Chapter 331: Planet Fortress

Within the dominion of the Sovereign World upon the Azure Wave Star.

Luo Feng and the other four were swiftly clearing the battlefield. “Haha, no wonder these are the elites of the younger generation from Baihu Mansion. This little girl actually uses intelligent light brains!” Thunderclap was very pleased. Luo Feng used a ‘sentient intelligence’ beyond normal AI, Hong used an intelligent light brain, while Thunderclap had previously only used an auxiliary light brain.

“There’s also a spatial ring.”

“And a psychokinetic weapon.”

“Even combined, these six ninth-stage Stellar Warriors can’t rival the treasures this girl possesses.” Tie Nanhe swiftly gathered all the valuable items.

Among the six ninth-stage stellar warriors, three were psychokineticists and three were martial artists.

However, their skill level was comparable to the Noran Guards, so they were considered the lowest cannon fodder in Baihu Mansion, assigned merely to protect the two elites.

“Aogu, this flight psychokinetic weapon is yours.”

“Iron Nanhe, you can choose whichever primordial weapon you like.”

“As for this spatial ring…” Luo Feng’s gaze swept over Thunderclap, Aogu, and Tie Nanhe. Thunderclap immediately shouted, “Let me check this spatial ring first! The one I use is the smallest size.” Among the five team members, Luo Feng and Hong already had spatial rings; Thunderclap had bought his.

It was the smallest type available for purchase.

“Haha, this one is indeed bigger than mine!” Thunderclap was delighted.

…

After adjusting their equipment, Thunderclap, Tie Nanhe, and Aogu quickly left the battlefield and arrived at the foot of a distant mountain a thousand li away, where the five finally stopped.

“Next, we should go find the Wind Horn Stone,” Luo Feng looked at the others.

“The Wind Horn Stone exists in only one place within the Sovereign World—the core region of the Thunder World known as the Wind-Thunder Canyon,” Hong said, looking at the screen on his arm protector as he lightly tapped it to view details. “From here to the Wind-Thunder Canyon, the distance exceeds 300,000 kilometers. Even if the journey is smooth, it will take nearly a month to arrive.”

300,000 kilometers.

Within the Sovereign World, due to the intense gravitational pull and the fact that Luo Feng and his companions couldn’t fly at their maximum speed, with Babata’s vigilance, they could only advance about 10,000 kilometers per day at best. Thus, a month would still be required.

“The groups of Iron-Horned Rhinos live in several areas of this Sovereign World, all far from the core region.”

“No matter which location we choose to hunt the Iron-Horned Rhinos, we still have to head toward the Wind-Thunder Canyon eventually,” Thunderclap frowned. “This arrangement by the Galactic Mercenary Alliance clearly intends to make us cross half of the Sovereign World.”

The Sovereign World naturally harbored many threats.

Crossing half of the Sovereign World would undoubtedly involve a series of life-and-death crises. Even with vigilance, it wouldn’t be very effective against certain natural threats.

“This is a test, a way to eliminate the unfit,” Luo Feng shook his head. “The Galactic Mercenary Alliance wants to eliminate those who aren’t qualified. If one can’t even pass this test, they certainly won’t be fit for future interstellar adventures.”

“Hmm,” Hong nodded. “From our current location to the Wind-Thunder Canyon at the core of the Sovereign World, there are three routes. Let’s decide which one to take.”

“These three routes…” Thunderclap looked at the map on the screen. “All seem pretty dangerous.”

“The first route,” Luo Feng suggested.

The first route had slightly more beastly beasts and fewer natural threats. Of course, this was only relative to the other two routes.

“Fine, the first route then,” Hong agreed.

“Then let’s move out!” Thunderclap declared directly.

…

Luo Feng’s team began their longest journey yet within the Sovereign World. They dared not fly into the sky, as that would only attract beasts and lead to their deaths.

…

The Sovereign World was both paradise and hell.

An undeveloped Sovereign World was a treasure trove and paradise for many adventurers and mercenaries. However, it was also full of dangers, where one misstep could lead to death. Yet, countless adventurers and galactic mercenaries still poured in. The Thunder World, having already been extensively explored, had now become merely a tool for testing novice mercenaries.

“Damn it!”

Near a thicket in the Longsuo Mountains, Qiu Yu gripped his massive war blade with one hand, clenching his teeth.

Recalling the vengeful voice of his female companion before her demise and the chilling sight of that deceptively “beautiful” azure blade effortlessly cutting down ninth-stage Stellar warriors, Qiu Yu was overwhelmed by a maelstrom of fury and dread. His entire body trembled uncontrollably—this marked his very first descent into the Sovereign World.

Previously, as a prodigy among many, he had been carefully cultivated by Baihu Mansion, laying a solid foundation.

Though the training was exhausting, it had never posed a life-threatening danger.

But this time…

“I nearly died, nearly died!!!” Qiu Yu’s heart was in turmoil. In the past, he had many dreams for the future, and he had killed before, but when faced with death himself… he discovered that he was actually so afraid of dying.

“The instructor said that fear isn’t a sin, but one must stay calm. Fear is also a kind of power, a power that can drive bodily evolution.”

“Stay calm, stay calm.”

Gradually calming down, Qiu Yu glanced at his bodyguard and ordered, “Keep watch around me. I’m entering the virtual universe.”

“Yes,” the bodyguard respectfully complied.

…

Baihu Mansion had issued orders to these young elites participating in the Galactic Novice Mercenary Assessment within the Sovereign World. Each day, they were required to send an email to their supervisor through the virtual universe network! If a companion died, the email must also mention this event.

Sending an email meant that the team member was still alive!

…

In the virtual universe network, on the Black Dragon Mountain Island.

A fat man with a body full of flab and two curved horns on his head was lying on a chair, a screen floating in front of him. “Ding!” An email appeared on the screen.

“Another report email confirming survival. Open it,” the obese man said lazily.

The email automatically opened.

The obese man lazily read through it, then suddenly stood up, shocked as he stared at the email. “This 8th squad has only two people left alive? And they’ve even lost a second-tier elite?” The obese man immediately sent communication requests to the other seven members of the 8th squad.

Indeed… there was no response.

Baihu Mansion usually assigned bodyguards according to the importance level of the young geniuses. For example, a squad of ten people might include five young geniuses and five bodyguards. Some squads had only one young genius and nine bodyguards. Originally, the 8th squad had eight bodyguards and two young geniuses.

Previously, one bodyguard had already died.

Clearly… the 8th squad was considered a relatively important squad. For Baihu Mansion, losing a third-tier elite was already a cause for concern, losing a second-tier elite even more so. Losing a first-tier elite would make them furious! As for losing a special-class elite… it would be a catastrophe for Baihu Mansion.

Such peerless geniuses were rare and hard to come by.

…

In the cosmic starry sky.

The obese man opened his eyes, looking through the external virtual view at the colossal object in the distance. “Since we’re almost at headquarters, I’ll go report this in person.” The colossal object was a planet! More accurately, it was a planet forged like an alloy, the headquarters of Baihu Mansion—

Black Tiger Star.

This Black Tiger Star was essentially a massive planetary fortress! Entirely black, the planet had deep channels leading directly into its interior. On its surface were massive cannons capable of destroying D-class starships in a single shot, along with other magnetic rail cannons, large laser cannons, and many other weapons.

Occasionally, some areas of the planet emitted eerie blue light.

A fleet of starships, countless as locusts, flew into and out of the deep channels. Looking at these ships, almost all were at least C-class, with some D-class and even the occasional E-class ship.

Countless starships, like locusts.

Yet the planetary fortress was a colossus, constantly swallowing and expelling large numbers of ships. This was the headquarters of one of the four major galactic organizations of the Black Dragon Mountain Empire, the Baihu Mansion! Many Sovereign-level experts were stationed here year-round. The entire planet had been transformed from a common mineral-rich world at an astronomical cost into a fortress.

A planetary fortress!

…

“Beep.”

The obese man’s starship followed the traction signal emitted by the planetary fortress, flying into one of the many deep channels on the surface of the Black Tiger Star. From space, these deep channels appeared very narrow and unremarkable, but up close, each channel was over one hundred kilometers wide.

The starship entered the deep channel.

“Hmm, new devices installed?” The obese man carefully looked at the inner walls of the deep channel, which now had some black, centipede-like alloy racks embedded in them.

Moments later.

After the starship docked in the port, the obese man, wearing a blue robe, walked along a wide corridor where both sides displayed virtual ‘skies and white clouds.’ On this corridor, at a glance, there were over a hundred people, almost all wearing blue robes, except for two wearing white robes, both of whom had two-star mercenary badges on their chests.

“Respectfully greeting the honorable sir,” the obese man bowed as he passed the two white-robed figures.

Others on the corridor did the same.

In Baihu Mansion…

Azure robes signified Cosmic-tier powerhouses and individuals holding pivotal positions. Though the corpulent man was merely a Stellar-level adept, his immense authority granted him the privilege to don the azure garb.

White robes represented Domain Lords and a few high-ranking officials.

Black robes were exclusively for Sovereigns.

As for Immortals?

Even if Baihu Mansion had produced Immortals in history, such Immortals would likely have already gone to the Qianwu Cosmic Nation or elsewhere. For Immortal existences, the pond of the Black Dragon Mountain Empire could no longer contain them!

Regardless, Baihu Mansion, Heiyun Association, Beilong City, and Sanfu Mountain, these four galactic organizations were all colossal entities within the Black Dragon Mountain Empire, with deep roots and numerous Cosmic-level experts under their command! Even the imperial family of the empire dared not provoke them. Just looking at the countless starships coming and going from Baihu Mansion’s headquarters was enough to see their power.