Barren Star – Chapter 70
by Little PandaThe Divine Authority Mask
The starship hovered in the vast cosmos. The planet, once shrouded in a layer of gray haze, left no trace as it was devoured by the black hole. The space ahead was empty, and repeated scans and probes brought back no signs of “life.”
Ning Buyi listened to the flat, emotionless mechanical voice, her brows remaining tightly furrowed.
“When are we going back?” Kris asked, looking at Ning Buyi.
After a long while, Ning Buyi finally said, “Let’s wait a bit longer.”
“What if she doesn’t come back?” Kris didn’t want to be pessimistic, but had to acknowledge this possibility. Such powerful supernatural abilities must have limitations, and Hua Zhuoyu might die paying the “price.” She glanced at Hill, who had stopped caring about everything else after obtaining the “Life Drop,” not even paying attention to her own sister. Kris felt uncomfortable having grown used to being called the “stupid sister.” Of course, she wouldn’t actively seek conversation with Hill, which meant Ning Buyi was the only other living person left on the starship.
Ning Buyi suddenly looked up, an unusually bright light flashing in her eyes.
“She will return,” her tone was firm, not to convince Kris, but to convince herself.
Even a second of waiting felt eternal. This wasn’t an ordinary “return,” and emotions like panic, loneliness, and worry crept through her body like climbing vines. Half an hour later, Ning Buyi heard a “thud,” her eyelid twitched, and she abruptly turned away from the bridge, rushing toward the warehouse where the sound came from.
After pushing open the warehouse door, bright lights illuminated everything. Little Feng Jiu was crouched on Hua Zhuoyu’s body, clearly exhausted. Ning Buyi looked at Hua Zhuoyu and gradually relaxed. The “price” was the same as last time, though the excessive “dark pollution” wasn’t a problem for her.
Hua Zhuoyu lay unconscious, her consciousness drifting like a small boat on waves. Pain spread through her body, feeling as if it would tear her limbs apart, her nerves taut and nearly driving her mad. But soon, an energy like a gentle stream soothed her agitation, gradually dissolving those destructive thoughts, and she fell into a peaceful dream.
In the temple, not long ago.
The “Life Heart” within the “Revival Device” would soon be activated. Though it was originally created for purification, the device had been fundamentally altered by the monster’s invasion, transforming it into a kinetic device. The divine corpses not yet digested by the monster were quickly enveloped in shadows, and amid crunching sounds, the swollen flesh slowly raised its “head.”
When the “Sequence Array” exploded, the monster sensed its body and nerves being invaded by an overwhelmingly powerful force. Massive amounts of flesh shattered and annihilated in that terrifying energy, causing it to howl involuntarily, releasing even stronger dark pollution! The Sequence Array destroyed the Revival Device and invaded the monster’s core, but it couldn’t completely eliminate the dark pollution. This polluted advanced civilization planet had long since died in contamination, and her plan from the beginning was to destroy the entire planet.
Of course, Hua Zhuoyu didn’t want to perish like her predecessors.
Little Feng Jiu’s spatial portal transfer ability wasn’t stable, but moving from this doomed planet to the starship was effortless. When activating her supernatural ability, she sensed the dark pollution’s consumption. This time, the “price” was greater than before – if she hadn’t been carrying “Elpis”, what returned through the transfer might have been a person already driven mad.
She was forced into unconsciousness, but before that, she discovered half a mask that even “black hole consumption” couldn’t destroy.
…
“The mask!” Hua Zhuoyu suddenly awoke from her dream, turning to see Ning Buyi sitting nearby, peeling a banana.
Not far away, Little Feng Jiu was holding an apple, seemingly having recovered her energy.
“Awake?” Ning Buyi walked to the bedside, her gaze fixed unwavering on Hua Zhuoyu. Usually, she was the one waiting to wake up, but this time their roles were reversed. The unconscious person’s thoughts were muddled, but for the one keeping watch, it was painful torment.
“How many days?” Hua Zhuoyu met Ning Buyi’s gaze, her eyes like autumn waters.
“Five days,” Ning Buyi held up her left hand to show. After tossing the banana to Little Feng Jiu, she took out a nutrient solution and handed it to Hua Zhuoyu. Without waiting for questions, she continued, “The Mythical Forbidden Zone has disappeared, but the dark pollution hasn’t completely vanished. However, without its source, at least it won’t grow anymore.”
“We’re heading back now.”
Hua Zhuoyu listened quietly, and when Ning Buyi fell silent, she said: “I brought back half of a golden mask that cannot be destroyed.”
Ning Buyi nodded: “I saw it. The dark pollution that was on it has been cleared.” After a pause, she continued, “In legends, masks were mediums for ritualists to communicate with divine spirits, and this planet happened to be a higher advanced civilization. This is the Divine Authority Mask.”
“Mythology” was already in the past; in the war between civilizations, everything ultimately faced destruction. But relics from the “Mythological Era” deserved their attention. Hua Zhuoyu frowned thoughtfully: “If it can’t be destroyed, it probably split into two halves before the apocalyptic war. Where could the other half of the mask be if not in the Mythical Forbidden Zone?”
Ning Buyi asked: “Are you worried it might have flowed to the Greedy Wolf Star System?”
Hua Zhuoyu pressed her lips together: “We can’t rule out that possibility.” The Divine Authority Mask fell from the monster, and if a monster born from divine corpses could invade the Revival Device, couldn’t it also utilize the wandering half of the Divine Authority Mask? “Let’s make a note of it,” Hua Zhuoyu added.
Ning Buyi hummed in agreement and sat at the bedside. The nutrient solution had restored some of Hua Zhuoyu’s vitality, but her cheeks remained paper-white. Her black hair fell smoothly over her shoulders, and her eyes still held the haziness of first waking. Ning Buyi reached out toward Hua Zhuoyu’s face, her fingertip lightly brushing her lips before quickly withdrawing. She met Hua Zhuoyu’s clear gaze, cleared her throat, wanted to say something, but the words vanished at her lips. She remained silent, just smiling at Hua Zhuoyu.
“The greatest threat hanging over our heads is resolved. We’ll be much freer from now on,” Hua Zhuoyu held Ning Buyi’s hand, gently caressing her palm.
Ning Buyi finally remembered the important matter: “Without the threat of dark pollution, seeds can now take root beyond Mountain and Sea Star.” For her, the greatest achievement of this journey was unlocking seed trade. She alone didn’t have enough energy to spread plants throughout the star system, but seed circulation meant she could rest easy. However, thinking of seeds reminded Ning Buyi of that pile of “eggs.” After cultivating the lost “Seeds of Life”, she wondered what kind of sight Mountain and Sea Star would become.
…
Mountain and Sea Star.
More than a year had passed since Ning Buyi’s long-distance voyage. Under Beidou’s control, the base operated steadily, though due to “careful calculation,” Mountain and Sea Star’s products listed on “Starlight” had been reduced by half, with only “Elpis Reagent” maintaining its previous production levels. Even so, complaints on the Star Network never ceased.
“I’ve been in queue for half a year, when will it be my turn?”
“Why does Mountain and Sea Star monopolize everything? Can’t the technology be shared? If other planets joined in, wouldn’t production capacity increase several times?”
“Does the person above think it’s just a manpower issue? It’s about raw materials! I think those researchers at our experimental bases are as dumb as pigs – they’ve been there several times, how haven’t they managed to cultivate plants yet?”
“I heard plants only appear on Mountain and Sea Star because of supernatural powers. New information: Mountain and Sea Star’s Planetary Master has been gone for over a year, apparently to the ‘Mythical Forbidden Zone’.”
“She’s gone, what will happen to us?”
Someone had leaked the news of Ning Buyi’s voyage, causing an uproar on the Star Network. In their eyes, whether supernatural or not, Ning Buyi, as the only person capable of cultivating plants, was the star system’s top protection priority! Yet she went to that point of no return! Angry people directed their fury at the Da Xia government, berating them for failing to retain talent and letting them sacrifice themselves in the Mythical Forbidden Zone.
However, this topic didn’t last long before new news ignited the Star Network, with heat comparable to when the “Elpis Reagent” first appeared! On a low-level construction planet called “Dark Light”, someone had grown plants! According to them, after recently buying watermelon on the Starlight Platform, they couldn’t bear to dispose of the seeds and planted them in a flowerpot. It was just a casual attempt, but unexpectedly, it “sprouted”! Fearing disbelief from the Star Network audience, they displayed the pot with tender sprouts from all angles.
After this revelation, “seed sprouting” topics sprouted like bamboo shoots after rain – some just riding the trend, while others genuinely cultivated plants. Not all seeds could sprout; this had only become possible in recent days. Yet this threw the interstellar community into celebration, with people frantically rushing to the Starlight Platform to buy plants. If they succeeded in cultivation at this stage, they could surely sell at sky-high prices, just like the first lucky person.
“Seeds are sprouting beyond Mountain and Sea Star – our masters have succeeded.” At the base, Beidou stopped patrolling and called Xiong Xun, Feng Yi, and others for a meeting. In Ning Buyi’s plan, Mountain and Sea Star would now sell “seeds.” However, unlike selling fruits, vegetables, and other products, this required certain qualifications.
“Our Beast Star has hardworking gardeners, can we apply for a batch?” Feng Yi’s eyes lit up at these words.
“Certainly, the master has already arranged this with Lord Feng Yi,” Xiong Xun said confidently, adjusting his tie with self-satisfaction. He, Xiong Xun, once the weakest fighter in the Bear Clan, was now their most successful member.
“Applications can be made at the Sprout Base.” Most seats were occupied by Beast Star representatives, while from Da Xia’s humans, only Lu Zhiwei was present. She tapped the table and smiled gently, “As for others, it can be distributed as pioneer benefits.”
In over a year, only 365 pioneers remained at the base. When those who couldn’t endure the hardships applied to return, Mountain and Sea Star didn’t stop them, letting them leave freely. As circumstances change, so do hearts – abandoning their initial aspirations was only human nature.
Aurora City Residential Area.
Though all infrastructure was operational, compared to cities of millions, this city of thousands felt cold and empty. Moreover, it was an “isolated island” standing on boundless land. Most students who arrived here with grand ambitions had their fighting spirit worn down by the environment. They had grown up in prosperity, naturally accustomed to bustle.
After finishing a busy day, Liu Heng [柳蘅 | liǔ hēng] returned home with her companions. Mountain and Sea Star was extremely generous with accommodations, not only directly allocating housing but also providing daily fruits and vegetables impossible to obtain on the Starlight Platform. Even so, Liu Heng felt somewhat tired. If not for Mountain and Sea Star’s support of her hobby – woodcarving – she might have left like the others.
Upon returning home, Liu Heng immediately logged into the Star Network.
Just then, Xue Min [薛敏 | xuē mǐn] sent a communication request, which Liu Heng accepted without much thought.
Xue Min asked: “Are you still on Mountain and Sea Star?”
Liu Heng nodded, noticing Xue Min’s flickering gaze. She frowned, suddenly remembering their last unpleasant parting. Xue Min was her roommate, among the first batch to request leaving Mountain and Sea Star. She left feeling triumphant, proud of having taken the hard-to-get “Elpis Reagent” early and having enjoyed previously unaffordable produce. Yet despite these benefits, she was quick to give up. Perhaps she thought she could rely on old acquaintances still on Mountain and Sea Star to purchase produce for her. At first, Liu Heng and others did this, but eventually, Liu Heng grew tired of it.
Xue Min: “I heard the Planetary Master is gone?”
Liu Heng responded coldly: “I don’t know.”
Xue Min smiled, offering unsolicited advice: “I think you should leave quickly. Your family isn’t short on money, surely a free house can’t buy you off? As for produce, your family has connections for that too, so what’s worth staying for? Do you really think Mountain and Sea Star can develop? They’re building cities there, but there aren’t even residents.”
Liu Heng’s brows furrowed deeper as she interrupted Xue Min’s endless chatter: “What exactly are you trying to say?”
Xue Min: “I’m working at ‘Long River’ now, their benefits are much better than Mountain and Sea Star’s, I—”
“Ding-a-ling.”
The doorbell cut off Xue Min’s words. Liu Heng glanced at Xue Min before getting up to answer. It was their old classmate, holding a large bag.
“Chatting with Xue Min?” The old classmate lowered her eyelashes, concealing the coldness in her eyes.
Liu Heng sighed softly and, where Xue Min couldn’t see, shrugged at their old classmate with a helpless expression. Understanding, the old classmate raised her head, smiled at Liu Heng, cleared her throat, and deliberately raised her voice: “These are seeds distributed from the base, this month’s benefits.”
Not just Xue Min, but even Liu Heng’s eyes widened: “Seeds?”
The old classmate nodded seriously: “Yes, seeds!” She waved her hand and added, “I need to deliver to other places, so I’ll go now.”
Liu Heng hummed in acknowledgment and retreated inside with the seeds. On the other end, Xue Min’s face grew eager. She’d been following the news and knew about the “seed sprouting” situation. After hearing this, she felt even more justified in leaving – if plants appeared on other planets, Mountain and Sea Star would lose its advantage. Only now did she remember that the seeds originated from Mountain and Sea Star.
“Really? Can they actually grow?”
“I don’t know how to farm,” Liu Heng shrugged, “I’ll send them home for my parents to experiment with.”
While few cared about exchanges between Mountain and Sea Star and Beast Star, this batch of students were all active online and showed off Mountain and Sea Star’s benefits. Those who left early were now green with regret, always making sour comments. However, when they saw wealthy buyers offering high prices for seeds in the comments of Liu Heng and others’ Star Micro accounts, they couldn’t even make bitter remarks anymore, only secretly lamenting – if Mountain and Sea Star had revealed such valuable items earlier, how could they have left?
Though the offered prices were extremely high, those remaining on Mountain and Sea Star were sensible and understanding. Although these were “benefits” for free disposal, the Starlight Platform hadn’t even listed them for trade yet – how could they privately jump ahead? Moreover, the value of these seeds couldn’t be measured in money alone.
At this moment, under the “Mystery No. 1” Star Micro account, fans were actively commenting.
—No. 1, stop playing dead, speak up! When will seeds be listed?
—Give us an answer so we can give up hope early.
—Has the Planetary Master really left Mountain and Sea Star?
—I’ll be direct – I want to be a pioneer, want to immigrate, is that possible?
…
In the distant “Black Sea” – a barren construction planet, a short man paced back and forth.
“Got news that both the Star Court official and Planetary Master are gone. Someone wants us to steal seeds.”
“Seeds haven’t spread externally yet. If we can steal them, we can monopolize this business.”
“It’s not that easy. Demon Phantom and their group were completely wiped out before.”
“The Civilization Alliance has been incorporated into the Imperial Government, they’re busy dealing with reform-induced turbulence. Some financial groups are willing to invest in this mission.” The short man’s eyes flashed with cunning as he grinned, “Besides, we still have Demon Phantom pirate group’s legacy.”
“And it’s not just our pirate group joining in this time.” The person responding clapped their hands and laughed, “Brothers, let’s move out!”
…
Beast Star.
In the conference room, Feng Yi wore a serious expression. Along both sides of the long table sat representatives from powerful tribal groups – Dragon, Lion, Qilin, Xuanwu. Standing in the center was a young person, whose tentacles nearly slipped out of control from nervousness.
“Wu Mo, are you ready?” Feng Yi asked gravely. This person was recommended by Xiong Xun, who said the squid family was best at being “water army”, with shell companies spread throughout the star system. Among Beast Star’s inhabitants, these clever and money-loving folks were most suitable to pose as “financial groups” to deal with space pirates.
Wu Mo nodded heavily.
If he didn’t agree, he’d probably end up as octopus balls on some boss’s plate.
LP: Brothers, your timings are always so bad, I’ll light candles for you~
Takoyaki is delicious!