Swallowed Star 2: Land of Origin

Having experienced so much, Luo Feng's spirit had long since become incredibly resilient.

"How did Shang Tianyan die?" Luo Feng transmitted to the Flame Wind Association's Dark Hall.

"This piece of information is worth one Cosmic Sand." The Flame Wind Association's Dark Hall responded, because the information was rapidly spreading and the price they were selling it for was relatively low.

"I'll buy this piece of information." Luo Feng replied.

"Tonight, Shang Tianyan went to observe the battleground where General Yong and Divine Monarch Xue Yun fought. Afterwards, he returned to the Heavenly Flame Sect to arrange some affairs, and then he went to meet the Dream Flower Tower Master. Following that, he went alone to see Sang Shuiyun! And at Sang Shuiyun's residence, a battle broke out.

During the fight, he sent out a message using the Karmic Messenger Order, confirming that Sang Shuiyun was Divine Monarch Xue Yun! The battle lasted only a moment; Shang Tianyan died, and Sang Shuiyun fled and disappeared." Information came through from the Flame Wind Association's Dark Hall.

Luo Feng understood.

"Brother Shang, you didn't tell me about this because you were worried about involving me?" Luo Feng murmured to himself, "That Divine Monarch Xue Yun couldn't have threatened me, I could have killed him!"

It had been more than twenty eras since he arrived in the Land of Origin.

Shang Tianyan was his only friend!

Although he knew many Eternal True Gods, they were nothing more than acquaintances. The only one he respected and acknowledged as a true friend… was Shang Tianyan.

He remembered the first time they met; he was a nobody in the Dream Flower Tower without any reputation. The more famous Eternal True Gods couldn't be bothered with him, but only Shang Tianyan took the initiative to befriend him enthusiastically.

He didn't care about his strength, he was just enthusiastic to befriend him. During their first meeting, he presented Luo Feng with information about Huyang City, warning him of its dangers.

Over the long span of more than twenty eras, it was always him asking Shang Tianyan for help! Asking him for guidance on the mysteries of body refinement.

The only time Shang Tianyan urgently made a request was when he hoped Luo Feng could save his friend's children.

"You never asked me for help for your own sake." Luo Feng looked into the distance, his gaze catching the attention of Morosa, who immediately sensed something was amiss.

"Come with me." Luo Feng ordered.

"Yes." Morosa, perceiving the unusual look in his master's eyes, understood that in all their time on the Land of Origin, his master had never shown such an expression before.

Whoosh.

Steering the Flying Boat, Luo Feng took Morosa and headed straight to the Flame Wind Association's Dark Hall.

...

Inside the city owner's mansion.

Moli Xiao, the Lord of Huyang City, and an elderly man with white hair were gathered together.

As the highest commander of the Huyang Legion, Moli Xiao had the ability to traverse the Void directly, and had already made a trip to the Flame Wind Pavilion to collect the Karmic Tracing Order.

"This is the Karmic Tracing Order left by Shang Tianyan." Moli Xiao said, holding a token, "With this, one can pinpoint the location of Divine Monarch Xue Yun."

"Shang Tianyan has made a great contribution." The Lord of Huyang City said.

"It's a pity he's already dead." the elderly man shook his head.

Moli Xiao spoke calmly, "Now, we just wait for the arrangement from the Marquis."

"Divine Monarch Xue Yun's strength is too great; without leveraging the grand array of Huyang City, even General Yong could not do anything to him." The Lord of Huyang City said somberly, "With such power, killing Divine Monarch Xue Yun is extremely difficult."

"Indeed," nodded the elderly man, "in all of Jiu Jiang Primal Chaos Prefecture, none under the Marquis can match General Yong."

"The most terrifying of the Eternal True Gods of Yu Kingdom almost all follow the five Godly Kings." Moli Xiao stated, "Without a special reason, who would come to a place like Huyang City?"

The resources that a Godly King can provide naturally far exceed those from a Primal Chaos Overlord.

Thus, under the banners of the five God Kings, they attract a sufficiently vast number of powerful beings! Those of General Yong's caliber naturally prefer to follow a Godly King.

"Yes, if the Marquis needs to mobilize forces, he probably needs to borrow experts from other places," the Lord of Huyang City agreed, "It's not something that can be resolved quickly."

The conflicts between the two big Divine Kingdoms are also tacitly understood.

In a normal conflict, no matter how many Eternal True Gods die, it's blamed on insufficient strength, and this is considered a lower intensity conflict.

If one day a Primal Chaos Overlord were to take to the field, the intensity of the war would escalate terribly, and a single ripple of aftermath could mean countless lives lost. The Eternal True Gods dare not get involved; whichever Primal Chaos Overlord wins, will naturally claim victory.

As for the Godly Kings, their intervention is highly unlikely.

Should they act, the impact would be profound! Even the major Divine Kingdoms of the Land of Origin would pay attention, and could possibly intervene.

God Kings do not enter the fray when they are not certain of victory.

These ancient beings also vie for cultivation resources, and without confidence, they will not fight to the death.

Like when the Shi Kingdom annihilated the Jin State, once they made a move, they didn't give the God King Jin any chance to resist! They completely eradicated all the strong in the royal capital of Jin State, with only God King Jin escaping in disgrace into the Universe Ocean.

"The Marquis has sent an order," the white-haired elder's eyes lit up. As the leader of the Jiang Clan in Huyang City, he naturally received the command.

"What is it?" asked the Lord of Huyang City, Moli Xiao.

"The Marquis has only one order, to increase the bounties for Divine Monarch Xue Yun, Yutian Xu, and Yutian Yi," the white-haired elder said.

The Lord of Huyang City nodded in understanding, "It seems we're pinning our hopes on the bounty to attract some fearsome powerhouses to make a move."

"Mobilizing forces also takes time, and if a powerhouse takes up the bounty and kills Divine Monarch Xue Yun and the others, that would also be good," Moli Xiao said. "I've heard that the two ancient countries and some of the mysterious major forces from the Land of Origin also have elite followers roaming around. If they discover a high bounty, they might come to Huyang City."

"How much is the bounty?" the Lord of Huyang City asked further.

"The Marquis instructed that the bounty for Divine Monarch Xue Yun be raised to 10 million Cosmic Sand! Yutian Xu's bounty is increased to 2 million, and Yutian Yi's to 1 million," the white-haired elder stated.

Moli Xiao and the Lord of Huyang City were taken aback.

True to the Marquis' style! His actions are indeed generous!

The Marquis has the entire Jiu Jiang Primal Chaos Prefecture as his fief, with three large cities and one hundred eighty-nine ordinary cities. The residents all have to pay a 'Residence Fee.' While each resident pays very little, the accumulated amount is enormous. After deducting the operation costs for the cities and part of what is handed over to the God Kings and the Marquis of Jiu Jiang,

Just one era is enough for the entire Jiu Jiang Primal Chaos Prefecture to amass a considerable fortune.

About ten million Cosmic Sand? Indeed, it's a trivial amount for the Marquis of Jiu Jiang.

He would rather spend some Cosmic Sand on a bounty than trouble a God King over such a trivial matter.

"In my Yu Kingdom alone, there are more than ten individuals who openly possess strength comparable to General Yong, and three to four others even more dazzling," the white-haired elder said. "Not to mention the elites nurtured by some major forces in the Land of Origin. With millions of Cosmic Sand... I believe that within one era, we will surely attract powerhouses strong enough!"

...

Luo Feng steered the Flying Boat towards the Flame Wind Association's Dark Hall.

"Brother Luo He," the Vice President of the Flame Wind Guild personally received him, "These are all the items left by Shang Tianyan for you."

With that, he handed over a Jade Vial.

Luo Feng took it and saw inside over three million Cosmic Sand, a large amount of materials, Weapon Secret Treasures, and most conspicuously, a letter.

"Brother Luo He, by the time you read this letter, I should already be dead. You need not grieve for me; in fact, when I returned to my hometown of Huyang City alone, I had no intention to survive. Later, it was the young ones in the city who moved me. I thought to myself, pretend I'm already dead! Spend the rest of my days doing something meaningful, making each day count a little more."

"I've left all the resources I've accumulated in my lifetime for you. I ask nothing in return because you detest evil and are willing to help the weak, which is all I could hope for."

"Having known so many friends since returning to Huyang City so long ago, the one I admire the most is you, Brother Luo He."

"The path of cultivation is arduous, so you must take good care of yourself. If you face a great enemy, bowing your head and being cautious isn't a disgrace—the key is to survive because survival gives you the opportunity to kill your enemies. Sometimes... surviving is harder than dying."

"My life has ended! I wish for you, Brother Luo He, my friend, to achieve your desires, and feel that every day henceforth is well spent."

The letter was filled with an old friend's ramblings, but Luo Feng's heart ached even more.

"Brother Shang, you were the only friend I made since coming to the Land of Origin," Luo Feng murmured solemnly, "and the only one I truly admired. Rest assured, you exposed Divine Monarch Xue Yun's identity with your life. I promise you... he will surely die! He won't escape!"

Luo Feng turned and left.

The Vice President of the Flame Wind Guild watched the scene: "This Lord Luo He had an unusual relationship with Shang Tianyan, but Divine Monarch Xue Yun is not to be trifled with either."

"Huh."

After leaving the Flame Wind Pavilion, Luo Feng, accompanied by Morosa who was waiting outside, immediately steered the Flying Boat away.

"Master," Morosa addressed Luo Feng.

Luo Feng, looking at the vast Huyang City enshrouded in the night, said, "I remember you being able to track any life form you have sensed before. We have met Sang Shuiyun not just once! Can you find him?"

Morosa communicated telepathically, "Don't worry, Master. As long as he is not a Perfect Divine Body, which can completely isolate his aura, I will definitely be able to lock on to his presence once we're near."

"Let's start by searching the entire Huyang City then!" Luo Feng said. "I'll steer the Flying Boat while you carefully sense and track."

"Yes," Morosa responded.

Luo Feng promptly steered the Flying Boat, flying swiftly over areas of Huyang City, with Morosa carefully sensing each region.