Chapter 121: Passenger Starship

"Lord Star Master, it is a rare pleasure to see you here. And who might this young brother be?" A middle-aged man with a rather portly build stepped out of the lounge, greeting the Lanque Star Master with a smile. He then produced a beautifully packaged small box from his pocket, pulled out a stick about three inches long, and offered it to the Star Master.

Seeing such a familiar scene, Lan Tian suddenly felt as if he had been transported back to Earth.

Is this... a cigarette?

No way, is smoking popular in the universe too?

"Haha, President Beibu, it is indeed rare to run into you as well. What, are you preparing to leave? How much Red Saliva Wine have you scavenged from my Lanque Star this time? You’d better save some for this old man, or I won't let you off so easily!" The Lanque Star Master chuckled as he accepted the stick. He skillfully raised a finger, and a faint trace of cosmic star energy brushed against the end of the stick. Smoke immediately began to curl from the tip. After taking a blissful puff, a strange, pleasant fragrance filled the air around them.

"Haha, behave yourself. Mr. Lan Tian is no mere 'young brother.' As for his identity, well, it must remain confidential, so I won't specify. You only need to know that Mr. Lan Tian is a dear friend of mine despite the age gap," the Star Master added with another satisfied puff, smiling as he made the introduction.

Upon hearing the Star Master's introduction, the man addressed as President Beibu felt his pupils contract, and he instantly understood.

This young man must have a formidable background; otherwise, even though the Lanque Star Master was known for his easygoing nature, he would never have formed such a close bond with someone so young.

"Haha, greetings, Mr. Lan Tian. The Star Master is teasing me—I am no president. Allow me to introduce myself: I am a business executive for the Xinghui Trading Firm on Huidu Star. It is a pleasure to meet you, and I hope you will forgive my presumptuousness," Beibu said, bowing formally to Lan Tian before producing another stick and offering it to him.

"Mr. Beibu, you are too kind. We are all friends, so there is no need for such formalities," Lan Tian replied. Seeing the bow, he naturally returned a standard universal official greeting, accepted the stick, and smiled.

Much like City Lord Naba before him, Beibu’s expression stiffened upon seeing such a standard, professional salute. His posture became noticeably more reserved. In the universe, where hierarchy is strictly observed, such precise official etiquette is not something an ordinary person would know. This Mr. Lan Tian clearly had a significant background!

***

Lan Tian looked at the stick Beibu had given him. Mimicking the Lanque Star Master’s method, he feigned expertise and began to smoke casually, while curiously asking "Bai" in his mind what this stick was and why it resembled Earth's cigarettes so closely.

"Haha, don't worry, just smoke it. This stick is called 'Spirit-Calming Incense.' It is somewhat similar to the cigarettes on your Earth, but unlike those which are harmful to the human body, this is made from the leaves of the Spirit-Calming Tree. It has a soothing and meditative effect. It is very common, widely enjoyed, and inexpensive—a pack costs about the price of a single Level 3 energy crystal," Bai replied with a laugh.

"Since there is a market, the varieties have naturally multiplied. Initially, everyone smoked the same kind, but later, others emerged: Refreshing Incense, Amnesia Incense, Detox Incense, Recovery Incense, Berserk Incense, and so on. Their effects and prices vary. The cheap ones are basically for meditation or refreshment, while the expensive ones can neutralize toxins, restore cultivation, or even induce a 'berserk' combat state specifically for battle."

"The most unique one is the Amnesia Incense. Its raw material is the very rare Spirit-Loss Wood. After smoking one, one can choose to forget a person or a period of time. Many cosmic cultivators rely on it to recover from the grief of losing a lover or a relative."

"You know, since everyone's cultivation aptitude varies, lucky individuals who obtain divine medicines to improve their aptitude are far too rare. Cultivators who are fortunate enough to reach high tiers gain long lifespans, but what they lose are the people around them. Lovers grow old, relatives pass away, and in their grief, some cultivators find it impossible to focus on their training, leading to stagnation. At such times, Amnesia Incense might be their best choice."

"I, for one, would definitely never smoke that 'Amnesia Incense.' No, I will make sure that the people I care about never leave me!" Lan Tian felt deeply moved and silently made a vow to himself.

"Is Mr. Lan Tian heading to Huidu Star?" Beibu’s voice pulled Lan Tian back from his thoughts.

"Mr. Lan Tian is going to the Jue Tian Pagoda to undergo trials; he is merely passing through Huidu Star," the Lanque Star Master answered first. He looked at Beibu with a wary, warning gaze: "And let me tell you, Mr. Lan Tian is my young friend. Don't you dare take advantage of his youth and fleece him when you get him to your trading firm!"

"Lord Star Master, what are you saying? I, Beibu, have always been honest in my business. I’ve been coming to Lanque Star for years—when have I ever fleeced anyone from your planet? To say nothing of Mr. Lan Tian!" Beibu protested, clearly displeased.

"Haha, why are you getting so worked up? I’m just giving you a reminder," the Star Master laughed. He then turned to Lan Tian and nodded, "If you have any needs, Mr. Lan Tian, feel free to contact him. This lad has been in business for many years; his dealings are indeed fair, and he has connections in every aspect."

"That would be excellent. I do need to purchase some items on Huidu Star, so if Mr. Beibu has the connections, that would be for the best," Lan Tian agreed.

***

"Haha, rest assured! Since Mr. Lan Tian trusts me, I certainly won't let you down. I wouldn't dare say much else, but on Huidu Star, aside from military supplies, there isn't much that I, Beibu, cannot procure!" Beibu promised hastily.

"Vroom, vroom, vroom!"

Just as the three were chatting, a series of noisy mechanical roars echoed through the air. The passenger starship had arrived.

"The starship is here. Mr. Lan Tian, let's buy our tickets and board," Beibu invited.

Lan Tian nodded in agreement. After bidding farewell to the Lanque Star Master and promising to keep in touch via the virtual universe network, he followed Beibu toward the starship.

With Beibu, an experienced hand, leading the way, Lan Tian found the process easy. Following his lead, they handled the boarding procedures and paid over 80,000 Yuan Lan coins for top-tier tickets before stepping into the massive passenger starship.

Along the way, Beibu explained that a small planet like Lanque could not have a dedicated route to Huidu Star. Before reaching its final destination, this passenger starship would stop at about seventeen other life-bearing planets, taking approximately a month to reach Huidu Star.