NOVEL NEXT chapter 428 - Preparation, Undercurrents
"Boss, we have safely arrived at White Bird Star."
In the video communication, Li Qi's voice remained steady. His report was concise and clear, and he did not inquire about Qin Tian's months-long disappearance. As a subordinate, he only needed to efficiently complete his tasks and not overstep by prying into his superior's privacy.
Qin Tian nodded, "First, find a local area to settle down. Also, you've seen Pluto's environmental report. To establish a foothold there, strength alone isn't enough; material preparation must be thorough. You'll take the lead on this, working with Poison Widow and Old Ghost."
He was about to take up his post on Pluto, and naturally, he couldn't go alone. He definitely had to bring his subordinates with him. Aside from Feng Mocheng, who needed to remain at Lingfeng Trading Company, Li Qi, Old Ghost, Poison Widow, Xiong, Terrida, and numerous Dark Division and Barbarian warriors would all accompany him to Pluto.
However, Poison Widow was once a wanted criminal, and Xiong and Terrida were also non-humans. Although their identity issues had been resolved by spending money, it was still better to be cautious in the heavily guarded Imperial Star region.
Therefore, before leaving, he instructed Li Qi to first lead the team to White Bird Star in the Imperial Star Circle to settle down. After he arrived at Pluto, he would then have the main force follow.
"Yes," Li Qi nodded heavily.
The call ended. Qin Tian stood in the command cabin of the spaceship, his gaze fixed on the starry river through the porthole.
Pluto was initially known as a notorious "life restricted zone" within the Empire's territory—the entire planet was covered by thousands of meters of glaciers, with year-round temperatures below minus 100 degrees Celsius. Once it entered its polar night cycle, the extreme cold would plummet below minus 200 degrees Celsius.
More critically, the atmosphere here was thin, and the oxygen concentration was less than one-third of the main star's. Even Spiritual Energy Users above the fifth rank needed equipment to survive for extended periods.
Although Pluto was listed among {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} the "Eight Planets Guarding the Imperial Star," its development history spanned only a few decades.
It wasn't until the Empire's planet transformation technology matured that the military first formed an expeditionary force to establish a presence and open up strongholds in this extremely cold land.
To defend the initial strongholds, the Imperial Army paid a heavy price, suffering countless casualties.
But this sacrifice also brought rewards—Pluto's "value" gradually became apparent: Ten-Thousand-Year Profound Ice buried beneath the ice layers was a core material for refining low-temperature resistant equipment; Permafrost Star Sand could enhance the stability of spatial devices or be used to forge top-grade weapons; extremely cold mineral veins contained rare metals scarce to the Empire; and within glacial fissures grew precious Heavenly Frost Snow Lotuses—
These treasures, like magnets, attracted various forces, with pioneering teams, merchant caravans, and mercenary groups continuously pouring in. Coupled with the advancement of planet transformation projects, Pluto gradually gained popularity, forming several human settlements.
Yet, even so, the extreme cold environment remained an insurmountable chasm—over 90% of the planet's area was still untrodden wilderness, with undeveloped resources slumbering beneath the ice. Its harshness was comparable to the Far Eastern Siberia of Old Earth, where danger and opportunity intertwined into a complex web on Pluto at this moment.
Qin Tian didn't know what position he would hold on Pluto, but preparation work had to be done in advance.
In addition to personnel, various supplies also needed to be prepared to adapt to the upcoming extreme cold environment.
After finishing his calls with Yan Qing and Li Qi, Qin Tian took out the Mythology Society token again. Three months had passed, and he had unfortunately missed the second Mythology Society gathering.
As his soul power probed the token, several private messages entered his mind.
Sea God Poseidon: "Hades, why didn't you attend the Mythology Society gathering? Did you encounter trouble?"
Sea God Poseidon: "If you have trouble, you can tell us. Maybe we can help you solve it easily."
God of War Ares: "Hades, thank you for the Explosion Iron Balls. My problem has been resolved. Recently, I've collected a lot of dragon blood, including the essence blood of a seventh-rank black dragon. I couldn't give you the blood spirit pearl at this gathering. I will collect more dragon blood for the next gathering. If possible, please make some more Explosion Iron Balls. I can trade other treasures."
True Martial Great Emperor: "Kid, not dead yet? If you're not dead, remember to make a sound."
Athena: "Hades, I need a batch of Explosion Iron Balls, at least ten thousand, the more the better. What do you need? Contact me directly. We'll trade at the next gathering."
Qin Tian read the private messages from these individuals and replied to each one.
To Poseidon: "Poseidon, I'm fine. The trouble has been resolved. Thank you for your concern. See you at the next gathering."
To Ares: "Ares, keep the blood spirit pearl for now. I will ask Duobao to forge a similar treasure for me. At the next gathering, I will prepare another ten thousand Explosion Iron Balls. Besides dragon blood, dragon sinews, dragon meat, and dragon scales can all be used for trade. Just accumulate them.
To True Martial Great Emperor: "Hmph."
To Athena: "Alright. As for the trade list, I haven't decided yet. I'll list it for you in a while."
Qin Tian retrieved the Mythology Society token into the Yin Space, his fingertips caressing the cool edge of the token—he always valued this circle highly, especially now that he was leaving his base on Silver Gray Star to venture to Pluto to start anew. The Mythology Society's resource network would undoubtedly save him a lot of trouble and become crucial assistance at critical moments.
He leaned back in the spaceship seat, his gaze falling on the swirling stardust outside the porthole, a hint of contemplation in his eyes.
Undoubtedly, Pluto was a desolate place. Even with opportunities like Ten-Thousand-Year Profound Ice and extremely cold mineral veins hidden beneath the ice, the polar night at minus two hundred degrees Celsius, the thin oxygen, and the terrifying creatures lurking beneath the ice still caused most officials transferred there to feel a sense of desolation, as if they had been "exiled."
Qin Tian had originally thought that as a rapidly rising star of the Seventh Bureau, and being a clone, after being transferred from Silver Gray Star, he should have directly fallen under Marshal Lin's command. However, the final transfer order he received was to take up a post on Pluto.
He had never questioned Marshal Lin's wisdom and vision. That legend, also a clone, who had ascended to the top ten marshals through his own efforts, every arrangement he made must have deep considerations, far beyond what Qin Tian could currently fathom.
Moreover, he was not resistant to this transfer order—although Pluto was a desolate place, it was one of the eight planets surrounding the Imperial Star, considered to be "under the Son of Heaven's feet," adjacent to the Empire's center of power.
And the planet's nascent development pattern was even a stage where he could unleash his full potential and achieve great things.
However—
Qin Tian's fingertips slid across the optical computer screen, pulling up the Pluto data sent by Li Qi, his brows furrowing slightly.
The situation he was about to face was probably ten times more complex than on Silver Gray Star.
He knew very well that once he went to Pluto, he would most likely have to confront the saint blood families entrenched there head-on.