137: Chapter 137 Auction Turmoil, Heroes Compete for Bids

Star Ring City, District 7, Star Ring Grand Theater.

This is one of the most renowned buildings in the Eternal Star Domain. It does not host any artistic performances, nor is it open to tourists for sightseeing. Its sole purpose is to host the 'Millennium Celebration' level auction held by the Star Ring Financial Group every thirty days.

At this moment, Lin Ye stood outside the main entrance of the theater, gazing up at this massive building dominated by deep blue and silver-white tones.

The theater's exterior resembled a snail shell resting in a sea of stars, its surface covered in over one hundred thousand intelligent alloy scales capable of independently adjusting their light transmittance. It was currently dusk in Star Ring City—though this gas giant planet lacked a true 'dusk,' the glow of the ring nebula would shift to a deep purple-red at specific times—and those scales were deflecting at subtle angles, refracting the nebula's purple-red radiance into millions of fine beams of light that spilled onto the hundred-meter corridor leading to the main entrance.

Along both sides of the corridor, a three-meter-tall mecha sculpture stood every five meters. These were not artistic decorations, but life-size models of the classic mechas throughout the history of the Eternal Star Domain—from the 'star brilliance type i' of three hundred years ago to last year's 'Sentry Type VII,' each sculpture's base was engraved with that model's technical specifications and service history. Walking down the corridor was like traversing a three-dimensional chronicle of technological civilization.

Lin Ye could feel the density of players around him increasing rapidly.

There were believers of the Light wearing the Temple's standard gold-trimmed robes, the Sun Scepter emblem pinned to their chests; Vampire players wreathed in blood-colored mist with scarlet pupils; technical officers of the Eternal Kingdom clad in silver-white research uniforms and carrying data tablets; and free explorers with chaotic attire, mixed-and-matched equipment, and eyes as sharp as hawks.

Every faction was making a final count of their chips before entering.

Every faction was using Divine Sense or technological detection devices to quietly assess the strength of their competitors.

In Lin Ye's Storage Ring, three items lay quietly.

The first was a credit limit voucher for 752,000—obtained by mortgaging the full set of blueprints for the star brilliance type i, with forty-seven hours of validity remaining.

The second was one million out of the last 1.17 million Spirit Stones in the Heavenly Court's account, which Zhao Wuji had exchanged overnight for an equivalent amount of technological resource vouchers, currently existing in the form of a silver-white stored-value chip.

The third was a tripartite 'Intangible Asset Earnings Rights Transfer Agreement,' personally audited and certified by the Chief Legal Officer of the Star Ring Financial Group.

The core clause of the agreement was only one:

'Party B (Heavenly Court) voluntarily transfers 30% of all Spiritual Qi output generated by the 'Chaos Valley' territory located within the Yan State of the Big Dipper Star Field over the next sixty natural months (five years) as a tradable asset to Party A (Star Ring Financial Group). Party A shall issue a directed payment voucher worth 2,000,000 Technological Resource Vouchers (2,000,000 Vouchers) to Party B.'

Two million vouchers.

This was the final quote Zhao Wuji had secured after three days and nights without sleep, engaging in repeated negotiations with the Star Ring Financial Group's asset assessment team.

'Five years, 30%.' Zhao Wuji's voice had been hoarse, his eyes rimmed with red, at the time. 'The Spiritual Qi concentration in Chaos Valley is still growing at a rate of 5%-8% per year. In five years, 30% of the output will be at least equivalent to 150% of what it is now. We lost on this deal.'

'But we need money now,' Lin Ye said. 'Besides, in five years—'

He did not continue.

Five years later, the Fusion of the game and reality would have long been completed. At that time, would the yardstick for measuring wealth still be virtual data like Spirit Stones, vouchers, and equipment?

No one knew.

But Lin Ye knew that if they couldn't get the third star token, if they couldn't open the Ancient Star Road, if the Heavenly Court couldn't achieve a leap in strength before the Dark Turmoil arrived—

They might not have a 'five years later.'

Su Qingyue walked to Lin Ye's side.

She was not wearing her usual moon-white dharma robes today, but a slim-fitting silver-gray trench coat—local attire of the Eternal Star Domain, made of a synthetic fiber that was breathable and possessed weak energy-shielding functions. This was Qin Ruoxue's suggestion: in the territory of a technological civilization, overly distinct Cultivator attire would attract unnecessary attention and potential discrimination.

Her icy blue long hair was tied into a high ponytail, revealing her slender, fair neck. The stored-value chip containing all of the Heavenly Court's available funds was currently lying quietly in the inner pocket of her trench coat, pressed against her heartbeat.

'The Blood Prince has arrived,' Su Qingyue said softly.

Lin Ye followed her gaze.

At the end of the corridor, a pitch-black hover vehicle, its surface flowing with dark red energy patterns, was slowly descending into the VIP parking area. The door slid upward to open, and the Blood Prince, dressed in a scarlet formal suit, looked even more sinister with his pale face under the purple light of the nebula.

He was followed by six Vampire guards, each with an aura of level 55 or above.

Even more eye-catching was the—no, the suit of—battle mecha beside him, pitch-gold, with four energy cannons standing on its shoulders, standing eight meters tall.

[Blood Rage · Modified]

[Type: Special Operations Mecha]

[Level: Level 59 (Peak Four Extremities)]

[Description: A customized model modified by the Primordial Royal Court using Vampire secret arts combined with Eternal Star Domain technology. The core power cabin has a built-in blood energy conversion device, which can convert the pilot's Health Points into additional energy output.]

[Features: The surface of the body is engraved with Vampire totems, and a blood-colored crystal the size of a baby's fist is embedded in the cockpit—suspected to be a refined product of the Blood Prince's own essence blood.]

The Blood Prince did not turn his head, but his perception had clearly locked onto Lin Ye.

He stopped, turning his head slightly.

Across the fifty-meter corridor, past those mecha sculptures and the flowing crowd, their gazes collided in the air.

The Blood Prince slowly hooked the corner of his mouth into a cold arc.

It was not a provocation, but a declaration.

—The star token, I am determined to have it.

—The debt of Purple Mountain, we will settle it all after the auction.

Lin Ye did not respond with any expression.

He simply moved his gaze away from the Blood Prince and landed on the ten-meter-high alloy door at the end of the corridor that was about to open.

Above the lintel, an inscription was engraved in both the common language of the Eternal Star Domain and ancient star script:

'This place has witnessed the rise and fall of civilizations, and it will also witness the prologue of the future.'

—Star Ring Financial Group · Founding Era

The interior space of the auction hall was far more stunning than its exterior.

It was a domed circular theater with a diameter of over three hundred meters. The audience seating extended downward in a stepped fashion, divided into seven levels, capable of accommodating three thousand people bidding simultaneously. The dome was not solid but a single transparent, programmable nano-crystal screen. At this moment, it was projecting real-time images of the Titan Ring—that icy crystal belt over one hundred thousand kilometers wide was slowly rotating on the dome, every speck of dust refracting fine diamond luster under the irradiation of the star.

The central exhibition stand was suspended in mid-air, a hexagonal platform with a diameter of fifteen meters, supported by an anti-gravity field. The surface of the platform was embedded with over two thousand micro-projection units, which could switch between any style of exhibit demonstration within 0.01 seconds—three-dimensional models, cross-sectional internal structure views, historical tracing animations, actual combat footage, everything was available.

Lin Ye and his seven companions were arranged in the bidding seats on the east side of the fifth level.

This was a 'Black Iron Grade' seat—the Star Ring Financial Group divided bidders into seven grades based on their asset proof, from the highest 'Star Grade' to the lowest 'Black Iron Grade.' With a credit limit of 750,000 vouchers plus one million in liquid funds, the Heavenly Court had barely squeezed into the fifth level.

Representatives from the Temple and the Eternal Kingdom sat in the 'Platinum Grade' area on the second level.

The Blood Prince and the entourage from the Primordial Royal Court were in the center of the 'Gold Grade' area on the third level—that was the rating the Primordial Royal Court had earned after years of operation in the Eternal Star Domain, two levels higher than the Heavenly Court.

'Ladies and gentlemen, bidders from seventy-seven Star Domains—'

A gentle and magnetic voice resounded in the hall.

It was not a real person.

Above the central exhibition stand, a holographic projection slowly condensed into shape. It was the image of a middle-aged man in a classic tuxedo, wearing a monocle with a gold chain, every strand of hair visible. He bowed slightly to greet the audience.

[Xavier Luo]

[Identity: Chief Auctioneer of the Star Ring Financial Group]

[Level: Level 72 (Technology Side / AI Lifeform)]

[Description: The most renowned AI auction expert in the Eternal Star Domain, having hosted over one thousand seven hundred large-scale auctions, with a total transaction volume exceeding 300 billion Technological Resource Vouchers.]

[Features: Possesses an independent emotion simulation System and real-time response algorithms, evaluated as 'an AI more human than humans.']

'Welcome to the 37th 'Millennium Celebration' Auction of the Star Ring Financial Group.'

Xavier Luo's voice was unhurried, every syllable precisely tuned, reaching every corner of the hall perfectly:

'Today we have prepared seventy-seven treasures for you, from seventeen known Star Domains, three ancient civilization ruins, and the private collections of seven anonymous consignors.'

'The total valuation exceeds nine hundred million Technological Resource Vouchers.'

'The total transaction volume is expected to break the records of this celebration.'

He paused slightly, and the face of the holographic projection actually showed a real, slightly expectant smile:

'Then, let us begin.'

The first seventy-six lots of the auction were like scenery passing by a car window, flashing by and fading quickly in Lin Ye's perception.

The fourth lot: a piece of 'Star Core Refined Gold' weighing three hundred kilograms, Saint-Grade material, starting price 600,000 vouchers, finally bought by the representative of the Eternal Kingdom for 1.15 million vouchers.

The eleventh lot: a complete 'Sentry Type VI' mecha battle group (including three mechas, supporting maintenance equipment, three months of technical support), starting price 2.2 million vouchers, was auctioned off by a Star Domain faction Lin Ye did not recognize for 3.05 million vouchers.

The twenty-third lot: a data crystal suspected of recording 'Lost Subspace Navigation Technology,' identified as over eight thousand years old, starting price 1.5 million vouchers, triggered a fierce seven-minute bidding war between the Eternal Kingdom and the Temple, finally sold for 3.9 million vouchers.

The thirty-fifth lot: a sapling of the 'Ten Thousand Year Vermilion Fruit Tree' from the Ziwei Star Field, transplantable, starting price 800,000 vouchers, taken away by the representative of the Garden of Nature for 1.68 million vouchers.

The fifty-first lot: a fragmented 'Ancient Star Road Star Map,' identified as hand-drawn by a powerhouse in the Saint Realm, covering the geographical information of the first three passes of the ancient road, starting price 1.2 million vouchers. Lin Ye's heart skipped a beat, but he held down Zhao Wuji's hand as he prepared to raise his paddle.

—That was bait.

The real star token had not appeared yet; they could not consume ammunition here.

The star map was finally auctioned off by the Free Explorers Association for 2.13 million vouchers.

The sixty-third lot, the seventy-first lot, the seventy-fifth lot...

The fall of the gavel for each treasure stirred a brief exclamation or sigh in the hall.

Lin Ye sat quietly, hands clasped on his knees, his gaze falling on the central exhibition stand, yet as if piercing through the holographic projection, he was looking elsewhere.

He was waiting.

Waiting for the moment that was destined to arrive, the moment that would make the air in the entire hall freeze.

The seventy-seventh lot.

The finale.

For the first time, Xavier Luo's voice had a subtle, imperceptible pause.

'Ladies and gentlemen.'

He raised his right hand, and the holographic projection on the central exhibition stand switched instantly.

A silver-white beam of light descended from the dome, and in the center of the beam, a palm-sized token with ancient star patterns flowing on its surface was spinning at a slow speed.

Every time the token rotated, the star patterns on its surface would brighten and dim, as if it were conducting some kind of resonance across space and time with the simulated Titan Ring on the dome.

[Lot File: ID MCM-77]

[Name: Incompletely Activated Star Road Token (Tentative)]

[Type: Ancient Civilization Relic / Key Item]

[Age: Identified as over twelve thousand years old, specific civilization affiliation unknown]

[Material: Not any known metal or alloy, density approximately 3.7 times that of standard titanium alloy]

[Features:]

[1. Seven star patterns are engraved on the surface, arranged in the Big Dipper, with six dim and one in a weakly activated state]

[2. In a specific energy field, it will autonomously release weak spatial coordinate fluctuations]

[3. Has a strong resonance association with a certain type of 'ancient ruin with undisclosed coordinates']

[4. Complete activation conditions unknown, requires further research]

[Starting Price: 1,000,000 Technological Resource Vouchers (or equivalent Spirit Stones)]

[Increment: Not less than 50,000 vouchers/time]

[Remarks: This lot is provided by an anonymous consignor; the Star Ring Financial Group makes no express or implied guarantees regarding its 'functions after complete activation']

star token.

The third star token.

Lin Ye's pupils contracted slightly, but his expression did not change at all.

He sensed that in the special Storage Ring in his bosom, the two star tokens emitted an extremely faint humming sound, which only he could perceive, almost simultaneously.

That was resonance.

Across tens of thousands of light-years, separated by the auction house's energy shielding and the spatial barrier of the Storage Ring—

Three star tokens, for the first time in twelve thousand years, had generated resonance.

'One... 1.1 million!'

An eager voice, trembling slightly, rang out from the sixth-level seats.

That was a representative of a faction Lin Ye did not recognize, with mixed equipment, obviously having limited financial resources. His hand holding the paddle was shaking slightly, his face full of the gambler's fanaticism of throwing caution to the wind.

'1.2 million.'

Second level, Temple seating. Michael's deputy—a blond, blue-eyed, cold-faced priest of Light—raised his paddle calmly.

'1.3 million.'

Third level, Blood Prince. He did not raise his paddle, just gently lifted his right index finger, and the Vampire guard behind him bid on his behalf.

'1.4 million.'

The second level, Eternal Kingdom.

The technical officer wearing a monocle didn't even look up; his voice was as flat as if he were quoting the price of an ordinary piece of equipment.

"1.5 million!"

On the sixth level, the desperate representative's face was already flushed red.

"1.6 million."

The Temple.

"1.7 million."

Blood Prince.

"1.8 million."

Eternal Kingdom.

In just thirty seconds, the bid soared from 1 million to 1.8 million.

The representative from the sixth level dejectedly lowered his bidding paddle—his limit had been reached.

Lin Ye still hadn't moved.

He was waiting.

Waiting for those true competitors to reveal their trump cards.

"2 million."

The Temple's bid jumped by 200,000 directly.

A stifled murmur erupted in the hall.

"2.1 million."

Blood Prince.

"2.2 million."

Eternal Kingdom.

"2.3 million."

The Temple.

"2.4 million."

Blood Prince.

"2.5 million."

Eternal Kingdom.

The price climbed steadily at a rate of 50,000 per second.

Zhao Wuji's fingers gripped the armrest tightly, his knuckles turning white.

Su Qingyue's breathing rhythm didn't change at all, but her ice-blue eyes remained locked on the spinning token on the central display stand.

Lin Ye closed his eyes for a moment.

Three seconds later, he opened them.

"2.8 million."

His voice was calm, neither high nor low, just enough to turn the entire hall's attention toward that inconspicuous seat on the east side of the fifth level.

Blood Prince's gaze pierced over like a poisoned dagger.

The golden-haired priest of the Temple tilted his head slightly, looking directly at the leader of this Human Race faction from the Big Dipper Star Field for the first time.

The technical officer of the Eternal Kingdom pushed up his monocle and quickly recorded something on his data pad.

The representatives of the Free Explorers Association began whispering to each other.

2.8 million.

This number already exceeded the upper limit of the "limit funds" estimated by the Heavenly Secret Pavilion for Blood Prince.

But Blood Prince's expression darkened for only a moment, then he immediately resumed that elegant yet cruel smile.

He raised his hand again.

"2.9 million."

Lin Ye didn't look at him.

"3.1 million."

He raised the price by 200,000 directly.

The hall was deathly silent.

3.1 million.

This price already exceeded the annual fiscal revenue of many small to medium-sized factions.

Even the branch of the Temple and the main sect of the Eternal Kingdom began to seriously weigh whether this "ancient token" of unknown purpose was worth such a high price.

Blood Prince's smile froze on the corners of his lips.

He stared at Lin Ye, the killing intent in his eyes almost solidifying.

3.1 million was already approaching the limit of the cash flow that the Eternal Star Domain branch of the Primordial Royal Court could mobilize.

It wasn't that he couldn't come up with more—there were still a few mines in Purple Mountain that could be urgently mortgaged, and the main hall of the Vampire Council could also provide temporary loans—but that required time.

And the auction would not wait for him.

"...3.15 million."

Blood Prince squeezed this number through his teeth.

Lin Ye didn't look at him.

He slowly stood up, took out the three agreements personally certified by the chief legal officer of the Star Ring Financial Group from his Storage Ring, and projected them onto the holographic screen above the display stand.

The first page of the agreement was clearly visible under the light of the dome's star ring.

[Intangible Asset Revenue Rights Transfer Agreement]

[Transfer Subject: Big Dipper Star Field · Yan State · Chaos Valley Faction Territory]

[Transfer Content: 30% of all Spiritual Qi output revenue for the next sixty natural months (five years)]

[Transferee: Star Ring Financial Group · Asset Operations Department]

[Valuation: 2 million Technology Resource Vouchers (2,000,000 Vouchers)]

[This agreement has been reviewed and certified by the chief legal officer of the Star Ring Financial Group and has full legal effect]

Lin Ye's voice remained calm:

"30% of the Spiritual Qi revenue rights of Chaos Valley for five years, officially valued by the Star Ring Financial Group at 2 million Vouchers."

"I use this as bidding assets, plus 1 million Vouchers in cash."

"Total bid—3 million Vouchers."

He paused, his gaze colliding with Blood Prince's for the first time:

"You just bid 3.15 million."

"But that 3.15 million is all you have."

"I bid 3 million, which is only... a part of what I have."

Blood Prince's pupils contracted sharply.

He understood.

Lin Ye wasn't bidding; he was laying his cards on the table.

He didn't care if Blood Prince could come up with 3.2 million or 3.3 million.

He was simply using the most direct way to tell Blood Prince—and everyone present—that the star token was his.

Whatever ammunition you have, I will accompany you to the end.

Even if it means betting the Foundation of the Heavenly Court for the next five years.

Blood Prince's lips moved slightly.

He wanted to say something—perhaps to raise the bid, perhaps a threat, perhaps a harsh word to save face.

But the vampire guard behind him gently touched his arm and whispered a sentence.

It was an emergency communication from the financial steward of the Primordial Royal Court.

The content was only one word:

"Limit."

3.15 million was already all the cash they could mobilize.

Any more would alert the Purple Mountain headquarters and require personal authorization from the Stone Emperor.

And the Stone Emperor... was tens of thousands of light-years away.

Blood Prince's hand slowly lowered.

He didn't look at Lin Ye again, nor did he look at the star token still spinning on the display stand.

He just stood up, whispered something to the guard behind him, then turned and walked toward the exit of the auction hall.

His back remained straight, his pace remained composed.

But Lin Ye could see that his hand hanging at his side had knuckles clenched white.

"3 million Vouchers, going once."

Xavier Luo's voice echoed in the hall.

"3 million Vouchers, going twice."

The golden-haired priest of the Temple looked at Lin Ye, but ultimately did not raise his paddle.

The technical officer of the Eternal Kingdom entered something on his data pad and then turned off the screen.

The representative of the Free Explorers Association shrugged and whispered something to his companion.

"3 million Vouchers, going third time."

"Sold."

The auction gavel in Xavier Luo's hand fell, making a crisp sound.

"Congratulations to the representative of the 'Heavenly Court' faction in the east seat of the fifth level."

"You have successfully won lot number MCM-77 with 3 million Technology Resource Vouchers—"

"The incompletely activated Star Road token."

The transaction settlement took place in the VIP room on the flank of the auction hall.

Lin Ye signed his name on the last page of that "Intangible Asset Revenue Rights Transfer Agreement."

[System Prompt: You have officially signed the agreement to permanently transfer 30% of all Spiritual Qi output revenue of the "Chaos Valley" faction territory for the next five years (60 natural months) to the Star Ring Financial Group Asset Operations Department]

[Effective Time: 0:00 on the 1st of the next natural month after the agreement is signed]

[Monthly Deduction Method: The System will automatically deduct 30% from the revenue of the "Chaos Valley" faction territory and transfer it to the account designated by the Star Ring Financial Group]

[Cumulative Estimated Loss: Based on the current Spiritual Qi concentration and growth rate model, the total value of 30% of the Spiritual Qi revenue of Chaos Valley over the next five years is approximately equal to 9 million - 12 million Spirit Stones]

[Faction Impact: The monthly income of the Heavenly Court faction will permanently decrease by about 25% - 30% for 60 months]

[Faction Impact: Energy allocation for cultivation facilities (Spirit Gathering Array, Cultivation Rooms) within Chaos Valley will be forced to be reduced, and member cultivation efficiency will decrease by about 15%]

9 million to 12 million Spirit Stones.

This was the total value of 30% of the Spiritual Qi revenue over five years.

And Lin Ye used this cost to exchange for 2 million Vouchers of immediate bidding assets.

This was an extremely unfair deal.

But it was also a deal that allowed the Heavenly Court to obtain the third star token.

The asset operations officer of the Star Ring Financial Group was an expressionless middle-aged male NPC.

After confirming the agreement was effective, he took out a silver-white metal box from the vault and presented it to Lin Ye with both hands.

[You have obtained: star token · Three (Meteorite Belt Ruins · Unactivated)]

[Type: Special Key / Token]

[Quality: Legendary (Unique)]

[Description: The last of the three star tokens, long buried on the periphery of ancient ruins deep in the Meteorite Belt, later discovered by "Scavengers" and entrusted for auction. This token is in an incompletely activated state and needs to resonate with the other two star tokens to unlock the complete coordinates.]

[Current Status: Pending Activation (Resonance source detected nearby)]

[Establish resonance connection with "star token · One" and "star token · Two"?]

[Note: This operation requires the three tokens to be within a 10-meter range of the same spatial coordinate, and the holder must touch all three tokens simultaneously. The resonance process will last for 30 seconds, during which the tokens will release strong spatial coordinate fluctuations, which may be captured by specific detection devices.]

Lin Ye put the metal box into his Storage Ring.

He did not immediately take out the two fully charged tokens.

Because outside the VIP room, although Blood Prince's aura had faded, there were still many pairs of eyes secretly watching this room where a huge transaction had just been completed.

Lin Ye stood up.

Su Qingyue walked to his side, her ice-blue eyes watching him calmly.

Zhao Wuji clenched his fists and loosened them, loosened and clenched again.

"Boss."

His voice was hoarse, "Five years, 30%."

Lin Ye did not turn back.

"I know."

He pushed open the door of the VIP room.

Outside, the night lights of Star Ring City lit up one by one, coating that eternal, brilliant, cold city of technology in a layer of pale purple glow.

"But we got it."

"The third one."

"Three pieces."

He paused, his voice very light, yet clearly entering the ears of everyone behind him:

"Ancient Star Road."

"We can go and open it."

Two hours later.

Star Ring City, District 7, the temporary office rented by the Heavenly Court.

This was a small office located on the 17th floor of a floating building, with an area of less than 50 square meters.

There were no windows, only a smart glass curtain wall extending from the floor to the ceiling, which was currently displaying real-time slow-rotating images of the Titan Star Ring.

Lin Ye stood in front of the curtain wall.

In his left and right hands, he each held an activated star token.

Half a meter in front of him, the silver-white metal box just brought back from the auction was floating on an ice crystal platform constructed by Su Qingyue using Vast Cold Spiritual Power.

"Ready?"

Lin Ye asked.

Su Qingyue nodded.

Chen Hao took a deep breath, closed the cockpit cover of the chaos unit no. 1, and entered combat alert status.

Shi Potian stood by the door, his Tyrant Body operating faintly, sensing any abnormal movements in the corridor.

Zhao Wuji and Qin Ruoxue stood back-to-back, each staring at different data monitoring interfaces.

"Begin," Lin Ye said.

He released both hands at the same time.

The two star tokens left his palms and, with the third token in the metal box, slowly approached each other above the ice crystal platform.

Three inches.

Two inches.

One inch.

The moment they touched—there was no sound.

No light.

No "strong spatial coordinate fluctuations" as described in the System prompt.

There was only an extremely weak, almost imperceptible tremor that traveled from the point where the three tokens touched, along the air, along the floor, along Lin Ye's fingertips, to his heart.

The tremor was too light, so light that it felt like just an illusion.

But Lin Ye knew it wasn't an illusion.

He saw it.

The moment the three tokens touched, that phantom star map unfolded in the depths of his consciousness, more clearly and completely than ever before.

It was no longer incomplete coordinates, no longer vague directions.

It was a road.

A road starting from the edge of the Big Dipper Star Field, passing through the Meteorite Belt, passing through the periphery of the Eternal Star Domain, passing through a dark region he had never seen before and never marked on any star map—finally, arriving at an ancient star hanging alone at the end of the Milky Way's spiral arm, shrouded by purple nebulae.

The starting point of that road was engraved with a coordinate:

[Ancient Star Road · First Pass · Trial Ancient Star]

The end point of that road was engraved with another coordinate:

[Coordinates encrypted, need to be unlocked after passing the first trial]

And at the very bottom of the star map, there was a line of notes written in extremely ancient star script, which only Lin Ye could barely recognize:

"Three tokens unite, the ancient road gate opens."

"The holder of the tokens shall witness—"

"The end of civilization, and the prologue."

Lin Ye opened his eyes.

Deep in his pupils, the reflection of that endless star road seemed to linger.

The three star tokens had finally completed their reunion in his hands, spanning twelve thousand years of time.

The gate of the Ancient Star Road was slowly opening.

And the cost—five years, 30%, of Chaos Valley's Spiritual Qi revenue.

9 million to 12 million Spirit Stones.

One-fourth of the Heavenly Court's fiscal revenue for the next five years.

Lin Ye put the three star tokens into his Storage Ring and turned to look at the purple, strange nebula outside the window.

His back remained straight, his voice remained calm.

"Notify everyone."

"In three days, set off for the Meteorite Belt."

"Go and walk that road that no one has walked for twelve thousand years."

Behind him, Su Qingyue nodded gently.

In her ice-blue eyes, his back-lit profile was reflected.

Outside the window, the Titan Star Ring was still slowly rotating, like the eternal wheel of fate.

And tens of thousands of light-years away in the Big Dipper Star Field, the Spirit Gathering Array of Chaos Valley was still operating day and night, continuously transporting rich, Chaos-attributed Spiritual Qi to every corner of the Heavenly Court.

30% of that Spiritual Qi, starting from 0:00 on the 1st of next month, would no longer belong to the Heavenly Court.

But the token exchanged for them was now lying quietly in Lin Ye's Storage Ring, together with its two companions, waiting to open that long, unknown Star Road.

—Ancient Star Road.

—The end of civilization, and the prologue.