’That makes three special professions I’m waiting to start.’

Su Chen boarded the Flying Device, which gradually departed from the docking port with the hum of its engines.

His eyes unfocused as he opened his panel and glanced over it.

’It’ll probably take a lot of time to complete the requirements for these three professions.’

Almost no one would try to qualify for multiple special professions at once like him. The time and energy required were a major issue.

Some professions even had continuity requirements; missing a single day meant starting over from the beginning.

However, Su Chen had his own plan. He thought to himself, ’I’ll focus on obtaining the Faceless Ghost Divine Power and forging its essence first. Once I figure out the requirements for its erasure ability, I can start working on the rest.’

That way, he wouldn’t be wasting time while collecting the Cunning Fox Divine Power and the Crimson Divine Power.

The Flying Device drifted lazily toward his Floating Island. Many other devices were around, heading for the satellite city below or even farther destinations.

’Ming Lin is back...’

As he neared the Floating Island, he saw another standard-issue Flying Device docked at the port.

’Good, I need to talk to him about something...’

Su Chen emerged from the port and had just stepped onto the main path when he saw Ming Lin pacing back and forth in the main building’s lobby.

Seeing him return, Ming Lin strode out quickly and asked, "Did something happen?"

"You know already?" Su Chen was surprised but didn’t break his stride, continuing toward the main building.

"How would I know?" Ming Lin said, shaking his head as he walked alongside him. "It’s just that a lot of people have been asking me about it. They know I work for you."

Ordinary Sect members weren’t qualified to know about such matters, so seeing so many important figures acting strangely naturally led to rampant speculation.

"That’s right..." Su Chen nodded. "Qin Yun is missing. So are the Morning Star Tiers from the other Sects who attended the Hanhai Emperor’s birthday celebration."

"What?" Ming Lin’s expression was one of profound shock. He stopped in his tracks and couldn’t help but mutter, "Something big is about to happen!"

He often mingled with the middle and lower-ranking members of the Sect, so he had a better grasp of Qin Yun’s prestige and the importance of a Morning Star Tier.

Seeing that Su Chen had already entered the lounge, Ming Lin hurried to catch up. "What are the details?"

"I don’t know, and the Sect doesn’t either. It’s still under investigation." Su Chen shook his head, already seated on the sofa.

"For us, this might be a good thing, right?" Ming Lin said hesitantly, sounding unsure.

"Hard to say." Su Chen frowned. His answer was ambiguous, not because he was being evasive, but because it truly was hard to say. Although Qin Yun had plotted against him, he was, after all, one of the Sect’s foundational strengths.

He understood the principle that when the nest is overturned, no egg remains unbroken.

"Tsk..." Ming Lin clicked his tongue.

"However, whether it’s a good thing or not, there’s nothing we can do to influence it." Su Chen’s eyes glinted. "But this is a great opportunity to move our goods. Qin Tianlin probably doesn’t have time to watch us now."

Hoping for Qin Yun’s death might sound like a betrayal of the Sect, but Su Chen didn’t mind using the man’s misfortune as cover for his own affairs.

Ming Lin’s thoughts raced, and he deeply agreed. "You’re right. During this period, it won’t just be Qin Tianlin. I doubt anyone else will have the energy to pay attention to us."

"By the way, for the foreseeable future, our main focus will be collecting Faceless Ghost Divine Power," Su Chen said. He also mentioned that Chu Ran had already transferred Ming Lin to the patrol team.

"Faceless Ghost Divine Power... Understood." Ming Lin was thoughtful, and he relaxed considerably. "With my position on the patrol team as cover, it’ll be much more covert."

Telling Ming Lin not to leave just yet, Su Chen waited until the Dark Sun, then entered the Nether Realm and found Xiao Hei.

After a full day’s work, only two Mother Stones had been excavated. Su Chen took them out and handed them to Ming Lin so he could get to work.

News of the disappearance of Qin Yun and the other Morning Star Tiers gradually spread throughout the Sect, causing quite a stir.

Qin Yun’s faction, in particular, was thrown into turmoil, with its members growing anxious and restless.

Qin Yun was in the prime of his life, still at the peak of his power. If he were to fall abruptly, the blow would be immense.

At the same time, three of the seven Chairmen were recalled and were frequently visiting the Ancient King Hall.

Even though Su Chen rarely left his residence, he could clearly feel the increasingly tense atmosphere within the Sect.

Through occasional updates from Ming Lin, he learned that the entire Dust Star Sea was in a state of turmoil, like a storm on the verge of breaking.

The Five Great Sects jointly issued a denunciation against the Royal Court. Large-scale fleets and High-tier Professionals were frequently mobilized, and factions of all sizes were on high alert. Many central hubs were placed under martial law and temporarily closed.

As a result, the prices of various resources were soaring. Even the price of Netherworld Stones had risen, and they sold for a good sum.

But just as this atmosphere was reaching its peak, when it seemed a single spark could set everything off, the Five Great Sects suddenly went silent, and all became quiet again.

Soon, all the deployed High-tier Professionals were recalled. The fleets were also withdrawn, and there was no follow-up to the denunciation of the Royal Court. It was as if they had simply accepted their losses.

When Su Chen heard this news, he was quite astonished. ’Is the Royal Court really so powerful that it can face five opponents at once without being at a disadvantage?’

He was skeptical, but he soon found his answer at a banquet hosted by Wei Zhenghong.

In the lounge, Su Chen was sitting on a large black leather sofa—made from the hide of some Mutant Species—sinking so deep into it that he felt completely enveloped.

Shen Yi’an stood with his hands behind his back, gazing out the window into the distance.

Wei Zhenghong sat in a bold posture, his right arm propped on his knee, his brows tightly knitted. "Are you sure?" he asked.

Chu Ran leaned against the wall with his arms crossed, his fingers tapping restlessly on his elbow.

Jiang Mufeng nodded. "It’s been confirmed. Two of the Royal Court’s Morning Star Tiers have also disappeared: the Prison King and the Night King."