Liu Hui looked at Hongjun on the Plane Trading Device, feeling a pang of reluctance. Although the former Hongjun had been incredibly devious and sly, constantly tricking him, he had ultimately brought immense benefits.

Though Liu Hui believed his plane to be one of science and technology, the development of "Starry Sky City" was fundamentally built upon the foundation of the Cultivation World. Those unique refining products, the miraculously functional arrays, and the genuine True Essence wielded by cultivators were precisely what propelled the technological progress of "Starry Sky City" forward at a staggering pace, far outpacing the nations on Earth.

Now, Liu Hui realized, the benefits Hongjun brought to "Starry Sky City" were ubiquitous. With the Cultivation World on the brink of collapse and Hongjun about to return to his original body, his Plane Trading Device would vanish. This meant Liu Hui would permanently lose the ability to trade with Hongjun.

Yet, as he departed, Hongjun unexpectedly showed kindness, offering to grant Liu Hui a single wish—a gesture that felt jarring to Liu Hui, who was accustomed to Xiaoyaozi’s deceit. But Liu Hui immediately understood: such a windfall falling from the heavens would never come again if he let it pass.

He immediately set his mind to considering what he should ask of Hongjun.

Initially, Liu Hui thought of obtaining immortal elixirs, something that, upon ingestion, would grant him immortality and decades of profound magical power, making him invincible. But upon closer thought, he recalled that even when Hongjun received the Three Pure Ones, he couldn't instantly render them invincible deities; they only became immortal Sages after arriving in the Great Desolation World. This implied that even Hongjun could not act entirely as he pleased under the constraints of plane rules.

Next, Liu Hui considered asking for a miraculous artifact that could protect the security of "Starry Sky City." However, he quickly realized that while such an artifact might guarantee the city’s safety, it wouldn't fundamentally elevate its technological level.

Only by improving "Starry Sky City's" technological standing would things truly improve for Liu Hui. At that stage, any number of powerful weapons could be manufactured, rather than relying on just one or two potent artifacts.

Liu Hui immediately focused his thoughts on something that could provide continuous enhancement to "Starry Sky City's" technological growth, leading him to identify what he needed most: the True Essence of cultivators. Everything else could be manufactured, but once the trade with the Cultivation World ceased, he would forever lose the sole source of cultivator True Essence. "Starry Sky City" currently possessed nothing that could substitute it.

After only a moment's hesitation, Liu Hui made his decision. He stated, "Senior, I request that you provide us with enough cultivator True Essence to sustain our development."

Hongjun smiled faintly and replied, "Little friend's request is known to me."

As soon as Hongjun finished speaking, a mass of materials appeared before him, freely assembling themselves in the air. In an instant, a white sphere was refined into shape. Hongjun tapped it once, and a flash of red light passed over it before the sphere settled, appearing utterly mundane.

Hongjun placed the white sphere onto the Plane Trading Device and initiated the transaction. Liu Hui immediately grasped the sphere in his hand.

Hongjun chuckled, "Little friend, within this sphere, I have stored enough cultivator True Essence to sustain your development for ten thousand years. You will never again need to worry about the source of cultivator True Essence. Rest assured, I specifically incorporated a computer interface so that you can easily control and utilize the True Essence with your computers." Liu Hui saw the computer port on the sphere, but immediately grew curious, asking, "Senior, you are a Sage of the Great Desolation World—how do you know about the computers of our plane?"

Hongjun laughed heartily, "Little friend, did you imagine that while experiencing

Liu Hui guided the Seraph, soaring toward the farthest reaches of the Solar System. He bypassed Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune in quick succession, and once past Neptune, he knew he was almost outside the system's grasp.

This was Liu Hui's first time witnessing the view beyond the Solar System while suspended in space. Standing at the very edge, he observed how utterly minuscule the entire Solar System appeared against the backdrop of the boundless starry expanse. Even more terrifyingly small, when compared to the vast universe, was the "Starry Sky City," which had only just managed to anchor itself within the system's periphery.

Still, Liu Hui felt a profound sense of elation that the great vessel, the "Starry Sky City," was finally underway. In the near future, humanity would burst beyond the Solar System, entering the limitless void of space, destined to become the sovereign of this entire cosmos. If Liu Hui lived long enough, he would certainly witness the dawning of that magnificent human epoch.

Standing amidst the immensity of the universe, Liu Hui’s heart surged with exhilaration. Suddenly, a strange, inexplicable tremor—a premonition—stirred within him.

Startled, Liu Hui instantly whipped his gaze toward a specific direction, yet he saw absolutely nothing there. Just as confusion began to cloud his mind, his Planar Trader began to vibrate violently.