Chapter 656: History's Ninth

In the starry sky, a sapphire-blue star, like a diamond embedded in the night, sparkled brilliantly, exquisitely beautiful.

It was named Xilin, a planet that, overall, looked very similar to ancient Earth. After a great ancient war, this planet was gifted by the Celestial Race to the Xilin Race.

Today, it is a super life planet, drawing worldwide attention under the Xilin Race's management, becoming a very dazzling planet in the sea of stars.

This is because the Xilin Race possesses astonishing natural talent as a whole. Even though they are merely a branch that split off from ancient Earth, they have now developed to an incredibly prosperous level.

Outside Xilin, on its moon.

Wei Heng, who was entertaining guests, had fair skin and an incomparably handsome face, though it was somewhat effeminate. His temperament was exceptionally distinguished, making him unforgettable at first sight.

"The head is right here. Guaranteed fresh, with its life origin still intact. Using it will provide excellent benefits for restoring one's evolutionary foundation." Wei Heng wore a smile. As the ninth strongest under the starry sky back then, he had astonished ancient times. It was important to note that during that era, figures like Yao Yao and the Nine-Orifice Heaven-Traversing Tribulation Body existed, yet he had firmly secured a place within the top ten, shaking the sea of stars.

Many years had passed since then. Both in historical records and in the minds of the old recluses of various races today, that period has always been undeniably considered the golden age of the universe.

On the jade table in front of Wei Heng sat a jar. It appeared ordinary, yet it captivated the attention of several people present, all of whom were staring intently at it.

"Chang Ming is sealed inside?" someone asked.

"Correct. Uncle Ming's head is inside. I personally sealed him in this jar, preserved with salt from our mother planet, Earth, back then," Wei Heng said calmly.

He was very young; time had left no trace on his face. This was because he was a peerless Saint, and some even rumored that he was already attempting to break through to the Reflection-of-All-Heavens realm.

"To think that even the renowned Saint Chang Ming fell into Brother Wei's hands back then. Impressive," someone beside him exclaimed admiringly, their eyes shining brightly.

"Hmm, Uncle Ming was indeed formidable, but he grew old. All these years, he toiled tirelessly and neglected his cultivation. I did this for his own good, preserving him so he could finally get some proper rest." Wei Heng spoke indifferently, appearing dismissive. In his eyes, there was no opponent other than those at the Reflection-of-All-Heavens level!

In fact, everyone in the room felt deep apprehension towards him. They believed Wei Heng was utterly ruthless, capable of doing anything once he turned hostile, and exceedingly vicious.

Chang Ming, also known as Uncle Ming, was a Saint from ancient Earth. He had watched Yao Yao and Wei Heng grow up and had even guided Wei Heng, treating him exceptionally well.

In a sense, Uncle Ming was his mentor. However, once they became adversaries, after the Xilin Race betrayed Earth, Wei Heng turned merciless.

The last time Uncle Ming appeared in the starry sky, he had unearthed a nest of star-core turtle eggs and asked Yao Yao to deliver them to Chu Feng, intending to help him lay the most solid and profound evolutionary foundation.

However, after delivering that nest of sub-divine beast eggs, Uncle Ming unfortunately became a target for Wei Heng. After numerous searches and tireless efforts, Wei Heng finally tracked him down.

Ultimately, Uncle Ming met with misfortune.

Wei Heng, the ninth strongest under the starry sky back then, personally severed his mentor, Uncle Ming's, head, preserved it in a jar with salt, and even brought it to the mother planet to threaten Yao Yao, demanding she go to the outer domain.

At that time, Chu Feng had personally witnessed this, filled with uncontrollable rage, anger, and helplessness, because Wei Heng, the ninth strongest under the starry sky, was truly invincible at that point.

Now, Wei Heng was using Uncle Ming's preserved head to conduct a transaction with someone.

"Could you open the jar so I can take a look?" asked a man with fiery red hair. Although a faint light of fire flickered around his body, a chill also emanated from him.

He was Yin Jiuque, a former Sub-Saint and an infamous ancient Starry Sky Rider, known for his cold-blooded cruelty and bloodlust. A few months prior, during an invasion of Earth, he was severely wounded by a field and had his Sub-Saint cultivation severed.

Several others accompanied him. One of them was very imposing, with a chiseled face, hair strands shimmering like crystal, and eyes like bottomless abysses.

He was Yuwen Chengkong, also a Starry Sky Rider from that era, now a Saint. He was Yin Jiuque's sworn elder brother.

Back then, these Starry Sky Riders were each more malicious and ruthless than the last. Although many have died of old age or are now disabled, those who are still alive are formidable individuals, possessing boundless power.

A few months prior, Chu Feng had slain their descendants, such as Zhu Wuque and Yuwen Feng, who were Yin Jiuque's and Yuwen Chengkong's chosen successors respectively.

"No problem. Of course, you must first inspect the goods," Wei Heng said with a faint smile, yet it sent shivers down the spines of everyone present.

The Xilin Race's current prestige was not only due to their suspected Reflection-of-All-Heavens level commander, Wei Xilin, but also to the contributions of peerless Saints like Wei Heng!

The jar was opened, releasing a pungent, salty odor. Inside lay a head with white hair and beard, its strands matted with blood, the face aged and covered in wrinkles.

"Uncle Ming, wake up. No more resting," Wei Heng called out. His words were gentle, yet this very demeanor made people even more apprehensive of him.

Inside the jar, the old man opened his eyes, looking somewhat disoriented. Even a powerful Saint, subjected to such torture and then preserved in this manner, would suffer immensely, barely clinging to life.

The old man's hair was white, and his cloudy, aged eyes were dim, devoid of any luster. He eventually regained full consciousness. Upon seeing Wei Heng, he let out a sigh.

He looked at Wei Heng before him, then thought of him as a child—one effeminate and handsome, the other tender and intelligent. As the two images gradually merged, he felt a profound sadness.

This person could also be considered his student. Back then, he, along with Yao Yao and another boy, had all followed him, learning martial arts and practicing swordsmanship, as if it were just yesterday.

Uncle Ming had once held great hopes for Wei Heng. However, he could never have anticipated the cruelty of fate: the Xilin Race's betrayal, young Wei Heng's resolute departure, and now, this treatment towards him.

The pain in Uncle Ming's body paled in comparison to the pain in his heart. He had loved this child so much back then, teaching him how to read and the breathing techniques. Yet, in the end, his head was personally severed by this very child and preserved in an earthen jar.

"Uncle Ming, did you sleep well?" Wei Heng asked, a smile on his handsome, effeminate face, appearing very amiable.

Uncle Ming did not want to speak. In this situation, what more could be said? There was only profound sadness. Both were prodigies from that era, yet Yao Yao was so deeply emotional.

"I wonder how Yao Yao is doing," Uncle Ming murmured at last. He was deeply worried about Yao Yao, a genius envied by heaven, hailed as the most astonishing talent since ancient times, yet she met such a fate. Could that child truly be revived? Whenever Uncle Ming thought of her, his heart ached.

A cold glint flashed in Wei Heng's eyes but quickly returned to composure. He smiled faintly and said, "Yao Yao has already entered the shattered universe within the chaos. I know Uncle Ming, you wish to know her recent circumstances. It's no harm to tell you: she was taken out of Earth by the corpse of Martial Uncle Saint, which contained a remnant soul. You must be very happy, right?"

"Hmm, they did come here. However, my ancestor Wei Xilin has also achieved Reflection-of-All-Heavens. In this land of reflection, on Xilin's home ground, they couldn't gain an advantage. Furthermore, the ancient ancestors of major orthodoxies like the Celestial Race and the Netherworld Race had already laid out an inescapable net; he almost fell into the trap, but unfortunately, he still managed to escape."

Upon hearing this, Uncle Ming felt both joy and worry, his expression complex.

Wei Heng sneered, saying, "Don't think that just because they entered the shattered universe within the chaos, their lives will be easy. That place contains primordial Chaos Deities and prehistoric remnant races. That realm is currently in great turmoil."

"Only through chaos can the established order be broken, and only then can there be hope," Uncle Ming said, showing no anxiety.

Wei Heng said, "Uncle Ming, I woke you up today because I want to grant you complete liberation. I believe your heart has been too weary living from ancient times until now. It's better for you to rest in eternal peace."

"So, you're finally going to make your move against me," Uncle Ming said calmly, having long anticipated this day.

Wei Heng shook his head, a faint smile playing on his lips. "No, no, no! How could I lay a hand on my own mentor? I have always respected teachers and valued the Dao. Uncle Ming, I intend to trade you away, to sell you to Yin Jiuque. He had his Sub-Saint foundation severed by a field on Earth and is now half-crippled. He needs a Saint's life origin for his tribulation, to restore his cultivation."

"Hmm, not bad," said Yuwen Chengkong, a former Starry Sky Rider whose hands were stained with blood, now a Saint and a ruthless figure. He nodded, acknowledging that Uncle Ming's origin was still usable.

Yin Jiuque's fiery red hair began to flutter, his eyes growing brighter and brighter, like surging magma. He was very satisfied, licking his scarlet lips as he declared, "The merchandise appears to be of extremely high quality. I've decided to buy it!"

This was a transaction, and the merchandise was Uncle Ming!

Everyone present was very powerful, either Sub-Saints or Saints.

Uncle Ming recognized Yin Jiuque and Yuwen Chengkong and knew their misdeeds were too numerous to count. Now, he was to become the very origin from which such individuals would restore their cultivation. His heart swelled with grief and indignation, yet he felt powerless and helpless.

In the end, he remained silent, not uttering a single word.

Wei Heng smiled, though his expression was slightly cruel. He said, "Uncle Ming, go in peace. You've been too weary all these years. The mother planet has already perished, and there's no hope left for it. What waves can those few remaining 'kittens and puppies' possibly stir up? It's quite laughable. So, you old man, there's no need for you to toil and exert yourself in secret anymore. In the future, my Xilin Race will return to the mother planet, rebuild our home, and at that time, the mother planet will rise and shine once more. That is where true hope lies."

Yin Jiuque took out a small piece of metal that emitted a dazzling light and handed it to Wei Heng. The deal was struck.

It was a small, mottled, and impure piece of mother gold, yet it was priceless, enough to tempt even peerless masters.

"Excellent!" Wei Heng nodded, for he had profited greatly from this transaction. Under normal circumstances, how could mother gold ever circulate in the market?

In the cosmic starry sky, a spaceship traveled through a dark region, daring not to enter any inhabited star systems, constantly smuggling itself through.

"Let me tell you, in this Netherworld, the most detested and hated major races are the Xilin Race, Celestial Race, Netherworld Race, Spirit Race, and Machine Race, among others. There are also the Starry Sky Riders; they are utterly contemptible, having committed every kind of bloody atrocity. Everyone should seek to destroy them. If you see them, don't say a word, just go straight up and blast them!"

Chu Feng was imparting to young girl Xi the "correct" worldview, philosophy of life, and values for surviving in this universe. As he spoke with growing intensity, he wished he could act immediately.

This chapter is late. I've received many forty-meter broadswords already, no need to send more. Just a quick note: there will be no fewer chapters today, and I'll work hard.