Before setting off, Luo Xiu had already inquired with the War Slaves that Master Ping kept confined in the World Inside the Vase.
The Boundless Heavens were a land of legend, overflowing with opportunities. As a node on the Starry Sky Ancient Path, they existed in the space between the Mortal Realm and the Celestial Realm.
Up, down, and all four directions were empty and vast—hence the na "Boundless."
Whenever the Starry Sky Magnetic Wind arrived, it would cause the stars of both the Celestial and Mortal Realms to shift south. This stellar migration would compress the space in between, causing rifts to appear in the Boundless Heavens.
These were what people called the "entrances to the Boundless Heavens."
No one knew what the Celestial Realm was like, but in the Mortal Realm, spatial rifts—the so-called entrances—would randomly appear all over whenever the Boundless Heavens opened. Thus, there were many entrances.
However, regardless of the entrance, one needed a Magnetic Key issued by the Tianji Pavilion to enter. If soone tried to force their way into a rift without a Magnetic Key, they would, at best, beco lost in the chaotic spatial currents. At worst, they would be torn to shreds.
Therefore, each Magnetic Key represented one quota.
Furthermore, Magnetic Keys were divided into high, middle, and low grades. A high-grade Magnetic Key granted direct access to the central region of the Boundless Heavens. A mid-grade Magnetic Key allowed entry into the inner region. A low-grade Magnetic Key only permitted access to the outer region.
The Tianji Pavilion typically traded the high and mid-grade Magnetic Keys with the major sects and powerful factions. As for the low-grade Magnetic Keys, they could be purchased with Spirit Jade. Yet, even these had long since sold out and were now nigh-impossible to find.
Luo Xiu's plan was to simply find a world to enter first and then figure out a way to get his hands on a Magnetic Key.
…
In the vast and boundless Flowing Thunder River, Lao Ba's body surged with Spiritual Power. He carried Luo Xiu, Master Ping, and An Ran on his back, soaring through the endless teorites with his wings spread wide.
In the cold, silent expanse of the Tianhe, Lao Ba's singing seed incredibly insignificant. But for Luo Xiu and the others, it was sheer torture.
"The petals are beautiful, the maiden even more shy."
A painful silence hung in the air.
"I play my reed pipe, little sister, won't you sing a song?"
Another pained silence.
"Lao Ba, for the love of God, shut up!" Master Ping roared, unable to bear it any longer. "If you sing another note, I swear I'll kill you!"
But Lao Ba had no intention of placating him, squawking in his raspy croak, "Shoo, shoo. Listen or don't, I don't care. As long as our Crown Prince enjoys my singing, that's all that matters."
With a dark expression, Luo Xiu said, "I have a strong feeling you're mistaken about that."
A vein throbbed on Master Ping's forehead. Just as he was about to erupt, he suddenly frowned.
"Hey, kid, my Divine Sense is picking up so activity over there. Sounds like a fight."
Luo Xiu said, "Fighting is normal in the Cultivation World, isn't it? Besides, this is the Flowing Thunder River. Tianhe rcenaries and Starry Sky Bandits are everywhere."
Master Ping's chubby cheeks squeezed into a sleazy grin. "My point is, we could go 'diate.' We might even pick up so benefits."
"You just got to the Upper Realm, so you don't know," he continued. "Those Starry Sky Bandits are loaded! They're practically dripping with wealth! All their loot was stolen from others anyway, so why can't we steal from them?"
Lao Ba spoke earnestly, "I've known this fatso for a while now, and this is the first ti I've heard him say sothing that actually makes sense."
Master Ping chuckled. "It's about ti you recognized my wisdom."
Lao Ba turned his head to look at Luo Xiu. "Crown Prince, I think we should go check it out. We're looking for one of those Magnetic Keys, right? What if those Starry Sky Bandits have one? Seems plausible, doesn't it?"
Stroking his chin, Luo Xiu pondered, "But if we do that, what makes us any different from those Starry Sky Bandits?"
An Ran, who was sitting cross-legged nearby, nodded in approval upon hearing this. He's surprisingly principled.
But in the next mont, Luo Xiu added, "You're right. There is no difference. Let's do it."
"Alright!" Lao Ba flapped his wings and cheerfully sped off.
Master Ping declared, "This is what we call 'persuading with virtue.' Perfectly reasonable!"
Lao Ba's flying speed was incredible, even though he was now featherless. He was, after all, the Divine Beast Golden Crow.
Before long, they arrived at the "cri scene" Master Ping had detected with his Divine Sense. Two massive flying arks were parked in space, teeming with figures darting about amidst flashes of spiritual light. It was chaos.
Suddenly, Luo Xiu's brow furrowed. One of those arks seems familiar…
Upon closer inspection, he realized it was the Thunderbolt Divine Boat he had given Zuo Qianhuang not long ago.
…
Aboard the Thunderbolt Divine Boat, Zuo Qianhuang and his Tianhe rcenaries were bathed in blood, completely surrounded by a large group of cultivators in matching sword attire.
An elder among them, his eyes filled with nace, spoke in a cold voice, "Zuo Qianhuang, considering the difficulty of cultivation, I will give you one last chance. Hand over the treasure you obtained in the Tianhe Secret Realm!"
"Otherwise, I will slaughter you Starry Sky Bandits and uphold the righteous path of the Heavens!"
Zuo Qianhuang laughed in fury. "Bullshit! If you want to kill us, then get on with it! Enough with the nonsense! The 'righteous path'? You boarded our ark without cause and slaughtered my brothers indiscriminately. Is that what you call righteousness?"
The elder responded with indifference, "You roam the Tianhe, committing countless wicked acts. Death is too good for you. I truly don't understand how you can be so shaless! Since you refuse to appreciate my kindness, don't bla for being rciless!"
"Disciples of the Swordfire Divine Sect, on my command… kill!"
BOOM!
But just as the cultivators were about to strike, Lao Ba smashed through the ark's protective barrier and descended from the sky.
"Eighth Master is here! Who dares act so presumptuously!"
The cultivators in sword attire were shocked and hastily scrambled back.
When Zuo Qianhuang saw Luo Xiu on Lao Ba's back, he froze for a mont before calling out in a trembling voice, "Young Master… Lin?"
Luo Xiu offered a faint smile. "Captain Zuo. I didn't expect we'd et again so soon."
Zuo Qianhuang shook his head with a wry smile. "I am ashad."
"Leave this to ," Luo Xiu said gravely. With that, he hopped off Lao Ba's back and sized up the elder.
He suddenly asked, "I heard you're from the Swordfire Divine Sect?"
Luo Xiu recalled that during the Harvest Ceremony years ago, the Swordfire Divine Sect had sent people to the Lower Realm and slaughtered countless beings in the Shanhai Territory. He even had a grudge against their Sect Master, Huo Hangku.
The elder snorted. "Where did this whelp co from? Scram! If you're looking to die, I'll grant your wish after I'm done here!"
Luo Xiu strolled toward the elder with a faint smile. "My, you're quite the big shot. A man has to queue up just to be killed by you. Unfortunately, I don't follow rules. I like to cut in line."
He glanced back at Zuo Qianhuang and joked, "Captain Zuo, you don't mind if I cut in, do you?"
Zuo Qianhuang's expression was strange; he was at a loss for words. A flicker of pity for the sword-clad elder crossed his eyes. This old fool has no idea who he's dealing with. Young Master Lin is terrifyingly capable. I rember even the Heavenly Moon Cult fell to him not long ago.
The elder's expression hardened. "An ignorant little thief from the Tianhe. What a waste of ti. Kill him for !"
An eager Divine Sect Disciple stepped forward and, without a word, lunged at Luo Xiu with his sword.
SLAP!
With a casual backhand, Luo Xiu sent the disciple sprawling. He then ca to a stop directly in front of the elder.
The elder's eyes sharpened. His hand shot out like a thunderbolt, clawing ferociously at Luo Xiu's throat.
"You little mongrel, die for !"
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