Interstellar Farming: I Make Potions and Climb to the Top

Qin An followed Yun Han’s orders without question. This batch of medicine was formulated in pre-filled applicators. Yun Han personally administered the medicine to Qin An, and after just one minute, Qin An excitedly reported, "Commander, this medicine’s effects are far better than the Inhibitors we were using. The Mutated Value that spiked from the contamination has been completely cleared, and even the value that had slowly accumulated over time is starting to decrease."

"You and Qiao Yu, arrange to have this medicine administered to the soldiers." Yun Han stood his ground, his gaze fixed on the distance. He was filled with complex emotions; ’I haven’t even repaid Ning Xuan for saving my life, and now I owe her yet another debt.’

If Ning Xuan hadn’t provided this batch of medicine, the Heavenly Might Corps would have surely suffered devastating losses. Even Qin An might not have made it.

Of the soldiers who had retreated from the battlefield, roughly two-thirds were experiencing unstable spiritual power and sudden spikes in their Mutated Value. Over 30 had already been killed after losing control from complete mutation. Qin An and Qiao Yu moved swiftly, and within about half an hour, everyone with abnormal spiritual power and Mutated Value levels had been injected with the medicine.

The somber atmosphere that had settled over the garrison was reversed in an instant. Yun Han’s return had completely transformed the morale of the entire corps.

Meanwhile, Qiao Yu had already organized the deployment of medical teams. Soldiers serving as temporary medics began testing the Mutated Value of those who had received the medicine. For most soldiers, their Mutated Value had returned to normal. Only a few who were severely contaminated still had slightly elevated readings, but judging by their condition, their physical functions had mostly recovered.

Yun Han returned to familiar ground. Accompanied by Qin An and the others, he walked into his command post. After a facial recognition scan, the door to the command post slid open with a soft electronic DING, as if welcoming him home.

The room was filled with soft light. The walls were embedded with smart display screens, currently inactive. A suspended holographic projector hung at the front of the command post, casting a faint blue glow. In the center of the room sat a massive table, its top crafted from transparent, high-strength glass, with a multi-layered holographic projection system embedded beneath. A single touch could conjure three-dimensional images on its surface, displaying astronomical charts, terrain maps, real-time surveillance, and environmental data for the garrison and the thousands of kilometers surrounding it.

The edge of the table was inlaid with a ring of faintly glowing control panels, arrayed with complex buttons and touchscreens, each one corresponding to a specific tactical command or data retrieval function. Every detail showcased a perfect fusion of technology and efficiency, a testament to the Heavenly Might Corps’s status as a top-tier elite unit.

Yun Han sat down in the central chair, which was upholstered in soft black leather. After saluting him, Qin An and the others took their seats on either side.

"You’ve all worked hard these past two years," Yun Han said with a sigh, looking at Qin An and the others.

"Marshal Yun, as long as you’re back, what’s a little hardship? It’s just... we’re ashamed that we were so useless." Qiao Yu’s voice choked with emotion as he stared at the black collar faintly visible beneath the collar of Yun Han’s uniform.

He had seen plenty of colleagues, comrades, and subordinates wear Contractor collars; he had grown accustomed to the sight. But seeing the collar on Yun Han’s neck made him feel sick to his stomach.

Like Qiao Yu, Qin An’s eyes were red-rimmed. "If it wasn’t for protecting us, the Commander would never have been caught in that dangerous situation."

Yun Han’s brow furrowed. "That’s enough. What’s this, the two of you blubbering? It’s unbecoming. Qin An, report on the initial stages of the wormhole outbreak and the status of support from all parties."

Seated in his command chair, Yun Han’s gaze swept over everyone as he gave the order in a quiet tone.

"Yes, sir." Qin An composed himself and began his report.

Qin An had already reviewed the support situation on his way back to the base. Now, he combined the official reports received since the wormhole outbreak with the intelligence they had gathered through private channels, and presented it all to Yun Han.

Yun Han’s expression was grave after hearing Qin An’s report. He stood up, walked to the holographic projector in the center of the command room, and with a light tap of his finger, the screen lit up. A regional map of the three Star Domains where the wormhole outbreak had occurred instantly appeared before them.

Yun Han performed a quick search on his Light Computer, then projected several images onto the tabletop before them. "Based on these captured images, the creatures invading from the wormhole have diverse morphologies, and their bodies are all wreathed in a black mist. Judging from battle outcomes, this black mist contaminates a Spirit Controller’s Spiritual Sea, causing abnormalities in their spiritual power and Mutated Value."

Yun Han summarized.

At the same time, the holographic display clearly marked out the black-mist creatures’ invasion paths, the scope of contamination, and the post-battle status of the Spirit Controllers’ Spiritual Sea pollution.

Although this was just a rough data model based on publicly released military data, a chill went through everyone in the command post as they watched the number of infected people grow exponentially.

Qiao Yu’s fists tightened, his voice trembling slightly. "Marshal Yun, Qin Chuan and Yan Pengyuan are still on that battlefield. They’ve been out there for over twenty-four hours. They were supposed to pull back and rest three hours ago, but the battlefield command center is using the excuse that relief troops haven’t arrived and won’t let them withdraw. Over two hours ago, I communicated with the command center in my capacity as the Heavenly Might Corps’s temporary decision-maker, asking when the relief force would arrive. They just said ’soon’ and refused to give a specific time. Marshal Yun, judging from what happened to Qin An... I’m afraid if Qin Chuan and the others have to hold on any longer, not many of them will make it back." Qiao Yu couldn’t go on. He knew if Marshal Yun had arrived any later, Qin An’s condition would have become critical, and the entire garrison might have fallen.

Yun Han’s expression was grim. He knew Qiao Yu wasn’t being alarmist. He had just used his personal account to request that the Military Department unseal his personnel file. His position as Commander of the Heavenly Might Corps had previously been suspended due to personal reasons, leaving him with the title in name only. But now that he had returned to the garrison, he only needed the Military Department to unseal his file to have his command formally reinstated.

Only by having his position restored could he communicate with the sector’s command center with official authority.

Yun Han opened his personal inbox. The Military Department had been efficient; a reply was already waiting. The message stated that the Military Department had looked into his status and noted that Yun Han was Ning Xuan’s Contracted Slave. Therefore, they required Yun Han to obtain Ning Xuan’s consent before they could unseal his file.

It was as if a bucket of cold water had been dumped on Yun Han’s fiery determination. He had been so wound up by the grim battlefield situation that for a moment, he’d forgotten: just being allowed to come to the garrison in person was already an extraordinary act of mercy from Ning Xuan. ’How can I dare to push my luck and ask her to approve unsealing my file?’