This is the Golden Route connecting the Hiss Empire and the Yafik Empire, the nineteenth line of defense constructed by Yafik.

The route defended by this line of defense was roughly cylindrical, with a cross-sectional diameter of only a little over a thousand kilometers. This area was originally a commercial toll port for the Yafik Empire. Consequently, its defensive installations were considered the best among all the defense lines along the route. Three fixed gun platforms, each about fifty kilometers in diameter, formed the most crucial fire support points for this defense line, while tens of thousands of armed satellites of various sizes and countless naturally occurring meteorites, which had undergone preliminary modification, constituted the main body of the defense.

Hohm, clad in power armor, stood outside the main cannon tower of one of the fixed gun platforms, carrying a sleek, all-black sniper cannon slung over his shoulder. The muzzle, thick as a barrel, reflected a faint cyan sheen under the starlight. A large pile of Zakula crystals lay heaped at Hohm’s feet, and tendrils of energy continuously flowed into his body.

Three fast assault ships from the Hiss Empire, each no more than fifty meters long, blasted through the defense line's interception fire net at half light speed. Just as they prepared to launch their carried hypervelocity anti-fortress missiles, the anti-air cannons on the fixed platforms roared to life, vaporizing two assault ships mid-flight.

The last assault ship deftly evaded the barrage of the anti-air cannons, closing in on the platform at extreme velocity along a curved trajectory. When it was less than three hundred kilometers from the platform, nearly a hundred launch ports on the warship's underside simultaneously opened, revealing their interiors packed tight with the dark, dense heads of missiles.

Hohm let out a low chuckle. The sniper cannon on his shoulder suddenly shifted, and a massive beam of intense light tore through the void, striking the assault ship’s engine compartment. Countless powerful anti-fortress missiles exploded simultaneously, shattering the warship and the dozens of fast fighters surging in behind it into dust. Hohm laughed wildly and fired again and again. Beam after beam of brilliant light streaked across the void, like venomous vipers striking, obliterating a group of assault ships several thousand kilometers away that had just broken through the second layer of anti-air fire, exploding them mid-air.

This was the nineteenth defense line, and the narrowest one along the Golden Route, situated where the terrain heavily favored the defenders. Due to the confined combat area, the large warships that gave the Hiss Empire an absolute advantage dared not approach; they could only deploy large numbers of small assault ships and fighters to attack the line.

The preceding eighteen defense lines were conquered in just three months after the great war erupted. The combined fleet formed by the Hiss Empire and dozens of five-star civilizations allied with it descended like Mount Tai, steadily advancing toward the Yafik Empire at an average rate of conquering one line every five days.

Under the command of Fuya Ming, the Yafik soldiers on the first eighteen defense lines held the enemy for only two or three days each time. After inflicting some losses, they retreated without hesitation, having previously planted massive quantities of antimatter bombs to destroy every defense line completely. In the three months of war, the casualties among the Yafik Empire’s soldiers were negligible. During the fighting, the Yafik Empire’s soldiers matured rapidly. Fuya Ming now commanded a sizable group of competent warriors, while the enemy suffered losses of at least tens of millions, and at least ten thousand Star Alliance standard Level One warships were destroyed.

However, for the Hiss Empire and its allies, ten thousand standard Level One warships were just a loss that could be replenished from factories in a matter of minutes. This didn't even account for the three six-star civilizations standing behind the Hiss Empire; if they were included, ten thousand Level One warships would be nothing significant.

Therefore, after consecutively abandoning eighteen defense lines, Fuya Ming formulated a plan to ambush the enemy here.

Hohm, Commander Linghu, three million clone soldiers produced by the Qiu Federation, and twenty thousand Zerg soldiers manned the three fixed gun platforms. Fuya Ming herself commanded a fleet composed of three hundred Roman super-motherships and twenty thousand Roman super-warships, hidden within the dense nebulae of the desolate star sea surrounding the defense line, ready to strike the allied troops at any moment.

The large gun platform group, operated by clone soldiers whose nerves remained consistently calm regardless of fear or pain in any situation, wove a net of deadly light across the void. Countless assault ships and fighters from the combined fleet continuously charged the three fixed gun platforms, but no matter how hard they tried, not a single warship or fighter could get close to the platforms. Occasionally, a few lucky stragglers that managed to break through the triple layer of anti-air fire were immediately sniped and exploded by the ever-ready Hohm.

Occasionally, a squadron composed of several dozen Level One warships attempted to force their way through the platform's anti-air net. But an equal number of Level One warships would immediately emerge from behind the platforms, engaging the enemy ships in dogfights across the void. With the fire support of the three platforms, the combined fleet's small squadrons were usually blown into scattered firelight after advancing only a few steps.

Aboard a massive warship ten thousand meters long, Tartar, holding a golden scepter, sat stiffly on his throne, watching the battlefield displayed on the light screen with a cold gaze.

The three Ling brothers, their faces slightly pale, stood to one side, frowning at the stalemate. With the current development, they harbored a bad premonition—this defense line seemed like a meat grinder, capable of shredding the entire combined fleet. The terrain was far too disadvantageous for the combined fleet; with a cross-section diameter of only a thousand kilometers, a maximum of two hundred warships could deploy at once, and such a force facing three heavily armed platforms was clearly just an appetizer.

If tens of thousands of warships were sent in all at once...

"A very interesting woman, you must be mine!" Ling stomped his foot in anger. He recalled the scene months ago when he was dispatched by the Elder Council to court Fuya Ming in the Yafik Empire. He had been instantly captivated by Fuya Ming's devastatingly beautiful face; that unique temperament, a mixture of seductive charm and fierce martial heroism, made Ling feel that his springtime had arrived. Despite having seen countless beauties in the Star Alliance, this was the first time he had encountered a woman radiating such spirited valor.

When he used a minor trick to obtain a drop of Fuya Ming's blood, Ling was utterly shocked!

This woman, from a collateral branch of the Yafik lineage under the Elder Council, possessed genes that were utterly flawless. Her bloodline was so powerful, it matched precisely the description in a highly confidential document he had seen from within the Elder Council. It was a bloodline that shouldn't exist in this chaotic high-tech modern era but should belong to the legendary demigods of ancient times.

Ling also possessed an exceptionally fine bloodline. He instinctively believed that if Fuya Ming could unite with him, their descendants would surely reach a certain legendary standard, yielding endless benefits. This legend had always circulated among the lower and middle-ranking executors within the Elder Council, and Ling believed in it implicitly.

"However, this little woman has caused me a bit of trouble. It will take time to crack open this hard shell and enjoy the marvelous fruit!" Ling displayed an excited smile. Such an unconquerable woman was worthy of his status. The Elder Council had given him thirty years to complete his mission; he had ample time to thoroughly defeat Fuya Ming and capture her heart completely.

"Your Majesty Tartar, continue deploying assault ships and fighters. Attack without pause, attack, attack! Destroy their will to resist with saturation attacks!" Ling puffed out his chest, but a sudden pain shot through his lower abdomen. He frowned and instinctively clutched the spot where Peng Hua had stabbed him three months ago.

Tartar struck the floor heavily with his scepter. He frowned and said, "But, Your Graces, the enemy's defense is almost impenetrable. Can't we deploy the advanced warships from the six-star civilizations? The Dodolens Protocol Organization is also willing to provide powerful White Wing-class warships."

Ling glared coldly at Tartar, saying haughtily, "This is a fair war; you only need to obey orders. Deploy White Wing-class warships? If I needed to use White Wing-class warships to conquer that woman, what face would I have to meet our brethren?"

"Our brethren..." Hearing this term, Tartar respectfully expressed his obedience. This was the internal designation used by members of the Elder Council for each other.

More small assault ships and fighters, heedless of sacrifice, charged toward the platforms like a swarm, aiming for the platforms from a distance, unleashing all manner of missiles and torpedoes. Countless tiny flashes twinkled in the void, the high-speed missiles and torpedoes leaving long trails as they rushed toward the three gun platforms.

The main cannons on the platforms were not very effective against such small targets. When the high-speed missiles and torpedoes approached within five hundred kilometers, all the small-caliber secondary cannons on the platforms simultaneously emerged from the decks. Innumerable fine lines of light swept the void, instantly causing tens of thousands of missiles and torpedoes to explode mid-air.

Hohm stood steadily on the gun turret, firing fiercely. His precise shots destroyed hundreds of missiles and torpedoes that were about to hit the platforms. But more torpedoes and missiles continued to descend like a deluge. Even with numerous secondary cannons, they could not withstand Tartar's reckless assault. Dozens of anti-fortress missiles struck one platform. The platform beneath his feet shuddered faintly; several layers of thick armor were breached, and giant holes, each about three hundred meters in diameter, appeared. Countless clone soldiers were vaporized into ashes, ejected into the void along with the platform debris.

Large groups of engineering robots flew in from the rear. These robots, carrying thick armor plates, rapidly swarmed onto the platform, mending the breaches as quickly as possible. Components for heavy anti-air main cannons, kilometers long, were transported from behind. These nimble and dexterous robots restored the destroyed gun emplacements with maximum speed and precision. Then, a large contingent of clone soldiers in power armor was transported in by transport ships and swiftly deployed into the new positions.

The entire process took less than ten minutes. Before Tartar could even launch a second wave of fighters, the three damaged platforms were restored. Moreover, because the robots layered several extra plates of armor onto the platforms, their defensive capabilities had actually been slightly enhanced.

"It's happening again!" Xu roared in frustration. "Don't those Yafik people fear death? Attack, keep attacking! Let's see how many of them dare to die with the platforms!"

More assault ships and fighters were released, and more torpedoes and missiles were directed at the platforms. This time, even dozens of Level One warships, ignoring casualties, plunged into the fray, firing high-altitude railgun projectiles at the platforms. Dozens of high-density metal columns, about three meters in diameter and a hundred meters long, traveling at tens of thousands of kilometers per second, hissed toward the platforms.

These metal columns traveled extremely fast. Just as the platforms' anti-air fire destroyed the warships, the metal columns struck one of the platforms.

The immense kinetic energy carried by the metal columns instantly destroyed that platform. A flash of light, accompanied by countless metal shards, sprayed outward, the massive fragments even affecting the other two nearby platforms.

But a brand-new platform, being towed by dozens of Level One warships, slid into position from the rear.

As if intentionally provoking Tartar and Ling, about three hundred thousand clone soldiers in power armor slowly drifted out of their warships on personal flight devices. They slipped through the open hatches into the gun emplacements. In less than ten heartbeats, the new platform spat out deadly rain, filling the rift that had just appeared in the fire net.

Then came the second, the third, the fourth—a total of eighteen new platforms were towed into place, slowly grouping behind the defense line, forming a terrifying anti-air fire net.

"This is troublesome, Big Brother! Their technological strength isn't enough to build megastructures like Death Stars, but these giant, immobile platforms—they can build as many as they want," Yan frowned, sighing deeply. "Let's try infiltrating from the desolate star sea on both flanks. This is the edge of the desolate star sea; the risk shouldn't be too high."

Under Tartar's command, several thousand Level One warships immediately dispersed and sped toward the desolate star sea surrounding the defense line.

As Yan predicted, this area was on the edge of the desolate star sea. Although the cross-section of the safe route was only a thousand kilometers in diameter, the warships' powerful energy shields were sufficient to handle the relatively sparse asteroid fields and various hazards in this desolate star sea.

But what greatly infuriated Yan was that Fuya Ming had already scattered numerous remote-controlled floating mines throughout the nearby star system. As the warships approached, the mines immediately detonated, and thousands of Level One warships were pulverized without even sending back a single report. Clearing mines in a naturally harsh desolate star field was essentially an impossible task.

"I'm starting to hate this mission," Xu muttered, biting his lip. "We can't have any deviations, can't alert anyone, and can only use conventional military force. Now we even have to worry about harming that delicate woman who captivated our Big Brother. How are we supposed to proceed?"

Ling slumped weakly onto a recliner and said plainly, "Then, continue the attack. I want to see how much war potential a small nation that just advanced to a five-star civilization has to bleed against us. Pass down the order: demand that all five-star civilizations in the Dodolens Protocol Organization factories prioritize the production of small assault ships and fighters, and require them to train enough fighter pilots from the low-level civilizations they control. I want to see how long my Empress can hold out!"

Without any tactical finesse—Ling couldn't even be bothered to use any—he resorted to the most savage and brutal means, deploying countless assault ships and fighters to assault the defense line like a storm. One platform was destroyed, and another immediately replaced it. Then another platform was destroyed, and yet another was brought up.

With the backing of dozens of five-star civilizations, Ling endlessly launched assaults using assault ships and fighters, completely unconcerned with the expenditure of personnel and materiel, because he possessed more than enough resources and manpower to waste. Under his obsessive command, another three months passed. The Yafik Empire’s defense line was forcibly pushed back tens of thousands of kilometers, and the battlefield moved into a wide-open area where the route's cross-section reached fifty thousand kilometers.

Here, an excited Ling began committing large numbers of warships to the attack.

The defensive pressure on Yafik immediately increased more than tenfold. Almost a dozen platforms, built at great expense, were destroyed almost every day. Eventually, the Yafik Empire's consumption surpassed its production capacity, and no new armed platforms were ever transported from the rear.

By this time, the scale of the combined fleet commanded by Tartar was thirty times what it was at the start of the war. The massive fleet densely filled more than half of the Golden Route; as far as the eye could see, the view was packed with warships painted in various colors, belonging to dozens of five-star civilizations.

With a thunderous roar, the last armed platform was completely destroyed, all armed satellites were blown up mid-air, and every remote-controlled floating mine was detonated by artillery fire. Under Ling’s command, the combined fleet deliberately slowed its pace, lazily weaving itself into magnificent but functionally useless cubic formations, creeping toward the final defense line of the Golden Route.

Ling's flagship led the massive cubic formations, constantly broadcasting powerful signals in all directions—it was Ling's marriage proposal declaration to Fuya Ming.

At that very moment, a flash of azure light flickered in the void. Gu Xiachen, having spent a long time traveling the vast star path, finally arrived.

His divine sense swept across the star fields surrounding the route. Gu Xiachen rolled his eyes, flicked his wrist, and sent the Taiyin Xuan Pearl flying out.

Dozens of giant white energies, resembling flood dragons, rushed out of the Taiyin Xuan Pearl. Before Ling and the others could react, the white energies swept up their flagship entirely, sucking it into the Taiyin Xuan Pearl.

Snatching the Taiyin Xuan Pearl back with the back of his hand, Gu Xiachen turned to leave. As he sped toward the final defense line, Gu Xiachen laughed into the communicator on his wrist, cursing, "Stop messing around, let's end this game sooner!"

Hidden within a nearby asteroid belt outside the route, Fuya Ming smiled and called out to Xiao Xiao, who was scrambling around the command center.

Xiao Xiao, who had transformed into a metal monkey body, chittered a few times, and a flash of red light suddenly crossed its eyes.

The internal defense systems of every ship in the combined fleet filling the Golden Route simultaneously activated, instantly killing all personnel inside the warships. Then, all the warships flew out of the Golden Route in an orderly fashion and docked in the designated berthing area previously marked by the Yafik Empire. Countless well-trained Yafik soldiers climbed jubilantly onto the warships and took over control.

The combined fleet commanded by Tartar was annihilated, and the highest command echelon was captured in one fell swoop. If you wish to know what happens next, please visit , where there are more chapters, supporting the author, and supporting legitimate reading!