Sitting on a hard metal chair in the base cafeteria, Xu Wuyi ate a mediocre but substantial synthetic meal and drank a slightly sweet energy drink. He felt his Qi and Blood and Spiritual Power slowly recovering within the safe environment.

He gazed out the window at the strange, dark purple sky, his mind drifting.

’These six days of training in the Star Realm have been quite fruitful.’

’Not only did I test the combination of the Undying Flame and the Shocking God Spear technique in real combat, but I also experienced fighting the Werewolf Race firsthand.’

...

After the restorative meal, Xiang Yong gave everyone a day off to fully recover and adjust their condition.

The three researchers needed a thorough rest and more detailed physical examinations. Xiang Yong and Liu Qing also needed time to debrief, review their findings from the trip, and maintain their equipment.

Xu Wuyi used this rare free time to explore the accessible areas of the base, familiarizing himself with this isolated island in the Otherworld.

The base’s interior was much more spacious than it appeared from the outside. Its structure was simple and sturdy, with clearly defined functional areas.

Aside from the core Teleportation Array hall, command center, and energy sector, there were dormitories, a cafeteria, a training ground, and a supply warehouse.

However, this Alien Star Realm lacked the ubiquitous networks and A.I.s of his world. Only primitive communicators were functional here, something Xu Wuyi found difficult to get used to.

In a small training ground in a corner of the base, he saw several resident Martial Artists warming up or engaging in low-intensity sparring.

These Martial Artists were all at Life Energy Level 35, the maximum level that could safely pass through the Teleportation Array.

Their auras were dense and focused, and their sharp eyes carried a vigilance born from spending a long time in an Otherworld, as well as a certain sense of stagnation.

They couldn’t focus on their cultivation here. Once they broke through to Level 36, the rules of this planar fragment would prevent them from ever returning to the Federation’s main world through the Teleportation Array.

It was a silent sacrifice. Being stationed here year-round meant their path forward in Martial Arts was all but severed. They did this just to guard the outpost and ensure the safety of future exploration and research.

If the Celestial Spirit Star Realm was deemed worthy of further development, it wouldn’t be long before some of these Martial Artists received a large cache of resources.

They could then use those resources to break through, perhaps even reaching the Innate realm, becoming the Federation’s greatest assets in this Star Realm and the administrators of the base.

The price was that they would never be able to return to the Federation.

Of course, this wasn’t mandatory, but there were always those who volunteered.

For now, there was no Battle Network for recreation, and it wasn’t practical to engage in any real sparring, lest someone get injured.

So, during their downtime, these stationed Martial Artists mostly gathered together. Some would silently clean and maintain their weapons, while others conversed in low voices, sharing stories from their patrols and the latest updates on the Werewolf Race’s activities.

Xu Wuyi’s youthful face and composed demeanor caught the attention of a few of the Martial Artists.

"New face? University student?" a slightly hoarse voice asked.

Xu Wuyi turned to see a middle-aged man in a worn combat suit leaning against the wall. He was holding an old tobacco pipe, though it wasn’t lit.

A deep scar ran across his cheek, from below his left eye down to his jaw, giving him a fierce appearance. His eyes, however, held the tranquility of one who had weathered many storms.

His Life Energy Level was also 35, but to Xu Wuyi, his Qi and Blood felt more condensed than that of the others he had met.

"Yes, sir. Xu Wuyi, from Star Martial University," Xu Wuyi answered calmly.

"Old Cat, don’t scare the kid," a burly Martial Artist nearby chuckled, polishing a giant axe.

The man called Old Cat ignored his companion’s teasing. His gaze swept over Xu Wuyi, lingering on the Meteor Iron Long Spear at his side.

"Xiang Yong brought you? I heard you guys took out a pack of wolf pups a few days ago. They said some kid took down a War General all by himself. That was you, wasn’t it?"

News traveled fast. Xu Wuyi nodded. "I got lucky."

"Heh, in this godforsaken place, luck is a part of your strength," Old Cat said, the corner of his mouth twitching, making the scar twist. "But you can’t survive on luck alone. Those wolf pups hold a grudge. It’ll be even more trouble the next time you meet."

The burly man interjected, "Old Cat here holds the record for killing the most Wolfman War Generals. He’s got plenty of experience. Kid, you’d do well to listen to him if you get the chance."

Old Cat waved a dismissive hand, seemingly unwilling to dwell on the subject. He changed topics, asking, "Your Spear Technique—it uses Spirit Shock, doesn’t it?"

Xu Wuyi was inwardly surprised. ’The man has a sharp eye.’ "I’ve dabbled in it," he admitted.

"Spirit Shock is a good thing against those tough-hided, sharp-clawed wolf pups. It can disrupt the rhythm of their frenzy." Old Cat tapped his unlit pipe. "But be warned. High Tier War Generals have strong wills. Don’t expect to succeed with just one hit. So... timing is crucial."

This was invaluable combat experience, and Xu Wuyi committed it to memory. "Thank you for the advice, sir."

Old Cat grunted in acknowledgment and said no more, resuming his lazy slouch against the wall as if he hadn’t spoken at all.

Xu Wuyi lingered in the training ground a while longer, listening to the stationed Martial Artists chat about the characteristics of different regions in the Celestial Spirit Star Realm, as well as the habits and weaknesses of several common Star Beasts.

These seemingly fragmented bits of information were all firsthand knowledge, the kind that was hard to come by in the Battle Network or the university’s databases.

...

The day of rest passed quickly.

The countdown was recalibrated. Time remaining: [96:00:00].

The six-person squad assembled once more, leaving the relative safety of Outpost Seven for the second and final planned sample-rich zone.

Perhaps luck was on their side, or perhaps the route Xiang Yong had chosen was simply safer, but the second phase of the collection mission went unexpectedly smoothly.

Over four days, they only encountered a few scattered groups of Low-level Star Beasts, which were dispatched with ease before they could even mount a decent resistance.

Professor Chen led Researchers Zhang and Li in efficiently completing the collection of the remaining samples.

Everyone began to think the mission might just conclude this smoothly.

However, disaster always strikes when one is least prepared.

More than halfway through the ninth day of the mission, with the countdown showing [28:15:03], the team was crossing a damp basin filled with fluorescent ferns.

As Researcher Li bent down to collect a rare, twin-stalked fluorescent mushroom, a slippery rock beneath her foot suddenly shifted. She lost her balance, and her arm shot out reflexively to brace herself against a nearby cluster of dark-colored thorns.

"AH!" she cried out in pain, snatching her hand back. Several bloody scratches were now visible on her forearm. An unnatural, bluish-purple color was rapidly spreading around the wounds, and she could feel a numbing sensation.

"It’s the poison thorns of a Ghost-Face Bramble!" Professor Chen’s expression changed instantly. He rushed forward to inspect the wound. "Quick, the antidote!"