Chapter 1379: Wanxiang Galaxy

The vast starry sky, boundless and infinite, has been divided into star systems by cultivators since ancient times to precisely pinpoint their locations within this immeasurable expanse. Just as Bing Province is to the Nine Provinces, star systems are constituent parts of the starry sky as a whole.

Lu Ye was unsure of the exact criteria for dividing star systems, but he knew that the star system where the Nine Provinces were located was called the Jade Snail Star System. He had learned this information early on, while browsing the jade slips in the Xiyuan Pavilion of the Dwarf Clan, and later confirmed it when probing Sun Ying’s soul. Generally, a star system is named after its most powerful realm. Within the Jade Snail Star System, where the Nine Provinces are located, there is a realm called the Jade Snail Realm. It is the most powerful realm in this star system, significantly stronger than the Azure Dawn Dao Realm. If, one day, the Nine Provinces were to surpass the Jade Snail Realm and become the dominant power in the system, they would then be eligible to rename the star system after themselves. Similarly, the Void Cave Star System mentioned by the pale-faced man likely contains a realm like the Void Cave Realm.

Of course, not all star systems are named by this standard; there are always exceptions, such as the Myriad Phenomena Star System!

Lu Ye had no recollection of the Void Cave Star System mentioned by the pale-faced man. Although the information recorded in Xiyuan Pavilion was vast and complex, there were always some omissions, and he was certain he had never seen any mention of the Void Cave Star System there. However, he had seen records of the Myriad Phenomena Star System! This star system was famous as a hub where cultivators from various regions converged. It could be said that it was the central nexus for hundreds, even thousands, of surrounding star systems!

The primary reason for its immense prosperity was the presence of wormholes! While wormholes were ubiquitous throughout the starry sky, other star systems might have them, but certainly not in such large numbers. The Myriad Phenomena Star System was different; it boasted hundreds, even thousands, of wormholes, and most of them were safe for passage. One end of these wormholes was in the Myriad Phenomena Star System, while the other connected to different star systems elsewhere. This arrangement made it very easy for cultivators from other star systems to travel to and from Myriad Phenomena. No one knew why this place was so unique, but it had been this way since ancient times. It could only be attributed to the miraculous craftsmanship of nature.

When Lu Ye first saw records of the Myriad Phenomena Star System in Xiyuan Pavilion, he had once fantasized about visiting it someday if the opportunity arose. He never imagined that this opportunity would come so abruptly, catching him completely unprepared, and suddenly finding himself here. It was ironic; he had previously thought he was still in the Jade Snail Star System, trying to find his way back to Wushuang or the Nine Provinces, but having already arrived in another star system, how could he possibly find his way home?

The pale-faced man was from the Void Cave Star System, while his two companions were from different star systems. Despite their varied origins, they had teamed up due to their compatible temperaments, hiding nearby to rob passersby. Lu Ye had been entirely focused on comparing the surrounding celestial phenomena with his memories, letting his guard down, which allowed them to launch a surprise attack. The three of them had carefully chosen their targets. They dared not provoke large groups, and couldn't defeat those who were too strong. Lu Ye, being alone and of moderate cultivation, was undoubtedly their ideal target. They had successfully carried out several robberies before this, but this time, they were unlucky enough to be killed instead of succeeding.

“Is there anything else you wish to ask, fellow Daoist?” the pale-faced man asked, feeling uneasy as he saw the changing expressions on Lu Ye's face.

Lu Ye looked up at him. “Do you have friends nearby?”

The pale-faced man feigned composure. “No!”

“Then why are you stalling for time?” As Lu Ye finished speaking, the Mountain Crushing Blade had already struck. The pale-faced man immediately let out a furious shout, desperately channeling his spiritual power to activate his protective spirit artifact. However, it was ultimately too late. He hadn't expected Lu Ye to suddenly make a killing move while asking questions so calmly. He had indeed been stalling for time and had already sent out a message. Their group consisted of more than just three individuals; there were three teams in total, with the other two teams nearby. He didn't need to stall for long, just the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, and his companions would arrive after receiving the news. However, Lu Ye had seen through his ploy.

Lu Ye had found the man strange; at a critical moment of life and death, he was surprisingly cooperative. A normal person would either fight back desperately or beg for mercy, but this man answered every question without pleading, which was clearly abnormal. They were all in the Star Constellation Realm, not naive cultivators from the Cloud River or True Lake realms. Moreover, since the other party had already attacked him, he naturally wouldn't show any mercy.

Blood spurted, and the pale-faced man followed his companions to the afterlife. Lu Ye put away the storage ring and looked down at his Mountain Crushing Blade, seeing cracks crisscrossing its surface. He frowned slightly. It was truly a case of 'when it rains, it pours' – misfortunes finding the unfortunate. Not only had he inadvertently stumbled into the Myriad Phenomena Star System, but his Mountain Crushing Blade was also showing signs of strain. This was due to the power of the red talisman. Activating its might had put immense pressure on the blade. He had sensed a problem with his sword at the time but hadn't had the chance to examine it. Now, having used it to kill two more individuals, the problem had worsened.

He flickered and vanished from his spot, reappearing where the sword cultivator had fallen. He never forgot to collect spoils of war after defeating an enemy, so he had deliberately left one of his imperial artifacts here to facilitate his return and collection. Similarly, another imperial artifact was near the dead spell cultivator. Shortly after Lu Ye finished collecting his items and departed, two teams arrived from different directions at the spot where the pale-faced man had died. However, they were ultimately too late. Even if they wanted to pursue, they wouldn't know where to start. Furthermore, these individuals were from different star systems, even different races, and had gathered purely for profit. There wasn't much camaraderie between them, so who would insist on avenging the dead?

In the starry sky, Lu Ye traveled alone, holding three star maps. The star maps were of the Myriad Phenomena Star System, and each of the three individuals he had killed possessed one. Upon comparison, it was clear that the three maps were largely identical, though there were some minor differences. This was normal. Unlike maps within a realm, the positions of various celestial bodies in the starry sky frequently changed, or powerful cultivators might destroy stars during battles, or new stars might be born. Thus, star maps acquired at different times would naturally have slight variations. Nevertheless, each map was usable. With these star maps, Lu Ye could travel to any location within the Myriad Phenomena Star System without worrying about getting lost.

After careful examination, he confirmed his current location was roughly in the outer regions of the Myriad Phenomena Star System. Instead of rushing elsewhere, he returned along his previous path, meticulously comparing his position with the star map and noting his whereabouts. Several days later, Lu Ye finally arrived back at the wormhole. The reason for returning here was, naturally, to record the precise location of the wormhole. Currently, this wormhole was his only hope of returning to the Jade Snail Star System. However, the wormhole was not yet stable, making passage impossible.

From a distance, Lu Ye saw a figure standing before the wormhole, seemingly lost in melancholic thought. Lu Ye's expression lightened, and much of his previous gloom suddenly dissipated. If there was anything in this world that could make him happy when down on his luck, it was meeting someone equally unfortunate. It felt as if his inner frustrations were being shared. The other person also noticed Lu Ye's arrival, turned to look, and their eyes met, both recognizing the helplessness in the other's gaze.

“Young friend Taibai!” Tang Jun nodded slightly.

Lu Ye flew forward, no longer overly cautious of the old man. As fellow sufferers far from home, there was no need to make things difficult for each other. “Old Tang, since you're here, have you realized the seriousness of the situation?” Lu Ye asked.

“It seems you've discovered it too,” Tang Jun sighed. “I never imagined that in my lifetime, I would have the chance to come to such a star system. I've long heard of the Myriad Phenomena Star System's renown but never had the opportunity to see it. Well, now that I'm old, I've ended up taking a long journey!” He knew this was the Myriad Phenomena Star System not because he shared the same experience as Lu Ye. After all, he was a Moon Glimmer realm cultivator, rarely dared to be provoked by others. Upon encountering cultivators from other star systems, he could easily inquire and understand his predicament.

Lu Ye promptly said, “My fault, my fault.”

Tang Jun shook his head. “It's destiny; no one is to blame!”

Lu Ye said, “Old Tang, are you here because you want to return through the wormhole?”

“I certainly wish to return. Being old, I simply yearn to return to my roots; who would want to drift aimlessly outside? But the wormhole is unstable right now, and it would be unwise to venture in rashly. Our previous passage through the wormhole to get here was mere luck. If we tried again, it's not guaranteed we'd reach the other end. No one can say where we might end up! If we landed in some desolate, God-forsaken place, the situation would only be worse.”

Lu Ye nodded. “I think so too.” Using the power of the Void Beast's core to break through the spatial barrier and arrive here was a mere coincidence, an uncontrollable one. As Tang Jun said, it would be dreadful if they ended up in some god-forsaken place. It would be better to stay here. At the very least, the wormhole leading to the Jade Snail Star System was here. With luck, perhaps in a few years or a decade or two, this wormhole would stabilize. Then, both of them could safely return to Jade Snail.

In comparison, Tang Jun undoubtedly felt a greater urgency to return to Jade Snail. He was advanced in age and lacked the drive and determination of a young person like Lu Ye. He simply wished to live out his remaining years peacefully, and naturally, his adaptability in such an unfamiliar environment was not as good as Lu Ye's.

“We don't necessarily have to wait for the wormhole to stabilize!” Tang Jun spoke again.

Lu Ye asked, “Do you have a plan?”

Tang Jun said, “The Myriad Phenomena Star System has numerous wormholes connecting to various regions. There must be some star systems among them that are relatively close to our Jade Snail System, and perhaps their cultivators have heard of Jade Snail. We only need to gather this information, then find a wormhole leading to one of those star systems, and we can then travel through it to return to Jade Snail.”