Volume Six: Theft Is Robbery Chapter Ten: The Storm Is About to Break (Part Two)

The Holy Maiden of the Demonic Sect couldn't help but chuckle and said, "That is indeed a good idea. I think with Young Master Kuang leading the way, it won't be long before the Kuang Family escapes poverty."

After saying this, she broke into a low laugh nearby.

Kuang Dapi laughed heartily for a moment before saying, "I agree! Young Master, we three brothers will help you out."

The old Saber Sovereign's expression turned somewhat grim. He turned his face toward Kuang Dapi, and although his eyes remained closed, Kuang Dapi's laughter stopped instantly at the old man's movement.

Paying no attention to this, Kuang Chi looked at the Holy Maiden of the Demonic Sect and said, "We will need the Demonic Sect to lend a hand with this matter as well. Actually, I am not trying to plunder any wealth this time; the main purpose is to vent some frustration for Jing'er."

Obviously, everyone was aware of Jing'er's situation. Many of them let out understanding sighs, and the Saber Sovereign chimed in with a smile, "Jing'er girl is not an outsider. If it's for Jing'er girl, we old fellows will back you up, but other matters are out of the question."

Jing'er replied very sweetly, "Thank you, Grandpa Saber Sovereign."

The Saber Sovereign laughed heartily several times and continued to Jing'er, "However, in the future, you must help us keep him in line and not let him run wild." Although he didn't specify who, any fool would know he meant Kuang Chi. Jing'er's face immediately flushed red.

After saying this, the Saber Sovereign turned to Anna, who was sitting quietly to one side, and said, "Anna girl, in a few days, I will send someone to escort you back to Kuangzhan Star. The Divine Realm is far too dangerous, so you should not go there. Besides, many people on Kuangzhan Star are eager to see you now."

Upon hearing this, Anna did not object, but she looked at Kuang Chi with a reluctant gaze. Kuang Chi quickly comforted her, saying, "Be a good girl. That place really is dangerous."

Anna nodded with a aggrieved expression and said nothing more.

The Holy Maiden of the Demonic Sect suddenly interjected, "May I ask where Young Master Kuang's target is this time?"

Kuang Chi looked at Jing'er, who then spoke up, "A planet located on the outer fringes of the Tianlan Star System."

The Holy Maiden of the Demonic Sect let out an "oh" and then asked, "What are we seizing? I suppose ordinary matters shouldn't interest the two of you."

Jing'er smiled and said, "It's not such a big deal, really. Just an underground metal processing plant."

The Holy Maiden of the Demonic Sect chuckled once more. "And you call that not a big deal? Are you talking about Cook Planet?"

Jing'er nodded with a look of astonishment and then asked, "How did you know, Holy Maiden?"

Before the Holy Maiden could reply, Kuang Sapi chimed in first, "How could it be Cook Planet? That's one of the main strongholds of the True Martial Sect!"

Jing'er let out a cry of surprise and quickly said, "Isn't that place the fief of one of our imperial family members? How did it become the territory of the True Martial Sect? Our empire has strict regulations prohibiting bestowed imperial members from forming alliances with other factions."

The Holy Maiden of the Demonic Sect then explained, "According to the intelligence we obtained, the imperial family member you speak of is actually a disciple of the True Martial Sect."

Jing'er's brows knitted together. She stood up, looked around at everyone, and said, " Seniors, this news is far too important. I must return to the palace immediately to report this to my father."

Everyone nodded. Jing'er glanced at Kuang Chi without a word and turned to walk toward the exit. Kuang Chi quickly called out, "Notify A-San and tell him to dispatch a team to escort you back to the palace."

Jing'er nodded as she walked, disappearing through the cabin door in the blink of an eye.

Only then did the Saber Sovereign speak in a peculiar tone, "Young Master, do you intend to meddle in the internal strife of the Fengfeng Empire's imperial family? Our Kuang Family has ancestral rules strictly forbidding us from involving ourselves in state-level political conflicts. Imperial disputes are an even greater taboo."

Kuang Chi merely looked silently at the Saber Sovereign, then nodded and said, "I have no intention of dragging the family into this. Surely there's no problem with me helping Jing'er in a private capacity?"

The Saber Sovereign said nothing more, only letting out a soft sigh.

The Holy Maiden of the Demonic Sect suddenly spoke up again, "Young Master Kuang, since your Kuang Family finds it inconvenient to intervene, our Demonic Sect wouldn't mind cooperating with you."

Kuang Chi was taken aback. Before he could respond, the Saber Sovereign had already chimed in, "If the Holy Maiden wishes to cooperate with the Fengfeng Empire, you can go discuss it with Princess Jing'er. Do not drag my young master into it."

The Holy Maiden chuckled softly, then said, "Saber Sovereign, given the friendship between our Demonic Sect and your Kuang Family, surely you don't fear that we would harm your young master?"

The Saber Sovereign snorted. "Holy Maiden, our Kuang Family shares no friendship whatsoever with your Demonic Sect."

The Holy Maiden of the Demonic Sect burst into laughter. Afterward, she looked at the perplexed Kuang Chi and said, "Very well, I will simply go and speak directly with Princess Jing'er."

With that, she stood up and announced, "Then let us each go make our preparations."

The Saber Sovereign nodded. Just as the Holy Maiden was about to step out of the cabin, Kuang Chi called out, "Holy Maiden, Cook Planet belongs to me. Don't go stealing my business."

The Holy Maiden couldn't help laughing. "Rest assured, Young Master Kuang. The Demonic Sect has no use for such meager items."

After the members of the Demonic Sect departed, the Saber Sovereign suddenly asked, "Young Master, tell us about your experiences on Forgotten Star."

Kuang Chi then recounted everything that had happened on Forgotten Star, though he carefully omitted any mention of the cosmic beast's horn.

When Kuang Chi finished, the Saber Sovereign smiled and said, "Since Tyrant Dragon Peak is a branch of our Kuang Family, we certainly won't object to them returning to the fold and recognizing their ancestors."

He paused for a moment before continuing, "However, we old fellows cannot make the final decision on such matters. You will need to go back yourself and speak with the patriarch and the elders of the Kuang Martial Hall."

Kuang Chi smiled and replied, "If the seniors have no objections, I'm sure the elders of the Kuang Martial Hall won't have any either. As for my grandfather, I'm confident I can persuade him."

The Saber Sovereign nodded, stood up, and walked toward the door, saying over his shoulder, "That ant crystal really is a fine item, highly useful for us old fellows. Tell the lads at Tyrant Dragon Peak to gather more of it. After we return from the Nether Soul Sea, we old codgers might want to go live there for a while."

Just as Kuang Chi was relaxing comfortably in the ant-blood soaking pool, Jing'er once again rushed in stormily. Running straight up to Kuang Chi, she blurted out, "Fatty, no matter what, you have to help me!"

Kuang Chi was momentarily stunned and asked with a puzzled expression, "What is it? What happened this time?"

Jing'er cautiously looked around her surroundings. Seeing her behavior, Kuang Chi chuckled and said, "Speak up. You know how safe it is here, don't you? Besides, there are dozens of Martial Sovereign-level experts on this ship right now."

Jing'er said with undeniable worry, "I'm just afraid they might be eavesdropping."

Kuang Chi blinked, cast a bewildered glance at Jing'er, and then said, "Out with it. What happened to make you so cautious?"

Jing'er pondered for a moment before asking, "Do you know the status of the True Martial Sect within our Fengfeng Empire?"

Without even thinking, Kuang Chi shook his head and replied, "Back home, I only focused on cultivation every day, and my teachers never talked to me about other things. I don't know anything about these circumstances."

Jing'er continued, "I only just heard about this from my father recently. Actually, our ancestors established the Fengfeng Empire with the assistance of the True Martial Sect. There are even rumors that the founding ancestor of our empire was a disciple of the True Martial Sect."

Kuang Chi looked at Jing'er with a puzzled expression, failing to see what any of this had to do with the help she was asking for.

With a long sigh, Jing'er went on, "Ever since the founding of our Fengfeng Empire, the True Martial Sect has maintained friendly relations with our imperial family, and most of the elders in the palace's Hall of Revered Masters come from the True Martial Sect. However, five thousand years ago, for reasons unknown, the True Martial Sect actually wanted our empire to grant them the status of state religion."

Kuang Chi let out a gasp of surprise. As for this so-called religious sect, Kuang Chi was naturally well aware of it. Religious issues had always been an incurable malignant tumor in human society, and some smaller nations were even theocracies where politics and religion were merged. Kuang Chi had always regarded the fanaticism of religious ideology as a kind of pathological psychology.

Kuang Chi quickly asked, "Isn't the True Martial Sect just a martial arts sect? How did it become a religious faction? In modern understanding, the two are completely different."

With a grim expression, Jing'er replied, "What is so difficult about that? They simply fabricate some so-called deity. It was precisely because of this that our empire has always resolutely opposed the establishment of a state religion."

Kuang Chi frowned deeply. After a long silence, he asked, "You don't suspect that your father's poisoning has something to do with the True Martial Sect, do you?"

Jing'er's expression turned quite unsightly. After a long pause and a heavy sigh, she spoke, "My father indeed suspects as much. Originally, my father never suspected them, but after hearing those words just now, it suddenly all fell into place for him. Only they possess the capability and the opportunity to poison my father without anyone noticing."

She paused for a brief moment before continuing with biting hatred, "And only they have the means to acquire the divine poison known among the Winged Race as the 'Sorrow of the Gods'."

Kuang Chi pondered this deeply before finally asking, "What should we do now? How do you want me to help you?"

Jing'er's face flushed red, and after a long while, she said, "Fatty, can't you persuade Grandpa Saber Sovereign and the others to let your Kuang Family help us?"

Kuang Chi shook his head with a heavy expression. "One of our family's ancestral rules explicitly states that the Kuang Family cannot get involved in political conflicts."

Seeing the look of disappointment on Jing'er's face, Kuang Chi smiled and added, "However, I imagine the Demonic Sect would be very pleased to cooperate with your father."

Jing'er was startled. After a moment, she asked, "You mean the Demonic Sect is willing to help us?"

Kuang Chi shook his head. "Helping your empire unconditionally is, of course, out of the question, but I think cooperation between the two sides shouldn't be too difficult. I expect the Demonic Sect will come to discuss cooperation with you in the next couple of days."