19: Chapter 19: Mothership Upgraded to Basic Resource Ship! All Functions Unlocked! Overall Combat Power Skyrockets!

The cheers of the complete unification of Grey Fire Planet still echoed long under the crimson sky.

Emperor Chen Fan, holding the Star Essence Sovereign Scepter, stood atop the star river sovereign Tower, overlooking the entire planet that had completely submitted to him.

With the hearts of all 5,041 citizens won, 100% control of the surface, exotic beasts eradicated, banditry wiped out, and separatism eliminated, the Star River Empire became the first and only absolute ruling power since the birth of this barren planet.

Inside the War Command Tower, the holographic planetary map was gilded all over, with every mineral vein, urban area, defense tower, mech, and warship clearly marked with the Star River emblem.

The dividends of unification were being realized with explosive growth—resource reserves broke through the 158 million mark, the production capacity of 820,000 per hour flowed steadily like a golden river, the Blade-class Frigate production line maintained a terrifying speed of one ship per hour, and the scale of the mech regiments continued to expand.

Major Hu Feng, the Fleet's First Adjutant, was busy reorganizing the 32 frigates into three interstellar assault battalions and dividing the 24 mechs into two aerial regiments. The entire Star River Interstellar Fleet was strictly disciplined and operated with fluid precision, long recognized as the No. 1 combat force in the No. 7 Dead Zone.

Administrative Director Guo Shouyi had initiated the global construction mode: the main city was expanded into an interstellar metropolis, roads connected the poles, ecological pods were yielding a full harvest, and underground star essence mines were operating fully automatically. The empire's order was stable, the people's livelihood was secure, and it presented an unprecedented scene of prosperity.

Emperor Chen Fan stood before the command console with his hands behind his back, his gaze falling on the massive warship on the central screen. The star river sovereign—the original mothership.

It was his first vessel when he was stranded in the Dead Zone, the starting point of his rise, and the core flagship of the fleet. However, with the empire's expansion, the enlargement of territories, and the commencement of interstellar strategy, the shortcomings of this basic mothership were becoming increasingly obvious: insufficient storage space, limited long-range capabilities, low resource conversion efficiency, inability to independently support large-scale shipbuilding, and inability to handle global resource scheduling... Simply put—the ship could no longer match the empire's ambition.

"Host, system check complete!"

"Current conditions for the ultimate mothership upgrade are met: 1. Complete planetary unification; 2. Total resources ≥ 150 million; 3. Star essence crystal vein being mined; 4. Force rating reached galaxy-level potential."

"Unlocked hidden upgrade path: Primary Interstellar Resource Ship!"

"Upgrade type: Core modification + Full functionality unlocked + Combat power doubled + Global buffs!"

"Upgrade cost: 88.88 million units of resources!"

"Upgrade duration: Under system acceleration—6 hours!"

Golden prompts filled the screen, dazzling to the point of suffocation.

Major Hu Feng was the first to see the upgrade panel. This battle-hardened former Federal Major froze in place, his eyes widening to their limit, his voice trembling: "Primary... Interstellar Resource Ship?! My Lord! This is not just a simple warship reinforcement; this is a strategic-level mothership transformation!"

Administrative Director Guo Shouyi also rushed over. Looking at the dense list of brand-new functions on the upgrade list, his hands trembled with excitement: "With this ship, our resource scheduling, interstellar long-range travel, fleet resupply, and global shipbuilding capabilities... will be elevated by an entire era! We truly possess the qualifications to break out of the Dead Zone and conquer the stars!"

Emperor Chen Fan's gaze was calm but carried unquestionable resolve. 88.88 million resources seemed like an astronomical price, but it would allow the empire's core combat power to undergo a qualitative change. This investment was worth it!

"Execute the upgrade immediately."

"All personnel on alert, fleet escort. Within 6 hours, ensure the upgrade is absolutely safe."

"The day the upgrade is complete will be the day the Star River Empire steps into the stars!"

"Command confirmed! Mothership upgrade initiated!"

"Resources consumed: 88.88 million!"

"Remaining total resources: 69.12 million!"

"Upgrade progress: 0%... 7%... 15%..."

Boom! The star river sovereign slowly sailed into the exclusive upgrade dock in the synchronous orbit of Grey Fire Planet. The giant energy shield closed completely. The hull was dismantled, the core replaced, star essence reinforced, functions expanded, armor strengthened, engines pressurized... The entire ship entered an epic state of transformation!

Major Hu Feng personally led the entire fleet to surround and escort it. The 32 frigates formed a circular defensive formation, 24 mechs patrolled non-stop, and all 68 ground star essence defense towers aimed at deep space; not even a single meteorite could get near the upgrade zone.

All the citizens of the city knew that their sovereign was forging a brand-new interstellar heart for the empire. Everyone spontaneously stopped working to pray, looking up at the brilliant upgrade light cluster in the starry sky.

I. 6-Hour Epic Transformation! Primary Resource Ship Emerges.

Under system acceleration, full-power operation, and full energy supply from star essence crystals, the mothership modification that would have originally taken months was completed in just 6 hours!

"Upgrade complete!"

"star river sovereign → Star River Class · Primary Interstellar Resource Ship"

"Hull length: From 860 meters → 1200 meters!"

"Overall rating: ★★★★★★ (Six-star strategic ship)"

"All functions unlocked! Overall combat power skyrocketed by 300%!"

The moment the energy shield slowly unfolded, everyone in the entire command center held their breath.

A more magnificent, more sci-fi, and more majestic giant warship floated quietly in the starry sky.

The hull was silver-white, inlaid with flowing star essence crystal patterns. The twin main cannons were thick and intimidating, the side carrier hangars were significantly expanded, the bottom resource dock extended like wings, and four interstellar-class fusion engines at the tail spewed dark blue flames. Just by parking there, it emitted a terrifying pressure that suppressed the star sector.

This was no longer a makeshift starter mothership. This was a strategic-level resource mothership that integrated combat, collection, transportation, manufacturing, command, and long-range travel!

Emperor Chen Fan walked to the observation window. Looking at this brand-new flagship that had been reborn, his eyes lit up slightly. Strong—stronger than he had expected.

II. Seven Core Functions Fully Unlocked! The Empire Now Possesses Interstellar Dominance.

Zero simultaneously displayed the full-function panel. Each ability represented a qualitative leap for the Star River Empire:

1. [Super Resource Storage] — Storage capacity skyrocketed 10 times. Original storage: 10 million units. New storage: 100 million units! Global production capacity can be accommodated at once, no longer worrying about resource overflow, waste, or hoarding difficulties.

2. [Star Essence Conversion Core] — Resource production capacity global + 20%. Underground mineral veins, surface mines, and interstellar collection all increase production by 20%! Actual production capacity from 820,000/hour → 984,000/hour! An increase of nearly 4 million per day, and ten days is a small goal.

3. [Carrier-based Shipbuilding Factory] — Direct shipbuilding in space. No need to rely on ground production lines. The mothership comes with a small frigate dock, capable of independently building Blade-class Frigates in space, 1 ship every 2 hours. Dual-line production in air and space, speed directly doubled!

4. [Global Resource Tractor] — Space mining + meteorite looting. Unlock Dead Zone meteorite belts and unmanned planet resource collection. No need to land, direct traction and refining, strategic resource sources expanded infinitely!

5. [Interstellar Long-range Engine] — Faster-than-light travel initially unlocked. Original engine: Limited to travel within the Dead Zone. New engine: Primary faster-than-light, can safely enter and exit the No. 7 Dead Zone, traveling to surrounding star sectors!

6. [Flagship Command Aura] — Entire fleet combat power + 40%. All frigates, mechs, and ground troops have their firepower, shields, and speed permanently increased by 40%! One person in command, the whole army is invincible!

7. [Global Repair Dock] — Battle damage repaired instantly. Fleet and mech minor damage repaired on the spot, major damage repaired quickly, continuous combat capability maxed out!

After reading the seven core functions, Major Hu Feng suddenly stood at attention and saluted, his voice trembling with excitement: "Report, Sovereign! With this resource ship, our fleet can conduct long-term interstellar cruises, global operations, continuous mass production, and infinite resupply! We are no longer a planetary force trapped on Grey Fire Planet; we are a true interstellar force!"

Administrative Director Guo Shouyi had tears in his eyes: "My Lord! This ship is our Star River Empire's mobile main city, mobile arsenal, and mobile treasury! With it here, the empire's foundation will never be destroyed!"

Emperor Chen Fan looked at this strategic-level flagship that belonged to him and said calmly: "Test combat power."

Major Hu Feng immediately ordered: "All fleet, listen up! Coordinate with the flagship, test fire!"

Boom!!! The resource ship's main cannon fired for the first time! The star essence-reinforced particle cannon shot out a golden beam, traversing 30 million kilometers of starry sky, accurately hitting an abandoned meteorite, instantly vaporizing it! The power was far more than three times stronger than before! With the blessing of the Command Aura, the 32 frigates' combined fire power skyrocketed, and the entire starry sky was submerged in fire! The 24 mechs' mobility soared, their silver figures moving so fast that afterimages appeared!

"Combat power test complete!"

"Star River Empire overall combat power: Skyrocketed 327%!"

"No. 7 Dead Zone combat power ranking: Absolute No. 1!"

"Deterrence to surrounding star sectors: Effective!"

III. Combat Power Skyrockets! The Empire's Interstellar Strategy Fully Commences.

The mothership upgrade was complete, functions fully unlocked, and combat power skyrocketed. The Star River Empire's layout instantly expanded. Emperor Chen Fan immediately issued the first order of the interstellar era:

1. Dual-line fleet mass production. Ground production line + carrier-based factory. 1 hour + 2 hours = Average 1.5 hours per frigate. Monthly production capacity can reach nearly 500 ships!

2. Start interstellar resource looting. Resource ship moves forward to the meteorite belt, activates global traction, adding 300,000 extra resources per hour! Total production capacity broke through 1.28 million/hour!

3. Reorganize the Interstellar Main Fleet. With the resource ship as the core, form the Star River's First Interstellar Main Fleet: - Resource ship: 1 (Flagship) - Blade-class Frigate: 50 (Goal) - Combat mechs: 40 (Goal). Truly possess the strength to conquer star sectors and sweep across the region.

4. Build interstellar spaceport. Initiate super spaceport construction on the ground, resource ship responsible for space docking. Grey Fire Planet will become the No. 1 interstellar port in the No. 7 Dead Zone!

5. Recruit population from the entire Dead Zone. Backed by absolute strength, broadcast to the entire Dead Zone: Submit to Star River, live and work in peace; defy Star River, turn to ashes.

As the news spread, the entire No. 7 Dead Zone shook again! Everyone saw that super resource ship that had emerged out of nowhere and felt the terrifying pressure that suppressed the star sector. Small forces, wandering fleets, and remote settlements that had once watched from the sidelines sent envoys one after another, requesting to surrender. No one dared to resist anymore, and no one dared to disobey.

Major Hu Feng stood on the resource ship's command deck, high-spirited: "My Lord! Now, even if the three surrounding star sectors unite to attack, we have the confidence to meet them head-on!"

Administrative Director Guo Shouyi reported: "My Lord, the spaceport construction has started, the speed of population influx is skyrocketing, and it is expected that the empire's population will exceed 20,000 within a week!"

Emperor Chen Fan stood before the resource ship's observation window, hands behind his back, overlooking his fleet, his planet, and his territories. Beneath his feet was the upgraded Primary Resource Ship, behind him was the rising Star River Empire, and ahead was the infinitely vast sea of stars.

He spoke slowly, his voice transmitted through the resource ship's global broadcast to every corner of the No. 7 Dead Zone: "Today, my mothership has completed its transformation, functions fully unlocked, combat power skyrocketed. Today, the Star River Empire officially steps out of Grey Fire Planet and into the stars. Today, I declare—The No. 7 Dead Zone will be completely unified by Star River. The surrounding star sectors will be incorporated into the map of Star River. The sea of stars will be the journey of Star River."

"Those who submit to me will prosper. Those who defy me will perish."

"The Star River Era has fully arrived!"

Boom!!! The resource ship's four engines were fully opened, and the golden light illuminated the deep space of the Dead Zone. 32 frigates lined up to follow, mech regiments escorted left and right, and the ground defense towers' lights shot into the sky.

One super resource ship, one invincible interstellar fleet, one supreme sovereign, one rising Interstellar Empire.

From now on, there are no more opponents in the No. 7 Dead Zone.

From now on, the Star River Empire marches towards the galaxy.