Chapter 353: The Fallen Emperor

"Is this how you curry favor with people?" Lan Ruo looked at her sister, a bit exasperated.

"Shouldn’t we at least know who he is?"

"If he doesn’t have any notable background, wouldn’t this favor be completely wasted?"

"Oh." Hearing Lan Ruo’s words, Lan Xin said no more, though she mumbled under her breath.

Seeing this, Lan Ruo sighed. Her younger sister had rarely left the clan and was far too inexperienced.

After a moment of thought, Lan Ruo asked, "Xinxin, have you contacted that friend of yours from the Star Moon Race?"

At this, Lan Xin’s face lit up. "I did, Sis! Lily said she’ll come to the entrance to meet us personally when we arrive."

Hearing this, Lan Ruo nodded. ’My sister really is lucky,’ she thought.

Sometime ago, on her first trip away from home, Lan Xin had helped a girl. That girl happened to be from the Star Moon Race, and a person of considerable status. When they parted, the Star Moon girl invited Lan Xin to visit her people and said she could bring companions.

Lan Ruo instructed her, "Xinxin, remember our goal for this trip. When you see your friend Lily, you must ask if we can trade for Star Moon Fruits. You know the clan’s situation. Uncle Aokan and the others need these fruits to help them break through to the level of Deities. We’re counting on you for this."

"Okay." Hearing Lan Ruo’s words, Lan Xin nodded her little head.

"If that plan doesn’t work, then it’s up to you, Barton. You’ve dabbled in the Fire Element Law, Space Law, Thunder Law, and Time Law. Hopefully, you’ll gain some insight from the Star Moon Stele. If you do, we’ll still have a chance to obtain the Star Moon Fruits."

"Understood, Sister Lan Ruo! I’ll do my best!" The brawny young man, Barton, looked at Lan Ruo in her red armor and spoke with determination.

...

Meanwhile, Li Yang watched as Lan Xin approached, only to be called back by her sister.

Unaltered by the interaction, he and Hei Xu continued flying toward the entrance to the Star Moon Race’s territory.

A few minutes later, they arrived at the entrance. To their surprise, seven other people were already there.

"Are all of them waiting to enter the Star Moon Race’s territory?" Li Yang watched them curiously.

Hei Xu chuckled. "It looks like these people have been waiting here for a while. It’s difficult to get into the Star Moon Race’s territory. Their people don’t guard the entrance, and outsiders can’t open it. So, the only way in is to wait for someone from the Star Moon Race to come out."

As the two were talking, Lan Ruo and her group spotted the seven people. The eyes of the red-armored girl, Lan Ruo, lit up. "Barton, Xinxin, that’s Lunle, the young genius from the Lunhai Clan. Let’s go greet him."

Lan Ruo led Lan Xin and Barton over to a young man.

"You’re... from the Lanling Clan?" the Lunhai Clan’s genius, Lunle, asked as he looked at the group before him.

"Yes, Young Master Lunle," Lan Ruo said with a smile.

Her expression was very warm. "Young Master Lunle, are you hoping to enter the Star Moon Race’s territory? My younger sister, Lan Xin, is good friends with one of their members and was specially invited. Her friend will be here soon. If you’re willing, Young Master Lunle, you can enter with us."

"Oh?"

Hearing this, Lunle’s expression shifted slightly. He smiled and said, "Then I’ll have to trouble you."

For people like them, entering the Star Moon Race’s territory required a long wait. Eventually, someone from the race would show up, and those with some status would be allowed in.

They... wouldn’t dare cause trouble in the territory of the Star Moon Race, a race that had a terrifying, Dominator-level existence among them.

While they were speaking, Hei Xu clearly overheard their conversation.

"The Lanling Clan? I didn’t expect them to be from the Lanling Clan," Hei Xu said in surprise.

"What’s wrong, Mr. Hei Xu?" Li Yang asked curiously. "Is there something special about the Lanling Clan?"

Hei Xu said, "Li Yang, the Lanling Clan is an Emperor’s clan."

"An Emperor’s clan?" Hearing this, Li Yang’s interest was piqued.

Emperors were considered part of the upper echelon of the Human Race, true top-tier experts. Across the Three Thousand Star Continents of the Human Race, each Star Continent had only one Emperor. Factoring in the Emperors within the Human Race’s Eternal Saint Hall and the Origin Martial Saint Realm, the total number of Emperors in the entire Human Race was estimated to be no more than ten thousand.

The Human Race was immense. To have only several thousand Emperor Level experts spoke volumes about their importance.

Every Emperor’s clan was, without a doubt, a major power.

"However, they are a *former* Emperor’s clan," Hei Xu added.

"What do you mean?" Li Yang asked.

Hei Xu explained to Li Yang, "The Lanling Clan was once an incredibly powerful clan. The Lanling Emperor was considered extremely strong, even among other Emperors."

Li Yang nodded. There were varying levels of strength among Deities, with powerful ones even capable of instantly killing weaker ones. It was certain that a similar hierarchy existed among Emperors.

The Lanling Emperor was a relatively powerful Emperor, so one could imagine how powerful the Lanling Clan must have been.

"The Lanling Emperor fell not long ago," Hei Xu said.

"What? He fell?"

Li Yang’s expression changed. ’A powerful Emperor actually fell?’

"Yes. The news caused a huge shock when it came out. For some unknown reason, the Lanling Emperor fell, and it was impossible to even resurrect him." Hei Xu shook his head.

"Besides the Lanling Emperor, the Lanling Clan only has two Deities, both of ordinary strength. Each of them has only mastered a single Law."

"After the Lanling Emperor fell, the Lanling Clan’s power plummeted."

"That Lunhai Clan is just a Deity-level power. Their strongest expert is a Four-Element Deity."

Hei Xu didn’t continue, but the implication was clear from the current scene: members of a former Emperor’s clan were acting so warmly toward a mere genius from a Deity-level power. It was obviously an attempt to curry favor.

Li Yang fell silent. Many great powers were, in fact, propped up entirely by their top-tier experts.

It was just like with Earth. Before, no one had dared to bully Earth. But after he had his "accident," everyone started oppressing it.

The Lanling Clan had once been incomparably mighty, but after the Lanling Emperor’s fall, they were instantly reduced from a major power to a minor one.

And now, as such a minor power, this former Emperor’s clan even had to curry favor with other Deity-level powers.

This was the Cosmos!

Great strength earned you reverence.

But without strength, you could only keep a low profile and suck up to other, more powerful forces!

’I’m Earth’s strongest right now, but Earth itself must also continuously cultivate its own experts!’ Li Yang thought.

Earth’s contact with the Cosmos was too recent—only forty-some years. In such a short time, Earth’s overall strength hadn’t improved by much.

However, as time passed, Earth’s overall strength would definitely continue to grow!

As he thought about Earth, Li Yang also felt a sense of urgency.

Even powerful Emperors could fall. His current strength was far too weak compared to an Emperor.

"Hm?"

Just then, Li Yang’s gaze suddenly shifted forward.

"Li Yang, someone from the Star Moon Race is coming out," Hei Xu said.

"Mm." Li Yang nodded, also looking toward the entrance.