Confidence?

"A good place?"

Chu Hong shook her head, unable to see what was good about this shattered river of stars.

Li Qingshan seemed to have merely sighed at random. After withdrawing his gaze, he said nothing more, sat down cross-legged on the spot, and entered cultivation.

Beside him, Qin Feng's eyes widened. He had been left speechless by the pressure, and could only sit cross-legged, close his eyes, and continue constructing his inner world.

"As expected of a peerless prodigy. Even in such a barren place, he can calm his heart and cultivate. He's truly hardworking!"

Around the World Gate, You Xinghan's praise drew the attention of the many teachers toward Li Qingshan.

Then, the crowd exchanged glances and revealed knowing smiles.

Being obsessed with cultivation was good. That way, he would not get in the way of them "obtaining" the Flame Sun Elixir!

Before they knew it, the teachers had already spread out in twos and threes, forming several small groups.

Even if there was more than one portion of Flame Sun Elixir, its quantity was destined to be limited. It would not be easy for a single star region to take it all away.

Their "pleasant conversation" was precisely a matter of negotiating terms and forming alliances.

"A freshly grown Wolf Venom and a pack of old, sly fox beasts!"

Fifth Master Yuan watched the scene, a cold smile curling across his lips. He turned and headed toward the gathering place of the Dharma Manifestation experts on one side.

"Fifth Master Yuan!"

"Fifth Master!"

These cross-region companies all had dealings with the Chaotic Star Sea, so no one was unfamiliar with Fifth Master Yuan. They all greeted him in turn.

Fifth Master Yuan nodded along the way in acknowledgment. When he reached Shi Daochuan, he smiled and said,

"Elder Shi, it has been many years since we last met."

"You are too courteous, Fifth Master Yuan!" Shi Daochuan waved his hand, wearing the same polite smile.

"Over the years, we have had to rely on the Chaotic Star Sea showing us some respect. Otherwise, my Shi Family's business would not have been easy to manage. In the future..."

Before he could finish, a voice transmission suddenly sounded beside his ear.

"Patriarch Shi, I knew about what happened on Dick Star back then as well. Unfortunately, I was still one step too late and failed to offer timely aid."

Shi Daochuan's smile faded. His gaze fell upon Fifth Master Yuan's regretful expression as he said evenly,

"Fifth Master Yuan, I recall that twenty years ago, the Meteor-Class Battleship that attacked the Cao Family was commanded by Yuan Shisan, wasn't it?"

"With his talent, he was not far from the sixth rank. What a pity that he still fell at Li Qingshan's hands."

Fifth Master Yuan had spoken in secret transmission, while Shi Daochuan had announced it openly.

Whether they had long known of it or were hearing it for the first time, the Dharma Manifestation experts from the various families all turned to look.

"This line of work has always been like this." Fifth Master Yuan shook his head, his expression unchanged.

"It is already old news. There is no need to bring it up again."

He had come here to "borrow a knife." Since Shi Daochuan was unwilling to be that knife, then so be it.

With that, he cupped his hands toward the crowd and prepared to turn away.

Unexpectedly, Shi Daochuan spoke again.

"Fifth Master Yuan, with the families of a hundred regions gathered this time, why are the First Master, Second Master, and Third Master nowhere to be seen?"

The question immediately drew everyone's attention.

A hundred Dharma Manifestations had gathered here. Even if Fifth Master Yuan was stronger than them, he could not possibly hold them all back.

Yet the Chaotic Star Sea had sent only Fifth Master Yuan. First Master Yuan, Second Master Yuan, and Third Master Yuan—the ones truly capable of anchoring the situation—were all absent!

"My elder brothers have other important matters to attend to. We have indeed been somewhat discourteous. I ask for everyone's understanding."

An apologetic smile appeared on Fifth Master Yuan's face. He cupped his hands toward the crowd once more and left directly.

The brows of the Dharma Manifestation experts furrowed slightly, their eyes flickering.

The prodigies of a hundred regions had gathered. The Dharma Manifestation families of a hundred regions had arrived as well. And there was also the Flame Sun Elixir.

What place could possibly be more important to the Chaotic Star Sea than this Desolate Star?

For a moment, everyone became a little more wary.

Days passed one after another.

The danger the Dharma Manifestation experts had been wary of never came. Fifth Master Yuan remained nearby without any unusual movements, and the Starships in the void showed no sign of deployment.

The World Gate remained as calm as ever. The teachers from the Star Academies of various regions had quietly divided into five groups, each occupying a position. Clearly, they had already reached an agreement.

Compared to the teams formed from an average of twenty regions,

the three from the Crimson Rainbow Star Region had been completely isolated, staying in a corner far from the World Gate.

Li Qingshan had remained seated in cultivation the entire time, never opening his eyes, as though he stood apart from the world.

In the blink of an eye, a month passed.

The peacefully rotating nebula suddenly rippled, and a figure passed through the World Gate.

At once, every gaze present converged upon it.

The one who emerged was a young man. Numerous wounds could be seen beneath his tattered clothes.

Yet the young man remained calm. After sweeping his gaze across the scene, his figure flashed, and he appeared beside his teacher.

"Qi Liao, what is the situation inside the World Gate?" the middle-aged female teacher immediately asked.

Qi Liao glanced around and shook his head.

"Teacher, it is not convenient here."

As soon as those words were spoken, the middle-aged female teacher understood. Her gaze turned toward the Dharma Manifestation expert from her own star region.

Very quickly, a layer of Dharma Manifestation power descended and covered the surrounding area.

The rippling barrier not only blocked sound, but even made it impossible to see the movement of lips.

The teachers from the other four teams could only watch helplessly, worrying in vain.

But before long, a second, a third, a fourth...

One young prodigy after another emerged from the World Gate, behaving just as Qi Liao had.

The Dharma Manifestation experts of the various regions acted in turn. Layer after layer of Dharma Manifestation power covered the area, isolating the five teams from one another.

Now, Chu Hong was the only one left worrying in vain. Yang Xiaoyu, Zhao Ran, and Tu Wei had yet to emerge.

But as she waited, Chu Hong gradually realized something was wrong.

Although the five teams were all isolated by Dharma Manifestation power, the many teachers and students within them kept casting glances in their direction with remarkable tacit understanding.

Chu Hong frowned and spoke softly.

"Something is wrong. Something must have happened inside the World Gate!"

Beside her, Li Qingshan had already opened his eyes, his gaze carrying a trace of confusion.

Yet in the blink of an eye, clarity returned. His gaze swept across the scene as he spoke calmly.

"It's fine, Teacher. We only need to wait quietly for the result."

"This is fine?" Chu Hong's brows knitted tightly as she pointed at the teams beneath the cover of Dharma Manifestation power.

"Although we cannot hear what they are saying, there is definitely a conspiracy within. And it is a conspiracy aimed at our Crimson Rainbow Star Region."

"Teacher, whether it is a conspiracy or not is actually not important."

Li Qingshan spoke softly, his gaze falling upon the World Gate.

"There is only one thing that truly matters."

"Can Zhao Ran and the other two walk out of the World Gate?"

"This..."

Chu Hong's expression stiffened, her eyes shifting.

Li Qingshan had not said it outright, but she already understood.

As long as any one of the three had fallen within the World Gate, fallen at the hands of someone of their own generation, Li Qingshan would definitely make a move!

Just then,

another young man rushed out from the World Gate. Unlike the others, he immediately looked toward Chu Hong's group, glaring furiously.

"You people from the Crimson Rainbow Star Region have no martial virtue..."

His words cut off halfway as Dharma Manifestation power covered him and dragged him back to his own team.

Very quickly,

it was not just that young man. The other teachers and students nearby all turned their heads, glaring angrily in their direction.

Li Qingshan remained indifferent, utterly unaffected. He no longer continued cultivating.

A faint smile rested on his lips as he admired the dazzling Star Belt.

Chu Hong took in each angry gaze, yet she was equally unconcerned.

Those expressions clearly meant they had suffered losses.

If they had suffered losses, then Zhao Ran and the other two were naturally the ones who had profited.

And at this moment, her greater curiosity lay with Li Qingshan beside her.

What exactly was Li Qingshan relying on to dare ignore everything and act?

Twenty years had passed. Just how far had Li Qingshan's true strength reached now?