Nine Star Hegemon Body Art

Qing Xi stood anxiously beside the transportation formation, holding two jade tablets—the tickets for using the formation. While the formation was about to activate, Long Chen was nowhere to be seen.

Buzz.

Just as the eight pillars of light ignited around the formation, Long Chen appeared beside her.

“Here!” Qing Xi quickly handed him one of the tablets. When Long Chen received it, the two of them stepped foot onto the transportation formation.

No sooner had they boarded than the formation activated. Space rippled, and in an instant, they vanished.

Immediately after, chaos exploded in Ying Prefecture City. Countless experts came flying out and rushed over to the transportation formation.

“It’s the Soaring Dragon Company!” shouted someone who recognized them.

“Where is this transportation formation headed?!” an enraged eight-vein Human Emperor of the Soaring Dragon Company bellowed. His anger was seething, but the formation’s operators merely stared back in silence.

“Are you deaf?!” the furious Human Emperor roared when they didn’t respond.

At this moment, a middle-aged guard stepped forward. Although he only had a Heaven Saint cultivation base, he was fearless against that eight-vein Human Emperor.

“Guild leader Zhao, please remember one thing. Your Soaring Dragon Company is welcome to do business in Ying Prefecture, but Ying Prefecture City is not yours. We belong to the city lord mansion and not under your company. In fact, we have never taken one mouthful of food from your Soaring Dragon Company. So if you wish to speak to us, be a bit more polite, or I might just decide not to answer at all.”

“You…! Fine, so you’re working together with that brat! How dare you steal my Soaring Dragon Company’s treasury! You must have a death wish!” Guild leader Zhao’s face contorted with rage.

“What?!”

“The Soaring Dragon Company’s treasury was stolen?!”

All the surrounding experts gasped. The thought of the Soaring Dragon Company’s treasury being plundered was almost unbelievable. If it weren’t for the guild leader himself confirming it, no one would have dared to entertain the idea.

The brave middle-aged guard also jumped in shock, not expecting this matter to involve something so huge. However, he maintained his composure and coldly replied, “Guild leader Zhao, for good or worse, you are a major figure with a reputation. It would be best if you didn’t randomly slander people. Although I am nothing more than a guard, I still belong to the city lord mansion. Think about the consequences of throwing mud on the city lord mansion.”

Hearing this, guild leader Zhao clenched his teeth furiously. As powerful as the Soaring Dragon Company was, they were merely guests in Ying Prefecture and could not afford to offend the city lord.

Seeing that this guard had nothing to do with this matter, guild leader Zhao’s tone softened, “Tell me, where did that fellow get transported to just now?”

“The Cloud River Valley,” replied the guard.

When the guild leader Zhao heard that, his heart sank. It was an extremely long transportation. The formation wouldn’t be ready for another use for ten days, and even with extra resources, it would take at least three days to recharge. By then, it would be too late to catch Long Chen.

“That bastard. I swear I’ll make him pay a thousand times over for stealing my Soaring Dragon Company’s things!” Guild leader Zhao growled before storming off, leaving behind a trail of shocked onlookers. News of the Soaring Dragon Company being robbed by a mysterious black-robed figure spread like wildfire.

…

Buzz.

The journey through space lasted an hour before Long Chen and Qing Xi reappeared amid the ruins of a city. This was Cloud River Valley. Qing Xi led the way now, and they flew for three days. After passing a wasteland, they arrived at a small city and got on its transportation formation.

This pattern of travel and teleportation continued for half a month. Along the way, Long Chen checked the map provided by the Huayun Trading Company, which was exceptionally detailed. Every place they passed was clearly marked, making it easy for Long Chen to follow.

The map depicted the Heaven Essence World, with a distinct semicircle at its center, like a ball cut in half. A black dotted line outlined this semicircle, and the inside was shaded dark gray. The Endless Desolation looked like just a circle around them, but the inhabitants of the Heaven Essence World knew that it was a forbidden territory. None of them dared to set a foot on it.

If the world that the first branch academy had been in was a prison, then the Heaven Essence World could be considered an even larger prison.

Long Chen had many questions, especially about the semicircle and its meaning. When he asked Li Shuangwen, the man could only offer an apology, explaining that some knowledge was restricted. There were also many mysterious symbols on the map that Long Chen didn’t understand. According to Li Shuangwen, these markings were reserved for individuals with higher authority.

Despite these mysteries, Long Chen wasn’t in a hurry. From what he could tell, even after half a month of traveling, they hadn’t even covered one percent of the entire map.

As they journeyed, Long Chen noticed that they were approaching a blue sea area marked on the map. He guessed that this must be the Wind God Sea Pavilion. Qing Xi remained tense the entire time, as if they were being chased by wolves. Amused, Long Chen reassured her that their enemies wouldn’t catch up, but she remained uneasy, only feeling safe once they reached the Wind God Sea Pavilion.

“Senior apprentice-brother Long Chen, don’t laugh at me! In two more days, we’ll arrive in the Wind God Sea Pavilion’s territory. I’ll happily laugh and dance once we’re there!” Qing Xi exclaimed.

After two more days of flight, Long Chen felt the shift in the air. It was as if the wind itself had disappeared, and everything had become unnervingly still. As for Qing Xi, she was now relaxed. It seemed that this was the domain of the Wind God Sea Pavilion.

“This is the land of the Wind God Sea Pavilion. In another seven days, we’ll arrive at the Wind God Island. The island houses the core treasure of the pavilion, the Wind Dominion Pearl. It compresses the wind energy of the entire region to enhance our cultivation,” Qing Xi explained.

The notion of compressing all the wind energy into one spot amazed Long Chen. The Wind Dominion Pearl sounded like an artifact of extraordinary power.

Qing Xi then changed into her formal robes—light blue with a silver pagoda embroidered on the sleeves, collar, and chest. The moment she donned them, her aura was instantly revitalized.

“Even the robes have a formation drawn onto them?” Long Chen asked, surprised.

After all, Qing Xi was only an outer disciple, but even her robes had formations backing them. That was truly amazing. The material of these robes couldn’t be ordinary.

Just as Qing Xi finished dressing, several figures appeared on the horizon. Upon seeing them, she quickly pulled Long Chen aside. However, the strangers noticed them and immediately rushed over.

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