"Did you see the news?" Uncle asked.
"Yeah," Li Yuan nodded.
The seven major planets are far apart, and each has its own star realms. The number of star realms on Blue Star is relatively few compared to the other six planets. Star realms are gateways to foreign civilizations deep in the Star Sea, and they serve as the frontline in the war between human civilization and these otherworldly beings. Conflicts often arise.
The highest-level star realm within Xia Country is the Lobu Sea Star Realm in Northern Frontier Province, classified as a Level Two star realm, which has a large military presence year-round. Recently, Li Yuan heard at school that there was another outbreak of conflict in the Lobu Sea Star Realm, but he wasn’t sure how serious it was. Now, it seemed quite urgent.
"The Lobu Sea war broke out suddenly, and the headquarters ordered us to go support the construction," Uncle said with a smile, appearing quite relaxed.
"We're leaving tonight, the high-speed train at three in the morning," Aunt added, worry evident in her eyes.
Li Yuan looked at Uncle, feeling the same concern. His memories of his parents were already quite vague since they passed away when he was only two or three years old. Uncle and Aunt raised him as their own, treating him like their child. To Li Yuan, they were like his parents.
Uncle's name is Li Changzhou. He has decent martial arts talent, graduated from Jiangbei Martial Arts University, and also earned a degree in Civil and Hydraulic Engineering. After graduation, he worked his way up to a middle management position in a state-owned enterprise, earning a good salary. Aunt's name is Chen Hui, and she is a middle school math teacher.
After decades of hard work, they should have saved enough for a decent life, so why do they still live in an old neighborhood? Li Yuan knew it was because of him. The medical expenses for his childhood illnesses and surgeries totaled over a million Blue Star Coins, and the costs for recovery, supplements, and biological medications added up to a significant amount.
Since middle school, practicing martial arts has also been a money pit. His cousin, Li Mu Hua, showed greater martial talent than Li Yuan did back in middle school. He even awakened his Martial Spirit in the first year. However, the resources his cousin received for training now were not as good as what Li Yuan had back then.
Uncle and Aunt never complained. His younger siblings never felt that Li Yuan was taking resources away from them. But Li Yuan felt guilty towards Uncle, Aunt, and his siblings. This was one of the main reasons he started to train hard in middle school. He didn’t want Uncle and Aunt’s hopes to go to waste; he was determined to achieve something.
Especially after entering high school, he became more focused on his goals, hoping to repay Uncle and Aunt in the future and make it up to his younger siblings. By the time he entered his second year of high school, Li Yuan's physical constitution reached level 5.0, and he awakened a miraculous Spiritual Palace, which greatly improved his martial arts skills.
"The Spiritual Palace is indeed amazing, but if you don't put in the effort, it’s all for nothing," Li Yuan realized this after awakening his Spiritual Palace. So, he became even more diligent.
"Get into a martial arts university." "Even aim for one of the Five Major Martial Arts Academies and ultimately become a high-level martial artist." This has always been Li Yuan's ambition, not just for himself but for his family.
Just now, when he heard that Uncle was going to Lobu Sea, his heart shook. Uncle Li Changzhou spoke lightly, but Li Yuan, who often followed the news, understood that soldiers and martial artists were the most at risk when defending against the invasion of foreign civilizations from the star realms. Next in danger were the workers involved in building various military defense facilities. Uncle Li Changzhou's role this time was essentially that of a combat engineer.
It’s important to note that ordinary heavy weaponry cannot stop powerful star realm creatures; only advanced technology weapons or high-level martial artists can do that. It was very dangerous.
"If I hadn't fallen ill back then, or if the costs of martial arts training weren't so high, Uncle could have stayed safely in the city, doing municipal maintenance work, without needing to go out for extra pay," Li Yuan thought, feeling more troubled.
"Xiao Yuan, come into the bedroom, and let’s talk slowly," Uncle Li Changzhou called Li Yuan into the master bedroom. Inside, there were two small stools, and Li Yuan sat down while Uncle sat on the edge of the bed. Aunt Chen Hui quietly closed the door behind them.
Li Changzhou's hair was thinning a bit, and though he had gained some weight, he still carried an air of elegance. "Originally, your aunt advised me not to tell you, fearing it would affect your studies in your senior year," Li Changzhou said with a smile, looking at Li Yuan. "But I believe that the sons of the Li family should be able to handle any pressure."
Aunt Chen Hui remained silent, sitting beside them. "Uncle, go ahead," Li Yuan said softly.
"According to what I’ve heard, several defense systems at the Lobu Sea entrances have been severely damaged, and there have been significant casualties among the military and the Starry Sky Martial Hall," Li Changzhou said calmly. "This attack was held off, but if there’s another assault, there’s a risk of a complete breach."
Li Yuan held his breath. A complete breach? The entrances to the star realms are critical gates for humanity to resist invasions. If breached, it would be a disaster. His parents had died in a star realm catastrophe years ago.
"I'm at risk of death this time," Li Changzhou said, looking steadily at Li Yuan. "In war, there are always casualties."
"Uncle, can’t you not go?" Li Yuan couldn’t help but ask.
"The headquarters requires us to go, but if I really don’t want to, there are ways around it. After all, the country just issued a Level Three alert," Li Changzhou said with a smile.
Li Yuan listened closely. Xia Country has three levels of alerts for war dangers, with Level Three being the lowest and Level One the highest. If Level One is activated, it means the entire country will enter a war state, with full mobilization of all citizens and resources.
In a hundred years, Xia Country has only activated Level One alert once, in 2028. There’s also a "Civilization Alert" above Level One, which can only be issued by the highest council of the Seven Star Alliance and the Three Major Martial Halls, confirming that at least one human planet is in a life-or-death situation and needs full support from other planets.
Since the alliance was formed hundreds of years ago, the Civilization Alert has only been issued once. However, even the lowest Level Three alert, when issued, signifies significant resource consumption and personnel casualties.
"Xiao Yuan, I can choose not to go," Uncle Li Changzhou said with a smile. "But if I don’t go, someone else will have to take my place. Someone has to go to this war, right?"
Li Yuan fell silent. "Are you the only one who can do this? That big company is just waiting for you?" Aunt Chen Hui suddenly shouted, her eyes reddening.
Earlier, Li Changzhou had already discussed this with her. She had held back in the living room, fearing that Li Qianqian and Li Mu Hua would notice something was off. But now, hearing Li Changzhou’s words, she couldn’t hold back any longer.
Li Changzhou was taken aback and gently wrapped his arm around Aunt Chen Hui’s waist to comfort her. Aunt Chen Hui lowered her head, her eyes red, and didn’t say anything more.
After a moment, Li Changzhou said, "Xiao Yuan, don’t worry too much. I’m not going out to fight like other martial artists; it’s not that dangerous."
"Besides, I’m at least a ranked martial artist and have some self-defense skills," Li Changzhou said with a smile.
Li Yuan remained silent. Uncle graduated from a martial arts university, and at his peak, his physical constitution exceeded level 12. But after years of work, he was probably around level 10 or 11 now, and many combat skills had likely become rusty. Martial arts isn’t like cultivation; it requires daily practice.
Suddenly, "Ding!" Li Yuan felt a vibration on his wrist and instinctively looked at it. "Your account ending in 1486 has received 56,000.00 Blue Star Coins... transferred to account ending in... balance 58,324.12 Blue Star Coins," the screen displayed clearly.
"Uncle, you?" Li Yuan was taken aback. He recognized that the account ending was Uncle Li Changzhou's.
"This is your living expenses for September and October. The network in Northern Frontier Province might not be stable, so I’m sending it all to you today. You need to manage it well," Li Changzhou said with a smile. "Previously, when I took you to Uncle Zhong to buy the Basic Vital Blood Elixir, you should have some experience now."
"I’ve already talked to Uncle Zhong. When you have time this weekend, go to the Martial Hall to buy it," Li Changzhou said. "I’ll have your aunt transfer your living expenses later."
"Aunt," Li Yuan looked at Aunt Chen Hui.
"Listen to your uncle," Chen Hui said, her mood calming a bit as her voice returned to normal. "Keep the money; don’t worry about the family."
Li Yuan fell silent and didn’t ask further. His training indeed needed funds right now.
"By the way, have you thought about your college entrance exam preferences?" Li Changzhou asked Li Yuan.
(End of Chapter)