Entering the Sea of Stars, Borderlands

The Association's doors were open, and it was now open for business.

Shen Hui and Qingxue walked inside.

There were already quite a few people inside-staff and World Awakeners.

They were all moving about, busy with their own affairs.

At the same time, Shen Hui could sense the auras emanating from them, each representing their own world.

"Level-two worlds, level-three worlds, and there's even a level-four world!"

Shen Hui muttered under his breath.

Powerful worlds always gave off an aura that other World Awakeners could sense.

A world's level was determined by the number and levels of its living beings, as well as the levels of its hero units.

Worlds ranked level three or higher were extremely powerful.

They were also the kind of talent that the major factions fought to recruit.

Shen Hui and Qingxue went to the World Association's front desk.

A strikingly beautiful staff member was standing there. When she saw Shen Hui and Qingxue, two young children, approach,

she showed no disrespect and gave them a professional smile.

These were the days when students at all the major schools awakened their worlds.

So it wasn't strange for newly awakened people to come and register as members of the World Association.

However, most newly awakened people weren't very strong, so registering at this point was of little use.

Most people wouldn't make a special trip just to do that.

They only came to register later, when they needed to use the World Association's facilities or challenge an Unclaimed World.

The staff member asked,

"How can I help you two?"

Shen Hui said, "I'd like to register as a member of the World Association."

Qingxue followed up, "Me too."

"Of course. Please hand over your ID cards, and I'll register you right away."

The two handed over their ID cards, and the staff member tapped away at the computer.

Then she took out two cards and handed them to Shen Hui and Qingxue along with their ID cards.

Shen Hui's card had his name and Association ID number on it.

It served as proof of his membership in the World Association.

Shen Hui put it away, then said to the staff member,

"I'd like to apply to enter the Borderlands in the Sea of Stars and challenge an Unclaimed World."

Qingxue chimed in, "Me too!"

Hearing them, the staff member replied automatically, "All right."

But the next second, she froze.

"Uh... what? You said you want to apply to enter the Borderlands in the Sea of Stars?"

Shen Hui nodded, thinking she assumed he couldn't afford it.

He then handed over his World Bank card.

"Yes. This is to pay for entering the Sea of Stars."

"N-no, that's not it. Are you sure you didn't misspeak?"

"You're both newly awakened students, right? Isn't it too early to go to the Borderlands? I mean, I'm worried you'll be in danger."

Newly awakened people who went to the Borderlands to challenge the Unclaimed Worlds there

usually waited until more than ten days later, when their worlds had fully developed.

By then, they would have enough strength to safely challenge and fuse with other worlds.

But it had only been a few days, and these two already wanted to go to the Borderlands.

The staff member was completely dumbfounded.

Of course, this wasn't unheard of. Usually, the children of major factions or people who had received special training

were strong enough to do this.

But they wouldn't come to the World Association to enter the Borderlands.

They had their own facilities for that.

And although these two were both handsome and beautiful, their clothes were very ordinary.

They were clearly from ordinary families, and the money they spent to enter the Borderlands might even use up all their family's savings.

Although Shen Hui knew she meant well, he had already made up his mind.

"I'm sure I want to enter the Borderlands. I'd already made my decision before coming here."

Seeing that, the staff member didn't press the issue.

After all, it was their choice, and she had no right to interfere.

"All right. Long-term access to the initial equipment for entering the Borderlands costs 100,000 World Coins. After that, we'll also deduct the corresponding fees based on the Unclaimed Worlds you challenge."

The staff member informed Shen Hui, and he nodded.

He had already looked into all this before coming.

The Borderlands were in the Sea of Stars.

The Sea of Stars was a special region.

It could be described as an unusual space that only people who had awakened a world could connect to.

Using special equipment, they could project themselves into it.

The initial fee of 100,000 bought access to the equipment.

But the equipment couldn't be taken away. It could only be used inside the World Association.

Unless you bought a more expensive portable device, which let you enter the Sea of Stars from home.

But there was no need to waste money.

The foreign races' worlds that invaded Blue Star also used the Sea of Stars, this strange space, to invade.

So the Sea of Stars was a battlefield too, but it was vast and boundless.

The battlefield was very far away, and that region was also called the Starry Sky Battlefield.

The powerful humans of Blue Star were currently using their worlds to suppress that place and seal off the foreign races' passage.

But foreign races still broke through the seal from time to time, so the fighting never stopped.

Peace had never truly arrived.

The staff member deducted 100,000 World Coins from Shen Hui's bank card and arranged his access to the equipment.

Then it was Qingxue's turn.

The staff member's words made Qingxue hesitate for a moment, but after thinking it over,

she ultimately decided to go with Shen Hui. Her registration was being processed too.

Once they had finished registering, the staff member directed them to the Sea of Stars equipment area.

It was a large space with rows of separate cubicles.

Shen Hui and Qingxue chose adjacent cubicles and went inside.

There was only a narrow bed, with a high-tech helmet connected beside the head of it.

Shen Hui would use this helmet to project himself into the Sea of Stars.

The feeling reminded Shen Hui of the full-dive VR games in the webnovels he'd read.

Shen Hui lay down and put the helmet on.

Everything went dark before a soft light appeared.

A sweet voice rang out.

"Scanning iris. Identity confirmed. Number B54188. World Association member, Shen Hui."

"Equipment access confirmed. The Borderlands in the Sea of Stars have been unlocked. Beginning projection..."

Then Shen Hui's vision went dark, and his thoughts became jumbled.

It was like riding a roller coaster and bungee jumping at the same time.

But the feeling soon passed. Once he recovered,

Shen Hui opened his eyes and found himself beneath a starry sky!

Countless enormous stars filled the sky, a stunning sight.

The ground around Shen Hui was rugged and rocky.

Other people were walking all around him. They were all Awakeners projected into the Borderlands.

"Shen Hui!"

Qingxue's voice came from behind him. Shen Hui turned to look, and she was exactly the same as in the real world.

There was absolutely no difference. They said it was only his projection here, but Shen Hui felt as if he'd really come to this place.

"Let's go. We can choose an Unclaimed World over there."

A huge ball of light stood ahead, with many people gathered around it.

That was where people chose the Unclaimed Worlds they wanted to challenge.