In the Second Order Kitchen Hall. Yalu, Yang Ying, and Dao Feng were seated according to their respective ranks, engaged in conversation. After a few pleasantries, Yafei inquired, "Your Excellency Yang Ying, Your Excellency Dao Feng, what brings the two of you to the Flin Kingdom?"

Yang Ying did not immediately address the main topic. Instead, he asked, "We heard from Jiayouna that the internal strife in Flin is drawing to a close, and that the Gexing people and the Kustar people intend to withdraw. Is this true?"

"It is indeed so," Yafei nodded. "Your Excellency Yang Ying, you must also be aware that the fifteen clans of the Perseus Arm suffered a crushing defeat when they invaded the Atlantis Empire. These fifteen clans are all high-level civilization races ranked among the top in the Perseus Arm; the top ten were all involved, and the remaining five were ranked within the top twenty."

"Their main fleet, along with the fleets of dozens of vassal races, have all been annihilated by the Atlanteans. The Atlanteans are now implementing a policy of genocide; thirteen races have already been wiped out, and only the two most powerful, the Dafiluo and the Beiman, are barely clinging to existence. However, intelligence suggests they have lost all their experienced troops. Although they have now mobilized their entire population into an armed citizenry, the time they can hold out is clearly limited."

"The Dafiluo and Beiman people hold a status in the Perseus Arm similar to that of the Galan people and the Sakro people in the Orion Arm. In terms of overall strength, both surpass the Gexing people and the Kustar people. Yet, in such a short time, their regular armies were utterly routed, leaving only a desperate struggle of an armed populace. This speaks volumes about the strength and ruthlessness of the Empire's military might."

"The territories of the fifteen clans span twenty star regions. This vast domain is slightly beyond the combined capabilities of the top ten races of our Orion Arm. If we do not disengage promptly, we will be unable to secure the benefits that rightfully belong to the Gexing people from the shattered Perseus Arm."

"The so-called benefits are numerous. Beyond the most direct territorial gains, there are the refugees fleeing from the annihilated races. Among them might be top scientists holding the core technologies of various clans, perhaps even possessing technical data. Material wealth, spiritual wealth, and technological wealth—all are assets of immense value. If the Gexing people can secure fugitive scientists from either the Dafiluo or the Beiman, it could save the Gexing scientific community centuries of struggle upon our return."

Yafei paused at this point, looking at Yang Shu and Dao Feng, "Do the two of you find this decision a bit too ruthless? The clans of the Perseus Arm have just suffered a calamity, and we are already rushing to divide their remaining fortunes?"

"No, certainly not," Yang Ying shook his head. "This is a matter of racial survival. How could we forgo it merely to show a shred of mercy? It is absolutely necessary for the Gexing people to go to the Perseus Arm to claim a share."

"What the Commander intends is my intention," Dao Feng also stated his position.

"I am very pleased that you think this way," Yafei smiled. "Now, you can tell me. What is your actual purpose here?"

Yang Ying pondered for a moment, deciding to temporarily refrain from persuading Yafei to abandon the plan to go to the Perseus Arm. He would wait until he had definitively eliminated Kalagunis, and then let the Gexing people decide for themselves whether to seek advantage or seize the opportunity to eliminate their sworn enemy.

"Your Excellency Yafei, we have come to the Flin Kingdom to eliminate Kalagunis," Yang Ying said seriously.

"What?" While Yafei had considered this possibility, she had not given it much weight, as she believed that two individuals who had only just begun to grasp the superficial aspects of the Rules—both being Level Four—could not possibly defeat Kalagunis, who had been famous for ten millennia. "Your Excellencies, your simultaneous promotion to Level Four is a rare event in ten thousand years, but that does not mean you can challenge Kalagunis. Even two more of you would not suffice."

Yafei felt her words were too harsh, so she added, "If the two of you don't mind, you can accompany me to fight Kalagunis. With your assistance, I have a ninety percent chance of defeating him."

"Does Your Excellency Yafei know Kalagunis's whereabouts?" Yang Ying asked. "Actually, Dao Feng and I just came from Beihu Star. Kalagunis is not in the Kustar Expeditionary Force's main base."

"You have already been to the Kustar people's main base?" Yafei exclaimed, closing her eyes as if sensing something. After a long pause, she murmured, "Indeed, the feeling of Kalagunis is gone from Beihu Star. Could it be that he sensed I would join you to fight him and thus retreated?"

"It is more likely that he retreated because he sensed Dao Feng and I were coming to kill him. The reason Yafei did not sense our power is because I harbored no malice towards her. If I intended to kill her, in a life-or-death situation, she would surely feel the impending doom and be desperate to flee."

Thinking this, Yang Ying raised his hand, and a surge of mental power crystallized into a stone in his palm. He released his grip, and the crystal stone floated automatically toward Yafei. "Your Excellency, please accept this as a welcoming gift. This is some information I gleaned from the Kustar main base."

Yafei accepted the crystal stone and channeled her mental energy into it. After a brief circulation, she nodded. "This is indeed news originating from the Kustar Expeditionary Force's main base. You have intercepted the thoughts of those high-ranking officers."

"Your Excellency Yafei, where do you think Kalagunis would flee if he intended to escape?" Yang Ying asked. As the saying goes, your enemy knows you best. Yafei had contended with Kalagunis for millennia; perhaps no one understood him better than she did.

"Hmm, wait a moment," Yafei seemed perplexed. "If it were Kalagunis, if we attacked him, he would not run. He would gather all his disciples, use the Flin rebels as cannon fodder to tie you both down, and only then contend with me while simultaneously attempting to ambush you. If he could injure or force you to retreat, he would then concentrate all his strength against me. That is Kalagunis's nature. I recall the only time he fled was twelve hundred years ago when he angered one of the three Level Four entities of the Luoya—the God of Killing. The God of Killing was an assassin by training, proficient in all techniques of slaughter. Kalagunis feared him and fled far away. Two months later, after another Level Four entity mediated and he agreed to various conditions, the God of Killing let him go, and only then did he dare return. At that time, no one knew where he hid. However, based on my later deductions, he should have been at the House of Tibuz."

"The House of Tibuz?" Yang Ying had never heard this name.

Yafei nodded. "Tibuz is the name of a Level Four entity. The Orion Arm has twenty-six Level Four entities—well, now there are twenty-eight, including the two of you. As for Tibuz, he is over thirty thousand years old and is a peak Level Four existence. Twenty thousand years ago, he established an organization called the House of Tibuz. At that time, the galaxy was still under the unified rule of the Atlantis Galactic Empire."

"What is the relationship between this Tibuz and Kalagunis?" Yang Ying asked again.

"The relationship is significant," Yafei stated. "The House of Tibuz is a Level Four club. It is rumored they still maintain some connection with the Atlantis Empire, and the membership includes six Level Four entities."

"Could Kalagunis be a member of this club as well?" Dao Feng inquired.

"No," Yafei shook her head. "But he is deeply acquainted with one of the members, Fei Luoye. Kalagunis saved Fei Luoye's life twice. And twelve hundred years ago, when Kalagunis was targeted by the God of Killing, Fei Luoye acted as a mediator, saving Kalagunis once. They owe each other life debts, and Fei Luoye still owes Kalagunis a life debt; their relationship is naturally profound."

"Six Level Four entities," Yang Ying murmured. "Did Kalagunis not utilize this organization to pressure the Gexing people?"

"Such a thing is highly unlikely," Yafei shook her head. "When Tibuz established the House of Tibuz, he decreed strict neutrality for the organization. Moreover, just because Kalagunis has friends, does that mean I, who have lived for over ten thousand years, don't have a few reliable friends?" Saying this, Yafei lifted her chin, confidence blooming on her face. "My friends are certainly more numerous than Kalagunis's!"

Yang Ying and Dao Feng both nodded. "We believe you."

Yang Ying continued, "So, if Kalagunis senses his life is threatened again, he might seek out Fei Luoye to seek sanctuary in the House of Tibuz. Is that correct?"

Yafei nodded. "If it's not that, I don't have any other better speculation."

Yang Ying cupped his chin with his right hand, bracing his right elbow on his left arm, and calculated mentally. "Thank you for the information, Your Excellency Yafei. It's getting late; I must attend to my business."

"Are the two of you still set on dealing with Kalagunis?" Yafei tried to persuade them. "Please abandon this idea. Kalagunis has lived for over ten thousand years. If he were easy to handle, I would have killed him long ago. Even the God of Killing among the three Luoya Gods could not eliminate him. You should reconsider before taking action; think thrice before acting."

"Your Excellency Yafei, thank you for your caution. We will be careful," Yang Ying and Dao Feng rose to take their leave.

Just then, Cindy entered. Her face held a trace of relaxation, as if she had sorted some things out in her mind. Yang Ying could sense with his high-level intuition that she was subtly different from just moments before.

"Your Excellency Yang Ying, Your Excellency Dao Feng, are you leaving?" Cindy remained somewhat respectful, but the feeling of being restrained around them was gone.

"Yes, thank you for your hospitality," Yang Ying said as he walked past her, then suddenly turned back. "Your Excellency Yafei, we can consider ourselves friends now, can't we?"

"That is certainly true," Yafei nodded and smiled.

Stuck again. I sincerely apologize, only two chapters today. The third chapter will be made up tomorrow. For future events, please log on to [Website Name]. More chapters, support the author. Support genuine reading!