Night of Despair

"This big??!" Yu Hong's temple throbbed slightly upon hearing this explanation.

In his previous world, most places were the size of a single planet, with only a few having multiple planets.

But this place suddenly jumped to such a vast extent.

"So, this is Qinghe Mountain's...."

"...One of the Mining Stars in the Sixth Constant Star System." Bai Sheng added, "My junior sister, master, and I have been here for over a hundred years. Our master was assigned by Qinghe Mountain to manage this Mining Star. To be honest, it's been over a hundred years, and the top hasn't actively contacted us here, probably having forgotten us by now."

As he spoke, a bitter smile appeared on his face.

"So, you all were from Qinghe Mountain, sent here to guard the planet?" Yu Hong understood.

"Actually, it's not really a branch anymore. We've long since established ourselves here. Over the years, the situation everywhere has become increasingly strange, and communication devices often fail. Even when ships return, they can't always find anyone. I'm almost starting to wonder if we're the only branch left managing the Sixth Constant Star System." Bai Sheng said helplessly. "So when we saw you jumping over, we were so surprised and rushed over immediately to investigate."

"Senior brother, stop talking so much. We haven't even tested the safety yet." Hei Ying, standing by, protested slightly.

"Oh, I almost forgot! Brother Yu Hu, if you're seeking treatment for a serious illness, you should go to the main star system of Qinghe Mountain, not to a resource-managing Mining Star like this." Bai Sheng explained.

"Actually, my spaceship also malfunctioned, preventing me from reaching the main star system. Getting here is already a great fortune." Yu Hong replied helplessly, knowing that the distance in the universe was extremely exaggerated, often measured in light years and light days.

Not to mention, just a light hour alone would take him an unknown amount of time to traverse on the Black Black Spirit.

So often, he would move with the wind disaster. Distances weren't that exaggerated there.

"Well then, brother, come out, and I'll take you to see my master. Let's check the severity of your illness." Bai Sheng said earnestly.

Such straightforwardness made Yu Hong feel a bit vigilant.

Seeing Yu Hong's silence, Bai Sheng continued.

"Of course, if it's inconvenient for Brother Yu Hu, then never mind. You can wait till your ship is repaired and head directly to the main star system for treatment."

Yu Hong sensed his surroundings, confirming that these two were the only living beings around.

So he no longer hesitated, tidied his clothes, and opened the door to come out.

He was about the same height as Bai Sheng and Hei Ying, but people here seemed noticeably taller.

As soon as he came out, Yu Hong took a deep breath and sensed the faint Red Value Radiation in the air, causing his expression to shift slightly.

"Greetings, you two. I am Yu Hu. I didn't avoid meeting you on purpose, it's just...." He pointed to the faint white glow behind him, looking helpless.

Bai Sheng and Hei Ying noticed the faint glow behind him as soon as he stepped out, causing their expressions to change dramatically.

"It's indeed the aura of a Star Disaster, and very strong."

A faint click came from the side of Bai Sheng's head. After a few seconds, he spoke gravely.

"It's already quite serious. In no more than three months, the Star Disaster will erupt with your body as the source! We must seek master's help to suppress it as soon as possible."

At this moment, Hei Ying also recognized Yu Hong's genuine need for help, realizing her misunderstanding. Her eyes flashed red a few times as she spoke.

"This is the aura of a Light Disaster. At this level, it must have been affecting you for over a hundred years. Why are you only seeking treatment now...?"

"Not over a hundred years," Yu Hong smiled bitterly, "I mastered a Cultivation Technique, advancing rapidly, thinking I'd found a Divine Skill Secret Manual, only to realize...."

"Quickly, get on the ship!" Bai Sheng said gravely, whispering a few words to Hei Ying.

Hei Ying raised her hand and formed a few seals.

"I need to temporarily sever your connection with the Light Disaster. It might hurt a bit, so please bear with it!"

"Okay!" Yu Hong nodded, somewhat surprised that even a disciple could temporarily sever the issue on his body.

In fact, he was a bit doubtful.

But in the next moment... Hei Ying pointed a single finger at him.

A layer of purple-black glow enveloped his entire body out of thin air.

The glow was filled with countless black chains formed by numbers, intertwined and overlapping, almost dizzying at a glance.

The power of the glow wasn't very strong, but it was extremely precise and highly dense, confronting the Inner Strength of the Light Disaster Tai Ling Technique effortlessly, cutting it apart like a knife through tofu.

Soon, numerous black chains penetrated Yu Hong's Dantian, slowly sealing a large number of Light Wells within him!

This left Yu Hong in awe.

Seemingly seeing his awe, Hei Ying also smiled.

"What's so surprising? You've only cultivated this technique for two years. No matter how fast the progress, how could it compare to my hundreds of years of pure power? We cultivators, without the ability to seal a Star Disaster, wouldn't be sent to guard a Mining Star. Even when the Heavenly Venerates sealed Star Disasters for tens of thousands of years, sporadic leaks still caused outbreaks of plagues and epidemic humans."

After confirming Yu Hong's genuine need for medical help, her attitude improved significantly.

Yu Hong checked his Divine Split within Black Black Spirit, confirming everything was fine, and followed Bai Sheng and Hei Ying towards the spaceship.

After a few steps, silver flying swords lit up under the two's feet, shooting upwards.

Yu Hong hesitated for a moment, jumped with great force, and soared over thirty meters high, joining them on the flying sailboat.

"Uh... Brother Yu Hu, could it be... you can't fly?" Bai Sheng asked, surprised after landing.

"... Am I supposed to?" Yu Hong shook his head.

"Apologies, just a bit surprised." Bai Sheng waved his hand, "Considering your power, you must be at least close to the Nascent Soul Stage, yet you can't fly, which is indeed rare."

"Nascent Soul Stage?" Yu Hong asked, puzzled.

"Yes, with True Yuan undying, able to endure for hundreds or thousands of years, that's one of the hallmarks of the Nascent Soul Stage. The power you have is nearly at this level, showing some Immortal characteristics, though not yet strong."

Bai Sheng went to the front of the boat, skillfully operating the helm.

Click click...

The spaceship emitted a faint sound like old gears turning, moving slowly towards the distant Gray-White Mountain Range.

"Pardon us. This place is remote, and supply ships come once every decade to transport goods. Not even tourists visit. The whole planet only has the three of us and master. Everything else is automated equipment." Bai Sheng sighed, "So when you appeared, my junior sister and I rushed over immediately, quite surprised."

"Repairing the ship isn't too difficult, what's hard is the lack of materials and high-precision machines." Hei Ying added. "Out of the thirty-plus production lines, half have stopped. But even if we send a message, no one cares. No reply at all."

"When we first arrived, master contacted the top early on, and five years ago, they said they would send someone to maintain things. But something happened on their end, the person was replaced, and the replacement didn't want to suffer in such a remote place, so they just took the position without doing any work. It's been over a hundred years now." Bai Sheng said helplessly.

"Our branch has long since distanced from the core. It's normal not to be cared for, but the frustration comes from inadequate repairs. If the goods aren't produced, the top won't care about our excuses, and there won't be any leniency when blaming us." Hei Ying said, annoyed.

"Master already has a plan, no rush." Bai Sheng said calmly.

Yu Hong listened to their back-and-forth about their sect and their branch.

Listening, he somewhat understood the situation here.

Not to mention the Nine Star Sword Sect, even Qinghe Mountain is immensely large, overseeing seventy Constant Star Systems, with each system having ten to twenty-two planets. Most are resource and mining stars, with only five habitable planets altogether.

The branch of Bai Sheng and Hei Ying's master is calm and avoids conflict, naturally distanced in disputes, assigned to the remote Sixth Constant Star System to manage a Mining Star.

Until now, Bai Sheng, his junior sister, and master have been here for at least a hundred years.

Yu Hong remotely controlled Black Black Spirit to move with the spaceship while listening to the two chat and inquire about his situation.

"What!? You're only in your twenties!?!" Bai Sheng, in the middle of drinking a milky-white beverage, almost choked at these words, coughing loudly with white droplets even spraying from his nostrils.

"What? Not believable?" Yu Hong examined himself, seeing no issue.

Bai Sheng fell silent, exchanged a glance with his junior sister, and began quietly transmitting sound.

'In his twenties and already at Golden Core Stage perfection? Almost stepping into Nascent Soul? Are our years cultivating Nascent Souls just for dogs then?'

"Maybe it's a problem with his Cultivation Technique."

"Possibly. Some Demon Techniques rush the process, but eventually get stuck, permanently at one level, and ultimately backfire, irreversibly. His case seems like that." Bai Sheng nodded.

"Should we save him?" Hei Ying hesitated.

"That depends on master. After determining his nature, if there's no issue, I think Master might help." Bai Sheng replied.

The spaceship slowly crossed over one gray-white snowy peak after another, soon descending into a basin-like brown depression.

This depression housed a Taoist architecture style complex made of silver-white metal mixed with rock.

Palaces, H-shaped courtyards, and towers cast dappled shadows under the faint sky light.

Yu Hong noticed most buildings had fallen into disrepair, some areas perpetually in darkness with no lighting and devoid of brightness.

"We're here. This is Wanxue Palace, my master Yu Xuezi's residence built at his own expense. Brother Yu Hu, when you meet my master, try not to lie. Master hates juniors lying to him." Bai Sheng said softly.

"Understood!" Yu Hong nodded.

He followed them off the spaceship. Since he couldn't fly, Bai Sheng helped him down gently from the spaceship.

The three entered through Wanxue Palace's gates, crossing a vast corridor. Yu Hong immediately saw a handsome Taoist sweeping snow in front of a palace.

"You're back? Is this the guest you brought from that spaceship?"

The Taoist's silver hair flowed like tassels, shimmering in the sun.

Behind him was a pair of white wings, with fine, soft feathers fluttering gently.

He wore a simple black Daoist robe and a bronze Eight Diagrams Mirror around his neck, his visage as youthful as someone in their thirties, with pure and fair skin.