Chapter 1203: Receiving the Galaxy

All newly ascended individuals are granted a one-year period of rest after entering the Outer Heavens and being assigned to their respective universes.

This year-long period is for the new ascendants to familiarize themselves with the Outer Heavens and their assigned universes, and to assimilate the rewards they have received.

Once the rest period concludes, they will be uniformly conscripted by the Guiding Universe of the Nine Shores Heaven.

Awaiting them will be future assignments concerning their duties.

As this information surfaced in Xu Qing's mind, he had already returned to the Immortal Palace of the Moyang Universe.

Standing on the teleportation array at the center of the Immortal Palace, Xu Qing did not hesitate and activated the teleportation.

As for Hu Meiren, she transformed into a mark, adhering to Xu Qing's arm.

Soon after, as the Immortal Palace vibrated, a terrifying ripple spread outwards from it in all directions.

Amidst the roar, the teleportation power fully erupted.

This teleportation was significantly longer in duration than Xu Qing's previous experiences, clearly indicating that the Guiding Universe was extremely far from Moyang.

After an unknown period of time, in Xu Qing's perception, it felt as if he had experienced a kaleidoscope of dreams.

In the dream, everything was blurred, and countless colors wove together into distorted light.

Until the light gradually dissipated, his vision subsequently cleared.

A vast golden river appeared before Xu Qing's eyes.

This river contained countless starfields and nebulae, and was filled with innumerable stars.

Each of these stars emitted a unique golden light.

While the stars within this golden river were inherently motionless, the flowing starlight gave the impression that the golden river itself was flowing downwards.

This was the first time Xu Qing had ever seen such a golden galaxy.

And this place was the Guiding Universe!

It was also one of the seventy-two governing authorities, second only to the Immortal Palace, within the entire Nine Shores Heaven!

It was a seat of authority within the operational system of the Nine Shores Heaven, and furthermore, during its designated epoch, it served as the guiding headquarters capable of commanding other Outer Heavens' related guiding systems.

Its responsibilities extended beyond merely guiding new ascendants, also encompassing the guidance of the small worlds under the Fifth Star Ring and the arrangements for all foreign races across all universes within the entire Fifth Star Ring.

To some extent, it served as both a new recruit training ground and a personnel coordination department.

Those stationed here were naturally Lower Immortals, and their numbers were considerable.

As Xu Qing gazed at all this, sensing the majesty of the golden river, his mind was stirred, and a wisp of starlight separated from the astonishing golden river, heading directly towards him.

Compared to the entire golden river, this light was insignificant, yet to Xu Qing's eyes, because of the distance, this incoming golden starlight was equally vast.

It swiftly enveloped him, creating a pulling force.

The source of this golden starlight that guided Xu Qing was a star within a nebula, located in a starfield in the downstream region of this astonishing golden river!

Moreover, such starlight pulls were ubiquitous throughout this entire Guiding Universe.

All cultivators teleported here experienced the same.

Depending on the purpose of their arrival, starlight from different regions would arrive.

The next moment, under the pull of this light, Xu Qing's body sped directly towards that star.

The speed was so immense that he felt as if he was being powerfully dragged, like a falling meteor.

In an instant, he was pulled from outside the galaxy into its interior, entering one of the innumerable stars that emitted starlight.

Everything before his eyes changed drastically.

Until a roar echoed.

Xu Qing's body landed in the ocean on this star.

This was a black ocean, incredibly viscous, like jelly.

The impact of his body landing on the surface of the sea after such extreme pulling was immense.

Fortunately, Xu Qing's cultivation was powerful, allowing him to withstand it.

Had it been a lower-ranked cultivator, their soul might have been pulled out during the descent, and their physical body would have shattered upon impact.

But even with Xu Qing's sufficient cultivation, the moment his body struck, amidst the terrifying impact, he plunged directly beneath the jelly-like black sea, creating a deep crater on the surface.

After a while, Xu Qing struggled to fly out of the deep crater he had made and looked around; the sky was golden, and the entire landscape was an endless black jelly-like sea.

In mid-air, streaks of golden starlight could be seen pulling cultivators, who continued to arrive.

Thus, the roars of impact as they landed in the sea were incessant.

On the sea surface, there were now dozens of deep craters.

Some cultivators were successively flying out of these craters, the vast majority of whom appeared somewhat disheveled.

A few others even had blood at the corners of their mouths, clearly still shaken.

Among the crowd, Xu Qing saw Zhou Zhengli, Xie Lingzi, Li Mengtu, as well as Yuanshan Su and Qianjun Piyi.

These individuals were all ascendants from Xu Qing's realm.

All of them had been guided here at this moment.

Xinghuanzi was also among them.

However, compared to the disheveled state of others, Xinghuanzi appeared noticeably more composed, and when Xu Qing's gaze fell upon him, he also turned and glanced at Xu Qing.

Their gazes met, and then both withdrew them expressionlessly.

As time passed, people continued to arrive successively, some alone, some in groups, forming various factions based on their past interactions and connections over the past year.

Xie Lingzi remained solitary as always.

Yuanshan Su clearly preferred not to join other groups, intending to remain alone, but some female cultivators among the ascendants naturally chose to gather around her.

Qianjun Piyi, on the other hand, chose to stand by Xinghuanzi's side, and dozens of other cultivators around him made the same choice.

As for the largest group, it was naturally Xu Qing's.

His reputation as number one caused more people to approach him with smiles after seeing Xu Qing.

Zhou Zhengli and Li Mengtu were among them, both walking to Xu Qing's side, the former bowing with his usual humble smile.

The latter, however, had a solemn expression and spoke in a low voice.

"Brother Xu, this batch is eleven people short!"

"I've counted; only eighty-nine have arrived so far!"

Xu Qing nodded slightly, and Zhou Zhengli, beside him, chuckled.

"They must have died."

"Although this year is a rest period, it's also a period of adaptation. Our star ring has always been like a Gu breeding ground since ancient times."

"Therefore..." Zhou Zhengli glanced at Xu Qing. Over the past year, he had actually gathered a lot of information about the Outer Heavens and was thus wary of the future.

His intention to build a good relationship with Xu Qing had also deepened.

So he spoke again.

"It's not just in the former Four Star Regions; here in the Outer Heavens, it's actually even more brutal and intense."

"As for the higher-ups, those truly valued by them must at least possess the Quasi-Immortal level of cultivation. Like Young Master, Xinghuanzi, and Yuanshan Su, perhaps in this batch, only the three of you will be truly regarded. Dominators... the higher-ups won't pay too much attention to."

"So, unless one has deeper connections, otherwise, if you want to progress smoothly and gain more resources, it's naturally best to stick close to a Quasi-Immortal."

These last words, which Zhou Zhengli did not hide, were heard clearly by the ascendants surrounding Xu Qing.

A sense of contemplation arose in each of their hearts.

Xu Qing glanced at Zhou Zhengli.

Zhou Zhengli offered a humble smile.

Xu Qing withdrew his gaze and recalled the words Zhou Zhengli had spoken a year ago before his departure.

"He guessed that this time's duty arrangement would involve everyone being together..."

Xu Qing was thoughtful.

And time also slowly passed amidst their patient waiting.

On the vast sea surface, apart from them, there were no other cultivators.

Nor did any guides appear.

None of them were ordinary individuals, so they naturally wouldn't grow impatient after such a short wait; thus, they all sat down cross-legged.

Until another hour passed.

The moment a wind arose between heaven and earth, amidst its wailing howl, Xu Qing and Xinghuanzi each noticed something and successively looked up at the sky.

Yuanshan Su was the third to look up.

The others were relatively slower to react and gazed upwards one after another.

They saw ripples across the firmament, where golden light suddenly appeared.

Those golden lights were also guiding lights, numbering seventy to eighty in total, with several individuals leading and the rest following as they descended.

The next moment, heaven and earth trembled.

Among these golden lights, only a few created deep craters upon landing on the sea surface; the vast majority stood steadily on the sea surface the moment they descended.

It seemed that for them, they had come to this place many times and had mastered the techniques of control.

And their attire was uniform.

What they wore was what Xu Qing had seen in the Dao Refining Universe... gray robes with a hundred pockets!

That was the unique attire of the notorious Resource Coordinators.

Among them were seven or eight Quasi-Immortals, with the others following their lead.

After they landed at this moment, Xu Qing remained as usual, but many among this batch of ascendants had grave expressions.

And these cultivators, who were gazed at by this batch of ascendants, also cast their gazes back.

Sweeping across Xu Qing and the others.

Their gazes were like those of jackals, filled with indifference and ruthlessness towards life.

Then, without a word, as the leading cultivator took a step, the group flew directly into the distance.

"Young Master," Zhou Zhengli said in a low voice, "they are Resource Coordinators... it seems this time, the star we were guided to is likely related to resource coordination."

Xu Qing nodded.

And the descent had not ended.

After the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, golden light reappeared in the firmament.

Again, dozens of figures, also wearing hundred-pocket robes, landed and, without stopping, headed straight into the distance.

In this manner, as time passed, batches of Resource Coordinators arrived one after another.

During this time, they mostly ignored Xu Qing and the other newcomers.

As Xu Qing observed their aura more, he also sensed a chilling coldness and greed; and the stronger they were, the heavier the corpse qi and death qi on their bodies.

The same applied to their bloodlust.

It was as if they had dealt with corpses and death for years.

Until night fell and the golden light in the firmament dimmed, another dozens of golden lights whistled down, transforming into figures on the sea surface.

Among them, one individual radiated an incredibly astonishing aura.

It was an old man like a vulture, whose immortal embryo body had already reached near completion.

Just one step away from becoming an Immortal!

After landing at this moment, he took the lead, and just as he was about to depart...

Suddenly, among the group behind the old man, a middle-aged cultivator paused, turned and swept his gaze over Xu Qing and the others, finally looking at... Xinghuanzi and Qianjun Piyi behind him.

Then, this person smiled.

Xu Qing had seen this person before; it was precisely the Quasi-Immortal cultivator who, on that day in the Dao Refining Universe, had attempted to conscript Qianjun Piyi!

His gaze at this moment was focused on Xinghuanzi, and his pause also caused the other companions beside him to stop one after another.

Next, he quickly took a few steps, reaching the side of the old man with the terrifying aura, and whispered something.

Afterwards, the old man's brow furrowed slightly, but he still nodded.

Having received the old man's consent, the middle-aged cultivator walked towards Xinghuanzi with a smile, and his voice rang out.

"Our team suffered several casualties in this battle and needs replenishment, so we are now conscripting the three of you to join our team!"