### Chapter 736: Mutual Deterrence Is Broken!

**Translator:** flycrane01 **Editor:** Millman97


Hiu!

Li Yao quickly retreated to ninety\-nine meters away. One meter further, and the crystal bomb inside Bai Xinghe's stomach would be detonated immediately. Still not relieved, he opened his hands and formed four spiritual shields in the front while planting a hundred crystal bombs that would explode the moment they were touched amid the spiritual shields, building three walls of bombs!

After finishing the decoration in the blink of an eye, Li Yao was somewhat relieved.

Bai Xinghe was dazed. He seemed to be surprised as he said, "My young friend Bloody Vulture—"

"Don't move. Don't talk. Let me think for a minute!" Li Yao yelled. Every cell in his body was vibrating crazily as he prepared himself for battle. The chaotic butterflies of thought congregated and dispersed inside his brain, leaving starry brilliance behind.

From the moment he caught up to Bai Xinghe, Li Yao had been feeling ill at ease. But during the way, Bai Xinghe had behaved obediently, and the multiple traps below the ground had distracted Li Yao's attention. Therefore, Li Yao had gradually overlooked the warning in his heart.

But right now, the uncanny behavior of Bai Xinghe introducing a secret story from ten thousand years ago without a good reason made the warning pop up again. Something was buzzing earsplittingly inside his head.

*This is not right. My intuition tells me that I must have ignored something very important. That's why I felt so alarmed all the way here!*

*Details! Remember every detail of Bai Xinghe!*

Li Yao utilized all his computational ability and analyzed every second since Bai Xinghe's appearance by dividing them into a hundred pictures and scrutinizing every single frame.

It was like the wildly flying butterflies in his brain were fixed, and the stripes on them were zoomed in. Everything was crystal clear now!

When the totally different stripes on two butterflies were conflicting with each other in his brain, Li Yao's pupils constricted violently because he realized the reason of his unease!

The first picture was on the carrier of the Tiger Teeth Pirate Gang, where Bai Xinghe kicked Luo Jinhu down and said, *"Cut the crap! With a decent price, you wouldn't even blink before selling your family! Also, for a decent price, I guarantee that I will sell your mother to the brothel tomorrow! We are all lawless space pirates. Are you pretending that you are a loyal knight?"*

The second picture—No, actually it was not picture, but a voice that Li Yao had heard. It was the miserable scream when Bai Xinghe was ambushed by his first true disciple. *"Bai Wulei, you, too?"*

The scream was indeed full of bewilderment, fury, hatred, and desperation!

Li Yao also recalled 'Stormy Sword', a notebook written by Fengyu Zhong personally, in which Bai Xinghe's rise was elaborated in his biography.

During the process of turning from a treasure hunter that was humbler than a rat miraculously into a Pirate Potentate, he betrayed at least three leaders who were practically fathers to him and sold twenty sworn brothers!

'Stormy Sword' was a tutorial on the arts of space pirates that Fengyu Zhong had written for his son, Fengyu Ming. It was quite personal, and there was no reason for him to slander Bai Xinghe in such a way.

Therefore, for a great man who established his fame with plots, betrayals, and treacheries and knew clearly that there was no warmth between space pirates but only backscratching, how would he utter such a desperate, painful, and stunned scream even if he was truly betrayed by his disciple?

But if his scream was faked, or at least half faked, what would have been on his mind?

Li Yao thought quickly and put himself in Bai Xinghe's shoes.

If he had been in Bai Xinghe's position, heavily wounded and aware that there was a secret teleportation array that nobody else knew of deep below the ground of the Red Steel Crystal Suit Center, he would know that he had to get there as quickly as possible.

Shua! Shua! Shua!

Every crevice and intersection when he traced back to Bai Xinghe in the beginning popped up his brain again.

He constructed a transparent map of escape inside his head, while he calculated quickly how long it would take for a Building Foundation Stage Cultivator to finish the whole journey.

Five seconds later, he came to a conclusion that almost froze all the blood throughout his body.

"You were waiting for me," Li Yao mumbled. "I didn't catch you; you were waiting for me next to the secret teleportation array on purpose!"

Bai Xinghe's voice was equally warm and comforting, like the everlasting spring breeze, when he said, "My young friend, what you are talking about?"

Taking a deep breath, Li Yao stared at every power rune on Bai Xinghe's body and gnashed his teeth. "According to my calculations, even though Fengyu Zhong was right about you being in the Building Foundation Stage because of the heavy wounds, you would still have been able to enter the teleportation array half a minute before I showed up!

"Through the teleportation array, it would have taken you only a few seconds to reach the entrance of the fortress. You needed only to destroy the teleportation behind you, and I would never have been able to find you again!

"If you were indeed running away without caring about anything, there was no reason for you to have been delayed there for half a minute!

"The only plausible explanation is that you slowed down on purpose to wait for me, or rather, somebody who might catch up with you!"

Bai Xinghe smiled casually and clapped his hands. "My young friend, you are indeed thoughtful as a well\-known bandit in the circle of space pirates who rose to fame in only one short month. Although your epiphany comes too late, it is worth complimenting."

The armor on the hands of his crystal suit clashed, emitting crisp sounds that echoed inside the vast palace, mixed with a hint of scorn.

Li Yao's heart seemed to be swallowed by a black hole. He found himself barely able to breathe.

While Bai Xinghe applauded, he realized that something impossible had happened!

The crystal bomb that he had forced Bai Xinghe to devour was gone!

From the very beginning, Li Yao had bound one of his telepathic thoughts to the crystal bomb tightly. Even when he was passing the hunting range of the 'Lustful Rock Spider', he had been bold enough not to retreat it!

According to Li Yao's calculation, there were only two approaches if Bai Xinghe wanted to get rid of it.

Firstly, by stimulating the muscles and the internal organs, he could push the crystal bomb from his stomach to his throat within half a second and spit it out!

Secondly, he could secrete liquids that were extremely corrosive and melt the trigger of the crystal bomb.

For Li Yao, when he activated the Art of the Swallowing Whale, he could even corrode, melt, and absorb steel. Since Bai Xinghe was in the Nascent Soul Stage, Li Yao, having the good habit of never underestimating his enemy, assumed that he had equal ability and a speed of corrosion ten times higher.

Even so, it would take one second to destroy the bomb!

In comparison, it would only take 0.1 seconds for Li Yao to detonate the bomb!

Therefore, after making sure that the crystal bomb was in Bai Xinghe's stomach, Li Yao had been following him confidently.

But it never occurred to him that the crystal bomb would vanish into thin air within only 0.05 seconds!

Li Yao's forehead was immediately soaked in cold sweat.

Bai Xinghe did not spit the crystal bomb out, and there was bound to be debris even if he eroded the crystal bomb with his gastric acid. But Li Yao felt nothing when the crystal bomb was obliterated without a trace!

Bai Xinghe was still standing ninety\-nine meters away. He was chuckling in a low and confident voice, like a kind old man who was watching a kid who was uneasy because he had done something wrong.

Yet, Li Yao felt that cold wind was swirling behind him, as if Bai Xinghe was standing right behind him and staring at the back of his head!

There was only one Bai Xinghe, and yet his scent could be sensed in two locations simultaneously. It was definitely not something that could be done for a heavily wounded Building Foundation Stage Cultivator!

"My young friend Bloody Vulture, you are indeed smart. But maybe because you are too smart, you tend to ignore things that are very obvious," Bai Xinghe said unhurriedly. "Maintaining a 'mutual deterrence' with your crystal bomb? It is indeed a clever move. But it is also more than easy to solve the dilemma."

Cold sweat was pouring down, as Li Yao gnashed his teeth. "No. The crystal bomb must be still in your stomach. You are merely bluffing!"

Bai Xinghe sneered. He gradually straightened his back, which was somewhat hunched because of the pain a moment ago.

Illuminated by the dim lights, he could not have looked more high, mighty, and terrifying!

"I have been roaming in the sea of stars for a hundred years. Do you think I need bluffs to deal with such a junior like yourself? The solution to your 'mutual deterrence' is very simple. You will find it not worth mentioning at all after I explain it to you!

"For space pirates like you and me, we often carry more than one Cosmos Ring with us. In order to keep them away from others' attention, we often hide them all over our body, sometimes even devouring them and storing them inside our body.

"I have a Cosmos Ring that is hidden in my stomach.

"I merely moved my stomach just now and triggered my Cosmos Ring to absorb your crystal bomb.

"Naturally, the independent space inside the Cosmos Ring is billions of lightyears away from the Flying Star Sector we are in. Therefore, the crystal bomb was detonated the moment it was absorbed into the Cosmos Ring.

"However, the best it could do was destroy the items inside my Cosmos Ring. It could never do any harm to myself.

"Do you see, my young friend Bloody Vulture? Your 'mutual deterrence' had a terrible loophole from the beginning!"

Li Yao was dumbfounded. He thought carefully and realized that he had indeed ignored the possibility.

No. He did not ignore it. Triggering a Cosmos Ring required summoning spiritual energy and a certain gesture in order to cooperate with the runes.

It was also one of the reasons Cosmos Rings were built into the shape of rings and worn on fingers. In such a way, it would be easier to change the hand gesture.

For example, raising the middle finger and the index finger of the right hand and touching the middle of his eyebrow slightly was Li Yao's special gesture to retrieve a crystal suit from his Cosmos Ring at the highest speed.

But Bai Xinghe could complete the gesture to trigger the Cosmos Ring simply by moving his stomach?

Was it even possible?

"Therefore, the mutual deterrence is now broken. The wounds you suffered are not half as heavy as they appear. Killing a Cultivator in the peak of the Building Foundation Stage is a piece of cake for you."

Li Yao smiled miserably. "It seems that I'm a victim of my own scheme now.

"Boss Bai, right now, the only method that I can threaten you with has lost effect. But you didn't kill me instantly and tried to dawdle. I believe that you must be more or less injured and would like to fight when you are better recovered.

"Now, you are trying to treat your injuries, and I don't want to die soon, either. May I ask for one last thing from Boss Bai?

"There are many suspicions points about the whole event that baffled me. Would you care to explain the crucial parts so that I can die an insightful death?"### Chapter 737: Questions Before Death

**Translator:** flycrane01 **Editor:** Millman97

Li Yao's heart was pounding, because he was not sure whether or not Bai Xinghe would be trapped.

Normally speaking, such a fierce person would definitely not chitchat or give a long, dull speech before their schemes worked out like normal villains in a story.

However, although it was clear that Bai Xinghe could absorb the crystal bomb into his Cosmos Ring and ambush Li Yao at any moment, he had not done so yet.

Even after they arrived at his secret base, he was still trying to buy himself more time by telling tales of ten thousand years ago.

Li Yao could only guess that Bai Xinghe was really wounded and in the middle of recovery. If they were to fight now, the man would have to pay a price he was not willing to.

He wanted to get more time for himself, and Bai Xinghe wanted to get more time, too. While the two of them were procrastinating, it might be possible for him to elicit information that Bai Xinghe would not normally speak of.

Spiritual energy at least in the Core Formation Stage was released by Bai Xinghe's body, while he pulled a piece of magical equipment that looked like a metal ball from hundreds of meters away and stuck it to his abdomen.

The magical equipment hummed and emanated greenness that covered the wound on this abdomen.

Strong vitality could immediately be felt in Bai Xinghe's body. He was apparently healing himself.

Bai Xinghe exhaled with the utmost pleasure and smiled casually. "Your plan of balance of threats are quite creative despite the fatal loopholes. I quite like it. You can ask a few questions, but I can't guarantee that I will answer all of them."

"Alright."

Li Yao did not want to give Bai Xinghe much time for recovery. He immediately asked, "You knew that Bai Wulei would betray you? Is the whole thing part of your scheme?"

Bai Xinghe pondered for a moment and shook his head slowly. "I knew that somebody was going to betray me, but I didn't know who they were specifically.

"It's been a hundred years since I rose to the Pirate Potentate and quite a few decades since the Abyss Pirate Gang became the largest pirate gang on Spider Den.

"Although the Temple of Immortals only formally introduced themselves last year, Black Spider Tower, one of their branches, has existed for a hundred years. Therefore, it's been at least a hundred years since people of the Temple of Immortals were active in the darkness.

"During the hundred years, my rise and the glory of the Abyss Pirate Gang were definitely not things that they could overlook or let go of.

"Therefore, as long as the Temple of Immortals is not made entirely of idiots, they wouldn't have started infiltrating the Abyss Pirate Gang only one year ago. Their real infiltration must've begun decades earlier.

"Spies of the Temple of Immortals must have been lurking in the Abyss Pirate Gang for a long time. It is even possible that many people were already Immortal Cultivators before they joined the Abyss Pirate Gang."

Li Yao thought quickly and understood a lot of things. "Therefore, the whole final battle between the old dominator of Spider Den and the new one was pointless. Your real purpose was not to eliminate Fengyu Zhong but to dig out the Immortal Cultivators that had been lurking in the Abyss Pirate Gang for perhaps decades?"

Bai Xinghe nodded. "Yes. That was one of my purposes."

Li Yao pondered for a moment and mumbled, "Since the very beginning, including the splendid\-looking 'Meeting of Heroes in Space', everything has been your scheme. You were skeptical about everybody, even including your own true disciple Bai Wulei!

"However, if you really didn't trust anybody, why did you tell Bai Wulei where you hide the map of the underground fortress of Spider Den and the key to it?

"Wait—"

Li Yao bulged his eyes. "You pretended to regard Bai Wulei as your heir and that you trusted him. You even handed over the actual daily operations of the Abyss Pirate Gang to him. You told him where you hid your map and your key. In the end, you broke your hand on purpose and sent the Cosmos Ring that stored the map and the key to him…

"Following which, Bai Wulei, Fengyu Zhong, the Black King… all the Immortal Cultivators and the space pirates who betrayed you will enter the underground fortress with your key according to your map!

"Then, perhaps after a boom, the entire underground fortress will explode, right?"

Bai Xinghe was silent for a long time before he sighed. "My young friend Bloody Vulture, it's a pity that you appeared at a bad time. Otherwise, I would've been tempted to recruit you as my disciple for your smartness."

Li Yao laughed drily. "That will be unnecessary. Boss Bai's disciples do not seem to end well."

Bai Xinghe ignored his sarcasm and remarked calmly, "However, you were wrong about one thing. I didn't consider my first true disciple a chess piece. I really regarded him as my heir and hoped that he could inherit the Abyss Pirate Gang after I die.

"This was just a minor test.

"If Bai Wulei passed the last test, he would've been totally fine and would have been the real master of the Abyss Pirate Gang one day.

"It is a shame that he was too hasty!"

Li Yao rolled his eyes and frowned. "No. No. If you had been suspicious about Bai Wulei and only faked your injuries, how were you hurt so badly and why did you hesitate even to kill a minor Building Foundation Stage Cultivator like myself?"

Bai Xinghe sensed that the wounds on his abdomen were recovering at a higher speed and that his strength and Cultivation were returning to himself. He smiled and said, "It was within my expectations that Bai Wulei would ambush me. I calculated everything except for one."

Li Yao raised an eyebrow. "What is it?"

Bai Xinghe said, "Master Hidden Fog, the previous leader of Black Spider Tower, is not the Black King of the Temple of Immortals!"

"What!"

Li Yao was dumbfounded again. Hellsword was not the Black King, and the leader of Black Spider Tower was not the Black King, either? Then who exactly was the Black King?

Bai Xinghe explained in a tone that could almost be called appreciation. "In the beginning, rumor had it that Hellsword, the lone wolf, was the Black King—I didn't buy it. I knew very clearly about Hellsword's capability. He was a fine warrior in one\-versus\-one fights. But managing an enormous organization? He didn't have such expertise.

"Therefore, I personally investigated in secret. All the evidence suggested that Master Hidden Fog, the previous leader of Black Spider Tower, was the real Black King.

"Black Spider Tower was the most important branch for the Temple of Immortals. Or rather, one of them worked in the darkness while the other on the surface. Since they were integral and indispensable, it was only natural that the leader of Black Spider Tower was one of the four kings of the Temple of Immortals, wasn't it?

"Therefore, when Master Hidden Fog, Fengyu Zhong, Bai Lei, and a few experts of 'Eight Blades of Black Spider' attacked me together, I was not surprised and focused much of my attention on Fengyu Zhong and Master Hidden Fog, the two Nascent Soul Stage Cultivators on the spot.

"When Bai Wulei ambushed me, Fengyu Zhong and Master Hidden Fog launched their deadliest attacks, too.

"My original plan was to pretend to be wounded by the strikes and run away to the underground fortress where I could plan my final battle!

"But I didn't expect that Master Hidden Fog's attack was unimaginably weak. It was not befitting for the ultimate strike of a Nascent Soul Stage Cultivator at all. He was in the high level of the Core Formation Stage at best. He only looked intimidating but there was nothing concrete below his disguise!

"In the meantime, on my left side, among the 'Eight Blades of Black Spider', an assassin whose code name was 'Dark Empyrean' suddenly displayed a combat ability that was even higher than that of Fengyu Zhong!

"In that moment, Dark Empyrean improved his Cultivation to at least the middle level of the Nascent Soul Stage!

"I gathered the files of the Eight Blades of Black Spider a long time ago and have watched the battle videos of every one of them thousands of times. I knew every detail about their posture, attack patterns, and habitual movements.

"Therefore, after we encountered, I made the judgement quickly that he must be Dark Empyrean, one of the Eight Blades of Black Spider. I thought that he was merely in the Core Formation Stage and did not care too much about him at all.

"Therefore, his strike truly wounded me heavily!"

Li Yao was soaked in sweat. "Are you saying that an unparalleled expert in the middle level of the Nascent Soul Stage has been pretending that he is in the Core Formation Stage and working as 'one of the Eight Blades of Black Spider' all this time?"

"Correct." Bai Xinghe nodded and said, "Dark Empyrean joined the battle of Heavenly Saints City as one of the Eight Blades of Black Spider. It is clear now that he did not just participate in the battle but also commanded the troops in the frontline!

"Hellsword is not the Black King. Master Hidden Fog is not the Black King. The seemingly inconspicuous warrior of the Eight Blades of Black Spider is the real Black King and the master of Black Spider Tower!"

Li Yao was fascinated and had to admit that the attacks and counterattacks between the Temple of Immortals and Bai Xinghe were indeed marvelous.

Pondering for a moment, he asked again, "How did you know that I would catch up to you, and why did you wait for me?"

Bai Xinghe laughed. "I was not sure that you would, but it was an odd move that you suddenly marched out trying to stop me.

"I believe that every odd move has a logical reason.

"After preliminary analysis, I inferred that you planted some sort of tracker on me during our encounter.

"My head is quite valuable. It is perfectly normal that somebody wants to swallow it alone.

"Although I found no trackers on my body, it was worth a try. After all, I had plenty of time. Fengyu Zhong wouldn't have found me for another ten minutes.

"I planned to wait for you for five minutes in case you caught up to me. Even if you didn't, I wouldn't lose anything.

"As it turned out, it took you only half a minute to arrive!"

Li Yao smiled bitterly. He didn't know that his every move had been within Bai Xinghe's calculation.

But there was one thing that confused him. He asked, "Why did you wait for me? Was I of any use to you?"

"You were," Bai Xinghe explained. "My internal organs were heavily wounded because of the Black King's strike, and I'm now merely in the Core Formation Stage. It would be quite risky for me to pass through the sky of the Nether River, and it would be more than troublesome if I fell into the river after being attacked by the boas and the bats collectively."

Li Yao finally understood everything. "So, I shared the pressure by attracting half of the boas and bats, significantly increasing the odds of you passing through the Nether River safely!"

Bai Xinghe smiled. "Exactly. There is a vast difference in the pressure that fifty boas bring compared to a hundred. If the situation got out of control, I could also have ambushed you along the way so that you would fall into the river and attract the boas' attention. That way, it would have been easy for me to run away.

"I would've been all on my own trying my luck. But since my young friend Bloody Vulture was so kind and friendly and volunteered to be my bodyguard, how could I refuse such kindheartedness?"

Li Yao sighed. "That explains a lot. Boss Bai is right. I was indeed asking for my own death. Nobody else is to blame. But there is one last question. I won't rest in peace after I die if I don't know the answer—"

No.

Li Yao had no questions.

While the two of them were talking, Bai Xinghe had been treating his wounds and recovering his Cultivation wholeheartedly. But Li Yao had been doing something else.

He pretended that he was attracted by Bai Xinghe's explanation and was drawn closer during the conversation.

Right now, the distance between them was not 99 meters, but 67.2 meters.

It was the perfect range of attack for the Mystic Skeleton Battlesuit!Chapter 738: Show You Some Respect
Translator: flycrane01  Editor: Millman97

Li Yao raised a series of questions not because he intended to know their answers but because he wanted to ease Bai Xinghe's vigilance.

As mysteries were solved one after another, Bai Xinghe's capability was gradually recovering, and his wariness was somewhat weakened while he was rambling on.

At this moment, Li Yao could not wait any long. If the conversation continued, Bai Xinghe might realize what was going on at any second.

Therefore, before Li Yao finished his last question, Li Yao attacked suddenly like a dazzling blast of lightning!

In that instant, the crystal bombs previously floating in front of him darted at Bai Xinghe, only to explode on their way!

Li Yao's purpose was not to attack, but to conceal his body with the burning fireballs as camouflage.

Covered by the serial fireballs, Li Yao performed the fastest 'air change' in his life.

The Dark Crow Battlesuit that had been modified specially suddenly collapsed and exploded. Dragged by his spiritual energy, the components condensed into an intact crystal suit in front of him again.

Moreover, Li Yao transmitted a cluster of human-shaped spiritual energy into the crystal suit before making it lunge at Bai Xinghe!

If Bai Xinghe perceived the situation with his spiritual threads, he might mistake the empty crystal suit for Li Yao, while in fact, the real Li Yao had put on the Mystic Skeleton Battlesuit in that moment and hid behind the pretense quietly.

BOOM!

Bai Xinghe was indeed tricked. A thunderous roar echoed behind the serial fireballs. A spiritual storm at least in the peak of the Core Formation Stage broke through the wall of fire and blew the Dark Crow Battlesuit into pieces!

Li Yao took the opportunity to stomp on the ground, and he accelerated to his top speed through the Dark Crow Battlesuit's pieces. Then he threw out all the 'terror bombs' he had formerly condensed inside his brain and performed the 'Hellsword Arts' to the best of his ability with his left leg, which kicked forward like wind and whip!

The daggers originally installed below the feet of Hellsword's personal 'Black Horn Battlesuit' had been dismantled and transplanted to the feet of the Mystic Skeleton Battlesuit.

With a telepathic thought, the daggers stuck out silently, drawing a black abyss in midair!

After he performed the attack, however, Li Yao suddenly felt greatly alarmed.

Something was not right!

Bai Xinghe bursting into fury?

It was impossible. Bai Xinghe would be dead before he burst into fury!

Not good. The man was not tricked. He had seen through that nobody was inside the Dark Crow Battlesuit and was merely pretending that he hadn't!

Li Yao shrieked loudly. His left leg, which had been fully extended, was folded by force and changed from whipping into crashing with his knee.

Then, all the power rune arrays on the Mystic Skeleton Battlesuit gave out dazzling brilliance all of a suddenly. Black Wing, which was now the spine of the Mystic Skeleton Battlesuit, triggered six wings of spiritual energy, too.

At the risk of the bones all over his body being fractured, Li Yao finally managed to twist his direction and moved leftwards five meters!

Swoosh!

The moment he left his original route, Li Yao sensed that a 'shooting star' just brushed past him.

Although he was wearing one of the strongest crystal suits in the Flying Star Sector, the rampant, scorching spiritual energy still invaded his crystal suit and set the right side of his body on fire!

Bai Xinghe lied to him after all.

He had been answering all the questions in a seemingly honest way. Maybe his every sentence was true, except for the one where he stated that he was merely in the Core Formation Stage because of Dark Empyrean's attack.

He was lying. The attack that Bai Xinghe performed just now definitely belonged to the Nascent Soul Stage!

If Li Yao hadn't had a eureka moment, chances were that the strike would've killed him instantly!

Although he had nearly been killed a moment ago, Li Yao had no intention to retreat at all. His fighting will soared, and he charged forward instead of running away. The Feathered Dragon Saber, his ultimate weapon right now, rushed out, with the feathers on the edge crumbling and condensing into a tornado of sharp aura that swept toward Bai Xinghe!

Bai Xinghe was heavily wounded. He must've paid a certain price by launching the previous attack. Now, this is perhaps my only chance!

Bai Xinghe did not seem to be expecting that Li Yao could avoid his disguised fatal attack, or maybe it was because his wounds were not fully recovered yet and the previous attack affected them. Either way, he suddenly stopped where he was for a moment.

In the next second, Bai Xinghe's left hand, which had been half chopped off, let out astounding gold brilliance!

Swoosh!

A golden dragon suddenly exploded from his left hand!

The golden dragon dashed into the center of the tornado of sharp aura and triggered an earthshaking explosion. For a moment, everything was trembling violently. Even the three hundred super crystal processors from ancient times that were placed neatly in the center of the palace were disordered because of the blast.

Li Yao and Bai Xinghe encountered and passed each other. They exchanged locations, with fifty meters between each other.

Li Yao was one of his knees. He raised his right arm high. The black feathers all returned to his right hand and formed a glamorous black saber again.

Bai Xinghe floated in midair about half a meter from the ground. His left arm that was now more than three meters long gradually retreated; it turned out to be an artificial limb that could be extended and shortened freely at will in the shape of a golden dragon.

It was the ninth dragon head of his crystal suit!

Li Yao had always considered Bai Xinghe to be his most formidable enemy. After he arrived on Spider Den, he had put a lot of time into studying him, especially his special crystal suit 'Dragon King'. He was confident that he knew every detail of the crystal suit.

The Dragon King Battlesuit excelled on Spider Den with the eight artificial limbs that looked like dragons.

But nobody knew that there was a ninth dragon head!

The golden dragon head was even thicker and more domineering than the other eight dragon heads. The crystals and rune arrays carved on it were twice as numerous, too. As the mouth of the head opened and closed, it could be seen that three dragon balls of spiritual energy were hovering inside!

No wonder Bai Xinghe abandoned half of his hand without any hesitation.

The ninth dragon head, and the strongest one, could be attached to his left arm and manipulated by his spiritual energy. His hand was redundant in the first place!

Huala! Huala! Huala!

More than ten deep, interconnecting dents suddenly appeared on the Dragon King Battlesuit.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Three clear fist indentations appeared on the breastplate of the Mystic Skeleton Battlesuit, too. They overlapped on the left side of the breastplate and almost penetrated through it.

Li Yao saw various colors in front of him, and he felt as if his heart was about to explode.

"Pu!"

Li Yao vomited a mouthful of blood. However, his aura did not diminish but increase. The maximum combat ability that equaled to a Core Formation Stage Cultivator fully burst out, while his spiritual energy as vast as an ocean expanded to a hundred meters away!

The hundred square meters were his domain!

Gripping the Feathered Dragon Saber in his hands, Li Yao raised it high above his head. The invisible aura of his blade pierced out and slashed a narrow, long crack on the ground between the two of them, extending toward Bai Xinghe!

BOOM!

Li Yao stepped forward heavily. Centered at his foot, the ground within one square meter collapsed.

One step, one step, yet another one step.

As if he were possessed by a devil, Li Yao raised his saber high, and his killing intent soared as he drew closer to Bai Xinghe!

"Boss Bai!" Li Yao shouted gravely. "Right now, you haven't recovered from your heavy wounds yet. Even though I cannot kill you, I can at least make you pay a good price before my death!

"Maybe I can even wound you heavily again and make you fall into the Building Foundation Stage for real!

"I don't want to die. I believe you don't want to fight Bai Wulei, Fengyu Zhong, and the Black King when you are merely in the Building Foundation Stage, do you?

"But right now, the mutual deterrence between us has been broken. We have no other options except to fight until the end!

"Unless—

"Unless we find a new way to establish mutual deterrence where we are held back by each other simultaneously!

"Boss Bai, I'll give you ten seconds. Take off your Dragon King Battlesuit, here and now!

"You are a Nascent Soul Stage Cultivator. With the enhancement of your crystal suit, I'm definitely no match for you. I can continue cooperating with you without fear only if you take off your crystal suit!

"If you would rather not, then let's fight!"

"Ten!

"Nine!

"Eight!

"Seven!"

After each countdown, Li Yao would step closer to Bai Xinghe, and the aura circling around the Feathered Dragon Saber would further increase.

He was not bluffing at all; he was really ready for the last battle with Bai Xinghe!

"Three!

"Two!

"One!"

Li Yao was only ten meters away from Bai Xinghe.

For two top experts, such a distance was too short even for a melee combat; they had practically stabbed a knife into each other's stomach!

Li Yao's aura had been improved to the maximum. There was nothing but determination in his eyes!

Before Li Yao's final step, Bai Xinghe suddenly took half a step back. His Dragon King Battlesuit dissected and went back into his Cosmos Ring.

Right now, Bai Xinghe was only wearing a mustard-seed suit. He stared at Li Yao with appreciation and mixed thoughts.

Li Yao was greatly relieved and found it barely possible to keep standing. It was indeed the most dangerous ten seconds of his life.

Without the enhancement of his crystal suit, Bai Xinghe's combat ability was basically on par with his.

Even for an unparalleled bandit like Bai Xinghe, it would still take him tenths of a second to put on the whole crystal suit.

Tenths of a second were more than enough for him to do many things and slash many times.

Li Yao retrieved a rope from his Cosmos Ring and threw it to Bai Xinghe. He kept the Feathered Dragon Saber raised in midair and demanded, "Boss Bai, you have two options right now.

"You can either stay in your current level and stop further healing your wounds.

"Or, if you want to recover your Cultivation faster with magical equipment, you bind your hands up with the rope refined out of the veins of the 'Rhino-Hide Green Fire Beast'.

"I believe you must know how tough the veins of the 'Rhino-Hide Green Fire Beast are.

"With the Cultivation of a Nascent Soul Stage Cultivator, the veins cannot stop you. The best it can do is waste half a second.

"Therefore, although your Cultivation is higher than mine, I will have one more second to react. We will be on par with each other and reach a new 'mutual deterrence'."

Bai Xinghe picked up the rope and smiled at Li Yao casually.

For some reason, Li Yao suddenly felt that Bai Xinghe's attitude had changed. There was no hostility in him anymore. He was really eyeing Li Yao in the way a senior looked at his junior.

Bai Xinghe answered calmly, "Alright. I can tie up my hands.

"But I'd better make something clear for you.

"I took off my crystal suit and will tie up my hands voluntarily not because I was scared to fight against you.

"Your crystal suit is indeed impressive. But even with your crystal suit and your capability in the superlative height of the Building Foundation Stage, you cannot beat me into the Building Foundation Stage.

"I am doing this only because I want to show some respect for Sand Scorpion, the best warrior of the six tribes of Iron Plateau, as well as Li Yao, the big hero who was the first to discover the plot of the Temple of Immortals."

### Chapter 739: Thank You, Li Yao

**Translator:** flycrane01 **Editor:** Millman97

Li Yao was dazed and suddenly felt extremely cold.

The way he unleashed his spiritual energy was different from usual, and when he summoned the strength in the superlative height of the Building Foundation Stage, the difference would be very obvious. Therefore, it was not strange that Bai Xinghe guessed that he was Sand Scorpion.

But how did Bai Xinghe know that he was Li Yao?

Li Yao pretended to be calm. Like a leopard ready to attack, he asked suspiciously, "What are you talking about?"

Bai Xinghe smiled casually and replied, "The skillfulness of your utilization of spiritual energy in the liquidous form is one of the best of the Flying Star Sector. You are only in the Building Foundation Stage, and yet your combat ability is equal to someone in the Core Formation Stage. As far as I know, Sand Scorpion, the best warrior of the six tribes of Iron Plateau, is the only one who boasts such a technique.

"However, the universe is too vast a place. I can't say for sure that nobody else knows such a technique.

"The most decisive proof, on the other hand, is the kick of your left leg.

"Hellsword was a unique lone wolf in the Nascent Soul Stage on Spider Den. I analyzed his techniques carefully before. Therefore, I'm very positive that what you performed was 'Hellsword Arts', Hellsword's ultimate skill!

"It was said that Hellsword died together with Sand Scorpion in the battle of Heavenly Saints City. Even his crystal suit had vaporized.

"Right now, a man likely to be Sand Scorpion performed Hellsword's ultimate skill. Isn't the man's identity obvious?"

Li Yao nodded his head and acknowledged, "Very marvelous deduction, Boss Bai. I am Sand Scorpion!"

"No!" Bai Xinghe suddenly raised his voice. Like a thunderclap, he yelled, "You are not Bloody Vulture. You are not Sand Scorpion. You are Li Yao!"

Every word was like a crystal bomb whose noises echoed inside the room after explosions.

Li Yao was as calm as before. "Why did you say that?"

"Firstly, the crystal suit you are in is glamorous, delicate and strong," Bai Xinghe replied. "It is as good as the Dragon King Battlesuit, which was made based on the technology of the Star Ocean Imperium. As for the employment of precious materials, it is even better than the Dragon King Battlesuit.

"You can't find many such excellent crystal suits in the entire Flying Star Sector.

"Li Yao fought Storm Prison and even Fengyu Zhong himself when he rescued the Great Horn Exo Society. A lot of battle videos were left. I watched some of them through secret channels.

"I found that although the appearance of your crystal suit is totally different from Li Yao's at that time, the styles, as well as the spirits in the bones, of the two crystal suits are very similar."

Li Yao smiled. "Maybe it is because Li Yao's crystal suit and mine were made by the same Armadominus?"

Bai Xinghe nodded. "It is indeed a possibility. But if Sand Scorpion is not Li Yao, one thing will be inexplicable, which is your skills of using crystal suits!

"Although we only had one round of attack just now, the crystal suit skills you displayed in your move were definitely among the top of the world. Even I had to concentrate all my soul power and computational ability to deal with them!

"You are a super expert in crystal suits!

"According to the files, Sand Scorpion is an Iron Plateau native who had never touched crystal suits until a few months ago. However talented he is, it is impossible for him to have gained such an expertise in crystal suits after only a few months, isn't it?"

Li Yao was rendered speechless.

It was indeed inexplicable for him.

Bai Xinghe continued slowly. "Li Yao went missing on Iron Plateau, and Sand Scorpion distinguished himself miraculously after Li Yao disappeared. Before, many people had linked Li Yao to Sand Scorpion. But it was said that Sand Scorpion proved his identity on the so\-called Truth Cabinet. Therefore, nobody talked about it anymore.

"However, I don't believe dead objects like the True Cabinet. I prefer to believe… this."

Bai Xinghe raised his hands, which had been tied up, and pointed at his head.

"Based on our communication so far, I believe that you were definitely able to fool a polygraph with your cunningness."

Li Yao was silent for a long time and reflected on all the details. Still, he failed to come up with any rebuttals.

Bai Xinghe would not buy it if he argued unreasonably anyway. Li Yao could only sigh and smiled bitterly. "Boss Bai is indeed as smart as they say. You're right. I am Li Yao."

Bai Xinghe's eyes suddenly turned extremely deep and dark, like two bottomless springs. He said softly, "Thank you, Li Yao."

Li Yao was dumbfounded. He blurted out, "For what? For killing the only son of your old nemesis Fengyu Zhong, or for the favor that I've done you by jumping out promptly to be your bodyguard?"

Bai Xinghe took a long breath in relief. All the hostility on him seemed to have gone. He said earnestly, "Thank you for saving a certain someone without caring about your own life a long time ago.

"Believe it or not, since you are Li Yao, I am prepared to keep you alive unless I absolutely have no reason to."

Bai Xinghe was not wearing his crystal suit, and his hands were tied up with the toughest rope.

Yet, when he stood straight and made the declaration, he seemed to be a majestic tyrant who could have Li Yao killed any time he wanted.

"You—"

Ten thousand questions were popping up in Li Yao's heart. He wanted to pursue further.

But Bai Xinghe had already moved to a corner of the palace. He shook his hands. Like a blossoming lotus, a wall of runes appeared on the wall, which dispersed into a door of a small cabin abruptly.

Chi—

The door of the cabin was opened. Li Yao looked inside and noticed that there were crystals, magical equipment, and food inside. A med bay was also lying in a corner of the room.

Bai Xinghe exposed his back to Li Yao without looking back. He walked into the cabin as he said, "We've passed through multiple traps and had a minor competition just now. A lot of spiritual energy has been wasted. Come in and refill yourself. The Immortal Cultivators will be here soon."

Li Yao thought of something and asked, "Do you really plan to fish up all the Immortal Cultivators with the underground fortress? Isn't it too obvious? Was Bai Wulei not suspicious when you told the secrets to him on purpose?"

"There's nothing to be suspicious about," Bai Xinghe replied. "Two months ago, I launched the first counterattack against the Temple of Immortals. At that time, Bai Wulei was still lurking and pretending to be loyal. I was moved and told him the map of the underground fortress, the location where the Spider Key was hidden, and the method to activate the Cosmos Ring.

"I told Bai Wulei that resisting the Temple of Immortals was perilous and life\-threatening. Chances were that I would be killed by the Temple of Immortals. If I died abruptly, I hoped him to fulfil by wish my fighting until the end with the resources in the underground fortress.

"You see. Wasn't it very logical for me to confess the location where the map and the key were hidden?"

Li Yao thought carefully and shook his head. "Even if Bai Wulei was fooled, Fengyu Zhong and the Black King are both tricky and cunning. They will not be trapped so easily."

Bai Xinghe sneered. "They have no options right now. They made promises to so many space pirates, and now I'm 'heavily wounded, presumably dead'. Everybody saw that the map and the key fell into their hands, so will the space pirates agree to fight for him anymore if they do not explore the underground fortress and the secret treasures as soon as possible?"

Li Yao thought hard for a long time, his eyes shining brighter and brighter. He mumbled, "So, you claimed that you would reward your subordinates with the secret treasures in the underground fortress and you convened the 'Meeting of Heroes in Space' because you were trying to raise the expectations of the space pirates so that Fengyu Zhong could only buy them over with better offers!

"It's like two people bidding for the same treasure, with one of proposing absurd prices. It was not because he wanted the treasure per se, but because he was forcing his opponent to pay a higher price!

"Since you were tempting the space pirates with the secret treasures of the Star Ocean Imperium, the Temple of Immortals had to provide better offers for the greedy space pirates in order to recruit them!

"What could possibly be more valuable than the secret treasures of the Star Ocean Imperium? Of course, the chance to explore the entire underground fortress!

"Now that the Temple of Immortals has made such promises, there's nothing they can do even if they know that there might be traps underground. They are faced with tremendous pressure from the Cultivators and require the loyalty of the space pirates. They cannot bear to lose their trust now!

"The ferocious space pirates are all selfish people who will risk their lives for one dime. Now that such a fat piece of meat is hanging right before their eyes, they will not possibly let it go!

"This is not a plot; this is an open trap. No matter what is coming for them, since you have suffered a crushing defeat, the Temple of Immortals must fulfil their promises!"

Li Yao was almost applauding for Bai Xinghe's delicate scheme, but he realized that something was wrong on second thought. "However, what if the Temple of Immortals asks the space pirates to be cannon fodder in the vanguard and does not enter the underground fortress personally? How are you going to implement your plan if so?"

Bai Xinghe smiled. "Everything is just your assumption. What if there are no traps?

"What if endless secrets treasures and techniques are waiting for the first visitor below the surface of Spider Den? By then, the space pirates will definitely loot all their findings. Do you think they will ever hand them over to the Temple of Immortals?"

Li Yao pondered carefully and discovered that Bai Xinghe had indeed figured out what everybody else was thinking about.

Sending a batch of avaricious, fearless, brutal space pirates into the underground treasury was like sending a pack of wolves into a sheepfold. It would be a miracle if some bones were left half a day later!

Therefore, the Temple of Immortals would certainly send someone important to supervise the situation.

"Moreover, there's a third possibility," Bai Xinghe continued, "which is that I am not dead and ran into the center of the underground fortress where I destroy it or completely seal all the tunnels.

"Without the resources of the underground fortress, how is the Temple of Immortals going to fight against the entire world of Cultivators?

"Therefore, they have no alternatives except to march into the underground fortress as quickly as they can!"

Li Yao took a deep relief and thought through the whole plan. There was nothing but admiration in his heart.

He commented, "With the Abyss Pirate Gang as a bait, you established such a great scheme. You are indeed adventurous, Boss Bai!"

Bai Xinghe said calmly, "The Abyss Pirate Gang was doomed. Spider Den was doomed.

"Even if I successfully took down Fengyu Zhong and cooperated with the Temple of Immortals with advantageous conditions, how long would I be able to show off?

"In several years, everything will be gone when the army of Cultivators arrived.

"The Abyss Pirate Gang is destined to collapse. Spider Den is destined to be destroyed. Exploiting the last bit of their potential before their demolition is the most sensible choice. What's there to hesitate over?"

Li Yao was silent. He recalled the pessimistic words Bai Xinghe had said to Luo Jinhu on his carrier. It seemed that the Pirate Potentate did not have high hopes for space pirates or the Immortal Cultivators, then—

"Boss Bai, what are you up to exactly?" Li Yao blurted out.### Chapter 740: Pry into the Secrets of the Stars!

**Translator:** flycrane01 **Editor:** Millman97

Bai Xinghe tore off the metal membrane on a high\-nutrition drug's bottle and chugged all of it. He licked his lips and burped in great satisfaction. Then he asked back, "What about you? What's your purpose?

"The style of your crystal suit is totally different from the few most advanced crystal suit centers of the Cultivation world. The materials it is made of are extremely precious, too. My three full\-strength punches did not even blow apart the breastplate of the crystal suit!

"The organization behind you that can produce such a suit and raise such an expert like yourself must be tremendously powerful.

"As a representative this mysterious organization, Li Yao, what are you doing on Spider Den in such time of troubles? You did not come here to persuade me to do the right thing and cooperate with the Cultivators against the Immortal Cultivators, did you? Haha. Hahahaha!"

Li Yao was silent for a moment. Then he shook his head. "I did not.

"Boss Bai, in the circle of space pirates, you are among the more rational ones. During the decades as the Pirate Potentate, you barely went on hunting jobs yourself. All you needed to do was simply exploit other pirate gangs.

"Compared to rabid dogs such as Fengyu Zhong, you are almost a man of integrity.

"However, decades before your rise, you still committed endless unpardonable crimes. Your hands are soaked in the blood of the innocent.

"It is true that you would not kill anybody if the victims did not resist. But why would they not resist when you were looting the goods that they purchased with their own money, sometimes even with loans?

"Boss Bai, I only respect you as 'Boss Bai' because I admire your strategies and audaciousness. But after all, there is not much difference between Fengyu Zhong and you. You are both scumbags.

"If a scumbag like you can be washed clean and reembraced by the community of Cultivators, wouldn't it be terribly unfair to the innocent victims who were butchered by you miserably?

"I don't want to lie to you, and you won't be fooled anyway.

"The enemy of an enemy is not necessarily a friend. Although the Immortal Cultivators are the greatest threats right now, I will try my best to kill you when the time is appropriate for the revenge of the victims of your crimes!"

"Well said!" Bai Xinghe laughed. "I'm growing more and more fond of you from the bottom of my heart, Li Yao!

"Do you feel that you are a man of honor and veracity?"

Li Yao stood straight and replied coldly, "I'm indeed a man of honor and veracity compared with a lawless space pirate like you. More importantly, I'm willing to pay a price for the justice that I believe in at any time!"

"Very good." Bai Xinghe clapped his hands and observed, "Many people in the world who call themselves mature do not believe in justice. They think that justice is just a joke for little kids. But in fact, they are just scared of justice. They are weak deep down in their bones. They do not want to pay the price to realize their justice.

"Although what you believe in is just ignorant justice, your persistence is still very touching.

"Compared with such an ethical, justified, and persistent Cultivator, we selfish, merciless, and lawless space pirates as well as the inhuman Immortal Cultivators are truly out\-and\-out scumbags!

"However—"

Bai Xinghe suddenly put on an extremely weird expression. He blinked and asked mysteriously, "Do you want to know where space pirates come from and how the Immortal Cultivators originated?

"Why did the Cultivators who were supposed to protect humanity and sacrifice themselves degenerate into space pirates and even the Immortal Cultivators in the darkness of the universe?

"Let me tell you. It's simple. Really simple.

"One second, one snap of the fingers, and a Cultivator will be transformed into an Immortal Cultivator. And once they are transformed, there is absolutely no way that they can turn back. Haha. Hahahaha!"

Li Yao thought of something and asked earnestly, "Do you know the truth about the Immortal Cultivators?"

Smiling, Bai Xinghe pointed at his feet. "Yes, I do. The truth is right here."

Li Yao was amazed. "Here? You said just now that this place was an observatory."

"Correct," Bai Xinghe replied. "We are indeed in an observatory. More specifically speaking, an observatory that studies the 'apocalypses'."

Li Yao was confused. How was an observatory that studied the apocalypses related to the Immortal Cultivators?

Bai Xinghe smiled and continued. "Have you ever heard of a theory named 'dark forest'?"

Li Yao had heard the term before from Huangpu Xiaoya, who was the heir of a noble family of refining, on the carrier of the Temple of Immortals.

At that time, Huangpu Xiaoya had declared that if the universe was truly nothing more than a bloody, shadowy dark forest…

Later, when he was on Iron Plateau, he had also heard Xiong Wuji stating that, if the universe was truly a dark forest of dead ends, he would set a fire and make a road himself!

Back then, Li Yao did not think too much of it. He had thought that it was a coincidence that the two of them made the same metaphor.

As it turned out, it might not be a coincidence. Was 'dark forest' a proper noun?

"The apocalypses have always been the greatest mysteries in the world of Cultivators since forty thousand years ago to this day," Bai Xinghe explained. "Countless Cultivators have dedicated themselves to the studies of the apocalypses. They proposed many theories to explain the apocalypses. The 'Dark Forest Theory' was one of the most perfect, plausible theories.

"The Dark Forest Theory was coined with in this very palace by the great scholar Liu the Prier ten thousand years ago."

The apocalypses were the uncanniest phenomena in the universe. They were almost the most unpredictable field in the modern Cultivation world.

Some people even said that those who understood the apocalypses understood the whole universe!

Li Yao found himself deeply attracted to Bai Xinghe's words.

Sitting cross\-legged, Bai Xinghe treated his wounds while he talked unhurriedly. "Ten thousand years ago, when Spider Den was just discovered, countless Cultivators who were adept at prospecting came to this place to explore the mother lodes.

"According to the laws of the Star Ocean Imperium, when a new mother lode was discovered, part of the ownership of the mother lode would be given to the discoverer as a reward. The deeper the mother lode was and the more difficult it was to be located, the more ownership would be transferred to the discoverer.

"At that time, a Cultivator whose surname was Liu was extremely gifted in utilizing the spiritual energy of the earth class. He was also good at the Earth\-Escaping Technique, which allowed him to roam the underground of Spider Den freely. In the end, almost half of the mother lodes below Spider Den were discovered by him.

"Therefore, when the large\-scale exploitation began, he became wealthy all of a sudden. He turned out to be one of the most famous magnates in the mining industry and controlled the biggest mining corporate on Spider Den. In his prime years, his personal wealth almost equaled the money in the national treasury.

"Capital Nest above our head used to be headquarters of that Cultivator's mining corporation. Half of the city was built by him.

"The Cultivator had an only son, but his son was the very opposite of him. His son hated entering the underground and enjoyed exploring space. After studying in the few most famous cities of the Star Ocean Imperium, he became a specialist in apocalypses.

"At that time, the study of apocalypses was a well\-respected subject.

"That time was the renaissance of mankind. The territory of the Star Ocean Imperium covered thousands of constellations. During its expansion, besides dealing with the demon race, our old nemesis, it also conquered countless alien species.

"It was the most magnificent era of humanity. Everyone was ambitious and craving to march forward into the deeper universe!

"Naturally, a lot of alien species were met during their march toward the universe. As a result, the studies on the other civilizations of the universe became a very popular field of research.

"How many civilizations are hidden in the vast universe? Compared with the civilization of human beings, are they strong or weak? Do those civilizations know each other? If they do, what is their attitude toward other civilizations?

"Those questions were exactly what mankind at that time was eager to find out.

"Many scholars believed that the apocalypses were related to the civilizations beyond. As long as the mysteries of the apocalypses were cracked, the truth of the universe would be found.

"On the other hand, the civilization of human beings suffered multiple apocalypses both in the era of the ancient Cultivators and in the Star Ocean Imperium. They had a profound understanding about the power of the apocalypses.

"Therefore, some other people also wondered whether or not they could turn the apocalypses into some sort of weapon since they were so powerful.

"Study the apocalypses, block the apocalypses, capture the apocalypses, and hack the apocalypses. In the end, the apocalypses would be 'weaponized' and 'manufactured'. They would be the indestructible, invincible ultimate weapon of mankind!"

Li Yao was dumbfounded.

He was truly awed by the all\-conquering ambitions of his predecessors of the Star Ocean Imperium.

Trying to turn the apocalypses into weapons was exactly what the 'strongest fighting species in the universe' should do!

"Driven by the two motivations, the smartest brains of the Star Ocean Imperium were all devoted to the studies of the apocalypses.

"However, the unpredictable, mysterious apocalypses were barely observable, and the difficulty in capturing and studying them goes without saying. It was an unbelievably costly project. Most of the scholars could only work for the Star Ocean Imperium under the leadership of the twenty Guilds of Provenance and the military in order to conduct their research.

"But it was different for the only son of a magnate.

"The father was the wealthiest man alive. The studies of apocalypses were a noble research field. Since his son was talented and interested in that research, naturally, he gave his son his full support. If the mysteries of the apocalypses were successfully cracked, not only would they secure fame and fortune, their names would also be passed on in the history books of generations to come!

"Therefore, the father and son spent tremendous wealth purchasing the most valuable Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures and the crystal processors that boasted the highest computational ability in the Flying Star Sector. Then, they established an enormous observatory, or a 'center of apocalypse studies', if you will, under Spider Den's surface, based on their abundant experience in underground construction!

"Of course, it was not an easy task to build such a palace of stars with the efforts of a single family. The construction process took several decades. Quite a lot of changes happened during the time. Even the magnate of the mining industry died of old age.

"But his son remained unwavering. After he inherited his father's corporation, he devoted even more capital to the job as if he were possessed by a devil. Finally, the 'Star Prier's House' was successfully built!"

"'Star Prier' was exactly the ambition of the son. Therefore, all the following generations have called him 'Liu the Prier', because he meant to pry into the secrets of the stars!"### Chapter 741: Hopes to Go Home

**Translator:** flycrane01 **Editor:** Millman97

Li Yao was greatly touched. A great man whose name had been passed on for ten thousand years indeed deserved his fame!

But he was still baffled by something. "Why was an observatory that was meant to study the universe built more than ten thousand meters below the ground? Wouldn't it save a lot of money and effort if the site were built on the surface?"

Bai Xinghe smiled and said, "It's simple. This is not a simple observatory that studies the three\-dimensional universe, but one that can study the four\-dimensional universe directly!"

Li Yao's widened in astonishment. "What!"

"The universe is too vast," Bai Xinghe explained. "For normal observatories, however advanced their technology is, it is unlikely that their observation can surpass the speed of light. The celestial phenomena they observed might actually have taken place billions of years ago.

"However, our universe resulted from a big bang of spiritual energy. Every object in the universe is naturally endowed with spiritual energy and is constantly radiating it. The only difference is that some objects emit more spiritual energy while some emit less.

"When the cosmic radiation pierces through the thick shell of the planet deep into the core, most of the impurities are blocked. The only thing left are the most crucial particles, radiation, and waves, or in other words, the essence of the universe!

"This center to study apocalypses was built ten thousand meters below the ground because it tried to eliminate all the impurities with the lithosphere as a 'filter' so that the essence of the universe could be studied.

"After multiple screenings, only the most crucial particles, radiation, and waves is left. When they are calculated by the most advanced super crystal processors of the Star Ocean Imperium, a 'real\-time' universe, one in the four\-dimensional form that is not restricted by the speed of light, will be simulated in exactly this place ten thousand meters below the ground!"

Li Yao was stunned and found it impossible to calm himself down.

Bai Xinghe's wounds had basically recovered. He suddenly jumped up and strode out. "Seeing is believing. Let's just go and check."

Li Yao followed him, hooked.

Bai Xinghe went to the center of the three hundred super crystal processors. His spiritual energy stretched out and turned on the dozens of crystal processors in the central part of the array. Various mottled shadows was displayed, as if they were brain cells that had been woke up.

"You've seen the raging Nether River just now," Bai Xinghe said. "Endless spiritual energy is stored inside the water of the river.

"The center of apocalypse studies uses the water of the Nether River as the power source. Together with the self\-repairing magical equipment in this place, as long as the water of the river does not run dry, the palace of stars will continue functioning in a half\-perpetual state.

"Although a super earthquake took place long ago, some basic functions of the center still remain.

"However, the super crystal processors of the Star Ocean Imperium are too complicated. I spent my whole life studying them, and yet I only got a grip of it.

"Look—"

Hiu! Hiu! Hiu! Hiu!

As Bai Xinghe operated, colorful pillars of light soared up from the super crystal processors and darted at the transparent diamonds on the dome.

For a moment, the entire dome of diamonds seemed to be revived. All the 'stars' were a hundred times more dazzling than a moment ago and illuminated the palace as if it were daylight!

Billions of stars were burning splendidly and glamorously right above Li Yao's head!

Li Yao was overwhelmed by the beauty of the brilliant sea of stars that was about to pour onto his head, unable to say anything.

Bai Xinghe narrowed his eyes and smiled. "I was exactly like you when I saw the vast sea of stars for the first time. I was dazed for more than an hour.

"Look at them carefully. This is the exact universe we are in. It is identical to the universe above our heads. If you boast enough computational ability, you can find any Sector or any star in the universe on the dome."

"A real\-time, simulated universe…"

Li Yao suddenly shivered and almost jumped up to grab Bai Xinghe's neck. He was so excited that smoke was nearly popping up from his head as he shrieked, "You said that any Sector can be found in the dome of diamonds? Then, is it possible to get its coordinates?"

Coordinates! The coordinates of a Sector!

The biggest problem that the Cultivators from the Heaven's Origin Sector, including Li Yao, were faced with was that they did not have the coordinates of their home!

In the beginning, they jumped to the Flying Star Sector randomly. They did not know the relative location between the Heaven's Origin Sector and the Flying Star Sector or the specific coordinates of the Heaven's Origin Sector!

The coordinates of a Sector were its address in the universe. How could one go home if one did not know the address of one's home?

But the ancient observatory from ten thousand years ago could very likely provide the coordinates of the Heaven's Origin Sector!

How could Li Yao not be thrilled and lose his calmness?

Bai Xinghe was quite shocked at Li Yao's excitement. Glancing at him suspiciously, he still explained, "Theoretically speaking, yes.

"However, there are too many Sectors in the universe. The known world for mankind is just a tiny corner of the universe. Unless the Sector boasts distinctive features, you will not be able to recognize it when you see it.

"Besides, my own strength is not enough to activate all the super crystal processors. The observatory must be repaired first with all the manpower and resources of the Flying Star Sector. Otherwise, everything will be impractical."

Li Yao took a deep breath and tried to calm his burning brain down.

Features of the Heaven's Origin Sector?

So obvious!

The Heaven's Origin Sector and the Blood Demon Sector were rarely\-seen 'Twin Sectors' in the universe. Besides, the two Sectors were attracted to each other in the four\-dimensional level and would crash and meld very soon!

There would not be too many Sectors with such characteristics in the entire universe, and even fewer around the Flying Star Sector. Or rather, it was possible that there would only be one!

As for the recovery of the underground observatory with all the resources of the Flying Star Sector…

Li Yao secretly swore that he would have it done no matter the cost!

After drifting in the Flying Star Sector for such a long time, he finally saw the hope to go home now!

For a moment, Li Yao felt like raising his head and roaring. He was never more confident in his future road!

No obstacles were going to stop him!

Observing him with great interest, Bai Xinghe suddenly asked, "You seem very excited, and you are desperate to find the specific coordinates of a certain Sector. Why?"

Li Yao was greatly alarmed.

He had exposed too many personal feelings in front of the old fox.

Taking a deep breath, Li Yao forced himself to calm down and focus on the endless sea of stars on the dome of diamonds.

He tried locating the Heaven's Origin Sector with his bare eyes.

But he soon discovered that it was like looking for a special grit in a desert. The task was totally impossible.

Under Bai Xinghe's guidance, Li Yao soon learned how to observe and locate the glittering Sectors in various forms, as well as the ferocious\-looking mist of light that separated the Sectors.

Those mists of light were the cosmic storms in the four\-dimensional time and space.

When one was involved in such a cosmic storm during their space jump, their body and soul would both be destroyed with nothing left.

Except for the Sectors and the cosmic storms, Li Yao occasionally found many blinking light spots.

In the four\-dimensional universe, the light spots were moving very fast. They were not like normal Sectors, but it was equally impossible for them to be shooting stars, which would not have been so large in size.

No. Not occasionally.

When Li Yao stepped back and looked at the general picture, he found, to his surprise, that such light spots were everywhere in the sea of stars.

Some of them were marching forward unstoppably and sweeping everything in their way.

Some of them were zigzagging, leaving an irregular, unpredictable trace.

Li Yao noticed that when the light spots touched the areas that represented the Sectors, both the light spot and the Sector would vanish after letting out dazzling halos. They would never show up again, leaving a black, ugly speckle on the dome.

Li Yao pointed at the light spots and asked, "What are they?"

Bai Xinghe smiled, in an extremely weird and creepy way. He replied, "Those light spots are the apocalypses."

Li Yao chewed on Bai Xinghe's every word over ten seconds.

After ten seconds, his body stiffened.

If those light spots were the apocalypses, didn't it mean that billions of apocalypses were wandering in the universe right now and might fall upon their heads at any moment?

Moreover, in that brief period, Li Yao already witnessed two Sectors perishing after colliding with the apocalypses.

Did it mean that the apocalypses had destroyed two Sectors in the second just now?

Were they the secrets of the stars? Horrifying! It was truly horrifying!

Bai Xinghe observed his facial expression and suddenly smiled. "Don't be worried. They are not as horrifying as you saw. In order to give you a better understanding, I've adjusted the flow of time to the highest speed. What you saw just now was the universe that the center of apocalypse studies has observed over ten thousand years, but I compressed it into several seconds."

Li Yao was dazed for a moment and could not help but curse silently.

Bai Xinghe seemed to have let go of his hostility, but he was still attacking his mental defenses in such a way, forcing him to reveal something he should not have in his utmost shock!

"Don't be nervous. Aren't the apocalypses less terrifying now? Come on!"

Bai Xinghe sat cross\-legged and gestured for Li Yao to sit down, too. He said, "Let's meditate on the mysteries of the apocalypses, the stars, and the universe below the glamorous dome of diamonds like the great scholar Liu the Prier did ten thousand years ago.

"Let me tell you what the apocalypses and the dark forest are!"

Li Yao pondered for a moment and sat down face to face with Bai Xinghe.

Shua!

The dome of diamonds above their heads suddenly turned into a cubic light beam. All the stars poured down around them, bathing the two of them in the splendid sea of stars.

Li Yao calmed himself down and asked coldly, "Is the dark forest related to the Immortal Cultivators?"

"It is," Bai Xinghe replied. "The dark forest is very related to the Immortal Cultivators, the Cultivators, and every other human being."