Author: 易修罗 / Yi Xiu Luo

Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/

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Chapter 134

“But why does Fei Jing look so much like Ying Feng?” Red Head also raised this question on the spaceship heading to Huoxiu.

“Our appearances are just random collages generated from a database,” Ling Xiao said nonchalantly. “I’ve seen many people with similar faces over the years.”

Red Head covered his face in relief. “Thankfully, I don’t have a common face.”

“That’s because you’re far below average. The system would be embarrassed to lower the average beauty standard that much.”

“How dare you slander someone as handsome as me?”

Red Head was about to grab Ling Xiao by the neck when their quarrel was interrupted by Yu Ji, who was in the pilot’s seat.

“There’s a suspicious signal ahead, likely enemy forces, and quite a few of them.”

Ying Feng also saw the dense cluster of small red dots approaching them on the radar. “Can we avoid them?”

“I’ll try.” As Yu Ji activated the warp engine, he suddenly looked up, and the spaceship, traveling at high speed, braked abruptly. The unprepared passengers nearly fell over.

“What happened?” Bing Can immediately asked after stabilizing himself.

Xiao Hui, in the co-pilot seat, had a clear view. “Someone is completely exposed in space. Is he one of your kind?”

Ling Xiao rushed to the front and took a closer look. “Zhen He?!”

“He’s not Zhen He,” Ying Feng corrected. “He’s just a Lone Star created in the likeness of Zhen He.”

On closer inspection, Ling Xiao saw that the impostor Zhen He’s eyes were identical to those of a Lone Star.

“So, an enemy then?” Red Head, eager for action, rubbed his hands together. “Whoever he is, let me meet him.”

“Don’t be reckless!” Bing Can hadn’t finished warning when Red Head had already disappeared from the cabin. Looking outside, two figures were already locked in combat.

Bing Can shook his head and asked Yu Ji. “What about the enemy?”

“We couldn’t have avoided them anyway.” Delayed by the Zhen He incident, the spaceship would be intercepted before it could accelerate to warp speed.

“Let’s make it a quick battle then.” Bing Can released three soul crystals, activating them one after another. Each activation increased Red Head’s strength and speed by a level. By the time all the soul crystals were effective, Red Head had already improved exponentially from before.

“He’s much stronger than the Lone Stars I’ve encountered before,” Ying Feng observed the battle calmly as he commented on Zhen He.

“But no matter how strong, he can’t compare to a Qizi enhanced by a level ten spiritual soul crystal,” Shuang Feng said admiringly. “A Qizi of that spiritual level is unparalleled in assisting in battle.”

Ling Xiao’s eyes lit up. “If Ying Feng can activate a level ten spiritual soul crystal, then I can do it too.”

“Stay put.” Ying Feng preempted his eagerness.

Yu Ji had already contacted the accompanying Wolf Star allied forces. “Prepare for battle. The enemy is approaching fast.”

“My Thunder Wolf is already ravenous!” Huo Luo’s arrogant voice came through.

“What did he say?” Xiao Hui asked naively.

But no one had time to translate for him. Red Head was beating his opponent back when suddenly, a swarm of black granular substances attacked him, engulfing half of his legs in an instant.

Bing Can quickly recalled Red Head, and the unidentified matter that had just gathered together quickly dispersed again, spreading in the air like a metallic net.

“What is this thing?” Red Head patted his chest, still shaken. “It’s like locusts; scared me to death.”

“It’s Ant Soldiers, a semi-biochemical, semi-mechanical weapon recently developed by the Interstellar Peacekeeping Force.”

The others were surprised by Ying Feng’s comment. “You spend your days holed up in the church tending to flowers, and you know so much?”

Wolf Star’s mechs were already firing fiercely against the Ant Soldiers. A large number of Ant Soldiers were burned to death, but even more swarmed over. Bing Can, who had carried out missions related to this organization, knew more about them.

“The Interstellar Peacekeeping Force, under the guise of galaxy police, has been plundering resources and eliminating dissidents on low-security planets for years. They’ve long coveted our genes, trying every means to capture our kind alive. The hefty bounties from underground trading organizations are their doing.”

In the short time he explained, Ant Soldiers gradually latched onto their spaceship, their view slowly obscured by dense black spots, almost blinding them.

“If this continues, we won’t see anything.” Yu Ji was practically driving blind.

Right after he said this, a burst of dense laser beams swept uniformly from the front, instantly scorching a batch of Ant Soldiers and triggering the ship’s attack alarm.

Yu Ji skillfully rotated twice, shaking off the Ant Soldiers’ corpses, and turned off the alarm while shaking his head. Sure enough, when their view cleared, Huo Luo’s Thunder Wolf’s laser emitter was directly aimed at them, thankfully mitigated by cannon fodder, causing minimal damage to the ship.

“I’m worried about our allies’ overly unrestrained fighting style.” Bing Can sighed.

The spaceship kept accelerating, trying to shake off the pesky trouble, but the sharp-eyed Ling Xiao noticed something.

“Did you notice, their target is only us. They don’t react to anyone else.”

With his reminder, everyone indeed noticed that no matter how the Wolf Star troops attacked them, they couldn’t attract the Ant Soldiers’ hostility. All the Ant Soldiers were tacitly tracking the same target, their spaceship.

“It seems they really are targeting us…” Bing Can’s words were cut off by a violent hit from the left, and Zhen He’s figure flashed into view.

“The small ones are troublesome enough, and now there’s a big one. He’s really fast.”

“This won’t do. I’ll give it a try.” Yu Ji handed over the piloting controls to Shuang Feng and leaped out. The Ant Soldiers, sensing their target, madly rushed towards him. Yu Ji calmly raised his hands and rhythmically tapped a few points in the air, his movements as graceful as if playing some instrument.

“What is he doing?” Ling Xiao was astonished to see the charging Ant Soldiers stop abruptly, the closest one only a centimeter from Yu Ji.

“He’s imitating the language of ants. Since they are biochemical weapons, they must retain some biological instincts,” Shuang Feng explained, piloting the ship not too far away, but circling the opponent.

Yu Ji’s wrist flicked deftly, suddenly pointing aggressively to one side. The bewitched Ant Soldiers immediately changed direction. Zhen He, not far away, was engulfed in an instant, the swarm enveloping him layer by layer, eventually forming a disgusting, spike-covered sphere.

“Well done!” Ling Xiao blurted out.

But Yu Ji returned to Shuang Feng’s side with a troubled face. “I feel like I might have done something wrong.”

“No, look.” Ying Feng interrupted him.

The spike ball, which had seemed so sturdy, exploded apart again. Zhen He, who was engulfed, appeared unharmed, with the Ant Soldiers causing him no damage.

“I guess they didn’t like the taste,” Ling Xiao said.

“Zhen He is one of our kind, and the Peacekeeping Force created this breed to target us, yet they don’t react to Zhen He, who is also one of us.”

“There are two possibilities.” Ying Feng analyzed, “One is that the Peacekeeping Force hasn’t yet had time to include the newly emerged Lone Stars as targets, and the other is that they are only interested in us who possess intelligence.”

“That makes sense.” Xiao Hui naively added, “If there are two communication devices, one an outdated brick phone and the other a new smartphone, I’d also want the new one.”

Ling Xiao earnestly educated him. “How can you look down on brick phones? Brick phones have long battery life, signal everywhere, and most importantly, you can crack walnuts with a brick phone. I used a brick phone in my past life. Have you ever seen me despise it?”

Xiao Hui: “…”

How would I know about your past life!

Yu Ji sighed in relief. “Good thing they didn’t want it. Whether it’s the Lone Star or us, we can’t let more people get a hold of us.”

“We’re approaching the stargate. Crossing it should help us shake them off.” Shuang Feng increased the speed, and the spaceship, with a magnificent tail, sped towards the stargate. The Wolf Star troops followed closely, continuously shooting down the Ant Soldiers tailing them. Only Zhen He, lacking in persistence, gradually fell behind.

“The situation doesn’t look good. Why do I feel like their numbers are increasing?”

Red Head’s concern was proven right. The surviving Ant Soldiers, amidst the Wolf Star’s gunfire, rapidly laid dark insect eggs in space, which quickly hatched and grew, ready for battle in an incredibly short time.

“This is the most disgusting enemy I’ve ever seen. Why doesn’t the Universal Environmental Protection Committee clean them up?” Ling Xiao expressed his disgust.

“They’re reproducing too fast. We’re losing control!” It was rare for Huo Luo to show weakness.

“I’m also helpless against this number,” Yu Ji said helplessly. “I can’t ensure that all the Ant Soldiers see my commands, but if this continues, the ship’s energy won’t be sufficient to maintain.”

“It looks like I have to go out again.”

“I’m going too!” Ling Xiao quickly said.

This time Ying Feng didn’t stop him and handed him a headset. “Wear this, so you can communicate in space.”

Red Head and Ling Xiao exited the cabin one after another, faced with countless black dots swarming towards them.

“Ready?” The two joined hands.

“Of course!”

The perceptive Huo Luo, seeing their action, quickly ordered, “Everyone, clear out!”

All the Wolf Star mechs quickly retreated, and in the space they cleared, a tornado-like phantom appeared in the absolute vacuum, sucking in all the Ant Soldiers that charged into it, disappearing without a trace.

The accompanying Wolf Star people were dumbfounded. “How, how did they do that?”

“Tsk tsk,” Huo Luo, leisurely watching from the side, clicked his tongue. “That’s why I least want to face the Tianxiu people.”

As the vortex grew larger, thousands of Ant Soldiers rushed into it like moths to a flame, gradually forming a rapidly spinning helix. Two figures shot out from the center of the vortex, using a massive circular shield to capture their spoils.

“I need some insecticide!” Ling Xiao yelled.

Shuang Feng appeared from somewhere, pressing his palm against the outside of the shield. Soon, from the point of contact, a large number of transparent crystals rapidly formed. The crystals spread wildly inside, solidifying upon contact with the Ant Soldiers. The two substances mixed and compressed against each other, eventually filling the entire space. The black corpses and transparent particles intertwined, forming a patchy surface that looked like a mini planet from afar.

“It’s easier to clean up such large trash.” Ling Xiao kicked their joint creation, which then drifted away in the opposite direction of the initial force.

“It’s going to become a satellite, huh!” Ling Xiao waved in the direction it drifted away.

Red Head looked at him with disdain. “Have you ever seen such a small satellite? And one made of bugs at that.”

“Don’t relax. We’re not done cleaning up yet.” Shuang Feng prepared for battle against another wave of approaching Ant Soldiers.

“Looks like there’s nothing left for us to do, right?” One of the Wolf Star warriors asked through the communicator.

“Who knows.” Huo Luo scratched his neck, and the Thunder Wolf scratched its ear. “Let’s play cards for now.”

“My soul crystals are almost used up,” Red Head was about to ask Ling Xiao for some when he looked up and saw an unwelcome guest hidden in the swarm of Ant Soldiers behind him. “Watch out!”

A shield appeared behind Ling Xiao, completely blocking an attack from the right rear.

“Wow,” Ling Xiao let out a relieved exclamation, turning to face Zhen He, who had caught up. Ying Feng had just blocked an attack for him.

“Thanks,” he thanked casually through the mic, and then complained about Zhen He. “Why are you so persistent?”

Zhen He, devoid of any human emotion in his eyes, neither heard nor responded but relentlessly attacked Ling Xiao. Just like Ying Feng said, he really wasn’t an ordinary Lone Star. In a one-on-one fight, Ling Xiao might not stand a chance.

But Ling Xiao was full of confidence, as he wasn’t fighting alone. The power surged endlessly from within him, and the energy he received from Ying Feng was fully unleashed on Zhen He.

“You are indeed strong. You must have killed a powerful companion to gain such strength, right?”

Ling Xiao’s punches grew stronger and faster, and Zhen He, who was previously able to parry, gradually became unable to do anything but passively receive hits.

Ling Xiao spoke with each punch and kick. “But, the power obtained in this way, is not at all, something to be, happy about!”

With a flying kick, Zhen He was sent flying far away. “Weapon!” Ling Xiao shouted.

His arm was wrapped in layers of metal pieces, complex and precise parts forming part of a launcher. Ling Xiao clasped his hands together, aimed in the direction Zhen He was kicked, and fired a blue-glowing missile that hit its target squarely.

“Cool!” Even he couldn’t help but praise himself.

“Stop showing off and come help!” Red Head, exhausted by the countless Ant Soldiers and nearly out of soul crystals, called out. Shuang Feng was fighting enemies on another front, and the Wolf Star mech troops had re-engaged in battle.

“Coming!” Just as Ling Xiao was about to head over, he was unexpectedly intercepted again by the badly injured Zhen He.

“You…” Ling Xiao looked at him with a bit of pity. “If you keep fighting, you’ll die!”

“He can’t hear you!” Red Head shouted.

“That’s what Lone Stars are,” Shuang Feng said, taking a breath after wiping out a wave of enemies. “Unaware of pain or fatigue, they fight till the last moment, as long as they’re alive.”

Suddenly, Yu Ji’s anxious voice came through the earpiece. “Ling Xiao, come back quickly! Something’s wrong with Ying Feng!”

“What’s wrong?” Ling Xiao panicked, realizing why he hadn’t felt Ying Feng’s assistance recently.

“I don’t know. Bing Can is giving him emergency treatment. His temperature is dangerously high!”

Ling Xiao, no longer interested in fighting, tried to teleport back but was repeatedly interrupted by Zhen He, who seemed to have entered a berserk state due to his severe injuries, becoming very difficult to handle.

“You go back first. I’ll handle this!” Red Head came to help him intercept Zhen He, with the Ant Soldiers relentlessly pursuing them.

“But…”

“Stop talking, just go!” Red Head pushed him, and with that force, Ling Xiao bounced several meters away, only a step from their spaceship.

“Qian Si!” Shuang Feng’s shout startled Ling Xiao, who turned to see Red Head hit by something unknown in his spine, reeling back in pain, his face twisted in agony. The suppressed groan was still loud enough to startle Ling Xiao.

Ling Xiao’s soul crystal froze in his hand, torn between rushing to Ying Feng and going back to rescue Red Head. Shuang Feng, Huo Luo, and others were rushing towards Red Head. Ling Xiao glanced at the mechs passing by and, with a grit of his teeth, jumped back onto the spaceship.

“Red Head is in danger! How is Ying Feng?” He landed and immediately asked.

Without needing Yu Ji to explain, he saw Ying Feng leaning back in his chair with his eyes closed, his face alarmingly red. Bing Can, with glowing hands, was fully focused on treating Ying Feng, ignoring Ling Xiao’s question.

“Ever since he used the soul crystal on you, he’s been like this. We suspect it’s the virus in his body!” Yu Ji pushed Xiao Hui into the pilot’s seat. “I’m going out to help!”

Xiao Hui, unable to fight outside the ship like the others, piloted the spaceship, closely monitoring every move outside while keeping an eye on Ying Feng’s condition.

Ling Xiao rushed to Ying Feng’s side, interlocking his fingers over Ying Feng’s head. Moments later, a faint golden light appeared around them. Ying Feng’s high temperature alarmed him. Ling Xiao continuously offered his spiritual power until Ying Feng’s eyes slowly opened.

Fu Yao’s projection appeared on the communication device. “We’ve resolved the situation on our end. How about you?”

“Things aren’t great here.” Xiao Hui made room. “Ying Feng passed out. Ling Xiao and Bing Can are treating him… Eh? Where’s Bing Can?”

Bing Can had vanished the moment Ying Feng was out of danger. Ling Xiao was equally anxious but couldn’t leave Ying Feng behind.

A signal from the base was patched through, showing Yu Quan’s worried face.

“I’ve monitored Ying Feng’s condition; it’s extremely unstable. What happened?”

“He just used a soul crystal, but he seems better now.”

“Yes.” Yu Quan closely monitored the data. “His temperature is steadily dropping. I didn’t expect this. The virus seems more severe than we thought. He must not use his mental powers again.”

Ling Xiao, exhausted, slumped to one side. Ying Feng’s complexion gradually returned to normal. Xiao Hui looked back and forth.

“Ying Feng is okay now, but…”

He stared ahead, his mouth agape in shock.

“But what?” Fu Yao pressed.

Ling Xiao, already weakened, struggled to stand upon seeing the same scene, staggering forward.

In the battlefield he had just left, a gigantic, spike-covered sphere floated silently, nearly ten times larger than the one that had trapped Zhen He. All the Ant Soldiers had gathered to form this abhorrent object. The Wolf Star mechs, led by Thunder Wolf, continuously attacked it from a distance, unable to make even the slightest dent. Its constituents seemed lifeless but were indestructible.

“Red Head… Red Head!” Ling Xiao blurted out.

“Red Head is inside!” Xiao Hui also shouted.

Ling Xiao clenched his right hand, but nothing happened. Opening his palm, he saw the intact soul crystal. His mental power had been depleted in his recent efforts.

Just as he was about to leave through the hatch, he was forcefully held back. Turning, he saw Ying Feng, who had been on the brink of death moments ago.

“Red Head is trapped in there!” Ling Xiao, worried about his companion, disregarded his own condition.

“You can’t even activate basic oxygen supply. Going out now is suicide.” Ying Feng pointed out sharply.

Ling Xiao was stunned for a few seconds, then suddenly thought, “Bing Can! Recall Red Head!”

“Can’t do it.” A low voice came through the earpiece. “The sphere is completely isolated inside and out. Yu Ji and I, even together, can’t break it.”

“This thing is specifically designed against you,” Huo Luo said furiously. “Ordinary weapons are useless against it.”

“What do we do!” Ling Xiao said anxiously. “Are we just going to let them take Red Head?”

“Wait a minute! Look!” Xiao Hui pointed ahead, excitedly.

The seemingly indestructible sphere suddenly cracked. The cracks widened and deepened, and the power that had been brewing inside burst forth, shattering the sphere. Red Head, with bloodshot eyes, leaped out.

“Hahaha, it’s Red Head! He used Ember! He came out by himself!”

Ling Xiao didn’t know how to express his joy, gripping Ying Feng’s arm, almost jumping up. He was too excited to notice Ying Feng’s subtle sigh of relief.

“Remember to purify!” he shouted, regardless of whether his reminder was needed or not.

Bing Can grabbed Red Head, who had just escaped, and kissed him fiercely, ignoring the others. Red Head’s eyes gradually cleared, and he responded passionately, showcasing a dramatic reunion after escaping death in space.

“Don’t do this.” Xiao Hui shyly covered his eyes. “I’m still a virgin wolf.”

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