"Does that make me an idiot?" Guen asked with a self-deprecating smile.
After ending the call with the East Guardian, he flew toward Dinghai City with Carl and Alpha.
Carl chuckled at his words, while Alpha wanted to laugh but didn't dare make a sound.
"The East Guardian must have his reasons and considerations for saying that," Carl said. "You heard him, too. He said, 'Going into the sea might be foolish, but if it's worth it, then it isn't foolish.' That reminds me of something."
Guen looked at Carl, but she had already fallen silent. Clearly, even if he asked, she wouldn't tell him.
"Come on. The East Guardian said he'd explain once we reach Dinghai City."
The three figures vanished into the distance in the blink of an eye.
Master Hulu sat in the palace, reading the intelligence report that had just arrived. His expression grew grave. "How many years has it been since a talent like this appeared? And he just happens to be hostile toward the Imperial Council and my Royal Family? If we don't take this chance to kill him, we may never get another opportunity to contain him. The Envoy Lord should be arriving soon, too..."
Master Hulu suddenly sensed something and looked up. Through the window, he saw Fighters flying through the air, some taking off and others landing in Dinghai City. Among them were three people who immediately caught his eye.
The one leading the group had red hair and ordinary features, but the confidence in his eyes gave him a distinctive air.
Master Hulu enunciated each syllable. "Guen!"
Guen and the others landed, and the East Guardian was already waiting for him at the palace entrance.
"Who's this?" The East Guardian gave Guen an approving look, then turned to Alpha.
"Guardian, this is Carl. She volunteered to join the Goddess Temple, and several of our Apprentice Level 9 brothers want to join as well," Guen explained.
Alpha already knew the East Guardian's status and strength from Guen and the others. She also understood the vast gap between Planetary Level Nine and Planetary Level One, and her excitement brought a blush to her face. "It's an honor to meet you, Guardian. Actually, actually, Lao Qi is only Apprentice Level 8..."
"Lao Qi?" The East Guardian asked without showing any reaction. "Then bring all seven of them here. I'll explain some of the differences within the Goddess Temple to you tonight. You're Planetary Level, so you can become a full member. Your treatment will naturally differ from theirs."
With that, the East Guardian put an arm around Guen. "Carl, Guen and I have some important matters to discuss. Please look after Alpha for now."
"Yes, Guardian," Carl replied.
Alpha grew anxious. She wanted to explain that there weren't seven of them, but she didn't dare speak up. All she could do was watch the East Guardian and Guen walk away.
As he asked Guen about the details of his battle with the sea beast, the East Guardian led him into the palace and into an empty room.
"Good. It's time to get back to the point. When you heard me say you should go into the sea, what did you think?" the East Guardian asked.
Guen paused, then decided to be honest. "I thought it was too risky. But since you suggested it, Guardian, you must have a particular reason."
"You thought it was foolish, right?" The East Guardian shook his head. "Don't deny it. That's how any normal person would react to such a suggestion. Tell me, has the High Priest ever told you about the relationship between Tucha Planet and the Aoyu Empire?"
Guen's expression shifted. "What does that have to do with going into the sea?"
"Of course it's related," the East Guardian said gravely. "Have you ever wondered why, with places like the Trial Grounds and the Land of Inheritance, the Aoyu Empire has only two Star Level beings? Did none of the outstanding talents who emerged from the Trial Grounds over the years manage to break through? Were they all suppressed by me, a Planetary Level Nine who's only a few hundred years old? Why does the Trial Grounds go to such lengths to protect you talented youngsters?"
Guen immediately recalled that he hadn't been the only one to reach the Fifth Stage of the trial. Someone else had done it before him!
The Aoyu Empire's planet had a history spanning several thousand years, and the Aoyu Empire itself had existed for more than a thousand. With the guidance of the Trial Grounds and the Land of Inheritance, surely it should have produced more than two Star Level powerhouses.
It was true that even in the universe, Star Level powerhouses were not easy to produce. In the remote reaches of the cosmos, one could dominate an entire planet!
On a planet like the Aoyu Empire's, two human Star Level beings and five beast Star Level beings made them an undisputed power in the region. No one dared challenge their authority.
But with such guidance, human civilization should have produced more than two Star Level powerhouses over the course of thousands of years.
The East Guardian sighed. "For ordinary people, this is a secret. Knowing it wouldn't do them any good. But you're different. I can tell you plainly: every fifty years, the Tucha Planet's Envoy comes here and takes away the most gifted cultivators. Most of the talented ones have already been taken to Tucha Planet. The requirements are that they be under fifty and above Planet Level 5. Their performance in the trials is a bonus, too."
"What? You mean someone will come here and take us into the universe?!" Guen suddenly grew excited.
At first, he hadn't felt much interest in the universe his parents spoke of, because he couldn't imagine its splendor and wonders. But ever since acquiring Moto, the intelligent system, he had gained a glimpse of the universe's marvels, and his longing for it had grown stronger by the day.
The East Guardian steadied Guen and said solemnly, "Now you understand why this is a secret, don't you? Everyone who learns it longs for the universe. So listen carefully to what I'm about to say.
"First, the Trial Grounds only protects people for a limited time. At most, it will protect someone for fifty years. Each time they advance to another trial stage, they gain another ten years of protection, but the maximum is still fifty years. By then, it will be clear whether they're truly gifted, and the Tucha Planet's Envoy will have arrived. The Trial Grounds exists to protect these talents from dying prematurely.
"When the Tucha Planet's Envoy arrives, he'll judge them by their talent, too. The higher their level and the younger they are, the more highly he'll regard them. So what you need to do is raise your level as quickly as possible."
Guen considered this. "So going into the sea this time could help me cultivate?"
The East Guardian nodded. "That's right. The risks are great, but so are the opportunities."
Guen was silent for a while before speaking. "But, Guardian, why are you willing to do so much for me? I'm not doubting you..."
"Hahaha!" The East Guardian's laughter interrupted Guen. "Of course I have my own reasons. Just thinking about the wonders of the universe makes me yearn to see them. I hope to enter the universe someday, too. But I've followed the High Priest for a long time, and I know many secrets. In the universe, people at Apprentice Level aren't even recognized as citizens. Planetary Level? You're considered a decent hired gun—cannon fodder, really. Knowing this truth, I'm not ashamed to admit that I'm a little afraid.
"Only Star Level beings are valued. But I know that, given my talent, whether I can reach Star Level before my lifespan runs out is still uncertain. A Planetary Level being can live for a thousand years. When I'm eight hundred, whether or not I've reached Star Level, I'll go to the universe. By then, Guen, you'll surely have a bright future. You might already be a Star Level powerhouse—or perhaps even the one Universe Level being a star system can normally produce. Maybe you'll remember the little help I've given you and look after me. Then I can see for myself just how wonderful the universe is.
"We've actually met the Tucha Planet's Envoy. Everyone above Planetary Level Seven has basically met him. He gave us three options. The first is to reach at least Planet Level 5 within fifty years. Our Aoyu Empire can produce only three to five talents like that every fifty years, and that's in a good year. Sometimes there aren't any. The second is to reach Star Level; then you can go to Tucha Planet as well. The third is to stay behind in the Aoyu Empire, defend against the beasts, preserve the human race, and raise the next generation. That also helps maintain stability within the empire. The Planet Level 5 threshold for refraining from acting at will wasn't chosen arbitrarily. You can also build up contributions, and once you've accumulated enough, you can go. I've already met the requirements, but I don't have the confidence yet. You're the source of that confidence, so you have nothing to worry about."
Guen understood. No wonder the East Guardian had given him three bottles of Tempering Potion when they first met. Now he realized the East Guardian had just used an excuse to help him. He simply wasn't hiding it anymore.
Guen was about to speak, but the East Guardian stopped him.
"All right, enough about that. Going into the sea is indeed dangerous. I'll explain the pros and cons first, then you can decide whether to agree."
Before you continue