In the vast expanse of the cosmos, stars shimmered like scattered jewels.

  The Iserlohn Democratic Republic was located in the remote southwestern corner of the Fengzhou Star Domain. In this newly established democratic nation, citizens who had once hoped for a more prosperous life after overthrowing the imperial rule now struggled under the iron fist of President Zagu.

  Under the former Zhao Song Empire, life had been stable. While the standard of living couldn’t compare to that of the great cosmic powers, people at least had their basic needs met. If you were willing to work hard, there was always a chance to rise above your station.

  But under Zagu’s oppressive dictatorship, the private property of countless citizens was seized by powerful officials and aristocratic families. Corruption ran rampant, with greedy officials and a decaying military preying on the weak. Deadly weapons flooded the streets, plunging entire planets into chaos and making survival difficult for ordinary people.

  When they learned that a remnant of the Zhao Song Empire still resisted, hope blossomed in their hearts. They dreamed that one day, the glorious imperial army would reclaim these stars and restore their once-happy lives.

  But their hopes were shattered as the government’s massive military forces mobilized.

  Almost everyone knew that the empire’s last stronghold was short on supplies and ammunition, utterly incapable of withstanding the government’s overwhelming might. Yet, they clung to a sliver of hope—until the government fleet reported that the base had been captured and all resistance crushed. At that moment, all hope vanished.

  If they couldn’t survive here, they would flee.

  To any nation—be it imperial, democratic, or theocratic—as long as it offered a chance to live, they would go.

  Suddenly, people flooded the spaceports of every planet, desperate for a ticket to another country. Tickets were limited, and some were willing to bankrupt themselves to secure one. Corrupt government officials didn’t stop the exodus; instead, they monopolized the spaceports, scalping tickets for exorbitant profits.

  To escape, some even resorted to selling their children…

  The Star Express, the largest interstellar transport company, was no stranger to such scenes. Wars erupted across the cosmos every moment, and the mass exodus from Iserlohn was just another crisis. After notifying headquarters, the local branch began hastily retrofitting its interstellar trains.

  Lengthen them, then lengthen them again. Speed? It didn’t matter; these were refugees, after all.

  Widen them, then widen them further. Comfort? When survival was at stake, who cared about comfort?

  A standard interstellar train designed for 50,000 passengers was now crammed with nearly 200,000 people.

  Food? Sorry, the company hadn’t prepared enough supplies due to the rushed arrangements. If you needed anything, you’d have to buy it from the mobile vendors. Too expensive? Well, you know how costly interstellar transport can be—fuel, staff, storage…

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  The cramped space was filled with the stench of sweat and unwashed bodies, making movement nearly impossible. The once-free, cheap meals were replaced by food and water priced ten times higher. A standard four-person cabin now housed ten, leaving no room to sleep comfortably. Many simply spread their clothes on the floor and slept in their garments.

  The wealthy boarded luxury cruise ships or private yachts, while those with connections hitched rides on cargo vessels. But for the ordinary people who had spent their lives on solid ground, with no money or connections, these overcrowded interstellar trains were their only option.

  The overloaded trains lumbered along at less than a fifth of their usual speed, inching toward an uncertain future…

  "Meow… Yun Yi, Xiyue is hungry…"

  Her long lashes fluttered as her obsidian-like eyes gazed at Yun Yi with pitiful innocence.

  Yun Yi’s stomach growled, empty for days. He couldn’t bear to meet Xiyue’s eyes. They had been waiting at this location for ten days, and the last piece of compressed rations had gone to Xiyue, leaving Yun Yi with nothing for three days. Even with his advanced martial arts training and the enhancements from the mysterious necklace, he could only reduce his activity and endure. He estimated he could last two more days at most.

  He forced a smile and patted Xiyue’s head. "Alright, Xiyue. When the interstellar train arrives, I’ll take you for a big feast, okay?"

  "Mm!" Xiyue nodded vigorously, her mind already wandering to thoughts of the delicious food they would eat.

  Yun Yi’s gaze fell on the mecha’s computer screen, his face clouded with worry.

  According to the original schedule from Star Express, the cursed train should have arrived days ago. But it was already seven days late, with no sign of its approach.

  "Did it change its route?"

  The thought had crossed Yun Yi’s mind repeatedly. But he knew it was unlikely. Star Express trains rarely altered their routes unless faced with unavoidable disasters like supernova explosions or declared major conflicts. The route had been peaceful recently, so it seemed improbable that something had gone wrong in just a few days.

  "Could the train have passed by unnoticed?"

  The chilling thought struck Yun Yi, and he immediately checked the mecha’s detection systems and computer. After confirming the results, he breathed a sigh of relief.

  Everything was normal. The train hadn’t arrived yet.

  "Just a little longer…"

  Leaning back in the mecha’s seat, Yun Yi stroked Xiyue’s smooth, silky hair, his thoughts drifting to the item the little girl had given him a few days ago.

  It was an ancient book, and Yun Yi immediately recognized its significance. In this age of advanced technology, few used such primitive tools for recording information, preferring the convenience and vast storage of computers. With wrist-mounted computers ubiquitous, paper records were a rarity.

  But some still used paper to record certain things.

  Like martial arts manuals.

  As expected, the book’s cover bore five ancient characters: "Hao Qi Zheng Tian Jue."

  The sight of those words startled Yun Yi. He knew this manual well—it was a secret technique reserved for the direct descendants of the Zhao Song imperial family. Without permission, it was strictly forbidden to teach it to anyone else. The "Hao Qi Zheng Tian Jue" was a powerful technique practiced by every emperor, prince, and princess. It allowed for rapid progress in martial arts, with each breakthrough enhancing physical abilities two to three times more than ordinary techniques.

  The power of "Hao Qi Zheng Tian Jue" was undeniable, as evidenced by the achievements of every imperial descendant in history. In the empire’s annual martial arts tournaments, which were judged by renowned martial artists from neighboring nations, at least one practitioner of "Hao Qi Zheng Tian Jue" always ranked among the top five. This was no mere reputation; it was proven fact.

  Legend had it that the "Hao Qi Zheng Tian Jue" was bestowed upon the Zhao family’s ancestor over a thousand years ago by the emperor of the Galactic Empire, the only ruler to ever unify the entire cosmos.

  Sighing, Yun Yi thought to himself, "The new book’s performance is so poor, it’s hard to stay motivated. Writing six to seven thousand words a day is exhausting. But the data is just too dismal—nearly seventy thousand words in, and the clicks haven’t even reached seven thousand. The red votes are pitifully few. Please, if you can, cast a few red votes to give me the motivation to keep writing."