Jiuding Star Domain, Xianyang Star, Apang Palace.

The Qin Family always sees themselves as the legitimate heirs of Huaxia, naming their main star Xianyang and building a sprawling Apang Palace covering a thousand miles.

Apang Palace is, in reality, a supercity and the cultural and political center of the Jiuding Star Domain.

The high cost of living on Jiuding Star naturally excludes the lower class entirely.

Only the elite, carefully selected from amid nearly a hundred billion people, can live in Apang Palace.

As the foremost noble family among the Twelve Golden Bloodlines, the Qin Family rules over the Jiuding Star Domain, which is essentially a collective name for twelve star domains.

The Qin Family's domain encompasses over a hundred billion people. The Jiuding Star Domain is the leading alliance in both technology and military strength.

For this reason, the Qin Family always feels they are the leaders of the Alliance, always aggressive externally.

From the air, Apang Palace's design mimics that of an ancient palace. However, this ancient palace is made of metal, primarily black.

This group of buildings, styled like ancient Chinese palaces, exudes a strong metallic punk vibe. Except without the chaotic absurdity of punk, all the buildings are arranged systematically.

This massive city bears both the weighty history and the advanced precision of the modern world. The intense metallic feel gives Apang Palace a firm yet profound style.

In short, anyone who sees Apang Palace will be left with an exceptionally deep impression.

As the current Patriarch of the Qin Family and the Governor of the Jiuding Star Domain, Qin Fei's favorite pastime is standing on the Ancestral Dragon Pavilion overlooking the entire Apang Palace.

From a young age, he stood with his father at this spot, looking over Apang Palace. From that time, he grew fond of observing the city from above.

When he became the head of the Qin Family, the observation platform of the Ancestral Dragon Pavilion became his favorite place to linger.

The Ancestral Dragon Pavilion, called a pavilion, is shaped like a massive, coiled black Iron Dragon.

The observation spot is at the dragon's eyes, which can be closed if necessary. They can even serve as weapons, emitting high-energy lasers.

The entire Iron Dragon is functional, and it can sink underground if necessary. All significant buildings within Apang Palace can also sink underground.

There is an even larger complex of buildings underground beneath Apang Palace.

This complex is actually a gigantic space battleship. The Qin Family also constructed a space jump gate underground.

Through this special space jump gate, this enormous battleship can instantly jump three hundred light years away, where there is another space jump gate.

However, starting the space jump gate is bothersome due to its special design and can only be used once.

When Qin Fei was young, he thought the city design was clever, with a very high level of safety.

When he became a Golden Powerhouse, he thought these escape designs were too complicated, with no practical value at all.

The prestigious Qin Family, the leading family of the Alliance, who could attack Xianyang Star, who could make them abandon everything and flee immediately?

If it really came to that point, what meaning would there be in living a life of evasion?

When Qin Fei reached the Golden Upper Tier, he felt these escape designs were still necessary. The stronger his power became, the more he revered the immense power of this world.

Qin Fei disliked talking unnecessarily or showing off. When he broke through to the Golden Upper Tier a hundred years ago, he never announced it publicly.

Qin Fei understood well that even achieving Golden Upper Tier would not change the overall situation. Announcing it would only make other noble families more wary of the Qin Family.

Unless he stepped into the Super Tier, he could not change the current power structure.

What he hadn't expected was for Gao Xuan to suddenly emerge and muddy the waters of the Alliance.

Gao Xuan killed Qin Ken and Qin Xuan, but Qin Fei did not pay much attention.

Qin Ken was cunning but weak. Qin Xuan was arrogant and conceited. Both had fatal flaws in their personality, seriously misjudging people.

Especially Qin Xuan, who, having gained power from the Evil God, thought himself invincible and flaunted it everywhere.

Qin Fei wasn't saddened by their deaths, only annoyed by their foolishness and incompetence. Their deaths embarrassed the Qin Family.

For the sake of the Qin Family's honor, to unite the Qin Family, and to warn other noble families, Gao Xuan had to die.

For this, Qin Fei personally sought out Qin Wu. The Golden Upper-tier Powerhouse was to take action personally, ensuring Gao Xuan's elimination.

However, Gao Xuan escaped into the Celestial Battle Realm.

Qin Fei didn't care much. A single Gao Xuan wouldn't cause too many waves. The moment Gao Xuan resurfaced would be the moment of his demise.

What Qin Fei didn't anticipate was how explosive the news would be upon hearing about Gao Xuan again months later.

If the news hadn't come from Nuwa herself, Qin Fei would never have believed it.

But Nuwa doesn't lie. At least, she cannot deceive a Sage.

Some video footage provided by Nuwa showed the entire Black Banner Alliance lifeless. Every city had fallen into eerie silence.

Satellite life detectors found no trace of human life on all nine administrative stars of the Black Banner Star Domain.

The governance of the Black Banner Star Domain was chaotic, with no population census. There was no virtual net. Even the Black Banner King wouldn't know the specific population. But regardless, the population of the Black Banner Star Domain was at least in the billions.

Seeing all residents of the Black Banner Star Domain dead chilled Qin Fei to the bone, even as he remained indifferent to the lower class.

In the images provided by Nuwa, one could see Gao Xuan in a silver robe, sitting alone on the Pirate King's throne. Deep in thought but with a relaxed expression, as if sitting in his own home.

Behind Gao Xuan on the wall, the giant pirate flag's skull emblem was very conspicuous.

On the floor of the great hall lay several randomly discarded weapons.

With just a glance, Qin Fei recognized the Golden Monkey King's weapon. As a Sage, he was very familiar with the Black Banner Alliance.

He even knew that the Third Sage was from the Black Banner Alliance, likely the enigmatic Black Banner King.

The digital virtual Celestial Net, everything is digitally virtual. But an individual's conversation and insight are genuine. Including some spiritual traits, they are also displayed on the virtual Celestial Net.

Qin Fei always felt the Third Sage was impressive. This was a powerful intuition.

When Gao Xuan killed Qin Ken and Qin Xuan, Qin Fei immediately understood that the Seventh Sage was Gao Xuan. This guy somehow usurped the sage's authority.

Qin Fei had studied Gao Xuan. His reckless behavior always led to success, proving his caution. He never acted without certainty.

Of course, Gao Xuan's methods were wild and often surprising. This indicated his different thinking and that he wasn't constrained by existing rules and norms.

But how did Gao Xuan manage to kill so many strong figures of the Black Banner Alliance?

Not to mention the Black Banner King, the Red Dragon King, White Pig King, and Golden Monkey King were all Golden Middle Tier. Along with other Golden Powerhouses and the pirate fleets, this was a formidable force.

Furthermore, it was unclear what Law-level marvels were present on Black Banner Star. Earlier, some powerhouses had noted something wrong from afar.

Did Gao Xuan handle the entire Black Banner Alliance alone?

Qin Fei believed if the two sides battled fairly, he had the confidence to kill everyone below the Black Banner King.

But on the Black Banner Alliance's turf, he had no confidence in winning.

While Qin Fei was pondering, he suddenly sensed something and turned his head. He saw Qin Wu stepping out of the void.

"Elder Wu."

Though Qin Fei was a Golden Upper-tier, he was hundreds of years younger than Qin Wu. He always showed respect to this clan elder.

"It looks like it's going to snow today."

Qin Wu looked up at the gloomy sky, his old face revealing a bit of melancholy.

Qin Fei smiled, "Whether it snows depends on our mood, doesn't it?"

"That's true."

Qin Wu nodded, "I still prefer snow. It's pure and quiet."

Seeing Qin Wu's contemplative expression, Qin Fei roughly understood his feelings.

He said nothing, only used his spiritual power to guide the ice crystals in the sky to condense.

In an instant, large snowflakes were drifting down from the sky.

Qin Wu extended his withered hand to catch a snowflake. In his eyes, the snowflake was composed of countless perfect hexagonal crystals.

The wonder of creation lay in this. Every snowflake was a hexagonal ice crystal structure.

Qin Wu's withered hand slowly warmed up, and the snowflake quickly melted into a puff of mist.

He looked at the mist and suddenly said, "Gao Xuan must have advanced to Golden Upper Tier. And who knows what divine artifact he holds, even the Black Banner King was swept away by him. What should we do next?"

Qin Fei pondered and said, "I've been thinking about that too. Gao Xuan is really a big problem."

"The ordinary people killed on Black Banner Star probably weren't Gao Xuan's doing."

Qin Wu thought for a moment, "From what I see, though Gao Xuan is arrogant, he's not that insane."

He added, "Song Town is shrewd, and if he appreciates Gao Xuan, there must be a reason."

Someone like Song Town values order the most. For Song Town to appreciate him, whatever the case, Gao Xuan shouldn't be the kind to massacre civilians.

Moreover, none of the nine administrative stars was damaged. Everyone died all at once, which suggests it must be the Evil God's doing.

Such a massive-scale death is incredibly rare in human history.

If the Evil God had been this rampant, humanity would have been wiped out long ago.

Qin Wu also found this matter difficult. Gao Xuan was extremely tricky now. They weren't confident in killing him but couldn't let him be either.

To consider reconciling with Gao Xuan, Qin Wu was unwilling.

Qin Fei said, "Regardless of whether Gao Xuan did this or not, we must pin it on him. This young man craves fame. Without our help, no one can clear his name!"

"But forcing Gao Xuan like this, his reaction will be unpredictable..."

Qin Wu was somewhat worried. The Jiuding Star Realm was vast, and even with the Nine Provinces Cauldron suppressing the Star Realm, it might not be enough to restrain Gao Xuan.

Unless Gao Xuan recklessly comes to Xianyang Star.

Qin Fei said, "We can't easily bow to a young man. What about the noble family's dignity? Besides, there's the Jin Family, the Yuan Family, Augustus's line; we're many, why fear one person!"

After thinking, he added, "If this kid messes around, we'll first destroy the Twelve Star Domain. Wipe out his lovers and friends completely!"

Qin Wu nodded. After all, Qin Fei was the patriarch. And he, too, was unwilling to show weakness to Gao Xuan.

After pondering, he suggested, "Let's get the Matchmaker involved. Only the Matchmaker can assuredly defeat the current Gao Xuan."

Qin Fei thought for a moment and said, "No rush, let's wait and see..."

With the push of several noble families, news of the Black Banner Alliance's destruction spread quickly throughout the Alliance.

The ordinary people naturally loathed the Black Banner Alliance pirates. Yet, upon hearing that the Black Banner Alliance's billion ordinary people were also killed, most couldn't accept it.

Controlling the propaganda platforms, the noble families slightly adjusted the narrative to sway public opinion.

Soon, Gao Xuan was labeled as the greatest demon in human history!

The Celestial Net was abuzz due to Gao Xuan.