The Carlos Family was one of the founding families of the Red Star Empire. The first-generation Lord Carlos had been a founding hero who followed the first Red Star Emperor in his conquest.
The current Lord Carlos was a powerful Reincarnation Emperor, and in terms of personal strength, he was among the elites. A Reincarnation Emperor with multiple inherited divine artifacts was a force to be reckoned with.
In terms of imperial authority, Lord Carlos controlled the northern fortress of the empire, making him the de facto ruler of the northern frontier.
The Carlos Family's descendants were outstanding as well. In every iteration of the Primordial Assembly, at least one member of the Carlos Family would qualify.
Zhao Xing clearly remembered that in the final assessment of the Primordial Assembly, one of the top ten geniuses bore the name Carlos.
These colossal families kept a low profile and never flaunted their influence, but Zhao Xing was well aware of their strength.
In his past life, he had even worked under the Carlos Family for a short period, frequently taking on exploration missions issued by them.
He could not fathom how a minor power like Great Zhou had managed to provoke the Carlos Family.
In front of the Carlos Family, Great Zhou was not even an ant—at most, it was a microscopic organism.
"Big Brother, back when you were in the Phantom God Star System seeking opportunities for Great Zhou, we were the first to follow the Sparks Unit and come to the Red Star Empire. With Jing Yan's help, we eventually settled in the Northern River Star System, on Fengdu Realm Star in Wuye Constellation," Ji Che began recounting the past.
"Jing Yan was a great help to Great Zhou. We quickly established ourselves on Fengdu Realm Star, at least securing a foundation for survival."
"However, if Great Zhou wanted to grow, we ultimately had to rely on ourselves."
Zhao Xing nodded.
Jing Yan could not babysit Great Zhou forever. Even if he wanted to, there would come a point where Great Zhou's demands would exceed what he could provide. After all, he was just a prince with a little over ten thousand subordinates.
"No nation ever becomes strong by relying on the aid of others. So, when you were about to return, around the 127th year of the Gengshi Era, I led an expedition west of Jiachen Pass to secure opportunities for Great Zhou. Later, when you returned, we discussed this matter in depth."
"That's correct," Zhao Xing affirmed.
At the time, the empire was planning to develop its northwestern frontier, opening a life corridor through the Siyue Barren Domain. That meant there would be countless opportunities in the region.
Thus, Zhao Xing had fully supported Ji Che and Ji Si in leading people out to explore. Within the Red Star Empire, commerce, agriculture, and industry were already saturated.
Great Zhou lacked both capital and connections, meaning it would inevitably hit a development bottleneck.
Expansion was inevitable, and venturing beyond the empire's borders to explore the unknown cosmic territories was akin to the grand age of maritime exploration—full of risks but also immense opportunities.
However, after all these years spent focused on cultivation, Zhao Xing was unaware of how far Great Zhou had progressed.
"By around the 300th year of the Gengshi Era, you had already passed the third round of the Primordial Assembly."
"At that time, Great Zhou's influence had already expanded—externally, you had made a name for yourself in the Primordial Realm. Internally, Liu Tianning had become a disciple of Lord Qianhua, reaching the Dao Domain Realm."
"Along with Ji Si and me, Great Zhou now had three Dao Domain Realm cultivators and over three thousand Third Stage experts."
"You gained the favor of North River Lord Yang Lin, who provided us with certain conveniences."
"So, by the 380th year of the Gengshi Era—around twenty years before your final test in the fourth round—we established a stronghold beyond the borders, in a place known as the 'Starfall Corridor.'"
"Starfall Corridor?" Zhao Xing immediately recognized the name.
The Starfall Corridor bordered the Siyue Barren Domain. In Galactic Myriad Worlds, it was a well-known map.
During the Red Star Empire's western expansion, the Siyue Barren Domain was a major obstacle. Since the empire had committed to westward exploration, it was never going to rely on a single route.
If halfway through the journey, they encountered a dead end—perhaps a dangerous zone that blocked passage—it would be a tremendous waste of time.
Thus, multiple routes were explored and developed simultaneously.
In his past life, the Starfall Corridor had not been chosen as the empire's primary passage into the Barren Domain.
Only after the pathways at Jiachen's Third, Ninth, Forty-Sixth, and Eighty-Fifth Passes were three-quarters complete did the Shennongs of Primordial Hill gather enough information to realize that constructing a star route through the Starfall Corridor was a far more efficient and cost-effective solution.
The Starfall Corridor was a ruined expanse formed from the collapse of top-tier realm stars, resulting in countless time-space tunnels.
Some of these tunnels allowed for interdimensional travel, significantly reducing the time and resources required for expansion.
Thus, exploration of the Starfall Corridor began in earnest.
Zhao Xing vividly remembered that in less than five hundred years, the corridor route was successfully established.
Not only did Primordial Hill's experts not incur losses, but they also turned an enormous profit before the passage was even completed.
Roughly 4.5 billion astronomical units northwest of the Starfall Corridor, several small-scale Origin Realms were discovered.
Inside these Origin Realms, there were vast reserves of non-renewable materials, many of which were essential for crafting Origin Divine Weapons and Reincarnation Divine Weapons!
"You know about this place?" Ji Che was surprised by Zhao Xing's reaction. He rarely discussed logistics with Zhao Xing, and the name "Starfall Corridor" had only been coined 120 years ago—a time when Zhao Xing had been in seclusion.
"I've heard a little about it," Zhao Xing replied. "Continue. How did you come into conflict with the Carlos Family?"
Ji Che shook his head. "Actually, we never directly clashed with the Carlos Family—it was their proxies that we had issues with."
The western constellations of the Starfall Corridor were rich in Imperial Starstones, and a local power named the Rainbow Moon Dynasty controlled that region. It was only later that they realized the Carlos Family was backing the Rainbow Moon Dynasty.
Zhao Xing asked, "What are the casualties?"
Ji Che transmitted the casualty list and sighed, "I sent 2,135 Third Stage cultivators overseas. This time, over 800 died, and only a few dozen managed to escape, all of them seriously wounded. We lost our entire foothold."
Zhao Xing's face darkened. Many familiar names appeared on the casualty list.
From Shangluo Dao Academy, Chu Qianqiu, Zhuang Dareng, and Dean Qin of Kunyuan Academy had perished. The priest Wei Hong and Ji Bochuan were in critical condition, while Old Chen, Xia Jing, and Ji Si were gravely injured.
Because the Rainbow Moon Dynasty was beyond the empire's jurisdiction, they had access to forbidden poison-based weapons, which were strictly prohibited within imperial borders.
Smaller nations often resorted to more extreme tactics, making their combat style unpredictable. As a result, many of Great Zhou's injured warriors were still struggling to survive.
Considering that the forces backed by the Carlos Family had intentionally ambushed Great Zhou's small expedition, the fact that anyone survived was already a miracle.
Ji Si had broken through to the Dao Domain Realm at a critical moment, leading the survivors out of an otherwise inescapable deathtrap.
Zhao Xing's sharp instincts caught Ji Che's underlying concern. "Che, are you worried that this conflict will extend into the empire?"
"Yes." Ji Che nodded.
Zhao Xing exhaled softly.
As Great Zhou's Grand Shennong, he quickly pieced together the full picture. This was not just a matter of casualties and lost territory.
Even if the Carlos Family chose not to pursue the matter further, Great Zhou's losses were already staggering.
Their failed expansion into the Starfall Corridor meant that all investments in that region had turned to dust. Worse still, Great Zhou had signed multiple business contracts that relied on resources from Starfall Corridor, meaning they now faced crippling breach-of-contract penalties.
"A small force like ours just doesn't have the resilience to handle setbacks. A single unexpected crisis can lead to a complete collapse… It really is like walking on thin ice."
But Zhao Xing quickly composed himself. Right now, he was Great Zhou's final trump card.
No matter what, he could not show any signs of weakness.
Zhao Xing immediately declared, "I'll handle the contract penalties. I still have some savings, and I can mortgage the land granted to me by the North River Lord to deal with this urgent crisis."
"As for the Carlos Family's threat, leave that to me."
"For now, halt all Great Zhou operations beyond the borders. Retreat to imperial territory and wait for my instructions."
Ji Che's eyes brightened. "Big Brother, will this really work? Won't it affect your advancement in the Primordial Realm? If it does, Great Zhou can retreat into Realm Boats again and—"
"Absolutely not," Zhao Xing reassured him with a smile. "Don't worry, I'm the personal disciple of a demigod, remember?"
"Che, you need to stay strong. I can't leave the Primordial Realm easily right now, so everything at home depends on you."
Ji Che's tense expression eased. For so long, he had been carrying the weight of Great Zhou's survival, uncertain whether Zhao Xing could resolve the crisis.
Now, at last, Zhao Xing's words gave him a solid foundation to stand on.
"One more thing—don't trouble Lord Qianhua. Let Teacher focus on his cultivation." Zhao Xing added, "If there's a real issue with Fengdu Realm Star, seek out the North River Lord."
"Understood, Big Brother."
"Go now."
As the Star Mirror shut off, Zhao Xing's smile faded.
He had put on a bold front, but executing his plan would be far from easy.
On the surface, he was the disciple of Gu Luohou, but from the start, Gu Luohou had made it clear—he was merely responsible for Zhao Xing's training, not his personal affairs.
Even if Zhao Xing were considered a true disciple, he had only just entered the Primordial Realm. How deep could his relationship with Gu Luohou possibly be?
"For now, I need to find out exactly who is managing the Rainbow Moon Dynasty." Zhao Xing thought to himself. If he wanted real intelligence on the situation, Jing Yan and the Sparks Unit were his best bets.
Jing Yan understood the internal affairs of the empire, while the Sparks Unit had deep connections with external forces.
Half a day later, Huailiu Courtyard.
Jing Yan arrived in a hurry, stepping off his You Shen Warship.
"Zhao Xing, what's going on? Why did you call me so urgently?"
"I've run into some trouble."
Zhao Xing quickly summarized the situation at the borders.
Jing Yan listened in silence. Once Zhao Xing finished, he said, "Give me a moment. I'll check with my family's elders. In the meantime, contact the Sparks Unit and find out exactly what kind of business the Rainbow Moon Dynasty is involved in. Find out the real reason they attacked Great Zhou."
"The real reason?" Zhao Xing pondered. "You don't think this was just a territorial dispute?"
Jing Yan shook his head. "Of course not. The Starfall Corridor is a barren wasteland. The Carlos Family runs interstellar trade routes, but even they don't take every deal."
"Besides, don't you think the battle report seems off? When Ji Si invoked the name of Liu Tianning, they didn't immediately try to exterminate them. But when they heard your name, they went all out, trying to wipe them out completely."
"Think about it—why would they react that way?"
Zhao Xing's expression darkened. "Trying to eliminate all witnesses… They must be hiding something."
Jing Yan nodded. "You're too deep in it to see clearly. Isn't it obvious? When the empire's nobles do business outside, they don't expose their identities unless there's real profit involved."
Zhao Xing frowned. "But Great Zhou's territory there was tiny. Our people didn't discover anything special."
"Either the people you sent didn't know, or the other side wasn't sure if a leak had occurred. To be safe, they took drastic action. Either way, let's not jump to conclusions—let's contact Sparks Unit and get the real picture."
"If—"
"If what?" Zhao Xing hesitated. "Go on."
"If Sparks Unit finds nothing, then we'll try negotiating. But if the Carlos Family is pressuring us too much, then this could turn into a serious problem." Jing Yan's tone grew serious.
Zhao Xing's face darkened as well.
He couldn't deny it—there were secrets in the Starfall Corridor, and significant ones at that.
As a member of the imperial family, Jing Yan had a sharp sense for these things. His words immediately triggered a wave of thoughts in Zhao Xing's mind.
"Stop overthinking," Jing Yan reassured him. "It might just be a common dispute. Maybe they thought Ji Si was lying. The Rainbow Moon Dynasty operates outside the empire—they may not even know your name."
"Prestigious families value their reputation. If this was just a minor proxy war, they wouldn't pursue it too aggressively. Besides, you're a rising talent in the Primordial Realm, and Great Zhou took the losses. A noble family wouldn't go out of their way to wipe you out over something this small."
"Also, the Carlos Family is massive. Whether this was handled by their main branch or just a collateral faction makes a huge difference."
"When I used to roam the ancient kingdoms, I'd claim to be an imperial prince, but who would know I was actually thirty thousandth in line to inherit the throne?"
"To be blunt, even if Great Zhou and you personally were involved, it still wouldn't be enough to make the entire Carlos Family treat you as a threat."
"Wow, that was blunt," Zhao Xing muttered, but he did feel slightly relieved.
He contacted Sparks Unit, but instead of using his true body's Star Mirror from the Primordial Realm, he sent a clone to a nearby star system instead.
At Sparks Unit's local branch, he requested a special Sparks Mirror, then used distributed encryption protocols to send a message to Yang Baihe, a key Sparks Unit member stationed in Tianning.
He transmitted the pre-arranged passcode that Yang Baihe had set up long ago: "Bai Yang, Bai Yang, this is Mushroom."
After about six hours, the Sparks Mirror ignited with flames. Yang Baihe's figure appeared, smiling slightly.
"Mushroom, Mushroom, Bai Yang received. Your communication channel is secure. Speak."
Zhao Xing immediately explained everything to Yang Baihe.
"Give me three days," Baihe replied before cutting off the connection.
Zhao Xing patiently waited two and a half days.
Then, Yang Baihe's report came through.
"After an internal investigation, Sparks Unit found that while the Rainbow Moon Dynasty does engage in illegal activities that violate imperial law, nothing particularly rare stands out."
"Aside from the usual human trafficking and refining Dao Xuan Pills, there's nothing especially unique."
"As long as the Rainbow Moon Dynasty keeps their operations outside the empire, the imperial authorities won't interfere."
"However, one noteworthy figure is their top cultivator, a Senior Reincarnation Realm practitioner who calls himself Lord Fuwei. But his strength is far from that of a true Lord-level powerhouse."
"There are also two top-tier Reincarnation Realm cultivators under him: A scholar named Xi Hebo, rumored to be from Scholarly City. A historian named Beins, a figure from the Sangqing Remnants."
"As for your claim that the Carlos Family is backing the Rainbow Moon Dynasty, there is currently no record in Sparks Unit's database proving any connection."
"Lord Fuwei, Beins from the Sangqing Remnants, and Xi Hebo?"
Hearing these three names together, Zhao Xing shuddered.
"What's wrong?" Yang Baihe immediately picked up on his reaction.
"Nothing. Maybe it really was just a minor conflict," Zhao Xing shook his head.
"That's all?"
"Yes, that's all."
Baihe waved. "Keep me posted. If you need anything, Yue Nu and Chen Xuan are vacationing in the empire."
"Thanks, Captain."
After ending the transmission, Zhao Xing's clone stood frozen in place, deep in thought.
"The Scholar of Demonic Dao, Xi Hebo, from the 'Divine Scholar's Descent' version, has appeared in the empire?"
"Lord Fuwei is a Grand Shennong. But which Shennong deity does he worship?"
"Compared to those two, Beins from the Sangqing Remnants seems like a minor player."
"Wait a second. If Sparks Unit's records show the Carlos Family is clean, then how did Ji Si discover their involvement?"
His mind raced as memories flooded in, giving him a splitting headache.
Just as he was regaining his composure, back in the Primordial Realm, in Seagrass City's Huailiu Courtyard, Jing Yan had returned quickly after his inquiry.
"Zhao Xing, I asked my family. There's no record of the Carlos Family doing business in Starfall Corridor. Are you sure you've got the right information?"