Chapter 153: A New Class
Hearing this, a complex look flashed in Hu Yan’s light blue eyes. "Do you know what this means? This is your galaxy. You could even start your own country here."
Bai Zhi nodded. "I’m just letting them use it, not giving it to them."
She tilted her head up slightly to look at him. "Besides, you’ll protect me, won’t you?"
As she spoke, the sun began to rise, its brilliant crimson light spilling over the land and bathing Bai Zhi in its glow.
Her face, bathed in the light of the rising sun, took on a soft hue. Her gaze was clear, and her eyes, as they met Hu Yan’s, were exceptionally pure.
Hu Yan’s Adam’s apple bobbed, a warmth spreading through his chest. His gaze softened even more. "Yes. I will protect you. Always."
Bai Zhi smiled at him before adding, "Actually, my initial idea for this galaxy was that you could use it to lure enemies into battle."
Seeing the confusion on Hu Yan’s face, it was clear he didn’t understand. ’If we fought here, our spiritual power would certainly increase, but so would the enemy’s.’
Bai Zhi just gave a brilliant smile. "Because while one area can boost spiritual power, another suppresses it. And in between, there’s a neutral zone."
Hu Yan instantly understood. If their side occupied the zone that boosted spiritual power, they could replenish it at will, while the enemy would have their spiritual power suppressed for the entire battle.
’Wouldn’t the battle be won before it even started?’
They just had to figure out how to lure the enemy here and get them all to disembark from their warships.
Hu Yan asked, "You already have a plan for this place, don’t you?"
"A little," Bai Zhi replied instinctively.
"We’ll talk about this later," Hu Yan said.
Bai Zhi assumed he meant they would discuss it in detail later, so she said no more.
"Let’s go. Let’s see if we can break through to SSS-level today," Hu Yan said, heading for one of the two remaining rooms.
Bai Zhi entered the last room.
「From sunrise to sunset.」
An excited voice pierced the darkness.
"I broke through!!"
"Me too!!"
One after another, people emerged from the row of rooms. Yue Junxiao and Yan Yichen were the first out, and they immediately threw their arms around each other. Their faces were, without exception, alight with excitement and exhilaration.
Yan Yichen exclaimed, "I broke through to SS-level!!"
Yue Junxiao immediately chimed in, "Me too!!"
The two hugged again, jumping up and down, their excitement impossible to put into words.
Then, hearing another door open, they immediately called out, "Lang Qiu, did you break through to SS-level? We both did, so you must have reached the Peak of SS Level, right?"
A rare smile touched Lang Qiu’s perpetually serious face. "Yes. Didn’t quite make it to SSS-level."
"That’s still incredible!!"
They then waited outside for the others to emerge.
Because Bai Zhi had set a twelve-hour time limit, she emerged before Hu Yan and Sang Mo.
Bai Zhi had heard their conversation from inside her room. "Congratulations on your breakthroughs. That’s very impressive."
Yue Junxiao scratched his head, looking a bit sheepish. He blinked up at her. "What about you, Bai Zhi? Did you break through to SSS-level?"
The joy on Bai Zhi’s face was unmistakable as she nodded. "I did."
She hadn’t expected this place to be so effective. In just twelve short hours, she had jumped from a mid-tier SS-level directly to SSS-level.
She was now one of the few SSS-levels in the entire Federation, and possibly the only female among them.
However, she knew full well that her rapid breakthrough to SSS-level was related to the Elixir she had taken. She could clearly feel the ’cauldron’ inside her body constantly spinning, absorbing spiritual power and allowing her to break through much faster.
Everyone was thrilled for Bai Zhi upon hearing of her successful breakthrough.
Just then, Sang Mo and Hu Yan emerged as well.
In an instant, all eyes snapped toward them. When the group saw that even Sang Mo wasn’t wearing his usual cynical expression, it was clear he’d also had a major breakthrough.
As everyone watched with bated breath, Hu Yan spoke. "I seem to have broken through to a new level. One higher than SSS-level—a completely new tier."
His words left everyone stunned.
Yue Junxiao asked curiously, "A new level? What kind of level? SSSS level?"
Hu Yan thought for a moment. "I’ve named it: Divine."
"Divine?" Yan Yichen murmured.
Hu Yan nodded. "Yes. Right now, the highest known level is SSS, but I felt like I touched upon something new. My spiritual power is suddenly different than it was before. That’s why I came out a little late; I was trying to understand what happened."
"Then, Hu Yan," Yue Junxiao said excitedly, "doesn’t that mean you’ve pioneered a whole new tier?!"
Hu Yan shook his head. "Not necessarily. It’s possible others have experienced the same thing and just haven’t mentioned it."
"Regardless, it’s a good thing," Bai Zhi said with a smile.
Then she turned to Sang Mo. "And you? Did you break through?"
With uncharacteristic pleasantness, Sang Mo replied, "Yes. SSS-level."
Yue Junxiao’s voice cracked in astonishment. "You broke through to SSS-level, too?! Doesn’t that mean we have three SSS-levels now? And Lang Qiu is right on the cusp. That just leaves me and Yan Yichen dragging everyone down."
After a two-second pause, Bai Zhi nodded with a perfectly straight face. "That is correct."
Her words hit Yue Junxiao like a bolt of lightning. For a moment, he looked completely shattered.
’I can’t believe I’m still the weakest one, even after reaching SS-level,’ he thought.
Yan Yichen patted his shoulder solemnly. "It’s okay. I’m right here with you."
The exchange between the two made everyone else burst out laughing.
Hearing their laughter, Yue Junxiao instantly realized Bai Zhi was just teasing him. He turned to her with a look of mock grievance. "Bai Zhi! How could you gang up on me with them!"
With that pitiful look on his face, anyone who didn’t know better would think he’d suffered some terrible injustice.
Without batting an eye, Bai Zhi praised him, "You might be the weakest among us, but you’re definitely much stronger than that Beastman who defeated you last time! Among your peers, you’re already considered top-tier."
Hearing this, Yue Junxiao practically puffed up with pride, as if a tail he didn’t have was about to wag itself to the heavens. The smile on his face was unstoppable.
Seeing his reaction, everyone else looked on with fond exasperation. Yan Yichen couldn’t help but cover his face and discreetly put some distance between them.
At that moment, Hu Yan remembered what Bai Zhi had said earlier. He glanced at the time and said, "We can’t stay here too long. Let’s get back to the Starship."
The group nodded and headed toward the Starship.
Yue Junxiao chattered nonstop the entire way, one moment declaring he would challenge that Beastman again, the next moment gushing about how Bai Zhi had praised his strength. They quickly boarded the Starship.
With everyone having achieved a breakthrough, spirits were high. Hu Yan was even in the mood to whip up some food on the Starship.
However, their good mood lasted only until they reached the Main Star. A piece of news wiped the smiles from their faces, and every one of them grew grim.