“It’s impossible! We’re right at our doorstep—why won’t they let us back into the Federation?!”
“Federation government, you owe us an explanation! You hound us for taxes every single day, but the moment things get critical, you cast us aside. Is this still our Federation?”
When the survivors learned of the Federation’s stance, they felt deeply wounded and jointly signed over a dozen petitions, asking Wesley to forward them to the Federation.
But all of them sank like stones into the sea. The Federation didn’t bother acknowledging these people at all.
Most of the 150,000 survivors from Wasteland Star who had wanted to leave were pretty philosophical about it. As long as they kept their lives, there would always be a day when they’d reunite with their families.
But the survivors from Vulcos Star felt utterly stabbed in the back, and their anger boiled over.
Lin Xiaohe sent Lin Ye and others to calm them down, and also asked Darcy to help maintain order inside the Ark.
The soldiers from Miro Star, radiating killing intent, stood there in neat formation with an overwhelming presence. The survivors who had been itching to cause trouble instantly backed down.
Though they no longer thought about staging protests, their faces were still etched with resentment.
The former political commissar of the Special Reconnaissance Battalion stepped forward and said earnestly, “I completely understand how you feel. Our Miro Star and Wasteland Star were also abandoned by the Federation.”
“The injustice and persecution we suffered weren’t our fault—they were caused by the Federation and the Zerg!”
“But compared to those who died, we are the lucky ones. Lin Xiaohe, the leader of the Starseed Party, reached out and pulled us back from the brink when we were trapped in despair!”
He stretched out his hand and pointed at the ground beneath them. “Do you see this? This Ark was built from the bones of Void Devourers! Can you even begin to imagine just how powerful Lin Xiaohe and the Starseed Party really are?!”
“We were cast aside by the Federation, but fate itself has smiled upon us. We have found the most trustworthy and mightiest leader! She will lead us out of this predicament and take us to heights you can’t even dream of!”
“As long as we follow her steps closely and heed her will, then when we return as the strong, we will make the entire Federation kneel at our feet!”
His words were passionate and stirring, swelling the hearts of everyone listening.
“That’s right. Today, they can’t be bothered with us—but tomorrow, they won’t be able to reach our level!”
“Damn the Federation! You’d better pray you never have a day when you need our help! Our party leader definitely won’t lift a finger for you!”
Their previous anger and confusion were forged into a single, united resolve. Everyone held their breath, vowing to survive and grow stronger, so the Federation would one day regret everything.
Standing on the 5th level, Lin Xiaohe watched this scene unfold, her eyes shimmering.
When you have that many people, talent is bound to surface.
Among several million survivors, there was actually such an impressive political commissar hiding!
“What’s his name?”
Wesley: “Wei Liqiu. He only took over as the reconnaissance battalion’s political commissar last year.”
“Put him in charge of ideological guidance inside the Ark. Give everyone something meaningful to do.”
“Got it. He’s already very sympathetic to our Starseed Party. I’ll try to recruit him into our party.”
With the help of the Miro Star soldiers, internal affairs on the Ark were running smoothly.
Lin Xiaohe now had the time and energy to think about their next move.
If she wanted the Sixth Star Ring, she would inevitably have to face off against the Zerg.
Could they win? And after a mutual defeat, would the Federation swoop in and take the spoils?
Looking purely at overall strength, the Starseed Party going up against the Great Mound was like smashing an egg against a rock.
If they went head-to-head, the Starseed Party would definitely come out worse.
Should they head back to the Dark Domain first and quietly build up their strength?
Lin Xiaohe stared blankly into the vast, starry expanse.
The three star systems of the Sixth Star Ring were basically all occupied by the Zerg. Especially the Kepler system, where the Great Mound had appeared—almost every planet there had been seeded with biological bombs, with only a scattered few still putting up a fight.
Planets that had been biologically transformed were completely unsuitable for human habitation.
That was precisely why the Federation had so readily given them up.
“Party leader, there are scattered civilian ships asking to join our Ark.”
Lin Xiaohe’s mental energy rippled outward, and she “saw” over thirty battered civilian vessels chugging their way toward the Ark.
As they passed through the [Void Devourer] battle group, they encountered no obstruction or attacks whatsoever.
Inside the ships, eruptions of cheers broke out.
“It really works! The Zerg really do show face for Lin Xiaohe!”
“Thank goodness, we’re saved!”
“Big shot, please save us!”
Lin Xiaohe couldn’t help but smile. “Let them in.”
Wesley connected to their communication channel. Hearing all the cheers from the other end, he puffed out his chest with pride.
Their party leader was just that awesome!
Wesley even rode out on the Giant Sound Whale personally, leading a team to receive them.
The thirty-plus civilian ships came from the other two habitable planets in the Magellan system.
They were lucky. When the Zerg landed on their planets, they had already been out on interplanetary trade routes.
The Zerg’s main targets were the planets themselves, so they hadn’t bothered chasing down these ships.
“Thank you! Thank you, Lin Xiaohe! Thank you, Starseed Party! Without you, we wouldn’t have a second chance at life!”
These merchants poured out a stream of flattery. They were also very sensible—they handed over all the supplies on their ships and proactively registered their information.
Wesley was thoroughly pleased by all this and put in a good word for them with Lin Xiaohe. “Once we fully take control of the Sixth Star Ring, we can establish our very own interstellar trade fleet.”
People, territory, trade fleets, military strength! The future looked bright!
Thinking about that wonderful future, Wesley’s face bloomed into a flower-like smile. He was already starting to scheme about how to convince his mother, Melina, to come and shine in the Starseed Party!
Hehehe.
Just the thought made him happy.
All of this was thanks to their party leader!
“Party leader, how are you so incredible? Even the Zerg are afraid of you!”
In Wesley’s heart, Lin Xiaohe was no longer just their party leader—she had ascended to the status of a god! The God of the Universe!
Lin Xiaohe only smiled without saying a word. Deep in her eyes, however, lay hidden worry and doubt.
Yeah. Why exactly were the Zerg giving her so much face?
That traitor, the Octopus, had learned to weigh its choices because she had beaten the fear into it back in the secret realm.
But what about the other Zerg? The Void Devourers?
And the Great Mound—it just sat there quietly, watching her charge around the Sixth Star Ring and rescue people left and right?
Their behavior was completely inconsistent with the cold, brutal savagery they had always displayed!
Lin Xiaohe didn’t believe for a second that the Zerg were so easily cowed.
She tried probing the Great Mound with her mental energy.
The Great Mound stood like a towering mountain—her mental energy brushed over it, but it remained unmoved.
No warning. No counterattack. Just calm and steady.
The breathing-like pulses on the Great Mound’s surface gradually weakened, its passages closed, and it stopped sending out Void Devourers.
Lin Xiaohe looked around. Every planet within sight had been reduced to Zerg strongholds, shrouded in blue, purple, and black mist.
Lin Xiaohe’s brows knitted tightly together. The unease in her heart grew thicker by the second. What kind of scheme were the Zerg brewing?
“Wesley, tell the Giant Sound Whales to speed up. We need to get back to the Dark Domain as soon as possible!”
Lin Xiaohe’s gaze fixed on the direction of the Great Mound, her brow furrowed, her fingers unconsciously clenching.
Suddenly, her eyes flew wide open!
Here it came—the Sword of Damocles hanging over her head had finally fallen!
