The spirit boat raced like light, traversing thousands of miles in an instant.

The mountains and rivers beneath their feet swiftly receded into the distance, while ripples of spatial energy reverberated around them.

Xiong Fen and his son, Xiong Zhong, were well-traveled and accustomed to riding such flying vessels.

The two kept their heads low, quietly sitting at the back of the crowd, their nerves taut—even more so than when they had been in the grand hall of the Moon God Pavilion.

Though they spoke lightly of their plan, slipping in unnoticed among this group carried immense risk.

A single misstep could alert the two formidable experts among them.

The consequences would be unthinkable.

Yet, given the circumstances and the irresistible temptation of rare treasures, Xiong Fen’s boldness prevailed. He steeled himself against the pressure and maintained his composure.

After sitting rigidly for half a day without incident, their plan to blend in had succeeded!

Xiong Fen exhaled inwardly in relief and shot his son a reassuring glance.

"Stay calm. Everything is going according to plan!"

At the same time, he mustered his courage and lifted his gaze to study the native cultivators from Cloud Star seated ahead.

But when he extended his divine sense for a closer look, Xiong Fen’s eyes widened in shock.

A Saint…

The disheveled old man before him, who seemed lazy and unkempt, was actually a Saint.

Even if only at the initial stage, Saints were far from common—especially in the desolate lands of Cloud Star. How had he stumbled upon one the moment he looked up?

While Xiong Fen was still scrutinizing the old man in disbelief, his son’s astonished voice echoed through their mental link.

"Father! The man beside me… he seems to be at the Saint realm as well."

What?

Another Saint?

Xiong Fen frowned and swept his divine sense outward.

Upon closer inspection, even he couldn’t help but furrow his brows slightly.

To his right sat an unremarkable young man, his body faintly exuding traces of Daoist energy—so subtle that it was nearly imperceptible unless one scrutinized him carefully.

Though his cultivation wasn’t particularly high, he was undeniably a genuine Saint!

Yet another one…

Xiong Fen’s eyes flickered with suspicion.

Ignoring his son’s growing alarm, he expanded his divine sense further.

What he discovered sent a chill down his spine.

The space around them was thick with interwoven strands of Daoist energy. The corner of the flying boat where they sat was practically surrounded by Saints!

An oppressive, unnatural tension began to permeate the air.

One.

Two.

Dozens of them—every single one at the Saint realm!

Though they were aboard a flying vessel, it felt as though they had stumbled into the inner sanctum of the Moon God Pavilion. Everywhere they looked, Saints filled their vision—a sight so staggering it defied belief.

How was this possible?!

Xiong Fen’s eyes bulged, his brows knitting into a deep frown.

His mind reeled. He had assumed that aside from the two experts, the rest were mere weaklings. Yet now, he realized the truth—every single person here was a Saint.

Xiong Zhong’s face paled further, his mental voice trembling with panic.

"Father! Something’s not right here!"

"Wasn’t Cloud Star supposed to be a barren backwater? How could so many Saints gather in one place? Thinking back, we encountered two experts the moment we arrived—this is too strange!"

"Father… could your intelligence have been flawed?"

Seeing his son on the verge of losing composure, Xiong Fen shot him a stern glare to steady him.

"Calm down!"

Once Xiong Zhong quieted, Xiong Fen’s gaze turned contemplative.

Though the sight of so many Saints weighed on him, he wasn’t so easily shaken. After all, he was a elder of the Moon God Pavilion.

To him, these individuals, while Saints, were far from true experts—at best, they were comparable to the Pavilion’s outstanding disciples, nothing more than promising juniors.

Moreover, their attire was a chaotic mix, resembling rogue cultivators rather than disciples of any prestigious sect. They couldn’t hold a candle to the Moon God Pavilion’s elite.

A glint of insight flashed in Xiong Fen’s eyes as he transmitted calmly,

"As expected, these people aren’t from the same faction."

"Perhaps due to unique techniques or treasures, their cultivation is deeply concealed. Without careful inspection, it’s easy to overlook them—but they are indeed all Saints!"

As he spoke, Xiong Fen subtly gestured toward their varied clothing, and Xiong Zhong gradually steadied himself.

"Father makes a fair point. Then, in your view, who are these people?"

Xiong Fen sifted through his knowledge and swiftly reached a conclusion.

"Without a doubt, this must be Cloud Star’s top-tier combat force. Likely, they were alarmed by Qing Yin Xianyun’s warning about the demonic threat and have gathered here to unite against it."

"Look at that elder—his years of cultivation may even surpass mine. Such old monsters rarely emerge unless faced with a cataclysmic crisis."

Xiong Zhong followed his gaze, taking in the elder’s weathered profile.

A flicker of understanding crossed his face as he transmitted,

"Father is right…"

"No wonder we encountered two experts upon arrival, and now so many Saints assembled. If this is Cloud Star’s full mobilization against the demons, it makes sense."

Observing the frail, aged figures around them, Xiong Zhong regained some confidence.

"I thought something was amiss, but this must be the peak of Cloud Star’s strength. Aside from those two experts, the rest are nothing to fear."

"Cloud Star, once a participant in the Celestial War, has truly fallen into decline."

"Talk about bad luck—we arrive just as their top forces are convening. What are the odds?"

Hearing his son’s lament, Xiong Fen chuckled softly.

"Hah."

"Son, you see it now. Aside from those two, the natives here are at best at this level. Our timing may be unfortunate, but it’s also an opportunity."

"If we play our cards right, we’ll witness Cloud Star’s entire elite force firsthand. Gathering intelligence will be effortless, and we might even snag a few decent treasures along the way. Isn’t that perfect?"

Xiong Zhong’s spirits lifted, his eyes gleaming with anticipation.

"Father, your foresight is peerless. This time, our fortunes are bound to turn!"

Father and son exchanged quiet smiles as they gazed toward the unknown expanse of the starry sky ahead.

"Whoosh!"

The spirit boat accelerated once more, tearing through the void.

Several hours later…

Ripples spread across the clear sky as the flying vessel descended toward a small island.

"Report to your respective divisions and disband!"

A peculiar order rang out, and the crowd swiftly dispersed in all directions.

Left standing at the bow of the boat, Xiong Fen and Xiong Zhong gaped in stunned silence.

Before them stretched a cityscape unlike anything they had ever seen.

Towering skyscrapers, sleek and monolithic, rose like ancient trees into the heavens, their peaks lost in the clouds. A straight, impossibly smooth road cut through the urban jungle, flanked by towering lampposts and glowing signals they couldn’t comprehend.

In the distance, the hum of a bustling metropolis reached their ears.

The father and son were utterly bewildered.

The architectural style, the sheer scale of the buildings—everything was alien to them. They stared like country bumpkins entering a metropolis for the first time, their faces a mix of awe and confusion.

"Tsk… Dark Shadow Island is truly extraordinary."

"Father, that hall is hundreds of zhang tall! Since when did Cloud Star have such bizarre structures?"

"How is this road so perfectly flat, without a single seam? What kind of colossal stone slab was used to craft it?"

"Father, what are those metal poles lining the road? Are they some kind of magical artifact?"

Xiong Zhong’s barrage of questions made him sound like an ignorant child.

"Father…"

But his father was equally dumbfounded, his usual air of omniscience nowhere to be found.

Cornered by his son’s inquiries, Xiong Fen’s face flushed with embarrassment before he snapped irritably,

"Enough!"

Just as he was about to lecture his son on maintaining dignity and remembering their mission—

A thunderous roar erupted in the distance.

"Whoa..."

Following the sound, they saw a figure speeding toward them on a motorcycle!

The speed wasn’t particularly fast, but the rider’s posture was effortlessly cool, leaving both father and son envious. The strange mount moved steadily without the slightest wobble, leaving them utterly mesmerized.

"Beep beep!"

A sudden honk startled the duo, making them instinctively step back.

"Whoosh!"

The motorcycle zipped beneath their flying vessel and gradually vanished into the horizon.

The young Xiong Zhong couldn’t hold back his admiration.

"What a majestic roar! That mount is truly impressive!"

"I wonder what kind of beast it is—I can’t even sense its bloodline aura. If we could ride such a thing back to Moon God Pavilion, everyone would be green with envy!"

The young man’s curiosity was natural, and his desire to show off wasn’t unreasonable.

Even Xiong Fen felt a twinge of temptation, though he offered a token reprimand.

"Ahem."

"Those who achieve great things must not indulge in frivolous distractions!"

Reluctantly tearing his gaze away, Xiong Zhong’s expression turned serious.

He sent a covert voice transmission, his eyes flickering with suspicion.

"This place is strange—it has the distinct flavor of Cloud Star."

"If I’m not mistaken, this must be the heart of Cloud Star. Surely, Qing Yin Xianyun’s destruction of the Star Gate has shaken the entire planet, drawing out countless hidden experts. Those people on the flying vessel earlier must be among them."

"With the demons eradicated and the Ancient Corridor reopened, Cloud Star will attract attention from across the cosmos. These experts have gathered here, undoubtedly to discuss their next course of action!"

The more he spoke, the more convinced he became, his eyes gleaming with insight.

"This must be the truth."

"Looking back, it’s no coincidence that we encountered two formidable experts as soon as we arrived on Cloud Star. The place we landed must have been near their meeting point—otherwise, we wouldn’t have had such rotten luck!"

"As for how we managed to blend in so smoothly afterward, it’s precisely because these reclusive masters have gathered, and not all of them know each other. That’s why we slipped through unnoticed!"

By this point, Xiong Fen’s eyes widened in realization.

All their misfortunes suddenly made perfect sense. Every piece of the puzzle fell into place—he had unraveled the inner workings of Cloud Star!

Beside him, his son Xiong Zhong was utterly awestruck, his eyes shimmering with reverence.

If not for the need for secrecy, he would have dropped to his knees in admiration right then and there.

"Father, your vision is truly peerless! To deduce so much at a glance, to grasp Cloud Star’s movements with such precision—your wisdom is unparalleled!"

"No wonder you’re always dissatisfied with me. Compared to you, I’m not even a tenth as capable..."

"I’m truly ashamed!"

Seeing his son’s adoration, Xiong Fen clasped his hands behind his back and chuckled.

"Heh, as they say, age brings wisdom..."

"The Moon God Pavilion Master? What of him? If not for his meager cultivation and the advantage of divine weapons, how could he ever stand above me?"

"My son, don’t belittle yourself. You’re young, and your talent surpasses mine. As long as you observe, learn, and secure those divine weapons for yourself, your future will be boundless!"

Father and son brimmed with joy, their confidence in the path ahead unshakable.

With that, they mimicked the others and swaggered off the flying vessel.

Xiong Fen strolled leisurely, hands behind his back, exuding the smug assurance of an incognito inspector.

"Son, now that we’ve uncovered the truth, there’s no need for excessive caution. Let’s blend into this Cloud Star gathering, gather some intel, and act as the situation demands."

His gaze settled on the tallest tower in the city, brimming with self-assurance.

Xiong Zhong mirrored his demeanor, following calmly with a composed smile.

"Very well. Let’s see what this so-called Cloud Star gathering is really made of."

Side by side, they strode forward, their expressions radiating invincible confidence.

But they hadn’t taken more than a few steps—hadn’t even entered the city—when shouts erupted behind them.

"Hey! Hey!"

"What are you two doing? Get over here and help move this stuff! Yeah, I’m talking to you—the two idiots with their hands behind their backs!"

The father-son pair turned in confusion.

A middle-aged man jabbed a finger at them, his face flushed with irritation.

"What are you staring at? Lend a hand already! We’re short on manpower, and you two are just loafing around?!"

The duo stood dumbfounded.

A group of people were hauling demon corpses, and the leader, spittle flying, glared at them.

Xiong Zhong exchanged a bewildered glance with his father.

They couldn’t fathom what had gone wrong.

Even if they were impostors, they were impersonating Cloud Star’s elite—invited to discuss the planet’s future! Shouldn’t they be treated with hospitality? Since when did they have to haul cargo?

Xiong Fen’s voice dripped with displeasure.

"Did I hear correctly? You expect us to move things?"

The squad leader rolled up his sleeves, scowling.

"What else?"

Xiong Fen’s face darkened, veins bulging on his forehead.

He roared with the full authority of a "Cloud Star expert."

"Outrageous!"

"We, the esteemed masters of Cloud Star, have traveled countless miles, enduring hardships for the sake of this planet’s grand design! Instead of receiving the respect we deserve, you dare order us to haul demon corpses?!"

"What kind of madness is this? Huh?!"