Star Odyssey

"Hey, Brother Ku, why did you bring two children along? Don't tell me, are you letting both of them in?" Xie Ahua asked Ku Pu.

Everyone switched their attention to Ku Wei.

Ku Wei immediately felt the pressure mount, but he shrugged it off. He unconsciously smiled as he felt rather afraid.

Ku Pu indifferently replied, "Tell them yourself."

Ku Wei cleared his throat, stepped forward, and raised his hands. "Seniors, fellow brothers and sisters, my family sent me to the Outerverse on a mission, and I accidentally chanced upon the Yu family's remaining bloodline there. An elder from the Yu family decided to give me their slot to enter Progenitor Chen's Mausoleum. So… I'm here."

The people around were surprised, and they all carefully studied Ku Wei.

In a deep tone, Xia Yi asked, "You found the remnants of the Yu family? Tell me, who's alive?"

Ku Wei was rather scared of Xia Yi, as this patriarch was known to be a ruthless person who was harsh even to his own sons. "No- I don't know who they are specifically. He's an elder who spends most of his time in cryostatis."

"Did you learn the Yu secret technique?" Yōu Kexin asked Ku Wei.

Ku Wei gulped and shook his head. "No. I only obtained a slot."

"How did Lu Yin learn the Yu secret technique?" Xie Xiaoxian brightly asked.

Ku Wei shook his head. "I don't know."

"Are you not acquainted with Lu Yin?" Xie Xiaoxian was rather puzzled.

Ku Wei proudly replied, "Of course I am! I'm also the captain of the Tenth Squad of the Outerverse's Great Yu Empire!"

"Stop embarrassing yourself," Ku Pu scolded the youth.

Ku Wei jumped in fright and fell silent.

"So you're pretty close to Lu Yin, then? Do you know how he learned our Ce secret technique?" Ce Jiu asked.

Ce Laoyan turned around to glare at Ce Jiu. "Hold your tongue!"

Ce Jiu hung his head, and Ku Wei pretended to not have heard the question.

Xia Jiuyou eyed Ku Wei with curiosity. "Brother Ku, with what you know of Lu Yin, do you think that he'll be able to escape after being captured by the Neohuman Alliance?"

Everyone looked at Ku Wei to hear his answer.

While Lu Yin was just a child in their eyes, his very existence influenced too many things. Aside from his feat of unifying the Outerverse, he was also supported by Eversky Island, and he was also one of the Hall of Honor's Honor Chosen who had been nominated by Yuan Shi. Due to his twelve short years of cultivation, no one believed that there were any powerhouses behind him guiding him. Even the patriarchs of the Seven Courts had specifically sought out information regarding this youth.

Ku Wei was placed under incredible pressure as all the family leaders looked at him. He wished that Lu Yin could appear at this moment and remove this burden from him. The two of them had previously agreed to explore Progenitor Chen's Mausoleum together by kicking Ku Lei off of the list of eligible participants. They had been brothers in arms, but Ku Wei had been left alone.

Ku Wei cleared his throat as he looked around the crowd. He saw Ku Lei's disdain, Yōu Kexin's indifference, Xie Xiaoxian's ridicule, and Xia Jiuyou's arrogance, which enraged Ku Wei. Suddenly, courage surged through him, and he solemnly replied, "What nonsense. Of course he can."

Xia Jiuyou's brows furrowed, and his expression towards Ku Wei immediately grew unkind.

This guy's just asking for a beating.

However, the rest of the crowd was rather surprised. This cowardly fellow actually dared to speak in such a manner?

Ku Wei felt nothing but regret after spouting off. He had clearly offended Xia Jiuyou. Still, he had been unable to stomach any more of Xia Jiuyou's arrogance.

Does he really think that he's invincible after learning the Nine Clones Technique?

Ku Wei also hated the fact that the women present were disregarding both him and Lu Yin. Not to mention, there was also Ku Lei's look of contempt.

I received a slot based on my own merit!

Ku Pu looked at Ku Wei in confusion. Originally, the patriarch had not favored this disciple of the Ku family, but he had come to rather appreciate the young fellow.

He's got the guts to speak loudly. Not too bad.

"Enough with the questions. Get back," Ku Pu ordered.

Ku Wei tottered back to Ku Pu's side, his eyes lit up with excitement. When he saw Ku Pu's eyes, Ku Wei knew that his action had been appreciated. Not once has the patriarch ever looked at me like this! It was always only Ku Lei, even though I'm second only to him.

However, on this day, Ku Wei had seen a glimmer of hope, and he suddenly felt liberated.

Ku Lei quietly said to Ku Wei, "Once we enter Progenitor Chen's Mausoleum, you must fight off anyone who tries to hold me back. I won't treat you unfairly in the future."

"Go and play by yourself! Big Bro Ku Wei wants the best inheritance," Ku Wei reflexively retorted.

Ku Lei grew furious and he glared at Ku Wei. "You dare to talk to me like that?"

Ku Wei smacked his lips and was quite frightened. Still, since he had already spoken, he forced himself to muster up all his courage and simply looked away.

Does that Xie family scion know no shame? She's so pretty, but she's wearing so little. Still, I like it!

Ku Lei only grew more furious after seeing Ku Wei's reaction. "Just wait. People always grow stronger after entering Progenitor Chen's Mausoleum. You, however, will forever be crushed by me!"

Ku Wei was extremely upset at these words, so he replied, "Big Bro Wei likes girls, so go and play by yourself."

Ku Lei clenched his fist and snorted in derision.

After speaking back to Ku Lei twice, Ku Wei seemed to have become fully liberated. He was no longer afraid of Ku Lei, so he turned around and teased Ku Lei with a grin, which nearly caused Ku Lei to erupt in rage and attack.

"No one from Burial Garden is coming this time, though the Hall of Honor will be present," Xia Yi spoke once more in a low voice.

Xia Yi's words shocked the juniors who were present. The Hall of Honor was actually able to send their people here? Based on what? The united might of the Seven Courts was able to ward off the Hall of Honor, but the Hall of Honor was still somehow participating? This was just too bizarre.

But none of the patriarchs present were surprised.

"We have no choice but to give this one up," Hui Zhi commented.

Yōu Kexin looked at Hui Zhi and asked, "Is it worth it?"

Hui Zhi replied in a somber voice, "Extremely."

"Care to elaborate?" Ku Pu enquired.

"I can't." Hui Zhi smiled.

Ku Pu was thoroughly unhappy to hear this reply, as it was a repeat of what had happened when he had asked about the events at the Mountain and Seas Zone. The patriarchs were not aware of the reason why the Hall of Honor had been given a slot at this time. All that they had been told was that there was a list of names, all of whom were placed under observation. The strongest powerhouse of each of their families had told them that a slot had to be given for a person, but they had no idea why.

Ce Laoyan was rather sullen, as Hui Zhi was still staying silent about what he knew.

"I can divulge a little." Hui Zhi looked around at the crowd as he solemnly explained, "Those who did not make it onto the observation list have almost zero chance of becoming a Progenitor. As for those who are on that list, even their chances are just over one percent."

Xie Ahua was rather shocked. "Do you mean that we have a chance?"

"Of course. The Sixth Mainland is already on the verge of destruction," Ku Pu said.

Hui Zhi smiled. "And that is why, while our chances are greater than zero, they are still infinitely close to it. If the false sky of the Sixth Mainland were still present, then we would have no chance at all. As for the people who made it onto the list and were placed under observation, their chances of becoming a Progenitor is over one percent."

Xia Yi and the rest were rather shocked. This meant that the person who had received this extra slot was not someone controlled by the skies.

How had they managed to do that?

Hui Zhi continued, "For this distant and elusive chance, our Hui family is willing to gamble everything that we have. Also, this list is not limited to the Human Domain. The Technocracy and Beast Domain each have their own additions. Does everyone present understand the importance of this?"

Only a fool would not understand after hearing so much.

To put it simply, this observation list belonged to the entire Fifth Mainland. The Hall of Honor was not the only one controlling this list. Rather, they merely had the right to choose who could be placed on the list.

This was the Hall of Honor, the ruler of the Human Domain.

Countless years had passed since the Seven Courts had banded together to repel all outsiders, but they had just as many internal conflicts as external ones. In the Mountain and Seas Zone, Ce Jiu and Ku Lei had fought each other, and there were many other examples to be found.

Over the next few days, while everyone waited for Progenitor Chen's Mausoleum to fully open, the patriarchs mocked and ridiculed each other, leaving Ku Lei and the other youths quite stunned. They had never seen their normally stern family heads act in such a manner.

All of the bickering came to a stop the moment the people from the Hall of Honor arrived.

The Seven Courts were always united against outsiders, but especially so against the Hall of Honor.

The Hall of Honor's Mu En was the ambassador this time. He was the Judicial Commissioner of the Interstellar Supreme Court, the Virtue of Righteousness, and he had a rather good relationship with people as he was the type of person who smiled at everyone he met. He left people feeling quite comfortable.

Lei Nu and Shu Jing followed behind Mu En.

This was not outside of the Seven Courts' expectations. The strongest Honor Chosen was Shang Qing, and he had no need to obtain any inheritances from Progenitor Chen's Mausoleum. As for Lei Nu, she was a bit weaker than the First Chosen, but not by much. Shu Jing was the Third Honor Chosen, though he was clearly inferior to Shang Qing and Lei Nu, and it was natural that he had been sent over.

Lei Nu stared at Xia Jiuyou the moment she arrived. She had been beaten pretty badly when fighting against him in the Mountain and Seas Zone, and she had barely managed to do any damage to him.

Xia Jiuyou returned her look, and his expression sharpened.

Although he had beaten her, Lei Nu's strength was not something that he could ignore.

"So, is this Progenitor Chen's Mausoleum?" Mu En looked at the spatial tear in surprise.

Hui Zhi smiled and replied, "Judicial Commissioner, please wait a bit longer. Progenitor Chen's Mausoleum will open soon."

"There's no hurry, no hurry at all." Mu En smiled. Receiving an opportunity to enter Progenitor Chen's Mausoleum was extremely precious.

Two more days went by, and after a cold gust of wind swept through the region where everyone was waiting, the rift widened. Xia Jiuyou, who was standing behind Xia Yi, immediately shot forward. Ku Lei also moved like lightning as he flashed through the opening, as did the rest of the youths, all at similar speeds.

Lei Nu and Shu Jing managed to stay right behind them. They were at an extreme disadvantage in this place, as they had no information concerning Progenitor Chen's Mausoleum at all, which was why Mu En had told both of them to stay close to one of the Seven Courts' inheritors. That would increase their chances of finding something good within the tomb.

Lei Nu had her eyes on Hui Santong. Progenitor Hui's descendants were all extremely intelligent, so it seemed quite likely that his descendants would also find plenty of opportunities in this tomb.

As for Shu Jing, he had chosen to follow Xie Xiaoxian. He wanted to raise his physical strength, and the Xie family were known to excel in this area.

Once they entered Progenitor Chen's Mausoleum, there was a dark, black dome looming over their heads, and the inside resembled that of a normal mausoleum. Suddenly, a loud whistling sound came from far off in the distance. Xia Jiuyou immediately ducked, and the air where he had just been standing warped as a giant club swung down. He raised his eyes and saw a giant over a thousand meters tall.

"It's the guardian giant!" Hui Santong shouted as the club came smashing down towards his head. His eyes flashed as a golden light flashed as a shooting star appeared beneath his feet, sending him away.

The club was swung about more than once as the guardian giant roared and flailed his club recklessly.

Yōu Qin was the first to be struck, and she spat a mouthful of blood that sprayed all around her. Next, Ku Wei and Xie Xiaoxian were hit. Shu Jing, who had been flying in a straight line, was also hit, and he nearly fainted from the impact. He was just too easy of a target.

Ku Lei transformed into lightning and easily avoided all the attacks.

As for Ce Jiu, he used the Ce secret technique and simply vanished.