Chapter 417: Doubts Abound: The Saint Agronomist and the Demonic Scholar

The Carlos family is one of the founding families of the Red Star Empire. The first Lord Carlos was a founding hero who conquered the world alongside the first Red Star Emperor.

The current Lord Carlos is a powerful Samsara Monarch. In terms of personal strength, he is a Samsara Monarch who possesses multiple ancestral divine artifacts.

In terms of imperial authority, Lord Carlos manages the empire's northern frontier fortress; he can be called the King of the North.

The descendants of the Carlos family are also exceptionally talented. In screenings like the Primordial Assembly, the Carlos family has had someone enter every single time.

Zhao Xing remembers that among the top ten in the final assessment of the Primordial Assembly, there was a genius named Carlos.

Behemoth families are usually very low-key and do not deliberately publicize themselves, but Zhao Xing knows them very well.

Because in his past life, he worked odd jobs under the Carlos family and frequently accepted exploration missions issued by them.

Zhao Xing cannot understand how a force as weak as the Great Zhou could provoke the Carlos family.

In front of the Carlos family, the Great Zhou doesn't even count as an ant; at most, it is a microorganism.

"Big Brother, back when you were in the Phantom God Star System seeking development for the Great Zhou, we took the first step and followed the people of Starfire to the Red Star Empire. Eventually, with the help of Jing Yan, we settled in the Fengdu Boundary Star of the Wuye Constellation in the North River Star System," Ji Che began to recount the past.

"Jing Yan helped the Great Zhou a lot, and we quickly gained a foothold on the Fengdu Boundary Star. At the very least, we didn't have to worry about basic survival."

"However, if the Great Zhou wants to develop, it ultimately has to rely on ourselves."

Zhao Xing nodded.

Jing Yan cannot act like a nanny and arrange everything for the Great Zhou. Even if Jing Yan wanted to, he couldn't do it once the Great Zhou's needs grew; he is just a prince ranked ten-thousandth or so.

"No country has ever become strong through the help of others. So, when you were about to return—that is, in the 127th year of Gengshi—I led people west out of the Jiachen Pass to seek development for the Great Zhou. Later, when you returned, Big Brother, we also discussed it."

"Correct." Zhao Xing also remembers that because the northwestern part of the empire needed to be developed to open up a path of life through the Siyue Wilderness, there would naturally be more opportunities there.

That is why he was very supportive at the time of Ji Che and Ji Si leading people out to find opportunities. After all, within the Red Star Empire, commerce, agriculture, and industry were already saturated.

The Great Zhou had neither capital nor connections, so it would soon hit a development bottleneck.

Expansion outward was inevitable, and going beyond the imperial frontier to explore the unknown cosmic territory was like the Great Age of Discovery—full of opportunities.

It's just that for so many years, Zhao Xing had been concentrating on cultivation and didn't know how far the Great Zhou had reached.

"……Around the three-hundredth year of Gengshi, Big Brother had already passed the third round of the Primordial Assembly."

"At that time, outside the Great Zhou, Big Brother had made a name for himself in the Primordial Realm. Inside, Liu Tianning had taken Lord Qianhua as his master and become a Dao Domain Realm expert."

"Plus Ji Si and me, the Great Zhou already had three Dao Domain Realm experts and over three thousand Third Realm experts."

"Big Brother gained the appreciation of North River Lord Yang Lin, and he also gave us some conveniences."

"So, in the 380th year of Gengshi—about twenty years before Big Brother was about to participate in the fourth round of the final assessment—we conquered a not-so-small piece of territory outside the pass in a place called the 'Annihilation Star Corridor'."

"Annihilation Star Corridor?" As soon as Zhao Xing heard the name, he knew what kind of place it was.

The Annihilation Star Corridor, accompanied by the Siyue Wilderness. In the "Star River Myriad Worlds" version, it was a popular map.

When the Red Star Empire was expanding westward, it encountered the obstruction of the Siyue Wilderness. Since the empire had decided to explore westward, it naturally wouldn't just open up one star path.

If they reached the halfway point and discovered it was a dead end—for example, encountering a dangerous area blocking the way—wouldn't that be a waste of time? Therefore, the exploration and construction of star paths were carried out at multiple locations simultaneously.

According to the development of his past life, the Annihilation Star Corridor was not chosen as the entry point for the empire to open up the wilderness.

It wasn't until the star paths of the third, ninth, forty-sixth, and eighty-fifth Jiachen passes were three-quarters open that the Agronomists of the 【Primordial Hill】 collected more information. Only after analysis did they discover that building a star path from the Annihilation Star Corridor was more convenient and saved many costs.

The Annihilation Corridor was a ruin formed after a pile of top-tier boundary stars collapsed, which also created many space-time tunnels.

Being able to perform cross-space travel might save time and effort.

Thus, the exploration of the Annihilation Corridor as a base point began.

Zhao Xing clearly remembers that the corridor route was opened in less than five hundred years.

And the people of the Primordial Hill not only didn't lose money, but they made a huge profit before it was even opened.

Because four hundred and fifty million astronomical units northwest of the Annihilation Corridor, several small "Origin Boundary Stars" appeared.

Inside the Origin Boundary Stars, there were large amounts of "non-renewable" materials, all of which could be used as materials for "Origin Divine Weapons" and "Samsara Divine Weapons"!

"Big Brother knows this place?" Wu Di looked at Zhao Xing's reaction, somewhat puzzled. He rarely communicated these specific matters with Brother Zhao, and the name Annihilation Star Corridor was only coined one hundred and twenty years ago; Zhao Xing should have been in seclusion at that time.

"I've heard a little about it," Zhao Xing said. "Continue, how did the conflict with the Carlos family happen?"

Ji Che shook his head and said, "Actually, we didn't have a direct conflict with the Carlos family, but with their agents."

"The western constellation of the Annihilation Star Corridor is rich in 'Imperial Star Stones', and there is a local force there called the Hongyue Dynasty. Our expansion provoked the Hongyue Dynasty, and it was only later that we learned the Carlos family was behind the Hongyue Dynasty."

Zhao Xing asked, "What were the casualties?"

Ji Che sent over the casualty list, then sighed and said, "I sent 2, 35 Third Realm experts abroad. This time, over eight hundred died, and the dozens who escaped back are also seriously injured. The territory was also lost."

Zhao Xing's face looked somewhat ugly; many names he was familiar with appeared on the death list.

The former Shangluo Academy, Chu Qianqiu, Zhuang Danian, Principal Qin of the Kunyuan Academy, Priest Wei Hong, Ji Bochang……

The list of the injured was also not optimistic; Old Chen, Xia Jing, and Ji Si were all seriously injured.

Because the Hongyue Dynasty did not belong to the imperial forces, prohibited poison-type items that the empire forbade were everywhere outside.

Often, small countries play wilder games, causing many of the Great Zhou's wounded to still be in life-threatening conditions.

However, for a force controlled by the Carlos family to have the heart to ambush a small force like the Great Zhou, having survivors is already considered quite good.

It was all because Ji Si broke through to the Dao Domain Realm in the crisis that she was able to point out a path of survival for everyone and escape the certain-death situation.

"Che, are you worried that this conflict will extend into the interior?" Zhao Xing keenly sensed Ji Che's intention to ask for help.

"Yes." Ji Che nodded.

Zhao Xing sighed in his heart.

As the Great Agronomist of the Great Zhou, after clearing up the context, he discovered that the Great Zhou's situation this time was not as simple as just losing people and territory.

Even if the Carlos family did not pursue it further, the Great Zhou's losses this time were very heavy.

Losing people and territory in the Annihilation Star Corridor not only caused the industries the Great Zhou invested in there to lose everything, but they also had to face high liquidated damages, because a portion of the Great Zhou's business orders were related to the output of the Annihilation Star Corridor.

"Small forces are just like this; their ability to resist risk is too weak. A slight accident, and there is a possibility of collapse. It really is like walking on thin ice."

However, Zhao Xing quickly recovered his composure. Now, he is the Great Zhou's final trump card.

No matter what, he cannot show any negative emotions.

Zhao Xing immediately said, "I will find a way to handle the liquidated damages in the country. I still have some savings, and the territory the North River Lord bestowed upon me can also be pledged first to solve the urgent need."

"As for the threat of the Carlos family, leave it to me to handle."

"All activities of the Great Zhou outside the pass are to stop for now. Return to the interior first and wait for my news."

Light lit up in Ji Che's eyes: "Big Brother, is this really okay? Will it affect your development in the Primordial Realm…… If there is an impact, the Great Zhou can hide in the Boundary Boat again, we……"

"Of course not." Zhao Xing smiled and comforted him, "Don't worry, I am a personal disciple of a demigod."

"Che, you need to pull yourself together. I can't come out of the Primordial Realm right now, so everything in the country has to rely on you."

The expression on Ji Che's face clearly brightened. He had been walking on thin ice, terrified, struggling with the future of the Great Zhou on one hand and worrying that Zhao Xing wouldn't be able to solve it on the other.

Now, Zhao Xing's words finally made him feel like he had found support.

"Right, don't go troubling Lord Qianhua; let Master cultivate in peace," Zhao Xing instructed again. "The Fengdu boundary star really has issues; it's time to find Lord Beihe."

"Good, Big Brother, I understand."

"Go."

Closing the Star Mirror, the smile on Zhao Xing's face slowly disappeared.

The bluff was made, but implementing it was not as easy as he thought.

On the surface, he was a disciple taken in by Gu Luohe, but Gu Luohe had made it very clear from the beginning that he was only teaching on his behalf and would not interfere in private matters.

Even if he were truly a disciple, he had only just entered the Primordial Realm; how much master-disciple affection could there be?

"I should still find out who is responsible for managing the Hongyue Dynasty," Zhao Xing thought to himself. To understand the ins and outs of this, it is best to find Jing Yan and the people of Starfire.

Jing Yan understands the internal situation of the empire, while Starfire is familiar with the external situation.

Half a day later, Huailiu Courtyard.

Jing Yan stepped on a wandering divine weapon and rushed over in a hurry.

"Zhao Xing, what happened? Why did you call me over so urgently?"

"I've encountered some trouble."

Zhao Xing briefly stated the situation outside the pass.

Jing Yan listened quietly. After Zhao Xing finished speaking, he said, "Wait for me a moment. I'll ask the elders in my family. You contact Starfire and see what kind of business that Hongyue Dynasty is doing. What is the real reason for attacking the Great Zhou?"

"Real reason?" Zhao Xing pondered. "You don't think it's a simple friction?"

Jing Yan shook his head: "Of course not. What kind of barren land is the Annihilation Star Corridor? The Carlos family is in the interstellar shipping business, but they don't touch every business."

"Furthermore, don't you think the battle report is strange? When Ji Si brought out the name of Master Liu Tianning, they didn't think about killing them all, but when they brought out your name, they actually struck ruthlessly."

"Think about it, why would such a thing happen?"

Zhao Xing quickly reacted: "Killing them all, is it because they wanted to hide something, some kind of unspeakable matter?"

Jing Yan nodded: "You are the one involved and confused; isn't it obvious? The nobles of the empire do business outside, and in order to seek wealth, they still do this even after revealing their identities; it's nothing more than having interests involved."

Zhao Xing frowned: "But, the Great Zhou's territory is very small, and our people didn't discover anything special."

"Either the people the Great Zhou sent to develop it didn't know themselves, or the other side wasn't sure if it would cause a leak, so they did it just in case…… In any case, let's not guess blindly. Let's contact Starfire."

"See what the situation really is. If……"

"If what?" Zhao Xing was stunned. "Keep talking."

"If Starfire doesn't find anything, and we go to find someone to mediate, but the Carlos family forces us too much, then this matter will be a bit troublesome," Jing Yan said.

Zhao Xing's face also turned ugly.

Not to mention, the Annihilation Star Corridor has secrets, and if we talk about major interests, there are some.

As a member of the royal family, Jing Yan has a keener sense in this regard. After Zhao Xing heard him say this, he instantly associated many things.

"Don't think about it," Jing Yan comforted him. "It's also possible that it was just a common friction, and they thought Ji Si was lying. After all, the Hongyue Dynasty is abroad, so it's normal that they don't know your name."

"Big families cherish their feathers, and they play proxy wars for the sake of decency. You are, after all, a genius of the Primordial Realm, and the one who suffered a loss in this matter is the Great Zhou…… It's unlikely they will continue to pursue and attack. Big families rarely kill them all like this."

"Secondly, the Carlos family members are also very numerous. It's a different concept if this matter is handled by direct descendants versus collateral members."

"When I was wandering in the Ancient Kingdom, I would say I was a royal of the empire when something happened, but who knew I was only a successor of the thirty-thousandth rank?"

"I'll say something unpleasant: even if you add yourself, the Great Zhou hasn't reached the level of offending the entire Carlos family."

"That's unpleasant enough," Zhao Xing curled his lips, but his heart was ultimately a little more relaxed.

…………

To contact Starfire, Zhao Xing did not use the Star Mirror on his main body in the Primordial Realm, but split off a clone to leave the Primordial Realm and arrived at a nearby star system.

He found a Starfire branch, requested a special Starfire Mirror, and then contacted the Starfire member "Yang Baihe," who was far away, through distributed encrypted communication.

Then he issued the docking code originally set by Yang Baihe: "White Sheep, White Sheep, I am Mushroom."

After waiting for about six hours, flames burned inside the Starfire Mirror, and Yang Baihe's figure appeared in it, replying with a hint of a smile on the corner of his mouth: "Mushroom Mushroom, White Sheep received. Your communication channel is secure. Please speak if you have anything."

Zhao Xing immediately told Yang Baihe about the matter.

"Give me three days." After listening, White Sheep cut off the communication.

Zhao Xing waited patiently for two and a half days.

Yang Baihe's message came back.

"After verification within Starfire, although the business the Hongyue Dynasty does violates the empire's laws, it is not rare."

"Except for the common human trafficking and the production of Dao Xuan Pills, there is nothing special."

"And as long as the Hongyue Dynasty doesn't bring these things into the country, the empire won't care."

"However, it is worth noting that the highest-level cultivator of the Hongyue Dynasty is a 'Senior Samsara Realm' expert who calls himself 'Lord Fuwei', but his strength is far from reaching the level of a Lord."

"There are also two ordinary-level Samsara Realm experts: one is the scholar 'Bo Xihe', who is rumored to be from the Academy City."

"The second is the interstellar historian 'Bienes', who is a 'Sangqing Survivor'."

"As for the Carlos family being the supporter behind the scenes that you mentioned, there is currently no such file within Starfire proving that the Carlos family has any connection with the Hongyue Dynasty."

"Lord Fuwei, Sangqing Survivor Bienes, Scholar 'Bo Xihe'." Hearing these three names combined together, Zhao Xing suddenly shuddered.

"What's wrong with you?" Yang Baihe keenly sensed Zhao Xing's expression.

"Nothing, maybe it was just a normal friction." Zhao Xing shook his head.

"Anything else?"

"No."

White Sheep inside the Starfire Mirror waved his hand: "Remember to contact me if you have anything. If you can't reach me, Yue Nu and Chen Xuan are vacationing in the country."

"Okay, thank you, Captain."

……

After hanging up the communication, Zhao Xing's clone couldn't help but stand there in a daze.

"The Demonic Scholar Bo Xihe from the 'Scholar Divine Descent' version actually appeared on the edge of the empire."

"Lord Fuwei is a Saint Agronomist. Which Agronomist God does he believe in again?"

"In comparison, Bienes, the survivor of the Sangqing Ancient Kingdom, is actually the smallest character."

"Wait, the Carlos family's files in Starfire are all clean, but how did Ji Si discover it?"

Memories in his mind surged rapidly, and Zhao Xing suddenly had a headache, taking a long while to recover.

And just at this moment, in the Primordial Realm, Seaweed City, Huailiu Courtyard, Jing Yan quickly returned.

"Zhao Xing, I asked at home, and I haven't heard of the Carlos family having any business in the Annihilation Star Corridor. Did you make a mistake?"