Langdon didn't know much about Hongyun Star; she had only visited once before and, relying on her sharp memory, retained only a few details about the place.

There were other stars Langdon was far more familiar with, but she wasn't sure if Duke Sandwo's henchmen might be lying in wait there. Therefore, she sent Yang Ying to Hongyun Star first to scout the situation.

Yang Ying completely agreed. According to Langdon, Duke Sandwo himself was a Fourth Level Apex existence. A power at this level was nearly invincible in the galaxy; even if besieged by a massive fleet and unable to win, they could tear open space and escape through wormholes. In theory, attempting to encircle a veteran Fourth Level entity was impossible.

Haddock had been defeated by Yang Ying’s insect swarm tactics only because he had just advanced to the Fourth Level. He possessed no inherited knowledge and hadn't spent long exploring the level, mastering only its surface abilities. He couldn't tear open space to flee via wormhole. Had he mastered the method of opening wormholes with mental power, Yang Ying’s insect swarm would have stood little chance of surrounding him.

The purpose of this trip was to gather intelligence and collect medicinal herbs; it was best to avoid complications. The most critical task now was to survive here and obtain some form of identification, even a forged one.

Yang Ying walked down the street, his gaze sweeping left and right, searching for a place that might offer assistance. Halfway down the block, he spotted a bar dimly lit by hazy lights. A large bouncer, whose high collar obscured most of his face, stood at the entrance.

After a careful assessment, Yang Ying confirmed this was the place he sought. Just as he was about to approach, a sudden thought struck him, and he veered off into a narrow side alley. He glanced around; seeing no one nearby, he rubbed his face with his hand. When his hand dropped, his face had completely changed.

This was not an illusion, but a high-level application of the Psi-Sculpting Body Technique—Disguise—achieved by altering the facial muscles to change one's appearance. This was also a spell gathered by the Psionic Monastery, which Yang Ying had learned after a brief study.

After the disguise, Yang Ying emerged from the alley and quickened his pace toward the bar.

Arriving at the door, the thickly dressed bouncer extended an arm, blocking Yang Ying's path, and barked, "Where are you from? Don't you know the rules here?" He held out his hand: "Membership card or a twenty Imperial Credit entry fee."

Yang Ying smiled faintly, entirely unconcerned by the bouncer's attitude. "You will let me in."

The voice seemed to carry a magical quality. The bouncer's face went blank upon hearing it, and he muttered, "I will let you in." He lowered his hand, clearing the path.

Yang Ying glanced at the potted plant next to the door. He knew there was a hidden camera there, transmitting everything happening at the entrance to some terminal room, but he wasn't worried. He was using a form of suggestion himself. Awakened beings, due to their rarity, often received preferential treatment.

Entering the bar, a stench of mixed hormones and sweat assaulted him. Even in a place like the Empire, sunlight didn't reach every corner. There were the nobles who were born to enjoy everything, possessing power, authority, and resources, and there were the common folk struggling for survival at the bottom of society. The conflict between True Humans and Sub-Humans had never ceased for a moment.

The stratification of classes and the resulting conflicts and disputes might just be a universal human failing. It had persisted since the ancestors of Atlantis and hadn't changed even now; it was deeply etched into the human bloodline.

However, Yang Ying hadn't come here to lament the cruelty of the world. He glanced into the bar and moved toward a table tucked in the corner, concealing himself in the shadows.

When Langdon was still in the Empire, she was a noble girl famous for her exceptional cultivation talent, achieving Third Level before she was twenty. With unparalleled beauty and the title of Countess, coupled with being the confidante of the Grand Princess, these factors made her shine like a torch in the darkness. The noble youths pursuing her could have formed an entire army group.

Yet, she had always shown indifference to those young nobles, frequently traveling on assignment as a Royal Special Envoy to evade harassment. While this broadened her horizons, it also gave her a deep understanding of all walks of life within the Empire.

Now, she had passed this experience on to Yang Ying. Although the instruction time was brief and the memory less ingrained than practical experience, it was sufficient for him.

Yang Ying waited in the shadows for a short time before a middle-aged man approached his table and sat down without hesitation. He sized up Yang Ying first, but Yang Ying's plain attire gave him nothing to go on.

However, Yang Ying could tell the man was a Second Level Awakened. Among Sub-Humans, this level was the most common, as there was no bottleneck between the First and Second Levels once they awakened; they could pass through easily.

First Level rookies were usually still in school or attached to some training institution, only coming out to do real business once they reached the Second Level. They then sought to advance to the Third Level through accumulating experience. Once they reached the Third Level, their struggle was largely over; the Empire's high echelons opened their doors, and they could achieve considerable success through various channels.

As for True Humans, they generally felt it was embarrassing to speak of their cultivation unless they had reached the Third Level.

The middle-aged man, possessing Second Level cultivation, couldn't see through Yang Ying, which made him feel slightly awkward. He probed amicably, "May I ask where you are from, esteemed guest? What brings you to our establishment?"

Yang Ying altered his voice, making it slightly deeper. "Where I come from is none of your concern, but I have a proposition here that I believe you will find quite interesting."

"A proposition?" The middle-aged man frowned and asked, "What kind of proposition? Our establishment operates strictly within the law; we do not conduct..."

"Operates strictly within the law?" Yang Ying interrupted, "Don't use that tone to dismiss me. If you operated strictly within the law, the Empire wouldn't need prisons."

Yang Ying casually glanced at the middle-aged man, who immediately felt a chill surge from the soles of his feet up his spine, causing him to shudder. He felt as if every action he took was being scrutinized, and even his innermost thoughts could not be hidden from the person before him.

He instantly realized that although the person before him was plainly dressed, their mental power cultivation was more than ten times his own. Only a seasoned Third Level master possessed such a gaze that struck terror into him; it could even be a Third Level Apex.

This kind of person could wipe out his entire bar with ease. He would have nowhere to complain. Although he had connections, his backing wasn't substantial. Asking them to confront a Third Level expert was something that could only happen in a dream.

With that thought, he adopted a fawning smile. "Indeed, operating within the law means nothing in the face of someone like you. I only wonder how we can be of service to you? As long as it is within our capabilities, we will spare no effort."

Seeing the man's timid demeanor, Yang Ying knew he had elicited sufficient apprehension and it was time to make his demand. "I need a few identity cards, as soon as possible."

"Identity cards?" The middle-aged man pondered, occasionally glancing at Yang Ying's expression to gauge him.

Yang Ying snorted. Knowing what the man was hesitating about, he took a paper packet from his sleeve and placed it on the table in front of him, saying nothing.

The middle-aged man's hand was quick. He snatched the packet across the table and suddenly caught a faint, sweet aroma. With a twitch of interest, he brought the packet to his nose, and his eyes instantly gleamed with avarice.

He gently unfolded the packet and saw several dried stems inside. His eyes widened as he exclaimed, "It’s Guoluo Grass! And top-grade at that."

Guoluo Grass was not exclusive to Planet Bante; there were at least a hundred other places in the galaxy that produced it. This noble spice crop had been spread when the Atlantean Empire ruled the galaxy. Many Guoluo Grass cultivation sites still existed within the Empire, and the finest grade was a luxury only the nobility could afford.

That was why, when Yang Ying returned from Planet Bante with Guoluo Grass, Langdon recognized it instantly.

Now, this middle-aged man clearly recognized it too.

"This small packet of Guoluo Grass is worth fifteen thousand Imperial Credits. A fake identity card is five hundred credits; a real one is five thousand. Tell me, guest, do you want fakes or real ones?" Realizing Yang Ying wasn't asking him to work for free, the middle-aged man became animated.

"You can even get real identity cards?" Yang Ying was somewhat surprised. Only the Imperial Civil Affairs department was qualified to issue real identity cards. This middle-aged man seemed to have connections reaching into the Civil Affairs department on Hongyun Star.

"Our shop has clear pricing and deals fairly with everyone—cash on delivery. And we guarantee authenticity," the middle-aged man chuckled. "You see, there are always those who feel their official salary isn't enough and wish to skim off extra cash. Discovering them is our specialty. Rest assured, guest, as long as you are willing to pay five thousand Imperial Credits, I guarantee you will receive a legitimate identity card issued by the Civil Affairs department. Furthermore, you can fill in the identity data however you wish. If you want two, I can give you a discount—nine thousand credits for both. If you take three, it’s thirteen thousand. How about it? How many do you require?"

Seeing the man's avaricious expression, Yang Ying knew it was a practiced facade, but it didn't matter as long as the goods were genuine. Yang Ying held up three fingers. "Three. I want real identity cards for all three."

He asked the middle-aged man for paper and pen and wrote down three sets of data. "Fill in the data for all three cards according to what I've written. Convert the remaining two thousand Imperial Credits into cash for me."

The middle-aged man took the data Yang Ying wrote, nodding repeatedly. "Good, good." If you wish to know what happens next, please log in to Xin Jiao for more chapters, support the author, and read the official version!