The council of the Pharaohs’ Temple was, on the surface, an internal decision-making assembly where the top ten Pharaohs could speak freely. In reality, however, true authority rested with only the top three.

The Third Pharaoh’s right to make decisions came directly from the First Pharaoh’s deliberate delegation of power.

If one were to rewind history another hundred or two hundred thousand years, the Amenkha Empire would have known only a single voice—the divine will of the First Pharaoh.

Whether it was the Monster Legion or the imperial royal family, all awaited his command.

The Tenth Pharaoh’s proposal drew immediate opposition from the Fifth and Seventh Pharaohs.

The Fourth and Ninth Pharaohs remained neutral, offering neither support nor dissent.

In the end, all eyes turned to the Second Pharaoh.

His cloudy eyes first drifted toward the vast starry expanse beyond the Pharaohs’ Temple, then settled on the Tenth Pharaoh.

“Very well. We shall attempt to establish contact with the Gallant Federation,” he said at last.

“After all, the Gallant Federation is a top-tier civilization with the capacity to disrupt the balance of the Astral Realm. To respect one’s enemy is also to respect oneself.” As he spoke, the Second Pharaoh directed his discerning gaze toward the Fourth, Fifth, Seventh, and Ninth Pharaohs.

All four, each possessing Rank Eight strength, inclined their heads slightly in acknowledgment.

Only the Tenth Pharaoh chuckled. “Since this was my proposal, I shall take responsibility for carrying it out myself. And if we choose to act against the Magus Civilization, I can also lead that expeditionary force.”

“I’ve grown rather bored staying within the Amenkha Empire. Those Luminarians are difficult to catch, and I’m curious what the Magus Civilization’s creatures are like,” she added, fiddling with her nails.

The Second Pharaoh did not respond, likely because he had yet to decide who would ultimately lead these operations.

Launching an expedition against the Grand Cosmic World, or carrying out retaliatory strikes against the Magus Civilization, were not matters that could be resolved quickly.

Take the Grand Cosmic World campaign as an example—the preliminary preparations alone would take a considerable amount of time.

By then, it might even be necessary to recall the Third Pharaoh, and the redeployment of the Monster Legion would likely become frequent.

The Pharaohs’ Temple assembly represented the highest level of decision-making in the empire and served as the conduit of the Pharaohs’ collective will.

Actual execution, however, would largely fall to Rank Seven overlords and the empire’s established administrative structures.

From the discussion among the Rank Eight Pharaohs, it was clear that they did not necessarily intend to annihilate the Grand Cosmic World, but devastating it was certain.

Moreover, all Magus Civilization forces operating within the Grand Cosmic World were to be eradicated without exception!

The Amenkha Empire had enjoyed more than a hundred thousand years of relative peace.

This movement might well be the opening note of a far greater upheaval.

The Second Pharaoh gazed once more into the depths of the starry sky in silence, sensing his own body growing increasingly old and withered.

***

At the border of the Grand Eye Demon World Star Domain...

After a grueling battle, Bev, Hela, Aeberton, and the other Magus Civilization powerhouses all showed clear signs of exhaustion, each bearing injuries of varying severity.

A Rank Eight overlord was never an easy target to bring down, especially one who wielded sealing techniques and possessed an unexpected second seal within his left arm.

Fortunately, the outcome was nearly flawless.

Bev achieved her objective, securing a Rank Eight muscular arm covered with countless black sealing runes.

Hela, Aeberton, and the others also gained substantial rewards.

The life-blood essence contained within the Eighth Pharaoh’s body was more than enough to thoroughly nourish Aeberton’s Dark Blade.

This was far more effective than slaughtering and sacrificing the inhabitants of several medium-sized star domains!

Hela also claimed one of the Eighth Pharaoh’s weapons as spoils of war.

The Eighth Pharaoh had carried five world-class secret treasures.

Using his corpse as the primary material, the Magus Civilization could forge at least a dozen high-quality world-class secret treasures.

The Amenkha Empire’s resources and personal wealth he carried were enough to make any overlord green with envy.

The corpse of the Rank Seven Evileye Tyrant Monarch, which came as an unexpected bonus, was extremely valuable as well.

As Bev and the others began sorting through the spoils of war, Kassedar returned with Zenasus and Clair. The Rank Seven knight overlord’s face was dark with frustration.

From Kassedar’s expression alone, it was obvious how their attempt to ambush the federation’s overlord-class war fleet had gone.

Sure enough, when Bev asked, Kassedar cursed, “Damn it! That federal fleet was completely clueless! I even deliberately exposed a weak point for them to strike, and they still did not take the bait!”

“Clair tried to seal off their retreat with a large-scale hydro elemental confinement spell, but even the slightest mana fluctuation scared them off. They retreated without even looking back!” Kassedar fumed.

“That was my fault. I acted too hastily,” Clair admitted, looking remorseful.

“What does that have to do with you? Even if your Water Dragon Cage spell had fully formed, that fleet could have forced its way through with a head-on charge. We wouldn’t have been able to stop them anyway,” Kassedar said, rolling his eyes at Clair.

“They did not take the bait. There was little else we could have done,” he added.

Relations between the Alveroth Empire and the Byrne Empire had long been strained, though top-tier powerhouses on both sides maintained reasonably cordial ties.

Kassedar was actually trying to console Clair.

It was not his fault to begin with—the opponent was simply too shrewd!

Ever since their crushing defeat in the Netherworld Star Domain, the Gallant Federation fleets had grown increasingly cautious.

Failing to wipe out another federal overlord-class war fleet was certainly regrettable, but Bev and her group’s overall operation could still be considered a resounding success.

Kassedar and the others had taken part in the previous battle, so they naturally received their share of the spoils taken from the fallen Eighth Pharaoh and the Evileye Tyrant Monarch.

Under Bev’s allocation, many highly valuable parts of the Eighth Pharaoh’s remains were distributed to Clair and Zenasus, the two soul overmages. This immediately lifted the gloom and remorse that had weighed on them earlier.

Kassedar also grinned broadly after receiving a world-class secret treasure—a black steel needle once wielded by the Eighth Pharaoh, along with a portion of Rank Eight flesh.

Knights were not picky eaters. Although the Eighth Pharaoh’s flesh contained intensely concentrated law energies of darkness, death, and corrosion, Kassedar was perfectly willing to nibble on it himself or hand it over to Magus World’s professional apothecaries for further refinement.

Baxia, however, did not share Kassedar’s taste for such things. He had no appetite for rotting flesh, even when if it came from a Rank Eight overlord.

Shaking his massive dragon head and the heavy, scarred tortoise shell on his back, Baxia gazed toward a distant star domain.

It was not the direction of Magus World.

“What’s wrong, Baxia?” Bev asked curiously, already considering what she might offer him.

Baxia was, by nature, a contented being with few desires. Very little stirred him beyond the need for sleep.

In his deep, resonant voice, Baxia said, “I sense the presence of my children. Since awakening, I have rarely seen them. I wish to visit them now.”