Chapter 765: A Golden Age Before the Storm

Soon, Teal began coordinating the Eternal Star Alliance members and the foreign cosmic elites for the upcoming expedition.

After a month of preparation and loans, the expedition assembled 10,500 Eternal Military Outposts, 7,500 of which were controlled by foreign cosmic elites.

Furthermore, under Nash’s order, another 3,000 Eternal Military Outposts would be loaned to other high-level teams each month to integrate into the expedition.

Thinking of tens of thousands of Eternal Military Outposts in one unexplored domain area, Teal immediately began to get a headache.

The larger the number, the more danger they would attract. If not managed properly, it might result in some casualties. As for launching a multi-pronged operation by dividing the expedition team into two or three groups, it was not needed at the moment.

While numbers brought more danger, they also enabled cooperation that could let them venture deeper and harvest more resources. Before their Eternal Military Outposts reached 100,000, it was more cost-effective to concentrate their forces in one place.

"Everyone, be ready, I’m starting the transmission..."

Setting the coordinates in the dimensional-scale teleportation array, Teal initiated the transmission to one of the unexplored domain areas.

---

Arriving in the unexplored domain area, the Eternal Military Outposts gathered in groups of 3 or 5. Having accumulated some experience, they knew it was better to go together. Not only did it save energy when they encountered danger, but it also let them process the resources they found faster while they went to find more.

Furthermore, unlike last time, when each Eternal Military Outpost was like a lone island, they had now built a sector-level teleportation array network.

Even with the dark origin essence interfering and shortening their range, an interconnected array network let them interact seamlessly with the other outposts, whether to trade, rest, or seek reinforcement.

With logistics and coordination improved, the expedition force became more efficient, whether killing dark beasts, digging for resources, or processing them. With their debt reaching 750 million Chaos Stones, their blood boiled with determination, like miners who had found a golden mountain.

---

Back in the Eternal Star Alliance, Tier 7 professionals working in the Eternal Time Server approached Nash.

"What do you mean you want to go back to study? Is the work here hard?"

"No, it’s very fulfilling. However, we also feel helpless, and we can’t help very much."

"We heard those university students who just graduated are comparable to specialized scientists. We want to follow their path and forge our own."

These professionals were part of the group working on the Dimensional Array formation. Working alongside high-level scientists and Tier 8 professionals, they felt like ignorant children and could only help with miscellaneous tasks.

At first, they felt it was their destiny, the limit of their potential, and the path they would walk all their lives. However, as the first few graduates from the Eternal Star University joined the Eternal Time Server, they saw a different future!

A future where professionals were not seen as by-products but as a respected force that could stand side by side with scientists in their respective fields.

With time accelerated 100,000 times, they saw those graduates go toe to toe with Tier 7 scientists, debating until those arrogant scientists swallowed their words. Although those scientists were proficient in the whole aspect, when it came to their profession, the graduates were a whole other beast.

"Fine, if you want to go back to study, that’s fine. However, your treatment will depend on your potential. You would also start from scratch, only able to access and utilize knowledge of your professional level. Do you still want to proceed?"

"We want to! We won’t regret anything, Lord Nash."

"We want to be more useful! To further the Eternal Star Alliance."

"Alright, don’t be too dramatic. I’ll inform the headmaster of Eternal Star University to grant you special admission. I hope the next time I see you, professionals are no longer inferior to scientists."

"Yes! Thank you very much, Lord Nash."

Cheering excitedly, each Tier 7 professional headed to the Eternal Star University in a grand procession.

"These guys..." Nash sighed as they left.

With trillions of Tier 7 professionals leaving the Eternal Time Server, the deduction of the Dimensional Array formation would be delayed indefinitely.

However, thinking of the profound foundation of those SSS-class talent graduates, new hope flared up in his heart. Perhaps through this method, they could cultivate a Tier 9 professional comparable to a Tier 8 Philosopher Saint. As for reaching the level of a Tier 9 Scientific Paragon, Nash didn’t dare to dream that big.

"The problem now is the lack of Merit Source..."

With these returning professionals flooding back, the Time Tower of Knowledge’s usage capacity would fill up. Those Tier 7 graduates also needed to come back to study from time to time, racing to become Tier 8 professionals. Coupled with the increasing number of talents born in the Eternal Star Alliance territory, a single Time Tower was no longer enough.

All in all, to keep everything running smoothly, he needed at least 100 million Merit Source each day.

"It’s too expensive!" Nash frowned.

Eternal Time Server 01 and Eternal Time Server 02 only needed 10 million Merit Source each. For the university, which was a second priority, to consume 10 times that amount was a bit excessive.

"No, this is an investment. We don’t currently need Merit Source anyway. It’s better to nourish these seedlings first."

With the coming expedition, the Eternal Star Alliance was expected to gather at least 30 million Merit Source a day, and coupled with the dark gates producing about 7 million Merit Source, they were still short by over 80 million.

"Just take it slow and steady..."

With each additional Eternal Military Outpost, their income would keep rising. Before long, they could earn 100 million a day, or even a billion!

Calming down, he turned his attention to the progress of the Mind Hive Module System.

"39%. In another 2 or 3 years, it should be completed!" Nash thought eagerly.

If the Eternal Military Outpost could consolidate their status as one of the major alliances, the Mind Hive Module System could push them above it!

The Mind Hive Module System was the foundation, the foundation for creating more heaven-defying modules that could take the Eternal Star Alliance to ascension.

---

A month later, Teal delivered the first batch of Merit Source back from the expedition.

"How much is the total?"

"We harvested a total of 1.125 billion Merit Source."

Unlike the last expedition, they decided to harvest the Merit Source accumulated on each Eternal Military Outpost every month. This way, they wouldn’t have to pause or delay various expenses in their territory. Fortunately, the sector-level teleportation array made this process not too difficult.

"Good. It’s more than my estimate."

"It’s merely because everyone is more united and eager to venture deeper into the area."

"They must be desperate..." Nash sighed, having heard of troubling news from the seven major alliances.

"Indeed, in about 8 months the seven major alliances will complete the construction of the dimensional-scale dark gate. By then, this place will turn into purgatory."

Not only would their territory be affected, but even the unexplored domain would become even more dangerous. By then, they might not even dare to venture into an expedition.

Hoping to extract as many resources as possible before doomsday, everyone was in a frenzy, feverishly harvesting resources.

"Just be careful out there. It’s better to earn less than to die. If they’re worried about their safety, they can settle around our territory."

"Understood, I’ll relay your intention."

"Take care..."

---

Five months later...

The expedition team, numbering a total of 25,500 Eternal Military Outposts, returned fully intact to the Eternal Star Territory.

Having just returned from their grueling journey, everyone was exhausted, yet on closer inspection, the smiles couldn’t be erased from their lips.

Leaving their Eternal Military Outposts to be maintained, they began celebrating their escape from the dance with death and the generational wealth they’d earned in just half a year.

Visiting all the entertainment and leisure venues in the Eternal Star Alliance, they vented their stress by eating, drinking, and playing to their hearts’ content. For the moment, they set aside every pressing problem and took a break.

While wandering around, they learned they could buy Faith Essence Potions as a benefit of being collaborators of the Eternal Star Alliance. Having bought them before on the black market, they couldn’t help but feel excited to buy them in unlimited quantities.

During these months, they weren’t the only ones making progress; Faith Essence Potion production had also reached the point of unlimited internal consumption. As long as they didn’t sell it to other major alliances, they could have as many as they wanted.

After drinking a bottle of Faith Essence Potion, everyone felt refreshed, their fatigue and stress from the expedition melting away.

"The Eternal Star Alliance is truly a paradise..."

"Are you thinking of joining the alliance?"

"I don’t know..."

Most high-level teams were currently apprehensive and didn’t know how to proceed. While everyone had already begun to form great alliances, the majority of the high-level, mid-level, and low-level teams remained undecided.

It wasn’t that they were confident in their skills or disdained the control of those high authorities. Quite the opposite, they were insecure and felt unworthy. They were scared to die, and even more scared to die without serving any value.

In the end, as they had decided before, they planned to hold on as long as possible, earn as many resources as they could, then return to their hometowns and live bearing the glory of former cosmic elites.

Once they joined a major alliance, this path of exit would be closed, making them reluctant to gamble their faith and compete for the impossible.

"We’ll see how it goes in the future..."