Cold Nest Star Domain

Behind the vast fleet floated three spherical war fortresses, each over ten thousand miles in diameter. They were standard-issue strongholds supplied by the Virtual Universe Company, and each one could withstand the frontal assault of a Marquis Immortal.

"Good grief."

Fang Yan smacked his lips.

"If I had this kind of force, I'd have marched on the Heavenly Court long ago."

Little Fox Fairy's voice rang out. "Master, Flame Ruins King's flagship has sent a communication request."

"Put it through."

Flame Ruins King's wrinkled old face appeared on the cockpit's main screen. He glanced at Fang Yan, and his brows immediately furrowed.

"Your human clone? And your special life-form?"

"I left them on Yinghuo Star."

Fang Yan answered honestly.

Flame Ruins King fell silent for a moment, then nodded.

"That works. It's always good to have a backup plan. Come to the flagship. Ice Qiong King and Crimson Flame King are both here. This is a pre-battle meeting; as the representative of our Southern Border Star Domain, you may sit in and observe."

Warmth rose in Fang Yan's heart. His ancestor was using this opportunity to elevate his standing.

After all, the participants of a pre-battle meeting were at least Marquis-level powerhouses. For a World Lord like him to be allowed in as an observer, even if he did not say a single word, would be an immense honor once word got out.

"Yes, Ancestor."

Guided by the flagship, the Footless Bird slowly entered the docking bay.

The moment Fang Yan stepped out of the spacecraft, two Peak World Lord guards approached him.

"Six-Wing World Lord, please come with us."

The meeting hall was located in the flagship's core area. By the time Fang Yan entered, more than a dozen figures were already seated inside.

Flame Ruins King sat at the head of the table in dark red battle armor. The four-star insignia on his chest was especially striking beneath the lights.

To his left sat Ice Qiong King, Crimson Flame King, and several Marquis Immortals Fang Yan had never seen before.

To his right were several commanders wearing Virtual Universe Company uniforms. Judging from their insignias, they were all King-level.

The instant Fang Yan entered, more than a dozen pairs of eyes turned toward him.

Ice Qiong King raised her icy blue eyes to glance at him, then gave a slight nod in greeting.

Crimson Flame King, meanwhile, broke into a grin, his booming voice ringing out at once.

"Yo! Six-Wing World Lord is here! Come on, sit next to me!"

Fang Yan gave an awkward laugh and found himself a seat in the corner. He had no desire to sit beside Crimson Flame King and get patted on the shoulder.

Flame Ruins King swept his gaze around the room and coughed. The meeting hall immediately fell silent.

"Since everyone is here, I'll begin."

He pressed a hand against the center of the conference table, and a three-dimensional star map immediately appeared.

Fang Yan recognized that star region. It was the Spirit Magpie Race's Cold Nest Star Domain.

"The Cold Nest Star Domain contains seventeen star systems. Five of them are the Spirit Magpie Race's core territories, where their main forces are stationed. The other twelve belong to vassal races and are hardly worth mentioning in terms of combat strength."

Flame Ruins King's voice echoed through the meeting hall.

"The Spirit Magpie Race's strongest expert, Spirit Magpie King, is an Invincible King who has fused the laws of water and space. In a direct confrontation, I am confident I can suppress her, but killing her will be difficult."

At that, Fang Yan's heart stirred slightly.

Quite a few people these days seemed to favor the path of law fusion.

"The Spirit Magpie Race also has two high-ranking Kings, four Marquis Immortals, and roughly twenty ordinary Immortals. That is their high-end combat strength."

Flame Ruins King pointed at five locations on the star map.

"The Spirit Magpie Race's main force is concentrated on the primary planet of the Cold Nest Star System. That is their ancestral land. I have decided to gather our forces and strike directly at the primary planet, ending this battle in the shortest possible time."

"However..."

Flame Ruins King turned his gaze toward Ice Qiong King.

"The Spirit Magpie Race's other four core star systems. Once the battle begins, the Immortals in those four systems will rush to support the primary planet in a very short time."

His gaze swept across the faces in the room before finally settling on Ice Qiong King.

"Ice Qiong King, you will handle the two northern star systems."

Ice Qiong King nodded expressionlessly.

"Crimson Flame King, you will handle the two southern star systems."

"Don't worry!"

Crimson Flame King slapped the table, making the star map tremble three times.

"Leave it to me!"

Flame Ruins King's gaze finally fell on Fang Yan. His brows creased slightly, as though he were hesitating over something.

Fang Yan's heart skipped a beat, and an ominous premonition rose within him.

"Yan'er."

Flame Ruins King's voice suddenly became solemn.

"I have a task for you: hunt down the wandering Immortals of the Spirit Magpie Race. You're fast enough. This task suits you best."

Fang Yan froze for a moment, then relaxed inwardly.

Hunting down scattered Immortals was, bluntly speaking, picking up scraps on the battlefield.

The mission was not particularly dangerous. The true main battles had already been taken over by the three Kings, while the remaining ordinary Immortals were nothing more than walking Origin for Fang Yan now.

"Yes, Ancestor."

Fang Yan clasped his fists and accepted the order, subconsciously weighing the God-Killing Powder hidden in his sleeve.

Ice Qiong King suddenly spoke, her voice as cold and indifferent as ever.

"This is a battlefield, not a sparring match. No one will follow rules for your sake. Be careful."

Fang Yan solemnly clasped his fists.

"Thank you for the reminder, Senior. I must also thank you for your favor back then."

The corners of Ice Qiong King's lips rose slightly. The movement was tiny, but everyone present saw it.

Watching this, Flame Ruins King silently took a sip of tea, the corner of his mouth twitching faintly.

This brat was getting better and better at talking.

After the meeting ended, the fleet entered its final state of battle readiness.

The Footless Bird landed on the war fortress under Crimson Flame King's command. Fang Yan had Little Fox Fairy keep the spacecraft ready for immediate departure, then stood before a porthole at the edge of the fortress, gazing into the starry sky outside.

In the distance, the primary planet of the Cold Nest Star System was a silvery-white world. Its surface was covered in eternal ice, reflecting the fading glow of starlight.

"Six-Wing World Lord!"

Fang Yan turned and saw a Fang Family World Lord in dark red battle armor standing behind him, his expression respectful.

"Flame Ruins King has ordered the fleet to launch its full assault in one incense stick's time. The southwestern region under your patrol has been designated. This is the star map."

Fang Yan accepted the star map and glanced over it.

The southwestern region was one of the primary planet's three secondary continents. According to intelligence, a Spirit Magpie Race Immortal squad was stationed there, consisting of roughly three to five ordinary Immortals.

"Understood. You may leave."

Fang Yan put away the star map and adjusted his robe, checking his sleeves once more.

An incense stick's time passed in the blink of an eye.

By the time Flame Ruins King's voice thundered through the entire fleet via the communications system, Fang Yan was already standing at the Footless Bird's hatch.

"Gentlemen, for the Human Race, let us expand our territory—"

"Kill!"

The instant his words fell, deafening energy blasts erupted across the starry sky.

Hundreds of warships opened fire at once. Countless beams tore through space and crashed toward Cold Nest Star's primary planet.

The three war fortresses slowly pressed forward, their main fortress cannons beginning to charge. The light gathering at their muzzles shone as brightly as three miniature suns.

At the very front of the fleet, Flame Ruins King's figure suddenly vanished.

The next instant, a blazing mass of dark red fire exploded above Cold Nest Star's primary planet.

At the heart of the flames, Flame Ruins King drove both fists downward. A pillar of fire more than ten thousand meters wide descended from the heavens and slammed viciously into the towering ice peak at the center of the primary planet!