"Hahaha, thanks to your suggestion, Third Brother! I just got word from the spy I left with that little girl—Dan Feng has indeed returned to the Vidyadhara residence! Come, brother, a toast to you!"
In the universe, within the Nostar Nebula System…
A cosmic skiff traveling from the Xianzhou Luofu to Penacony was cruising at subluminal speed.
Compared to ordinary skiffs, this one was built by the Vidyadhara themselves, its size dozens of times larger than standard skiffs.
Moreover, it was equipped with the most advanced spatial velocity engine, capable of spatial jumps like the Astral Express.
The passengers aboard this skiff were none other than the Vidyadhara Dragon Masters who had fled from the Xianzhou Luofu.
At this moment, the Dragon Masters were gathered around a long dining table, indulging in extravagant revelry.
"Hahaha, you're too kind, brother. It's only human nature. As the saying goes, 'Better your friend dies than you,' hahaha!"
In response to the Dragon Master's praise, the one called 'Third Brother' waved his hand 'humbly' before clinking glasses with the other.
With a gulp, he downed his wine. Just then, another Dragon Master spoke up. "But, I say, what if Dan Feng and that little girl get into a conflict? What if that lunatic…"
"Haha, I think that'd be even better. If Dan Feng takes her down, we can start fresh and train her properly, so she doesn't slip out of our control like she has now."
"Hiss… that's a great idea! Ruthless, haha!"
"Hahaha, enough of that for now. Let's keep the music going and the dance flowing!"
"…"
The Dragon Masters celebrated, the cosmic skiff aglow with lights, the sound of music echoing endlessly, creating a unique spectacle in the soundless void of the universe.
However, what these Dragon Masters didn't realize was that, as they reveled, a danger capable of crushing them was steadily approaching…
In the Nostar Nebula System, within an asteroid belt…
"That coward Phantylia, what an idiot! A mere Xianzhou Luofu, and she's making those brainless plans! I'd crush it head-on, and she tells me to wait…!"
On a dark asteroid in the belt, a man with a fiery temper was ranting loudly, bursts of blazing flames occasionally erupting from his body, giving him a highly dangerous appearance.
"A mere Luofu General, plus an Emanator of Causality who's barely been born, and Phantylia's acting so cautious? Heh, a Heliobus is a Heliobus —even as Nanook's Emanator, she's still a coward!"
The man continued his tirade, the flames on his body burning brighter, as if they might burst forth and incinerate everything around him.
"Hm?!" Just as the man was seething with rage, a massive skiff appeared not far off. In less than half a minute, it drew close to him.
"That mark… it's the seal of the Xianzhou Luofu…"
"Hahaha…!!" After recognizing the skiff's emblem, the flames on the man's body flared even more intensely, spreading uncontrollably, burning everything around him like a raging storm.
"Hahahaha!! The heavens offer a path you refuse, yet you barge into hell's gates! I'll take you out to vent my anger!"
Inside the Vidyadhara skiff, after two hours of celebration, the well-fed and slightly drunk Dragon Masters leaned back in their seats, casually discussing the current state of the Luofu.
"Sigh, do you think the Luofu can survive this Stellaron crisis?" a portly Dragon Master asked first.
"Probably. That Jing Yuan isn't a pushover. He may be young, but he's still an Emanator of the Hunt," another lanky Dragon Master replied.
"Heh, I wouldn't be so sure. Haven't you heard? The ones causing trouble this time might be connected to the Antimatter Legion. There's even talk that an Emanator of the 'Scourge of Extinction' might show up in person."
"Hiss, if that's true, it's going to be tough…"
"What's there to fear? If the Luofu really falls, we'll just head to the Xuling Xianzhou and join the Vidyadhara there. With our status as Dragon Masters, we'll still—"
As the Dragon Masters chatted, the steadily cruising skiff suddenly shook violently. Several Dragon Masters, caught off guard, tumbled to the floor in a heap.
"Damn it! What's going on? What happened?!" An older Dragon Master scrambled up from the ground, shouting toward the guards outside the door.
Hearing the call, a guard struggled to open the door and stumbled inside.
"Lord Dragon Masters, it's bad—someone—ahh!!"
With a scream, the guard's body suddenly erupted in blazing flames, reduced to ashes in mere moments.
Seeing this, the Dragon Masters' eyes widened, cold sweat dripping down their foreheads.
This guard wasn't an ordinary Cloud Knight—he was a Vidyadhara. In theory, when a Vidyadhara dies, they should reincarnate as a Vidyadhara egg.
But now, the dead guard showed no signs of reincarnation, meaning the attacker had a way to permanently kill Vidyadhara.
"Heh heh heh, who do we have here? Just a bunch of old Vidyadhara fogeys. Killing you lot would be quite a blow to the Xianzhou, wouldn't it?"
The incinerated guard turned to ash and scattered across the floor. Behind him, a wild-looking man strolled in with casual steps, his gaze sweeping over the Dragon Masters.
As their eyes met his, the Dragon Masters' faces filled with terror and panic. Some even trembled so violently that their legs gave out, and they collapsed to the ground.
"Lord of Extinction… Zephyro!!"
— — — —
"Hey, hey, can you hear me? Hello…"
At the Vidyadhara residence on the Xianzhou Luofu, Huanxi, Bailu's handmaid, was hiding in a secluded corner, clutching a communication jade token and speaking to someone unknown. From time to time, she warily scanned her surroundings.
'Beep, beep, beep…'
The other end of the jade token emitted a series of beeps, followed by a busy tone, and then the connection cut off automatically.
"What's going on? Why isn't anyone answering…"
Putting away the jade token, Huanxi muttered to herself, clearly confused by the interrupted call.
However, as she spoke, a cold laugh suddenly came from behind her.
"Heh heh, no need to keep trying. Those Dragon Masters will never return—never."
"Who?!" The sudden voice startled Huanxi. She quickly turned around, but before she could see who it was, a powerful force gripped her throat, lifting her off the ground.