From star gatherer to leader of humanity

"Get ready, purchase the necessary supplies, and we'll leave Shattered Star City together."

"I have a base deep within the Shattered Star Sea. We'll stay there for a while until we confirm that the information about that senior is true, and then we'll go to that coordinate."

"How long will it take you to send the message to my family without them knowing from the Hundred Refinements Sect?"

Xu Bai opened the memo on his personal terminal and quickly listed the things he needed to do to leave Shattered Star City.

"I need half a month to set it up. The host also needs to give me a phrase that is unique to your family. As long as I say this phrase, they will know it is you."

Xu Ai's expression was serious, with six light screens surrounding her, flashing data that Xu Bai couldn't understand.

"The love-hate relationship between Gugu Gaga and my sword and shield is a story I told my little brother when I was a child, but he wasn't interested. But if you tell it to him, he'll definitely know it..." Xu Bai recalled the story he told Xu Jun when he was a child.

"Understood." Xu Ai nodded.

Then, a long list appeared in front of Xu Bai, which contained all the supplies that needed to be purchased before leaving.

"Such a large amount of supplies, can it be kept secret?" As soon as the words left his mouth, Xu Bai felt that he had said something pointless.

"A hidden account, at least within the Hundred Refinements Sect's internal network, will not be detected."

"These supplies will change hands several times before ending up in the possession of a member of the star-collecting team who has been missing for more than a year."

"The purchased goods were loaded into the spacecraft by unmanned robots."

Another light screen appeared in front of Xu Bai, displaying a flowing program that dazzled him.

"From now on, unless it is absolutely necessary, you don't need to show me these tedious things."

"clear."

In the city of Shattered Stars, at night, Xu Bai sat on the balcony, looking at the simulated starry sky, picked up a beer and gulped it down, next to which were the meat skewers that Xu Ai had grilled.

"I just want to stay in one place, mine, and cultivate, why is it so hard?"

Xu Bai knew that, barring any unforeseen circumstances, three months later he would become an unregistered member of the human race. Even more unsurprisingly, once he went to that coordinate, he would become the traitor mentioned in the news.

But so what? He had no choice. He was both relieved and saddened. He was relieved that he, an ant, had escaped the rolling wheels of the Hundred Refinements Sect. He was saddened that even though he had escaped the wheels, he was still an ant, at least for now.

"Master, the mortality rate of members of the Star Gathering Team within 30 years is 79%. The mortality rate within 50 years is 97.7%. Of the remaining members, only 10% advance to the Foundation Establishment stage, leave the Star Gathering Team, or become middle-level members. The remaining 90% will die within ten years of leaving the Star Gathering Team." Xu Ai took out another can of beer from the refrigerator and placed it next to Xu Bai.

"Is the data really that harsh?"

"Why do those who leave the Star Gathering Team die so quickly? The middle and upper levels of Qi Refining can live to be over 100 years old." Xu Bai's tone was merely curious, without any surprise.

"Before leaving the Star Gathering Team, a large number of memories related to the team will be erased. According to information from the Hundred Refinements Sect's internal network, erasing memories will severely damage one's mental state. Over time, one will become mentally unstable. If family members are willing to treat one, one can spend the last period of time in peace."

"Without family, they would only suffer and eventually be placed in a nursing home established by the Demon Abyss Sect."

Xu Bai finished the half-empty can of beer in one go, then looked at Xu Ai with a mixture of amusement and exasperation.

"You said those comforting words very well, but don't say them again next time."

"Play some soothing music so I can enjoy this simulated starry sky one more time."

"Yes, Master."

Half a month later, Xu Bai nodded as he looked at his remaining spiritual energy balance of less than 10.

Aside from purchasing supplies, Xu Bai transferred any excess spiritual energy to his parents.

After tidying up, Xu Bai took Xu Ai to the spaceport.

Everything at the spaceport is normal.

The magic weapon mining spaceship also took off smoothly.

"You bought a lot of things."

After looking at the capacity of the magic weapon mining spaceship, Xu Bai smiled and said something to Xu Ai behind him.

"Based on the owner's personality and behavior patterns, it can be deduced that the owner likes to make the worst-case scenario plan for everything."

"All the resources prepared were also prepared based on the worst-case scenario."

At this moment, the magic weapon mining spaceship flew into the Shattered Star Sea, and Xu Bai turned around to look at Xu Ai.

"I should have spent more spirit stones back then."

Xu Bai looked at Xu Ai's attribute panel and said with some regret that he had only added green attributes back then.

The spaceship ventured deep into the shattered star sea, then transformed into a streak of light and flew back to the base.

Upon returning to the base, the four Soul Beasts and Livivi came together to greet Xu Bai.

"Welcome back, Master," the four spirit companions and Livivi said respectfully.

"Everyone, disperse and go about your business."

As Xu Bai spoke, he waved his hand and summoned Xu Hun.

During his time in the Soul Path Minor Realm, Xu Hun's strength had recovered to 80%.

"Master," Xu Hun said, bowing his head.

"Take back the portion of your soul power that you control in the base. From now on, Xu Ai will be in charge of the base. You should focus on recovering and don't go out for the time being," Xu Bai instructed.

"Hello, I am Xu Ai, the master's butler robot." Xu Ai, standing behind Xu Bai, greeted him proactively, her eyes and expressions extremely lively.

"Hello, butler, my name is Xu Hun." A stream of pure spiritual energy flew from the very center of the base and entered Xu Hun's body.

Xu Ai quickly took over all the smart devices in the entire base.

Inside the portable spiritual energy room, Xu Bai tossed aside the aptitude dice in his hand.

The aptitude die rolled slowly down, with the side indicating low-grade aptitude facing up.

"Um... at worst, it's low-grade~"

Xu Bai cultivated in the spiritual energy chamber, while Xu Ai directed numerous soul cultivators who had transformed into spiritual soldiers to carry out a major overhaul of the base.

Before we knew it, a month and a half had passed.

Xu Bai, who had already reached the second level of Qi Refining perfection, looked at the aptitude die in his hand, which had a spiritual aptitude option, with a somewhat suspicious expression.

He suspected that he was still being influenced by Che Jihuang's luck. The best attribute he had drawn in the past month and a half was only mid-grade aptitude. With the option of spirit-grade aptitude available, in other words, mid-grade aptitude was the minimum requirement.

"To break through to the third level of Qi Refining, you need to at least get a high-grade aptitude."

As Xu Bai spoke, he threw down the aptitude dice in his hand.

At this moment, inside a luxurious cave in the twenty-fifth city of Shattered Star.

Having just finished their frank and open cultivation, Che Jihuang, gazing at Liu Ningsi with adoration, suddenly asked, "Senior Sister, has that Fellow Daoist Xu Bai been in contact with you lately?"

"Why do you ask that?" Liu Ningsi asked.

"I sense there's something going on between Senior Sister and Fellow Daoist Xu Bai," Che Jihuang said after a moment of silence.

"We've never been in contact. Before I met you, I wanted to invite him to cultivate with me, but he refused."

Che Jihuang's pupils contracted, and his expression darkened.

"No wonder, Fellow Daoist Xu Bai's aura seems somewhat familiar." Che Jihuang felt a little uncomfortable; he had become a substitute.