In the central city of Dreamvale Administrative Star, Andrew Han strolled along the street, hands clasped behind his back.
This was Andrew's second departure from blue Earth... Things were not as they once were; at last, he had begun to possess the power to stand firm in the starry sky.
His state of constant caution, as if walking on thin ice, had eased somewhat.
"Hmm, the residential district for Starlight-tier beings."
The air in the Starlight District was fragrant, elegant, and clean—Andrew could not help but marvel as his gaze lingered on the castle-like manor buildings.
There were oval buildings standing on the ground, glowing like giant goose eggs. There were also long, floating structures suspended in midair. Some resembled the garden-style villas of blue Earth, using advanced technologies like gravity streams to create true aerial gardens.
The shapes were bizarre, stunningly beautiful—almost defying the laws of architecture.
Andrew couldn't help but laugh. "It seems Earthly common sense doesn't apply in the vast starry sky. But this is only the Chenriver Empire of the Milky Way—what must it be like beyond the galaxy, or in the Cosmic Ancient Kingdoms?"
Unconsciously, Andrew found himself yearning and imagining what lay beyond.
The universe was so vast, and he was just a newcomer to its depths... Lost in thought, he continued walking forward.
The many buildings were scattered in an orderly fashion, each separated by about ten thousand meters.
This area belonged to the Starlight District; only Starlight-tier beings were qualified to purchase land here.
On both sides of the street, countless emerald trees took root in the earth. Their leaves swayed gently, occasionally shedding clusters of green light, purifying the air as they fell.
Beyond that lay the citizens' zone.
With Andrew's vision, he could see as far as a hundred thousand meters. The citizens' zone was bustling: luxurious restaurants and glittering entertainment halls, people coming and going—yet there was no noise or commotion. The quiet was strangely out of place.
Withdrawing his gaze, he extended his senses through the Starlight District.
Andrew could sense countless eyes filled with curiosity and awe, some tinged with reserved anticipation.
"Starlight-tier... There are eighteen in total."
Andrew paused in surprise—there were more Starlight-tier beings on Dreamvale Administrative Star than on Whitebird!
"Although they're all First or Second Rank Starlight, with the five behind me included... Dreamvale is actually much stronger than Whitebird, even though both are secondary administrative stars?" Andrew wondered, glancing back.
Following behind him.
Mira Yu and the others obediently trailed after him.
"Lord Andrew," Mira Yu explained respectfully in a soft voice, "Because of White Nightmare's rampage, everyone in this starfield is living in fear—including the Starlight-tier beings. Most have gathered here, unwilling to live alone on other planets."
"I see."
A look of understanding flashed in Andrew's eyes.
No wonder Dreamvale was more prosperous than Whitebird, and its Starlight-tier population so much larger.
White Nightmare, whose whereabouts were unknown, could descend from the dark void at any moment, unleashing a massacre and devouring all—its deterrent power rivaled that of a giant orbital cannon aimed at them.
Precisely because of this.
These Starlight-tier beings all remained on Dreamvale. Thus the current Starlight District was born, replacing the former noble quarter... No ordinary aristocrat could compare to a Starlight-tier being.
Starlight-tier beings live long lives; there is no need to rush.
Only after White Nightmare's death could they feel at ease and return to their private planets.
So even when they go out, their range is extremely limited, lingering around Dreamvale Administrative Star or their home star system. The frequent appearance of Starlight-tier beings has made Dreamvale even more prosperous!
Most ordinary citizens will never see a Starlight-tier being in their entire lives.
In recent years, real Starlight-tier beings often emerge from the Starlight District, giving countless people a glimpse of opportunity... The once deserted edge of the citizens' zone, now bordering the Starlight District, is fiercely contested—land prices have soared a hundredfold or more.
However.
The Starlight-tier beings, revered and feared by all, were quietly transmitting messages among themselves.
"Is this Andrew Han really from Chenriver Palace?"
"Of course, there's no doubt about it... You probably don't know, but Lu Yang was no longer Lu Yang—he was White Nightmare incarnate. Lord Andrew Han recognized it at a glance, subdued him instantly, and killed him on the spot!"
"What?"
"Really? Is that true?"
Some of the Starlight-tier beings who had just finished cultivating listened to the full story and felt a chill run through them, shocked to the core.
This mutated lifeform called White Nightmare was truly bizarre beyond belief!
Still, they breathed a sigh of relief: "It seems this cultivation genius from Chenriver Palace is truly extraordinary. We were unwilling to leave our homeland, so we've waited this long... Now, White Nightmare's end should be near."
"Just wait—wait for Lord Andrew Han to make his move."
"Yes, I've waited three epochs, a little longer won't matter. I just hope Lord Andrew can finally end the terror of White Nightmare."
The Starlight-tier beings discussed among themselves.
They didn't want to leave their home; now, at last, they saw hope and were filled with anticipation.
Though every inch of land here was precious and entertainment abounded—in the eyes of Starlight-tier beings, in this era of White Nightmare's threat, it was all just an empty illusion of vanity.
Meanwhile.
Having learned the whole story, Andrew Han couldn't help but shake his head and laugh: "Starlight-tier economic effect?"
He turned to look at the citizens' zone.
Beyond the boundary of the Starlight District, flowers bloomed in profusion, people and airborne vehicles streamed by, yet there was no noise, no clamor, not even the sound of horns!
Perhaps it was because Starlight-tier beings lived here—no one dared raise their voice.
"That area really is nice." Andrew turned to Mira Yu and the others, smiling and nodding. "I seem to smell something delicious—later, recommend me some specialties that keep well. I want to bring them back."
Bring them back?
Back to Chenriver Palace?
Mira Yu, who looked like a middle-aged woman, was swept by a sense of absurdity. She exchanged glances with Anya Sun, feeling her heart on the verge of collapse.
Led by Mira Yu and Anya Sun, the five of them felt a faint resistance inside, unable to understand Andrew's leisurely ease.
With a great enemy at hand, instead of thinking of countermeasures, he was looking for good food?
White Nightmare, a symbol of darkness and terror, stained with countless blood and souls, was like a savage beast lurking in the depths of space, its cruel gaze secretly watching every life—the very name White Nightmare was enough to make one's teeth chatter and blood run cold!