The Core Region

“The Inner World?” Luo Feng’s heart immediately tensed as he stared at the screen. Many thoughts raced through his mind. Logically, his participation in the Cosmic Apprentice Mercenary Assessment hadn't been widely publicized. Very few people knew about it! Although He Ruo knew, He Ruo was from North Dragon City and wasn't qualified to contact a super-powerful individual like Mingyu! So, how did this Domain Lord Mingyu know he was in the Inner World? “Don't be surprised! Back then, when I spoke with you three, I could tell you had thoughts of cosmic adventure. And given your strength, the first thing you’d likely do for a cosmic adventure is participate in this ‘Cosmic Apprentice Mercenary Assessment.’ The assessment location for the entire Black Dragon Mountain Starfield is the Thunder World.” Mingyu stated plainly. Luo Feng looked at the burly, imposing man on the screen. “Lord Mingyu, why are you looking for me?” “This Inner World was created by a very famous Realm Lord from our Black Dragon Mountain Starfield tens of millions of years ago. His name is Kabu, known as the Thunder Realm Lord,” Mingyu quickly explained. “And Kabu Realm Lord was incredibly lucky, considered very wealthy among Realm Lords, and possessed several highly renowned treasures that even other Realm Lords coveted!” Luo Feng’s heart stirred, and he pressed, “Then, Lord Mingyu, why didn’t you enter the Inner World?” This was a question he, Hong, and Lei Shen had wondered about for a long time. “It’s a long story; you’ll know once you emerge from the Thunder World,” Mingyu said in a deep, powerful voice. “I sought you out to tell you this! Although ‘non-Stellar Rank adventurers’ cannot enter the Thunder World, the treasures within this Inner World are simply too alluring. So now, throughout the entire Black Dragon Mountain Starfield, all major organizations and powers have dispatched armies composed of ‘Ninth-tier Stellar Rank’ individuals into the Thunder World.” “What?” Luo Feng jumped in shock. Armies composed of Ninth-tier Stellar Rank individuals? The entire Black Dragon Mountain Starfield has over eight thousand star systems, with more than five hundred vassal states like the Silverblue Empire! In such a vast starfield, how many Ninth-tier Stellar Rank individuals could be dispatched? “How many in total?” Luo Feng quickly asked. “The top peak powerhouses from across the Black Dragon Mountain Starfield gathered, held a ‘Realm Lord Conference,’ and ultimately decided that all parties combined would dispatch nearly 2 million adventurers,” Mingyu stated gravely. Luo Feng fell silent. 2 million? As the saying goes, when people number over ten thousand, it feels like a sea of humanity. Once these 2 million troops form, it would be an ocean of people, stretching as far as the eye could see. All of them Ninth-tier Stellar Rank! A million-strong army of Ninth-tier Stellar Rank individuals would make even Cosmic Rank powerhouses flee in terror. Even ants can kill an elephant! To a Cosmic Rank powerhouse, a Ninth-tier Stellar Rank individual is an ant, but to wipe out 2 million ants, their internal primal energy might not even be enough. “Adventurer teams come in large and small groups. Some are under Realm Lords, some under Domain Lords, and some under Cosmic Rank individuals,” Mingyu said with a smile, encouragingly. “Because they aren’t united, you shouldn’t worry too much. As long as you hide and maneuver carefully, there’s still a chance to survive.” “Hmm.” Luo Feng, however, couldn’t relax. 2 million Ninth-tier Stellar Rank individuals! It was absolutely hair-raising! It would be difficult for even a single Realm Lord to field 2 million Ninth-tier Stellar Rank subordinates, but with all parties in the Black Dragon Mountain Starfield cooperating, it was effortlessly achieved. “Spectacular,” Luo Feng mused inwardly. “Lord Mingyu, why are you looking for me?” Luo Feng pressed again. “Of course, I have a reason to seek you out,” Mingyu smiled. “I’ll tell you, even though 2 million Ninth-tier Stellar Rank troops have entered, Canglan Star is hosting a rare grand gathering of powerhouses from across the Black Dragon Mountain Starfield! Powerhouses from all sides are converging, guarding Canglan Star, prohibiting other adventurers from entering the Thunder World, and at the same time… once someone emerges from the Thunder World. Like you, Luo Feng! If they aren’t from our Two Great Sacred Lands, Four Major Organizations, or Sixteen Great Families… well, you can imagine the consequences.” Luo Feng’s expression changed drastically. That’s outrageous! The major organizations of the Black Dragon Mountain Starfield had clearly allied, determined to swallow the ‘Inner World’ whole! Anyone not affiliated with their factions would be lucky to merely face threats and coercion; murder and plunder were far more likely! “Currently on Canglan Star, there’s a large group of Cosmic Rank individuals!” “Over a hundred Domain Lords!” “And nearly ten Realm Lords!” “Luo Feng, tell me, how tragic would your fate be if you emerged from the Thunder World?” Mingyu looked at Luo Feng with a smile, but his burly, imposing figure made his smile genuinely frightening. Luo Feng was indeed startled. Realm Lords? With a single slap, they could plunge a life-bearing planet like Earth into extinction! So-called interstellar fleets were like toys before a Realm Lord. Even the Silverblue Empire trembled before a Realm Lord, and compared to a Realm Lord, the Nuolanshan Family was like an ant. Nearly ten such beings on Canglan Star? Heavens! “Lord Mingyu, what should I do then?” Luo Feng looked at Mingyu, his mind already guessing the super-powerhouse’s intentions. “You should have guessed my thoughts.” Mingyu said casually, “It’s simple. You were among the first to enter the Inner World. While the other Ninth-tier Stellar Rank armies are numerous, they’re too late! You are the ones with the best chance of acquiring treasures. Kabu Realm Lord had many treasures, coveted even by Realm Lords, so naturally, if even a little bit leaks out, I, a Domain Lord, would be very tempted.” “What you need to do is, after acquiring treasures, give me any that tempt me!” “Of course, I won’t treat you unfairly!” Mingyu smiled. “Furthermore, by invoking my name, the major organizations and powers naturally won’t trouble you.” Those who become powerhouses are all intelligent, so Luo Feng naturally wouldn’t refuse. After his conversation with Mingyu, Luo Feng exited the Virtual Universe Network. “Sister-in-law, was my brother just back?” Luo Hua emerged from his wooden house, looking a bit tired. Xu Xin, who was sitting outside on a chair researching data, smiled and nodded, “Yes, he just logged into the Virtual Universe Network a moment ago. But he’s already returned to reality.” “I needed to talk to him about something! Ah, I missed my chance.” Luo Hua frowned. “What is it?” Xu Xin closed the virtual ‘notebook’ in front of her. In the Virtual Universe Network, browsing screens could be customized however one wished. Xu Xin, being from Earth, was accustomed to using notebooks, so she naturally used her ‘Auxiliary AI’ to slightly modify the interface. “It’s about the Earth Summit.” Luo Hua explained, “The leaders of Earth’s nations discussed it, and they want to… send some vanguard personnel into space. They want to formally make contact with the cosmos.” “What?” Xu Xin frowned. “That’s just how people are. With ‘Consciousness Inducers,’ they can connect to the Virtual Universe Network. But now they’re not content with just the network; they want real-world contact,” Luo Hua shook his head. “They asked me to relay the message to my brother. I’m just the messenger; I have no authority to decide.” “Don’t rush it.” Xu Xin said with a frown, “Your brother is very busy right now. Wait until he’s finished with this period, then tell him about it.” Luo Hua thought for a moment, then nodded, “Hmm, that’s fine too.” Inner World. In the tall grass, Luo Feng and the other four crouched. “Sanzi, you were right to agree to Lord Mingyu,” Lei Shen mused, nodding. “What he said makes a lot of sense. Those major organizations have definitely allied; there’s no way they’d let some small fry with no backing take the treasures.” “That’s what I thought too, which is why I agreed,” Luo Feng nodded. “However, I’m very worried about one thing now,” Lei Shen said with a frown. “After we get out, we’ll have to go with Mingyu! But what if Mingyu secretly kills us all, taking our treasures? That way, he wouldn’t have to pay any conditions and would get all the treasures we found.” “Yes, we must guard against that,” Hong also nodded. “I’m worried about that too,” Luo Feng admitted, troubled. Cooperating with Mingyu was the only way to avoid being targeted by other powerhouses. But what if Mingyu played dirty and killed them? A Domain Lord powerhouse could truly annihilate them with a flick of their hand. “Don’t worry, Luo Feng,” a clear voice echoed in Luo Feng’s mind. “Mingyu approaching you is just him exploring an option! You must understand, there were tens of thousands in the first batch to enter the Inner World! With tens of thousands vying for treasures, Mingyu doesn’t have much confidence in you either. It’s just that, comparatively, your chances are much greater than those of the 2 million troops coming later!” “Furthermore!” “Right now, on Canglan Star, Cosmic Rank, Domain Lords, and Realm Lords—a massive number of powerhouses are gathered. This is a rare grand event for the Black Dragon Mountain Starfield! Anyone daring to commit robbery or murder on Canglan Star would likely be immediately detected by those Realm Lords. Mingyu wouldn’t be so despicable as to make a move in a place like Canglan Star. Powerhouses value their reputation and dignity greatly.” “Trust the promises of powerhouses!” “Especially in places where powerhouses gather, like Canglan Star. Even the most cunning and treacherous individuals must maintain a basic level of powerhouse decorum.” Babata’s words brought Luo Feng a sense of relief. Indeed. A Domain Lord powerhouse, a super-powerhouse capable of striking fear into even nascent cosmic nations, especially in such a grand public setting, certainly wouldn’t joke around with their reputation. “Now, the 2 million adventurer army is continuously pouring into the Thunder World. They’ll reach the Inner World in just seven or eight days. So, we can’t wander around the peripheral areas of the Inner World anymore,” Luo Feng said in a low voice. “We need to hurry and head to the Inner World’s core region!” “Yes! Cosmic Crystals are valuable,” Lei Shen also nodded. “But the treasures that make Domain Lords, and even Realm Lords, covetous—those are truly precious.” Hong nodded slightly. “But we also need to be careful. Tens of thousands of people were already in this Inner World from the very beginning,” Luo Feng frowned. “Especially those major organizations and powers; their smaller teams have even allied. Compared to them, our five-person team is simply too weak. So, let’s keep a low profile and first figure out the situation in the core region.” “You have a point. Cosmic Crystals are most abundant in the core region, and that place must already be a bloodbath,” Lei Shen said, a little excited. Eight days in the Inner World. Luo Feng’s team hadn’t dared to go to the core region precisely because they suspected it would be a chaotic slaughterhouse. But now, they had no choice but to go. Because the 2 million troops, arriving in seven or eight days, would first appear in the peripheral areas after entering through the entrance. “Move out!” Luo Feng commanded. The five-person team immediately transformed into five streaks of light, flying towards the center of the Inner World.