Stellar Steps

Chapter 7 - Inside the City

Lu Yin glanced at Zhou Shan. What he said was true: the so-called Seven Sages of Huaxia, powerful though they were at the "Heaven" level, were merely ants in the vast universe. Here, even a mere student possessed such strength.

In cosmic terms, the "Heaven" level was called the Discovery Realm, just the second step in cultivation. The first step was the Observation Realm, representing fledgling strength, simply observing. He himself was in the Observation Realm. Next was the Discovery Realm, where one began to explore the limits of human potential. The third step was the Fusion Realm, the initial stage of true power, where one touched upon human limits. The fourth step was the Extreme Realm, surpassing these limits and enabling the ability to traverse the void. Beyond that were Explorers, beings who could walk through the void. Those at that level were too far beyond reach. If one appeared on Earth, a single gesture could overturn mountains and rivers, causing continents to shatter.

Yet even an Explorer could not yet create body-shaping techniques. The path of cultivation was vast and arduous. For mercenaries like Zhou Shan, who relied on energy crystals to cultivate, it was nearly impossible to reach the level of an Explorer. The stronger one became, the more they felt their own insignificance.

"Heh, why am I even telling you this? Let’s go. Let’s see how Zhao Yu fares against my Battalion Commander," Zhou Shan said with a carefree smile, leading Lu Yin out of the conference room.

Lu Yin silently followed and soon arrived in the square as before. Through the glass, he saw one of the Battalion Commanders defeated by Zhao Yu, lying on the ground in disarray.

Zhao Yu wore tight combat attire, her strikes swift and decisive. Lu Yin had long noted her skill. Now, she was pressing Feng Hong hard.

Watching from above, Zhou Shan shook his head. "Even at the 'Earth' level, there are differences in strength, some of them vast. Zhao Yu doesn’t even need to use a combat technique to easily defeat my Battalion Commanders."

Lu Yin looked down and said, "Her combat technique is triggered using a certain type of plant."

Zhou Shan chuckled, "Of course. Whether it’s the Snow Maiden or Luo Sheng, they all rely on external aids for techniques like their ice palm strike, which can freeze the human body. The body alone can’t produce such effects."

Lu Yin narrowed his eyes. Can’t they produce them? No, that was wrong. Powerful techniques, combat skills, and innate abilities could change the heavens. Earth had just not yet encountered them. His own Celestial Star Technique even mimicked the movements of celestial bodies. No one would believe him if he explained it.

Below, Feng Hong was swiftly defeated, followed by two more Battalion Commanders. No one else dared to step forward.

Zhao Yu held her head high, surveying the surroundings. "I heard the Battalion Commanders of the Punishment Camp were hardened warriors. What, no one wants to spar with me?"

Feng Hong and the others looked grim.

Above, Zhou Shan chuckled, "The three Snow Maidens under Luo Sheng’s command are said to be invincible at the Earth level. She certainly has some skill."

At that moment, Zhao Yu’s gaze shifted upward, her eyes locking onto Lu Yin. She raised her hand and beckoned him with a finger, a display of confident flair.

Feng Hong and the others looked up, startled.

Lu Yin raised an eyebrow. A provocation.

Zhou Shan smiled, "It seems she’s not satisfied with yesterday's outcome."

"It wasn’t a decisive victory yesterday," Lu Yin replied.

Zhou Shan responded, "Then go give her a match. We can’t let the Punishment Camp lose face too badly."

Lu Yin nodded and turned to leave.

In the square, hundreds of evolvers were chattering, many looking at Zhao Yu with admiration. A woman who could fight off the Punishment Camp’s Battalion Commanders, making them afraid to step forward, was a true icon.

As Lu Yin descended, Zhao Yu took a deep breath, her gaze resolute. She hadn’t been satisfied with yesterday’s match. She had initially been on top, only to be mysteriously defeated. She was eager to witness that technique once again.

From a distance, Feng Hong and the others watched as Lu Yin approached. Feng Hong couldn’t help but warn, "Brother Lu, be careful. This woman can use an ice palm combat technique. It’s formidable."

Lu Yin nodded and stepped toward Zhao Yu, saying, "Please."

Zhao Yu’s gaze was filled with fighting spirit. She leaped up, raised her hand, and pulled out a dagger from who knows where. Just like at the sinkhole, she started with an aggressive attack, her dagger slicing through the air, reflecting a cold gleam.

Lu Yin dodged effortlessly. He was a completely different person from yesterday; yesterday, he was just an ordinary person with a strong body, but today, he was a cultivator, having reached the Observation Realm.

While Lu Yin avoided her attacks with ease, Feng Hong and the others watched with bated breath. Zhao Yu’s attack speed kept increasing, and even a chill emanated from her dagger, creating a white mist in the air as the temperature plummeted.

The ground in the square cracked as Zhao Yu whipped her dagger around, encircling Lu Yin in a whirlwind that locked down all directions. Blasts of energy shot out, piercing through walls, and the oppressive force left many Evolvers struggling to breathe.

Lu Yin focused on Zhao Yu, then suddenly raised his hand, moving past her with an effortless grace. In his hand was a dagger radiating a cold aura.

Everyone held their breath, silently watching. Zhao Yu was frozen in place, her hands empty—her dagger had been taken.

Feng Hong and the others were stunned, then cheered, "Well done, Brother Lu!"

"Brother Lu is incredible!"

Lu Yin turned to face Zhao Yu, flipping the dagger in his hand before casually tossing it back to her. "Want to continue?"

Zhao Yu stared at him. "How did you do that?"

Lu Yin shrugged. "Keen eyesight and quick reflexes—both are essential."

Nonsense, everyone thought to themselves.

Zhao Yu said with mixed emotions, "You win. To be able to take my dagger without a scratch—there’s likely no one at the Earth level who can match you. You’re strong."

Lu Yin chuckled. These people had such a limited perspective. In the vast universe, even fledgling Observation Realm cultivators like them, lacking formal combat techniques, would rank at the bottom in any major academy. But Zhao Yu wasn’t wrong; Lu Yin was confident that no one else at the Observation Realm could beat him.

Feeling somewhat downcast, Zhao Yu put away her dagger, only then noticing something different about him. "You… did you exhaust your energy yesterday?"

Lu Yin didn’t respond, turning to head outside. He wanted to explore—what he was searching for wasn’t in the barren mountains and might be hidden elsewhere.

Zhao Yu watched him leave, wanting to ask about the technique he’d used yesterday. But knowing that combat techniques were personal secrets, she held back.

Feng Hong and the others were stunned, surprised at the strength of their newly joined Battalion Commander. The rumors that he had killed an alien were probably true, especially since that alien had been a Heaven-level warrior, albeit a severely wounded one.

Lu Yin’s position as a Battalion Commander didn’t come with real authority, but the Punishment Camp had still assigned him a squad of a hundred soldiers to command.

As he walked out of Zhong Mountain, Lu Yin motioned for a young Evolver soldier to approach. "Commander, please give your orders," the soldier said.

Lu Yin asked calmly, "Do you know where the old munitions depot in Jinling is located?"

"To the northwest," the soldier replied.

Lu Yin took out a map. "Mark it for me."

The soldier drew a circle on the map.

Lu Yin looked at it, then said, "You can go back. I’ll go there alone."

The soldier hesitated and said, "Commander, the munition's depot was destroyed at the beginning of the apocalypse. The few remaining weapons were already relocated. If you need them, you could apply to Xing Sheng."

Lu Yin nodded. "Got it. You can all head back," he said, then began walking alone toward the northwest.

These soldiers had been assigned to him by the Punishment Camp, ostensibly for his command, but also to keep an eye on him. Lu Yin didn’t intend to hide his movements. What he was searching for was well-concealed; searching blindly would be futile. The best approach was to draw attention, to stir things up, as his open search with Earth-level strength wouldn’t provoke too much alarm. Perhaps it would lead him to what he sought.

As he expected, as soon as he left, someone reported to Zhou Shan.

Zhou Shan’s eyes narrowed. "The munition's depot? What’s he looking for there?"

The bespectacled woman approached, adjusting her glasses. "The depot was destroyed. He’s probably not looking for weapons, but I’m not sure exactly what he wants."

"Let him be. We don’t have any secrets here," Zhou Shan replied with a chuckle, dismissing the concern.

Centered around Zhong Mountain, Jinling radiated outward, with the areas closer to the mountain having better geography and safety.

This city has long since lost its orderly planning from peaceful times. People now lived in the streets, in the open, even on the riverbanks, enduring day after day of fear and uncertainty.

In contrast, some people lived carefree lives, their moral boundaries eroded. Lu Yin saw many Evolvers bullying survivors as he walked by. Even though Punishment Camp soldiers tried to intervene, they couldn’t be everywhere.

Such was the state of the world. For Earth, everything now was unknown, but Lu Yin understood this was evolution—a civilization transitioning toward something new, at a high cost.

The sky darkened, and soon a heavy rain began, washing over the ground. Red-tinted water mixed with blood flowed along the streets, carrying all kinds of debris.

Lu Yin found a relatively clean-looking restaurant and sat down. Outside, survivors crouched around the entrance, scrambling every time the restaurant tossed out food scraps.

"Get lost, get away! And remember, wash the bucket clean and take it back, or we’ll get someone else to clean it next time!" the restaurant worker shouted angrily, clearly an Evolver.

(End of Chapter)