All five Morning Star Tier Professionals are missing?

Upon hearing this news, everyone’s expression froze.

"What?" Chu Ran was the first to break the silence, his expression horrified and his voice high-pitched. "You’re not mistaken, are you?"

The people in the hall were gathered in twos and threes, and not all of them were qualified to approach this area.

Hearing Chu Ran’s loud reaction, many people stopped their conversations and looked over.

’Missing?’ Su Chen was also quite shaken.

The Hanhai Emperor’s birthday was a major event involving the entire Dust Star Sea, and one of the first pieces of news Su Chen had encountered after his arrival.

After joining the Sect, he had heard occasional news about it. Strictly speaking, it was somewhat related to him, since the Bronze Sect had sent Qin Yun.

Her absence during the time he had just arrived at the Sect had conveniently saved him a lot of trouble.

After all, the way Qin Tianlin and the others acted would certainly be different with Qin Yun around compared to without her.

At the very least, if Qin Yun had been present, Meng Shiyu’s investigation into Ming Lin would never have been so gentle.

But he never expected this matter to take such a drastic turn.

Those were five Morning Star Tier Professionals—major figures in the Dust Star Sea and pillars of the Sects.

Normally, the death of even one would cause a huge stir, let alone five all going missing.

Wei Zhenghong’s expression was grave. "Let’s go to the lounge."

The conversation to follow was clearly not something everyone was qualified to hear.

The crowd in the hall could only watch the group leave with surprise, their minds racing with speculation.

However, some people who were closer had unintentionally overheard what Old Jiang said.

But in this situation, no one dared to speak up; they just stood there, stunned.

Su Chen followed Wei Zhenghong and the others into the lounge.

This guy Chu Ran called Old Jiang was named Jiang Mufeng. He was ranked sixteenth on the Holy List, with a Star Amber Talent on the Physical Side and Profound Purple for his spirit.

The reason he was called Master of All Things was that his father was the master of the Shadow Hall, which specialized in the Sect’s external intelligence.

After the door was closed, Jiang Mufeng finally spoke. "It’s unlikely to be a mistake. The Royal Court locked down the capital yesterday. No news has come out of there since."

"My father consulted the other Great Sects and found that none of them could contact their own Morning Star Tier Professionals. He then contacted people from the Royal Court, and after a lot of hemming and hawing, they said they couldn’t get in touch either."

"They can’t get in touch either?" Wei Zhenghong’s brow furrowed. "Qin Yun and the others went to the Royal Court’s capital. How could they be unreachable?"

"I don’t know." Jiang Mufeng shook his head helplessly. "The last communication with Venerable Qin Yun was four days ago. No one knows what exactly happened in between."

Although this group was all part of Wei Zhenghong and Shen Yi’an’s circle and didn’t quite get along with Qin Yun’s faction, she was still one of the Sect’s Morning Star Tier Professionals. If something had really happened to her, it was no cause for celebration.

Even Wei Zhenghong showed no hint of joy on his face, though it was hard to tell if he was faking it.

"The Royal Court didn’t kill them, did they?" Chu Ran suddenly blurted out.

"Unlikely." A man beside him named Zhao Ming, who seemed a bit older and had a calm expression, shook his head. "The Royal Court isn’t insane. Why would they ambush and kill five Morning Star Tier Professionals for no reason? That would be forcing the Five Great Sects to unite and declare war, wouldn’t it?"

Su Chen’s eyes flickered. He already had a general understanding of the political landscape of the Dust Star Sea. The Royal Court and the Five Great Sects maintained peace on the surface while competing in the shadows.

But a complete falling-out was indeed unlikely.

That was why the Five Great Sects had confidently sent their Morning Star Tier Professionals to the birthday celebration. It was a long-standing understanding between them.

"That possibility isn’t out of the question," Shen Yi’an said slowly. All eyes turned to him as he continued, "The Royal Court has never given up on its ambition for the Heart of Melting Fire."

Hearing this, everyone’s expression changed slightly.

Wei Zhenghong’s brow tightened. "Would they really go that far?"

’Heart of Melting Fire?’

Su Chen heard this and was a little lost. ’Melt what fire? Flame Fire?’

’The Royal Court has always wanted to merge the Flame Fire? Flame Fire can be merged?’

Su Chen couldn’t help but feel surprised. A series of questions popped into his head. ’Even if they wanted to merge the Flame Fire, what does that have to do with the missing Morning Star Tier Professionals?’

He was filled with doubt, but it wasn’t a good time to ask directly. He nudged Chu Ran, who was standing beside him, and sent out a ripple of mental energy.

Chu Ran’s eyes flickered as he responded mentally, "That’s right, they want to merge the Flame Fire. Flame Fires can be fused together, making them stronger and expanding their range."

"Ever since our Sect’s Flame Fire had problems, the Royal Court has been trying to take the opportunity to merge it. If it weren’t for the two Morning Star Tier Professionals who bravely sacrificed themselves back then, the Ancient King would have had to accept the Royal Court’s demands."

Chu Ran sighed, a touch of melancholy in his mental voice.

’A noble sacrifice?’ Su Chen’s eyes shifted. He inquired further and finally learned the details.

It turned out that a Flame Fire was what was left behind after a Professional died, but at the very minimum, one had to be a Morning Star Tier Professional to be qualified to leave one behind.

At the same time, the younger, more powerful, and the more Holy Professions one had forged, the stronger the Flame Fire they left behind.

If one died of old age, the resulting Flame Fire would not be as powerful.

Su Chen finally understood. "So you’re saying," he asked mentally, "the Sect’s extinguished Flame Fire was only reignited because two Morning Star Tier Professionals made a noble sacrifice, using themselves as kindling?"

But even so, it still left behind a hidden vulnerability.

’But just to make a Flame Fire burn more intensely... that’s not enough to make the Royal Court vicious enough to kill five Morning Star Tier Professionals, is it?’

Su Chen thought for a moment and asked mentally, "Does the Royal Court’s merging of the Flame Fire only make it stronger?"

"That, I don’t know." Chu Ran shook his head, then asked openly for all to hear, "Do any of you know why the Royal Court is so insistent on merging the Flame Fire?"