The Star Boat cut through the waves, carrying Han Li and Ling Yuling toward Purple Star Peak. The turmoil in the Broken Cloud Archipelago had barely subsided, yet Ling Yuling showed not the slightest slackening. His shoulders and back remained ramrod straight beneath his star-patterned battle armor, his gaze sweeping the sea like a hawk's-the vigilance innate to the master of the Star Palace.
"Sixth Elder," he suddenly said, his voice colder than the morning breeze, "although the Inverse Star Guards in the Broken Cloud Archipelago have been wiped out, secret letters recovered from their base reveal that the Inverse Star Alliance has established a new Branch Headquarters on Netherworld Island, dedicated to gathering intelligence on the Magnetic Essence Sea Eye."
Han Li took the Jade Slip he tossed over and swept it with his spiritual sense. His expression darkened slightly. "Netherworld Island borders the Magnetic Essence Sea Eye. If the Inverse Star Alliance uses it to map the Sea Eye's terrain, Six Paths Extreme Sage and Wan Sangu will be able to pinpoint the Magnetic Essence Mountain where the Twin Saints are trapped..."
"Exactly." Star power gathered at Ling Yuling's fingertip as he marked Netherworld Island's location on the Star Map. "There are fewer than three months left before the decisive battle between the Twin Saints and the Inverse Star Alliance. This island must be uprooted. The Grand Elder has ordered us to depart in three days. We must destroy the Branch Headquarters and capture the Inverse Star Alliance's intelligence chief."
``` [System notification: New quest triggered: "Eradicate the Bandits on Netherworld Island." Objectives: Destroy the Inverse Star Alliance's Netherworld Island Branch Headquarters and capture its intelligence chief, "Ghost-Faced Scholar" (Nascent Soul Early Stage). Rewards: Star Palace contribution points ×3,000, Magnetic Essence Beast Core ×2 (advancement materials for the