Ganwu Universe Kingdom, Luo Ke Star Sector, Qing Yang Empire, Azure Mist Planet.
Spaceport.
Amid the endless stream of ships, a pitch-black Qingniao-III spacecraft bearing the Lu Family crest glided smoothly into its designated berth for nobility.
Inside the cabin, a middle-aged man clad in azure rune armor, his presence as deep and still as an abyss, gazed through the vast porthole at the grand, orderly spaceport. A trace of hard-to-detect emotion flickered in his eyes.
Behind him, four young men and women crowded around the window. Dressed in luxurious clothes and possessed of an air of distinction, they could barely hide their excitement and curiosity as they took in the empire's most prosperous interstellar hub.
"Lord Mo, have we arrived at Azure Mist Planet?"
A tall red-haired girl with a flame-shaped mark between her brows couldn't help asking, her voice brimming with excitement.
"Mm."
The armored man known as Lord Mo gave a slight nod. His gaze swept over the view outside, which was countless times more developed than their home planet, and he said gravely, "This is Azure Mist Planet, the Lu Family's ancestral world."
He turned toward the four youths behind him, the most outstanding talents of their generation, and his tone grew solemn. "The four of you were selected from among the hundreds of life-bearing planets under the Lu Family's control as the most exceptional talents of the past century. This audience is a rare opportunity I've secured for you."
He paused, his voice growing heavier. "Soon, you'll have the chance to meet the Lu Family's Old Ancestor."
"If he takes a liking to you, even a few words of guidance from him would benefit you for the rest of your lives. And if fortune smiles on you... you might even be accepted as a nominal disciple..."
Lord Mo let his words trail off, but the four young people all drew sharper breaths. Their excitement turned into intense longing and reverence.
The legends of the Lu Family's Old Ancestor on Azure Mist Planet had spread throughout every corner of the empire.
He was an ancient being who had lived for more than ninety thousand years!
A peak Universe Level powerhouse at the ninth rank!
He was the pillar of the Lu Family on Azure Mist Planet, its unshakable anchor!
His reputation resounded throughout the Qing Yang Empire. Even several neighboring low-level cosmic civilizations, and powerful factions in the Black Dragon Mountain Star Sector, knew that the Qing Yang Empire had a "Giant Axe Warrior" who had fought his way through the death matches at the Giant Axe Martial Arena!
Even the great Qingyang Sovereign regarded the Lu Family's Old Ancestor with awe.
To become a disciple of such a legendary powerhouse—even in name alone—would mean far more than any reward. It could completely change their fates, as well as those of their families!
The hatch of the Qingniao-III spacecraft opened soundlessly. The group stepped onto Azure Mist Planet, their hearts filled with excitement and reverence.
In the far north of Azure Mist Planet's landmass, beneath glaciers that had stood for ten thousand years, lay a cultivation chamber forged entirely from the D-grade metal Black Jet Gold.
BOOM!!!
A terrifying surge of Origin Force, seemingly capable of tearing stars apart, burst out without warning. A violent shock wave of energy swept through the chamber like a supernova explosion!
The seemingly indestructible Black Jet Gold walls groaned and warped!
Fortunately, the destructive energy lasted only an instant before cutting off abruptly. Otherwise, the chamber, which could withstand any attack below the Domain Lord Level, might well have been completely torn apart.
"Hah..."
Amid the energy dust swirling with an aura of destruction, Lu Ming slowly opened his eyes. His gaze, weathered by nearly ten thousand years, was filled with unmistakable exhaustion and deep resignation.
"I failed..."
A sigh laden with countless tangled emotions echoed through the empty chamber.
"Ninth time... I've spent most of the family's fortune, and even swallowed my pride to take out a secured loan from the Cosmic Galaxy Bank just to get that Spirit Marrow... I thought I'd finally break through the bottleneck this time... but it was all just a fleeting illusion."
Feeling the Origin Force inside him scatter once again, he gave a helpless, bitter smile.
"Is the gap in talent really impossible to overcome?"
After ninety thousand years of cultivation, Lu Ming believed his resolve had long since been tempered into unbreakable steel. Yet the repeated blows of nine failed attempts to break through to the Domain Lord Level—especially this latest failure, after his most thorough preparations and highest hopes—still sent enormous waves rolling through his usually placid heart.
He couldn't help feeling unsettled.
His lifespan was nearly exhausted.
A Universe Level powerhouse could theoretically live for a hundred thousand years.
And he was already more than ninety-nine thousand years old.
He could clearly feel the end of his life, rising from the depths of his soul like a sword hanging over his head, slowly descending.
"Less than... two hundred years left."
Lu Ming knew exactly what that meant.
If he couldn't break through to the Domain Lord Level within two hundred years and achieve an evolution in his life level and a dramatic increase in lifespan, he, the Lu Family's Old Ancestor, would turn to dust and vanish from this vast universe.
But how could he possibly break through in a mere century?
For this attempt, he had nearly drained most of the Lu Family's wealth and incurred a massive debt to the Cosmic Galaxy Bank.
Without an incredible stroke of fortune, there was no way he could gather the resources for another attempt within a century.
Besides... even if he had the resources, would he definitely succeed?
A powerful sense of unwillingness welled up inside him.
Lu Ming was a transmigrator.
More than ninety thousand years ago, he had arrived in this world by accident, inhabiting the body of an ordinary youth on Azure Mist Planet.
Back then, Azure Mist Planet had been a place where ferocious beasts roamed and people struggled to survive.
With knowledge beyond his era and decent talent, he had risen to power, swept across the stars, unified the planet within a century, and founded the Azure Mist Kingdom. He had been hailed as the Azure Mist Martial God.
But the good times hadn't lasted. A catastrophe had descended from the heavens: the infamous slave-catching band of the Black Skull had discovered this primitive planet.
Faced with an overwhelming gap in power, Azure Mist Planet's resistance had seemed laughably futile.
Though Lu Ming had fought to the death and slain two Stellar Level captains, he had ultimately been subdued.
The planet's powerful warriors had all been implanted with Slave Chips and reduced to merchandise.
Because of his demonstrated potential, his owner arranged for him to become a gladiator at the Great Axe Arena.
Amid endless slaughter and despair, he had grown stronger step by step, advancing from Planetary Level to Stellar Level and finally breaking through to Universe Level. After winning a thousand consecutive matches in the brutal Great Axe Death Match, he had earned the title of Giant Axe Warrior and won his freedom.
With the fame of a Giant Axe Warrior and the wealth he had amassed, he had bought back his home planet, founded a family there, and protected his homeland.
Ten thousand years had drifted by like a dream.
Lu Ming slowly rose to his feet, pushing aside the jumbled memories.
"Two hundred years..."
Feeling the unmistakable limit of his lifespan, he shook his head with a wry smile.
"I've lived for tens of thousands of years and watched the world rise and fall. I suppose that's enough."
"If I'd transmigrated into a short-lived world, I'd probably have been reincarnated several times by now..."
As he was still musing to himself, light gathered before him, and the elegant phantom of a woman in palace attire appeared respectfully. Her figure was composed of energy.
She was his Intelligent Life, Azure Kite.
"Master,"
The phantom spoke in a cool, respectful voice.
"Family envoy Mo has returned to Azure Mist Planet. He has brought the four most exceptional talents from the life-bearing planets under our control and requests an audience with you."
Mo?
That stiff little fellow?
An image surfaced in Lu Ming's mind: a figure who was always dressed in azure armor.
"Has another hundred years passed..."
Lu Ming spoke softly, his tone returning to its usual indifference.
"Bring them in."
[Clang! Host's intense unwillingness and will to survive have been detected. Conditions for binding have been met...]
[Sacrifice Return System binding in progress...]
[Binding successful!]
[This system can return anything possible through the sacrifice of all things! Host, explore its functions!]
A cold mechanical voice rang out without warning, deep within Lu Ming's mind.
Lu Ming's body stiffened, and an unbelievably brilliant gleam burst from his eyes!
"What is this...?!"
A cheat!!