Lu Yin looked at Lulu. "Do you know about the Starry Sky Academy?"
"I've heard my elders mention it. Want to know?" Lulu grinned mischievously.
Lu Yin nodded. "Yes, I do."
Lulu's eyes gleamed. "I can tell you, but you have to promise me one thing: if you get into the Tenth Academy of the Starry Sky, you have to help me get something."
Lu Yin turned to leave.
"Hey, don't go! It's nothing major, just a fight with someone. Let me tell you, even General Maldo doesn't know about the Starry Sky Academy. Besides me, no one can tell you," Lulu shouted.
"The Starry Sky Academy has ten institutes. Eight are in the inner universe, the ninth is in the endless outer universe, and the tenth is about to arrive in the Canglan Territory. The Starry Sky Academy is said to possess supreme combat skills passed down through the ages, housing invincible strongmen and setting the Star Rankings, which record the top hundred young talents in the universe. For everyone in the universe, the most attractive aspect of the Starry Sky Academy is that only by joining it can one gain access to the legendary Three Realms and Six Paths," Sharlo explained in a gentle tone.
Lulu gritted her teeth in frustration.
Everyone stared at Sharlo. "The Three Realms and Six Paths?"
Sharlo smiled lightly. "The nine legendary trial domains are said to contain supreme combat skills from ancient times, techniques for immortality, undying bloodlines, and invincible power. Of course, these are just rumors. But one fact has been confirmed," Sharlo's tone grew serious. "Nearly half of the top ten in the Universe Youth Council have set foot in the Three Realms and Six Paths, even causing a stir in the Starry Sky Academy."
Lu Yin's eyes flashed. The top ten, known as the Ten Jue, had developed the Universe Youth Council from an obscure organization into a formidable entity. He didn't know much about their power, but a vast force once defied a Ten Jue ruling and was annihilated by one of them. That force far surpassed the Great Yu Empire.
The Universe Youth Council initially handled competitions and rewards for the young in the inner and outer universes. Since the Ten Jue took charge, their power expanded immensely, gaining authority over arbitrating, judging, and even overseeing education, military, and prisons, making power youth-oriented.
Thus, the Universe Youth Council was also known as the Ten Jue Council.
Mira was from the Ten Jue Council, illustrating the organization's terrifying influence.
Lu Yin had tried to learn about the Ten Jue but found nothing. Their information was concealed, or perhaps the outer universe didn't have the credentials to uncover it.
Lulu snorted. "Those ten freaks have indeed been to the Three Realms and Six Paths, but not all gained something from it. However, it's true that any student daring enough to undergo the trials there becomes stronger. The Starry Sky Academy guards the gateway to the Three Realms and Six Paths, attracting countless people wanting to join."
Lu Yin looked at Lulu. "Do you know who the Ten Jue are?"
Lulu and Sharlo exchanged glances but said nothing.
"Don't know?" Lu Yin asked.
Lulu shrugged. "No idea."
Lu Yin looked at Sharlo.
Sharlo shook his head. "Don't ask me. I don't know either. We're not qualified to know. Even the emperor of the Great Yu Empire, Undying Yushan, might not know. Those ten are so high up, no news media dares touch them."
Lu Yin felt disappointed. In the news he had seen before, the Ten Jue rulings only showed ten silhouettes. He really wasn't qualified to know.
Only one person on the Perseverance knew: Mira, from the Ten Jue Council. But Lu Yin was sure she wouldn't tell him and might even develop a grudge. It wasn't worth asking her.
As the Perseverance trembled again, an announcement came: they were about to arrive at the Imperial Capital Star.
Through the window, Lu Yin saw numerous ships passing by, feeling the obvious prosperity. This was the first domain of the Great Yu Empire, home to the Imperial Capital Star.
Soon, he saw a massive planet in the distance, surrounded by three continents, grand and spectacular, with terrifying star energy fluctuations. The fleet of spaceships stretched endlessly; this was the Imperial Capital, Zhenyu Star.
At this point, few students remained on the Perseverance, mostly nobles like Russ and Huo Xiaoling.
As the Imperial Capital Star drew near, Russ excitedly activated his personal terminal. "Senior, I'm counting on you. I must settle this score."
"But he's a Purple Mountain King. Offending him means offending the entire Purple Mountain lineage."
Russ sneered. "Senior, let's be honest. The Purple Mountain lineage has long declined. Many of them have already defected to my father. How many truly support him? The emperor only granted him the Purple Mountain King title due to an old promise. Do you think the Purple Mountain King position can be held forever? His existence unsettles both the Crown Prince and the Second Prince."
"Have you forgotten the captain of the Thirteenth Royal Court?"
Russ paused, then smiled. "That woman cares only about the Purple Mountain lineage's reputation and treasure. If he dies, she might even thank us."
The person on the other end of the terminal was silent for a moment. "Fine, I can help you humiliate him, but I won't help you kill him. That's suicide."
Russ exhaled and grinned cruelly. "Of course. Thank you, Senior." He ended the call, gazing at the approaching Imperial Capital Star. "Lu Yin, you think being a Purple Mountain King is that easy? The higher you rise, the harder you fall."
As the Perseverance was about to reach the Imperial Capital Star, in the palace on the planet, dozens of ministers stood respectfully, gazing at the dignified figure ahead. He was Undying Yushan, emperor of the Great Yu Empire, reigning for 800 years. He had developed the empire from a weak nation to its current span of thirteen domains, renowned even in the inner universe as an iron-blooded emperor.
Undying Yushan was a legend. In his youth, he ranked among the top ten on the Star Rankings, shaking the universe. Ambitious, he ventured into the inner universe but was ambushed and returned to the Canglan Territory. Despite that, he led the Great Yu Empire to its current glory.
With the strength of a Hunter, Undying Yushan could live for a thousand years. But now, besides dignity, his once mighty figure showed only the weariness of old age. He was aging quickly.
The Great Yu Empire had advanced technology but followed an ancient ministerial system. Ministers representing various domains stood solemnly, and ahead of them were the captains of the highest authority, the Thirteenth Royal Court.
Unlike the uniformly dressed, dignified ministers, the captains of the Royal Court were bizarrely dressed. Some were two meters tall with white eyes, some had flaming red hair, and others were bald and blind. They seemed a motley crew, but each was terrifyingly strong, representing the empire's highest combat power.
At the forefront were two figures: Duke Yushan, the second prince, with hands in his pockets, chewing something absentmindedly, and the more composed Doran Yushan, the crown prince, smiling with occasional flashes of authority. He bore a striking resemblance to Undying Yushan.
"The discussion on establishing relations with the Hao Yuan Territory ends here. Next, I want to mention someone: Lu Yin," Undying Yushan said calmly, his dignified gaze sweeping over everyone, showing a trace of fatigue.
At this name, everyone was startled. Recently, it had caused a stir in the court, representing a family, the long-fallen but awe-inspiring Purple Mountain clan.
Crown Prince Doran Yushan stepped forward respectfully. "Father, Prince Lu Yin is about to arrive. Shall I greet him?"
Undying Yushan waved his hand. "I've already sent Bronsen. His status sufficiently represents the royal family."
"As the third seat of the First Squad, performing the vice-captain duties, he is indeed qualified," Doran Yushan replied respectfully, then stepped back.
Second Prince Duke Yushan glanced at him, still chewing something, looking indifferent.
Undying Yushan coughed a few times. "I called the Undying Purple Mountain my brother. This vast empire wasn't built by me alone; the Purple Mountain's contributions were significant. Now, the Purple Mountain clan is gone, leaving only Lu Yin. It's truly pitiful. I have decreed that Lu Yin will inherit the Purple Mountain King title, enjoying the honor of a foreign king. You must treat him with the respect due a prince."
"Yes, Your Majesty," everyone responded in unison.
Undying Yushan nodded, coughing again.