Astra pointed to a specially marked point on the star map, located in a relatively calm but near-zero signal dark area, surrounded by raging gravity turbulence and radiation belts.

"Next, we will proceed at minimum power and the slowest speed along a relatively 'safe' route that took us decades to barely map out, crossing this outer barrier. This process may take several days, during which any accident could lead to the ship's destruction and crew fatalities. We must be fully prepared…"

Bai E silently gazed at the darkness and chaos that seemed capable of devouring everything. His spiritual energy perception extended outward, vaguely sensing an indescribable... "heaviness" and "silence" emanating from deep within that area, as if time and space were in eternal slumber there.

Is that the "Silent King's Court"?

After confirming that Bai E had no objections to the plan, the fleet began its voyage as planned.

The first day of the voyage was relatively calm.

However, there was a constant need to be vigilant against the randomly generated gravity whirlpools and violent energy radiation belts on either side of the route, resembling cosmic wounds.

Occasionally, small pieces of metal or biological debris were flung into the route by gravity turbulence, and the point defense systems of the "Brilliant Destiny" and escort ships promptly cleared them.

However, as they progressed further, troubles began to manifest on the afternoon of the second day.

"Detected unknown energy bodies! Approaching at high speed! From behind the stardust cloud at three o'clock!" the sensor officer reported with tension in their voice.

Several not very large, but highly irregularly shaped metallic constructs, with dark cyan energy patterns flowing on their surfaces, darted out from the stardust cloud like phantoms.

They had no obvious propulsion nozzles, moving as if they were "flashing" or "gliding" for short distances in space, very fast and with erratic trajectories. 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

"It's the 'Wanderers'! The automated sentinels of the Silent Royal Court's periphery!" an elderly scholar from the Golden Federation exclaimed. "Be careful! Their weapons might involve…"

Before the scholar could finish, the dark cyan patterns on the surfaces of the constructs called "Wanderers" suddenly lit up. Numerous ghostly green beams of energy, thin as strands of hair yet carrying a disintegration energy that made one's heart flutter, silently shot out, precisely striking the side armor of an escort ship!

The escort's energy shield was almost no barrier, as if cut through like butter by a hot knife.

The hit armor area instantly turned an eerie grey-white before disintegrating and dissipating silently like weathered sand, exposing the internal structure.

"Watch out! It's the phase dematerialization ray! Avoid direct hits! Maneuver evasively! Use point defense systems to intercept!"

The fleet's formation quickly scattered, with each ship engaging in intense evasive maneuvers, simultaneously using a barrage of fire to try and intercept the fast-moving, unpredictably tracking "Wanderers."

Bai E, on the bridge of the "Brilliant Destiny," silently observed these enemies encountered for the first time.

Their attack methods and movement patterns exuded a cold, efficient, non-living quality, distinctly unlike the biological traits of the Bug Race, more akin to a highly advanced, automated defense mechanism.

The battle was brief yet intense.

After paying the price of one escort being severely damaged, the fleet finally relied on quantity and firepower advantage to destroy the few "Wanderers."

The destroyed "Wanderers" did not explode but rather collapsed silently into small clusters of twisted metal remnants when their internal energy cores overloaded, subsequently swept away by nearby gravity turbulence.

"What's the damage?" Astra asked with a grim expression.

"One 'Swift Level' escort is heavily damaged, unable to fight or keep up, must be abandoned," the lieutenant quickly reported.

"Abandon the damaged ship, transfer the crew. Continue forward." Astra ordered without a trace of hesitation.

Exploring the unknown always comes with sacrifices.

And this was just the beginning.

In the subsequent journey, similar attacks became more frequent.

Besides the "Wanderers," they also encountered larger "Annihilators" resembling floating pyramids, capable of releasing large-scale gravity collapse fields, attempting to drag and crush the ships.

There were also swarming "razor insect swarms" like metallic bee swarms that clung to the ship's surface, attempting to cut the ship's hull with high-frequency oscillating blades.

Each encounter required a price to be paid.

An additional destroyer sacrificed itself to cover the "Brilliant Destiny," being captured by the "Annihilator's" gravity field. Although it eventually broke free, its hull was severely damaged, forcing it to leave the formation and attempt a tenuous return, with slim chances of survival.

A specially-designed research vessel was also lost, attempting to analyze an unknown energy field. It triggered a hidden trap and was consumed by a suddenly appearing spatial rift.

When the fleet narrowly traversed the most dangerous gravity turbulence zone and truly entered the periphery of the "Silent King's Court" core region, the once mighty fleet was reduced to the battered "Brilliant Destiny" main cruiser and two equally damaged escort ships.

The personnel loss exceeded thirty percent, and material and ammunition consumption was massive.

Yet the sight before them temporarily made all survivors forget the shadow of fatigue and loss.

They finally beheld the "Silent King's Court" with their own eyes.

It was not a planet, but a massive, unimaginable architectural complex floating in near absolute darkness of the void.

The main structure consisted of innumerable geometric bodies of neither metal nor stone, with dark gold and pale runes flowing on their surfaces, layered like frozen nebulae, resembling some kind of cold Holy Temple or tomb beyond understanding.