“What — a mysterious ancient star with many powerful bloodlines? Does that not mean this life-origin world is something truly fearsome?”
The arena was filled with a multitude of voices. Many were cursing under their breath — they had staked their bets on Silver Pupils, only to lose everything.
“What a joke. If such a precious star truly existed, you would have gone there yourselves long ago. Why broadcast it to us and ask us along for the journey?”
The scions of the great princes and nobles had wagered their rare mineral ores. Many had lost badly. Their moods were foul, and they placed little faith in his words.
“Let him speak more. I’d like to hear this properly.” Among the crowd were naturally some who were true princes and nobles — their expressions grave, deeply interested.
The young man on the stone platform was tall and slender, fair-complexioned, with a head of water-blue long hair. He carried himself with a natural composure and confidence as he quietly observed the crowd’s reactions.
“That appears to be someone from the Lanto Clan — a beloved grandson of the Lanto Saint, named Lanto Tu.” someone recognized him with surprise.
The Lanto Clan was well-known on the Eternal Main Star. They placed great importance on the exploration of stellar domains. Beginning as raiders, they had slowly grown into a colossal force. They had once discovered an ancient life-origin world, selling the powerful beings found there, and had accumulated their initial wealth through this trade.
Ye Fan clenched his fist. From the crowd’s discussion, he had gathered the clan’s history. To put it plainly — a human trafficking syndicate that had now set its sights on the Northern Dipper stellar domain, using his old acquaintances as their entry point.
“Ladies and gentlemen — you do not yet understand. You do not grasp how great the value of that ancient star truly is. Though my Lanto Clan wishes to advance, we feel our strength is insufficient. To venture there alone would be to make little impact. I can state with certainty that this is a divine land — there are traces of ancient divine beings’ activity there, many powerful bloodlines, ancient mines formed from primordial life stones, and a multitude of native inhabitants, among them naturally some powerful individuals.”
Lanto Tu spoke, describing the Northern Dipper’s situation. The revelation sent shockwaves through the crowd. People could no longer remain seated — all of them were drawn in.
“There is divine tear green gold there, black gold with dragon inscriptions… enough to forge divine-being battle armor. Furthermore, that place holds supreme immortal herbs used by ancient divine beings to refine immortal elixirs!”
“You understand what this means — a place beyond dreaming. All of this is extraordinarily precious, beyond any estimation of value. In the hands of those native inhabitants, it is being wasted. We must go there to excavate it and reveal its true worth!”
Lanto Tu spoke with passionate fervor, rallying the great clans, asking who wished to join forces with them and march together to the Northern Dipper stellar domain.
The whole colosseum was thrown into an uproar. The contest between the combatants no longer mattered — everyone was fixated on this mysterious ancient star.
“Traces of ancient divine beings. Boundless precious resources. These are things we lack. Those native inhabitants don’t even understand the value of what they possess. We cannot allow it to go to waste.”
The Lanto Clan was planning a grand plunder. They felt their own strength was insufficient and needed powerful allies, fearing they would be crushed in the Northern Dipper stellar domain without them.
With such a prospect before them — all those divine mineral ores — no great power could remain calm. Every one of them was tempted.
“The Lanto Clan rose from raiding. Growing into a colosseum giant — their hearts are not this generous. If the road ahead were paved with immortal herbs at every turn, they would never bother calling on us. One needn’t think too hard to know it is full of danger.”
Naturally, there were skeptics — particularly the forces that stood in opposition to the Lanto Clan. They spoke up loudly, raising sharp objections.
“High risk, high reward. The native inhabitants there are indeed no weaklings — otherwise, why would we need allies? But no matter what they are, they cannot withstand the might of our Eternal Nation.” Lanto Tu replied.
Finally, he dropped a bombshell that sent many princes, nobles, and even a few saints who had secretly come to watch springing to their feet — staring at him in utter disbelief.
“Ladies and gentlemen — do you still remember Wan Qing? He attained the Dao from a Chaotic Green Lotus — and he came from that very ancient star!”
“What — is that the truth?!” The entire crowd erupted.
“I can tell you all — Wan Qing ultimately returned to that ancient star. Ten thousand years ago, he passed away there in peaceful meditation, leaving behind his Dao lineage and an immortal treasury.” This information was devastating. Every single person was moved. Wan Qing had once swept through this realm, leaving behind an inextinguishable legend of myth.
“If what you say is true, cooperation is worth considering. A battle that spans star systems — that is the most interesting kind!” Some of the princes and nobles responded positively.
Inside the colosseum, only Ye Fan’s eyes ran cold. Some of the princes and nobles were arrogant beyond measure — treating the cultivators of the Northern Dipper stellar domain as lowly native inhabitants. The Lanto Clan in particular was deserving of death!
And yet — he could change nothing. The information had been released. A collision between star systems was now inevitable.
Ye Fan was not anxious. He was calm in his heart — even, in some ways, anticipating it. He firmly believed in the terrifying power of the Northern Dipper stellar domain’s saints. If these people truly launched an expedition — who would suffer the greater loss? He would wait and see.
“Ladies and gentlemen, we must deliberate carefully. Those interested in joining the expedition are welcome to meet with my clan’s saint to discuss the matter.” Lanto Tu said.
The colosseum had transformed into a conference hall. The many great powers were arguing, faces red, necks straining — none willing to yield an inch when absolute profit was at stake.
Lanto Tu said: “Everyone knows that a long expedition is enormously costly and requires great sacrifice. My clan is willing to set out alongside ten clans. Those who wish to form an alliance are welcome to discuss the details.”
Many in the crowd cursed openly — this was bare-faced extortion. The Lanto Clan wanted partners, had clearly stated the number of allies they would accept, and had no intention of welcoming everyone.
The crowd understood: they were going to squeeze a price out of people. Whoever held the greatest value, whoever was willing to offer the most resources — those were the ones they would choose.
The great princes and nobles were naturally displeased. The scene erupted into noise.
Not far away, Zhao Qing Chuan came over and spoke with Qi Meng. The conversation turned to the Indestructible Golden Body — he asked politely whether this ascetic cultivator was from the Northern Dipper stellar domain.
Qi Meng, of course, said nothing. The Qi Clan had made its stance clear: they would not treat Ye Fan as an enemy. A person like him made a far better friend than foe.
By now, even Qi Yao Guang himself had climbed up onto the stone platform before the colosseum to learn more about the Northern Dipper’s situation. The entire scene was in a great clamor.
Several people had come over with Zhao Qing Chuan. One of them slanted his gaze at Ye Fan, a cold smirk on his lips. “Boy, who are you? Brother Zhao wanted to swap seats with you and you dared to refuse. Just come fresh out of some sect, have you? Utterly clueless.”
“What’s it to you?” Ye Fan glanced at him.
“I’ll give you two choices. One: get out of here right now. Two: stay here and die.” The young man was insufferably arrogant, advancing directly on Ye Fan.
Qi Meng transmitted her voice: “This is an unaffiliated cultivator named Xu Hai. He has quite a reputation in Yuan City. He has been in the Dao Severance realm for many years and moves in close circles with various prominent clan disciples. He is a sharp and ruthless blade.”
Is Zhao Qing Chuan this perceptive? To come at me like this at our very first meeting — could it be he has discerned my identity, and is using Xu Hai to test me? The thought stirred in Ye Fan’s mind.
“Xu Hai, enough — come back!” Zhao Qing Chuan said.
“Come on, Brother Xu — people who don’t know any better might think it’s Brother Zhao who’s being the bully.” Several young clan scions also urged him back.
“I just can’t stand that composed look of his. I want to see what kind of person dares act like this.” Xu Hai was utterly brazen. He reached out and grabbed Ye Fan’s arm.
“Get off.” Ye Fan did not budge a single inch. He mixed the Om character’s heavenly technique into his voice, condensing it into a single focused pulse that drove straight into Xu Hai’s immortal platform.
Pff!
Xu Hai bled from all seven orifices. The bone of his forehead cracked. He was sent flying sideways — landing directly in his own seat, his entire body convulsing and trembling, unable to move.
The people around them changed their expressions — yet no one said a word. Clearly, this sort of thing happened often. The scions of various princes and nobles were enthusiastic spectators of the arena. Their battle-pets and slaves frequently competed here, and clashes between people were commonplace.
Zhao Qing Chuan gave Ye Fan a long, measured look, then led his companions away. As he turned, he said to Qi Meng: “The Cao Clan is enraged. If the Qi Clan intends to go to the Northern Dipper stellar domain, be careful.”
Inside the colosseum, the situation was in full chaos. People were deeply dissatisfied — only ten clans could ally with the Lanto Clan. That was far too few. The many princes and nobles all wanted a share of the feast.
An elder of the Lanto Clan stepped forward to placate the crowd, promising that this was only the first advance party — the primary mission was to scout the path. Once the results were confirmed, a full army would follow.
“Ladies and gentlemen — you may not yet know that I have one more important piece of news I have not yet disclosed. The value of that ancient star is even greater than any of us imagined. Do you still remember the one called Wushi? More than a hundred thousand years ago, he nearly blew our Eternal Main Star to pieces — and in his later years, he too descended upon that ancient star and passed away in meditation there!”
“What?!” The entire colosseum was shaken to its core. These events were ancient beyond reckoning — but no prince or noble would ever forget them.
That battle had been a nightmare without equal. A supreme fighter had wielded the battle armor left behind by ancient divine beings — and had been handed a crushing defeat! Furthermore, one divine-being war garment had been permanently destroyed, shattered in that very clash. Wushi had swept through the Eternal stellar domain, leaving behind a terrifying legend.
Ye Fan’s mouth opened and closed — opened and closed again. Even Wushi, the Great Emperor, had left traces here, such was his overwhelming power and presence.
He had once heard from the Black Emperor that Wushi had not departed from the Mystic Cultivator’s Mansion in the conventional way. Rather, he had become a saint many years before setting out — having traveled to many places first.
I wonder whether the woman saint who spent her entire life aspiring to follow in Wushi the Great Emperor’s footsteps, gazing up at him from behind and never catching up — whether she came from this place. A pity — she chased him her whole life, and in the end died in the vastness of the cosmos.
The resplendent Northern Dipper!
The colosseum’s assembly concluded. Each clan departed in turn. Yet the storm it had unleashed spread like a hurricane across the entire Eternal Main Star. Every last corner of the great star was set ablaze.
A great era of expansion had arrived. Many powerful forces were rolling up their sleeves, eager to take action — to enter the Northern Dipper and carry off those precious and rare resources.
In the days that followed, the major powers held secret councils. A campaign spanning star systems had begun to take shape, and everything was being pushed forward at a rapid pace.
Many wandering cultivators became active as well — for the great clans were all recruiting. A large-scale expedition naturally required powerful individuals. Some of the greater clans had even gone directly to hire mercenaries.
In many people’s eyes, this was a grand era — one of boundless wealth waiting to be seized. That mysterious ancient star was a world full of dreams and divine treasures.
And what was Ye Fan doing? Being recruited, of course. He intended to use this opportunity to go back and take a look — and within him, a quiet sense of anticipation stirred. The reckoning between the mother ships and the saints was about to be revealed.
“So many years have passed, and the Wushi tomb is still intact — called Purple Mountain. Those native inhabitants are truly too timid. Since they won’t lay a hand on it, we’ll go and open it.”
When word spread that the Wushi great tomb still stood, the clans that had once suffered at his hands were immediately overcome with excitement. They firmly believed that such a supremely exalted being must have left behind an inexhaustible divine treasury.
“I look forward to watching you try.” Ye Fan heard this — and let out a cold laugh.