Chapter 327: Thunder World

Canglan Star. As soon as Luo Feng and his companions’ spacecraft arrived, they were guided by a traction signal to the planetary docking port.

“Now we can only fly.”

“It won’t take long. At our speed, we’ll arrive in a few minutes,” Luo Feng smiled and, together with the other four, flew toward a distant bustling metropolis—Thunder City. Originally, this city didn’t bear this name. Later, a World Lord created a world here, which was discovered in this city.

This World Lord’s domain became famous for its thunder, and was thereafter known as the “Thunder World.”

Therefore, people from other planets began referring to this city as “Thunder City.”

“We’ve arrived at Thunder City.”

Luo Feng and the other four descended. Within the city, floating vehicles hovered everywhere, and some people flew through the air unaided.

“The headquarters of the Galactic Mercenary Alliance is about thirty kilometers northeast,” Thunder God said, glancing at the map displayed on his auxiliary brain before pointing in the general direction. The five of them swiftly made their way toward the headquarters—the World Lord’s domain lay within.

The Mercenary Alliance headquarters was constructed only after the discovery of the World Lord’s domain.

…

Luo Feng and the four entered the Galactic Mercenary Alliance headquarters.

“You should head this way. The villa surrounded by heavy guards is the Thunder World,” a staff member pointed to a solitary villa in the distance, isolated amidst a vast, open area guarded by numerous sentinels.

“Thunder World?”

“A villa?”

Everyone gazed at the building.

The staff member grinned. “Back then, the ‘World Lord’ who built the Thunder World might have been living incognito in Thunder City, purchasing a villa and constructing the Thunder World within it. Who could have imagined that such a modest villa would contain a world far vaster than the entire Canglan Star? Over countless years, all surrounding villas have long since crumbled into ruins.”

“Ah?” Luo Feng nodded, then smiled and thanked, “Thank you.”

“Let’s go.” Luo Feng, Hong, Thunder God, and the other two strode directly toward the distant villa.

Surrounding the villa were layers of guards.

Suddenly—

The guards swiftly parted to form a path. A man emerged, wearing a “One-Star Mercenary” badge on his chest. He looked up to the sky while the surrounding guards stood respectfully around him, clearly indicating he was a high-ranking figure in the alliance.

“What’s going on?” Luo Feng was slightly surprised.

“Look, a spacecraft is approaching from the sky,” Thunder God pointed upward. The five of them, along with many others at the Mercenary Alliance headquarters, looked up. A spacecraft appeared in the distance, flashing into view and hovering above the headquarters.

Whoosh! The hatch opened!

Then, a group of young men and women—clearly of various races—descended, over twenty in total.

“Lord Gaya.” The mercenary leader stepped forward.

Among the descending youths was a man clad in a purple battle suit, exuding extraordinary beauty. He wore a “Two-Star Mercenary” badge on his chest. “I’m just delivering some of my juniors for the ‘Trainee Mercenary Assessment.’ There’s no need for you to personally greet me.”

“Lord Gaya once saved my life. How could I not come out to welcome you?” the mercenary leader laughed, then turned to the group of young people. “So these are the new recruits from the Black Cloud Society. Hmm, they seem quite impressive!”

“Haha, there are indeed a few promising talents among them,” the purple-clad man smiled.

He then scanned the group of youths and declared, “The Galactic Trainee Mercenary Assessment is dangerous—I need not elaborate further. I only wish… that I will see you all again in the Black Cloud Society. Enter the World Lord’s domain now.”

“Yes, Commander.”

The youths respectfully responded.

They naturally divided into four teams, each containing warriors ranging from Stellar Grade Second Stage to Stellar Grade Eighth and Ninth Stages. The four teams quickly entered the villa one after another. Though the villa appeared ordinary in size, more than twenty people entered without issue, as though it were a bottomless abyss.

…

The purple-clad man standing there exuded an aura that made even ordinary people feel as though they had encountered a venomous snake—naturally evoking a sense of dread.

Luo Feng, Hong, Thunder God, and the other two remained in the crowd at a distance, not daring to approach at this moment.

“Black Cloud Society? They mentioned the Black Cloud Society. What is the Black Cloud Society?” Murmurs spread among the surrounding crowd.

“What is the Black Cloud Society?” Luo Feng turned to Hong and Thunder God.

“I don’t know.”

“Master, we don’t know either,” Ao Gu and Tie Nanhe shook their heads.

Suddenly, nearby conversations caught Luo Feng’s attention: “The Black Cloud Society is one of the four major organizations of the Black Dragon Mountain Empire. The Black Dragon Mountain Empire governs the entire Black Dragon Mountain Star Region, spanning over eight thousand star systems! Naturally, the empire’s strongest forces are its two great holy places, followed by the four major organizations and sixteen great families.”

“What are the two holy places?”

“You don’t even know that?”

“The two holy places are ‘Black Dragon Mountain’ and ‘Ice Sea Divine Kingdom.’ It’s said that both were founded by Immortals, each possessing many World Lords under their command.”

“Each of the sixteen great families has at least one World Lord. A World Lord possesses the might to destroy heavens and earth, and create entire worlds. Naturally, either of the two holy places could easily annihilate all sixteen families.”

“If Black Dragon Mountain, Ice Sea Divine Kingdom, and the sixteen families represent the official forces, then the four organizations are the civilian powers… Their lineages span millions of years. Some ancient elders of the four organizations even entered the Qianwu Galactic Empire.”

…

The murmurs captivated Luo Feng and the other four, who listened intently.

So this was how the Black Dragon Mountain Empire’s power was divided: two holy places, four organizations, and sixteen families.

“Luofeng, here’s information about the power distribution in the Black Dragon Mountain Empire,” Babata’s voice echoed in Luo Feng’s mind. Instantly, his bracer screen displayed a wealth of textual data. While Luo Feng reviewed it, he simultaneously shared the information with Hong, Thunder God, Ao Gu, and Tie Nanhe.

Upon reading, Luo Feng was astounded.

The foundation of the Black Dragon Mountain Empire lay in the two holy places: Black Dragon Mountain and Ice Sea Divine Kingdom. These were the empire’s strongest official forces!

Among the civilian powers were the four organizations.

Their influence spanned thousands of star systems, each organization boasting a group of World Lord-level experts. In terms of strength, they were formidable. Moreover, the backgrounds of the four organizations were tied to some high-ranking, powerful figures in the Qianwu Galactic Empire. Thus, although the organizations might not be as tightly organized as the two holy places, their peak martial might was nearly equal.

“What? Nuo Lanshan is part of the ‘Hundred Tigers Mansion’ among the four organizations?” Luo Feng’s heart jolted. After reading the details Babata provided about Nuo Lanshan’s position in the Hundred Tigers Mansion, he exhaled in relief. “Good thing he’s only a grassroots member with no real authority.”

…

Among the Black Dragon Mountain Empire, the four organizations could stir up blood and storm.

If the Nuo Lanshan family was merely a drop of water, then each of the four organizations was an endless, surging sea! With formidable martial might and deep-rooted connections, the Black Dragon Mountain Empire could only acknowledge the existence of these four organizations.

“Such a big background for Nuo Lanshan?” Thunder God was astonished, forming a soundproof barrier with his willpower.

“He’s just a grassroots member of the Hundred Tigers Mansion, not part of the upper echelons,” Hong replied.

The Hundred Tigers Mansion, one of the four organizations, considered a warrior at Cosmic Grade Ninth Stage merely a basic member.

“The Three Axe Mountains, Hundred Tigers Mansion, Black Cloud Society, and North Dragon City—all are dominant forces in the Black Dragon Mountain Empire,” Luo Feng mused, feeling a sense of aspiration. If one day he could attain a high position in one of these organizations, a single command could reduce the Nuo Lanshan family to ruins and force the surrender of thousands of inhabited planets.

“Stop daydreaming!”

“Strength is what matters most. When you possess the same might as your master, a single word from you will make the entire Black Dragon Mountain Empire tremble,” Babata shouted. “What do I care about those so-called holy places? Your master already has nine immortal servants under his command!”

Luo Feng smiled.

Before his master, the Black Dragon Mountain Empire had to bow. But for Luo Feng himself, the Black Dragon Mountain Empire remained a colossal force.

…

“We are here to participate in the Galactic Trainee Mercenary Assessment.”

Luo Feng and the other four stood before the villa.

Beep!

The signal scanned the five. Upon hearing the sound, the guards nodded. “You may enter.” Clearly, Luo Feng and his companions’ identities had been verified.

A spacious garden.

Within the garden stood a three-story villa. At the entrance stood two black-clad women with cold expressions. One of them looked at Luo Feng and the others and solemnly said, “Five adventurers, I believe you understand the dangers of the World Lord’s domain you are about to enter! You may still withdraw now if you wish!”

“No need. Open the door,” Luo Feng said.

Creak!

One of the black-clad women pushed open the villa’s door. “The World Lord’s domain lies on the second floor.”

The five entered the villa one after another, proceeding up the stairs to the second floor. The other rooms on the second floor appeared normal, except one where a woman with purple markings on her face stood. Upon seeing the five, she immediately opened the door. Instantly, a stream of radiant light poured out.

“This is—” the five held their breath, staring.

The shimmering light, like foam, obscured their vision of the room’s interior.

“Enter, and you will be in the Thunder World,” the woman said coldly.

“Understood.”

Luo Feng, Hong, Thunder God, Ao Gu, and Tie Nanhe exchanged glances, then all extended their hands, linking one another. If they didn’t hold hands, they would be scattered to different locations upon entering the Thunder World.

“Thunder World!”

“Let’s go!”

Tie Nanhe took the first step into the radiant light, followed by Thunder God, Luo Feng, Hong, and finally Ao Gu.

Silently,

The five vanished completely into the light.

“Snap!” The woman at the door closed it again.