Chapter 2

"You, you, who are you? Are you a human or a ghost? How did I end up here?" Qin Zhengfan's teeth chattered as he spoke.

It wasn't that he was a coward; it was just that the events of today were too bizarre, far beyond his comprehension.

"Did you not know whether I was a human or a ghost after carrying me for so long?" Fang Hong turned around, a smile on his face as he looked at Qin Zhengfan.

"Are you the old man from earlier? No, no, you look much younger than him, and you seem..." Qin Zhengfan's heart skipped a beat as he saw Fang Hong's face, and he blurted out.

But halfway through his sentence, his eyes went wide as the man in front of him rapidly aged, his hair falling out, his scalp rotting, and a foul odor emanating from him.

It was as if time was passing quickly on him.

"I must be dreaming! This must be a dream! Wake up, wake up!" Qin Zhengfan suddenly pinched his thigh hard.

"There's no need to pinch yourself. You're not dreaming; this is really happening!" Fang Hong watched Qin Zhengfan's actions and couldn't help but laugh and cry at the same time.

"How is this possible! Who are you?" Qin Zhengfan felt the intense pain in his thigh and confirmed that this wasn't a dream, which only made him more panicked.

They say that scholars don't believe in the supernatural, but when faced with such things, who among them can remain calm?

"Who am I?" Fang Hong gazed at the stars, a look of沧桑凄凉 (cang sang qi liang, meaning "沧桑" is "weathered" and "凄凉" is "melancholy") in his eyes.

Seeing this familiar expression and gaze, Qin Zhengfan's panicked heart gradually calmed down.

"To your Tianfeng Star, I am the Star Lord who guards your planet. To the Qianyan Sect of the distant Liuhexing, I am just a discarded disciple who has been exiled and completely forgotten." Fang Hong replied, the look of沧桑凄凉 in his eyes becoming even more pronounced.

"You, you are the Star Lord of our Tianfeng Star? But I've never heard of any Star Lord on our planet, only a Secretary-General of the United Nations!" Qin Zhengfan's eyes widened, his mind buzzing, and he barely registered the rest of Fang Hong's words about Liuhexing and the Qianyan Sect.

"That's because the times have changed, and those who knew about me are long buried in the earth! Perhaps in the ancient records of a few long-standing families or sects on your Tianfeng Star, there might still be some mention of me."

"But with the changing times, most of the major families, powerful clans, and even the heads of state don't know, so how could a mere scholar from a small fishing village like you know?"

"But what does it matter if you know? I am just a forgotten discarded disciple!" Fang Hong retracted his gaze from the stars, looking at the shocked and incredulous Qin Zhengfan, a bitter and self-mocking smile on his face.

"You said you are from another planet? So you are an alien!" Qin Zhengfan suddenly remembered what Fang Hong had said earlier and almost jumped up.

Tianfeng Star's rapid technological advancements in recent times have also driven breakthroughs in astronomy. Scientists can now observe many other planets through telescopes and have the technology to launch satellites into space. They have even attempted to send signals into space to search for life beyond Tianfeng Star.

Rumors about aliens have always been a popular topic on Tianfeng Star, and even film companies have produced many movies about aliens.

Now, an alien, Fang Hong, was standing right in front of Qin Zhengfan, and he looked exactly like a human, not like the alien monsters in the movies. How could Qin Zhengfan not jump up in excitement?

"An alien?" Fang Hong was slightly taken aback but quickly understood what Qin Zhengfan meant and smiled. "If we're talking about planetary regions, then yes, I am an alien. But if we're talking about species, I am the same as you, a human!"

"The universe is vast, with countless life-bearing planets, and humans are one of the most powerful species!"

"Ah!" Qin Zhengfan's mouth dropped open. Fang Hong's words completely颠覆 (di fu, meaning "overturned" or "subverted") his understanding of aliens.

"That's not right. If what you say is true, why haven't our scientists found life on other planets after so many years?" Qin Zhengfan, after his initial shock, suddenly thought of a question.

"Tianfeng Star is a remote life-bearing planet far from the life-bearing star regions. While your technology has some unique aspects, it is far from being able to reach those star regions, so you naturally haven't discovered life on other planets. If it weren't for the vast distance, I wouldn't have been trapped here for eight hundred years!" Fang Hong replied.

"Trapped for eight hundred years! How is that possible?" Qin Zhengfan's eyes widened again.

"Alright, stop being so surprised. Now, I'll tell you the whole story from the beginning. Close your mouth and don't interrupt." Fang Hong, seeing Qin Zhengfan's shocked expression again, remembered that time was running out and waved his hand.

Qin Zhengfan suddenly found that he couldn't speak.

But this time, Qin Zhengfan was only shocked, not panicked.

Fang Hong then gave a brief account of his story.

As Fang Hong had said, the vast universe is home to countless species and life-bearing planets.

Most life-bearing planets form clusters, while only a few are isolated outside these clusters.

Tianfeng Star is one of these isolated life-bearing planets far from the life-bearing star regions.

Moreover, Tianfeng Star is a planet whose fundamental energy has entered a period of decline.

The fundamental energy of a planet is the source of the spiritual energy that sustains life. As Tianfeng Star's fundamental energy gradually declined, the spiritual energy on the planet became increasingly thin and impure, making it unsuitable for cultivation and leading to its gradual neglect.

Life-bearing planets are classified into nine grades, with the lowest being grade nine and the highest being grade one.

Liuhexing, where the Qianyan Sect is located, is a grade five planet. The Qianyan Sect is one of the five major powers on Liuhexing, overseeing hundreds of planets, including the remote Tianfeng Star.

In the distant past, Tianfeng Star had a time of abundant spiritual energy, and it is even said that a phoenix, a divine bird, once lived there, which is why it is called Tianfeng Star.

Despite its remoteness, many spirit cultivators used to travel to and from Tianfeng Star through portals, and many coveted the position of Star Lord.

After all, the leader of a planet, while responsible for guarding the planet, maintaining peace, and sealing away evil forces, still held significant power and had a substantial income.

But after Tianfeng Star fell from its grade, it truly became a remote and desolate place, and no one was willing to take on the role of Star Lord.

Fang Hong, having offended a powerful figure's son in the Qianyan Sect, was framed and exiled to Tianfeng Star to serve as the Star Lord, a position he held for two hundred years.

Fang Hong's cultivation had reached the Spirit Fetus stage, giving him a thousand-year lifespan. He was only two hundred years old when he was exiled, and although the two hundred years of guarding Tianfeng Star would significantly delay his cultivation, he still had a chance to reach the Spirit Embryo stage and extend his lifespan to two thousand years if he returned to the Qianyan Sect on Liuhexing.

However, when his term as Star Lord ended and he tried to return to the sect through the portal, he found that the portal had been abandoned.

Tianfeng Star and Liuhexing were separated by countless miles. Even if Fang Hong had reached the Spirit Embryo stage, he could not cross the vast expanse of space to return to Liuhexing, let alone with the spiritual energy on Tianfeng Star already depleted. Maintaining his current cultivation level was already a significant achievement, and there was no possibility of further advancement.

Thus, Fang Hong was stranded on Tianfeng Star. During this time, he had hoped that the sect would notice his absence and send someone to rescue him, but that hope was completely dashed.

Now, eight hundred years have passed, and his lifespan is nearing its end.

...

"Earlier, my declining body could no longer suppress the turmoil of my internal energy, causing my meridians to malfunction. I had no choice but to lie on the ground. I originally planned to wait until I regained my strength and then quietly die in my residence, but then I met you and changed my mind." After recounting his life and the origins of his role as Star Lord, Fang Hong returned to the recent events.

"Are you willing to become my disciple and take on the role of Star Lord of Tianfeng Star, continuing to guard the planet for the sect and slay evil forces?" Fang Hong suddenly changed his tone and asked solemnly.

The gap between a scholar and a planet's Star Lord is like the difference between heaven and earth. Moreover, the Star Lord of Tianfeng Star has the responsibility to slay evil forces. Even though Qin Zhengfan was young and fearless, he still felt his legs go weak and his forehead break out in a cold sweat, as if a mountain had suddenly been placed on his shoulders.

"But, but I am just a student..." Qin Zhengfan stammered, his fear and trepidation evident, not even realizing that he could suddenly speak again.