618 - 627

Chapter 618: I'll Never Leave Again

"I never thought you'd come back. Do you have any idea how happy I was to find out I was wrong? I didn't touch a drop of wine. I just stood in the winery, watching you go back and forth on your errands. I told myself no matter what, I wouldn't let you leave again. That's why I'm afraid, because if I offend you you may leave Skyfire Avenue. You might leave me. So long as I get to see you every day, that's enough for me.

"I came with you even though there is a lot to keep me busy on the Avenue. I realized I can't go a day without seeing your face."

The Clockmaker was silent, and dropped her head. "I'm sorry. Now I understand why you haven't created your dharma, even though you were always more talented than I was. It was… because of me?"

He smiled. "This isn't important. You need to be in the right frame of mind to create a dharma, and confidence. I'm just an alcoholic, I don't deserve a dharma."

The Clockmaker lifted her hand and extended it toward the Wine Master. He looked at her in surprise, but this time did not hesitate. He slipped his hand into hers.

She pulled him closer, next to her.

"Time may be my realm, but that doesn't mean I can control it. If I could I would make time flow backwards. I can't say what was right or wrong, all I can do is promise you that I'll never leave again."

The Wine Master smiled, his first real, satisfied smile in years. There was real joy in his face.

ζ

Zeus-1 was on its way at top speed. The Blinding Stone was activated, engaging their cloaking systems. They didn't have to worry about being spotted by any radar. Lan Jue was very vigilant, especially since they'd once narrowly missed the main blast of a Bastion ship heading a similar route.

After two day of travel, Lan Jue returned to the pirate haven they'd vacated only ten days earlier. Su Xiaosu guided them through the least dangerous passes of the Starfield's shifting landscape. Lan Jue and his team inched closer to the galaxy's heart.

Lin Guo guo, the Psychic Tide, was seated in Zeus-1's captain's chair with a helmet pressed to her head. She channeled her perception through the ship and out into space around them. No one knew if the alien planets were still here, or where they might suddenly appear.

It wasn't unthinkable for them to stumble upon the enemy at any moment. That was their greatest fear.

Zeus-1 reduced speed, choosing safety over efficiency. The slower the ship ran, the less it affected its environment and the smaller its energy signature. With the Blinding Stone they were practically invisible.

Lan Jue was by the ship's controls. Once they'd entered into the Starfields he couldn't keep his concentration on cultivation. He had to be ready to react the instant danger reared its head.

Asteroids flitted by their windows constantly. Every few seconds one of the lumbering giants would pass at several thousands of kilometers per hour. If it weren't for a crack pilot and someone who knew the lay of the land, they'd be in real danger of being smashed to bits.

The asteroids varied in their gravitational pull. It was important to know how much distance was needed to clear them. It was not common knowledge.

"How far are we from where the three main planets used to be?" Lan Jue asked Su Xiaosu.

Her voice was soft. "At our current speed, about a day and a half."

"We aren't in a rush," Lan Jue explained. "Safety first."

"Aye." She nodded.

The Driver came walking over with a whisky glass in hand. He handed another one to Lan Jue. "Relax. We aren't going to run into the aliens so quick."

Lan Jue didn't even have time to refuse before Xiaosu's voice interrupted sharply. "Boss, look!"

His head snapped to the radar screen. There was a red dot rapidly closing in on their location.

"Analysis says there's an eighty-six percent chance it's alive," the Accountant cried.

Lan Jue drained the contents of his whisky glass in a single gulp, then turned to the Driver. "You're a goddamn harbinger!"

The Driver shrugged back at him. "You're going to blame this on me? I wasn't serious!"

They bantered, but Lan Jue's mind was sharp. His eyes were plastered to the windows. He didn't have to wait long before it showed up on the horizon.

The purple, shuttle-shaped body lurched into view. It was one of the carrier aliens, like the one they killed before.

This one looked bigger, and in his experience size was a good indicator of strength for their species.

"It's really a damn alien. You want me to deal with it?" Excitement was clear in the Driver's eyes. He and Lan Jue already had a basic grasp of yin-yang lightning, and a tenth of his energy had been transformed already. He wanted to know the limits of this combined thunderbolt power.

But Lan Jue shook his head. "We mustn't act in haste and alert the enemy to our presence. It doesn't know we're here, so we avoid it. It looks like the alien planets have chosen to use the center of the Starfields as a base. They're sending out feelers to find other life-bearing planets in the system."

Their mission was reconnaissance, not elimination. They had to focus on bringing back all the information they could about their foe. An alien that size was sure to have a crystal, but Lan Jue didn't want to gamble their mission for greed.

A host of nervous eyes watched the alien slip through space. Its torpedo-like shape convulsed and contracted as it flew. Like the one before it, it belched plumes of gas to propel itself forward. It could reach several times the speed of light that way. Soon it was passing close by Zeus-1.

It was none the wiser. Lan Jue called out. "Maintain normal speed."

"Aye!"

"Boss, be careful. I can sense a consciousness." Lin Guoguo warned.

Her boss' eyes lit up. "Speed up!"

Su Xiaosu and the Accountant burst into action. Zeus-1's engines flared as they were opened wide and shot off at three times speed. A dark purple beam of light tore through the space they'd just vacated. Cold crept up everyone's spine.

With these Paragons gathered they could survive with a broken ship, but they only had one. It was a dangerous situation to be in, and one Lan Jue wanted to avoid.

The Driver, his jaw set, turned and entered into one of the ejection capsules.

"Be careful!" Lan Jue called at him.

"Relax!" He growled back.

Zeus-1's attack capabilities were limited. Lan Jue had tried to use them to fight these aliens before to little effect. Their abilities as Adepts were far more damaging.

"Personnel cannon, preparing first stage."

"Preparing second stage!"

"Third stage. Fire!"

A beam of light fired off the bow of Zeus-1 just as the ship veered to the side. It narrowly avoided another one of the alien's attacks.

As the Driver raced through space his body was covered in an aura of silver light. In the next instant he was safely cradled in the cockpit of his mecha, Thunderclap.

The suit had undergone enhancements since the God Battles. Its hull was thicker, and no longer the same blinding bright color. Now it was bulky and dark.

Two rays of white light radiated from the machine's eyes. It changed direction in midair and shot right for the alien carrier. A massive spear was gripped in its metal hand. It was white, and as the mecha held it a corona of power radiated three meters around the tip.

Lan Jue watched carefully from the bridge. He wasn't too worried for the Driver's safety. There were five Paragons on board ready to assist at a moment's notice. They could dispatch of this problem with a wave of their hand.

As he watched the light blazing around Thunderclap's spear, he nodded silently to himself. The Driver had improved quite a lot recently. That light was a sign of his control. Before his Discipline was taiyin based, but now he could draw out the lightning element and condense it into its essence. It was a wonderful achievement!

The carrier alien sensed Thunderclap's approach but didn't pay any mind to the tiny creature. Its lumbering body was still heading for Zeus-1.

Lan Jue turned to Ling Guoguo. "Analyze the consciousness you felt. How was it able to find us?"

Lin Guoguo replied. "It was a special kind of psychic pulse, sort of like sonar. It seems able to resonate with our own psyches, and it's strong. It doesn't appear to do any damage, but it's wide-reaching. It didn't see us, but it did sense us and attack."

Lan Jue frowned in thought. No wonder all the earlier recon missions failed. They had top of the line cloaking equipment, but so long as they were people on board, the aliens could sense their consciousness. But what about the unmanned drones? There must be another reason they failed.

As his mind raced, Thunderclap clashed with their alien foe. Being ignored by the beast had sent him into a rage. His mecha became a beam of intense light as he picked up speed, enough to overtake the monster and bar its path. Thunderclap stabbed with its blazing spear.

Poof! The weapon cut into the alien like there was no resistance. Ripples of silver light undulated out from the wound. The resulting explosion flung the enormous alien away.

Chapter 619: The Might of Lightning

The alien roared in pain. Its massive body was well-defended, by the Driver's taiyin lightning swept right passed its guard. More proof that an Adept's Discipline was the antithesis of these creatures.

These alien monsters consumed energy to survive and evolve. Adepts were similar in that their Disciplines relied on vital energies. However, the aliens harmed that which they took in.

The creature's whole body shook and a purple aura sprang up around it. Thunderclap was quick, retreating quickly a thousand meters away. Thunderclap could outpace Thor when it came to speed.

The Driver brought his mecha back around, and pointed his glimmering spear at his target. The machine was surrounded by light, but the tip of its weapon wasn't the same as it had been. The light condensed and became translucent at the blade, like a purple gemstone. Flickers of lightning buzzed within.

He was going to try.

Lan Jue narrowed his eyes and paid close attention. He was also eager to know what measure of damage the Driver's combined lightning could inflict on their foe.

The carrier alien contracted, then with a burst of air thrust itself toward Thunderclap. Its nightmarish maw opened wide, revealing a hell-scape of razor-sharp teeth.

The Driver didn't try to escape. A blinding electric light erupted from behind him, and Thunderclap was launched forward at top speed. As he raced ahead the light of his spear brightened until it hung over Thunderclap like a membrane of light. It parted the air in front of the mecha, creating a protective wake.

From afar all they could see was the purple light vanish into the creature's body. They held their breath, but didn't have to wait long. In a blink the light revealed itself again bursting out of the alien's far side, then slowly faded into the darkness of space.

The carrier's inertia sent it sailing into the distance. Soon it was almost too far to see clearly.

But then thunderous blasts, loud enough to wake the dead, broke the silence of the cosmos. A purple explosion blinded the eye. It was so fierce that all of the asteroids around it were disintegrated. A patch of clear space was left where the alien had been.

Thunderclap lowered its spear. It hung heroically in the middle of space, with the purple light of its handiwork reflected of its metal body.

"Why the hell are you posing? Get the crystal." Lan Jue's irritated voice interrupted the Driver as he was basking in how awesome he was.

"Oh… I forgot. I was tryin' to be handsome." The Drive cleared his throat then rushed over to the site of the explosion.

Back on the ship's bridge, Lan Jue peered over the destruction and nodded his head. The yin-yang lightning was as strong as was promised. Strong enough to overcome an alien's defenses.

As the aliens' strength corresponded to their size, it was easy to imagine how strong an interstellar carrier would be. However, with the power of their combined thunderbolt Disciplines, the Driver split the beast from head to heel. Then to rub salt in the wounds, the monster detonated in an explosion to rival the death of a star. Overall, more impressive than the fireworks from the one Lan Jue killed.

Few were the men and women who saw these beasts and lives. Most ended up like the many scouts or the North's Seventh Fleet – devoured. The alien threat had always existed, but the war was only just starting. Humans still understood so little, but Lan Jue was growing wiser with each encounter. He could see that Adepts, more than the technology of man, were the most crucial weapons in the fight for their survival.

Take the Driver as an example. He was a powerful Adept, with exceptional piloting ability, amplified by a great mecha. He could take on a battleship and win. Take that same battleship and pit it against a carrier alien. The battleship had a good chance, but the Driver could put it down in half the time.

All of this data was priceless. The Accountant was quick to record everything he could for analysis. In the coming war, scores of soldiers like the Driver would be needed. This information would be used to train Star Division to fill that need.

"Boss, there was a massive psionic spike, something's searching in this area. We should already be able to see it." Lin Guoguo called over.

Lan Jue's heart skipped a beat. He shouted at the Driver through the ship's coms. "Get back as fast as you can, there are more coming." He had to remind everyone that they were a recon squad. If they exposed themselves here, the losses would outweigh the gains.

The Driver urged Thunderclap back to the ship at top speed. The tell-tale purple flicker of a vital crystal pulsed in its grip. As he was boarding Zeus-1 specks of purple light flashed in the distance. They were getting bigger, and heading right for the ship's location.

Lan Jue sucked in a breath. The radar showed at least three hundred of them, of all sorts. Some of them were over a thousand meters long.

"We're surrounded, they came in from all around us. 1" The Accountant's anxious voice cut in. "Our chances of getting out without a fight are less than three percent. Some of them are faster than our ship."

Lin Guoguo reported again. "Another psionic sweep, it's strong enough that they'll know we're here. Boss, what do we do?"

Lan Jue's eyes hardened. "Full speed, Head to where they're most spread out. Arm the shields, and prepare for battle."

"No need, I'll handle it." A familiar voice contradicted the commander.

Lan Jue turned his head to find the Wine Master had snuck up at some point. His scepter glimmered in his hand.

Without waiting for an answer, a silver light bloomed from the Cosmagus. Zeus-1 was revealed to the dark universe, but enveloped in a mystical silver glow. The light flickered, and all at once, the ship disappeared.

Empty space was buffeted by waves of psychic force, searching for something no longer there.

Before long the alien force had converged, and hovered over a wide swath of space. They slithered and squirmed among one another, looking. There was no trace for them to find.

Far in the distance, behind a lumbering asteroid, Zeus-1 reappeared in a flash. Its main engines roared to life, and they fled before the aliens could sniff them out. When they were a safe distance, Lan Jue shot the Wine Master an appreciative gaze and a thumbs up.

There were real benefits for taking Paragons along. Now the commander knew he could rely on his old friend to help them flee if a similar situation arose. If he hadn't been here, Lan Jue was ready to fight. But that would have cost them. Thankfully all it took to solve the problem was a well-placed dimensional transport.

Fear didn't tie Star Division's hands. They had five Paragons ready to back them up in a fight. Killing so many would have alerted the alien planets, however, and subsequently would affect their reconnaissance. Retreat was the best option.

Lan Jue turned to his intelligence officer. "Accountant, look into how that first alien discovered we were there."

The door to the bridge hissed as the Driver entered. He held a large vital crystal, over a foot long. Waves of rich vibrant energy pulsed from it occasionally.

He held one of the most valuable objects to his species. The black market was already purportedly selling vital crystals for obscene prices. A piece like the one the Driver gathered could buy him a fully equipped battleship.

He grinned at the eyes that came his way. "Spoils of war. Not bad, not bad. I'll just hang on to it for now, I promise I'll give it back when we go home."

"Stop screwing around," Lan Jue answered. "Half a second later and we'd be buried in aliens. I think we can assume they're trying to establish themselves in the Shattered Starfields. We aren't out in the far reaches, but we're not at the galaxy's heart either. It looks like they've already spread pretty far."

The Wine Master nodded. "This is not a happy situation. If they can see through our cloaks getting close enough to learn anything is going to be a challenge."

Lan Jue's lips were turned in a frown. This was a problem. They couldn't fight their way in, even with all their Paragons. The Violet Princess was stronger than Luo Xianni, and they had no way of knowing how many of her kind there were! There was only so much they could handle before it got too dangerous.

The Accountant called out to him. "Preliminary analysis is complete. It wasn't that easy for them to pick us out."

"Eh?" Everyone looked his way.

The Accountant explained. "According to my readings, we were first discovered by the alien because we got too close. Psychic pulses like that are a kind of energy, and one which required a lot of effort to employ. We may be a different species, but they can run out of steam just like us. So, they likely use it rarely and only in a limited scope. It's deliberate, they have to energize their perception to scout long distances."

1. Cue Reaper bwhaaaaaaaaaaap!

Chapter 620: Simulated Pulse

The Wine Master nodded. "It figures their scope of perception would be limited."

The Accountant went on. "So it's likely we were only spotted because we stumbled into one another. It felt us when we passed close, and focused its perception afterwards to cast it farther. Then once it locked onto us, it attacked. They must have some way to communicate with one another that we don't know about it. Or maybe when one dies it releases a powerful psionic pulse, which called its friends and they started searching. It was a cluster of problems that lead to that situation."

Lan Jue nodded. "That makes the most sense, but we'll need to confirm it. If your analysis is correct, than we can still slip in to continue the mission. We just need to keep our distance."

The plan was amended, and they continued to penetrate deeper into the Shattered Starfields.

A few hours later they came upon another alien, drifting through space. They maintained a distance of about fifty kilometers away which appeared to be enough to keep them concealed. "It seems our determinations were correct," the Wine Master said, as the beast vanished into the distance.

A speculative look crossed Lan Jue's face. "I don't think it's that easy. The Accountant is likely right, but we have to remember that there are different sorts of these creatures. The scope of their perception will also be different. Consider how quickly we were spotted by these. Now think about the alien planets. If size is power, how close is too close before one of those things see us?"

The Wine Master's heart fluttered. This was a big problem, and if it wasn't solved it could put them all in jeopardy.

"Stupid, can't you simulate a psionic pulse?" Jue Di's gruff voice drew their attention. It came from all around, though the man himself wasn't present.

"Simulate a pulse?" Lan Jue inquired.

With a flash both Jue Di and Luo Xianni appeared in the bridge. Jue Di stared directly at his son. "Moron kid, a psychic burst like that is just another sort of energy. A thought given form. Theoretically you could manipulate energy to mimic an alien consciousness. We also have one of their cores, how could they tell the difference?"

Lan Jue smiled apologetically. "But… how do you simulate a pulse?"

"You can't," he replied, "but that girl there is a psychic. She should be able to mimic it after experiencing the sensation a few times. Not a problem."

He was, of course, indicating Lin Guoguo.

"Guoguo." Lan Jue looked at her.

She nodded. "I'll try."

She was already adept at psionic manipulation. With the ship as an amplifier her Discipline rose to frightening heights.

Lan Jue gave her instructions. "You'll need to get close enough to feel it. Search for peculiarities. Xiaosu, we'll pause our ingress, switch the search to any nearby aliens. We'll proceed once we've got our cover."

"Aye!" Su Xiaosu responded. She quickly went about enacting his commands.

The Starfields were indeed rife with aliens now, it didn't take long for them to find another target. This one was different from the others, however. It was a hexagonal shape a hundred meters in diameter and flat that spun unceasingly.

Zeus-1 crept to within ten kilometers of the monster before they felt its consciousness.

Almost immediately the alien inflated, expanded to several times its former size. The edges crept over and around Zeus-1 in attempts to envelope it.

"Xiaosu, evasion maneuvers. Guoguo, learn what you can."

Under Xiaosu and Mika's command, Zeus-1 darted around, keeping a safe distance from the alien but not letting it get too far. The alien couldn't physically see their ship due to its cloak, but its perception wasn't fooled. Luckily it seemed this breed wasn't equipped for long-ranged battle. It needed to get close.

Zeus-1 used the advantage of its speed and small size to evade. The two rolled around one another like a game of cat and mouse. Lin Guoguo's eyes were closed and a pale golden light surrounded her head. She was channeling her psychic power through the ship to learn what she could from the beast.

As she learned, she continuously tried to mimic what she was feeling. The world of phycics was particular, and stratified. Specific mental energies had a frequency, and these frequencies were unique.

The chase continued for an hour. By then Lin Guoguo was drained.

"Should I go deal with it?" the Driver offered.

Lan Jue shook his head. "This time I will."

They could have used the Wine Master's powers to escape as they had before, but part of scouting was to discover what they could about the different alien breeds. You learned the best way to kill them by actually doing it.

"I'm going!" the Pauper announced.

Lan Jue couldn't bring himself to deny the eager new Paragon. He could only let him go.

The Pauper exited the ship. Once out in space, his body immediately started to glimmer with a blinding golden light. He drew his hands together in a circle, and from them was birthed a golden dragon. The mythical beast flung itself at the encroaching alien.

When the dragon first appeared it was only a few meters long. However, the farther it flew the longer it became until was several hundred meters in length.

"Aaaaaggghhhhhrrrr!" The thunderous dragon roar was so intense that they could hear clearly it through Zeus-1's thick hull. The two crashed into one another.

The alien responded by contracting, swallowing up the dragon inside of it. It shook and shuddered, and a purple light radiated out from it. As they watched, the alien grew larger.

"Wha?!" The Pauper yelped. Surprise was clear in his shocked expression. The alien's defenses were staggering, and when his taming dragon palm exploded, the beast only got bigger to accommodate. The Taming Dragon Arhat hadn't left a scratch.

What a guard! For it to swallow up a Paragon's attack, it was must be stronger than most of the creatures they'd encountered before. The alien wasn't fast, and it had no ranged attack, but it could take one hell of a punch.

The Pauper didn't simply watch. He thrust out with his palm again, sending another golden dragon toward his enemy. This one reached the beast as the blast from the first was still raging inside. As the second dragon detonated, its intense release of energy was enough to obliterate it. He waved his hand, and a Core about the size of his fist appeared in hand. He returned to Zeus-1.

Everyone on the ship knew what was coming. They wasted no time, Zeus-1 set all the engine to full throttle and escaped as face as they could. Lan Jue didn't want to give their enemies any chance to sniff them out.

"This vital crystal seems different than the others." Once the Pauper was back on the bridge, he showed what he meant to the others.

Jue Di took it from him, peering at it carefully. It was a hexagon, like the alien itself, and it flickered with that familiar purple energy. He was quiet for a time as he sensed the forces within it. "It contained natural energies, pure and strong. There are very few impurities and it's tightly concentrated."

The Pauper gave his report about the fight, and what he felt. Everyone agreed that this alien was one of the more powerful kinds. If those longer carrier aliens were scouts, than this one must have been a defender.

"The taming Dragon palm strike is full of my perception," the Pauper stated. "Within the monster it had some sort of sucker that drank up the energy. It releases some as well in the form of a corrosive air. It was strong enough to influence the protogenia in my attack. If I were a normal man that air would dissolve me into nothing. From what I could tell, the thing was meant for close combat. If that stuff fell over a battleship, it would eat away its energy shields in a hurry."

Lan Jue nodded. "This is exactly the kind of information we're out here to get. The mmore data we get the easier it'll be when we have to fight. However, if I might give his Majesty the Taming Dragon Arhat a suggestion?"

The Pauper looked at him inquiringly. "What is it?"

"Let's rein it in next time," Lan Jue said. "We all know how strong you are, but we're here to find their weaknesses, we can't all blow them up with golden dragons."

"Oh… alright." He scratched his ratty head of hair. The Pauper was so eager to see how far he could push himself that he forgot their reason for coming.

Lan Jue turned his attention to Jue Di. "Father, this has given me an idea. I think we should skim the boundaries of the Galaxy's interior before rushing in. We should focus on discovering the different types of aliens, I think that data would be priceless. With so many of these things around, we can already be sure the planets are nearby."

Jue Di shrugged. "This is your business, you're this outfit's commander. It's got nothing to do with me."

"Alright," Lan Jue said submissively. He knew it was his father's way of teaching him, but it certainly added to the pressure!

Zeus-1 continued to skirt the edges of the Starfields' interior. It had plenty of energy stored, and an energy recycling system as support. Running out of fuel wasn't one of their worries.

After consulting with Xiaosu, they settled on a decaying orbit around the outskirts that would bring them closer to the center with each orbit. As they did, the search would continue for new sorts of aliens to dissect.

Chapter 621: Scout, Hunt

Their new plan resulted in quite a lot of success. In under twelve hours they'd managed to hunt down and kill eight different kinds of aliens. Each one was unique, with different abilities. They encountered some that were fast, attacked at range, defense, and close combat.

The rule held true that an alien's size corresponded to their strength. Across breeds, the larger they were the more damage they were capable of. They came in different shapes, too.

The Paragons were too overpowered for their purposes. Lan Jue and the Driver handled the creatures as they were found. They noted that none of them called for help, they just lashed out. It may have been, though, that they were underestimating Zeus-1's small size. Lan Jue was relieved to discover the trend, it made their job much easier.

Battle also gave Lan Jue and the Driver a chance to practice their combined lightning. Of all the types they encountered, not a single alien was able to defend against it. One after another, their empowered thunderbolt Discipline destroyed the aliens. The yin-yang lightning destructive capabilities surprised everyone.

Especially for Lan Jue. Thunder essence had filtered into his abilities, infusing it with immortal qi and the echoes of empyreal lightning. His attacks were breathtakingly strong. His victims didn't explode, they were disintegrated. Their size mean nothing in the face of Zeus' punishing electric fire.

This did not mean Star Division's scout team didn't encounter problems. Space was choked with the creatures the closer they came to the galaxy's center. Several times they had to break off a target because there were other aliens nearby.

Shadowing the monsters revealed that their targets were larger planets. Clearly they suspected those planets were more hospitable to life.

It was hard to guess how many of the creatures there were, but they could at least affirm that there were many different types. They encountered one that they didn't dare engage. It had been too big a target, and the corrosive aura around it was powerful. They fled the instant it came into view.

It was three thousand meters long at least, with a long dark purple body. Great triangular scales covered it from head to tail. It looked like some sort of mutant, winged toad. They witnessed it belch an asteroid which struck a nearby small planet. The crater was visible from hundreds of kilometers away.

This kind of alien had to be their equivalent of a Paragon. They had no choice but to keep their distance and watch.

"We should find a place to rest for a while. People have been on edge for too long." Lan Jue said to Xiaosu. Both of them were on the bridge.

For twenty-four hours straight they'd been hunting prey. Her day had been a blur of meditating to recover mental energy, then expending it to learn the intricacies of alien sentience. She continuously clouded them in similar psionic bursts to keep them hidden. Their achievements in the span of a day were outstanding. Lin Guoguo was able to perfectly mimic the pulse of several weaker aliens.

However, it was an exceedingly draining process for her. She couldn't hold it for very long, only thirty minutes if she put all her focus towards it. Afterward she would need time to recover.

Su Xiaosu opened up a map of the area. With her knowledge of the Starfields, she was quickly able to identify a suitable planet.

"This planet used to belong to a pirate clan, but there are no signs of life now. It's prone to magnetic storms, so the pirates abandoned it. We can rest and prepare there, the aliens won't trouble us."

"Alright," Lan Jue affirmed with a nod.

Zeus-1 broke off course, and dove into a nearby asteroid field. Despite her exhaustion, Lin Guoguo remained attached to the helmet. When any sign of alien presence was detected, her immediately sent out a pulse to mask their passage.

Much to everyone's relief, their trip to safe harbor went smoothly. They didn't run into any aliens they couldn't avoid. They arrived at the abandoned planet and touched down.

Their landing site was a small area ringed by mountains. Between natural cover and the Blinding Stone, they were well hidden.

As the engines cooled, Lan Jue sharply clapped his hands. "Alright, everyone take a breather. We'll take turns on watch, I'll start. Xiaosu, let's take a look at the star maps."

Lin Guoguo immediately removed the helmet and began to meditate. She would have more time to recover now. It was exhausting, but on the upside she could definitely sense her powers strengthening faster than mere cultivation.

Lan Jue looked over the maps. "How far are we from where the three main planets were," he asked Xiaosu.

She indicated a space. "Another twenty four hours if we keep the same course. Direct flight will be closer to twelve."

He nodded. "Alright, we'll rest for a while then stick with the plan. Keep the same pace."

The Accountant chimed in. "Should we send back what we learned on a UAV? They release electronic signatures, no signs of life. They shouldn't be discovered by the enemy."

Lan Jue nodded his way. "Very well, we'll give it a try. At least we'll see if this is a good method for passing information. If it does that'll come in useful for future scout missions."

"Alright, I'll take care of it," the Accountant replied.

The young genius was a lot more reliable after following Lan Jue around for so long, and especially since joining Star Division. The Accountant was now one of the most integral people on Lan Jue's team. Every day he toiled without complaint, a far cry from the whining boy he used to be. Even the Keeper, crotchety though he was, was well pleased by his grandson.

Lan Jue continued to Su Xiaosu. "You all rest first, I'll stand watch here. Someone will relieve me in three hours. We're wheels-up in six hours. Accountant, make sure we record the location of this planet, we may need to come back here. It's safe."

"Definitely not bad," the Accountant agreed. "This place has a unique magnetic field that interferes with other kinds of energy waves, psionic pulses included. If aliens want a good look at this planet, it won't be easy. Not to mention there's nothing here to pique their interest."

The others left to rest and recover after their long watch. Lan Jue remained behind in the bridge, silently watching the screens. There wasn't much in the way of scenery. The swath of sky he could see was blotted with asteroids. On occasion the light of the galaxy's star peaked through the rock. The day here was a mottled patchwork of light and shadow.

Situations like this were common in the Shattered Starfields, and one of the reasons so few chose to live out here. Humans needed sunlight and water, neither of which was abundant here.

As Lan Jue looked up at the undulating sea of stone, he thought about the three alien planets. They'd made a good choice in taking the Starfields first. If they hadn't been discovered, they could have stayed here for ages, gaining strength.

There were few places suitable for life in the Starfields, but it was an enormous system. Few was relative when it spanned so many dwarf planets. It all added up, so for the aliens it was a place rife with potential.

How could they defeat these creatures? This wasn't a battle of righteousness versus evil. It was about two species trying to survive. To the aliens, humans were food – no different from the vital energy of the planets they lived on. If humans wanted to live, they had to struggle. Who came out victorious in the end would depend on who was stronger.

The three alien planets were the greatest threat. They counted as alien creatures themselves, and given their size it was likely they were more dangerous than a Bastion Ship. If they wanted to destroy them, it would take the accumulated strength of humanity. They could surround the planets and give it all they got, then maybe they would have a chance to keep living.

He had to admit that their current course was satisfying. They were gathering essential intelligence, and with each alien they killed it was one less they had to face later. Taking those vital crystals weakened their enemies and made humanity better.

"What are you thinking about?" A soft voice interrupted his reflections.

Lan Jue smirked. "Just thinking about the best way to deal with these aliens."

The Wine Master took a seat nearby. "More and more I've come to respect the Clairvoyant's foresight. You truly have become the focal point of all of this."

Chapter 622: Teleport Base

Lan Jue laughed. "Enough of that, I'm just one person. I rely on the people around me."

The Wine Master rejoined. "What have you thought up, then?"

"Understanding," he said. "That's our greatest deficit right now. Right now they know a lot more about us than we do about them. Think about it, you remember the Violet Princess? To take on human form they must have studied the DNA of humans, understood its complexities. She even learned human speech. Just this proves how far behind we are."

The Wine Master nodded his agreement. "We're too spread out, humanities numbers are in the billions. We've colonized planets in dozens of star systems. It's impossible to keep the aliens from infiltrating our worlds. However, I expect that your Violet Princess was one of their leaders. If any of these things can look like us, we might as well not bother to fight. The war is already lost, we should just flee."

Lan Jue sighed. "My only hope is that they don't suddenly appear in the Eastern Alliance."

The Wine Master frowned. "Humanity as a species is struggling for survival. Aren't you being selfish?"

He chuckled. "I never said I wasn't!"

The Wine Master couldn't help but smirk as well. "I suppose that makes me selfish, too."

However, Lan Jue's smile was short lived. "Actually I'm anxious. The Clairvoyant's dying vision wasn't random or contrived. From what we've witnessed these things are strong, but I don't think that's the whole story. If this is all they got, I haven't seen 'species threatening power' yet."

The Wine Master replied with a bitter nod. "Indeed, I worry about this as well. That's why I chose to come with you. You need sufficient ability if you want good information."

But Lan Jue's lips curled down in a frown. "Oh come on. If the Clockmaker had stayed home, would you have come?"

The Paragon chuckled. "This is what they call 'killing two birds with one stone.'" His mood had been quite good over the last few days, since his relationship with the Clockmaker was growing closer. To him it was like a blessing from heaven.

Lan Jue answered. "Wait until we get closer to the center. I have a feeling we'll really need all of your help then. 'Seek not accomplishments, but freedom from faults. 1.' We'll need to do our best to avoid a fight. Guoguo has gotten very good at mimicking the pulses, hopefully that'll be enough."

The Wine Master looked through the window to the scenery outside. "This planet isn't bad, good for staying out of sight. What if we made this a forward scouting base? So long as the aliens are in the Starfields, we can use this as a center of operations."

Lan Jue paused. "A base point? I don't think there's any point! If we're caught out there they'll just follow us back. Plus, who's to say we can get back here? Nothing stays the same out here, routes change. As this planet drifts through the system and the aliens continue to wreak havoc, who knows how the landscape will change."

An enigmatic grin split the older man's face. "Of course it's not that simple. I'm talking about its immediate establishment as a launch point. I can set a rune array here."

Lan Jue's eyes lit up. "A teleportation array? But, how far is its limit?"

"That depends on how much is put into it," the Wine Master explained. "The information you brought back on your last mission was vital for the Alliance, and it proved the worth of Star Division. I used this opportunity to request resources from parliament. I can set up a long distance array here with what we were given, but it will take ten days. It requires ten s-ranked interspatial power gems, and an addition one with each use. However, it will be stronger enough to transfer us out of the Starfields completely. So long as we remain within range, we can flee at the first sign of danger right back here."

The Wine Master spoke calmly as though discussing the weather, while Lan Jue stared at him with wide eyes. "Since when have you been able to this?"

The Wine Master chuckled. "Just me? I can't, but with my aunt here we can manage together."

Lan Jue a deep breath. The Wine Master's suggestion was promising safety, as well as an excellent springboard to continue their mission. Having a succor point would bring the danger way down, and their flexibility way up.

Indeed, an s-ranked gem for each use was a steep price, but worthy. The information and vital crystals they obtained would more than make up for them.

"What are we waiting for? We've got work to do!" Lan Jue said, his way of agreeing with the idea. There was nothing better for the success of their mission than establishing the teleport array. It'll be here for a long while after, too, in case they needed it.

"Oh, right, I have to ask – have much can you transfer?" Lan Jue asked.

"Zeus-1 will be no problem," he said. "If it was Majesty, we would need three times the resources but it would also be possible. But if we did have to transfer something of that scale, it would be very taxing for my aunt and I. We would need a long time to recover."

Lan Jue shook his head. "We won't need anything the likes of Majesty teleported. Zeus-1 will more than serve. You know, I suddenly had an idea that'll make us all rich."

The Wine Master grumbled in annoyance. "Since when did you get so interested in making money? You've become addicted to the life of a pirate."

Lan Jue laughed. "Isn't war just a grab for cash and resources? Don't you still owe me for all the power gems I brought back from the North? Can anyone live without money? Once your array is set up our safety is pretty much guaranteed, we can safely go right to the galaxy's center and get as much intelligence as we need. All of you Paragons together, if you pull out all the stops, could eradicated an untold number of these things – and thus gain a whole bunch of vital crystals. These crystals are one of the most valuable resources ever discovered. After all, what else is out there that can promise a longer life? According to the Keeper and Bookworm, a man can stay young forever with enough of them."

The Wine Master paused. He hadn't thought about it that way. The transportation array was for safety and scouting, but what Lan Jue was saying made sense. They thin the heard and gather the precious crystals, a win-win for humanity. Why pass up an opportunity to grow rich doing the right thing?

The Wine Master could help but nod at the logic of it. "It certainly seems possible. Let's talk more about it when the array is completed."

"Alright!" Lan Jue replied. Lan Jue's twinkling eyes met the Wine Master's, and they shared an unspoken thought in that gaze. If this worked out, it wasn't just good for the Avenue. It was a chance to lift the whole Eastern Alliance above its competition!

Humanity's progress was built on population, talent, wealth, and food. The most important was people, and if you had talented people than you had it all.

Life death, sickness and health, it was the natural way of the universe. Be they beggar or Paragon, everyone feared death. So one could imagine how enticing the exuvium process was. Obviously the continued existence of humanity was important, but the real underlying drive to find these planets for the West and North, were these crystals! You'd never hear it is the news, but the Alliances had begun to compete for them the moment the universe knew of their existence.

Skyfire Avenue was likely the most richly endowed in crystals at present, including the very first one Lan Jue got from Taihua. It was responsible for what they knew about the crystals, and ultimately the reason why the East was leading the research by more than a year. The things that could be accomplished in a year were many, not least of which was success in extending both the Booker and the Keeper's lives. The Bookworm used part of it to break through to Paragon.

A single vital crystal enabled all of that. So, imagine what a warehouse full could do for the East. The decision was made, they were no longer here to rest for a while. They had an array to build.

Lan Jue denied the Driver's request to proceed with the scouting mission on the grounds of safety. Once the protection of the array was behind them, they would continue.

Over the next ten days the two of them continued to train yin-yang lightning. The Wine Master was kept busy constructing the array with the help of the Clockmaker and Luo Xianni.

Lan Jue and the Driver practiced under the eye of Jue Di. With his guidance their progress felt like a thousand miles a day. Lan Jue continued to do all his cultivation joined with Qianlin. He shared the benefits of hi training with her, including the immortal qi gained from the thunder essence.

Lan Jue could sense that Qianlin's consciousness was slowly improving, day by day. Every now and again they paused so the Driver could meditate on what they learned. When he did, Lan Jue and Qianlin practiced the blade. Her swordsmanship was coming along quite well. In fact, everything looked to be on an upward trend. Her total recovery was only a matter of time.

After ten days of sporadic training, both Lan Jue and the Driver saw incredible changes to their Disciplines. Lan Jue's energies were about fifty percent transformed, thirty percent for the Driver.

1. I believe this is a quote from Hu Yaobang, Chinese Chairman from 1981-1982. Pretty interesting story if Wikipedia is to be believed

Chapter 623: Primordial Lightning

The Driver benefited tremendously from the practice. Although the thunder essence was absorbed by Lan Jue, a small amount of it was transferred to him through their shared cultivation. Just that small amount helped to create a foundation that would support his rise to Paragon. It helped him to discover his own Path.

Lan Jue's quantifiable strength didn't improve much, though he had been actively trying to curtail the speed of his improvement. Star Division's commander was focused on purification of the energy rather than accumulation of it.

Jue Di helped his son navigate the intricacies of his own path to Paragon. Lan Jue was calmer, which aided his cultivation. Currently their problem was Qianlin. If they were intended to break through together, how was that possible? Qianlin didn't have the presence of mind to seek her Path. His only recourse was to stop his progress and await the happy day got back to normal.

"All set!" The Wine Master's voice was calm, and his face lit up in self-appreciation. He'd clearly succeeded.

Lan Jue peered through the window at the expanse of barren mountains. "Where?"

"If you could see it, it wouldn't be very hidden from aliens would it," the Wine Master snapped. "I used dimensional fragmentation to hide them."

"Does it need to be tested?" Lan Jue asked.

The Wine Master stared at him. "Testing would require an s-ranked interdimensional power gem. Relax, my aunt and I have checked it several times, and tried with a small amount of energy. There won't be a problem. If you want to try it, wait until we need to use it."

"Fine," he replied. "So we should prepare to leave."

The Wine Master nodded. "That's right, there's no time to waste. We've been held up here for ten days, and we have a lot we still need to learn. Right, did the unmanned information drones get back ok?"

Lan Jue's brows knit together when he thought of them. "They didn't. I don't think there's a way for us to send information back alone. There are many dangers in the Starfields and no human consciousness to guide them. Then there are the aliens to consider. UAVs can't cloak. Altogether it starts to look unlikely drones will be much help to us."

"Then we just need to make sure we get what we can and bring it back quick." The Wine Master said.

Twenty minutes later, Zeus-1 was in the air. IT shop off toward the alien planets, leaving a column of diffused light in its wake.

They abandoned their circuitous right for something more direct. He ordered Mika and Xiaosu to bring them to the Starfield's heart as quickly as they could. Caution could be relaxed now that their safety was assured.

"Boss, aliens have appeared on our radar, three of them. They'll be within range in twenty minutes. Should we use the pulse to cover ourselves?" Xiaosu asked.

Lan Jue shook his head. "No need. Who wants to deal with them?"

The Taming Dragon Arhat curiously looked his way. "You don't want to keep your distance? It could call others."

Lan Jue smirked. "Orders have changed – we're a Fire Scout troop. We hit the enemy and record how they react. No more need for stealth."

The Wine Master frowned. "It's a little early, no?"

Lan Jue looked his way. "I'm not saying we're rushing in. Its fine, your responsibility is to help us lock the aliens down if we need it. Guoguo, you should prepare. Wait for our order."

"Aye," in Guoguo replied. The helmet she used to connect with the ship was already descending onto her head.

"I'll go!" The Driver stood, eager to jump at the chance.

"Alright." Lan Jue nodded his way.

The Driver was thrilled with the power coursing through him. Even at an eighth-rank Adept he felt like he was improving markedly every day. Once he completed the transformation of his Discipline he would be at peak level. Poised to become a Paragon.

From the ship's windows they could see three figures separate from the darkness of space. They were the aliens, each one a least a hundred meters long. The two on either side had long black bodies, and purple depression all over them. They looked particularly fierce, but were approaching at only a moderate pace.

"A swordfish and two Reefs." Su Xiaosu shouted the report over her shoulder. They'd seen these kinds before.

The alien they called the 'swordfish' was a warrior of their species. It was going slow now, but they'd seen what it was capable of. IT was actually one of the fastest aliens they'd encountered. Tactically it approached problems simply, with a full-on rush. It attacked with mad ferocity, in attempts to overwhelm its foe.

They saw one drill a perfectly smooth hole through a one-kilometer long asteroid, and pass through like it wasn't there. Lan Jue determined that the worst place to be was right in front of one of those things. Even a Paragon might not be able to take a direct hit.

The two 'Reefs' as they called them, weren't terribly friendly either. The divots on their body shot out destructive light that protected them within a range of twenty kilometers. They dissolved and consumed whatever they touched. If they struck anything organic, it was destroyed and absorbed immediately.

They were strong, and when facing three the Driver only had one option; get in close and put them down before they had a chance to respond.

Thunderclap appeared in the vacuous depths of space, hidden by a hundred-meter long asteroid. Its glimmering spear was clutched in its hand, waiting.

From experience they knew these aliens could extend their perception up to ten kilometers and maintain it. You had to be close already if you wanted to avoid detection.

The light around Thunderclap's spear began to change, turning from silver to a translucent purple. The spear's shaft was clear as crystal. A purple light also flashed in the mecha's eyes. Compared to the last alien he fought, his battle experience had risen to a new level.

The aliens were closing in, twenty kilometers from Thunderclap's location. The Driver burst into motion. The mecha lifted its hand and slapped the surface of the asteroid. Tons of space stone went hurdling toward an inevitable collision with the beasts

Swordfish reacted fastest. It swerved just enough to put it in line with the asteroid. Then, when the two met, the clash turned the asteroid into a cloud of debris.

However, at that same moment there was a flash of purple. Thunderclap appeared beside the alien, then vanished in a blinding eruption of purple light!

Fast as lightning, loud as thunder; it perfectly explained the Driver's trademark fighting style. He flashed in close then let them have it with his thunderbolt Discipline. Only, this time it was his taiyin thunderbolt he was using. The yin-yang lightning had evolved it into an empowered purple adaptation.

The Driver had listened to all these old sorts of powers from the ancient world that kept getting discussed. He settled on his own name for his unique variant – primordial lightning. It was nowhere near as destructive as the real stuff, but it looked like it.

From their vantage on Zeus-1, the purple light seemed hazy and small. However, it was a large enough explosion to engulf all three aliens.

They were stunned, but the initial attack had failed to destroy them outright. Instead they grew sluggish like they were trying to swim through soup. Especially swordfish, it struggled and lashed from side to side to try and free itself to no avail. No matter what it did, it couldn't rid itself of the confining purple light.

All three of the creatures melted away beneath the force of the blast. They were dissolved, they were purified.

Thunderclap spun like a top, and the primordial lightning became a vortex of destruction in response. The remains of the creatures were sucked into its depths and devoured.

The Taming Dragon Arhat watched with surprise. "When did this guy get so strong? What is that purple lightning?"

Lan Jue smiled. "He calls it 'primordial lightning,' I guess that's its name."

Many average Adepts probably weren't familiar with the concept of primordial lightning, but the Pauper had the blood of the Taming Dragon Arhat 1. He had quite a wealth of knowledge regarding the old world.

"Nature's primordial lightning? He's got some gall! Honestly, though, his Discipline has reached an almost protogenic level. He isn't even a Paragon, how is it he's able to control something this powerful? In a straight fight I'd need to fight my hardest to beat him."

Lan Jue looked at his friend with a mischievous, instigating grin. "You should give it a try when we get back."

The Pauper chuckled, but didn't fall for it. "We'll see."

Thunderclap made its way back to the ship, bearing three more vital crystals for their collection. However, the Driver didn't dock. Instead he coaxed the mecha to the front of Zeus-1 and hovered in front of the windows.

"Whadda ya think? That primordial lightning is something else, right?" The Driver's arrogant voice crackled through the ship's speakers.

The Wine Master called back. "Your lightning can inhibit the aliens. The swordfish and reefs are strong, but they didn't have a chance to fight back. It was like your lightning froze them up."

A chuckle was returned. "Of course, it's the primordial lightning. The seventy-two primordial lightnings that could kill immortals!"

1. There's probably another name for it somewhere, but this is one of the Five Thunders in Daoist thunder magic. Specifically, he is using the lightning created by the natural laws of the universe, hence primordial. The other kinds of lightning come from heaven, the gods, and so forth. All of them seem particularly suited to combat Buddhist immortals.

Chapter 624: All-Heaven Lightning

"That's enough singing your own praises, reign it in," Lan Jue said. "If you could really use primordial lightning than these aliens would no longer be a problem. Go ahead and just wipe them out for us."

Primordial lightning. Generated by the natural energies of the universe, the seventy-two primordial blasts were said to be able to kill immortals. There were eight systems: Yi Mu Righteous Lightning, Bing Huo Yang-Lightning, Gui Shui Yin-Lightning, Geng Jin Destructive Lightning, Wu Tu Umbral Lightning, Evil Execution Lightning, Godslayer Mystical Lightning, Violet Extinguishing Lightning 1 2 Each system had nine layers, and everyone had a natural disdain for the realms of the Buddhist pantheon. This terrible power wasn't used to cut down the beasts of the world. Its purpose was to rebel against the powers of the gods. 3

Something so powerful it could sear the heavens, how could the Driver really control that? The tribulation lightning of the old days was said to be a part of this thunder magic. Suffering the nine layers of primordial lightning was the tribulation.

Lan Jue speculated that the thunder essence he was absorbing was the result of this lightning. A great beast sometime in the distance past did not survive when the tribulation lightning came for it. The likelihood of real primordial lightning existing somewhere inside was high.

Meanwhile this shameless guy went right for the lofty name. Not to be outshone, Lan Jue was determined to find an even more arrogant name for his own Discipline. He settled on the next level up from Primordial lightning – All-Heaven Lightning.

All-Heaven Lightning, the product of Pan Gu himself 4. Ranked below only the Five Thunders 5, it was used during the creation of heaven and earth to eliminate chaos.

In the face of these arrogant youth, Jue Di was encouraging. The paths they'd chosen for themselves were the correct ones. Everything was borne from the same source, so who was to say their Disciplines couldn't reach these levels with time and effort? Especially since Lan Jue was absorbing immortal qi from the thunder essence, his chances of evolving his Discipline into such godly heights wasn't unthinkable. His yang-style thunderbolt served as a good foundation. Of course, Lan Jue would not be able to fully control it unless he became an immortal himself.

Zeus-1 was finished evading. It was headed right for the center of the Shattered Starfields, where the three alien planets awaited. Their tactics when encountering aliens remained the same. The ship's radar revealed them as they neared.

"One hundred and fifty seven of them altogether. They're coming from all directions, headed right for us." Su Xiaosu reported.

"Several unique psychic pulses have buffeted us already. Should I respond?" Guoguo asked.

"No need," her commander replied. "They're delivering themselves to us on a silver platter. What do you say, mighty Paragons? Who wants some exercise?"

The Wine Master could not participate. He had to keep his strength in case they needed to flee. However, the Epochrion and the Pauper both stood. "We'll go, and the Driver as well. Each of us will be responsible for a direction."

Lan Jue shot her a thumbs-up. "Workin' hard!"

Zeus-1 reduced speed and eventually came to a stop. It hovered in the blackness, awaiting the enemy's arrival. A flash of light drew the eye outside of the ship's bridge as the two Paragons exited.

They joined the Driver outside, and gave him a nod. The three of them headed out to keep some distance between them and their ship.

Tendrils of white light stretched from the Epochrion and waved around her like strings of silk. Out in the vacuum of space, she looked like an immortal from those ancient days.

As the crew of the ship watched, those white lights coalesced behind the Paragon until she vanished entirely. What remained was the avatar of her Dogma, a hundred meters tall and blazing with light that painted the heavens.

The avatar was enormous, clad in snow-white robes of samite. Silken ribbons swirled around it with strange shadows flitting between. It was liking watching the threads of time.

The image of the Epochrion's dogma looked precisely like her. Waves of protogenic energy radiated out from her with such intensity that it seemed the stars trembled.

Inner Dogma! Lan Jue could see it right away. It was the most common dogma in the realm of adepts, the kind developed by oneself. Typically, inner dogma were weaker than the sort that was passed down. They were established from scratch, through untold years of self-reflection and searching.

The benefit was that it was suited perfectly to the individual. No absorption or training was needed, it all came down to the truths as the adept saw them. Inherited dogmas took time to become accustomed to, to understand. Another's teachings had to become the core of their being. Only then did its strength surpass inner dogma.

In the distance, aliens began to creep into their line of sight. No less than ten swordfish led the charge. They had a lock on Zeus-1 already, and were quickly bearing down on them. However, when they noticed the giant human in space their target changed.

The ripples of protogenia were comparatively weak, but all living things had instincts and the aliens were no different. They were inexorably drawn to the enticing lights. The swordfish stopped, long enough for the other aliens to catch up.

Just then, the Epochrion lifted her right hand and swept it before her. An enormous grandfather clock appeared. It flickered with a pale golden shine. Around it swirled a host of other colors, which within them bore strange and fantastical images.

She reached out again and pinched the giant clock's hour hand between two fingers. Just as the aliens arrived, it stopped. The hour hand stopped, the minute hand stopped, the pendulum stopped. Everything seemed to freeze in time.

The aliens were suddenly thrust into a dimension of black and white. Everything around them stopped dead in its tracks. No matter how strong they were, or what talents these beasts possessed, it all meant nothing. They couldn't even think or feel.

From Zeus-1, all they saw was the Epochrion reach out. Afterwards, the aliens just… stopped.

The other two reacted immediately and flew in opposite directions. The Pauper soared upwards, and as he did his own dogma was again revealed. He grew until he was as large as the Epochrion, an image of the Taming Dragon Arhat bare to the waist. His hands had also swollen to gigantic proportions.

He struck with his palm. The sound of a dragon's roar answered. Several of the encroaching aliens couldn't hope to defend themselves and were instantly destroyed. He never used his Domain, only direct attacks. The Taming Dragon Arhat's strength was on clear display for everyone to marvel at.

The Driver's charge bore similar results. Thunderbolt's entire body buzzed with translucent primordial lightning. He swung his spear vertically and horizontally. Everywhere the purple lightning fell, the monsters were slain.

In only a few minutes over a hundred alien creatures had been dispatched. The Driver was beginning to show signs of fatigue. His Discipline was nearly at the protogenic level, but his body wasn't prepared to sustain it. He wasn't a Paragon yet, after all.

"That's a fortune right there," Lan Jue mused with a smile. Aliens of this size, who could travel and fight in space, were sure to each possess their own vital crystal. Star Division just earned over a hundred of them.

"Boss, more than a thousand aliens headed our way now. It looks like three waves, and one of them is over three thousand meters long." Su Xiaosu gave her report while watching the radar.

Lan Jue's face changed. Obviously killing so many aliens would attract some attention. "Call them back," he said. "Let's get out of here." Despite their headlong rush into the fray, their goal wasn't to engage with the enemy's main force. They were, after all, really just here to scout.

"No need." This time, it was Jue Di who spoke.

Buzzzz! A strange, unnatural sound rattled their ship. The Pauper, Driver, and Clockmaker all seemed to shake.

In the distance, the gargantuan form of an alien appeared.

In all his encounters with the aliens, this was the largest he'd seen aside from the alien planets themselves. He'd also seen one like it in the recording of the Seventh Fleet's destruction. Its outward appearance was similar to a chameleon, blown up to nightmarish proportions. A giant bulge swelled at the back of its head and its whole body was covered in thick purple scales. Sixteen eyes looked every which way, each of them shining with different intensities of purple light.

It had seven fins altogether, six for flight and the last one on the back of its tail for steering. Every one of those fins were composed of chutes, whose ends were wreathed in a pale violet halo. They appeared to act much like Zeus-1's engines.

An entourage of aliens follows in its wake. Compared to the main one, however, the others looked like children. That screeching buzz had been this colossus' roar. 6

"It's a Basilisk!" Lan Jue breathed in awe.

They were rare to see, and thankfully so. They were strong. Once they'd come across another of its ilk, only a thousand meters long. Lan Jue had given it a wide berth. He'd named it Basilisk because of its appearance.

The Driver, Pauper, and Clockmaker were approaching the ship. The Driver's voice rang through the bridge. "We've got quite a few coming, what should we do? Are we making a run for it? That big one doesn't look like an easy scrap. The Epochrion said it's their version of a Paragon. It looks like we really kicked the hornet's nest!"

"We're not retreating just yet. You protect yourselves, dad is going out there to deal with them." The news was like a shot of adrenaline to the Driver. For a second he didn't utter a word, but then relayed the information to his two companions. The Paragons shared a quick glance, and spied the surprise in each other's eyes.

Jue Di was going himself?

The near-mythical superhuman, gone for these many years, was going to deal with the threat. What could they expect to see?

The aliens come closer with every passing moment and their numbers swelled. There were ten times as many, now.

1. Daoist thunder magic is a real thing (the practice, I dunno bout the magic). My knowledge is very limited, but thunder magic is a cultivation method and a means of attack/defense. It's based on a sexagenarian cycle – rounds of 60. By using the ganzhi (heavenly roots and earthy stems), and the wuxing (five elements), astrologers and mystics created a system to observe the cosmos which was later applied to telling time. These systems are used to tell the state of a particular year, month, day, even minute by determining what condition the flows of energy are at that moment. For example, ganzhi says I was born in the year of Yin-Wood ox. If you remember, yin is the energy that is 'dark, low, cold, slow', but it is also the root of life and creativity that keeps yang in check. Wood, according to the five elements, is indicative of growth, expansion, newness. The Ox is the second animal in the Chinese zodiac (after the rat), and it considered reliable, but tends to inaction, likes to work and is persistent, but can be stubborn. Further study can tell me which of these powers, and the other elements, were strong or weak at the moment of my birth. Thus, knowing this, I can presumably determine my fundamental strengths and flaws and how I interact with the forces of nature in any specific moment.

2. Each character in the names of thunder lightning mean something specific, but giving them their full names would be unwieldy, long, and generally unsuitable for English translation. For instance, the name of the first one is actually Beta/Secondary/Yin Wood Righteous Lightning. The second one is Tetra/Third Fire Yang-Lightning. The first character describes its ranking in the sexagenary cycle, the second is its element, and the third a descriptor. Mu = wood, Huo = fire, Shui = water, Jin = metal, Tu = earth. You will also note 'violet', which is an important color in Daoism, considered the color of the gods/kings/immortals, much like ancient Rome.

3. The five element philosophy states that the elements work in a specific order. I forget whether or not I've described them before, but briefly: Elements generate and restrict one another. Here's an article that explains it well with visuals. Fire burns and molds metal (fire restricts metal) and creates nutrients for the soil (fire generates earth). Earth restricts the flow of water (earth restricts water), and metal is created in the bosom of the earth (earth generates metal). Metal generates water, I don't have a good example for that, and metal cuts down forests (metal restricts wood). Water quenches fire (water restricts fire) and is food to help wood grow (water generates wood). This is as it should be, but there are many factors that can adjust the flow. If a particular element becomes too strong, it can revolt against its controller and become imbalanced. The thunder magic lightning is said to be so strong it breaks the natural order and can destroy its controllers, the gods.

4. The god, the creator of the universe according to Chinese origin myths.

5. The most powerful Daoist thunder magic, used specifically to kill or defend – like to put down an equally powerful Daoist mystic.

6. So this one's Sovereign, then.

Chapter 625: Deva-gati

Although the creatures were still far away, they could see the scales on its back writhing. The purple halo around it was bright and getting bigger and enhanced the purple lights burning in its sixteen eyes. As the humans looked on, the beast opened its enormous maw. Suddenly a vacuum force tugged at them.

The Clockmaker's protogenic grandfather clock radiated a pale golden light that expanded to encompass the Paragons and the Driver. Her Domain helped to stabilize them and protect them from being sucked up.

Then the suction force suddenly stopped.

A flying cloud, gold and blinding, appeared out in space. It bore Jue Di to their side. He looked entirely different from the worker they'd first met. His face was calm, and he gazed upon the encroaching monsters like they were insignificant insects.

"Shut up!" He shouted at the Basilisk in irritation. Strangely, the monster did as instructed and fell silent. To the humans, the creature almost looked nervous.

Jue Di clenched his hand into a fist, and slowly extended it toward the aliens. It was almost lazy, a simple punch – like a child might.

"Huuuunggg—" The guttural sounds of Buddhist prayer echoed through space.

In the next instant, the three Skyfire Avenue fighters were surprised to find they were no longer out in space. They looked around to see the vaulted spires of a Buddhist temple. Their entire world was painted gold. Bodhisattvas, Arhats and other holy men surrounded them.

"Deva-gati!" The Pauper's voice quavered. He'd heard of this, a legendary Buddhist Domain called Deva-gati after the world of gods. It was said to be capable of guiding the enlightened. Of course he'd never seen it, but the scene before them had all the signs.

The deep Buddhist chants continued, however the world of gold slowly began translucent and vanished. The Pauper and the others recovered their senses. The Driver actually fared best, since he still hadn't come to understand the world of protogenia. He could not feel the deep, abiding power that Jue Di had commanded.

The Clockmaker, usually calm and composed, literally gaped. She held a hand over her mouth. At some point the grandfather clock she'd summoned disappeared, along with the image of her dogma. She was back to her normal size, floating with the others in space. The Pauper fared about the same, but he was breather faster than the Epochrion.

All three turned their eyes in unison to the distant aliens, but there was nothing to see. Seconds earlier a thousand aliens had been bearing down on them, only to vanish in a single punch. Only a cloud of purple light remained.

"How about someone heads over to pick up the remains," Jue Di said indifferently.

The others snapped out of their shock. The Pauper reacted first, disappearing in a flash and reappearing where the creatures had once been. What he found was a vital crystal ten meters long, the source of the purple light. He was still a distance from it, but he could clearly feel the vital energy pouring from it. It was, frankly, terrifying.

A single punch…

All it took for Jue Di to eliminate a thousand world-devouring monsters was a single punch. He made it look so simple. And his Domain – the legendary Deva-gati!

For those watching from Zeus-1, things were unclear. All they'd seen was a flash of golden light, and suddenly their radar was coming up clean. Jue Di returned, said he was going to take a nap, then disappeared into his cabin.

The aliens were nowhere to be found. When the Pauper, Clockmaker and Driver returned they didn't utter a word. All three were silent, trying to comprehend what they'd witnessed. Now they understood what strength was. They understood why Jue Di was a living legend, an unparalleled powerhouse.

What Jue Di had shown them was far outside of what they thought possible.

The Pauper shook his head, trying to shake the shock from his brain, then found a place to sit. The Clockmaker was taking it hardest, though. She knew she would never compare to Jue Di, but the true discrepancy between them was astounding. His Domain had overtaken everything to the point where her own Domain was instantly drowned out, even her dogma.

Put another way, if Jue Di desired it he could slay her with a single finger.

This fearsome power was beyond the scope of his legend. If Jue Di had been this strong during the paragon battle all those years ago, no one would have lived to tell the tale.

Lan Jue saw it differently. It warmed his heart to see such tremendous strength. His father was hale and hardy.

"Pick up speed, horizontal bearing. Let's get out of here." Lan Jue commanded. They had put down no small number of aliens, the aliens planets were definitely aware. Nor had it been as easy as it looked. It took three Paragons and Jue Di to get them this far.

But that punch… it was like it had been empowered by the curse of an angry god. When Lan Qing used his curses, they didn't come anywhere near his father's.

That was strength. Real strength!

Lan Jue stood in a daze, not moving a muscle. He allowed the residual energies to wash over him and sought to learn what he could. Though he hadn't been out there with the others, but the hull of a ship couldn't dream of obstructing even the shadow of his father's brawn.

In the recesses of his mind Lan Jue could feel Captus hum. Both it and Demortus were reacting to something.

Zeus-1 continued to pick up speed and race through space for a full half an hour. It gave everyone time to collect themselves and recover.

When the Wine Master and the others had first met Jue Di, in truth they'd been slightly disappointed. They were expecting a legend but got a mechanic. Now they saw the legend, and then some.

Jue Di, this was Jue Di! The only known Paragon to reach the Infinite, the fourth degree of protogenic mastery. Watching that punch hadn't just shocked them, it had given them tremendous confidence. Even the Wine Master was starting to think that his ten days of labor setting up the teleport array wasn't necessary. With the god-like Jue Di on board, what alien could harm them? Jue Di simply had to want to, and even those alien planets were at risk.

In his cabin, Jue Di sat at the foot of the bed. Luo Xianni sat beside him, concern writ clear on her face.

"Hnnghh…." Jue Di sighed and closed his eyes.

"What is it? Are you alright?" She asked with some concern.

He grinned and shook his head. "I'm fine. It's been so long since I've lifted a hand. I didn't expect that. 'Time and tide wait for no man'! In the end, though, there is no path forward."

Luo Xianni scrunched her face in thought. "Could you use A-Jue's abilities to help you take that final step?"

He shook his head. "No. He's still too weak. Even once he's absorbed all the thunder essence, I'm afraid it still won't be enough. I have spent years searching, do you think it would be so easy?"

Her face became serious. "You shouldn't have gone out there. I don't want you to do that again."

He shrugged. "I only wanted to see where I am at. It's been more than ten years since I've lifted a finger. It's why I didn't want to be with you. If we're forced to part forever, could we handle it?"

Luo Xianni threw her arms around him. "I don't care. All I want is to spend all my time with you. If that day comes, I'll go with you."

Jue Di gently stroked her hair. "Stop that nonsense. There's still so much you want to do. I just hope A-Jue comes into his own before I go. He and his brother are much further along than I was at their age. I can only give them my experiences, and show them the way. Especially A-Jue. The thunder essence has changed his thunderbolt Discipline. Not primordial or all-heaven lightning, but whatever it is will help him when it comes time to break through. How could I ask him to help me, at such a crucial time? When he's strong enough, he could use this opportunity for himself."

Luo Xianni vigorously shook her head. "Let's not talk about this. I just want to hold you like this."

Just then, a terrible consciousness drew its attention to the spot where Zeus-1 and the aliens had been. It swept across the empty space, then spread out into the distance. Jue Di's eyes hardened and he sat up straight.

"What is it?" Luo Xianni asked.

His eyebrows were knit tight. "I felt a powerful wave of energy. It originated far from us, but it's still so strong."

Luo Xianni looked at him with concern. "Was it mechanical, or…."

He shook his head. "It felt like a consciousness. It came too fast, I couldn't feel it clearly."

"For you to say something is strong… is it your same level?" She asked.

But he shrugged. "I don't know. The universe is boundless, it wouldn't be unthinkable to encounter something like me. I'm just concerned it's that alien."

Luo Xianni was beside herself with anxiety. "Should we tell A-Jue, tell him not to keep going toward the planets?"

He replied with a mirthless laugh. "The aliens came to the Starfields to prepare for the assault on humanity. If we leave them alone, do you think they'll just leave? Sooner or later, we're going to have to face them."

"But, you…"

Jue Di waved her off with his hand. "I've been a bully my whole life, you think I'm prepared to accept this bullshit?"

"Right," she said, suddenly thinking of something. "Those vital crystals are no use to you?"

Chapter 626: Prying

Jue Di shook his head. "We're on different levels, it has limited use for me. I would need crystals from something as strong as I. It's the same for you. Those Paragons in the Realm of Protogenia, or who are Reflections of Heaven and Earth, they can use them. But for those like you and me, we've already surpassed natural restrictions and are connected to the universe at large. Only creatures with a similar connection can supplement our energies."

A faint, bloodthirsty light shone in Luo Xianni's eyes. "Then we'll search until we find that alien, something that'll work for us!"

Jue Di nodded. "This is also one reason I wanted to come along. If such a chance exists, I'm not going to let it slip."

When she heard his affirmation, her mood improved. "You will definitely succeed," she said through a smile. "You're invincible."

Zeus-1 took a distant, circuitous route from the scene of their last battle before continuing toward the galaxy's center. The last encounter had left them flush, so much in fact that the Wine Master was having trouble keeping calm.

Altogether they'd gathered one thousand seven hundred vital crystals. Among them was the ten-meter long one from the Basilisk. If they managed to bring all of these back to human worlds intact, the response would be overwhelming. The cost to create their teleport base paled in comparison. They would be the cornerstone of the Eastern Alliance's future dominance!

After preliminary calculations by the Accountant they estimated more than ten thousand people could use these to extend their lives, if the energy they released was any indication. This was on the conservative side, even before considering the Basilisk crystal.

The asteroid belts were beginning to look familiar. More and more aliens were appearing on their radar. However, now that they were closer to the planets he didn't engage. Scouting was the main priority at the moment, seek and destroy only if they had time.

They relied on Lin Guoguo's psychic pulses to keep them hidden when an alien came too close. She'd become quite adroit at mimicking alien consciousness after so many days of practice.

"We'll nearly be there once we cross the asteroid field." Su Xiaosu's somewhat nervous voice called to Lan Jue.

He walked over to her side and looked over her shoulder at the radar. Sadly its scanning range was soiled by the chaotic energies and magnetic disturbances of the Shattered Starfields. They couldn't see much beyond the tips of their noses.

"Wine Master, prepare to evacuate us at a moment's notice." Lan Jue said.

The Wine Master nodded. His dimensional scepter was already in his hand. The Epochrion and the Taming Dragon Arhat were in their respective cabins, preparing for a fight.

"Guoguo, how long can you keep this up?" He looked her way.

"At least an hour with no problems," she answered.

He nodded. "Full speed ahead. Accountant, make sure all our scanning equipment is ready to go."

"Aye aye!"

Zeus-1 leapt forward, barreling over a large asteroid on its way to clear space – and its target, the three alien planets.

At top speed it didn't take them long to traverse the belt. As the last space rock rolled past, the rest of the galaxy was revealed. At last, they'd reached their destination.

Except, everything was not what they expected. When they arrived at where the three primary planets had been, only one planet remained, hovering in the spot Moonfiend had once occupied. The other two were gone, with no trace left behind.

Xiaosu gasped. "They've already teleported away?"

Lan Jue placed a hand on her shoulder. "Not necessarily, don't panic. Move in closer and scan the area. Remember that these planets can move. Maybe the planets split up to cover more area. After all, out here even one of these planets are invincible. Let's move in and take a look. Mika, call my parents here to look. Assuming only one of the planets are here, maybe we can cause a little chaos."

Jue Di's apocalyptic punch had stunned everyone, and was a font of courage for Lan Jue. If his father could put down one of these three fatal worlds, it could mean the difference in humanity's coming crisis.

Mika rushed to fetch them, while Zeus-1 slowly crept closer. The Psychic Tide continued to put her full effort into maintaining their camouflage.

From afar the planet almost looked like a human Bastion Ship, floating quietly by itself. A hive would be a more apt description, though. Scores of alien creatures could be spied leaving and returning from its surface. It swallowed them up and spat out others, keeping the flow steady.

Undoubtedly the creatures were being dispatched to gather more life energy. When they returned, they delivered that energy to the planet itself.

It was the first time Lan Jue was close enough to see the process clearly.

The surface of the planet was entirely purple. Its surface was pockmarked with craters, mountains, and strange fold-like valleys. A pale purple haze surrounded it, like an atmosphere. That was all he could tell with his eyes alone. He couldn't see or sense much beyond that.

Jue Di and Luo Xianni arrived at the bridge and walked to his side. They looked out at the scene.

"Just one?" Jue Di's brows wrinkled in thought.

Lan Jue nodded. "We can only see one. The other two most likely moved on. Now we know they can move and fight separately."

Jue Di's eyes narrowed. He was thinking of something, but there was no telling what.

Lan Jue continued. "From our previous encounter we can determine that these planets are living creatures. They're like brood mothers, and can spawn aliens for their needs. They use life energy pilfered from elsewhere to empower themselves. The one we found on Taihua, the one we called a progenitor, was essentially a scaled-down version of this thing. It also spawned aliens and sent them out to drain the planet. It was using that energy to get bigger. We suspect that's how these things develop."

Jue Di nodded, expressing his agreement.

"Father, we have no way of telling how strong this planet is. If you were to fight it, do you think you could cause some damage?" Lan Jue asked.

"Absolutely not!" Luo Xianni answered for him.

Lan Jue paused. Everyone's eyes turned her way.

Jue Di stared at her for a moment before answering. "I can't tell. The planet's atmosphere is hiding its energies from me. I'd need to get in there."

Chapter 627: Exposed

Lan Jue was a smart guy, he could immediately from Luo Xianni's reaction that something was wrong with his father. She didn't hesitate to veto his idea. Lan Jue spoke directly to Su Xiaosu. "Keep a distant orbit around the planet. Scan and record everything we can."

"Aye aye." She pulled the ship into position and continued scanning their target. This was already enough, as they certainly weren't going to risk talking a stroll on the planet's surface. Heaven only knew what lay beneath that toxic atmosphere.

Lan Jue didn't want to confront his father about it now. He gave the order to keep their distance without hesitation. There would be time for questions when they were in less dangerous territory, but Luo Xianni's reaction had planted a seat of anxiety in his heart. No one knew him better than she did.

Their scans weren't only directed at the planet. Information was gathered on the flow of aliens that came and went as well. Their cameras were trained on them from a safe distance, hungrily lapping up every detail. The data they were getting was priceless for the future war effort.

As they continued their orbit, an alien creature blocked their path.

It was a breed they'd never seen before. The top of it was wide and thick, making it look like a giant umbrella. Dozens of spindly tendrils hung down from a body that rose over a thousand meters and stretched five hundred meters across. In terms of size, it was among the largest yet recorded.

Zeus-1 stopped. They looked for a way around it, but that was when they noticed the alien behemoth stop as well. Then the powerful psychic pulse came.

"Aah!" Lin Guoguo screamed, oscillating flashes of golden light glimmering around her. She tore the metal helmet off her head.

"We're exposed!" Lan Jue was the first to react. Su Xiaosu wasted no time turning the ship around and trying to dash back the way they came.

The alien was on the move again, and picking up speed. Despite its size, it moved incredible fast and the tendrils below it splayed out behind like wisps of hair. Meter by meter the gap between them shrunk. The humans onboard looked at their radar screen in horror as a host of blips appeared.

Among them were swordfish, reefs, spiral aliens and more. They tumbled out from underneath the cap of the jellyfish-shaped monstrosity and charged at Zeus-1.

Clearly this one could carry smaller aliens with it. It somehow was able to store them in interdimensional space. Whatever breed this was, the creature was certainly among the peak of its kind.

A haze of golden light hung over the ship, and the host of enemies froze. In the same instant Zeus-1 blasted to full speed toward the asteroid belt they'd approached from.

The situation wasn't yet dire enough to use the Wine Master's teleporter. Lan Jue was also hesitant to show their secrets to their pursuers. The one who'd bought them time was the Epochrion. Through her command over time, she'd slowed them to a stand-still. Out in deep space she was in her element, it strengthened her protogenia.

The others sensed something wrong and swarmed for the ship. By some unknown means they were able to instantly communicate, so that the aliens that sped in from afar knew precisely where to go. In moments they were surrounded. Space was thick with writhing alien bodies.

According to the radar, in the span of a moment there were now ten thousand aliens bearing down on them.

Woosh! A swordfish sailed right across their bow. Zeus-1 was barely able to evade its charge. Lan Jue had taken over the controls from Lin Guoguo. He channeled his powers through the ship, monitoring and enhancing it.

"I'll try short-range teleportation first to see if we can shake them," the Wine Master called out.

The aliens swarmed thicker and closer, and through the undulating purple flesh flashes of silver blinded the eye. There was a burst, and then Zeus-1 was gone.

When it reappeared, the ship was on the dark side of a large asteroid. They didn't stop, racing into the distance the moment they got their bearings. But then an orb of purple energy appeared in their path. As it grew every asteroid contained within was disintegrated. Even space-time seemed carved into slices.

They felt a heavy consciousness descend upon them and lock on the ship. It didn't bear the threat of direct attack, but it did overwhelm Lan Jue's mind. His face changed as a dizziness consumed him.

More of them were quickly approaching. Streaks of dangerous purple light were surrounding them again everywhere they looked. Another powerful wave of psychic force struck them and make the Clockmaker grunt. She staggered, but the golden light protecting them only got stronger.

It was time for Luo Xianni to get involved. She waved her hands and everything around them changed. Zeus-1 was covered in a pink hue, in and out. Whoosh! Reality ripped apart in front of them, and then they were gone. Her powers were like the Wine Master's, but as a Paragon of Nirvana level hers were far more effective.

When space reconstructed itself the aliens were gone, replaced with a sea of stone. They were back in the asteroid belt.

Lan Jue gave his mother a thumbs-up, but when he looked at her she seemed uncomfortable. He frowned. Jue Di's eyes narrowed, like he was concentrating on something.

The universe changed again. The asteroids were gone, and Zeus-1 was thrust into a world of purple, the natural color of this new reality.

"Humans!" A deep and rumbling voice arose. It bore a harshness like flesh on gravel. Everyone but Luo Xianni and Jue Di trembled uncontrollably at the sound.

They trembled because the voice came from within them. Within their own minds.

Outside the windows something appeared floating in purple nothingness.

Su Xiaosu adjusted the radar, spreading its radius.

It was a man, or looked like a man. He was tall and strong, maybe in his twenties. His form was covered in deep purple robes, and the flesh that was revealed bore a pallid color. Despite that he bore himself majestically. He was perfectly proportioned, but a frigidness lived in his violet eyes.

It was his hair that struck Lan Jue. It evoked memories, visions of the long curious hair of the Violet Princess. This man was indeed one of the leaders.

"I'm going!" Luo Xianni growled.

"No!" Jue Di lifted his hand and placed it upon her shoulder. Looking into her eyes, he shook his head. "You can't. He's like me."

Luo Xianni's eyes widened. "You mean…"