Grand Epoch Sect Zone, Highcrest Sect.
As the sect master of Highcrest, a brown-haired elder who had just entered the Cosmic Eternal Realm felt a trace of unease: "That Inspector Envoy Andrew Han..."
How could he not know? Just recently, more than twenty star-sector governors were thrown into Star Prison by Andrew Han, and a formal investigation was launched. Without at least a hundred thousand epochs, they can forget about getting out of Star Prison safely. Besides, among all the criminals imprisoned there, corrupt officials are the most despised and reviled type.
In other words—
Those governors sent to Star Prison are destined to face endless suppression and targeting. Even if they serve out their sentences, so what?
"Sigh."
"Whether they can come out alive is still an unknown." The Cosmic Eternal–realm brown-haired elder shivered.
His face turned pale. Every time he thought of this, his awe of Andrew Han's overwhelming might and reputation only deepened. If even the Mory Sector's governors had to submit, what chance did a minor sect master like him have?
Highcrest Sect—the number-one star-sky sect, publicly acknowledged leader of the Grand Epoch Sect Zone—
—was now trembling in fear, not daring to offend Andrew Han in the slightest.
At that moment, hurried footsteps sounded at the palace entrance: "Reporting to Sect Master, someone has intruded into our designated cultivation treasure land."
"Hm?"
The brown-haired elder's anxious gaze shifted from the communicator screen to the palace entrance, revealing a bitter smile.
In the next instant.
Seven or eight core elders entered the palace, faces angry, coming before the brown-haired elder, visibly furious: "Sect Master, please allow us to go and handle this incident personally... We've set the rules and distributed resources fairly... As leaders of the sects, we cannot tolerate this kind of provocation."
"That's right."
"That outsider sect may only have two Cosmos Union elders, but they know the rules and are sensible. I heard they were attacked this time, almost wiped out, and their expensive Subspace Flyer was shattered—this is a blatant challenge to Highcrest's authority."
"Too outrageous, such vile behavior cannot be tolerated."
"It's said to be a soul cultivator, realm unknown, possibly Void Rift level, perhaps practicing some aura-concealing secret art."
You should know, all these core elders are Cosmos Union tier. Leaving the sect isn't an issue, but taking action to establish authority requires the sect master's approval.
The so-called sect master approval is just procedure.
So far, being rejected on the spot has only happened in a few rare cases.
"Sect Master, please give the order."
One after another, they cupped their hands, the core elders all looked at the brown-haired elder.
Except for the sect master, all of them are Cosmos Union tier. Their auras faintly surged, spreading ripples throughout every corner of the palace.
"Cough, cough."
As sect master, the brown-haired elder lowered his head and coughed twice: "Let's discuss this later. The sect is still unstable internally; how can we manage the entire Grand Epoch Sect Zone? Besides, resource allocation and governance should be decided collectively by all sects."
As his words fell, silence enveloped the palace. The others didn't understand what the sect master was trying to say.
Relinquishing authority?
Before they could ask, the brown-haired elder sighed softly: "Suspected Void Rift level, yet injured two Cosmos Union elders on the spot. Can't you guess this person's real identity?"
The crowd looked at each other in shock.
"No matter who it is—"
"They must pay the price! No one can shake Highcrest's authority!"
The crowd erupted, voices rising in chaos, but the brown-haired elder lifted his eyelids: "That's Andrew Han. That man is Inspector Envoy Andrew Han."
Silence!
It wasn't clear if it was one or two seconds, or one or two minutes, before the silence broke and someone finally spoke: "I suddenly remembered there are some sect affairs waiting for me to personally handle. Compared to external matters, internal affairs are more important."
"Me too... "
"I almost forgot, a junior is about to break through to Constant Palace tier and needs someone to guard them at all times..."
"Actually, there's something I've been meaning to tell everyone, but never found the chance. My health has been poor lately, maybe my lifespan is almost up... I'll take my leave and go rest."
They left even faster than they arrived; the core elders darted out of the palace like a gust of wind.
These Cosmos Union elders didn't hesitate for a moment.
Establish authority? Leader's prestige? As long as Inspector Envoy Andrew Han doesn't use Highcrest to make an example, they're grateful—none would dare provoke him.
"You all..."
The brown-haired elder's mouth twitched, unsure what to say.
Just a moment ago, the crowd was fired up.
The next moment, silence fell. As soon as the words 'Andrew Han' were spoken, the Cosmos Union elders panicked, scrambling for excuses—his reputation is as intimidating as Star Prison itself.
"Amazing."
"Can't afford to offend."
The brown-haired elder stood up, murmuring softly, both sighing and envying, then dialed the external sect's communicator, succinctly and discreetly mentioning Andrew Han's identity.
...
Ordinary Cosmos Union elders only know Andrew Han's name, not his features.
After all, compared to the long years and the whole sector, Andrew Han is still a newcomer as Inspector Envoy. Only after hundreds or thousands of years will his reputation spread widely.
"What?"
"It was Andrew Han in person?"
At the top of the battered flyer, the two Cosmos Union elders looked at each other, both shaken.
Luckily, they hadn't acted rashly.
Regardless of Andrew Han's status, just in terms of pure strength, neither of them could match him in a single exchange.
"Go, go."
The two took a deep breath, ignoring the sect members' anger, hurriedly dragging the flyer away, vanishing as a streak of light at the edge of the dark vacuum.
"Don't look back, don't look back."
Before leaving, the two glanced back, gazing into the distance toward Andrew Han's direction.
It felt as if something was missing.
Yet, they couldn't recall what it was.
Time and stars seemed to shift; streaks of light flashed as the nearly shattered flyer quickly left the area.
At terrifying speeds, a hundred times the speed of light, the two dragged the flyer, deep in thought, when suddenly they shuddered violently.
"Wait! Wait! Were you the one who said don't look back?"
"Wasn't it you who said it?"
"No, I wasn't in the mood to speak, and something feels off... Like we're suddenly missing someone. I vaguely remember we had three Cosmos Union elders on our side... But ever since the sect was founded, it's always just been the two of us."
In an instant, both their faces changed dramatically, chills running down their spines, stopping instinctively in space.
The flyer stayed still, surrounded by darkness, no stars in sight, as if endless night was swallowing their bodies and minds.
That's right.
Clearly, there were two people, two Cosmos Union elders.
Moving the sect, paying respect to Highcrest, and coming here for field inspections—it's always just been the two Cosmos Union elders negotiating, never seeking outside help.
So, without realizing, where did the third Cosmos Union elder come from? Even scarier, the three got along seamlessly, never sensing anything amiss.
'Gulp.'
Their Adam's apples moved, cold sweat soaking their collars.
How did a complete stranger fool the minds of Cosmos Union elders, making them mistake him for a lifelong friend?
'Th-that...'
One of them swallowed a dry mouthful: 'Where is the third person, who is the third person?'
At that tense moment.
A faint, clear laugh sounded behind them: 'Stop searching. It was me.'
Who!
The two turned in terror, hurriedly looking back.
'I told you not to look back...'
The dark void, like a swamp, suddenly surged for half a light-year, engulfing the entire area, instantly annihilating the two Cosmos Union elders and the battered flyer, erasing all traces.
No power to resist.
The cold and harsh vacuum returned to silent stillness.
Only a deep voice quietly echoed: 'Andrew Han of the Ancient Hall, King of Humanity, is currently undergoing a transitional phase of ascension, from Void Rift to Cosmos Union tier...'
'Report complete.'