Upon hearing the formidable data of the Sky Fortress, Liu Hui smiled with satisfaction. "Dean Chen, I am quite pleased with these figures for the Sky Fortress. As for the nuclear attack you mentioned, I hardly think the world's nuclear powers would be foolish enough to target us with atomic weapons, would they? However, we must acknowledge the possibility, which means we need to start researching countermeasures against nuclear strikes—it's best to be prepared for the worst."

Chen Changsheng nodded, agreeing with Liu Hui's assessment. After all, nuclear nations wouldn't deploy atomic bombs lightly; the true deterrence of a nuclear weapon lies on the launcher, not in its actual detonation. Liu Hui then remembered something else and asked, "Since our Sky Fortress remains perpetually stationed above 'Star City,' won't the enemy eventually discover it?"

Chen Changsheng chuckled. "Boss, you need not worry about that.

Our Sky Fortress incorporates the very latest in scientific research technology. It is not only etched with a Dynamic Simulation Array but also equipped with several Cloud Generators. We utilize the Dynamic Simulation Array to seamlessly blend our profile with the ambient color of the sky, rendering us completely invisible to any searching enemy. We also anticipated the possibility of close-range observation, which is why we installed Cloud Generators on the Fortress. These devices will churn out vast quantities of mist, shrouding the Sky Fortress in a thick envelope of vapor. From the outside, this vapor appears just like any ordinary white cloud drifting in the sky, and our Fortress is hidden within it. Since this 'cloud' is not stationary but constantly drifting, no one will ever suspect that such a mighty weapon of mass destruction hovers directly above their heads."

Only then did Liu Hui truly set his mind at ease. With the Sky Fortress operational, the security of "Star City" was finally guaranteed.

The launch time finally arrived. Under the precise command of An Qi, the ceiling of the secret launch center slid open, and both the two Mars Probes and the Sky Fortress ascended smoothly into the air. The two Mars Probes rapidly shot into space. Upon achieving their respective flight paths, they quickly cleared Earth's sphere of influence, speeding off toward Mars and the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, respectively. They were slated to arrive at their designated targets in one month and one and a half months, respectively, to transmit crucial detection data back to the Star Science Research Institute.

The Sky Fortress ascended only to an altitude of three thousand meters above "Star City," where it halted its climb, hovering in the high atmosphere. It then commenced the debugging and calibration of its internal systems. Finally, the Cloud Generators aboard the Fortress began spewing forth massive amounts of mist, completely obscuring the Sky Fortress from view. From the ground, the Fortress became entirely undetectable.

It was only at this point that An Qi, in the ground command center, officially declared the launch mission a complete success. A wave of jubilation swept through the entire secret launch site. With the Sky Fortress now in place, Liu Hui felt he could genuinely stop worrying about the defense of "Star City."

The very next day, Zhou Tengyun, far away in Africa, returned to "Star City" aboard a specialized sea-rail train to deliver his progress report to Liu Hui. Zhou Tengyun provided a detailed accounting of the African base's activities over the past six months, for which Liu Hui offered his full approval.

Once his report was finished, Zhou Tengyun was visibly eager to take his leave, hurrying off to Mei Peng’s house to visit his cherished daughter, Xie Yuxin. Liu Hui could only offer a wry smile; his 'third brother' only ever exhibited such human tenderness on rare occasions like this. Usually, he presented himself as an utterly cold, emotionless killing machine.

In the dead of night, on the ocean surface two hundred kilometers from "Star City," lightning cracked across the sky amid a violent gale and torrential downpour. The sea boiled with monstrous waves, yet a medium-sized yacht sailed resolutely toward the location of "Star City."

Inside the yacht's cabin, the Maoshan Sect Leader sat steadily in his secured seat, the massive, signature coffin strapped securely behind him. Though the yacht pitched and rolled violently, his body remained utterly motionless.

In stark contrast, the Second Elder and the Ninth Elder were far more distressed. Their faces were pale as they clung desperately to the seats beneath them, their bodies rising and falling with the swell of the vessel, their eyes wide with terror as they stared out at the towering waves.

Just then, the yacht's captain entered. "Masters," he shouted over the din, "we are approaching the sea zone designated by 'Star City.' Our yacht cannot proceed further. If we cross into their domain and are detected, they will sink us."

Initially, "Star City" had drawn a boundary two hundred kilometers around itself, declaring this expanse as its territorial waters, off-limits to all vessels. Yet, some fishing boats had ignored the warning. They sailed casually within the two-hundred-kilometer perimeter, only to be summarily sunk by "Star City" upon detection, regardless of the reason. The crew members cast into the sea were subsequently captured. Following a brief trial in the makeshift court aboard "Star City," all those who violated their waters were incarcerated in the facility’s prison, only to be released after serving their full sentence.

No matter how fiercely the countries of those fishermen negotiated with "Star City"... the administration aboard that floating citadel refused to release the prisoners or compensate for any losses. Given the fearsome reputation "Star City" had cultivated, the concerned nations were powerless to do anything. Over time, the unyielding stance taken against trespassing fishing boats became widely known, and fishermen dared not venture within the two-hundred-kilometer boundary anymore.

The Maoshan Sect Leader glanced at the raging sea outside and the driving rain, occasionally illuminated by brilliant flashes of lightning in the dark sky. He spoke calmly, "In this abysmal weather, do you truly believe 'Star City' will spot your little yacht? Keep sailing forward. If anything goes wrong, we will handle it."

Although the yacht captain was momentarily awed by the Sect Leader's imposing presence, he pressed on. "Venerable Daoist, we absolutely cannot move forward! If we go any further, we will certainly be detected and destroyed by 'Star City.' If we're lucky, we might survive the storm and be taken prisoner for jail time aboard the Fortress. If we're unlucky... we will be drowned in the deep ocean. We all have families to support, sir. We don't want to die! Let's turn back now!"

The Maoshan Sect Leader responded with a chilling tone, "If you fear 'Star City,' do you not fear me?"

A single glare from the Sect Leader sent the captain plummeting into an icy dread, and he immediately shrank back, instantly regretting his decision. Back in Hong Kong, tempted by the generous fee, he had agreed to ferry these three bizarre Daoists toward "Star City." The original agreement was strict: no entry into the two-hundred-kilometer zone. Yet, these Daoists had suddenly reneged, demanding passage into the very territorial waters of "Star City"—a demand that threatened their lives and livelihoods.

Thus, the captain braced himself and stammered, "Venerable Daoist, I apologize, but we cannot..."

Before the captain could finish his sentence, the Maoshan Sect Leader gestured with one hand. A nearby crewman was instantly yanked through the air and grasped by the Sect Leader's hand. The man was held aloft, his neck tightly clasped, struggling frantically, batting uselessly at the hand around his throat. No matter how hard he fought, he could not break free, and the Sect Leader's body hadn't even wavered.

Holding the struggling crewman suspended, the Maoshan Sect Leader asked in a chilling voice, "Captain, are you absolutely certain you will not continue forward?"

The captain gasped in alarm, yet he still refused to believe this strange Daoist would actually commit murder. He insisted, "Venerable Daoist, we truly cannot advance further."

The Maoshan Sect Leader let out a cold laugh, tightened his grip, and snapped the crewman's neck. He then tossed the body aside casually, letting it slump against the cabin wall, sliding slowly to the floor.

"Xiao Yuan..." the captain cried out, just as the old Daoist made another gesture. Another crewman was snatched by the neck and lifted into the air.

"Well? Still unwilling to proceed?" the Maoshan Sect Leader demanded coldly.

The Second Elder and the Ninth Elder stared on, dumbfounded. They couldn't understand why their Sect Leader, after merging with the Golden Corpse, had become so wantonly bloodthirsty, treating human life as mere dust.

Witnessing the Sect Leader's brutality, the captain finally broke. He collapsed to the deck, his voice cracking with tears. "Daoist Master, please, let him go quickly! We will take you to 'Star City' right away."

And so, amidst ten-meter swells and a relentless deluge, the medium yacht stubbornly pressed onward toward "Star City." After five grueling hours, the severe weather showed no signs of abating, yet the yacht, driven by currents and wind, managed to close the distance.

The Spiritual Energy Fluctuation Radar aboard "Star City," handicapped by the foul weather, failed to detect any anomaly, allowing the vessel to approach undetected.

The Maoshan Sect Leader, coffin on his back, stood at the yacht's bow, scrutinizing the dark silhouette of "Star City" ahead. He was puzzled: the sea churned in chaos, yet "Star City" remained perfectly steady, displaying none of the expected pitching and rolling of a ship, appearing like solid land. Wasn't "Star City" just a very large boat? How could it remain so stable amidst such colossal waves?

The Maoshan Sect Leader was naturally unaware that "Star City" employed a foundational Stability Buffer Array imported from the cultivation planes. Because of this array, even on the tempestuous sea, the vessel experienced no motion, feeling instead like immovable earth.

The Maoshan Sect Leader leaped onto "Star City" and stepped onto the sandy shore. Though arrogant, once on another's territory, he instinctively heightened his vigilance.

At that very moment, a massive bolt of lightning ripped across the sky. The Maoshan Sect Leader's heart stirred, and he looked up. High above, standing upon that colossal serpentine streak of electricity, was a stunningly beautiful woman wearing a pointed hat and a flowing purple cloak. This fair-faced woman in purple was also gazing down in astonishment at the strangely dressed Maoshan Sect Leader, who carried a coffin on his back.