Chapter 91: This Life, For You

Chapter 91: This Life, For You

During the nationally televised meeting between the two camps, Xu Qingran punched Mu Ziyue, the commander of the Golden Wing Battalion, in front of the entire empire.

And it wasn’t just one punch.

When Xu Qingran walked over and punched him in the face, the surrounding people were too shocked to react immediately.

He vaulted over the table with one hand, chased after Mu Ziyue, and gave him another beating: "I’ve been holding back for a long time, old man."

After Mu Ziyue fell, Xu Qingran grabbed him by the collar, lifted him up, and punched him in the face again.

"What kind of idiot commander always makes his key officers do things outside their job scope?"

"And uses public office for private gain."

People from the Golden Wing Battalion quickly stepped forward to stop him, but despite Xu Qingran’s outwardly delicate D-type appearance, his strength was so great that several civilian officials couldn’t hold him back.

With a forceful push and kick, they were all as fragile as paper, sent flying.

The Golden Wing guards nearby immediately pulled out their weapons upon seeing this.

However, Xu Qingran was right next to Mu Ziyue, and the guards with firearms dared not shoot, fearing they might accidentally injure Mu Ziyue.

The close-quarters guards drew their knives and rushed forward, but Mu Ziyu on the opposite side reacted quickly, calling in Silver Dragon guards to aim their guns at them, slamming the table and yelling: "Xu Qingran is a colonel of our Silver Dragon. If you touch him, see whose knives are faster or whose snipers can take out your commander first!"

Outwardly, he seemed protective, but in his heart, he had already cursed Xu Qingran a dozen times.

Although Xu Qingran’s punch felt really satisfying, couldn’t he have chosen a more appropriate time, like when he dealt with him, to ambush Mu Ziyue?!

The Silver Dragon guards also took the opportunity to intervene.

The guards from both battalions began fighting on the spot, while the civilian officials exchanged insults, throwing the scene into chaos.

The live audience was stunned.

After all, no matter how hostile the two battalions were, these high-ranking officials had only ever traded barbs or snide remarks in front of the camera. It was the first time someone like Xu Qingran, who didn’t care about the fallout, had to go up and punch someone.

But thinking it was Xu Qingran, it suddenly made sense.

—Otherwise, why would he be called the little lunatic?

At the venue, Ling Yuege, who was currently working under Mu Ziyue, was also present.

As one of the close-protection guards, she did not join the other guards in saving him, but stood expressionless below, watching.

When someone from the Golden Wing Battalion noticed and asked her, she coolly replied: "According to the empire’s regulations, E-types are forbidden from attacking D-types."

"Colonel Xu is a D-type."

"If I hit him, I would be sent back to the Tower of Evil." Ling Yuege spoke with calm logic, "So unless the commander-in-chief personally orders me and provides a written guarantee in front of more than three witnesses, I absolutely will not act."

"This is also the basic instruction given to us E-types by the Tower of Evil."

The Golden Wing guard: "..."

Although this reason was very logical, how could Mu Ziyue possibly find the time to give orders and stamp documents at this moment?!

Ling Yuege's words, however, served as a reminder to everyone.

Aside from Type E users, ordinary individuals are generally barred from attacking Type D individuals. In the Kayan Empire, acts of violence against Type D individuals are deemed criminal. This is why the guards near Xu Qingran could only resort to verbal warnings to dissuade him.

Thus, the arrogant and powerful Xu Qingran was utterly unstoppable.

Mu Ziyue endured a few more punches.

The chaos persisted for a brief moment.

At that moment, across various faction branches monitoring the talks between the two battalions, all relevant personnel were equally stunned.

Both Shen Tingyu and Xie Nanjun were at the Golden Wing headquarters.

They weren't part of Mu Ziyue's trusted inner circle, hence their exclusion from the negotiations.

The two sat in the office, enveloped in a prolonged silence.

After a while, Xie Nanjun finally murmured, "Xu Qingran's really in for it this time, isn't he?"

Shen Tingyu remained silent, his calm gaze fixed on the live TV broadcast.

Xu Qingran finally ceased at Mu Ziyu's urging.

Of course, the real reason he stopped was that he had vented enough. He couldn't actually kill Mu Ziyue in front of so many people—at least, not yet.

System: "..."

Mu Ziyue is the empire's crown prince. Host, you're being so blatant; you're going to face severe punishment, right?!

Xu Qingran was unfazed.

In fact, before making this decision, he had already weighed the consequences.

Yet, he still chose to go through with it.

Mu Ziyue was so enraged that his entire body trembled.

Even when Shen Tingyu had beaten him in the palace, he hadn't been this furious.

He gestured at the chaotic scene and demanded angrily, "Is this how your Silver Dragon Battalion conducts negotiations?!"

Xu Qingran responded earnestly, "No."

"This is my personal stance and attitude; it has nothing to do with the Silver Dragon." As he spoke, he pointed to the spot on his chest where his badge should have been, "See, I didn't even wear the Silver Dragon's symbol today."

The badge serves as the most crucial token for military and political personnel within a faction.

Wearing it means their words and actions in public represent the faction. Xu Qingran's move, in a sense, allowed him to exploit a loophole.

"The peace talks between the Silver Dragon and the Golden Wing have nothing to do with me wanting to beat you up."

Xu Qingran smiled, but his eyes were icy cold: "I just wanted to hit you because of personal grievances."

"Do you think you deserve to be the Golden Wing's commander-in-chief?"

Xu Qingran took the opportunity to list his crimes: "One face in front, another behind."

"Think about how pitiful the people working under you are, being betrayed by their own commander-in-chief without even knowing it."

Mu Ziyue, in a fit of rage, ignored the dissuasion of others and rushed forward to choke Xu Qingran by the neck.

Xu Qingran, unusually, did not fight back, his smile laced with disdain.

Struggling to speak, he mocked him in a low voice, "Jealous, aren't you, Mu Ziyue?"

"After all, if you were an E-type today, you could have completely dominated me."

Mu Ziyue was visibly provoked by his brief words, a flash of murderous intent rising in his eyes.

Despite the excruciating pain from the force on his neck, Xu Qingran smiled, allowing Mu Ziyue to humiliate him in front of countless cameras. Mu Ziyue's eyes were filled with such hatred and madness, his fierce and terrifying expression nothing like his usual dignified and humble demeanor.

Until a gunshot skimmed Xu Qingran's shoulder and hit Mu Ziyue's arm.

Successfully stopping him from continuing his rampage.

The person who fired the shot was Ji Huaixiu, who arrived at the scene after hearing the commotion.

As a newly promoted E-type of the Silver Dragon Battalion, Mu Ziyu would definitely bring such a valuable asset to the negotiations as a precaution. Being an E-type, Ji Huaixiu had an inherent dislike for seeing a D-type like Xu Qingran being pressured. Moreover, he considered Xu Qingran a friend from military academy and couldn't stand by and watch him be killed by someone from the Golden Wing.

After achieving his goal, Ji Huaixiu holstered his gun and stated firmly, "I was merely protecting our precious D-type from the Silver Dragon Military."

A reasonable justification.

As a result, the talks failed.

Even though the media had been urged to cut off the live broadcast, the initial chaos had already been seen by most of the public.

Unsurprisingly, public opinion erupted once again.

Discussions online were nonstop.

"...I don't know what to say right now."

"As a member of the Silver Dragon, I'm just as shocked."

"Well, well, the little lunatic always manages to outdo himself in craziness."

"But those familiar with the little lunatic know that he won't start trouble unless someone else does. So I'm curious, what did the Golden Wing's commander do to anger our little lunatic..."

"Xu Qingran, such an unstable character, has just been given a bit of a clean slate, and now people are taking his actions seriously?"

"I think he's just completely insane, you Silver Dragons should stop making excuses for him!"

"You Golden Wings shouldn't defend him without question either!"

"Exactly, did you see your commander's expression just now? That was not the calm and composed commander you always talk about! With that look in his eyes, I wouldn't be surprised if he's killed someone!"

As for the instigator, Xu Qingran.

Publicly assaulting the crown prince is a serious violation of imperial law, and even if Mu Ziyu tried to shield him, he couldn't.

After several hours of deliberation in the palace, it was finally decided to send him to the Tower of Evil for disciplinary measures.

"Long time no see, Colonel Xu."

At the entrance of the Tower of Evil.

The Tower Master, with his hands behind his back like an old school principal, smiled at Xu Qingran like a Maitreya Buddha.

Xu Qingran was still wearing his dashing and finely crafted silver dragon colonel uniform.

He responded with a friendly smile: "Long time no see, how have you been lately?"

He appeared aloof and composed, as always.

Judging by his expression, one couldn't tell that his hands were restrained. Behind him followed a sizeable group of escort personnel. As a D-type, and a colonel of the main camp, it was a first for him to be sent back to the Tower of Evil in such a manner.

The Tower Master chuckled and said: "Same as usual."

"Staying in such a rundown place, how could things be good or bad?"

The staff at the Tower of Evil, including the Tower Master, had watched the live broadcast of the incident.

They hadn't expected that Xu Qingran, whose name they remembered from years ago, would be sent back in such a dramatic manner.

Xu Qingran, as the accused who publicly assaulted the prince, possessed the strength to fight against 3S-level personnel. He also had a previous record of being sent to the Tower of Evil. Therefore, this time, his entry wasn't just about being sent to the 5th outer tower for rehabilitation.

Under high-ranking guards' supervision, the Tower Master had him taken to Tower 2, designated for E-types, where he was confined with extremists.

Tower 2 had the heaviest security in the entire Tower of Evil.

Even with Xu Qingran's formidable mental strength, it was impossible to break out of the prison, something even Shen Tingyu couldn't achieve in his time.

This was Xu Qingran's first time ever entering Tower 2.

Compared to the bustle of the outer towers, it was much quieter here. Each E-type, failing personality and stability tests, was isolated in separate cells, spaced apart.

There were more security doors here than in Tower 3, which he had visited before.

They were made of exceptionally expensive and scarce, yet very sturdy materials, indicating how much they dreaded the potential outbursts of these E-types.

As Xu Qingran passed by, he made a point to look at the security alarm facilities.

All were electrically controlled.

On the seemingly endless corridor, a large group of people made their way through.

Whether it was due to the commotion or that the person being detained was a D-type, the usually indifferent E-types all reacted. They pressed against the small windows on their cell doors, their eyes staring intently at the detained Xu Qingran.

Xu Qingran had undergone soul matching with these E-types, a process that links individuals on a deep, spiritual level.

They all held some level of interest in him.

After a long walk, the group finally stopped in front of an empty cell.

The number on it was 29-188.

29th floor, cell number 188.

The Tower Master escorted Xu Qingran inside.

It was empty, with nothing but a bed, a table, a chair, and a small combined bath and toilet.

After sending him in, the Tower Master sighed before leaving.

Shaking his head, he said: "Colonel Xu, do you know that the true power behind the Tower of Evil belongs to the Queen and the eldest prince?"

This statement implied that his days in the Tower of Evil might not be easy.

Xu Qingran hadn't thought about this aspect.

After listening, he felt that the things he had dreamed of seemed even more real.

The room quieted down after everyone left.

Xu Qingran lowered his head and touched the handcuffs locked on his wrist, slowly raising the corners of his mouth.

As if hatching another wild plan.

·

"I strongly object!"

In the palace conference hall, Mu Ziyu slammed the table and stood up, shouting.

"So what if he hit you a few times? Why should Xu Qingran face such a harsh punishment?!"

Feeling his authority challenged, Mu Ziyu, unusually bold, pointed at Mu Ziyue and said, "You, a 3S-level Supreme Commander, got beaten by a D-type. Shouldn't you take a good look at yourself?"

Mu Ziyue's expression darkened even more.

He said icily, "Mu Ziyu, how dare you speak to me like this now?"

Mu Ziyu paused.

The noblewoman beside him, exuding the authority of an elder, replied for him, "What's wrong with his tone?"

"He is a leader of the same faction as you, your equal. Why can't he challenge your opinion?"

Mu Ziyu remembered being beaten by Shen Tingyu and Xu Qingran together, and Mu Mingrui hadn't punished them but instead warned him.

He shouted, "What about Father? He's fair. Let him decide how to handle this!"

Beside the main seat, a woman who had remained silent since the meeting began finally spoke.

Her tone was unhurried, "Ayu, you're really not acting like a proper child."

The speaker was dressed in a classical long-sleeved gown, adorned with intricate patterns embroidered in gold and silver threads.

Her hair was styled with exceptional elegance, her entire presence exuding dignity and nobility, her eyes sharp and composed. As a woman, she had the presence to dominate the entire room.

She was the Queen of the Kayan Empire, Su Ya.

She gently tapped the lid of her teacup a few times, took a slow sip of tea, and then looked up at Mu Ziyu, saying, "Don't you know? Your father's health is failing. He collapsed after just a few bites at dinner the day before yesterday."

"He still hasn't regained consciousness."

Mu Ziyu was stunned.

He wondered, how could he not have known about this?!

He glanced at his mother, whose expression was also troubled.

Then the Queen declared, "So, all matters of the Kayan Empire are now under my control."

Mu Ziyu's expression instantly darkened.

The Queen was Mu Ziyue's birth mother. What difference did it make to transfer power to Mu Ziyue?!

The Queen, in front of everyone, spoke with the authority of the Queen of the nation and said, "You can be sure, regarding the competition for the throne between you and Mu Ziyue, I will not interfere and will strive to maintain the fairness of this contest."

"However," she smiled gently, her eyes unmistakably commanding, "today's incident, after all, has Mu Ziyue as the victim."

"How to deal with that disobedient colonel should naturally be left to him to decide, what do you all think?"

This latter statement seemed to seek the opinion of everyone in the conference hall.

But given what she had just said, and with Mu Mingrui not present, and all imperial affairs, big and small, under her control, who would dare to argue?

Mu Ziyu wanted to say more, but Mu Yela on his side tugged at his hand, silencing him with a glance.

He could only sit back down in frustration.

In every way, their Silver Dragon side was indeed at fault.

On the other side, Mu Ziyue's expression finally softened slightly.

His gaze was dark, clearly already planning how to deal with Xu Qingran.

Mu Ziyu frowned.

—Back then, when Shen Tingyu beat Mu Ziyue, he suffered so badly. This time, Xu Qingran has humiliated him in front of so many people, wouldn't he endure even harsher punishment than Shen Tingyu?

Especially since the authority over the Tower of Evil is now in the hands of the mother and son on the other side, he has little influence.

...Wait, is he really concerned about Xu Qingran?!

Mu Ziyu was startled by this realization, his expression darkened.

...Hmph, why bother worrying about that madman?

He deserves it! Causing such a huge scandal, if he doesn't die, who will?!

Though he thought so, after the meeting, Mu Ziyu still made various calls to inquire among his contacts if there was any way to bend the rules of the Tower of Evil behind the scenes.

On the other side.

Xu Qingran, who had been sent to the Tower of Evil, was currently sitting in the office of the Tower Master of Tower 2.

He had just entered, barely sitting down, when he was taken out again.

But it was only temporary.

His hands were still cuffed, limiting his psychic abilities.

Mainly because someone had called the Tower Master.

Compelled, the Tower Master allowed Xu Qingran to come and take the call before any orders from above came down.

On the other end of the phone was Shen Tingyu.

When Xu Qingran answered, there was silence on the other end, as if one could feel a bit of oppression from this stillness.

It seemed Shen Tingyu was really a bit angry this time.

Xu Qingran decided to speak first: "I couldn't help it, the thought of what he did to you made me want to act."

In the office, there were only him and the Tower Master.

The Tower Master, who was reading an e-magazine, instinctively looked his way upon hearing his words.

Xu Qingran, however, didn’t pay attention and focused on reassuring the person on the other end: "I already knew what would happen before I acted."

"Don’t worry, I came here on my own."

After a long pause, the other person sighed: "Xu Qingran, how could I not be worried?"

"The Tower of Evil is different from any place you’ve been to before. It’s darker and scarier than you think."

"I paid a heavy price to get out back then."

Xu Qingran slightly clenched his fist.

His voice tightened slightly, almost unnoticeably, as he said, "I know."

"I have my own plans."

That’s right.

Xu Qingran wanted to come back to the Tower of Evil on his own.

Shen Tingyu didn’t try to talk him out of it.

He only said, "Mu Ziyue will probably have someone come after you."

"I already gave the Tower Master a heads-up, which should make things a little easier for you."

"The faction has some important things to deal with right now, so Mu Ziyue won’t be able to come over anytime soon."

Shen Tingyu’s tone was also heavy: "I have some things to take care of during this time too."

"I’ll have Xie Nanjun figure out a way to get you out as soon as he can."

Xu Qingran reassured him once more: "Don’t worry."

Afraid that Shen Tingyu would only get more anxious the longer they talked, Xu Qingran firmly hung up the phone.

The Tower Master had already made tea for him by then.

He even offered him a seat.

Xu Qingran didn’t hesitate.

The Tower Master seemed to just want to make small talk: "I never would have expected this."

"I remember when you and Tingyu met here, you two didn’t get along very well, especially since he was the one who sent you to the arena."

Xu Qingran smiled faintly: "Yes."

He teased, "So now, he has to spend the rest of his life making it up to me."

The Tower Master caught the implication in his words.

Clearly, he had also been following the news outside the tower and asked in surprise, "Isn’t your relationship and compatibility...?"

Xu Qingran wasn’t that familiar with the Tower Master.

So instead of revealing the truth, he said, "You know, neither Shen Tingyu nor I are the kind of well-behaved, honest people."

"The excitement of immoral acts is what we truly love."

The Tower Master fell silent.

It wasn't exactly illegal, just a breach of moral ethics, something that could only be condemned.

But having lived to this age, he had no intention of preaching.

"His Highness has just sent down his orders," the Tower Master suddenly said.

Xu Qingran remained silent, his expression particularly calm, as if he was ready to face his punishment.

The Tower Master continued, "For now, he only wants us to keep an eye on you."

"He said he will personally come to carry out your punishment after he finishes his official duties."

Hearing this, Xu Qingran's gaze paused for a moment.

Then, he suddenly let out a low laugh, inexplicably happy.

He confirmed, "Is he serious?"

"This is his only chance to make me suffer, and he's not planning to take it?"

The Tower Master looked worried, "Colonel Xu, don't be too happy too soon."

"His Highness's methods are much harsher than those of the Tower of Evil staff. You might be sent to the terrifying Tower 1. Perhaps you could ask Tingyu for more details; he would surely agree with me and wouldn't want to see this happen."

Xu Qingran only laughed more heartily.

Holding his stomach, he waved his hand at the Tower Master, taking a while to calm down before saying, "No, he will definitely regret his decision today."

The Tower Master shook his head, thinking he was just overly confident.

Since the punishment didn't need to be carried out immediately, Xu Qingran asked the Tower Master if he could take him around the Tower of Evil.

He even requested to see the execution area first, to familiarize himself with the environment in advance.

This made the staff leading him around look at him with particularly complex expressions.

While Xu Qingran was 'touring' the Tower of Evil, many things were happening outside.

First, there was the announcement of Xu Qingran being sent to the Tower of Evil.

This caused great dissatisfaction among the Silver Dragon personnel, who were furiously discussing it online.

Although there were many fans of Xu Qingran in the Golden Wing Battalion, this time he had clashed with their Commander-in-Chief, making it hard to judge right from wrong.

The two sides engaged in another online war of words.

Among them, the most intense reactions came from the military guards and citizens of the Dragon System.

They had just started to ease relations with the official Silver Dragon headquarters, thanks to Xu Qingran, but now they were beginning to show signs of defiance again.

However, this time their protest was mainly for Xu Qingran.

"Damn it, you people from the prosperous star systems really have too much nonsense!"

"The boss must have his reasons for doing this. If he says that Mu Ziyue is not a good person, then he definitely isn't!"

"How your factions choose to compete is your own affair, but please return our colonel, thank you."

Next, there was the matter of Mu Mingrui's severe illness and coma.

After several days of observation, the palace officially announced the news, urging citizens to prepare in advance.

The king's serious illness spells political turmoil.

With the palace's affairs now largely in the hands of the queen, suspicions arose that Mu Ziyue might seize the opportunity to claim the throne.

This has further heightened tensions between the two factions.

The ban's end remains a distant prospect.

Amidst a pile of troubles, the Silver Dragon and Golden Wing Battalion also held a meeting regarding the empire's defense.

—This was the important task that was supposed to invite everyone for a discussion last month.

"...Your Highness, according to recent data provided by relevant departments, it has been confirmed that the position of the devil tribes has moved 10 light-years closer to the territory of the Kayan Empire."

In the largest conference hall of the Golden Wing Battalion headquarters, Mu Ziyue was sitting in the main seat, leading a critical meeting with various military officials.

Shen Tingyu was seated very close to him. Despite their personal grievances, they still showed their serious attitudes in such an important occasion, discussing solutions to the issues.

Mu Ziyue turned his chair around, his gaze fixed on the data chart projected on the screen, his brow deeply furrowed.

Devils, a group of alien creatures speculated to have migrated from the Pegasus galaxy 3000 light-years away, accidentally moved into the Glare Cluster.

According to biologists, they originally migrated because their habitat was destroyed, compelling them to seek a new habitable environment.

In fact, apart from the Kayan Empire, other galaxies within the Glare Cluster, whether human settlements or alien races that have maintained a non-aggression pact with humans for thousands of years, are equally plagued by their presence.

Devils are not just attacking the Kayan Empire in large groups.

During their migration, they split into several different tribal groups. Each group is composed of various types of devils from low to high levels, and these devil tribes are led by the only 'King' in the group.

Each large group has only one King.

As members of the same race, the Kings communicate with each other through information exchange, and when given the choice, they prioritize attacking and seizing territories of other races.

The Kayan Empire is facing one of these large devil tribes.

Since they have not completely conquered human territory, they are currently confined to nesting on barren, uninhabited planets nearby. Over the years, their nesting sites have remained roughly 100 light-years from the Kayan Empire, locked in a stalemate with humans.

However, recently, they have displayed a desperate hunger to claim territory.

They are even willing to sacrifice large parts of their forces to destroy the defensive energy stations built by the Kayan Empire within that 100 light-year distance.

The cause of this development remains unclear.

However, it is clear that their challenges are severely impacting their survival.

Breaking the silence, the data officer continued, "Now they have started attacking the energy station at a distance of 60 light-years."

There, is the largest defensive energy station currently established by the Kayan Empire. Including the surrounding area, it is a meteoroid-rich zone, serving as a natural barrier against alien incursions. If they breach that checkpoint, their invasion will accelerate significantly.

"If we fail to defend that stronghold, allowing them to invade to a distance of 50 light-years, the nearby resources will fuel their expansion."

"Moreover, as the distance shrinks, their advance will quicken."

"According to the system's prediction, our empire's current human resources will be surpassed by their invasion speed. By then, our containment efforts won't be able to keep pace with their invasion, leading to a repeat of the Tianlong system's collapse..."

By that time, they would have no way out.

Now, they and the Silver Dragon side must assemble expedition teams from each faction to deploy to the front lines and fight.

This is an exceptionally critical mission.

In the silence, a voice spoke up voluntarily.

"I can take command here at the Golden Wing."

Upon hearing this, Mu Ziyue and the others turned their gaze to the speaker.

It was the man with black hair and blue eyes, always calm and steady, who brought reassurance to the Golden Wing.

Their camp's current Grand General, Shen Tingyu.

Shen Tingyu's tasks have always come in two forms.

One was directly assigned by Mu Ziyue.

The other was in response to requests from subordinates within the same camp.

This was the first time he had stepped forward voluntarily.

But given the gravity of the situation, it was indeed only he who could handle it within the entire camp.

So no one in the room objected.

Only Xie Nanjun looked at him with concern.

Mu Ziyue did not object either.

Soon, other battle-hardened generals stepped forward, volunteering to participate.

Then they began drafting the list of team leaders.

Xie Nanjun had initially wanted to join as well, but was stopped by his direct superior, Shen Tingyu.

Not just him—Shen Tingyu also stopped several equally capable individuals.

His reasoning was simple: "Just in case."

"This is the first probe, and no one can rule out unexpected developments."

"If the first group encounters setbacks, we might still need reinforcements. So I believe the first group of scouts doesn't need as many strong commanders," Shen Tingyu glanced around at the people present. "Having me as the main one is enough."

Though reluctant, they acknowledged Shen Tingyu's reasoning was sound.

Meanwhile, the Silver Dragon side was also convening.

Wang Jian had specifically returned from Tianlong, volunteering to lead the Silver Dragon forces in this operation.

Lu Cheng would serve as backup, ready to deploy if necessary.

They even attempted to leverage this to request the palace to release Xu Qingran for the mission, but all requests were denied.

As soon as word spread of the devil horde's unusual movements, the empire's citizens grew anxious.

Online, citizens from both factions are discussing important matters, which has inadvertently eased the disputes between the two camps, showing signs of unity in the face of major events.

Immediate action is required.

Both factions finalized personnel, supplies, resources, and battle starships in just three days.

One hour before departure.

Shen Tingyu sat in his office, clutching his private communicator, deep in thought.

A past life.

Yes, Shen Tingyu has a past life.

In his past life, the Kayan Empire couldn't withstand the devil horde's assault.

They dispatched a team to a station 60 light-years away to resist and repair, but the mission failed, resulting in the empire's downfall.

Of course, that was only a tragedy for the Kayan Empire.

Not for him. Back then, he welcomed the outcome.

But this life is different.

Xu Qingran has entered this world, and to secure his place, he must avert the fate of his past life.

The devil horde's migration includes their 'King'.

The horde's ruler, or more precisely, the entity controlling all devils, is a being of supreme class.

To his knowledge, no one's mental strength can destroy its 'heart'.

Even he can't do it.

In his past life, he failed.

If he can't do it, it's unlikely anyone in the Kayan Empire can.

Shen Tingyu's fingers lightly traced the communicator back and forth.

He never made the call before departure, instead tucking it away in a drawer.

·

Meanwhile, Xu Qingran spent about a week.

Guided by the Tower of Evil staff, he toured all areas, including the infamous Tower 1.

Tower 1 houses the most brutal execution grounds.

The research institute is also there, but it's Mu Ziyue's private domain, inaccessible even to the Tower Master. He occasionally spots white-robed researchers passing by.

After the tour, Xu Qingran was returned to his small cell.

In fact, he's returned daily.

Once back, he remains quietly inside.

He's even mastered the staff's patrol patterns.

So after the first round of night patrol ended, Xu Qingran, with the help of the system, unlocked the handcuffs on his wrists and the electronic lock on the cell door, and walked out confidently.

The nearby E-types were highly perceptive.

As soon as he opened the door, they sensed his movement and actively ran to the door, gazing at him obediently.

There was none of the competitive edge Shen Tingyu displayed during his inspections.

Xu Qingran had been doing this for several days.

With the system's assistance, he would come out daily to interact with these E-types. However, the system's special ability could only be applied to him and couldn't help him open all the control doors here at once, otherwise it would cause chaos.

Through his observations, he uncovered some truths.

These E-types all liked the spiritual energy aura on him, contrary to the rumors of their pickiness and exclusivity.

But he roughly guessed what was going on.

Whenever he approached, the E-types displayed expressions of pleasure and ease, like big dogs being calmed, nearly wagging their tails in his presence. He tested and found his spiritual energy seemed to calm the E-types' chaotic spiritual pools, making them less uncomfortable.

They all craved his attention.

Simply being near him brought them joy, so they all followed his commands.

Xu Qingran placed his palm against a cell window.

Watching the E-type inside come closer, displaying a serene expression, as if basking in a hot spring, he suddenly chuckled.

His laughter held a touch of self-mockery.

Thus, his own ability had followed him here.

During the apocalypse, Xu Qingran possessed a seemingly useless ability.

It resembled a healing power.

However, this healing primarily targeted the restoration of one's mental state.

It could also aid in healing minor injuries, but it was only effective on others and useless on himself.

He had always been dissatisfied with his ability.

Even those who knew of it often dismissed it.

Only Xu Qingyao would grasp his hand and assure him of his ability's greatness.

"Brother, you can erase all the negativity in people! Just by being with you, even the deepest sorrow can be healed, and they can feel joyful and energetic every day, isn't that wonderful!"

"Really! I'm not comforting you!"

"In the apocalypse, everyone relies on their abilities to protect themselves, but using abilities consumes a lot of mental energy! Look at those people, spitting fire and water, their mental energy is quickly depleted, causing their strength to weaken."

"But I'm different!"

"I have you to replenish me, so I can be so powerful, full of energy all day long, and defeat all enemies!"

"So with the two of us working together, me charging ahead and you supporting me, we can definitely be invincible!"

For a long time, Xu Qingran believed that was merely Xu Qingyao's way of comforting him.

Only now did Xu Qingran realize that what Xu Qingyao had said was true.

But Xu Qingran still disliked it.

Because the ability couldn't save people in times of crisis.

He wished he could breathe fire like a dragon.

That way, maybe Xu Qingyao wouldn't have left him behind.

During these days at the Tower of Evil, unbeknownst to the staff, Xu Qingran had gotten to know the E-types on the nearby floors, both above and below.

None of the E-types had any intention of harming him.

That night, for once, he stayed in.

The system piped up: 「Host, it's time. Want me to unlock the Tower of Evil's shackle system for you?」

He sat back in his chair and said, "Not tonight."

After these days, he had gained some understanding of the layout and routes within the Tower of Evil.

He had also tracked down the people he was looking for in the Tower of Evil.

Those who had tortured Shen Tingyu, as he had seen in his memories.

Xu Qingran had come here with one goal: to avenge Shen Tingyu.

By his count, it was almost time.

Xu Qingran thought, a faint smile playing on his lips.

"System," he called, "let's discuss something."