Chapter 2073: How Could They Stoop for Five Pecks of Rice?
Ever since Jiangnan learned that the Minghe Death Prison wasn't as easy to handle as he thought, he threw himself into a frenzy of training without sleep or rest!
His main focus was on improving his physical fitness and strengthening his combat techniques!
He had to become tougher than those criminals, or else he'd be left with lingering psychological trauma after getting out!
It's always been him giving others psychological scars, not the other way around!
In truth, Jiangnan's close-quarters combat skills hadn't seen significant improvement in a long time!
Various skills from the system had also been maxed out at the Grandmaster level; to go further, he'd have to study and refine them himself!
After reaching Starlight Dao Heaven, Jiangnan's combat style had shifted noticeably, leaning more toward high-output attacks using spatial techniques!
Close combat had gradually become less useful, so this time he had to make up for it by learning every trick in the book, no matter what!
Don't forget, besides the old folks at the nursing home who had their special skills, other transcendents also had their signature moves!
Undefeated Boxer Craig's thrusting punch and finger gun—he could kill someone with just his fingers!
And Octuple Champion Koronov's champion boxing technique, Bad Sister Miye's evasion and blood thorn punches!
Luo Jiaoyang's Powerful Diamond Leg, Ye Zhenguo's Dragon Breath Method—there were plenty of transcendents who came from close-combat backgrounds!
With the system and soul imprinting, Jiangnan learned quickly. Whether he'd use them or not, he just learned them all; having more skills never hurt!
Everyone knew Jiangnan was preparing for prison, and they were all worried sick, eager to teach him everything they knew!
Why would they hold anything back anymore?
Time passed day by day, and on the Apocalypse race's maintenance front, they were restoring the wreckage and ruins piece by piece!
Rows of warships and weapons were neatly arranged, and the restored life planets dotted the Lost Kingdom!
They looked really appealing!
Humanity's foundation was growing rapidly, and during these days, with the full cooperation of Wenge and the human high command,
they completely finalized the Star Road Development Plan. The Apocalypse race was producing at full throttle, with terrifying manufacturing capacity!
The first batch of Dimensional Star Rings had already been produced and installed for use!
Without telling any other race, Wenge and Yang Jian directly set them up in the Apocalypse race's Apocalypse Star Domain and humanity's Milky Way Star Domain!
The Laniakea Supercluster, now belonging to humanity, had been officially renamed the Milky Way Star Domain!
This direct deployment method was far more effective than any advertisement!
And now the Apocalypse race was already using the completed Dimensional Star Navigation to replace most of their race's transportation and transfer work!
When there's a free option, who would still pay?
Once they started using it, they could only say it was truly wonderful!
The close ties between humanity and the Apocalypse race during this time had also caught the attention of the Starry Sky Races!
"Tsk tsk tsk—what's going on? Are humans getting too close to the Apocalypse race? They really forget the pain once the wound heals, shameless!"
"But what have they been busy with lately? I feel like I haven't seen any Apocalypse people or starships at the spaceport recently?"
"Right, right, right! I noticed that too! But the Apocalypse race's shipping routes haven't decreased, have they? In fact, they've increased! Which star route are they using?"
Until that day, they finally found out what humans and the Apocalypse race were up to!
At the edge of the Thousand Stars Domain, ten massive Cosmos-level starships were dragging an absurdly huge Dimensional Star Ring into position in the starry sky!
Its size was no less than the mechanical wormhole the Silicon race was building!
In fact, it was even bigger!
Yang Jian and Wenge stood on the deck directing the installation!
(ﾟ口ﾟ)ﾂ"Hey hey hey—pull it a bit to the left, it's crooked, crooked!"
Everyone was stunned. What were they doing?
Immediately, a Gamma race member came over and asked, "Brother Wenge? What are you guys doing here? Isn't the Silicon race responsible for installing the four gates of Thousand Stars? Why are you..."
Wenge shrugged: ʅ(･´‸･｀)ʃ"Ah—this isn't a mechanical wormhole; it's a Dimensional Star Ring! Humanity has launched a Dimensional Star Navigation service, and we're just helping them build it."
Yang Jian said calmly, "Thousand Stars City is the center of all races' civilization. How could four mechanical wormholes be enough?"
"We humans plan to install four more Dimensional Star Rings, connecting to all points across the star domains. That should be enough, right?"
As soon as he said this, many who came to watch nearly popped their eyes out!
(╯⊙口⊙╰)Holy crap?
Dimensional Star Navigation? What does that mean? Humanity has its own star route?
"Just leave it here! We can start it up!"
"Boom!"
With a loud bang, the space inside the Dimensional Star Ring was shattered, and the ring autonomously absorbed the violent spatial energy from the gap to stabilize the broken space!
As soon as it activated, the Apocalypse race's cargo fleet emerged from inside!
The Gamma entity exclaimed, "Hiss—you actually dare to do this? Are... are you traveling through the Dimensional Gap? Aren't you afraid Black God will destroy you? Won't the dimension creatures attack you?"
Wenge rolled his eyes: "What level is he? The Lord of Dimensions! Does he have nothing better to do? Humanity is opening for business; safety is guaranteed, of course!"
"When there's a free option, who would choose to pay?"
At that moment, everyone swallowed their saliva. So that's why the Apocalypse race was sparing no effort to help humanity build the Dimensional Star Navigation?
None of them were fools; they instantly recognized the value of this Dimensional Star Navigation!
The Gamma entity was even a bit envious. Why didn't such a good thing fall on us?
But recalling the recent Thousand Stars catastrophe caused by humans, all races' expressions turned sour.
(￢益￢ꐧ) "Hmph—Can you Apocalypse race get over that hurdle in your hearts? Humans blew up your garrison planet, and you still use their star route?"
"Even if it's free, I wouldn't use it! I don't trust humans! What if I die in the Dimensional Gap?"
Wenge sneered: (︶.̮︶〃) "You guys are just jealous. Humanity's Dimensional Star Navigation isn't limited to any star domain! Although it's a bit slower than Star Gates, mechanical wormholes, or particle transmission,"
"the ticket price is far, far cheaper. No matter where you are, just set up a Dimensional Star Ring, activate it, connect to the Dimensional Wind Tunnel, and reach any location you want!"
"I wouldn't fall out with money even if I fell out with someone! How much can this save my Apocalypse race in a year? We've already set up at the Beimian Xingkong Kuangchang! The route should be open soon, right?"
Everyone swallowed again. No limit on star domains? If goods mined from the mines could go through Dimensional Star Navigation...
no more high tolls, no more commission on goods? This...
Yang Jian said calmly, "Indeed, humans made a small mistake during the previous Thousand Stars catastrophe, but it was a forced move."
"We want to benefit the starry sky. This Dimensional Star Navigation is one such initiative. Humanity promises that the Dimensional Star Navigation will never engage in price gouging or restrictions on passage."
"We also guarantee absolute safety during travel, because no life can surpass Black God in the Dimensional Gap! This won't be a threat; it will only be a safety guarantee!"
At this, the onlookers began to swallow their saliva.
The Gamma race member wiped his nose:
(｡･ˇกˇ･｡) "So only the Beimian Xingkong Kuangchang route is open? What about the Extreme Dark Star Vault?"
Yang Jian smiled: "The Dimensional Star Navigation has just launched, and the star routes haven't been fully opened yet. So we've introduced the Star Route Self-Operation Plan!"
"If you're interested, you can take a Dimensional Star Ring back to your own race's planets and cities to set up terminals and define routes! Wherever you want to connect, you decide!"
"And for the self-operated Dimensional Star Rings, 0.5 percent of the fees collected in the next hundred years will belong to you!"
"Oh, by the way! Dimensional Star Rings don't require Dimensional Pearls as a power source, so operating costs are very low! If you're interested, welcome to Peach Blossom Star District, Peach Blossom Star, Peach Blossom Village for consultation!"
"There are limited quantities of star rings; first come, first served!"
As soon as he said this, everyone was stunned. What? Take a star ring home and you can start it? Place it anywhere?
No power source needed? And 0.5 percent of the profit goes into your own pocket?
Not only does it make using the star route convenient and cheap, but it also generates money just by sitting there!
(￢～￢٥) "Hmph—Is that so? Tch, I wouldn't cooperate with you! Want us to be free labor for humans building your Dimensional Star Navigation? No way!"
╮(︶～︶)╭ "Exactly! Besides, only giving 0.5 percent profit? Who do you think you're fooling? Only a fool would cooperate with you!"
(￣Д￣) "Hmph—I thought it was something big. Just this? I, the dignified Hidden Spirit Clan, would never stoop for five pecks of rice, let alone half a peck? Let's go, let's go!"
The crowd dispersed in a flash, not a single spectator left.
Wenge wiped his cold sweat:
(•́ω•̀٥) "Damn? They didn't take the bait? Was my Gamma race actor's performance not good enough?"
Yang Jian's vertical eye flashed with golden light: "Hmph—Didn't take the bait? Just wait and see! Let's continue installing!"
The onlookers had indeed run off, but they immediately pulled out their smart brains to make calls!
(°益°〃)ᕤ "Hey? Second grand-uncle? Don't ask! Hurry over! Meet at Peach Blossom Star! Don't ask! Ask and it's a money-making deal!"
ᕦ(๑ò口ó) "Hey? Dad? Hurry to Peach Blossom Star! I tell you, I found a new star route! Our family's mine won't have to pay high tolls or be squeezed by them anymore!"
"Hurry up! If we're late, we might not get a Dimensional Star Ring! One ring is a hundred years' worth of money!"
Fifteen minutes later!
Peach Blossom Village! The same group of people who had earlier shouted they weren't interested and that anyone who came was an idiot,
were now standing in the Dimensional Plaza of Peach Blossom Village, not a single one missing. The air was thick with awkwardness!
They were scratching their heads and digging three-room apartments with their feet!
(•́ㅂ•̀٥) "Ahaha—you came too? What a coincidence? The... the weather here is really nice, sunny!"
(´-ㅂ-`·̣̥̇) "Y-yeah... what a coincidence!"
Meanwhile, the news that the Dimensional Star Navigation had launched and the Peach Blossom Star was holding a terminal self-operation event spread through the Star Network!
The Peach Blossom Star Domain, which had been cold and unpopular, now saw figures of all races rushing toward it!
Afraid they'd be too late!