Right now, Zhang Xiaoman’s Strength had already reached the same Level as Lan Gu, this old veteran who’d cultivated for tens of thousands of years. Below the Transcendent Level he was practically unmatched; within the Star Alliance, aside from Ni Yang, he could be considered the undisputed number one.

"Congratulations, Extreme Star Elder, on successfully breaking through to the Control Level."

A streak of flowing light cut across the sky. Lan Gu and Lan Yue’s figures appeared in front of Zhang Xiaoman, carried by that radiance.

"Many thanks, Lan Clan Leader, and Master Yue."

Zhang Xiaoman also cupped his hands to them in thanks.

This time his Strength had soared at a shocking pace, and the Lan Family’s help had been no small thing. Besides gathering the materials for him, this final forbidden land had also made a huge contribution. If he hadn’t absorbed the Strength of the entire forbidden land, he couldn’t possibly have broken straight through to the peak realm.

"Ji Xing, now that you’ve completed the imprint, you should be planning to start the nourishing phase next, right?"

Lan Yue started talking about the matter of nourishing, which was generally the second step after a Star Pattern Imprint was successfully completed.

"It’s just a pity. We originally set up a Nurturing Array for you in this forbidden land, but now that the forbidden land has been shattered, if Extreme Star Elder wants to begin nourishing, I’m afraid you’ll have to find somewhere else."

Zhang Xiaoman nodded at that and said:

"Thank you for your concern, Master Yue, but I already have my own plans for the nourishing phase. It’s just that I accidentally destroyed this forbidden land..."

Lan Gu suddenly spoke up at this moment:

"Extreme Star Elder, you don’t need to feel guilty. The matter of the forbidden land was also due to our failure to make proper arrangements beforehand, and you were frightened besides. However, I’m afraid your nourishing plan will be slightly affected this time. It would be best to delay it a bit before carrying it out..."

"Oh? What do you mean?"

Lan Gu laid down a Barrier around them, then finally spoke:

"I wonder if Extreme Star Elder has ever heard of the Plague Relics?"

"Plague Relics? What kind of place is that?"

Zhang Xiaoman truly had no idea.

Lan Gu gave an "as expected" look and explained:

"The Plague Relics is one of the nine Ancient Ruins. It was once the cultivation ground of a Transcendent Level Divine being. It’s said that everything inside was left behind by That One—Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures everywhere, fourth-Level Dark Spiritual Material within, and Skills of Perfect Level and above constantly appearing—opportunities without end."

"Oh, so it’s an Ancient Relics. I have read some related information. I heard those ruins do indeed hold quite a lot of good stuff, but they’re also filled with danger. I don’t know what connection the Clan Leader mentioned between the ruins and my nourishing phase?"

Zhang Xiaoman nodded. Though he said that, he already had a faint guess in his heart. 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

Sure enough, Lan Gu said:

"I’m sure Extreme Star Elder has already guessed a bit. That’s right, I want Extreme Star Elder to go with me to the Plague Relics. This action will count as you fulfilling your promise to make a move for my Lan Family."

"Make a move? Go to the Plague Relics?"

"That’s right. As one of the nine Ancient Ruins, the Plague Relics is the former dojo of the Plague God, located in a so‑called small independent world. Its entrance lies at the intersection of the Dark Spirit Star Domain, the Insect Domain, and the Beller Star Domain..."

"The Plague Relics is supposed to open once every five hundred years, and there should be at least another hundred years before the next opening... but I recently received news that, due to the influence of two universes undergoing Fusion, signs of an early opening have already appeared..."

"Ji Xing, to be frank with you, the Plague Relics is extremely important to us. If this time our Lan Family can obtain enough resources from within, it will directly affect our status in the upcoming Great Elder succession battle. You understand what I mean, right?"

Zhang Xiaoman nodded to show he understood.

Put plainly, the early opening of the Plague Relics had caught the Lan Family off guard. They needed his high‑end combat Strength to participate and help them seize enough resources within the ruins.

And all factions would be sending people when the Plague Relics opened. If the Lan Family did nothing, they would inevitably be left far behind in this round of power struggle, and the consequences would be immeasurable.

However, what he had promised at the beginning was to help the Lan Family make a move one time, not to accompany Lan Gu through the entire ruins operation as he was now suggesting.

If it really went like that, and he had to fight various factions in the ruins, the number of times he’d make a move would be far more than "just once."

This guy Lan Gu had really worked the "art of wording" to perfection. One battle and participating in a relic struggle both counted as "making a move once" when you said it, but the difference between the two was like heaven and earth.

"Ahem, Ji Xing, I know the matter of the ruins may put you in a bit of a spot, but this operation isn’t without benefits for you either. I can promise you right here: of all the resources our Lan Family manages to obtain in the Plague Relics this time, we’re willing to give you ten percent as your personal reward. What do you think?"

Lan Gu seemed a bit embarrassed as well—he knew his request was a little excessive, so he decisively offered larger benefits.

"Clan Leader... isn’t that a bit..."

Lan Yue, at his side, couldn’t help but widen her eyes when she heard this.

That was ten percent of the entire Lan Family’s harvest, directly allocated to him alone. Wasn’t that a bit too much?

After all, the Lan Family was such a massive force; the Strength they’d invest in the ruins would be unimaginable, and there were other experts holding the fort inside the clan as well. Their own people wouldn’t even get enough shares, and yet he was giving away ten percent outright—what would everyone else think?

Lan Gu just waved his hand and gave her a look that said, "I have my own plans."

Seeing this, Lan Yue no longer spoke, tactfully closing her mouth.

Indeed, if things went as Lan Yue feared—giving Ji Xing alone ten percent of the resources—then for the entire clan, that would obviously be on the high side. The Lan Family had other Upper Control Level offensive powerhouses. If each of them got ten percent, how was the Lan Family supposed to develop? Not to mention, beneath the Upper Control Level there were quite a few Middle Control Level experts. All these people taking part in the struggle would need to be rewarded; the total resources gained simply wouldn’t be enough for such lavish distribution.

But that had only been Lan Gu’s previous thinking. After seeing Extreme Star’s change in Strength post‑breakthrough, and personally sensing the aura on him at close range, Lan Gu was certain that Extreme Star’s current Strength should not be much weaker than his own.

To break through and immediately reach the Upper Control Level Peak—this kind of genius was worth winning over even if it cost a bit more resources.

More importantly, Extreme Star had only completed the imprint of the fourth Star Pattern so far; he hadn’t even begun nourishing yet, and his aura was already this terrifying. If he finished the nourishing phase, just what kind of realm would his Strength soar to? Lan Gu didn’t even dare to imagine it.

By then, as long as no Transcendent Level made a move in this Star Domain, there might be no one left who could be his opponent.

Thinking of this, Lan Gu couldn’t help but sigh inwardly. Fortunately, his own side had someone like Lan Yue, a Star Pattern Master; otherwise how could these powerful Dark Spirits possibly have joined his camp one after another?

Faced with the generous offer, Zhang Xiaoman pondered for a moment, then agreed on the spot, accepting this operation.

In fact, the reason he agreed to act this time, aside from the resources the Lan Family promised, was also because he wanted to repay a favor.

His rapid rise in Strength owed a great deal to the Lan Family.

Though they were a bit shady when it came to the matter of "making a move once," he had never been someone who liked owing others favors. What’s more, he had absorbed one of their forbidden lands. This was a good opportunity to settle that debt.