Chapter 86 --Stormy Sea
Space rippled, then settled.
Bai Yue's vision brightened as his figure emerged high above an island. Behind him, a multicolored spatial vortex slowly rotated, its light fading as the teleportation passage stabilized—this was the channel he had just passed through.
He turned his gaze outward.
Far beyond the island's edge, the horizon was completely sealed by a black metallic curtain that stretched endlessly in all directions. It was like a colossal iron wall cutting heaven and earth apart. Countless metallic particles surged within it at terrifying speeds, grinding and colliding without rest.
From that distant region came scenes that made even Bai Yue feel a faint chill.
Spatial rifts spanning hundreds of millions of kilometers, arcs of annihilating lightning that could erase matter outright, oceans of flame born from violent law collisions—cataclysms overlapped one another in an endless cycle. Even viewed from afar, the destructive pressure was unmistakable.
This was the true boundary separating the Three Thousand Black Hole Domain from the Lian Xing Continent.
It was nature at its most brutal.
Even an invincible Champion would not dare to step into that metallic storm lightly. Once trapped within, death was the only outcome—even with treasures for protection.
Bai Yue withdrew his gaze and looked down.
Though referred to as an island, the landmass beneath him spanned tens of millions of kilometers in diameter. Its terrain sloped gently from the edges toward a towering central peak. With his vision, Bai Yue could clearly make out a massive city built atop that flattened summit.
According to the information he had obtained from the Virtual Universe Network, this place was called Jiulong Island.
Any being teleporting from the Blood River Star System would arrive here. Because this region was firmly under Human Race control, it had gradually become a small safe zone. With the military system's oversight, open conflict was tacitly forbidden on the island.
Relative safety—by Outside Territory Battlefield standards.
The ocean surrounding the island was known as the Storm Sea, encircling the entire Lian Xing Continent. Scattered throughout it were countless similar islands. Jiulong Island was famous only because it was directly connected to a spatial passage.
The more than three thousand spatial passages scattered throughout the Three Thousand Black Hole Domain each led to different locations, but nearly all of them terminated at islands within the Storm Sea. Aside from direct Divine Kingdom teleportation, these passages were the only means of entering or leaving the Lian Xing Continent.
That alone explained their strategic importance.
Bai Yue glanced at the vast, azure ocean below.
At first glance, it looked serene—almost beautiful.
But he knew better.
The seawater was called bi bo water, a substance containing terrifying cold energy. It could instantly freeze into solid ice, trapping the unwary. The cold it released was sufficient to shatter the life core of a Territory Lord in moments.
Deeper still lurked even more horrifying substances—ice soul water, cold mist water. Even Undying Spiritual Gods would perish if they ventured into those depths without suitable treasures.
Worse yet, bi bo water could vaporize into a corrosive mist, forming clouds that ate away at matter indiscriminately.
From time to time, monstrous waves rose from the Storm Sea, their behavior wildly abnormal. Anyone caught within would be stripped to the bone—or worse—if they failed to escape in time.
After one last glance, Bai Yue turned away and flew toward the city atop the island.
Activating the Zilo supreme treasure armor, he simulated the aura of an Undying Spiritual God, disguising himself as an ape-man Undying. In the Lian Xing Continent, such caution was second nature.
As he approached, the city's full outline came into view.
The original mountain peak had clearly been flattened by overwhelming force, and the city was constructed atop that leveled summit. Though the architecture was rough and utilitarian, everything needed for survival was present.
Entering the city felt uncannily like returning to Human Territory.
Shops lined the streets, selling weapons, treasures, information, and supplies. Voices overlapped in constant chatter, creating a lively, chaotic atmosphere unique to a battlefield hub.
Bai Yue randomly chose a tavern, ordered several dishes and a few bottles of strong local wine, and sat by a window overlooking the street.
A World Lord–rank waiter soon arrived with the food.
Normally, a World Lord could never survive the approach to a black hole. But here, those protected by Undying Spiritual Gods could be released safely after passing through the Storm Sea.
"Please enjoy, honored sir," the waiter said respectfully after setting everything down. "Call for me anytime if you need anything."
Bai Yue waved him away and took a sip of the wine.
The flavor was unexpectedly good—robust, with a faint sweetness. According to the Virtual Universe Network, the recipe had been passed down from the Lian Xing Clan themselves.
As he drank, snippets of conversation drifted over.
"Did you hear? A huge battle broke out on He Dong Island not long ago. They nearly breached the inner defenses."
"I heard—it was because of a refining star token, wasn't it?"
"Refining star token?!"
That phrase instantly caught Bai Yue's attention.
He connected his consciousness to the Virtual Universe Network and searched for information.
With his authority, results flooded in almost immediately.
He Dong Island had been established only fifty thousand epochs ago. Due to its unique environment, it contained a G-grade metal ore vein, which was seized by the He Dong Clan.
To secure it long-term, the clan invested heavily in defenses, eventually turning the island into a near-impenetrable fortress. A Champion was stationed there at all times.
With such protection, the island had repelled countless covetous forces. After all, a mere G-grade ore vein wasn't valuable enough to draw the attention of top-tier Champions.
The He Dong Clan itself was weak—two Universe Exalts, fewer than fifty Champions in total—and was an affiliated race of the Insect Race.
In the universe, weakness was original sin.
Resources coveted by weaker races were scraps to the great powers, but those scraps were lifelines to clans like He Dong.
The Lian Xing Clan, by contrast, was renowned across the universe for refining treasures. On the Lian Xing Continent, they had left behind countless treasuries—many still unopened even after endless years.
And the key to opening those treasuries was the refining star token.
A rumor—origin unknown—claimed that the He Dong Clan possessed one.
The rumor spread like wildfire.
Despite the stationed Champion's repeated denials, suspicion only grew stronger. Soon after, He Dong Island was attacked. Without its Champion and decades of careful preparation, it would have been completely looted.
Virtual Universe intelligence also showed that the He Dong Clan's other two Champions—who had been adventuring deeper within the Ninth Battlefield—were already returning. By now, they had likely arrived.
Which only deepened the suspicion.
Bai Yue leaned back slightly, eyes calm.
"He Dong Island must be crawling with scouts by now," he thought.
But it had little to do with him.
He Dong Island lay on the opposite side of the Lian Xing Continent. Reaching it required crossing the entire landmass—twelve light-years across—through countless dangerous regions.
Dark Universe travel was impossible within the inner Wanbao Secret Realm. One could only rely on ships or raw speed.
By the time he arrived, the storm would likely be long over.
Bai Yue took another sip of wine, already shifting his thoughts toward his next destination.
[update- got my refund]