Swallowed Star 2: Land of Origin

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Luo Feng stood alone on the tower, overlooking Xiangjie City at nightfall. He looked down at the command token in his hand, contemplating every word uttered by the Deputy Palace Master 'Walker' from the two realms.

"Once I join, they would send me to a secret location left by Yuan?" Luo Feng was indeed tempted; he carried an inheritance related to Yuan, the Lie Yuan Technique, and naturally, he desired similar opportunities.

Still, Luo Feng remained vigilant.

The two realms palace claimed that all stand at equal status, cooperating and exchanging fairly. But were the spoken words necessarily true?

"Best to ask Master first," Luo Feng thought.

...

In Chu Capital, within the Palace of Emperor Chu.

Luo Feng went to see his master that very night.

"The Deputy Palace Master 'Walker' from the two realms came to invite you?" Emperor Chu sat there, nodding in acknowledgment. "The two realms palace acts swiftly. You're merely a Transcendent of Primal Chaos Realm, and they've already extended an invitation, even offering you a chance to enter a treasure site. That's quite a grand gesture."

Luo Feng listened.

If Master calls it a grand gesture, then this opportunity must be significant indeed.

"What he said isn't wrong," Emperor Chu nodded. "The resources of the two ancient countries are mainly allocated to the Imperial Clan. Those not of the Imperial Clan need to exchange merit points or pay a certain price to trade."

Luo Feng understood; the Deputy Palace Master hadn't lied.

"It's a rule set by the Ancestor," Emperor Chu continued. "The Ancestor commanded that after meticulous selection, the treasures he brought back could be used to focus on cultivating elites within the clan. Thus, the clan's elites enjoy numerous benefits. The dukes of the Imperial Clan get a fair share, and the Godly Kings of the Imperial Clan receive even more!

This incites envy among many Godly Kings in the Land of Origin.

"But the Ancestor stated that powerful individuals not of the Imperial Clan... the Ancestor would grant them 'opportunities to exchange for inheritances, exchange for resources.' However, they must be through the exchange of merit points or other fair trades."

"There can be no free gifts; exchanges must be fair," Emperor Chu said, smiling at Luo Feng. "Even if you are taken as a direct disciple, to gift anything of value to the disciple, the master must bear the cost.

For instance, the resources I gave you, or even the inheritances within the Godly King range you'll exchange for in the future, such as the 'Extermination of Seventy-Two Blades' or the 'Eight Tribulations Life Form,' all come out of my own pocket."

Luo Feng understood.

Both Ancestors believed in fair exchange with those not in their own families. There would be no free resources.

"Thank you, Master," Luo Feng expressed with gratitude.

Both those inheritances, particularly the content at the Ultimate Realm of God King level, amassed a cumulative cost of hundreds of millions of merit points.

"So, the help I can offer you is limited," Emperor Chu remarked. "Plus, I owe the clan a hefty debt of merit points."

"Owing merit points to the clan?" Luo Feng questioned, confused.

"Indeed, the resources left by Yuan are allocated to some extent," Emperor Chu explained. "However, if one wants to apply for additional, exceedingly high resources beyond the clan's allotment, that's considered a debt. I applied for an enormous amount of resources to become an Emperor."

"The Ancestors are willing to exchange fairly with other cultivators for the resources needed to become Emperors or Monarchs. But the other Godly Kings of the Land of Origin simply can't afford it," said Emperor Chu. "That's the real reason why only the two Imperial Clans have Emperors and Monarchs."

"Being in debt, I must carry out many missions, from which I cannot excuse myself."

"The resources left by Yuan are extremely valuable. Claiming a portion means I must repay the clan, until my debt is fully settled," Emperor Chu stated. "The thirteen bloodlines of Imperial Clan Emperors lay claim to the Land of Origin's most precious resources by strength, but they all end up repaying the clan."

"Except for Emperor Qing, the other twelve Emperors are in debt to the clan," explained Emperor Chu. "Emperor Qing has some authority to bestow the Yuan's resources owned by the clan to his disciples. But we twelve Emperors don't have that power."

Luo Feng now understood.

"You are my disciple and a Guest Elder of the Flame Wind Ancient Country," Emperor Chu said. "Unless the Ancestor personally invites you with sufficient promises, you have no need to fully join the Flame Wind Ancient Country. While joining might offer some benefits, it would greatly increase the restrictions on you. For a powerful Godly King, it's better to remain free."

"I understand," Luo Feng nodded. "Master, should I join the two realms palace then?"

"Do not join," said Emperor Chu firmly.

Luo Feng was puzzled.

"Across the entire Land of Origin, although the Imperial Clans of the two ancient countries are powerful, there are more Godly Kings outside of the Imperial Clan in number," Emperor Chu explained. "They indeed have the right to contend for Yuan's resources and thus have formed forces of varying sizes, both overt and covert."

"There are three major covert forces that you shouldn't join: the two realms palace, the Wanfa Tower, and the Time-Space Lonely Boat," Emperor Chu warned.

"Why shouldn't I join?" Luo Feng inquired.

"These three covert forces are likely established by an alien race," Emperor Chu disclosed. "By alien race, I mean cultivators from beyond the Braided Cage."

Luo Feng was shocked: "Alien race?"

"There's no need for concern. The alien races are suppressed by supreme rules, and any technique or power they display is limited, unable to exceed a certain boundary within the Primal Chaos Realm," Emperor Chu explained. "Once limited in power, no matter how profound, they are at best a somewhat more troublesome First Realm of Godly King."

Luo Feng breathed a sigh of relief.

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"Their true strength should be beyond that of the Ultimate Realm of a Godly King," said Emperor Chu. "That's why even if it is a weak avatar that descends into our realm from the vast Primordial Space, a First Realm Godly King that can't be killed outright with its inscrutable and bizarre methods still brings much trouble to the two Ancient Countries."

"What are they doing in the Land of Origin?" asked Luo Feng.

"The resources left by the Ancestor," Emperor Chu replied. "You may not be fully aware of how precious the resources left by the Ancestor are. They are resources that even those above the Ultimate Realm of a Godly King still covet."

"I do not want you to join those three major alien race forces because, firstly, the aliens are those most eager to obtain the Ancestor's resources, and with all your actions under their surveillance, the aliens will be your direct competition. Secondly, who knows what hidden risks there might be after prolonged contact with them."

"For example, those so-called Dual-Realm Palace, Wanfa Tower, and Time-Space Lonely Boat are Secret Treasures that transcend the Ultimate Realm of a Godly King. Is there a hidden danger in allowing one's mind to enter such places over time? It's difficult to say." Emperor Chu looked at Luo Feng. "As for other powers? You can join any that you prefer."

"I understand, Master," Luo Feng thought to himself, having made up his mind after learning that these three powerful forces were established by alien races.

Some Godly King Second Realm cultivators who have lived for an exceedingly long time might place their trust in their own strength and, in pursuit of breakthroughs, choose to deal with the alien races, making pacts with tigers, so to speak. But Luo Feng was young, and there was no need for him to do the same.

"Although there are several sacred places left by the Ancestor, very few of them are accessible to those in the Primal Chaos Realm," Emperor Chu said. "Perhaps only these three major forces have the boldness to directly offer you a chance to enter."

Luo Feng nodded.

Indeed, no pies fall from the sky. The better the pie appears, the bigger the problems. Who could have imagined the Dual-Realm Palace was backed by an alien race?

"Let me think."

Emperor Chu sat down, thinking rapidly.

Now that the resources of the Land of Origin had long been clearly divided, acquiring resources without using force was difficult. And Luo Feng, just transcending the Primal Chaos Realm, could not compete for resources with those ancient beings.

"In the Primal Chaos Realm, if you want to gain a great opportunity left by the Ancestor, other than cooperating with the alien races, there's only one strategy I can think of!" Emperor Chu had an idea.

"What strategy?" Luo Feng's eyes lit up.

"You should know that the border of the two Ancient Countries nurtures various heavenly and earthly treasures, which the cultivators from both realms of the Ancient Countries vie for," Emperor Chu began. "These competitions are usually confined to the Primal Chaos Realm."

"And you are from the Primal Chaos Realm! Even better, you are the top of those who have transcended the Primal Chaos Realm, the absolute best," Emperor Chu looked at Luo Feng. "As one from the Primal Chaos Realm, it's in accordance with the rules of the two Ancient Countries for you to compete for resources scattered throughout the Thunder Ancient Country's borders."

Luo Feng nodded.

"The border between the two countries is very long, and many heavenly and earthly treasures are nurtured there," said Emperor Chu. "I will send you all the information about the maturity times of these treasures, and you will go and compete for them time and again."

"Each contest over these treasures will be valued at a few thousand Merit Points. But in one Era, you should be able to compete over a hundred times, and that amounts to several hundred thousand Merit Points."

"In One Hundred Eras, that's several tens of millions of Merit Points."

"In one thousand Eras, thats several billion Merit Points."

"Because each treasure nurtured by heaven and earth is generally worth only a few thousand Merit Points, it's unlikely that a Godly King will personally intervene for such small gains, escalating it to an emperor-level war," Emperor Chu looked at Luo Feng. "If you continue to compete consistently, with your overwhelming strength, you will succeed every time."

"After you've contested a few dozen times, the Thunder Ancient Country will realize the seriousness of the problem, and they will come to negotiate with you," Emperor Chu continued. "Then, you can demand a slot to enter the sacred place left by the Ancestor."

"As a Guest Elder of the Flame Wind Ancient Country, you can't act against your own. So you act against them, make them feel the pain, and coerce them into granting you the opportunity," Emperor Chu smiled. "This is the only strategy I can think of."

"Thank you, Master," Luo Feng's eyes sparkled.

Transcending the Primal Chaos Realm, with realms all below that of a Godly King, naturally makes it very hard to increase one's strength. Like the current top five transcendents of the Primal Chaos Realm, the differences between them are miniscule; it's only their methods that vary.

And in this era, there appeared someone like Luo Feng, turning the battleground where the Primal Chaos Realm of the two Ancient Countries once contended, into Luo Feng's sweeping harvest field.

"Go," said Emperor Chu.

As he watched his disciple depart, Emperor Chu sighed quietly to himself.

He wanted to help his disciple, but his own means were also quite limited; he could only give a bit of his resources to his disciple. As for the precious resources left by the Ancestor, he had no authority to allocate them.

In the end, he could only devise strategies, allowing his disciple to fight for them with his own abilities.

...

"The border between the two Ancient Countries is really long."

Standing aloft, Luo Feng started to take action following the strategies laid out by his master.

The two Ancient Countries occupied the most essential parts of the Land of Origin, and the areas where their borders met were the central regions of the Land of Origin! Many heavenly and earthly treasures were nurtured there, only that these treasures also had their growth cycles.

They only needed strict guarding when they were ripe.

"Strict guarding? With the help of Formations, how many can stop me?" Luo Feng's body was carrying no less than ninety billion strands of Black River. "Let's begin!"

Used to the customary struggles of the Primal Chaos Realm at the border, from this day onward, Luo He, the number one transcendent of the Primal Chaos Realm, also joined in.

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