The next day, as dawn broke faintly.
"Hahahaha, this grandpa is alive again!"
Inside the luxurious suite of the Pei Family Grand Hotel, Xing Jing Lei leaped up with a carp roll.
Last night, all food and drinks at the Pei Family Grand Hotel were complimentary. Xing Jing Lei had indulged in a feast there. Of course, he, Grandpa Xing, didn't care whether it was free or not; he enjoyed the lively atmosphere.
Leveraging the immense advantage brought by the 'Gluttony Body Tempering' technique, he had even secured the... second place in the eating contest last night.
Xing Jing Lei truly couldn't fathom how he, a mighty eight-foot tall man, had lost in terms of appetite to a little blonde girl? Utterly absurd!
"This must be because my Gluttony Body Tempering cultivation is not yet proficient enough."
"No, it must have been because I was too tired yesterday, which limited this grandpa's appetite."
After eating his fill last night, he had staggered all the way to this luxurious suite, collapsed with a thud, and slept until now.
It wasn't because he had drunk too much and gotten drunk.
He, Xing Da Ye, the Fist Cracking Martial Saint, how could he get drunk on mere mortal wine? He had simply needed to rest his body.
"After this sleep, my spirit is indeed much better. The lingering wounds from yesterday seem to have healed? Hmm, as expected of this grandpa."
He stood before the mirror, examining himself.
His bare upper body, with muscles like cast bronze, bore traces of wounds. These were marks left after the wounds had healed, like a mottled wall.
He had them on his face too. A brown scar extended from above his right eye to his cheek, adding much ferocity to his appearance, enough to make children cry at night.
Xing Jing Lei was quite satisfied.
Scars, after all, were a warrior's medals.
In this regard, who could compare to this grandpa Xing? No one, right? Hahahaha—
He pushed open the door and stepped out. At the same time, two other doors opened, and his three followers, Dao Hun, Bao Li Shi, and Shan Xiong, emerged, rubbing their sleepy eyes.
"Good morning, Boss."
"As expected of the Boss, full of energy early in the morning."
"Boss, have you eaten?"
The celebration was last night; a new chapter was to be turned today.
After living with Hei Dao for a period, Xing Jing Lei had become quite driven. Recalling a full day of rest yesterday, he felt a sense of guilt.
No, he had to train harder today, otherwise, he would be left even further behind by Hei Dao.
"The contribution points from the war the day before yesterday should have been issued. Perfect, today, I'll use these contribution points for a luxurious upgrade!"
Dao Hun spoke at this moment,
"The contribution points were issued at four in the morning. Not only that, Boss, our organization is also holding a limited-time discount event. By using these war contributions, we can exchange them for various items, equipment, and cultivation cards at a discounted price. The discount varies, but the lowest is a 10% off!"
Xing Jing Lei's spirits lifted.
As soon as he entered the exchange list, he indeed saw a sparkling event box.
The event lasted for a week. The event items were no different from those available for daily exchange, except that they had to be redeemed using 'War Contribution.'
Potions, most equipment, these could be redeemed at a 10% discount during the event, and this discount could stack with the discount from the Flame Wielder's Medal.
Some strange artifacts, or skill books and skill fruits, were even as low as 20% off.
This was not like some online malls that first inflated prices and then discounted them. These were genuine discounts; without them, people would still exchange for them.
And the cheapest of all,
"Skill cultivation cards, only 40% off? Regardless of whether it's a low-level card or a high-level card, all are 40% off!"
This was so cheap, how could this grandpa Xing endure it?
Buy, buy, buy! Must buy!
To break through 'Gluttony Body Tempering' to Master level required '243 White Cultivation Cards + 3 Purple Cultivation Cards.' Especially the three purple cards, although their price was far less than that of purple-grade treasures, they were still quite expensive, and they were consumables.
Xing Jing Lei felt a pang of pain spending them.
Contribution points were not inexhaustible. He had originally planned to purchase a storage-type strange artifact, but seeing the discount, how could he resist?
"The Ring of Storage is only 10% off, while cultivation cards are all 40% off. Do I even need to say how to choose? This grandpa isn't stupid."
"Today, within today, this grandpa will break 'Gluttony Body Tempering' to Master level!"
A powerful future was beckoning him.
Cultivation cards could not be hoarded; they had to be used immediately after purchase. Thus, Xing Jing Lei gazed at his 'Gluttony Body Tempering' skill and roared in his heart.
"Mentor, grant me strength."
"Cultivate!"
Buzzzzzzzzzzzzz—
A wave of dizziness washed over him. Xing Jing Lei's bronze muscles emitted red mist, as if a ferocious giant beast was emerging behind him.
In reality, only a few tens of seconds passed.
Xing Jing Lei had gone in and out dozens of times. Thunderous roars emanated from his body, and his muscles transformed inch by inch.
He clenched his fist, "This grandpa has become stronger again."
"Congratulations, Boss!"
"As expected of the Boss!"
"Boss is awesome!"
The feeling of becoming stronger was the most satisfying. Xing Jing Lei couldn't help but laugh. His mouth had just split into a smile when it froze.
"Gurgle—"
The sound emanating from his stomach seemed louder than the sound of his muscles transforming, as if a giant beast was roaring within.
Cold sweat beaded on his forehead.
Following the satisfaction of becoming stronger came the fatigue of cultivation, and... the physical depletion caused by practicing Gluttony Body Tempering.
Hungry!
Very hungry!
Extremely hungry!
He was starving to death!
He had gotten too excited by the discount sale and had forgotten that practicing Gluttony Body Tempering not only made one tired but also hungry.
"Quick, find this grandpa... some... food."
At this moment, Xing Jing Lei was very glad to have three younger brothers around him.
Indeed, even an invincible powerhouse sometimes needed his little brothers to save the day. These little brothers were very reliable now.
This was the Pei Family Grand Hotel. Dao Hun and the other two quickly rushed downstairs to fetch some food for their Boss.
High-level awakened individuals were fast. In no time, Dao Hun, the strongest, returned first.
Holding... well, nothing.
"Boss, everyone ate too much last night and emptied out the Pei Group's inventory in the Shuize Base City. We can't find any food for now."
Bao Li Shi returned second, scratching his head.
"Boss, it's the same here."
After a while, the third younger brother, Shan Xiong, pushed open the door and entered. He said with a naive smile,
"Boss, I... I'm hungry too."
Hearing you say that makes me even hungrier.
These guys were really unreliable.
Wait, Shan Xiong, you big guy with a bear-like back, what are you doing with a chicken bone in your mouth? Spit it out for this grandpa!
Clutching his stomach, Xing Jing Lei slowly lay back, tears of despair streaming down his face.
...
...
Just as Xing Jing Lei was 'enjoying' the discounted price in a flurry, Sun Hao, Luo Feiyu, and a few others were walking out of the Investigation Bureau building in Shuize Base City.
Their regular duty was as staff members of the Xin Huo Office, often interacting with the Investigation Bureau. This time, they were representing Xin Huo and the Investigation Bureau in jointly tallying the spoils of the recent battle.
They had been busy from yesterday until this morning, and finally, the statistics were complete.
Of course, last night had been a small period of rest.
"In this battle, we obtained over two hundred strange artifacts. It's my first time seeing so many. Just sealing these artifacts is a huge undertaking."
"It's not that bad. Those mediocre treasures are said to be sent to the forging workshop to be melted down. However, there are a few really amazing ones among this batch of strange artifacts."
"Yeah, like the 'Storm Core,' which allows the holder to control the power of storms and summon wind and rain at will."
"Why don't you mention the side effects? Every so often, it randomly severs a part of the user's body, be it hair, fingers, head, or..."
"Hiss—"
The people walking on the road felt their legs tighten, and they repeatedly shook their heads.
The side effect was truly terrifying.
"However, although the gains are great, the expenses are even greater, especially for us at Xin Huo."
"Indeed, I heard that just the strange crystals consumed were hundreds of thousands."
"So much?!"
"What else do you think? The Strange Crystal Cannon and vine seeds all consume large amounts of strange crystals. Not just our main battlefield in Shuize, but the consumption in the other dozen or so battlefields was also considerable. This war is all about money."
Hearing this, Sun Hao and the others gradually fell silent.
The war was won, the work was done, and generous contribution points were issued this morning... This should have been triple the happiness, but why did they feel a little guilty?
Very guilty!
"We at Xin Huo spent a huge amount of funds in this defensive battle, yet the organization still issued us generous rewards. I'm truly worried that the organization will run out of money."
"Not just this war, but if you think about the previous one and the one before that, our organization's income and expenditure are unbalanced... Could it be that the Mentor is paying for the bonuses out of his own pocket!"
"This is not appropriate. Defending Blue Star is our duty."
Sun Hao and the others showed looks of guilt, wishing they could return the reward for this mission.
Suddenly, someone opened the exchange list and glanced at it, then froze.
"Event... event discount!"
"This is the war reward given to us by the organization. Cultivation cards are only 40% off?!"
Cultivation cards, such divine items, were essential for daily practice and progress. Many people speculated that the Mentor had created them with great power combined with certain materials, and the cost was not low.
Their effects were even more miraculous. The students clearly knew they were not geniuses; their rapid progress in various skills was entirely due to the Mentor's marvelous teaching. 'Special cultivation' was far more effective than regular cultivation.
The exchange price of cultivation cards had already been very cheap, and now it was an additional 40% off?
All of them were stunned.
"Mentor, please, please stop issuing rewards!"
...
...
The rewards would not be withheld, of course.
These contribution points not only represented the contributions of countless warriors and were an affirmation of their efforts but also aimed to encourage them to utilize these contribution points as soon as possible and strive to become stronger.
"Xiao Huan, tell everyone that the best way to think for the organization is to strive to become stronger."
"Only if they are strong enough can we deal with increasingly fierce wars."
These words gradually spread within the organization.
Instantly, the Xin Huo warriors who had become slightly complacent due to consecutive victories felt ashamed and enlightened.
"We cannot disappoint the Mentor!"
"Understood. As long as all of us can tear apart disaster-level aberrant creatures with our bare hands, wars will not require the use of strange crystal cannons, and there will not be so many war expenses."
...
...
Due to the launch of the limited-time discount event, and because of the Mentor's words, many people ignited their fighting spirit by 1000%.
A passionate atmosphere of intense internal cultivation arose within Xin Huo and gradually affected various countries and departments.
But on this day, many Xin Huo personnel, in addition to their cultivation, arrived punctually at the cemetery located north of Shuize Base City, adjacent to the Xin Huo Training Camp.
To participate in this funeral.
To commemorate the warriors who sacrificed their lives defending Blue Star in the war.
There were Xin Huo warriors, as well as warriors from various countries.
Their numbers were not insignificant.
From the names inscribed on the monument, one could still see the cruelty of the war. Blue Star had achieved a great victory, but the number of sacrificed warriors was still considerable. What if Blue Star had won a pyrrhic victory, or even lost?
To speak of devastation would be an understatement.
Many experts were aware of the existence of oases and understood the hardship of preserving the torch of civilization in oases. They had heard of the tragic events of the early development stages, and no one wanted Blue Star to follow the fate of these oases, with only a tiny fraction of the population surviving.
The warriors stood solemnly.
The warriors strengthened their resolve.
At the forefront of the formation were several figures.
The Mentor in white robes, the Chief Instructor Hei Dao in black, and so on.
Looking at the towering stone monument before him, Fang You's mind flashed back to a scene in Xin Huo Village many years ago. However, he was unfamiliar with many of the names within; it was the first time he had heard them.
As the eulogist chanted, Fang You's gaze slowly swept across the names on the monument, one by one, committing them to memory.
Suddenly,
Golden specks of light seemed to emerge, like fireflies floating up, as if reflecting smiling faces.
Those were the heroic souls of the warriors.
Those were the immortal human legacies.
The funeral was grand, but it did not affect the progress of other affairs on Blue Star.
Currently, cooperation with several large oases was slowly unfolding, and most importantly, the construction of the last few Dawn Base Cities was underway.
With the joint assistance of various countries, the construction of the base cities and the migration of personnel were proceeding at an extremely rapid pace.
"It is estimated that within eleven days at the latest, and as fast as nine days, the remaining six base cities will be successively established."
These were all happening concurrently.
Moreover, Xin Huo's strength was sufficient, and resisting a million-level aberrant tide no longer required so many procedures. They could directly charge forward, and their efficiency naturally increased significantly.
Fang You gazed at the outer reaches of the sky, vaguely seeing an boundless shadow, vast, mysterious, and magnificent.
It was the Aberrant Realm.
Compared to this, Blue Star was still too small.
"However, I can confirm that Blue Star is also growing."
"The establishment of the previous small defense circle has significantly strengthened Blue Star's world barrier, and at the same time, it has slightly increased Blue Star's volume. However, this growth is more slow and long-term. This might come from my own efforts in building Blue Star, or it might stem from the growth of Blue Star's indigenous power."
"Just as Idora's Tree of Life took root in the secret realm, causing the secret realm to slowly grow."
"Blue Star is the same. The changes are minor, but I can confirm them."
While he was thinking, Xiao Huan reappeared and said, "Master, news has come from the office that an oasis has sent a letter of invitation."
"Hmm, it's the City of Falling Stars."
...
...
Somewhere in Shuize Base City, in a building rented by the Blazing Flame Great Oasis as an office,
Envoy Yan Xiao was respectfully reporting to a high-ranking official.
This high-ranking official had his back turned, his cape adorned with a conspicuous phoenix pattern.
The Phoenix high-ranking official spoke, "Blue Star's asking price is still too high. One must know that Blue Star is still in danger, and this world has entered the stage of the Grey Fog Tide. How long it can endure is debatable."
No matter how strong the Blue Star people were, when the devouring began and areas of the world disappeared one by one, the Blue Star world would also be finished.
It was only a matter of time.
If not for the exaggerated performance of Blue Star, they, the Blazing Flame Great Oasis, would not have considered investing. But even with investment, and even if they conceded some benefits, their money did not grow on trees.
Envoy Yan Xiao thought their leader was being indecisive, but he was merely a small elite of the Blazing Flame Great Oasis with no decision-making power, so he could only respond with "Uh-huh, uh-huh" and "Leader, you are right."
Just then, another elite strode in, his expression somewhat anxious.
"Leader, something big has happened."
"The people from the City of Falling Stars are about to arrive on Blue Star for a friendly visit, and they might even..."
What!
The leader froze, stiffening for two seconds.
"What are you waiting for? Hurry up and sign a contract with Blue Star!"
...
...
News of the City of Falling Stars' impending visit spread like a gentle breeze, quietly but quickly throughout the oasis circles.
"Did you hear? The envoy team from the City of Falling Stars is about to arrive on Blue Star."
"As expected, given Blue Star's demonstrated strength and potential, it would surely attract the attention of the City of Falling Stars. To have the City of Falling Stars specifically visit and even send a letter in advance, Blue Star is truly remarkable."
"Not only that, I heard that the leader of this visit by the City of Falling Stars is the First Prince."
"What, the First Prince?!"
The oases here were mostly from the Falling Star Cave region, so they were naturally aware of the hegemonic power, the City of Falling Stars. Most oases had business dealings with the City of Falling Stars.
Some oases had established connections with high-ranking nobles in the City of Falling Stars.
Some could connect with the Earl-level great nobles in the City of Falling Stars, some chatted merrily with great merchants from the City of Falling Stars, and some knew the commander of the Star Brilliance Fortress guards, but...
These 'important figures' from the City of Falling Stars were all insignificant in front of the First Prince!
Including them, these high-ranking officials who came from great oases and possessed five or six awakenings, were also insignificant in the eyes of the truly important figures of the City of Falling Stars, even if they might be of the same rank, or even both six-awakeners.
"This First Prince is said to be over a hundred years old, having immersed himself in the six-awakening stage for decades. More importantly, the First Prince entered the Inner Cabinet when he was young and now holds significant power. In terms of status, he is probably half a step higher than the lord of Star Brilliance Fortress!"
The lord of Star Brilliance Fortress was already considered a monumental figure in the eyes of people from great oases.
The monarch of the City of Falling Stars, and the legendary guardian god, the Mythical Majesty, were figures beyond their comprehension.
However,
Thinking of the formidable nature of Blue Star, the personal visit of the First Prince of the City of Falling Stars seemed reasonable.
"The First Prince, like us, will visit Blue Star's leader to discuss cooperation."
Thinking this way, these dozens of strong individuals from great oases felt...
That they were also quite impressive.
...
On Blue Star, about a dozen kilometers south of the south gate of Shuize Base City.
Buzz—
Grey fog surged, and streaks of starlight bloomed, scattering into specks of stardust that interwove to form a mysterious ritual array.
Within the ritual, ten-odd figures clad in luxurious robes and adorned with starfall ornaments gradually became clear, finally stepping onto the soil of Blue Star.
"We've arrived!"
The First Prince's eyes snapped open.
He appeared to be a middle-aged man in his forties, with a resolute face and an imposing presence. Although he held the title of Prince, no one would doubt him if he were mistaken for a monarch.
As soon as he landed, he tilted his head slightly and surveyed his surroundings.
"Indeed, just as described in the intelligence, Blue Star has weakened the erosion from the Aberrant Realm through some special means. This region is orderly, with no aberrations in sight."
"If I hadn't observed Blue Star's situation before coming, I would have thought Blue Star was just a world where mysteries had recently descended, without much erosion."
"Interesting."
He smiled faintly.
The more than ten people who had entered Blue Star with him were all powerful individuals. Some had served as envoys to newly emerged worlds, but that was decades ago, when they were still young and 'weak.'
Now,
"Aside from seeing sunlight, this Blue Star seems no different from other indigenous worlds."
A burly man with a thick beard glanced at the majestic city walls under construction in the distance, showing disdain.
"Just ordinary city walls that possess no rituals and contain no mysteries, yet they are made to look quite impressive."
"Be that as it may, Blue Star's strength is undeniable. Regardless of the methods they used, they possess four Mythical-level combat powers. Both in reason and principle, we must maintain a certain degree of respect."
"This commander understands this principle, but apart from those few, the rest of Blue Star's people are not worth mentioning."
A Blue Star team drove out of the city.
The star-shaped pendant hanging from the burly man's ear trembled continuously, and a faint glow flickered in his pupils.
"In such a team, there are actually two Triple-Awakened individuals. For a mere native world, this ratio is quite good."
A few young men wearing black and flame-patterned robes glanced at the group from the City of Falling Stars and gradually moved away.
The burly man pressed the trembling pendant, surprise appearing on his face.
"I can confirm that among those individuals just now, there were two non-human level beings, and in that bustling market in the distance, there seem to be a few more non-humans."
This Blue Star's intermediate-level strength doesn't seem bad either? It's not just about having abnormal encounters.
...
A girl with wine-red long hair, carrying a pile of books, sighed despondently.
The burly man's pendant vibrated violently.
...
A strong man with a scar on his face walked past, laughing heartily.
The burly man's pendant trembled violently again and again.
From arrogance to caution, then to solemnity, the burly man's transformation occurred within a few minutes.
Looking at the sturdy figure who had just walked past, his expression was very serious. "Both the detection of strange artifacts and my combat intuition tell me that the strength of these two is not inferior to mine!"
Blue Star's powerhouses seem to be a bit too balanced.
...
"Master, the envoys from the City of Falling Stars have arrived~"
"Have someone lead them over."
In the lavishly decorated but understated reception hall, Mentor Fang sat in a sofa chair, sipping his tea.
The First Prince of the City of Falling Stars held an important position, but there was already a more distinguished guest who had arrived.