The brief discussion quickly ended. Haiji Dao stood up from his seat. Looking at Lu Sheng and Anon Turing, he said calmly, "As the two most outstanding martial arts geniuses in our Hundred Great Star District, I have an obligation to give you a deeper understanding of the gap and differences between level 12 and level 13 before you arrive at the Celestial Throne academy. This was also specifically instructed by the Chief Star Elder."
At this moment, the spaceship beneath their feet shook violently again. Haiji Dao looked up and continued, "The Chief Star Elder is currently fighting against the Lord of Oblivion for our sake. We, under her protection, should not be so complacent. Get up, both of you. You've had enough of comfort on the spaceship. It's time for special training."
Anon Turing stood up quickly, somewhat excited. The words Haiji Dao had just spoken had a significant impact on him, and now was the time for him to prove himself.
Lu Sheng also stood up. He was somewhat interested in the special training Haiji Dao had mentioned. Although he had fought four level 13 beings so far, two of them were Alien Beasts, and the other two were Zombie powerhouses from the Dream Space universe. None of them could be considered truly representative level 13 martial arts experts. He was very curious about just how strong a level 13 expert like Haiji Dao would be.
Seeing the two of them stand up, a hint of satisfaction appeared on Haiji Dao's face. He didn't speak, but led the two out of the spaceship's central hall, to the wide door of a... self-healing alloy room.
"The only valuable aspect of this spaceship likely lies here," Haiji Dao remarked with a hint of emotion. "The self-healing alloy room was personally ordered by the Chief Star Elder before departure—it can withstand the full power of a level 13 martial artist without collapsing. It can even be used as a refuge; even if the entire spaceship disintegrates, this self-healing alloy room will remain undamaged for a short time."
With that, Haiji Dao lightly flipped his hand. His signature longsword, seemingly forged from the spine of an unknown Beast, appeared in his hand. A faint, deathly aura gradually emanated from him. Lu Sheng knew. This had to be the power of a Law that Haiji Dao had mastered.
"You two..."
Haiji Dao's gaze swept back and forth between Sheng and Anon, and he asked, "Who goes first?"
"I'll go first."
Before Lu Sheng could speak, Anon beside him spoke first, brimming with eager anticipation. Perhaps fearing Sheng's displeasure, after answering, Anon specifically explained to him: "Mainly, I'm afraid that after seeing your fight with Lord Haiji Dao, my confidence will be further shaken, which will directly affect my combat performance."
Anon gave a wry smile. Lu Sheng found this reason somewhat amusing. But he still expressed his understanding and readily nodded, "Alright, then you go first."
Seeing that the two had reached an agreement and arranged the order, Haiji Dao turned to push open the door to the self-healing alloy room and beckoned.
"Then come in." Sheng and Anon immediately followed.
-
Inside the speeding spaceship, Tang Dun, Saya and his sister, whom he had just reunited with, sat facing each other. Beside them was the magnificent and vast starry sky, and before them lay food and drinks.
Tang Dun was focused on eating and drinking, while Saya chatted quietly with Heyer.
"How did you find me?"
This was the question Saya most wanted answered. She picked up a delicately crafted pastry from the table, gently smelled it, and then put it down. Then she replied, "News, and the family's intelligence network."
"Alright."
Saya felt he'd asked a foolish question. As a family that had once been allied with the Lyresas family through marriage, his mother's side of the family was naturally quite powerful. Their overall strength was even slightly greater than the Lyresas family's. He only knew that they seemed to be in the arms trade; he didn't know much else.
Now, thinking about it, as the first in line to inherit the Lyresas family's throne, he had performed terribly in every aspect. The only thing he could boast about was his level 11 martial arts prowess. But this was truly insignificant compared to the vast family power spanning several star regions.
Martial arts prowess below level 13 could be artificially cultivated with enough resources. Only after reaching level 13 did one possess a truly significant position; even if one knew nothing and had no skills, one could still wield considerable influence within the family. But he was clearly far from that level.
"Second question." This time, Saya considered carefully before asking, "Why did you come to me?"
Heyer couldn't help but laugh at the question.
"You're my brother, my dear brother. Isn't that reason enough? Besides, as far as I know, you seem to be having… well, not a good time lately."
"Very bad." Saya gave a bitter smile. "I almost died, and… and…"
Saya was still considering whether to finish the sentence when Tang Dun, standing beside him, mumbled the rest for him.
"And he was betrayed by the woman he loved, who conspired with his greatest enemy to try and kill him."
"Tang Dun!"
Saya couldn't help but exclaim, his handsome face flushing slightly, looking extremely embarrassed and awkward. Good heavens. To say such an embarrassing thing in front of his sister, whom he hadn't seen for centuries, was just too shameful.
"Pfft—"
Heyer couldn't help but laugh out loud, then took the initiative to comfort Saya, saying, "Alright, alright, it's not a big deal. So what if everyone turns against you? Don't forget, you still have me, my dearest brother." Heyer said, playfully winking at Saya.
A flicker of warmth appeared in Saya's eyes, but he quickly regained his composure. Since their father's death, a series of blows in his life hadn't left him completely untouched.
"Tell me the truth, Heyer." Saya looked at Heyer seriously and added earnestly, "I'm truly happy to see you again, but I know that I, your brother by blood, am not actually that important to you, am I? Tell me the truth. Why did you choose to help me at this time?"
Heyer's smile gradually faded. Her original innocence and liveliness vanished, replaced by a wisdom and maturity that didn't match her appearance.
"Do you really want to hear the truth, my brother?"
"Of course."
Saya's attitude was firm.
"Alright, then I'll tell you."
Heyer calmly began, "The family has received some very important information. It's about you. That's why I was temporarily sent to find you. I'll take you somewhere. Where?"
Saya's body involuntarily leaned forward.
"Mildona. The ancestral home of the Lyresas family. In a week, the succession ceremony for the new Lyresas family heir will be held there."
Heyer looked into Saya's eyes and said, word by word, "The family sent me to take you there, to take back everything that is rightfully yours."
"!!!"
Saya was shocked, frozen in place, unable to utter a word. After a moment, he seemed to suddenly realize something, and said with some surprise, "My mother is willing to support me in reclaiming my inheritance?"
"No." Heyer shook her head, "Besides escorting you safely there, the family will not interfere in this matter in any way."
Saya was stunned, muttering, "Then how can I take back everything that is rightfully mine? They wanted me dead anyway. Going back now would be like walking into a trap..."
"I don't know." Heyer shook her head once again. "That's what the family told me. I don't know anything else. Perhaps you should think carefully about whether you have any other trump cards or methods you haven't used, my dear brother."
"What trump cards or methods do I have left?!"
Saya suddenly remembered something and quickly pulled a slip of paper from his pocket. He opened the paper and read the words aloud.
"'See the first person you met'. This is Heyer. I've met her. Then, 'go back to where it all began'."
This might correspond to planet Mildona, the ancestral home of the Lyresas family. Taking back everything that should belong to me is easy to understand. Everything matches up.
"I haven't gone astray; I've followed the guidance of fate step by step. But how can I take back everything that should belong to me? What can I rely on?"
Saya's gaze fell on the last sentence of the note—"The one reigning upon the stars has prepared everything for you."
"Who exactly is this person reigning upon the stars? My mother's family? Or someone else?"
In an instant, countless figures and faces flashed through Saya's mind. His thoughts were in turmoil, a jumbled mess. Suddenly, he stood up and said anxiously, "Heyer, quickly turn the ship around and go back. I need to see someone and get things cleared up."
Heyer frowned slightly upon hearing Saya's request. But before she could speak, Tang Dun, who was eating beside her, said, "Do you want to go back to the Everything House, Saya?"
"Yes," Saya said resolutely. "I must find Silver and get to the bottom of this. The last sentence of this guide will be the key to resolving my current predicament!"
"Then you'll be disappointed," Tang Dun said.
Saya was taken aback. "What do you mean?"
Tang Dun picked up a piece of roast meat and popped it into his mouth, chewing with grease, answering indistinctly. "I was going to tell you this before. Not long after we left the shop, that woman named Silver and that little house suddenly vanished. As if they had never existed in this world."
"What?!" Saya exclaimed, his body swaying violently. For a moment, he stood there, stunned, unable to utter a single word.
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Translation notes by dhoo
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The self-repairing ore room aka the self-healing alloy room, the sparring room, the refuge room, the superalloy room, the cultivation chamber, or the self-repairing room, the self-healing room
修鏈室, xiū liàn shì: 修 repair 鏈 ore 室 room
Scientists commonly talk about self-healing or self-repairing material/polymer/alloy. An ore s a raw material that usually has to be processed, but in Sci-Fi "ore" could also be used for rare materials with fancy properties. What's your favorite name for this fancy yet disposable sparring/refugeroom?
Haij Dao seems moved, probably proud and/or amazed. Haiji Dao doesn't mention "sparring" or "fighting", he only says the room can withstand the full power of a level 13 martial artist and then asks "You two... who goes first?" I had added "as a sparring room" then I decided to remove it:
"The only valuable aspect of this spaceship likely lies here," Haiji Dao remarked with a hint of emotion. "The self-healing alloy room personally ordered by the Chief Star Elder before departure—[as a sparring room] it can withstand the full power of a level 13 martial artist without collapsing. It can even be used as a refuge; even if the entire spaceship disintegrates, this self-healing alloy room will remain undamaged for a short time."
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Saya's mother and father
Saya and Heyer are twin siblings. Their mother is still alive, we learned in this chapter that their father is dead. Apparently, their mother raised Heyer while their father raised Saya. That explains why Saya calls his mother [mǔqīn, 母亲 (trad. 母親), mother] while Lu Sheng calls his mother [mā, 妈 (trad. 媽), 妈 mom].