Outside the palace, Shentu said with a look of apology, "Brother Yang, I can only see you off to here. My identity is too sensitive—if I were to escort you out personally, certain people would definitely take notice. Take care on the road."
"Blood Pupil will accompany you. He'll explain everything along the way and keep you safe." Jialong waved someone over from the side, and the demon beast warrior who had previously taken Yang Kai to purchase Star Shuttles and ores stepped forward, flashing Yang Kai a grin. "Young Master Yang."
"Much appreciated." Yang Kai understood this was Shentu's goodwill, so he didn't refuse.
"Brother Yang, we shall meet again!" Shentu cupped his fists solemnly.
Yang Kai returned the courtesy, and under Blood Pupil's lead, the two of them rode a Star Shuttle and shot forward.
The warships of Shuiyue Star were mainly used for transporting supplies. The various major powers in the Star Field placed all manner of orders through their branch offices stationed on Shuiyue Star, purchasing cultivation resources from the Hengluo Commerce Association. Once the association had prepared everything, it would ship the goods via warship to those powers' home planets for handover within the agreed timeframe.
Along the way, Blood Pupil explained that the warship they were about to board was headed to a star called Jade Star, which served as the home base of a power called Blazing Flame. The faction wasn't particularly strong, but neither was it weak—it ranked as a mid-tier force across the entire Star Field and controlled two cultivation stars, of which Jade Star was one.
The total voyage would take roughly half a year, passing through several other powers' cultivation stars en route.
"Young Master Yang, you can choose which cultivation star to disembark at according to your own plans, or you can stay on the warship all the way to Jade Star," Blood Pupil explained.
"Understood. I'll decide when the time comes." Yang Kai nodded.
The two flew cautiously alongside Blood Pupil, transferring through the spatial formation they had used before and arriving in a different city. They entered an area heavily guarded by warriors.
Before them stretched an enormous plaza that extended so far it seemed to have no end. Docked upon it warship after warship, large and small, while countless warriors bustled about—hauling cargo in orderly fashion.
The crates of supplies radiated intense energy fluctuations, and many of them contained items of extremely high quality.
Blood Pupil led Yang Kai through the plaza, and Yang Kai looked around in both directions, secretly stunned by the wealth the Hengluo Commerce Association possessed.
Those dozens of warships alone represented a staggering fortune, to say nothing of the fully loaded supplies aboard them and the sheer number of warriors.
A major power was truly a major power!
They had barely walked any distance when several Saint King Realm warriors approached from the front. Clear killing intent leaked from their bodies as they regarded Blood Pupil and Yang Kai with guarded expressions. One of them raised a hand and barked, "Halt! Identify yourselves!"
Blood Pupil stopped without the slightest trace of panic and produced a command token from his spatial ring, handing it over.
The warrior took it, examined it carefully, and gave a slight nod. Asking no further questions, he waved them through.
"Young Master Shentu has already made all the necessary arrangements. We'll be departing alongside an influential figure he knows," Blood Pupil said in a low voice as they moved through the warship plaza.
Before long, Blood Pupil's eyes lit up, and he pointed ahead.
There, a Saint King-grade superior warship sat silently at anchor. Its hull door was wide open, and many warriors were loading supplies inside. Outside the warship stood a burly man with his hands clasped behind his back, his hawk-like eyes gleaming with a sharp light, his expression carrying an innate authority.
All of the people hauling cargo kept their distance from him, clearly afraid.
When Blood Pupil and Yang Kai approached, his gaze snapped onto them instantly. Yang Kai's brow furrowed involuntarily—a prickling sensation washed over his entire body, as though countless needles were stabbing into him.
"Lord Xin Rui," Blood Pupil stepped forward and cupped his fists lightly.
"This is him?" The man called Xin Rui looked Yang Kai up and down, then snorted softly. "Young Master Shentu wants me to take him away?"
"That's right." Blood Pupil nodded.
"He's not with the Commerce Association?" Xin Rui looked at him.
Blood Pupil shook his head. "He's Young Master Shentu's friend."
"Oh?" Xin Rui's eyes flickered with surprise. "Shentu actually has friends? Now that's a rare sight. I'll take him, but remember—no trouble on my warship. Follow the rules, or I'll dump him in the middle of the Star Field and let fate take its course."
"Don't worry. A friend of the young master won't cause any trouble." Blood Pupil smiled, unfazed by the threat.
Xin Rui curled his lip. "If he weren't trouble, why would Shentu be in such a hurry to get him out? He doesn't exactly look like the obedient type to me!"
He gave Yang Kai a meaningful look, as though he had glimpsed something, but asked no further questions. He simply snorted, "Get on board."
"Thank you." Blood Pupil smiled and beckoned Yang Kai to follow him into the warship.
Inside the hull, many warriors hurried about, each one busily occupied.
Blood Pupil paid them no mind, and the two of them made their way through the corridors on their own, eventually finding two adjacent rooms and settling in.
"Young Master Yang, if you're not satisfied with this room, I can have it switched for another," Blood Pupil said, gauging Yang Kai's preference.