Chapter Nine: Ruida Star

Qijie Star, Teleportation Hub.

"Third Young Master, this is wonderful! We are finally returning to the main planet!" Xiao Yun said excitedly.

"I knew you were getting bored. Can't blame you, though; we've been on Qijie Star for over a hundred years. Most people would be restless," Guan Zhiheng replied.

"Xiao Heng, how many teleports will it take to reach your family's home planet?" Zhang Sanfeng asked.

"A total of four. Our family's main planet is closer to the central region, so it’s quite far from Qijie Star."

"Then let us set off," Zhang Sanfeng said, stepping onto the teleportation array.

Ruida Star is a well-known planet on the edge of the Immortal Realm, serving as a junction for three of the nine major ascension planets, including Qijie Star, Baiyuan Star, and Xianyuan Star. There is only one city on this planet; as it lacks local specialties, it functions primarily as a transportation hub. The teleportation zone alone occupies a third of the city, housing over three hundred arrays of various sizes.

"Master, we have arrived at Ruida Star. Shall we continue the teleportation, or rest for a day?" After stepping out of the array, Guan Zhiheng asked.

Zhang Sanfeng surveyed his surroundings and asked, "Is it safe here?"

"This territory belongs to the Immortal Emperor Zidian. One of his Immortal Lords is stationed here year-round, so it is extremely safe. Of course, once you leave this transport city, no one cares whether you live or die," Guan Zhiheng explained.

"Then let us rest here for a day. There are some things I wish to discuss with you; it was too unstable on Qijie Star," Zhang Sanfeng said, walking toward the exit.

"Really? That's wonderful!" Guan Zhiheng was thrilled.

Over the past few days, Guan Zhiheng had witnessed Zhang Sanfeng’s rapid progress with joy. In just half a month, Zhang Sanfeng had ascended five levels, from the early Earth Immortal stage to the late Heavenly Immortal stage. In truth, this was due to the nature of Zhang Sanfeng’s cultivation technique, which essentially suppressed his level; he had already possessed the strength of a mid-stage Heavenly Immortal upon ascension. Once in the Immortal Realm, where the celestial energy was a hundred times purer than the spiritual energy of the cultivation world, his cultivation naturally surged to its proper level. Otherwise, no one could advance a level every three days unless they were using Tang Yi’s space-time super-abilities. Because they had feared pursuit by Qian Ren on Qijie Star, they hadn't been able to rest properly, and Zhang Sanfeng hadn't had the chance to instruct his new disciple. Hearing that Zhang Sanfeng would finally provide personal guidance, Guan Zhiheng was naturally delighted.

The trio reached the largest and finest inn in the transport city: the Yuelai Inn.

"Welcome, three guests. Are you staying the night or just dining?" a waiter asked, bowing and scraping at the entrance.

"Prepare three superior rooms and bring us a table of fine dishes," Guan Zhiheng said, tossing a high-grade immortal stone to the waiter.

"Coming right up! Right this way, esteemed guests!" The waiter led them into the inn.

Inside the space of the Immortal Cage, aboard the spacecraft:

"Fellow Daoist Tang, what is this?" Heavenly Master Tianji asked, peering at Tang Yi from inside a cylindrical transparent container.

"This is just for testing. Your cultivation is the highest here, so naturally, you are the one to test it," Tang Yi replied, his fingers dancing across the screen.

Rays of light continuously scanned Tianji from within the container, and the values on the screen flickered rapidly until they finally stabilized.

Tang Yi sighed, "System overload again. Heavenly Master, you are far too formidable. What exactly is your cultivation level?"

"Hmm, two million years ago, I reached the peak of the mid-stage Immortal Venerable. I suppose it remains roughly the same, as there is no way to cultivate here," Tianji recalled.

"…Very well. I will make some improvements. Please bear with it, and we shall try again tomorrow."

"Again tomorrow?" Tianji looked helpless.

***

In his room at the Yuelai Inn, Zhang Sanfeng discovered three types of isolation arrays: soundproofing, visual cloaking, and immortal sense shielding. While not of the highest grade, they were practical.

"This room is suitable. Activate the isolation arrays."

Guan Zhiheng nodded, retrieved a mid-grade immortal stone, and placed it into the array core on the table. Instantly, the three formations hummed to life.

"Take these rings. I have nothing better to offer, nor any other equipment for now. My primary goal is to find someone. It has been over half a year since I ascended. He is called Tang Yi, and he should have been completely naked when he ascended. I wonder if such a person has been seen." Zhang Sanfeng spoke in a deep voice.

"Thank you, Master!" Guan Zhiheng accepted the rings with secret joy. "An ascender who arrived naked? I haven't heard of such a person. If he existed, I would certainly know. Like you, Master, any ascender with even the slightest peculiarity is monitored by the various factions on the ascension planets."

"Oh? And what do the reports say about me?" Zhang Sanfeng asked with curiosity.

"They say: A newcomer who ascended with the cultivation of a late-stage Mortal Immortal, though his true strength exceeds that. He uses a sword and possesses powerful stealth abilities. The reason is unknown. He was pursued by the Wanling Sect and leaped into the Cape of Death on Qijie Star. His current status is unknown," Guan Zhiheng recalled.

"The situation is mostly accurate. By the way, the functions of these rings are explained inside because Fellow Daoist Tang included instructions. Just channel a bit of immortal energy into them to understand their properties."

Usually, artifact crafters would not include manuals. Tang Yi, due to time constraints and mass production, included a manual in every ring, much like a product instruction sheet. This would later become a unique hallmark of Tang Yi’s creations. Currently, he produced mostly rings; other items like the Jet spacecraft, multi-purpose vehicles, or formation disks were rare.

"Master, this ring is perfect for a girl. May I give it to Xiao Yun?" Guan Zhiheng asked, selecting one after inspecting them.

"If I gave it to you, it is yours to use or give as you please. Now, go and rest. We continue our journey tomorrow. Once we reach your home, I will speak with your parents, and then we shall begin our own path," Zhang Sanfeng said before entering a state of meditation.

"This disciple takes his leave." Guan Zhiheng bowed and exited to the adjacent room.

The Guan family's home planet: Guanyue Star.

In the grand hall of the Guan estate, a middle-aged man with a resolute expression sat in the seat of honor. This was Guan Zhiheng’s father, the current head of the Guan family, Guan Shengtian.

"Hmph, so the third son has finally decided to come back on his own?" Guan Shengtian said to the woman beside him, his tone harsh.

"Brother Tian, please stop being angry at Heng'er. It has been over a hundred years; surely your anger should have faded by now." This woman was Guan Zhiheng’s mother, Yue Qiuying.

She and Guan Shengtian had three sons and two daughters. Guan Zhiheng was the third child and, arguably, the most gifted among them, with a cultivation speed far surpassing his brothers and sisters. However, he was always headstrong, meddling in matters he shouldn't and intervening whenever he saw something he disliked. He was known on Guanyue Star as the "Knightly Third Young Master," and Guan Shengtian was constantly cleaning up his messes.

Finally, an incident occurred where Guan Zhiheng, due to a misunderstanding, beat the favorite closed-door disciple of an Immortal Emperor beyond recognition. While the disciple survived, the Emperor’s pride was wounded. Guan Shengtian had to spend a fortune in resources and humble himself to settle the matter. In a fit of rage, he exiled Guan Zhiheng. Guan Zhiheng, being stubborn, refused to return even after his father signaled he could come back thirty years later. Had it not been for the appearance of Zhang Sanfeng, who knew when he would have returned?