The legendary wandering warriors of the garbage planet were actually Earthlings. This revelation took Li Xiaofei by surprise.
"How did you all get to this planet?" He couldn’t help but ask.
He had managed to leave Earth and venture into the outer realms because of his aunt, who had helped him sneak into Chongque City. So, how had these people arrived?
Ah Qing met his eyes, "By smuggling."
"You could also call it ascension, or a fortunate accident. Falling into a spatial rift, being taken by a powerful cultivator, or any number of inexplicable reasons. One way or another, we ended up beyond the solar system.
"According to the authorities, this act is considered illegal immigration. We cannot enter Chongque City or legally engage in any activities without official status. Nor can we use Chongque City's interstellar transport system to reach other star regions. All we can do is hide here and survive in the shadows."
So that was it. Li Xiaofei mulled over her words. He believed Ah Qing. She had no reason to lie to him. Besides, the universe was vast and filled with endless mysteries. Fortuitous encounters were not exclusive to him alone.
He had his aunt. Perhaps others had an aunt of their own. Just that, maybe their aunt didn’t have the same level of influence and power.
Ah Qing’s explanation also revealed something Li Xiaofei hadn’t considered before. For instance, anyone who left Earth without going through official channels would be labeled an illegal immigrant. Illegal immigrants had no legal rights and were wanted by the authorities. They could only survive in hiding, struggling on the fringes.
That raised another question. If there were illegal immigrants, then did that mean there were also people who had passed through legally? If so, where had those legal travelers gone?
Another flash of insight streaked through Li Xiaofei’s mind. He suddenly realized Nangong Longjian had also been an illegal immigrant. But somehow, he had obtained legal status, allowing him to reside in Chongque City and secretly provide aid and resources to Ah Qing and her people. Everything made sense now.
"You brought me here. Is there something else you need?" Li Xiaofei asked.
"To confirm your identity," Ah Qing replied straightforwardly. "Since you are the one chosen by Lord Nangong, that makes you our ally. We need your help."
"Help?" Li Xiaofei asked, "What kind of help?"
"We need food and cultivation resources," Ah Qing said. "These were things Lord Nangong used to provide for us. But now that he has fallen, we have no choice but to rely on you."
Another bolt of realization struck Li Xiaofei’s mind. He finally understood why Nangong Longjian had been so obsessed with the life-and-death arena battles. He wasn’t a battle maniac who enjoyed fighting. It was because those arena battles paid well.
Although he held the title of a guest elder in Wushuang City, his salary and earnings weren’t nearly enough to support over a dozen of his fellow countrymen in their cultivation.
Planet M73 was nothing more than a garbage star, utterly devoid of resources and unfit for habitation. If the illegal immigrants were to survive, they needed external support. Nangong Longjian had no choice but to work tirelessly for them. In the end, he was a poor, overworked laborer.
Li Xiaofei felt a rush of emotions, a mixture of sympathy, understanding, and regret. Ironically, it was only after Nangong Longjian’s death that Li Xiaofei came to truly understand him. The image of the King of the Arena was becoming clearer and clearer in his mind.
"Make a list," said Li Xiaofei, agreeing readily. "Tell me what you need and how often you need it. I'll figure something out."
"You’re agreeing just like that?" Ah Qing asked.
"I can’t think of a reason to refuse," Li Xiaofei said, "Besides, Nangong Longjian was my friend, I suppose."
Ah Qing fell silent for a moment, then exchanged glances with the others. Unspoken communication passed between them.
A moment later, Ah Qing turned to the little black dog and asked, "Can it be trusted?"
Li Xiaofei patted the dog's head and replied, "Yes, it’s from Earth too."
A hint of surprise flashed across Ah Qing’s elegant face. Some of the hesitation in her expression seemed to fade.
"And your other companion?" she asked.
"Oh, him? He’s an outsider. Let him rest. No need for him to know too much," replied Li Xiaofei.
"Alright," said Ah Qing.
Ah Qing seemed to have made an important decision. She said, "I choose to trust you. I hope this won’t be a mistake. Follow me."
She turned and led the way in the opposite direction from where they had come. Li Xiaofei followed closely, surrounded by the other mysterious figures. He could clearly sense that their wariness toward him had lessened, but it hadn’t completely disappeared.
At the same time, Li Xiaofei noticed something peculiar. The strange raincoats these people wore, along with their bizarre metallic headgear, seemed to be some kind of special invention. They could completely mask their life force. Combined with the freezing power of this icy world, these garments allowed for near-perfect concealment. No wonder he hadn’t noticed them earlier on Autumnwatch Peak.
Once they left the underground ice cavern, they continued walking through a winding network of frozen tunnels. It twisted and turned like a labyrinth and Li Xiaofei quickly lost his sense of direction. But one thing was clear, they were constantly heading downward.
As they walked, he keenly noticed something else. The temperature was rising. The frozen rock around them was gradually being replaced by dark brown volcanic stone.
Are we heading toward the planet’s core?, Li Xiaofei wondered.
Soon, the heat became even more intense. His guess was correct. Ahead of them, waves of scorching heat rolled through the tunnel. A vast underground sea of molten lava appeared before them, its deep orange surface bubbling and roiling like ocean waves. The very air was tinged with a dark red hue. Then—
Ah Qing leaped straight into the lava. Li Xiaofei was stunned. The little black dog’s fur stood on end. But then, Li Xiaofei quickly came to his senses.
Wait a minute... What am I panicking for? I’m a martial arts expert. This level of heat won’t burn me. It just looked terrifying, that’s all.
Ah Qing’s head emerged from the molten surface. She waved at him. Li Xiaofei thought for a moment, then grabbed the little black dog and threw it straight into the lava.
A faint sound echoed. The little black dog landed smoothly, barely making a ripple in the molten surface.
Black Emperor flailed in the lava, paddling furiously as it surfaced, barking in panic. Only then did Li Xiaofei leap in himself.
The other mysterious figures followed, diving into the lava one after another. Like divers plunging into the ocean, the group continued descending into the fiery depths. The journey lasted nearly half an hour.
Then, something strange happened. It felt as if they had passed through a solid, unseen barrier. Li Xiaofei’s vision suddenly brightened, and the suffocating heat vanished in an instant. He had abruptly left the sea of lava.
Gravity returned and a wave of dizziness washed over him. But he steadied himself, shook his head, and regained his peak condition in just a second.
Then he looked up and was utterly stunned.