The He Yu Star Domain, the Minghe Star Cluster.

The territorial division standard in the Great Void is that below the Immortal Domain is the Star Domain, and below the Star Domain is the Star Cluster.

The jurisdictional area of each star cluster varies in size, usually covering a vast range of tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of small void landmasses. The Minghe Star Cluster is such a place.

In the deep and dark void, large and small landmasses float quietly in the void, varying in distance. Ninety-five percent of the landmasses are lifeless and useless territories, without the sun shining and without a stable atmosphere, belonging to the forbidden zone of life.

The remaining half of the landmasses mostly have relatively stable atmospheres and complete ecosystems. The landmasses have rivers, lakes, and seas on the surface, and their orbits are close to a certain sun, which can meet the needs of a large number of ordinary people for survival and reproduction.

Only in such places can countries and cities be born, civilizations developed, and provide a massive amount of basic resources for the cultivation world.

During the peak period of the Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace, the Minghe Star Cluster was also within its sphere of influence, but it was in a relatively marginal area. Now it has become the edge of the Bright Moon Sword Sect’s sphere of influence, occupied by numerous vassal forces.

While collectively submitting to this behemoth, their relationships with each other are intertwined, with constant grievances and enmities, and bloodshed conflicts occasionally erupt.

The days of these vassal forces are usually not very good. They are usually oppressed and exploited by their overlords. Unless they cling to the thigh of a high-ranking member of the Bright Moon Sword Sect, they will not live relatively comfortably.

Of course, worse off than the vassal forces are the countless independent cultivators, who are the lowest class in the cultivation world, only slightly higher in status than ordinary people.

In the eyes of the high-ranking bosses, the countless ordinary people are just livestock and vegetables raised on their own territory, and no matter how many there are, they will not threaten their own status and interests.

But the independent cultivators theoretically have the potential to rise to a level that poses a deadly threat to them, as long as they have the right opportunity, although this possibility is very slim.

Therefore, independent cultivators are often the most ruthlessly exploited group. Because of their cultivation, they can perform many tasks that ordinary people cannot, providing more basic resources to the upper class.

For example, mining spirit ore, cultivating spirit medicine and herbs, raising spirit pets and war beasts, and processing and refining certain materials. These tasks are hard and tiring, and those with good backgrounds and aptitude, who have the opportunity to advance further, are not willing to do them.

Therefore, these tasks naturally fall to the independent cultivators. Those forces that have developed to a certain level openly or secretly recruit a large number of independent cultivators as menial disciples, using meager rewards to compel them to do this kind of work, making it a sweatshop in the cultivation world.

And the sweatshop is still considered good. What’s even more terrifying is the market for slave cultivators. Those independent cultivators who, for various reasons, have been forced into slavery have completely lost their freedom and can only labor under close surveillance for years, and cannot escape even in death.

Because the soul of a cultivator is much stronger than that of an ordinary person, it is very useful for refining certain evil artifacts and practicing demonic spells. In the Great Void, there are no lack of evil Daoist forces that specialize in this kind of business.

Once the soul is controlled by someone, it is impossible to die, and even if they die, they will not have the hope of reincarnation, and they will never be able to be free.

“…It seems that as long as one is at the bottom, one cannot expect to live a comfortable life, no matter which time and space world it is!”

Qing Muling looked through the jade slip recording the local customs and practices, secretly feeling that in his previous life, the common people at the bottom were at least free from want, but in this vast and magnificent new time and space, the degree of oppression and exploitation at the bottom was much more exaggerated and cruel.

After finishing reading the scroll, Qing Muling put down the jade slip, and a wisp of spiritual knowledge gently struck the exquisite jade clock on the table, and the pleasant sound echoed inside and outside the quiet room.

With the sound of light footsteps, the door to the room opened, and a bright-eyed, beautiful and lovely maid in colorful clothes walked in. In her hands was a large tray of purple gold, with two pots of spirit wine and several exquisite appetizers.

“Please enjoy, if you need anything, just call for me.”

The maid placed the wine and food down, and after bowing, she said softly.

Qing Muling nodded and took out a Yuan Nourishing Pill to give her as a reward, instantly surprising her. Although the pill was a relatively basic elixir, it was a rare and generous gift for a maid like her, enough to make up for a month’s income.

After she left, Qing Muling activated the concealment array in the room and began to enjoy the food and wine.

“Although the place is a bit small, the taste of the food and wine is still good.”

Qing Muling pondered to himself. He was currently in the highest standard inn in the area, which usually catered to independent cultivators with some wealth and status, so it provided good spirit wine and ingredients, although it was not cheap.

The city where the inn was located, as well as the surrounding area of more than three thousand miles, belonged to the Yang family. All the valuable industries in the area were controlled by this family of cultivators.

In this area of tens of thousands of miles, there were five or six small sects and families similar to the Yang family, which jointly divided all the interests of the land.The history of the Yang family is not very long, only a few thousand years, and the ancestors of the Yang family were three pairs of scattered cultivator couples. It is said that they have only reached the True Person Realm seven or eight times. But in this relatively remote and barren area, they can also be considered a powerful force.

This situation is commonplace. For self-preservation, many scattered cultivators choose to band together, establish their own family or sect, or join existing power organizations.

Although small sects and families are not doing well, they are better off than individual scattered cultivators. And these small forces are attached to medium-sized forces, and above the medium-sized forces are large forces, and finally there is the Bright Moon Sword Sect, a giant-level existence.

Qing Muling has been out for more than a month, and his footsteps have covered the surrounding area of the Cloud Dream Immortal Domain. After careful consideration, he finally decided to choose this place as his temporary residence.

“After eating and drinking enough, let’s go out and see if there’s any fun.”

Qing Muling made up his mind. Since he arrived in this time and space, he has not had a good time out, after all, his strength does not allow it. Now that he has reached the True Person Realm, at least he can walk around here.

After a while, a beautiful young man with eyes like lacquer and a blue Daoist robe appeared on the street, with a sword hanging from his waist, and a slender and handsome figure like jade, walking leisurely, attracting the attention of many young girls and women in the shops along the street. There are female cultivators and ordinary people among them.

Looking up, a sun with an orange-red color hung in the sky, the source of vitality for the surrounding floating land masses.

The floating land underfoot has developed over tens of thousands of years, changing hands many times between mortal dynasties, and now it is well managed. There are all the necessary amenities, and billions of mortals live and work in peace, and the bloody battles between cultivators generally do not affect them.

Qing Muling strolled around and, after turning a corner, saw a luxurious gambling house with two rows of sturdy and serious martial artists standing on the steps, as well as a group of charming and smiling hostesses.

After a moment of hesitation, Qing Muling walked up the steps.

The appearance and figure of these hostesses are quite good. Qing Muling casually sensed that they all have the foundation of the Qi Condensation Realm, and they are already considered women of status in this place, but they are used to serve guests, indicating that the power behind the gambling house is not small, and it should belong to the Yang family.

Seeing Qing Muling approaching, several girls looked at him discreetly, and when they saw his attire and handsome face, they all showed a friendly and charming smile, coming over to bow and greet him warmly.

A scattered cultivator who seems to have the strength of the Condensing Elixir Realm? His family must be wealthy, so in their eyes, he is definitely a distinguished guest worth serving.

Soon, Qing Muling was welcomed into the VIP area, where there were already more than ten scattered cultivators, playing happily in front of the large gambling table.

Each cultivator was accompanied by one or two gorgeous and bold women, and the spiritual wine, tea, and food provided here are the best available locally, and the prices are very high. After all, it’s the guests who pay the bill.

“Well, help me exchange ten thousand top-grade spirit stones for chips!”

Qing Muling said to a maid beside him, handing her a prepared storage pouch.

As for precious resources like spirit crystals, they cannot be taken out in such a small gathering, otherwise the old folks of the Yang family might consider turning hostile and robbing him directly.

“Okay, please wait a moment, sir. I’ll take care of it for you right away!”

The maid responded politely.

In a moment, a thousand delicate and small bright yellow jade chips were placed in front of Qing Muling, attracting the attention of the scattered cultivators, who all looked at him, as this was undoubtedly a huge sum of money for them.

The chips in front of them were mostly worth only a few hundred top-grade spirit stones, and the most was only one or two thousand top-grade spirit stones.

Has a big fat sheep arrived?

The scattered cultivators present all had the same thought in their hearts, exchanging subtle glances with each other, as if they were planning to join forces later.

At the gambling table, six cultivators in uniform black robes with the strength of the Understanding Mystery Realm and the Condensing Elixir Realm stood upright, with a shrewd and experienced gaze scanning the other cultivators from time to time.

At this moment, there were already several scattered cultivators sitting around the gambling table, five men and three women, with cultivation levels ranging from the Understanding Mystery Realm to the Nascent Soul Realm, all of them seeming to be well-off, otherwise they wouldn’t be here for fun.

“Can we start, everyone?”

A tall and thin middle-aged male cultivator said indifferently, “I’m betting fifty top-grade spirit stones. Anyone who wants to join, feel free.”

He threw out a chip, his gaze flickering as he scanned the crowd, and with Qing Muling’s keen perception, it was not difficult to see that his real target was himself.

At the same time, five or six pairs of eyes with hidden malice swept over Qing Muling, because he looked the richest.

The environment in which scattered cultivators generally survive is harsh, and there are many desperate characters among them, as well as cunning and sinister figures. When the right opportunity arises, they can transform into greedy, bloodthirsty wolves at any time. Qing Muling was well aware of this and quietly prepared to turn the tables without making a sound.Qing Muling spoke, tossing out five jade stone chips with a calm demeanor and began sipping tea, paying no mind to the beautiful maidservant sent to his side.

“Alright then, we’ll put down a hundred top-grade spirit stones.”

A pair of female cultivators, who seemed to be sisters, exchanged glances and threw in their chips. Following them, the rest of the men and women also placed their bets, ranging from fifty to two hundred.

The dice used by the cultivators at the gambling table were naturally different from those in the secular world, being a type of specially crafted magical instrument with a not insignificant grade. Even seasoned gamblers stood no chance of cheating.

It wasn’t long before the results of the first round were settled.