Chapter Seventy-Eight: The Azure Wave Star

Forming a team lacked any legal protection, so it was impossible to place absolute trust in one another. Guarding against betrayal, the fear of being stabbed in the back, was an exhausting endeavor! In the vast universe, people tended to form deep bonds with those from their own race or hometown—after all, humanity was but one among countless races scattered across innumerable planets.

...

Over a dozen days later.

The headquarters of the Universe Mercenary Alliance on Dragonhorn Star was a veritable city. Luo Yuan, Luo Feng, Hong, Thunder God, and ten bodyguards of the ninth level of the Stellar class stepped into it together.

“So many people,” Luo Yuan exclaimed in admiration.

“It’s simply a sea of humanity,” Thunder God added, feeling overwhelmed.

The majority of those entering the Universe Mercenary Alliance—more than eighty percent—were there to register as adventurers. Luo Yuan and his companions, fourteen in all, queued among the crowds alongside people from various human races, waiting to complete their registration. After more than an hour, they finally finished.

“Adventure Card—so this is an Adventure Card?” Thunder God examined the card in his hand.

“Don’t lose it. It’s a real hassle to replace,” Luo Yuan said with a smile. “Come on, let’s apply for the Universe Apprentice Mercenary assessment.”

Adventurer registration attracted the most people.

But for the Universe Apprentice Mercenary assessment, there were far fewer applicants, so Luo Yuan and his group didn’t have to queue at all.

“You’re all Stellar class, meeting the criteria for the Apprentice Mercenary assessment. Please pay a fee of ten thousand Black Dragon Coins each.”

“Excellent.”

“Here are the detailed contents of your assessment tasks. Please read them.”

After swiping their fourteen Adventure Cards, their numbers were entered into the Universe Apprentice Mercenary assessment system—they could now participate in the assessment.

Luo Yuan, Luo Feng, Hong, Thunder God, and the rest found a nearby bar, ordered drinks, and immediately began reading the assessment tasks carefully.

“Enter the Domain Lord World of Bluewave Star, obtain three Windhorn Stones and the horn of a Monoceros Iron Rhino. Then deliver them to the staff of the Universe Mercenary Alliance stationed at the exit of the Domain Lord World. Completing this marks success in the Apprentice Mercenary assessment, and from then on, you are a qualified Universe Apprentice Mercenary.”

The assessment task served as a test, not a typical adventure, and was designed to eliminate a large number of candidates.

“It definitely won’t be easy,” Thunder God muttered, then chuckled. “Windhorn Stones and the Monoceros Iron Rhino’s horn? Couldn’t someone just buy them outside and claim they acquired them themselves?”

“Read here.”

Luo Yuan flipped to the sixth page of the assessment details. “Windhorn Stones are unique to that Domain Lord World, imbued with the attributes of that world. The Monoceros Iron Rhinos roaming there are wild beasts, and their horns are marked by the Universe Mercenary Alliance. After each task, the assessment items are reclaimed.”

“Even if someone managed to smuggle them out, the Alliance strictly cracks down on cheating. Anyone caught is permanently barred from assessments, and sellers are executed outright.”

...

Afterward, Luo Yuan, Luo Feng, Hong, Thunder God, and the rest boarded a universe spaceship, departing Dragonhorn Star for the more renowned Bluewave Star.

Bluewave Star ranked among the top hundred important planets within the territory of the Black Dragon Mountain Empire. Its master was a Domain Lord, though the planet’s lord was not currently residing on Bluewave Star.

After traversing the universe, their spaceship headed toward an incredibly beautiful, aquamarine planet.

“What a gorgeous planet—almost as beautiful as our homeland,” Luo Feng praised, standing in the control room and gazing at the distant planet.

“It truly is beautiful,” Thunder God marveled. “But it’s odd—Bluewave Star’s diameter is about thirty-two thousand kilometers, yet the ‘Domain Lord World’ concealed within it has a surface area more than a hundred times greater than the planet itself. Such vast worlds—some peak Domain Lords are said to be able to hide them within a single grain of sand.”

“A world in a grain of sand—that’s the wondrous power of Domain Lords,” Hong remarked in awe.

The Domain Lord World was indeed extraordinary.

This Universe Apprentice Mercenary assessment was to take place within one such world.

“Whoosh!”

The deep blue spaceship soon entered Bluewave Star’s atmosphere.

Upon arrival, Luo Yuan and his companions’ spaceship was drawn by a guidance signal to the planet’s docking port.

“We’ll have to fly from here.”

“At our speed, we’ll be there in minutes,” Luo Yuan said with a smile, and together with the other thirteen, he flew toward a bustling metropolis in the distance—Thunder City. Originally, the city had a different name, but after a Domain Lord created a world, it was discovered in Thunder City.

This Domain Lord World became famous for its thunder element and was called ‘Thunder World.’ Thus, people from other planets began calling the city ‘Thunder City.’

“Thunder City, here we are.”

The fourteen descended, observing the city’s many floating vehicles and a few people flying through the air.

“The Universe Mercenary Alliance headquarters is thirty kilometers that way,” Thunder God said, glancing at the map projected by his auxiliary AI and pointing northeast, corresponding to the planet’s magnetic field. The group quickly made their way toward the Alliance headquarters—the Domain Lord World was located within.

The Mercenary Alliance headquarters had only been built after the discovery of the Domain Lord World.

...

Luo Yuan and his group entered the Universe Mercenary Alliance headquarters.

“Head this way. The heavily guarded villa ahead is Thunder World,” a staff member explained, pointing to the distant, solitary villa surrounded by vast emptiness and a host of guards.

“Thunder World?”

“A villa?”

Everyone gazed at the villa.

The staff member grinned. “When the Domain Lord created Thunder World, he was probably living incognito in Thunder City, bought a villa, and built Thunder World inside it. From the outside, no one would ever guess that inside this villa lies a world far greater than all of Bluewave Star. Over the countless years, every other villa nearby has crumbled to ruin.”

“Oh?” Luo Yuan nodded and smiled in thanks. “Much appreciated.”

“Let’s go.” The fourteen headed straight for the distant villa.

Around it, layers of guards stood watch.

“There are so many people here—it feels like there are factions,” Thunder God said, rubbing his bald head in curiosity.

“Ah, you haven’t read the materials carefully. The Black Dragon Mountain Empire rules the entire Black Dragon Mountain galactic region, a vast territory spanning over eight thousand star systems! The empire’s strongest powers are the two sacred lands, followed by four major organizations and sixteen great families,” Luo Yuan explained.

“What are these powers?” Luo Feng asked.

“The two sacred lands are Black Dragon Mountain and the Ice Sea Divine Kingdom. Legend says both were founded by ‘Immortals,’ and each commands numerous Domain Lords. The four major organizations are Three Axe Mountain, Hundred Tiger Tower, Black Cloud Society, and North Dragon City. In the Black Dragon Mountain Empire, they wield immense power—fighters at the ninth level of the Universe class are mere underlings within their ranks.”

“The sixteen great families—each has at least one Domain Lord. Domain Lords possess the power to destroy worlds and create their own domains. Of course, either of the two sacred lands could easily wipe out all sixteen families,” Luo Yuan clarified.

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