Departure, Time-Space Administration Bureau
Inside the imperial study, the gilded beast-shaped incense burner emitted wisps of ambergris, yet it could not dispel the tension and oppression that permeated the air.
Hua Qiang slammed the jade teacup in his hand onto the sandalwood table with a clang, splashing scalding tea onto the precious silk folding table, creating large, dark water stains.
He stared intently at the woman before him, her expression solemn and her face as beautiful as Yan Ruyu, her Adam's apple bobbing up and down, but she couldn't utter a word for a long time.
"You... you're telling the truth?"
Hua Qiang's voice was hoarse, like sandpaper rubbing together, and his knuckles were rough from excessive force.
"Our universe is called the Wasteland, and all living beings in this universe... are they just 'livestock' kept by others?"
Yan Ruyu gently stroked the Star-Pattern Jade Bracelet on her wrist with her fingertips, the bracelet's shimmering light making her features appear even more aloof.
She sighed softly, raised her hand and drew a dazzling star map in the void. Countless points of light gathered like fireflies, outlining the vast Milky Way.
"Young Master, do you know why our Star Domain has been unable to break through the 'Desolate' Shackles?"
Why does a mysterious "Heavenly Path Cleansing" occur every ten thousand years?
With a light tap of her fingertip, a certain area of the star map suddenly lit up with a scarlet light.
"Because this seemingly boundless Milky Way is nothing more than that person's 'private ranch'."
Hua Qiang staggered and grabbed the table for support, feeling a chill run down his neck.
He suddenly remembered the records in the Heavenly Court's historical records about the various strange phenomena that had occurred over the years.
A thousand years ago, a "meteorite" mysteriously fell into the sky; it was actually the wreckage of a shattered planet. A forbidden area in the Middle Three Heavens suddenly disappeared a thousand years ago, and recently, Space Rift have been appearing frequently...
It turns out that those so-called "natural disasters" were nothing more than a careless sweep by the owner when cleaning the enclosures!
"My Yan Clan's main family is located in the Xuanhuang Star System, which is even deeper in the 'Desolate' Universe. The head of the family is that great man's loyal servant."
Yan Ruyu's voice trembled slightly, almost imperceptibly. "We, the remote branches, have been branded with the mark of slavery since our birth."
Every planet is a 'spirit mine,' and every living being is a 'living sacrifice.'
She stretched out her hand, and a dark golden chain phantom appeared in her palm, the chain covered with countless runes that shimmered with a ghostly blue light.
"The Faith Power of our cultivation and the Spirit Vein that the planet nurtures will eventually flow into that great man's treasure trove along this 'Fate Lock'."
Hua Qiang felt a churning in his stomach, as if he had swallowed countless fat caterpillars.
He thought of the Heavenly Gate Palace he had subdued, and of the immortals who had lived peacefully under his rule, now all of them had become fish on someone else's chopping board!
"Is there no way to resist?"
He suddenly grabbed Yan Ruyu's wrist and said urgently, "Time-Space Administration Bureau... do you think that organization can really change all of this?"
Yan Ruyu withdrew her hand, and the star map suddenly turned into countless fragments.
She raised her hand and summoned a semi-transparent Token, on which the ancient seal characters "Time-Space Administration Bureau" shimmered with a mysterious glow.
"Only by registering here and obtaining the status of 'Cosmic Citizen' can one get rid of the mark of slavery."
If you want to acquire ownership of a star system, you can either exchange it for 'Gift Points'—which requires completing a mission of rank S or higher issued by the Time-Space Administration Bureau.
Or...
Her gaze turned cold. "Take it from the original owner!"
"That lord commands the 'Twelve Extinction Envoys,' each possessing the power to destroy galaxies..."
Before he could finish speaking, Hua Qiang suddenly threw his head back and laughed loudly, his laughter filled with an arrogant and domineering air of looking down on the world.
He suddenly pulled off the Coiled Dragon Jade Pendant from his waist, which symbolized his identity as the Heavenly Emperor, and slammed it to the ground.
"So, it turns out that I, this 'Heavenly Emperor,' am nothing more than a dog guarding someone's house!"
He turned to look at the endless Star Sea outside the window, his eyes burning with overwhelming fighting spirit.
"Bang, let's prepare to head to the Time-Space Administration Bureau. I want to see just how many heads this so-called 'master' has!"
Yan Ruyu gazed at his resolute back and sighed softly.
The Star-Pattern Jade Bracelet on her wrist suddenly became intensely hot, and a bloody warning appeared inside the bracelet.
Somewhere in the desolate universe, a pair of scarlet eyes are piercing through billions of light-years, coldly watching this tiny galaxy that is trying to break free of its shackles.
On the star platform suspended in the void, a giant Teleportation Array with a diameter of hundreds of feet came into view.
At the center of the array, eight crystals emitting a ghostly blue light floated, like the remnants of ancient stars. Mysterious runes flowed across their surfaces, and as the runes flickered, countless tiny Star Orbit seemed to move around them.
The array patterns are outlined by dark gold lines, winding and coiling like the bloodline of a sleeping dragon.
As energy begins to gather, specks of starlight gradually seep out from the golden patterns, the light growing brighter and brighter as it gathers, forming a dazzling stream of light.
Countless tiny starlight burst forth from the array patterns, weaving in the air into Milky Way -like band of light. The band of light spiraled upwards, forming a giant rotating vortex.
Deep within the vortex, the wonders of other Star Domain can be vaguely seen, such as burning crimson nebulae or strange metal fortresses suspended in the air.
Tiny starlight particles drifted continuously within the array, like dreamlike fireflies. The entire Teleportation Array seemed to connect to countless unknown and mysterious realms, exuding an aura that inspired both awe and longing.
Hua Qiang embraced and said goodbye to his parents, wife, children and elderly relatives who came to see him off.
He didn't take these people into his Small World, after all, the trip was too risky, he wasn't sure he could guarantee his own safety, and he didn't want his family to be in danger with him.
Hua Qiang entrusted the affairs of the Heavenly Court to Ye Wendao. Originally, he did not want to take it on and wanted to pass it on to Hua Xingchen.
As a result, these two old rascals decided who would succeed to the position of Heavenly Emperor using the childish method of rock-paper-scissors.
After saying goodbye, Hua Qiang looked at his wives, whose eyes were red and swollen, and forced a smile.
"Everyone, please don't be like this. I'm just going out for a short while, and I'll be back in no time."
"You all stay here and focus on your cultivation, striving to reach the peak of your realm as soon as possible. Then we can travel together to the vast universe and see the scenery there!"
The Puppet Golden House that Yan Ruyu brought from home has now been activated, and Hua Qiang left behind the twenty puppets inside that were at the half-step Starry Sky Realm.
Let them guard the Heavenly Court, protect the Heavenly Gate Palace, protect his parents, and all his wives, children, and elderly relatives.
Feeling that the atmosphere was sufficiently built, Hua Qiang waved his hand, and the eight energy crystals that had been floating in the air flew away, and then the huge star vortex began to slowly rotate.
Hua Qiang and Yan Ruyu stood in the center of the star platform Teleportation Array. The next moment, a seven-colored cloud enveloped them. With a whoosh, the cloud shot out and disappeared into the depths of the sky.