Chapter 496: Swift Star, Sky City
It was the 17th of December, Year 2021 in Earth Calendar.
Under w.a.n.g Hou’s incessant urging, Jiang He had to agree to go with him to the celestial battlefield, putting Dumbo, Trumbo, and the others in his Farm befor they went.
“I heard that the celestial battlefield is rather special and is said to be a ma.s.sive Secret Realm, which formed when the universe was born. Dangers lurk everywhere just as it is filled with providence.”
“The s.p.a.ce and galactic sectors around it are occupied by the strongest races of the universe.”
“We humans have managed to claim a sector for ourselves here as well, establishing a great faction... people from other worlds also prefer to call us the Three Realms Faction.”
Over the last few days, w.a.n.g Hou had been diligently studying.
He had asked a lot about the celestial battlefield and had a general idea about certain information about the region. “Using the warp portal of the Galactic Empire, we would reach a sector just beyond the celestial battlefield, and just have to cross a planetary system to reach Primeval.”
“Primeval is one of the continents occupied by the elites of the Three Realms Faction, and it is said to be boundless and extends over untold light years, and is almost a planetary system on its own.”
“A continent the size of a planetary system?”
Jiang He clicked his tongue in wonder.
Both men soon arrived beside the warp portal, where several people were already waiting.
w.a.n.g Hou left to pay the toll, and the portal soon activated.
***
Tianlan System, a planetary system that was close to the celestial battlefield, was quite famous in the universe. Many cultivators intending to head toward the celestial battlefield would use that location as a transit point.
Dozens of races occupied the entire planetary system.
Oom!
The dimensions quaked.
The dimensions above a withered planet near Tianlan System rippled, and two figures abruptly appeared to land on its surface.
The planet was dark brown and its surface was filled with brown sand and rock, and the occasional bone and withered tree could occasionally be seen.
Jiang He’s immortal will swept out and he found some city ruins in the distance, inside of which were piles of dried bones.
After some observation, w.a.n.g Hou solemnly said, “The core of the planet had been taken away.”
If the core of a living planet was taken away to cultivate a treasure with, the planet would gradually dry up and die in a few centuries.
It would be fine if the planet had a champion who could evacuate some of the beings living there, but if there weren’t, everyone on the planet would die along with it.
Such matters often occurred in the vastness of the universe.
There were even demonic cultivators who sought planets with only primitive lifeforms, hunting them down to cultivate their demonic arts, or directly stealing the core of the planet to use as a treasure.
w.a.n.g Hou was left quite emotional.
Taking out a star map, he looked toward the horizon.
Jiang He looked out into the distance as well. There were mult.i.tudinous stars over the skies, some of which were dazzling, the arrays around it visible even from afar.
“Most of those planets would have elites guarding it and warp portals built atop it. Ordinary cultivators would have pa.s.s through those portals if they want to enter the celestial battlefield.”
Putting away the star map, w.a.n.g Hou pointed at the brightest star. “According to the star map, that large star belongs to the Chan Sect. Their disciples would usually cultivate on it and it is under their elites’ protection—we could pa.s.s through that planet to the celestial battlefield.”
“The Chan Sect?”
Jiang He’s eyes lit up and he chuckled, “I was looking for them to discuss a deal. Well, what are we waiting for, Minister w.a.n.g?”
Both men took to the skies and warped, soon arriving near the planet.
From afar, it appeared to be your usual bright star, but one would notice that it was a special planet upon a closer look.
Its diameter was almost a million kilometers and many satellites resembling Earth’s moon orbited it. However, one could see from up close that all of them were fashioned into mystic treasures that were left dangling in outer s.p.a.ce.
The elites who controlled the moons must be on the planet. Upon encountering a powerful foe, they would drop the moon on their target at a single thought to slaughter them.
And aside from the moon, there was another mystic treasure outside the living planet.
That mystic treasure was a drawing scroll.
Endless arrays revolving around the scroll covered the entire planet. Within its atmosphere, innumerable war vessels hovered, each of them a powerful mystic treasure.
“That drawing scroll does resemble the Star Map...” w.a.n.g Hou and Jiang He soon arrived outside the planet, and could not help sharing the same opinion.
Like the other planets, it was very lively, with over ten immortal sects that each ruled empires and kingdoms.
However, even if those empires and kingdoms considered those immortal sects tyrannical and peerless, those same sects were actually beneath the Chan Sect’s rule, and having one Golden Immortal alone was already impressive of them.
The planet itself was called Swift Star.
A city known Sky City stood within it.
However, to ninety-nine percent of the locals, Sky City only existed in legends.
It was located at the extreme north of Swift Star, where people rarely visited, and it was ninety thousand kilometers away from the kingdom that stood at the extreme north.
Along that journey, one would cross endless oceans and glaciers. Moreover, due to the climate, countless powerful creatures were born in the seas and glaciers, and only immortals could cross it safely.
It was obvious that though the Chan Sect controlled the planet, they did not develop it much.
After arriving on Swift Star, w.a.n.g Hou was no longer in a hurry, and he simply found himself a high-cla.s.s tavern in one of the cities to stay for the time being.
Puzzled, Jiang He asked, “Weren’t you in a hurry to reach the celestial battlefield, Minister w.a.n.g? Why do you intend to stay here now?”
“I was worried about being hunted down by the Nether River Patriarch before. Now that we are in the Chan Sect’s domain, which is led by a Saint, the Nether River Patriarch would not dare to make a move here.”
Jiang He was speechless.
Being hunted by the Nether River Patriarch?
Why are you worried when I’m not?
Moreover...
“Minister w.a.n.g, I was about to look for the Chan Sect to talk about a deal...” Jiang He muttered.
The Galactic Empire has been a fun place, and yet you keep urging us to make haste... and now you become so carefree.
Drinking an entire cup of wine in a single gulp, w.a.n.g Hou chuckled, “Patience. I’m sure the people from the Chan Sect would soon come to us.”
Even as he spoke, immortal light streaked through the skies.
A Golden Immortal’s presence extended, and a voice spoke, “Gentlemen... could you be intending to use our portal to head to the celestial battlefield? My master has instructed that you may use it anytime you want... but we hope that you would abide by the laws of Swift Star if you intend to stay.”
The Golden Immortal spoke neutrally, showing no fear even though he was speaking to two Grand Luo.
His master is the True Habitant of Yu Ding, one of the twelve Golden Immortals of the Chan Sect and a third-generation disciple, making him a junior brother of Yang Jian, the Celestial Court’s G.o.d of War. Demi-Saints would have to give face, let alone Grand Luo.
Moreover, they were on Swift Star, the only base in the Tianlan System. The Chan Sect therefore prioritized it, and no one would dare to cause trouble around these parts.
“Chan Sect?”
Jiang He appeared taken aback.
The man did not even identify himself.
However, who could spoke so audaciously unless they were a Chan Sect disciple?
Of course, they did have what it takes. Leaving aside how the sect’s Primeval Lord of Heaven was one of the strongest Saints, the twelve Golden Immortals of the Chan Sect each were peak-level superior beings, not to mention they had a large number of Grand Luo and Demi-Saints. Their sect’s forces alone could match certain races, and warmongering races at that.
Before w.a.n.g Hou could say anything, however, Jiang He cut to the point and asked, “Who’s your master? Do you know Tu Xing Sun?”
The Golden Immortal appeared surprised and exclaimed, “Sir, are you an acquaintance of Tu Xing Sun?”
Martial uncle?
Tu Xing Sun was supposed to be the Ju Liu Sun, one of the twelve Golden Immortals of the Chan Sect. It made sense that the Golden Immortal speaking to them would call Tu Xing Sun his martial uncle since he was the disciple of the True Habitant of Yu Ding, but did the True Habitant of Yu Ding really only accept one disciple in Yang Jian, as told in mythology?
***
Meanwhile, in Sura, a blood light flew away from the boundless Blood Sea, streaking through all dimensions toward the celestial battlefield.
It moved so quickly that it only took two days to reach Blaze City. Releasing his towering aura, a gigantic ‘volcano’ in the depths of the city promptly moved.
“Nether River...”
The volcano growled before turning into a towering giant that stood a hundred feet tall. Dark red magma flowed beneath the rocks that were its skin, its grotesque face filled with shock.
“Nether River has revived?”
“But why would he come to Blaze City?”
Despite his thoughts, the towering giant did not drag his feet and swiftly flew out of the city to meet the blood light.”
“Nether River, may I ask why have you graced us...”
Whoosh!
The streak of blood light appeared instantly in front of the giant, and sent him flying even before he could evade.
“Don’t waste my breath, Blaze Lord.”
The Nether River Patriarch coldly said. “Speak. Where has that human Grand Luo gone to?”