The old man exhaled a cloud of smoke, his voice calm but weighted with meaning. "Although the dragon veins were severed more than three centuries ago, they were never completely cut off. The dragon veins are the lifeblood of this planet; to sever them entirely would doom all life on Xuanhuang Star. The ancestors knew this. Instead, they sealed the veins, leaving just enough for survival. However, if Xuanhuang Star comes into contact with other worlds and is infused with their spiritual energy, the dormant veins will awaken, and the planet's aura will surge back to life."

His words struck the room like a quiet thunderclap. The resurgence of Xuanhuang Star's aura wasn't an isolated event—it was the result of its entanglement with other worlds, an inevitable consequence of their energies colliding.

"But this doesn't make sense," someone muttered, their face shadowed with confusion. "According to historical records, the universe holds as many worlds as grains of sand, but they're so distant from one another that contact is nearly impossible. How is it that Xuanhuang Star seems to connect with other worlds so easily, so frequently? It's absurd."

The man in the tunic suit leaned forward, his expression grim. "That's not a coincidence. There's a reason for it."

He paused, then spoke with deliberate weight. "Historical records refer to Xuanhuang Star as The Sphere of Ten Thousand Realms, a pivotal transit point to the heavens and myriad worlds. Any civilization or force wishing to invade other worlds must first gain control of Xuanhuang Star. Possessing this planet is like holding the universe's most strategic stronghold. With it, one can access any world, invade at will, and claim infinite resources."

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

The room fell silent.

"The Sphere of Ten Thousand Realms?" someone whispered, their voice almost trembling. "The gateway to the heavens and the ten thousand realms?"

The implications settled over them like a suffocating shroud. If Xuanhuang Star truly held such a position in the cosmos, it was no wonder that countless alien creatures sought to claim it. Xuanhuang Star wasn't just a world—it was a cosmic key, a bridge between realms. Controlling it meant holding unparalleled strategic advantage, the ultimate high ground in the universal game of conquest.

The old man tapped his cigarette against the ashtray, his expression unreadable. "Xuanhuang Star's position in the universe is like the Malacca Strait or Shanhaiguan Pass in ancient times. Whoever holds this strategic node gains dominance. It's no surprise that alien forces are drawn here. They want what we barely understand—the power to access and conquer worlds."

"Then…" a voice broke the silence, hesitant yet tinged with ambition. "If we were stronger, couldn't we turn this situation to our advantage? Instead of seeing these connections as a threat, couldn't we use them to invade other worlds and seize resources for ourselves?"

The man in the tunic suit nodded grimly. "In theory, yes. If we had the strength to back it up, these connections could be an opportunity, not a threat. But our current power is insufficient. The civilizations invading us are far more advanced. Until we grow stronger, these connections are nothing short of a disaster."

His voice darkened. "Historical records also suggest that Xuanhuang Star has endured this cycle countless times. The planet's history spans billions of years—tens of billions, even. Civilizations have risen and fallen here in an endless struggle to control this nexus. Wars have ravaged the land, leaving it in ruins, only for it to rebuild and begin the cycle anew. This isn't the first time Xuanhuang Star has faced catastrophe, and it won't be the last."

He clenched his fists. "The only way to survive is to break the cycle. To do that, we must grow stronger—quickly and decisively."