With a vast veil of hazy, electronic mist, the ships of the Asian Dao Alliance pierced the void above Jupiter's orbit. Upon entering normal space, the fleet's velocity immediately dropped to zero-point-nine times the speed of light.

Two golden patrol craft belonging to the Romanians and four matte-black patrol ships from the Earth Federation were cruising nearby. On the public communication channel, the commanders of both sides were exchanging greetings—in the most civilized language imaginable—that subtly insulted each other's mothers, grandmothers, and even female ancestors stretching back hundreds of millennia.

On Paradise Star, the Romanians and the Earth Federation were already locked in full-scale war, but within the solar system's star field, some unknown iteration of a temporary ceasefire agreement remained in effect. Both sides strictly observed the prohibition against firing the first shot, contenting themselves with sniping at each other verbally.

The Asian Dao Alliance ships sliced past the two Roman patrol craft so closely that the energy turbulence dragged from the subspace corridor spun one of the patrol ships over three hundred kilometers off course. The vessel tumbled wildly, like a leaf in a gale, until the Dao Alliance fleet was millions of kilometers away. Only then did the unfortunate Roman scout manage to stabilize its attitude, relying on its self-balancing systems.

The message flashed back to their respective bases instantly via both patrol craft. By the time the Dao Alliance fleet neared the Earth's atmosphere, a welcoming fleet composed of twelve Federation Second-Tier warships and dozens of patrol ships was already waiting silently outside the boundary, and a request for communication had long since been sent.

Gu Xichen stood in the warship's command bridge, watching the sputtering Little Daoist Zhang connect the call.

On the main screen of the vessel, a Federation Colonel snapped a crisp, severe military salute. His voice was deep and powerful as he stated, "Welcome back to Earth, everyone. I now announce Earth Federation Special Edict No. 39873. We request your full cooperation with our procedures as outlined in this edict. Please do not make things difficult for us."

The Colonel's words were courteous, clearly indicating he knew the background of the individuals aboard this fleet.

Little Daoist Zhang's eyes widened, ready to unleash a torrent of curses, but Gu Xichen caught his arm. Gu Xichen smiled and nodded amiably, "Peace, peace. We are all Federation citizens, and we must abide by Federal law."

The Colonel cast a grateful glance at the smiling Gu Xichen. He then spoke loudly, "Earth Federation Special Edict No. 39873 mandates that all ships arriving from Paradise Star... must proceed to the Federation Military Command's Hawaii Base for quarantine inspection. All cargo must undergo sanitation and disinfection by the Health Department. Upon passing quarantine, it must be stored in designated Federation warehouses for observation. The Federation Customs will then assess the value of all goods and levy a forty percent War Surtax according to the Federation Wartime Special Taxation Decree!"

Gu Xichen's face tightened. He shook his head and released his grip on Little Daoist Zhang.

Little Daoist Zhang immediately leaped up, roaring in furious indignation, "Nonsense! Why should we pay taxes on what we worked so hard to bring back from Paradise Star? Quarantine and inspection? Who gave you the authority? You are abusing the power granted to you by Federation citizens! Do you understand?"

The Federation fleet reacted decisively. All warships simultaneously retracted the armor plating protecting their main cannons, and faint, ghostly blue luminescence flickered around the muzzles of the secondary batteries, indicating they were ready to attack.

The Colonel roared, "This is the latest decision from the Federation Council. All Federation citizens must comply uniformly."

Gu Xichen sighed. He clapped the enraged Little Daoist Zhang on the shoulder and said soberly, "Cooperate for now. Contact your sect elders; see what context this situation has." He leaned close to Little Daoist Zhang's ear and chuckled softly, "Quarantine is understandable; that's protocol. But that wartime special tax? You have so many storage bags—just put all the valuable cargo inside them and leave them a few of the cheapest goods for them to tax."

Little Daoist Zhang’s eyes lit up. He straightened his back, beaming, and laughed at the Colonel, "We comply, we comply! We firmly obey all Federation statutes! Hey, why don't you stow away your main cannons? We cultivators value inner peace and spiritual refinement the most. Why this display of aggression? Are we supposed to go to war with you? That's absurd!"

The Federation fleet escorted Gu Xichen and his entourage slowly into the atmosphere. After traversing the stratosphere for more than half an hour, the fleet arrived directly over Hawaii Island.

The warships gently settled onto the ground. At Little Daoist Zhang's command, the ship hatches sprang open, and all the Dao Alliance disciples bounded out, skipping and hopping from their transport vessels towards the transport ships whose hatches remained stubbornly closed. Under the gaze of countless astonished onlookers, these disciples squeezed through the narrow gap of the transport hatches—which had barely cracked open—before the doors slammed shut rapidly.

A full ten minutes passed before all the Dao Alliance transport vessels slowly opened their doors. Nearly a thousand Dao Alliance disciples emerged, grinning widely, patting their noticeably distended bellies.

Gu Xichen stood on the landing pad, chuckling as he surveyed the scene. On the massive tarmac of the Hawaii Base, hundreds of uniformed personnel from the Federation Health, Tax, and Customs departments glared furiously at the Dao Alliance disciples, seemingly guessing what the cultivators had just done inside the transports.

Gu Xichen suppressed a laugh. They wouldn't dare search the disciples, he thought. That changes the nature of the situation entirely!

Shaking his head, Gu Xichen shouted toward a Federation Health Department staffer in a white uniform nearby, "Excuse me, Officer! Could you proceed with our quarantine check right now? I'm in a hurry for other business!"

Several lean men in black suits, devoid of expression, strode toward Gu Xichen. Behind them followed two dozen sharp-eyed, muscular figures clad in tight-fitting camouflage uniforms. They stopped before Gu Xichen. One of the men presented his credentials to him. "Mr. Gu Xichen? I am Investigator James William from the Fifth Division of the Federation Special Affairs Committee. We have some questions requiring your cooperation. Tell me, have you ever integrated a Crystalline Sphere of Christo?"

Gu Xichen narrowed his eyes. This fact could not be hidden. He nodded faintly. "Yes!"

Agent William tucked his identification back into his pocket and sharply reprimanded Gu Xichen, "Why did you not report this matter to us immediately?"

Gu Xichen looked at James William with surprise, a thousand thoughts flashing through his mind. He frowned, "Was there a need?"

James William sneered, "There is absolutely a need. We suspect certain actions of yours may have jeopardized Federation security, so you will cooperate with our investigation!"

A large man in camouflage stepped forward and produced a set of specially reinforced heavy handcuffs, intending to restrain Gu Xichen's wrists. Another large man was even more direct; he snatched up a psychic suppressor and moved to fit it over Gu Xichen's head.