464: I want to participate in that plan.

Bai Yiming was at a loss for how to answer his father's question, but his father's direct questioning made him feel humiliated.

"Dad, do you really look down on me that much? Just because I used to be with the Rebel Army. It's been ten years, have you ignored all my efforts in these ten years?" Bai Yiming's voice was filled with an uncontrollable excitement and dissatisfaction. He looked directly at his father, his eyes, once filled with awe and respect, now gleamed with challenge and determination.

Bai Yan's brows furrowed. He hadn't expected his son to retort so directly.

"I look down on you? I painstakingly nurtured you, sent you to the best military academy, all so that one day you could become my pride. But what about you? You joined the Rebel Army and went against the Space City. You were too competitive, and one misstep led to eternal regret." Bai Yan's voice also rose an octave, his words like sharp knives piercing Bai Yiming's heart.

A flicker of pain crossed Bai Yiming's eyes, but he did not back down: "Yes, I did join the Rebel Army and made you lose face, didn't I? It's been ten years, and you've never given me a good look."

Bai Yiming's words were like a fire, instantly igniting the rage in Bai Yan's heart. He stood up abruptly and walked over to his son.

"Hit me, do you want to hit me? Come on, hit me!" Bai Yiming straightened his back, meeting his father's gaze without fear.

Bai Yan slowly took a step back, waved his hand, and said, "Enough, I don't want to argue with you. Tell me, why did you come to see me?"

"I want to participate in the Star Plan!" Bai Yiming said.

Bai Yan was stunned. The Star Plan was the Space City military's reserve plan for the interstellar fleet's interstellar colonization. The plan was currently in its initial stages, requiring First-Class Ability Users or above to apply, and once selected, they would serve for life.

It sounded wonderful, but in the future, as humanity ventured out of the Solar System and into the vast universe, no one knew what challenges they would face. This plan, supported by the Space Administration's Ministry of Science and Technology for human modification, required all selected personnel to lose the qualification for consciousness backup to ensure the uniqueness of consciousness.

In other words, they could transform you into a super-strong space warrior, but after dying in battle, there would be no afterlife. This kind of modification was even more terrifying than the nanobot modifications of mechanical ascension, because space warriors were a direct upgrade of an Ability User's physical body and abilities.

Although Space City had publicly halted Ability User research, the military had always retained a small research team, almost entirely composed of leading experts in Ability User research.

In the research of Alien Bugs, scientists discovered the secret to enhancing the physical body, and the research had initially achieved results. However, there hadn't been anyone to be the first to try.

The Star Plan enrollment had no identity verification, only ability requirements. First-Class Ability User was the basic condition. The first batch of people needed to participate in ability upgrades and modifications to improve subsequent research. To put it bluntly, they were willing guinea pigs.

Only after the first batch of people completed the experimental data would the subsequent Star Plan lower its recruitment requirements.

Bai Yiming's current application was undoubtedly walking right into a trap. Although his body had been reshaped by Tian Ming, he was still a Superpower User with six elements.

With an Ability User foundation like a Superpower User, as long as he applied, he would immediately be invited by the military research institute to be the first to try.

Facing his son's request, Bai Yan refused without hesitation: "No, you cannot participate."

"The first batch of the Star Plan requires First-Class Ability Users or above, and there's no identity verification. I can get in if I apply, so why won't you let me participate?" Bai Yiming asked unhappily.

Bai Yan took a deep breath. His gaze shifted from his son's face to the distant starry sky outside the window. Yiming was his son after all; he couldn't let his son take such a risk.

"No why. If I say no, it's no." Bai Yan's voice carried an undeniable authority.

Bai Yiming was stunned. He hadn't expected his father to so firmly oppose his decision. A flicker of determination and stubbornness flashed in his eyes: "Dad, if you won't let me participate, give me a reason."

"There's no reason. If I say no, it's no!" Bai Yan roared angrily.

"I have my own freedom. Didn't you say I wasn't worthy of her? The Star Plan, becoming a space warrior, I can prove myself."

Bai Yan grew anxious. This kid was just as stubborn when he joined the Rebel Army back then.

"Prove what? Even if you're the strongest space warrior, someone of Xiao Xiao's strength could crush you with one finger."

"She won't crush me..."

Bai Yan took a deep breath, trying to calm his emotions: "Yiming, don't participate. You were with the Rebel Army. If you participate, you'll be the first one taken for body modification. This technology isn't mature, and the risk of death is extremely high. Space warriors don't have consciousness backups; they are destined to face unknown dangers. Dying once is enough."

"Dad, do you think I'm afraid of death?" Bai Yiming's tone carried a sense of resolve.

"I'm not afraid of death. I'm only afraid that my life will be worthless. Xiao Xiao is a demigod; I'll never catch up to her. I just want to shorten the gap between us."

A hint of shock flashed in Bai Yan's eyes. He hadn't expected his son to have such an realization. But he still shook his head firmly: "Yiming, you don't understand. The body modification for space warriors is completely different from consciousness upload technology. It's a double torment for your body and soul. I don't want you to endure that kind of pain, and I certainly don't want you to lose your life because of it."

"But Dad, I'm not a child anymore. I have my own judgment and choices, and I'm willing to take this risk."

Bai Yan fell silent. He looked at his son, who had grown up before his eyes, his heart a mix of emotions.

"Dad!" Bai Yiming cried out, and with a thud, he knelt on the ground.

Bai Yan froze, and the office fell into a deep silence.

Bai Yan looked at his son kneeling before him, a complex emotion welling up in his heart. His gaze met Bai Yiming's determined eyes, and he saw the resolution and persistence in his son's gaze.

"Yiming, what are you doing?" Bai Yan's voice trembled slightly; he was not accustomed to his son's actions.

"Please, agree, okay?" Bai Yiming pleaded.

Bai Yan remained silent for a long time. Finally, Bai Yan compromised with his son. He turned around and picked up a device—the authorized device for Star Plan personnel recruitment. He hadn't expected that the first Superpower User he recruited would actually be his own son.

As he handed the device to Bai Yiming, Bai Yan's hand trembled slightly. He tried to control his emotions, making his voice sound calm: "Do the identity verification. I'll authorize you. Just... just pretend I don't have a son like you."

After Bai Yan finished speaking, he turned his head away. Even as the military's top leader, his eyes were red at that moment.

"Thank you, Dad."