When the Stars Fade, the Army Falls.

Since Chen Yi's chat group account was banned for violations, he couldn't speak in the group.

The newly appointed group owner, following the old owner's instructions, also refrained from making any remarks.

The members, well aware of their group owner's capabilities, stayed silent as well.

Only two old-timers from the former Group Two, newly added to the chat, were spouting off like they owned the place.

[Withered Leaf Left by Wind (Qin Sheng): No idea why that dumbass Ye Wuchen exiled us to this noob group, but hey, Gu Yuan, now that you're the owner, you ain’t gonna take a cut from our projects, right?]

[Crow Takes Flight (Liu Bo): Qin, you’re underestimating Gu Yuan. The three of us are brothers forged in blood! Back during our first demon-slaying trial, when I took a "minor" fatal injury and passed out, it was you and Gu Yuan who dragged me out of a pile of corpses. With that kinda bond, you think he’d skim our profits?]

[Withered Leaf Left by Wind: True. Speaking of, where’s Gu Yuan? Why ain’t he talking? I wanna ask if Ye Wuchen ever actually took down that old bastard from Group One!]

[Crow Takes Flight: Probably fixing up some trendy new hairstyle. He’ll show up once he’s done primping. Meanwhile, let’s see what kind of "little cuties" are in this noob group. Must be hiding some big fish to rank up so fast… Huh? Damn! What did the old owner of Group 108 even do to get banned?]

[Withered Leaf Left by Wind: That ex-owner’s just pathetic…]

Watching these two blowhards from Group Two yap away, the members of Group 108 frowned.

These newcomers had no clue, but the others knew better!

What’s 1.99 billion combat power worth?

Their god-tier group owner could manipulate his power level at will, even leaping to 6.6 billion without breaking a sweat!

Taking back the owner position would be child’s play.

Plus, the new owner’s username looked familiar—wasn’t he the guy who took on Mu Chen’s request mission?

Hadn’t their boss already put him in his place once?

What, still not learned his lesson?

Invited into the group, and now he dares pull a power grab?

Seriously, boss, what’s your game here?

These two fossils are already climbing all over you, and you’re just sitting there?

This isn’t like you!

Wait—

Are you scheming something behind the scenes again?!

In an instant, aside from a few airheads and dimwits, the rest of the group caught on.

Ambitious members fell into deep thought, each trying to decipher their leader’s hidden agenda.

Among them, Mu Chen felt oddly smug—while others had to guess, he could just waltz into the Illusory Star Abyss and ask Chen Yi directly!

But before he could move, a powerful mental transmission stabbed into his mind like it’d been waiting for him.

"Figure it out yourself. Don’t ask."

"Oh…"

Mu Chen deflated like a frostbitten eggplant.

Meanwhile, in the Tianxu Star Domain, Fang Zheng stared solemnly at the chat.

"First, an inexplicable ban. Then voluntarily giving up ownership. Next, ordering the new owner to stay silent while letting these two Group Two seniors run their mouths and stir chaos… Boss, what’s your endgame?"

"Too many clues, too well hidden… But I won’t disappoint you!"

Fang Zheng closed his eyes, his mind racing as fragmented scenes flashed past.

Suddenly—

His eyes snapped open, the pieces locking into place.

"The account ban is a diversion. Whether intentional or forced, he’s been minimizing his presence since returning from the Anlan World free mission!"

"His silence is meant to divert attention—make sure we don’t notice him!"

"I get it now!"

"The new owner’s a decoy. Those two fossils are bait. And our job? Fire back. No—escalate it!"

[I Really Don’t Wanna Be Sacrificed: Yo, fossilized trash, who the hell do you think you are?!]

[Brothers, this new owner’s a joke! Don’t fear him—let’s roast him till the system notices our rebellion! We reject this clown!]

[ You Group Two rejects! Couldn’t hack it there, so you came here to boss us around? I your !]

[Warning: Member ‘I Really Don’t Wanna Be Sacrificed’ has been penalized 100 points and muted for 24 hours for excessive profanity.]

Fang Zheng, ever the tactician, led the charge with brilliance and bravery.

"Dammit! I almost had it! Fang Zheng, you legend!"

Xiao Chunan, Fang Zheng’s less-talented imitator, couldn’t match his deductive skills but knew how to reverse-engineer the answer.

Time to copy homework.

[Fallen Genius: Fang’s got it right! You fossils ain’t ! Group 108 ain’t yours! !]

[Warning: Member ‘Fallen Genius’ penalized 100 points and muted for 24 hours.]

"Ohhh! Now I see! Fang Zheng, you’re insane!"

Mu Chen, late as usual, scrambled to join the dogpile.

[Back to the Crowd: Talk get ! High combat power don’t mean ! I’ll !]

[Warning…]

At the same time—

Adolf Anlan, mid-torture by a fifth-tier succubus, suddenly straightened up and blasted her away with a palm strike. Eyes clear, he declared:

"My brothers speak the truth!"

"The boss gave me my big break. Without him, I’d still be a broke-ass priest in Boling City’s outskirts. Not that healing nuns was bad, but becoming a god? Now that’s freedom!"

A weaker student, missing the deeper meaning but earning points for spirit.

[Unemployed God of Light: Group Two trash, !]

[Warning…]

The group’s fury swelled. Whether they understood or not, every member trusted Fang Zheng’s lead, trading insults for 24-hour mutes.

Soon, Group 108 fell silent—everyone but the new owner and the two fossils was gagged.

Liu Bo and Qin Sheng fumed.

"We’re just acting here—why’d they have to curse so damn hard?!"

Not clapping back just doesn’t sit right with me!

And so, these two were also hit with a system warning and muted.

What’s more, their mute duration was twice as long as the other group members—clearly, their insults were filthier.

At the same time, in the heart of the Profound Heaven Continent, Gu Yuan took a deep breath as he stared at the nearly annihilated group chat. He tentatively asked the floating multicolored pearl before him:

“Bro, do I have to do it too?”

The pearl hesitated for a long moment before responding.

“Families should stick together. It’d be a shame to leave anyone out.”

Gu Yuan immediately understood. Without delay, he started typing in the group.

[Just a Bit of Hardship (Group Owner): What, you all trying to stage a mutiny? Me being the group owner is completely by the book, and you think you can force me out with ‘public opinion’?]

[Keep dreaming! The group owner can do whatever the hell they want! The chat system can’t demote me—it doesn’t have the authority, it’s just a !]

[Warning! Group Owner ‘Just a Bit of Hardship’ has violated community guidelines. All points have been deducted, and group owner privileges are frozen for seven days as punishment!]

Gu Yuan: …

Damn it!

My hard-earned points!!!