As Yang Ying immersed himself in his studies, Robin led a group of Ghost Agents to confront the Mercenary Alliance Investigation Team.

It turned out that many spies from hostile factions had infiltrated the investigation team. Under the guise of an inquiry, they sought to uncover the reason why the Telan Mercenary Group had annihilated the five major powers outside Gray Port.

They either acted themselves or bribed informants, frequenting certain sensitive areas to search for clues.

The captain of the investigation team, Harry, was not an imposing figure, and his control over his subordinates was weak. Some members would disappear for extended periods, and he was powerless to stop them.

However, when Robin sent word that several of his men were dead, Harry became incensed. Realizing the gravity of the situation, he immediately went to the Gray Port office to negotiate with Robin.

“Mr. Robin, they are all members of the Mercenary Alliance. They died under suspicious circumstances in your territory—do you hold the Mercenary Alliance in such low regard!” Harry roared, his eyes wide and fixed on Robin’s face.

“Suspicious? Wrong. The sequence of events is quite clear.” Robin produced a small holographic projector and displayed footage showing the recent activities of the deceased men, letting Harry watch. “This evidence clearly confirms their malicious intent, and it has now become a fact. Is the Telan Mercenary Group the type to allow people to attack us without retaliation?”

Harry watched the holographic images, cold sweat beading on his forehead. As the captain, his subordinates engaging in espionage was a massive blow to his reputation. Moreover, being clearly recorded with ironclad evidence—if this got out, no one would speak up for him.

The Asteroid Belt had never been faulted for excessive defense; anyone encountered acting as a spy was executed without exception. Robin had done nothing wrong.

What panicked him further was realizing he was facing not just any large mercenary group, but the Telan Mercenary Group, known as the foremost among the large factions, whose power was nearly equivalent to that of the Super Mercenary Groups.

“These guys actually did such a thing behind my back and provoked the Telan Mercenary Group, a force not to be trifled with. Even if they did it, to be captured so clearly on film—what am I supposed to do?” Harry’s heart convulsed; his composure was utterly shattered.

He coughed to slightly mask his inner panic and said with a wry smile, “Mr. Robin, the actions of these men have nothing to do with the Mercenary Alliance, nor do they have anything to do with me. They must have been assigned by someone else.”

Robin remained unhurried. He held the moral high ground. Although moral high ground might not always prevail in the Asteroid Belt, with strength as a backing, its utility could be fully realized.

Harry kept explaining to Robin that the Mercenary Alliance had never issued orders to send spies, until he suddenly saw a new scene projected from the holographic device.

Several Ghost Agents approached the body of a slain individual, examining the corpse. One Ghost Agent seemed to discover something, reaching out to tear a bionic mask from the dead man’s face.

“This—this is the ‘Thousand Faces,’ Alva!” Harry shouted, pointing at the pale face in the image.

“Oh, Mr. Harry knows this person too? Quite right, he was also a member of your investigation team,” Robin stated coldly.

“No, no…” Harry shook his head and hands simultaneously, stammering frantically. “That’s impossible. This person only joined the team right before we set out; he was jovial and fine in daily conversation. I always assumed he was a rookie. How could I have suspected he was the infamous ‘Thousand Faces’? That man is extremely well-known even among high-level mercenaries, his art of disguise is divine. How could I possibly recognize him?”

“How much do you know about this Alva?” Robin pressed, recognizing that it was time to apply pressure.

“This Alva was famous ten years ago. He specialized in infiltrating important facilities and stealing intelligence. Later, I heard he was recruited by the Caesar Mercenary Group and became their ace agent.”

As Harry spoke, his heart sank. He thought: Perhaps the Caesar Mercenary Group sent him. Oh dear, if I get caught between these two mercenary groups I cannot afford to offend, I’m done for.

“So, he was sent by the Caesar Mercenary Group.” Seeing Harry’s face grow paler, Robin understood his thoughts. He smiled faintly, softening his expression, and said, “Mr. Harry, please don’t be afraid. Our mercenary group still believes in your innocence. These spies were likely not sent by you.”

Robin was well-versed in the carrot-and-stick approach; he wouldn't apply pressure relentlessly. Maintaining good relations with the Mercenary Alliance was still beneficial.

“Thank you for your group’s trust. From now on, I will strictly control the personnel of the investigation team and ensure we do not cause any more trouble for you,” Harry replied cautiously.

“That would be wonderful. We welcome the investigation team’s presence; after all, this is an opportunity for us to advance to a major mercenary group, ha ha,” Robin said with a laugh.

Since the Ghost Agents had already killed all the spies sent by various factions within the investigation team, having the matter concluded without further issue was acceptable.

Just then, a Ghost Agent outside the office door gave Robin an urgent hand signal.

Robin immediately said to Harry, “Mr. Harry, please excuse me for a moment.” He then walked out the door. The phrase "，" followed.

“Wait a moment,” Harry muttered, wiping sweat from his brow while Robin was gone. This Telan Mercenary Group—you don’t provoke them lightly. They killed even ‘Thousand Faces’ Alva with their hands. That’s terrifying. I must finish up and leave quickly.

Robin arrived at the doorway and asked the Ghost Agent, “What happened?”

The Ghost Agent whispered a few words into his ear.

“What?” Robin exclaimed in surprise. “Go immediately and report this to the Commander!”

Harry overheard Robin’s surprised tone and wondered what event could elicit such a reaction from him, requiring a report to higher-ups.

Harry thought hard but couldn't figure it out, so he stopped trying. At this point, how would he dare meddle in the Telan Mercenary Group’s affairs?

Robin returned to the office and said, “Mr. Harry, if you have nothing else pressing, perhaps you should return to your hotel first. I will host a banquet tonight to calm the nerves of you and your investigation team members who were frightened.”

“No need, no need,” Harry replied, immensely relieved that he could finally leave, a huge weight lifted from his shoulders.

This period was the fastest that Yang Ying had ever progressed since his birth. Following his mental transformation, memorizing anything felt divinely aided. He flipped through an entire Cihai dictionary from beginning to end and committed it entirely to memory—down to the page, line, and exact character placement, which he could recall instantly.

Of course, the most important acquisition was knowledge related to cultivation. During this time, David had mailed several copies of handwritten scriptures from the Nian Neng Temple, all concerning foundational knowledge, which Yang Ying absorbed instantly.

Eastern, Western, ancient, modern—the sheer volume of cultivation-related knowledge Yang Ying now possessed surpassed that of any Nian Neng Shi, and perhaps even most of them.

One morning, Yang Ying stood gripping his four-character sword, meditating with his eyes closed, fully immersed in communicating with the light point. Suddenly, he heard Katerina’s shout nearby.

“Commander! Commander!”

Yang Ying immediately broke off his communion and opened his eyes. He had instructed Katerina not to bother him unless it was truly important; since she had come now, something significant must have happened.

“What is it?” Yang Ying asked.

“Commander, a communication just came from Gray Port—Master Pang Qian has arrived!” Katerina replied with a smile.

“Is that so!” Yang Ying shot to his feet, instantly tucking the four-character sword into his Floating Continent, his eyes shining with joy. “Where is the Master now?”

“He’s in Gray Port, Robin is accompanying him on a tour of the city,” Katerina said quickly, sensing Yang Ying’s urgency.

Yang Ying immediately took out his communicator and contacted Kalia, ordering, “Prepare my ship. I need to depart for Gray Port immediately.”

“Understood,” Kalia confirmed, nodding slightly. He too had just received news of Master Pang Qian's arrival and understood his superior’s eagerness.

“Let’s go!” Yang Ying then took Katerina’s hand. “We’re going to see Master Pang Qian. I haven't seen him in ages. I wonder how surprised he’ll be when he learns I’ve achieved the rank of Lower Tier Nian Neng Shi.” Saying this, he pulled her out of the command room.

“Ah,” Katerina said, recalling the point, “Commander, you've cultivated so quickly. Master Pang Qian is a Master-level expert; won’t he notice something amiss?”

“He shouldn’t,” Yang Ying mused, walking along. “My current realm isn't that high. Once I cultivate the Nian Li Shu to its peak, I can achieve the next level. I asked the Four-Character Treasure—it said that someone awakening their powers and reaching the initial Knight level, that is, the Lower Tier Nian Neng Shi realm, within six months, is theoretically possible.”

“Theoretically?” Katerina wore a strange expression, a mix of worry and amusement. “Is there any actual example of that?”

“Aren’t I the example?” Yang Ying said, smiling.

“Are you going to use that theory, using yourself as the example, to placate a Master-level expert?” Katerina asked, surprised.

“How will I know if I don’t try? This is the explanation that seems closest to reality,” Yang Ying responded. “Can I really say I have a Floating Continent in my palm, with an Insectoid race helping me accelerate my spiritual power? That explanation is even more unbelievable, even though it’s the truth.”

Katerina frowned slightly, still uneasy.

“Relax,” Yang Ying comforted her. “Master Pang Qian is a benevolent and tolerant elder; he won't fuss over such things. Instead of worrying about him, you should worry about the others at the Nian Neng Temple—whether they will harbor various thoughts about a rare genius like me. By the way, what is Master Pang Qian’s purpose for this visit?”

“It is a small matter,” Katerina nodded.

“That’s good; I can ask him to keep it confidential, to prevent my fame from spreading within the Nian Neng Temple. Although most people there are upright, there are bound to be a few bad apples.”

As Yang Ying spoke, they arrived at the hangar bay.

The two boarded the pre-prepared stealth yacht and set off for Gray Port.

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