Global Era of Star trekking Chapter 1769: 863: Bai Mei's Identity and External Forces

Taking a deep breath, Song Chi tapped the star chart hovering above his primary control console with rapid precision. At the edge of the Laniakea River System Cluster, the star trails immediately surged with light:

“Relay my commands: The Third, Seventh, and Ninth Fleets must vacate their current defensive sectors instantly. They are to carry every seized strategic resource and over ninety percent of the High Rank Torch Captains back at once. Their objective—reinforce the Chaos God Land's [Torch Human Emperor City].”

“Lord Greedy Wolf,” the adjutant’s voice crackled with visible hesitation.

“These three fleets represent our primary strength in suppressing the recently conquered Dark Star Clan. Their withdrawal could trigger a total collapse of stability within the Laniakea River System Cluster.”

“Stability?”

Song Chi’s gaze turned freezing cold.

“If [Human Emperor City] is lost, the Ancestral Domain will be laid bare to the predatory eyes of various Transcendent Forces. Even if most Eleventh Rank or Tenth Rank Mythical Alien Races cannot physically infiltrate the Shattered Starry Sea, the number of beings attaining Myth status in this era is significant. It is a tide our Torch Civilization cannot withstand in isolation. If that happens, forget the Laniakea River System Cluster—even our Torch Humanity Ancestral Domain will crumble!”

“Furthermore, never forget that [Human Emperor City] controls more than forty percent of our civilization's Super Rank Enhancement and promotion resources. Without it, do you believe Torch Humanity can sustain this incredible rate of expansion?”

“[Human Emperor City] must not fall!”

Song Chi’s tone was heavier than it had ever been. The glow from the console highlighted his rigid jaw, emphasizing the absolute resolve he radiated in this moment.

[Human Emperor City] was the non-negotiable bottom line for the entire Torch Humanity Civilization.

He was well aware of what the adjutant—a member of the Akelmon Royal Family from the Holy Hall Federation recently promoted to Superdimensional Captain—was thinking.

From the adjutant's perspective, the Torch Civilization had produced two Mythical Ship Captains in just over ten thousand years. This should be a golden era of aggressive growth. If [Human Emperor City] became untenable, why not simply retreat and abandon it for a time?

Once the Torch Civilization finished integrating the spoils of its rapid expansion, it could always return to reclaim the site or construct a new Chaos City. To many, these seemed like logical alternatives.

However, to Song Chi and the true peak Torch Human Emperors, such a strategy was a catastrophic error.

Had the Chaos Demon Ape Clan not fallen into decline, or if the events surrounding the [Heaven-Fighting Relic – High-dimensional Sea] weren't looming millennia away, that path might have worked.

But the reality was different.

With multiple Transcendent Forces and countless Peak Clans launching a joint invasion, combined with the impending appearance of the [Chaos Wonders – High-dimensional Sea], the Heavenly Ape Star Realm was destined for extreme turmoil lasting tens of thousands, perhaps even a million years. The only way to avoid this was for the Torch Civilization to abandon the Chaos Divine Land for an entire eon.

That was clearly out of the question. The Torch Civilization itself had only existed for a little over 300,000 years.

The adjutant’s face appeared deathly pale through the communication channel. He looked as though he wanted to protest further, but he eventually withered under the intensity of Song Chi’s stare.

“Carry out the order.” Song Chi’s voice wasn't raised, yet it resonated like a sledgehammer in the hearts of everyone in the group transmission.

“I expect the three fleets to be reorganized and returning to the Ancestral Domain via the long-range space teleportation star gate within seventy-two hours.”

Straightening his posture, the adjutant slammed his right fist against his left chest—the most formal military salute used by the Holy Hall Federation:

“As you command, Lord Greedy Wolf.”

The moment the adjutant departed, Song Chi’s focus shifted back to the star chart.

The lights of the Laniakea River System Cluster danced before him; those very systems that had only just begun flying the Torch Flag were now at risk of being lost once again.

Because of the chaos near the Origin Divine Land, this expeditionary force hadn't been particularly robust to begin with. With three of its elite fleets being pulled away, even a minor uprising in the Laniakea River System Cluster would likely shatter the expedition's formidable image.

“Are you certain about this?”

A soft, feminine voice drifted from a private channel.

Song Chi didn't need to guess the identity of the caller—it was Bai Mei, a member of the [Shaking Light Star Tower].

Or more accurately, Ying Jing, the legitimate daughter of the Xian Qin Divine Dynasty’s top commander within the expedition fleet. She was the Eldest Princess of the Xian Qin Divine Dynasty and the younger sister of Ying Yi, Ying Li.

Song Chi had long harbored suspicions regarding Bai Mei’s—or rather Ying Jing’s—true background, though he had only confirmed it a few centuries ago.

When he first discovered she was the daughter of the Xian Qin Eldest Princess, he had been startled, but it didn't last long since he had already braced himself for such a revelation.

Faced with Bai Mei's question, he answered without a second thought:

“There is no other path available.”

Song Chi’s fingers moved across the display, tracing the withdrawal paths for the three fleets.

“The most recent reports from the Chaos Divine Land indicate that the Sand Spirit Clan has already breached the Seventh Line of Defense.”

A thoughtful glint appeared in Bai Mei’s eyes.

“But you realize that even with the reinforcements from these three fleets, standing against those six Transcendence Armies is still...”

“A drop in the bucket.” Song Chi finished her sentence with a faint, bitter smile.

“I am well aware. However, some things cannot be decided simply by calculating the odds of success.”

“Besides, it's not as if we are completely without options to break this stalemate...”

At these words, Bai Mei’s expression filled with sharp curiosity, but Song Chi offered no further explanation. Instead, he began barking out a new series of commands.

“All captains are to activate their highest authority immediately. Every non-combat vessel is to be repurposed into a resource transport. Within the next century, I want the defensive fortifications of [Human Emperor City] to be three feet thicker!”