In the Stardust Star Region, the first Life Planet has been renamed the Amethyst Stellar System.
At the Xue Family's headquarters—a ten-kilometer-diameter space station orbiting a star—the massive artificial celestial body continuously draws energy from the star, converting it into various urgently needed supplies.
Simultaneously, the space station serves as the Xue Family's central command post in the Stardust Star Region. All orders are issued from here and executed by the various Xue Family fleets.
In the conference room, the high-ranking members of the Xue Family, all in high spirits, had gathered. While some attended via projection, nearly half of the core figures were physically present, discussing the family's next strategic steps.
"The military has already provided loans worth over fifty thousand merit points. The relevant warship supplies have departed from the Star Queen Overlord's Star Queen Starfield via the Warp Gate and are expected to arrive within half a month," Xue Renyi reported, his face lit with constant smiles these past few days. One good news after another had even improved his appetite.
Xue Renzhi nodded in understanding but offered no comment, instead turning his gaze to Xue Renxin, who was in charge of intelligence.
Noticing his elder brother's attention, Xue Renxin quickly reported, "So far, we've identified over one hundred thirty-five Katon Exploration Fleets, with a total warship count exceeding three corps in scale. However, their combat strength is lacking, maintaining only two corps."
"Additionally, some intelligence suggests that the Tulaka Wormhole Garrison of the Katun Civilization is showing signs of mobilization. They are currently repositioning their defenses. The Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh Fleets stationed at the border remain silent—neither escalating friction with the Federation nor showing signs of war preparations."
"So, we may be facing an assault from over three regular corps? What about our defensive capabilities?" Xue Renzhi turned to Xue Renli, who was responsible for fleet command and operations.
Xue Renli, still personally overseeing fleet adjustments in preparation for war, attended the meeting via projection.
With a stern expression, Xue Renli pulled up a defensive layout diagram and explained, "Currently, all three stellar systems have completed the second phase of the Stellar System Defense System deployment. Combined with the assembled Pathfinder Fleet, our current combat strength amounts to one and a half corps in firepower. However, our actual combat effectiveness is sixty-five percent lower than that of the Katon Fleet. In a direct confrontation, we stand no chance of victory. In a defensive battle, we could inflict three times our own losses on the enemy, but at the cost of roughly forty percent casualties."
"Only three times, even with the Stellar System Defense System?" Xue Renzhi frowned slightly, dissatisfied with the outcome. The purchased fleets had yet to arrive, and the relevant personnel were still undergoing training. This defensive battle would have to rely solely on the Xue Family's existing forces.
Yet, after investing trillions in funds, they could only achieve three times the enemy's losses—effectively a loss in a defensive engagement.
"Is there any way to bolster our defenses further?" Xue Renzhi pressed earnestly.
Xue Renli shook his head. The alliance led by the Li Family was waiting in other stellar systems, eager to see the Xue Family falter. The only reason they hadn't actively sabotaged the Xue Family's efforts was due to military suppression. Recruiting additional Pathfinder Fleets to supplement their firepower was currently impossible.
Xue Renzhi lit a cigarette and took a deep drag, the passage of time marked by its slow burn.
"Alright then," Xue Renzhi began. "Renli, this time we'll focus on defense, using the Stellar System Defense System as our primary offensive output while preserving the fleet's combat strength. We'll ensure safety while weakening the Katon Fleet as much as possible. Can you handle that?"
"Absolutely," Xue Renli replied without hesitation. He had never intended to engage in a decisive battle with the enemy—it wasn't in the Xue Family's best interests. Reinforcements would arrive soon, so there was no need for an all-out fight now.
"One more thing," Xue Renzhi added, his expression darkening. "I received intel from a council member. The reason the military is supporting us is because someone discovered incredibly valuable biological tissue from a Starry Sky Behemoth in the rear of the spiral arm. The military is using us as a front to cover their exploration of the rear star regions—that's why they're being so generous with their aid."
"Biological tissue from a Starry Sky Behemoth? How is that possible?" The room erupted in shock—not because they were being used as cannon fodder, but because of the behemoth's appearance.
Even fifth-tier civilizations dared not provoke such creatures, and sixth-tier overlords could only ensure their own survival. The sudden revelation that a Starry Sky Behemoth was lurking near what they thought was their family's rising territory was nothing short of terrifying.
No one knew what might catch a behemoth's interest. If it ever developed a taste for humans—or even just passed by and took a casual bite—the Xue Family would suffer catastrophic losses. What could they do?
Yet, the allure of three Life Planets was irresistible to the Xue Family—or to any faction in the Federation, for that matter. Even with a starving tiger sleeping right beside their den, the Xues were more concerned with how to lure it away—just as the Elven Civilization had done—letting it wreak havoc elsewhere.
"The intel is confirmed, though the behemoth's exact location remains unknown. There's no need to dwell on it further—what's out there is no longer our concern. The military's demands don't conflict with our needs. Even without their interference, we'd still have to fend off the Katon Fleet."
"Here's some good news to lift your spirits—the Li Family-led team in the rear is also part of the military's plan. Though I hope they won't get the chance to intervene."
Xue Renzhi's words eased the tension in the room. Happiness is relative—knowing others shared their misfortune made their own plight feel less dire.
The meeting concluded swiftly. The Xue Family dismissed the issue of the Brolly Starfield—since they couldn't benefit from it, they chose to ignore it entirely, focusing instead on overcoming their immediate challenge.
The Xues scrambled to prepare defenses against the Katon Fleet, but the attack never came—at least, not for them. Three days after the meeting, three Katon armadas appeared outside the Li Family's Fifth Star System and launched a full-scale assault.
Relentless firepower systematically dismantled the Li Family's Star System Defense Network, while overwhelming Drone Swarms crushed every countermeasure the Li Family had prepared.
For a time, Star System Five was even at risk of being occupied. To rescue it, the Li Family team mobilized elite forces from various defensive points to launch a counterattack, and the great battle between the two sides began.
Within the star systems locked by each other's space anchors, both sides gathered a total of five legions of warships, with the battlefield spanning the entire star system and beyond.
However, the Li Family team's commander was less capable than the Katon Fleet's, always half a step behind in fleet coordination, causing the Li Family's mixed fleet to suffer continuous defeats with rapidly mounting casualties.
--Support me in Patreon for more chapters 35+ chapters in there
patreon.com/LegendaryTL
Thanks!