The two guards exchanged a concerned glance. "The barrier didn't fail, did it?" one of them asked, a hint of alarm creeping into his voice. After all, Tao Ya was one of the overseers responsible for monitoring the God Killing Formation, the massive array of runes and symbols that kept the Rakshasa and other dangerous entities from escaping Solarous.
"No, the Formation is holding strong," Tao Ya reassured them. "But there's sothing else—sothing delicate that needs to be handled quickly."
"For the sake of our friendship, just tell this—do I need to relocate my family?" one of the guards, Jian, asked, his voice tense.
Tao Ya shook his head. "No. It's nothing that extre. Not yet, at least. You're safe for now."
Jian let out a relieved breath. "Good enough for . Follow ; I'll take you to the warp station."
The guards led Tao Ya through the streets of the outpost, passing by the bustling activity of the other cultivators. Despite the isolation of the asteroid, life here moved with purpose. rchants hawked their wares, warriors trained in open courtyards, and scholars pored over ancient texts in shaded alcoves.
The atmosphere was tense but orderly—a community dedicated to maintaining the fragile balance between survival and annihilation.
They arrived at the base of the central tower, and Jian led Tao Ya inside. The interior of the building was cold and clinical, with polished stone floors and walls lined with intricate carvings depicting the history of the Confederation. They moved swiftly through the halls until they reached a large room dominated by a massive warp gate embedded in the floor.
"Step on," Jian said, gesturing to the glowing platform. "This will take you straight to the main HQ." He handed Tao Ya a small pouch. "And if you can, pass this on to my family for ."
Tao Ya nodded, accepting the pouch without question. He stepped onto the warp gate, feeling the imnse energy hum beneath his feet as the machinery whirred to life. Within monts, the gate activated, surrounding him in a vortex of light and sound as he was transported across vast distances in the blink of an eye.
When the light cleared, Tao Ya found himself in a grand hall, much larger than the outpost's warp station. This was the heart of the Confederation Alliance's operations, located far from Solarous, in one of the safest regions of the galaxy. The hall was filled with bustling activity—cultivators, scholars, and officials moving about with purpose.
As Tao Ya stepped off the platform, a man approached him. His robes were adorned with intricate symbols, marking him as one of the warp gate managers. "This isn't your scheduled ti to return," the man said, frowning. "Where's the rest of your group?"
"I need to speak with one of the Elders," Tao Ya replied, his voice firm. "There's an issue near Solarous that needs to be addressed."
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The manager's eyes widened slightly, and he nodded without further questioning. "Follow ."
Tao Ya was led through a series of corridors and up a spiraling staircase that seed to stretch endlessly upward. The building itself was a marvel of architecture, its walls made of valuable marble and adorned with precious stones that glittered in the soft light. The wealth and power of the Confederation were on full display here.
They finally reached a large door, intricately carved from ancient wood, its surface depicting scenes of great battles and victories. The manager nodded to Tao Ya. "This is where I leave you. The Elder will call you in shortly."
Tao Ya didn't have to wait long. Within minutes, the door opened, and he was ushered inside. The room beyond was a study, ticulously organized with shelves lined with scrolls and parchnts. Behind a simple wooden desk sat an old man, his face lined with the wisdom of countless years.
"Tao Ya," the Elder greeted him without looking up from his work. "It seems you have sothing urgent to report."
"Yes, Elder," Tao Ya began, stepping forward. "We've had an unconfird sighting near Solarous. We believe there may be people—cultivators—who've entered the area."
The Elder didn't seem particularly concerned. "We've had survivors attempting to escape the planet before. It's not uncommon. What's different this ti?"
Tao Ya hesitated before speaking. "This sighting wasn't from within the planet. We think it ca from the Vortex."
The Elder's head snapped up, his eyes narrowing. "The Vortex? Are you saying there's life beyond it?"
"We're not sure," Tao Ya admitted. "It was only for a split second. We detected what seed to be a vessel, and it emitted a strong Qi signature. There was also a sighting of a silhouette on top of the vessel, but it disappeared as soon as we spotted it."
The Elder tapped his fingers against the desk, deep in thought. "It's unconfird," he mused. "Sending a team to investigate would be costly, and we've had no previous evidence of life beyond the Vortex. Where did the vessel go?"
Tao Ya sighed. "We didn't have a clear visual. The wreckage of the Fallen God's race is still littering the area, making it hard to track. But we believe they entered Solarous."
The Elder's expression darkened. "Then it doesn't matter. No one survives Solarous for long. If they entered the planet, they're as good as dead. That place consus everything in the end. They won't last a month."
Tao Ya frowned. "But what if they survive? What if they interfere with the barrier?"
The Elder shook his head. "Tao Ya, you've been stationed there long enough to know better. No one survives Solarous—not for long. The only reason anything is still alive there is because the monster that haunts that planet hasn't woken up yet. When it does, it will devour everything. Your only job is to maintain the God Killing Formation.
If, by so miracle, they manage to escape and approach the barrier with hostile intent, you are authorized to use the Alert Token."
Tao Ya bowed, accepting the Elder's decision. "Understood, Elder. I'll return to my post."
With that, Tao Ya turned and left the study, his thoughts heavy as he made his way back to the warp gate. The idea of life beyond the Vortex still lingered in his mind, but he knew better than to question the Elder's orders.
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