Interstellar Farming: I Make Potions and Climb to the Top

Ji Wuchen’s Alchemy skills were also exceptional. If Ning Xuan hadn’t suddenly appeared out of nowhere, the championship for the Alchemist competition’s unrestricted category would have been his.

’We were competitors back then,’ Ning Xuan thought. ’Now Ji Wuchen is trying to test the waters and get close to me. Could he be after the Guiding Key to the Chaotic Divine Domain?’

Ji Wuchen came from an Extraordinary Influence like the Myriad Phenomena Star River. The moment she thought of his background, Ning Xuan’s guard went up instantly. Even when Ji Wuchen repeatedly appeared before her, she had Chen Nan block him, refusing any direct contact.

In another villa not far from Ning Xuan’s, Ji Wuchen removed his face covering and knelt before a holographic screen, reporting to the person within it.

"Star Lord, I’ve used the Bloodline Monitoring Crystal Ball to check all the suspected targets. Among them, Ning Xuan’s Bloodline Power is the highest Level, making it the most likely to be a Divine Bloodline. However, she shows no interest in me, and I can’t get close to her at all, so I can’t confirm it yet." The expression on Ji Wuchen’s face was one of frustration. 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

"Ning Xuan... what is her background? Have you investigated it?" asked the Astrologer, who was completely shrouded in a Star Pattern Robe.

"Her personal information is no longer accessible. After extensive inquiries, I’ve confirmed that Ning Xuan was originally an ordinary woman from a Low-class Star who had not awakened her spiritual power. A little over half a year ago, her spiritual power suddenly awakened, and she was forcibly matched with Contractors by the mainframe. Currently, the ones by her side are..." Ji Wuchen reported his findings one by one to the person.

If Ning Xuan were here, she would have realized that Ji Wuchen had investigated her situation very thoroughly, and for the most part, accurately. The only thing was, regarding her Contractors, he had only found out about Chen Nan and Lin Mo, failing to uncover the others.

"So, you’re saying her rise was sudden. Before this drastic change occurred, did she do anything unusual?" asked Ren Pingsheng, the Lord of Myriad Phenomena Star River.

"Surviving her entry into a B-level Illusion Barrier Land is unusual in itself. My initial hypothesis is that she might have found some unknown Exotic Plants in the B-level Illusion Barrier Land that could improve her constitution and stimulate the awakening of her spiritual power. That would explain how she awakened just before reaching adulthood," Ji Wuchen speculated.

"A reasonable hypothesis. Seal off that area and conduct a thorough search for clues about these unknown Exotic Plants."

"Unfortunately, too much time has passed. Even if she did ingest something, it would no longer be detectable in her blood. It’s inconvenient for us old folks to intervene directly. Wuchen, you must find a way to quickly confirm if Ning Xuan possesses the Divine Bloodline. The other families have also sent people over. You have to get to her before they do," the Astrologer urged.

"Yes, Star Lord," Ji Wuchen replied.

The night was as black as ink. Nine Star Pattern Lock Chains intertwined in the sky, forming a cage that enveloped Ji Wuchen. He traced a faint blue star pattern in the void with his fingertip. The surveillance feed inside the villa froze at 23:17, and the smart housekeeper silently entered a dormant state.

He undid a hidden clasp at his collar, revealing a shimmering Starlight Totem on his clavicle. The Starlight Totem resonated with the Star Pattern Lock Chains. This was the Myriad Phenomena Star River’s unique Star Pattern Shield technique, capable of nullifying any energy Protective Shield and blocking all energy attacks.

To confirm whether Ning Xuan possessed the Divine Bloodline, he needed to obtain her blood for precise analysis.

The Central Star Military Academy had tight surveillance and security. Ning Xuan was also heavily guarded and refused to let him get close. He might have succeeded with a surprise attack, but what if Ning Xuan truly did have the Divine Bloodline? She would then be the Contractor he was bound to serve. How could he dare to offend her so rashly?

So, Ji Wuchen decided to take advantage of the dead of night, sneak into Ning Xuan’s residence, take a few drops of her blood, and leave. Three drops would be enough to get a result.

Ji Wuchen also lived nearby. He knew the protective measures at the Qingluan Mountain villas were high-level, so he had specifically brought the Star Pattern Lock Chain. The chain could completely conceal him, ensuring not a single trace would be left behind.

Ji Wuchen smoothly bypassed layer after layer of Protective Shields, following Ning Xuan’s aura. Just as he broke into her courtyard and could even vaguely see her silhouette through the window, the Star Pattern Lock Chain suddenly CLATTERED. A sharp claw pierced through the chains, swiping at the Starlight Totem on his clavicle.

A cold sweat broke out over Ji Wuchen. He immediately retreated, retracted the Star Pattern Lock Chain, and crushed a Teleportation Stone, instantly teleporting back to his own residence.

Sitting on his bed, Ji Wuchen was still shaken. ’What was that claw? It actually saw through the Star Pattern Lock Chain and broke the Star Pattern Shield.’ Though he had been in a rush to escape and hadn’t dared to look closely, he was certain the claw belonged to a natural creature, not a technological product.

Di Youlin’s single swipe had broken the Star Pattern Shield and scared Ji Wuchen away. The unfamiliar aura that leaked out after the shield fell instantly triggered the smart protective system’s alarm. Ning Xuan, jolted from her sleep, was in a very bad mood.

Yan Fuzhen investigated all the surveillance footage and data but only found the shadow of a figure fleeing in panic. The shadow vanished in a flash, revealing only a vague humanoid shape.

Ning Xuan threw on a cloak, her bare feet padding across the cold, blue-jade floor tiles. First, she had the smart housekeeper, 17, disable the alarm. Then, her fingers unconsciously caressed the blue ring she wore.

She stared at Di Youlin, who had retracted his claws and looked a little nervous. "Talk. What just happened?"

Di Youlin keenly sensed that Ning Xuan was angry. His mouth felt dry, and he licked his lips before speaking. "To be honest, I’m not entirely sure what happened. I just felt that something was off in this area, so I took a swipe, and then a figure appeared and suddenly vanished. When he disappeared, there was a spatial teleportation ripple, like the kind from a micro black hole that teleports a small number of Exotic Beasts. His sudden disappearance means he must have used a Teleportation Magic Artifact."

"He was too fast. I didn’t have time to stop him," Di Youlin added.

"Housekeeper Yan, did you find any clues?" Ning Xuan asked Yan Fuzhen.

"Family Head, the surveillance captured a 0.03-second afterimage, but nothing can be discerned from it. However, it proves that the villa was infiltrated. The smart housekeeper was previously in a dormant state for one minute and forty seconds. Combined with Emperor General’s account, it’s likely he unintentionally broke the intruder’s shielding method, which in turn woke up the smart housekeeper. Family Head, the villa was invaded, and your subordinate failed to notice, placing you in danger. I ask for punishment." Yan Fuzhen knelt to ask for forgiveness, and the security personnel on duty in the shadows all revealed themselves to do the same.

Ning Xuan waved her hand. "The intruder used special methods. Even the smart housekeeper was forced into dormancy. It’s not your fault that you didn’t notice. The priority right now is to continue investigating this matter."