CHAPTER 822: CHAPTER 502: STAR GATE RUINS (PART 2)

"How long?" Ji Xinghuo asked.

"Uncertain." Quigang answered with his hand held out, "At least two Star Realm seasons, maybe five, you can take your time to consider."

A Star Realm year is divided into two seasons; one season equals 1.85 years on Earth.

Two to five seasons is roughly 4 to 9 years on Earth.

Ji Xinghuo was speechless for a moment.

But he quickly understood that the average lifespan of Silicon Giants is 200 seasons, and Quigang is a Sixth Rank force, able to live even longer, possibly up to 500 seasons, so his pace is slow, without a sense of urgency.

Two or three seasons for Quigang is equivalent to a few months for Earthlings.

Now, as the Heavenly King, he can also live to be four or five hundred years old.

It’s just a matter of getting used to it.

"If I agree to join the exploration team, how should I contact you?" Ji Xinghuo asked.

Quigang displayed a complex string of identification codes, "This is my Star Realm terminal number; I will pass through Titanium Ring City regularly, you can send me a message, or leave a mark here."

"Got it."

Ji Xinghuo memorized the hundred-digit code at a glance, turned, walked out of the courtyard, and vanished into the void, out of Quigang’s sight.

In the void, he traversed to several hundred kilometers outside Titanium Ring City, where Jiu You flew out of his body, mimicked into a Deserted People, and returned to Titanium Ring City with the Alien Species "Power of the Stars," while Ji Xinghuo’s shadow clone dissipated in place.

Earth base.

Ji Xinghuo multitasked, speaking with Cheng Sheng in the tea room.

Every Star Realm Month, Cheng Sheng would send a report to the leader, along with important news from Earth.

Over the past year, Earth’s situation had been relatively stable.

However, this was only on the surface; there was also unrest on the American Federation’s side.

Since appearing at the Global Marathon, the third generation Sun King had changed the style of the previous two Sun Kings, frequently appearing in the media, openly accepting interviews, and using his influence to intervene in domestic affairs, repeatedly sparking public controversies, and openly confronting the United States Government, even directly targeting the financial backers behind it.

This earned the Sun King massive support, his reputation steadily rising, but it also caused dissatisfaction at the upper levels of the United States.

The Sun King suppressed dissent with his strength and reputation.

But this was only temporary.

The leader’s intelligence analysis predicted a likely internal conflict in the American Federation.

The Asia-Pacific Community would not miss this golden opportunity, even if unable to directly weaken the United States, they would target its allies.

Several plans had already been set, just waiting for a fuse.

"Xinghuo."

Cheng Sheng whispered, "According to the leader’s estimation, the next few years are critical for Earth’s development pattern, and I don’t want to miss it."

"You want to return to Earth?" Ji Xinghuo guessed his intention.

"That’s right." Cheng Sheng nodded, "I plan to push for the Heavenly King level, and after succeeding, I will return to Earth to contribute to my country. After so many years in Titanium Ring City, I’ve nearly forgotten what Earth looks like, I miss it dearly."

"Wish you success!" Ji Xinghuo encouraged him.

Before him, Cheng Sheng was Earth’s youngest Legendary Mutant, ascending to Legendary at 28, and now he’s 52, having stayed at the Legendary Stage for over twenty years, his accumulation is more than enough, leveling up to Heavenly King wouldn’t be difficult.

Titanium Cobalt Lan had always provided help, supplying cultivation resources, Cheng Sheng enjoyed treatment matching that of Titanium Cobalt Family members.

However, Cheng Sheng ultimately isn’t a True Dragon.

If he could merge with "Dragon Vein User," gaining power amplification from his Steel Blade Dragon, and replicating abilities, his strength would surely escalate further.

Ji Xinghuo held a "Dragon Vein User" Alien Species but could not use it, without the True Dragon Dynasty’s official recognition, it would be labeled "Blood Stealer," which is the gravest crime in the True Dragon Dynasty, not to be trifled with lightly.

After consideration, he whispered, "If you return to Earth and don’t come to the True Dragon Dynasty soon, you could consider merging with it."

He then took out a fragment of white bone, the Alien Species of Dragon Vein User from Canghuo Gui.

Cheng Sheng’s pupils suddenly contracted.

"Dragon..."

He didn’t finish, "Where did you get it?"

"I’ve been in the True Dragon Dynasty for so long, is it strange to have this Alien Species?" Ji Xinghuo’s face was calm, several Sixth Rank Dragon Lords had died at his hands, but he only harvested one Dragon Vein User.

Cheng Sheng’s gaze on the Alien Species was full of temptation, yet he shook his head, "I can’t possibly never return to the True Dragon Dynasty."

Ji Xinghuo said, "You return to Earth first, merge it to enhance your strength, and later I will find a way to get you a True Dragon identity, to become a Dragon Lord openly."

"That’s difficult." Cheng Sheng hesitated.

He had spent years in Titanium Ring City without finding such a channel, and couldn’t reveal this to Titanium Cobalt Lan.

"Actually, it’s not that hard." Ji Xinghuo smiled.

The management of the True Dragon Dynasty is very loose; as long as the offer is high enough, there will always be True Dragon people willing to sell their identities for profit. Considering Titanium Cobalt Lan’s opinion in Titanium Ring City, it cannot be done behind her back, so we must change the location.

When I was on Donghuang Island, electromagnetic induction detected a lot of such dealings, with some small families making a fortune this way.

A Blood Stealer turning into a True Dragon person costs at most two thousand Dragon Crystals.

Cheaper ones are available for just four or five hundred Dragon Crystals.

Upon hearing Ji Xinghuo’s words, Cheng Sheng’s eyes lit up, "Then I will accept it, as for Lord Hu Lan..."

"Deal first, report later, she actually doesn’t care." Ji Xinghuo replied.

"Alright!"

Cheng Sheng took the Mutant Dragon Vein User and put it away.

"Take these as well." Ji Xinghuo handed over three more Dragon Crystals, each worth ten thousand Ether Crystals, a total value of thirty thousand, and said, "I don’t know what kind of mutants you lack, so buy what you need, or purchase Apocalypse Level weapon equipment."

"Wow!"

Cheng Sheng’s eyes widened, shocked by Ji Xinghuo’s generosity, and envied, "Do core members of the Titanium Cobalt family receive such high treatment?"

"How is that possible?" Ji Xinghuo said with a laugh, "I earned all of it myself."

"This is too much, I dare not accept it." Cheng Sheng shook his head with difficulty.

"No need to be modest, I have no ulterior motive." Ji Xinghuo guessed his thoughts, "If your strength improves, you can contribute more to the country. If the leader knows, he will also allow you to accept it."

"But I haven’t done anything substantial; I can’t take so many resources for myself." Cheng Sheng insisted.

Ji Xinghuo laughed and said, "I just gave Sister Lan five hundred thousand Dragon Crystals to exchange for resources; these thirty thousand are extra for you."

"What?"

Cheng Sheng was dumbfounded.

He then realized that tens of thousands of Dragon Crystals meant nothing to Ji Xinghuo, truly having no ulterior motives.

"Then I won’t be polite." Cheng Sheng happily put away the Dragon Crystals. With these thirty thousand Ether Crystals, he increased his chances of advancing to Heavenly King, planned to buy an Apocalypse One Star spear, merge with Dragon Vein User, and greatly enhance his strength.

Even if it’s just Sixth Rank First Dan, it would place him in the top ten of the Global Battle Power List.

"Xinghuo, when will you return to Earth?"

"Wait a little longer." Ji Xinghuo had already planned, "I’m preparing to cultivate in the Titanium Cobalt family for a few months, reach the limit of Sixth Rank First Dan as soon as possible, and when I start condensing Star Seed nodes, I should be able to return to Earth."

Cheng Sheng was again surprised, advancing to Sixth Rank Second Dan so quickly?

"I’m leaving."

Ji Xinghuo got up to leave.

Electromagnetic induction swept over Earth’s station, paused for a bit; the Branch Horn Cloud Deer had been fostered there for over half a year, almost forgotten. However, this temporary mount had no potential and was of no use now.

So he told Cheng Sheng that if the Branch Horn Cloud Deer had a fate with some Mutant from Earth, it could be given away.

Ji Xinghuo transformed into a bolt of lightning, soared into the sky, and landed in Upper Titanium Ring City.

Returned to Titanium Cobalt Lan’s mansion room.

Soon, Jiu You returned with the force of many stars, handed the mutant to Ji Xinghuo, and an interface appeared in front of him.

[Mutant: Force of Many Stars]

[Grade: Star Fall]

[Fusion Success Rate: 94%]

[Upgradeable: Yes]

The Silicon Giant Quigang had said that the Force of Many Stars was the best power-type ability, and Ji Xinghuo discovered it was indeed so from the information obtained by Wanxiang Star Pupil.

Its principle is to infuse the body with star power, converting energy into a form of mechanical force; since force is mutual, it will produce counterforce on the body.

If it exceeds the body’s limit, it could harm oneself instead.

Therefore, the stronger the physical quality, the greater the amplification of the Force of Many Stars.

When the Force of Many Stars is activated, this portion of star power infused into the body is entirely occupied and cannot be used to deploy other abilities.

This is equivalent to a reduction in the total star power.

Moreover, the higher the level of the Force of Many Stars, the stronger the amplification, and the more star power it occupies.

When a mutant reaches Sixth Rank Second Dan, with a condensed Star Seed node in the body, the Force of Many Stars can amplify power based on numerous star seeds, achieving better results. That’s why this ability is called "Force of Many Stars," where "many stars" refer both to star power and star seeds.

"What a great mutant!"

"Very suitable for me!"

Ji Xinghuo praised for a while, then pressed the starry flashing mutant onto his chest, integrated it into his skin and flesh, entering the Star Gland.