The blade-shaped Realm Vessel shot up into the sky, disappearing in the blink of an eye.
On the Realm Vessel plaza, a large group of people watched the sky, but the vessel had already vanished beyond sight.
"Stop looking. In the blink of an eye, the North Sea has already passed through the boundary wall of the Realm Star," Xia Jing patted Long Xiao's shoulder.
Long Xiao retracted his gaze, feeling a bit envious. "When will I be able to join such large-scale exploration missions and make big money?"
"When we break through to the Origin Stage, we can take on these missions through the Tianxing Martial Academy," Ye Yukong replied. "Right now, we're only at the Ascension Stage. No point thinking too much about it."
"If you're not at the Origin Stage, going outside for adventure is no different from seeking death—especially in a public star sea region," Xia Jing said. "How much longer until your Origin Sword Embryo is complete?"
"Still early. I'm only at 81%. What about you?" Long Xiao asked.
"My Origin Golden Body has reached 87%," Xia Jing replied with a smile.
"Damn it! Showing off again!" Long Xiao cursed internally.
"You shouldn't have asked him," Ye Yukong chuckled. "He was just waiting for you to ask so he could flex."
"Hahaha!" Xia Jing laughed. In the long and tedious years of cultivation, chatting with friends was one of the few entertainments.
Ye Yukong, Long Xiao, Xia Jing, and King Luo were all external members of the Tianxing Martial Academy. Back in the day, only these four had passed the expanded recruitment of the Qingyu branch of the academy. Among them, Xia Jing had progressed the fastest.
"This is so unfair. This guy is cultivating the Void Ancestor Golden Body—Three Yang Chapter, which is supposedly harder than our Great Zhou Heavenly Sword Body. But his speed is still faster than ours," Long Xiao grumbled sourly.
"There's no reasoning with talent," Ye Yukong shook his head. "Zhao Xing and Yun Tiandao—one took less than three hundred years, the other slightly over three hundred years to reach the Origin Stage."
"Ugh, forget it. Let's go back to the academy," Long Xiao didn't want to see Xia Jing showing off anymore.
In the absence of a true powerhouse, the most talented cultivator in the group naturally became the top dog. Now that Yun Tiandao and Zhao Xing were gone, and Purple Bone wasn't in Qingyu Realm Star, Xia Jing was the fastest cultivator left among Great Zhou's younger generation. He never missed a chance to show off.
Long Xiao clenched his fists, vowing to surpass Xia Jing one day and rub it in his face.
"Oh no!" As the three were leaving the plaza, Ye Yukong's expression suddenly turned to horror.
"What happened?" Xia Jing and Long Xiao turned to him.
"I forgot to turn off my high-grade spirit-gathering formation!"
"Are you insane? How could you forget something like that?" Xia Jing was shocked.
"Damn it! We've been drinking and feasting for half a month while sending Zhao Xing off, and you just remembered now?" Long Xiao was also stunned.
"Sigh… alcohol clouds the mind," Ye Yukong looked remorseful.
"Hurry, go turn it off—damn, if the bill exceeds your allowance, King Luo will kill you!" Xia Jing and Long Xiao urged him.
The three of them rushed off the Realm Vessel plaza, flying straight toward the Tianxing Martial Academy.
——
"Master, he has left." In the Tianming Capital, atop a high tower, Wu Feng observed the star map. "Realm Vessel 37 has left the Realm Star and is entering the void navigation route."
"Once he leaves, he may never return," Zhao Yuanzi sighed slightly. "Despite having inheritance rights, he didn't even try to fight for them and decisively chose this kind of high-risk mission… Quite bold of him."
After Zhao Xing broke through to the Origin Stage, his free resource provisions had ceased. However, unlike other Purple Divine Mansion members, he was the disciple of Qing Yuzi and had returned with the remains of three deceased members.
Zhao Yuanzi had struggled with how to assign Zhao Xing's first mission.
Giving him something too lowly would make him seem ungrateful, but giving him a high-ranking mission wasn't something he wanted to do either.
He had expected Zhao Xing to come to him and ask for a better assignment.
If Zhao Xing had asked, Zhao Yuanzi wouldn't have rejected him outright—he had planned to give him a decently rewarding task.
But to his surprise, Zhao Xing didn't even say a word and directly accepted the Moonfall Mausoleum mission on his own.
Zhao Yuanzi was taken aback and, for a moment, even reflected on whether he had been too harsh.
Watching Zhao Xing board the Realm Vessel without hesitation left him feeling conflicted.
In the end, he could only conclude, "He has guts."
——
"Big Brother, you're insane. Your first mission after breaking through to the Origin Stage, and you actually chose Moonfall Mausoleum?" On the Qingyu 49 Realm Vessel, inside a private estate, Zhao Xing was chatting with Purple Bone.
"Moonfall Mausoleum is in a public star sea region. That place is said to be extremely eerie. Even Dao Domain Realm cultivators don't dare to venture too deep. They send Origin Stage cultivators like scouts first, gathering enough intelligence before making a move."
"I've read through some reports—it's full of weird anomalies," Purple Bone said with admiration. "Big Brother, I really respect your courage for picking this mission."
"Well, that's why I'm the big brother," Zhao Xing smiled. "Alright, enough about this. Purple Bone, aren't you fully packed with cultivation schedules? How do you even have time to chat with me?"
"Big Brother, you're about to embark on a dangerous mission. Since I can't see you off in person, I had to at least check in with you," Purple Bone said flatteringly.
He and Zhao Xing hadn't seen each other in centuries. Normally, relationships would fade over time without regular interaction.
But in reality, Purple Bone had been training in the Tianyuan Star System, where he had no close connections. The people from Great Zhou were still his true kin.
Unlike others from Great Zhou, he never got too close to them. Instead, he remained in frequent contact with Zhao Xing.
Zhao Xing had always possessed an air of mystery. Now that he had reached the Origin Stage so quickly, it only strengthened his standing in Purple Bone's eyes.
Besides, Purple Bone still remembered the promises Zhao Xing had made him!
"Work hard in your cultivation. When you break through to the Origin Stage and can take on missions, I'll tell you about a very profitable opportunity," Zhao Xing reassured him, still keeping his past promise in mind.
"However, don't rush. The resources provided to you by Tianyuan Mansion are unlimited before you reach the Origin Stage. It's best if you stay in this stage for as long as possible and gather more materials to refine your skills." "Once you break through, you'll have to rely on yourself." The Mechanist profession was unlike others—it had many branches and an extensive knowledge system. Purple Bone could easily remain at this stage and maximize his proficiency across all branches—weapon forging, artifact refining, Shenluo mechanisms, Matrix Arrays, Realm Vessels, War Fortresses—since the materials were free, he might as well take full advantage of them and grind his skills like crazy.
"I know, Big Brother," Purple Bone nodded. "Don't worry. My World's Heart and Origin Matrix have already reached 90% completion. But I've deliberately slowed down my Dao Body advancement and shifted my focus to studying spell formations, artifact refining, and array formations—I'm learning everything I can." "Heh, even if I have to be shameless, I'm going to stay here and grind for a few more centuries." Purple Bone's situation was similar to Zhao Xing's—he wasn't well-liked. But since his privileges were granted by the Lord of Tianyuan Mansion, no one dared to cut his resource supply.
Purple Bone had few friends on Puta Star. Other than cultivating, he would frequently chat with Zhao Xing.
Just then, a soft hum echoed outside the estate, and two streaks of purple light appeared. Zhao Xing sensed their presence and told Purple Bone, "I have to go."
"Alright, Big Brother, take care."
After ending the communication, Zhao Xing walked out of the courtyard.
Unlike Purple Bone, who had no friends on Puta Star, Zhao Xing had made a few over the years.
After Wu Feng took over as an instructor, Zhao Xing frequently attended lectures at the Dao Arena in Tianming Capital. On Qingyu Realm Star, he had also met several outstanding geniuses, two of whom had taken on the same Moonfall Mausoleum mission.
"Fairy Leyao," Zhao Xing greeted first, nodding at the ethereal woman in white outside his estate. Then, he turned to the burly man beside her. "Hua Zi."
"What brings you two here?"
"We just finished settling in and came to check on you, Brother Zhao," Fairy Leyao smiled gracefully, her demeanor poised and dignified.
Cen Qionghua, however, looked at him strangely. "Brother Zhao, I feel like when you call me Hua Zi, there's another meaning behind it. My Daoist title is Qionghua, yet when you say it, it suddenly sounds like some cheap market stall name?"
"In your homeland, what does Hua Zi even mean?"
"Haha, come in and chat," Zhao Xing waved his hand, and the protective formation at the estate's edge dimmed.
No one could enter a personal estate uninvited, and Zhao Xing had followed the same principle as his predecessors.
Once Cen Qionghua and Fairy Leyao stepped into the estate, the topic naturally shifted to the Moonfall Mausoleum mission.
Qingyu Realm Star was known for producing Shennongs, and Cen Qionghua was a typical Heavenly Bureaucrat Shennong. However, he cultivated the Ziyang Scripture and had taken 3,000 years to reach the Origin Stage, making him an official member.
Fairy Leyao's profession, on the other hand, was much rarer—she was an Origin Stage Musician, reaching this stage 500 years faster than Cen Qionghua. Musicians were uncommon in the universe, and in fact, could be considered a niche profession. Those who succeeded were either absolute prodigies or utterly incapable, struggling even to reach the Ascension Stage.
Fairy Leyao had specifically chosen this mission because Moonfall Mausoleum was rumored to be highly suitable for Musicians.
"Zhao Xing, have you heard the news?" Cen Qionghua asked mysteriously after taking a seat.
"What news?"
"Earlier today, about 950 million kilometers from Moonfall Mausoleum, on Boka Star Land, King Tianji moved a small Solar Star into the area."
"Oh?" Zhao Xing raised an eyebrow. Regardless of size, moving a Solar Star required at least a Dao Domain Realm cultivator.
Due to its unique geographic position, the Phantom God Star System, a public star sea region, had almost no Solar Stars—only Lunar Stars.
Such an environment was highly unstable and severely weakened cultivators who relied on Solar Origin Power.
Normally, a Solar Star would only be transported after a significant discovery warranted the effort.
"Something big was found on Boka Star Land?"
"Rumor has it that they discovered the tomb of a Five-Element Dao Domain Realm cultivator, but the source of the information is still unverified," Fairy Leyao said. "However, King Tianji has sealed off Boka Star Land, and major forces like the Yuanhai Royal Family, Taiyue Ancient Clan, Tianxing Martial Academy, and Purple Divine Mansion have all gotten involved. This gives the rumor some credibility."
"We shouldn't go near that place," Zhao Xing shook his head. "When immortals fight, mortals suffer. The density of powerful figures there is too high—it's not something us First Stage Origin cultivators should get involved in."
Once the value of an exploration zone was determined, conflict inevitably followed.
Only areas with unknown potential were still open for First Stage Origin cultivators to explore.
For a place like Boka Star Land, where Dao Domain Realm cultivators had intervened, First Stage and Second Stage Origin cultivators were nothing more than cannon fodder. Even Third Stage cultivators wouldn't be confident about surviving the conflict.
"Of course we won't go. Right now, there's not much commotion in Boka Star Land, but if the location of the Dao Domain Realm tomb is confirmed, the struggle will intensify. It won't just be domestic forces—ancient nations from all over will try to get involved," Cen Qionghua explained. "If there really is a grand treasure, even Dao Domain Realm cultivators could die over it. But for now, that seems unlikely."
For now, Moonfall Mausoleum didn't involve such high-level conflicts. Even if Dao Domain Realm experts appeared, they would only be observing from the sidelines.
The primary explorers were still cultivators in various stages of the Origin Stage.
If too many First Stage Origin cultivators died, then Second Stage cultivators would be sent. If they also suffered heavy casualties, Third Stage cultivators would follow.
If Third Stage casualties were also high, then it would be nearly certain that the area contained a great treasure—prompting Dao Domain Realm cultivators to intervene. This was the simple, crude, but effective method of exploration.
Sending in Dao Domain Realm cultivators directly was risky. If they encountered unexpected danger and fell, it would be a devastating loss for an ancient nation.
Instead, they first sent lower-level cultivators to probe the area, gather intelligence, and increase the survival chances of the Dao Domain Realm experts when they eventually entered.
This was the reason ancient nations assigned Origin Stage missions to various forces.
"By the way, Brother Zhao, what exploration method are you planning to use?" After chatting for a while, Cen Qionghua probed Zhao Xing's plans. "If you're not planning to join a larger corps, why not team up with me and Fairy Leyao?"
"Sounds good." Zhao Xing smiled. "I'd love to."
Cen Qionghua was at the mid-stage of First Stage Origin, while Fairy Leyao was even stronger, already at the late stage of First Stage Origin. Since Zhao Xing had just arrived, he didn't plan to act alone immediately. He intended to familiarize himself with the area first.
"Alright, it's settled then," Cen Qionghua said with satisfaction. Although he had never sparred with Zhao Xing before, he knew that anyone who advanced from the Ascension Stage to the Origin Stage in just over three hundred years was not just famous for nothing.
"Brother Cen, you sound quite confident. Do you think you can obtain team formation rights?" Fairy Leyao asked. "I heard that most First Stage Origin cultivators are being assigned to military regiments."
The Moonfall Mausoleum had three exploration methods. The first was to follow the expedition regiments sent by the Ancient Kingdoms. The second was to form small teams. The third was to explore solo. However, the choice wasn't up to the individuals—it depended on their strength.
The weaker cultivators were assigned to temporary military regiments, moving with the main force. Those who were slightly stronger could qualify for team formation rights. Typically, only Second Stage Origin cultivators had the right to explore solo, and even then, it depended on the location.
The Ancient Kingdoms weren't sending people on suicide missions; they needed to minimize casualties among their cultivators.
"Can't obtain team formation rights? Hmph, Fairy, don't underestimate yourself," Cen Qionghua scoffed. "You and I are official members of Purple Divine Mansion, and our backgrounds are far from ordinary. Even a single piece of our equipment is worth more than the lives of most average First Stage Origin cultivators."
"As long as we don't go to the most dangerous areas, obtaining team formation rights will be effortless for me."
Cen Qionghua wasn't exaggerating. If a First Stage Origin cultivator died during exploration, they would receive compensation based on rank. According to the standard compensation system of the Ancient Kingdoms, early-stage, mid-stage, late-stage, and peak First Stage Origin cultivators would receive 40 million, 60 million, 80 million, and 100 million respectively.
Even the highest compensation for a peak First Stage Origin cultivator was less than the value of the Heavenly Sound Bamboo in Zhao Xing's Origin Space.
So when Cen Qionghua made such a statement, it wasn't arrogance—he had the backing to say so.
On Qingyu 49, a Realm Vessel, there were over 30,000 Origin Stage cultivators in total. However, not all of them were heading to the Phantom God Star System. Only about a thousand of them were making the journey. The Realm Vessel would stop at several locations along the way, allowing cultivators to disembark or board at different points.
Every time the vessel reached a new location, an announcement would echo above the passengers' estates. Zhao Xing, however, had activated a Formation Barrier to block routine notifications—since his final destination was the Phantom God Star System, he simply needed to stay aboard until the end.
The journey lasted three months, but Zhao Xing did not waste time. Unlike some Cosmic Citizens, he did not have bad habits and made full use of his time.
If a person had only a single day off, they might try to accomplish many things. If someone only had eighty years to live, they might start considering marriage in their early twenties. But for those with long lifespans, behavior changed—books meant to be read today would be postponed until tomorrow, and then until the next day.
Fairy Leyao and Cen Qionghua would often invite Zhao Xing to drink or listen to Fairy Leyao's music. However, he would usually just send a clone to entertain them, spending most of his time cultivating.
"As of now, my Heavenly Timing Techniques consist of eight different arts."
1. Fetal Breath and Purple Wind—two Wind Laws, one Yin, one Yang, both at Seventh-Tier Nascent Law level. "The first was self-created, while the second was provided for free by Purple Divine Mansion—a prelude to the Void Law technique Wind of Emptiness."
Lying on the ground with his eyes closed, Zhao Xing could sense all the grass and trees around him swaying in rhythm with his breath.
His self-created Yin Wind Law—Fetal Breath.
"The nose and mouth are merely gates of breath; the Dantian is the true origin of Qi."
"The Wind Law governs the flow of Origin Qi. The key trait of Yin Wind is stealth, striking unseen and unheard."
"My self-created Yin Wind Law focuses on subtle interference, disrupting the fundamental Qi flow within the body!"
"It's like stirring up a storm inside someone's body."
Compared to the Wind Laws he had learned from Purple Divine Mansion, Zhao Xing valued his self-created techniques more.
"The Yang Wind Law, Purple Wind, is grand, swift, and powerful."
"The Yin Wind Law, Fetal Breath, kills invisibly, undetectable to the eye."
Zhao Xing opened his eyes and examined the flowers and trees within his estate. The estate, provided within the Realm Vessel, was vast. Looking around, he noticed that within a twenty-kilometer radius, the plants still appeared healthy on the surface—but their vitality had completely faded. Inside, they had been utterly destroyed.
"This… is Fetal Breath."
Zhao Xing exhaled lightly.
In an instant, all organic material around him crumbled into dust.
"However, now that my technique has reached Seventh-Tier Nascent Law, I've hit a bottleneck—I cannot affect inorganic matter."
Inorganic substances lacked Qi flow, making them immune to his technique. That would be the next focus of his Law Creation.
Otherwise, if an enemy wore inner armor that was completely airtight, his Yin Wind Law would become ineffective.
Setting aside Wind Law, Zhao Xing continued to organize his learnings.
"My Thunder Laws consist of Yin Thunder Star and Magnetic Thunderstorm—one Yin, one Yang. The former is self-created, while the latter is a secret art of Purple Divine Mansion, serving as a foundation for the Void Law technique Heavenly Thunder River."
"Both have also reached Seventh-Tier Nascent Law."
Zhao Xing spread his right palm, and a gentle, watery-blue Thunder Sphere appeared in his hand.
The Thunder Sphere was large, with a radius of about one meter.
Once formed, it began orbiting Zhao Xing like a satellite revolving around a star.
"My self-created Yin Thunder Law, Yin Thunder Star, was inspired by Lightning Sword Arts."
"By continuously compressing thunder energy, I attempt to condense the power equivalent to a planet's Thunder Essence into something as small as a pellet."
"Only Yin Thunder is compressible—Yang Thunder is too volatile. If I were to compress Yang Thunder, it would detonate on its own once its radius shrank below fifty kilometers, making the technique unviable."
"While my Yin Thunder Law hasn't reached a bottleneck, my current Law Creation Path has only increased its quantity. How to evolve it into a Void Law remains uncertain."
With a single thought, a second Yin Thunder Sphere formed beside him, then a third, a fourth—eventually, seven spheres rotated around him.
"If I reach Ninth-Tier Nascent Law, then Yin Thunder Star should form nine spheres, achieving a balance of offense and defense."
"As the core of this technique, its stability coefficient is quite high. Even in unstable voids, I can still execute it smoothly." Compared to the Yang Thunder Law, Magnetic Thunderstorm, Yin Origin Techniques usually developed towards being small and concealed, while Yang Thunder Laws pursued vastness and power.
Zhao Xing hadn't practiced Magnetic Thunderstorm much. This technique had a tendency to affect an entire planet at once, making it unsuitable for cultivation within the Realm Vessel.
With a hum, clouds formed beneath Zhao Xing's feet as he began moving within his personal estate.
"There are two types of Cloud Laws. The first is Folded Cloud, primarily for escape. It's a self-created Nascent Law, based on Cloud Heaven Dao's Starry Cloud."
Zhao Xing had always envied Cloud Heaven Dao's minor divine ability. Unfortunately, Old Yun never developed a Void Stage or Nascent Law version of the technique.
He knew how to use it himself, but couldn't teach it to others.
Thus, Zhao Xing had to create his own version.
"Cloud Heaven Dao's Cloud Laws are grand and majestic, but when I execute mine, why does it feel so underhanded?" After finishing a round of practice, Zhao Xing reviewed his playback.
His Folded Cloud Law had no celestial grace; instead, he looked like a flickering light darting unpredictably within a sphere.
His movement trajectory was completely unpredictable, carrying a slight resemblance to Crying Ruler's Horizon.
When he moved, the entire space filled with his afterimages stepping on clouds.
Cloud Heaven Dao's Clouds combined both speed and defense, as if they could traverse space itself, leaving no shadow or trace.
Having seen it performed in stable voids multiple times, Zhao Xing had a deep impression of it.
"Forget it. My goal is practicality, not aesthetics," Zhao Xing shrugged. "Blood Cloud Domain isn't pretty either, but it's incredibly powerful."
The second Heavenly Bureaucrat Cloud Law he had learned was Blood Cloud Domain, a technique acquired from Purple Divine Mansion.
Blood mist filled the sky, and the clouds seemed like writhing blood spheres, devouring the land below. Everything they touched was quickly disintegrated, becoming part of the Blood Mist.
"If I can refine this technique to the point where the red turns purple, then it will evolve into the Void Law, Purple Cloud Domain." Zhao Xing withdrew the technique.
Finally, it was time to review his Rain Laws.
"The Yin Rain Law is Golden Body Erosion, a self-created technique at Seventh-Tier Nascent Law, focused on penetration. When adventuring in the universe, everyone layers their armor as much as possible."
"The moment they sense something is wrong, they flee immediately. Especially martial artists—dealing with them is truly frustrating."
Zhao Xing's Golden Body Erosion was specifically designed to counter martial artists—a technique crafted as an "anti-golden body combat method."
"The Yang Rain Law is Heavenly Tide." Zhao Xing pointed his finger, and the sky was immediately filled with countless raindrops.
Each raindrop contained a radiant glow, as if a miniature sun resided within.
"Usually, when it rains, the sun is nowhere to be seen. But Solar Rain is scorching and intense, making people restless and uneasy."
Zhao Xing didn't let the rain fall. Instead, he had them collide in midair.
"Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!"
It was as if a barrage of bombs had been unleashed, creating a deafening roar.
After practicing for a while, Zhao Xing sat down cross-legged.
"Among the Heavenly Bureaucrat Laws, only the Phenomena Transformation category lacks a combat-oriented Nascent Law."
He did have a support-type Phenomena Transformation Law—Heavenly Gulu Transformation, which he had obtained the complete version of after joining Purple Divine Mansion.
However, it was useless in battle, as Gulu Beasts were only good for farming.
Both Purple Divine Mansion and Yuanhai Ancient Kingdom had strict rules requiring cultivators to reach Second Stage Origin before they could learn combat-type Phenomena Transformation techniques.
This restriction existed because most Phenomena Transformation Beasts were enormous in size, and their life structures vastly differed from those of the human race.
For First Stage Origin cultivators, practicing Phenomena Transformation Laws was extremely dangerous.
A slight instability in their transformation process could lead to their own collapse.
If a technique couldn't be executed in unstable voids, then it was meaningless. Thus, Phenomena Transformation Laws were usually reserved for Second Stage Origin, specifically the Void Stage.
"As for Earthly Advantage Laws, I have two Nascent Laws. The first is Earth Splitting Law: Star Step, derived from Treasure Mountain Technique, which I purchased—it's a complementary technique."
Zhao Xing glanced at his right foot. "Right now, my Treasure Mountain Technique is just over halfway through the first layer. If I stomp my foot, I can shatter the ley lines beneath me."
The progress of Treasure Mountain Technique was at 54%. If it reached 100%, completing the first layer, both of his feet would become like pillars of heaven, incomparably solid.
A single stomp would feel like planets colliding.
Of course, he hadn't mastered it yet. Cultivating Treasure Mountain Technique, an Earthly Advantage art, wasn't easy.
For someone at First Stage Origin, having trained for just over three hundred years, fully mastering the first layer of Treasure Mountain Technique would make him more than just a genius—it would be terrifying.
"The second technique is my self-created Nascent Law, Mysterious Earth Divine Concealment, focused on escape and stealth."
As for Earth Palace Laws, Zhao Xing simply didn't have time to learn them. For now, he could only use one Ultimate Law, Return-to-Abyss Earth Palace.
His Extreme Land technique hadn't even officially begun yet, and all the necessary resources remained stored within his Origin Space.
After three hundred years in the Ascension Stage, the progress of Extreme Land was still below 1%.
Zhao Xing estimated that he would need to fully master Treasure Mountain Technique before he could use it as a stepping stone to comprehend the first layer of Extreme Land. Only then would he be able to start making progress.
At that moment, Cen Qionghua appeared in the estate, looking around with a surprised expression. "Brother Zhao, I knew you were diligent in cultivation, but I didn't expect you to be this dedicated."
"Look at this place—what have you done to it? The flowers, the trees, all completely withered. Even the ground has cracked. You better not break the Realm Vessel itself."
"Just some casual training to relax a bit," Zhao Xing said with a smile.
Cen Qionghua couldn't understand Zhao Xing's level of diligence. It felt like everyone was simply riding a high-speed rail for a business trip, yet this guy insisted on practicing Tai Chi on the train seat.
"You call this relaxation? You never stop cultivating," Cen Qionghua gave him a strange look.
"Alright, so what brings you here?" Zhao Xing asked.
"What else? We've arrived," Cen Qionghua replied. "Fairy Leyao said there was no need to notify you, saying you would naturally come to the rendezvous."
"You see? What did I say? You're too absorbed in cultivation. You even disabled the notification broadcasts from the formation." Cen Qionghua glanced at Zhao Xing's expression and immediately knew he hadn't noticed they had arrived.
"We've arrived already? That was fast." Zhao Xing suddenly realized and quickly activated the broadcast formation, also enabling the Realm Vessel's external view function.
The bright sky overhead disappeared, replaced by the vast darkness of the starry sky. In his direct line of sight, a massive landmass came into view.
In the sky above, cracks appeared one after another—these were the disembarkation channels opening across different sections of the Realm Vessel.
"Tiger Head Star Continent, one of the twenty explorer bases controlled by Yuanhai Ancient Kingdom. It's a large Star Continent, slightly bigger than a high-level Boundary Star, and it's named for its landmass, which resembles a tiger's head."
"Come on, Brother Zhao, time to disembark," Cen Qionghua urged. "Let's get the evaluation test done quickly. Once we obtain the right to form a team, we can start choosing members. The sooner we finish, the better the selection. I checked the reports—there have been new explorers arriving on Tiger Head Star Continent recently. We might be able to pick up some strong teammates."
"Alright, let's go." Zhao Xing tidied himself briefly and stepped off the Realm Vessel.
The Realm Vessel Plaza was bustling. As soon as he set foot on the ground, Zhao Xing immediately sensed an unusually strong Leyline Gravity, significantly greater than what he had experienced on Qingyu Realm Star.
Many people were disembarking; this Realm Vessel wasn't the only one that had arrived.
"Hmm? That person over there is from Purple Divine Mansion? Judging by the emblem, they belong to Purple Moon Mansion. That place produces Shennongs like no other! If only I could team up with a powerful Shennong."
"Dream on, brother. Look at what he's holding. That's a Heavenly Travel Staff worth twenty-five million! Even if we sold our lives twice over, we wouldn't match the value of that staff. How are you supposed to team up with someone like that?"
"I'm just saying. Forget it, let's go report at Seastar Fortress and see if we can follow a stronger military corps."
As Zhao Xing, Cen Qionghua, and Leyao disembarked, they drew quite a bit of attention.
Mainly, it was Cen Qionghua and Leyao who stood out—their clothing and accessories were clearly high-end. Zhao Xing, on the other hand, was relatively low-key. Aside from his official Purple Divine Mansion attire, which was worth millions on its own, he had stored Boundary Law Net, Vajra Bracelet, and Boundary-Breaking Beast inside his Qiankun Pouch.
"Whoo—whoo—whoo—"
Beams of light flashed across the plaza as many First Stage Origin cultivators took off at light speed, heading toward the star fortresses set up by Yuanhai Ancient Kingdom.
"We have a big figure from Purple Divine Mansion stationed at Tiger Head Star Continent—his name is Du Yun. He's a Third Stage Divine Ability cultivator."
"Du Yun is one of the candidates for the next Mansion Lord, and he's the youngest Third Stage cultivator in Purple Divine Mansion's history."
"But we know him, not the other way around. It's unnecessary to bother Lord Du for something as trivial as reporting in."
"We can just register at any Star Fortress unless we run into unfair treatment from another faction. If that happens, then we can seek out Lord Du for support," Cen Qionghua explained. As a cultivator over four thousand years old, he was well-versed in these matters. "Even within Yuanhai Ancient Kingdom, internal competition is fierce in public Star Seas. It's common for different factions to vie for resources. As long as there's no outright unfair treatment, it all comes down to one's own ability."
Leyao, Zhao Xing, and Cen Qionghua, all First Stage Origin cultivators with Pursuit of Light Speed, reached a nearby Star Fortress within moments.
The Star Fortress was an engineering marvel, a pinnacle of Mechanist craftsmanship. It looked like countless palaces stacked together, forming a vast city in space.
Encircling it were multiple layers of Ring Continents, adding to its impressive scale. As they arrived, they could see meteor-like streaks flashing across the Star Fortress.
Those streaks were warships, accelerated by the Ring Continents, flying towards different areas of Moonfall Mausoleum.
"Three official members of Purple Divine Mansion, welcome. I am Cangyu, the Artifact Spirit of Yuanhai Ancient Kingdom's Twentieth Star Fortress."
The moment they entered, a mechanized War Puppet in full military armor stepped forward to receive them.
"Since this is your first time undertaking a mission in Phantom God Star System, please proceed with a combat evaluation test."
"Lord Cangyu, please lead the way," Cen Qionghua said respectfully.
The War Puppet led them into an isolated space—a standalone pocket world, created from fragments of small worlds.
"Do you see that target star in the center?" Cangyu pointed ahead. "Attack that target. Your overall combat capability will be evaluated based on your performance."
"You may attack multiple times. The more techniques you use, the more comprehensive your combat evaluation will be."
"You may also use your Dao Soldiers, but consumable items are prohibited. While Dao Soldiers are considered part of your strength, consumables are finite and thus cannot be factored into your standard combat rating."
Cangyu continued, "Finally, let me clarify something."
"In exploration and adventure, hiding one's true strength is a common self-preservation tactic. However, concealing your abilities also comes with certain drawbacks."
"For instance, if your comprehensive combat rating is below 10, you will be restricted to following Yuanhai Ancient Kingdom's military forces and will not have permission to form independent teams or conduct solo exploration."
"After determining your combat rating, if you wish to form a team, I will only match you with teammates of similar combat power. Do you understand?"
"Understood." Cen Qionghua, Leyao, and Zhao Xing all nodded.
If someone intentionally hid their strength—say, a First Stage Origin cultivator with a true combat rating of 100, but they only displayed 10—then Cangyu would only match them with teammates rated at 10.
This wasn't necessarily a bad thing. Some people enjoyed carrying a weak team on their own. If someone was willing to take on the burden of dragging along four weaker teammates, that was their choice. Cangyu wouldn't interfere, though it would provide a warning.
"A combat rating of 1 is the minimum standard for combat personnel."
"Those who fail to meet this standard cannot serve as combatants but may opt to become support personnel."
"For example, if you two are Shennongs, you could take on logistics roles in transportation, still earning contributions and rewards."
A combat rating lower than 1? That would mean no access to significant missions, nor to certain high-risk zones.
Zhao Xing and his group had no intention of staying here to take on clerical roles. If they wanted such positions, there were plenty of opportunities back in the kingdom. There was no need to venture into this dangerous place.
"If you're ready, you may begin. Who wants to go first?" Cangyu asked.
Cen Qionghua, Leyao, and Zhao Xing exchanged glances.
"I'll go first," Cen Qionghua said confidently.
Zhao Xing and Leyao stepped back as Cen Qionghua raised his Heavenly Travel Staff and started his combat evaluation.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
Cen Qionghua cultivated the Purple Sun Scripture, and his techniques revolved around wind, rain, thunder, and cloud arts, all derived from Solar Origin principles. His combat style was overwhelmingly aggressive.
The Heavenly Travel Staff was worth over twenty-five million, with an amplification coefficient of six.
Additionally, the techniques of Purple Divine Mansion and the favorable environmental advantages further enhanced spellcasting.
As a result, Cen Qionghua's spells were far stronger than an ordinary First Stage Origin cultivator.
"Lord Cangyu, I've completed my test," Cen Qionghua declared after unleashing his attacks, then flew back.
"Comprehensive combat rating: 19.8." Cangyu nodded. "Not bad. You have earned the right to form a team."
Cen Qionghua indeed had real skills, and he hadn't held back. This combat rating was nearly identical to the readings Zhao Xing had obtained from his detection abilities.
"His Source Techniques have mostly reached Sixth Tier, and his equipment is top-notch. His combat power is about twenty times that of a standard First Stage cultivator. The result is just about what I expected," Zhao Xing thought to himself.
Of course, target testing was one thing; actual combat was another.
Factors such as resilience under pressure, combat experience, technique combinations, tactical adaptability—these couldn't be quantified by numbers.
Additionally, many cultivators relied on single-use trump cards, which, despite their immense power, were not considered part of the comprehensive combat rating.
Next up was Leyao. Her combat approach was unique.
As she approached the target star, she first cast Clone Technique, splitting into thirty-six clones with spiritual energy.
Each clone held one or two instruments—flutes, zithers, bells, drums—every single one was a Boundary Star Dao Weapon!
Thirty-six clones wielded a total of sixty-four Boundary Star Dao Weapons!
"Any musician daring to roam the universe is bound to be filthy rich," Zhao Xing muttered in awe.
Among the weapons Leyao used, three were mid-tier Boundary Star Dao Weapons.
One of them, named Wo, resembled a massive zither. It was fifty meters long, and four of her clones positioned themselves beside it.
Zhao Xing instantly recognized this legendary weapon.
"Wo is worth at least thirty million, and that Eight-Pillar Zither she has is at least twenty million."
"The third mid-tier weapon, Galaxy Xiao, is slightly cheaper, but still worth thirteen million."
"No wonder they say, 'Nine out of ten musicians are wealthy, and the last one is unimaginably rich.' It's absolutely true." Zhao Xing observed closely.
Under Leyao's bombardment, the target star was completely enveloped, echoing with continuous ringing sounds.
Zhao Xing's soul perception was sharp enough to detect that her attacks operated on multiple levels—both spiritual and physical.
After completing her attack, Leyao retrieved all her instruments and clones, then flew back.
Cangyu nodded. "Impressive. Your comprehensive combat rating has reached 35. Among First Stage cultivators, this is an exceptionally high score."
"What? Leyao, you're this strong?!" Cen Qionghua was stunned. Although they were close friends, they had never truly tested their limits against each other.
Now that it was time to get serious, Leyao had completely shattered Cen Qionghua's expectations.
"I just have an advantage with Dao Weapons. I follow the Myriad Dao Path, but right now, I can only control thirty-six instruments at once," Leyao said modestly. "This kind of combat style isn't sustainable for long."
"Musicians really are something else. They either stay hidden, or when they do show up, they're absolute monsters," Cen Qionghua sighed. "Zhao Xing, looks like we should be holding onto Fairy Leyao's thigh for support."
"Not necessarily." Leyao blinked her bright eyes. "We still haven't seen Brother Zhao's strength yet."
Zhao Xing smiled slightly and flew toward the target star.