Plate Eighty-Seven: A Distant Guest in the Homeland (End of Volume One)

“Don’t forget me,” said the Emperor of Heaven, poking Sang Sang. “I can’t bear to part with Xiao Jin either, but upgrading is important. Xiao Jin is just like us.”

Sang Sang sighed. “I know.”

“There are so many glitches appearing in me now—it must be because I can’t bear to leave you,” Xiao Jin looked up, blue light glinting in his eyes with frustration. “I can’t separate Xiao Xin and the others anymore. Take Black Butterfly with you. I’ve left a strand of data in Black Butterfly’s core; even without a network in the Danxia Art Realm, you can communicate with me locally.”

Moments of reunion pass too quickly. It seemed no time at all before Sena came to announce the starship’s imminent arrival. After saying her goodbyes, Sang Sang boarded the shuttle.

Sena watched as the Emperor of Heaven busied himself in the storage container, taking out item after item to make Sang Sang laugh. She couldn’t help but ask, “Are you going too?”

Sang Sang nodded. “Of course. Isn’t there a guardian knight spot? If the smart assistant slot wasn’t taken and Xiao Jin wasn’t so busy, I’d bring him along as well.”

Sena coughed lightly. “Wasn’t the guardian spot supposed to be mine?”

Both Sang Sang and the Emperor of Heaven looked up at her, the Emperor’s gaze especially dangerous. “I’m Sang Sang’s chief knight!”

Sena frowned. “But aren’t you supposed to be attending knight academy?”

The Emperor of Heaven recalled the schedule he’d received—no culture classes, only knight’s code and interstellar law—and bared his teeth. “Knight strength is what matters most. We level up faster together.”

Sena seemed about to say more, but a message chimed in. After reading it, she shook her head with a smile. “Fine, you keep the guardian spot. The assistant doesn’t have to be an AI; if Commander Kane is willing to take the role, he’s a better fit than I am. I’ll wait for you outside.”

“In unison, both exclaimed, “Uncle Kane?” Sang Sang’s voice held surprise; the Emperor’s, a note of pain.

By now, the shuttle had arrived at the starport, driving straight into the starship. The doors slid open. Kane, dressed in his regular uniform, was waiting. He raised his brows at the Emperor, “Trying to skip class? Not so fast.”

Red Maple Interstellar City

The logistics corps was holding a banquet to celebrate the Emperor of Heaven and Sang Sang’s advancement to star status, the completion of the reconstruction of Tiandao Star, the main structure of the grand Faith Media Pavilion—Brush and Ink—being finished, everyone passing their basic knowledge courses except the Emperor, and the arrival of villagers from their homeworld for their first trip through the portal.

The portal consumed enormous energy, far beyond what the Galactic civilization could afford, subsidized entirely by Sang Sang—so spots were extremely limited. The first group consisted only of those who had passed the interstellar general knowledge exam online—essentially Sang Sang’s close friends and family.

As the protective shield of the portal fell, the group was exposed to the air of the temple. One by one they stood frozen, breathing deeply.

Someone whispered, “Even the air in a temple of an advanced civilization is different.”

Another chimed in, “One breath and all ailments vanish.”

A third said, “A year here adds ten years to your life.”

Another, brimming with envy, said, “People born here can live ten thousand years without cultivation.”

“The Saintess’s attendants have lifelong residency rights.”

“Doesn’t the logistics corps recruit anymore?”

“If they do, it’s only from the Jun family.”

“I’d trade an entire resource planet for a hundred square meters here.”

At that, those closest to Sang Sang began inquiring about real estate prices in the interstellar city. Even if they had to sell everything, to own just a plot here would be worth it.

“Becoming a saint not only grants you free lifetime residency in the city but also a chance to extend your life to ten thousand planetary years. Higher ranks will bring even more benefits,” Jun Shi announced, striding up with Xiao Lang.

How to become a saint? That was everyone’s burning question, but Jun Shi remained silent, ushering the group onto a tour vehicle.

The newly crowned Emperor of the Galactic Empire, Jun Lin, the head of the Sang family of the Alliance, Sang Le, and members of the fallen Luo family—all these big names stepped aside, giving way to Sang Sang’s teachers, Master Qi, Elder Qing, and the others.

“Red Maple Interstellar City is Her Highness’s private domain. You’re free to explore as you wish. But to leave the city, someone must vouch for you to receive a temporary travel permit. You’ve already passed the basic knowledge tests on the star network, so the travel permit is easy to get. However, anyone below the Saint Domain—i.e., below Celestial grade—is not advised to go out. The surrounding energy is too dense; even passing flying cars stir up energy waves only those at the Saint Domain can withstand…”

Jun Shi led the group to view the residential planet and distribute rooms, while Xiao Lang pulled Jun Lin aside and handed him a spatial container.

“Your Majesty, inside are new works sent by Her Highness. They’re effective up to the Profound grade, and the laws within can even help break through to the Saint Domain.”

In these faith paintings, Sang Sang had poured the most care into the smaller pieces, each one assigned to a specific person: Jun Lin, Teacher Qing, Master Qi, Luo Suran, and even Sang Le. A few of the larger works could accommodate tens of thousands at a time, offering pure healing, recovery of the body and soul, purification, and accelerated cultivation. Not only for the Galactic civilization, but even their third-level neighbor civilizations would find them more than enough. Usage was at Jun Lin’s discretion, but those on the list received free lifetime access.

“In addition to the faith paintings, Her Highness has allocated a large amount of faith power to purchase supplies for the Galactic civilization. You are the recipient. Xiao Jin has already bought a huge quantity of refining potions, trial instruments, and law candies at internal prices. As for the rest—what technology would you like to buy?”

The next selection would come in nine years; the Galactic civilization would have to wait nearly a hundred planetary years before receiving the technology the temple would open up. They couldn’t just sit and wait for a century. Bringing in local companies from the Alien Trade Alliance posed no resistance, making them vulnerable to economic invasion. Yet, civilian technology from third- and fourth-level civilizations was cheaper than candy at the temple, and military goods cost little more than popular candies. Previously, Jun Lin had already bought a few technologies with money earned by sending people to work in high-level civilizations through a few star network portals.

Jun Lin asked, “What’s the maximum and minimum quota?”

Xiao Lang whispered two numbers. “The first is the total quota; the second is what remains after the purchase of potions, candies, and instruments.”

Jun Lin’s eyes widened. In his mind, he converted faith power to star coins, then compared it to the temple’s assessed value of the Milky Way. Even selling the entire galaxy, it would be worth only about this much.

His throat felt dry. So this is what it feels like to be kept?

Not bad at all.

Not far away, members of the Sang family clustered around their patriarch, envy and jealousy blazing in their eyes.

“Jun Lin’s tail is practically in the air. Hmph, he’s going to rely on this one investment for godhood his entire life.”

“The Saintess is clearly our young lady, but the benefits go to others.”

“Even the Luo family is more valued than us.”

“Patriarch, you are the Saintess’s elder brother by blood.”

Sang Le turned, silencing their complaints with a cold voice. “The Saintess’s name is Sang Hongye; she is Luo Suxue, the Empire’s Snow Princess, and the Sacred Painter. Among the identities she acknowledges, there is no eldest daughter of the Sang family.”

The elders fell silent, left only to silently lament their fate. If the Sang family had ever made her feel she belonged, it would be them standing in the emperor’s place today.

But there is no medicine for regret, and the gods of time and space who can create such a thing will not favor them. The one truly favored by the gods of time and space has already gone to the Danxia Art Realm.

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