A Stellar Catastrophe, also known as a Cosmic Calamity, typically affects regions measured by planetary systems.
Most Stellar Catastrophes are triggered by extreme instability in cosmic space, leading to chaotic phenomena. In addition, special cases such as interrupted celestial evolution, retrograde flows, or terminal aging can also cause Stellar Catastrophes of varying scale.
The former are truly terrifying—only a Cosmic Ancient Kingdom can handle them.
The latter are relatively mild and pose little real danger.
The so-called latter refers to Stellar Catastrophes caused by anomalies in celestial evolution. Whether in scope or destructive aftermath, they are far less severe than the chaotic phenomena of cosmic instability.
Take, for example, the most common supernova explosion—
A rare chain-collapse explosion occurring in the final stages of stellar evolution.
This is a standard type of Stellar Catastrophe. Leaving aside the Verlon Winter Empire, even the Chenriver Empire, which governs half the Tianchen Stellar System, can easily handle and neutralize the hazards of a supernova explosion.
"However."
"This time, the Stellar Catastrophe is truly extraordinary."
Dressed in pure white, Taichu Haogu gazed quietly at the Star‑Gate Martial Communicator. "The Flame‑Smoke Goldstream is one of the most terrifying types of catastrophe! If left unchecked, it will engulf an entire stellar system and even destroy the cosmic environment of neighboring systems. This is a disaster that can annihilate star systems at a stroke."
The Star‑Gate Martial Communicator—a dedicated device issued by the Spark‑Heritage Zone's Archaic Hall.
At this moment, on the other side of the communicator, Andrew Han’s eyes were grave: "The Flame‑Smoke Goldstream is happening near the Verlon Winter Empire’s Imperial Star? The Imperial Star is the core of a starry empire—how could it be struck by a Stellar Catastrophe?"
Andrew Han found this question utterly perplexing.
At this moment, his mind split in two—one part focused on the Star-Gate Communicator’s projection of Howard Gu’s image, about to hang up and say goodbye, but Bailey’s calculation results made him involuntarily take a deep breath and furrow his brow.
Not to mention Bailey, always by his side.
Experience, knowledge, insight, analysis, vast databases—
Even real‑time information support and logical reasoning—all could be accessed via Bailey, the intelligent core that had accompanied Andrew since he first stepped into the stars.
Of course.
Andrew Han knew a thing or two about the classification and severity of Stellar Catastrophes.
"That's a Flame‑Smoke Goldstream."
"Even beings at the Cosmos Union Tier, if struck head‑on by a Flame‑Smoke Goldstream, would be injured or even killed!" Andrew Han's pupils contracted, his mind racing, while Bailey's voice sounded in his ear.
"Master."
Bailey, the intelligent core, was responsible for investigating details of this cosmic disaster and was currently searching for recent news from the Cosmic Ancient Kingdom.
It's worth noting...
Even the Chenriver Empire's elite class has difficulty accessing the interstellar networks of other nations, let alone entering the Cosmic Ancient Kingdom's grand interstellar system.
Back when Andrew Han first entered the starry sky, he held no significant status or permissions. Though he lived in the Galaxis Stellar System, due to incompatibilities between national networks, he could only view internal information from the Chenriver Empire. As for the Tianyu Empire and other stellar systems coexisting in the Galaxis, Andrew had no right to access their networks.
But times have changed.
Now, as a composite Stellar Palace–tier human, Andrew Han is one of the Primeval Geniuses of the Archaic Hall's Spark‑Heritage Zone, holding extremely high Star‑Gate Permissions.
So then—
What exactly are Star‑Gate Permissions?
These are the identity authorities granted by the Spark‑Heritage Zone, used for various verifications within Human Territory, and they automatically grant top‑level network access to all major Ancient Kingdoms.
Simply put, Bailey, as Andrew Han's certified intelligent core, can freely browse and query the shallow networks of every nation and advanced institution in the Star‑Sky Human Territory. For deeper networks and confidential archives, higher Star‑Gate Permissions are required.
After all, some top‑secret information is never disclosed, restricted to only a handful of people.
This is precisely why the major Ancient Kingdoms and leading institutions strive to attract exceptional talent to join them voluntarily.
"I've found it!"
Bailey's voice sounded slightly excited.
Andrew immediately asked in a low voice, "What is it?"
As he communicated with Bailey, he listened to Haogu recount his escape, the communicator's virtual projection flickering against the silent, immeasurable sea of clouds above.
Immediately after—
Bailey quietly transmitted, "Located within the territory of the Cosmic Ancient Kingdom, under the unified administration of the Yarlowe Sector: the Verlon Winter Empire. Half a light-year from the Imperial Star, anomalous spatial turbulence has appeared—the Flame‑Smoke Goldstream has begun to take shape and is spreading!"
"Will this Flame‑Smoke Goldstream outbreak affect our Galaxis Stellar System?" Andrew Han pressed.
"This..."
Bailey hesitated for a moment.
Andrew was speechless and urged, "Hurry up and calculate the result."
After gathering all available data, Bailey, still computing, transmitted, "The siting of an Imperial Star for any stellar empire requires complex criteria and fixed standards. It must go through a series of verification procedures, each step confirmed without error. Only after all are passed is the application submitted to the Cosmic Ancient Kingdom’s auditing institution. Only then can the empire designate its Imperial Star."
"Confirming cosmic spatial stability..."
"Confirming no surrounding hazards..."
"Awoo! Calculation complete! If the Flame‑Smoke Goldstream is allowed to spread for ten star‑years, it will destabilize the Galaxis Stellar System’s cosmic space. If left unchecked for fifteen star‑years, it will cause catastrophic consequences..."
"Nineteen star‑years is all it takes!"
"The Galaxis Stellar System will be destroyed! The terrifying spread of the Flame‑Smoke Goldstream far surpasses the speed of light!"
Bailey’s precise calculations produced a string of shocked exclamations.
What?
Andrew Han instinctively gasped in shock.
At that moment, his mind split in two—one part focused on the Star‑Gate Communicator’s projection of Howard Gu’s image, about to hang up and say goodbye, but Bailey’s calculation results made him involuntarily take a deep breath and furrow his brow.
Born on blue Earth...
His hometown is here, and all his cherished memories are here...
"Andrew Han, you don’t have to worry."
Across the communicator, the white-robed Howard Gu—whose Primeval Void Rift Tier senses were incredibly sharp—immediately detected Andrew’s emotional shift. "Rest assured, the Cosmic Ancient Kingdom has already dispatched a Cosmic Eternal Realm powerhouse, equipped with the necessary technology, to assist the Verlon Winter Empire in suppressing and eliminating this Flame‑Smoke Goldstream."
Upon hearing this—