Chapter 558: A Deal Refused, A Legacy Elevated

Tension crackled in the air. If Rosetta Morningstar showed even a hint of his usual dominance, a clash between the two Star-Annihilator-class ships seemed almost inevitable.

Of course, even if things really came to blows, the two would probably take it out to the Outer Domain. No one was foolish enough to start a fight in the Dinghai Sector—Torch Judgement Court’s trials weren’t just for show.

Luckily, things didn’t escalate that far. After sizing up the Calm-Sea Dragon-Xiang and its captain—who’d just barely managed to reach twelve thousand kilometers in length—and then taking in the Three-Eyed Clan’s Dominion Flagship looming above, Rosetta Morningstar aboard the Morningstar Traverse decided to take the initiative to back down.

Even though Song Wujian’s Guiding Technique hadn’t broken through to the seventh rank yet—making him only a provisional Star-Annihilator Captain—he now commanded not only a genuine Star-Annihilator-class ship but also a Three-Eyed Clan Dominion Flagship. The Song Family’s momentum was unstoppable, and there was nothing Rosetta could do to change that.

Since that was the case, any direct conflict would be a poor choice.

The Morningstar Kingdom’s king’s tone suddenly softened, shifting from cold to gentle.

“Wujian, how about a trade between our two families?”

Inside the communication channel linking the two Star-Annihilator-class ships, Song Wujian didn’t reply right away. Suspicion flickered in his eyes; he had no idea what Rosetta Morningstar was about to propose.

Rosetta didn’t bother dragging things out. He got straight to the point:

“Back when our ancestral lands were promoted, both our families’ floating-lands moved up to Sixth Tier almost simultaneously. Dragon-Spine Continent managed to reach the Seventh Tier in just a few centuries. Surely you have some high-grade component that greatly accelerates floating-land advancement, don’t you?”

Song Wujian said nothing to deny it. The Dragon-Spine Continent’s incredible promotion speed spoke for itself. The outside world had been speculating about it for a long time—there was no sense pretending otherwise.

Seeing he’d hit the mark, a flash of eagerness crossed Rosetta’s eyes. He thought to himself, Of course.

“If the Song Family really possesses such a heaven-defying component, I have to borrow it. Only like this can the Morningstar Yin Land reach the seventh tier as fast as possible. As an Immortal House, we’re at a huge disadvantage without a Seventh‑Tier Floating-land as our home base!”

As his thoughts churned, Rosetta’s gaze grew steely. He spoke up again:

“Our Morningstar Family owns a Celestial Jade Spirit Well. That well produces Celestial Jade Essence, a resource that can drastically cut down the time needed to break through from Sixth- to Seventh-Tier Guiding Technique. I only managed my own breakthrough in just a hundred years thanks to it.”

“So—one portion of Celestial Jade Essence in exchange for a hundred years’ use of your special land-promotion component. What do you say?”

Song Wujian’s projection fell silent within the communication channel.

Rosetta’s offer was tempting. The Celestial Jade Essence could seriously boost his chances to break through to Seventh-Tier Guiding Technique within the next few decades. Though he’d made plenty of preparations before, nothing could guarantee success. With this essence, his odds would climb an awful lot.

After thinking it over, though, Song Wujian still chose to refuse.

“No need. The Song Family does not intend to lend out that component. Your Majesty, I’ll have to ask you to leave.”

“Wujian, are you really sure? This Celestial Jade Essence could save you a thousand years or more…”

Rosetta clearly didn’t want to give up, but Song Wujian’s answer was resolute.

The silver-grade Origin Core Siphon held immense value. Not only did it supercharge the Dragon-Spine Continent’s promotion to the sixth tier, it was just as vital to the continent now.

Besides, the Song Family now managed more than just one Sixth-Tier Floating-Land, and the need for Origin Core Siphons was only going to grow. They couldn’t risk anything happening to it.

Even if Rosetta was being humble now, claiming he’d only borrow it for a hundred years, who knew what tricks the Morningstar Family might have up their sleeve? He could easily turn the component into their permanent property.

And as for so-called security contracts, the Song Family’s best contract artifacts were only silver-grade. If the other side had gold, or a specialty silver-grade artifact built to break contracts, then that promise could evaporate anytime. The risk was just too great.

With Song Wujian’s unwavering stance, the Morningstar Traverse eventually had no choice but to pull away. Even Rosetta Morningstar’s regret couldn’t change a thing.

……

Dragon-Spine Continent, Dragon Whale Hall.

Swirling in chaotic mist, more than two hundred Song Family Zhulu-class Cruiser Captains had gathered together.

Above the main hall, thousands of stars twinkled on the domed ceiling. Song Wujian, having just completed the elevation of his flagship, sat high upon a colossal Starry Sky Throne.

This throne wasn’t the golden one of days past. Now, since his ship was a Star-Annihilator-class vessel and he himself was halfway to being a true seventh-tier entity, Song Wujian was treated to all-new honors. His seat was now a throne woven with stars.

Under the starlight, the whole hall felt even more solemn and sacred. At the front, clan head Song Xuancang was giving a detailed report on the Dragon-Spine Continent’s promotion.

“Today, the Dragon-Spine Continent has officially become a Seventh‑Tier Floating-land. Thanks to the family’s thorough preparations, the energy tides produced have delivered impressive results.”

“After tallying the numbers, the new generation who awakened Torch Seeds due to these energy tides totals three hundred thousand—one with a red seed, eight orange, and seventy-five purple. That’s double the average from recent centuries and nearly four times the figure from several hundred years ago.”

Hearing this first report, all the Zhulu-class Cruiser Captains nodded with satisfaction.

The energy tide didn’t just speed up the promotion of Torch Battleships; it also boosted the Torch Seed awakening rate.

With a population of over two hundred million, the family usually had maybe two million newborns testing for awakening each year. To witness three hundred thousand awakenings at once—a rate over fifteen percent—was a huge leap, far outpacing other noble houses.

Especially notable were the eighty-plus born with purple seeds. They’d all be core talents for the family one day.

Song Xuancang pressed on, barely pausing before delivering more good news:

“Before the continent’s promotion, more than two hundred thousand family members below third-tier cruiser level made attempts at ship advancement. Over seventy percent succeeded. Just in the last two or three days, our family has gained 1,026 new cruiser captains, breaking through the five-thousand mark for the first time.”

“Hiss!”

Even though many had expected it, the actual number still took all the Zhulu-class Cruiser Captains by surprise. Over a thousand cruiser captains added in just days, making the Song Family’s third-tier personnel surpass five thousand—that was just staggering.

Not so long ago, the combined tally of cruiser captains from both the main and hidden branches couldn’t even hit a thousand. And now, in just a few centuries, that number had increased six or sevenfold!

Hearing that, everyone grew even more curious about how many new Zhulu-class Cruisers would emerge. If memory served, more than a hundred third-tier members had tried for the rank this time—how many actually made it?

With everyone on tenterhooks, Song Xuancang’s voice rang out again.

“This round, 125 family members attempted the breakthrough to Zhulu-class Cruiser. So far, ninety-two have succeeded. That’s a seventy-five percent success rate.”

At those words, a hush fell over Dragon Whale Hall. It was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Then you heard the gathering’s Zhulu-class Captains letting out shaky breaths.

No wonder everyone was excited—ninety-two, not twenty-nine. If what Song Xuancang said was true, that meant the Song Family would now have over three hundred Zhulu-class Cruiser Captains. For a clan newly ascended to Immortal House status, that was a game-changer.

Forget those legendary Immortal Houses with millennia of inheritance—for now, just compared to the Morningstar Family’s six-thousand-year legacy, the Song Family stood equal in might.

And yet, the Song Family’s own legacy only stretched back thirty centuries—barely half as long. But the Dragon-Spine Continent’s promotion had helped them close the gap in one stroke.

You could see just how massive an impact this promotion had. Of course, that was just the theory. To truly close the gap, those ninety-two ships needed their captains to break through to Fourth-Tier Guiding Technique and become full Zhulu-class Captains.

But there was little worry about that. Song Chi had already supplied dozens of Deepwater Pearls, all eight thousand years old and sourced from the Azure Spirit Spring.

On top of that, the Hidden Vein produced Superior Heavenly Stargrass in set amounts every year. With these resources, the family had no shortage of top-tier tempering serums. With both those factors, most of the new captains should break through soon.

Up on a golden throne, Song Chi was smiling, his moods clearly lifted.

Among those ninety-two, his father, mother and second uncle and aunt were all included.

As for his eldest uncle Song Shan and Song You, the two had followed close behind Song Ting after she made captain.

……

Once the report on the Zhulu-class Cruisers was done, Song Xuancang moved on to the battleship captains.

“This promotion saw only two advance to warship and dreadnought captain—Song Xuanfeng and Song Mingsong.”

The crowd immediately buzzed with chatter. Song Xuanfeng was expected, the clan’s veteran grand elder already over a thousand. But Song Mingsong was a real surprise.

After all, Song Mingsong wasn’t even seven hundred, and hardly had any reputation until now.

But when people remembered he was Song Chi’s grandfather, they just shrugged it off.

“Alright, that’s everything about the Dragon-Spine Continent’s promotion. It’s certainly worth celebrating, but let me stress—civilization war is at our door. No one is allowed to get complacent over this.”

“While the Song Family has the early edge, mobilize every bit of power for war-resource acquisition. Whether it’s Doomstar Continent, Yaohan Kingdom, Silverplate Galaxy, even Red Star Continent—everyone capable, do your utmost to buy supplies. Once news breaks from the Four Great Empires, prices will skyrocket. But don’t get reckless; for the next thirty years, avoid drawing any attention from rival factions. Understood?”

“Understood!”

“We’ll do as you command!”

……

A few minutes later, only a handful remained in Dragon Whale Hall.

Song Chi and Song Yan were among them.

It wasn’t that they’d chosen to stay, but that the Prime Ancestor had called them over.

“Both of you, come with me.”

The chaotic mist parted as Song Wujian led the pair out of Dragon Whale Hall.

“Are we heading to the Dragon-Spine Secret Domain?”

Having entered Dragon-Spine Secret Domain many times before, Song Chi guessed their destination immediately.

They made their way forward. Once inside the secret domain and after a bit of walking, they stopped at the foot of a towering mountain range.

This wasn’t Dragon Whale Mountain, with all its inheritance steles—it was a place Song Chi had never seen before.

Curiosity welled up in both Song Chi and Song Yan.

As they followed Song Wujian to the mountain peak, it all came together.

Atop the summit, a mystic-rooted ancient tree stood tall.

The tree’s massive branches were dotted here and there with glowing fruits.

Looking up at those unique fruits, a name flashed through Song Chi’s mind.

“Nirvana Tempering Fruit?”

He remembered during the war against the Doomstar Race, the Prime Ancestor had broken through to Sixth-Tier Guiding Technique in record time, arriving at the front lines as a dreadnought captain. Back then, he’d mentioned that the Nirvana Tempering Fruit was the reason for his breakthrough.

That’s why Song Chi blurted the name out instinctively.

Hearing him, Song Wujian looked slightly surprised.

“Xiaochi, you even know about the Nirvana Tempering Tree?”

Song Chi shook his head immediately and quickly explained.

“So it was that time. Good memory. Yes, it is the Nirvana Tempering Tree, and those fruits are exactly Nirvana Tempering Fruits.”

“The tree is a secret domain resource, and its fruits are a huge aid for Torch Captains breaking through in their Guiding Technique. Sadly, Dragon-Spine Secret Domain is a primordial realm, capped at the seventh tier, so boosting the tree’s growth rate is barely possible. That means Nirvana Tempering Fruit production remains painfully slow.”

Song Wujian sighed, then said:

“Those three over there all have thirty-thousand years on them—best used for breaking through to the sixth rank.”

With that, he waved a hand. Advanced spatial laws swept by like a breeze, and soon two of those thirty-thousand-year-old Nirvana Tempering Fruits were plucked.

After Song Chi and Song Yan each took one, Song Wujian waved again, picking the last and largest Nirvana Tempering Fruit from the tree.

“This one’s eighty-thousand years old. It could really help with breaking through to seventh rank. Too bad it’s not ten thousand older—the effect would be even better.”

Hearing all this, Song Chi hesitated but then ventured:

“Prime Ancestor, I have a way to speed up the Nirvana Tempering Tree’s growth, and it doesn’t require burning through high-grade Void Crystals—but it would mean transplanting the whole tree!”

At this, Song Wujian and Song Yan’s gazes both snapped to Song Chi.

“Is it the same method you use to endlessly produce Silver Apples?”