In the core region of Chenriver Palace, within the Color-Cloud Palaces, time seemed to slow, and all the lingering echoes of the clash faded away, leaving only silence to blanket the scene.
Watching the fading cyan giant palm, Ruby Whitehorn was momentarily stunned.
"You win."
Ruby closed her eyes and let out a silent sigh.
Perhaps earlier there had still been a trace of unwillingness, jealousy, pride, and self-respect in her heart... but at this moment, it was all utterly shattered, for Ruby sensed a faint, almost imperceptible killing intent—hidden, yet restrained.
This was the true root that broke Ruby's pride!
"You win."
Ruby once again spoke softly.
Centered on her, the surrounding area was a scattered mess—nebular filaments of every color drifted in all directions, lingering waves of sonic energy still echoed, and fragments of the black palace filled the air.
After the fierce battle, the scene was in ruins—like a wasteland.
There was no gravity here, no pull—every bit of debris and fragment simply floated in silence.
Andrew Han dusted off his Green Mountain Robe and extended his left palm.
Whoosh.
With a wave of his hand, he parted the nebular filaments and quietly gazed at Ruby.
Without a word, Andrew turned and flew toward his own palace.
A soft pop sounded as the light shield parted; Suweng, seated above, cast his gaze downward, the faintest hint of a smile curling his lips as he nodded lightly—seeming to approve.
"My apologies."
Standing in the nebular space, Andrew Han looked at the myriad strange faces and cupped his fists: "I apologize for the disturbance just now—please forgive me."
From afar, they watched.
This area resembled a multicolored curtain, rising with countless shifting scenes, playing out the myriad forms of life. The vivid, silent moment was almost like a pantomime.
As Andrew Han returned to his own palace,
the crowd finally breathed a sigh of relief. They couldn't help but exchange glances—their feelings were so complex and melancholy that words failed them.
No one spoke, no one moved, not even a single exchange passed between them. The strange atmosphere flowed quietly like a silent river, washing over their bodies, passing through their minds, and settling deep within their souls.
Only when the Stellar Palace-tier powerhouses above departed one after another did the scene regain a touch of vitality.
Their gazes met in the starry sky, but their thoughts turned sluggish, like rusty machinery, still stuck in the violent clash just now—unable to regain calm, unable to forget, pondering and reflecting for a long while.
"Andrew Han has become famous in a single battle."
"Yes, from now on, no one will call him a 'native genius'... Andrew Han deserves respect and courtesy."
"Andrew Han can surely stand shoulder to shoulder with Sen—there's no doubt about it."
"Indeed, his talent is terrifying. But Sen is also growing stronger. If Sen truly forges the Profound Trait 'Star-Flame Cloud,' he might have a chance at the highest honors of Chenriver Palace."
They chatted as they gradually dispersed.
As for Ruby Whitehorn, now pale and defeated, she was taken away from Chenriver Palace by a Stellar Palace-tier elder of the White-Horn Human Clan.
...
Azure clouds supported the palace, and deep within, a cyan light flickered.
It was quiet—utterly still.
A peaceful, harmonious atmosphere permeated the place.
What Andrew Han wanted was simple: first, to gain the power to stand firm beneath the stars; then, to experience the vastness and wonder of this universe.
After all, he was not an ancient being who had lived through endless years.
Andrew Han had never seen the endless starry sky, and sometimes he secretly wondered what splendor it truly held. Yet in a universe where power was paramount, how could he dare relax? How could he dare slack off?
Until now.
At last, Andrew Han had gained the confidence to face the stars head-on.
Seated cross-legged, his cyan robe billowing, Andrew Han opened his clear black-and-white eyes: "With just the Starlight-tier martial arts of my life gene system, I was able to suppress Ruby Whitehorn, who stood at the peak of Starlight-tier Fifth Order."
"So then—"
"What if it wasn't just martial arts..."
Deep within the palace, unnoticed by anyone, a flash of gold-red light flickered across Andrew Han's eyes—like countless stars scattered across the vast sands, unknowable, undetectable, unfathomable.
And beyond all that, there was his Berserk State!
He thought for a moment.
Andrew Han closed his clear eyes, pursed his lips, and smiled silently: "Since stepping into the starry sky, I've always been cautious, as if walking on thin ice. Only now do I finally have the foundation to stand firm—finally, I am qualified to set foot in Chenriver."
Enough.
It's time to go home.
Andrew Han stood up, packed his things, and submitted a temporary leave request from within the palace.
"Azure Earth is my true root."
"Here is my home, the people I love, and everything I am willing to fight for."
...
Eastern Region of Chenriver Empire, Administrative Prime Star.
This was an exceptionally rare twin-star system—two life-bearing planets revolving around each other, neither interfering nor colliding, each drawing the other along. Around them floated countless interstellar docking zones and defense weapons.
Spaceships and warp engines came and went.
There were even spaceships as large as Southvale Province, like pitch-black square fortresses, departing from the Administrative Prime Star's docking zone, transporting rare resources to the heart of the empire.
Occasionally, Starlight-tier beings traversed the space between the twin stars relying solely on their own power.
Whether in terms of technology, interstellar facilities, or cultivation level, it far surpassed the ordinary Administrative White-Bird Star.
The Administrative Prime Star of Chenriver Empire's Eastern Region was incredibly prosperous!
Within the twin stars, there were thriving technological cities and nearly primitive manor palaces.
The technological cities belonged to the civilian districts.
But the manors and palaces nestled in the primeval forests were the domain of the noble class.
The White-Horn Human Clan, renowned throughout the Chenriver Empire, was one of the seven great noble powers. Most of the core clan members lived on one of the twin stars.
Core Palace of the White-Horn Human Clan.
Red Luo, the current clan chief, bore the face of a middle-aged man, with shining white hair and calm eyes that could see through people's hearts. Yet now, his usual gentle and kind demeanor was gone—he stared coldly at Ruby Whitehorn.
Ruby Whitehorn lowered her head. "Father, I was wrong."
Smack!
A crisp slap rang out in the palace.
Red Luo, chief of the White-Horn Human Clan, had never struck his youngest daughter before. But today was different—his anger and disappointment were beyond words.
"Father, I know I was wrong."
Ruby Whitehorn clutched her face, kneeling on the cold ground.
"You have no idea!" Red Luo roared like a furious beast. "Our struggle for the imperial throne against the Pink-Horn Human Clan has reached its final, feverish stage... but we must admit, we are falling behind."
"We are just a tiny step away."
"Just a little! Do you know how much our clan has sacrificed for this imperial throne? Do you know how long we've waited in silence? Do you understand what the throne means?"
No!
You don't understand!
Red Luo's furious roar nearly shook the palace to its foundations.
He was both the clan chief and a father.
If it were anyone else, Red Luo would have scolded them and left their punishment to the clan rules.
But Ruby Whitehorn was different. As the daughter of the clan chief, she had no sense of the bigger picture. Her baseless targeting and suppression of Andrew Han severely undermined Red Luo's authority and left him bitterly disappointed.
"Ruby."
Red Luo looked at his youngest daughter.
Red Luo's voice was low: "I'm not angry—Andrew Han is loyal and righteous, and this matter can be remedied. But I am disappointed. I am deeply disappointed in you."
Faced with his heavy words, Ruby was overwhelmed with shame.
If not for her status as a member of the White-Horn Human Clan, she would have been crushed by Andrew Han's palm. Coupled with her father's tone of disappointment, Ruby didn't know what to say—she just hung her head, awaiting judgment.
Sigh.
Red Luo let out a sigh. "How much do you know about the vastness of the starry sky?"
Before Ruby could look up, he continued:
"Beyond Chenriver Empire, beyond the Tianchen Star System, do you know anything about the endless territories out there? If you can target Andrew Han out of senseless jealousy, then one day you could target Yi Dong, Er Dong, or even San Dong!"
"I'm disappointed because you are ignorant!"
"Andrew Han was recommended by our White-Horn Human Clan, out of gratitude for our kindness. He is not yet a powerhouse—if you targeted him a little, it would be understandable... But if you keep stirring up trouble in the future and provoke a powerhouse even our clan can't contend with, what then?"
No need to ask—the result would be a clan-destroying disaster!
This was the greatest fear for most noble classes beneath the stars.
The universe was infinite, with countless mighty beings. If you ever provoked a powerful traveler passing by, you might not even die with your eyes closed.
I've told you this since you were little.
Red Luo glanced at his daughter, Ruby, and tiredly waved his hand. The nearby guards stepped forward and helped Ruby leave the core palace.
The details of her punishment would be decided jointly by the clan elders.
"Father."
Ruby's face was deathly pale.
The White-Horn Human Clan was extremely fair—they would never mobilize the entire clan's strength for one person's grudge. Unless it affected the whole clan, internal matters were left untouched.
Ruby disappeared through the doorway, and the palace returned to silence.
Hmph.
Red Luo narrowed his eyes. "Even solving peripheral issues or popularizing public warp engine facilities can't compare to the immense merits Andrew Han could bring."
As chief of the White-Horn Human Clan, Red Luo pondered and felt a sense of relief.
With Andrew Han's terrifying talent, the grand feast eighty-seven star years from now would surely add immense merit to the White-Horn Human Clan.
Thinking of this, Red Luo frowned and rubbed his white horn. "Andrew Han comes from a remote life planet... According to his personality analysis, he values his hometown deeply. Perhaps gifting him two sets of planetary defense weapon systems would be a good choice."
...
At the same moment—
A distress signal from a life planet on the edge of Chenriver Empire's Eastern Region was sent via a dedicated network to the empire's center.
Normally, this distress signal would be sent to the Chenriver Empire's Central Review Department, undergo multiple layers of scrutiny, and only after approval be assigned to the relevant agency.
However—
Something went awry during the signal's transmission.
Somehow, the distress signal was sent to the Chenriver Palace agency. Seamlessly, it passed through the local network's strict screening and ultimately activated the long-dormant Article 23 of the merit system.
Beep!
"Request received. Creating merit task. Danger level: Starlight-tier Fourth Order standard. Specific area: edge of Chenriver Eastern Region. Searching for available recipient..."
"Program error, correcting..."
"Program error, correcting..."
The artificial intelligence's voice echoed in the unknown depths of the network, followed by a crisp alarm: "Correction complete. Self-check passed. Merit task dispatched—recipient: Andrew Han."