"My lord, the enemy has been retreating and slowly gathering at several points outside our Orion Arm. I suspect they intend to engage us in a grand battle there, which might even be the final showdown."

One day, Jia Yan received intelligence from Luo Longsi.

He was constantly filled with these reports and various news in subspace, and his cultivation had recently stagnated.

Of course, winning this war isn’t just about rescuing the Orion Arm. Jia Yan could use the power of victory to demand massive reparations from these defeated starfields, reclaiming all his cultivation losses tenfold or even hundredfold.

Possibly much more.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t be so enthusiastic.

From ancient times to the present, from primitive life to interstellar beings, war has always been the easiest way to get returns, so no one escapes it, regardless of advanced or backward civilizations.

"I understand. You should continue collecting intelligence there, and when I make my move, I’ll take action."

Jia Yan looked at the intelligence and felt somewhat frustrated.

The enemy encircled the Orion Arm, so even if they retreated, they wouldn’t gather in one place. Instead, they formed several small points outside the Orion Arm, which Luo Longsi suspected as the places the enemy planned to engage in a decisive battle with the Orion Arm.

But there were several such so-called decisive battlegrounds, and the enemy likely realized that even though Jia Yan has strength, his avatar abilities are limited.

"No matter how few galaxy-level opponents we have, we must pile up avatars in every direction to ensure sufficient support for battles."

Jia Yan decided to elevate each avatar to its strongest state, although scattering them weakened their concentrated power.

"The enemy now has several choices, and by elimination, it’s clear which is the most correct."

"First, they shouldn’t group several galaxy levels as before, scattering them in the starry sky to battle my avatars."

They tried this once before, so the enemy won’t be so foolish to keep challenging the avatars and face humiliation again.

"Furthermore, this time they shouldn’t exert pressure on the Orion Arm from all directions."

This is well understood, as the battle power on both sides has begun to shift. If they confidently attack the Orion Arm from multiple locations, it would be ludicrous.

After pondering for a while, Jia Yan deduced the enemy’s likely decision.

"This time, they should concentrate all their galaxy levels at these battlegrounds for a maximum-scale attack against me."

Jia Yan seemed to be guessing where the enemy would appear, while the enemy would anticipate which battleground Jia Yan would personally join.

Besides the strength of ordinary fleets, the major difference among the main battlegrounds is whether galaxy levels are present. If Jia Yan guesses correctly, he would face a genuine final showdown with galaxy levels in one of these main battlegrounds.

If he guesses wrong, he might effortlessly help a fleet destroy the enemy’s massive main fleet, but then several galaxy-level powerhouses might annihilate a section of Orion Arm’s fleet, akin to trading injuries.

"I don’t want a trade-off of injuries, considering the lives of the soldiers in Orion Arm’s fleets are precious and they’ve participated in this battle. Some of them might become semi-permanent star or stellar beings, and if luck is on their side, even garrison-level galaxy beings might emerge. Though the likelihood is minimal, I can’t let Orion Arm’s fledgling strongman system suffer major setbacks, so what should I do?"

Jia Yan most desired to encounter the enemy’s galaxy levels in person, as he’d rather face a good fight.

He knew his strength, even if he wasn’t fully aware of the extent of the galaxy middle stage’s power. Despite the enemy having ten assistants, Jia Yan had his subspace talent, and running if overwhelmed was his usual strategy. The kite strategy was also effective, and he felt confident he wouldn’t lose when the battle came.

A direct confrontation was best.

The issue was how to encounter them!

"Jia Yan, are you perplexed about where the enemy’s main force is located?"

"Yes."

In the deep starry sky, on a desolate star, stood an unexpectedly lively castle filled with the breath of various beings.

However, none of the ordinary beings, nor the two great superpowers residing in the castle, were normal life forms. The servant-like creatures were manufactured, and even the two superpowers themselves were just avatars.

The insect clan queen, who looked like an Earth supermodel, noticed Jia Yan’s avatar’s gravity.

She pointed out the issue, which Jia Yan did not deny and nodded directly.

He was indeed perplexed about where the enemy’s gathering point was located.

"Actually, you need not worry about this, for the enemy will surely reveal it to you. Despite your concern for your fleet, they wouldn’t want their fleet to suffer too many losses either."

The insect clan queen’s insight enlightened Jia Yan.

He suddenly realized the queen was right. Since the enemy created this situation, they must have confidence in confronting Jia Yan’s true body. Thus, they wouldn’t want a scenario where their side exterminates weaker Orion Arm fleets, and Jia Yan incorrectly targets another point to destroy an important enemy fleet and powerhouse.

At least regarding the cost of nurturing, the weaker fleets in the Orion Arm cost considerably less to nurture. Their ability to battle allied fleets comes from their large numbers and joint ultimate moves. Stripped of these, their strength is incredibly weak and their nurturing cost pales compared to their elite forces.

"Thank you, Her Majesty the Queen. It appears I simply need to wait. They themselves will gradually reveal their location to me."

Jia Yan thanked the insect clan queen promptly.

From that day onward, Jia Yan was no longer anxious about these problems. Once the enemy decided on their location, their whereabouts would be disclosed to Jia Yan, not blatantly, but through leaked intelligence.

Soon enough, after Jia Yan waited for half a month, both sides’ general warpostures reached a complete form. With imminent invasion, battles at several points were poised to commence simultaneously...

Intelligence arrived.

"My lord, you were right. The enemy has indeed released intelligence stating that captives from a fleet revealed the galaxy-level concentration at the northwest corner fleet gathering point."

Luo Longsi brought more intelligence.

"Hehe, it’s here, indeed."

Upon receiving this intelligence, Jia Yan’s face turned somewhat peculiar.

After pondering for a long time, he circled a large portion on the map in the northwest corner.

Then, the Giant Mosquito’s true body surged mightily from a mystic space where it had been dormant toward the northwest corner of the Orion Arm.

"Finally, after such a long wait, my true body can officially engage in battle. Hehe, I bet you invaders are impatient too."

Jia Yan chuckled, and the Giant Mosquito’s true body seemed like a dark monstrous presence in subspace, traversing with incredible speed.

Meanwhile, the enemy promptly adjusted their formations in response.

"Very little time remains until full-scale battle. Neither side has time for further adjustments, which is precisely why we’ve only just revealed our location. With no chance for tricks, both will face a direct confrontation in combat."

"Indeed our lord speaks truly, yet we have many galaxy levels on our side, while he is but one. Haha, victory will surely be ours."

"What are you celebrating? Have you forgotten his numerous avatars? Although this move dispersed them, the result is any defeated side will have their fleets mercilessly torn apart by his avatars, suffering substantial losses. Even if we survive, we will be too disgraced to return to the starfield."

"Are you implying the unlikely event of our defeat? We have so many galaxy levels and our lord’s presence; how could we possibly lose? You’re overthinking it."