Chapter 140

140. Chapter 138: Not the Target

Anyone arriving here for the first time must obtain a Four-Directional Starland identity certificate at the Four-Directional Star Station to enter Four-Directional Starland.

If you merely wish to briefly rest on the interstellar plaza outside Four-Directional Starland without entering it, no procedures are required.

Ding Huan's first act upon arrival was to purchase a guidebook to Four-Directional Starland and a copy of its laws.

Wherever you go, you must first understand its rules.

After reading the guidebook, Ding Huan realized the Four-Directional Starland he had reached was entirely different from what he had imagined.

This was not the starland he intended to reach.

It was merely that Four-Directional Starland occupied a favorable position in this universe, with services and facilities far superior to those of surrounding life starlands.

Most spaceships traveling between star systems stop at Four-Directional Starland when they need resupply.

Unlike other starlands, Four-Directional Starland has a Star Lord.

From the guidebook, Ding Huan learned only that the Star Lord shared his surname: Ding Qi.

As for his cultivation level, Ding Huan had no idea.

What puzzled Ding Huan was that the guidebook showed no particular respect toward the Star Lord.

On the contrary, it gave detailed descriptions of several major families and factions within Four-Directional Starland, with a tone of greater reverence.

After learning that Four-Directional Starland was resource-poor, even scarce, Ding Huan lost interest in everything else.

Four-Directional Starland's primary resources were imported from other starlands in other universes—it was a starland entirely dependent on imports.

He would never settle here.

Ding Huan planned to obtain his identity card, then live inside the starland for a while.

Once he understood the specifics of this universe, he would decide his next move.

Purple Gold Coins were not the most valuable currency in Four-Directional Starland; there was another currency called Crystal Yuan Coins, one of which could be exchanged for ten thousand Purple Gold Coins.

According to the guidebook, Crystal Yuan Coins were not native to this universe but had been brought by a higher civilization's planet.

Ding Huan's spiritual sense swept into his starhouse, gazing at the ten thousand Purple Gold Coins, and he felt a wave of disbelief.

Seeing the glances of those around him earlier, he had thought he'd gained something tremendous.

Turns out his Blue Star had been sold for just one Crystal Yuan Coin—ha, how ironic.

Fortunately, very few people used Crystal Yuan Coins; most used Purple Gold Coins or Black Gold Coins.

One Purple Gold Coin could be exchanged for one hundred Black Gold Coins.

Thus, only these three currencies circulated in Four-Directional Starland.

For Ding Huan and Qi Xinyue to reside in Four-Directional Starland, they needed only to pay two Purple Gold Coins each to obtain two identity tags.

As for Lao Liu, no one even acknowledged him—he could enter Four-Directional Starland without paying any Purple Gold Coins.

Clearly, Four-Directional Starland was indeed friendly toward outsiders.

The identity certificate was a copper tag, engraved with the bearer's name and the time of arrival at the Four-Directional Starland interstellar plaza.

Obtaining the identity tag was simple and cheap—so cheap it might as well have been free.

Entering Four-Directional Starland from the interstellar plaza, however, was not simple.

Ding Huan and Qi Xinyue each paid one hundred Purple Gold Coins for a ticket to Four-Directional Starland—and even Lao Liu had to pay one hundred Purple Gold Coins.

Lao Liu didn't need an identity tag, but to board the starcar to Four-Directional Starland, he had to pay the hundred Purple Gold Coins.

The so-called starcar really had two wings.

When Ding Huan, Qi Xinyue, and Lao Liu entered the starcar, it already held over a hundred people.

Ding Huan's spiritual sense extended twenty thousand meters—he could clearly see everything nearby.

As Ding Huan observed further with his spiritual sense, he noticed a problem.

The starcars heading to Four-Directional Starland did not appear to be flying to the same destination—yet no one had warned him about this when he bought his ticket?

When the starcar reached two hundred passengers, it launched, leaving the interstellar plaza and hurtling toward Four-Directional Starland.

Four-Directional Starland had an atmosphere; as soon as the starcar entered it, Ding Huan saw its general outline.

It looked somewhat like an oval, and judging by its size, it was less than half the size of Earth—a small planet.

The starcar moved at extreme speed, stopping at a plaza in less than twenty minutes.

Ding Huan silently sighed—those hundred Purple Gold Coins had been earned far too easily.

As soon as the starcar arrived, people rushed forward.

Some asked if he wanted lodging; others offered guiding services or rental housing.

It made Ding Huan feel as if he had returned to an ancient Earth train station, where crowds once waited, asking the same questions.

Several vendors who tried to intercept Ding Huan immediately switched targets when they saw the large iron pot he carried.

Someone who carried an iron pot everywhere—how much could you possibly make from him?

The Purple Gold Coins he spent on the starcar were probably his entire savings.

Ding Huan swept his spiritual sense outward—within its range, there were almost no tall buildings.

He saw no signs of infrastructure; clearly, this was not a technological planet.

Even the celestial energy here was no better than Earth's.

"Friend, just arrived at Four-Directional Starland?"

A young man approached.

Ding Huan noticed he had just failed to attract customers—everyone else had already been claimed by other vendors—so he came over now.

"Yes, I'm looking for a quiet place to stay for a while."

Before the man could speak, Ding Huan volunteered his needs.

Hearing Ding Huan was seeking lodging, the young man immediately perked up:

"Haha, friend, you've come to the right person by finding my booth."

Peng Zhan's voice also grew enthusiastic.

Ding Huan seized the opportunity to ask:

"I heard the Star Lord is an unparalleled master, which is why Sixiang Starland is so peaceful?"

Peng Zhan stared at Ding Huan, baffled, then after a moment burst out laughing:

"Friend, you've got it wrong—our Star Lord doesn't cultivate Dao or martial arts."

"Sixiang Starland is jointly governed by seven families: the Zhan, Zuo, Yu, and Tong clans, plus the Fazi Gate, Sixiang Sect, and Star Bridge Consortium."

"So that's how it is—I must have misunderstood," Ding Huan realized.

Peng Zhan waved a hand:

"Normal. Everyone new here thinks the same thing."

"Then who's the strongest? What realm are they in?" Ding Huan asked cautiously.

This time, Peng Zhan lowered his voice:

"I heard it's Zhan Changjing, head of the Zhan clan—rumored to be a supreme Dan Yun realm cultivator."

Ding Huan froze. He'd heard of Foundation Establishment, remembered hearing of Golden Core and even Primordial Spirit Nascent Soul realm, but never of Dan Yun realm.

Was he just ignorant, or did cultivation in this universe differ from his own?

"What is Dan Yun realm?"

Ding Huan asked quickly.

Peng Zhan laughed, glanced around, then lowered his voice again:

"I'll tell you, but you mustn't tell anyone else. Though Sixiang Starland is a crossroads of the universe, true powerhouses rarely come here—everything here is barren."

"Zhan Changjing has exceptional talent—he achieved Foundation Establishment very early..."

Hearing "Foundation Establishment," Ding Huan exhaled in relief.

He knew that—though he hadn't achieved it himself, gene Foundation Establishment was the first step into Dao cultivation.

In other words, so far, he hadn't even taken the first step of Dao cultivation.

Without Foundation Establishment, his goal of seeking immortals and gods was empty talk.

Peng Zhan continued:

"After reaching full Foundation Establishment, Zhan Changjing couldn't advance further—and he couldn't leave Sixiang Starland..."

"Wait—you say you can't leave Sixiang Starland? There are so many ships at the Star Plaza—aren't they from elsewhere?"

Ding Huan interrupted Peng Zhan.

Peng Zhan snorted:

"You just arrived—you don't know. Around Sixiang Starland are many other starlands, but none are as advanced in Dao or martial arts as Sixiang Starland."

"The people on those starlands are still savage and backward—they crave coming to Sixiang Starland. What could you learn from going there?"

"To reach higher civilizations, you must use Sixiang Starland as a stepping stone—otherwise, how could it be so prosperous? Now you understand?"

Ding Huan truly understood.

That meant, to find a higher-level martial or immortal star, leaving Sixiang Starland was nearly impossible.

Even Zhan Changjing, who wielded immense power here, was trapped—how much less could he, a newcomer?

If he stayed here to cultivate, what difference would it make from staying on Earth?

He might as well stay on Earth.

His goal was to find the immortal gods of Chinese mythology and follow in their footsteps, becoming one of them.

He couldn't stay here.

"Zhan Clan Head is truly a genius—he, unable to leave Sixiang Starland, remained stuck at Foundation Establishment."

"Once, a ship from a higher civilization landed on Sixiang Starland."

"Zhan Changjing tried to get them to take him away, but failed. Yet after chatting with those powerhouses for a while, he gained inspiration."

"So he invented a new realm after Foundation Establishment—Dan Yun realm."

Ding Huan froze. Could you do that?

Not knowing what came after Foundation Establishment, you just invent a realm called Dan Yun? Zhan Changjing really had some skill.

No wonder he'd never heard of Dan Yun realm—it was a makeshift realm.

"Friend, now you understand why Zhan Clan Head holds the highest status?"

Peng Zhan said proudly.

Ding Huan said hesitantly:

"Are there other clans or sects with cultivators stuck at late Foundation Establishment, unable to break through or find cultivation methods?"

"So they want Zhan Changjing to teach them how to reach Dan Yun realm?"

"Exactly. Inventing a realm isn't something anyone can do."

Peng Zhan gave a thumbs-up.

Ding Huan felt uneasy:

"Brother Peng, do high civilization ships come here often?"

Peng Zhan immediately said:

"How could they? Even if they occasionally pass by, they rarely enter Sixiang Starland. They only stop at the Star Plaza for rest, then keep going."

Here he sighed:

"To nearby savage planets, Sixiang Starland is the coveted civilized starland. To true high civilizations, Sixiang Starland is utterly beneath their notice."

"Of course, I've heard a rumor—that high civilization ships secretly come once in a while. Whether it's true, I don't know."