Another week passed.
The official replies from the Azure Star Realm and the True Dragon Star Realm arrived almost simultaneously.
Xu Wuyi sat at the console in the Core Residence hall. A deep teal screen unfolded before him, displaying the summaries of two encrypted communications side by side.
The one on the left came from the Azure Star Realm Council, its wording carefully considered.
"Following a vote by the full Council, we agree to incorporate the Second Astral Battlefield strongholds under the Azure Star Realm's jurisdiction into the unified management framework. The specific terms of the transfer may be negotiated separately."
The one on the right came from the True Dragon Star Realm. Its wording was shorter and more direct.
"We agree to place all Star Realm strongholds under the Lord's unified management. Please arrange for a liaison officer to coordinate the subsequent proceedings."
He read each message twice, then closed the screen and leaned back in his chair.
Outside the window, the dark-gold star field continued its slow rotation. The arc formed by the energy pillars remained motionless in the void. He watched it for a long time, then slowly exhaled.
He felt relieved. Not the kind of relief that came with a great burden lifted, but the kind that came when something he had waited for a long time finally settled into place.
His patience had limits.
He had given the Azure Star Realm and the True Dragon Star Realm more than enough data-the Dawn Empire's clearing reports, graphs showing the surge in total output, and the extent of energy recovery at cleared strongholds. The data was clear enough and persuasive enough. But if even that was insufficient, if the two sides insisted on dragging things out, watching and waiting, and testing his limits, he would have no