Jiang Fan's hand, holding the teacup, froze in midair.
The information was like a pebble tossed into a deep pool, stirring up a thousand ripples in his heart.
"Beyond the galaxy?"
"Are you sure?"
"According to what you said before, with our current strength, we can't cross the galactic barrier at all!"
"If we can't cross it, then how do you know there are enemies beyond the galaxy?"
"And that word 'perhaps'—doesn't it mean you aren't certain either?"
Chen Qingshan waved a hand, signaling for Jiang Fan to set the cup on the table.
He picked up the teapot, refilled Jiang Fan's cup, then said in a low, distant voice, "You're right!"
"I truly can't be certain whether they come from beyond the galaxy or from some forbidden region within the galaxy that we have yet to reach!"
"But at the very least, I can be sure they don't belong to any known native life-form within our star system!"
Jiang Fan leaned forward, indicating for Chen Qingshan to continue.
"Tell me in detail!"
Chen Qingshan drew a deep breath, his gaze seeming to pierce through endless years.
"This matter has to start from a hundred years ago!"
"At that time, I was not yet the Grand Elder of the Void Echoer. As the most promising member within the organization, the previous Grand Elder permitted me to enter the Milky Way with him to explore!"
"That time, we gathered ten explorers. After passing through layer upon layer of terrifying regions, we opened the Gate of Sighs and entered the Nether Passage in the core region of the Milky Way!"
His voice carried the weight of heavy memories.
"We thought we would see wondrous sights beyond the star system. In the end, we never expected that what greeted us would be a