Time we're reluctant to part with always seems so fleeting. We used to think there was plenty of time ahead, but only upon reflection do we realize that what seemed like ordinary days were filled with many missed moments of emotion.

That's exactly how Wang Lan felt at the moment, as he took Jiang Xinyu to the airport, watching her walk step by step towards the gathering crowd with reluctance. At that moment, Wang Lan wanted nothing more than to call out to Jiang Xinyu and embrace her tightly in his arms once again.

How long had they known each other... Seventeen years, wasn't it?

The memories of the past, now like a series of still photographs, lingered in Wang Lan's mind—chasing butterflies together on the grassy slopes, racing on bicycles along streets lined with cherry blossoms, flying kites against the setting sun, and so much more.

From elementary school, to middle school, to high school, and now to college.

He and Jiang Xinyu had never been apart.

But this time, she was about to leave the warm and safe Jade Country to head to the Middle East, a land filled with gunsmoke and rampaging Exotic Beasts, to join the battlefield.

No matter how much Wang Lan prepared for Jiang Xinyu, it would never be enough in his heart.

"Xinyu!" Wang Lan suddenly called out without thinking.

Jiang Xinyu stopped in her tracks abruptly, turned around, and threw herself into Wang Lan's embrace, holding him tightly.

"I'm kind of reluctant to leave."

"Then just stay."

"I'm just kidding with you. If I backed out now, I'd be marked as a deserter."

"You must be careful and come back safely."

"Don't worry, I will. Same to you. I hope when I get off the plane, you'll be the first person I see."

"Okay!"

With a final sense of reluctance, Jiang Xinyu ran back to join the team. She feared that if she didn't hurry back, she wouldn't be able to resist looking back or keep from crying.

There were many more pairs like Wang Lan and Jiang Xinyu. Most Star Martial Warriors left their most beautiful memories and purest love in college. Once they truly stepped onto the battlefield, they lived each day with extreme caution, hardly in a position to entertain thoughts of love.

The airplane taxied down the runway and slowly ascended into the sky. Wang Lan waved helplessly at the departing plane.

「Later that night.」

Wang Lan received a call from Jiang Xinyu. They had successfully arrived in Keli Country and settled in. Their support work would start tomorrow, and their phones would be turned off.

With Jiang Xinyu gone, he missed her!

Wang Lan immersed himself in his studies and work, hoping that the heavy academic load would dispel the longing in his heart. As it turned out, a study god is still a study god. A fully invested Wang Lan, with his skill points maxed out in studies, was terrifyingly efficient.

Apart from developing the Star Martial Toxin Vaccine, Wang Lan spent his days in the library, seldom seen by He Jing and Ming Guodong. There were even a few times when they both suspected that Wang Lan might have joined some overseas support mission and had run off without a trace.

However, Wang Lan had already quietly started studying the subjects of his sophomore year and even planned to secure all his sophomore year's Academic Credits before the end of his freshman year. Although Wang Lan didn't lack Academic Credits, he never forgot the advice from his seniors to never let go of any opportunity to earn every Academic Credit available.

"Hello, Mr. Ming! Is there a mission? Great, I'll be right there."

Wang Lan, who was studying in the library, suddenly received a call from Ming Baiye. After hanging up, he closed his books without a second thought and rode his electric scooter to the Heavenly Sword Bureau.

He knocked on Ming Baiye's office door. Ming Baiye was busy with paperwork. After Wang Lan sat for a minute, Ming Baiye finally finished his tasks.

"Wang Lan, according to the Heavenly Sword Bureau's investigation, the Duanmu Family's smuggling of Space Stones is closely linked to the Kingdom of Ice and Snow."

"Kingdom of Ice and Snow? Their country is in such a state, and they still have the inclination to smuggle Space Stones?" Wang Lan exclaimed in surprise.

The current situation in the Kingdom of Ice and Snow... Although there was little domestic reporting, Wang Lan had a general understanding through Xiao Ai. This country, except for their lives, had virtually nothing.

Once, the Kingdom of Ice and Snow was a rich and beautiful small nation. Its unique geographical environment created this emerald of snow and ice. The stark contrast of its environment led to many extraordinary natural wonders.

Twenty years ago, the Kingdom of Ice and Snow was a very famous tourist destination. Areas radiated by active volcanoes in the country enjoyed spring-like conditions all year round, with an average temperature of twenty-five degrees, allowing crops to be harvested three to four times a year.

Furthermore, the Kingdom of Ice and Snow possessed abundant energy mineral resources—a type more efficient and cleaner than oil. However, these resources were primarily concentrated deep within the earth's core, beyond current technological reach for mining. They were extremely rare near the surface, with discoveries barely amounting to one-thousandth of existing oil resources.

Only the Kingdom of Ice and Snow had surveyed reserves exceeding ten times the amount of exploitable reserves found globally. Therefore, barring any accidents, the Kingdom of Ice and Snow could have thrived by selling energy resources alone, allowing everyone in the country to live luxuriously.

Regrettably, all of that was destroyed by a sudden event twelve years ago.

Twelve years ago, a Different Dimensional Space suddenly opened in the Kingdom of Ice and Snow. The Exotic Beasts emerging from it all possessed the bizarre attributes of ice and poison. These beasts surged out, ravaging the land, leaving nothing but ice and snow wherever they went, with no grass growing.

After paying a heavy price, the Kingdom of Ice and Snow successfully repelled the Exotic Beasts. But then, a second Different Dimensional Space opened. The Kingdom of Ice and Snow immediately sought international aid. However, since these were Poisonous Beasts, the peacekeeping forces sent by the International Security Council suffered heavy losses. Many nations also dispatched aid, only for their teams to suffer great losses and be forced to return.

Gradually, the once prosperous and beautiful Kingdom of Ice and Snow was destroyed by the Exotic Beasts, losing all its economic sources in just five years.

With Exotic Beasts running rampant, no foolhardy tourists dared visit the Kingdom of Ice and Snow. The land, eroded by toxins, could no longer grow a single crop—not even weeds. Similarly, energy mines could not be exploited.

Having lost its sources of income, the Kingdom of Ice and Snow could only rely on international aid to survive. According to recent rumors, it seems the people of the Kingdom of Ice and Snow have started eating dirt.

You're telling me a country in such a state still has the inclination to smuggle Space Stones? Smuggling Space Stones is strictly prohibited by the United Nations, and if discovered, the United Nations will impose severe sanctions. With the current situation in the Kingdom of Ice and Snow, the United Nations could easily wipe them out before next spring with just the flick of a finger.

"In fact, it is indeed coming from there, and we have also negotiated with the Kingdom of Ice and Snow. They did not deny it. But they denied that it was the government's doing. In the past ten years, anti-government armed forces have emerged in the Kingdom of Ice and Snow, and it could be their doing. Moreover, the Kingdom of Ice and Snow might just be a transit point; after all, this route would avoid most checkpoints and directly reach the northern sea of Jade Country."

"Is that so? The more tumultuous the country, the more likely such things are to occur. But... what does this have to do with my mission?" As he spoke, Wang Lan suddenly looked at Ming Baiye in astonishment. "Mr. Ming, you're not going to send me to the Kingdom of Ice and Snow to investigate, are you? I'm still in school."

"To my knowledge, you are soon to be sent to the Kingdom of Ice and Snow."

Wang Lan looked at Ming Baiye, stunned. ...

"Do you remember the last expedition led by Nangong Meng? Although there was an accident, the mission of the expedition was not called off. Ever since you developed the Star Martial Toxin Vaccine, many countries have sent out letters of request for help to Jade Country. The Kingdom of Ice and Snow is at the forefront.

"The country has dispatched twelve expedition teams to various nations ravaged by Poisonous Beasts, aiming to retrieve toxin samples to produce vaccines. The situation in the Kingdom of Ice and Snow is the most severe. If it's not addressed immediately, the Kingdom of Ice and Snow will soon be completely wiped from existence.

"This time the Kingdom of Ice and Snow has paid a heavy price and specifically requested you. There's no choice; you are currently the only one who has mastered the editing of the Star Martial Toxin Vaccine."

"Nonsense, a few of my seniors at school have barely gotten a grip on it, and didn't the Angel Kingdom also announce that they have mastered it?"

"But you are the authority; they only trust you."

This reason... Wang Lan couldn't refute. But... deep down Wang Lan wasn't all that keen on going abroad. Wang Lan wasn't the type of hot-blooded individual; if his own country needed him, Wang Lan would be duty-bound to help, but as for harboring a sense of global responsibility, Wang Lan lacked such enthusiasm.

Moreover, just hearing about the situation in the Kingdom of Ice and Snow made it clear that it was a high-risk zone. As for his own strength, he could barely survive in medium-difficulty dungeons. As for hard ones, Wang Lan felt it was better to cultivate and lie low.

Besides, there were so many Star Martial Toxins in the academy waiting for him—experience points, skill points—enough for Wang Lan to farm for a year. Plus, the Immortal Cloud Mysterious Green Record Qi Cultivation Chapter that he had upgraded to Gold level allowed him to see experience points rise every day. Breaking through to the Galaxy Stage before the end of the year was no issue, so why bother with this mess?

"What's the matter? You don't seem too keen? This isn't like your usual style," Ming Baiye said.

"Mr. Ming, I'm not some brainless teen with a one-track mind. The situation in the Kingdom of Ice and Snow is already very dangerous. I think staying alive is quite nice."

"What if the country needs you to go?" Ming Baiye asked seriously.

"Then, of course, I am duty-bound," Wang Lan quickly stood at attention and responded. What else could I do when you put it so seriously?

"Energy is the basic driving force for a country's development," Ming Baiye continued, his tone grave. "Jade Country, although vast and rich in resources, is sorely lacking when it comes to energy. White Eagle Country has signed strategic alliances with the twelve Middle Eastern nations, ensuring a steady stream of energy. If we can save the Kingdom of Ice and Snow, Jade Country will no longer face an energy crisis."

Now that it had come to this, what else could Wang Lan say? Aiding the Kingdom of Ice and Snow was related to the century-long plan of Jade Country; no price was too high to pay.

"My people have already gone ahead to the Kingdom of Ice and Snow and have taken over the role of the Duanmu Family's agent in Jade Country. The Duanmu Family's affairs have been forcibly suppressed, and the international community is unaware."

"Mr. Ming, our Heavenly Sword Bureau focuses on internal matters, not external ones. What business is it of ours if other countries smuggle Space Stones? Do we really need to be so persistently after them?"

"The Duanmu Family controls just one of the larger routes in this Space Stone smuggling network, but they are not the only ones. In recent years, smaller Different Dimensional Spaces have been opening frequently, and we cannot afford to ignore this trend.

"So, this time we are going directly to the source to extinguish it. Rest assured, your role during the visit is merely to be on standby; there's no need for you to get involved in the action. In fact, we won't be directly involved either.

"We only need to find the source, then inform the United Nations to dispatch personnel to eradicate it. This mission is just a secondary concern. Had you not been coincidentally heading to the Kingdom of Ice and Snow, I wouldn't have burdened you with it."

"Fine... I'll take it on."

"I'll send you the method to contact our people a little later."

Returning from the Heavenly Sword Bureau, Wang Lan dived back into the library as if he knew nothing.

"Wang Lan, Wang Lan, if you hear this, please come to the Dean's office immediately. The Dean has something to discuss with you," the small speaker next to Wang Lan in the library suddenly called out, leaving him stunned.

"Wang Lan, you heard correctly."

"Alright!" Wang Lan pointed at the camera above him. This must be Yu Ruoyun's peculiar sense of humor.

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