The administration of the Crystal Sea Star System, though unfamiliar to Long Yun, at least included portraits of the ruling officials he had seen posted in triplicate; the system’s culture of leader worship had reached a despicable level.
The governance of the Crystal Sea Galaxy, even if Long Yun didn’t recognize it, he had at least seen the portraits of its rulers plastered everywhere—the cult of personality here had reached an outrageous level.
What left a deep impression on Long Yun was Captain Lei, who always stood as if ready to charge into battle at any moment. The reputation of the Outer Mongolia Third Column was also thunderous. Among the many forces resisting the Empire, this column, led by Lei, had endured the longest and achieved the most illustrious victories. Though called a “column,” it commanded countless disguised merchant fleets that operated as resistance forces. The Outer Mongolia Third Column was infamous for ambushing Imperial military and trade convoys, serving as one of the critical barriers preventing the Galactic Empire from breaking through the Outer Mongolia system and expanding deeper into the cosmos.
Lei was tall, almost as tall as Long Yun. His fair, scholarly appearance was marred by a deep scar across his face, giving him a rugged, battle-hardened look. The massive gun slung across his back made it seem as though he had just stepped off the battlefield.
“Where’s Yang Hao?” Maya, unlike the others, wasn’t so polite. The princess of Saint’s Star had gained her own physical form after merging with Yang Hao’s Sword Heart, becoming his most inseparable supporter. But since the battle on Saint Bear Star, she hadn’t seen him, and her anxiety had reached unbearable levels.
“Yang Hao is still undergoing trials in the Divine Realm,” Steve interjected, noticing the awkward expressions of Empress Ming and Elder He. “As the leader of the Anti-Empire Alliance, he still has much to learn. I believe he’ll return to us soon.”
Long Yun frowned. As Yang Hao’s staunch friend, he found it hard to imagine that someone as reluctant to shoulder responsibility as Yang Hao would accept the role of leader and willingly undergo trials in the mysterious Divine Realm.
“If he’s not back, why call us here?” Maya twisted her body in irritation. Having spent centuries without wearing clothes, she now found the dress she was forced into uncomfortable, despite its revealing nature. “We’re here for Yang Hao, not to entertain you.”
Steve, ever composed, didn’t react to Maya’s rudeness. “We’ve called you here because we need your help.”
“No time!” Maya scoffed.
Steve’s gaze shifted to Empress Ming.
Empress Ming sighed and turned to Long Yun. “We’re in trouble. Big trouble.”
“Did something happen to Yang Hao?” Long Yun’s heart tightened.
“Yang Hao’s cause is in trouble,” Steve seized the opportunity. “The Anti-Empire Alliance, under his leadership, is facing an unprecedented crisis. It risks failing before it even begins.”
Seeing the confusion on their faces, Steve continued, “Under Yang Hao’s leadership, the Anti-Empire Alliance has been preparing for war. The Crystal Sea Galaxy, as the alliance’s technological and manufacturing hub, has been tirelessly producing ships to expand our forces for a full-scale war against the Galactic Empire.”
“So what?” Maya remained indifferent.
“But we’ve been discovered by the Empire,” Steve lamented. “We planned to reveal our hand only after completing our preparations, but a few days ago, an Imperial fleet arrived. They’ve seen everything.”
Long Yun’s eyes widened. He knew the massive military buildup in the Crystal Sea was hard to conceal, but he didn’t understand why Steve hadn’t taken precautions. “Did the Sunset Fleet report back to the Empire? Does the Emperor know everything?”
“Not yet,” Steve said. “Since the preparations began, we’ve blocked all communications with the Empire within a hundred light-years. Unless they travel beyond that range, they can’t contact the Imperial headquarters.”
“That’s good, isn’t it?” Long Yun exhaled in relief. “That battered fleet was crushed by us at Saint Bear Star. If they fled here, they’re walking into a trap. The Crystal Sea has so many ships—just send a few to surround them and cut off their escape.”
“That was the plan,” Steve’s expression darkened. “But there’s been a slight complication.”
“A complication?”
“The Sunset Fleet was originally docked at the Sixth Inner Port of the Crystal Sea system. We set up three layers of encirclement—it should’ve been foolproof.” Steve sounded defeated. “But an hour ago, the entire fleet vanished.”
“Vanished?!” Long Yun and the others gasped. They couldn’t fathom how such a massive fleet—hundreds of ships, including a Titan-class flagship—could disappear under everyone’s noses.
“We underestimated Luo Dongjie,” Steve sighed, speaking of the Sunset Fleet’s commander. “As the youngest fleet commander and general in Imperial history, his reputation isn’t unearned. Though he suffered a crushing defeat at Saint Bear Star, he’s cunning and excels at surprise tactics. Even among the Empire’s top generals, he stands out. How could we possibly contain such a man?”
“He’s just a defeated foe,” Long Yun dismissed.
“Defeat isn’t the issue. What’s terrifying is his ability to remain calm and resourceful even after failure. In just a few days, he’s revitalized the Sunset Fleet, which had only a tenth of its strength left, and outmaneuvered us under heavy surveillance. A leader like him must never be underestimated.”
Long Yun studied Steve intently, sensing something odd. “Why do you know so much about him?”
Steve didn’t flinch. “Because Luo Dongjie was once engaged to my daughter. He almost became my son-in-law.”
This revelation stunned everyone, including Empress Ming and Elder He. But after a moment of shock, they understood.
Indeed, political marriages were crucial in the Empire. As the Crystal Sea grew stronger, it was bound to become a rival to the Galactic Empire. Without powerful backing, the Empire would’ve long sent someone else to take control. To secure his family’s rule, Steve had betrothed his daughter to the Empire’s most promising general. An alliance with Luo Dongjie also meant support from the Imperial Privy Council.
“Luo Dongjie didn’t just vanish with his fleet—he took my daughter,” Steve’s voice burned with intensity. “Long Yun, I need your help. I need the Haojian Team and the *Doomsday* battleship.”
“What can we do? The Crystal Sea has a powerful fleet—can’t you handle this yourselves?” With Yang Hao absent, Long Yun was the only one who could make decisions.
Steve shook his head. “The Crystal Sea’s military might is vast, but vast also means slow. Mobilizing our forces and refueling will take days—enough time for the Sunset Fleet to escape beyond a hundred light-years. We don’t have that time.”
“You want to use the *Doomsday*’s speed?” Long Yun began to understand. Though not the most powerful ship in the cosmos, the *Doomsday* was the most balanced, excelling in both firepower and speed. “You want us to chase the Sunset Fleet with a single battleship? Are you insane, or am I hearing wrong?”
“You won’t be alone,” Lei interjected bluntly. “The Outer Mongolia Third Column will join you.”
“And what difference does that make?” Long Yun waved dismissively. “Your column is made up of small, lightly armed ships—fine for merchant raids, but against the Empire’s elite fleet? It’s suicide.”
“Just one day,” Steve pleaded. “If you can delay the Sunset Fleet for one day, I swear the Crystal Sea’s main forces will arrive. Even Luo Dongjie won’t escape then. Besides, the *Doomsday* has a secret weapon—one even the Empire doesn’t know about.”
Steve was revealing his trump card. The *Doomsday* had been built in the Crystal Sea under a secret agreement with the Emperor of Raymon Star. It was equipped with a newly developed superweapon so costly that the *Doomsday* remained the only ship to carry it. After the Emperor’s assassination, knowledge of this weapon had vanished—even Empress Ming was unaware.
“The *Doomsday* has a weapon called the *Doomsday’s Kiss*,” Steve produced an information chip. “Activating it will annihilate everything within a million square kilometers. Its power rivals even the *Light Hunter*. If you agree to intercept the Sunset Fleet, I’ll upload this chip into XII, granting you full access to the *Doomsday’s Kiss*.”
It was a tempting—and shocking—offer.
Long Yun pondered. Personally, he might be willing to fight for the Anti-Empire Alliance, but he wasn’t the true captain. He had others to consider. “Give me one more reason,” he challenged Steve. “One reason why we should risk Yang Hao’s ship. If he were here, would he do this?”
Lei was tall, nearly matching Long Yun’s height. His originally fair and scholarly appearance was marred by a deep scar across his face, which ruined his otherwise refined features. He carried a massive gun slung across his back, as if fresh from the battlefield.
“Where is Yang Hao?” Maya showed no courtesy like the others. Ever since merging her soul with Yang Hao’s sacred sword, the princess from Saint Planet had gained a physical form and had become one of Yang Hao’s most loyal supporters. But since the battle at Saint Bear Star, she hadn’t seen Yang Hao again, and her anxiety had grown to an unbearable level.
“Yang Hao is still undergoing trials in the Divine Realm,” Steve noticed the embarrassment on Ming Empress’s and Elder Hades’s faces and stepped forward. “As the leader of the Anti-Empire Alliance, he still has much to learn. I believe he will return to us soon.”
Long Yun frowned deeply. As Yang Hao’s close friend, he found it hard to imagine how someone so averse to responsibility could have accepted such a leadership role and even voluntarily ventured into the unknown depths of the Divine Realm for trials.
“If he’s not back, why did you call us here?” Maya twisted her body in frustration. She had gone centuries without wearing clothes, and now that she had a physical form, she insisted on wearing a dress, though it still exposed much of her body—it felt uncomfortable. “We’re here just to wait for Yang Hao. We don’t have time to entertain you.”
Steve, with his remarkable composure, didn’t change expression despite Maya’s rudeness. “There is a favor we need you to do.”
“No time!” Maya scoffed.
Steve shifted his gaze to Ming Empress.
Ming Empress sighed and said to Long Yun, “We’re in trouble. Big trouble.”
“Did something happen to Yang Hao?” Long Yun couldn’t help but feel concerned.
“It’s the cause Yang Hao leads that’s in trouble,” Steve seized the opening and continued, “The Anti-Empire Alliance led by Yang Hao is facing an unprecedented crisis. It might collapse before it even reaches its full potential.”
Seeing the confusion on Long Yun’s and the others’ faces, Steve continued, “Under Yang Hao’s leadership, the Anti-Empire Alliance has been preparing for war. The Three Crystal Seas Star System, as the alliance’s technological and manufacturing center, has been producing warships day after day, preparing to expand our forces and wage full-scale war against the Galactic Empire.”
“So what?” Maya remained indifferent.
“But we’ve been discovered by the Empire,” Steve said with visible pain. “Originally, we planned to confront the Empire only after completing our preparations. But a few days ago, an Imperial fleet arrived, and they’ve uncovered everything we’ve been doing.”
Long Yun’s eyes widened. He knew the buildup in the Three Crystal Seas had been hard to conceal, but he couldn’t understand why Steve hadn’t taken precautions. “Did the Sunset Fleet report back to the Empire’s capital? Does the Emperor already know everything happening here?”
“Not yet,” Steve replied. “Since we began preparations, we’ve blocked all communications with the Empire within a hundred light-years. They can’t contact the capital unless they travel beyond that range.”
“Then isn’t that good?” Long Yun relaxed a little. “That broken fleet was defeated badly at Saint Bear Star and fled here—aren’t they just walking into the lion’s den? The Three Crystal Seas have so many warships; we can easily send a few to surround them and prevent them from going anywhere.”
“That’s what we thought,” Steve’s face darkened. “But there was a slight complication.”
“A complication?”
“The Sunset Fleet was originally docked at the Sixth Inner Harbor of the Three Crystal Seas Star System. We set up three layers of encirclement around them, which should have been airtight,” Steve said with a sense of defeat. “But an hour ago, the entire Sunset Fleet vanished.”
“Vanished?!” Long Yun and the others from the Hao Sword Group exclaimed in shock. They couldn’t fathom how such a massive fleet—hundreds of warships, including a Titan-class flagship—could just disappear before their very eyes.
“We underestimated Lo Dongjie,” Steve sighed as he spoke of the fleet commander. “Lo Dongjie, the youngest fleet admiral in the Empire’s history, is no mere name—he suffered a crushing defeat at Bear Star, but the man is cunning, capable of launching unexpected attacks. Even among the many generals in the Imperial Privy Council, he is an exceptional talent. How could such a person be contained?”
“He’s just a defeated enemy,” Long Yun remained unconcerned.
The governance of the Crystal Sea Galaxy, even if Long Yun didn’t recognize it, he had at least seen the portraits of its rulers plastered everywhere—the cult of personality here had reached an appalling level.
What left a deep impression on Long Yun was Captain Lei, who always stood as if ready to charge into battle at any moment. The reputation of the Outer Mongolia Third Column was also thunderous. Among the many forces resisting the Empire, this column, led by Lei, had endured the longest and achieved the most illustrious feats. Though called a “column,” it commanded countless resistance fleets disguised as merchant ships. The Outer Mongolia Third Column was infamous for ambushing Imperial military and trade convoys, serving as a crucial barrier preventing the Galactic Empire from breaking through the Outer Mongolia system and expanding deeper into the cosmos.
Lei was tall, almost shoulder-to-shoulder with Long Yun. His fair, scholarly appearance was marred by a deep scar across his face. The massive gun slung across his back made it seem as though he had just stepped off the battlefield.
“Where’s Yang Hao?” Maya, unlike the others, wasn’t so polite. The princess of Saint Star had gained her own physical form after merging her sword heart with Yang Hao’s, becoming his most inseparable supporter. But since the battle at Saint Bear Star, she hadn’t seen him, and her anxiety had reached unbearable levels.
“Yang Hao is still undergoing trials in the Divine Realm,” Steve interjected, noticing the awkward silence from Empress Ming and Elder He. “As the leader of the Anti-Empire Alliance, he still has much to learn. I believe he’ll return to us soon.”
Long Yun frowned. As Yang Hao’s staunch friend, he found it hard to imagine that someone so reluctant to shoulder responsibility would accept a leadership role—let alone voluntarily undergo trials in the perilous Divine Realm.
“If he’s not back, why call us here?” Maya twisted her body in irritation. Having never worn clothes for centuries, she now found the dress forced upon her uncomfortable, despite its revealing nature. “We’re here for Yang Hao, not to entertain you.”
Steve, ever composed, remained unfazed by her rudeness. “We invited you here because we need your help.”
“No time!” Maya scoffed.
Steve’s gaze shifted to Empress Ming.
With a sigh, Empress Ming turned to Long Yun. “We’re in trouble. Big trouble.”
“Did something happen to Yang Hao?” Long Yun’s heart tightened.
“Yang Hao’s cause is in trouble,” Steve seized the opening. “The Anti-Empire Alliance he leads is facing an unprecedented crisis. It may collapse before it even begins.”
Seeing the confusion on their faces, Steve continued, “Under Yang Hao’s leadership, the Alliance has been preparing for war. The Crystal Sea Galaxy, as our technological and manufacturing hub, has been tirelessly producing ships to expand our forces for a full-scale war against the Galactic Empire.”
“So what?” Maya remained indifferent.
“But the Empire has discovered us,” Steve lamented. “We planned to reveal our hand only after completing our preparations. Yet, just days ago, an Imperial fleet arrived and uncovered everything.”
Long Yun’s eyes widened. He knew the frenzied shipbuilding in the Crystal Sea was hard to conceal, but he couldn’t understand why Steve hadn’t taken precautions. “Did the Sunset Fleet report to the Empire? Does the Emperor know everything?”
“Not yet,” Steve said. “Since our preparations began, we’ve blocked all communications within a hundred light-years. Unless they travel beyond that range, they can’t contact the Empire.”
“Then what’s the problem?” Long Yun relaxed slightly. “That battered fleet fled here after we crushed them at Saint Bear Star. With all the ships in the Crystal Sea, we can easily trap them.”
“That was the plan,” Steve’s expression darkened. “But there’s been a complication.”
“A complication?”
“The Sunset Fleet was docked at the Sixth Inner Port of the Crystal Sea system. We set up three layers of encirclement—it should’ve been foolproof.” Steve sounded defeated. “But an hour ago, the entire fleet vanished.”
“Vanished?!” Long Yun and the others gasped. They couldn’t fathom how such a massive fleet—hundreds of ships, including a Titan-class flagship—could disappear under their noses.
“We underestimated Luo Dongjie,” Steve sighed, speaking of the Sunset Fleet’s commander. “As the youngest fleet admiral and general in Imperial history, his reputation is well-earned. Though he suffered a crushing defeat at Saint Bear Star, he’s cunning and excels at surprise tactics. Even among the Empire’s top generals, he stands out. How could we contain such a man?”
“A defeated foe, nothing more,” Long Yun dismissed.
“Defeat isn’t the issue. What’s terrifying is his composure after failure. In just days, he revitalized his decimated fleet, saw through our trap, and escaped under our noses. Such a leader cannot be underestimated.”
Long Yun studied Steve intently, sensing something amiss. “Why do you know so much about him?”
Steve met his gaze unflinchingly. “Because Luo Dongjie was once betrothed to my daughter. He nearly became my son-in-law.”
The revelation stunned everyone, including Empress Ming and Elder He. But after a moment, understanding dawned.
Political marriages were crucial in the Empire. As the Crystal Sea grew stronger, it would inevitably challenge the Galaxy. Without backing, the Empire would have sent enforcers long ago. To secure his family’s rule, Steve had betrothed his daughter to the Empire’s most promising general. Luo Dongjie’s alliance meant the backing of the Imperial Privy Council.
“Luo Dongjie didn’t just vanish with his fleet—he took my daughter,” Steve’s voice burned with intensity. “Mr. Long Yun, I need your help. I need the Doomsday Battleship and the Haojian Squadron.”
“What can we do? The Crystal Sea has a powerful fleet. Can’t you handle this yourselves?” With Yang Hao absent, Long Yun was the decision-maker.
Steve shook his head. “Our forces are vast, but size means slowness. Mobilizing and refueling will take days—enough time for the Sunset Fleet to escape beyond a hundred light-years. We don’t have that time.”
“You want to use the Doomsday’s speed?” Long Yun began to understand. Though not the strongest, the Doomsday was the most balanced warship in the cosmos, excelling in firepower and speed. “You want us to chase the Sunset Fleet? A single battleship against an entire fleet? Are you insane, or am I hearing wrong?”
“You won’t be alone,” Lei interjected tersely. “The Outer Mongolia Third Column will join you.”
“So what?” Long Yun waved dismissively. “Your column’s small, single-pilot ships are good for merchant raids, but against the Empire’s elite fleet? It’s suicide.”
“Just one day,” Steve pleaded. “If you can delay them for one day, I swear our main forces will arrive. No matter how strong the Sunset Fleet is, they won’t escape. Besides, the Doomsday has a secret weapon—unknown even to the Empire.”
Steve was revealing his trump card. The Doomsday, built in the Crystal Sea, had been outfitted with a mysterious weapon under a secret pact with the Emperor of Raymond Star. The weapon’s immense cost made the Doomsday unique. But after the Emperor’s assassination, the secret was buried—unknown even to Empress Ming.
“The Doomsday carries a weapon called ‘Doomsday’s Kiss,'” Steve produced a data chip. “Activating it will annihilate everything within a million square kilometers. Its power rivals even the Light Hunter. If you agree to intercept the Sunset Fleet, I’ll upload this chip into XII, granting you full control of Doomsday’s Kiss.”
The offer was tempting—and shocking.
Long Yun hesitated. While he might fight for the Alliance, he wasn’t the true captain. He had others to consider. “Give me one more reason,” he challenged Steve. “Why should we risk Yang Hao’s ship? If he were here, would he do this?”
Long Yun stared at Steve, sensing something odd. “Why do you know him so well?”
Steve’s gaze didn’t waver. “Because Lo Dongjie was once engaged to my daughter. He almost became my son-in-law.”
This revelation shocked everyone, even Ming Empress and Elder Hades, who had been unaware of this secret. But after a moment of shock, everyone’s expressions turned to understanding.
Indeed, political marriages were especially important in the Empire. As the Three Crystal Seas Star System grew increasingly powerful, it was destined to become a rival to the galaxy. Without strong backing, the Empire would have already dispatched a strongman to take control. To secure his family’s position, Steve had no choice but to marry his daughter to the most promising general in the Empire. An alliance with Lo Dongjie meant strong support from the Imperial Privy Council.
“Lo Dongjie not only escaped with the fleet but also took my daughter with him,” Steve’s voice burned with intensity. “Mr. Long Yun, I need your help. I need the Hao Sword Group and the battleship Doomsday.”
“We can help you with what? The Three Crystal Seas have a powerful fleet; they should be able to handle this themselves, right?” With Yang Hao gone, Long Yun naturally became the one in charge.
Steve shook his head. “The Three Crystal Seas do have a strong military now, but strength also means slowness. We need to refuel, mobilize our forces—it will take at least a few days. By then, the Sunset Fleet could have fled a hundred light-years away. We don’t have time—plenty of time.”
“You want to use the speed of the Doomsday?” Long Yun began to understand. Though not the most powerful warship in the galaxy, the Doomsday was the most balanced, with superior firepower and speed compared to similar ships. “You want us to chase down the entire Sunset Fleet with just one battleship? Are you crazy or did I hear wrong?”
“You won’t be alone,” Lei spoke briefly. “The Third United Front from Outer Mongolia will be with you.”
“What difference does that make?” Long Yun waved his hand in frustration. “Your front is full of small, standard warships. They can handle merchant ships, but going up against an elite Imperial fleet would be like moths flying into a flame.”
“Just one day and night,” Steve almost begged. “If you can hold off the Sunset Fleet for just twenty-four hours, I guarantee the main forces of the Three Crystal Seas will arrive in time. By then, no matter how strong the Sunset Fleet is, they won’t escape our encirclement. Besides, the Doomsday has a secret weapon no one knows about—not even the Empire.”
Steve was truly revealing his most valuable secret. The Doomsday was built in the Three Crystal Seas under a secret agreement between Emperor Remon and Steve. A newly developed mysterious weapon was installed on the Doomsday, a weapon so costly that it was the only one of its kind in the entire universe. However, after Emperor Remon’s assassination, the secret of this weapon was buried, even unknown to Ming Empress.
“The Doomsday carries a weapon called the ‘Kiss of the End,’” Steve held up a data chip. “Once activated, it can completely annihilate everything within a million square kilometers. Its power is almost equal to that of a light-hunting weapon. If you’re willing to intercept the Sunset Fleet, I’ll upload this chip into XII’s system, allowing you to freely use the Kiss of the End.”
A great temptation, enough to shock anyone.
Long Yun hesitated. From his perspective, he might be willing to go to war for the Anti-Empire Alliance, but he wasn’t the real captain—he still had to consider others. “Give me one more reason,” Long Yun faced Steve directly. “One reason. Why should we risk Yang Hao’s ship? Would he do this if he were here?”
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