Swallowed Star: The Sacred Eye of Duplication

The pitch-black Black Dragon Mountain X-81 model spacecraft pierced through the atmosphere, entering the vast starry expanse of the universe.

"Momoyu, enable the outdoor simulation. Set it to 100%," Ye Yun commanded as he stood before the spacecraft's control console.

At his command, the spacecraft's control room seemed to vanish. Around him, the boundless starry sky unfolded, creating the illusion of standing amidst the cosmos. Turning back, Ye Yun saw a massive blue planet slowly shrinking into the distance.

Though this was not his first encounter with such a sight, Ye Yun couldn't help but find the view spectacular. Whether in his past life or his current one, his longing for the stars had never wavered. Now that he had finally set foot into the universe, he felt a surge of excitement.

Under Momoyu's control, the spacecraft continued to accelerate. Inside, Ye Yun felt no discomfort. As a C5-class vessel, the Black Dragon Mountain X-81 boasted an advanced gravity adjustment system. It offset the effects of acceleration, allowing Ye Yun to experience the same conditions as he would on Earth.

A short while later, Momoyu's voice echoed through the control room.

"Countdown: 10 seconds to light-speed acceleration."

"10!"

"9!"

The starry sky outside began to blur, the spacecraft moving too fast for the naked eye to capture the scenery.

"3... 2... 1!"

In an instant, ripples spread through the surrounding space, and the spacecraft vanished into the void.

Inside, Ye Yun felt a slight tremor for about ten seconds before it subsided. The view outside the spacecraft had disappeared, replaced by the simulated starry sky Momoyu had prepared.

"Dad, the space transition is complete. We've entered the Dark Universe. When traveling at light speed, the outside scene cannot be observed. Instead, I've prepared a simulation for you," Momoyu explained.

In long-distance space travel, the Dark Universe was indispensable. In the "original universe," no object could surpass the speed of light. The moment a spacecraft reached light speed, it would automatically transition into the Dark Universe.

Ye Yun turned his attention to the simulation. The Dark Universe resembled a sea of glowing fireflies scattered across a vast expanse. It was breathtaking but carried an overwhelming sense of solitude.

In this alternate realm, the coordinates corresponded to those of the original universe. However, the crucial difference lay in speed. Travel in the Dark Universe could surpass light speed, and upon returning to the original universe, the distance covered would be magnified by a factor of 10.081 million. This fundamental rule made interstellar travel feasible within a reasonable timeframe.

The spacecraft steadily accelerated within the Dark Universe, eventually maintaining a cruising speed of 1.2 times the speed of light. Ye Yun idly played with a coin in his right hand, anticipation building as he thought about Qionglong Star, his next destination.

This was Ye Yun's first venture into the cosmos, and he didn't intend to waste it. He had chosen Qionglong Star deliberately, as he knew a bit about it. His primary goals were to obtain citizenship in the Black Dragon Mountain Empire and open an account in the Virtual Universe.

Ye Yun had always been intrigued by the Virtual Universe. Deep down, he harbored certain ambitions and was eager to see if they could be realized there.

During the nine-day journey, Ye Yun was never bored. He immersed himself in studying the laws of light. Though he had yet to grasp the Realm of Light, he felt he was making steady progress. He estimated that he wasn't far from achieving his goal.

Ten minutes before their arrival, Momoyu announced, "Dad, we're about to transition back to the original universe and arrive near Qionglong Star."

Ye Yun ended his training session and prepared for the transition. The spacecraft began decelerating, gradually reducing speed until it came to a complete stop.

A faint tremor shook the ship as it returned to the original universe. Moments later, the exterior simulation resumed, revealing a colossal, vibrant planet ahead. Qionglong Star shimmered with colorful lights, its beauty enhanced by the presence of two satellites orbiting nearby.

"So this is the renowned Qionglong Star?" Ye Yun muttered.

As a hub of prosperity in the Black Dragon Mountain Empire, Qionglong Star far outshone ordinary planets. Even the imperial planet of the Silver-Blue Empire, which governed the Milky Way, couldn't compare. After all, Qionglong Star was ruled by a Domain Lord, a powerful being far beyond anything the Silver-Blue Empire could claim.

Following the docking protocols, the Black Dragon Mountain X-81 descended through the planet's colorful atmosphere, eventually landing at a massive docking port. The port was a marvel of engineering, teeming with spaceships of all shapes and sizes. Despite the bustle, everything operated with impeccable order.

The docking port was divided into zones based on spacecraft classification. Ye Yun's X-81, a C5-class vessel, was directed to the C-class zone. Surrounded by similarly high-value ships, the X-81 blended in seamlessly.

The hatch opened, and Ye Yun stepped out, clad in sleek black attire. A humanoid man in a gray uniform approached with a professional smile.

"Welcome to Qionglong Star, sir," the man greeted in fluent Universal Language. "The parking fee for your Black Dragon Mountain X-81 spacecraft is 600 Black Dragon Coins per year. If it's less than a year, the same rate applies. Here is your parking card."

Ye Yun accepted the translucent silver card. It bore a distinctive "C" logo and felt sturdy in his hand. Flipping his right hand, he conjured a coin and tossed it to the man.

The man caught it and instantly recognized its value. His eyes widened.

"This is a Qianwu Coin!"

In the Black Dragon Mountain Empire, Qianwu Coins were highly sought after. As the official currency of the Qianwu Universe, their value far exceeded the local currency. While one Qianwu Coin could officially exchange for 1,000 Black Dragon Coins, its black-market value was significantly higher.

"Keep the change," Ye Yun said nonchalantly.

"Thank you, sir!" The man in the gray uniform bowed again, this time with even more sincerity. This Qianwu coin could be exchanged for at least 1,200 Black Dragon Coins on the black market. After deducting the parking fee, Ye Yun's simple gesture effectively gifted him several hundred Black Dragon Coins—equivalent to several months' salary.

After leaving the spaceship parking area, Ye Yun ascended into the air and flew toward the horizon.

The spacecraft was docked at a port thousands of kilometers away from Qiulong City. The Black God suit beneath Ye Yun's feet extended, forming a sleek black platform. With a wave of his right hand, two silver guards materialized and positioned themselves on the platform.

Channeling his mental power into the platform, Ye Yun increased his speed, soaring swiftly toward Qiulong City.

He knew that on Qiulong Star, only Qiulong City offered comprehensive safety. The areas outside the city were somewhat hazardous, so he deployed the Liquid Silver Guards to serve as both a deterrent and a precaution against potential threats.

As he flew through the air, Ye Yun gazed upward. The sky of Qiulong Star was like a layered canvas of shifting colors: near him, a warm orange hue stretched like gauze, gradually transitioning to a tranquil aqua green further away. The stunning interplay of colors was unique to Qiulong Star, constantly shifting and shimmering. Under sunlight, the scenery became even more breathtaking, whether viewed from land or sea.

Qiulong Star had once been an unremarkable life-bearing planet. However, its natural beauty had drawn countless powerful figures who chose to settle here. Over time, the planet grew increasingly prosperous.

As Ye Yun traveled, he passed enormous castles scattered across the landscape. These vast structures resembled mansions from Earth, though each "mansion," spanning 9.8 kilometers in both length and width, was comparable to an entire city. Only the most influential individuals resided in these grand estates.

The closer he got to Qiulong City, the denser the buildings became. Here, the castles were significantly smaller, each roughly one kilometer in size. Despite their reduced scale, these properties were the most affordable residential options on Qiulong Star. Even so, purchasing one required a staggering investment of over 10 billion Black Dragon Coins—far beyond the reach of most people.

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