Not all things in the Dead Star Region are dead stars.
There are also living creatures, such as the star butterflies that roam through the dark starry sky.
These should be considered anomalies that only emerged after the deathly stillness of the dead stars.
The death of one thing leads to the birth of another.
Things between heaven and earth are just so mystical.
Chen Xia stepped on the meteorite and in just half a month, arrived at the Dead Star Region. Looking from a distance,
The Dead Star Region was very recognizable. At first glance, it was the wavering of dying stars, with dark star butterflies fluttering among them, like newly born lost souls.
Looking at the big picture, it was even more mystical. Surrounding the Dead Star Region, there were actually no other asteroids, not even meteorites.
Chen Xia had an indifferent expression as he lightly tapped his foot on the meteorite, causing it to drift towards the Dead Star Region.
Just approaching, Chen Xia felt the dark disturbances in his mind gradually intensifying.
"Comprehend the void...silence...stars...star river."
"Walk towards the farthest point of the star river, to the darkest place, to the most hidden spot."
"..."
Low murmuring words kept ringing in his mind, full of bewitching overtones.
Chen Xia frowned slightly, directly clenched his fist and punched his own head, knocking it aside, while impatiently saying.
"Stop it."
After this punch, the dark disturbances weakened, and the murmuring words disappeared.
Chen Xia was now close to the Dead Star Region. In the dim space ahead, twisted faces emerged, elongated hands waving and clawing at him, while unintelligible roars came from their mouths.
According to what Cao Gao said, these were the ghosts of cultivators in the Dead Star Region. They had existed for countless years, long lost their own consciousness, only able to instinctively disturb cultivators.
"Roar...roar!"
The ghosts shrieked, their eyes bursting with crimson light, the twisted faces full of craving.
A hand suddenly reached in, grasping one ghost's twisted head, then, like carrying a chick, lifted it out.
"Don't shout."
Chen Xia's impatient voice came, and at the same time, he exerted force with his hand, twisting the ghost's head until it cracked.
The ghost let out painful wails, firstly because being away from the Dead Star Region cut off its life source, secondly because Chen Xia was squeezing it too hard.
"Couldn't even handle being alive, yet dare to shout after death?"
"Ah!"
The ghost's scream was abruptly cut off as its head was squeezed to pieces by Chen Xia. The remaining body also turned to ash in the starry sky.
"This can also be considered deliverance. I really am benevolent, the Buddha will also be moved to hear this."
Chen Xia shook his head as he lamented, then raised his foot to take a big step forward, facing the entire Dead Star Region directly.
Dense roars and shrieks sounded as countless ghosts appeared within the Dead Star Region, staring fixedly at Chen Xia.
Chen Xia turned his hand, pinching a golden flying sword. The corners of his mouth curled into a smile as he said to the countless ghosts.
"The living Bodhisattva is here."
The Never Aging Gate Crossing was the second crossing around the Blue Sky Sword Sea. Further out were the Great Zhou Immortal Sect Crossing, Pingyang Mountain Crossing, and so on.
In total there were seven crossings, all relying on the sects around the Blue Sky Sword Sea. They usually acted according to the Blue Sky Sword Sea's mood.
These seven sects could also be considered as seven obedient dogs raised by the Blue Sky Sword Sea, occasionally helping it handle some trivial matters.
Although they were the Blue Sky Sword Sea's dogs, these seven sects were not lowly in the Star Region. Having their own strength and the Blue Sky Sword Sea as backer, there were really not many sects in the Star Region that dared provoke them.
This was also why the Jade Terrace Mountain Sect Leader was so dismissive of the Mountain Moving Realm.
For Jade Terrace Mountain, killing an ordinary Mountain Moving Realm cultivator with mediocre talent was no different than killing a dog.
Cao Gao's ferry sped along, arriving near the Never Aging Gate after three months.
Now there was only him, the sole ferryman left on the ship. The ferry workers had all taken spirit stones and left. If there was another chance in the future, they might meet again.
Cao Gao's figure had aged considerably over the past three months. His silhouette was more hunched than before, often sitting alone in the cabin in a daze as he watched the starry sky outside the ferry.
He sped up the ferry a bit, to make his heart less tormented.
Death itself was not as frightening as awaiting death.
If Jade Terrace Mountain really wanted to kill him, Cao Gao was resigned to his fate. He had lived for thousands of years, quite good compared to other cultivators in the Star Region in terms of the longevity of a Mountain Moving Realm cultivator.
If there was an afterlife.
He hoped to be an ordinary, insignificant commoner, not bothered about the state of the world, not bothered about chivalry, just caring for himself would be enough.
A Mountain Moving Realm cultivator wanting to become this kind of commoner, if spoken out, would surely draw laughter.
Thinking this, Cao Gao could not help but let out a mocking laugh himself. He lowered his head and softly said.
"No great ambition."
He was indeed a man of no great ambition, also lacking any talent in cultivation. His Mountain Moving Realm cultivation was only accumulated through thousands of years of time.
He might even lose in a fight to some young masters in the early Mountain Moving Realm from the large sects.
Cultivation in this world was like this. You don't want to bully others, yet there will always be people wanting to bully you.
This was not something that could be resolved by hiding somewhere indifferently.
Once you embarked on the path of cultivation, once you succeeded in building your foundation, as you continued to form your golden core, your infant... Moving mountains and seas.
You walked taller, sank deeper.
Cao Gao swayed as he got up. The Never Aging Gate Crossing was very near. He tidied his appearance and straightened his clothes, rousing his entire spirit.
This old dog still wanted some dignity before his death.
The ferry finally arrived.
The Never Aging Gate cultivators boarded the ferry and ordered all the sect disciples and cultivators to disembark, saying they wanted to search the ferry.
Cao Gao stood at the prow watching this. He let out a breath.
He lived his life ferrying dreams.
To die on this ferry now, could also be considered a fitting death.
A great wind blew, howling as it lifted his robes, blowing into his eyes, stirring up murkiness.
Lu Hua stood under the ferry with his escorts, laughing as he looked at Cao Gao, waving his hand as he called out, "Don't keep standing, standing so high you still can't see a way out. Come down and wait for death."
Lu Hua had already explicitly revealed his intent. He was not the least afraid of Cao Gao escaping.
Cao Gao really could not escape. Arriving at the Never Aging Gate Crossing, for Cao Gao, was like arriving at the netherworld.
Cao Gao pressed his lips tightly. His aged face was complicated. After half a moment, he softly exhaled a breath and said, "Alright."
He slowly walked down, all the while looking over the ferry.
"Don't blame me, it's your master who wants to kill you, it's got nothing to do with me!" Lu Hua was still laughing.
Cao Gao kept his head lowered, blankly staring at the ground, not saying a word.
He was very clear about the rules on the mountain sects. This was not something that begging for mercy could resolve.
Even if he was willing to hand over all the spirit stones and the ferry to Jade Terrace Mountain, he would still die.
Looting after murder.
Murder always came first.