"Imperial edict of the South-Sage Ancient Kingdom!"
"Throughout the years, our Human Race has bestowed much upon you, yet you do not cherish it. Now, by imperial grace, the crimes of the Awakened Beasts Race are forgiven, their lives spared. But the entire Awakened Beasts Race is hereby ordered to immediately vacate Human Territory!"
...
In the core valley of the Awakened Beasts Race, beneath the star-mist sky, a figure held the ancient imperial edict in both hands before his chest and read it aloud. In that moment, it was as if the heavens exploded; the dazzling, multicolored star-mist churned and parted to either side.
He was a Human powerhouse.
He was also the envoy of the South-Sage Ancient Kingdom responsible for communication with subordinate life races.
"What?"
Grand Elder Xiturok’s single eye changed color.
"Expulsion of the entire race?"
His most beloved descendant, the Stellar-Palace Primeval Rosa Xitugus, trembled in all six hooves; her pink mono-eye rose, filled with confusion and terror.
Never before had she imagined this, nor ever worried about it.
But at this moment, Rosa Xitugus felt boundless suffocation shrouded in darkness; her mind went blank, her whole body frozen in place. If they left Human Territory, where could they possibly go?
"Darkest Starspace..."
"They mean to drive us into Darkest Starspace..."
In the valley beneath the sky, countless Quibeasts raised their heads, gazing up at the Human envoy, listening intently to the vast, thunderous proclamation of the imperial edict. After exchanging glances, they could not help but reveal their shock.
Just moments ago, most Quibeasts were quietly cultivating. Suddenly, the world was upended. Witnessing and hearing the grand imperial edict of the South-Sage Ancient Kingdom, their hearts surged as if a colossal tidal wave from the star-sea had flooded their deepest souls.
They were all accomplished cultivators—how could they not sense the fury of the South-Sage Ancient Kingdom, or the severity of the imperial decree’s wording?
"Formal expulsion order from the South-Sage Ancient Kingdom!"
The Quibeasts, with heads and eyes of countless forms, erupted in chaos—clamorous at first, then falling into utter, wordless silence.
The brilliant star-mist surged, rolling away in waves to either side.
A figure covered the heavens; the cultivation sanctuary fell silent.
From Cosmic Eternal Realm Quibeasts down to young Starlight-tier Quibeasts, some wept with old tears, some were lost in grief, some bowed their heads in silence—none could remain calm. Their precious homeland, where they had lived for countless years, was hard-won. Now, losing it in an instant, they must flee in panic, as if thunder had struck them to their core.
But no matter what.
Even in death, they wanted answers.
This was the truest reflection of every Quibeast’s heart.
“Why?”
Whispers arose, asking: "May I ask, what crime have we committed? What is our offense?"
Earlier, news of the Human Eternal King's anger had swept through the core valley like a silent storm. The Quibeasts, all aware, were confused—was it truly because of a momentary offense to Human King Andrew Han that their entire race must be expelled?
Isn't that too cruel?
They could not accept it.
Envoy!
Grand Elder Xiturok rose, ignoring his descendants and clanmates: "May we have a chance, may our Quibeasts have an opportunity to defend ourselves? As the Grand Elder of the Quibeasts, I swear to give King Andrew Han and Archaic Hall a satisfactory explanation."
As soon as he spoke, the core valley fell silent.
When he finished speaking, every Quibeast’s single eye focused on him.
The South-Sage royal envoy, under the gaze of all, sneered and rebuked them mercilessly: "Blind, ignorant, and arrogant—those words do not even describe you. Grand Elder Xiturok? I say you are utterly hopeless!"
This...
Xiturok’s single eye shifted; his expression turned awkward.
The Quibeasts of the core valley erupted in uproar.
Silence!
The South-Sage royal envoy thundered: "I am not afraid to tell you—just moments ago, our Human Archaic Hall’s new-generation Eternal King Andrew Han was ambushed at your Quibeast territory’s border, barely surviving!"
This was an order personally delivered by the South-Sage Ancient Emperor; there can be no mistake. The evidence is irrefutable.
With these words...
Countless Quibeasts instantly suffocated; some even fainted from fright.
"Impossible! We received no news." Grand Elder Xiturok was stunned. An ambush on their territory—regardless of Andrew’s fate—the Quibeasts bore undeniable responsibility.
But...
He asked himself: the Quibeast territory’s monitoring systems were thorough—if there was an ambush, there would have been a fierce battle. As Grand Elder, how could he be unaware?
Heh." The South-Sage envoy said coldly: "As far as I know, eight guards of the Archaic Hall King Guard Corps, Sixth Sequence, died on the spot. How can you Quibeasts defend yourselves? Even if you were given a chance, what could you say? You probably don’t even know that of the four attackers, one was your own next Grand Elder—Kechron!
Hiss!
Grand Elder Xiturok was stunned, unable to speak, retreating several steps.
Shock!
Unbelievable!
Complex emotions and overwhelming fear flooded Grand Elder Xiturok’s heart: "Kechron!? Our next Grand Elder—how could he ambush the Human King…"
"You ask me, who should I ask?" The South-Sage envoy glared at Xiturok.
As a fellow Human, he was angry too.
Especially since the ambush happened within Human territory—an insult to the South-Sage Ancient Kingdom and a trampling of Human dignity.
Hmph.
The South-Sage envoy stared at Grand Elder Xiturok.
My race…
Xiturok felt on the verge of collapse, unable to speak, as if the words were stuck in his throat.
His thoughts raced—how could he not understand?
Their next Grand Elder, of a third-rate Quibeast race, had likely already betrayed the clan and sought to reincarnate as a new life against the laws of the cosmos.
Kechron!
Xiturok roared inwardly.
Kechron!
From the deepest part of the core valley, four ancient Quibeasts flew out: "We Quibeasts indeed bear undeniable responsibility. A traitor hidden among our core leadership colluded with outsiders, endangering our honored guest Andrew Han… Please rest assured, envoy, we will investigate thoroughly."
How can one believe just a single person’s words?
The four Quibeasts spoke platitudes, trying to stall for time. After all, they truly did not want to believe Kechron was a traitor.
Most importantly, the new-generation Human King Andrew Han was still alive—there was hope yet. As for the ambush, whether it happened and its causes and consequences, they did not raise it then; it would be investigated later.
It was all too sudden.
Andrew Han had just left, and not even half a day had passed when the South-Sage imperial decree arrived?
Envoy.
At that moment, while the four ancient Quibeasts tried to smooth things over, the vast star-mist split open once more.
A world-shaking roar echoed; an ancient kingdom’s warship hovered overhead, exuding irresistible authority.
Billions of rays of light spread out!
The imperial decree descended in splendor!
Another royal envoy, clad in emerald armor, crossed the starry sky.
The Shen-Reed Ancient Kingdom’s imperial decree has arrived—
All Quibeasts are to receive the decree; from this moment, all Quibeast lives are to be expelled, not a single one left behind, within half a star-year!
With those words…
He raised his hand.
The sparkling green Shen-Reed imperial decree floated down like a seal, hanging over the core valley.
Shen-Reed Ancient Kingdom.
The South-Sage envoy looked up and smiled; the two envoys exchanged greetings from afar.
To the side…
The four ancient Quibeasts and Grand Elder Xiturok were stunned.
All the Quibeasts in the valley collapsed to the ground, unable to rise, not knowing how to face this sudden disaster.
Let’s go.
The South-Sage envoy rose, joined the Shen-Reed envoy, and glanced at the Quibeasts: "This matter has just been reported to Archaic Hall; it’s not clear how they’ll respond… Regardless, a traitor mixing into the core leadership and about to be named Grand Elder is a crime the Quibeasts cannot explain away."
The Shen-Reed envoy smiled: "Even if we Humans are generous and merciful, they must still be expelled."
However…
So who wanted Andrew Han dead?
——
Far away, across endless light-years, in a starspace filled with darkness and cold.
This was the Darkest Starspace.
No stars, no light, not even the source of life—only endless deathly darkness, like the end of all things.
Boom!
A golden Quibeast crashed out of folded subspace, shaking its head and standing there.
Finally escaped.
Kechron looked miserable, but laughed wildly—he had escaped the South-Sage Ancient Emperor’s grasp.
That was the supreme emperor of an ancient Human kingdom.