Chapter 421: Doubtful Points, Saint Farmer and the Demonic Scholar

The Carlos family is one of the Red Star Empire's founding families. The first Lord Carlos was a meritorious figure who fought alongside the first Red Star Emperor to establish the empire. The current Lord Carlos is a powerful Reincarnation Emperor. He possesses multiple ancestral divine artifacts, showcasing his formidable personal strength. In terms of imperial authority, Lord Carlos governs the empire's northern fortress, effectively making him the King of the North.

The descendants of the Carlos family are equally remarkable; in prestigious selections like the Primal Assembly, there's always a family member admitted in each session. Zhao Xing recalled that a genius named Carlos was among the top ten finalists in the Primal Assembly's ultimate assessment. While these colossal families maintained a low profile and didn't deliberately self-promote, Zhao Xing was very aware of their standing. In his previous life, he had undertaken numerous exploration missions issued by the Carlos family while doing temporary work for them.

Zhao Xing couldn't comprehend how a minor power like Da Zhou could possibly provoke the Carlos family. Compared to the Carlos family, Da Zhou was less than an ant; it was, at best, a microorganism.

"Elder Brother, back when you were in the Illusion God Galaxy, strategizing Da Zhou's development, we arrived earlier, following the Starfire contingent to the Red Star Empire," Ji Che began, recounting the past. "With Jing Yan's assistance, we eventually settled on Fengdu Sector Star, located in the Wuye Constellation of the North River Galaxy. Jing Yan provided significant help to Da Zhou, allowing us to quickly establish ourselves on Fengdu Sector Star. At the very least, we no longer had to worry about basic survival. However, for Da Zhou to truly thrive, we ultimately had to rely on ourselves."

Zhao Xing nodded. Jing Yan couldn't act as a nanny, arranging everything for Da Zhou. Even if he wanted to, he wouldn't be able to keep up as Da Zhou's needs expanded, especially as he was merely a prince ranked over ten thousand.

"No nation grows strong solely through the help of others. Therefore, in the 127th year of Gengshi, just before your return, I led an expedition west of Jiachen Pass to seek opportunities for Da Zhou's growth. We even discussed this upon your return, Elder Brother."

"That's right," Zhao Xing agreed, recalling that the empire's northwestern region was slated for development, with a vital pathway to be established through the Si Yue Desolate Region, promising more opportunities in that direction. He had, therefore, strongly supported Ji Che and Ji Si leading expeditions to find opportunities, as commerce, agriculture, and industry within the Red Star Empire were already saturated. Lacking both capital and connections, Da Zhou would quickly encounter a bottleneck in its development. External expansion was inevitable, and exploring uncharted cosmic territories beyond the imperial borders, much like an Age of Discovery, promised boundless opportunities. Yet, for many years, Zhao Xing had been solely dedicated to his cultivation, unaware of Da Zhou's precise achievements.

"...Around the 300th year of Gengshi, you, Elder Brother, had already passed the third round of the Primal Assembly. At that time, externally, you, Elder Brother, were establishing your reputation in the Primal Realm. Internally, Liu Tianning had become a disciple of Lord Qianhua, achieving the Dao Domain Realm. With Ji Si and myself, Da Zhou now boasted three Dao Domain Realm cultivators and over three thousand Third Realm practitioners. You, Elder Brother, earned the admiration of Lord Yang Lin of North River, who also granted us certain conveniences. Consequently, in the 380th year of Gengshi, approximately two decades before you, Elder Brother, were set to partake in the fourth and final assessment, we established a significant territory outside the pass in a region known as the 'Annihilation Star Corridor'."

The name "Annihilation Star Corridor" immediately told Zhao Xing exactly what kind of place it was. The Annihilation Star Corridor lay adjacent to the Si Yue Desolate Region, and in the "Star River Myriad Worlds" game, it was a popular map. When the Red Star Empire embarked on its westward expansion, it was impeded by the Si Yue Desolate Region. However, having committed to westward exploration, the empire naturally wouldn't limit itself to opening just one star path. Discovering a dead end halfway through, perhaps due to dangerous obstructions, would be a waste of time. Therefore, the exploration and construction of star paths were always carried out simultaneously from multiple locations.

In his previous life's timeline, the Annihilation Star Corridor had not been selected as the empire's primary entry point for traversing the desolate region. It wasn't until the star paths through Jiachen Passes 3, 9, 46, and 85 were three-quarters complete that the agricultural administrators of Taigu Hill gathered more information. Upon analysis, they discovered that constructing an additional star path from the Annihilation Star Corridor would be significantly more convenient and cost-effective. The Annihilation Star Corridor was a ruin formed from the collapse of numerous top-tier sector stars, which had also generated many space-time passages. The ability to traverse space could potentially save time and effort. Consequently, exploration commenced, using the Annihilation Star Corridor as its base.

Zhao Xing distinctly recalled that the corridor route was cleared in under five hundred years. Furthermore, the people from Taigu Hill not only avoided losses but actually made a substantial profit even before the route was fully opened. This was because several small 'Origin Realms' had been discovered approximately 450 million astronomical units northwest of the Annihilation Star Corridor. Within these Origin Realms lay vast quantities of non-renewable materials, vital for crafting 'Origin Divine Weapons' and 'Reincarnation Divine Weapons'!

"Elder Brother, you know this place?" Emperor Wu asked, puzzled by Zhao Xing's reaction. He rarely discussed such specific matters with him, and the Annihilation Star Corridor had only been named 120 years prior, a time when Zhao Xing should have been in secluded cultivation.

"I've heard bits and pieces," Zhao Xing replied. "Continue your story. How did the conflict with the Carlos family arise?"

Ji Che shook his head. "Actually, our conflict wasn't directly with the Carlos family, but rather with their proxies. The western constellation of the Annihilation Star Corridor is abundant in 'Emperor Star Stone'. There's a local power there called the Rainbow Moon Dynasty. Our expansion provoked them, and only later did we discover that the Carlos family was behind the Rainbow Moon Dynasty."

Zhao Xing asked, "What about casualties?"

Ji Che transmitted the casualty list, then sighed. "I dispatched 2,135 Third Realm cultivators abroad. This time, over 800 were killed, and the few dozen who managed to escape are severely wounded. We also lost our territory."

Zhao Xing's face grew grim as he saw many familiar names on the death list. There were figures from the former Shangluo Academy, such as Chu Qianqiu and Zhuang Danian, along with Dean Qin from Kunyuan Academy, Priest Wei Hong, and Ji Bochang, among others. The list of injured was equally concerning; Old Chen, Xia Jing, and Ji Si had all sustained severe wounds. As the Rainbow Moon Dynasty was not an imperial power, forbidden toxic items, which were prohibited within the empire, were commonly encountered there. Smaller nations often engaged in more ruthless tactics, resulting in many of Da Zhou's wounded still being in critical condition. For a force controlled by the Carlos family to deliberately ambush a minor power like Da Zhou, the mere presence of survivors was already quite fortunate. It was only when Ji Si broke through to the Dao Domain Realm during the crisis that she was able to point out a path to survival for everyone, allowing them to escape certain death.

"Che, are you concerned that this conflict might escalate domestically?" Zhao Xing, with his keen perception, immediately grasped Ji Che's unspoken plea for help.

"Yes," Ji Che nodded.

Zhao Xing sighed to himself. As Da Zhou's Grand Minister of Agriculture, once he had clarified the situation, he realized that Da Zhou's losses this time extended far beyond just casualties and lost territory. Even if the Carlos family chose not to pursue the matter further, Da Zhou's losses from this incident were already substantial. The humiliation and territorial loss in the Annihilation Star Corridor not only meant that Da Zhou's investments there were completely wasted but also exposed them to hefty breach of contract penalties, as some of Da Zhou's business orders were contingent on the output from the Annihilation Star Corridor.

"Such is the nature of minor powers," he mused, "their resilience to risk is so fragile. Even a minor setback can lead to collapse. It truly feels like walking on thin ice."

Zhao Xing quickly regained his composure; he was now Da Zhou's ultimate recourse. Under no circumstances could he betray any negative emotions. Zhao Xing immediately declared, "I will find a way to handle the domestic contract penalties. I still have some savings, and the territory originally granted to me by the Lord of North River can be pledged as collateral to address this urgent crisis. As for the threat from the Carlos family, I will handle that myself. All of Da Zhou's activities beyond the pass are to cease temporarily. Return within the pass and await my instructions."

Ji Che's eyes lit up. "Elder Brother, will this truly work? Might it impact your progress in the Primal Realm? If it does, Da Zhou can once again retreat into the Boundary Ark; we..."

"Of course not," Zhao Xing reassured him with a smile. "Don't worry; I am, after all, a personal disciple of a demigod. Che, you must pull yourself together. I cannot easily leave the Primal Realm at this moment, so everything within Da Zhou depends on you."

Ji Che's expression visibly brightened. He had been treading on thin ice, consumed by anxiety, simultaneously grappling with Da Zhou's future and fearing that even Zhao Xing might be unable to resolve the situation. Now, Zhao Xing's words finally provided him with a sense of relief and support.

"Oh, and one more thing," Zhao Xing added, "don't bother Lord Qianhua; let our master focus on his cultivation. If there's a serious issue with Fengdu Sector Star, you should approach the Lord of North River instead."

"Okay, Elder Brother, I understand."

"Go."

As he closed the star mirror, the smile on Zhao Xing's face slowly faded. He had made a bold promise, but implementing it would prove far more challenging than he had imagined. On the surface, he was a disciple of Guluo River. However, Guluo River had made it clear from the outset that he was merely a substitute instructor and would not interfere in personal affairs. Even if he were truly accepted as a disciple, he had only recently entered the Primal Realm, so how deep could their master-disciple bond possibly be?

"First, I need to find out who is responsible for managing the Rainbow Moon Dynasty," Zhao Xing thought to himself. To truly understand the intricacies of the situation, the best course of action would be to consult Jing Yan and the Starfire members. Jing Yan was knowledgeable about the empire's internal affairs, while Starfire was well-versed in external matters.

Half a day later, at Huai Liu Courtyard. Jing Yan hurried over, mounted on his divine roaming weapon. "Zhao Xing, what happened? Why did you call me so urgently?"

"I encountered some trouble."

Zhao Xing briefly explained the events that transpired outside the pass. Jing Yan listened quietly. When Zhao Xing finished, he said, "Wait for me. I'll consult with my family elders. In the meantime, contact Starfire and find out what kind of business the Rainbow Moon Dynasty conducts. What was the real reason behind their attack on Da Zhou?"

"The real reason?" Zhao Xing mused. "You don't think it was just a simple skirmish?"

Jing Yan shook his head. "Of course not. What kind of desolate place is the Annihilation Star Corridor? The Carlos family is involved in intergalactic shipping, but they don't engage in every type of business. Moreover, don't you find something amiss with the battle report? When Ji Si invoked Master Liu Tianning's name, they didn't attempt to annihilate them. Yet, when your name was mentioned, they became merciless. Think about it, why would such a thing happen?"

Zhao Xing quickly realized, "Annihilating them... are they trying to conceal something, something illicit?"

Jing Yan nodded. "You're too close to the situation to see clearly; isn't it obvious? Imperial nobles engaging in business outside, and acting this way even after revealing their identities, clearly indicates significant profit is at stake."

Zhao Xing frowned. "But Da Zhou's territory there is quite small, and our people haven't discovered anything unusual."

"Either the people Da Zhou sent to expand didn't realize it themselves, or the other side was uncertain whether it would lead to a leak and acted preemptively... In any case, let's not make blind guesses. Contact Starfire. Let's see what the situation really is. If..."

"If what?" Zhao Xing asked, surprised. "Go on."

"If Starfire doesn't uncover anything, and then we attempt mediation, but the Carlos family pushes too aggressively, this situation will become quite problematic," Jing Yan stated.

Zhao Xing's expression also turned grim. Indeed, the Annihilation Star Corridor held secrets, and significant interests were certainly at play. As a member of the royal family, Jing Yan possessed a sharper intuition in such matters. His words immediately made many things click for Zhao Xing.

"Don't dwell on it," Jing Yan reassured him. "It could just be a common skirmish. Perhaps they believed Ji Si was lying, especially since the Rainbow Moon Dynasty is in a foreign land and it's perfectly normal for them not to know your name. Major families guard their reputations, which is why they engage in proxy wars for appearances. You, at least, are a genius from the Primal Realm. In this incident, Da Zhou bore the brunt of the losses... it's unlikely they'll continue relentless pursuit. Large families rarely go to such extremes. Furthermore, the Carlos family is vast. Whether this matter is handled by direct lineage members or collateral members makes a significant difference. Back when I was in the ancient kingdoms, whenever I encountered trouble, I'd claim to be a royal from the empire. But who knew I was merely a successor ranked over thirty thousand? To put it bluntly, even with your involvement, Da Zhou has not yet reached a level where it could truly offend the entire Carlos family."

"That's quite a harsh truth," Zhao Xing muttered, pouting slightly, but he felt a degree of relief nonetheless.

To contact Starfire, Zhao Xing didn't use the star mirror on his main body in the Primal Realm. Instead, he dispatched a clone out of the Primal Realm to a neighboring galaxy. He located a Starfire branch, acquired a special Starfire mirror, and then used distributed encrypted communication to contact Yang Baihe, a Starfire member located far away. He then transmitted the docking code originally established by Yang Baihe: "Aries, Aries, this is Mushroom."

After approximately six hours, flames flickered within the Starfire mirror, and Yang Baihe's figure materialized, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Mushroom, Mushroom, Aries received," he replied. "Your communication channel is secure. Please state your business."

Zhao Xing immediately recounted the situation to Yang Baihe.

"Give me three days," Aries stated after listening, then cut the communication.

Zhao Xing waited patiently for two and a half days. Yang Baihe's message returned.

"According to Starfire's internal investigation, while the Rainbow Moon Dynasty's business practices violated imperial law, such violations are not uncommon. Beyond common activities like human trafficking and the production of Dao Xuan Pills, there was nothing particularly noteworthy. Provided the Rainbow Moon Dynasty doesn't bring these activities into imperial territory, the empire will not intervene. It's worth noting, however, that the Rainbow Moon Dynasty's highest-ranked cultivator is a 'Veteran Reincarnation Realm' expert. He styles himself 'Lord Fu Wei,' but his actual strength is far from that of a true lord. Additionally, there are two ordinary-level Reincarnation Realm cultivators: one is the scholar 'Xi Hebo,' rumored to hail from the Academy City. The second is the cosmic historian 'Bi Ens,' a 'Sang Qing survivor'. Regarding your assertion that the Carlos family is their backer, Starfire's internal records currently show no evidence of any connection between the Carlos family and the Rainbow Moon Dynasty."

"Lord Fu Wei, Sang Qing survivor Bi Ens, Scholar Xi Hebo." Hearing these three names mentioned together sent a shiver down Zhao Xing's spine.

"What's wrong?" Yang Baihe keenly observed Zhao Xing's expression.

"Nothing, it's likely just a normal skirmish," Zhao Xing said, shaking his head.

"Nothing else?"

"No, that's all."

Aries, appearing in the Starfire mirror, waved a hand. "Remember to contact me if anything comes up. If you can't reach me, Yue Nu and Chen Xuan are vacationing domestically."

"Okay, thanks, Captain."

After the call disconnected, Zhao Xing's clone stood rooted to the spot, lost in thought.

"'Scholar Xi Hebo,' the demonic scholar from the 'Scholar's Divine Arrival' version, has actually appeared at the empire's fringes. Lord Fu Wei is the Saint Minister of Agriculture. Which agricultural deity does he worship again? Compared to them, Bi Ens, a survivor from the ancient kingdom of Sang Qing, is the least significant figure. Wait, the Carlos family's records in Starfire are completely clean. So how did Ji Si discover this?"

Memories surged through his mind, giving Zhao Xing a sudden headache. It took him a while to regain his composure.

Just then, in Seaweed City, within the Huai Liu Courtyard of the Primal Realm, Jing Yan swiftly returned.

"Zhao Xing," Jing Yan began, "I inquired with my family, and they haven't heard of the Carlos family conducting business in the Annihilation Star Corridor. Are you certain you're not mistaken?"