Chapter 141 - 137: Not the Target

"For those visiting this place for the first time and wishing to enter Four-direction Star Land, one must first obtain an identity proof at the Four-direction Interstellar Station." "If one is merely using the interstellar square outside Four-direction Star Land for a brief rest without entering the star land, then there's no need to go through any procedures." "Ding Huan, accompanied by Qi Xinyue and Lao Liu, first purchased an introduction to Four-direction Star Land and a book on its laws and regulations." "In any new place, the first step is to understand the local rules." "After reading the introduction to Four-direction Star Land, Ding Huan realized that the star land he had arrived at was completely different from the one he had imagined." "It was not the Star Land he wanted to go to." "It could only be said that its location in this part of the universe was relatively good, and its services and facilities were far superior to the surrounding life-bearing star lands." "Most spaceships traveling through the universe would stop at Four-direction Star Land when in need of supplies." "Unlike other star lands, Four-direction Star Land had a Star Lord." "From the introduction he had purchased, Ding Huan only knew that he shared a surname with the Star Lord of Four-direction Star Land, called Ding Qi." "As for his cultivation level, he was not clear." "What puzzled Ding Huan was that he did not perceive much respect for the Star Lord from the author of the introduction." "On the contrary, there seemed to be more detailed and respectful introductions for some of the major families and factions within Four-direction Star Land." "When Ding Huan saw that Four-direction Star Land was a star land with not abundant resources, even relatively scarce, he lost interest in the other details." "The main resources of Four-direction Star Land were all from other cosmic star lands, making it a star land completely reliant on imports." "With such a star land, he definitely would not settle down." "Ding Huan planned to get his identity plate processed, live on the star land for some time," "and make further plans after he had a clear understanding of the specific situation in this part of the universe." "Purple gold coins were not considered the most valuable currency in Four-direction Star Land. There was another currency called crystal yuan, with one crystal yuan being exchangeable for ten thousand purple gold coins." "According to the introduction, crystal yuan was not from this part of the universe but was brought over by Advanced Civilization Planets." "Ding Huan's divine will swept over his Star House and saw the ten thousand purple gold coins, feeling somewhat speechless in his heart." "Before, observing the looks from people around him, he thought he had gained a significant advantage." "Turns out his Blue Star was sold for just one crystal yuan, heh, quite ironic." "Fortunately, crystal yuan was rarely used, with most people using either purple gold coins or black gold coins." "One purple gold coin could be exchanged for one hundred black gold coins." "Therefore, in Four-direction Star Land, only these three types of currency were in circulation." "Ding Huan and Qi Xinyue just needed to pay two purple gold coins to get their identity plates issued for entry into Four-direction Star Land." "As for Lao Liu, he was completely disregarded and could enter Four-direction Star Land without paying any purple gold coins." "From this, it could be seen that Four-direction Star Land was indeed welcoming to outsiders." "The identity proof for Four-direction Star Land was a copper plate engraved with the name and the time of arrival at Four-direction Star Land's interstellar square." "Processing the identity plate was very simple and the price was very cheap, it might as well be considered a giveaway." "However, entering Four-direction Star Land from the interstellar square was not as simple." "Ding Huan and Qi Xinyue each spent one hundred purple gold coins to purchase a ticket to Four-direction Star Land, and even Lao Liu needed one hundred purple gold coins." "Lao Liu might not need an identity plate, but to ride the flying car to Four-direction Star Land, the one hundred purple gold coins had to be paid." "Speaking of the flying car, it actually had two wings." "When Ding Huan and Qi Xinyue, with Lao Liu, entered the flying car, there were already over a hundred people inside." "Ding Huan's divine will could reach up to twenty thousand meters, allowing him to easily see his nearby surroundings." "As his divine will continued to observe, he noticed an issue." "That was, the flying cars heading to Four-direction Star Land seemed not to be flying to the same place, which nobody had mentioned to him when he bought the tickets?" "When the number of people on the flying car reached two hundred, it started up and left the Star Square, heading towards Four-direction Star Land." "Four-direction Star Land had an atmosphere, and as the flying car entered it, Ding Huan caught a glimpse of the general outline of Four-direction Star Land." "It looked somewhat like an ellipse, and by size estimate, it did not even compare to half of Earth—it was a small planet." "The flying car was extremely fast, and in less than twenty minutes, it stopped in a square." "Ding Huan sighed to himself, finding the one hundred purple gold coins all too easy to earn." "As soon as the flying car arrived, people came to greet them." "Either inquiring about accommodations or offering guide services and rental information." "This made Ding Huan feel as though he had returned to the old Earth stations of long ago, where many people also waited there, asking the same questions." "Several merchants, who intended to intercept Ding Huan, immediately shifted their target upon seeing the large iron pot Ding Huan was carrying." "A person carrying an iron pot in and out—how much could you expect to profit from him?" "Perhaps the purple gold coins for the flying car ride were all of his savings." "Ding Huan's divine will swept out, and within its range, there were hardly any tall buildings." "Nor could various basic infrastructure facilities be discerned; it didn't seem like a technological planet." "Even the Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi was not much better than Earth's." "'Friend, have you just arrived at Four-direction Star Land?'" "A young man approached him." "Ding Huan saw that the young man had just failed to attract business. Everyone else had almost been taken away by other merchants before he came over to him." "'Yes, I'm looking for a quiet place to stay for a while.'" "Ding Huan didn't wait for the other person to speak, proactively expressing his needs." "Hearing that Ding Huan was looking for a place to stay, the young man immediately perked up: "'Ha ha, then you've come to the right person, I, Peng Zhan, will take good care of you!'" Peng Zhan's voice also became passionate. Ding Huan seized the opportunity to inquire, "I heard that the Star Lord is an unparalleled expert, and that's why the Four-direction Star Land is so peaceful, right?" Peng Zhan looked at Ding Huan with a puzzled face and only after a while, did he react, laughing out loud, "Friend, you've got it wrong. Our Star Lord doesn't practice Daoist Skill or Martial Arts. The Four-direction Star Land is managed by a joint effort of the Zhan Family, Zuo Family, Yu Family, Tong Family, and the Fazi Sect, Four Directions Sect, Star Bridge Commerce—seven families and sects altogether." "So that's how it is, it seems I was mistaken." Ding Huan realized. Peng Zhan waved his hand, "It's normal; everyone new here thinks that at first." "Then who is the strongest? What's their level of cultivation?" Ding Huan asked cautiously. This time, Peng Zhan lowered his voice, "It is said that the strongest is the Zhan Clan Leader, Zhan Changjing, rumored to be a mighty Dan Yun Realm cultivator." Ding Huan was stunned. He had heard of Foundation Establishment, and also knew of Core Formation and even Nascent Soul Realm where one cultivates the Primordial Spirit but had never heard of the Dan Yun Realm. Was it his ignorance or was the method of cultivation in this part of the universe different from his? "What is the Dan Yun Realm?" Ding Huan quickly asked. Peng Zhan laughed out loud, looked around, then once again lowered his voice, "I'll tell you, but you mustn't spread this around. Though the Four-direction Star Land is a cosmopolitan hub, it rarely attracts powerful individuals; everything here is incredibly barren. The Zhan Clan Leader, Zhan Changjing, had exceptional talent and established his foundation early..." Hearing about Foundation Establishment, Ding Huan breathed a sigh of relief. He was familiar with this, though he hadn't established his foundation, Genetic Foundation Establishment was the first step into Daoist cultivation. In other words, up to now, he hadn't even taken the first step in Daoist cultivation. Without establishing his foundation, his goal of searching for Immortal Gods was just empty talk. Peng Zhan continued, "After Zhan Changjing reached the Perfect stage of Foundation Establishment, he couldn't find a way to ascend further, and he couldn't leave the Four-direction Star Land..." "Wait a minute, did you say that it's impossible to leave the Four-direction Star Land? With so many spaceships in the interstellar square, aren't they coming from other places?" Ding Huan quickly interjected. Peng Zhan snorted, "You've just arrived and aren't aware. Sure, many Star Lands surround this place, but they are far less advanced in the Daoist Martial Arts than the Four-direction Star Land. The people from these Star Lands are even more barbaric and backwards. What they desire is to come to the Four-direction Star Land. What could you possibly learn from going to those places? To access an Advanced Civilization Star Land, one needs to use the Four-direction Star Land as a stepping stone; otherwise, how could it be so prosperous? Do you understand now?" Ding Huan truly did understand. In other words, if he wanted to find a higher-level Martial Arts or Immortal cultivation planet, it would be extremely difficult, if not nearly impossible, to set out from the Four-direction Star Land. Even someone as powerful and influential as Zhan Changjing in the Four-direction Star Land was trapped here, let alone someone like him who had just arrived. If he just stayed to cultivate in the Four-direction Star Land, how would that be any different from staying on Earth? He might as well have stayed on Earth. His goal was to find the Immortal Gods mentioned in the Hua Xia legends and follow in their footsteps, to become one of them. He couldn't possibly stay here. "The Zhan Clan Leader is truly a genius, as he was unable to leave the Four-direction Star Land, his cultivation was stuck at Foundation Establishment. One time, a spaceship from an Advanced Civilization stopped in the Four-direction Star Land. Zhan Changjing wanted these people to take him away, but he wasn't successful. However, after chatting with these strong individuals for a while, Zhan Changjing was inspired. So, he created a realm to follow Foundation Establishment, which is the Dan Yun Realm." Ding Huan was astonished. Could it be like that? Not knowing how to proceed after Foundation Establishment, so he just created a new realm called the Dan Yun Realm? This Zhan Changjing really had some tricks up his sleeve. No wonder he had never heard of the Dan Yun Realm before, it was a made-up realm of some backwater group. "Friend, now you understand why the Zhan Clan Leader has the highest status, right?" Peng Zhan said with pride. Ding Huan said doubtfully, "Could it be that other families or sects also have powerful cultivators stuck in the late stages of Foundation Establishment who can't breakthrough and can't find suitable cultivation techniques? So they want Zhan Changjing to teach them how to advance to the Dan Yun Realm?" "Exactly, you got it. Not just anyone can create their own realm of cultivation." Peng Zhan gave a thumbs up. Ding Huan felt a bit uneasy, "Brother Peng, do spaceships from advanced civilizations frequently pass by here?" Peng Zhan replied at once, "How could that be possible? Even though they rarely come by, they seldom enter the Four-direction Star Land. They mostly just land at the interstellar square to rest for a while before continuing on their journey." Saying this, he even sighed, "To the surrounding barbaric planets, the Four-direction Star Land is a coveted realm of civilization. To a truly Advanced Civilization, the Four-direction Star Land is nothing to them. Of course, I have also heard a rumor that a spaceship from an Advanced Civilization comes here secretly every once in a while. Whether that's true or not, I have no idea." (1st request, support us with your monthly votes!)