Chapter Two: The Celestial Steed Alliance

Tang Yi started the spaceship, and it sped silently through the vastness of space toward the Pegasus Star System…

On the Saturnian Resource Moon, at the residence of the cultivators from the Pegasus Star System, the grand building at the center served as the Pegasus Alliance’s branch in the Solar System. In the main hall, the black-clad man Zuo Jiao presented an object to the alliance leader, Ling Ren, and said, “Master, this was sent by Lu Changsheng. It’s called a Mobile Video Communicator. With it, one can communicate with others anywhere in the Solar System.”

“Hmm, the spies long ago reported the emergence of such a device! But as I recall, it couldn’t yet enable communication across the entire Solar System—only between Earth and Mars, right?” Alliance Leader Ling toyed with the communicator as he spoke. Suddenly, the communicator rang. Ling Ren was startled as both the communicator and his ring buzzed with a notification: “Call from Lu Changsheng. Please answer. Call from Lu Changsheng…”

“So soon, it’s already connected here? Is this for real? It seems Tang Yi truly is a talent,” Ling Ren remarked, then answered the call. On screen appeared Lu Changsheng’s ever-smiling, round face. The round face began to speak.

“Alliance Leader Ling, long time no see! How have you been?” Lu Changsheng greeted him with a smile.

“Master Lu, it has indeed been a while. How could you not know how I’ve been?” Ling Ren replied with a wry smile.

“So, how do you find the communicator? Useful?”

“Very useful. This Tang Yi is indeed talented. It’s amazing that I can already make calls here.”

“Hehe, it’s just become possible. Tang Yi just set up a relay station in Saturn’s orbit. When I spoke with him earlier, that’s what he said. I figured the communicator I sent you should have arrived by now, so I decided to give you a call. And here we are!” Lu Changsheng chuckled.

“Master Lu, I’m sure you’ve heard—the situation with those ghoulish things from the Andromeda System has become quite abnormal lately. The number being transported over is ever increasing. I fear it won’t be long before we lose Marrowtail. When that happens, the entire world of cultivation will be in grave danger,” Ling Ren analyzed.

“Anyone with eyes can see that. So, how are the talks with those old fellows on your side going? I really can’t fathom what they’re thinking—if they keep being so stubborn, they’ll doom us all,” Lu Changsheng said, indignant.

“Hmph! Those old fools are rigid and unchanging. Last time, they cost us nearly ten thousand cultivators. In the Pegasus Star System, every citizen is a cultivator—losing one is losing one for good,” Ling Ren sighed. The Pegasus Star System had, after all, migrated from the Solar System ten thousand years ago and had no mundane population base. As fate would have it, a millennium ago, the cultivators of the two systems fought a decade-long war, largely sparked by the sudden invasion of those ghoulish beings from Andromeda. They devoured vast cultivation resources at an alarming rate, and the cultivators of Pegasus paid a steep price to wipe them out beyond Marrowtail. This left the resources of the Pegasus Star System even scarcer, prompting their return to the Solar System in search of resources, which in turn ignited the ensuing ten-year war.

“Alliance Leader Ling, with things as they are, why do those old men still linger here instead of ascending from the world of cultivation?” Lu Changsheng asked, puzzled.

“Who knows? Perhaps with the current state of affairs, even they are reconsidering,” Ling Ren guessed.

Indeed, on the main planet of the Pegasus Star System, inside the headquarters of the Pegasus Alliance, five individuals were deep in discussion…

These were the very “old fools” Ling Ren had referred to—all cultivators at the Great Ascension stage, who could have ascended a millennium ago. But it was these five who had originally allowed the ghoulish beings of Andromeda to enter the Pegasus Star System—a fact known to none but themselves, and now a source of deep regret.

Over a thousand years ago, in the Pegasus Star System, nestled in a fragrant mountain glen, stood a small stone cottage with a modest courtyard. A large stone table and five stone stools adorned the space. Two men were sharing tea and conversation.

“Brother Yi, the five of us ascending together today will surely become a tale for the ages,” Baijiegan said to Yimishui.

“Undoubtedly. But the sun is already high, and Brother Shi and the others have yet to arrive. They are usually most punctual! Could something have delayed them?” Yimishui wondered.

“No need for concern, Brother Yi. Those three aren’t like us—free and unencumbered. They have sects and families. Before ascending, they must have much to settle with their clans and disciples, only then can they ascend with peace of mind. Don’t you agree?” Baijiegan explained.

“That’s true. I almost forgot they are all heads of their sects. Come, let’s continue enjoying our tea,” Yimishui said, lifting his cup and savoring the brew.

“Haha, that’s the spirit! To be agitated is a grave error for cultivators like us,” Baijiegan laughed. As he spoke, two beams of multicolored light flashed in the courtyard as Qian Ranzhan and Wan Lilu appeared before them.

“Look, Brother Qian and Brother Wan have arrived,” Baijiegan announced to Yimishui. Yimishui poured two more cups of tea and offered them to the newcomers.

“Brother Yi, your tea skills grow ever more refined,” Qian Ranzhan praised after a sip.

“You flatter me, Brother Qian,” Yimishui replied modestly.

“No need for humility, Brother Yi. Brother Qian is right—this tea is more fragrant than ever,” Wan Lilu agreed. As he spoke, another flash of multicolored light appeared in the courtyard.

“Well, well! It’s rare indeed to see Brother Shi arrive late—especially on the day of ascension. So much for an unblemished record!” Qian Ranzhan teased as Shi Bushi entered.

“Heh, it is indeed rare.” Shi Bushi took no offense. “But I have my reasons. There’s something I’d like us all to consider.” With that, he picked up the cup Yimishui had poured and drank it in one gulp.

“Oh? What matter could delay Brother Shi, usually the most punctual among us?” Baijiegan asked, curious.

“Take a look at this jade slip, then we’ll decide whether we should ascend immediately,” Shi Bushi said, handing the slip to Yimishui. The group, puzzled, passed the jade slip among themselves.

“Well? Should we not first investigate this so-called Andromeda Star System mentioned by Kuafu, and then ascend together?” Shi Bushi asked after they had all seen the contents.

“But at the end of the jade slip, doesn’t Kuafu warn us not to go to the Andromeda Star System? If it truly holds such abundant resources, why did Kuafu return to the Pegasus Star System, shutting and even concealing the teleportation array’s existence? There must be grave dangers involved! We should think thrice before acting,” Yimishui counseled.