Chapter 562: Golden Flames and the Star Domain Relics

“Steward Ji, give us a straight answer. What will it take for you to make this deal?”

Song Yan couldn’t stand beating around the bush, so he cut straight to the chase.

Across from him, Ji Min’s gaze flickered, but he said nothing.

Song Chi and his companion thought it over, then produced a small porcelain vial.

Once Ji Min checked the contents of the bottle, his eyes instantly lit up.

“Is this Sixth-grade Moon Spring?”

“Steward Ji, you’ve got a sharp eye. It is indeed Sixth-grade Moon Spring. These days, many Dreadnought Captains are attempting to break through to Star-Annihilator-class Captain, but over ninety percent of them fail miserably. Right now, the value of Sixth-grade Moon Spring has skyrocketed several times over. How about we trade it for that Earth Ginseng?”

With that, Song Chi and his companion fixed their eyes intently on Ji Min.

This particular batch of Sixth-grade Moon Spring had originally been in Song Wujian’s hands—meant for the Calm-Sea Dragon-Xiang to ascend to a Star-Annihilator-class ship—but since it was no longer needed, it found its way back to Song Chi. Now, after much deliberation, he brought it out for the sake of acquiring Earth Ginseng.

A hundred-thousand-year-old Earth Ginseng was just as rare and its value had soared given the current situation. Regular resources or even Floating-Land Origins just wouldn’t cut it. For the sake of ensuring the Clan Elder’s Guiding Technique breakthrough, Song Chi was willing to pull out all the stops.

As the highest authority of the Tianyin Chamber of Commerce in Silverplate City, Ji Min had dealt with more than a few big shots over the years. So, even when faced with the scrutiny of two Dreadnought Captains, he remained perfectly composed.

After a moment’s thought, he looked hesitant.

“A hundred-thousand-year-old Earth Ginseng is a critical spiritual item for breaking into Seventh-Tier Guiding Technique. It’s immensely valuable. Even though Sixth-grade Moon Spring is priceless too, it still doesn’t quite measure up to the ginseng…”

He trailed off, but Song Chi and his companion caught his meaning all the same.

Without hesitation, Song Chi pulled out a second porcelain vial.

“And this—Fifth-grade Moon Spring as well.”

“Deal!”

After confirming the authenticity of the Fifth-grade Moon Spring, a radiant smile broke across Ji Min’s face and he agreed on the spot.

As someone who’d commanded battleships for over three thousand years, Ji Min could hardly have risen this high in the fiercely competitive Tianyin Chamber without such experience. And, given his age, he was more determined than ever to attempt the leap to Dreadnought Captain.

With the great war looming, he knew that if he waited until battle erupted, by the time it was over, his lifespan would be almost up. Now was his only chance to try for advancement before it was too late.

So once Song Chi brought out a batch of Fifth-grade Moon Spring, he agreed without another word.

The trade was settled, and soon both parties walked away with exactly what they wanted.

Outside the Tianyin Store, Song Chi and his companion stepped out into the street.

Their senses tingled—they both cast a sidelong glance as three figures brushed past them.

Those three concealed their auras as much as possible, but with Dual Pupils at play, nothing could stay hidden. Among them, two possessed Sixth-Tier Guiding Technique and the other was at the peak of Fifth Tier.

But for Song Chi and company, it was just a minor blip. After a brief surprise, they put it out of mind.

After all, Silverplate Floating-land was the capital of the entire Silverplate Galaxy, also connected to surrounding sector capitals. Silverplate City stood as the top trading hub on Floating-land. Powerhouses were bound to show up here.

……

Back at the top floor of the Tianyin Store.

“Sorry, but the item you three were looking for has already been sold.”

At this, the middle-aged man among the three immediately pressed for answers:

“When did that happen?”

Knowing these three were no ordinary visitors, Ji Min didn’t try to hide anything.

“Just moments ago. Actually, you may have crossed paths with the buyers already.”

The three exchanged a quick look.

“Those two who left just now.”

Not waiting for Ji Min to elaborate, the trio surged up in a sweep of supernatural energy and, to save time, simply leaped out the top-floor window.

Minutes later.

“Friends, wait up!”

Hearing someone call from behind, Song Chi and Song Yan turned to see the three from earlier catching up with them outside the Tianyin Store.

They weren’t alarmed, just curious.

Silverplate City was built by several major factions. Very few Dreadnought Captains would dare cause trouble here.

“Did you just purchase the Earth Ginseng from the Tianyin Store?”

It dawned on Song Chi and his companion—the trio was also after the Earth Ginseng.

Now that the situation was clear, they lost all interest and simply turned away.

“We need this. It’s not for sale.”

That single line shut the trio down completely.

Seeing Song Chi and Song Yan turn away without hesitation, one of the Dreadnought Captains among the trio grew anxious.

“We’re from the Zhao Royal Clan of the neighboring Yunpan Galaxy. Could you make an exception? We’re willing to pay top price!”

Song Chi and Song Yan raised their brows, but weren’t especially surprised. Two Dreadnought Captains and a peak battleship captain—there weren’t many powers that could match that lineup.

Yunpan Galaxy lay to the east of Silverplate, directly opposite Tianpan Galaxy. The dominant power there was You Song Kingdom. As the reigning royal family, the Zhao Clan had strength equal to the Tuoba Royal Clan. Sending two Dreadnought Captains was no big deal for them.

Though a bit surprised, Song Chi and his companion kept moving.

“You—”

The Zhao Dreadnought Captain wanted to press the point, but was cut off by the older Dreadnought Captain.

“Forget it. Their mind’s made up—they probably have someone in their clan breaking through to Seventh-Tier Guiding Technique, so there’s no way they’ll back down.”

……

After that minor episode, Song Chi and his companion returned to Dragon-Spine Continent via the Market.

When they brought back the hundred-thousand-year Earth Ginseng safely, Song Shiyuan was overjoyed. The Earth Ginseng was immediately sent into the Calm-Sea Dragon-Xiang.

Now, all they had to do was wait.

Time passed. Fourteen years later, with only thirty years left until the four human empires declared all-out war on the Eight-Armed Serpent Demon Civilization.

Six years ago, the Song Family began liquidating their horded wartime materials. Prices for those goods had soared to forty times what they’d paid.

Thanks to that huge price gap, the Song Family quickly restocked the clan vault and picked up a slew of rare resources and top-quality oddities from the market.

Inside the Omniverse Market, the Heavenly Ruin floated high above, its Dominion Power of the eighth tier swirling through the Secret Realm.

Beneath the ship, the corpse of the Seventh-Tier Black Devourer King Beast hung in the void. Eighth-Tier Dominion Power worked rapidly, refining its flesh and Dominion Soul.

Six months later, the King Beast’s corpse was drained of all value. Song Chi, on the other hand, held a vial of Seventh-Tier Starbeast Source Blood and thirty-five Dominion Souls.

“Counting these thirty-five, my total stash of Dominion Souls is up to fifty-four now.”

He muttered, frowning slightly.

It sounded like a lot, but in reality, it wasn’t that much.

“Master, new messages have come in on the comms wristband. The sender is ‘Prime Ancestor.'”

Just then, the telepathic voice of that abyssal devil echoed in his mind. Song Chi quickly exited the Market. Any message from Song Shiyuan could only mean something important.

At Azure Moon Estate, Song Chi stared at the floating quantum comms screen.

“The Old Ancestor has emerged…”

After reading the message, the Heavenly Ruin immediately shot skyward at his command.

Dragon Spine Sacred Mountain, Family Ancestral Hall.

When Song Chi arrived, Song Wujian was already standing tall at the head of the hall.

“Seventh-Tier Life pressure—Guiding Technique breakthrough achieved!”

Feeling the power in the hall, Song Chi exchanged a look with Song Yan—both of their eyes shimmering with joy.

With the Guiding Technique now at Seventh Tier, the Clan Elder was officially a Star-Annihilator-class Captain—no small feat.

Beyond just an upgrade in strength, they wouldn’t have to worry about other Star-Annihilators looking down on them anymore.

At the very least, in the coming civilization war, the Song Family would never again be thrown in as cannon fodder. That alone meant everything.

From his position, Song Wujian turned his gaze to them.

Locked in eye contact, Song Chi felt for the first time that the Clan Elder’s eyes blazed like eternal stars overhead, making him feel small in their light.

He quickly reminded himself that this was only the vast difference in rank between Sixth- and Seventh-Tier lifeforms.

It was just like the gap between Fourth- and Third-Tier beings in the Sea of Stars. The jump from Sixth to Seventh was just as vast—if not more.

Sensing their thoughts, Song Wujian smiled and explained:

“It’s only been a short time since the breakthrough. My control over inner energies is still shaky. Pay it no mind.”

He continued,

“Thanks to that Earth Ginseng, I broke through with my Seventh-Tier Guiding Technique ten years ago. And with this second Law Amplification phase, my Law of Space has now reached completion.”

As he spoke, Song Wujian waved his hand, and instantly, waves of spatial laws surged throughout the hall. With that, Song Chi, Song Shiyuan, and Song Yan found themselves buoyed up off the ground, surrounded by perfected Law of Space.

Of course, the Clan Elder had managed similar feats before, once his Law of Space comprehension passed eighty percent.

The key difference was now, none of the three could resist. Even with all of them at peak Law comprehension, they were powerless.

That’s the tyranny of laws at the perfected level.

With the laws withdrawn, Song Wujian got to the point.

“Now that I’ve broken through, and with only thirty years left until the war, there’s no time to waste. Let’s head straight for the ruins.”

“Is everyone ready?”

……

High in the clouds above Dragon-Spine Continent.

Three warships quietly hovered.

In the ships’ magnetic comms group chat, Song Yan glanced at Song Wujian and Song Chi.

Seeing their nods, he didn’t hesitate and immediately activated the ships’ interstellar deployment.

Following the Scorching Sea Blazer, the Calm-Sea Dragon-Xiang and Heavenly Ruin also engaged their interstellar deployment systems.

Below on the floating-land, Song Shiyuan gazed skyward from halfway up Dragon Spine Sacred Mountain, watching until a surge of spatial energy swept by. Only then did he lower his eyes.

Song Xingru now held the fort at Storm Calamity Floating-land, Song Shixing was stationed at Silverplate Continent, and although Dragon-Spine Continent was now a Seventh‑Tier Floating-land, and always had a powerful Floating-Land Shield up, having a Dreadnought Captain in charge brought true safety. So Song Shiyuan hadn’t joined the others this time.

……

Unknown Star Domain, silent starry sky.

After a turbulent surge of space energy, three ships, one large and two smaller, materialized out of nowhere.

Inside the Scorching Sea Blazer’s bridge, Song Yan retracted the modular connections, and soon the three warships separated.

“Xiao Yan, got a star chart for this zone?”

In the magnetic group chat, Song Wujian’s question rang out.

Song Yan shook his head.

“No need for a star chart. The civilization’s ruins are right over there.”

Song Chi followed Song Yan’s direction, only seeing the endless void. He thought there was still some distance left, but Song Yan’s next move took them by surprise.

The Scorching Sea Blazer advanced in that direction for just a few seconds, then suddenly vanished from view.

Realizing there was a special space barrier, the other two ships followed closely behind.

Bzzzz—

Passing through a transparent barrier invisible to eye and radar, Song Chi found himself in a dreamlike star domain.

Much like the Blood War Secret Realm where the Bloodwar Clan’s bodies were stored, behind this barrier lay a tightly sealed star domain, about as big as a city. Each side featured a tiny star whose light made the whole space glow.

At the center embraced by the two stars, there were two parallel spatial wormholes.

Thanks to Song Yan’s explanation, Song Chi and Song Wujian learned the twin wormholes led to a high-level civilization’s legacy site. Song Yan had already explored the left wormhole, claimed all its legacies.

The right-hand wormhole ended in a world of fire. He had ventured in but only halfway—the Scorching Sea Blazer couldn’t withstand the searing heat and had to retreat.

Excited by the prospect, Song Chi was eager to test the Heavenly Ruin’s limits. With three layers of gold-plated energy shields, he had reason to be confident.

But Song Yan, well aware of the fiery world’s horrors, clearly did not approve.

In the end, Song Chi decided to give it a try.

Bzzzz—

The ship’s engines roared as the Heavenly Ruin surged toward the wormhole. The Calm-Sea Dragon-Xiang and Scorching Sea Blazer followed suit.

[Warning: External fire energy is extremely dense. The Shield of Frost is being corroded.]

No sooner had they plunged in than the Sky-Domain AI’s alert echoed in the cabin.

Song Chi ignored it, keeping the ship barreling down the wormhole.

After a few hours, all three layers of the energy shield had been overloaded, and even the Last Aegis had activated once.

Seeing this, Song Chi brought the ship to a halt.

Through the display, he saw a field of crimson void, twisted and distorted by endless waves of heat.

Then, through the power of his Dual Pupils, Song Chi glimpsed three golden flickers buried deep within the space—three tiny, glowing flames.

Though the image was vague, he trusted his sixth-tier Dual Pupils.

“Three golden, Saint-Domain-level Fireseed Artifacts!”

Even thrilled, Song Chi kept his hands moving, quickly reversing the Heavenly Ruin.

With the shields gone, the relentless wrath outside was already eating into the hull’s Black Hole Evolution Layer. In this state, there was no choice but to retreat.