While the battle raged fiercely on the Huaitang Clan's side, the outside world remained completely unaware. This was the function of the formation.

It cut off noise, imagery, and signals, creating a temporary 'vacuum' zone inside.

But one shouldn't underestimate the formation's brief duration. For these few hours of activation, it consumed as much as one hundred thousand Moonspan Gold, not including the material costs for setting up the formation. This time, there was no Su Clan to reimburse the expenses.

Yet it was all worth it. When the two Star-Eye Clan leaders arrived near the departure point, aside from wondering why neither the Star-Eye Clan nor the Huaitang Clan had shown up, no one here knew anything had happened.

"You're saying the two clan leaders of the Star-Eye Clan want to see us?"

Among the Eight Heads, not every clan leader was going to the Planet Hunting Grounds; four of them were going. However, all eight clan leaders were present at the time of departure. Besides them, the leaders of some small clans were also there. Together, they formed a force not to be underestimated. At that moment, several dozen people were sitting in a temporary camp tent, discussing how to proceed in the Planet Hunting Grounds.

The leader here was the clan leader of the 'Zhengji Clan,' who usually had a close relationship with Weicu of the Huaitang Clan. He hadn't been worried at all initially, knowing that Weicu was meeting with the two Star-Eye Clan leaders at that moment. It was an extortion, certainly not something that could be settled in a short time.

But the two Star-Eye leaders had come here? Did that mean the negotiations were over? Yet why hadn't the Huaitang Clan come?

The Zhengji Clan leader found it a bit strange, but didn't overthink it. Perhaps the Star-Eye Clan wanted to request the Eight Heads' arbitration and had rushed over for that reason.

"Let them in. When we get to the Planet Hunting Grounds, we'll need the Star-Eye Clan people to contribute anyway," another of the Eight Heads' clan leaders said with a grin.

Although the Zhengji Clan leader was nominally in charge here, it was only a temporary arrangement, a rule that would end once the Planet Hunting Grounds were over. So, in their hearts, no one took it too seriously.

The two Star-Eye leaders, accompanied by Bashilu and two other guards, walked in. Everyone in the tent straightened up immediately.

Blood, killing intent, and an awe-inspiring presence!

None of them were ordinary people; they could naturally tell that these individuals had just returned from a killing spree.

"What is the meaning of this, you two? Where are Weicu and the others?"

One clan leader, sitting closest to the two Star-Eye individuals, stood up and coldly demanded of them.

"You mean this person?"

Yan picked up the box they were carrying, placed it on the table, and then opened it. The people in the tent instantly lost their composure.

Inside was Weicu's ferocious-looking head!

His eyes were still open, the remaining emotions within them still palpable.

Anger, unwillingness, humiliation, horror... and fear.

"You!"

With a clatter, everyone stood up. Several of the Eight Heads' clan leaders now looked at the two Star-Eye leaders with great hostility.

This was an extremely serious matter.

During the Brave Trial, these people might have schemed against the Huaitang Clan for profit, but only because there was a massive fortune to be gained and they couldn't afford to care about anything else.

At all other times, however, they, the Eight Heads, were the masters of Dark Strip City, a ruling class bound by common interests. They had to stand together to suppress the other races in Dark Strip City.

Now, the Star-Eye Clan had, without a word, directly killed the Huaitang Clan's leader. This had encroached upon the collective interests of the Eight Heads.

"The Huaitang Clan is the Star-Eye Clan's mortal enemy. Not to mention ancient history, just in the last one hundred cosmic years, no less than eight thousand, and at least ten thousand, Star-Eye clansmen have died directly or indirectly at the hands of the Huaitang Clan. This is a blood debt. Today, we are merely seeking revenge."

The two Star-Eye leaders pulled out chairs and sat down. Their equipment, previously concealed under black robes, was now revealed, causing the other Eight Heads' clan leaders, who had been about to act, to pause.

Raini Grade!

All of it was Raini Grade!

What the hell... was going on?

They, the Eight Heads, were middle-ranking races. Equipping a clan leader entirely with Raini Grade gear was certainly achievable for them. But now, both leaders of the Star-Eye Clan were fully outfitted in Raini Grade.

They then looked at Bashilu and the two guards behind them. Their pupils trembled slightly because they saw that these three individuals also possessed a total of eight pieces of Raini Grade equipment among them. The gear was currently somewhat dirty and stained with blood, which had made it difficult to recognize at first glance.

Five people, over twenty pieces of Raini Grade?!

They understood that for individuals of their level, one or two pieces of Raini Grade equipment could change the course of a battle, let alone over twenty pieces!

Putting everything else aside, even if they were to attack now, they truly had no confidence in being able to hold back these five people.

In their understanding, the two Star-Eye leaders were considerably weaker than them. But with all this equipment? Even if they weren't quite their match yet, they should be close, perhaps even stronger.

After all, having calmed down, these top experts of the Eight Heads could easily sense the formidable aura emanating from the two Star-Eye leaders.

"You have violated the rules and will surely face punishment!"

The Zhengji Clan leader squinted, his gaze sweeping across the faces of the other Eight Heads' clan leaders, clearly signaling for them to act.

"Two million Moonspan Gold for each race among the Eight Heads, ten million Moonspan Gold for the other races. Any surplus will be split. Our Star-Eye Clan wants nothing."

Star's brief statement caused the clan leaders, who had been poised to move, to fall silent.

Many suddenly realized something.

Weicu of the Huaitang Clan was already dead. Were they really going to seek revenge for a dead man?

True, if they acted, these five Star-Eye individuals would certainly be killed. But what would be the cost? Would some of them die? Once the Star-Eye Clan leaders were killed, the Star-Eye Clan itself certainly couldn't be allowed to remain; they would have to send troops to wipe them out. What would those losses be?

Perhaps exterminating the Star-Eye Clan might yield them huge rewards, like their equipment, the underground fortress complex, and so on. But wouldn't many people die? Might the gains not outweigh the losses? They'd probably miss the Planet Hunting Grounds, too.

But... doing nothing and getting two million Moonspan Gold...

Well, that seemed acceptable.

"Don't listen to their words!"

The Zhengji Clan leader shouted loudly, pointing at the two Star-Eye leaders. "Kill them, wipe out the Star-Eye Clan. Their equipment naturally becomes ours. Think about how much Red Condensation-grade gear they had before—aren't you tempted! Also, if we eliminate them, we might even get our hands on the Changxu Water Race people, an inexhaustible goldmine! If we don't act, even if we gain a few tens of millions in Moonspan Gold, what credibility will we have left?"

Hearing this, the Eight Heads, who had already wavered, immediately hardened their resolve.

Yes, these were also benefits. And losses, if spread across seven families, probably wouldn't be too great, right? And most importantly, there was the issue of their rule!

"According to your logic, we are only allowed to be bullied. If we dare to resist, we deserve to be wiped out, is that it?"

Suddenly, the leader of a small clan looked at the Zhengji Clan leader and spoke.