The satellite's body was outfitted with various types of weapons, neatly arranged, ranging from small to large, suitable for both close and long-range engagements, making it appear like a floating armed fortress in the void.
Amidst its steady movement, the main radar at the front suddenly stopped, locking onto a specific direction. Without hesitation, the satellite quickly altered its course, heading toward the marked anomaly as though it had detected something requiring immediate attention.
Not far from the Divine Sky Realm's protective bubble, a young man suddenly appeared. His face bore no exaggerated expression, but his sharp gaze was piercing. He was the same young man who had been with Elder Wen on the giant swan. Calmly, he observed the massive bubble that enveloped the realm.
"So quiet," he murmured, his voice almost drowned in the emptiness. His gaze penetrated the void, trying to sense life behind the protection. Despite his sharp eyes, he could not see anything in detail. However, he could feel that the life within this realm was sparse, barely worthy of being called the population of a full-fledged realm.
A sudden movement caught his attention. The guardian satellite was now moving toward him, stopping with all its weapons aimed directly at him. Red lights on the satellite's body began to glow, indicating maximum alert status.
"Hmmm? A guardian satellite?" the young man muttered. He observed the massive object with keen interest, realizing that he was now considered a threat.
From within the satellite, a cold mechanical voice resonated directly in his ears.
[Sky Satellite] Please provide your identity and purpose within one minute. Failure to comply will result in you being classified as an enemy.
The young man furrowed his brows, clearly not understanding the meaning of the words. However, such situations were not unfamiliar to him. He had often encountered high-tech protection systems when visiting realms managed by Players.
Calmly, he raised his voice. "I am Aleron Zhen, from the Guandu realm. I have come to meet Guardian Lein and propose a collaboration."
Although he did not understand what the satellite had said, Aleron provided a brief explanation about himself. His experiences across various realms had accustomed him to such protocols.
The satellite received the information from Aleron and processed it quickly. However, before the satellite could send a full report to Lein, a strange crack appeared in the air, directly in front of Aleron.
The crack glowed, emitting flashes of light like lightning, and then slowly opened. From within, Lein stepped out calmly. His body radiated a tranquil yet powerful aura, as if each of his steps carried an invisible pressure. His gaze immediately locked onto Aleron, who returned the look with a sharp yet cautious stare.
In Lein's view, a status window appeared before him, displaying information about the figure now standing in front of him:
- Name: Aleron Zhen, Guardian of the Guandu Realm
- Power Core: Cultivator
- Rank: Void Transformation (King stage Tier)
"Realm of Guandu?" Lein murmured softly, almost as if speaking to himself.
Old memories flashed through his mind. Lein recalled the first realm he visited during the inter-race war event. Back then, he was just a low-tier ruler, barely able to protect himself from even the smallest threats.
His weakness made every step feel like gambling with his life. Yet, his luck—and decisions that weren't fatal—allowed him to survive until now, reaching a power level he could hardly believe he had achieved.
Meanwhile, Aleron continued observing the figure before him. A memory surfaced in his mind. This young man was the one who had given him the blessing potion back then—a moment he cherished so much that he entrusted Elder Wen with a gift to deliver to Lein as a token of gratitude.
Seeing Lein now, Aleron felt his heart tremble. There was something different, something hard to explain. Although Aleron knew Lein had only recently reached the King tier, he couldn't gauge the depth of his power. The young man's aura felt peculiar—oppressive yet not aggressive. In the silence, Aleron realized that a subtle threat lurked beneath Lein's calm demeanor.
"Greetings, Sir Lein. My name is Aleron Zhen, Guardian of the Guandu Realm."
Aleron introduced himself politely, bowing slightly as a sign of respect.
Lein gave a small smile and responded in kind. "Greetings, Sir Aleron. I am Lein, Guardian of the Divine Sky Realm."
Lein's voice sounded friendly, showing no signs of hostility. To him, the young man before him was not a threat. In fact, in his mind, Aleron was more of a benefactor. After all, the blessing potion from Aleron was one of the additional rewards he received after helping Elder Wen complete his mission.
"What brings you to my humble realm, Sir Aleron?" Lein asked directly, without preamble. Although he sensed no ill intent from Aleron, curiosity filled his thoughts.
Aleron gave a faint smile, looking at Lein with a confident gaze. "Sir Lein, you're quite straightforward. In that case, so will I."
His tone was firm, like someone accustomed to direct conversations. There was no small talk in his words, only honesty and an intent to get straight to the point.
"I came here to propose a collaboration with you, Sir Lein," Aleron said casually.
His gaze was sharp, trying to read Lein's expression, searching for signs of acceptance or rejection.
Lein was slightly surprised by the direct statement. Only a few minutes had passed since they met, yet Aleron was already offering a partnership. Was this overconfidence, or a calculated move? Lein didn't respond immediately, but a sense of suspicion began to grow in his heart.
"What kind of collaboration are you suggesting, Sir Aleron?" Lein asked in a neutral tone, masking his feelings behind a calm expression.
Aleron gave a small smile, satisfied that Lein hadn't outright refused. To him, that response was a positive sign. At the very least, he still had a chance to explain and convince Lein to agree to the collaboration.
"Here's the thing, Sir Lein," Aleron said carefully. "I want to ask for your help in seizing a high-tier Aethris."