Chapter 122: A Strange Starship Intrusion

Chapter 122: The Strange Starship Intrusion

The Holy Land was ranked at the very bottom of the entire interstellar hierarchy, so its location was also the least favorable.

The livestream had almost no viewers, and very few camera drones were following them. The people here were just waiting to see the final outcome—the Holy Land being driven into the Beast Hunting Zone.

Occasionally, someone would pay attention to them, only to dump scorn on them.

‘What’s going on? Is the Holy Land running out of fighters? Sending rookies to compete? They can’t even operate mechs properly—so awkward. My mech piloting skills are better than theirs!’

‘What surprises me most is that the others in the Holy Land don’t seem frustrated at all. Have they already given up? Accepted their inevitable fate?’

‘Maybe so. They’re not collecting points, nor are they targeting those obviously easy-to-defeat mech teams. Instead, they’re making a beeline for the central zone. Did something provoke them? Are they seeking revenge against the Gesen Empire?’

‘Revenge against the Gesen Empire? With their pathetic strength? More like they’ve given up completely. Coincidentally, the Gesen Empire is clearly looking for them too—heading straight for the outskirts at the start. They’ve already reached the Eastern Alliance. The Eastern Alliance is so unlucky—’

‘But why did the Holy Land add "Saint Cas" in front of their name? Wasn’t it different before?’

‘It wasn’t there during the warm-up matches. Though I’ve heard the Holy Land always claimed they came from some "Saint" place and wanted to return—give me a break! The only habitable zone in this entire star system is here. How could there possibly be people elsewhere? Ridiculous.’

‘They must know they’re finished, so they’re trying to remind us of that "Saint" nonsense they used to spout. Hahaha, how pathetic—’

Accompanying Chu Zao, Chao Huangmu, and Finn were Yu Ye, along with his former captain and vice-captain—a team of six in total.

As for the Survival Contest, which the entire star system was fixated on, Chu Zao and his group paid no attention.

The Crown Clan had always been the ones who set the rules—why would they care about the outcome of a competition designed by others?

However, due to the appearance of the Holy Land and the fact that Saint Cas’s forces had yet to arrive, Chu Zao and the others had no choice but to make backup plans—including preparing for the worst-case scenario.

This was an unfamiliar star system after all. Even an adventurer like Finn, who was responsible for the young ones, felt it was better to play it safe. Who knew what dangers lurked here? Whether they posed a threat or not, for now, they were hidden while their enemies remained unaware—the perfect time to scout things out.

Moreover, with just the three of them and the ragtag Saint Cas Holy Land, they couldn’t possibly protect every member of the Holy Land. Acting recklessly would only tip them off and invite unnecessary trouble.

The Survival Contest lasted seven days—surely Amos would arrive by then?

This assumption was partly based on the familiar Branch Monster they had encountered earlier. Even if that creature had unique abilities, it shouldn’t have been too far from the barrier. By all calculations, Amos should've arrived by now.

Of course, if Amos still hadn't shown up, they had already considered alternatives.

If they had to enter the so-called Hunting Zone, then so what? After all, Saint Cas was originally founded within a Beast Hunting Zone—it would just be a small setback.

"Little Highness, if we head toward the central zone now, we should be able to locate the Monster Commander running this match," Yu Ye said.

High-ranking Monster Commanders weren’t particularly common in this star system—lower and mid-tier ones were seen more frequently.

These high-ranking Monster Commanders, alongside the human Gesen Empire, maintained the existence of the Survival Contest—a dynamic that had persisted for centuries.

Most of the intelligence they gathered came from situations like this.

Of course, it also meant extreme danger.

Chu Zao gave a noncommittal hum, activating the mech’s auto-follow system before settling in and crunching on a bag of candy.

"Still, we should be cautious and gather as much information as possible."

What really worried them was how the Crown Clan’s power compared to that of these high-ranking commanders?

Chu Zao loudly crunched on candy.

Finn had also finished playing with the mech and got down to business.

Listening to the sound of Chu Zao munching on candy, he didn’t say anything more.

In Saint Cas, no one in the Crown Clan would have allowed Chu Zao to keep shoveling candy into his mouth nonstop, but now, in this unfamiliar place—

Not only did Finn constantly feel like someone around them meant harm to their young one, but even Chu Zao was clearly more on edge than usual.

Sweet candy could help calm a kid's nerves.

"Let me see, the previous reports on top beast commanders—"

As he spoke, Chu Zao lowered his head to read the documents while tossing in a few more pieces of candy into his mouth.

"Oh, right, that pain-in-the-neck empire you mentioned—were those mech pilots also participating in the Survival Contest back then?"

"Yes, Little Highness."

The Gesen Empire ranked behind the beasts and could be put on the back burner for now, but as for those guys—Xiao Chuzao wasn't about to let them slide.

"Let’s go, move it!! Quick, head to the center and take a look."

"Uncle Three, how old are you? Stop playing around—I’ve already stopped—"

Xiao Chuzao’s words got him a grumble of protest from Finn.

The mech squad from the Holy Territory moved swiftly, charging forward in a sprint that left the other mech teams, who had been on high alert, totally blindsided and completely caught off guard—

What was that just now? They weren’t collecting points or eliminating other teams—what were they trying to do? Just here for a joyride??

Meanwhile, the Gesen Empire’s mech squad had already encountered the Eastern Alliance.

The leader of the Gesen Empire’s mech squad this time was still Ji Yuan. He fired a long-range shot before diving toward the Eastern Alliance, who were still processing.

With a single strike, he sent one of the Eastern Alliance’s mechs flying.

In the next instant, he stepped onto the opponent’s mech. On the external screen of his mech, the camera-like sensors glowed faintly.

"Hey."

Ji Yuan’s voice cut like ice.

With one hand controlling his mech, he leaned in harder, silently using his skills to ensure the Eastern Alliance’s leader couldn’t even push himself up.

"You’ve always been pretty close with the Holy Territory, haven’t you?"

In the official competition arena, management was much stricter, and the attention of the interstellar residents was extremely high. All signals were blocked from the outside, so Ji Yuan and his team had no comms with the Gesen Empire—they could only receive some field intel.

No one knew if the Holy Territory was afraid, but ever since the Survival Contest began, they had been sprinting at full speed, leaving the rear area where they had originally been stationed.

Reports from smaller allied mech teams under the Gesen Empire’s leadership confirmed that the Holy Territory members had gone dark.

And the Eastern Alliance just happened to have always been tight with the Holy Territory.

The Eastern Alliance’s squad leader clenched his jaw, but no matter how hard he struggled, he was pinned good from Ji Yuan’s control.

His teammates from the Eastern Alliance moved to intervene but were blocked. The Eastern Alliance’s squad leader motioned to his crew to stand down.

Judging from the Eastern Alliance's status as a minor alliance, they had no intention of directly confronting the Gesen Empire and never expected the Empire to appear near them—before the Gesen Empire's arrival, their primary concern had always been the space beasts in this sector of the galaxy.

Seeing that the other side was still talking instead of immediately taking them out, the Eastern Alliance squad leader attempted to ease up his tone.

"That was a decision made by the top brass. It has nothing to do with us, and we don’t understand these kinds of situations."

"Cut the act."

Ji Yuan sneered, raising his mech’s arm. The black muzzle of his cannon was already aimed at the Eastern Alliance squad leader’s mech head before slowly lowering to target the pilot cabin.

"I don’t care if it was an upper-level decision or a lower-level one, but you must have a way to contact the Sacred Territory, right? Now, call them here."

His tone was one of cocky, domineering confidence.

The Gesen Empire had ruled this sector of the galaxy for too long. Though they couldn’t control the alien beasts, they believed they could control the fate of other human nations and alliances, rarely deeming such minor factions worthy of their attention.

"We really don’t—our previous attempt to cooperate with the Sacred Territory ended in a reluctant refusal. We can’t reach them either."

The Eastern Alliance squad leader seethed internally—"Call them here?" What the hell did he mean by that?

So they could be ambushed?

Who did he think they were?

If it were just about himself, the squad leader would have gladly fought these slimy bastards who used the alien beasts as cover, even if it meant death. He had long had enough of this messed-up world.

But within the Eastern Alliance, countless people were counting on them, hoping, desperate to survive.

He was carrying more than just his own life.

"Why don’t you go look for them yourselves?"

The squad leader bit back his anger and ignored Ji Yuan’s attitude, though his eyes were bloodshot with rage inside his mech.

Ji Yuan seemed to consider this for a moment, neither confirming nor denying whether he believed it.

His cannon remained trained on the squad leader’s weak spots.

With the strongest resources at their disposal, the Gesen Empire naturally bred the galaxy’s toughest mech pilots—like Ji Yuan.

Against a faction like the Eastern Alliance, it was like swatting flies.

"It better be."

Ji Yuan spoke again.

"You’ll follow us. I’d hate to learn you’re lying—"

He then chuckled. "Honestly, I don’t get your Eastern Alliance. You’ve been flip-flopping so hard—wouldn’t it be easier to just obediently lick the Empire’s boots? Why bother with the Sacred Territory’s nonsense? Did you see what happened to them in the warm-up matches? That’s your future if you keep this up."

"You—"

The Eastern Alliance squad leader gritted his teeth, barely suppressing his words.

They couldn’t be eliminated now—

At least not at this moment.

"Hold out a little longer, buy precious time for the Eastern Alliance. When the time comes, he’ll take this bastard down with him!"

"You still don’t accept this? Oh, right."

Ji Yuan hadn’t moved at all, but his cannon’s muzzle suddenly flared—a sign it was about to fire.

"Having you around is indeed a bit troublesome. Who knows if you’re planning to sneak a knife into the Empire’s back with the Eastern Alliance? So, to ensure your sincerity, I’ll make sure your death serves a purpose. The Gesen Empire guarantees your Eastern Alliance won’t be eliminated too quickly—you won’t enter the hunting zone this year."

Ji Yuan spoke as if conveying one message—you should thank me; just one life for such a deal.

The Eastern Alliance squad, already forcibly restrained, exploded in rage, ready to charge forward.

"We don’t want your fucking pity!"

"Captain!"

In that brief moment, the fast, ruthless mech pilots had already exchanged several blows—

The Eastern Alliance captain, unable to escape in his mech, reacted instantly—bailing from the cockpit, stumbling forward a few steps before being sent flying by the shockwave of Ji Yuan’s cannon.

"Seems like you want to join the Sacred Land in the hunting zone this year too—"

In the live broadcast, the Gesen Empire’s feed dominated the livestreams.

The Gesen Empire’s numbers were the largest, with a flood of trash talk about crushing the Eastern Alliance scrolling by. Many had bet on the Empire’s victory—even if the payout was small, it was still enough to earn some money. Enough to bribe their way out of beast fodder duty next time, passing the fate to someone else.

And so, everything seemed twisted and fucked-up.

Meanwhile, the Eastern Alliance’s citizens watching the stream were seething, helpless.

Their nation was too weak, everything under someone else’s boot. Even if you groveled, someone would always demand you bow it lower.

The Eastern Alliance captain, battered, grabbed wildly for the sidearm at his waist, trying to resist Ji Yuan.

At the same time, another squad barreled past them—

Yu Ye did a double take.

"Little Highness, that’s the Eastern Alliance—and that’s a Gesen Empire mech squad—"

The Gesen Empire’s emblem was splashed like a threat across Ji Yuan’s mech.

The Sacred Land’s team jerked to a stop.

Chu Zao looked over.

He confirmed, "Eastern Alliance? Friends?"

Yu Ye only hesitated for a second. "In this star sector, the Eastern Alliance isn’t beyond saving. They’re close enough to friends."

"Brother Mu."

Chu Zao’s small mech lumbered around as he called out.

Over there, Ji Yuan’s gaze swept over Yu Ye’s somewhat familiar mech. He smirked—they’d been looking for them, and here they were, handed to them on a platter.

Once they dealt with this one, they’d mop up the Sacred Land stragglers next.

Just as everything seemed to conclude.

But the next second—a streak of blazing light flashed in the corner of his vision.

With a metallic *clang*, Ji Yuan’s mecha’s cannon was abruptly knocked upward, firing into the sky—

Ji Yuan's wrist was suddenly twisted by the control stick, wrenching a pained growl from him—the sheer brute force.

An unknown mecha, marked with an unfamiliar insignia, had already arrived right before his eyes.

Chao Huangmu's eyes gleamed—he was smiling. As his psychic power surged, every dark emotion in his heart erupted, howling for the destruction of everything around him.

But Chao Huangmu had a way. He kept thinking of Zao Zao—

Zao Zao’s so cute, Zao Zao’s incredible—

Zao Zao gave me another gemstone, so beautiful—whether it’s meant for divination or not, this one is my lucky gem for today—

Zao Zao... Zao Zao...

Chao Huangmu caught the other’s growl and that comment about the immense force.

He chuckled.

"Haha—"

His striking features lit up further, though partially veiled in shadow. Despite thinking such ominous thoughts, he spoke with effortless cheer.

"People who make Zao Zao unhappy—don’t they deserve to vanish from this world?"

Chao Huangmu's mecha gun was already aimed at Ji Yuan.

An icy dread gripped everyone in an instant.

What the hell was this power?

Though the Soul Race's psychic energy differed from that of the Crown Clan, both belonged to the interstellar mythos of the Longlived race, radiating the same crushing pressure. Not to mention, Chao Huangmu had rarely used his Soul Race's special abilities—he usually relied on his Psychic Weapon.

In this regard, Chao Huangmu was a master. As Yun Songquan and Peng Liang would say—who could possibly compete with this monster?

Such power also caught the attention of the Monster Commanders observing from afar.

In the official Survival Contest, numerous high-ranking Monster Commanders were present, observing the unfolding chaos.

"What is that...?"

"Is that the same vile psychic energy from the Sacred Territory?"

They whispered, their voices trailing off.

Among them, Ji Yu, a senior commander who’d already noted the strange disturbances around the Sacred Territory, sensed something amiss.

His razor-sharp survival instinct put him on edge about the current situation.

He stood up.

"I’ve got to step away."

Something told him—lingering here was a bad idea. Something disastrous was brewing.

"You’re leaving already?"

The other Monster Commanders glanced at Ji Yu, sneered as he stormed off, then turned their attention to Shan Hu.

He was the one who’d faced the Sacred Territory directly before.

At this moment, Shan Hu sat in his seat, watching the scenes unfolding above. His teeth were clenched, swarms of light darting through his tiny compound eyes.

He looked visibly shaken.

"Shan Hu, got anything to say about this? You’ve been to the Sacred Territory before, right? And isn’t the current commander guarding the central zone also one of your insect kin? Any new insights?"

"Shan Hu, what’s wrong? Don’t tell me you’re scared too, chickening out?"

A monster jeered, ridiculing Shan Hu’s unease.

After all, the monsters had ruled this place forever, accustomed to being at the top of the food chain, hunting humans like cattle.

For centuries, humans had largely knew their place.

Given this, that creeping dread from earlier was dismissed as mere illusion.

"Impossible."

Shan Hu scoffed coldly.

He shook himself out of it, realizing he had been lost in thought—recalling the nightmare he’d seen upon leaving the Sacred Territory.

But how could that be?

Monsters were the top predators in this star system.

That was indisputable.

It must have been an illusion.

Shan Hu stood up, his eyes shadowed, countless dark lights swirling through his compound eyes. He decided to see for himself—

"Let me see for myself what these humans think they can do—"

Humans couldn’t possibly possess such formidable spiritual energy. He refused to believe it.

He smirked, "We make the rules here."

Meanwhile, in the Gesen Empire, Emperor Yakai and his ministers were monitoring the live feed.

During the Survival Contest, the Gesen Empire was responsible for patrols in the surrounding areas.

Now, they observed the events on edge.

"What is that mech? What’s powering that thing? How does it pack that kind of firepower? Did the Sacred Territory secretly smuggle some exotic tech?"

"Your Majesty—!"

Emperor Yakai’s gaze remained steady. "Compose yourselves."

"Yes, yes—must stay calm, must stay calm—"

At that very moment.

A patrol of mechs reported back—

"Your Majesty, an unidentified fleet has been detected in the coordinates (xxx, xxx, xxx). They appear severely damaged, and we don’t recognize their insignia—likely from a minor nation or region. Should we drive them away?"

Who would care about such a dilapidated starship at such a tense time?

Emperor Yakai didn’t hesitate: "Get them out of here now. The Survival Contest has already begun. Toss those stragglers into the hunting zone!"

Meanwhile, aboard the Saint Cas starship—

"Report, Your Majesty. An unknown aircraft formation has been detected ahead. They look like mech units, likely inhabitants of this star system. They are currently conducting energy harvesting and scans. We are not far from Little Highness’s coordinates."

"Is this the power of this star system?"

Fei Man leaned against the doorway, her frosty expression darkened. Her crown phased into existence above her head, and the glow of her Psychic Weapon flickered to life.

"Second Brother, go find Zao Zao. Leave this to me. I’ll be careful and go all out—no underestimating or carelessness."

The Crown Clan was arrogant, but not foolish.

Amos spoke: "You’re right—"

He raised his hand, gripping the Psychic Sword. Behind him, his wings snapped open—his gaze fixed on the flickering signal of his little one.

His voice was steady, calm yet imposing. Above his head, a silver-black crown slowly manifested, and the air chilled noticeably.

The first batch of Saint Cas officers and soldiers entering this region turned their eyes to Amos.

"Uncharted space. Be fully prepared."

Those who could maintain such a balance with the alien beasts—they’d need to be handled carefully.

At this moment, Amos even regarded these beings with a hint of respect, running tactical scenarios.

The Dark Tyrant of Saint Cas, the ice-cold, formidable Emperor, spoke softly once more: "Retrieve Zao Zao."

"Yes! Retrieve Little Highness!"