What Aster was seeing through the windows of the spaceship was a planet with a slightly red toned sky, which was being protected by a huge compass of bones which emulated the ribs of a human.
“A defensive spirit formation”, mumbled Aster seeing there were runes engraved in the giant bones, although those runes were normal runes or “incomplete” runes as Eris and Mylene called them, there was a certain archaic feeling to them.
“That’s right brother, that is the first spirit formation ever created in the Veluri star cluster, it’s basically a living monument which commemorates the victory of cultivators over those wild beasts”.
“And it’s also the origin of the name “Barbarian Heart”, the Red Heart planet which was chosen as the main ground of the sect is the heart and the bones are what protects it, a bit dramatic if you ask me, but I find it also cool”.
“My family originated here, our ancestor took the surname “Asher” was one of the three children Richard Veluri had, the youngest brother, the oldest one was my master’s ancestor who took the surname “Garland” and lastly the middle brother choose to be surnamed “Kraft”, you can imagine uncle Wieland’s surprise when he got to know it hahaha”.
Tanner which was piloting the spaceship, nearly fell from his chair, the red run planet was once the last bastion of humanity, it was also the birthplace of Richard Veluri, the Barbarian Heart sect was founded by his three descendants before they parted ways, somehow two ended in the Rodia star cluster while the oldest brother eventually returned and took the lead of the sect.
“Why did their sons weren’t surnamed Veluri?”, asked Aster, continuity is quite important for noble families, so it is rare for someone to change its surname unless he was exiled, or other major force reasons.
In Aster’s case, he didn’t care to keep the Drage surname, he accepted it because Lilia asked him to, saying there was more to that surname than what met the eye.
For once Erick remained silent, even he didn’t know the answer to that, but as he was about to say it, Tanner gave him a hand.
“Veluri wasn’t a surname but a title, in the ancient language of this star cluster means “protector”, Richard Veluri was born a slave he didn’t have a surname, and yet he was the one that managed to change the fate of a whole star cluster, after he and his army defeated the beasts forcing them to the east side of the star cluster, the people started calling him “Veluri”, and he took it as his surname”.
‘I guess every galaxy has their own outstanding characters’, thought Aster, but following that same thought, he wondered how come the Atria family didn’t lend a hand when this star cluster was being dominated by wild beasts, in any case he put the subject at the back of his mind for the time being as they were about the leave the spaceship in a couple of minutes.
Tanner took out a talisman from his spatial ring and the formations engraved on the bones which were surrounding the planet shone for a split of a second, a dim red layer which connected them became visible and then a small space opened for the spaceship to enter the outer space of the planet.
As the spaceship entered the atmosphere of the planet Erick facepalmed.
“Brother, I nearly forgot about it, the spirit formation of the planet does not lessen the gravity, in fact it increases it for training purposes, that little girl isn’t a star formation yet so”, said Erick as he pointed at Kana who was sitting on Aster’s lap while curiously looking through the window at the dim red toned sky.
Back at Prasil Aster asked Sarina why the sky had a light green tone and apparently, it’s a phenomenon caused by the color of the spirit energy that floats in the air, as long as it is naturally caused it doesn’t affect in a negative way to those who live in the planet.
“Don’t worry, I’ll take care of the gravity for her”, said Aster, a faint trace of golden light shone on Kana’s skin.
Erick saw the golden light covering Kana and he unconsciously moved a bit backwards on the couch.
“Ahem, brother, this spaceship is one of the treasures of the sect…”.
Aster chuckled understanding Erick’s worries.
“This isn’t the same thing I used back at the auction; this is for defense purposes only”.
Erick let out a sigh of relief, he has never asked about his abilities as it is considered a taboo among cultivators to pry into the secrets of others.
‘I guess that golden light can do more than melt other people’, thought Erick.
Tanner piloted the spaceship towards a mountain on which a city was built, from the windows Aster saw a large abundancy of spirit beasts which were used as mounts, or to pull on large carriages which transported materials and other goods.
Aster raised an eyebrow at the many conflicts that were taking part on the streets at the foot of the mountain, people were drinking or eating together and then a second later they were clashing swords.
Surprisingly once the fight ended both the winner and the loser continued with their respective meals, as if nothing happened.
Erick thunderously laughed at Aster’s surprised expression.
“Hahaha, this is the way we do things at the Barbarian Heart sect brother, all the conflicts must be solved with a good fight, anyway as you can see there are six citadels built on the mountain, which conform the main ground of our sect”.
“From lower to higher, the external disciples live at the foot of the mountain, then the internal disciples, core disciples, normal elders and guests, the council and the sixth level is where the patriarch lives”.
The spaceship directly landed at the sixth level of the mountain, although Erick said it was exclusive for the patriarch, there were a couple of people already waiting for them, among which Aster recognized Ritz and the other elder which participated in the war at Riga, Adrian and the last know face was Sofia.
Besides them, there was also a tall old man wearing leather armor which was exuding the pressure of a Sea of Knowledge cultivator, but he wasn’t the only one, while he wasn’t showing it, Adrian also broke through becoming an early-stage Sea of Knowledge cultivator.
As soon as the lateral door of the spaceship opened, Sofia, Ritz and Adrian welcomed Aster and the others, Aster let Kana go to meet Sofia while he greeted Ritz and Adrian.
“It’s been some time kid”.
“This time, let our sect be the hosts hahaha”.
As always, Ritz was rather calm while Adrian was more like an older version of Erick, in attitude terms at least.
Tanner came out of the spaceship last and invited everyone to his palace, but the girls wanted to go sightseeing, after being travelling in a spaceship the last they wanted right now was to sit in a room.
“I can guide them through the city, while you have a nice conversation”, said Sofia as she dragged Kana and Sarina with her.
Aster saw the girls not interested in the upcoming conversation and he shrugged.
“Fine, you can go, but don’t cause any trouble, okay?”.
While the girls left, Lilia decided to stay behind, although this city built in a mountain was something new for the girls, she has seen more incredible places, so she wasn’t too interested in wandering around and instead preferred to accompany her son.
Tanner then took Aster, Lilia, Erick, Ritz, Adrian and the other Sea of Knowledge cultivator to his palace.
Just like most of the things in this star cluster which Aster has seen so far, Tanner’s palace had some structures carved in the bones of spirit beasts, although the designs were quite common, the decorations gave it a wild aura which differentiated it from other buildings.
Once inside, Tanner took them to the main hall where a large table was already set, there were some maids and guards here and there but as soon as Tanner entered the room they left.
Tanner and the others from the Barbarian Heart sect took a seat at one side of the table, while Aster and Lilia took the other.
Tanner then pointed at the other Sea of Knowledge cultivator before saying.
“Okay, you already know Ritz and Adrian so I will skip them, let me introduce you to my younger brother and the last vice leader of my Barbarian Heart sect, Simon Garland”.
The man called Simon limited himself to nod at Aster, but Aster didn’t even look at him, which made him frown, still since his older brother was being friendly, he didn’t say anything and just watched from the side.
“Erick has told me a lot of things about you, to be honest I couldn’t believe most of them, but after Ritz and Adrian returned, they also had similar opinions, while I find quite nice that you and Erick are in really good terms, I must ask… why are you visiting us?”.
Aster didn’t feel offended by Tanner’s straightforwardness, in fact that’s why he chose the Barbarian Heart sect to be the first force with which he will negotiate.
After tapping his finger on the table, a couple of times Aster said.
“I have two reasons for that, first, I will be going to a higher ranked stellar system and I wanted to invite Erick to come”.
Although Tanner was surprised by Aster’s words, he didn’t find them strange, even if he met Aster not too long ago, it was obvious he couldn’t be contained by such low ranked star clusters, cultivators needed to overcome tribulations and hardships in order to become stronger, otherwise they’ll end up stagnating at some point.
Still Tanner slowly shook his head.
“It’s not that I’m against it or anything like that, but Erick has already accepted to go with his older sister to another stellar system, our sect was scouted by an elder from a high ranked place and both of them were qualified to participate in the upcoming admission trials”.
“We have some connections because I casually met someone in one of my travels, an external elder of a sect in the Galatia stellar system”.
Aster didn’t know whether he should laugh or cry, even Lilia softly giggled, which made Tanner and the others raise an eyebrow not understanding what was so funny, until Aster explained.
“It seems we live in such a small world, my destination is the Myriad Occupation sect at Galatia, so I guess that’s settled”.
“That’s awesome brother, let’s show those guys what the Rodia star cluster is made of!”, said Erick as he rose his cup to offer a toast.