Chapter 87

"None." How could Hu Baijie carry a Human Venerable’s magical artifact? Such artifacts were of no use to her.

Chen Zizai smiled and said, "I have one."

As he spoke, he took a golden, shimmering magical sword from his storage talisman and handed it to Hengyi. "Let’s call it the Xuanyuan Sword. It’s just a borrowed name."

Hengyi expressed his gratitude and handed the sword to the little boy. "Protect yourself. You bear the hopes of all the deceased of the Water Blue Clan. Live a brave and positive life with their hopes. This sword is called the Xuanyuan Sword."

The boy held the sword, his eyes shining with excitement.

"Thank the great and benevolent Xuanyuan God! Even if it’s just me, the Water Blue Clan will pass down the great deeds and benevolent spirit of the Xuanyuan Gods for generations!"

Chen Zizai anticipated Hengyi’s plan. The boy couldn’t yet harness the power of the Human Venerable’s magical artifact, but the artifact’s inherent quality was enough to make it an unparalleled divine weapon on the Seed Star for several years. Ordinary fierce beasts wouldn’t even dare to approach it.

But with only one person, the Water Blue Clan wouldn’t have the opportunity to develop. Chen Zizai saw the other humans from the Seed Star who hadn’t been taken away and flew over to them.

Before long, Hengyi was surprised to find that over a hundred girls of similar age had followed Chen Zizai, kneeling behind the little boy and addressing him as the leader of the Water Blue Clan.

"This?"

Seeing Hengyi’s puzzled expression, Chen Zizai shrugged slightly and smiled faintly. "I asked who was willing to marry the leader of the Water Blue Clan, who received the divine sword from the gods, and this many came forward."

"Is he going to marry so many wives?" Hengyi thought this number was less than what Hu San had, and even the elders of the Lake Sea Sect didn’t have as many wives.

"More wives are better. In two or three years, there will be a large group of children. Didn’t you hope the Water Blue Clan would recover quickly?" Chen Zizai saw that Hengyi was very pleased, and the hopeful scene before him alleviated his inner sadness.

The Water Blue Clan was not afraid of death; their spirit was one of inheritance. This was a common spirit among many humans from the Seed Stars. As long as there were descendants, the spirit could be passed down, and the deceased of the Water Blue Clan could rest in peace.

Hai Shan counted on her fingers and said, "Even if he takes one a day, it will take half a year to finish..."

The little boy from the Water Blue Clan bowed and swore. "The Water Blue Clan is grateful for the great blessing of the Xuanyuan God. I—swear to work hard to revitalize the Water Blue Clan, to do my utmost to accelerate the creation of new life, and to quickly restore the prosperity of the Water Blue Clan, living up to the expectations of the great Xuanyuan God!"

Hai Shan couldn’t help but laugh, and Hu Baijie also found it amusing. Even the usually reserved Hai Yuntian couldn’t help but smile.

For a moment, the sad atmosphere dissipated.

The Water Blue Clan returned to Water Blue City, and the other humans from the Seed Stars also returned to their homes.

The Shadow Clan was completely eradicated. After three days of thorough searches, no trace of the Shadow Clan was found.

The trials had thus come to an end.

Many of the trial participants were looking forward to returning, but many were not particularly eager.

Two hours before the Space-Time Gate opened, Chen Zizai called Xu Wenfeng and Hengyi, and they flew away from the South Twin Islands, where the trial participants were gathered waiting for the Space-Time Gate, over the vast, boundless ocean, over the islands in the sea, and into a world of snow and ice.

They finally landed on an icy island in the far north.

Hengyi had no idea why Chen Zizai had come here, but he was glad that Chen Zizai didn’t seem to dislike Xu Wenfeng as much.

When they landed on the icy island, Xu Wenfeng looked around and smiled. "So, the seed source is here."

Chen Zizai said calmly, "Wait here," and then flew alone into the ice valley.

She wasn’t surprised that Xu Wenfeng had guessed.

Only Hengyi was confused and asked curiously, "What is the seed source?"

"It’s also called a star source," Xu Wenfeng explained with a smile. "You know that magical artifacts above the Treasure level must be purchased with purple crystals because they are precious. The refinement of Treasure-level artifacts cannot be done without star sources, but Treasure-level artifacts are actually the result of failed attempts to refine higher-level magical artifacts. Therefore, the value of star sources far exceeds that of Treasure-level artifacts. Star sources are limited in number and are born in the core of planets, but during the long period of interstellar wars, almost all star sources on planets were mined. It wasn’t until the appearance of the seed array that star sources could form quickly. A seed array can produce a mature star source in a hundred years, and the older the star source, the higher the success rate of refining it into a star-level artifact."

Hengyi nodded, understanding the preciousness of star sources.

"When I said that killing mutants had benefits beyond just the possibility of advancing in cultivation, I meant that in the trials on the Seed Star, the soul power of those who die, regardless of who they are, can accelerate the growth of the star source. The more powerful the mutant, the better the acceleration effect. The older the star source, the more precious it is, but its high value makes it a coveted item by all races in the universe. The location of star sources is always kept secret and hidden by the seed array. The star sources on the Seed Stars in various star systems are mined based on the situation, but most are chosen to be mined after the invasion trials, which inevitably result in casualties. This accelerates the growth of the star source in a short period. All races in the universe know this, and if the star source is not taken after the trials, it might be stolen by many alien experts or freelancers."

Hengyi listened, nodded, and then asked, puzzled, "Are freelancers mercenaries?"

"Not just mercenaries. Freelancers have little sense of racial belonging, and many are profit-driven, caring only for their own and their small group’s interests. After an invasion trial, they will infiltrate in large numbers to search for star sources, as good luck can allow them to seize the star source before it is mined."

Xu Wenfeng’s explanation greatly increased Hengyi’s knowledge. Even Hu Baijie hadn’t mentioned the star source.

"The power of a star-level artifact depends on the strength of the star source and the skill of the artifact maker. A well-refined star-level artifact can absorb the power of the star source to enhance itself and can also be strengthened in other ways, such as by the owner’s power, or by absorbing blood and soul power. However, the amount of star source a star-level artifact can absorb depends on the owner’s own strength, theoretically unlimited but practically limited."

"The star source must be very expensive!"

"Rarely traded in purple crystals, the basic trading convention in the universe is that a star source formed in a hundred years can be exchanged for 120 Treasure-level artifacts, and two star sources can be exchanged for one star-level artifact."

Hengyi was taken aback... The value of Treasure-level artifacts already seemed unattainable to him, and a star source could be exchanged for 120 Treasure-level artifacts? "Isn’t that too strange? After all, Treasure-level artifacts are also made from star sources!"

"The value difference between Treasure-level and star-level artifacts is about 150 times. No one gets a star source to refine Treasure-level artifacts. How many times does a skilled and lucky artifact maker succeed in refining two star sources into star-level artifacts? As long as the skill is up to par, at least one will succeed, and there will be a profit."

Hengyi finally understood. No wonder the value difference made the exchange ratio seem so unbelievable.

"No wonder Brother Chen brought you along. I thought he had changed his opinion of you, but it seems he’s being cautious."

Xu Wenfeng smiled and slowly shook his head. "Chen Zizai is doing this for you."

"Me?" Hengyi was confused.

At this moment, Chen Zizai flew over from a distance, with nothing in his hands, presumably hiding the mined star source in his storage talisman.

"Let’s go." After returning, Chen Zizai said nothing more and called the two to fly away from the cold, snowy area.

They finally landed on a small isolated island about a hundred miles from the South Twin Islands.

On the isolated island, someone was already waiting.

The mercenary captain with the broad face whom Hengyi had met before.

He had been standing there quietly waiting. Seeing Chen Zizai and Hengyi approach, he said calmly, "You told me to come alone, but you brought three people."

"I apologize. There are many scoundrels among mercenaries, and I had to be cautious," Chen Zizai said calmly, looking around as if still worried about an ambush.

Xu Wenfeng smiled calmly and continued to observe the mercenary captain’s expression and posture.

"Give me the star source, and I’ll take him away." The mercenary captain with the broad face clearly had no interest in small talk and went straight to the point.

Hengyi was slightly taken aback. Seeing the other person’s gaze sweep over him, he realized he was to be taken away.

"The star source on the Seed Star has matured for four hundred years. Not only must you take Hengyi to his destination, but you must also prepare one million purple crystals and a star-level artifact he needs..." Chen Zizai stated her requirements, but she had no absolute confidence in this matter.

Such a transaction should never be made, even though the mercenary in front of her had no known record of breaking his word. But this was a star source, a four-hundred-year-old star source!

"No problem." The mercenary captain with the broad face agreed readily, his expression showing no emotion, making it impossible for Xu Wenfeng to read anything from his demeanor.

"Wait, Brother Chen, what are you doing?" Hengyi couldn’t help but interrupt and ask. Before today, Chen Zizai had never hinted at this. Suddenly, he was saying he would send him away, even willing to use the precious star source as payment. "Isn’t the star source very expensive?"

The mercenary captain with the broad face spoke calmly. "Little brother, if you return after killing someone from the Xu family, you’ll have no way out. But you’re lucky to have such a good brother who is willing to go to any lengths for you. Honestly, if it weren’t for the star source, we wouldn’t dare to take you. That would mean offending the Peak Sect, and they would surely send experts to pursue you relentlessly. Our mercenary group can’t predict what sacrifices and costs we would have to bear."

"Xu Dafa violated the trial rules and showed no remorse. If I didn’t kill him, more people would be harmed. Why should I run?" Hengyi was shocked by Chen Zizai’s silent preparations and even more shocked by her willingness to use the precious star source as payment, but he felt it was unnecessary.

The mercenary captain with the broad face said calmly, "You two need to discuss this."

The problem was thrown back to Chen Zizai, who fanned herself with her magical fan and looked at Hengyi seriously. "Hengyi, the rules are the rules, but humans have emotions. According to the trial rules, you didn’t do anything wrong, and the sect leader probably wouldn’t punish you. But Xu Tianfeng will never let you go! You should hide in the Secret Garden for a while. I’ll try to convince Xu Tianfeng and then come to get you back."

"If Deputy Sect Leader Xu knew what Xu Dafa did, he wouldn’t be unreasonable!" Hengyi believed what Dadian had once said: the law applies equally to the emperor and the common people. But he had never truly experienced such a situation. Dadian’s understanding was also limited, saying that the emperor was the son of the heavens, a great god.