Interstellar Farming: I Make Potions and Climb to the Top

Qinghe, Lan Xin, and Nine-tailed had crossed paths at the Training Institute. Qinghe was a few years older than Lan Xin and Nine-tailed and had left several years before them. Unfortunately, though Qinghe’s Spiritual Power Level and Potential Value were both high, the master who took him in was unable to soothe him and instead abused him. This caused Qinghe’s spiritual power to rampage, and he accidentally killed that Controller.

Qinghe was originally slated for execution. However, much like Di Youlin, his origins were extraordinary. With the Elder Council’s intervention, he was sent to the Star Sky Chaos Domain. His death sentence would be commuted if he could survive and achieve military honors.

He must have had some luck on his side, as he actually managed to survive the Star Sky Chaos Domain.

Aside from Qinghe, Ning Xuan had rejected all the other candidates that the major families and various powers had tried to force onto her team.

All told, Ning Xuan’s team consisted of exactly 13 people. Compared to other groups, which often numbered in the hundreds, theirs was an exceptionally small squad.

And it was this 13-person squad that the Military Department assessed as S-Class.

"I’ve gathered everyone today for two reasons," Ning Xuan said. "First, to relay the details from the mobilization briefing held by the Military Department today. Second, since most of you haven’t met, this is a chance for introductions."

"My name is Tang Xue, and this is my Contractor, Min Wu. My Spiritual Power Level is A-level, and Min Wu’s is S-Class. Our Combat Power isn’t high, but we’re fast runners. Min Wu’s current ability can transport seven or eight people at once, no problem." Tang Xue gave a simple introduction for herself and Min Wu.

"I’m Wang Yue, S-Class Spiritual Power Level. I specialize in all kinds of mechanical fabrication and modification." Wang Yue didn’t say much else, figuring they would all get to know one another in due time. 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

...

...

The others followed suit, giving brief self-introductions. When only Qinghe was left, he remained silent, his face an icy mask.

In the end, Lan Xin couldn’t help but speak for him. "His name is Qinghe. He’s our external support from the Controller Protection Association. He’s currently atoning for past crimes and is under my master’s supervision. His Spiritual Power Level is SSS-level, and his Comprehensive Combat Power is SS-level."

「The next day.」

Countless graduating students, external support personnel, and soldiers dispatched by the various military corps to develop the New Star Body all boarded large interstellar Starships and headed for the jump point.

These Starships were like steel behemoths floating in the cosmos, their bodies gleaming with a cold, metallic luster. Their hulls were covered by Energy Shields that emitted a faint blue halo, as if draping each vessel in a flowing veil of starlight.

The Starships were streamlined, with prows as sharp as swords. The engine arrays on their flanks resembled unfurled wings, spewing streams of azure ions that carved brilliant trails through the blackness of space. The emblems of their respective military corps and academies were emblazoned on the hulls, gleaming in the starlight as a testament to their might and honor.

The massive viewports were like the eyes of the cosmos. Through them, one could gaze out at the boundless universe, where starlight scattered like diamonds, inspiring a profound sense of awe.

Inside the Starship, the corridors were lined with semi-transparent holographic walls displaying real-time navigational data, external environmental scans, and a journey countdown. The floors were covered in a flexible, rubber-like material that gave a slight, comfortable spring to each step. Countless miniature light spheres hovered near the ceiling, automatically adjusting their brightness and position as people moved, providing perfect illumination for every corner.

The central hall was the heart of the Starship. A virtual starscape was projected onto the lofty, domed ceiling, mirroring the real cosmos outside. In the center of the hall stood a holographic map table displaying the Star Domain they were about to enter. Many of the students were on a Starship for the first time. They gathered excitedly around the map table, their hushed conversations filling the air with a restless excitement.

In the living quarters, service droids zipped about, providing passengers with food and supplies. The temperature and gravity in the personal quarters could be adjusted to individual preferences, and the holographic screens on the walls could simulate any landscape, all designed to give every passenger the most comfortable experience possible.

From the observation deck, one could clearly see the Starship slowly cruising toward the jump point through massive panes of reinforced glass. The point itself was a massive vortex of warped space, encircled by a resplendent halo of energy, like a mysterious gateway opened by the cosmos itself.

Upon reaching the jump point, the fleet of Starships came to a halt. Everyone disembarked and transferred to the Jump Ships. Compared to the spacious and luxurious Starships, a Jump Ship was little more than a tin box. It had no seats or functional areas—just an empty hold. Students, support personnel, and soldiers filed in one after another, soon packing the space to capacity.

Lin Mo, Yun Han, Chen Nan, and Di Youlin formed a protective circle around Ning Xuan, with the rest of the team forming another layer around them. The Jump Ship’s engines began to roar as its Energy Shield intensified. The entire vessel vibrated slightly, as if gathering power for the impending jump.

The gentle voice of the ship’s AI sounded: "All personnel, please be advised. The jump is about to commence. Please secure your positions and refrain from moving." As the countdown finished, the Jump Ship lunged forward. Their vision instantly stretched into countless streams of light, as if they were plunging into a tunnel woven from starlight.

A vast sea of stars appeared in Ning Xuan’s mind, but her vision began to black out. Her stomach churned violently, and her body felt as if it were being torn apart by countless invisible hands. More terrifying still was the dizzying sensation of vertigo, as if she had been swept into an endless vortex where even the concept of time seemed to twist, warp, and accelerate without end.

Just as her consciousness was about to fade, a tremendous BANG ripped through the ship. Like a fragile glass sculpture, the Jump Ship disintegrated in midair, and a blinding light instantly flooded the cabin.

In the weightlessness, Ning Xuan saw passengers flung in every direction like kites with their strings cut, or like the embers of a falling firework.

Vines burst from Ning Xuan’s fingertips, tracing dozens of elegant arcs through the vacuum. They snaked out to bind all her teammates together, weaving themselves into a massive net-like structure as they plummeted, before finally coiling into a sealed, hemispherical shield.

Spurred to action by Ning Xuan’s vines, the others quickly recovered. Lin Mo activated his Skill, King’s Guardian, enveloping the vine shield in a layer of white light. With a flick of his hand, Qinghe caused rows of sharp blades to sprout from the shield’s exterior. Wang Yue pulled a flexible wire from his pack, attached a piece of cloth, and after some quick tinkering, managed to fashion a crude parachute. Unfortunately, it wasn’t very sturdy and fell apart almost immediately.

Still, thanks to these combined efforts, everyone’s nerves settled. Although they were still buffeted by the freezing temperatures and fierce winds, as their altitude rapidly dropped, they found themselves calm enough to survey the environment below.