Chapter Nineteen: The Stellar Martial Administration Bureau

Yang Haishan collapsed heavily to the ground, the star power within his body in utter disarray.

Yet Yang Ye remained standing there, steady as a mountain.

How could this be possible!?

Every cultivator present was struck speechless with shock.

A practitioner at the planetary level had just defeated a master of the stellar level! In over a hundred years, had such a thing ever occurred?

Wait—what was that dragon’s shadow just now?

And when that azure dragon apparition appeared, didn’t it seem as if a roar thundered through their very souls?

Was this a martial technique? A skill capable of bridging the gap between cultivation realms!

…

As everyone speculated wildly, they saw Yang Ye taking slow, measured steps toward Yang Haishan, who still sat cross-legged, desperately trying to repair his shattered constellation.

Now, Yang Haishan was powerless to save himself—Yang Ye could end his life with a single blow.

In awe of the overwhelming might Yang Ye had just displayed, no one dared rush forward to their deaths.

“Stop, boy!”

When Yang Ye was no more than five paces from Yang Haishan, a cold voice suddenly rang out from the night sky.

A figure descended from above, landing at Yang Haishan’s side.

He was a man in his forties, with a gaunt face, clad in a crimson uniform reminiscent of military attire, a leather belt at his waist, high leather boots on his feet, and three golden stars gleaming on each collar tab beneath the lights.

The Bureau of Stellar Martial Affairs!

Yang Ye quickly recognized the man’s uniform—it was the official garb of the Bureau of Stellar Martial Affairs.

The bureau’s predecessor, after all, was the Huaxia military.

Judging by the three gold stars on his collar, his rank in the bureau must be considerable.

Yang Ye was about to ask the man’s identity when someone nearby exclaimed in astonishment.

This was Zhao Fei, Director of the Bureau’s Southwest District—a renowned stellar-level master in Huaxia for over a decade.

“Director Zhao, this matter does not involve ordinary citizens—you should not interfere,” Yang Ye said, frowning.

Zhao Fei nodded, a smile playing across his lips. “Indeed! As district director, I have no intention of meddling in disputes between cultivators. So long as you do not harm innocent civilians, even if rivers of blood should flow, it’s none of my concern.”

At this, Zhao Fei raised his hand and placed it atop Yang Haishan’s head.

He was actually helping Yang Haishan stabilize the stars within his constellation!

Channeling powerful star energy, Zhao Fei continued, “But that rule only applies to cultivators below the stellar level. Huaxia needs talent now, and those who reach the stellar stage are rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns. I have decided—Yang Haishan will join the Bureau of Stellar Martial Affairs as my deputy director.”

He withdrew his hand, brushed his palms together as if to rid himself of Yang Haishan’s dandruff, and then smiled again. “So… I must save his life and have him serve Huaxia.”

Yang Ye clenched his fists.

He had been on the verge of eliminating Yang Haishan, only for a district director—a stellar-level master, no less—to intervene.

Compared to the newly advanced Yang Haishan, Zhao Fei’s power was on an entirely different level.

Yang Ye knew that even with Long Xiaoqing’s strength, he would stand no chance.

But how could he swallow this humiliation?

Yang Ye turned his gaze to Yang Le.

How could he forget this man—the very one who had cast him and his sister from their home all those years ago?

“Very well!”

Yang Ye gritted his teeth, his figure flashing forward, lunging at Yang Le.

He moved with astonishing speed, appearing before Yang Le in an instant, and brought his blade down as Yang Le’s face twisted in terror.

Yang Ye was too fast—there was no way for Yang Le to dodge.

He had never imagined that Yang Ye would dare attack him right under Zhao Fei’s nose!

Just as Yang Le thought his life was forfeit, there was a thunderous crash.

Yang Ye’s body was sent flying, smashing heavily into a round wooden table, reducing it to splinters.

Zhao Fei had intervened, a burst of fist force slamming into Yang Ye.

“Pah—”

Climbing to his feet, Yang Ye spat out a mouthful of blood-tinged spittle, stared coldly at Zhao Fei, and sneered, “Didn’t Director Zhao say he wouldn’t interfere with cultivators below the stellar level?”

Zhao Fei curled his lip in disdain. “I’ll protect whomever I choose!”

With strength comes the right to arrogance.

Yang Ye bit down hard, fixed Zhao Fei with a long, deep stare, then turned to leave.

“Stop! Who gave you permission to go? Was Qin Feng’s death your doing? You’ll come with me to the bureau and give a full statement before you leave.”

Zhao Fei’s voice rang out behind him.

Yang Ye halted, turning to face Zhao Fei.

By now, Yang Haishan had weathered the worst—thanks to Zhao Fei’s aid, the stars within his constellation had stabilized.

It would not be long before his cultivation was fully consolidated; even if struck as he had been before, the stars in his constellation would remain intact.

Yang Haishan rose from the ground, fixing Yang Ye with a cold gaze. “Director Zhao has spoken—will you not surrender? Or do you wish to make an enemy of the entire Bureau of Stellar Martial Affairs?”

At this moment, Yang Haishan felt his earlier camaraderie with Zhao Fei had been the wisest choice he’d ever made.

Otherwise, he would have died at Yang Ye’s hand tonight.

“Director Zhao, I’ll remember what happened here tonight! I hope you won’t live to regret it!”

With that, Yang Ye leapt into the air.

“Trying to escape?”

Zhao Fei sneered and shot into the sky.

To his surprise, Yang Ye’s speed in flight was astonishing. In the blink of an eye, he had opened a gap of several hundred meters between them.

“Damn it, I may not be able to beat you, but I can certainly outrun you! If you’re so capable, try racing a dragon…”

Yang Ye seethed inwardly.

Stellar-level cultivators could fly by channeling star power, but compared to a dragon, their speed was sorely lacking.

Moments later, in the darkness above, Zhao Fei lost track of Yang Ye and returned in frustration.

Yet Yang Ye’s parting words continued to echo in his mind.

…

After shaking off Zhao Fei, Long Xiaoqing set Yang Ye down on the ground.

Yang Ye coughed up mouthful after mouthful of blood, and Long Xiaoqing fared little better—though uninjured physically, her spirit was utterly drained.

Man and dragon lay side by side atop a massive boulder, silently watching the night sky.

“Xiaoqing…”

Yang Ye spoke suddenly.

“Husband,” Long Xiaoqing replied weakly.

Yang Ye took a deep blue beast core from his storage ring and placed it in Long Xiaoqing’s mouth.

She swallowed it at once.

“Xiaoqing, I have to become stronger—fast!”

After feeding Long Xiaoqing the beast core, Yang Ye clenched his fists and declared.

This was the first real setback Yang Ye had suffered since stepping into the world—and he finally understood the truth his master had once told him: If you don’t wish to be bullied by others, then become the strongest in the world!