The Star Cluster had been attacked. Among the four Star Masters, three were dead and one was missing.
Lin Huang did not learn the explosive news from Xia Bing.
Instead, he saw it on the news the morning after it happened.
After scrolling through all sorts of gossip about it on social media platforms, he took the initiative to contact Xia Bing.
When the video call connected, Lin Huang could clearly see that she looked worried.
“I just saw the news. What exactly happened?” Lin Huang asked as soon as the video call connected.
“It’s just as the news reported. Three of Star Cluster’s Star Masters died, and one is missing. Nobody knows if he’s dead or alive,” Xia Bing told him the truth rather helplessly.
“Can you tell me the details?” Lin Huang continued to ask.
“The four Star Masters gathered yesterday. They must’ve done so to summon the Great Void Mirror in order to find out who the Black Abyss’ spies were. The people from the Black Abyss likely attacked them after they awakened the Great Void Mirror. As awakening the Great Void Mirror drains a large amount of Odylic Force, the few Star Masters who used the mirror would be in a weakened state. Therefore, the heavenly dao-level powerhouses from the Black Abyss seized the opportunity to kill them.”
“Did those few Star Masters manage to send over any messages?” Lin Huang asked more.
“Not that I know of.” Xia Bing shook her head. “Since the people from the Black Abyss were prepared to kill them, they must’ve shielded messages from being sent out to prevent the investigation results from the Great Void Mirror from leaking out.”
“Killing them while taking advantage of their weakened state, as well as preventing information about their spies from leaking out. That’s a great plan that kills two birds with one stone.” Lin Huang squinted his eyes.
“Are the bodies and Kingdoms of the three Star Masters who died intact?” Lin Huang asked again.
“Their bodies are intact, but one of their Kingdoms is gone.” Xia Bing glanced at Lin Huang and answered anyway.
“So the Star Master who is missing should be the Black Abyss’ spy…” Lin Huang mumbled to himself softly.
“Not necessarily. Perhaps he’s been captured alive.” In reality, Xia Bing guessed the same as well, but she was unwilling to believe that it was the truth.
“If I was the ambusher, I would definitely take the bodies with me instead of leaving them behind. After all, heavenly dao-level powerhouses’ bodies and Kingdoms can be traded for a couple of exotic treasures. The bodies remaining intact proves that someone is feeling guilty about his betrayal,” Lin Huang spoke of his speculation.
“Can it be that they left the bodies behind on purpose to indicate their stance?” Xia Bing asked.
“It’d be very obvious if they wanted to indicate their stance. There would be clear signs left behind on the scene so that people could tell from a glance that it was done by the Black Abyss.” Lin Huang shook his head. “From the images of the scene shared on the internet, I didn’t see any signs like that left behind.”
“If he’s really running away due to the betrayal, there’s no need for him to disappear like that, right? Doesn’t his absence mean that he’s basically admitting that he’s a spy from the Black Abyss?” Xia Bing was still unwilling to believe that Guan Yi was a traitor.
“If he stayed, how could he explain the three Star Masters being killed? Also, as the only survivor, wouldn’t the remaining six organizations suspect him and investigate him anyway? If he stayed, it would only be a matter of time before his identity as a spy was exposed. Unless he’s really not a spy and doesn’t mind being investigated by the six organizations in order to clear his name.”
“Also, to him, it was the best opportunity to escape. He wouldn’t be able to run even if he wanted to when Royal and the other organizations started to investigate him.” Lin Huang thought that the fact that the person was missing was basically tantamount to him admitting to being a spy.
“Could it be a set-up done by people from the Black Abyss to make us think that he’s a spy?” Xia Bing still did not want to give up and spoke of the last possibility she could think of.
“I don’t think that’s necessary.” However, Lin Huang shook his head to deny that possibility. “Star Cluster no longer having any heavenly dao-level powerhouses is equivalent to them being removed from the ranks of the seven grade-SSS organizations in the Eastern Eight Zone directly. Who that missing Star Master is exactly, or whether he’s alive or not, is no longer important to the remaining six organizations. There’s no substantial meaning in assuming that he’s a spy.”
Xia Bing could not find any other explanations to refute him after hearing his reply.
“Now that the Star Cluster has no more Star Masters, is there anyone else who can use the Great Void Mirror?” Lin Huang asked again after a moment of silence.
“No. Only the four Star Masters were at heavenly dao-level in Star Cluster. At least two to three Star Masters would need to work together to activate the Great Void Mirror each time. There’s nobody who can activate it now.” Xia Bing shook her head, feeling helpless.
“Can’t the heavenly dao-level powerhouses from other organizations use it?” Lin Huang asked again.
“The Great Void Mirror is a treasure. It has a consciousness and a level of intelligence equal to our own. It stayed in Star Cluster because it was a relic of the first-generation Star Master’s father. Apart from the people from Star Cluster, other heavenly dao-level powerhouses can’t activate it, let alone use it. If they want to use it by force, they’d have to be dominator-level at least,” Xia Bing explained while shaking her head.
“Which means that it’s basically impossible to find out who the spies are within the remaining six grade-SSS organizations.” Although Lin Huang said that, he was thinking about the possibility of him activating the Great Void Mirror.
After all, his current level of ability had far surpassed heavenly dao-level.
“That’s right. This is basically a dead-end.” Xia Bing shook her head, feeling helpless. “We can only wait and see if the remaining six organizations have any solutions.”
“How’s Star Cluster doing?” Lin Huang suddenly asked.
“It’s in turmoil. There are even many people who are thinking of leaving. The rest of the organizations are coveting Star Cluster’s territory. Maintaining a grade-SS organization aside, I guess we might even lose our grade-S status in a few months,” Xia Bing told the truth with a helpless look on her face.
“What do you plan to do next?” Lin Huang continued to ask.
“It’s pretty pointless for me to stay in Star Cluster. There’s nothing that I can do if I stay, so I’m thinking of heading to Snow Kingdom. I have a friend there,” Xia Bing hesitated and decided to tell Lin Huang anyway.
“I think it’d be better if you stayed with Star Cluster. The current Star Cluster is the safest place in the entire Eastern Eight Zone.” Lin Huang provided her with a different suggestion directly.
“On one hand, Star Cluster is no longer a threat to the Black Abyss, and you guys can longer participate in the fight among heavenly dao-level powerhouses. On the other hand, the Black Abyss’ ambushes won’t stop here. Ambushing Star Cluster is only the beginning. The Eastern Eight Zone will become more and more chaotic, especially for the remaining six grade-SSS organizations, who will become the primary targets of the Black Abyss’ ambushes.”
“You going to Snow Kingdom will only put yourself in greater danger. If you stay with Star Cluster, although other organizations would harass you guys, the level of threat is way lower than facing those people from the Black Abyss directly.”
“Do you think my level of ability isn’t powerful enough to participate in the battle against those people from the Black Abyss?” Xia Bing was a little pissed.
“What I mean is that, before the Black Abyss shows themselves, don’t put yourself in their field of vision. I’m not asking you to watch from the sidelines when the war officially begins.” Lin Huang added after that, “Before the war starts, try your best to elevate your ability as much as you can. The more powerful your ability is, the longer you can survive on the battlefield..”
