Chapter 59: Devourer of Stars
In the cold, dark tunnel, a ghostly train came to a halt at a fork in the tracks. This train, originally destined for the Land of Dead Souls, had changed its route and was now heading toward the Phantom Rain Realm.
Inside the carriage, Su Xiao, Tuanzhang, the Undying Elder, and Daomo were all seated, each holding a spatial card provided by the Saintess Seat.
Originally, the path to the Starry Sky Seat required first taking the Demon Train, passing through the Phantom Rain Realm, and arriving at the Barren Lands. There, an area shrouded in Annihilation Mist could only be entered safely by those wearing the [Starry Sky Ring], leading them into the Starry Sky Seat.
The item crafted by the Saintess Seat—whether due to incorrect coordinate settings or spatial frequency interference—teleported them to the Ghost Train no matter how many times it was activated. Thus, Su Xiao, Tuanzhang, and the others decided to "persuade" the Ghost Train Conductor to change course and take them to the Annihilation Mist area in the Barren Lands.
Through Su Xiao's "kind persuasion," the Ghost Train Conductor "willingly" altered the route. The specters and vengeful spirits on board strongly supported this decision. In return, Su Xiao had to persuade the Undying Elder not to treat them as snacks.
On the train, Bubu Wang's psychological trauma was immense. Interestingly, Su Xiao and the Undying Elder were seated next to each other, so Bubu Wang, pressed against Su Xiao's leg on one side and the Undying Elder on the other, wasn't afraid of the Undying Elder at all but was terrified of the specters and vengeful spirits huddled at the back of the carriage.
When the train stopped, the view outside the window was a hazy sunset. The Barren Lands had arrived. After disembarking, Su Xiao looked south toward the Green Wetlands, where the sky was pitch-black, exuding an inexplicable sense of oppression.
Walking into the Annihilation Mist and ascending the steps, they entered the Starry Sky Seat. It remained as it was, with the surrounding walls and ceiling obscured by white mist. Seven seats surrounded the round table in the center, but only the Black Mist Figure occupied Seat 0.
Su Xiao, Tuanzhang, the Undying Elder, and Daomo sat down in silence. Before long, White Bull also arrived and took Seat 4, equally silent. Only the crucial Saintess Seat had yet to appear.
Half an hour later, the Saintess Seat, who floated rather than walked, entered. She exuded a faint herbal scent, her face slightly pale, feigning injury.
Slap, slap...
Several spatial cards were tossed onto the table, making the Saintess Seat even more uneasy. She weakly took out a bottle of potion, chugged it down, and reiterated that she was injured and couldn't be hit.
"Saintess Seat, your talent in spatial studies is highly recognized."
Baha spoke. Hearing this, the Saintess Seat coughed lightly and changed the subject: "Everyone's here. Can the Empty Seat Banquet begin?"
White Bull glanced at her and said, "I believe providing teleportation items is an expense for anyone here. No one is willing to pay for nothing..."
"I am willing!"
"..."
Su Xiao, Tuanzhang, and White Bull all looked at the Saintess Seat, who had raised her hand with a smile. She sheepishly lowered it, muttering, "The spatial cards are clearly very stable."
"For future Empty Seat Banquets, why don't we draw lots to decide who provides the teleportation items next time?"
White Bull's suggestion was unanimously agreed upon by everyone except the Saintess Seat. Soon, Bubu Wang prepared five lots. Tuanzhang, the Undying Elder, White Bull, Su Xiao, and the Saintess Seat each drew one.
Su Xiao opened his lot and found that he was to prepare the next teleportation item. After he showed the result, the expressions of the others stiffened. Then, Tuanzhang and the other three nullified the draw, claiming Su Xiao had cheated. Understandably, who would want to ride a thundering teleportation array?
Speaking of which, Su Xiao had once been the weakest in combat at the Empty Seat Banquet, but now he had successfully surpassed the Saintess Seat. As for White Bull, he claimed to be at the Absolute Strength level, but his true foundation lay between Absolute Strength and Supreme Strength. After all, as the Black Emperor of the entire Void underworld, if his strength weren't sufficient, he would have died long ago. Plus, he had a rebellious second-in-command.
With the Saintess Seat present, the Empty Seat Banquet was never dull. She always came up with new tricks. After the casual chat ended, the Black Mist Figure at Seat 0 spoke:
"Everyone, let's begin. As usual, state your needs first. The Saintess Seat desires [Stellar Source Matter]; White Bull needs [Life Source]; Tuanzhang needs [World Core]; Bai Ye needs [Soul Trait Enhancement Items]; Daomo needs [Supreme Source Matter]; the Undying Elder needs [Information on the Undying Curse]."
Having said this, the Black Mist Figure partially vanished into the gray mist.
"I have something better than Life Source."
Su Xiao took out [Life Source Potion] and placed it on the table. Seeing this potion, White Bull frowned slightly. He certainly trusted Su Xiao's alchemy skills, but precisely because of that trust, he found it hard to set a price.
"..."
Su Xiao tossed the [Life Source Potion] to White Bull, who caught it with some suspicion.
"This is a customized potion. To others, it's equivalent to poison. Drink first, then name your price."
Hearing this, White Bull didn't stand on ceremony. He uncorked the bottle, drank the potion, and leaned back in his tall seat to feel its effects.
Before long, White Bull began to snore loudly. The last time Su Xiao gave him a potion to suppress injuries, it only allowed White Bull to sleep a few good nights before the constant, agonizing pain returned, preventing him from relaxing, let alone resting or sleeping. He had to rely on sheer willpower to suppress the cell-level pain that constantly assailed him.
Now, his injuries were completely suppressed, at least for a few years. For White Bull, being able to return to a state of no pain throughout his body was incredibly soothing. Coupled with his Beast King physique, which loved deep sleep, he naturally fell into a deep slumber now that his body was finally comfortable.
Tuanzhang took out a sealed bottle containing a portion of [Stellar Source Matter], making the Saintess Seat's eyes light up.
The Undying Elder produced a broken jar, inside which was a portion of [Abyss Source Matter], one of the two types of [Supreme Source Matter] Daomo needed. Daomo, whose eyes glowed with a dark blue light, seemed to think for a few seconds before tossing a small fragment of a horn to the Undying Elder.
Tuanzhang, who had been resting with his eyes closed, opened them, glanced at the horn fragment in the Undying Elder's hand, and then closed his eyes again.
"Hmm? He actually fell asleep."
White Bull, holding the back of his neck, moved his head left and right. He took a deep breath, even creating a small vortex, and then exhaled slowly. This feeling of unrestricted breathing brought a faint smile to his face.
"I have something good here. Tuanzhang has been eyeing it for a long time."
White Bull took out a treasure chest that looked like it was forged from dark gold. Its visible thickness made one's desire skyrocket.
[You have obtained a World Chest (★★★★★).]
[Tip: This is the highest-tier World Chest. It requires five World Keys to open.]
...
Previously, Su Xiao had obtained an [Abyss Chest (★)], and he knew then that these special high-tier chests ranged from no stars to five stars. The one White Bull had just taken out was the top-tier World Chest, capable of yielding at least one supreme treasure.
Su Xiao couldn't open it yet; he only had one World Key. These could only be accumulated. Most contractors never had the chance to obtain such items, and those who could wouldn't sell them.
"Bai Ye, why isn't Beini here?"
The Saintess Seat, who wanted to pet a cat, asked from the neighboring seat.
"..."
Su Xiao pointed at Bubu Wang, indicating that this time, Bubu Wang had come.
"So it's the dog this time."
The Saintess Seat looked at Bubu Wang, who tilted his head at her.
Su Xiao took out two bottles of [Source Potion (Miracle)] and placed them on the table. The Saintess Seat, who had been waiting for Black Maple Tree produce, couldn't hold back. She took out a square wooden box and opened it to reveal a translucent blue fruit, seven-tenths resembling a Demon Fruit.
Su Xiao immediately recognized it as a [Stellar Fruit], the fruit of the Stellar Tree. Yes, the same type as the giant tree in the Eternal Light World, except that tree didn't bear fruit. A shorter variety of Stellar Tree, which couldn't survive in nature, bore a fruit every few hundred years under careful cultivation by major powers.
[Stellar Fruit: After consumption, permanently increases Mana Points by 15,000, Stamina by 30 points, and Soul Strength by 30 points.]
"I only managed to get two. I ate one myself. How about trading this one for your Source Potion?"
"..."
Su Xiao didn't speak, just lightly rubbed his forehead.
"If that's not enough, I can add more?"
"You said you ate a Stellar Fruit?"
"Yes, that's right."
"Just ate it raw?"
Su Xiao turned his head to look at the Saintess Seat beside him.
"How could that be."
The Saintess Seat waved her hand with a smile and continued, "I washed it before eating."
"..."
Su Xiao remained silent. For an alchemy master, consuming a rare treasure like [Stellar Fruit] raw was a complete waste.
"Madam Saintess Seat, have you considered refining that Stellar Fruit into a potion before drinking it? Wouldn't that be more effective?"
Baha spoke. Hearing this, the Saintess Seat had a moment of realization, but then said, "I know refining it would be more effective, but I'd feel embarrassed troubling Bai Ye for just a slight improvement."
"The effect could be improved by 50% to 90%."
"?"
The Saintess Seat was momentarily stunned, then smiled and said, "I don't need that much improvement. Not at all~"
Her composure cracked as she turned her head away.
"I'll take the remaining bottle of Source Potion."
White Bull tossed over a [Primordial Core]. This was the characteristic of the Starry Sky Seat—sometimes, exchanges weren't about value but about mutual need. For White Bull, if he wanted to break through to the Supreme level, he desperately needed this Source Potion.
This time, Su Xiao hadn't brought any Black Maple Tree produce because he was planning something that required a large amount of it. He didn't even have enough for himself. However, Su Xiao wasn't the only one at the Starry Sky Seat with a Black Maple Tree; the one at the bottom of the Black Abyss belonged to Daomo.
After they finished exchanging Black Maple Tree produce, Baha had already brewed a pot of Maple Tea with Eternal Spring Water, inviting the others to taste it. At such a wasteful method, Tuanzhang took a sip, exhaled a puff of hot air, and asked:
"You've obtained the Origin Stone: World?"
"Yes."
"Mind if I take a look?"
"..."
Su Xiao took out [Origin Stone: World]. Tuanzhang didn't take it but said with a hint of emotion, "It's a full circle larger than the one I once obtained. I hope you become the sole one after gaining the 'Qualification.' As for the specifics, I'm not being cryptic—I really can't say. Saying it would deduct my authority."
Tuanzhang remained true to his style: powerful, mysterious, but never cryptic. If he couldn't say something, he directly stated it would cost him authority, rather than pretending to be mysterious.
Speaking of which, the Empty Seat Banquet had been very dull at first. Tuanzhang, the Undying Elder, Daomo, and White Bull exchanged high-tier resources, barely speaking more than three sentences to each other per session.
After the Saintess Seat joined, the atmosphere changed significantly with her as the mascot. When Su Xiao joined, the change was initially small, as he was also taciturn. But as he gradually rose in power, now every Empty Seat Banquet ended with everyone enjoying Maple Tea and taking away a few bottles of Elemental Brew.
"I have an idea. Why not choose a 7th member? When Bai Ye joined, we voted on it. I was so happy then—I was no longer the weakest at the Starry Sky Seat. But now... now..."
As she spoke, the smile on the Saintess Seat's face faded. She was once again the weakest in combat at the Starry Sky Seat. She was certain she couldn't beat Su Xiao, who sat next to her. To avoid remaining the weakest, the Saintess Seat felt they should recruit another member, preferably someone with combat power no higher than the Fifth Rank.
This proposal reminded Su Xiao of when he first joined the Starry Sky Seat. If a new member were to join, should he adopt the same approach as Tuanzhang and the others had with him—offering items the new member most needed at their current stage?
If the new member was below the Fourth Rank, then the 242 [Soul Crystals (Medium)], 326 [Soul Crystals (Large)], 390 [Soul Crystals (Complete)], and 50 [Soul Crystal Cores] in his storage space could all find a place.
"For a new member, character is very important."
White Bull spoke. Hearing this, Tuanzhang, the Saintess Seat, Su Xiao, Bubu Wang, and Baha all looked at him in confusion. The Black Emperor of most of the Void underworld saying "character is very important" was utterly bewildering. White Bull's subordinates were all kinds of monsters and misfits. Still, he had a point.
"In that case, should we let the Saintess Seat decide on the new member?"
Tuanzhang proposed. The Saintess Seat put her hand on her hip and retorted, "Why me?"
"You have the most free time every day."
"Me, the most free? I need to sleep 8 hours a day to maintain my skin, eat breakfast, lunch, dinner, and afternoon tea, spend an hour on beauty treatments, take a nap, teach the younger generation of my family, and... and... In short, I'm very busy."
"Then, I'll, choose, the, new, member."
The Undying Elder spoke, making the Saintess Seat quickly say, "I was just complaining. You know me. I'll handle finding the new member. Besides, there might not even be a new member."
The Saintess Seat hurriedly took on the task because if she chose, the new member would at least be human. If the Undying Elder chose, who knew what kind of creature the new member would be. Though it was still uncertain if there would be a new member.
After the Empty Seat Banquet ended, Su Xiao didn't get up to leave. White Bull, who was about to rise from his seat diagonally opposite, paused due to Su Xiao's gaze and sat back down. This wasn't about hiding something from the other Starry Sky Seat members; it was a matter concerning White Bull's gang, unsuitable for the earlier setting.
When only Su Xiao and White Bull remained in the Starry Sky Seat, Su Xiao tossed a short dagger onto the table. Seeing this, White Bull's gaze turned dangerous. This dagger belonged to his second-in-command, Blood Hand Lucius, who always wore it. When White Bull and Lucius were still street thugs, Lucius had carried this dagger at his lower back.
"I was wondering why Lucius didn't have this dagger when I saw him the day before yesterday. I asked him casually, and he said he had taken it for maintenance."
"Witch Realm, Night City."
Su Xiao placed a Witch Emblem on the table. Given White Bull's status as the Void's underworld Black Emperor, he couldn't directly enter the Witch Realm—it would be a declaration of war. But with this Witch Emblem, the Wizard Faction would turn a blind eye to White Bull staying in the Witch Realm for up to a month.
What exactly the second-in-command Lucius was up to, Su Xiao had no interest in. As for the favor Lucius had offered during their last meeting, Su Xiao cared even less. Compared to the massive profits Lucius had made from the potion business, that favor was insignificant. Don't forget, the potion profits were all released by Su Xiao. Between supporting White Bull and Lucius, the choice was naturally White Bull.
Leaving the Annihilation Mist, Su Xiao activated his return authority. When the spatial fluctuations subsided, he was back in his exclusive room. He went to the Alchemy Laboratory and used the [Stellar Fruit] he had obtained to concoct a potion. An hour later, the potion in the container entered a self-reaction phase, estimated to take several hours before the next step.
Su Xiao opened the team channel, where Beini had sent a message. [Will Gem] had finally found a buyer. The gem was powerful, but it required over 500 points of Willpower to use, and more frustratingly, it needed the user's recognition.
Su Xiao had high enough Willpower, but due to his -25 Charm attribute, the gem stubbornly refused to recognize him.
Eternal-tier equipment and gems cost between 100,000 and 500,000 Soul Coins. However, [Will Gem] was one of the eight top-tier gems, but its usage prerequisites were too harsh. The buyer held firm on this point, and it eventually sold for 1,750,000 Soul Coins.
Additionally, Beini had discovered a top-tier Eternal-tier Nourishment-type equipment in the Great Gathering Place. Eternal-tier equipment had a maximum rating of 6,000 points, but even at full rating, there were differences in strength. Equipment requiring a body attribute of over 800 points was the strongest among Eternal-tier items, typically only usable by those at the Supreme level.
Among these top-tier Eternal-tier items, there was a category called Nourishment-type. Their core ability was to continuously and permanently enhance the wearer. For example, some Stamina-type Nourishment equipment increased Health Points by 12,000 to 15,000 per natural day, reaching the cap after a month.
This enhancement seemed absurd, but Nourishment-type equipment was designed for Supreme-level users, who had the wealth and physique to use it only at the mid-to-late Supreme stage.
Su Xiao, still at the Absolute Strength level, was enjoying the benefits of Nourishment-type equipment far earlier, making the bonuses even more outrageous. As for the Strength-type Nourishment equipment requiring 800 points of True Strength, he could achieve this through the [Bloodthirsty Madness] ring.
[Equipment Effect: Madness (Core, Active): Upon activation, your True Strength and True Stamina are temporarily increased by 50%, and you gain 100% attack speed and movement speed, along with 85% attack-based life absorption. As a cost, during activation, you lose 1% of your maximum sanity per second, 1% of your Willpower attribute per second, and 1% of your maximum Health Points per second. This effect forcibly ends when your Health Points drop below 1%.
Tip: After this enhancement ends, your sanity and Willpower will quickly recover to their normal maximum levels.]
This approach essentially locked the [Strength-type Nourishment Equipment] onto his body. This wasn't a game; if his body attributes weren't sufficient, the equipment would automatically unequip. As long as Su Xiao's physique could withstand it, there was no problem.
Beini was still negotiating the price. Su Xiao had obtained [128,600 ounces of World Force] from the Dark God Cult in the Witch Realm. At high tiers, this was quite popular and could be used as leverage in price negotiations.
Browsing his storage space, Su Xiao took out five [Original Sin Cores] and then the [Book of Original Sin]. He used the book to devour these cores. Opening it, he found that the eighth page of the [Book of Original Sin] was still incomplete, with a fifth of the bottom corner still forming.
A complete page of the [Book of Original Sin] had sealing power a hundred times greater than a half-formed one.
Going to the enhancement room to check the Awakening Stele, he found it still in deep activation mode. It would take a few more hours to activate the [Universal Passive] on it. By then, the large sum of Soul Coins he had just acquired would be quickly spent.
Su Xiao went to the adjacent empty room, about a hundred square meters, with pockmarked walls from his blade technique development sessions. He took out the [Twisted Eternal Core].
This item was used for trading with Void Existence. Once the seal was removed, it would immediately attract a Void Existence. Only within the Reincarnation Paradise could a safe transaction be guaranteed. However, which Void Existence would be attracted after removing the seal on the [Twisted Eternal Core] was uncontrollable.
Assuming the Void Existence's satisfaction with the [Treeborn Page] was 8 to 10, its satisfaction with the [Twisted Eternal Core] would be at least 1,000. Thus, this transaction was very important.
Su Xiao gripped the [Twisted Eternal Core] tightly. The hardened branches sealing it cracked and shattered. An energy resembling that of an ancient era emanated from the core in his hand. Within seconds, the surrounding walls and ceiling visibly softened, becoming like everted flesh.
Cracks appeared in this flesh, accompanied by strange sounds. Eyes opened within the flesh, densely packed, varying in size, layer upon layer. This sight would drive most people into madness.
Everything in sight induced a hysterical feeling, making one want to gouge out their own eyes, deafen their ears, tear open their scalp, and let their skull burst forth into the twisted freedom filled with death, suffocation, and fear, falling into endless darkness and pain.
Pure, extreme malice surged from the surroundings. All the eyes on the walls and ceiling twisted, crushing each other into a bloody pulp. The blood coalesced into a giant hand. The next moment, this hand hanging from the ceiling was covered in eyes, each one staring at Su Xiao.
The Void Existence that had come to trade with Su Xiao was the Old Lord.
Su Xiao met the gaze of the largest eye in the giant hand's palm and tossed the [Twisted Eternal Core] toward it. The core was swallowed by the crowded eyes. The Old Lord seemed to deliberate for a few seconds before a sheathed long blade fell, standing upright on the ground.
This was the blade of Devourer of Stars Akas, one of the top three most powerful Law-Annihilating Blades in the entire Law Destruction Faction.
When the eerie phenomena around him subsided, the room returned to its original state. Su Xiao examined the blade in his hand. On the upper part of the scabbard, there was a line of small characters branded with Cyan Steel Shadow Energy. These were Void characters, somewhat hastily written, likely left by Devourer of Stars Akas in a dying state.
The translation was: 'Non-Law Destroyers using this blade risk harming themselves. If a descendant Law Destroyer obtains it, use a Law-Annihilating Blade to devour this blade, turning it into your own power. Devourer of Stars is dead.'