Swallowed Star 2: Land of Origin

Emperor Ming and Emperor Qing looked at each other.

Luo Feng felt the pressure upon hearing this; the Eight Branches Fusion Technique of the Dao of Life and Death could only be considered as reaching the threshold of the early stage of Divine Emperor. The ultimate technique of the Dao of Life and Death is the standard move for the early stage of Divine Emperor.

Moreover, any technique wielded casually by an early stage Divine Emperor who has comprehended the Dao is of the early stage Divine Emperor level. Their techniques are exquisite, and even some forbidden moves and ultimate moves can reach the power of the middle stage of Divine Emperor.

"Fortunately, I still have five avatars, each of which is an early stage Divine Emperor life form, and each with its unique talent. The five combined... should be able to compare with an early-stage Divine Emperor who has comprehended the Dao."

"I am still too weak, in case I don't even qualify to join the hunting team," Luo Feng felt somewhat uneasy.

Without the Eye of Life and Death and the Star Tower, my strength has indeed diminished a lot.

"Whoosh."

In the vast area above the river, the Flying Boat merged into the Void and flew cautiously, maintaining a safe distance from the low-level Primordial Life forms. On the way, only one low-level Primordial Life managed to probe the reality of the Flying Boat, which quickly shook it off with its speed.

...

The Holy Mountain is at the center of the entire Nine Rivers Sacred Realm, so traveling from the center to Yulan City requires crossing two rivers.

During this process, Luo Feng also witnessed the strength of Emperor Qing! Emperor Qing maneuvered the Flying Boat, displaying his mastery of spatial pathways, far surpassing Luo Feng's Ultimate Realm Secret Technique of the Dao of Life and Death.

"Brother Emperor Qing, have you reached the middle stage of Divine Emperor?" Luo Feng inquired through telepathy, intending to become partners, he naturally wanted to know the strength of the other party.

If the gap is too significant, there is no need to form an alliance.

"Middle stage Divine Emperor who has comprehended the Dao, there is no such thing as easy," Emperor Qing replied telepathically, "I became an early stage Divine Emperor in the Land of Origin, and when I came to the Nine Rivers Sacred Realm, although there were more opportunities that helped me progress further... I only managed to step one foot into the middle stage of Divine Emperor! I've comprehended some middle stage Divine Emperor Secret Techniques. To fully become a middle stage Divine Emperor who has comprehended the Dao, I'm afraid it will take a long time."

Luo Feng understood.

Emperor Qing has comprehended some middle stage Divine Emperor level Secret Techniques. With the help of Secret Treasures, he can exert even greater strength.

My current strength has quite a gap compared to that of Emperor Qing.

"When we get to Yulan City, we won't rush to hunt," Emperor Qing smiled at Luo Feng, "First, we'll strengthen ourselves using the resources of Yulan City, buying suitable resources, selecting the right Secret Treasures, and only after everything is fully prepared will we set out to hunt."

The two of them conversed telepathically, deliberately avoiding Emperor Ming and Emperor Fu.

"We're almost there." Emperor Qing looked ahead, "Yulan City!"

As soon as he spoke,

the Flying Boat cut through the air, and a vast city emerged in the distance.

Luo Feng, Emperor Ming, and Emperor Fu all looked on carefully.

It was a massive city resembling a fortress, and above the city were numerous colorful Formations operating, layer upon layer of protection, securing Yulan City tightly.

"What a terrifying Formation." Luo Feng sensed from afar, feeling its immense and unshakable depth.

"There are thirty-five cities in Nine Rivers Sacred Realm, all of which were built at a great cost. These protective measures also represent different Cultivation Systems. Various systems are protecting this city," Emperor Qing shook his head slightly, "but low-level Primordial Life forms are like creatures that escape the Braided Cage. Some of them have too special talents. Even if we protect with a multitude of different system measures, we still cannot defend against all low-level Primordial Life forms."

"Occasionally, some low-level Primordial Life will infiltrate Yulan City and attack cultivators inside," Emperor Qing said.

Emperor Fu and Emperor Ming listened with solemn expressions.

"Low-level Primordial Life capable of infiltrating Yulan City are one in ten thousand, all of which are extremely rare," said Emperor Qing, and the Flying Boat already headed straight toward a towering gate of Yulan City.

Buzz!

As the Flying Boat approached the gate, a wave descended upon it.

A vague silhouette of a man in a blue robe with a large beard materialized inside the Flying Boat, he looked at Luo Feng and his two companions then smiled at Emperor Qing, "Emperor Qing, you've brought three companions? And also several dozen new Cultivators?"

Emperor Qing smiled and nodded.

"The rules are the same in all thirty-five cities of the Nine Rivers Sacred Realm," the man in the blue robe with the large beard said with a smile. "One, after entering the city, you must lease a Cave mansion within three days; otherwise, you will be expelled from the city. Two, the city protects all Cultivators, and each Cultivator must pay a Residence Fee of one Primordial Crystal every epoch. If one falls behind by one epoch, they will likewise be expelled from the city. Three, it is forbidden for Cultivators to kill each other within the city, and violators will be executed."

"As this is your first time entering the city, we need to record the identities of the three of you," the man in the blue robe with a large beard looked at Luo Feng and his two companions.

"My name is Luo Feng," Luo Feng said with a smile.

Emperor Qing and the others also knew that Luo Feng had multiple names, like 'Galaxy', 'Luo He', 'Luo Feng'.

"My name is Emperor Ming."

"My name is Di Fu."

The man in the blue robe with the large beard simultaneously divided his thoughts, also recording the information of the other Cultivators in the rear cabin of the Flying Boat.

"These three will stay in my Cave mansion," Emperor Qing said with a smile. "As for the residence fees, I will prepay for one hundred epochs on their behalf." Saying this, Emperor Qing handed over three hundred Primordial Crystals.

The man in the blue robe with the large beard nodded with a smile, "Good, Luo Feng, Emperor Ming, Di Fu, the address for you will be the Cave mansion where you reside."

Soon, all the Cultivators completed the procedures for entering the city, and Emperor Qing temporarily withdrew the Flying Boat.

Whoosh.

Emperor Qing led Luo Feng and his two companions flying through the city.

"So many Cultivators." Luo Feng was quite shocked, seeing countless Cave mansions at a glance, with Cultivators frequently taking flight, and spotting millions of Cultivators with differing attires and auras, obviously from many Cultivation sects.

"I'm already the weakest," Di Fu looked around with mixed feelings. Why don't some Emperors, Monarchs want to venture outside? Why do they want to delay until their homeland is about to perish?

Because they know that outside, they belong to the very bottom tier!

In the Dark Sacred Realm, even the Ancestors of two nations are inconspicuous and ordinary.

"Regarding those so-called three rules, the last one, which prohibits killing each other, violators will be put to death," Emperor Qing looked down at the vast city below and said indifferently, "Don't trust this rule too much! Yulan City is autonomous among Cultivators! To punish someone, you first need sufficient evidence."

"And with various Cultivation Systems and some killing methods being mysterious and unpredictable, it's impossible to find out who the true perpetrator is," Emperor Qing said.

Luo Feng nodded.

For example, he could send an Avatar to attack and kill enemies while being Formless and Intangible.

"If the true perpetrator cannot be found, the matter will naturally be forgotten," Emperor Qing looked at Di Fu and Emperor Ming, "The safest method for you two with weaker strength in Yulan City... is to make yourselves look sufficiently poor."

"Poor?" Di Fu and Emperor Ming pondered thoughtfully.

"Rules are there! Without enough temptation, no one will risk making a move," Emperor Qing said, "You who are weaker, once you show off treasures, death won't be far away. On the contrary, if you are poor enough, you will be safe enough. You need to get used to this as quickly as possible."

Di Fu and Emperor Ming nodded slightly.

During the conversation, Emperor Qing, Luo Feng, Di Fu, and Emperor Ming had already flown to the Inner City area of Yulan City.

"My Cave mansion is just ahead," Emperor Qing said indifferently, "I will grant you two a little 'Energy authority' in the Cave mansion, enough to sustain slower Cultivation. The rest of the energy authority, Luo He and I each have half."

Di Fu and Emperor Ming obediently listened; it was already very good that they could stay and receive a little energy authority.

"Brother Luo He," Emperor Qing looked at Luo Feng, "The Residence Fee for each epoch to stay in this Cave mansion is 100 Primordial Crystals, I will bear the cost for the previous thousand epochs. After that, we two will need to split it. Of course, you can also choose to rent another Cave mansion."