A wave of relief swept through the room. The leaders of these galaxies were most concerned about their own lives. The dreaded Mingsha Assassination Group of the Galactic Empire was nearby, and if they discovered this secret meeting and launched a full-scale attack, whether any of them could survive was highly questionable. Fortunately, Mingsha had not yet shown any unusual activity; otherwise, the leaders would have rather ended the meeting than risk their lives.
“Of course, there has been a small incident,” Steve’s words made everyone tense again. He glanced at Yang Hao with a half-smile. “Miss Ling Ziyun, the leader’s beloved, has suddenly defected and also arrived at the source of the comet. We’re not quite sure why.”
Yang Hao’s heart jolted, and for a moment, his cold exterior cracked slightly. Ling Ziyun had returned to Mingsha? This was the first time Yang Hao, the so-called leader, had heard of it. Ever since Ling Ziyun and Amanda had started competing for his affection, Yang Hao had sensed something might happen. Just after rescuing Amanda from the Crucible, now Ziyun had run back to Mingsha. What was she up to? Was she betraying the Empire again, or was she now betraying Yang Hao himself? And even worse—was she taking their unborn child with her?
The galaxy leaders’ gazes toward Yang Hao dimmed instantly. Having successfully shaken Yang Hao’s authority, Steve smoothly steered the conversation back on track. “Esteemed leaders, the Anti-Empire Alliance has existed for many years, but today marks the first time all our leaders have gathered together. It is only today that, under your guidance, we have officially become a force of light.”
“A force of light?” Steve’s words startled many in the room. The Galactic Empire had ruled the universe for a century, its military power spread across every galaxy, so strong it seemed unshakable. The Resistance Alliance had taken decades just to build up a fraction of strength, and to the Empire, they were still nothing more than a minor rebellion, unworthy of serious attention. Where was the “light” in that?
“The current situation favors the Alliance greatly,” Steve clapped his hands, and a massive star map materialized before him. The map displayed the territories of the Imperial forces, the Alliance, and other rebel factions in different colors, dynamically shifting scale and scope as Steve manipulated it with his fingers. “After a century of expansion, the Empire’s military has reached its peak and can no longer grow. Meanwhile, the strength of the resistance continues to rise steadily. While we may not be able to defeat the Empire entirely, breaking away from it is not impossible.”
“Break away?” a planetary governor interjected loudly. “Won’t the Empire send troops to crush us? Mr. Steve, surely you don’t believe that defeating the Sunset Fleet equates to defeating the entire Imperial military? The Privy Council commands hundreds of elite fleets—losing one means nothing to them.”
Steve remained calm and composed. “While the Privy Council holds great military power, internal conflicts between them and the Senate have grown increasingly intense. They’re also being restrained by the Merchant Guilds, which has significantly weakened their strength. Moreover, we are not the only resistance force anymore. Look here—” At his words, the star map shifted, zooming in on the eastern frontier of the Galactic Empire. There, white-marked systems were locked in fierce battle with Imperial forces. “The rebellion in the Angel Star system has spread. In just a few days, ten more systems have joined the uprising. Rumor has it that the leader of the rebellion, Shi Mingyuan, has nearly reached the fiftieth level of combat power—almost the strength of a Grand Swordsman.”
This revelation sent shockwaves through the assembly. In the entire universe, Grand Swordsmen were rare, and even rarer among the rebels. For a young woman like Shi Mingyuan to suddenly possess such power explained why the Angel Star conflict had dragged on.
Among the uproar, only Hurd and Yang Hao remained calm. Hurd even kept his eyes closed, seemingly indifferent. Yang Hao, however, was only pretending. If it hadn’t been for Hunyuanzi’s warning inside him, Yang Hao might have shouted in shock.
Shi Mingyuan had broken through to the fiftieth level! She was one of Yang Hao’s closest allies. Thinking of her angelic beauty, her smooth skin, and her delicate, slender feet, Yang Hao found it hard to believe that such a fragile-looking woman could possess such immense strength. After all, Yang Hao had visited the Divine Realm, broken through the Yuan Ying stage, and obtained the Hunyin Divine Artifact—only then had he reached the fiftieth level.
“Don’t worry. Once you break through the Kong Ming stage and refine a more advanced sword core, you’ll reach half the power of a Sword Saint,” Hunyuanzi could only offer such reassurance.
Steve raised his hands, calming the murmurs in the chamber. “The rebellion in Angel Star has caught both us and the Empire off guard. After careful consideration, the Emperor has decided that although the rebellion is small now, its growth is alarming. Therefore, the Empire has dispatched its main forces to the eastern front to crush it decisively.”
“Which forces exactly?” The same governor asked again. Many politicians around him nodded in agreement. The Empire’s military was too vast—’main forces’ could mean many things.
At this, even the normally composed Steve’s hands trembled slightly, as if the names he was about to utter carried an unstoppable force: “The Legion of Glory has been fully mobilized.”
A gasp rippled through the crowd.
“The top three family armies from the Ten Sword Clans have also joined the campaign.”
Another, louder gasp.
“And accompanying them is Master Miusai, one of the Empire’s two Sword Saints, who has been assigned to suppress the rebellion.”
This time, no one spoke. The expressions on the leaders’ faces were a mix of despair and reluctant hope. They were relieved that the Empire had chosen the eastern front for its crackdown. If such a force were to march toward the Sanjinghai system, even if all 100+ systems in the room united, they would likely be crushed.
The Legion of Glory was a military force the Empire had rarely deployed in decades. Even during times of military shortage, the Emperor and the Privy Council had always kept it close. Its significance extended far beyond its combat power.
The Legion of Glory consisted of ten fleets, each named after “Glory.” Each had participated in thousands of battles, expanding the Empire’s borders and earning legendary status. Each had faced near-annihilation multiple times, even fighting off enemies ten times their size. Their survival was a testament to their glory and the terrifying battle-hardened experience of their soldiers.
The three family armies from the Ten Sword Clans were even more formidable. While their military might might not match the Legion of Glory, their presence meant the full mobilization of three major sword sects. If the Mingsha Assassination Group alone could terrify the leaders in the room, what would three sects united do?
But the most terrifying news was the involvement of the Sword Saint Miusai. In the Galactic Empire, Sword Saints were transcendent figures. They didn’t belong to any political faction, and even though their power rivaled that of the Senate members, they never joined the Senate. Their primary duty was to guard the Emperor, deterring would-be assassins. A Sword Saint’s power was said to be close to that of a loose immortal.
There were three Sword Saints in the Galactic Empire. The first, the old Sword Saint, was rumored to be the mentor of both the Emperor and Situ Hai. He hadn’t been seen in decades. The second was Miusai himself, who had risen from a common officer through forty years of relentless cultivation to become a Sword Saint and now served as the Crown Prince’s mentor. The third was the newly ascended Situ Hai, whose promotion to Sword Saint was still largely unknown to the galaxy.
For years, it had been rare to hear of a Sword Saint joining a military campaign. On one hand, the Imperial military was strong enough without such intervention. On the other, a single Sword Saint could easily eliminate a rebellion’s leadership—no need for an entire army.
But this time, the Galactic Empire was treating the rebellion as a dire emergency, deploying its strongest cards. It seemed the eastern front wasn’t just close to the Empire’s core—it held some deeper mystery. The Empire clearly wanted to crush it quickly and decisively.
Sure enough, Steve’s next words confirmed their suspicions. A barely restrained smile spread across his face as he held up a beautifully crafted letter.
In this era, information traveled at incredible speed. Even an order from Earth, the heart of the Galactic Empire, could reach Sanjinghai in a single day. So few still used such ancient methods as handwritten letters. This letter, passed through a relay of ships at great cost and time, was clearly a deliberate tradition.
Steve’s letter was unmistakably imperial. The golden and crimson patterns and the unmistakable royal seal left no doubt—it was an imperial decree.
“The Galactic Empire wishes to negotiate peace with us,” Steve’s voice trembled slightly, his throat dry. The years of struggle by these leaders had finally come to fruition in his hands. “The Emperor has issued a decree. The outer territories along the axis of the Laimeng, Saint Bear, and Sanjinghai systems will be established as the Divine Autonomy Territory. From now on, it will be free from Imperial rule. The planets within will enjoy autonomy, military independence, and financial sovereignty.”
The news struck like a cosmic storm, shaking the entire chamber. Even the flame-shaped defensive barriers on the walls roared with the force of the reaction. The leaders stood up, stunned into silence, staring at each other in disbelief. For a moment, they forgot to cheer.
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