Chenriver Palace Core Region, Gravity-Pressure Zone.
This area lies to the left of Chenriver Tower, occupying a hollow region inside the nebula. Colored wisps occasionally drift through, while the Gravity-Pressure facilities are formed from clusters of black clouds.
Above each black cloud hovers a hemispherical shield—crafted by Void Rift–tier beings in concert with the Chenriver Empire’s advanced technology. Every cloud marks a distinct sub-zone within the Gravity-Pressure Zone.
Two women stood in the empty space beside one of the black clouds.
Both gazed intently at the same black cloud—the Nineteenth Gravity Sub-Zone where Andrew Han was training.
Even after all this time here,
"I'm still shaken every time." Princess Mora, the third daughter of the Chenriver Empire’s ruler, murmured softly, her voice tinged with awe.
Her name was Princess Mora, and she had no surname.
This was because, in the eyes of the Chenriver Empire’s ruler, only those who reached the Stellar Palace tier were worthy of bearing his surname.
"What exactly moves you, Princess Mora?" the other woman beside her asked with a cheerful smile.
"To put it plainly, Chenriver Palace is just nestled inside a tiny nebula. Only through years of repairs and additions by the empire’s cultivators has it acquired its current grandeur."
The history of Chenriver Palace stretches back through endless ages.
Its founding dates to the reign of the empire’s second ruler, though the exact process has long been lost to time.
Over the generations, dozens of emperors expanded and rebuilt the palace, pruning away unnecessary bureaucracy until it became the Chenriver Palace of today.
The other woman glanced at Princess Mora. "Some things—like the empire’s endless formalities—are better streamlined. Refinement leads to a more efficient cultivation environment."
"The Color-Cloud Palaces are for daily living… Beside them are the Gravity-Pressure Zone, the sparring and challenge fields, and the Environmental Simulation Zone."
The Environmental Simulation Zone exists to mimic the harshest conditions of the universe.
There are two main purposes for the Environmental Simulation Zone:
First, it tempers and hones cultivation geniuses.
Second, it prevents these cultivators from always training in ideal conditions without experiencing the true cosmos firsthand; if they only theorize from books, they’ll be unprepared and panic when confronted with the wonders and dangers of the stars.
The Environmental Simulation Zone takes many forms: the edge of a star, the vicinity of a neutron star, or meteorite storms in deep space, and so on.
The edge of a star and the meteorite storms are considered standard zones.
But the simulation of the neutron star’s surroundings is said to be the most terrifying environment in all of Chenriver Palace—without equal!
Throughout history, almost no one has left it unscathed.
Even in all the long ages of Chenriver Palace, only two Starlight-tier cultivation geniuses have entered the neutron star simulation zone alone and emerged safely... To clear it is to shake the entire Chenriver Empire—it's the highest honor Chenriver Palace can bestow!
Princess Mora rolled her eyes and said seriously, "The neutron star simulation zone is just too frightening. Even Sen can’t be fully confident there—it’s become legendary."
As she spoke, Princess Mora tilted her head upward.
The Color-Cloud Palaces and all major zones lay below.
Only the ninety-nine-level Chenriver Giant Tower stands at the very top, gathering all the essence of Chenriver Palace!
Princess Mora spoke in a wistful tone: "Inside Chenriver Tower, Stellar Palace-tier experts offer guidance and teach profound mysteries—you can even spar with them! There are also countless texts, past experts’ 4D battle records, and resources for trade."
"But all of it requires points!"
"Without points, you can’t move an inch in Chenriver Palace! Talented cultivators without points can’t enjoy any of these benefits—only the fixed quota of resources given each star-year."
At this, Princess Mora shook her head.
Princess Mora simply felt the environment was too harsh—points above all, points as the sole goal, and everyone, including Sen, chasing after them.
The weak struggle to earn points and miss out on benefits. They don’t grow weaker, but compared to the overall rapid progress of Chenriver Palace, they only fall further behind.
By contrast, the strong have plenty of points and keep growing stronger.
Over time, the weak become weaker, the strong become stronger!
"The strong always get stronger. It’s not really fair."
"Is this competitive system really so cruel? Does taking the lead once mean you’ll always stay ahead?" Princess Mora propped her chin thoughtfully, gazing up at the Chenriver Giant Tower.