The train silently traversed the darkness at the edge of the Return to Emptiness, and the light from the four clusters of starlight shone through the portholes, casting warm patches of light into the void.

Bai Cheng leaned back in a soft chair beside the main control panel, her silver eyes closed, her breathing steady.

Deep within her soul, the faint golden patterns of the emperors imprint had covered seventy percent, and the resonance of the four clusters of starlight ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) ebbed and flowed like tides, each pulsation solidifying her foundation of laws.

The fusion of the Return to Emptiness's embers brought an unprecedented sense of anchoring, as if no matter how fierce the external storm, her very existence had become an unshakeable lighthouse.

"Miss, your aura is much more stable now." Lu Duo's voice was soft, and emerald light flowed like a stream through Bai Cheng's meridians.

"The Return to Emptiness's embers seem to be repairing the soul damage caused by forcibly opening the Star Rail Gate earlier."

Bai Cheng slowly opened her eyes, starlight reflecting in her silver pupils: "It's not just repairing... it's bestowing upon me the trait of bearing."

She raised her hand, and a wisp of four-colored light stream subtly appeared at her fingertips. Within the light stream, one could vaguely see the fishing fires of Broken Shell Island, the monument's shadow of Sighing Cliff, the migrating procession of the Forgotten Corridor, and that undying vigil at the edge of the Return to Emptiness.

"The four clusters of starlight represent guardianship, sacrifice, hope, and perseverance, respectively.

Now they form a cycle within my soul, allowing me to bear a greater load of belief and to transmit this power more precisely."

Leng Ningxue brought up the tidal chart, which showed the battle situation in the northeast region of the Emerald Sea:

"The Star Guard Battle Group and the Enforcement Officer fleet did not immediately pursue after confronting each other at the edge of the Return to Emptiness, but their blockade net is being rewoven.

The latest intelligence indicates that at least five legions of King-tier Mind-Eroding Demon Generals are gathering in the Thousand Reef Sea, which is the only way to the central region of the Emerald Sea."

"Thousand Reef Sea..." Bai Cheng gazed at the light screen, "That sea area is dotted with islands, with diverse civilizations and the most complex belief networks.

If we can ignite the faint lights there—"

"The risk is also the greatest," Zi Yuan calmly interjected, "The Enforcement Officers have operated in that sea area for many years, and the belief networks of many islands have long been infiltrated by the dark red net.

If we rashly enter, we might face not only external pursuers but also internal believers who have already been corrupted."

The carriage fell silent for a moment.

Qing Niao scratched his head: "Then what should we do? Take a detour?"

"We can't detour," Bai Cheng shook her head, "The central region of the Emerald Sea is the densest node of the belief network, and also the focus of contention between the Star Rail Orthodoxy and the Enforcement Officers.

If we want to truly embark on the path of the emperor, we must establish a foothold there."

She stood up and walked to the porthole.

Outside the window was endless darkness, but the light of the four clusters of starlight penetrated the void, vaguely outlining a starlike silhouette ahead.

That was the island cluster of the Thousand Reef Sea, like scattered pearls on the tidal chart, each containing a faint light, bright or dim.

"We need an entry point," Bai Cheng said softly, "an island whose belief hasn't been completely corrupted, yet is resilient enough to become a node for transmitting starlight."

The pure heart vine in Yu Nian's arms suddenly trembled slightly, its silver-white flower bud turning towards the northeast, seeping out a crystal tear drop.

The tear drop did not fall, but hovered and extended in the air, transforming into a blurry image:

It was a solitary island surrounded by coral reefs, with an ancient stone observatory standing on it.

At the top of the platform, an old man with white hair was gazing up at the starry sky, holding a tattered star chart in his hand, his eyes reflecting deep sorrow and a trace of unyielding persistence.

The image shattered.

"Star Chart Island..." Data streams flickered in Leng Ningxue's icy eyes, "One of the few islands in the Emerald Sea that still retains the ancient astrological heritage.

Their belief network is independent and closed, and the Enforcement Officers' corruption progress is only thirty percent.

However, the island has been closed to outsiders for three years, refusing entry to all external visitors."

"Why was it closed?" Bai Cheng asked.

"Records are unclear," Leng Ningxue brought up fragmented data, "It is only known that one night three years ago, the Star Chart Island observatory observed an anomaly of the star rail weeping blood, after which the entire island fell silent.

Rumor has it that their old Astrologer foresaw some kind of end, and thus sealed the island to protect themselves."

Bai Cheng looked northeast, and a faint resonance came from the Stardust Imprint deep within her soul—it wasn't the call of embers, but a living, still struggling pulse of belief.

"Go to Star Chart Island," she decided, "If their Astrologer can truly foresee the end, perhaps they can also see... a new beginning."

The train turned, its silver shadow cutting through the darkness, heading towards the solitary island guarded by coral reefs.

And shortly after they left, two figures quietly emerged in the void at the edge of the Return to Emptiness.

One wore a Starlight Robe, his face hidden in the shadow of his hood, holding a slowly rotating Stellar Instrument in his hand.

The other was shrouded in dark red mist, his form blurry and indistinct, with only his eyes crimson like blood.

"Four clusters of starlight... she's moving faster than expected," the starlight figure's voice was like a stellar whisper.

"She must be intercepted before she reaches the Thousand Reef Sea," the dark red figure hissed, "Star Chart Island is a variable; that old fellow there... is a bit troublesome."

"Then let the variable disappear," the starlight figure raised his hand, and a stream of light shot out from the Stellar Instrument, disappearing into the void, "Notify the Erosion Heart, it's his turn to act."

"As for us... it's time to prepare a real welcome gift."

The two figures quietly vanished, as if they had never existed.

Meanwhile, on Star Chart Island in the distance, the old man at the top of the observatory suddenly trembled, and the star chart in his hand clattered to the ground.

He looked up at the night sky, his cloudy eyes reflecting the sudden change in the star track's trajectory.

The previously stable star track was now being stirred by an invisible hand, beginning to twist and crisscross, eventually converging into a crimson expanse at a certain node.

"Blood stars converge... a great calamity is approaching..."

The old man murmured, his ancient hand trembling as he traced the ancient carvings on the observatory.

"But why... why is there still a wisp of silver light hidden within it?"

He closed his eyes, and his parched lips began to recite a long-lost star prayer.

The coral reefs around the island glowed faintly in response, like a ring of quietly awakening guardians.

The lights of Star Chart Island shone, lonely and stubborn, in the dark sea.

Waiting for the faint light, and waiting for the storm.