This was established based on the twelve vessels Jie Su previously rented. Yaohan Su supported most of it; Jie Su and Ye Zhongming paid out of their own pockets to purchase that 'Empty Breeze'-grade battleship as the fleet's flagship.

Originally, they agreed not to tell the clan about the mining matter. But because of the changed relationship with the Su Clan and future long-term cooperation with the Su Clan leader, Jie Su and Ye Zhongming confessed this matter to Yaohan Su.

The Su Clan leader didn't reprimand them or tell them not to do such dangerous things for a few million Moonspan Gold. Instead, through his connections, he obtained fourteen various warships and gave them to Jie Su.

Both were unclear about the clan leader's intention, but clearly, the clan leader supported them in doing this.

Ye Zhongming couldn't leave the Star-Eye Clan, so Jie Su took full command.

All operational personnel of the entire fleet now were masters from the Su Clan and Star-Eye Clan. Here, the two sides cooperated for the first time truly.

Of course, the Su Clan people here were all from the clan leader and Jie Su's line.

"Other vessels stay here on standby. The flagship, all Heavy Tide-grade escorts, and six Lof-grade escorts depart to execute the mission."

Following Jie Su's command, the fleet began sailing out of the meteor belt, soon disappearing into the deep starry sky. When they reappeared, they were near another small fleet.

This small fleet had only five ships: three transports, two escorts.

Although the escort ships were Heavy Tide-grade, with combat power higher than Lof-grade, facing this sudden fleet of eleven ships nearby, the difference was too great. So they could only frantically send signals, trying to establish communication.

"Eliminate them." Jie Su's order reached every vessel; attacks immediately commenced.

Under overwhelming force, the two Heavy Tide-grade escort ships were directly destroyed, and the three transport ships were captured.

Messages here couldn't be blocked, so the Huaitang Clan knew immediately. The clan was shaken again; not just them, the entire Darkstrip City was alarmed.

A fleet being attacked within safe territory was completely equivalent to declaring war on the Huaitang Clan!

Although the Cosmic Races had constant conflicts, outright wars between two races rarely occurred. After all, the three major factions were relatively stable; major clans would mediate and suppress things.

But strangely, the race capable of having a sizable space fleet remained hidden, never revealing its true face.

Almost everyone speculated about who was toying with the Huaitang Clan.

Of course, no one suspected the Star-Eye Clan. Although the Star-Eye Clan also had a space fleet, their vessels were all in the spaceport. Moreover, their number of vessels wasn't large, mostly functional ships; those capable of space combat were few—less than fifteen escort ships, among them five Lof-grade, ten 'Qiaohan'-grade escorts, a grade lower than Lof-grade.

These things were also outdated. Wanting to attack the Huaitang Clan's two Heavy Tide-grade escorts? Hard to say they'd definitely win.

But just as people ruled out the Star-Eye Clan, the Star-Eye Clan jumped out themselves.

They said... they had a batch of Blue Millet to sell to the Huaitang Clan.

Hearing this news, many Huaitang Clan members thought they misheard.

The two clans were enemies. Now the Huaitang Clan was in trouble; was there such an enemy offering help in need? 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

But when they heard the Star-Eye Clan's quote, they wished they could kill all the Star-Eye Clan members.

Blue Millet wasn't actually expensive; about one thousand Moonspan Gold per ton, enough for a Huaitang Clan family of five to eat for over five hundred cosmic days.

But the price the Star-Eye Clan gave was: per ton... one hundred thousand Moonspan Gold.

A full hundred times increase!

Now everyone knew: the Star-Eye Clan came to disgust the Huaitang Clan, to add fuel to their fire, to anger them.

While the entire Darkstrip City marveled, they also wondered: who gave the Star-Eye Clan such courage to provoke the Huaitang Clan, which was now red-eyed and wanting to vent?

Sure enough, the Huaitang Clan, furious, wanted to cause trouble for the Star-Eye Clan.

But the Star-Eye Clan went even further, directly bringing one hundred tons of Blue Millet to Darkstrip City's central square, saying if the Huaitang Clan didn't buy it, they'd burn this grain.

Previously, during a series of public relations efforts, the Moonspan Gold the Star-Eye Clan spent wasn't wasted. Besides previously exempting them from the Cave Dwellers' transport team attack investigation, they also built good relationships with high-ranking members of several medium-sized clans. After all, everything else was fake; only Moonspan Gold was real.

The Star-Eye Clan's provocation was said by these people to not be excessive; it shouldn't be resolved by barbaric means.

Naturally, they didn't intend to settle things completely. After all, letting the Huaitang Clan pressure the Star-Eye Clan might bring them benefits again.

Under everyone's watchful eyes, although the Huaitang Clan couldn't directly attack the Star-Eye Clan, they absolutely had to teach these guys a lesson. So they proposed the 'Brave Trial' to the Star-Eye Clan.

This was a real battle, not conducted in a virtual battlefield; life and death were up to fate, pursuing the most realistic battlefield.

Both sides agreed the number couldn't exceed two thousand. As for rules, they were entirely set by the two sides themselves.

The Huaitang Clan proposed a Brave's Trial. If the Huaitang Clan won, the one hundred tons of grain belonged to them. All equipment of the participating Star-Eye Clan warriors also belonged to the Huaitang Clan, and the Star-Eye Clan had to compensate fifty million Moonspan Gold.

Unexpectedly, the Star-Eye Clan agreed. They also proposed their requirement: if the Star-Eye Clan won, the Huaitang Clan had to buy Blue Millet from the Star-Eye Clan at one hundred thousand Moonspan Gold per ton.

Such a condition made everyone in Darkstrip City a bit strange. The Huaitang Clan's conditions were meant to directly push the Star-Eye Clan to death. But the Star-Eye Clan's condition seemed too... gentle.

Just selling grain to them? Wasn't this too childish? Adding a condition like making them pay if they won, would have been better.

But the Star-Eye Clan didn't mention anything else, just this one condition. Both sides agreed to send the maximum two thousand warriors to fight, with no restrictions until one side surrendered.

The match was scheduled for ten cosmic days later.

A seemingly childish gamble immediately shook the entire Darkstrip City. Even nearby cities went crazy upon getting the news.

Because everyone clearly realized one thing: the Star-Eye Clan was gambling their clan's fate! If they lost, they'd perish. Fifty million Moonspan Gold—they couldn't possibly afford it.

Time passed bit by bit. The day of the match drew closer and closer.