Global Era of Star trekking Chapter 3: Star Sea Ruin Market Rank
Previously on Global Era of Star trekking...
Chapter 3: Star Sea Ruin Market Rank
The classes began to fragment and reorganize once the fusion process concluded.
Standing at the assembly point for Class 5, Yang Minghui watched the sixteen familiar faces he had taught for years, his eyes shimmering. Though a thousand words flooded his mind, he ultimately condensed his thoughts into two stern commands.
“Everyone is to gather at the academy square tomorrow morning at eight sharp. Return home today and ensure your preparations are flawless,” he declared.
“Do not be careless. Even though this is a welfare exploration, casualties occur every single year.”
“Understood!”
...
Song Chi parted ways with Sun Hao and signaled for an energy vehicle at the curb. Situated in the city center, his residence was a short distance from the academy. In under twenty minutes, the vehicle pulled up to the gates of the Dongjiang Community where he lived.
“Universal Credit Points deducted: 10. Remaining balance: 2,413,543 points.”
A payment alert chimed on his smart wristband the moment he stepped out. Song Chi maintained a neutral expression while viewing the total, yet any bystander would have been shocked by the figure.
Credit Points served as the universal currency of the Chenxing Principality and possessed significant purchasing power.
A typical citizen earned roughly three thousand Credit Points monthly. After basic living costs, one might save two thousand at most. By that metric, it would take a century for an ordinary person to save 2.4 million points.
It was staggering for an ungraduated student like Song Chi to possess such wealth—funds he had personally earned over thirty years rather than receiving them from his parents.
His wealth stemmed from his previous life as a veteran web novel author, which gifted him a certain "innate talent" for storytelling. He had authored several works over the last two decades.
His most notable titles were "Torch Breaks Through the Skies" and "Fighting Spirits of the Floating Land." Unfortunately, the Torch Human Civilization had developed for tens of thousands of years, meaning the literary market was far from empty. His novels only achieved moderate success. He considered the two million in royalties he had saved to be a modest sum, hardly worth mentioning.
He arrived at Apartment 403, Building 5 of the Dongjiang Community.
The moment he crossed the threshold, the simultaneous gazes of his father, Song Chao, and his mother, Chen Lixia, locked onto him.
“Our boy is home! Hurry inside; I’ve prepared your favorite braised deep-sea turbot,” Chen Lixia greeted him warmly.
Song Chi’s eyes lit up. He dropped his bag and rushed to the table. After finishing a bowl of fish soup, a comforting warmth radiated from his stomach to his limbs, bringing a look of pure contentment to his face.
In truth, deep-sea turbot tasted quite poor—unpleasant, even. Most children would consider it the worst item on a menu. However, Song Chi had eaten it consistently for twenty years.
He was drawn to the potent Blood Qi Energy in the meat, which significantly aided the practice of his Guidance Technique. This was the secret behind him reaching Level 4 in his Guidance Technique in just two decades.
Most peers his age were stalled at Level 2, with only the gifted reaching Level 3.
Throughout the territories of the Torch Human Civilization, it was common knowledge: the higher the level of the Guidance Technique, the more difficult and sluggish the progression became.
Extending his hands, he activated the Guidance Technique within his body, rapidly absorbing the Blood Qi Energy from the meal to fuel his cultivation.
It was now more accurately called the Spectral Energy Guidance Technique. Upon finishing the Spectral Energy transformation and evolving into a Spectral Energy Body, his technique had upgraded automatically. This version allowed for a much faster cultivation rate than the standard form.
The anxiety on the faces of Song Chao and Chen Lixia evaporated as they watched threads of black Spectral Energy swirl around their son. Having both awakened the Seed of Torch, they recognized the signs immediately.
Seeing him manifest Spectral Energy, they knew Song Chi had succeeded in his awakening.
“I awakened a Colorless Seed of Torch, and the Spectral Shuttle has been merged. My first exploration of a foreign River Domain is set for eight tomorrow morning,” he informed them while continuing to process the Blood Qi Energy.
His parents nodded, showing no hints of disappointment. Both Song Chao and Chen Lixia possessed Colorless Seeds of Torch themselves. Realizing the constraints of their lineage, they were simply grateful their son had awakened a Seed of Torch at all.
They had never truly expected him to manifest a White Quality seed or higher; the odds were far too slim.
...
“Little Chi, come with me.”
Song Chi’s father summoned him to the study following lunch.
Song Chao looked solemn. After offering a long series of instructions, a ghostly light shimmered between his brows. Two glowing orbs emerged from his Ancestral Torch and floated toward Song Chi.
“Your mother and I are providing these starting resources: 1,000 strands of Zero Rank Floating Land Origin and a white-quality special component for your Torch Warship, the ‘Fire Peony Soldier Effigy Tree.’”
Song Chi was thrilled. While not a massive fortune, these resources were perfect for a beginner. They would allow him to perform initial upgrades on his Torch Spectral Shuttle, boosting its performance, combat power, and survivability.
This gift placed his starting point ahead of most of his classmates. One must never dismiss such an advantage; as the proverb goes, “one step ahead means a lead in every step.” This edge could be his ticket to future greatness.
...
While the 1,000 strands of Zero Rank Floating Land Origin were valuable, Song Chi was far more interested in the white-quality ‘Fire Peony Soldier Effigy Tree’ component.
It was well known that any colored component for a Torch Warship originated from a Starry Sea Oddity. Anything linked to a “Starry Sea Oddity” saw its value skyrocket, even if the oddity was only white-colored.
Furthermore, "Soldier Figurine Components" were among the most sought-after modules for any ship.
Automated soldiers that could serve as bodyguards, combat support, or cannon fodder vastly improved a captain's survival rate. Such items were snatched up instantly whenever they hit the market.
The immense value of the ‘Fire Peony Soldier Effigy Tree’ was undeniable.
“Thank you, Mom and Dad.”
Song Chi channeled his Spectral Energy to draw the two orbs into his Ancestral Torch. After another round of warnings from his parents, he was finally allowed to go to his room.
Once inside, he did not immediately sink his consciousness into the Ancestral Torch to inspect his Spectral Shuttle. Instead, he reached for the copper badge hanging from his neck.
He had never let go of the object that had triggered his soul's transmigration.
The badge was small—roughly half the size of a lighter. The words “Starry Sea Ruins Market” were carved into the front, leading him to name it the Star Sea Ruin Market Rank.
As he studied the badge closely, he realized it had finally changed.
For thirty years, it had remained an unresponsive piece of copper. Now, a faint, ghostly black sheen coated the surface. The glow was so subtle that it would have been invisible without a concentrated look.
“Is this... Spectral Energy?”
Song Chi’s eyes widened as the badge shifted again.
In response to his intense focus, an attribute window manifested beside the object.
[Name: Spectral Energy–Starry Sea Ruin Market Rank]
[Category: Growth-type Strange Object]
[Quality: ??]
[Level: lv0]
[Feature: Control and connect to a specific Starry Sea Ruins Market.]
[Feature 2: The Star Sea Ruin Market Rank can autonomously advance once specific conditions are met.]
[Remark: A rare gem among strange objects, possessing infinite growth potential.]