The core of the Silent Quadrant returned to tranquility. The triangular light spheres hovered outside the Archives's outer domain like three gentle astral eyes, watching the passing resonances.

On the return voyage of the dawn, the atmosphere within the bridge was quiet.

Lu Duo withdrew the Emerald Network, her eyes bright despite her exhaustion. Yu Nian's vines drooped gently, still flowing with the residual warmth that had soothed ancient sorrows.

Bai Cheng stood before the main control console, the book of commonality floating quietly. The pages were open to the chapter 'The Star Abyss's Return,' the ink still wet as if it were still breathing.

"It's time for us to go back," she said softly.

Leng Ningxue's communication patched in at the right time, her ice-blue image clear and stable.

"The Archives is ready to receive you. There are seventy-three new echoes in total, all settled. The base layer of the Mirror Corridor is complete and can be activated at any time."

Chi Yan's voice came through another channel.

"Outer patrols have found no abnormalities. Residual traces in the rule disturbance zones have been cleared."

Zi Yuan and Blue Bird stood side by side by the porthole. Lightning flowed quietly at Blue Bird's fingertips, and Zi Yuan's long blade was already sheathed, its hilt reflecting the warm light of the distant Starfire Archives.

"At least this trip wasn't for nothing," Blue Bird muttered.

Zi Yuan looked at Bai Cheng. "Where to next?"

Bai Cheng flipped through the pages, the light of the oath of starlight spilling out like water.

"Back to the Archives first. We need to rest and organize the records of this journey. The Star Abyss is vast; the Silent Quadrant is only one corner of it."

She looked out the window. The river of light flowed in the distance, and in the deeper darkness, starlight still flickered, like a silent summons.

"But the journey will not stop. Since the starlight has been lit, it should illuminate more corners."

The dawn slowly sailed into the Archives's airspace. That home, constructed from the echoes of countless civilizations, was brighter and more luxuriant in structure than when they had left.

The vine pillars sprouted new branches, the rainbow windows extended their patterns, and the keystone's light was as steady as a heartbeat.

The garrison fleet led by Chi Yan lined up on both sides of the navigation channel, like welcoming travelers returning home.

Lan Xiaoyu's image jumped onto the main screen, her smile bright.

"Welcome back! The medical pods and resonance pool are ready."

Huang Yu nodded steadily.

"The supply list has been updated; we are ready for the next expedition at any time."

Bai Cheng walked down from the bridge and stepped onto the Archives's main platform.

A warm resonance came from the keystone beneath her feet, like a greeting from her homeland.

She looked back at her companions. Lu Duo, Yu Nian, Zi Yuan, Blue Bird, Leng Ningxue... everyone's face bore the marks of travel and light.

"Rest for three days," Bai Cheng said. "In three days, we will decide on the next leg of our voyage together."

Everyone dispersed, blending into the warm light of the Archives.

Bai Cheng walked alone to the Mirror Corridor. This long gallery built by Leng Ningxue was composed of countless ice-blue mirrors, each reflecting real-time scenes from a corner of the Star Abyss.

There were places where the river of light surged, and places where darkness lay silent.

She stopped in front of one mirror.

In the mirror was a star sector never reached before, the starlight as fine as dust, with faint, rhythmic pulses flickering like the breathing of some civilization.

The book of commonality warmed slightly in her arms.

A new chapter was waiting for a title. A new song was still wandering in the shadows.

Starlight as an oath, a new voyage as a song.

The journey never ends; it only pauses briefly.

She turned and left the corridor, her figure merging into the flowing light of the Archives.

Outside the window, the Star Abyss was boundless, where silence and clamor coexisted. The river of light shone perpetually, illuminating the path ahead and every corner already lit behind them.

Three days later, the dawn would set sail again.

The light of the Starfire Archives was steady as usual, but there was an extra hint of tension in the resonance network.

Bai Cheng stood in the center of the Mirror Corridor, the ice-blue mirrors reflecting scenes from a distant star sector: countless orderly silver fleets, like a swarm of bees, were massing toward a nascent Faith °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° Nebula. The ship hulls were branded with the Infinite Emblem.

That was the symbol of the World Government.

"They've made their move." Leng Ningxue's image appeared on one side, data streams racing through her icy eyes. "The World Government has declared that nebula a Source Relic, falling under the jurisdiction of the Infinite Realm."

"Any harvesting or resonance activity will be considered a declaration of war."

Lu Duo's Emerald Network trembled slightly. "But that Faith Nebula was naturally conceived; it is the collective dream of seventy-three newborn civilizations. What the World Government wants to do isn't governance—it's harvesting."

Yu Nian lightly touched the mirror surface, ripples rising within the aura of the pure heart vine.

"Those dreams are very pure and very fragile. If they are forcibly extracted, the civilizations will lose their future."

Everyone gathered inside the bridge.

Chi Yan's flames burned silently, Huang Yu pulled up the defense array blueprints, and Lan Xiaoyu quickly analyzed the composition of the opposing fleet. Zi Yuan gripped her sword hilt, and Blue Bird's lightning crackled at her fingertips.

"This isn't the Silent Quadrant," Bai Cheng's voice fell clearly. "What the World Government wants isn't silence, but submission. They are fighting for the faith source to consolidate the scepter of rule over the Infinite Realm."

She turned to the book of commonality. The light of the oath of starlight flowed over the pages, writing the title of a new chapter:

Before the Boundary Stone

"The keystone of the Starfire Archives is resonance and freedom." Bai Cheng looked up, her silver eyes like stars.

"We do not provoke war, but if faith is plundered and civilizations are stifled, our existence loses its meaning."

She pointed at the Faith Nebula in the mirror.

"This nebula will become a boundary stone. If the World Government wants to take it, we shall guard it."

"Chi Yan, Huang Yu, lead the Archives's escort fleet forward to establish a defensive line. Do not initiate conflict with the other side, but block all harvesting attempts."

"Lan Xiaoyu, synchronize the frequencies of all newborn civilizations and construct temporary resonance shields for them."

"Leng Ningxue, activate the Thousand Mirror Eye to monitor the World Government fleet's movements with full effort, refracting their scanning waves to buy time for the nebula."

"Lu Duo, Yu Nian, follow me deep into the nebula to stabilize the connection between the civilizations' dreams and reality."

"If the faith source matures naturally, it should belong to the hearts that conceived it, not to any superpower."

Zi Yuan stepped forward. "What about us?"

Bai Cheng looked at her and Blue Bird.

"You will lead the dawn to cruise the outer perimeter of the defense line."

"Under the World Government is the Judgment Legion; they are accustomed to launching surprise attacks in the name of purifying rebellion. If they make a move—"

Her voice was calm yet resolute.

"Then we fight."

Blue Bird grinned, her lightning exploding with a bang. "I've been wanting to meet those tin cans for a long time."

Before the three-day rest agreement arrived, the dawn had already set sail again.

The Archives fleet was like spread wings, protecting the nebula as it gradually stained with golden light.

The World Government's silver fleet arrayed in the distance, cold and orderly, like a giant machine.

A wide-area communication was forcibly patched in, its cold voice echoing through the resonance channel.

"This area has been placed under the direct jurisdiction of the Infinite Realm. You are restricted to evacuate within one standard hour, or you will be purged for the crime of encroaching on Realm property."

Bai Cheng stood at the bow of the dawn, the light of the oath of starlight lighting up like a lighthouse.

"Faith is born in the heart, not within borders. The Starfire Archives is here to escort every flicker of a freely existing dream."

She closed the communication and whispered to the book of commonality.

"Record: Today, we draw a line before the Faith Nebula. Not for war, but to prove that some light cannot be harvested."

In the distance, the silver fleet began to advance.

Starlight and they faced each other across the clouds.

The prelude to war thus began.

The journey continues; the flames are lit.

Ahead is the struggle for faith; behind are the dreams of ten thousand homes.

The atmosphere inside the dawn's bridge was solemn as the World Government's silver fleet pressed toward the Faith Nebula like a metallic tide.

Bai Cheng's silver eyes reflected the star chart, the book of commonality floating by her hand, a new chapter title already appearing on the pages:

Faith Tribunal!