Starforce Warriors

Several colossal transport ships appeared in the skies above the Military Guard Bureau's fortress square. It was Li Xiaofei's first time witnessing military transport ships with his own eyes.

Each vessel stretched thousands of meters long, resembling enormous skyborne Kun[1]. Their sheer scale was intimidating to behold.

These special transport ships had never been seen before in Chongque City.

"Solar Whale-class troop carriers, the only means of transport from Chongque City to the Star Battlefield of the cosmic galaxy," Hu Shuo said with deep emotion. "This is my third time seeing them... and I'm still just as shaken. Every time they appear, it means the frontline has reached a critical stage. Every major base planet must start mass conscription. Even Chongque City is expected to fulfill its recruitment quota... It's never a good sign."

Li Xiaofei's gaze remained on the massive vessels. Their silver hulls shimmered faintly with light. Though clearly mechanical in nature, they still exerted tremendous psychological pressure on him.

Each ship felt like a living Black Hole-class cosmic lifeform as it emanated an invisible aura of dominance. Li Xiaofei saw a single, blazing white pillar of light beam down from one of the carriers. It hung in the air like a majestic, dazzling silk strand from a willow tree.

Then came the spectacle. Phalanx after phalanx of troops were beamed up into the transport ships, as if the legendary Solar Whales were devouring all beneath the heavens. Each formation contained one hundred soldiers. They were cosmic lifeforms who had been recruited from various successfully evolved base planets.

After receiving their gear and weapons from the Military Division in Chongque City, they were quickly formed into squadrons and transmitted aboard the Solar Whale-class ships to leave the solar system. Then, they'd be sent to the true battlefield among the stars.

At least several hundred thousand cosmic lifeforms had already been teleported aboard, and the process was still ongoing.

"Let's go." Hu Shuo patted Li Xiaofei on the shoulder. "You won't be able to avoid it this time either. The City Lord's Office has issued the conscription quotas to every gang and faction, so you'll definitely be assigned a recruitment target. If you fail to meet the quota, there'll be a heavy fine. Fortunately, since you've lived in Chongque City for less than a hundred years, you're not subject to mandatory service yet."

"Even Chongque City has to participate in the conscription?" It was the first time Li Xiaofei had heard of such a policy.

"Yes," Hu Shuo replied. "Anyone who's been a resident of Chongque City for over a hundred years is required to serve in the Star Battlefield for thirty years. After that, they can retire."

Li Xiaofei asked, "Does that include the City Lord, the various Lords of Command, and council members?"

"Yes," Hu Shuo confirmed, "but there's a special clause. You can buy your way out of service. As long as you can afford it, you can pay a commutation fee to skip this round of conscription. Of course, the number of such buyout slots is limited. Chongque City gets only five hundred in total."

As they spoke, they passed through several checkpoints before finally leaving the Military Division. Li Xiaofei could clearly feel the rising tension in the city. Conscription posters and recruitment campaigns were plastered everywhere. When he returned to the Exploding Star Gang, Huang Dinggou was already rushing to meet him.

"Brother Chen! You're finally back." He looked visibly anxious as he said, "The quota for our hall just arrived, they need twenty soldiers in total. But we only have fourteen out of everyone eligible and willing to serve. If we can't meet the quota, we'll face a massive fine."

Li Xiaofei asked, "How many days left until the deadline?"

"Ten days."

"Then there's no need to panic. We'll think of something."

Li Xiaofei remained calm. This sort of matter didn't really worry him. After all, even if they failed to meet the quota, the fine would be paid by the Exploding Star Gang, not out of his own pocket. He could just write it off as an official expense. But when he took the list of the fourteen who had already volunteered, and casually glanced over it, he suddenly froze.

Li Xiaofei looked at Huang Dinggou, his expression growing serious. He asked, "Are you serious?"

He had actually seen Huang Dinggou's name on the list.

Huang Dinggou chuckled sheepishly. "Well, I've hit the residency limit. Nothing I can do about it. It is mandatory service."

Anyone who had lived in Chongque City for a hundred years was required to serve on the frontlines. Li Xiaofei hadn't expected that Huang Dinggou had already crossed that mark...

No, thinking more carefully, anyone who had survived in Chongque City for a full century had probably already lived for several hundred years elsewhere. It confirmed what he had always suspected. Here in Chongque City, even a humble tavern waiter might once have been a peerless warlord or a supreme overlord in some distant world.

"If you don't want to go, I can try to think of a way," Li Xiaofei offered.

Huang Dinggou was likely walking into death at his current level of strength. It would be better to hold off, focus on cultivating for another century and go when he was truly ready. That way, he wouldn't be a burden on the battlefield.

Huang Dinggou simply smiled again and said, "This time... I want to go."

Li Xiaofei looked at him, surprised.

Huang Dinggou said quietly, "I want to find someone. I don't even know... if she's still alive."

Li Xiaofei's expression shifted subtly. So there was a story behind this. But he didn't ask further. Everyone had their own past, and not every story needed to be told.

"In that case, then prepare yourself properly," Li Xiaofei said. "Ten days isn't enough time to cultivate anything significant, but go pick out some equipment for yourself. I'll reimburse you later."

"Got it! Thanks, Brother Chen!" Huang Dinggou was overjoyed.

Li Xiaofei didn't waste any time and made his way to headquarters, where he met with the gang leader, Wei Xiaotian. He briefly summarized the events on Earth No. 1818, and passed along Hu Shuo's proposal.

The elegant Wei Xiaotian had a smile that could enchant countless women. He was widely known as the most handsome man in all of Chongque City.

Upon hearing the news, he chuckled and said, "Since Director Hu invited you, you should accept. Once you become the Chief Evolution Officer for Earth No. 1818, you'll essentially be holding absolute authority over an entire world. That alone could bring great benefits to our Exploding Star Gang."

Li Xiaofei nodded in agreement.

Wei Xiaotian gave him a mysterious smile and patted him on the shoulder. He said, "Don't worry, the gang will fully support you."

Li Xiaofei nodded again.

After leaving headquarters, he contacted Si Kongxue. He also stopped by the merchant guild to pay a visit to her parents. They shared a meal at the Si Family home, and just as things were winding down, Si Kongxue dropped a bombshell that left the other three completely stunned.

"I'm pregnant," she said.

Li Xiaofei froze. Her parents were instantly petrified.

***

One hour later.

Li Xiaofei was walking through the marketplace with Si Kongxue, picking out some baby products. He had finally processed the news that he was going to be a father. He hadn't expected Si Kongxue to be the one who would bear his first child.

Li Xiaofei had even suspected some time ago that his reproductive capabilities might've been compromised by the Moonlight Treasure Box. He'd thought there was a good chance his sperm were no longer viable.

Now, he was actually feeling quite happy. But just as they finished shopping and were on their way home, a group of people blocked their path.

"You're Li Qingchen, right?" They were led by a man in his early thirties, dressed in luxurious robes and exuding the natural authority of someone long accustomed to power. He gave Li Xiaofei a slow, measuring look. He said, "I heard you're trying to run for Chief Evolution Officer of Earth No. 1818?"

Li Xiaofei frowned.

"And you are?" he asked politely.

The man gave a faint smile and replied, "Don't bother asking who I am; you couldn't afford to offend me anyway. I'm just here to give you some advice: drop out of the race. Stick to your little gang life, and you'll live in peace. Otherwise..."

He leaned forward slightly, voice cold and threatening. "You won't even know how you died."

1. Kun, is a giant fish or whale in Chinese and East Asian mythology. ☜