Underground Train

Li Xingyao sat cross-legged, adjusted his breathing, and brought himself to his optimal state. He picked up the first star core; it felt warm and smooth to the touch, yet carried a heavy, energetic texture. Without hesitation, he activated the "Circulation Technique," guiding star energy to envelop the star core, while simultaneously probing it with his spiritual power, activating its internal structure like a key.

hum!

The star core suddenly lit up! A pure and powerful surge of star energy transformed into a torrent, forcefully rushing into Li Xingyao's meridians!

"Ugh—!" Li Xingyao let out a suppressed cry of pain! His body trembled! This foreign energy was too immense! It frantically washed over and expanded his original meridians, bringing pain from the inside out! Sweat instantly soaked through his training clothes, veins throbbed on his forehead, and his teeth clenched so tightly they made a grinding sound.

He activated the "Circulation Technique" with all his might, striving to guide the raging torrent of energy amidst the turbulent waves, guiding it along a predetermined path to circulate, refine, and integrate it into his own stellar energy system. It was a painful and lengthy process, every minute and every second an ordeal.

The first one… The second one… The third one…

The moment the energy torrent of the last star core was finally tamed and completely integrated into his own stellar energy cycle, Li Xingyao felt as if he had been emptied out, yet also filled to his limit. He was soaked to the bone, as if he had been pulled out of the water, and gasped for breath. But when he focused his mind and looked inward, feeling the surging, boundless stellar energy within his body, all the pain transformed into ecstatic joy!

The watch detected his Star Energy value, which finally settled at 853 points! Late Intermediate Level! He was not far from the threshold of Advanced Professional (1000 points)! A powerful sense of strength filled his entire body, causing him to tremble slightly involuntarily!

At five in the morning, the sky was still shrouded in a deep, dark blue, with only a faint glimmer of dawn appearing on the eastern horizon. The city was not yet fully awake; the streets were empty and silent, save for the faint buzzing of cleaning robots and patrol drones.

Li Xingyao, carrying a bulging tactical backpack full of survival supplies and wearing brand-new "Wind Chaser-III" tactical boots, walked steadily out of the apartment building. The cold morning breeze brushed against his cheeks, carrying a hint of the dusty smell unique to the city's edge. He boarded the early morning electric bus heading towards the city's northwest wall.

The carriage was dimly lit, filled with the smells left by the night shift passengers and the cool morning air.

There weren't many passengers, mostly young people around Li Xingyao's age, their faces showing the excitement and nervousness of someone just starting out, along with a hint of uncertainty about the unknown. Their equipment varied; some wore brand-new leather armor, some carried composite bows, and some carried only an alloy sword, but all their eyes shone with an eagerness to try. There were also a few veterans in worn, scratched armor, their eyes sharp as eagles, their bodies bearing new and old scars, silently leaning back in their seats, eyes closed, radiating an aura that kept strangers at bay.

Li Xingyao found a seat by the window and glanced around. He keenly noticed several gazes lingering on him for a moment, perhaps because of his relatively superior equipment, or perhaps because of the aura unique to a mid-to-late stage professional he possessed.

"The forum says that some experienced mercenaries can observe the approximate star energy level of a target, which is comparable to professional observation equipment." Li Xingyao didn't know any professional mercenaries, so he only heard this information from others.

I didn't see any familiar faces. It seemed that the other students had chosen a different route or time, or perhaps he had set off later.

"Are all these people going to 'strike gold'?" he wondered to himself. Based on his observations, Li Xingyao guessed that most of these young people were students who failed to get into top universities or were unwilling to follow the conventional path. They chose to go into the wilderness to hunt and gather during their holidays to earn credits and hone their skills, hoping to get better development opportunities or join the pioneer legion in the future.

However, as humanity's control over the wilderness increased and the military conducted regular raids, the rewards in the outer "safe zones" decreased, while the risks remained the same. Those with true ability and ambition either sought rapid advancement like him to enter more dangerous areas, or they accumulated enough capital to level up and enter other worlds like the Central Continent through official channels to seek greater opportunities. Most others, however, struggled to survive, risking their lives for a bleak future.

The bus drove silently through the quiet streets of the early morning, passing through the gradually awakening industrial and military areas, and finally stopped at a dedicated platform inside the huge alloy gate of the northwest city wall.

Li Xingyao got off the bus with the crowd.

A short queue had already formed at the exit from the city. Heavily armed city defense soldiers, clad in standard black power armor, stood like steel sculptures on both sides, their cold scanners emitting eerie blue beams, sweeping over each person's identification watch and equipment. The air was thick with the smells of engine oil, coolant, and a barely perceptible whiff of gunpowder, creating a tense and deadly atmosphere.

Li Xingyao carefully examined the military equipment used to maintain order, especially the powered armor. This was the equipment he wanted most, but not these low-level models. Low-level models consumed a lot of energy, had short range, and required comprehensive logistical support.

Li Xingyao's target is advanced power armor that can use star cores, which can perfectly compensate for a mage's deficiencies in defense and mobility. Moreover, as his level increases, he can also customize modules with different functions.

However, given Li Xingyao's current net worth, he doesn't even qualify for such equipment, and even Lin Wei doesn't have that kind of powered armor yet.

As the crowd moved forward, it was Li Xingyao's turn. He raised his wrist, and the scanner in the soldier's hand lit up green and emitted a short vibration.

"Identity: Li Xingyao. Citizen ID: HT-2500-TJ-0307. Citizen Permissions: Lv.3 (Intermediate Professional). Destination: Outskirts of Gray Rock Hills (Black Rock Outpost). Weapon Registration: Light Electromagnetic Pistol 'Hummingbird' (Type Certified, Registered), Melee Weapon (Alloy Dagger), Standard Survival Supplies Kit (Registered). No Contraband."

"Permission granted. Have a good hunt."

The soldier glanced at the information on the screen expressionlessly, pausing for a moment on the registration information for "Intermediate Professional" and "Hummingbird Pistol," then nodded slightly and stepped aside to signal him to proceed.

Passing through the heavy, riveted alloy gate, a gust of cold wind, carrying the scents of dust, rust, and wild vegetation, rushed in. Before them lay a massive entrance deep underground, its sloping ramp flanked by thick concrete walls, topped with dense searchlights and automated defensive turrets. Above the entrance, a striking scarlet sign read, "Gray Rock Hills - Subterranean Station No. 3." This was the main passage for non-military personnel into the wilderness, a steel artery extending deep underground, connecting the city fortress with the wilderness outpost.

Due to defensive requirements, these stations are all built on the outer perimeter of the city's defenses. This way, if alien beasts attack the city from underground, they won't be able to breach the city center quickly, giving the defenders time to react. However, it's said that some heavily fortified train routes can directly enter the city center.

Stepping into the dimly lit, echoing underground passage, the air instantly became cool and damp, carrying the distinctive musty smell of the underground. Suddenly, the passage opened up, and a deafening roar, like tangible waves crashing against the shore, greeted us! A massive, unimaginably huge underground waiting hall appeared before us!

The dome soared dozens of meters above the ground, and a huge holographic projection information board scrolled through train timetables, safety warnings, real-time weather in the wilderness, and purchase prices for various materials. Blinding white light poured down from countless light strips on the ceiling, illuminating the hall as bright as day.

This place is a hundred times busier and noisier than the ground platform! The noise is deafening, like a boiling pot of oil! Li Xingyao stared at the diverse crowd in front of him, slightly lost in thought.

Mercenary squads, in groups of three to five, were well-equipped, wearing standard or custom-made armor, their bodies laden with weapons and ammunition. They shouted orders to assemble their members and check their gear. The air was thick with the smells of sweat, tobacco, and a faint metallic odor. A burly man with a scar on his face roared, spitting as he spoke, "Our target this time is those 'Clawed Lynxes' in 'Wind-Eroded Canyon.' I paid 5000 credits for this information! You all better get the hell into it!"

Freight trains rumbled past, large freight platform trucks laden with massive ore, bundled animal hides, and exotic plants in specially made containers, rumbling along dedicated tracks with dull thuds and piercing metallic scraping sounds. Logistics personnel in overalls, holding data boards, loudly directed operations: "Ore loading complete in B-7 area! Animal hides in C-3 area ready to be shipped to 'Star Glory Heavy Industries'!"

Squads of soldiers from the Pioneer Legion, clad in dark green standard power armor and heavily armed, patrolled the crowd, their sharp eyes scanning every corner to maintain order. Their armor bore the marks of battle, exuding an aura of steel. A squad leader-like officer growled into his communicator: "Suspicious individuals have been spotted carrying undeclared 'astro-energy weapons' in Sector D. All squads, be on alert! There may be accomplices. Take them into custody immediately upon discovery!"

Lone hunters and gatherers constitute the largest group. They are dressed in various ways, some well-equipped, others in very simple clothing. Their faces show fatigue, excitement, or numbness. They are either alone or in makeshift teams, carrying bulging packs on their backs, some pulling simple carts piled high with bloodstained animal hides, ores, or plant specimens.

The air was thick with the stench of sweat, blood, herbs, decaying plants, and cheap tobacco. A young hunter excitedly showed his companion a fist-sized, shimmering piece of ore: "Look! 'Star-Patterned Iron Ore'! Good purity, worth at least 800 credits!"

Some individual brokers, their eyes gleaming, dressed smartly yet exuding a mercenary air, moved through the crowd, quietly inquiring about the spoils, offering prices slightly higher than the official purchasing station, engaging in shady transactions. "Hey brother, your 'fur' looks pretty good. The official price is 26000? I'll give you 28000! Cash transaction, no taxes, no record!"