Chapter 381

Several minutes later, the ship spirit's voice sounded.

"Connecting to the Xiang Jianzong's battle network…"

"Activating teleportation array纹, connecting to the Xiang Jianzong's Starflight Leap Array…"

"Warning! Leap will begin in ten seconds!"

Chi JiuYu jumped from her seat, clenched her fists, and stared at the several pale blue translucent screens ahead of the control room.

"Ten, nine, eight, seven…" As the countdown ended, "Leap initiated!"

Hum~!

As if an invisible torrent surged over them, the entire starship shuddered violently.

Amid the piercing hum, the scene before her twisted and warped into countless flowing colored lines—even Chi JiuYu could not avoid it.

These strange phenomena appeared suddenly and vanished just as quickly.

After all, this was merely a leap within the Xiang Jianzong's inner sect starfields; the distance was not great.

As everything faded, the control room's view shifted from blurry to sharp, finally fully appearing before them.

【Leap successful, initiating self-check mode】

【Checking status of all system modules…】

Zhang Yunlu gripped the armrests on both sides of her seat tightly, her knuckles turning white.

Logically, she, now at the Jin Dan stage, should no longer feel discomfort as she had during Foundation Establishment, but perhaps due to her first leap experience, or her innate physique.

In any case, she still found the leap process highly uncomfortable.

"The oscillation amplitude is about ten percent lower…" Chi JiuYu estimated the difference between her own starship and this one.

Starships, especially small ones, prioritize leap-related functions above all else.

"Xiao Ning, from the moment we left the Central Continent and entered the starfields, how long until the leap engine reheats?"

Because Zhang Yunlu had granted her the relevant permissions, she could ask directly.

"From the moment we reached the starfields, the leap engine requires ninety seconds to fully reheat."

"Next destination—Western Star Region, Yuling Star System, Yuling Interstellar Hotel."

Ninety seconds.

"Tsk tsk, this new-generation leap engine is truly incredible."

Other aspects remain unclear for now, but just these two features alone prove its excellence.

It seems the data on their official website was indeed not exaggerated.

She turned back: "You okay, Xiao Yunlu?"

Huh~

Zhang Yunlu exhaled deeply, channeled her magic power to suppress the discomfort, and shook her head: "I'm fine."

【All system modules self-checked, no anomalies detected】

Seeing she was truly unharmed, Chi JiuYu said: "Xiao Yunlu, I gotta tell you—your starship's performance is absolutely insane…"

If a small starship has reached this level, what about a medium one?

Just thinking about it made her happy!

"Thanks to Ye Shijie's good judgment."

"Of course!" Chi JiuYu was utterly unmodest.

"…" Zhang Yunlu paused, "Have you seen the mission data, Ye Shijie?"

"I've seen it, I've seen it! The planetary guardian there is only Soul Transformation—still can't beat me, don't worry."

But aren't we going there just to avoid trouble…

Zhang Yunlu almost said that, but remembering how she always ran into unexpected trouble on missions this past year, she decided not to.

"Ye Shijie, I've always had a question."

"Ask!"

She was the knowledgeable Yu!

"The starfields are so vast—do all the people living on life-bearing planets come from the Central Continent?"

Previously, whether on the Spirit Net or in the Scripture Hall, Zhang Yunlu had found no records on this.

Ah!

What kind of question is this?

Because she aspired to become the Zong Sect's leader, even though she was often carefree, she never neglected any required studies.

But this question…

Hmm…

She truly couldn't answer, so she simply shrugged:

"I don't know—maybe ask Master when we return."

But the result? Probably just: "That's not something you need to know."

"Mm."

Zhang Yunlu didn't dwell on it, only surprised that even Ye Shijie didn't know.

At that moment, the ship spirit's voice sounded again.

"Leap engine reheated, leap initiating in three seconds!"

Hearing this, Chi JiuYu turned around—not as carelessly as before—but sat properly in her seat and fastened her safety harness.

This was a long-distance leap, and the oscillation amplitude had already been tested—better to be cautious.

Hum~!

Again, that familiar shrill humming sound, and the scene before them shifted.

Zhang Yunlu's entire body tensed.

Chi Jiuyu, by contrast, hummed a little tune, looking relaxed and carefree.

……

……

The Yuling Star System, one of the wealthiest in the Western Star Region, is jointly governed by the Xiang Jianzong, Ling Yin Fang, Taishang Dao Sect, and Shenji Lianbao Pavilion.

More accurately, this star system is divided into several parts, each governed by one of the Xian Sects.

Seventy years ago, an event occurred: a planet in the Yuling Star System gave birth to seven Reversing Void cultivators from an alien race; believing their clan had never been stronger, they sought to expand their territory and conquer the entire Yuling Star System.

They caused some damage due to a momentary lapse, but were ultimately easily suppressed by a guest staying at the Yuling Star Hotel.

This incident is still carved onto a stone tablet and displayed in the hotel's lobby as one of its attractions.

Yuling Star Hotel, Starship Berthing Zone.

Beside a black Gao Ta etched with deep blue array patterns, starships hovered silently, with new ones arriving and departing at every moment.

At the bottom lay an immensely expansive silver platform, its surface densely covered with intricate patterns forming a mysterious star array cluster, emitting a peculiar pulling force that guided starships from afar as they jumped through space.

Overall, it resembled the Star Jump Array of the Xiang Jianzong, yet its effect differed somewhat.

High above, ripples spread through the void, and from them emerged sleek, jet-black starship hulls, their surface array patterns slowly dimming.

It was Zhang Yunlu's starship.

A staff member in deep red uniform stepped out from the Gao Ta and piloted a device to hover before the starship.

At that moment.

In the hotel's top floor.

"Finally arrived."

Xu Xing still stood before the floor-to-ceiling window, gazing at the starship berthing area.

Actually, it was impossible to see from here—the hotel had even installed special privacy protections.

But none of that mattered to him.

"Well then, let's go down for a walk."

Xu Xing turned away from the window, picked up a coat from beside him, put it on, and walked straight out.

…………

On the other side.

Chi Jiuyu and Zhang Yunlu, under the staff's guidance, berthed their starship in the designated spot.

After exiting the starship.

"We're here!" Chi Jiuyu glanced at the sky, then turned back to Zhang Yunlu. "How's it? Pretty awesome, right?" Zhang Yunlu was still gazing upward, her eyes reflecting the "Yuling Star River"; it took her a long while to snap back to reality.

"That's…"

"Real stars. Supposedly, one of the Star Refining Divine Arts is hidden inside them—super cool!"

Super cool…

Such a plain, unadorned compliment made the staff member's eye twitch, yet he still maintained a polite smile.

"Delighted to serve you both."

"How delighted?" Chi Jiuyu asked offhandedly.

"…"

Are you here to cause trouble?!

"Extremely…"

"Here, our invitation letters." Chi Jiuyu handed over two gold-embossed, brown-red invitation cards.

No mistake in any single character!

Between two golden feathers, the hotel's name was written in flowing script.

The fact that all starships were drawn here already spoke volumes, yet the hotel staff still took the invitations, carefully inspected them, confirmed their validity, then returned them to the two.

"Welcome to the Yuling Star Hotel. Please be seated; I will process your check-in."

As he spoke, the device extended and transformed.

In less than three seconds, it became a streamlined shuttle, entirely silver-white, shaped like a feather.

It looked nice, but its actual performance was just average—though the space-folding technology was well executed.

A flash of Jin Guang passed through Chi Jiuyu's eyes, then he and Zhang Yunlu stepped onto the shuttle.

Shhh!

After a momentary push-back sensation, the scenery outside began to recede.

"Is this your first time staying at our hotel?" the staff member asked.

"I've been to several branch hotels in other star systems; my junior sister is here for the first time," Chi Jiuyu replied casually, gazing out the window.

She'd never been to the main hotel before—wonder what's different here.

Zhang Yunlu, too, was looking out the window, just like her.

The staff member had wanted to ask more, but seeing neither of them seemed inclined to talk, he fell silent.

Soon after, the shuttle left the starship berthing zone and landed at the shuttle parking area outside Hall Wu-47.

Spirit wood cast shade; auspicious grass stayed evergreen.

Neatly cut blue stone slabs emitted a soft, glowing radiance, forming a path that stretched forward.

"Please follow me."

After stepping out of the shuttle, the staff member walked ahead to lead the way.

Zhang Yunlu glanced curiously around, then steadied her mind and followed along with Chi Jiuyu.

After taking only a few steps, she noticed something was off.

The spiritual energy in the air was unusually gentle, evoking the image of a softly flowing stream—tender and enduring.

A voice came from beside them: "Hmm… this spiritual environment must be the Anling Array of Jishi Valley, right?"

"Our guest is truly well-traveled."

"Pfft!" Chi Jiuyu waved her hand. "But the array you're using is the Fourteenth Generation—now we're already on the Seventeenth."

Seventeenth generation?

The staff member froze. According to her knowledge, Jishi Valley's latest Anling Array was only the Fifteenth Generation.

Hearing this, Zhang Yunlu also realized the truth.

"The array you sent us earlier?"

Not long ago, Chi Jiuyu had sent some Phoenix Feathers to her little fan in Jishi Valley; in return, Lin Xuanxuan had sent her two arrays, saying they could improve the spiritual environment.

"That's right—that one. According to her, the Eighteenth Generation is already in development, and this time they're preparing to release a matching set of pills."

"Pills?"

"They're designed to alter the spiritual environment to better suit pill consumption."

"Like during breakthroughs?"

"Something like that, but the price should be cheaper than those."

The staff member walking ahead secretly gasped at their words.

Who on earth are these two? Even this kind of secret they know!

Amid a somewhat heavy atmosphere, the three finally reached the front of the hall, where a thin veil of light obscured what lay within.

The staff member stopped and smiled. "Ladies, please enter."

"Let's go." Chi Jiuyu grabbed Zhang Yunlu's hand and stepped straight in.

The scenery before them shifted instantly: walls adorned with magnificent nebulae, studded with Spirit Jade, gave the impression that one had been transported directly into the star sea.

Stars flickered and dimmed, offering a feeling entirely different from the "Yuling Star River" hanging high above.

For a moment, Zhang Yunlu felt the pace of her own Immortal Jin Dan's rotation quicken slightly.

Only after a long while did she pull her gaze away and follow her senior sister deeper inside.

……

……

Zhang Yunlu's reaction was noticed by a young man seated on a sofa, looking somewhat indifferent.

He gently swirled a glass of red wine, his gaze following the retreating backs of the two women.

Only when they had moved farther away did he finally look away.

He sat up slightly, a flicker of interest in his eyes: "Uncle Ming."

The man called "Uncle Ming" was an elderly man with impeccable posture, silver hair, and an immaculately groomed appearance—looking rather rigid.

"Young master, put away those inappropriate thoughts."

His tone was respectful, yet his words brimmed with warning.

"I haven't even said anything yet," the young man grumbled.

"Those two are beyond your reach. If necessary, I will take coercive measures."

"Hmph!"

The young man set down his glass of red wine with a cold snort.

Against this old steward sent by his father to monitor him, he truly had no recourse.

But he didn't believe someone who got stunned by a few pieces of Spirit Jade could possibly be beyond his reach.

Uncle Ming's expression remained unchanged, as coldly detached as ever: "This is the Yuling Star Interstellar Hotel. Even your father must tread carefully. Please don't bring extra trouble upon him."

The starry sky was boundless; many longed for the Central Continent as the center of the universe.

But he knew just how absurd the Central Continent truly was.

A Soul Transformation cultivator guarding a single star could only be assigned to a remote city there.

Someone like him, at the peak of Nascent Soul, was utterly insignificant.

As for a young master who, at over thirty, had barely reached Foundation Establishment…

Fooling around on your father's planet was one thing—but if you dare act up here at the Yuling Star Interstellar Hotel, you'll be slapped to death!

So he had to keep a close eye on him.

It was also his father's order.

"The patterns carved into the walls contain Dao essence and can accelerate cultivation—but only Nascent Soul cultivators can comprehend them," Uncle Ming explained coldly.

If he didn't explain clearly, the young master's temper might cause trouble.

"Huh? So those two…?" The young man shuddered. "Uncle Ming, when can we go back?"

"When your father sends word, and the Xiang Jianzong emissary finishes reviewing the cultivator records."

The young master has caused too many troubles—staying might attract the Xiang Jianzong emissary's attention.

That's precisely why your father went to great lengths to send him here to the Yuling Star Interstellar Hotel.

Only here can the Xiang Jianzong emissary show restraint. (End of chapter)