Chapter 169: Mingxu Star Realm

Chapter 169: Mingxu Star Realm

Jiangnan Province, one of the wealthiest provinces in Xia Country and among the most prosperous regions of Azure Star, was a bustling and vibrant place.

However, these were all major cities, unrelated to the third entry point of Mingxu Star Realm.

The third entry point was located in the suburbs, and the surrounding area within a radius of several dozen kilometers was a military restricted zone.

Under normal circumstances, civilian flying vehicles were not allowed to enter this area and could be shot down by electromagnetic towers at any time.

Whoosh!

A light rain was falling from the sky, but today, a small flying vehicle was rapidly approaching a towering war fortress that stood about a hundred meters tall.

"Martialists Xu An and Yang Zhu, we're almost at the third Mingxu Fortress," a burly accompanying martialist with a full beard whispered.

"Mhm," Li Yuan nodded slightly, gazing into the distance.

The war fortress also occupied an enormous area, though it was far less impressive than the Kunlun Fortress. It resembled an enlarged sports stadium, like a giant beast crouching on the vast earth.

With Li Yuan's current access, he had a rough idea that if the star realm's entrance was not fixed, it would be fine.

For some stable star realm entrances, human civilizations would often establish war fortresses to guard against unforeseen circumstances.

"Through the war fortress, we can enter the Mingxu Star Realm," a slender middle-aged martialist beside them said softly, "The Mingxu Star Realm has four major entrances, two of which are in our Xia Country, and the other two are in Africa, but they are not of much concern to us."

Li Yuan glanced at the slender middle-aged martialist, who was a Starfire Martial Palace martialist named Yang Zhu, accompanying them on their journey into the Mingxu Star Realm.

Physical Proficiency: 18.4

Yang Zhu's eyes held a hint of weariness, and his face suggested an age of thirty or forty, as if he had experienced much in life.

Rumble!

The flying vehicle slowly descended, hovering about a dozen meters above the ground.

"We'll drop you off here," the female pilot smiled, "Military personnel will be waiting to guide you inside the war fortress."

"Okay, thank you."

Li Yuan smiled, grabbed the rectangular weapon case placed nearby, and jumped out.

It was only about ten meters.

With Li Yuan's current skill and physical proficiency, even jumping from a height of thirty or forty meters, he would not suffer any harm as long as he slightly employed his force dissipation technique.

Yang Zhu, carrying a war sword and shield, silently followed suit and jumped down.

Rumble!

The flying vehicle quickly ascended and flew towards the city shrouded in mist and rain at the edge of the earth.

"Who are these two? Why do we need to send them specially from our Martial Palace?" The female pilot couldn't help but ask, "Are they important?"

"I'm not sure," the bearded companion martialist shook his head, "It should be that guy named Xu An, he's an L6-level member."

"L6-level? Usually, it's a high-level Essence Warrior, right? So fierce? Could he be the illegitimate child of a Sky Soarer?" The female pilot was shocked.

"Don't ask too much, some things are beyond your control," the bearded man said, "Just focus on flying your vehicle."

...

Carrying their weapon cases, Li Yuan and Yang Zhu followed the soldiers' directions and entered a waiting hall.

"Martialists."

"The trains to the star realm are ten people per trip," the soldier smiled, "The last one just left, so please wait a while longer."

"We'll depart once we have ten people."

"Over here, we have various free snacks and drinks prepared, please help yourselves," the soldier smiled.

"Okay."

"Mhm." Li Yuan and Yang Zhu, one who had already researched various information and rules, and the other clearly a 'Star Realm Veteran', didn't ask further questions.

They waited quietly.

"Xu An, do you want some wine?" Yang Zhu asked.

"No need," Li Yuan replied calmly.

Yang Zhu nodded, took a cup of wine and a cup of water from a nearby counter, and handed the water to Li Yuan.

"Thank you," Li Yuan didn't refuse.

"Are you a student at the Martial Arts University?" Yang Zhu sat down and looked at Li Yuan.

"Do I look like one?" Li Yuan smiled faintly, his face had undergone subtle adjustments.

Such methods were not uncommon in modern society.

Additionally, he wasn't that famous, so very few people should be able to recognize him.

"It's not that you look like one, but you're young."

Yang Zhu laughed, "To enter the star realm, you need to be at least level 15, so most people won't be that young... Also, today is January 1st, and according to tradition, many elite students from the Martial Arts University will start their life-and-death training in various star realms after the holiday."

"So, I guessed you're from the Martial Arts University."

Li Yuan was speechless, realizing how he had been exposed.

One must never underestimate anyone's powers of observation.

"But your every move shows that you're always ready for combat, indicating that you've experienced numerous life-and-death battles," Yang Zhu smiled, "You must be a senior student from the fourth or fifth year."

"Brother Yang, your guess is spot on," Li Yuan laughed.

Ready for combat? With his skill reaching the level of Mind's Eye, he could enter this state at will.

But Yang Zhu's keen observation also revealed a lot.

"Brother Yang, is your mission to defend or engage in combat in the Mingxu Star Realm?" Li Yuan asked proactively.

The best way to avoid further questioning was to ask a question in return.

"It's a combat mission," Yang Zhu smiled, "Defending is boring, what about you?"

"I'll follow the arrangements," Li Yuan replied vaguely.

Suddenly—

"Hmm? A female martialist has arrived, and she looks quite young and beautiful," Yang Zhu's eyes lit up.

"Oh?" Li Yuan also recognized the newcomer, and his eyes gleamed.

"Brother Yang."

"Do you believe that I can add her to my VChat right now?" Li Yuan smiled.

"I don't believe you," Yang Zhu shook his head with a smile.

"Watch me," Li Yuan said, walking straight towards the female martialist who had just finished her identity verification.

The female martialist turned and saw Li Yuan, her eyes brightening instantly.

She recognized him.

"Hello, I'm Xu An, can I add you on VChat?" Li Yuan smiled.

The female martialist was startled for a moment, then quickly realized that the distant 'Yang Zhu' had immediately understood and smiled, "Hello, I'm Shi Xiao."

...

Shi Xiao's sudden appearance completely caught Li Yuan off guard. To prevent her from calling out his real name, he took the initiative to 'strike up a conversation'.

Shi Xiao was very smart, and within a second, she realized that Li Yuan had hidden his true identity.

"Brother Xu, you're amazing," Yang Zhu laughed, "This world truly judges by appearance."

Li Yuan smiled but remained silent.

Time passed, and more and more martialists arrived in the waiting hall.

But suddenly, a loud clanging noise reverberated as a metal entrance in the distance opened, and two medical trolleys were swiftly pushed out, each carrying a man covered in blood.

One of the men had both arms broken, his flesh and blood mangled.

From their attire, they were likely martial artists.

"Quick!"

"Move aside, move!" Several medical staff members pushed the trolleys and flew towards the outer walls of the war fortress.

Li Yuan and Shi Xiao instinctively glanced out the window.

Outside the war fortress, a small flying vehicle was slowly descending.

This scene caused the nine martial artists in the waiting hall, who had been chatting and laughing, to fall silent, a shadow of unease settling over them all.

Venturing into the Star Realm was perilous, with a high mortality rate.

"It seems the situation in the Mingxu Star Realm is not optimistic," Yang Zhu sighed softly. "Most likely, there's been a direct conflict with the native forces."

Li Yuan and Shi Xiao exchanged a glance.

Conflict?

Why were they venturing into the Mingxu Star Realm if not for life-and-death battles?

"They're here. We have ten martial artists, let's go!" a guard shouted.

...

The train started with a clatter, and the ten martial artists took their seats in various parts of the carriage.

Li Yuan and Shi Xiao, being classmates from the same academy and disciples of Lihang, naturally had a stronger bond and sat together.

A hum filled the air as holographic projections appeared on the front, back, and side walls of the carriage.

In the projection, a tall and robust figure of a martial artist appeared, his expression grave.

"Honored martial artists, first and foremost, we appreciate your voluntary entry into the Star Realm, contributing to the advancement of human civilization," the robust officer spoke solemnly. "The Star Realm we are about to reach is a First Rank Star Realm known as Mingxu Star Realm."

"The Mingxu Star Realm is vast, with an explored diameter exceeding 60,000 kilometers, and that's just the tip of the iceberg."

"Within this Star Realm, aside from our human civilization, two other alien civilizations are known to access it through the interstellar gateway: the Tianliang Civilization and the Linmo Civilization."

"The Tianliang Civilization is a humanoid civilization, resembling us humans in appearance, but with significant genetic and intrinsic differences in their essence. Their resemblance to us makes it crucial to be vigilant against Tianliang impersonators within the Star Realm."

"The Linmo Civilization, on the other hand, is a beastly civilization..."

"The most formidable force in the Mingxu Star Realm is the native powers. Although the First Rank Star Realm's origin isn't powerful enough, its vast territory fosters intense competition and breeding grounds for Flying Rank beings. Each of these beings is a dominant force in the Mingxu Star Realm, and they must never be provoked."

"Hidden within the Mingxu Star Realm are numerous Second Rank beings, occupying many High-Origin Treasure Lands, Spirit Soil Mineral Veins, and Heavenly Materials and Treasures. These are the true targets of our human civilization's conquest."

"Remember, in a First Rank Star Realm, only those with a Life Tier below 20 can enter and exit. It's crucial to exercise moderation in cultivation within the Star Realm. Once your Life Tier reaches 20 and you become an Essence Warrior, you'll be permanently bound to the Mingxu Star Realm."

"The following is a detailed introduction to Base Three..." The robust officer continued to provide various information about the Mingxu Star Realm.

All the martial artists listened attentively.

Even Li Yuan, who was already aware of much of this information, didn't mind hearing it again.

Suddenly, a deafening rumble filled the carriage, and an invisible pressure enveloped all the martial artists within, causing their faces to change color, including Shi Xiao's.

"The Interstellar Gateway," Li Yuan recognized this sensation, an extraordinary pressure formed at the intersection of the Star Realm and the Blue Star.

It was this special force that prevented Second Rank beings from breaking through.

However, for Li Yuan, a Fifth Rank martial artist with exceptional skill and spirit power, this pressure was negligible.

He effortlessly withstood it with his skills and spirit power.

...

The peculiar pressure came and went quickly, and many in the carriage gradually returned to normal.

"Li... Xu An, don't you feel anything?" Shi Xiao couldn't help but ask.

"I can endure it," Li Yuan replied with a smile.

Soon after, the carriage came to a gentle stop, the doors opened, and sunlight flooded in.

"We've arrived," Li Yuan and Shi Xiao, along with the others, exited the carriage and stepped onto the metallic plaza outside.

Numerous soldiers were stationed around the plaza, and in the distance, they saw the towering war fortress, hundreds of meters high.

Far beyond, at the edge of the sky, a mountain range stretched across the horizon like a celestial curtain.

"Is that Ming Mountain?" Li Yuan couldn't help but ask.

"Yes," Yang Zhu, standing next to Li Yuan, also gazed at the mountain range in the distance. "According to the data, it's over 20,000 kilometers away from us... Its height exceeds 1,000 kilometers, making it the tallest mountain in the Mingxu Star Realm. Legends speak of more than one Flying Rank being residing there... The Star Realm is mysterious, and anything can happen. Anything can be born there, unlike anything on the Blue Star."

Many veteran martial artists had been here before and remained calm, but Li Yuan and Shi Xiao were awe-struck.

This was a natural wonder unlike anything on the Blue Star.

"Xu An, Shi Xiao."

A martial artist officer approached them and said solemnly, "Please come with me."

The other martial artists looked on curiously. What was happening? Li Yuan and Shi Xiao exchanged a glance and obediently followed the officer into the nearby war fortress.

They took an elevator.

Eventually, the two followed the officer into a large office.

Inside, a blue-robed elder stood before a massive map projection, deep in thought.

The map showed a continuous mountain range, a large river, and numerous large dots...

"Sir, the men are here," the martial artist officer reported softly.

"Oh? You may leave now," the blue-robed elder said, turning to Li Yuan and Shi Xiao as the officer departed. "Li Yuan, Shi Xiao, welcome."

"Greetings, Senior," Li Yuan and Shi Xiao said simultaneously.

Li Yuan was shocked as he had already sensed the elder's Life Tier to be 24, that of an Essence Warrior! But how could an Essence Warrior leave the Mingxu Star Realm, a First Rank Star Realm?

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end