Chapter 388: Suboptimal Health of Xujì

Mocheng, located near the equator of Xujì, is one of the few major cities on this frontier planet—mostly inhospitable—situated within the original habitable zone, and also the city of perpetual rain pointed to by the crucial clue extracted from the captured black-robed cultivator's memories.

Hearing the guide's casual mutter, Yu Sheng's expression flickered slightly; he curiously asked, "Unstable? What do you mean? Has the security situation worsened?"

"It has nothing to do with security—apparently, strange incidents have increased recently," the guide said offhandedly, in the tone of a local scaring outsiders. "Rumors say cases of cultivators going out of control have surged; many report seeing or hearing terrifying things during meditation, or even while sleeping or dreaming—and even deeply accomplished cultivators aren't spared… Some even claim people have been frightened to death while meditating, though that claim has recently been debunked."

As he spoke, another guide joined in, adding quickly: "But ordinary people like us, who've only learned basic Qi-guiding and breath-nourishing methods, seem unaffected… Folk tales say this is some kind of 'demonic plague' targeting only cultivators above a certain realm—anyway, it's got everyone on edge."

"Widespread loss of control and hallucinations?" Yu Sheng frowned, glancing instinctively at Xuan Che. "And on a frontier planet like this…"

"What does the Star-Taming Elder say?" Xuan Che stepped forward, his expression grave.

"The Star-Taming Elder? Such a great figure has no time to care about petty matters in a single city," the guide waved his hand. "The Mayor of Mocheng is organizing an investigation, but according to the news, there's still no progress—official notices only warn people to take precautions during meditation, avoid staying up late and losing temper, and steer clear of disputes that disturb the Dao-heart. I think that last warning is useless—the rumor-mongers and debunkers are still fighting fiercely; their Dao-hearts won't stabilize anyway."

Yu Sheng didn't know how to respond: "..."

Fortunately, Xuan Che and Yuanhao Zhenren could join such conversations; they chatted with several guides, gathered more news about recent events in Mocheng, and inquired about Xujì's overall condition during this period—but didn't press too deeply or dig too hard, since these ordinary guides at Xinggang could only hold so much information.

From the conversation, Yu Sheng gradually formed a general impression of this frontier planet's current state—

Calm, ordinary, one of countless frontier planets far from the capital, Tai Xu Ling Shu, and possessing little beyond a few resources, Xujì had little presence in the entire Feiyu Star Domain; it wasn't even a major transit route—because just 1.25 light-years away, the star Yaolu had a large star-gate facility built over a decade ago, directly linking to the Algraid Star Domain and the "Deep Space Domain," which had nearly "sucked up" all traffic.

And Xujì… like its name suggests, was merely a quiet little place on this endless frontier.

"Actually, this place was once glorious," one guide said with a sigh. "When there were still Spirit Mines here and on nearby planets, it was bustling—countless cargo ships queued in high orbit daily; in the most extreme solar year, over four hundred days saw seventeen heavy cargo platforms launched into orbit… Now, there's still a bit of Spirit Ore left, but most mining is banned—some areas were overmined and damaged the Earth Veins, so they're being protected."

Saying this, the guide in light-gray Xinggang uniform shook his head: "Enough—got distracted talking. You're landing directly on the planetary surface, right? Let me check… Hmm, your ship's docking fee has been paid; you can park here safely. The atmospheric entry window is fully open, but you need to register your atmospheric vehicles… Shuttle or small Immortal Vessel?"

No sooner had he finished than Hu Li rushed over eagerly: "Me me me!"

The guide froze: "... Huh?"

Hu Li sprinted aside, dropped to the ground, transformed into a giant nine-tailed fox, then dashed back, pawing at the "Temporary Immortal Vehicle Permit" around his neck to show it off.

"Ah, I see, I see," the guide finally understood, nodding quickly, then pulling out a mirror-like artifact to scan Hu Li's jade plaque while giving Yu Sheng the standard warning: "Obey traffic rules—no speeding during low-altitude flight; no drinking while operating vehicles in the atmosphere…"

Yu Sheng nodded as he listened, then suddenly asked curiously: "Is it me who can't drink, or her?"

The guide thought: "... Neither of you."

Then Yuanhao Zhenren stepped forward, waved his hand through the air, and summoned his chainsaw sword: "Also register mine—I usually ride my sword."

The guide stared, stunned—seeing someone ride a chainsaw sword was far more absurd to a native of the Feiyu Star Domain than seeing someone ride a nine-tailed fox; he scrutinized it with the Lingxi Mirror for a long time before raising his head uncertainly: "Immortal, is this 'flying sword'… not a Spirit Treasure?"

Yuanhao Zhenren didn't bother explaining; he simply tossed the chainsaw sword into midair, leapt onto it, and stood steady: "Just tell me—is this riding a sword or not?"

The guide's eye twitched—he was a mere mortal with shallow cultivation, but as a Xinggang employee, he'd seen much; with the Lingxi Mirror's aid, he instantly saw that the chainsaw sword had zero actual flying-sword function—its current ability to "ride" relied entirely on the Immortal's immense spiritual power…

But numbers are the law.

The guide quickly registered Yuanhao Zhenren's chainsaw sword as a flying sword, then registered Xuan Che's ice sword as well (at last, a normal vehicle), completing all registrations—after which Yu Sheng's group departed directly from the orbital starport.

A giant silver-white nine-tailed demon fox carved a brilliant trail of flame from the starport's edge, nine propulsion flames shining brilliantly in space, flying straight toward the gray-blue planet below.

Beside the nine-tailed fox flew Yuanhao Zhenren, riding his chainsaw sword.

Beside Yuanhao Zhenren flew Xuan Che—the only member of the team whose appearance still looked somewhat normal, the quiet child.

On the starport platform, several guides still gazed in awe at the rapidly streaking lights far in space.

"No wonder the Silver Fox Immortal from Tai Xu Ling Shu… Has the capital's divine foxes adopted this style now? Such a grand spectacle in flight—nothing like our local foxes."

"That's not right—just two days ago, that five-tailed golden fox from Tai Xu Ling Shu seemed perfectly normal; I didn't see her tails spewing fire."

"Maybe it's a fox style? After all, she's nine-tailed—any action by a nine-tailed Immortal is normal."

"... Then what kind of person is that borderland man? Even a nine-tailed silver fox obeys him."

"Who knows? But he's got two credentials—his ship captain's permit was signed personally by Bureau Chief Bai Li Qing, and his transit pass was signed personally by Yuan Ling Zhenren of Qianfeng Spirit Mountain—I think we shouldn't ask."

After a period of high-speed flight, Xujì's thick atmosphere became increasingly prominent in view.

The light from the orange-red star shone upon Xujì's upper atmosphere, gleaming brilliantly in space.

Yu Sheng clearly sensed that the number of space facilities and vessels around Xujì was far fewer than around Tai Xu Ling Shu.

That was normal—Tai Xu Ling Shu was the capital of the entire Feiyu Star Domain, while this was merely a distant frontier mining planet gradually declining.

But he still felt something was off— as the gray-blue planet grew larger in his vision, he increasingly sensed the planet radiating a sense of… "weakness."

It wasn't because the orbital facilities in space were sparse, nor because it clearly looked more desolate and quiet than Tai Xu Ling Shu—after all, this was at least a fully developed ecological planet; no matter how "desolate," it was far more alive than barren uninhabited worlds, at least on its surface.

Yet that visible "vitality" from space could never dispel Yu Sheng's inexplicable sense of "weakness."

This planet… was in poor condition.

Yu Sheng frowned, unsure how to explain why he felt a planet was in "suboptimal health"; after brief thought, he turned to look at his nephew beside him.

Zheng Zhi was now tensed up, gripping a clump of fox fur without daring to move.

As a "normal person" who had spent his past twenty-plus years living quietly in Jiecheng, his first space journey—directly hurtling toward the atmosphere with a fire-spewing nine-tailed fox—was perhaps too intense.

"Do you notice anything unusual?" Yu Sheng asked.

Zheng Zhi visibly flinched; only after Yu Sheng repeated the question did he react, carefully peering at the rapidly approaching gray-blue planet while still clutching the fox fur.

"No, I don't see anything strange."

"Hmm…" Yu Sheng pondered, then voiced his feeling.

As expected, no one understood what he meant by that "feeling."

But no one ignored what Yu Sheng said.

Even if they couldn't comprehend it, one thing was clear:

The planet's "condition" really did seem abnormal.

(End of Chapter)