Apocalypse Gachapon

"This is this year's hunting ground."

Looking through the porthole at the planet ahead, composed of blue, white, and red colors, many people uttered such exclamations.

The people of the cosmic races of the universe had not lived on real planets for too long. No matter how well-made the survivor fortresses were, no matter how realistic the simulations, they were ultimately artificial.

Some things could never replace a real planet. For example, an issue that no one had noticed for a very, very long time, but which some had now discovered and which the super-large races were already researching: the problem of declining individual strength.

This decline in strength was not immediately obvious, but over the years, the overall strength of the universe's cosmic races had indeed decreased. This could be seen from the number of top experts.

Initially, no one really noticed. Even when statistical data revealed the problem, it was dismissed as a coincidence. It wasn't until a researcher from the Talos Red Dwarves proposed the Stellar Substance Theory that it attracted attention.

Don't think the Talos Red Dwarves only manufactured equipment. Their research on the human body was top among the races of the universe. How could they create equipment suitable for various life forms without understanding their characteristics? How could they break through again and again, until they could manufacture what were called 'quasi-divine artifacts' of the Lie God grade?

The so-called Stellar Substance Theory stated that carbon-based life, silicon-based life, and all other types of life originated on planets. Therefore, there were countless intricate connections between the essence of life and planets.

When life leaves planets, it would affect their bodies. However, this effect was not immediately obvious; it only became apparent over time.

The theory listed and elaborated on tens of thousands of connections between life and planets. After the races of the universe gradually accepted the Stellar Substance Theory, modifications to survivor fortresses often followed, striving to make them as close as possible to the planets' original environments.

However, although this manual work compensated for some of the connections between life and planets and greatly slowed the rate of strength decline, it could not eliminate it entirely.

Later, life forms had to compensate for this lack of connection by more frequently landing on planets. Many people even chose to break through on planets rather than on survivor fortresses.

For large-scale operations like the Planet Hunting Grounds, participation from various races was very high, partly for this reason.

"Order Leader, the clan leader sent a communication asking you to come over shortly. The camp selection is about to begin."

A Bronze Warrior came over to notify Ye Zhongming, who was admiring the view.

Earlier, the planet's entire topography, landforms, and life-energy reaction maps had been transmitted via the terminal to all participating races. Ye Zhongming had also seen them. Now it was time to select the camp. As the initiator, the Star-Eye Clan had the first right to choose.

Ye Zhongming nodded and immediately headed to the control room where the Star-Eye Clan leader was. Soon, that room would also be the place where all participating races would connect.

Upon arriving at the control room, all the high-ranking members of the Star-Eye Clan were present. Compared to the time before wiping out the Huaitang Clan, only Bashilu, who was left behind to guard the clan, was missing.

"Zhongming, come quickly. The agreed time with the Su Clan is approaching."

This time, the Su Clan had sent a large army, numbering over 100,000. The commander was Elder Huozhi, and the two deputy commanders were elders from the other two branches.

Soon, the communication connected. Huozhi's clean, almost enviable face appeared on the light screen.

"Star, Eye, Zhongming!"

Huozhi showed no signs of being a Su Clan elder. As soon as the connection was established, he greeted them.

The two Star-Eye Clan leaders and all the Star-Eye Clan members stood up.

Huozhi was not like Jie Su. Jie Su was a distinguished guest when he came to the Star-Eye Clan. As a Su Clan elder, Huozhi's identity was far heavier, not comparable to the Star-Eye Clan.

Even without mentioning his status as a Su Clan elder, Huozhi himself deserved respect. The only non-direct-line Su Clan elder, he also mastered three entire ten great formations. He himself was among the top experts. Someone like this was noticed and respected throughout the entire races of the universe.

Therefore, no one in the Star-Eye Clan presumed to remain seated, even though they were only communicating across a light screen.

"Let me introduce you. Elder Luozhi Su, Elder Chongken Su."

The two other deputies clearly belonged to the other two branches. Seeing the Star-Eye Clan, they only nodded slightly; after all, the Star-Eye Clan was an ally of the clan leader's branch.

After the Star-Eye Clan greeted them, Huozhi directly got down to business. He lowered his head and tapped a few times. A three-dimensional map appeared in the center of the light screen between them.

"There's one hour until the mass communication. We need to hurry." As Huozhi spoke, he tapped a few times on the simulated map of the planet. Several locations marked in red appeared on it.

"These are a few relatively suitable locations we selected after discussion."

The Star-Eye Clan immediately transferred the information from the light screen to their respective terminals and then studied it carefully.

Ye Zhongming also looked and frowned in thought.

The selection of the camp was extremely, extremely critical, involving many issues.

The most important, for example, was the terrain.

The camp should definitely be chosen in a place easy to defend and hard to attack. This would mean holding the initiative, able to attack when sallying forth and defend when retreating. It would allow guarding the camp with minimal troops. In a hunt lasting fifty days, conserving strength was very important.

Also, what was the surrounding area like? Was it a plain suitable for large-scale operations, a forest zone suitable for individual hunting, or a lake area suitable for aquatic combat?

Consider, for example, the level and quantity of prey in the vicinity.

The prey on this planet numbered in the trillions, with levels varying widely, some strong, some weak. When choosing a camp, whether the quantity of surrounding prey was large, whether the level was high, would all affect the final results.

Quantity, level, distance from the camp, whether the type of prey was suitable for the race to hunt, and many, many other factors all needed to be considered carefully.

In summary, it was a process of overall consideration, with no fixed answer, only the choice most suitable for oneself.