Southland University, early morning.
Occasionally, a cat or dog would pass by. Yet no matter how keen their senses, not even the sharpest animal could perceive the presence of Leon Yu and Andrew Han—as if an invisible shield enveloped the two of them.
"I actually guessed right."
Andrew Han stared blankly at Leon Yu.
Above the sky!
Those above Martial Lord actually exist outside the atmosphere. Perhaps the ancient legends of Sinovera—the ethereal immortals dwelling atop the Nine Heavens—were simply those who had reached realms above Martial Lord.
But...
Faced with Leon Yu’s second question, Andrew couldn't help but hesitate.
Where do they live?
Law-Realm experts are still human; it should be difficult to survive in space alone. Even if they no longer require oxygen and are shielded from cosmic radiation, they would still need somewhere to rest.
"Do you live on a space station? Or perhaps a spacecraft?" Andrew continued to speculate.
"Wrong."
Leon Yu shook his head.
"Meteorites? The Moon? Starships beyond the current age?" Andrew blurted out every possibility.
Leon Yu paused, then shook his head and laughed.
He patted Andrew on the shoulder. "Did you think there were aliens, or some kind of super-ancient leftover technology? I have to admit, your generation of martial artists has a far broader imagination than ours."
As for extraterrestrial life, at least for now, there is none.
As for ancient leftover technology, that's pure nonsense... Times have always progressed—both martial arts and science continue to advance. There's no such thing as 'the ancients surpassing the present.'
"Stop guessing."
"Every Law-Realm expert above Martial Lord has their own satellite... We live inside satellites outside the atmosphere." Leon Yu pointed to the azure sky and revealed the truth.
Satellite?
Andrew Han froze, his expression stunned.
A satellite, by definition, is a celestial body that orbits a planet along a closed trajectory. Artificial satellites are also classified as satellites.
"No, that's not it."
"It's definitely not a natural celestial body." Andrew blinked twice, eyes brimming with shock. "It must be an artificial satellite. So those above Martial Lord actually live inside satellites beyond the atmosphere."
Leon Yu couldn't help but laugh.
A smile surfaced on Leon Yu's face as he nodded.
In fact, these secrets are normally revealed by a senior of Martial Lord Realm. If there is no senior, the Martial Arts Alliance assigns the nearest Martial Lord to answer questions.
But Leon Yu was curious.
Andrew Han, both a Legend and a peerless prodigy, hailed as one of Sinovera's contemporary paragons—would he truly be shaken? Leon, his diamond-like features thoughtful, studied the dazed Andrew and traced a mysterious smile.
"Life on a satellite isn't so bad, actually."
"Though there's no one to talk to—it's a bit lonely. But we read books often, and there are plenty of popular movies and shows. As long as we send a satellite request, the Martial Arts Alliance provides everything."
Leon Yu smiled faintly.
If they want to watch something—even unreleased or uncensored works—they can get early access. It's one of the few entertainments available on the satellites.
"But there's something else."
"Why do you have to live on satellites outside the atmosphere?" Andrew asked directly, voicing the crucial question. Leon's face grew somber.
Leon Yu sighed.
In truth, Law Realm experts don't want to leave this land.
The planet's land nurtured humanity's birth and growth. Even a titled three-step Martial Lord can only stand in low sky for a short stay.
Ultimately—
No matter where humans are born, they always live on solid ground—feeling life beneath their feet.
"We don't want to leave."
Leon Yu spoke: "We Law Realm experts may seem aloof... Well, we do reside high above the clouds, but every time we look down at the blue Earth through the satellite windows, the longing in our hearts is immeasurable."
The environment inside a satellite is extremely monotonous.
Aside from training, they have only a handful of entertainments to pass the time—no vibrant scenery, no bustling sounds, and none of life's variety.
More importantly—
Some peak Law Realm experts, whose power is immense, have lived inside satellites for decades. Even if they return to Sinovera, they can only stay for half a day at most.
"There are two main reasons for this hardship."
"The first is Demons and Specters." Leon Yu's voice grew somber. "There are at least a thousand Demons and Specters on par with Law Realm. Humanity is at an absolute disadvantage and can only maintain a fragile balance by signing a series of non-interference treaties."
"You'll be able to read the full treaty details once you reach titled three-step Martial Lord."
Andrew Han understood instantly.
No wonder Demons and Specters above Martial Lord never appear to wreak havoc—their counterparts in the Law Realm keep them in check, hidden and elusive.
Immediately after—
Leon Yu seemed to find these treaties somewhat humiliating and didn't elaborate further, instead changing the topic: "The second hardship is the real reason Law Realm can't remain on this land."
"Our power is simply too great."
"Our bodies are almost pure energy."
"To put it in modern scientific terms, we're no longer mere flesh and blood. Our bodies are nearly energy-formed, generating magnetic fields and disrupting Earth's operations."
Huh?
Andrew Han was dumbfounded, listening in astonishment.
—