Chapter 1208 - Reception Galaxy

All newly ascended cultivators, after entering the Outer Heaven and being assigned to their respective universes, receive a one-year period of rest. This year is intended to allow them to become familiar with the Outer Heaven, their newly assigned universe, and to process the rewards they have received. Once the rest period ends, they will be collectively summoned by the Reception Universe of the Nine Shores Heaven, preparing them for their future duties. As this information surfaced in Xu Qing's mind, he had already returned to the Immortal Palace of the Moyang Universe. Standing in the center of the teleportation array, Xu Qing did not hesitate to activate it. As for the Fox Beauty, she transformed into a mark affixed to Xu Qing's arm. Soon, with the palace trembling, a terrifying wave spread out in all directions. Amidst a thunderous roar, the teleportation power fully erupted. This transmission took far longer than Xu Qing's previous experiences, indicating that the reception universe was extremely distant from Moyang. He couldn't tell how much time had passed, but in Xu Qing’s perception, it felt as if he had immersed himself in a vibrant, polychromatic dream. Everything was blurred, countless colors weaving into twisted lights. Until the light gradually dispersed, and his vision cleared. A vast golden river entered Xu Qing’s sight. This river spanned innumerable star domains, hosting countless constellations, filled with countless stars. Each star radiated a unique golden light, seemingly stationary, yet the flowing starlight imparted an illusion that the golden river was flowing downward. This was Xu Qing's first time witnessing such a golden galaxy. This place was the Reception Universe, one of the seventy-two authoritative Dao regions in the entire Nine Shores Heaven, second only to the Immortal Palace. It belonged to the administrative system of the Nine Shores Heaven, capable of commanding other related systems in this realm during its epoch. It wasn’t just responsible for receiving newly ascended cultivators but also guided the smaller worlds under the Fifth Starring and managed all various races within the universes of the Fifth Starring. It was, to some extent, both a training camp for soldiers and a personnel organization division. Those stationed here were naturally lesser immortals, and quite a number of them too. As Xu Qing marveled at the majesty of the golden river, a strand of starlight split off from the incredible river, racing toward him. Compared to the whole golden river, this light was insignificant, yet from Xu Qing’s perspective, due to proximity, it appeared vast. It swiftly enveloped and began to draw him closer. The source of this golden starlight leading Xu Qing was a star within a constellation in the river’s downstream region. Such starlight guidance was common in this reception universe. All cultivators teleported here experienced the same. Depending on their purpose for coming, different regions of starlight would appear to guide them. The next instant, caught in this golden light’s pull, Xu Qing’s body surged toward the star. So swift was the movement that he appeared like a comet descending. Instantly, he passed from outside the galaxy into it, entering the particular radiating star among countless others. Everything before his eyes transformed dramatically until a reverberating boom echoed. Xu Qing’s body plunged into the sea upon this star. It was a black sea, incredibly viscous, akin to a gelatinous substance. The impact from falling onto the sea's surface was enormous, but Xu Qing's formidable cultivation allowed him to endure. Had it been someone of lower cultivation, perhaps their soul would have been expelled under such pull, and their body shattered upon falling. Even with his powerful cultivation, at the moment of impact, Xu Qing was submerged beneath the gelatinous black sea, forming a deep crater in its surface. After a brief struggle, Xu Qing flew out from the hole he had created, surveying his surroundings. The sky was gold, and the land entirely composed of an expansive black gelatinous sea, boundless and infinite. In midair, one could see strands of golden starlight still continuously guiding cultivators to their destination. Consequently, the sound of bodies crashing into the sea echoed repeatedly. There were now dozens of pits on the surface of the sea. Several cultivators emerged successively from these pits, most looking somewhat bedraggled. Some even had blood at the corners of their mouths, clearly shaken. Among the crowd, Xu Qing spotted Zhou Zhengli, Evil Spirit Daoist, Li Mengtu, and Yuan Shan Su, as well as Thousand Troops Quell. These individuals, like Xu Qing, were ascendants from his universe. All of them had been guided here. Starring Daoist was also among them. However, compared to the others’ dishevelment, Starring Daoist appeared obviously more composed. When Xu Qing’s gaze landed on him, he turned and glanced at Xu Qing. The two exchanged silent gazes, each retracting their attention with expressionless faces. Time flowed, and more people arrived in succession, some alone, some in groups. According to past interactions and relationships over the past year, multiple factions formed. Evil Spirit Daoist remained characteristically solitary. Yuan Shan Su evidently did not wish to participate with other factions, intending to remain independent, yet some female cultivators naturally gathered around her. Thousand Troops Quell chose to stand beside Starring Daoist, surrounded by dozens of cultivators who made the same choice. The largest group, however, naturally converged around Xu Qing. The reputation of being the foremost compelled many to approach him with smiles upon sight. Zhou Zhengli and Li Mengtu were among them, walking up to Xu Qing’s side, the former remaining humbly bowed with a subservient smile. The latter appeared grave, speaking in a low tone. "Brother Xu, this batch is short by eleven people!" “I calculated, only eighty-nine have arrived!” Xu Qing nodded slightly, and Zhou Zhengli chuckled. “They must have died. Although this year is a rest period, it is also a period of adaptation. Our starring has always been like cultivating Gu worms.” “So…” Zhou Zhengli glanced at Xu Qing. Over the year, he had explored much about the Outer Heaven and thus held a cautious attitude toward the future. The thought of nurturing a relationship with Xu Qing deepened even more. Thus, he spoke again. "Not just in the former Four Great Starrings, but in the Outer Heaven, it’s even more brutal and intense." "And for those in high positions, to be genuinely valued, one must at least possess quasi-immortal level strength. Like the Young Master, Starring Daoist, and Yuan Shan Su, perhaps only you three might gain attention this time. The rulers… they won’t particularly care otherwise. So unless one has deeper connections, allying with a quasi-immortal for better prospects and resources naturally becomes the best choice." Zhou Zhengli did not conceal his voice during these last words, making them clearly heard by the ascendants surrounding Xu Qing. Thoughts of contemplation arose in their minds. Xu Qing glanced at Zhou Zhengli. Zhou Zhengli returned him a humble smile. Xu Qing withdrew his gaze, recalling Zhou Zhengli's parting words a year before. “He speculated that this time, all duties would keep everyone together…” Xu Qing pondered. Time continued to pass as they waited. They found themselves alone on the expansive sea, with no sign of guides. Everyone present was extraordinary, naturally not so easily perturbed by waiting for such a brief time, so they each sat cross-legged. After another hour passed, the moment the wind arose between heaven and earth, Xu Qing and Starring Daoist simultaneously perceived something, raising their heads to gaze at the sky. Yuan Shan Su was the third to look up. Others quickly followed suit. They witnessed fluctuations in the sky, gold light emerging. Similar to the guiding lights, about seventy to eighty strands appeared, with several leading the way, others following, gradually descending. In the next moment, the earth trembled. Among these golden lights, only a few bodies crashed and created craters in the sea, whereas most descended gently, remaining standing on the sea's surface as if accustomed to arriving here numerous times and mastering the art. They all wore identical attire. Each of them donned the gray robes and unique hundred-pocket apparel Xu Qing had seen in the Dao Refining Universe! This was characteristic attire exclusive to the infamously notorious Resource Envoys. There were seven or eight quasi-immortals among them, others followed their lead. Upon their descent, Xu Qing remained typical, but many from this batch of ascendants wore heavy expressions in their presence. Those eyed by the ascendants gave them a fleeting glance. The glances were lupine, conveying an indifferent, cold detachment from life. Without uttering a word, following the lead of the foremost figure, the group took flight into the distance. "Young Master, those are the Resource Envoys... Seems like this time, the star we're being guided to is likely related to resources," Zhou Zhengli murmured. Xu Qing nodded slightly. The arrivals hadn't ceased. After an incense stick's duration, golden light reappeared in the sky. Again, dozens of figures, clothed in hundred-pocket robes, descended. They didn't remain, heading directly away. Thus, as time flowed, waves of Resource Envoys continued to arrive. During this period, they mostly ignored the newly ascended like Xu Qing. Among them, possessing auras Xu Qing noticed more and more, he sensed a chill and greed, with increasingly stronger are drenched in auras of decay and death. Bloodstains lingered similarly. As if they frequently dealt with corpses and death. Until night fell and the golden light of the sky dimmed again, another few dozen golden lights shrieked down, converting into figures on the sea. Among them, one had an impressively formidable aura. He was an elder resembling a vulture, whose Immortal Embryo was nearly complete. Approaching immortality, fall short by just one step! After arriving, about to leave... Suddenly, among his followers, a middle-aged cultivator paused, turned, scanning Xu Qing and the others, finally focusing on... Starring Daoist and Thousand Troops Quell behind him. Subsequently, this cultivator smiled. Xu Qing recognized him; he was the quasi-immortal cultivator who once attempted to recruit Thousand Troops Quell in the Dao Refining Universe! At this moment, his focus was on Starring Daoist. His hesitation caused others accompanying him to also stop. Next, he hastened a few steps to the terrifying elder's side, whispering something. Afterward, the elder frowned slightly but eventually nodded. With the elder's approval, the middle-aged cultivator approached Starring Daoist with a smile. "Our squad lost several in battle this time, continuing recruitment, we're now summoning you three into our ranks!"