Outside the tarmac, 1,000 Black Tiger Army soldiers stood in orderly squares, as immovable as mountains and as upright as pines. If one were to ask what the world found most impressive about Jade Country's military, it would be their robot-like precision in marching and their overwhelming, sword-drawn presence in military formations.

The King of the Kingdom of Ice and Snow and his ministers, faces etched with profound respect, bestowed medals symbolizing the friendship of their kingdom upon each soldier Jade Country had sent to their aid.

A thousand men formed a large contingent, yet the thanks uttered by King Cain and each of his ministers were profoundly sincere. One would have to experience the despair they had endured to understand a gratitude that, to outsiders, might have seemed performative.

The medal ceremony for the 1,000 soldiers concluded, followed by one for the 100 volunteers from the academy. In the battle to aid the Kingdom of Ice and Snow, 120 students from Modu City's Star Martial Academy had participated. Eight of them lost their lives, including one teacher from the Star Sea realm.

"Thank you for your selfless help; thank you for saving my country. This medal symbolizes our nation's friendship. No matter when, no matter the circumstances, the Kingdom of Ice and Snow will always welcome and be grateful to you."

"Mr. Wang Lan!" As King Cain approached Wang Lan, his voice suddenly choked with emotion. His gaze, fixed on Wang Lan, was complex, yet predominantly filled with envy.

Why couldn't such an outstanding young man belong to the Kingdom of Ice and Snow? he wondered. Yet, it seemed self-evident that only a land as spiritually and naturally gifted as Jade Country could nurture such an exceptional individual.

"This is the Eternal Friendship Medal, specially crafted for you by our Kingdom of Ice and Snow, and awarded to our most beloved hero," King Cain declared. "This medal not only symbolizes our friendship but also represents your meritorious deeds."

"Mr. Wang Lan, whenever you visit the Kingdom of Ice and Snow, you will be our honored guest. Should you have any needs in the future, our kingdom will spare no effort to assist. This promise is forever valid, enduring as the nation itself."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

The moment the medal was pinned to Wang Lan's chest, an exhilarating system prompt echoed in his mind.

200,000 skill points? Holy shit! Who would have thought a single medal could actually reward 200,000 skill points?

The first time he received the Xuan Yue Medal, the reward was only 1,000 skill points. Subsequently, every promotion in rank or acquisition of a medal also yielded 1,000 skill points, with the sole exception of his promotion to Lieutenant Colonel, which came with a slightly larger bonus. This had led Wang Lan to believe that the most skill points he could obtain from a medal would be around 1,000 or 2,000 at most.

Indeed, this medal was the rarest and highest-ranked among all those Wang Lan had received. In Jade Country, he had acquired three high-level medals: two Glory of the Sun Medals and one Angel Medal. All three were special sacrificial items, exchanged for abilities.

Wang Lan did not know why this obviously high-ranking medal was not a sacrificial one, but 200,000 skill points were more than enough to compensate for the lack of a sacrificial ability.

Besides the medal, King Cain also presented an exquisite box. Wang Lan accepted it and gave a respectful bow to the King.

The departure time was approaching. The 1,000 Black Tiger Army soldiers boarded the plane in an orderly fashion, followed by Wang Lan and the students from Modu City's Star Martial Academy.

"Even if you escort a guest a thousand miles, Princess Aier, parting is inevitable," Wang Lan said gently. "You are also welcome to visit Jade Country. Don't cry. If you miss us, come to Jade Country, and I'll take you to taste its delicacies."

"Then, do you welcome me?"

"Uh... Of course!" Wang Lan waved his hand, about to turn and leave, when Princess Aier suddenly called out to him.

"Wang Lan, give me a farewell hug." Before Wang Lan could react, Princess Aier threw herself into his embrace.

At that moment, snowflakes suddenly began to fall from the sky. Princess Aier, dressed in white, looked like a sprite in the snow.

Only when a chorus of whistles sounded around them did Wang Lan gently push Princess Aier away.

The plane took off smoothly, offering a bird's-eye view of the Kingdom of Ice and Snow's vast lands.

"What's wrong? Can't bear to leave?" Yu Ruoyun teased as she sat down beside Wang Lan. "If you really can't, you could always jump. After all, you can fly."

"No, I was just observing. Doesn't the map of the Kingdom of Ice and Snow resemble a bird spreading its wings in flight?"

"That's the Ice Bird," Yu Ruoyun said, her eyes fixed on the box in his hands. "The Kingdom of Ice and Snow's hardships are over; it's poised to soar. Aren't you going to look at the parting gift they gave you?"

"Don't you all have one?"

"But each of ours is different."

"Alright." Under Yu Ruoyun's expectant gaze, Wang Lan opened the box. Instead of gemstones or crafts, it contained a sheaf of bound papers.

"What is this?" Puzzled, Wang Lan took out the documents and flipped open the cover. A line of text met his eyes. Energy Stone Resource Transfer Contract?

Yu Ruoyun snatched the contract, her expression turning somber as she quickly flipped through it. "Good, it's not the mine contracted with Jade Country. This mineral deposit wasn't in our records; it must have been prospected by the Kingdom of Ice and Snow more recently."

"The mineral reserves are... 7,000,000 tons! That's larger than the five energy mineral deposits Jade Country found. However, for the Kingdom of Ice and Snow, it's considered a small vein." After reviewing the contract, Yu Ruoyun smirked. "Wang Lan, you've struck it rich! You're literally one of those 'people with a mine now'!"

"Doesn't this violate any rules?"

"This is a unilateral gift from the Kingdom of Ice and Snow, a private gift. What rules would it violate? Do you know the current market price for energy stones?"

"How much?"

"Three hundred Jade Coins per kilogram. The energy produced by one kilogram of energy stone is equivalent to that of 100 kilograms of gasoline. Let me do the math for you: 300 per kilogram means 30,000 for a ton. Seven million tons would be... 210,000,000,000 Jade Coins! You're rich enough to rival a country!"

"Don't exaggerate," Wang Lan replied calmly. "It's just numbers. Which of the top five tycoons in Jade Country doesn't have a net worth of 100 or 200 billion? And that's not even counting hidden magnates like the Yu Family. To them, 200 billion is nothing remarkable."

"Arrogant!" Yu Ruoyun rolled her eyes. "Your net worth has suddenly increased tenfold; I don't believe you're not happy about it."

"What's there to be happy about?" Wang Lan countered. "With or without this energy mine, I already have more money than I could ever spend. Any more is meaningless."

His point was so valid, Yu Ruoyun found herself speechless.

After a twelve-hour flight, the plane landed successfully in Modu City. It had been morning when they took off, and, frustratingly, it was still morning when they arrived. The group, yawning, disembarked and stepped onto their homeland, an inexplicable excitement stirring deep within their hearts.

There was no grand welcome ceremony, only a shuttle bus waiting outside the airport. Gazing at the bustling, vibrant international airport and recalling all they had witnessed in the Kingdom of Ice and Snow, a heartfelt sentiment arose within them: one would have no regrets being born in Huaxia. What a profound fortune it was to belong to such a powerful motherland.

While there was no grand welcome at the airport, the Star Martial Academy had organized a small homecoming celebration. Although the event felt somewhat perfunctory, it was the gesture that counted.

Several groups of students traveled the globe each year, and a small homecoming like this was held upon each group's return. Having experienced it many times, no one felt particularly excited anymore.

Upon their return, all students were given a two-day break to adjust to the time difference. Wang Lan also returned to his dormitory to rest.

In Eld Di's office, Longya and the other supervising teachers from the academy gathered to report the details of their mission to the Kingdom of Ice and Snow. On Eld Di's desk lay the Time-Space Gemstone.

"Longya, you've done well," Eld Di said gravely after listening to Longya's report.

"To be honest, I feel ashamed," Longya began. "As the team leader, I didn't accomplish much. Instead, it was students Wang Lan and Yu Ruoyun who repeatedly resolved crises. They not only averted the asteroid collision but also thwarted the Paradise Bird's attempt to open a portal to the Demon World."

"Judging by this accomplishment alone, it's no overstatement to say they saved the entire world."

"They indeed performed admirably, as did all of you," Eld Di affirmed. "You not only completed the aid mission excellently but also embodied the spirit of Jade Country. Jade Country possesses the magnanimity, benevolence, and dignity of a great power."

"When faced with the Kingdom of Ice and Snow's improper actions, you issued warnings. When its civilians were threatened, you did not heartlessly abandon them. Your conduct would withstand the closest scrutiny, even under a magnifying glass by other nations. I will request commendations for all of you from the state. You have worked hard."

"Thank you, Principal." Longya then asked curiously, "By the way, this Time-Space Gemstone... what exactly is its significance?" Although Wang Lan and his companions had retrieved the Time-Space Gemstone and informed them it was crucial for opening the Portal of the Demon World, they hadn't disclosed further details.

"This is my first time seeing an actual Time-Space Gemstone as well," Eld Di began. "However, based on the intelligence I possess, these gemstones represent the gravest threat to humanity. Historical records indicate that the Demon World invades Sky Blue Star approximately every hundred years."

"Each time, they materialize in our densely populated cities, using the inhabitants as human shields. They then assimilate these cities, transforming them into extensions of the Demon World, before expanding to devour our territory."

"Previously, we never understood how the Demon Clan opened the portal to the Different Dimensional Space, how they arrived, or how they managed to pinpoint our cities with such precision. That changed a hundred years ago when one of our intelligence operatives acquired crucial information."

"The key for the Demon Clan to open the portal to the Different Dimensional Space lies in the Time-Space Gemstone. Its origin is unknown to us. However, the Demon Clan conceals these gemstones within the Different Dimensional Space, awaiting the opportune moment. A spy, left behind by the Demon Clan, then covertly transports a gemstone to a city. This activates the gemstone, opening the Portal of the Demon World, allowing the Demon Clan's armies to descend."

"In other words, the appearance of a Time-Space Gemstone signals the beginning of a Demon Clan invasion."

Upon hearing this, the expressions of everyone present changed drastically. "Principal, didn't you estimate that the Demon Clan invasion was still thirty years away?"

"That is merely our estimation, not a certainty," Eld Di replied. "Estimations reflect ideal scenarios, but unforeseen events can occur at any time. Perhaps Demon Clan spies lurking in our world sensed a threat, or other reasons prompted them to summon their armies prematurely."

"Regardless of the circumstances, since one such event—the opening of a portal to the Demon World—has occurred, it will inevitably happen again. Human civilization must now prepare to face this recurring challenge."

"How many Time-Space Gemstones are there? Is it a known number... or are there many?"

"According to our intelligence, there are twelve Time-Space Gemstones. However, it's unknown whether this is the total number in existence or merely the twelve remaining in the Human World. This is only the first one recovered, so we must not become overly optimistic."

"Our success in preventing their arrival this time might have been due to luck. Perhaps next time, the Demon Clan's armies will descend suddenly, when we are completely unaware. Two hundred years ago, their armies landed simultaneously in four locations, instantly annihilating three countries."

The group, who had initially felt a significant sense of achievement for thwarting a Demon World incursion, suddenly had cold water poured on their spirits. If there were indeed twelve Time-Space Gemstones, recovering only one meant their fight was far from over.

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