289: Chapter 283 Investment

A day passed in the blink of an eye.

Light and shadow shifted, and Song Yang's figure reappeared in the white plaza.

On the virtual screen before him, a row of eye-catching data was clearly listed.

[Ladder Ranking Match]

[Contestant: Song Yang]

[Today's Record: 35 matches, 35 wins]

[Current Points: 35]

[Current Ranking: 18,976th]

Within a single day, thirty-five consecutive high-intensity duels.

In every match, he had to be fully focused, pushing his marksmanship to the limit.

His opponents' styles were strange and varied; some excelled in heavy weapon assaults, some had tricky movement techniques, and others were proficient in long-range shooting.

Song Yang was like a sponge, frantically absorbing combat experience from different schools in each battle while constantly honing his marksmanship.

From being slightly rusty at the beginning to being at ease later, his understanding and use of the gun were improving at a terrifying speed.

But the cost of this improvement was a huge consumption of mental and physical energy.

Even with his superhuman body, after experiencing such high-intensity mental strain, waves of fatigue washed over him.

He closed the interface, rubbed his throbbing temples, and walked toward the teleportation exit.

...

The dining room was brightly lit, and a long dining table was filled with sumptuous dishes, the aroma wafting through the air.

Bai Jie, Zhang Xinmei, Yang Yueqi, and Liliya, four beauties with distinct styles, were sitting around the dining table, but none of them had picked up their chopsticks; they were clearly waiting for him.

"You finally came out."

Zhang Xinmei was the first to stand up. She was wearing a silk loungewear set that perfectly outlined her mature and graceful curves. She walked quickly to Song Yang's side and naturally helped him take off his coat.

"Go take a shower and change your clothes quickly; the food is almost cold."

Her tone carried a hint of reproach, but it was mostly filled with concern.

"Brother Song Yang, did you fight all day again today?"

Yang Yueqi also leaned in, her large eyes filled with worry.

"Yeah."

Song Yang nodded, a smile appearing on his face.

"You guys eat first; no need to wait for me."

"How can that be? It's only lively when we're all together."

Bai Jie walked out of the kitchen carrying a freshly served bowl of soup and said softly.

After a quick wash, Song Yang changed into loose casual clothes and sat at the head of the table.

"Don't just look at me, everyone eat."

Song Yang picked up his chopsticks and put some food on everyone's plates.

The atmosphere at the dinner table finally became lively.

"Eat slowly."

Zhang Xinmei pushed a bowl of soup in front of Song Yang. "If you push yourself like this, your body won't be able to take it. Doesn't the ranking match last for a month? There's no need to be in such a hurry."

Song Yang took a sip of soup, and the warm liquid slid down his throat into his stomach, dispelling the fatigue deep within his body.

He put down the bowl, looked at the women at the table, and his expression turned serious.

"There isn't much time left."

The atmosphere in the dining room instantly quieted down; everyone stopped using their chopsticks and looked at Song Yang.

They rarely saw Song Yang show such an expression.

"What do you mean?" Bai Jie asked softly.

Song Yang was silent for a moment, as if organizing his words.

"A massive organization called the 'Star Pirate Alliance'—their interstellar fleet is heading toward the Solar System."

"According to their estimated cruising speed, they will reach Earth in at most nine months."

Their complexions turned somewhat ugly. Although their knowledge of the universe was limited, they still understood what the words "Star Pirates" meant.

They were a group of desperate criminals who burned, killed, looted, and committed every evil.

"Then what about Earth?" Yang Yueqi asked, puzzled.

Although they had already left Earth and were living a stable life under Song Yang's protection, that blue planet was, after all, their home, and it still held their memories.

"With Earth's current level of technology, there is no room for resistance against the Star Pirate Alliance fleet."

"Will it be destroyed?" Bai Jie asked.

"The best outcome is to be colonized and reduced to a slave planet. The worst outcome..."

Song Yang didn't continue, but the meaning was self-evident.

The entire dining room fell into a dead silence.

A massive sense of powerlessness and fear enveloped everyone.

They had finally escaped the apocalypse and thought they had arrived at a safe place, but they didn't expect that a greater crisis was quietly approaching their former home.

"We... what can we do?" Bai Jie's lips were a bit dry.

"That is the reason why I am pushing myself so hard."

Song Yang's gaze swept over everyone. "I must become strong enough within nine months—strong enough to crush an interstellar fleet!"

This goal sounded so crazy, even like a fantasy.

One person, against a fleet?

But none of the women present showed any expression of doubt.

Because the person who said this was Song Yang.

It was the man who had created countless miracles during the apocalypse.

"Although we have left Earth, it is still our home after all," Song Yang's tone softened a bit. "I cannot just sit by and watch it be destroyed."

Zhang Xinmei silently put another piece of meat on Song Yang's plate. She didn't say anything, but her actions already showed her support.

"Brother Song Yang, I also want to become stronger! I also want to fight!"

Yang Yueqi clenched her small fists, her youthful face full of stubbornness.

Liliya, who hadn't spoken the whole time, suddenly spoke up.

"The Star Pirates' fleet is usually composed of one flagship and dozens of escort frigates, with a personnel count that should reach the tens of thousands. It won't be that easy to deal with."

The information provided by Liliya made everyone's understanding of the crisis clearer, but also more desperate.

"So, I have no time to waste," Song Yang concluded.

The heavy atmosphere lasted for a while until it was broken by a sentence from Bai Jie.

"By the way, Song Yang, while you were still training this afternoon, Thunderstorm and the others came to look for you."

"Thunderstorm?"

Song Yang was somewhat surprised.

Since coming to this interstellar city, everyone had indeed not been in contact for a long time.

"Did they have something to do?"

"They said they wanted to get together with you and have a meal."

Bai Jie replied, "I saw that you were at a critical moment, so I didn't disturb you and let them go back first."

"How are they doing now?" Song Yang asked.

These people had all fought their way out of Earth together and were considered fellow countrymen. He naturally wouldn't be stingy if he could help them out.

"They have all joined different companies as mercenaries or security personnel."

Bai Jie thought for a moment and continued, "They work to earn living expenses while using the company's resources to cultivate. Their lives are stable enough, but it's quite hard."

Song Yang nodded.

This was normal.

For life forms that haven't reached the Stellar Rank, selling labor is the most direct way to gain a foothold in interstellar society.

If he weren't wealthy, he probably would have taken the same path.

Now, his fellow Earthlings were facing a common crisis, and he possessed resources and strength far exceeding those of ordinary people; it was time to integrate these forces.

"Xinmei."

Song Yang suddenly looked at Zhang Xinmei.

"Hmm?"

"Didn't you say before that you wanted to use the funds we have on hand to make some investments?"

"Yes, what's wrong?"

Zhang Xinmei was a bit puzzled.

"You were in business before, so you must understand investment. I will give you a large sum of money, and you can take the others and start investing in businesses. If we just sit and eat our savings, they will run out one day. We must plan for the long term."