The group passed through multiple security checks and finally arrived in a massive, circular teleportation hall.

In the center of the hall, a complex runic array over ten meters in diameter emanated an eerie blue glow.

"Destination: Celestial Spirit Star Realm, Outpost Seven. Activating teleportation!" a staff member announced loudly after confirming the information.

HUMMM—

The light from the Teleportation Array flared, completely engulfing Xu Wuyi and the others standing within it.

An intense sensation of weightlessness and spatial distortion washed over them, their vision filled with a bizarre kaleidoscope of colorful, flowing light.

After about ten seconds, the sensation vanished abruptly, replaced by the feeling of solid ground beneath their feet.

Xu Wuyi shook his head to dispel the slight discomfort from the teleportation and quickly surveyed his surroundings.

They were inside what looked like a military fortress. The structure was simple but sturdy, with walls made of some kind of grayish-white stone.

The air was filled with a raw, vegetal odor he had never smelled before, along with a faint, almost imperceptible hint of sulfur.

The gravity was noticeably higher than in the Federation’s world, making his body feel heavier.

This was the Celestial Spirit Star Realm.

Outside the window lay a bizarre vista.

The sky was a deep, dark purple, and in it hung two "suns" of different sizes, both emitting a pale, white light.

In the distance was a strange, rolling mountain range, its vegetation a mix of dark red and deep green.

A brand-new world unfolded before Xu Wuyi’s eyes.

Danger and opportunity both lay hidden in this unknown land.

He tightened his grip on the Meteor Iron Long Spear, feeling the Qi and Blood surging through his body. His gaze was sharp, yet calm.

The ten-day mission had begun.

...

"Check your equipment. Acclimate to the gravity." Xiang Yong’s steady voice rang out. He clearly wasn’t a stranger to this kind of environment. "We don’t have much time."

Almost as soon as Xiang Yong finished speaking, a string of crimson numbers flashed to life on the edge of Xu Wuyi’s tactical visor and began to count down—

[239:59:58].

The 240-hour countdown was now ticking away, second by second.

"The day-night cycle here is different from the Star Origin Realm’s, so we’re using a unified countdown to plan our operation," Xiang Yong explained briefly, then pointed to the hall’s exit.

The Star Origin Realm was the Federation’s name for its own home world.

"Our objective is in the Dark Blood Mountain Range, outside the base. We move out immediately. Once we reach the designated area, we’ll set up a forward camp."

With no time to waste, the six-person team departed from Outpost Seven.

The landscape outside the base was even more surreal.

Against the dark purple sky, the two pale "suns" cast a cold light, bathing the land in an ominous hue.

The distant mountains wound across the landscape, their vegetation a mix of dark red and deep green, exuding an air of primordial silence.

"According to intel and the terrain, we need to push about twenty kilometers into the mountains to reach Sample-Rich Zone Three," Xiang Yong said, assigning tasks as he led the way.

"Once we’re in the mountains, the three of us will provide close protection for the researchers. I’ll cover Professor Chen." He looked toward the oldest member of the group, an elderly man with graying hair.

"Liu Qing, you protect Researcher Li," Xiang Yong said to the female Martial Artist.

Researcher Li was the only female researcher on the team. She wore glasses, her expression focused as she calibrated the environmental scanner in her hands.

"Xu Wuyi, you’re responsible for Researcher Zhang." Xiang Yong’s gaze finally fell on Xu Wuyi and the young, nervous-looking male researcher beside him, who was clutching a datapad.

"Understood," Xu Wuyi nodded.

’The assignments were logical. Xiang Yong protects the most important member, the lead researcher; Liu Qing, also a woman, can more conveniently protect the female researcher; and I, with the least seniority, am responsible for the relatively young researcher.’

"I’m in your hands, Martial Artist Xu," Researcher Zhang said, pushing up his glasses and trying to keep his voice steady.

"It’s my duty," Xu Wuyi replied succinctly, his gaze sweeping vigilantly over the unusually quiet, crimson forest around them.

Countdown: [238:41:12]

The team began to enter the Dark Blood Mountain Range.

The effects of the high-gravity environment became more pronounced. Sweat soon beaded on the three researchers’ foreheads, and their breathing grew heavy.

Xiang Yong, Liu Qing, and Xu Wuyi, however, circulated their Qi and Blood to adapt to the strain.

AROOO—

A sharp howl shattered the forest’s dead silence. The dense, crimson bushes to their left shook violently as three gray shadows shot out like lightning, aiming straight for the team’s flank!

They were three Star Beasts that resembled hounds, but were larger and covered in rocky scales. Their fangs were bared, and their eyes glinted with a bloodthirsty light.

"Rock-Scaled Dogs, Martial Artist Level! Watch out for their lunges and claws!" Xiang Yong barked, but he didn’t make a move.

’These low-Level Star Beasts are a good opportunity to see how my two temporary teammates handle themselves.’

Liu Qing reacted in a flash. The twin short blades at her waist were instantly unsheathed as she moved like a phantom to meet one of the beasts. In a flicker of cold steel, she precisely parried the Star Beast’s lunging bite.

Xu Wuyi was just as fast.

The moment the Rock-Scaled Dog pounced, he executed Instant Shadow Step, moving sideways to block Researcher Zhang. The Meteor Iron Long Spear in his hand shot forward like a striking viper, whistling through the air as it lanced out!

THWACK!

The spear tip plunged precisely into one Rock-Scaled Dog’s open maw and burst out the back of its skull.

The Star Beast let out a whimper and died instantly.

The other Rock-Scaled Dog seized the opportunity to lunge at Xu Wuyi’s midsection.

Unable to retract his spear in time, Xu Wuyi gathered Qi and Blood into his left fist and threw a simple, powerful punch!

BAM!

His fist slammed into the side of the Rock-Scaled Dog’s neck with the sound of splintering scales. The immense force sent the Star Beast flying, and it rolled several times before falling still.

The battle had started quickly, and it ended even faster.

Liu Qing had dealt with her target as well, her twin blades now stained with blood.

"Clean up. Let’s keep moving," Xiang Yong said, giving them a satisfied glance at their clean, efficient work.

However, just as Liu Qing was about to kick the Star Beast carcasses aside, Xu Wuyi spoke up. "Hold on."

He walked over to the three Rock-Scaled Dog corpses, crouched down, and hovered his right palm over them.

Dark red Qi and Blood welled up, and a wisp of dark golden Heart Fire flickered to life.

"Burn."

With the whispered word, the dark golden flame silently enveloped the corpses.

HSSS...

There was no thick smoke, no towering blaze—only a faint hiss, as if the matter itself was being unmade.

Before their eyes, the three Rock-Scaled Dog corpses rapidly dissolved and broke down, eventually turning into a small pile of grayish-white ash. Even the bloodstains were incinerated, leaving only a scorched black patch on the ground.

The spreading stench of blood was instantly replaced by an acrid, burnt smell, which then quickly faded.

A flicker of astonishment crossed Liu Qing’s eyes.

She had seen many ways of cleaning up a battlefield, but this was the first time she had witnessed such a thorough and efficient method of "erasing all traces."

Xiang Yong’s eyes flickered, and he gave Xu Wuyi an approving look. "Well done. The Star Beasts of the Celestial Spirit Star Realm have a keen sense of smell. The scent of blood can easily attract bigger trouble. That flame of yours is perfectly suited for this environment."