Chapter 00066: Galaxy Selection
# Galaxy Selection
Chapter 66
Novel: Abandon The Universe
Chapter 66: Galaxy Selection
Just after Qin Yue left, Ding He arrived at Lan Xiaobu's residence.
"Ding He, how was your trip with Ke'er to Heavenly Net Star?" Lan Xiaobu asked with a smile when he saw Ding He come in.
If it weren't for Ke'er, Ding He might not have gone to Heavenly Net Star at all. It was precisely because he went there that he began to have thoughts of survival.
Ding He looked a bit embarrassed and didn't speak. He just bowed to Lan Xiaobu.
Like Qin Yue? Lan Xiaobu looked at Ding He curiously, "Are you planning to leave too?"
Ding He said, "Brother Lan, after going out with Ke'er, I've decided to leave the Guard Squad. Based on the information I've gathered, the death rate of the Guard Squad is over ninety percent, even reaching a hundred percent. There's practically no chance of survival."
"Do you want to become a planet drifter?" Lan Xiaobu asked.
Ding He shook his head, "No, I plan to join an adventure squad. Whether I survive will depend on my luck, but it's better than staying here to die. I feel Brother Lan won't leave with me, so I won't try to persuade you. Actually, sigh..."
Lan Xiaobu patted Ding He's shoulder, "Ding He, in terms of age, you should be older than me. I understand your feelings. We were just temporarily teamed up, so there's no need for any guilt. Maybe one day in the future, we'll meet again."
Lan Xiaobu understood Ding He's intentions. Ding He felt guilty for joining his squad but unable to live and die together. However, he felt there was no need for that.
In fact, Lan Xiaobu knew why Ding He didn't invite him to leave together. The so-called adventure squad was essentially doing dangerous things with their lives at stake. Their warship being intercepted in the universe was actually done by such adventure squads.
The fact that Ding He came to say goodbye before leaving showed he valued relationships, and it was worth the time they spent together.
"And Ke'er?" Lan Xiaobu asked casually.
Ding He looked even more awkward, "Ke'er didn't want to join the adventure squad with me. He said he would only follow Brother Lan. Actually..."
Ding He knew himself well. He wasn't afraid of death. If he were, he wouldn't have joined the Star Expedition Army or joined Lan Xiaobu's squad in front of Lenna.
But he wanted to live, to return and take revenge. As long as there was a glimmer of hope, he didn't want to give up. Joining the Guard Squad meant almost no hope of survival.
Lan Xiaobu didn't say much more. He took out a piece of paper, quickly wrote something on it, and handed it to Ding He, "Ding He, the road ahead is long, and I don't have anything good to give you. This is something I came across by chance. After you read it, remember to destroy it. The vast universe is full of opportunities. Who can say we won't meet again in the future?"
"Thank you, Brother." Ding He quickly accepted it and then left in a hurry.
Lan Xiaobu was no longer in the mood to cultivate. He gazed out the window at the distance, determined to ensure the Sixth Prince and others entered Jade Dawn Star, allowing him to enter as a guard.
...
A few days passed, and the gathering bell rang on the thirty-first floor.
When Lan Xiaobu arrived at the thirty-first-floor plaza, he found that, including himself, only sixty-one people were left. Besides the initial twenty-three who left, more people had left later. However, none of them had informed him, likely because they found some hope of survival on Heavenly Net Star and quietly left.
"Xiaobu..." Ke'er came over to Lan Xiaobu with Gudao. He wanted to caution Lan Xiaobu to be careful since almost forty people had left at once, and Lan Xiaobu would likely be held responsible. After all, he was leading this Guard Squad.
However, before he could speak, Commander Tai approached with Ning Dongrou, Chang Yuan, Miao Yimo, and Pasia.
Seeing only about sixty people left in the plaza, Commander Tai's expression immediately changed.
The fewer people there were, the less safe they were.
"Lan Xiaobu, what's going on?" Commander Tai's face was extremely unpleasant. They had brought a hundred guards, and now only a few dozen were left. Lan Xiaobu looked confused and then said somewhat ashamedly, "Sixth Prince, you instructed not to wander outside, so I stayed in my room and didn't go out. I really didn't know so many people had left. This is my oversight."
If they were on Abandoned Night Star, Commander Tai would have ordered Lan Xiaobu's execution without hesitation and then chosen a new lieutenant. But here on Heavenly Net Star, even with a million flames of anger in his heart, he couldn't act on it.
Ning Dongrou snorted coldly, looking at Lan Xiaobu as if he were a dead man.
Lan Xiaobu also sneered inwardly. Even if he completed the mission and safely brought these people back to Abandoned Night Star, he feared there would be no good outcome for him.
It took Commander Tai a long time to calm his anger before he said, "Since the people have left, the rest will go with me to participate in the Hundred Mo Star System selection competition."
"Commander Brother, with so few of us, we might not have much chance," Pasia pouted, looking a bit unhappy.
Lan Xiaobu sighed inwardly. On the surface, Pasia seemed the most innocent and naive. Coupled with her weapon, the wolf fang mace, it made people think she was straightforward. But now it seemed he was still too young. Two lifetimes, yet still young.
Pasia's expression clearly showed she knew they were sent to their deaths. Yet, with her sweet words, calling out "Brother Xiaobu" affectionately, she appeared genuine and naive.
...
The Hundred Mo Star System selection competition was not far from the Resting Pavilion where Lan Xiaobu and others were staying. When they arrived, it was already packed with people.
Although there were many people, Lan Xiaobu knew very well that there were almost no spectators. Most of the people here were cannon fodder from various planets in the Hundred Mo Star System. Except for a few participating geniuses, most were like them—cannon fodder.
Even though half of Lan Xiaobu's Guard Squad had left, the Abandoned Night Star Guard Squad wasn't the smallest. Some planets only brought fifty guards, likely just participating for the sake of it.
The place where Lan Xiaobu and others gathered was a massive plaza. In the middle of the plaza was a channel about four yards wide, with a door at the end. Or rather, the end of the channel was a silver wall with a door in the middle, facing the channel. This wall seemed to cut the large plaza in half, making it look somewhat uncoordinated.
At this moment, over two hundred riders charged into the plaza through the channel, quickly lining up on both sides. The plaza fell silent, and everyone instinctively stood in their places.
Initially, Lan Xiaobu thought these were cavalry, but upon closer inspection, he realized these soldiers weren't riding horses but machines resembling horses. Ever since he cultivated Divine Sense, Lan Xiaobu's sixth sense had become stronger, and these horse-like machines gave him a strong sense of threat.
After about ten minutes, an ordinary four-wheeled vehicle came through the middle of the channel and stopped in front of the door at the end.
The car door opened, and a man in his thirties stepped out. His hair was sparse, seemingly not matching his age. The inconsistency wasn't just his hair but also his eyes. Those eyes gave Lan Xiaobu a strange feeling, as if they were somewhat distorted.
Judging by the expressions of the two hundred guards around, Lan Xiaobu guessed this man was not simple.
The man waved to everyone in the plaza and then said loudly, "Many of you might not know who I am, so let me introduce myself. I am Mu Zeji, the ruler of the Chongyuan Empire on Heavenly Net Star. Today, I'm here to cheer you on. Every time I stand here, I'm both happy and worried. I'm happy because so many geniuses from the Hundred Mo Star System are participating in this selection. I'm worried because some dangers in the selection are unavoidable.
But these selections are necessary. Otherwise, the Hundred Mo Star System will grow weaker and eventually be erased from the universe. Today, I'm here to promise each genius participating in the selection that if you pass the Hundred Mo Star System's selection, you can become a person of status on Heavenly Net Star. If you can pass the galaxy competition and become the one to enter Jade Dawn Star, you can choose any place on Heavenly Net Star to rule.
In addition, any guards who can protect their planet's genius and survive will also be allowed to reside permanently on Heavenly Net Star with noble status."
The crowd erupted with excited shouts, clearly showing that the last statement was what most people were hoping for.
Mu Zeji waved his hand, "I announce the selection begins now."
(End of this chapter)