I Pick Up Talents on the Interstellar Battlefield Chapter 753 - 535: Space Station Base, The Battle Begins

Satellite City One

Within the city's central district, the cacophony of industrial machinery blended with the clamor of laborers, painting a vivid picture of relentless construction.

A protective dome, shimmering with a pale blue hue and crafted from resilient Cold Trees, enveloped the entire city. This structure acted as a shield against the external blizzard and biting cold, enabling the ongoing construction to proceed unhindered.

Workers, clad in light work attire, moved in perfect sync with an array of construction robots. Following the detailed blueprints, they diligently assembled building frameworks. The continuous clang of steel and cement colliding with specialized alloys filled the air.

A perimeter defense force, comprising soldiers from the Ice Extreme Pass and Barbarian Warriors, conducted orderly patrols in their crisp military uniforms, safeguarding this burgeoning settlement.

An atmosphere of tranquility and peace pervaded the satellite city.

Team Leader Hou Zhiyong lifted his hand, producing a military-grade electronic thermometer. The digits on its display clearly read: "5℃."

"Tsk, tsk, 5 degrees Celsius..." Hou Zhiyong retracted the thermometer, his voice thick with emotion.

Though a faint chill lingered in the air, a single layer of cotton clothing was sufficient for warmth, posing no obstacle to daily life or the construction efforts.

Yet, such a temperature was once a luxury beyond their wildest dreams.

The planet Mingwang was perpetually gripped by extreme cold, with surface temperatures frequently plummeting to scores of degrees below zero. During severe weather, it could even approach minus two hundred degrees Celsius.

Ordinary cold-resistant equipment was inadequate against such frigid conditions. Even for a Tier Four Spiritualist, merely standing guard outdoors for a short duration would render limbs numb and the face numb.

As a veteran of the Ice Extreme Pass, Hou Zhiyong had long lost count of the countless bone-chilling days and nights endured atop the city ramparts.

Over the years, the desire to retire and depart this desolate place had surfaced in his mind countless times.

But each instance, upon seeing his comrades fighting beside him and remembering his steadfast military convictions, he would clench his jaw and persevere.

Still, in the quiet solitude of the night, he often pondered how much longer such unwavering commitment could be sustained.

However, everything underwent a profound transformation with the arrival of the Military Lord.

Upon his arrival at Ice Extreme Pass, the Military Lord swiftly removed the "parasite" Duan Guangtai, purging all those who had gained influence through nepotism and restoring the army to its rightful order.

During multiple assaults by beast hordes, the Military Lord fearlessly took the lead, repeatedly turning the tide of battle and securing numerous victories for Ice Extreme Pass. The subordinate officers, in turn, reaped the rewards of glory, receiving accolades and promotions, leading increasingly prosperous lives.

What generated the most excitement among them was the Military Lord's discovery of the Cold Tree—a miraculous artifact that irrevocably altered the destiny of Mingwang Planet.

The appearance of the Cold Tree not only catapulted Mingwang Planet from its status as an "abandoned world" to a coveted new jewel in the Empire but also fundamentally improved the lives of the stationed soldiers.

No longer compelled to stand guard amidst blizzards, nor burdened by cumbersome, restrictive cold-weather gear, nor forced to wrap themselves in insulated bedding even during sleep—the now temperate and stable Ice Extreme Pass, with its burgeoning businesses, hotels, and recreational facilities, had become virtually indistinguishable from other habitable planets within the Empire.

Observing the skeletal structures of the satellite city ascend from the earth, and feeling the vibrant energy pulsating around him, Hou Zhiyong was overcome with a sense of hope he had never known.

He understood implicitly that with the completion of each satellite city, the future of Ice Extreme Pass would shine ever brighter. As witnesses and active participants in this grand metamorphosis, they, the soldiers of Ice Extreme Pass, would undoubtedly seize this upward trajectory and achieve a significant advancement in their lives.

"Hou, what are you lost in thought about?"

A gruff voice emanated from behind, spoken in a somewhat stilted form of the Empire's language, carrying the distinctive, heavy accent of the Barbarian Race.

Hou Zhiyong turned, a broad smile instantly gracing his features: "Mu Ya."

The individual who had approached was none other than Mu Ya, the commander of Satellite City One's Barbarian Guard Unit. Within the entire Barbarian Warrior Corps, he ranked just below Terreda.

The Winter Tribe he commanded was the second Barbarian faction to pledge allegiance to the Military Lord, and his personal strength had already approached the cusp of Tier Six.

According to Mu Ya's own account, he was now merely a single formidable Ice Beast kill away from achieving a breakthrough, intending to utilize its essence blood for the inscription of Barbarian Battle Patterns.

Despite his considerably superior might, Mu Ya displayed none of the haughtiness or abrasive demeanor commonly associated with powerhouses of higher tiers.

Possessing the Barbarian Race's innate candor, he also displayed a level of attentiveness and wariness uncommon among many Barbarian Warriors.

Ever since they commenced their joint vigil over Satellite City One, the Barbarian Warriors from the Winter Tribe had selflessly assumed the arduous duty of patrolling beyond the city's confines. They braved the harsh winds and snows, hunting elusive Snow Beasts, thereby substantially alleviating the garrison's burden on the regular army.

This shared sense of duty and camaraderie fostered an increasingly amicable rapport between the regular army and the Barbarian Warriors.

During the changing of the guards, it was a frequent sight to see soldiers from both factions, arms linked, heading toward the city's newly established taverns for a few rounds of drinks.

"Hou, has that shipment of potent liquor you spoke of arrived?" Mu Ya inquired, approaching with a gleaming Zhanshou saber, a broad grin apparent beneath his thick beard.

"It's nearly here; it should arrive by this afternoon."

Hou Zhiyong responded with a smile, "It's Blazing Blood, the most potent brew available, said to intoxicate even a dragon with just a single bottle."

"Haha! Now that's what I call a powerful drink!"

Mu Ya guffawed, his eyes alight with anticipation.

Since pledging allegiance to the Lord's banner, they, who had long endured hardship in the frozen wastes, had truly experienced the magnificence of the civilized world.

The potent spirits, in particular, sent a jolt of exhilaration through the veins with each swallow, proving far more alluring than the most delectable beast meat.