Chapter 149: The Heavenly Stele

"Why is Brother Feng staring at me like that?"

The purple-robed youth felt a sudden jolt in his heart and grew somewhat uncomfortable as he met Feng Shang’s burning, blazing gaze, which was narrowed almost into slits.

Feng Shang withdrew his gaze and smiled faintly.

"Young Lord Ye possesses an extraordinary disposition, so I couldn't help taking a few extra glances. Is this piece the legendary Heavenly Omen Jade? I heard it can only possibly be nurtured within the Universe Omen Stars."

"Indeed. My Minguo Imperial Domain once explored a cosmic secret realm containing ten Universe Omen Stars, and we were fortunate enough to discover such a small piece within them. I am using it to suppress my destiny, and in the future, I might even present it to a certain maiden," the purple-robed youth replied, glancing at Gui Qingzhong as he spoke.

The girl wore a green tear-stain mask, revealing no trace of joy or sorrow. Her delicate, jade-white shins dangled lazily over the pink fairy cloud, looking all the more tender.

Holding her fishing rod, she remained utterly silent.

With a disappointed sigh, the youth withdrew his gaze.

Suddenly catching sight of Feng Shang's ambiguous and quizzical expression, he awkwardly scratched his head and stammered, "So Brother Feng has figured it out..."

"It's nothing. A young man's heart naturally turns to romance; it's completely normal, I understand." Feng Shang patted his shoulder with a mature air.

Pacified by these words, the purple-robed youth felt somewhat embarrassed, yet he also found Feng Shang a few degrees more approachable.

"If Brother Ye has anything on your mind, feel free to share it with me. Perhaps I can help."

Young and innocent at heart, and genuinely feeling somewhat depressed, Ye Jiushang could not help pouring out his troubles: "To be honest with you, Brother Feng, her name is Gui Qingzhong. She is the daughter of the Spirit Emperor, and we have been betrothed since childhood.

This time, my coming to the starry firmament is partly to contend for the opportunities in the Simple Divine Realm, and partly for her sake. Yet I have sat next to her for the better part of a day without being able to strike up a conversation. At most, she merely glances at me sideways..."

"A mere trifle. In my Nine Stars City, we have the 'Love at First Sight Qi' and the 'Mutual Telepathic Qi'. Within a day and night, I can resolve Brother Ye's worries and have a lovely partner in your arms." A curve played at the corner of Feng Shang's lips.

Love at first sight? Mutual telepathic?

The purple-robed youth was slightly startled upon hearing this.

"There are such Star-Refining Precious Qis?"

Star-Refining Precious Qis already came in imperial, divine, and spiritual lineages. Had they now evolved to the point of tying red threads and creating romantic destinies?

"Nine Stars City is all-powerful. If Brother Ye wants something more aggressive and faster-acting, we also have the 'Throwing Oneself into Arms Qi' and the 'Enamored Heart Qi'. No matter how much of a cold goddess Gui Qingzhong may be, keeping people a thousand miles away, once she is struck by these two qis, she will undoubtedly cling to you like glue and be deeply affectionate."

Feng Shang's tone was one of absolute guarantee.

"Cough, cough."

Blushing, Ye Jiushang let his imagination run wild as he balled his right hand into a fist and pressed it against his lips, coughing violently.

"I never would have imagined... truly never..."

***

"Is Brother Ye interested? Care for some?"

Feng Shang leaned in close. He was not lying; these Star-Refining Precious Qis genuinely existed.

However, these precious qis had an expiration date. During the validity period, the female party would harbor infinite affection for the male party, but once the deadline passed, unpredictable consequences would occur.

"I... still wish to rely on my own efforts. Many thanks for Brother Feng's kind intentions. When the day comes that I truly reach my wits' end and have exhausted all other options, I will come seeking your advice."

Ye Jiushang’s heart had fluttered with temptation, but his masculine pride got the better of him. The thought that relying on Star-Refining Precious Qis would amount to an unfair victory made him hesitate for a long time before he cupped his fists and stubbornly refused the temptation.

"You have backbone."

Feng Shang cast an appreciative glance at Ye Jiushang. In terms of sheer willpower, this person was far superior to that little bald fellow who loved delicate beauty and always wanted instant success.

"Whoosh."

Feng Shang flicked his fishing rod, casting the crystal-clear line high into the air before it plunged into the starry sea.

Since this Ye Jiushang was no little bald fellow and could not be sweet-talked into paying a deposit, he might as well continue fishing for Mountain-Sea Spirits.

"Brother Feng, how about we strike a bargain?

When the Simple Divine Realm opens, let's travel together and look out for one another. My father said that the great opportunity within the divine realm will most likely manifest this time, and numerous cosmic imperial clans have sent forth their finest prodigies and monstrous talents. The inheritance techniques of those ruthless individuals are overwhelmingly powerful, and I'm not entirely confident I can handle them on my own."

Just as Feng Shang was losing interest, Ye Jiushang grew all the more eager to continue chatting with him.

"Teaming up in the Simple Divine Realm is a decent idea. Unfortunately, I've heard that once you enter that divine realm, you are randomly teleported to its various fringes. The two of us will most likely never cross paths."

Feng Shang shook his head. This young lord of the imperial domain knew even less about the intelligence concerning the divine realm than he did.

"This..."

Ye Jiushang frowned slightly, then nodded and said, "If we happen to run into each other by chance, we shall naturally join forces. Rest assured, I will never hold Brother Feng back.

This is a Spirit-Transmission Divine Talisman. Even under the heavy suppression of the Simple Divine Realm, it can still maintain a connection across a billion miles."

"Very well."

Feng Shang accepted the divine talisman from Ye Jiushang.

In his heart, however, he remained unimpressed. Intelligence reports stated that the Simple Divine Realm was vast and boundless, with a diameter of half a light-year; one would have to fly for several years just to cross it.

A billion miles was simply far from enough.

It wasn't that Ye Jiushang's divine talisman was ineffective; rather, the suppression exerted by the Simple Divine Realm reduced its utility to less than one ten-thousandth. This was precisely to prevent disciples of major factions from grouping together in large numbers and monopolizing massive fortunes.

"Denizens of the Starry Sea, heed the imperial decree of Saint Yi!"

***

At that very moment, a light skiff flew across the high heavens of the starry sea. It was actually condensed from a wisp of immortal vapor, bearing saintly laws upon its surface while shimmering with multicolored radiance.

A crisp, melodious voice rang out from the craft, amplified by some mysterious power until it echoed throughout the vast and boundless starry sea.

Little Huang took a deep breath and slowly unfurled the imperial decree, unleashing a blinding golden light that bloomed like the sun.

In an instant, an indescribable aura surged from the decree, soaring magnificently into the sky.

At this moment, all hundreds of thousands of fishing cultivators across the starry sea raised their heads, gazing in shock at the sky where immortal light danced, sketching the outline of a figure in white robes as pure as jade...

"It is Lord Yi!"

The immortal-lineage siblings of the Ji family looked on in astonishment, their eyes fixed unwaveringly on that graceful figure.

"A female saint from Yuxi Mansion?"

In an unremarkable patch of sea, seven or eight cultivators clad in ghastly green Dao robes surrounded an exotic youth from a foreign realm. Their brows were furrowed in deep contemplation as a look of calculation crossed their faces.

Feng Shang wore a look of astonishment. Why was that voice just now so terribly familiar? Did it sound like Little Huang?

......

"I have erected a single stele; you may infuse your names into it to vie for rankings. Starting now, for the duration of one month, the top three individuals who gather the most Mountain-Sea Spirits shall receive my reward!"

The female saint in immaculate white robes stood with a slender, upright posture and a wondrous fairy-like bearing. Her words were brief, and while drifting white mists obscured her features so she could not be seen clearly, simply hearing that heroic voice was enough to reveal her peerless elegance.

The moment her voice fell, a dazzling array of divine splendors spread across the surface of the starry sea, covering it in an instant.

Simultaneously, a heavenly stele rose with a rumbling sound, wreathed in boundless white brilliance and exuding a majestic aura!

On this heavenly stele, row upon row remained completely blank, distributed evenly from top to bottom. At the very top three rows, however, three kinds of rare treasures shone brilliantly, floating and sinking while emitting heart-stirring precious radiances.

The treasure on the first row was wreathed in luminous mist, rendering it indistinguishable.

The treasure on the second row was clearly visible: a drop of divine blood sealed within a crystal, vivid and scarlet, radiating a brilliance that captivated the soul.

The treasure on the third row was a white precious seal, encircled by the power of the world. Its base was smooth and bore the clearly carved characters: "Universe Emperor"!

The massive starry sea instantly erupted into utter pandemonium!