Wei Zhenghong spoke with righteous indignation, but since the matter involved another living Morning Star Tier member of the Sect, the others hesitated to respond rashly.
Zhao Ming mused, "Perhaps Venerable Qin Yun truly doesn’t know anything."
He was older than Wei Zhenghong and known for being the most mature and steady among them.
Hearing this, Wei Zhenghong didn’t get angry. He simply said, "Whether Qin Yun knew or not is completely irrelevant now."
"But after this whole Lost Flame affair, it seems only our Bronze Sect came out unscathed. Even the Royal Court lost at least one Morning Star Tier expert."
For now, the matter was contained within a small circle, its gravity kept under wraps. Many low-ranking members of the various sects were still in the dark.
But once word inevitably spread, a loss this significant would demand an explanation, no matter how you looked at it—for the leaders, for the members, for everyone.
Zhao Ming’s brow furrowed. "Could this," he added, "be a conspiracy by the Royal Court?"
"Oh, come on..." Chu Ran interjected, his voice edged with impatience. "Senior Brother Zhao, who cares if it’s a conspiracy? If we want to prove anything, we need evidence. Otherwise, the powers that lost those Morning Star Tier masters aren’t just going to swallow that loss."
"Let’s just hope a proper solution can be found in the end," Jiang Mufeng said with a sense of helplessness. "Otherwise..."
The group fell silent again. In the end, it was Zhao Ming who broke the stillness. "With this whole mess going on, will the Peak Star Conference still be held?"
Su Chen’s heart skipped a beat. ’Peak Star Conference...’
He had heard of it. It was a grand event that drew the attention of the Five Great Sects, the Royal Court, and all the powers, large and small, across the Dust Star Sea.
With the goal of determining the strongest warrior, it offered lavish rewards and was held only once every ten years, making it a truly grand occasion.
Due to the vast distances between star systems, preparations had to begin a full two years in advance. This time, it was set to be held in the Royal Court, and the preliminary events were supposed to have kicked off right after the Hanhai Emperor’s birthday.
"Until this is resolved, I doubt anyone will even bring up the conference," Jiang Mufeng said, shaking his head.
The men discussed their opinions and exchanged a fair bit of information. They agreed that as soon as there was any news about the Prison King, Jiang Mufeng would let the others know immediately.
’Verifying if the Prison King has awoken...’ After the banquet concluded, Su Chen departed, his brow deeply furrowed.
The final outcome of this affair would very likely impact him, so he had no choice but to pay close attention.
By the time he returned to his Floating Island, it was Dark Sun. Su Chen glanced at the time. ’They should be here soon.’
...
"So this is the Bronze Sect... It’s incredible..."
A heavy transport ship drifted out from a Star Gate. Bu Siqi stood at a viewport, taking in the scene. He couldn’t help but gasp in amazement at the sight of the faint silhouettes of Life Stars in the distance and the Copper Heart up close.
He had already been stunned several times while passing through other transit hubs on his journey, but now, arriving at the very core of the Bronze Sect, he was still filled with awe.
"Is that the Flame Fire?" he asked, pointing to the great ball of fire in the distance, completely mesmerized.
In the past, he had only ever seen artificial suns, which completely lacked the comforting warmth that now enveloped him. He felt his whole body relax, wondering if it was just his imagination.
"That’s right. That’s the Flame Fire," the Guard Captain said with a nod, standing beside him.
The others who had followed also gathered around, their faces showing similar awe, though they were far more composed than Bu Siqi.
Soon, the heavy transport ship docked at a nearby Star Port. Everyone disembarked one after another. Many Sect members were coming and going, some exuding life auras so powerful they were downright intimidating.
The Guard Captain led them to an office deep within the Star Port.
The Guard Captain knocked on the door and led Teng Liang and the others inside.
"Old Zhang, I need you to process some permits for temporary entry into Copper Heart."
The spacious, bright office was sparsely furnished. Behind a desk sat a middle-aged man with thinning hair. He looked up at the helmet-carrying Guard Captain with a hint of displeasure.
His gaze then swept over Teng Liang and the others behind him, his eyes full of scrutiny.
Bu Siqi’s brow furrowed slightly. He didn’t like the way the man was looking at them, but being in an unfamiliar place, he said nothing and just shifted uncomfortably.
"Liu Yang..." the middle-aged man said, his voice laced with impatience. "Where did you drag this lot in from now? The Sect has issued repeated orders forbidding anyone from smuggling people here from other Life Planets."
Liu Yang’s expression shifted. Among the Life Planets under the Bronze Sect’s Command, some were near and some were far; some were rich in resources, and others were naturally barren.
His department was, in fact, responsible for providing support to these planets.
Sometimes, they couldn’t help but accept a few... perks... to bring some people over from those planets. If those people could manage to settle in one of the nearby satellite cities, they would gain access to the Sect’s resources.
But as the practice became more rampant, the Sect’s leadership had expressly forbidden it. It was difficult to stamp out completely, though. There were always ways around the rules, usually involving an exchange of benefits.
This wasn’t his first time dealing with the man. An attitude like this was just a shakedown for money.
But this time was different. He let out a cold snort and rapped his knuckles on the desk. "Old Zhang, take a closer look. Where did my mission just take me?"
"Where you came from?" Old Zhang’s brow twitched. Seeing Liu Yang’s fearless demeanor, years of experience told him not to act rashly. He quickly pulled up the captain’s mission records.
"Six months ago, dispatched to Red Thunder Star to deliver resources... Red Thunder Star? Red Thunder Star!"
He chewed on the name, a vague sense of familiarity dawning on him. Suddenly, his expression changed, and he asked tentatively, "His Excellency Su Chen’s home planet?"
Liu Yang gave a faint nod.
And just like that, Bu Siqi watched as the previously impatient old man’s face instantly bloomed into a warm, enthusiastic smile. He shot up from his chair. "Oh, my! Please, everyone, have a seat, have a seat!"