I Picked Up Talents in the Interstellar Battlefield

A week later, when the spaceship slowly landed at Qingmu Star's First Spaceport, the entire port was already buzzing with excitement.
The moment the hatch opened, a thunderous roar of cheers surged forth, and the port square was filled with surging crowds, various support banners waving like a sea, and glow sticks flashing dazzling light under the sun.
The mechanical guards maintaining order formed a human wall, yet they still swayed precariously under the impact of the fervent fans.
“Fu Ning! Fu Ning!!!”
The sharp screams of the young girls almost pierced the sky, as a group of fans dressed in silver support uniforms uniformly waved large banners, emblazoned with the four characters “Unrivaled in Attack.”
On the other side, Yue Shenghe’s supporters pounded custom-made golden shields, producing a deafening roar: “Yue Shenghe! Invincible Bulwark!”
The heavy sound waves made the ground tremble slightly.
And the most eye-catching was Zhuge Yu’s fan club.
Hundreds of followers dressed in green robes simultaneously unfurled jade fans, forming a giant Eight Trigrams Formation, their chants sounding like ancient incantations: “Divine Strategy, Flawless Calculation—Zhuge Yu!”
These three geniuses from the same team had clearly become the benchmark for the younger generation across the entire Qingmu Star Region.
Fu Ning, in a white robe as pure as snow, with an ancient longsword at his waist, simply standing there, exuded a sharp sword intent, as if he could cleave the sky at any moment—the perfect embodiment of “Unrivaled in Attack.”
Yue Shenghe, clad in heavy brown armor, his burly figure like a mobile fortress, his Panlong Battle Body was undeniably “Invincible in Defense.”
And Zhuge Yu, fanning himself with a jade fan, always wore a mysterious smile, his half-closed eyes seemingly holding the wisdom to calculate all under heaven.
When the three stood side by side, the roar of the entire port reached its peak. Flashlights ignited like a downpour, forever capturing the figures of this legendary trio.
Of course, there were many other contestants' fan clubs at the scene, and while their numbers were also considerable, their momentum was clearly inferior to these three popularity kings.
At the very back of the genius team, Qin Tian mingled among the spaceship's logistics personnel, quietly observing everything, unable to help but marvel at the Oriental Family's shrewdness.
In the days leading up to Qingmu Star, more than a dozen geniuses, at the Oriental Family's request, began individual or group live streams, not only announcing their safety to the outside world but also reigniting the suddenly cooled enthusiasm for the genius battle.
Now, the focus of external discussion was no longer the Oriental Family's dereliction of duty, but rather more attention was concentrated on the contestants.
Predictions for the Arena Battle champion became the most discussed topic across the entire star region.
Numerous betting agencies also opened their odds, further boosting the Arena Battle's popularity.
Under the watchful eyes of all, the sixteen geniuses boarded a flying vehicle and headed to Qingmu Star's most luxurious hotel to check in. Tomorrow morning at nine o'clock, the sixteen-person Arena Battle will hold its drawing ceremony, and the first round of elimination matches will officially begin tomorrow.
Qin Tian blended in with the geniuses as they entered the hotel, and as soon as he stepped through the door, he saw a familiar face.
“Mingyu!”
“Qin Tian!”
Oriental Bright Universe walked over, stood in front of Qin Tian, looked him up and down, and then remarked with emotion:
“Honestly, recommending you to join the examiner team was the most correct thing I’ve done in years.”
On the second day of the geniuses' return, a detailed report was submitted to the Oriental Family.
The elders carefully and thoroughly read the entire report and immediately understood that there were two greatest contributors to this incident.
Zhuge Yu, Qin Tian. Without Zhuge Yu's Marquis Wu's Eight Trigrams Formation, the sixteen geniuses would have long been defeated one by one by the “ghost.” He was both the commander and the backbone of the geniuses.
However, in terms of contribution, Qin Tian was still far above Zhuge Yu.
Qin Tian’s life domain helped the geniuses Quick Recovery from their injuries.
Qin Tian’s Gate of Space helped everyone escape the Amethyst Prison.
Qin Tian’s symbiotic spirit plant not only resisted the “ghost’s” attacks and, together with the others, killed it, but also provided a protective shield and ample oxygen for the geniuses in space until rescue arrived.
After seeing the report, the elders immediately contacted Qin Tian’s recommender, Eastern Yunhai.
From Eastern Yunhai, they learned more about Qin Tian’s deeds: a colonel officer of the Seventh Bureau, a close friend of the Elf King, the elusive King of Assassination on Elf Star. Eastern Yunhai explained his intention in recommending Qin Tian as an examiner, hoping the elders would value Qin Tian and try to draw him into the Oriental Family.
However, this idea was not approved by the elders.
Eastern Yunhai’s position was not high; he did not understand the significance of the Seventh Bureau and its superior, Lin Shuai. An exceptional talent like Qin Tian would certainly have been on Lin Shuai's priority list long ago, and sooner or later, he would go to the imperial capital to work for Lin Shuai.

Even if Qin Tian was willing to join the Oriental Family, Lin Shuai would never let him go.
However, if they couldn't recruit him, investing in him was certainly still an option.
Investing in Qin Tian was not only to thank him for his outstanding contribution in this incident, but also to establish a deeper connection with Lin Shuai through Qin Tian in the future.
Only those truly in high positions understood the weight of the name Lin Xuanqing.
After considering these points, the Elder Council dispatched Oriental Bright Universe, who had the closest relationship with Qin Tian, to be responsible for his reception and subsequent arrangements.
Qin Tian smiled and said:
“Mingyu, I also gained a lot from being an examiner for the genius battle. I have to say, the Oriental Family is truly generous.”
“Haha.”
Oriental Bright Universe laughed and said, “You don’t know, at first, the internet was full of condemnation against you, wanting to dig up your ancestors for eighteen generations. But the further it went, your popularity and support grew higher and higher. Many viewers even became your fans, and your popularity even surpassed Fu Ning's, a leading by a wide margin.”
“Do you believe me if I tell you that if you shouted ‘I am Black Crow’ outside right now, and put on that Black Crow mask, I guarantee your fans would be even more numerous and crazier than those out there?”
“Forget it. More fans mean more haters. I don't want to be a target; it's enough to quietly make a fortune.” Qin Tian waved his hand.
“Alright.”
Oriental Bright Universe smiled and said, “Your accommodation is also arranged here. The room is ready, and also, tonight, an elder wants to meet with you.”
“This elder holds a very special position. He is the former patriarch of the Oriental Family, Oriental Ke, Elder Ke.”
Former patriarch!
Qin Tian’s heart skipped a beat. The patriarch of the Oriental Family was one of the most powerful figures in the entire empire. Although this esteemed individual had already relinquished the patriarch position, he was still a terrifying figure whose mere presence could cause an earthquake across the entire star region.
“No need to be nervous.”
Oriental Bright Universe smiled and said, “This meeting, firstly, is because Elder Ke wants to meet you, the meritorious official, and secondly, it is also to present you with a grand gift.”
Grand gift~
Qin Tian’s eyes lit up, full of anticipation for tonight’s meeting.
As dark as ink, Oriental Bright Universe led Qin Tian through layers of restrictions to the Oriental Family's ancestral home.
When the ancient wooden door slowly opened, even Qin Tian, who was well-traveled, couldn't help but hold his breath—before his eyes was an endless expanse of buildings, all constructed from ten-thousand-year-old spirit wood, glowing with a gentle luster under the moonlight. Ancient formation patterns flowed between the flying eaves and upturned corners, and every beam and pillar exuded a heart-palpitating spiritual energy fluctuation.
“It’s truly magnificent,” Qin Tian murmured.
Oriental Bright Universe smiled without speaking, leading him onto a path paved with green jade. Lush spirit plants lined both sides, emitting a refreshing fragrance:
There were Nine-Heart Begonias with leaves as translucent as jadeite, each petal autonomously absorbing and exhaling the spiritual energy of heaven and earth;
There were Seven Treasures Wonderful Trees with branches like dragons, their canopies adorned with seven-colored glow;
And even the legendary Telepathic Vermillion Fruit, with faint facial outlines appearing on its fruits, curiously “gazing” at Qin Tian as he passed by.
Qin Tian's pupils contracted slightly—the aura emitted by these spirit plants was all no weaker than Jiela’s.
This meant that along this path alone, there were no fewer than a hundred top-tier spirit plants of Tier 6 or higher planted, and even more terrifying, they all seemed to have developed sentience, “whispering” in the shadows.
“Watch your step,” Oriental Bright Universe suddenly reminded him.
Qin Tian looked down and saw a completely black vine quietly wrapping around his ankle. After being discovered, it actually “shrank” back in a human-like manner, its leaves rustling like a child’s giggle.
In the distance, the canopy of a towering ancient tree suddenly swayed without wind, and a verdant branch slowly lowered, with two crystal-clear, jade-like spirit fruits hanging from its end, exuding an alluring glow under the moonlight.
“Qin Tian, I’m benefiting from your good fortune this time,” Oriental Bright Universe said with a joyful expression. “These are Marrow Cleansing Spirit Fruits from the Immortal Platform Spirit Tree, ripening once every three hundred years. This is its gift to us.”
After speaking, Oriental Bright Universe bowed respectfully and then cupped one of the spirit fruits in his hands.
Qin Tian also took one of the spirit fruits with both hands.
The fruit felt warm and smooth in his hand, like fine mutton-fat jade, with mysterious patterns flowing across its surface.
He took a gentle bite—*crunch!*
With a crisp sound, sweet juice instantly filled his mouth. The taste was indescribable, like the purest spiritual energy of heaven and earth concentrated, yet also carrying the mellow fragrance of a thousand years of aging. The pulp melted in his mouth, transforming into a warm current that surged through his limbs and bones.
Qin Tian’s eyes blazed with light. He devoured the entire fruit in a few bites. Immediately after, he clearly felt an astonishing change occurring within his body—the spiritual energy surging through his meridians became increasingly solid, as if tempered a thousand times over. All three hundred and sixty acupoints throughout his body were like newly polished spirit jades, radiating a lustrous glow. Every pore greedily absorbed the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, with an absorption efficiency more than double what it was before!
He clearly understood what this change meant—it was not merely a temporary increase in cultivation, but a fundamental optimization of his cultivation physique.
From now on, every time he completed a circulation cycle, his cultivation effect would surpass what it was before.
“Thank you.”
Qin Tian cupped his fists in salute.
The ancient tree's branches and leaves swayed gently, rustling, as if responding to his gratitude.
He hadn't even met the elder yet, but he had already received a gift. Qin Tian could only say that the Oriental Family was truly generous!
Oriental Bright Universe did not immediately consume the fruit, but rather placed it in his pocket and continued leading Qin Tian deeper into the ancestral home. Soon, the two stopped in front of a wooden house.
“Elder Ke, I have brought Qin Tian.”
Oriental Bright Universe said respectfully in front of the house.
“Good, come in.”
From inside the door, a slightly aged voice came.
“Yes!”
Oriental Bright Universe gently pushed open the door and led Qin Tian inside.
The wooden door creaked softly, and Qin Tian followed Oriental Bright Universe into the room.
The light inside the room was soft, and the air was filled with a faint, refreshing scent of herbs. By the window, an old man in a plain robe held a jade pot, meticulously watering a pot of spirit plants on the table.
The spirit plant was entirely green, its leaves as crystal clear as jadeite, and as water droplets fell, it swayed slightly, as if enjoying the old man's care.
The old man looked up at the sound, and only then did Qin Tian get a clear view of his appearance—a head of jet-black long hair casually tied behind his head, without a single strand of white, yet his face bore the marks of time, with wrinkles at the corners of his eyes and on his forehead as deep as knife cuts.
However, what was most striking were his eyes.
They were ancient, profound, yet clear as an old well, as if they had weathered a thousand years of wind and frost, seen through the vicissitudes of life, yet had settled into the purest wisdom.
When his gaze fell upon Qin Tian, Qin Tian even had the illusion of being completely seen through, as if all secrets were laid bare before those eyes.
“Qin Tian, sit.” Oriental Ke put down the jade pot, his voice gentle.
Oriental Bright Universe respectfully exited the room, while Qin Tian bowed slightly and sat cross-legged on a cushion opposite the old man.
The room fell silent for a moment, with only the spirit plant gently swaying in the breeze, its leaves rustling, as if whispering.
Oriental Ke looked at Qin Tian, a faint smile appearing on his face:
“Indeed, heroes emerge from the young. I see your age should be similar to those children.”
“Yes—not much difference.”
Qin Tian silently added in his mind, *only about twenty years difference, after all, I’m not even a year old yet.*
Oriental Ke smiled, then his gaze fell on the green vine on Qin Tian’s wrist, and he said:
“If I’m not mistaken, your symbiotic spirit plant should be the long-lost Spirit Devouring Magic Vine.”
Qin Tian nodded. Given the Oriental Family's research on spirit plants, he was not surprised that they recognized the Spirit Devouring Magic Vine.
At the same time, he was not worried that the Oriental Family would have any designs on the Spirit Devouring Magic Vine. After all, the Spirit Devouring Magic Vine's most glorious feat was merely single-handedly resisting 10 Tier 8 beastmen. Within the Oriental Family, Tier 9 spirit plants definitely existed, and perhaps even in significant numbers.
Oriental Ke slowly said, “Back then, the Oriental Family once tried to trade with Dugu Feng for a branch of the Spirit Devouring Magic Vine.
Unfortunately, the deal had not been concluded when Dugu Feng died in battle, and the Spirit Devouring Magic Vine also disappeared without a trace. I never expected the Spirit Devouring Magic Vine to reappear after a thousand years.”
“Qin Tian, I would like to exchange three Silver-level cultivation techniques or martial arts for a branch of your Spirit Devouring Magic Vine. Are you interested in this trade?”
“I am willing!”
Qin Tian agreed without hesitation. Jiela had as many branches as he wanted. Exchanging a mere branch for three Silver-level cultivation techniques or martial arts was, to him, like a pie falling from the sky.
Anyone who refused would be a fool.
Of course, three mere Silver-level cultivation techniques and martial arts were nothing to the Oriental Family. Furthermore, they had the ability to cultivate Jiela’s branch into a complete Spirit-Devouring Demon Vine, so this trade was definitely not a loss for them.
Seeing Qin Tian agree decisively, a smile appeared on Oriental Ke’s face. After chatting with Qin Tian for a few minutes, he pushed two boxes in front of Qin Tian.
“Qin Tian, this time you turned the tide, helping those children successfully escape, and at the same time, you salvaged the Oriental Family’s reputation. In return, the family has also prepared two gifts for you. Open them and take a look.”
Upon hearing this, [N O V E L I G H T] a hint of anticipation appeared in Qin Tian’s eyes, and he opened the first box.