In the depths of the void lay a planet riddled with active volcanoes and colossal cyclones, the air thick with the stench of sulfur. The sky was utterly obscured by a dense shroud of volcanic ash, while beneath, rivers of molten rock surged and flowed, gathering into burning currents that spilled from the highlands into the lowlands.

Beneath a magma waterfall, a hundred meters high and equally as wide, thundering with immense volume and majesty, a shadowy flicker of gray light heralded the appearance of Shalo.

A figure already awaited him before Shalo. This figure was clad in a magnificent crimson robe, wearing a crown, and surrounded by ripples of space, layered endlessly, as if infinite. Simply standing there, their psychic field spanned heaven and earth, akin to a celestial being, making it seem as though the entire world was subjugated beneath them—a manifestation of mental power achieving a state both profoundly subtle and immensely vast.

It could not be said that Shalo’s psychic field was inferior, yet when the two figures stood side-by-side, subtle differences became apparent. If a discerning observer were present, they would note the contrast: the figure in red exuded a more expansive, overwhelmingly dominant psychic field, while Shalo’s seemed somewhat elusive, appearing marginally lesser.

"You are still the same arrogant bastard, acting as if you are the only great being in the entire universe, and everyone else is fit only to polish your boots." Although Shalo spoke these words, he showed no sign of being troubled. "I hear you’ve run into some major trouble lately—that mother and daughter pair are about to slip through your grasp, is that correct?"

"Matters within the Empire are none of your concern. You should focus solely on your own affairs. Poking your nose where it doesn't belong will bring you no benefit," the crimson-robed figure turned around. He was Sandvor, the Regent of the True Human Empire. "You have clashed with those entities. Did you gain anything from it?"

"Gains?" Shalo shook his head. "Those things are monsters. They should not exist in this world."

"What do you mean?" Sandvor frowned.

"They proclaim themselves masters of the Zerg Hive. Based on the intelligence we have so far, they are likely the combined consciousness of that entire race. As for their numbers, you must have sensed it already. Your Force Sea is quite potent. Thirteen peak Limit experts poised for combat would shine as brightly as thirteen bonfires on a dark plain." Shalo explained.

"Later, two presences vanished. What happened there?"

"That is why I call them monsters," Shalo replied. "To prevent Ynmuly from obtaining the Divine Core armament, they were willing to perish alongside him."

"Fallen?" Sandvor’s tone shifted, showing a measure of surprise. This answer was far beyond his expectations.

"Indeed," Shalo confirmed. "This seems counterintuitive. Ynmuly is merely a peak Fourth Level entity. For them to expend two Limit experts to take his life—was it just for the victory of a single skirmish? Impossible. With their lineup, even if they failed this time, they would have ample opportunity later. Retreating and returning would be the logical choice. This victory simply wasn't worth the lives of two Limit experts. Therefore, I have a deduction."

"They can regenerate!" Sandvor's eyes flashed.

"As expected of Regent Sandvor, you reached the same conclusion as I," Shalo chuckled twice. "The Gallan people deciphered parts of the Zerg survival matrix. According to that report, the source of those masters' power is likely their entire species. As long as the Zerg race exists, that power will not vanish. Even if two Limit experts fall, they will regenerate, or other masters possessing equivalent power will emerge."

Sandvor frowned. "Did the Gallan people discover anything else?"

Shalo shrugged. "No."

Sandvor snorted. "A bunch of useless fools."

A silence fell between them.

After a moment, Shalo spoke again. "Aren't you curious to make contact with the Zerg? That mother and daughter pair must have made their move by now. Aren't you afraid of losing the initiative?"

"Initiative? There has never been any initiative," Sandvor said coldly. "These bugs give me only one feeling: extreme danger. Dealing with them is foolhardy. The Royal Family has gone mad. They will devour the entire galaxy! The only way to handle them is to utterly erase their existence. You should have blasted every planet showing signs of their presence into fragments the moment you detected them, instead of fighting them for territory!"

"Lust blinds judgment; such things always happen," Shalo replied with an air of nonchalance. "Alright, I have told you everything I know. If there is nothing else, I shall take my leave."

"Wait." Sandvor drew his hand from within his crimson robe, opening his five fingers to reveal a magnificent ring resting in his palm—silver, inlaid with a golden-yellow gemstone.

"This is..." A flicker of surprise crossed Shalo's face.

Sandvor tossed the ring toward Shalo, who caught it deftly.

"This is the core equipment for the Divine Core technology... it has been modified. It can interface with the Cygnian’s—the Cygnian are base life forms. If they form the Divine Core Legion—base life forms are more compatible..." Sandvor explained.

Shalo tossed the ring between his fingers twice before slipping it onto the middle finger of his right hand. The golden gemstone emitted a faint gleam, and within it, a swirling nebula of star-like points began to rotate.

Shalo nodded. "I always assumed you would never hand this to me. Haven't you always been wary of me?"

"You are indeed untrustworthy—no, extremely untrustworthy," Sandvor pointed at Shalo. "But I have need of you, and I know you won't refuse."

Shalo narrowed his eyes, his gaze seeming to pierce Sandvor's mind. "It seems the tide is indeed shifting within the Empire. You are having quite a difficult time handling things, aren't you?"

"I believe I already stated it: mind your own business regarding the Empire. You only need to manage yourself, and then do me a favor." Sandvor pulled a data chip from his robe and threw it into Shalo’s hand. "Everything you need is on this chip."

The moment Shalo grasped the chip, he swept his psychic energy over it, instantly comprehending the data within. He raised an eyebrow. "I see... Very well. I will do you this favor."

Sandvor said no more. He turned, took a single step, and vanished instantly.

Shalo casually took the chip between two fingers and crushed it. With a sharp snap, the chip disintegrated into dust, falling into the river of magma below.

The roar of the magma waterfall echoed from nearby, sending sparks flying where the lava struck the base, bathing the surroundings in a fiery red glow.

Shalo glanced up at the sky, a strange smile creeping onto his face. "Well, this has turned into a troublesome assignment, hasn't it? Heh heh..."

Before the laughter faded, he too had vanished from the planet.

Meanwhile, the Blade Emperors, along with the Empress Dowager and Yang Ying’s party, landed on the besieged Prime Star. Though the joint command center of the various races had been destroyed, some survivors remained.

The insectoid armies had been recalled by the Blade Emperors, and feeling secure, they emerged once more.

Seeing the devastation scarring the landscape, the Empress Dowager’s expression soured. She sighed and asked the Blade Emperors beside her, "The destruction here is severe. If it's not too much trouble, could you tell me if you harbored such intense hatred for the people here?"

"Let's table that question for now. Since you have sought us out, what is your purpose? As guests, shouldn't you declare your intentions first?" one of the Blade Emperors inquired.

The Empress Dowager nodded. "Indeed, we should state our purpose first. The truth is, we sensed an immense psychic fluctuation erupting from the Perseus Arm through the spiritual world, which led us to sense your presence. It has been many years since a new Limit expert emerged in the galaxy, and suddenly there are thirteen! Therefore, I have come representing the True Human Empire to observe."

"Since you say that, I assume your observation has already begun?"

The Blade Emperors, being avatars of Yang Ying, naturally knew the Empress Dowager’s true purpose: to ascertain whether the Zerg were a suitable ally, not merely to observe. However, they showed no change in demeanor, treating Yang Ying, Katerina, and Blade as strangers. Currently, due to the Zerg's survival model differing vastly from that of humans and gods—to the extent where extreme conflict could arise—the very existence of the Zerg inherently repelled all non-Zerg races. Thus, Yang Ying had no intention of revealing his connection to the Zerg yet.

Of course, this connection could not be kept secret for long, as one fact was becoming increasingly apparent: the sudden surge of Limit experts recently was not confined to these thirteen Blade Emperors. It also included the two Yang Yings and Blade on Earth, as well as the three Protoss Prelates.

In such a short span of time, Fourth Level Limits were emerging almost explosively, distributed across three different races and separated by vast distances. It was inevitable that someone would suspect a connection, thereby linking the Human, Divine, and Insectoid races—and connecting Yang Ying to the Protoss and the Zerg Hive.

While such suspicion lacked concrete evidence, in most cases, evidence was unnecessary to convince people of a perceived reality.

Yang Ying foresaw that his relationship with the Zerg would be exposed soon. However, this "soon" likely meant a few months, enough time for him to make thorough preparations.

"Then, can you tell us now if there is significant enmity between you and the Orion Arm Expeditionary Force that necessitated such a brutal attack on their command center?" the Empress Dowager repeated her question.

Today is still one chapter D.