Chapter 229

"You've got quite a few treasures."

Lin Qing's vertical eye at his brow flickered, and the alternate space retracted the numerous items dropped by the Nine-Star Ancestor after death.

Ever since he evolved into the Ultimate Star Being, the alternate space connected to this vertical eye had already expanded to a range of tens of thousands of kilometers—enough to hold Earth—but the space passage could not expand that large.

Void beings also possess internal voids; for a Level One civilization's void being, storing treasures within their own internal void is safer than anywhere else.

Therefore, the Nine-Star Ancestor was likely carrying most of his treasures.

"Good. After selling this batch of treasures, Earth can buy a new set of resources for civilizational development." Lin Qing nodded in satisfaction.

He had already sold nearly all the treasures he obtained after killing the Nine-Star Emperor through the Golden Guild, keeping only a few items too advanced for Level One civilizations to handle.

As a junior member of the Golden Guild, he could only ask the Golden Guild to sell or procure items within Level One civilizations in the real universe.

Even if some treasures originated from Level Two civilizations, as long as Level One civilizations could use them, they could be auctioned.

But if Level One civilizations couldn't use them—or didn't even understand them—there was nothing to be done.

"I wonder how much the Nine-Star Ancestor's treasures are worth?"

Lin Qing felt a small surge of anticipation.

Although he couldn't use most of these treasures or identify them, the Golden Guild could help him identify them; as a junior member, if there was a market, they would estimate their value.

The treasures from the Nine-Star Emperor, excluding the unsellable ones, had fetched over three hundred trillion Star Coins.

That is, three hundred million billion Star Coins.

Keep in mind, the total asset value of most Level One civilizations likely didn't even reach thirty billion Star Coins.

As a 1.9-level civilization, the Nine-Star Empire's Emperor had ruled for hundreds of thousands of years and amassed hundreds of trillions in assets—demonstrating the extraordinary wealth-gathering ability of void beings.

The Nine-Star Ancestor had lived nearly ten million years, was even stronger, and his wealth-gathering ability could only be greater!

The previous three hundred trillion Star Coins were enough to propel Earth's full development to the point of ten trillion Power Awakening beings, then transform all ten trillion into Primitive Beings, with enough left over to sustain them for thousands of years.

And this time?

…

Inside the ruin space where the Golden Guild resided was a magnificent, opulent hall.

Behind a semi-circular arched table sat a golden-haired woman in a silver robe, idly observing the treasures Lin Qing had placed on the hall's floor as she estimated their value.

"Lei Ting Star Stone, twelve tons, maximum estimated value: one hundred fifty-four billion Star Coins…"

"Three seeds of Void Flower, maximum estimated value: ninety-six trillion Star Coins…"

"One basic Void Vessel, maximum estimated value: five hundred trillion Star Coins…"

As the Golden Guild's intelligent lifeform, "Guild Director," rapidly identified each treasure, Lin Qing learned their values.

Finally—

"These are the only items that can be sold in Level One civilizations, with buyers available."

The Guild Director pointed to the pile beside them and said, "Maximum estimated value: one hundred seventeen trillion Star Coins. Do you want to sell?"

"Only one hundred seventeen?" Lin Qing was stunned.

The Nine-Star Ancestor was far stronger than the Nine-Star Emperor and had lived nearly ten million years, often roaming the Void Sea—yet his assets were only a few times greater?

Moreover, the "basic Void Vessel," a treasure capable of navigating the Void Sea, he intended to keep.

So if he sold the rest, he'd earn only six hundred trillion Star Coins.

"Probably spent it all," the Guild Director said casually.

"Especially these three items, which can't be valued in Level One civilizations—only Level Two civilizations can accurately assess them."

Lin Qing glanced at the treasures the Guild Director had set aside.

A dazzling prismatic crystal, a pale green parchment inscribed with strange symbolic characters, and a small, grayish tower.

"What are these three treasures?" Lin Qing asked.

"Standard procedure: pay the appraisal fee first."

The Guild Director pointed to the prismatic crystal and the parchment: "These two are intermediate items—each requires a one-billion Star Coin appraisal fee."

She pointed to the gray stone tower: "This one is a high-level item. Star Coins aren't sufficient as appraisal fees. As a junior member, you can only use Gravekeeper Points to exchange."

Lin Qing knew the Golden Guild's rules.

Junior member: free appraisal of basic items, and assistance selling or procuring within Level One civilizations.

Intermediate member: free appraisal of intermediate items, and assistance selling or procuring within Level Two civilizations.

But only a Four-Star Universe Citizen—that is, a Void-Class Divine Official—is eligible to become an intermediate member.

"Alright, how many points?" Lin Qing asked.

"One thousand points," the Guild Director said.

Lin Qing was stunned. "Why so many?"

The Dormitory Master had only advanced him ten thousand points total, just enough to maintain temporal concealment for ten thousand years—he dared not spend them.

"One thousand points is too many?"

The Guild Director shook her head. "Charging you only one thousand points for a high-level item is already generous—if you were an intermediate member, you'd pay Void Coins."

"Fine," Lin Qing hesitated, then said, "One thousand points."

After all, Qi Lingxiao will someday become a Gravekeeper; even if he gets only one percent, Lin Qing will receive fifty thousand points.

Enough to let Earth leap five thousand years out of time.

"Then I'll deduct it."

The Guild Director first pointed to one intermediate item: "This prismatic crystal is your admission proof for the 'Temporal Inn' in this region of the Void Sea. Holders can reside there by paying a fee, and anyone following the crystal's guidance can find the Temporal Inn."

"Temporal Inn?" Lin Qing realized.

It was said…

The Void Sea's environment was extremely hostile: seawater condensed from primordial energy, and omnipresent spatial pressure, enough to make even ordinary Ultimate Star Beings struggle like ordinary humans.

Once it falls into the seawater, the Void Sea will gradually dissolve it into energy.

Therefore, one usually needs a precious treasure like the Void Boat to isolate seawater before daring to sail out to sea.

But sailing on the Void Sea for a long time will eventually become unbearable.

The Time-Space Inn, simply put, is a seaside hotel.

It is said to be an industry launched by the 'Time-Space Island Civilization', one of the three Level 2.9 civilizations of the Void Sea, which has established hundreds of millions of inns throughout the entire Void Sea for travelers to rest.

Normally, only a Void Secret Realm can stand firm in the Void Sea.

Yet the Time-Space Inn can achieve this, which is quite peculiar.

"Is a mere residence permit really that valuable?" Lin Qing asked curiously.

"Normally, Void creatures of a Level 1 civilization have no qualification to obtain a residence permit for the Time-Space Inn."

The Guild Councilor said, "The Void creature you killed obviously had some extraordinary encounter, which is why he managed to get this residence permit for the Time-Space Inn."

Lin Qing understood. The permissions of a Junior Member of the Golden Guild only allowed asking the Golden Guild to help purchase or sell items on behalf of a Level 1 civilization.

Therefore, this thing could not be valued or sold.

"Since I can use it, I'll keep it."

Lin Qing put away this prismatic crystal and added, "What about the other two?"

The Guild Councilor pointed to that greenish leather paper and said, "This is the heart skin of the Abyss Demon Elephant, a creature of the Void Sea. It appears to come from an Abyss Demon Elephant of the Void Ruler level. As a servant species enslaved by the Yu Xingyuan Demon Clan, it is also quite precious and can serve as the main material for a four-color or five-color Chaos Divine Artifact."

"Divine Artifact material?" Lin Qing understood.

It was a pity it was for the Chaos system; otherwise, it could be used when refining a Life System Divine Artifact in the future.

"As for this one."

The Guild Councilor looked again at that grayish stone small tower and said, "It is a sacred object of reception from a Level 2.9 civilization ruin in the Void Sea."

"Level 2.9?" Lin Qing asked in confusion, "I thought high-level items were related to Level 3 civilizations."

"That is for Special Grade items," the Guild Councilor shook her head.

!

She glanced at Lin Qing and said, "In the Void Sea, a Level 2.9 civilization is already considered a civilization of another level; it is only missing one crucial point to become a true Level 3 civilization, just like the special nature of a Level 1.9 civilization within a Level 1 civilization."

"That is not bad either." Lin Qing asked, "Can you identify where the Level 2.9 civilization ruin corresponding to this sacred object of reception is located?"

The Guild Councilor smiled and said, "It seems you have no understanding of Level 2.9 civilizations at all. A Level 2.9 civilization also possesses an independent time-space, so as long as there is a sacred object of reception, one can enter regardless of location."

"Oh?" Lin Qing pondered.

"However, only a Void creature can activate it, and each activation requires an interval of ten thousand years."

The Guild Councilor looked at this grayish stone small tower and said, "The last activation was over eight thousand years ago; we only need to wait another sixteen hundred years or so."

Lin Qing nodded slightly, preparing to put this thing into the cultivation room; with a tenfold time flow, it would recover faster.

He immediately put away the 'Junior Void Boat' and said, "Sell the other things; use the Star Coins obtained to continue purchasing according to the list I gave you last time."

"You are buying quite a lot." The Guild Councilor glanced at him. "Selling deducts a 1% commission, and purchasing on behalf deducts another 1% commission; the quantity is just this much."

She tapped her fingertip, and a list immediately floated out in the air.

Lin Qing glanced at it and nodded, saying, "Good."

This list was entirely filled with various resources for civilization development, especially those consumed for the survival of primitive creatures, which occupied the majority.

At least a trillion awakened beings with authority were needed to stably guarantee that the accumulated Star Origin Stones in the future would be sufficient to open a Void Secret Realm.

Once a Void Secret Realm is opened, it is also of great benefit for comprehending spatial rules.

"I'm leaving."

Lin Qing said, "As discussed last time, once this batch of goods arrives, just deliver it directly to Chu Hongjun."

"It's time to go to the Void Sea."

After meeting friends and family on Earth, Lin Qing did not delay; he planned to see Zhao Jiayi one last time before leaving Earth.

"When will you return?" Zhao Jiayi hugged him tightly, asking somewhat gloomily.

"I don't know," Lin Qing said casually. "Can't we meet in the Second Universe Network?"

"We can't have little babies then..." Zhao Jiayi muttered.

Lin Qing smiled and said, "Then I'll return after I become a Void creature; I can prepare more treasures then, and the talents of our descendants will be better."

Zhao Jiayi made an "Oh" sound, opened her mouth as if wanting to say something, but held it back.

"What's wrong?" Lin Qing looked at her. "If you want to say something, just say it."

"Forget it... Mom told me not to say it, saying the current situation is inappropriate and I shouldn't affect you," Zhao Jiayi shook her head.

"Just say it; I will judge for myself," Lin Qing said. "I am different from your mother."

Zhao Jiayi hesitated for a moment before saying, "It's about Dad. After he left Earth, he wanted to find a way to save the Three-Eyed Clan and Earth civilization. He is still drifting outside, but Earth's current situation makes it impossible to bring him back. Dad consumed too much lifespan back then for Mom's sake and won't live much longer, so I..."

"This matter."

Lin Qing nodded slightly and said, "Alright, I understand. Give me your father's Second Universe Network ID; next time I'll bring him back."

"This..." Zhao Jiayi was slightly stunned and asked, "Didn't they say a Level 2 civilization is watching this area of Earth?"

"Nothing," Lin Qing shook his head.

If it were before, he indeed would have had no way; a Level 2 civilization constantly monitors the hundreds of light-years of cosmic space in this range. Once one leaves the independent time-space where Earth is located, they would be captured by the Level 2 civilization.

But now that the Blood Cauldron King's avatar has become a Void creature, he can directly ascend to the higher-dimensional layer of the universe and enter the Void Sea. At that time, by using the reception mark of the Bai Ta World, the coordinates for ascending and shuttling can be set to the Bai Ta World in the Void Sea, allowing direct shuttle into the Bai Ta World.

Later, when he descends from the Void Sea to the real universe, he can choose any coordinate in this universe domain; at that time, he will go find Zhao Jiayi's father.

"Leave it to me; it's a small matter."

Lin Qing patted Zhao Jiayi's head. "Your gene index is already quite high. As long as you can master a Divine Skill, passing the Star-Level Divine Office Trial in the future will be no difficulty at all. Take it seriously."

"When your avatar taught me, I was already studying very seriously," Zhao Jiayi said softly.

"Alright, I'm leaving."

Lin Qing smiled, then turned and departed.

He first went to the Star-Scanning Council headquarters on Earth; after certifying his status as a Star Deity and his combat power at the tenth layer of the Yu Xingyuan, he received a guiding mark.

—This was the minimum requirement to join the Universal Star-Scanning Alliance.

Normally, once certification succeeded, a high-ranking member of the Universal Star-Scanning Alliance would descend to personally review and verify, then directly guide him to the Star-Scanning Alliance.

In the Universal Star-Scanning Alliance, every member possessed at least combat power at the tenth layer of the Yu Xingyuan; this meant they were either peerless geniuses from various second-tier civilizations or void-born beings.

"Chairman Lin Qing."

The planet-surveyor, resembling a giant eyeball, said respectfully: "Given that your current cosmic coordinates lie within an independent spacetime, even if we report to the Universal Star-Scanning Alliance, the branch of this Void Sea cannot confirm your presence, let alone provide guidance. You may change your guiding coordinates, or follow the guiding mark to go there in person."

Lin Qing had expected this and immediately said: "I will go myself."

He did not trust the so-called high-ranking members.

After all, even the high-ranking members of the Universal Star-Scanning Alliance were powerful figures from second-tier civilizations.

Now that the entire Void Sea knew of Earth's existence, he naturally could not meet the high-ranking members of the Universal Star-Scanning Alliance in his true identity.

Therefore, a single guiding mark was enough.

"I can go to the Void Sea now."

A thought stirred in Lin Qing's heart, and the Blood Cauldron King avatar instantly appeared beside him.

Then—

"Dimensional Ascension."

(End of this chapter)