Journey to Canglan Star

Virtual Universe, Black Dragon Mountain Island, Nine Star Bay.Luo Feng, Hong, and Lei Shen sat around an outdoor stone table, a screen hovering before them, displaying a wealth of information regarding the Cosmic Apprentice Mercenary assessment's precautions. “The Cosmic Apprentice Mercenary assessment is always conducted within a ‘Realm Lord World’?” “Within a Realm Lord World, besides the inherent dangers of the world itself, the greater danger comes from other participants in the assessment? Robberies can happen at any time, and others might plunder the assessment items you acquire?” Luo Feng frowned as he read the precautions. “For the apprentice assessment, if you’re a new Stellar-level Two or Three, it’s best to form a squad with Stellar-level Eight or Nine individuals! That way, you’ll at least have the ability to resist or escape if you’re robbed.” “Absolutely, absolutely, do not let a few Stellar-level One or Two newcomers go in directly. Even if you’re lucky enough to obtain assessment items, you’ll still be robbed.” ...After reading the precautions, Luo Feng, Hong, and Lei Shen exchanged speechless glances. “So, the most dangerous element is actually the other participants in the apprentice mercenary assessment,” Lei Shen shook his head helplessly. “The human heart is the most unpredictable,” Hong stated solemnly. “Fortunately, we’re bringing two servants,” Luo Feng said. Although he felt a heavy pressure, he wasn't overly nervous. Before setting off, to prevent potential troubles, Luo Feng had brought two Stellar-level Ninth-tier servants. After all, he had purchased a group of Stellar-level Ninth-tier servants.These two were a Spirit Reader and a Warrior, respectively.They were two of the most outstanding among them!Luo Feng had taught this group of Stellar-level Ninth-tier slaves some elementary secret techniques from the Yunmo Star lineage. Since they were slaves, there was no fear of betrayal, so Babata hadn't objected. “Find Stellar-level Eight or Nine individuals to form a squad?” Lei Shen chuckled. “Haha, good thing we have two big helpers.” “Indeed, we won’t need to find others to form a squad,” Hong also smiled.Forming a team.There’s no legal protection for this, so naturally, complete trust between members is impossible. Constantly guarding against betrayal is exhausting! Luo Feng and his two companions were lucky to have two Stellar-level Ninth-tier servants. This way, they could form a five-person group, and the group would be incredibly united.In the vast cosmos.Generally, people of the same race or from the same homeworld tend to have deep bonds, as there are simply too many human races in the cosmos, and the number of planets is countless. “Daddy, Daddy, what are you looking at?” The young boy, Luo Hai, dressed in combat attire, bounced over. “I’m busy, come here, give Daddy a kiss.” Luo Feng rushed over with a smile and picked up his son. ...That evening, Luo Feng and his companions departed Bailan Star aboard a spaceship.The first time one applies for an adventurer identity, it must be done at the actual ‘Cosmic Mercenary Alliance.’ Only with an adventurer identity can one undertake the apprentice mercenary assessment. Luo Feng and his team's destination was Qiulong Star. ...Ten days later.The Cosmic Mercenary Alliance outpost on Qiulong Star was practically a city. Luo Feng, Hong, Lei Shen, and their two Stellar-level Ninth-tier bodyguards stepped inside. “So many people,” Luo Feng exclaimed. “It’s a sea of people,” Lei Shen also felt dazzled.A vast number of people entered the Cosmic Mercenary Alliance, over eighty percent of whom were there to register as adventurers! Luo Feng and his five companions joined the throng, queuing with people from various human races to complete their adventurer registration. After spending about an hour, they finally finished. “An adventurer card, this is an adventurer card?” Lei Shen looked at the card in his hand. “Don’t lose it, replacing it is a hassle,” Luo Feng chuckled. “Come on, let’s go apply for the Cosmic Apprentice Mercenary assessment.”Adventurer registration had the most people.However, for the Cosmic Apprentice Mercenary assessment, there were far fewer people, and Luo Feng and his team didn't need to queue at all. “Stellar-level Second-tier Spirit Reader, Stellar-level Second-tier Warrior, Stellar-level First-tier Warrior, Stellar-level Ninth-tier Warrior, Stellar-level Ninth-tier Spirit Reader. All of you meet the requirements for the apprentice mercenary assessment application. Please pay a fee of 10,000 Heilong coins per person.” “Very good.” “Here are the detailed contents of your assessment mission. Please review them yourselves.”After scanning the adventurer cards of Luo Feng and the other four, their five identification numbers were entered into the ‘Cosmic Apprentice Mercenary Assessment’ system, allowing them to participate in the assessment.Luo Feng, Hong, Lei Shen, and the two bodyguards immediately found a nearby bar, entered, ordered some drinks, and began to carefully read the assessment mission. “Enter the Realm Lord World on Canglan Star, obtain three Windhorn Stones and one horn from a Unicorne Iron Rhino. Then, hand them over to the Cosmic Mercenary Alliance staff guarding the exit of the Realm Lord World. This will signify successful completion of the apprentice mercenary assessment, and from then on, you will be a qualified Cosmic Apprentice Mercenary.”The assessment mission served its purpose as an assessment.It wasn't a typical adventure; this mission was designed to weed out a large number of participants. “It definitely won’t be easy,” Lei Shen muttered, then chuckled, “Windhorn Stones, Unicorne Iron Rhino horns? Couldn’t people just buy them outside and then claim they obtained them themselves?” “Look here.”Luo Feng turned to the sixth page of the assessment details. “Windhorn Stones are unique to that Realm Lord World and contain its specific properties. As for the ‘fierce beast,’ the Unicorne Iron Rhino, that roams freely in the Realm Lord World, its horn will have a mark placed on it by the Cosmic Mercenary Alliance… After each mission is completed, the assessment items will be reclaimed.” “Even if someone manages to take them out, the Cosmic Mercenary Alliance severely cracks down on such actions. If anyone is found cheating, their assessment opportunity will be permanently revoked. As for those who sell them, they will be directly executed.” ...Luo Feng, his two companions, and the two bodyguards were all discussing the upcoming Cosmic Apprentice Mercenary assessment mission. “Five sirs.” “Five sirs.” An extremely thin man with unusually large ears approached, his face wreathed in smiles. “Are the five sirs preparing to participate in the Cosmic Apprentice Mercenary assessment?” “Hm?” Luo Feng and the others looked over. “The apprentice mercenary assessments within the Black Dragon Mountain Starfield all take place in the Realm Lord World on Canglan Star. I… I have a detailed map of that world, and also many experiences shared by seniors who have completed the apprentice mercenary assessment,” the man whispered continuously. “With these, your success rate will at least double.” “Detailed map? Experiences?” Luo Feng looked at the thin man. “How much?” Lei Shen asked. “Not much, 100 Heilong coins per copy,” the thin man quickly replied. “Not much? We’ll take one for 50 Heilong coins,” Lei Shen said directly. “Deal!” The thin man agreed readily. ...On Qiulong Star, Luo Feng and his team purchased two sets of apprentice assessment materials from two different places. Upon careful comparison, the maps were identical. However, the experiences varied widely. As they read through them, Luo Feng, Hong, and Lei Shen were secretly astonished… this Realm Lord World would change after a certain period! ...On Qiulong Star, Luo Feng purchased Second-tier combat armor and Second-tier spirit weapons (psychic weapons) for his two bodyguards. While top-grade Second-tier psychic weapons might cost billions of Heilong coins, Luo Feng himself only used low-grade Third-tier psychic weapons, so the weapons used by his two bodyguards could naturally only be considered ‘mid-grade Second-tier weapons.’Second-tier was sufficient for Stellar-level practitioners. ...Subsequently, Luo Feng and the other four boarded a spaceship and departed Qiulong Star, heading for the more renowned ‘Canglan Star.’Canglan Star, one of the top 100 important planets within the Black Dragon Mountain Empire's territory. The owner of this planet was a ‘Realm Lord.’ Of course… this planetary lord did not currently reside on Canglan Star. “Aogu, Tienan River. From now on, you two are extremely important members of our squad. If we encounter any ambushes or other troubles, the three of us will be relying on you,” Luo Feng said with a smile, looking at the two bodyguards in the spaceship's control room, where all five were present. These were the two servants he had brought along for this trip.Both had appearances close to Earthlings.Aogu was a Stellar-level Ninth-tier Spirit Reader, incredibly thin, with hollow cheeks and a messy head of dark red hair. His strength made him the top-ranked Spirit Reader among the many Stellar-level Ninth-tier slaves Luo Feng had purchased.Tienan River was a burly, tall, and robust man with sunken eyes. The only difference between him and an Earthling was the three scales on his forehead. He was the top-ranked Warrior among the Stellar-level Ninth-tier slaves Luo Feng had purchased. “Protecting our master is our mission,” the elder Aogu quickly stated. “Master, please don’t say that,” Tienan River quickly replied. “Don’t be modest. Our squad will last for a long time. If our squad eventually disbands, and after experiencing many life-and-death situations, you are still alive, and I am still alive… I will choose to remove your bio-chip control and grant you your freedom,” Luo Feng said.Aogu and Tienan River’s eyes lit up.Freedom!This was what every slave yearned for! However, under bio-chip control, they couldn't defy their master's commands.Luo Feng secretly nodded. Slaves wouldn't dare to resist, but dangling a big carrot in front of them would make these two bodyguards work even harder… Moreover, Luo Feng had decided that when these two's strength became insufficient, and if the squad disbanded and they had survived numerous life-and-death trials with him, granting them freedom would be perfectly normal. “Canglan Star is almost here. The spaceship is about to perform a cosmic jump.” “Canglan Star.” Aogu and Tienan River, the two bodyguards, had a hint of longing in their eyes. They would strive to protect Luo Feng with all their might.Because once their master died.They would be finished!And their hope for freedom would be completely severed. Not every master would grant their slaves the chance for freedom. ...After performing the cosmic jump, the spaceship flew towards an incredibly beautiful, aquamarine planet. “What a beautiful planet, it rivals our homeworld,” Luo Feng praised, standing in the control room and gazing at the planet in the distant starry sky. “It is indeed beautiful,” Lei Shen also marveled. “But it’s truly peculiar. Canglan Star has a diameter of about 32,000 kilometers, yet the ‘Realm Lord World’ hidden within it is more than a hundred times the area of Canglan Star itself. Such a vast world, it’s said that some peak Realm Lord experts can conceal it within a single grain of sand.” “A world within a grain of sand—that’s the immense power of a Realm Lord,” Hong exclaimed.Realm Lord Worlds were incredibly mysterious.This Cosmic Apprentice Mercenary assessment was taking place within a Realm Lord World. “Whoosh!”The deep blue spaceship quickly flew into Canglan Star.