Shi Lang regrouped with the team outside his house, and then they proceeded to the spaceport. Unity sat in the car and said, "Flying over is way faster than this."
She was a sword spirit, and her speed was anything but slow. So, she complained about this slow means of transport.
Shi Lang replied, "Not everyone can fly. But, even if they can, the city has rules now. They cannot let everyone fly around like birds, creating a mess in the sky."
Unity did not bother to refute him and closed her eyes. Amelia was sitting beside her and smiled. The two vehicles did not take long to enter the shadow executioner spaceport. Commander Silence was already waiting for them before a hangar where the small vessel was being prepared to take off.
Shi Lang walked over and saluted her, followed by the rest of the people. Commander Silence said, "All you wanted has been arranged and stored in the ship, waiting outside the atmosphere. That ship is among the fastest models we have designed after studying the ship from the Ikeran vessel. It has everything that you asked me for."
The young man nodded and said, "Thank you, boss."
Archie Arkham sighed and said, "Whenever the Federation is in trouble, you step up to carry the burden on your shoulders. You have my gra...."
Before she could finish, Shi Lang replied, "Don't go all sentimental on me now. Save it in case someone unfortunate happens. Your words can jinx my streak of successful endeavors."
The team members smiled and were aware of the stakes, yet they did not hold back because if not for them, someone else would do it in their stead. So, let the strong take a step forward. The team boarded the spaceship, and after the clearance was granted, Nile piloted the boat out of the atmosphere.
Darcx commented, "For once, I do not have to deal with the console. No wonder you all liked it in the back."
Jenkins chuckled and said, "You say it as we bullied you, little one."
Darcx snorted at him, and the other three smiled. The ship was quick, leaving the atmosphere in a few seconds. Nile said, "Sir, the battleship is on the moon's dark side."
Shi Lang nodded and said, "Fine, one small wrap and move around to dock in."
Nile replied, "Aye, Sir."
The ship entered a wrap to cover the distance in a blink. The next time it appeared, the battleship was already visible to them. Hayley whistled and said, "Commander sure loves you, Boss."
The rest nodded. Shi Lang did not even have to tell them the vessel specification. It was a behemoth built for pure destruction. Allendale looked at the ship, and his eyes twinkled, and he asked, "Captain Nile, can we move in a bit quicker, sir?"
Everyone looked at him, and the five older people chuckled, and Darcx said, "I did not expect to have come across another fanatic."
Allendale scratched his head in embarrassment, and Shi Lang said, "Don't sweat it, Sargeant, this guy is talking about himself. You can ask him why he keeps checking on people using his ability."
Darcx protested, "Hey, Boss, let me rag the rookies. They will grow closer like this."
Shi Lang said, "Senior Unity, how about you train our, Mr. team player, first?"
Darcx had heard about Unity's strength being greater than Shi Lang's. He was surprised, while others were curious. The sword spirit gazed at the man and said, "Are you sure? What if I break him?"
Shi Lang nodded and said, "You can break him. I know that he will be stronger after breaking apart."
Unity nodded and said, "I will get to it as soon as we reach the camp."
Shi Lang nodded, and with a smile, he said, "All of you, use the opportunity to study how to optimize and learn from our fellow teammate's struggle."
The team was in proper sync and replied, "Aye, Sir."
Shi Lang smiled as he leaned back in his chair, while the rest were having a hard time stifling their laughter as they saw the shocked Darcx. The man mumbled, "Oh, I am damned."
The small transport ship docked to the battleship, and Shi Lang said, "Set course to the coordinates...."
Amelia asked, "What sort of place are we heading to?"
Shi Lang smiled and said, "This place was scouted for spirit mines. It turns out it had been mined empty by the Ikeras already. However, they abandoned the planet and buried the mines to keep things under wraps, but that was done seven thousand years ago."
Marly asked, "Sir since they had the entire planet in control and mined it empty, why?"
Unity replied, "To keep the spirit mines alive. Spirit mines have a mother crystal that absorbs spiritual energy. When the particles have accumulated enough energy, they condense into spirit stones."
The people nodded, and Nile said, "Sir, we are ready."
Shi Lang said, "Go ahead then, captain."
Nile said, "Everyone, please fasten your seatbelts. We are entering hyperspace drive."
The next moment, everyone felt like they were being sucked inside a pinhole and their bodies stretched.
...
It had been a week since the people landed on the abandoned planet called X1. The youngsters took a couple of days before they began training. Unity was not holding back. The moment she started to train Darcx, she broke his jaw and two teeth. Shi Lang did not even bother to look at the wound, nor did the others.
Darcx was sent to the medical pod four times in one day. Unity was true to her words when she said, "I will let you all experience misery."
The result of the brutal training was also evident. The team was getting stronger and stronger each day. Although they were still being rushed up and beaten like no tomorrow, they were getting to the edge.
On the seventh day of the week, a message made Shi Lang halt the training. He gathered the team around and said, "Darcx, it is time for you to move."
The man nodded and said, "I will do it, boss. Don't worry."
Shi Lang nodded and said, "The maximum time you have is thirty days. More than that, I am afraid the Federation might be unable to hold on."
Darcx nodded, and Shi Lang removed three talismans from his space ring. The young general had prepared these after hard work for seven days. He handed them to Darcx and said, "This is a major teleportation talisman. It can teleport you through the space to a location of your choice if your cover is blown."
The people were surprised, and Unity said, "Goodness gracious, you managed to draw a talisman with such high difficulty. Are you sure your primordial soul can handle that?"
Shi Lang nodded, and before anyone could say anything, he continued, "I am fine. This second talisman is a soul-piercing talisman. Use it if you meet the enemy and feel some power intruding on your soul sea. It may not kill the other party but will damage the person significantly, giving you time to run away.
The leader of the big clan is not yet as strong as you are. Last but not least, if you cannot avoid confrontation, and the enemy manages to get you on the last breath, this is a self-destruction talisman. It will turn everything in fifty miles to you into vapors."
Everyone was surprised when they heard about the last talisman's usage. They did not expect Shi Lang to even think of failure. This was the first time they had seen Shi Lang acting this seriously. Darcx wanted to laugh it off but looked at the visage of his friend. He understood the gravity of the situation.
He did not say anything and just nodded. Shi Lang handed him the last talisman and embraced the man. He patted him on the back and said, "Godspeed, brother."
The rest of the team also stepped forward, wishing him. Then Darcx boarded the small ship and left for the discussed location to meet with the contact. After a few minutes, when the ship vanished, Shi Lang wobbled, and Amelia appeared to support him.
The people were surprised, and Unity said, "Don't worry, his soul energy is depleted by painting those talismans. He will be okay after rest."
This was when the team realized the effort Shi Lang put into making this mission successful. This sort of effort made the people more spirited, and they all were moved to put their best foot forward. Amelia placed Shi Lang inside the med bay and returned to the train.
Unity saw the situation and decided to take another growth route for these people. After being beaten, they were not allowed to enter the med pods. They were to cultivate on the top of a small spirit-gathering array she had formed.
It was said that the iron will grow stronger from receiving a repeated beating. Unity was refining the people here so that they do not break in the battle.
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