Inside the imperial palace, deep within the firmament planet.
In the grand hall.
"Father, are you alright after the great battle today?"
Mo Xuanyou looked at his father, whose complexion was slightly pale, with concern.
His father's fierce battle with the Heavenly Wolf Emperor today had made him understand something: only sufficient strength could protect what one wished to protect.
"I'm fine~"
"Just minor injuries. Compared to me, Di Ba was wounded by my sword energy and won't be able to recover within three to five years."
"After this battle, the Heavenly Wolf Empire's ambitions will also be curbed."
Mo Junlin then looked at his third son, "Xuanyou, your master, King Ye, has twice turned the tide. He is a benefactor to our Star River Empire."
"From now on, you must never defy King Ye."
Mo Xuanyou opened his mouth as if to say something, but ultimately refrained. "Yes, Father."
Having experienced the events of the day, he had clearly matured considerably. Mo Junlin saw all this, and he knew that this was Mo Xuanyou's transformation after executing Di Lin, the eighth prince of the Heavenly Wolf Empire.
Mo Junlin couldn't help but feel fortunate that he had sent Mo Xuanyou to study under Ye Xuan. Otherwise, his troublesome son might not have grown so quickly.
"Junlin, something has happened!"
As the father and son were conversing, a hurried voice entered the hall, followed by a person. And the person was none other than Mo Yu.
"Second Uncle?"
"What is it!!"
Seeing Mo Yu, Mo Junlin was stunned. Mo Yu was usually very busy, and his hurried personal arrival indicated many things.
Mo Xuanyou also looked at his second grandfather, clearly curious. "Yes, Second Grandfather."
"In the star domain bordering our Star River Empire and the Heavenly Wolf Empire, a quasi-super star has been discovered. Its star grade is in no way inferior to the firmament planet. Currently, various factions and empires are rushing towards it, wanting to claim it for themselves."
"However, that unknown star is somewhat strange."
Mo Yu paused, recalling the information from the frontier star domain. "To control that star, one must ascend the 'Qiankun Tower' on it. And the only condition to enter the Qiankun Tower is to be below the ninth-level Great Emperor. But... the pressure on just the fifth level of the nine-layered Qiankun Tower is comparable to a ninth-level Great Emperor. The sixth level is even comparable to the peak of a ninth-level Great Emperor. As for the seventh level, no one knows."
"Hmm!?"
Upon hearing Mo Yu's words, Mo Junlin was taken aback. "If that's the case, isn't that 'Qiankun Tower' at least an Ancestral-level existence!"
"This... this is probably true."
Mo Yu nodded silently. Although uncertain, it was highly likely that the 'Qiankun Tower' was an existence above the Ancestral level.
"In that case."
Mo Junlin pondered for a moment and quickly made a decision. "Then let King Ye make a trip. With his ability, he will surely succeed in one fell swoop."
"Oh."
"Right, how could I have forgotten King Ye."
Mo Yu was stunned when he heard Mo Junlin's words, and then he realized. "I'll go find King Ye immediately."
As he spoke, Mo Yu prepared to go in person.
"Second Grandfather, wait a moment."
Just as Mo Yu was about to leave, Mo Xuanyou's voice called out. Mo Yu immediately stopped.
"Second Grandfather, Father, I'm afraid... Master might not be able to go."
He thought that his master was no longer a peak eighth-level Great Emperor, but a ninth-level Great Emperor. Clearly, he no longer met the condition to ascend the Qiankun Tower.
"Hmm!!"
Hearing Mo Xuanyou's words, Mo Junlin and Mo Yu were both startled. Mo Junlin looked at his son. "Why?"
"This..."
Hearing his father's question, Mo Xuanyou pondered for a moment and coughed. "Well, Father, Second Grandfather, you might not know yet."
"Actually, Master is not a peak eighth-level Great Emperor anymore. He has already advanced to the ninth-level Great Emperor."
Upon hearing Mo Xuanyou's words, Mo Junlin's eyes flickered. Mo Yu was taken aback. "Ninth-level Great Emperor? Xuanyou, are you sure? This matter is of great importance."
"Second Grandfather, what I said is true."
Then, Mo Xuanyou recounted how he had inexplicably walked to King Ye's mansion last time and witnessed his master's breakthrough. Hearing this, Mo Junlin and the other nodded with a bitter smile.
"So that's how it is!"
Mo Junlin nodded. As for Mo Yu, he smacked his lips. "It's truly unbelievable. This afternoon, King Ye instantly killed five peak ninth-level Great Emperors, and he didn't even use his full strength."
"Junlin, you say... if King Ye were to fight with all his might, would he be able to contend with you?"
Mo Yu was truly shocked at this moment. Someone at the peak of the eighth-level Great Emperor could instantly kill five peak ninth-level Great Emperors. If he used the strength of a ninth-level Great Emperor, wouldn't his combat power be even stronger?
After all, as someone who had been through it, he knew too well the gap between a ninth-level Great Emperor and a peak eighth-level Great Emperor.
"If this is truly the case, it will be a great fortune for our Star River Empire."
Mo Junlin's lips curved when he heard this. Although he didn't interact much with Ye Xuan, he knew that this person was fair in his grievances and resentments, which was evident from his attitude towards his son.
Therefore, Mo Junlin had never considered opposing Ye Xuan from the beginning, because...
Given his talent, the Star River Empire was destined to be just a temporary resting place.
"However, it's a bit of a pity about that unknown star."
Mo Junlin said so, then continued, "Even if King Ye cannot participate, our Star River Empire must still compete for it."
"Second Uncle, you handle this matter."
Hearing Mo Junlin's plan, Mo Yu nodded. "Alright."
Just as Mo Junlin and the three were conversing, the news of the unknown star comparable to the firmament planet also spread to many planetary powers.
As expected, this matter also reached Ye Xuan's ears.
In a room deep within King Ye's mansion.
Ye Xuan looked with interest at the star domain bordering the Star River Empire and the Heavenly Wolf Empire. "Unknown star domain, a quasi-super star. This is a rare existence."
"It's a pity that I've already advanced to the ninth-level Great Emperor and can't go personally."
Ye Xuan shook his head slightly, then his gaze fell on his elf-like clone. "Ba Xuan, you go this time."
"At that time, I will leave spatial and temporal power within you, and ascending that 'Qiankun Tower' will not be a problem. Then, you will claim ownership of that star."
"I believe your cultivation will definitely improve again by then."
"Okay."
The elf-like clone nodded excitedly upon hearing the main body's words.
This scene, however, made the Ice River Giant Beast clone, who was standing nearby, extremely envious. "Damn it, the second clone is really lucky."
Although the Ice River Giant Beast clone had already advanced to the peak of the ninth-level Great Emperor, it still couldn't suppress its envy. Damn it, this fellow's cultivation would narrow the gap with him again.
"Heh, when I reach the ninth-level Great Emperor, I'll beat you into a pulp."
The elf-like clone grinned sinisterly at the first clone, causing the Ice River Giant Beast clone to have a dark line on its forehead. "Damn it, second clone, you bastard!!"