Lu Yin looked at Lulu. "You know about the Starry Sky Battle Academy?"
"I've heard the elders mention it. Do you want to know?" Lulu said with a sly smile.
Lu Yin nodded. "I want to know."
Lulu rolled her eyes. "I can tell you, but you have to agree to one condition. As long as you can join one of the top ten Starry Sky academies, you have to help me get something."
Lu Yin turned and walked away.
"Hey, don't go! It's not anything amazing, just helping me defeat someone. Let me tell you, not even that General Maldo knows this information about the Starry Sky Battle Academy. Besides me, no one can tell you," Lulu shouted.
"The Starry Sky Battle Academy is divided into ten academies. Eight are in the inner universe, the ninth is in the endless territories of the outerverse, and the tenth is about to descend upon the Canglan Territory. The Starry Sky Battle Academy is said to possess supreme battle techniques passed down from ancient times, with invincible experts in residence. It established the Starry Battle Rankings, which includes the top 100 young people in the universe. For everyone in the universe, the real appeal of the Starry Sky Battle Academy is that only by joining does one gain the qualification to enter the legendary Three Realms and Six Paths," Xia Luo spoke up, his tone gentle.
Lulu gritted her teeth in anger.
Everyone stared at Xia Luo. "The Three Realms and Six Paths?"
Xia Luo gave a faint smile. "The legendary nine Great Trial Realms. It is rumored that these nine realms have been passed down from ancient times and contain supreme battle techniques, cultivation arts for longevity, immortal bloodlines, and invincible power. Of course, these are just rumors, but one point has been confirmed." At this, Xia Luo said gravely, "Among the Ten Arbiters of the Cosmic Youth Council, nearly half have set foot in the Three Realms and Six Paths, even causing a stir in the Starry Sky Battle Academy."
Lu Yin's expression changed. The Ten Arbiters, who had developed the Cosmic Youth Council from an unknown organization into the terrifying monster it was today, ten prodigies who stood above all the youth of the universe. Lu Yin didn't know about their power, but a great power had once defied a decision of the Ten Arbiters and was annihilated by one of them. That annihilated power far surpassed the Great Yu Empire.
The Cosmic Youth Council was originally only responsible for tournaments within and outside the universe and for rewarding and punishing the youth. Since the Ten Arbiters came to power, its authority had expanded infinitely. Not only did it have the power of judgment and adjudication over the youth, but it also had the power to supervise academies, and to review and directly enforce laws concerning education, the military, and prisons. It was called the rejuvenation of power.
Therefore, the Cosmic Youth Council was also known as the Ten Arbiters Council.
Comilla came from the Ten Arbiters Council. Through her, one could see the terror of this organization.
Lu Yin had deliberately tried to learn about the Ten Arbiters, but he couldn't find information on a single one of them. Their information was hidden, or rather, with his status in the outerverse, he was unable to find it.
Lulu snorted. "Those ten freaks did indeed have people who set foot in the Three Realms and Six Paths, but not everyone got something from it. However, one point is true: any student who dared to undergo the trial in the Three Realms and Six Paths became much stronger after coming out. The Starry Sky Battle Academy is like the gatekeeper to the Three Realms and Six Paths. This is the real reason that attracts countless people to join."
Lu Yin looked at Lulu. "Do you know who the Ten Arbiters are?"
Lulu and Xia Luo glanced at Lu Yin but said nothing.
"You don't know?" Lu Yin asked.
Lulu shrugged. "I don't know."
Lu Yin looked at Xia Luo.
Xia Luo shook his head. "Don't ask me, I don't know either. We are not qualified to know. Even the emperor of the Great Yu Empire, Undying Wu Shan, might not know. Those ten people are high above, and no media outlet dares to touch them."
Lu Yin was disappointed. He recalled the news he had seen before; the decisions of the Ten Arbiters were only represented by ten black shadows. He truly was not qualified to know.
There was only one person on the Willpower who might know: Comilla, the woman from the Ten Arbiters Council. But Lu Yin was sure that not only would she not tell him, she might even develop a dislike for him. A toad lusting after a swan's flesh—great ambition, but a narrow vision. Asking her would do more harm than good.
After the Willpower shuddered once more, a notification was broadcast throughout the ship: they were about to arrive at the Capital Star.
Lu Yin looked through the window and saw spaceship after spaceship streaking by. He could clearly feel the prosperity here. This was the First Sector of the Great Yu Empire, where the Capital Star was located.
Before long, Lu Yin saw a huge planet in the distance, orbited by three continents, vast and magnificent. From time to-time, terrifying Star Energy fluctuations could be felt. Fleets of spaceships stretched for an unknown distance. That was the capital, Zhenwu Star.
At this moment, there were not many students left on the Willpower. They were all nobles' children like Las and Huo Xiaoling.
As the Capital Star drew near, Las became excited. He opened his personal terminal. "Senior, I'm counting on you. I must take revenge for this."
"He's King Zishan, you know. Making him lose face means offending the entire King Zishan lineage."
Las sneered. "Senior, let's not beat around the bush. The King Zishan lineage has long since withered. Many of them have even pledged allegiance to my father. How many are there who can truly support him? His Majesty only gave him the title of King Zishan because he was bound by the promise from back then. Does he really think he can sit on the throne of King Zishan forever? If he doesn't die, the Crown Prince and the Second Prince will both be uneasy."
"Have you forgotten the captain of the Thirteenth Imperial Squad?"
Las was stunned for a moment, then smiled. "That woman only cares about the reputation and treasures of the Zishan Clan. If he dies, that woman might even thank us."
The other end of the personal terminal was silent for a moment. "Alright, I can help you teach him a lesson, but at most, I'll just make him lose face. I can't help you kill him. That would be courting death."
Las let out a breath and smiled cruelly. "Of course. Thank you, Senior." After speaking, he cut the connection and looked up at the Capital Star, now within reach. "Lu Yin, do you really think the position of King Zishan is so easy to sit on? The higher you climb, the harder you fall. It seems you don't understand this principle."
Just as the Willpower was about to arrive at the Capital Star, inside the Imperial Palace, a dozen court officials stood respectfully, looking up at the majestic figure before them. He was Undying Wu Shan, the emperor of the Great Yu Empire, who had been on the throne for eight hundred years, developing the Great Yu Empire from a small, weak nation into an empire that spanned thirteen sectors, an iron-fisted emperor whose name was known even in the inner universe.
Undying Wu Shan was a legend. In his youth, he had reached the top 10 of the Starry Battle Rankings, shaking the entire universe. He had roamed the inner universe with burning ambition, but had been ambushed and had to retreat grimly to the Canglan Territory. Even so, he had still brought the Great Yu Empire to its current level.
With Undying Wu Shan's Hunter-level strength, he was fully capable of living for a thousand years, but at this moment, his originally tall and proud figure, apart from its majesty, was only left with the twilight of old age. He was aging rapidly.
The Great Yu Empire's technology was advanced, yet it practiced the ancient system of court officials. The great ministers representing all the sectors stood solemnly. In front of them were the captains of the highest power organization, the Thirteen Imperial Squads.
Compared to the uniformly dressed, solemn and dignified court officials, the captains of the Thirteen Imperial Squads were much more bizarre. They were all dressed strangely; one was two meters tall with pure white eyes, another had pinkish-red hair, and there was also a bald, blind man... all sorts of people, giving one the feeling of a motley crew. They looked casual, but these people were all terrifyingly powerful, representing the highest combat power of the Great Yu Empire.
At the very front were two figures. One was the empire's Second Prince, Du Ke Wushan, his hands in his pockets, chewing on something, looking distracted.
The other was much more normal, with a faint smile on his face, his eyes occasionally flashing with majesty. On closer inspection, he bore a strong resemblance to Undying Wu Shan. He was Duo Lan Wushan, the Crown Prince of the Great Yu Empire.
"The matter of establishing diplomatic relations with the Haoyuan Territory will be discussed up to this point. Next, We wish to mention one person: Lu Yin," Undying Wu Shan said faintly, his majestic eyes sweeping over everyone, a trace of fatigue flashing through them.
Hearing this name, everyone's heart trembled. A short while ago, the first appearance of this name had shocked the court, all because this name represented a family, a family that had long since declined yet still stirred people's hearts—the Zishan Clan.
Crown Prince Duo Lan Wushan immediately stepped forward and said respectfully, "Father Emperor, Royal Brother Lu Yin is about to arrive. Does Your Son need to go and welcome him?"
Undying Wu Shan waved his hand. "We have already sent Bronson to welcome him. With his status, he is sufficient to represent the royal family."
"As the third seat of the First Squad, performing the duties of a vice-captain, Bronson is indeed qualified," Duo Lan Wushan replied respectfully and retreated to his spot.
Second Prince Du Ke Wushan glanced at him, still chewing on something, looking unconcerned.
Undying Wu Shan coughed a few times. "We and Undying Zi Shan were like brothers back then. The foundation of the empire was not built by Us alone; it also includes the contributions of Undying Zi Shan. Today, the Zishan Clan is gone, with only Lu Yin left alive. It is truly pitiful. We have already decreed that Lu Yin can inherit the peerage of King Zishan and enjoy the honor of a king with a different surname. All you ministers must treat him with the etiquette due to a prince of the blood."
"We obey Your Majesty's decree," everyone shouted in unison.
Undying Wu Shan nodded and coughed a few more times.