Chapter 189: A Bunch of Fat Pigs

Jiang Changkong arrived by flight, naturally drawing their attention.

“Jiang Changkong, you dare come here?” Heng Yongxing roared in fury.

As Taiyin Star Power surged, Heng De let out a low shout, leaping into the air and thrusting a palm straight toward him.

Jiang Changkong’s expression remained unchanged as he dove downward, raising his palm to meet the attack.

With a resounding boom, blazing yang and Taiyin collided, two extreme forces erupting in an instant.

Golden and silver light swept out in all directions.

Both figures paused simultaneously, their palms parting as Heng De drifted gracefully back to the ground.

Jiang Changkong descended steadily, landing firmly, and praised, “Impressive strength.”

“I can’t compare to you. So young, yet your power already rivals mine.” Heng De sighed and stepped aside.

Clap, clap

Applause sounded as Yao Meng, dressed in white, smiled warmly. “It hasn’t been long, yet your growth is truly beyond expectations.”

“Sister Meng flatters me. I came mainly to see old friends.”

Jiang Changkong smiled faintly, his gaze sweeping over the two. “Nantian Pang, Ji Chengming, it’s been a while.”

“It has been a while.” Both wore unpleasant expressions; neither wished to see Jiang Changkong.

“You’ve seen your old friends. Do you expect me to treat you to a meal now?” Heng Yongxing said coldly.

“Young Master Heng, before anything is settled, do not make enemies recklessly.”

Jiang Changkong’s tone also cooled slightly. “I’ve troubled you all by coming here. Hurry with the investigation. Whoever dares frame Changyue will face my wrath first!”

“Hmph.” Heng Yongxing snorted but said nothing more.

“Since we’re all friends here, why such a cold atmosphere?”

Yao Meng chuckled softly. “Changkong, it’s been a while for us too. I have much to discuss with you. Shall we walk together?”

“Very well, after you.” Jiang Changkong nodded, gesturing politely.

A middle-aged woman emerged from a nearby stone hut and followed beside Yao Meng.

Jiang Changkong felt a flicker of surprise, unable to resist another glance—another Star Spirit Peak expert.

The three distanced themselves from the others, heading toward the Taiyin Cold Pool.

Yao Meng remained silent, Jiang Changkong did not initiate conversation, and the middle-aged woman behind them naturally kept quiet as well.

Upon reaching the Taiyin Cold Pool, Yao Meng finally spoke. “Let me introduce you. This is Aunt Liu, here to protect me.”

“Young lady is too kind. Please call me Liu Min,” the middle-aged woman said with a slight bow.

Jiang Changkong gave a slight nod in acknowledgment. “You brought me here specifically for a reason?”

“I believe you did not harm Xueyue. Heng Yongxing is just panicking in his haste.”

Yao Meng spoke softly, pausing briefly before continuing. “Also, let me reintroduce myself—Yao Meng, with the ‘Yao’ from Yaoguang.”

“Xu Yuan mentioned the Yaoguang Chamber of Commerce before.” Jiang Changkong showed no surprise, replying calmly.

Yao Meng smiled slightly and approached the edge of the cold pool. “Has Jiang Changyue returned here since? Did you encounter anyone suspicious?”

“A Star Spirit Peak expert in black, wielding Taiyin Star Power. We exchanged a single blow before he escaped.”

Jiang Changkong replied indifferently. “When Heng Xueyue arrived, we hadn’t broken through yet. Our combat strength was only at the mid-Star Spirit level at the time.”

Yao Meng nodded. “The vice president position is still reserved for you. Have you reconsidered?”

“What do you think?” Jiang Changkong replied impassively.

“What if I gifted you this mineral vein?” Yao Meng declared boldly.

Jiang Changkong smiled faintly. “If you obtain it and gift it to me, I’ll owe you a favor.”

“Your favor… never mind. It’s better to remain friends with you.”

Yao Meng said helplessly, “In three more days, all who should come will come. You must think clearly by then.”

“We’ll talk about it then,” Jiang Changkong replied indifferently, not taking it to heart.

He had long been prepared to face these matters. Unless a High-Rank Martial Artist showed up in three days, he might consider giving up.

Yao Meng stopped discussing these things and began telling her about interesting happenings in the Major Province.

Jiang Changkong also noticed her strength—she had already reached the early stage of Star Vault.

Her talent was strong, but having seen Heng Xueyue, it seemed somewhat ordinary in comparison.

Jiang Changkong also shared some of his own experiences with her. They chatted for over two hours before parting ways.

After some thought, he first used Star Power to block the monitoring instruments, then called Xu Xinghe. He wanted to clarify matters about the Sin Domain.

“Changkong,” Xu Xinghe said, slightly excited. “Are you done with your tasks?”

“Yes. Should I come to your Xu family for a detailed discussion, or…?” Jiang Changkong asked.

“I’ll come out. All the strongholds are clustered together now, making it easy to be overheard,” Xu Xinghe replied.

“Taiyin Cold Pool,” Jiang Changkong said before hanging up.

Not long after, Xu Xinghe arrived. Just as he was about to speak, Jiang Changkong directly took him and flew away.

They traveled deep into the swamp area, where Jiang Changkong found a spot and landed.

“Alright, no one is here. Tell me about the Sin Domain and what you seek,” Jiang Changkong said.

Xu Xinghe took a deep breath and said, “I want to ask you to save my father’s life.”

Jiang Changkong raised an eyebrow. “Your father? What does he have to do with the Sin Domain?”

“My father is in the Sin Domain. It happened seven or eight years ago. I originally had a younger brother…”

Xu Xinghe sighed and began recounting the story.

Xu Xinghe’s younger brother had considerable talent, reaching Star Vault at the age of twenty.

During a treasure dispute, he was killed by someone.

When his father, Xu Hengzhi, learned of this but had no evidence, he flew into a rage and annihilated the perpetrator and their companions—eight people in total.

When the incident erupted, the Federation suppressed it and imprisoned him in the Sin Domain.

“I heard the Sin Domain is just a place of exile. Are other sinners trying to kill Xu Hengzhi? And how do you know about this?” Jiang Changkong frowned slightly, voicing his doubts. “Also, how can I enter the Sin Domain?”

Xu Xinghe’s expression turned grave. “The most dangerous aspect of the Sin Domain isn’t the sinners themselves but geniuses like you.”

“What do you mean?” Jiang Changkong’s expression shifted slightly.

“Being imprisoned in the Sin Domain may seem like no punishment—just confinement—but in reality, they are fattened pigs raised by the Federation and major factions,” Xu Xinghe said with a tone of resignation. “When the time comes and the piglets have grown into fat pigs, they are slaughtered for meat.”

Jiang Changkong was slightly taken aback. What exactly did this mean?

Xu Xinghe continued his explanation, helping him understand.

The Sin Domain has only one city, Sin City, with no laws or constraints.

Inside, might makes right. Only the primitive law of survival applies—the strong survive, while the weak? They struggle to survive outside the city.

Sin City is built on an isolated island teeming with endless Star Demons, including many at the Star Spirit Peak level.

Every year, the Federation transports supplies there, which they exchange for Star Stones and various treasures.

These people lack the instruments to process Star Stones but need supplies, so they can only hoard Star Stones.

“And geniuses like you, from major factions, once they meet certain standards, can go there to harvest them,” Xu Xinghe said, his eyes dimming. His father was now just such a fattened pig!

“They won’t leave the isolated island? Won’t they store Star Stones?” Jiang Changkong frowned.

“They can’t leave. The entire isolated island is sealed off, and the Federation has even dispatched High-Rank Martial Artists to guard it.”

Xu Xinghe said bitterly, “Anyone who tried to escape died there.

To motivate them, the Federation also issued a rule: for every ten geniuses they kill, they will be supplied with ten years’ worth of resources.

Kill a hundred, and they can leave, starting anew.

But to leave, they must also prepare ten times the Star Stones of a hundred people.”

Jiang Changkong widened his eyes. Was this a crazy incentive to make them store Star Stones and then fight the geniuses?

“Has anyone ever come out?” Jiang Changkong asked.

“No, because none of them could kill a hundred. Many of the geniuses who go are like you—not yet at Star Spirit Peak, but with combat power comparable to the peak.”

Jiang Changkong: “…”

Major Province’s little freaks?

The Federation is really making things difficult for them. What do they have to fight with?

And ten times their Star Stones?

Is the Federation joking? How many Star Stones do these little freaks carry?

This is treating the criminals as whetstones and fat meat, isn’t it?

Killing monsters for treasure?