Ning Xuan tensed up as she watched the person approach. Although she had a vague feeling that this person meant her no harm, she couldn’t help but be on guard when faced with a power so far beyond her own.

The refined man holding a box walked toward Ning Xuan, flanked by two soldiers. Stopping before her, he asked, "May I ask if you are Miss Ning Xuan?"

"I am." Ning Xuan nodded slightly. Suddenly, her nose twitched. She caught a pleasant fragrance—the scent of the most precious Agarwood on Earth! Her eyes followed the scent to its source, and she suddenly grew curious about the man before her.

"Greetings, Miss Ning." The refined man bowed. His movements were elegant and proper, a clear sign of excellent etiquette training.

"I am Yan Fuzhen, steward to General Ying. My master sent me to deliver a gift. Please, accept it." After confirming Ning Xuan’s identity, the smile on Yan Fuzhen’s face became much more genuine. Sincerity and respect flickered in his eyes, as if Ning Xuan was someone worthy of his utmost esteem, causing her to relax slightly without even realizing it.

Yan Fuzhen lightly raised the hand he had held behind his back. From the Starship’s hatch, two lines of young men dressed in Attendant uniforms filed out. Each one was tall and slender with handsome features, their eyes clear and bright, sparkling like stars.

They all appeared to be of similar height and build and walked in perfect lockstep. However, compared to the soldiers from before, they lacked the grim, heavy aura, possessing instead a light and nimble grace.

Each young man held a tray, and on each tray rested a small, exquisite box. These boxes were storage items similar to Space Buttons; they looked small on the outside, but the space within was vast.

With a wave of his hand, Yan Fuzhen signaled for the young men to open the boxes. WHOOSH! Streams of brilliant light burst forth, revealing all sorts of treasures within. Ning Xuan was momentarily dazzled. She saw sparkling gemstones, precious Exotic Plants glowing with soft halos, keys of various shapes and metals lying atop red, standardized property deeds, and even some strange items she had never seen before.

Beneath the Starship, the treasures shimmered with a captivating light. Every single box was worth a fortune.

Yan Fuzhen smiled at Ning Xuan. "Miss Ning, this is the gift inventory. The numbers listed correspond to the numbers on these boxes. Please keep it safe."

Yan Fuzhen stepped forward to hand a booklet to Ning Xuan. When he saw her retreat a few steps with a look of refusal, he suddenly moved. Before she knew it, he had taken her right hand. She felt a slight prick on her finger, and then a bright red drop of blood fell into the box he held.

Ning Xuan frowned, her tone sharp. "What do you think you’re doing?"

Yan Fuzhen didn’t answer. He looked down at the box in his hand, which began to tremble before popping open with a soft BANG. A streak of light shot out and landed on Ning Xuan’s hand.

"Please forgive my offense, Miss Ning. My master asks that you accept these gifts and this Mysterious Ring as his apology."

"The Mysterious Ring is now bound to you; only you can use it. The Ring can store the Space Buttons and all these boxes. You just need to operate it with your spiritual power," Yan Fuzhen explained with utmost respect.

Ning Xuan looked at the ring on her finger, which was carved with a serpentine pattern. She focused her spiritual power to communicate with it, her actions deft and familiar. ’After all, I used to have many Space Treasures like this.’

Ning Xuan pulled the ring off her finger and tossed it back into the box. "I don’t know how you found me so quickly, but... I don’t need any of this. State your purpose directly!"

Yan Fuzhen gave a helpless smile. "My master sent me here for two reasons. The first was to deliver these gifts. The second was to ask you, Miss Ning, to withdraw your contract termination request. My master promises that you may use any and all resources under his name. He has no other demands and will not interfere in your life in any way, so you have nothing to worry about."

"I have a question," Ning Xuan said, giving Yan Fuzhen a slow, deliberate look.

"Please, ask." Yan Fuzhen inclined his body slightly, showing he was all ears.

"Does your Marshal have political enemies? Any blood feuds? Has he offended powerful people?" Ning Xuan asked.

’From what she’d heard, Ying Yaoshi had forged his fame and power in a sea of blood and mountains of corpses. It’s impossible for a man like that to not have enemies.’

Yan Fuzhen was stunned by her questions.

"Your master’s status is too high; I’m not worthy of his patronage. In other words, he’ll bring me trouble. Besides, he’s old, and I’m not interested. Take all of this away!" Ning Xuan glanced at the boxes, a fiery desire rising in her heart. ’This is all incredible stuff. It’s not that this world lacks treasures... it’s just that my own standing is too low to ever encounter them.’

Ning Xuan told herself, ’I have to get stronger. Only when I’m powerful enough will I be able to enjoy treasures like these!’

Without a backward glance, Ning Xuan turned and went back inside her house. Yan Fuzhen stood there, shocked by her words. ’Miss Ning... she actually thinks the Marshal is too old?’

Yan Fuzhen looked at the box in his hand and, with a sigh, activated his Light Computer. He dialed the Marshal’s communication line. A cold, magnetic voice came from the other end. "Fuzhen, were the things delivered?"

"They were delivered, Marshal. However, Miss Ning refused them, and she has no intention of withdrawing her request." Yan Fuzhen still found it hard to believe as he said it.

"That resolute, is she?" Hearing Yan Fuzhen’s report, Ying Yaoshi’s eyes narrowed slightly.

Ying Yaoshi glanced at the star charts outside his window. Seeing no immediate problems, he gave his command. "Find an open space and place my Lifebound Scale Armor there. I’m coming over."

"!!!" Yan Fuzhen was stunned. ’The fighting on the Star Domain Battlefield is so intense. Can the Marshal really afford to leave?’

He immediately scanned the surroundings. Not far away was the spacious Xingluo Bay. He quickly led his men there. The fully-armored soldiers fanned out, cordoning off a corner of the bay and clearing out all nearby pedestrians.

"Is it in place?" Ying Yaoshi asked.

"It is ready!" Yan Fuzhen carefully swept the cleared area one more time, confirming there were no hidden observers or devices.

"Then I’m coming over." The moment Ying Yaoshi finished speaking, the black Scale Armor that Yan Fuzhen had just taken from his Space Button began to glow. 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

Yan Fuzhen forcefully tossed the piece of Scale Armor into the air. The black scale emitted a dazzling light that seemed to tear a hole in the void itself. In the once-clear sky, massive clouds gathered, lightning flashed, and thunder rumbled. In the blink of an eye, a colossal creature emerged from within the light of the black Scale Armor.

Its body was covered in thick, black scales that shone with a metallic luster. Each scale was as sharp as a blade, radiating a faint, chilling aura.