Chapter 259: Monopoly

Time passed day by day as Lin Qing, following one of the three hundred and eighty Star Chains, drew ever closer to that massive Void Star.

The various strange phenomena on the Void Star grew increasingly clear; most areas of the star were filled with chaotic and dangerous Void Storms, leaving only a very few regions that were artificially cleared safe passages.

It took a full month before Lin Qing finally reached the docking port at the end of the Star Chain.

Upon arriving here, although the deep-sea great vortex below still exerted some influence on space-time, its gravitational pull had become negligible, with the gravity of the Void Star itself now being the dominant force.

The reason it took a month was mainly that he deliberately suppressed the flight speed of the Divine Artifact to maintain a low profile; otherwise, only two or three days would have been sufficient.

This speed appeared to be merely several times faster than a high-grade Void Ship, merely the speed of an ordinary Divine Artifact Palace; if he maintained full speed, even a fool could guess it was a Seven-Color Grade Divine Artifact, and since he was not a Void Sovereign, he would easily be targeted.

Even if he did not fear it, it would still be troublesome.

It was better to start off with a low profile.

"Quite a crowd."

Inside the Void Ship transformed from a Divine Artifact, Lin Qing gazed at the distant docking port and could not help but raise his eyebrows slightly.

The interior of that docking port was divided into numerous dense zones, most of which were filled with Void Ships, each vessel looking quite spectacular.

There were also Star Clerics dressed in uniform work clothes, rushing about as staff members responsible for reception.

"Indeed, it is a docking port."

Lin Qing showed a faint smile and felt no surprise.

Logically, since Void Beings had opened up their Inner Voids, they could fully store their Void Ships within the Void inside their bodies.

However, on this Void Star where space was incredibly stable, not only was the gravity more exaggerated than in Void Secret Realms, but ordinary Star Clerics could only live like normal people on the Void Star.

Void Beings could at best resist gravity to fly; methods such as distorting space or opening spatial channels were things even a Void Sovereign could not achieve.

Therefore, from the moment one stepped onto the Star Chain, even if one possessed an Inner Void, it could not be used.

Even for shopping, if one wished to use cash, one had to prepare Void Coins in advance; otherwise, one could only transfer funds through the Second Universe Network.

Moreover, each of these Void Stars was occupied by various powers from major civilizations; Void Ships were not allowed to fly recklessly and had to enter the docking port, and since the vast majority of the Void Star's areas were shrouded in Void Storms, flying recklessly was tantamount to seeking death.

Of course...

If one were a Void Sovereign, there would be no need to follow these rules.

"Mr."

As soon as Lin Qing piloted the Divine Artifact into the docking port, a staff member in uniform, stepping on a disc-like skateboard, rushed over quickly and said respectfully, "Welcome to the Void Star. This is a docking port built by the Apocalypse Lake Group. You may park your Void Ship in Zone B, number 7455. We will watch over your Void Ship for you. The management fee and insurance are thirty Void Coins per century. You can..."

Before he could finish speaking, he saw the guest flying out of this Void Ship simply wave his hand casually, causing the Void Ship to turn into a stream of light and fly into his body.

"This..."

The words the staff member had not yet finished instantly choked back in his throat, and he stared in shock: "A Divine Artifact Palace?"

On the Void Star, although one could not open the Inner Void, once a Divine Artifact recognized its master, it could be stored within the body.

However, forging palace-type Divine Artifacts required vast amounts of precious materials; those low-grade Divine Artifact Palaces might have defense and speed inferior to high-grade Void Ships, yet their cost was far higher, with enough money to buy countless high-grade Void Ships.

Therefore, palace-type Divine Artifacts were usually at least Three-Color Grade to start, and because the materials required for forging were so abundant, the price started at trillions of Void Coins.

Even among the Void Beings who came to the Void Star, most could be considered powerful figures within the Void Beings, yet few were this wealthy.

"Give me a guide sign."

Glancing at the staff member, Lin Qing casually tossed over a Void Coin with a denomination of one hundred, "No need for change."

"Yes!" The staff member's attitude immediately became even more respectful; he hurriedly took a sign from a box he carried and handed it to Lin Qing with reverence.

Taking the guide sign, Lin Qing immediately flew out of the docking port.

"Truly a super big shot who can afford a Divine Artifact Palace, so generous," the staff member said, looking at the one-hundred-denomination Void Coin in his hand, and excitedly sent a message to several friends through the Second Universe Network.

A single guide sign was worth only sixty Void Coins; he had just earned forty Void Coins in one go, so naturally he was very excited.

For ordinary Void Beings, if they did not take risks, they might not earn those forty Void Coins even in a hundred years, and although he was a Star Being with some background, his income was not much.

"Father, I just met a super big shot, a big shot with a Divine Artifact Palace!"

After flying out of the docking port, a magnificent city stood outside, filled with a large number of residents, though most had come to the Void Star to work.

Lin Qing did not stop, but followed the map marked on the guide sign, heading straight for his destination this time—

The Challenge Platform.

Within the entire Void Star, there were at most thirty-eight thousand Challenge Platforms, meaning thirty-eight thousand mutable Soul Imprints.

Every single Challenge Platform had an owner, and some of these platforms had been owned for less than a thousand years, currently in a protection period, making them impossible to challenge and replace.

Therefore, one could only choose those Challenge Platforms owned for over a thousand years.

"Challenge Platforms owned for over a thousand years account for about one-third."

While flying in mid-air, Lin Qing sifted through the map information inside the guide sign, "Most Challenge Platforms are replaced very frequently..."

Once a Soul Imprint was planted on this Void Star, one's consciousness could briefly merge with the Void Star; during this period, the soul would become ethereal, with comprehension, perception, and other aspects greatly enhanced, an effect close to sudden enlightenment, which was of immense help to cultivation.

The more Void Stars on which one planted Soul Imprints, the longer the duration of sudden enlightenment would be.

It was rumored that once Soul Imprints were planted on one hundred thousand Void Stars, one could maintain sudden enlightenment for ten years, and experience it once every thousand years.

In the Void Sea, strength was everything, and such a precious place naturally drew countless powerful figures like moths to a flame.

As soon as a vacancy appeared, it would be immediately occupied.

As soon as it was discovered that the owner of a certain Challenge Platform was relatively weak, once the thousand-year protection period ended, someone would immediately come to challenge.

Even with the Void Stars of the entire Void Sea numbering in the millions, they were insufficient to be divided among the hundreds of millions of Void Beings.

After planting a Soul Imprint on one Void Star, one would want to plant on a second, a third... and even more, thereby experiencing a longer duration of sudden enlightenment.

"Those who can plant Soul Imprints on one hundred thousand Void Stars in one breath are almost all Void Sovereigns..."

Lin Qing muttered to himself, "Indeed, even for the peak powerful figures among Void Beings, if someone deliberately obstructed, it would be very difficult to plant Soul Imprints on one hundred thousand Void Stars..."

For example, if an enemy deliberately caused trouble, waiting until the thousand years were up to specifically hire someone to challenge and remove the Soul Imprint, there would be no way to stop it.

Once a challenge is launched, regardless of success or failure, one cannot challenge on the same Void Star again for thirty-eight million years.

Unless one can traverse a hundred thousand Void Stars within a thousand years.

Yet the vast Void Sea contains only a few million Void Stars; the density is naturally low, with each Void Star separated by an extremely vast distance. Even a Void Sovereign cannot traverse a hundred thousand Void Stars within a thousand years.

"It is said that every Challenge Platform has information merchants nearby. Just pick one, buy a piece of information, and that will suffice."

While Lin Qing pondered silently, he also flew at extreme speed along the "Windless Zone" among the Void Stars.

Beyond the Windless Zone lies the region of blinding, sky-darkening gales, filled with Void Storms. Even a Void Sovereign who falls into it dares not linger, for otherwise, even if their power is exhausted, they will die.

The Windless Zone, as a safety channel carved out, allows one to reach the Challenge Platforms one by one rapidly.

On a Void Star with a diameter of hundreds of millions of li, even with greater gravity, Lin Qing, utilizing a Divine Artifact to fly, could easily reach speeds of several thousand kilometers per second.

Merely one hour later, he arrived at the nearest first Challenge Platform.

It was a ruin resembling a giant Jin Zita, with a height of several thousand kilometers. Its entire body was made of a material like obsidian, very similar to the primordial aura of this Void Star, and also mixed with faint traces of the aura of living beings.

This ruin is what is commonly called the Challenge Platform.

As long as one ascends to the summit of the Jin Zita, consciousness can merge into the ruin's virtual space, forming an avatar within it.

"Oh? The protection period has already passed?"

Observing this massive and towering Jin Zita, Lin Qing could not help but reveal a faint smile. "The Windless Zone path selected by the Fate Mirror is indeed correct."

After arriving at this Void Star, he was too lazy to purchase information on various Challenge Platforms; he simply used the Fate Mirror to take a look, confirmed the obviously luckiest path among them, and set off directly.

After all, his strength was sufficient, and with the Fate Mirror filtering, there was naturally no need to waste time studying slowly.

Indeed, the first Challenge Platform ruin found along this path was one whose protection period had already passed; one only needed to buy a piece of information casually and slightly confirm the owner's strength.

After all...

There is only one challenge opportunity; the next time would require waiting thirty-eight million years. It is better to be cautious.

"This Mr. must be visiting a Void Star for the first time, right?"

At this moment, a green-skinned man dressed in a black skirt-like garment flew over, smiling as he said, "This Challenge Platform is temporarily unusable. Would you like to switch to another one?"

"Unusable?" Lin Qing glanced at him, frowning slightly as he said, "What do you mean? Hasn't the protection period of this Challenge Platform already passed?"

The green-skinned man immediately laughed and said, "It is like this: this Challenge Platform has already been reserved by a client of our Tianqi Lake Group. Outsiders are temporarily not allowed to challenge. If you have a need, you can book and purchase a slot for another Challenge Platform."

"Book?"

Lin Qing narrowed his eyes slightly and said, "This Challenge Platform was naturally nurtured by the Void Sea; how has it been reserved by your client?"

At the same time, his consciousness connected to the Second Universe Network and began investigating the situation of this Void Star through the permissions of the Secret Realm Master.

"This Mr. does not know?"

The green-skinned man was first stunned, then shook his head and laughed, "Our Tianqi Lake Group was jointly established by multiple top powers from the three major civilizations near the Misty Fog Sea. These 371 Void Stars of the Misty Fog Sea have also been monopolized by our Tianqi Lake Group. Did Mr. not investigate before coming?"

At the same time, Lin Qing had already found out the situation of this so-called Tianqi Lake Group.

Tiandun Civilization, Wuqi River Civilization, Beast Lake Civilization.

Within the three civilization secret realms surrounding the Misty Fog Sea, a total of eleven top powers participated together in the plan to monopolize the Void Stars, establishing this so-called Tianqi Lake Group.

The soul imprint of a Void Star is an excellent cultivation aid, and since the slots are limited, there is naturally huge profit to be made.

Coupled with the geographical advantage of the Misty Fog Sea, it can prevent unrelated outsiders from entering the Misty Fog Sea at will.

Therefore, the top powers of these three civilizations joined hands to monopolize these hundreds of Void Stars.

"I see..."

Lin Qing suddenly understood somewhat: "No wonder the Lord of the Misty Fog is so arrogant, fearing no one but the Void Sovereign. It seems... he also has a cooperation with the Tianqi Lake Group?"

The mist surrounding the Misty Fog Sea is a natural barrier.

With the Lord of the Misty Fog, a pirate with such a terrifying reputation, most Void beings dare not enter the Misty Fog Sea at will unless they have a background.

And the Lord of the Misty Fog's fame is so great; it is probably the result of deliberate promotion by the Tianqi Lake Group.

In this way, the Tianqi Lake Group can make money better.

Even powerful Void beings must purchase a Challenge Platform slot from the Tianqi Lake Group here to enter the Misty Fog Sea safely, to enter the Void Stars, and to have the qualification to ascend the Challenge Platform.

That is to say, monopoly.

On this Challenge Platform, the people change every thousand years.

And relying on this business, the various powers have all made a fortune.

Perhaps many Void beings feel it is unfair, but no matter how indignant they are, what can be done?

Founded jointly by eleven top powers of the three major civilizations, it is equivalent to a matter settled by a group of Void Sovereigns working together!

Even if other Void Sovereigns or figures with great backgrounds come, as long as they notify the Tianqi Lake Group, they will naturally yield the slot, and will even help select the Challenge Platform with the highest success rate.

Moreover, some Challenge Platforms are occupied by internal members of the Tianqi Lake Group.

As long as someone is willing to spend money to purchase, the internal members on that Challenge Platform can voluntarily admit defeat.

So, this is completely a high-profit industry.

"I understand."

Lin Qing suddenly said in a calm voice, "I am curious: if a Void Sovereign comes and is too lazy to greet your Tianqi Lake Group, what do you plan to do?"

The green-skinned man could not help but raise his eyebrows slightly, immediately smiling as he said, "If a powerful figure like a Void Sovereign comes, I naturally dare not block them. If they dislike us, we will disappear immediately. But... are you a guest like that?"

Although he was still smiling, his smile clearly carried a few more hints of mockery and ridicule.

After all, he had seen too many people like this.

Unfortunately... this Void Sea is naturally one where the strong are respected, and the strong set the rules.

And the top powers of the three major civilizations joining hands is a business settled by a group of Void Sovereigns. Within this sea of hundreds of millions of li, who dares to say no?

Moreover, the Tianqi Lake Group does not fear Void Sovereigns, but they will not deliberately offend them.

If some supreme powerhouse plants soul imprints on a hundred thousand Void Stars in one breath, making the soul imprints eternal, they will not occupy the Challenge Platform slots, and it will not affect the Tianqi Lake Group's 'business' at all.

The Tianqi Lake Group naturally does not care.

"Is that so?"

Lin Qing smiled. "Pity, I am not the Void Sovereign, but I still cannot stand the sight of you."

He was too lazy to say more. With a casual flick of his sleeve, a massive pressure swept out, like shooing away a fly, instantly blasting the green-skinned man with his fake smile flying backward.

(End of this chapter)