Chapter 1232: Cosmic Star Gate! The Might of the Lingshu Empire!

The Noah Empire is a staggering 43.65 million light-years away from the Lingshu Empire.

It requires traversing five elementary civilization cosmic states in between.

Even a spacecraft equipped with a warp engine traveling at twenty times the speed of light needs over three months to reach it.

But the Sacred Ground Exchange Competition is only five days away—conventional speed won't do.

So, Niki mentioned spatial leap.

As the name suggests, spatial leap allows a spacecraft to teleport from one location to another distant one.

It is commonly used for ultra-long-distance travel in space, a black technology from the Eternal Star Alliance.

Of course, spacecraft cannot carry such a powerful function—they must rely on the Cosmic Star Gate.

After Niki's spacecraft had traveled for nearly two days in space, Xu Jingming finally saw this astonishing technology.

There, against the black backdrop of space, a massive ring-shaped structure floated in the void.

The ring's diameter exceeded one hundred thousand kilometers, entirely composed of some silvery metal, its surface engraved with intricate spatial runes.

At its center glowed a vast white radiance, as if leading to an unknown world.

Around the ring, countless spacecraft queued in line, waiting to enter, resembling dazzling rivers of stars.

"This is the legendary Cosmic Star Gate—one of humanity's greatest engineering marvels!"

The spacecraft's exterior simulation was at 100%, and Xu Jingming stared in awe at the sight.

Remember, the diameter of Blue Star is only a little over ten thousand kilometers.

This Cosmic Star Gate's diameter equals ten Blue Stars lined up end to end.

"The pinnacle technology of the Eternal Star Alliance! I can't imagine how they achieved it."

"Who says otherwise? The Eternal Star Alliance is too powerful."

"Humanity's rise to become one of the peak races among countless civilizations in the vast universe owes much to the Eternal Star Alliance."

"..."

Those around him also whispered in awe.

The Eternal Star Alliance towers above high-level civilization cosmic states.

Even a peripheral member of the Eternal Star Alliance commands the utmost respect from elementary civilization cosmic states like the Noah Empire.

Not to mention its core members.

Of course, such beings are exceedingly rare.

"Our Noah Empire has only one Cosmic Star Gate, but within the Lingshu Empire's territory, there are several."

Ye Lan stood beside Xu Jingming, her silver-white battle suit shimmering faintly under the starlight streaming through the viewport:

"Once we enter the Cosmic Star Gate, we won't be far from the Lingshu Empire's homeworld."

"Mm."

Xu Jingming nodded slightly.

He gazed at the magnificent structure, filled with reverence.

Around the Star Gate, tens of millions of spacecraft formed endless lines, waiting for spatial jump.

These ships varied in size—the smallest were a kilometer long, the largest even as large as the Moon!

All of them lined up together resembled dazzling rivers of stars.

"Those are transport vessels from trade caravans."

Lu Yunji extended her slender hand, pointing to several particularly massive ships:

"They're enormous, slower than small spacecraft, but can carry massive quantities of cargo at once.

Of course, all stored in the form of space rings."

"Space rings?" Xu Jingming's eyes widened.

The cargo holds of Moon-sized spacecraft contained nothing but space rings?

How much cargo could be inside?

He was once again awed by the vastness of the universe.

He also noticed that every queued spacecraft maintained strict spacing.

Not a single vessel dared cut in line or approach the Star Gate's warning line.

Around the Star Gate, several menacing warships patrolled, their hulls clearly bearing the Eternal Star Alliance's emblem.

One could imagine that anyone attempting to break the rules would face their harshest punishment.

Of course, Immortal Gods naturally had privileges.

Niki's spacecraft bypassed the long queue and arrived directly before the Star Gate.

As the spacecraft neared the Star Gate, Xu Jingming felt a strange energy fluctuation.

The fluctuation did not come from the ship's engines, but from the Star Gate itself—as if all space trembled slightly.

"Preparing for spatial leap," the ship's AI announced.

The spacecraft slowly entered the Star Gate.

Through the viewport, Xu Jingming saw the space at the Star Gate's center twist into a vortex-like passage.

Inside the passage, starlight swirled, breathtakingly beautiful.

Then the outside starfield twisted completely—stars stretched into colorful streaks, and the sense of time blurred.

This sensation lasted about ten minutes; when everything returned to normal, the starfield outside the viewport had changed entirely.

"Spatial leap complete."

The ship's AI announced, "Ship has entered Lingshu Empire territory. Arrival at Lingshu Empire homeworld in two days."

The journey grew dull again until, two days later, the spacecraft reached the vicinity of the Lingshu Empire homeworld.

This is a binary star system, and besides the two scorching stars, there are thirteen life-bearing planets surrounding them.

When Xu Jingming saw the last planet, his eyes widened sharply.

It was not a planet at all—it looked like a coiled demonic beast!

"That… what is that?!"

"Sss, could it be a demonic beast?"

"A demonic beast the size of a planet? What realm would that be?"

"……"

Inside the cabin, many young geniuses, like Xu Jingming, visiting the Lingshu Empire for the first time, wore expressions of shock.

"That is the Lingshu Empire's guardian beast."

A Star Rank genius who had been here before explained:

"It is at the Peak of Immortality, enslaved by the Lingshu Emperor himself on the Outer Realm battlefield."

"Peak of Immortality?"

Everyone, including Xu Jingming, was stunned.

You should know that the ruler of the Noah Empire is also at the peak of immortality.

And in the Lingshu Empire, it was merely on the same level as their guardian beast.

This indirectly revealed the Lingshu Empire's might.

"Everyone, prepare yourselves—the ship is about to land.

Remember, outside, you represent the face of the Noah Empire.

Your words and actions must be especially careful."

Niki's slender figure reappeared in the cabin, softly reminding them.

"Understood." Xu Jingming and the others all nodded.

Whoosh—

When the ship landed on the sixth planet of the Lingshu Empire, specialized personnel were already waiting on the ground.

It was none other than an Immortal Spirit!

"Welcome, Lady Niki, and all the young geniuses of the Noah Empire.

The Sacred Ground Exchange Competition will officially begin tomorrow morning.

The Lingshu Sacred Ground has prepared accommodations for you all—please rest for a while."

This Immortal Spirit was exceedingly gentle.

Under his guidance, the group split in two.

Immortal Spirit Niki was led by him to the VIP lounge.

The students were taken by designated attendants to the lodging area.

As for the cosmic vessel where Prince Di'er and the other spectators were seated,

although they too had attendants, their reception naturally did not reach the level of an Immortal Spirit.