Chapter 609: Departure, Lianjun Star

A moment later.

Dongbo Xueying, who had just learned that the final rare material might be within reach, saw the young man before him.

“A First Heaven Realm God?” Dongbo Xueying was slightly surprised—this visitor was even weaker than the previous ones.

“Greetings, Divine Emperor Dongbo.” The handsome young man stood respectfully. “Upon hearing that Your Majesty required the Seven-Leaf Stone Fruit, I rushed here immediately. Thankfully, I arrived alive.”

Dongbo Xueying was taken aback.

Alive?

Indeed, this young man was far too weak—merely a First Heaven Realm God. If he had traveled from some remote region, the journey would have been fraught with danger.

“Do you possess the Seven-Leaf Stone Fruit?” Dongbo Xueying asked.

“Yes!” The young man’s eyes gleamed as he nodded. “I obtained it by chance! However, due to the dangers of the journey, the fruit is with my true body.”

Dongbo Xueying smiled faintly. “Name your request. Divine crystals? Treasures? Or something else?”

The young man bowed. “I seek no treasures. I only wish to become Your Majesty’s disciple and receive guidance. Without proper instruction, I fear I will never advance beyond the Second Heaven Realm God.”

“Become my disciple?” Dongbo Xueying was momentarily stunned before realization dawned. For an ordinary First Heaven Realm God, the greatest desire would indeed be to find a powerful mentor—preferably a mighty expert.

“My cultivation journey has been brief, and I have many responsibilities. I fear I cannot devote enough time to properly instruct you.” As soon as Dongbo Xueying spoke, the young man’s face paled. But Dongbo Xueying continued, “However, I can introduce you to a teacher far superior to me.”

With that, he sent a mental message to Patriarch Redflame.

Patriarch Redflame had been residing in the estate all these years. Upon receiving Dongbo Xueying’s message and learning that the final rare material was in the young man’s possession, he immediately rushed over without hesitation.

“Whoosh.” Patriarch Redflame arrived in the garden.

Dongbo Xueying gestured toward him. “Young man, this is Patriarch Redflame, a transcendent mighty expert! A mighty expert who has mastered the complete laws of the universe. No matter how strong I may be, I have yet to transcend. He is far more suited to instructing disciples than I am.”

The young man’s eyes sparkled.

To become the disciple of a mighty expert? That was more than acceptable! Although Divine Emperor Dongbo was renowned and immensely powerful, his words made sense—after all, Dongbo Xueying was only a Fourth Heaven Realm God. In terms of teaching, he might not compare to this mighty expert, Patriarch Redflame.

“Patriarch, he has cultivated for only thirty million years. He shows promise,” Dongbo Xueying said.

“Not bad.” Patriarch Redflame nodded with a smile. “Young man, what is your name?”

“Qi Qiong,” the young man replied eagerly.

“Qi Qiong, I accept you as my disciple. Stay here for now. I will retrieve the Seven-Leaf Stone Fruit from your true body.” With that, Patriarch Redflame departed. Having established a karmic connection with the young man, he could easily locate his true body.

The young man quickly added, “Master, my true body is at—” But before he could finish, Patriarch Redflame had already vanished.

Bewildered, the young man turned to Dongbo Xueying. “Your Majesty, does my master know where I am?”

“He does,” Dongbo Xueying replied with a smile.

Half an hour later, Patriarch Redflame returned with the Seven-Leaf Stone Fruit in hand.

“Excellent. Everything is ready—only the final step remains.” Dongbo Xueying took the stone fruit adorned with seven green leaves and smiled. “Patriarch, focus on teaching your disciple. I must take my leave.”

—

Piloting the Starfield Ark, Dongbo Xueying departed from the Blackmist Sea and set course for the residence of Star Master Lianjun.

Standing at the bow of the ark, surrounded by the radiant currents of the spacetime tunnel, Dongbo Xueying contacted Fiendfire Ruler. Fiendfire had long since returned to his own abode, taking Dongbo Qingyao with him to guide her cultivation.

“Brother Fiendfire,” Dongbo Xueying transmitted mentally, “I am on my way to visit Star Master Lianjun. From what I know, she is wholly devoted to artifact forging and rarely interacts with others. She is notoriously indifferent toward other cultivators. Do you have any advice on how I might persuade her to assist me?”

“That complicates matters. The star she resides on was personally arranged by Empress Qianhe, filled with numerous forging sites. But it also makes the entire star perilous—even top-tier Rulers dare not trespass recklessly,” Fiendfire Ruler replied. “Force is not an option. You must appeal to her temperament. The real challenge is whether she will even grant you an audience.”

“Understood,” Dongbo Xueying acknowledged.

That was indeed the crux of the issue.

According to intelligence, some mighty experts had visited Star Master Lianjun only to be denied even a meeting. Her aloofness was legendary—she treated ordinary mighty experts with indifference, and even formidable Rulers received the same cold reception. Only Dominators, with their overwhelming power, could command her respect.

Ironically, her temperament only endeared her further to Empress Qianhe.

Now highly proficient in spacetime, Dongbo Xueying reached the remote reaches of the Divine Realm in mere moments. Amidst the void floated a solitary, eerie black star. The surrounding space was devoid of other celestial bodies, and the star itself seemed to freeze the very fabric of reality, exuding an endless chill that spanned trillions of miles.

“Rip!”

The Starfield Ark emerged from the spacetime tunnel. Clad in black, Dongbo Xueying stood atop the ark, gazing at the distant, frigid black star.

“Lianjun Star?” Dongbo Xueying knew this was the abode of Star Master Lianjun, the most skilled artifact forger among the Rulers.

Stowing the ark, he traversed the void, swiftly closing in on the star.

As he neared, ripples of spatial energy undulated around him, carrying a faint sense of threat. Yet Dongbo Xueying did not resist, allowing the waves to wash over him.

From within the ripples emerged a white-robed elder.

The elder smiled faintly. “This is Lianjun Star. My mistress seldom receives guests.”

“Please inform her that Dongbo Xueying seeks an audience,” Dongbo Xueying said.

“Wait here. Do not advance further—proceed, and the formations will strike you down without warning,” the elder cautioned before vanishing.

Dongbo Xueying understood—the elder was no true living being, merely a formation or artifact spirit.

Surveying the spatial ripples surrounding Lianjun Star, he mused, “Empress Qianhe truly dotes on her. I’ve heard this star is layered with countless formations. This one alone may not breach my armor, but it could easily imprison me.”

Even top-tier Rulers dared not trespass—such was the deterrent power of Lianjun Star.

—

On Lianjun Star, a woman clad in pristine white robes reclined on a massive leaf, engrossed in a book detailing formations. Two maids attended to her.

“Whoosh.” The white-robed elder materialized beside her and bowed. “Mistress, a guest seeks an audience.”

“Who?” The woman arched an eyebrow, her gaze serene.

“He calls himself Dongbo Xueying,” the elder replied. As a mere formation spirit, he knew little of the name.

“Dongbo Xueying?” The woman frowned. “That disciple of Bloodblade Divine Emperor? I heard Empress Qianhe, the Island Lord of Spacetime, and the Master of Ten Thousand Palms joined forces against Bloodblade Divine Emperor and Niro the Dominator. Niro lost a clone in battle, and Bloodblade fled in disgrace, seething with rage. And now his disciple comes to see me?”