The warp-transport ship hovered in outer space, bathed in a milky-white glow.
Inside, the central control room was dim, and in its center floated the refined face of a white-haired, single-horned woman—Monica Whitehorn—who was thoroughly shocked.
It wasn't exactly awe.
But it was astonishment, bewilderment, confusion, and disbelief.
Monica Whitehorn rotated her horn, her eyes wide with emotion: "How could a mere aboriginal planet produce a Composite Starlight-tier cultivation genius?"
After checking and confirming, Monica Whitehorn had already learned Andrew Han's name.
The blue planet Earth was indeed an aboriginal world.
An aboriginal planet refers to a life world that has never contacted the vast universe—an ordinary planet with nothing special. For such a world to produce even a single Starlight-tier lifeform is a once-in-a-millennium miracle.
Which raised a question.
Monica Whitehorn felt dizzy: "An aboriginal planet producing a Composite Starlight-tier? And this Starlight-tier Human named Andrew Han looks so young—perhaps not even half a star-year old."
It was a pity that, separated by a screen, she could only observe his appearance.
So she couldn't sense whether Andrew Han's aura carried any hint of decay, or if it was brimming with youthful vigor.
At this thought,
Monica Whitehorn regained her composure, smiling politely and calmly: "Hello, I am Monica Whitehorn, responsible for business at the Chenriver Empire Eastern Region 37th Sub-Branch Center... Please forgive my abruptness at this first meeting."
"It's fine, I'm Andrew Han."
Andrew Han also smiled and nodded, showing no sign of surprise.
Communication across countless light-years actually works much like the star-network... When placing an order with Comet Express, and through Bailey's explanations, Andrew Han had vaguely understood the starry sky network's terrifying reach.
As long as there was light, there was network.
Of course, not ordinary light, but the radiance emitted by stars.
But remembering his aboriginal identity, Andrew Han revealed just the right hint of surprise: "The distance between Earth and your Eastern Region 37th Sub-Branch Center must be immense. How are you able to maintain communications with me?"
The Chenriver Empire was not mentioned again.
After all, they were already within Chenriver Empire territory—saying more would seem excessive, even deliberate.
Monica Whitehorn once again confirmed Andrew Han's aboriginal status, her smile growing even warmer: "You really didn't know that? It seems your anonymous network terminal lacks intelligence."
"Mm, I just happened to get online," Andrew Han shrugged.
Monica Whitehorn smiled and explained, "As long as you can see the starry sky, you can access the network."
Actually, the Chenriver Empire doesn't possess such technology. According to rumor, the network spanning the stars was laid down by supreme Human beings themselves, covering the vast cosmos.
"I see."
Though he already knew this, Andrew Han appropriately showed a look of amazement.
After all he'd experienced, Andrew Han felt his acting skills had reached perfection, a higher realm. Monica Whitehorn quietly nodded, confirming her suspicions.
Composite Starlight-tier Andrew Han—
—was absolutely an aboriginal lifeform, without a doubt!
"By the way, Monica Whitehorn," Andrew Han asked curiously, "how did you know I was Composite Starlight-tier?"
Composite Starlight-tier isn't some unspeakable secret.
If you have talent, aptitude, and strength, you must show it appropriately.
The vast cosmos is completely different from Earth... Pretending to be weak, excessively humble, or hiding your abilities will only make others subconsciously look down on you, or worse, invite needless trouble and humiliation.
Rather than hiding,
It's better to be open—Chenriver Empire's vast legal system has no rules debating the worthiness of aboriginals ascending to Starlight-tier.
Sure enough, seeing Andrew Han admit it so straightforwardly, Monica Whitehorn gave him an enthusiastic smile: "It's actually simple. The information you filled in when placing your order listed your soul-consciousness as Starlight-tier, and right now, I can clearly see Starlight spilling from your skin."
"That's the visible manifestation of Starlight-tier in the body-power system!"
So that's why Monica Whitehorn exclaimed in surprise—Composite Starlight-tier.
After her initial astonishment, she grew accustomed to it.
Composite Starlight-tier is also known as dual-system Starlight-tier.
For aboriginal lifeforms, this concept is nearly unattainable. In the Chenriver Empire, though, it's not so rare.
After all, the Chenriver Empire is vast, with countless lifeforms and plenty of cultivation geniuses. Monica Whitehorn, as a member of the White-Horn Human Clan, had once witnessed a core genius of her race reach peak Starlight-tier in under a star-year.
As she pondered, she probed with another question.
"Interesting."
"A Composite Starlight-tier from an aboriginal planet is truly rare. Did Andrew Han rely solely on his own talent, or was there some fortuitous encounter?" Monica Whitehorn mused, her eyes thoughtful.
At that moment,
The warp-transport's control room was somewhat dim, with only a few instruments occasionally flickering. The graceful figure above the central round platform seemed to command the scene.
"Don't worry." Seeing Andrew Han suddenly fall silent, Monica Whitehorn thought he was uneasy: "I'm not as powerful as you might imagine—I'm only at Threefold Constant Light... Our Starlight-tier actually has five levels."
Though she spoke lightly,
When she mentioned 'Threefold Constant Light,' Monica Whitehorn's eyes still flashed with pride.
Across the entire Chenriver Empire, or even the White-Horn Human Clan, Threefold Constant Light was average. But on an ordinary life planet within the Chenriver Empire, it made one a virtual overlord!
Even on key administrative worlds, Threefold Constant Light was enough to dominate.
"Hiss!"
Hearing this, Andrew Han couldn't help but draw a sharp breath, his pupils contracting: "That's so strong!"
"Haha, no need to be so surprised." Monica Whitehorn waved her hand airily, as if it were nothing.
"My little bit of strength isn't worth mentioning."
"Oh, I'll have Buyuli bring you an anonymous network terminal in a moment—it will have my contact code, so you can reach me if you ever need to."
Mm.
Andrew Han nodded slightly, his expression unchanged... If a life planet had no Starlight-tier, its fate was grim—being enslaved was all too common.
The two chatted across countless light-years for quite a while.
[Irrelevant meta note about chapter navigation—skip translation.]
Though Andrew Han wasn't fluent in the universal language, with Bailey's help, he could easily use all sorts of flowery compliments, making Monica Whitehorn laugh again and again.
Her horn trembled, surrounded by arcs of lightning.
Sometimes her white hair would turn red, startling Andrew Han.
These changes left Andrew Han tongue-tied—was Monica Whitehorn really Human? She looked strange, though her face was beautiful.
Buzz!
The remote projection vanished.
Andrew Han shook his head inwardly: "She can't compare to our Little Meng. Even the starry Human race's looks are only so-so."
Meanwhile, beside the control platform,
The pink-haired youth Buyuli nearly collapsed, clinging to a soft lounge device, staring at Andrew Han in shock: "My goodness, Composite Starlight-tier!"
Buyuli heard every word of Monica Whitehorn and Andrew Han's chat.
He didn't dare speak loudly or move a muscle, afraid to disturb these two exalted beings before him.
Earlier,
Buyuli had thought Andrew Han was just an ordinary Starlight-tier.
Now, Buyuli's mind was spinning, his mouth dry: "I came out to deliver goods, and meeting a Starlight-tier was already unbelievable—yet he's a Composite Starlight-tier, and the big shots from the Sub-Branch Center are talking to him remotely!"
Starlight-tier was terrifying enough.
Much less Composite Starlight-tier... Maybe, in Monica Whitehorn's eyes, Composite Starlight-tier only deserved respect, not awe.
But for ordinary folk, Starlight-tier was rare to see, and Composite Starlight-tier was a legendary existence.
It was like an ordinary person on Earth witnessing the arrival of an ancient immortal—utterly overwhelming.
At that moment,
Buyuli's face flushed bright red, feeling as though a tidal wave had crashed through his mind—his ears buzzed, shocked to the core.
"Oh, right." Andrew Han turned, smiling at the red-faced youth Buyuli: "Thank you for the delivery."
Click, click.
Buyuli's teeth chattered softly as he forced out a trembling voice and a strained, polite smile: "No, it's your delivery. Serving you is my honor, sir."
...
Moments later, the blue Earth continued its orbit.
Whoosh!
A barely visible trajectory stretched endlessly toward the depths of the stars as Buyuli piloted the warp transport away.
Mm.
Andrew Han stood in the starry sky, his face calm.
His azure robe drifted occasionally, like a splash of color against the dark, silent void. Blue light orbs circled Andrew Han, enveloping everything within a hundred thousand meters.
Azure radiance swept out, annihilating everything.
Even cosmic dust was utterly pulverized.
"Mm, nothing left behind." Andrew Han clasped his hands behind his back, gazing calmly into the starry depths, watching the milky-white warp transport fade away.
Sunlight bathed the solar system.
The blue Earth continued its journey.
But Andrew Han's face turned cold, his eyes flashing with icy light: "You think Threefold Constant Light is strong? Worthy of pride?"
"I could destroy you with a single punch."