Chapter 621: Denerth Prime
About a week later, Arthur and Evan finally heard from Jamie again. He sent a message through Alvey and McEnda, informing them that he had found the perfect place and designed the ideal training plan for them.
They were to join him in a prime world called Denerth, or Denerth Prime.
Instead of using Jamie’s usual method of transporting them through the galaxy via Cosmic Gates, this time he arranged for a spaceship to pick them up and bring them to him.
Arthur and Evan made their way to the Rhigor continent on Aramis, where they took a dimensional rift to Gozon’s moon. The spaceship awaited them there, and the demons managing the lunar station had already been briefed on their arrival.
Given Arthur’s partnership with Gozon and Evan’s official position as his aide, they were both treated with the utmost respect.
The demons quickly streamlined the process, and soon, Arthur and Evan were aboard and the spaceship was moving.
Their next stop was Aidos, where they picked up Artemisia and Beatrix, who were also part of Jamie’s training plan.
It appeared that Jamie had already discussed the plan with Artemisia’s father, Uvton, and received his approval. Knowing the details of the planet Jamie was taking them to, Uvton had no issue with letting her join the group.
Arthur finally got the full details about Denerth Prime on the spaceship.
As Evan had mentioned during their attack on Waregough, it was a cultivator world. The Realms of Existence here were referred to as cultivation realms, and the process of ascending through them was called cultivating.
What made Denerth Prime unique compared to the rest of the Valmone universe was that its cultivators didn’t rely solely on the Devour Class System.
Instead, they ascended the realms in a way Arthur was more familiar with from his home universe—by absorbing energy into their bodies, circulating it through their energy circuits, and using it to strengthen their bodies and fill their energy cores. A portion of this energy was also sent to their souls, gradually strengthening them as well.
This process was what they called Cultivation.
However, what really set Denerth Prime apart was their specialized techniques, which allowed them to cultivate at much faster speeds than usual.
Arthur had to admit that compared to the average cultivation speeds in the Hell universe, the people of Denerth Prime—who employed these high-level techniques—were considerably faster.
These cultivation techniques were tailored based on an individual’s physical aptitude for various law energies, and even the smallest difference in attributes between two people could render a technique perfectly suitable for one and disastrous for the other.
The techniques also had their own ranking systems, ranging from low-level, inefficient ones that could even harm the user, to high-level techniques with powerful efficiency that produced remarkable results.
As Arthur found that these high-level techniques allowed for cultivation speeds that surpassed the average in his home universe, he was both impressed and intrigued by what this world had to offer.
Arthur took some time to discover all he could about the world’s power and by the time he finished, he understood why, despite possessing highly coveted cultivation techniques—many of which were jealously guarded by families, clans, and bloodlines—Denerth Prime had remained untouchable.
The planet was also an interstellar giant with strength that had deterred countless would-be invaders.
Though not quite on the same level as the great hegemons Aidos and Gozon, Denerth Prime was close behind. It was governed by powerful Cultivator Lords and Kings, with tens of thousands of influential clans and families backing them.
This immense power protected Denerth Prime from outside forces. No interstellar power dared attempt to steal their techniques, as doing so would invoke the wrath of not just Denerth, but the other cultivator worlds under their banner.
The spaceship they used to head to Denerth was manned by demons and a few humans who had sworn loyalty to Jamie, operating smoothly as they passed through the vast darkness of the galaxy.
Evan didn’t seem overwhelmed by the trip like he had been the first time Jamie took him across the Galaxy, but something about approaching Denerth Prime made him do some strange things.
On the third day, as they neared their destination, Arthur noticed Evan repeatedly adjusting his mask.
"What’s with the mask, Evan?"
Arthur asked, eyebrow raised and Evan responded casually.
"Just making sure it doesn’t fall off."
His tone was casual, but there was an odd edge to it that Arthur couldn’t place.
They reached one of Denerth Prime’s moons and touched down on the massive lunar dock that was bustling with other ships.
The ship’s crew guided them off, the quiet of space replaced by the hum of the dock’s automated systems and the distant clanking of machinery.
Those at the lunar station were well-prepared for their arrival, knowing exactly who had called for the four of them.
Like on Gozon, they were treated with utmost respect, the demons bowing as they led them through the station and to a large dimensional gate which was their passage to Denerth Prime itself.
Jamie had pre-arranged the immigration process, so everything was smooth. The gate port staff processed them quickly, with no delays or questions.
They stepped through the gate, and in an instant, they were on Denerth Prime.
The first place they found themselves in was a large bustling city called Fengying, where Jamie had arranged temporary lodgings. This city was ruled by the Peng Clan, one of the tens of thousands of clans on Denerth Prime.
It was sprawling, with towering structures built in a mix of ancient and futuristic styles, bustling with cultivators of all ages, all seemingly focused on their path to power.
Their lodgings were located in a quieter section of the city, a large, well-kept building with rooms more luxurious than Arthur had expected.
After they settled in, the four of them—Arthur, Evan, Beatrix, and Artemisia—decided to explore.
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"We stick out like sore thumbs."
That was the conclusion the four teenagers had come to after just ten minutes of wandering through Fengying. The culprit? Their clothes.
While Evan, Artemisia, and Beatrix were dressed casually in their usual jeans, t-shirts, and hoodies—just as they always had—the style on Denerth Prime was entirely different.
Located in the eastern part of the galaxy, Denerth Prime had its distinct sense of fashion, deeply rooted in tradition.
As they glanced around, it became clear that the people of Denerth favoured flowing garments, the kind that draped elegantly around the body.
The men wore long, layered robes, secured with sashes that accentuated their stately, structured look, while women were outfitted in ankle-length dresses, with intricate designs embroidered along the hems.
Some outfits featured wide sleeves that seemed to flow like water, while others were tailored more snugly to the upper body but still retained the signature soft, floating fabric.
It wasn’t uncommon to see people wearing tunics paired with loose pants, their cuffs gathered neatly around the ankles. Some had elaborate patterns—coloured swirls thread creating shapes of animals and inscriptions creatures—while others were simpler, yet no less elegant.
The group’s casual attire felt out of place, like they were trying to modernize a world that didn’t want modernization.
"We’re sticking out big time."
Evan muttered, glancing down at his sneakers while Beatrix nodded, rubbing the back of her neck as a few passers-by gave them curious glances.
Denerth Prime’s style was prevalent, not just on this planet, but across the eastern part of the galaxy.
For those like Evan and the others—coming from planets like Aidos, Gozon, and Aramis—this was foreign territory.
While their outfits were practical and fashionable where they came from, here they stuck out like a glowing beacon of otherness.
Naturally, they weren’t the only ones standing out. In just a few minutes, they’d passed at least ten different foreigners, each sporting their own distinct looks.
Whether they hailed from distant star systems or nearby planets, their clothing was as varied as their origins, yet each one stood out.
Despite the blend of cultures, the group didn’t want to be under the constant scrutiny of onlookers.
"Let’s just change."
Evan suggested this and Artemisia nodded in agreement.
"Might as well blend in. We came here to explore, not get stared at."
With that, they ducked into the nearest clothing shop, pulling out the communication devices Jaime had given them.
The tech on Denerth Prime was far more advanced than Aramis and it was something the four were grateful for.
Their communication devices, or CDs as they were called here, acted much like cell phones, though with a few extra features.
On Denerth Prime, most currency was virtual, making transactions as simple as tapping a screen.
Thanks to Jaime’s preparations, they had more than enough funds to adjust to the local trends, so they tapped into those funds to switch out their styles.
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Evan sat back on the couch, his mind already racing with technological improvement ideas for his world back in the future.
While his thoughts drifted, he glanced at Arthur, who was already dressed in his new attire.
Arthur had chosen a long robe draping down to his feet, with a deep midnight blue fabric, matching the colour of his left eye.
Swirling patterns of silver embroidery flowed across the edges of the robe, adding a subtle gleam that mirrored his silver hair.
Evan, on the other hand, had opted for a more refined yet minimalist style. The muted grey of the robe matched his eyes, while the faint silver accents along the seams subtly picked up the white highlights in his black hair.
They sat comfortably in the lounge area of the shop, casually reclined with a communication device (CD) in hand.
The flowing robes they wore added an air of elegance to their otherwise laid-back posture. Arthur twirled his silver hair which was getting long as he scrolled through various game options on the CD.
Despite the stares from nearby female staff and customers, he seemed completely absorbed in his search for something entertaining.
Evan, leaning back on the couch beside him, exuded a similar level of calm. He was equally unfazed by the attention he was getting, too focused on his CD to care.
Occasionally, the boys would exchange quiet remarks about the games they found, and a few minutes passed like this before the girls finally stepped out of the changing area.
This prompted both Arthur and Evan to glance up from their devices and seeing them, the two boys were a bit awed.
Artemisia emerged first, her long, waist-length black hair swept up into a high ponytail style held in place by a black-gold binyeo hairpin.
The pin glinted faintly as it secured her glossy hair, allowing her golden eyes to stand out even more against her stoic expression.
Her outfit was a perfect match for her composed demeanour, with deep midnight-hued robes accented with subtle gold embroidery.
Beatrix, with her shorter but equally striking white hair, was a stark contrast to Artemisia’s cool elegance.
Her bright kimono, adorned with vivid floral patterns in shades of pink and lavender, matched her upbeat personality perfectly.
Her brown eyes twinkled like little stars as she twirled around in her outfit, the movement causing the hana kanzashi holding up her hair to sway gently.
The delicate flowers on the hairpin matched the vibrant energy she exuded, and her smile lit up the room as she came to a stop in front of the boys.
"How do I look?"