Lure the Monsters!

In the lonely depths of space, the silver-white spacecraft kept accelerating, while Ziying Star behind them resembled a blue water balloon, quietly rotating.

Inside the spacecraft, all the students gathered by the portholes, gazing out at the boundless, mysterious void.

Born in the Interstellar Era though they were, this was their first time breaking free of a planet's restraints and setting foot in space.

Yet compared to the scale of the universe, the spacecraft was so tiny it defied description.

Other than Ziying Star being cast behind them and gradually receding into the distance, the scenery showed not the slightest change.

Less than half an hour later, the moon was already close at hand.

Along the lunar orbit, turret after turret gleamed with metallic luster as they revolved around the moon.

"Is that a Laser Cannon?"

Li Qingshan swept his curious gaze over the metal turrets.

When the moon had suffered its incident the night before last, these massive weapons had calmed the chaos in just over a minute. Their power was obvious.

Soon, the spacecraft crossed the lunar orbit and slowly approached the far side of the moon.

Below them were no craters, no round meteorite pits, not even soil or rocks.

Metal structures covered the entire lunar far side. Unmanned transport vehicles and spacecraft endlessly shuttled between different factory buildings.

It looked bustling and full of activity, yet in the empty, cold silence of space, not a single human figure could be seen. The sight could not help but feel somewhat eerie.

As the students stood at the windows looking down, they could not help exclaiming in amazement.

"So this is the level of technology Ziying Star should have?"

Although they came into contact with quite a few high-tech items in their daily lives, none of them could compare to the shock of the enormous factory spreading across the entire lunar far side beneath their feet.

The spacecraft flew calmly, skimming along the moon's surface.

Before long, a stretch of ruins entered their view, embedded like a scar in the center of the Lunar Far-Side Factory.

"That's where the World Gate is located!"

Ye Yukong approached with his hands clasped behind his back. The teachers following him took out palm-sized square boxes and distributed them to everyone.

"The Lunar Far-Side Factory was damaged by the vicious beasts that rushed out of the World Gate. The life-support systems in many areas have not yet been repaired, and all the workers stationed here previously have been evacuated.

"What you have in your hands are Portable Spacesuits. They can withstand temperature differences and radiation, and supply oxygen."

"So high-tech?"

With a curious expression, Li Qingshan copied the movements of the teachers around him and pressed his Communicator against the center of the box.

Instantly, the little box melted. The liquid-metal-like material spread from his wrist and flowed over his entire body.

Li Qingshan blinked. A thin membrane had covered the surface of his palm, and he turned to look at the others.

A transparent membrane had appeared over everyone's skin as well, and they were examining it curiously.

After putting on the Portable Spacesuit, he did feel a slight hindrance over his body, but it was not enough to affect combat.

The spacecraft landed without a sound, and the hatch opened.

Hiss!

Under the vacuum's negative pressure, air rushed out, and all the air within the cabin was instantly sucked away.

Since they had put on their spacesuits beforehand, no one was affected.

But...

"Headmaster Ye...?"

Quite a few students spoke in alarm, their voices transmitted through the membrane spacesuits.

The silver-haired youth was not wearing a spacesuit at all. As though strolling through a courtyard, he stepped over the hatch and set foot on the exposed lunar surface.

"No need to be surprised."

Ye Yukong spoke with a faint smile, his voice ringing beside everyone's ears.

"Opening the Apertures is the process of sensing the stars of the heavens, drawing in Star Origin Force, and transforming oneself. Once all nine of your apertures are opened in the future, you will naturally be able to do the same."

"Touching space is only the first step. You are still far from crossing the river of stars with your physical bodies!"

The students came back to their senses, their eyes brimming with excitement as they followed Ye Yukong into the factory base.

"Opening all nine apertures—easy for him to say..."

The complaint sounded in everyone's ears, transmitted by the spacesuits.

Li Qingshan's gaze shifted, swiftly locking onto the speaker.

Lu Qing also realized something was wrong and hurriedly shut her mouth.

"Opening the Apertures? Is opening all nine apertures really that difficult?"

As Li Qingshan followed the crowd, the scene of Wan Keshan crushing Zhu Ping surfaced in his mind without warning.

If a physical body could withstand mech attacks head-on, it should be able to enter space too, right?

Besides, Zhu Ping had studied in New Continent as well, yet until his death, he had refused to believe Wan Keshan had merely "opened the apertures."

His gaze swept over the several instructors who were also wearing spacesuits, and a thought could not help flashing through Li Qingshan's mind.

Perhaps the teachers are even stronger than I imagined!

Ye Yukong seemed extremely familiar with the entire factory. Faced with one fork after another, he never paused for even a moment.

In just ten minutes, the group walked out of the chilly passageway. Before them lay broken walls, collapsed structures, and vast ruins.

Yet at the center of the ruins stood a newly built factory building, no smaller than the gymnasium on the ground.

Everyone followed Ye Yukong into the factory building, and the valves shut behind them.

"All right. This factory building is newly constructed, so you can take off your spacesuits. Besides, spacesuits are useless in the Star Realm and will only become a burden."

As Ye Yukong's voice rang out, everyone tapped their Communicators. The Portable Spacesuits flowed off them like water, returning to square little boxes.

While the others were still curiously surveying their surroundings, Li Qingshan's gaze immediately locked onto the center of the factory.

A ten-meter-wide vortex shimmered with starlight.

"The World Gate!"

Li Qingshan's eyes lit up, and he could not help taking a step forward.

"Don't rush!"

Ye Yukong spoke helplessly, stepping across to block Li Qingshan's view.

Then he tapped with a finger, and a huge projection screen appeared, drawing everyone's attention.

On the screen was a gigantic ape with fiery-red fur, standing around three meters tall.

"A Crimson Horn Fire Ape, a Second-Order Star Realm Beast!"

"Take note—I said Star Realm Beast, not vicious beast!"

Ye Yukong's expression turned serious as he looked at all the students.

"Star Realm Beasts above the second order possess a certain degree of intelligence. You cannot treat them as simple vicious beasts."

"The Star Realm beyond this World Gate is an endless mountain forest rich in resources."

"The Federation and Star Source Corporation have sent a large number of Tempered Body Tenth Layer martial artists to establish camps and gather resources."

"The day before yesterday, this group of Crimson Horn Fire Apes suddenly migrated out from the depths of the mountain forest. They destroyed our camp and even drove First-Order vicious beasts through the World Gate, causing quite a disturbance."

"Your mission is to find this group of Crimson Horn Fire Apes and wipe them out."

"As for the reward rules..."

Ye Yukong pointed a finger, and the image zoomed in on the Crimson Horn Fire Ape's head. A thumb-thick crimson horn could be seen hidden amid its fur.

"In the Star Realm, technological methods cannot be used to make records. You will need to collect crimson horns as proof."

"A low-grade crimson horn is worth 1,000 points. A mid-grade crimson horn is worth 5,000 points."

How much experience would killing a Second-Order vicious beast give?

And besides experience, they could even drop gold!

Li Qingshan's eyes grew brighter and brighter. Seeing Ye Yukong suddenly stop, he could not help asking anxiously,

"Teacher, how many points does a high-grade one drop... no, how many points is the reward?"

"High-grade?" Ye Yukong shook his head lightly and gestured for the teachers beside him to hand out maps and Signal Flares.

The maps were mechanically printed, detailing the mountain forest beyond the World Gate as well as suspected vicious beast distribution points.

Each person received two Signal Flares, one blue and one red.

"The Qi Blood Realm is divided into Mist Gathering, Blood Coagulation, and the Rainbow Transformation Realm!"

"Second-Order vicious beasts correspond to Qi Blood martial artists. High-grade means the strength of the Rainbow Transformation Realm—it is absolutely not something you can handle!"

"The two Signal Flares correspond to the color of their signals and arrow shafts. Blue is for when you discover a mid-grade Star Realm Beast and need to notify your companions to gather and act."

"If you are unlucky enough to encounter a Second-Order High-Level Beast, you must immediately fire the red Signal Flare to warn everyone and retreat!"

Ye Yukong spoke the final sentence with extreme seriousness, his eyes carrying a heavy warning.

Other than Li Qingshan, every student could not help growing tense.

They all understood what that meant.

Warning their companions to retreat meant facing a Second-Order High-Level Beast alone, a Star Realm Beast with strength equivalent to the Rainbow Transformation Realm.

Break Limit One or Two Turns could stand against Blood Coagulation, but they were still far too distant from Rainbow Transformation.

That was practically certain death!

"The Star Realm is dangerous. No one can predict what will happen!"

"Even though the available information suggests that there should be no high-grade Crimson Horn Fire Apes in that group, I cannot guarantee it to you!"

Ye Yukong spoke in a deep voice, his gaze sweeping across all the students.

"I'll give you one last chance. You may withdraw now. Once you cross the World Gate, there will be no turning back!"

Nearly a hundred students wore solemn expressions and unconsciously tightened their grips on their weapons.

But with the World Gate right before them, not a single one was willing to give up now.

Just then—

Buzz, buzz!

The Communicators on everyone's wrists vibrated simultaneously, displaying an incoming notification from the points shop.

Every notification showed the same amount.

Points!

"As students venture into the Star Realm, how could I, as the person in charge of Star Source Corporation, fail to show some support?"

A gigantic, rotund figure, two meters tall and two meters around the waist, waddled over with a beaming smile.

"Students, although this World Gate is important, your futures are even more important. Everyone should prioritize your own safety."

Cao Ya's words were like a spring breeze brushing past them. Coupled with the points already in hand, the heavy atmosphere immediately eased.

"Mr. Cao, you can't play favorites!"

Song Tianlei and Hua Fan approached with their hands clasped behind their backs.

Li Qingshan's eyes instantly fixed on the two men and one woman walking behind them with weapons in hand.

Three more people here to steal monsters!

Ye Yukong's expression remained calm as he said,

"Since you're here, hurry up and set off!"

Han Hui and the other two had been among New Continent's top three before, so the Federation had sent Xiangwu Hall an invitation.

But since they had already joined Xiangwu Hall, they could forget about getting examination rewards from him.

Cao Ya continued smiling as he dealt with Song Tianlei and Hua Fan, with no intention of giving them points whatsoever.

He did not lack points, but choosing a side was important—especially in front of an old monster like Ye Yukong.

Han Hui and the other two received maps and Signal Flares from the instructors.

Following Ye Yukong's command, a figure shot into the vortex like lightning.

Everyone present froze for a moment.

"Young people are always so rash!"

Ye Yukong shook his head and waved for the other students to follow.

Soon, figure after figure vanished into the vortex.

The World Gate rippled like a mirror's surface as nearly a hundred students stepped into the Star Realm one after another.

The cold metal floor beneath their feet became damp earth.

With every breath, they no longer inhaled the bland air of artificial circulation, but air filled with nature's fragrance.

Just as everyone was curiously observing their surroundings, a figure abruptly turned back and landed before them.

"Li Qingshan?" Everyone was stunned.

Li Qingshan looked travel-worn, clearly having already run quite some distance.

But now he had come back?

Li Qingshan swept his gaze over everyone and said seriously,

"Remember, if you encounter a Second-Order High-Level Beast, make sure to fire the red Signal Flare!"

"Perhaps I can save your life."

After saying that, Li Qingshan ignored everyone's astonished looks and shot away once more.

Saving people would only be incidental. What he really wanted to know was how many years of usable time a Second-Order High-Level Beast was worth!

Third Turn of Limit Break already possessed Rainbow Transformation characteristics, so Li Qingshan naturally did not fear a Second-Order High-Level Beast.

Since there were too many people stealing monsters, he would let them help lure the monsters out!