Chapter 123: Chie's Farewell Letter

"Young man, do not be too sad. The buttocks of 'Big Nine' are famously known for the 'Chrysanthemum Pressing the Ocean Chest' technique. The meaning of this phrase is that the chest it presses becomes as vast as the ocean. Therefore, there is no need to be so sorrowful. I know the feeling isn't great, but every boy must experience such painful realizations as he grows into a man..."

Amidst the smug and noisy rambling of Bing, Tang Tian’s face was as dark as the bottom of a pot. He said nothing, swinging his arms as he marched forward.

Big Nine was the Number 9 Bronze Automaton. The most despair-inducing thing about this guy was its mountain-like, massive physique. Even for someone with superior arm strength like Tang Tian, flipping it over was an extremely difficult task. What was even worse was that it loved to leap high into the air and then sit down with its entire weight.

Tang Tian had just taken a solid hit from that exact move.

He had been suffering in the Chamber of the Eighteen Bronze Automatons for so long, yet he still hadn't found a way to pass. He couldn't even remember how many battles he had fought, but no matter what tactics he used—even if he managed to gain the upper hand momentarily—he would soon be overwhelmed by the sea of bronze automatons.

There was the Number 1 Bronze Automaton, a master of close-quarters combat; could its bronze head be any more polished? Could it stop using that shine to dazzle his eyes...

There was the group of Number 4, 5, and 6, with their multiple hands, arms, and weapons; how could anyone mess with triplets like that...

There was the Number 11, thin as a bamboo pole, who was practically a peerless swordsman. Using a sword? You should at least use dual swords to be worthy of your number...

The eighteen of them could form a football team and still have seven substitutes.

What made Tang Tian grit his teeth the most was that the eighteen automatons had absolutely no sense of honor as experts. Their components certainly lacked the noble quality of a duel, and they possessed not a shred of pride.

Sleazy, shameless, sinister...

They were simply eighteen complete scoundrels!

Their favorite tactic was to swarm him, and their favorite form of combat was gang-banging.

Tang Tian gritted his teeth; every day he was ruthlessly abused by these guys. He couldn't even imagine that the recruits of the Southern Cross Legion era were all required to pass through the Chamber of the Eighteen Bronze Automatons—those poor souls back then must have been so miserable...

Why did this bastard of a place still exist when the Southern Cross Legion had long since vanished...

You scoundrels just wait... I will definitely smash you all into scrap metal...

Pouting with rage, Tang Tian returned to the training grounds. He scanned his surroundings with a grim look, and the air pressure and temperature in the vicinity plummeted instantly.

Shangguan Wei and Shangguan Zhu were instantly startled, bracing themselves with every ounce of focus, their shouts even becoming a few decibels louder. Unfortunately, their desperate performance did not save them from their fate.

"The two of you, come here. Let me see how much progress you've made these past two days," Tang Tian said with a menacing expression.

Both of their faces turned ashen.

A moment later, two more heaps of mud were added to the training grounds. Only then did Tang Tian let out a sigh of relief and leave with satisfaction.

These two guys, they’ve made quite a bit of progress...

Still, that felt so good...

I'll do it again tomorrow. Hmm, that's decided!

***

"Uncle Qian, were you looking for me?" Tang Tian hopped onto the balcony. This balcony was the highest point of the entire Shangguan estate, offering a view of the whole grounds.

Seeing Tang Tian, Uncle Qian couldn't help but reveal a gentle smile.

Young Master Ah Tian has grown to a level that surprises everyone without us even realizing it...

"You've worked hard these days, Young Master Ah Tian."

Uncle Qian had seen Tang Tian’s hard work. Every day, Tang Tian led by example, appearing on the training grounds with a training volume that was, if anything, greater than everyone else's. If it weren't for Young Master Ah Tian's stimulation, how could those youngsters be so diligent?

Moreover, Young Master Ah Tian spent a vast amount of time every day guiding them.

Uncle Qian saw the progress of the young people of the Shangguan family; in less than two months, their skill levels had collectively reached a higher tier.

For any family, such progress could be called a qualitative leap.

Tang Tian didn't think much of it. If Uncle Qian knew that this workload was only a fraction of his total training, would he be frightened?

He had been pushing himself to the limit these past few days, feeling as though he had lost all sense of time.

He waved his hand. "Uncle Qian, please don't be so formal."

Uncle Qian nodded, his expression turning serious. "When the Young Miss left, she said that if she hadn't returned in two months, I should bring you to her study."

Tang Tian's smile vanished, and he furrowed his brows. "Her study?"

Uncle Qian looked at the frowning Tang Tian before him and felt a sense of pressure.

"Take me there," Tang Tian said without hesitation.

"Yes!"

***

This was Tang Tian’s first time entering Qianhui’s study.

The study was large, with a desk placed in the center, appearing slightly sparse. The four walls were lined with bookshelves, each one filled with all sorts of books. Many were yellowed and worn, clearly of great age.

This kind of place puts so much pressure on me...

Tang Tian swallowed hard. For a hot-blooded youth who was simple-minded and energetic, a place like a study was truly a place where one could easily be laughed at.

It’s a good thing Qianhui’s brain is better...

Tang Tian muttered to himself. Since Qianhui let him enter the study, she must have left something behind.

Qianhui knew he wasn't very clever, so she surely wouldn't have hidden it too deeply.

Tang Tian looked around. Hmm? His gaze fell upon a mark on a bookshelf, and his eyes lit up: The Southern Cross!

Only Qianhui knew that Tang Tian possessed the Southern Cross.

Walking up to the bookshelf, Tang Tian indeed found a letter left by Qianhui.

"Brother Tian, if you are reading this letter, it must mean I have encountered trouble in the Southern Cross constellation. For the past two years, I have been secretly investigating information regarding the Southern Cross Ascetic Badge. The Southern Cross has always been known as the smallest constellation discovered by humanity to date; other than that, information is almost non-existent. The Perseus constellation has been in decline for too long and is too far from the center of the world, offering very little valuable information. I had no choice but to pin my hopes on ancient texts detailing secret treasures, hoping to find clues."

Tang Tian looked at Qianhui’s elegant handwriting, feeling moved. He could imagine how much effort she had spent to help him investigate the Southern Cross Ascetic Badge.

"Finally, in an ancient text, I found some useful clues. The Southern Cross once gave birth to a powerful legion called the Southern Cross Legion. During the era of the Three Great Legions, they ranked alongside the Scorpio Legion and the Serpent Legion as the three most powerful forces of the time. In the final struggle, the Scorpio Legion emerged victorious, thus founding the Scorpio Dynasty. However, it is astonishing that after the defeat of the Southern Cross Legion, the Southern Cross constellation quietly vanished from people's view. In the thousands of years that followed, no information about the Southern Cross could be found."

"The most famous aspect of the Southern Cross Legion was their mechanical arts; even today, they represent the pinnacle of mechanical arts in this world. Defeat and annihilation are common in history. The investigation ended there. Until one day, I suddenly discovered a very strange problem."

"All three legions were incredibly powerful. The Scorpio Legion and the Serpent Legion were both Zodiac constellations, representing the most powerful star signs. Their strength was expected. But what about the Southern Cross Legion? The Southern Cross is the smallest constellation, yet it is exceptionally mysterious. Where did the mechanical arts they relied on to compete come from? Who created this legion? Where did they originate?"

"This question piqued my curiosity. Until I found the commander of this legion, Meng Yi. The upper echelons of the Southern Cross Legion were incredibly powerful, gathering a large number of outstanding talents. And Meng Yi was the most powerful among them. But unlike the others whose origins could be traced, Meng Yi’s background was known to no one."

Seeing this, Tang Tian asked Bing without hesitation, "Hey, Uncle, do you know the origins of your commander?"

Bing furrowed his brows, showing a look of contemplation. After a moment, he shook his head. "I don't know. The commander's background was very mysterious. We asked him, but he never said."

Tang Tian uttered an "oh" and continued reading. Bing also drifted out, leaning in to read along.

"The establishment of the Southern Cross Legion played a crucial role for this mysterious commander, Meng Yi. I began searching for the life story of this mysterious commander, but the Southern Cross Legion is too far from us, and too few clues remain. It wasn't until one day that an ancient text, while describing the commander, mentioned that he traveled deep into the Southern Cross."

"Deep into the Southern Cross?" Bing blurted out, "Impossible! We explored the depths of the Southern Cross completely! Wait, hold on!"

Tang Tian quickly asked, "What is it?"

Bing’s expression turned peculiar. "There was a small base there, built by the commander."

Bing wasn't stupid; he knew more about the commander. With this connection, he recalled many things from the past.

"Back then, everyone thought the commander was strange, but he was the highest in command, so if he wanted to build it, he built it! Could there be some secret hidden there?" Bing muttered to himself.

Tang Tian continued reading.

"The Southern Cross Legion must have had a mission unknown to others. After my research into the legion, I became even more convinced of this. Among the three major legions, the Southern Cross Legion lacked the ambition for expansion. This is also very strange."

"Uncle, is that true?" Tang Tian looked up and asked.

"Hmm, the main force of the legion usually guarded the Southern Cross. That was the headquarters; they rarely went out," Bing nodded. "There were branches in various places."

"Could there really be some secret in the Southern Cross?" Tang Tian asked curiously.

Bing shook his head. "I don't know."

Tang Tian continued reading.

"Brother Tian, the origin of your Southern Cross Ascetic Badge is not simple at all. After the era of the Three Great Legions, the secret treasures of the Southern Cross never appeared again. If the Southern Cross Legion used the Southern Cross as their base, then the Southern Cross Ascetic Badge must be one of their most important secret treasures. It is highly likely to be the key to the Southern Cross Legion. After the Southern Cross Legion was annihilated, the wealth and heritage of the Southern Cross Legion disappeared entirely, remaining a mystery to this day."

"I suspect that your father most likely entered the Southern Cross back then, or had some connection with the Southern Cross Legion. I found the time when the Southern Cross’s 'Dust-Annihilation Rift' opens, but you won't make it in time. Now that you see this letter, I fear I have encountered trouble. On the back of the letter is a navigation chart from the Perseus constellation to the Southern Cross. Some parts are inaccurate; Brother Tian, it can only serve as a reference."

"I know you will definitely come to find me, but no matter what, please be careful!"

The letter ended there.

"Where is the recruit camp? Is it not in the Southern Cross?" Tang Tian asked Bing.

Bing shook his head. "It is, but it's not on the same planet as the headquarters. There are four planets in the Southern Cross. You can't get through; the entire planet is sealed by the Clockwork Gray Fog."

"Then we'll take the navigation route!" Tang Tian said with finality.