Central Star.
The moment Si Zhao woke up, she had He Youchuan summon Yunyang’s eight beast husbands.
Although the eight husbands were reluctant to meet anyone, they still rushed to the palace as quickly as possible for Yunyang’s sake.
“Your Majesty summoned us urgently. Is there something important you wish to instruct us about?”
Si Zhao did not beat around the bush. “My spatial ability underwent a second mutation last night. If you’re willing to try, I can see whether I’m able to open a spatial passage between the Federation and the Outer Galaxy.”
The information was so overwhelming that even Fu Shiyi froze for a moment.
After a while, he asked uncertainly, “Your Majesty, do you mean that our female is in the Outer Galaxy?”
They had suspected as much before, but the Federation had very little information about the Outer Galaxy. He had searched through his optical computer, yet failed to find anything useful.
“I can’t be certain.” Si Zhao would not rashly give them false hope. “But the military has searched every planet within the Federation’s star territory, including the barren planets, and found no trace of Yunyang.”
Apart from the search-and-rescue teams dispatched by the military, only she and a few of the husbands knew about this.
Although Qin Mo was also part of the military, he was currently on leave and had no way of receiving such important news immediately.
At these words, the eight husbands exchanged glances.
Rong Jin stepped forward. “Your Majesty, I’m willing to try.”
He wanted to find their female. Even if they could not return for a while after entering the Outer Galaxy, as long as he could find her, none of that mattered.
The other husbands felt the same way.
He Youchuan glanced at Si Zhao and reminded her, “Your Majesty’s spatial ability may have undergone a second mutation, but it has never been tested. It may not succeed.”
Failure would be the mildest possible outcome.
If the spatial passage were disrupted, those who entered could very well be sent to an unknown region.
It might be the Outer Galaxy—or it might be the Dead Star Region.
Even so, not one of the eight husbands retreated.
At a time like this, if they backed down even half a step, they would no longer be worthy of remaining their female’s husbands.
Seeing their reactions, a hint of satisfaction appeared in Si Zhao’s eyes.
Yunyang’s husbands really were quite impressive.
Si Zhao glanced at the time on her optical computer. “You have three hours to prepare. At noon, I’ll take you to H2978 Barren Planet.”
The eight husbands had no objections. After confirming the time and place of their meeting at noon, they hurried back to the villa to pack.
There was not much to prepare for themselves, but they had to get things ready for their female.
Food, drinks, clothes, daily necessities, and the pain-relief potions Yunyang could not go a month without—all of it was packed into their spatial storage devices.
The eight husbands spent two and a half hours preparing things for Yunyang. Only during the final ten minutes did they hastily pack a few belongings for themselves.
With less than twenty minutes remaining before noon, the eight husbands stopped hesitating and immediately headed to the palace to meet up with Si Zhao.
At exactly noon, the eight of them followed Si Zhao and her Imperial Consort toward the large starship docked outside the palace.
The hatch slowly opened.
“Nuo Xiao, when you go to the Black Flood Dragon Tribe this time, you must protect Lady Yunyang well.” The Snowy Owl Clan Chief stood before Nuo Xiao and earnestly urged him, “You must keep her safe.”
Pei Wenye moved his lips but said nothing.
The Black Flood Dragon Tribe was unfamiliar territory to them, after all. Having one more person protect their female would give her an additional guarantee of safety.
Although he disliked this Snowy Owl who coveted his female, he had to admit that his strength was inferior to Nuo Xiao’s.
Faced with the clan chief’s instructions, Nuo Xiao looked solemn.
“Clan Chief, rest assured. I guarantee that those black loaches won’t even be able to touch a single hair on Lady Yunyang’s head!”
Black Flood Dragon Pei Wenye: “…”
The corner of his mouth twitched, but in the end, he did not argue with Nuo Xiao.
Nuo Xiao did not think there was anything wrong with what he had said. After speaking, he lowered his head and checked his clothes. Only after confirming that everything was in order did he walk over to Yunyang.
“Lady Yunyang, let’s go aboard.”
Yunyang nodded and boarded the Snowy Owl Tribe’s starship first with Pei Wenye. Nuo Xiao followed closely behind.
The hatch closed once more.
After dozens of jumps, the starship finally arrived at H2978 Barren Planet that evening.
Qin Mo and the others were somewhat confused.
If the Empress wanted to test her ability after its second mutation, she could have tried it in any open area on Central Star. Why did they have to come to H2978 Barren Planet?
Si Zhao knew they would be curious.
So, after stepping off the starship, she gave He Youchuan a meaningful look.
Understanding her intention, he explained, “H2978 Barren Planet is the planet closest to the Outer Galaxy. Opening a spatial passage here will greatly increase the chances of success.”
Ordinary people had no access to such information. Even the Federation’s chief combat mecha designer was not authorized to view it.
Only then did the eight husbands understand.
The Federation had explored the Outer Galaxy many times. It had naturally managed to gain some information along the way.
With their doubts resolved, the eight men all turned toward Si Zhao.
“Your Majesty, please begin.”
Si Zhao felt it necessary to emphasize the matter once more. “The Federation has sent many people to the Outer Galaxy in the past, and not one of them has successfully returned.”
“So even if the spatial passage can send you to the Outer Galaxy, there will be no way for me to bring you back.”
“You can still change your mind.”
Qin Mo straightened his back. “Your Majesty, I won’t change my mind. As long as I can find our female, it doesn’t matter if I can’t return.”
Xuan Yu turned directly toward his rivals. “If anyone doesn’t want to go, speak up now. Once we reach the Outer Galaxy, there will be no chance to regret it.”
He understood that some people might be afraid of death.
But if anyone really did change his mind, then once they found their female, he would tell her everything.
If that allowed him to eliminate a few rivals, all the better.
Xuan Yu’s plan was clicking along nicely, but unfortunately, it was doomed to fail.
All eight husbands, including Xuan Yu himself, declared without hesitation that they were willing to go to the Outer Galaxy, even if they could never return.
Si Zhao had given them all the warnings necessary, so she said nothing more.
She nodded, then moved forward with He Youchuan beside her and began channeling her ability to construct the spatial passage.
Although she knew that H2978 Barren Planet was the closest planet to the Outer Galaxy, Si Zhao had no idea of the exact distance.
She tried several times, but each attempt ended in failure. Fortunately, with sufficient insect cores to replenish her ability, she could continue trying.
On the eighth attempt, the spatial passage was finally established.
Si Zhao probed it with her mental power before turning to Qin Mo and the others.
“The spatial passage is ready for use.”
He Youchuan had already told her before they came that the passage might not necessarily lead to the Outer Galaxy, so Si Zhao did not repeat the warning.
Fu Shiyi took a large starship out of his spatial storage device. After he and the other husbands boarded one after another, he piloted the ship into the spatial passage without the slightest hesitation.
The starship was swallowed by the dark-purple vortex. Si Zhao rapidly absorbed an insect core to maintain the spatial passage.
Only after confirming that the starship had been delivered to the other end did she withdraw her ability and close the passage.
Using her ability under such immense strain left Si Zhao unsteady on her feet.
Fortunately, He Youchuan caught her immediately.
Si Zhao steadied herself and looked up, about to say something, but out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of Chen Yueli, who should have already left.
