1339: Just after ascending to heaven, you are already in debt of tens of millions?

During the development of a Life Star, it was relatively simple to obtain formal Imperial citizen status.

All it required was money!

Because the Seven Stars Sect had already paid ten years of taxes when they applied to the Empire to develop Jin Yu Star, they urgently needed a large amount of star coins to recover their funds.

As the planetary governor, the Seven Stars Sect had the right to recommend natives to become Imperial citizens; although it was only the lowest-grade, Fifth-Class Citizen, it still represented a qualitative change in status.

After all, once one became a citizen, even the lowest-grade one, the Seven Stars Sect, as planetary governor, could not arbitrarily kill them; to target them, they would need to present criminal evidence for conviction.

This led to many surrender-minded natives on this planet choosing to pay for their lives and joining the Seven Stars Sect.

According to Shen Yu, the Seven Stars Sect currently sells Fifth-Class Citizen status at a clear price: ten million star coins or equivalent valuables can grant it.

How to describe this price...

After understanding the purchasing power of star coins, Wang Chen couldn't help but curse in his heart that the Seven Stars Sect was truly ruthless!

The Four-Horned Magic Ox he had just slain was only worth two hundred thousand star coins, and that was after the price had been doubled!

In other words, a Four Realms Early Stage practitioner was only worth two hundred thousand star coins in the Supreme Universe; at least, this was true within the Tianxia Empire.

“Just arrived in the Supreme Universe, and already have an extra ten million star coin expense...”

“I'm too difficult!”

Wang Chen shook his head speechlessly, then motioned for Shen Yu to get up:

“Let's go, you first take me to register for mercenary qualifications.”

Although one could buy formal Imperial citizen status from the Seven Stars Sect with money, it wasn't without hidden thresholds.

His current identity couldn't withstand scrutiny; he was a pure illegal resident, not even a native. If he really took ten million star coins to the Seven Stars Sect, he'd have nowhere to cry if he got robbed.

To be safe, Wang Chen planned to have Shen Yu act as a guarantor, and he would first join the Mercenary Association, becoming an attached mercenary to Shen Yu, a Third-Class Mercenary.

This way, it would be very reasonable for a formal mercenary to spend money to help an attached mercenary obtain formal citizen status, and there had been many such precedents in the past.

...

...

Jin Yu Star.

Southern Plains.

A majestic, square city, one hundred li on each side, floated five hundred meters above the ground.

It cast a deep shadow on the earth, like a terrifying Vicious Beast that would only appear in ancient times.

This was the temporary headquarters established by the Seven Stars Sect during their development of Jin Yu Star, and in the future, it would also be the most prosperous main city on Jin Yu Star, Seven Stars City.

“Master, Seven Stars City has only been partially built. What you see now will be the inner city of Seven Stars City in the future. After the development is complete, the Seven Stars Sect will also build an outer city ten times the size of the inner city to accommodate more population.”

On the streets of Seven Stars City, Wang Chen observed his surroundings, while Shen Yu respectfully introduced the city beneath their feet.

Although there weren't many pedestrians in Seven Stars City at this time, signs of future prosperity were already visible.

Occasionally, passersby had at least Second Realm strength, and among them, there were even figures that made Wang Chen feel apprehensive.

Those were cultivators who had at least reached Four Realms Late Stage or even Realm Four Peak Stage, nearing their first great heavenly tribulation.

Moreover, in Wang Chen's perception, a faint pressure enveloped the entire Seven Stars City.

This pressure would not affect those who came to the city, but if one investigated carefully, they would discover its terrifying nature.

According to Shen Yu, the source of this pressure should be the Vice Sect Master of the Seven Stars Sect, who was stationed in the city—a Six Realm expert capable of breaking free from the constraints of a Life Star and briefly traversing the Void Realm with their Physical Body.

With Wang Chen's current strength, he temporarily couldn't imagine the other party's power.

This made him suppress his curiosity, so as not to cause any trouble.

Walking along, the two soon saw the Mercenary Association's temporary branch in Seven Stars City.

“From now on, you and I can call each other by our names. You need to act like a normal formal mercenary; don't let outsiders see anything unusual.”

Standing outside the Mercenary Association branch, Wang Chen instructed.

To become an attached mercenary, one must register with the Mercenary Association. This is very important, because only after completing this step can a subordinate relationship with a formal mercenary be officially established, and an attached mercenary can then barely be considered half an Imperial citizen.

“Understood. Then this servant will offend you.”

Shen Yu respectfully nodded, then returned to her usual demeanor, walking past Wang Chen and heading into the branch first.

However, just as Wang Chen followed, something unexpected suddenly happened.

“Oh, Shen Yu, weren't you going to investigate the Black Forest? Why did you bring back a pretty boy? Don't tell me he's your new lover?!”

At this moment, a seductive woman walked out of the mercenary branch and sneered when she saw Shen Yu.

Wang Chen subtly scanned her.

This woman's strength was equal to Shen Yu's, also Third Realm Middle Stage.

However, her equipment was noticeably better than Shen Yu's, and it had a standardized equipment feel to it.

“Liu Ying, what I do is none of your business. Don't think that just because you joined the Wild Wolf Mercenary Group, you're something special and can boss me around.”

Shen Yu frowned at the seductive woman and said unceremoniously.

This Liu Ying in front of her came from the same Life Star as her, making them fellow villagers. They had a period of cooperation after becoming mercenaries, but due to some matters not long ago, the two had already gone their separate ways.

“Heh heh!”

Liu Ying sneered at Shen Yu's words and completely ignored her. Instead, she walked over with a smile, directly fixating on Wang Chen:

“Little brother, Liu Ying is our leader's sweetheart. Getting involved with her is not a wise choice. You'll have to be careful on this Jin Yu Star from now on.”

“Why don't you come and hang out with big sister? Big sister can support you, you know!”

Liu Ying's gaze lingered on Wang Chen's handsome face for a moment, she said meaningfully, and then walked away.

Before leaving, she even slipped a note with contact information into Wang Chen's hand.

This development...

Completely stumped Wang Chen.

“I'm sorry, Master, I've caused you trouble.”

At this moment, Shen Yu looked at Wang Chen in panic and quickly explained:

“I have some grievances with the leader of the Wild Wolf Mercenary Group. He is a Four Realms Late Stage cultivator...”

“Stop.”

However, Shen Yu was interrupted by Wang Chen before she could finish:

“I'm not interested in your past, but you seem more useful than I thought. Let's go, quickly finish the attached mercenary procedures.”

As he spoke, Wang Chen glanced at Liu Ying's retreating back, then had Shen Yu continue to lead the way.

Toiling away hunting Vicious Beasts was the slowest way to accumulate star coins.

He had almost forgotten that there was actually a shortcut to quickly obtain ten million star coins.

Now, it just depended on whether some people would give him the opportunity!