On the way to becoming the strongest, I first became a popular person.

Familiar place, dreaming again.

Shi Chu clung to the familiar body and observed the room. There were some worn-out tables and chairs, and some random graffiti on the peeling paint walls, probably the "works" of some children. Strange old-fashioned equipment projected images on something that looked like a blackboard, and occasionally made a "buzzing" sound.

On the crude podium, the kind and amiable headmistress was standing there. She gently glanced at the children sitting in rows below and said in a persuasive manner, "Do you know Tianxing?"

"I know, that's the mastermind of the alliance!" someone in the first row answered quickly.

"Well, Thirty-Seven is right. Today we are going to tell you the story about Tianxing."

"Legend has it that a hundred years ago, a star came from outer space and fell on the main star. It carried an extremely mysterious power. Scientists call this power that humans cannot understand the power of God. That star is God's gift. Through years of research on it, humans created a virtual network covering the three major galaxies of the alliance more than 60 years ago - Skynet. We can use the terminal to consciously enter that extremely real virtual world and feel things that are difficult to touch in reality. It is a very wonderful feeling."

"And Skynet's brain is that star. The Alliance named it Tianxing, which means the star that comes from the sky."

"Aunt Dean, how can a star become the mastermind? Aren't stars just stars? They shine and twinkle."

"So this is a story. I also heard it from others." Lan Yin smiled with curved eyebrows.

"Well, unfortunately we can't access the terminal. No matter how wonderful the virtual world is, it has nothing to do with us."

"By the way, can the dean play some cartoons for us today? I want to watch cats and squirrels." said a little girl.

"It's obviously a tiger, not a cat at all. You're not tired of watching it yet? It's such an old movie from so long ago." An older boy asked doubtfully.

"Tigers are also cats. That's because the league hasn't had a new cartoon in a long time. Everyone is busy and no one is doing this anymore. I also want to watch new cartoons."

"Tch, childish devil."

"Hmph, then don't look at it."

"No, I just want to watch it, a little bit."

Lan Yin waved her hand, signaling them to stop arguing, and said soothingly: "Okay, okay, everyone, stop arguing. Let's watch the King of Cats and his friends in the forest today, okay?"

"it is good!"

She clicked on the video and the animation started playing.

Some old equipment made a "hissing" sound and projected images on the blackboard. Lifelike cartoon animals appeared on it and the story began to unfold. The children's eyes were fixed on the blackboard, deeply attracted by the wonderful fairy tale world and immersed in this wonderful visual feast.

Shi Chu was still pondering what Lan Yin had said before. She had searched for content related to "Alliance" on Starnet before, but did not find any corresponding information.

The virtual network Skynet they were talking about was very similar to the Federation's Starnet, and there was also the so-called mastermind Tianxing. If she remembered correctly, the Federation's mastermind should be called... Shouyue? Tianxing and Shouyue did sound somewhat similar.

It is rumored that the main body of Shouyue is on the Gulan Star of the Dongfang family. People in the Federation have many speculations about what it is. Some say it is a huge computer group, some say it is a complex mysterious chip, and some say it is a mechanical life. But no one knows what it looks like because it is a top secret of the Federation.

"Eleven, spring is coming in more than a month. Let's go plant flowers then." Seventeen gently pulled the sleeve of the person next to her and whispered in her ear that she would give the biggest and most beautiful flowers to Eleven.

Spring is coming, and things will get better soon. They will definitely get better.

That’s great! When spring comes and the weather gets warmer, they won’t have to worry about being unable to sleep at night due to the cold.

A few days ago, some of the numbers in the orphanage were left vacant, and they became lonely wooden signs in the bamboo forest in the backyard, engraved with their names before they came to the orphanage.

But she and Eleven, they didn't even have names, they had never seen their parents or relatives, and they had been wandering around since they were born. Occasionally they were helped by kind people and adopted, but the good times didn't last long and they soon became orphans again until they met in this orphanage.

All they had was the orphanage number, and if she died, the plaque that belonged to her would probably say seventeen, and the same for eleven.

"Eleven, have you ever thought about your name? What will be engraved on the wooden sign after we die?"

"No, it will probably be a serial number."

"Eleven, if I die, can you carve a flower on my wooden sign for me? I remember that you liked cats the most. No, tigers. Please carve a tiger on my wooden sign as well. This way, even if I die in heaven, I will have you by my side and I won't feel lonely."

"……it is good."

"If you die, I will do the same, but I think you will live well, of course, so will I. If, I mean if, if I die, you must not forget what we agreed on today."

"The director said that as long as we are good and don't be bad kids, we will go to heaven and become angels after we die. I will definitely bless you in heaven then. If I can't do it alone, I will pray to God. Eleven, you must live well."

Eleven looked into the sincere eyes of the girl in front of him. Eleven's appearance was reflected in those clear black eyes. That thin and pale face actually made Shi Chu feel somewhat familiar. But before she had time to think about it, a wave of darkness suddenly emerged and submerged everything in an instant.

At the last moment when the world returned to nothingness, she heard a low but very clear voice.

She heard herself say, "Okay."

……

The group of four shuttled through the jungle and soon arrived at the entrance of a strange-looking valley.

The peaks on both sides are towering into the clouds, but they have different shapes, and the cliffs are covered with strange rocks.

At the bottom of the valley, a clear stream meanders through a forest of strange rocks. Between the cracks of the rocks grow trees of strange shapes, their branches twisting and winding toward the sky.

There was a thin layer of mist inside, and several huge and strange figures could be vaguely seen lying on the ground.

"Senior, we're here. This is it." Ling Mu said after observing for a while.

The star beasts here really haven't been dealt with yet. To be honest, it's not normal to have so many star beasts gathered here. They are probably guarding some precious items, natural treasures? Or rare resources?

If that's the case, maybe I can make some extra money.

"Ling Mu? Ji Li? Why are you two together with Ikles's people?" A loud female voice suddenly came from a huge rock at the entrance of the valley, with some confusion and shock in her tone.

Ling Mu raised his head, blocked the dazzling midday sun with his right hand, squinted slightly, and saw the person above clearly.

"Xu Ying?"