Some people had secretly accepted contracts from the Antimatter Legion to develop high-efficiency destruction weapons, damaging the reputation of Shenxiao Space City.
Some had dealings with Abundance abominations and were arrested after the Xianzhou Cloud Knights came to negotiate cross-jurisdiction enforcement.
Some had even attempted to steal the Jianmu branch gifted by the Xianzhou Alliance.
…
It was utter chaos.
Lin Yi could not understand how a perfectly respectable academic sanctuary had been turned into such a mess.
Dongfang Qiqing even uncovered three spies secretly planted by the Interastral Peace Corporation.
These spies had not done anything yet.
The corporation might never even activate them.
Until that day came, they would continue pretending to be Lin Yi's most loyal supporters.
As for how they were exposed—
It was simple.
Anyone qualified to enter Shenxiao Space City was already an elite among elites.
And the higher the level, the smaller the circles they moved in.
So eventually, someone recognized them.
"Eh?! Uncle?? What are you doing here?!"
In the end, Dongfang Qiqing happily upheld justice even against her own relatives—
And even kicked them while they were down.
However, the three spies were not sent back to the IPC.
If they were returned, the company would simply send new ones.
Better to keep visible enemies in sight than hidden enemies in the dark.
And these three certainly would not dare report that they had been exposed.
Why?
Because they did not want the corporation blaming them.
What if they were loyal employees willing to sacrifice themselves for the company?
Come on.
In a giant capitalist machine like the IPC, people like that rarely existed.
And even if they did—
They would never climb high enough to reach this level.
At least these three elites certainly were not that type.
Dongfang Qiqing declared confidently:
"I know my own relatives."
Dongfang Qiqing's Cloud Beast had finally developed a physical body.
It resembled a cloud sparrow, radiant like sunset glow.
Its whole body shimmered gold and crimson.
However, the form was still unstable and tiny.
At most, it could carry Cat Cake around for fun.
Carrying a person would be…
Ridiculous.
All newly acquired Light Cones were categorized and stored inside the Corridor of Flowing Light.
This time, the harvest was enormous.
Five-Star Light Cones (10)
Facing the Gods
(Lin Yi unleashing phase power while clashing against a barrage of light arrows.)
A Sky Full of Radiance
(Lan firing countless arrows of light while chasing Aha.)
The Hammer of Creation
(Qlipoth wielding the massive hammer.)
When Harmony Descends
(A split image: Robin singing true Harmony while Sunday conducts an imaginary orchestra amid starving refugees.)
The Star of Peace
(The world Kasbelinyat VIII surrounded by celestial rings, with Dominicus conducting Harmony.)
No More Conflict
(Robin singing alongside countless believers beneath Dominicus.)
May This World Know No Illness
(A faint scene of Lin Yi and the geniuses researching universal medicine while Yaoshi watches above with compassion.)
The Script Keeps Tearing
(A black cat scattering papers while Kafka leans against a doorway smiling.)
Withered Thorns
(The thorns around Yaoshi wilting while disasters surround her.)
The Fated Prophecy
(The Final Aeon descending while Elio communicates with it in an unknowable exchange.)
Four-Star Light Cones (7)
A Special Gift
(Aha laughing aboard one ship while tossing a mask to Zhuxing from another.)
No More Hesitation
(Boothill drinking ever-burning fury.)
A Friendly Negotiation
Taking Flight
(Sunday's invisible wings lifting Robin into the sky.)
This Is Part of the Script~
(The black cat Elio struggling in Robin's hands.)
Clashing with a Genius
(Polka Kakamu pointing a surgical blade toward Lin Yi.)
Spin Spin~
(The memetic-virus version of Herta spinning and spreading.)
Three-Star Light Cones (5)
Amber Ships
(Two amber ships repaired by Qlipoth.)
Boundary
Branding
(The minds of Autran survivors stamped with ideological control.)
Whispers
(An abstract depiction of the Final Aeon.)
Panacea
(The universal medicine being distributed across worlds.)
Since leaving Shenxiao Space City, both the number and quality of Light Cones obtained had become absurd.
There were more five-star Light Cones than three-star ones.
Which made no sense.
But it was excellent news.
Now the Corridor of Flowing Light could expand again.
Unlike the Garden of Recollection, the corridor in Shenxiao Space City relied on five-star Light Cones as structural foundations.
That was why the Light Cones there were arranged so neatly.
Lin Yi muttered inwardly:
"The Garden of Recollection's corridor is so long, yet it has so few Light Cones…"
Each additional five-star Light Cone extended the corridor by one meter.
Three-star and four-star cones did not matter.
But Lin Yi refused to use duplicate five-star cones.
Perhaps it was some strange form of perfectionism.
Looking more carefully—
Many of them were connected to Robin.
The conclusion was obvious.
Robin was the MVP.
Lin Yi was merely the one profiting from it.
During the three-month time gap, Ruanpo briefly returned.
He did not stay long.
He left behind some items and a letter before departing again.
Ruanpo's Letter
Master, when I heard about the incident, I was deeply worried. Fortunately, you are safe. I returned home more than a month ago.
Zhuxing mentioned that you were interested in the Stellaron of Autran. Since your birthday was approaching, and even the Masked God had sent gifts, how could I remain idle? I retrieved the Stellaron for you.
I also heard that the Yepera Brotherhood has resurfaced. Such villains continue appearing endlessly. I captured their leader and sent him together with this letter.
I do not know when you will be free, so everything is being delivered through Master Bitter Tea.
When I first arrived, I was extremely worried, but Master Pointed Hat reassured me that you were safe.
Soon after, however, I learned that the ninja hero had discovered the location of Imperial Ape—the Evil Ninja. I once swore before the divine miracle of Lan that I would eliminate him. I cannot ignore this.
The difference in time flow between inside and outside is enormous, so communication is difficult. That is why I am writing this letter.
The Evil Ninja's movements are unpredictable. If I linger, I may miss my chance.
Though I have finally returned home after so long away, I must depart again without farewell. Please forgive me, Master.
Your teachings remain forever in my heart.
(A section is crossed out.)
Master...
Was the technique that grants life to all beings in the Evil Ninja's possession something you taught him?
(Another section crossed out.)
Villain! Traitor!
Master, the Evil Ninja's followers dare slander you, claiming the activation of Wengvak was your doing.
This cannot be tolerated!
The Light Cones were essentially a summary of previous story events.
If readers noticed scenes deserving Light Cones—or star ratings that seemed wrong—the author invited comments.
After all, writing too many Light Cone descriptions would become filler.
And inventing dozens of them would be difficult.