Ming Yujing brought reinforcements, allowing them to send the seriously injured back to Bran Star.
After the personnel arrangements were complete, Chen Jiuge said, "Yujing, how has Butterfly Star been recently? There weren’t any accidents when you passed by Bran Star, right?"
Ming Yujing responded, "Butterfly Star is well. Bran Star is undergoing reconstruction and is currently peaceful."
That’s good, that’s good, Chen Jiuge muttered, but a nagging unease persisted, a feeling that he had overlooked something.
Just then, a communication came in from the Military Strategy Hall.
"Senior Brother Chen, the Chief of the General Staff hopes you can continue advancing. Is that possible?" Gong Can, the liaison, asked cautiously.
"Junior Brother Gong, wait. I have a question: what’s the situation at the Insect Nest’s core?" Chen Jiuge asked curiously.
"What else could it be? Insect Generals break through from time to time, and then large batches of supplies are sent back. It’s just a stalemate," Gong Can replied, sounding somewhat helpless.
"Alright, Junior Brother Gong, thanks. I’ll buy you a drink when I have the time." Chen Jiuge disconnected the communication.
Seeing Chen Jiuge’s furrowed brows, Yue Meng curiously asked, "Is there a problem?"
"Aren’t the Insect Clan and the Corpse Demon Clan Alien Universe species of the same caliber? Isn’t it normal for victory to be elusive?"
Perhaps I’m overthinking it, Chen Jiuge told himself.
Black Water Star. This was the lowest-class Star nearest to Cold Winter Star.
While waiting for Ming Yujing’s return, Chen Jiuge had dispatched Gan Shou with the White Cat Guards to scout the nearby Stars. Their mission was to assess the defensive situations in preparation for the upcoming offensive.
"My lord, something’s wrong!" A White Cat Guard, previously concealed, emerged from Black Water Star, his face pale with panic.
"Are their defenses strong on the surface?" Gan Shou frowned.
"No, that’s not it. There isn’t a single member of the Insect Clan on the surface!"
"Let’s go take a look." This isn’t good, Gan Shou thought, a bad feeling creeping in.
Black Water Star’s specialty was a type of Spiritual Fish that reproduced extremely quickly. Although individual Spiritual Fish weren’t very valuable, their sheer numbers meant the Star’s overall output was in the upper-middle tier for lower-class Stars.
Aside from small landmasses, the rest of the Star was covered in black lakes.
Logically, if the Insect Clan had abandoned this place, they would have stripped it of all resources and sent them to the Insect Nest. However, the scene before them suggested otherwise.
Numerous glowing white Spiritual Fish leaped from the black waters, their shimmering white scales making Gan Shou’s pupils contract.
Although Black Water Star showed signs of being plundered, the damage wasn’t severe; many Spiritual Fish still thrived in the black lakes.
"Which is the nearest Star?" Could it be...? A terrifying thought struck Gan Shou.
The Flying Boat, operating in overdrive, took only two days to reach Blue Water Star.
Azure flowers swayed in the wind, a sea of blue blossoms appearing before Gan Shou’s eyes. Seeing Blue Water Star less than thirty percent destroyed, the suspicion in Gan Shou’s mind intensified, though he still couldn’t be certain.
Next were Three Fire Star, Black Qilin Star, and Ghost Horse Star.
Gan Shou’s legs buckled, and he collapsed to the ground.
"Captain!" The nearby White Cat Guard exclaimed in shock.
"Help me up. Something terrible has happened," Gan Shou said, his face pale.
Trembling, he took out the Communication Stone and connected to Chen Jiuge.
"Hello, Gan Shou? What have you found?"
Hearing Chen Jiuge’s voice, Gan Shou’s voice trembled. "My lord, I suspect the garrison troops on the Insect Clan Stars have secretly attacked the bases of our Myriad Beasts Sect and the Corpse Demon Clan!"
"I found that the nearby Stars have only been lightly plundered of their resources; there’s not a single Insect on them! They might be using this opportunity to..."
Chen Jiuge’s mind went blank; he didn’t hear the rest of what Gan Shou said.
After a moment, Chen Jiuge said, full of regret, "How could I not have thought of it? As a top-tier Alien Universe species, how could the Insect Clan not know the Corpse Demon Clan had discovered them? Why would they just sit tight and wait to be besieged?"
"They must be confident they can swallow the entire Third Zone!"
"Gan Shou, lead your people back immediately. No need to scout further. We’re heading back to Bran Star."
Disconnecting the call, Chen Jiuge immediately contacted Hu Xiao, who was stationed on Bran Star.
"Listen to me. It’s highly probable the Insect Clan is attacking our rear. However, there’s no news yet, so they might still be preparing. With the Corpse Demon Clan holding the front line, Butterfly Star should be relatively safe for now."
"Take your people back to Butterfly Star immediately! Hurry!"
"Junior Brother Gong! Listen! I suspect the Insect Clan might be attacking our bases. Inform the Chief of the General Staff at once!"
"Senior Brother Chen, what’s happening?"
After relaying Gan Shou’s findings, Chen Jiuge wasted no more time. He sent a message to Jin Bing and then led everyone in a swift evacuation.
「Corpse Demon Clan Headquarters.」
The injured Shi Xiaojun had not participated in this major battle. It was already a stroke of luck that he had escaped the Insect Nest Queen with his life; it would have been extraordinary if he could still fight.
Shi Xiaojun swallowed a bloody beast leg. Feeling his injuries were about seventy to eighty percent healed, a fanatical glint appeared in his eyes. Just another half month, and I should be fully recovered. Then I can pay the Insect Nest Queen another visit!
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The grand hall suddenly shook violently. Shi Xiaojun, slightly baffled, exclaimed, "Big Brother, is the construction of this hall really that shoddy?"
"Great General! Great General! The Insect Clan is attacking!" a terrified Green Qilin cried out as it burst into the hall.