Chapter 75: Chapter 75: Negotiating with Extraordinary Influences

While Ning Xuan was discovering that her Companion Spirit was the Legendary Fire Spirit Vermilion Bird, she had no idea what a massive shockwave this news had sent across the interstellar community.

Far away on the Star Domain Battlefield, Ying Yaoshi received an urgent communication from the information center. A complex look crossed his face as he read the message. He let out a sigh. ’So it really is Legendary Level! And a Vermilion Bird, no less!’ Fortunately, he had made preparations long ago, stationing people in the information center. As soon as they detected the astrological anomaly, he had them immediately use their means to conceal it.

Then, rubbing his temples to stave off a headache, he sent an encrypted file to the information center headquarters. He instructed them to raise Ning Xuan’s file to the highest protection level. Aside from a select few, no one would be able to view her true information. Even with decryption methods, they would only be able to see her data from before the latest update.

Beyond those who could query the official records, the ones who were even more difficult to deal with were the few powers that operated independently of the Federation.

Ying Yaoshi considered for a moment. ’I have to go probe their intentions.’ He channeled energy to his fingertips. With a light tap, he drew several icy-blue trajectories on the star map projection. The twelve holographic screens in the operations room simultaneously glowed red. A moment later, twelve three-dimensional figures appeared on the screens, looking as if they were standing right there in the room. The one in the middle glanced left and right, saw that everyone was present, and asked, "Marshal, has something major happened to warrant you summoning all of us so urgently?"

These individuals were the representatives of Ying Yaoshi’s High-level Combat Power. Each of them was responsible for a specific region. Ordinarily, General Ying summoned them individually to assign missions. A simultaneous summons like today was unprecedented.

"For the time being, drop what you’re doing. Go to these locations and serve as teleportation coordinates for me. I’m going to pay them a visit!" Ying Yaoshi tapped the star map projection a few times. The designated coordinates lit up, automatically linking to the holographic figure closest to each one.

"Abyss Ancient Domain!"

"Seventh Space Station!"

"Starry Sky Academy!"

"Myriad Phenomena Star River!"

The Seventh Space Station served as the administrative headquarters for the Star Sky Council. As the Federation’s Grand Marshal of the Army, Ying Yaoshi was also a member of the council.

Half an hour earlier, the observatory at the Seventh Space Station had detected an abnormal energy fluctuation. The staff immediately pinpointed the source of the wave and reported the situation up the chain of command.

"Speaker, the Power of Stars in the Central Star Domain is being drawn upon. The source coordinates point to the Central Star Information Detection Center. This same energy fluctuation appeared several days ago, but it was obstructed by Space-Time Power at the time, making it impossible to determine the precise location!" an aide’s voice, distorted with electronic static, reported to the Speaker of the Star Sky Council.

The Speaker of the Star Sky Council, Mo Changsheng, was dressed in a resplendent robe embroidered with a silver river of stars. His gaze was deep and far-reaching. ’The Power of Stars is being drawn... Has a Divine being finally descended? Quick, investigate!’

Upon hearing this news, the world-weary Speaker seemed to erupt with youthful vigor, the flames of excitement dancing in his eyes. His good mood, however, did not last long before it was shattered by the sudden appearance of Ying Yaoshi.

"Shouldn’t Marshal Ying be guarding the Star Domain Battlefield? What brings you all the way here?" Mo Changsheng asked with a look of disdain.

"Speaker! An encrypted communication channel from the Starry Sky Academy is requesting access!" a secretary reported to Mo Changsheng.

"Speaker, an encrypted communication channel from the Myriad Phenomena Star River is requesting access!" another secretary reported.

"Speaker, Ji Wuque of the Abyss Ancient Domain requests an audience."

"Perfect timing. Saves me the trouble of tracking you all down one by one," Ying Yaoshi said languidly. ’I really did come to the right place first. All the powers capable of tracing the paths of the stars have gathered at once.’

Mo Changsheng, Ji Wuque, and Ying Yaoshi each stood their ground, joined by two holographic projections. Gu Jingkong, the Chief Executive Dean of the Starry Sky Academy, hadn’t expected it to be so lively. He glanced at Mo Changsheng. "Speaker, do you all have some important matter to discuss?"

"The Central Star Information Center detected the awakening of a Legendary Level Companion Spirit. No need to be coy; you’re all here for this, aren’t you?" Ying Yaoshi said, cutting straight to the chase.

"So that’s why there was a disturbance in the Divine Spirit Map. A Legendary Level Companion Spirit truly has awakened!" the Astrologer from the Myriad Phenomena Star River, who was dressed in a Star Patterned Robe, said thoughtfully.

"The Spirit Controller who awakened the Legendary Level Companion Spirit is on Central Star. According to the Guardian Covenant, jointly established by the seven Long-Lived Ones a hundred years ago, no organization that is an Extraordinary Influence may interfere with his growth!" Ji Wuque of the Abyss Ancient Domain declared, revealing the location with his opening words. ’Who knows just how much information he’s managed to get his hands on?’

"That covenant is completely unreasonable. The energy of a Legendary Level Companion Spirit is far too overpowering. If we don’t intervene, the outcome will be the same as the last few times—they’ll die before ever reaching maturity. Over the past century, twelve have already perished this way."

"Based on calculations of the current rate of star domain collapse, the Federation’s twelve Star Domains will face another apocalyptic crisis in seventy years at most. For a Divine being to be born at such a critical juncture... we should cherish this opportunity," Mo Changsheng said, his tone persuasive.

"Indeed. Whether or not this Divine being reaches maturity is a matter of fate, not something we can control. However, if we could acquire their bloodline, we could certainly create more Transcendents. When the apocalyptic crisis arrives, we’ll have much more Combat Power at our disposal!" Gu Jingkong immediately grasped the meaning behind Mo Changsheng’s words and voiced his agreement.

"I knew none of you would behave. Gentlemen, you can forget about it. The newly awakened individual with the Legendary Level Companion Spirit is mine. You had all better strictly adhere to the Guardian Covenant. If I find out anyone is pulling stunts behind the scenes, I won’t mind giving you another demonstration of my methods!" Among these individuals, Ying Yaoshi’s personal strength was arguably the weakest, but he commanded an army of millions, including the Skyline Fleet.

"Marshal Ying, do you have any idea what nonsense you’re spouting? By what right do you claim that person is yours? Did you give birth to them?" Mo Changsheng retorted angrily.

"I didn’t give birth to her, but she is the Contractor the main brain assigned to me. Here, have a look. And she’s not even of age yet." Ying Yaoshi said smugly, displaying the proof of their contract.

"The one who awakened the Legendary Level Companion Spirit is a woman?" Gu Jingkong cried out in astonishment.

"How is that possible? A woman’s constitution is too frail; they’re incapable of bearing such a powerful Companion Spirit! In all of recorded history, every person who has ever awakened a Legendary Level Companion Spirit has been a male Spirit Controller!"

Every Spirit Controller who awakened a Legendary Level Companion Spirit had a highly detailed personal file, which recorded his Spiritual Power Value and various other data points for every stage of his life, from birth until death.