire,' and any power information that might be hostile to us. Third, training cannot stop. Make good use of our own simulated training ground and apply for the use of 'Star City''s public advanced training facilities to quickly enable everyone to adapt to the different environmental parameters and combat rhythms that may exist in the Galaxy Center. Fourth..."

He looked at Catherine, "Maintain a low-key but open attitude in external contacts. We don't provoke trouble, but there's no need to deliberately avoid it either. For reasonable exchanges or probing, you and I will respond. Our primary goal is to participate smoothly and achieve results, while... waiting for the first batch of our 'family' to arrive."

"Yes!" everyone responded in unison.

"Additionally." Bai E said to Catherine, "Receiving Helen's affairs is the highest priority. Over on Mine Star, it all depends on you. Report to me anytime if there's any progress."

"Understood, Sir." Catherine's voice was filled with determination.

She, like Bai E, was full of curiosity about the woman named Helen.

A woman who could haunt a leader like Bai E, what kind of charm would she possess?

She was eager to see for herself.

The briefing ended, and everyone went their separate ways to prepare.

Bai E sat alone in the cabin, looking out at the ever-nearing Star Domain, which represented the most brilliant core of human civilization, and sighed softly.

"The depletion is indeed still too great..."

Whether it was responding to calls across star domains or finally breaking through the defenses of the Bug Race's mother body, including facing the mother body's desperate backlash in the end, the depletion to his Spiritual Energy and soul was unimaginably large.

It is foreseeable that in the long time ahead, he will be unable to take action in his full state.

This also limited another important ability he originally envisaged—

Descent!

Before, while still on the planet, he could directly control the bodies of his fellow believers through descent.

During the speech at Mine Star, he once again felt this ability being activated.

However... now this "trump card," which he was ready to use to deal with some troublesome places, might not be usable in the short term.

In other words, in the upcoming first competition stage, he must rely on those mech pilots to carve out a new realm solely with their strength...