Yun and Zhong Pingjiang conferred for a considerable time, finally hammering out a preliminary agreement concerning the division of this collective and the allocation of administrative power. Overall, the Zhong family maintained absolute control.

Among the six million inhabitants, three major factions could be delineated: the Dead Domain Faction, the Qiyun Star Faction, and the Dawa Faction. Of these, the Qiyun Star Faction, despite being the smallest in number, represented Zhong Yun’s direct lineage.

This familial connection afforded the Qiyun Star Faction the lion's share of authority among the three groups. The Dead Domain Faction and the Dawa Faction were roughly comparable in standing.

Politics, at its core, was a game of balance—figuring out how to distribute authority among these three factions had occupied the minds of Zhong Yun and his father to no small degree. Zhong Yun had the living encyclopedia that was Xiao Ling, capable of retrieving data on the power structures of countless nations. Meanwhile, Zhong Pingjiang, having once commanded a massive conglomerate, was inherently adept at such machinations.

As for the structure, this world had never seen a true era of universal harmony. Even the super-civilized nations of antiquity were far from achieving genuine equality among their populace.

Absolute equality had never materialized.

For a society to maintain its dynamism, competition was an absolute necessity. If ambition withered, how could human society possibly progress?

Otherwise, why bother classifying nations as high-level or low-level civilizations? Wouldn't it be simpler to annex all nations into the most advanced one? In reality, such a scenario proved unworkable.

Zhong Yun discovered some information in Xiao Ling's databanks concerning an era untold years before the four great Super-Civilization Nations emerged—perhaps the last epoch. An extremely advanced nation, comparable to the Super-Civilizations, had once attempted such a unified cosmic civilization plan.

Within a few short years, that nation had fractured and collapsed. The entire cosmic civilization suffered devastating setbacks as a result. Countless years later, the emergence of the Four Super-Civilizations marked the return to a peak of development.

The eventual demise of the Four Super-Civilizations also offered a stark lesson. Regardless of the stage a civilization attains, fundamental human nature remains immutable. As long as humanity exists, conflict will never vanish.

Zhong Yun never entertained the notion of achieving universal equality. To ignite the drive and ambition of this new collective, he stratified everyone into more than a dozen classes, structured under two distinct systems.

One was the Skill Level, judged on the basis of inherent capability. The other was the Status Level, founded upon contributions made to the nation.

In Zhong Yun’s nascent state, the extent of one's power and social standing depended entirely on one's ability and service to the nation.

Above these systems, Zhong Yun instituted hereditary Nobility, designated to recognize and reward those who made truly exceptional contributions.

With a population base of six million, the undertaking was substantial. Zhong Yun summoned representatives from each faction, engaging them in dialogue to establish the foundational framework and allow everyone time to acclimatize.

Few voiced objection to Zhong Yun's actions. The Dead Domain populace were effectively his prisoners; they had no choice but to obey his every command. Those from Qiyun Star required even less consideration; they were cultivated entirely by Zhong Yun and his associates.

As for the Dawa people, Zhong Yun was not only the son-in-law of the preeminent Yang family but had also been their savior, and having rescued them again in the recent crisis, the vast majority held him in deep reverence. Even should a small minority harbor dissent, they lacked the capacity to contest his authority.

Thus, during their desperate flight, a nation comprising merely six million souls, owning not a single planetary territory, was established.

Privately, Zhong Yun named the state "The Galaxy," but out of deference to the sentiments of the Dawa citizens, he shelved the announcement for the time being.

Even though their route was sufficiently clandestine, they periodically encountered one or two refugee vessels, illustrating the profound chaos engulfing the Omi Star System.

Zhong Yun, worried about a shortage of manpower, did not hesitate to capture those who stumbled into his path, integrating them into his citizenry.

Aside from essential supplies, Zhong Yun left behind the ordinary refugee ships. The Mercury and Mars vessels were not yet filled to capacity; carrying extra ships would only prove a liability.

Arriving at the Cass Star System without major incident, Zhong Yun intended to retreat to the Dead Domain, waiting until their strength developed sufficiently before returning to challenge the Gaan Empire.

He had expected greater security upon reaching the Cass System, but shortly thereafter, they encountered more ships that appeared to be fleeing. Upon questioning them, he learned that the Cass System too had erupted in unprecedented warfare, its entire expanse consumed by conflagration.

Hearing this news weighed heavily on Zhong Yun. Simultaneous upheavals across two star systems could not be mere coincidence. Was the cosmic civilization on the brink of collapse?

The Cass Star Domain possessed an inter-sectoral jump point; it was through this very nexus that Yun had returned from Sector A previously. This time, his destination was Sector A, where he sought the ruins of the Lansen Empire to locate the entrance to the Dead Domain.

The jump point at the Lansen Empire base leading into the Dead Domain was unidirectional; the point of entry and exit were not the same. Given that the Lansen Empire had been destroyed for so many years, he was uncertain if the exit point remained intact. If it did not, his only recourse would be the location where he had accidentally stumbled into the Dead Domain previously.

However, before executing the jump, a crucial problem demanded resolution: energy. Exiting the Dead Domain required one hundred billion units of energy, and the return journey would surely demand a similar expenditure.

While he possessed a substantial amount of energy, it fell far short of the hundred billion units required. The immediate priority was accumulating this massive reserve.

Zhong Yun pondered deeply. One hundred billion units was no trivial sum; even raiding several Mid-Level Civilizations might not suffice.

After running through all possibilities, only one viable path emerged: if raiding Mid-Level Civilizations was impossible, then he must target a High-Level Civilization.

After consulting with Xiao Ling, Zhong Yun deemed this plan feasible. Just as in the Omi Star System, the conflict in the Cass System had been ignited by the most powerful High-Level Civilization present—though in the Cass System, there was only one such entity.

One made things simpler. This nation, accustomed to unquestioned dominance, likely scorned every other power in the system, never dreaming that anyone would dare harbor intentions against them.

From a fleeing refugee ship, they obtained a detailed star chart of the Cass System, which not only listed the names and locations of every state but also meticulously detailed their civilization tiers. Zhong Yun and Xiao Ling commenced their planning.

Viahn, the High-Level Civilization of the Cass System, though only in its First Stage, was an insurmountable entity to every other nation within the system.

Viahn was situated near the fringe of the Cass System, while Zhong Yun’s current location was near the central point. According to the Cass refugees, Viahn had only recently commenced its invasion.

This meant Viahn had not yet unified the Cass System, and their main armies were currently deployed outward.

This, Zhong Yun realized, was his opportunity.

Analyzing the Cass star chart yielded significant data. Based on the distribution of the various states, they could roughly deduce the vectors of troop movement.

Areas with a denser concentration of nations and stronger resistance would necessitate a larger deployment from Viahn. Furthermore, the location of the jump point allowed them to infer the primary direction of the military advance.

Soon, Zhong Yun and Xiao Ling formulated a preliminary strategy.

Zhong Yun was not foolish enough to engage Viahn’s main force. His target was the supply fleet. With the stealth capabilities of the Mercury and Mars, executing a perfect ambush was certainly achievable.

With the plan settled, Zhong Yun proceeded to the location most likely to host a supply convoy: a shipping lane situated precisely between two major jump points. This channel had been forcibly carved out through a dense asteroid field.

Bypassing this route required a detour of at least two light-years, making it a historically vital thoroughfare. It was currently controlled by Viahn, having been previously managed by a Fourth Stage Mid-Level Civilization.

This entire region fell under Viahn’s claimed territory. Zhong Yun chose this area for the ambush based on several considerations. In their own occupied zone, Viahn fleets would naturally exhibit lower vigilance. Moreover, this path was an unavoidable artery for Viahn’s logistical support.

Though termed a channel, the passage was vast, its radius exceeding one hundred million kilometers. While Viahn had stationed fleets to blockade both ends, this defense was effective only against conventional vessels. The stealth capabilities of the Mercury and Mars allowed them to penetrate the area effortlessly.

Concealed near the center of the channel, Zhong Yun waited patiently.

He waited for a full month. Viahn’s main fleet clusters passed through three times, but not a single supply vessel appeared. Yun, however, remained unhurried; patience was his ally.

One of the other reasons for selecting this waiting spot was the presence of the Cass System's strongest nation outside of Viahn—a Fifth Stage Mid-Level Civilization, just shy of reaching High-Level status.

For Viahn, this nation represented a veritable obstacle requiring significant cost to subdue.

Based on intelligence gathered along their journey, both Zhong Yun and Xiao Ling believed Viahn had not yet secured victory over this state. Once the battle became a deadlock, it would be the perfect time for Zhong Yun to fish in troubled waters.

A few days later, another massive fleet contingent passed through—a deployment numbering over a thousand "Satellite-class" warships, indicating considerable scale.

This further solidified Zhong Yun’s conviction: Viahn was clearly struggling to subdue this nation quickly, necessitating continuous reinforcements. He gambled that it wouldn't be long before Viahn dispatched supply ships, as energy reserves are always the quickest component to deplete during active warfare.

True to his prediction, after waiting another five days, a large cluster of ships appeared on the Mercury's sensors. There were approximately four hundred vessels, and their hulls were immense—not resembling typical warships.

Zhong Yun’s spirit lifted; it had arrived.

Indeed, this was the massive supply convoy dispatched by Viahn, larger than anticipated.

Perhaps due to its location within their controlled space, the escort for this supply fleet was relatively light: fewer than a hundred vessels, most categorized merely as "Quasi-Satellite-class," with a single, clearly leading "Super-Satellite-class" ship, accompanied by about a dozen "Satellite-class" escorts.

Watching the supply vessels draw nearer, Zhong Yun hesitated for a moment; such a vast convoy might be beyond his capacity to handle. But then, biting back his doubt, he resolved to act. Missing this chance might mean waiting indefinitely for another. After all, no matter how strong that resisting nation was, it remained merely Mid-Level, and its reserves were surely nearing exhaustion by this point.

If the war concluded, this area's strategic importance would diminish rapidly, with no local power left to challenge Viahn.

As the supply convoy entered attack range, the Mercury and Mars struck simultaneously. The Mercury's three main cannons and the Mars's four main cannons unleashed their full power, instantly obliterating seven warships on the outer perimeter of the escort.

The flagship, the "Super-Satellite-class" vessel, was among those destroyed. Zhong Yun had targeted it from the outset, employing the tactic of decapitation; the very first barrage was aimed squarely at the leader.

Although engaged in active warfare, Viahn’s fleets had encountered virtually no meaningful resistance up to this point. This had cultivated an attitude of complacency. Furthermore, with guards posted at both ends of the channel, who would ever anticipate an ambush here?

The swift destruction of the flagship threw the remaining escort into chaos.

The Mercury seized the opportunity, plunging directly into the fray, relying on its shields to absorb incoming fire. Once at close range, it unleashed its secondary batteries. In less than five engagements, over twenty enemy vessels were destroyed.

In contrast, the Mars's performance was more reserved. Lacking energy shielding, it dared not absorb hits like the Mercury. Instead, it utilized superior maneuverability to evade attacks, striking only after its main cannons had completed their cooldown cycles.

The Optic-Brain Mecha also proved devastatingly effective, with 1.5 million units swarming fifteen enemy warships like a dense cloud of hornets.

The ease of the combat surprised Zhong Yun; in under half an hour, the entire escort contingent was neutralized—an almost unbelievable outcome.

The disparity between Viahn's warships and those of the Gaan Empire was vast. Recalling the arduous struggle against the Gaan Empire’s fifty-seven-ship fleet, this current victory felt effortless.

In retrospect, it was logical. The Gaan Empire was a Second Stage High-Level Civilization, a full tier above Viahn. Such a gap in civilization level represented an insurmountable chasm.

Every level advancement in civilization brought about revolutionary technological shifts. Even "Satellite-class" warships produced by a Second Stage High-Level Civilization were inherently superior in quality to those manufactured by a First Stage.

This difference stemmed purely from technological disparity. Even objects within the same tier exhibited variances in quality.

Zhong Yun had no time for philosophical reflection; the transport ships laden with materiel were already scattering. He urgently pursued them; if they escaped, the entire operation would be fruitless.

Fortunately, the transport vessels were bulky and slow, allowing the Mercury and Mars to easily catch up. He deployed the Optic-Brain Mecha to subdue the transports without destroying them immediately.

In truth, the Mercury and Mars had finite cargo space; they could not take everything. Energy was the sole objective.

Most of the supplies in this convoy consisted of mecha and fighters, suggesting heavy losses sustained on the front lines. However, there were two full transport ships packed with energy blocks, which Zhong Yun seized without compunction.

He then destroyed all the remaining transport ships, including the mecha, and vanished from the scene of the crime. By the time Viahn's relief fleets arrived after receiving distress signals, Zhong Yun was long gone, leaving them to vent their fury over the wreckage.

P: Apologies for the lack of an update yesterday; I was feeling unwell. First release