Apocalypse Gachapon Chapter 2330: Lost treasure

"Master?!"

Lady Star exclaimed, completely losing her composure as a great expert.

She couldn't believe her eyes—someone who had vanished for dozens of cosmic years was suddenly standing before her.

She still remembered clearly: that morning, the figure of this revered person walking away alone, embarking on a journey to find the Star-Eye Clan's future.

Once upon a time—no, even now—this elder was her idol.

"Master..." After saying it again, Lady Star calmed down a little. Realizing something, her eyes began to flicker with dark light, scanning the person before her from head to toe. Only after a long while did she call out "Master" a third time.

This time, the word carried a flood of emotions—joy, grievance, surprise, and more.

"Little Star, not bad—even at a time like this, you remembered to verify identities. Very good. As the clan leader of the Star-Eye Clan, this is a quality you must possess."

The person sitting on the chair wore no mask. Judging by Lady Star's expression, the face before her was likely his true appearance.

By Earth standards, he could be called a kindly old man, but around his neck, wrists, and ankles were rings of pure white bone.

A knock came, and Bashilu entered.

Lady Star's eyes dropped to the floor. In that instant, she understood some things.

So that was why Bashilu had so openly opposed Ye Zhongming's proposal. So that was why her husband had tacitly allowed Bashilu's behavior.

The root of it all was here.

Luoshe—the previous Star-Eye Clan training chief, once the clan's number one warrior, Bashilu's father, and the martial teacher of the two Star-Eye leaders.

Decades ago, when the Star-Eye Clan had fallen into hardship, after completing his teaching, he had set off alone to other survivor fortresses and the wider universe in search of a way to restore the clan's glory. Ten years later, he had completely lost contact with the clan.

After spending a long time confirming that Luoshe wasn't on any surviving fortress, the Star-Eye Clan had basically concluded that this great figure had been lost in the universe.

And that usually meant death.

For the first ten or twenty years, people might have held onto hope. Later, everyone accepted it, gradually letting the name fade from memory.

Now, Luoshe had returned.

Once the Star-Eye Clan's number one warrior, he had been a hair's breadth from the great-expert realm back then. Now, he was likely a great expert—or perhaps even further along.

Lady Star felt that, after the initial joy of reunion, she was strangely distant from her once-admired idol. She knew this wasn't good, but she couldn't help it.

"I've been away so long, and to come back and see the Star-Eye Clan like this saddens me. Though the clan was already in poor shape when I left, at least we were still our own race—no outsider could dictate to us. But now, our clan has become impure."

Luoshe had been smiling a moment ago, but now his tone turned stern.

The two Star-Eye leaders instinctively lowered their heads.

"But it's not entirely out of control. From now on, we need to change our strategy. While ensuring that the outsider continues to bring us benefits, we'll gradually reduce his influence over our race and maintain our current momentum."

"Yes, Father!"

Bashilu immediately replied at his side.

Lord Eye quickly glanced at his wife, then nodded as well.

Luoshe fixed his gaze on the hesitant Lady Star. "Over the years, I've traveled many places, experienced much, suffered greatly, and gained much. Rest assured—now that I'm back, it proves I've found a way to make our race strong. Even without that outsider, the Star-Eye Clan can once again stand at the pinnacle of the myriad races."

With that, Luoshe extended his hand, revealing a glowing orb.

"Dark Tide Sacred Stone?!"

Lady Star nearly shouted in shock.

This was the Star-Eye Clan's former treasure, once worn only by the clan leader. Its power was immense—it could amplify the wearer's abilities to terrifying levels and allow them to merge with darkness, making them the kind of assassin and raider that sent chills through others.

It had been lost during a major upheaval in the clan.

To think it had now appeared in Luoshe's hands.

The last shred of doubt in Lady Star's heart vanished.

Wasn't finding the Dark Tide Sacred Stone proof enough that Luoshe had truly found a way to revive the clan?

Seeing Lady Star's expression, Luoshe withdrew his hand and nodded in satisfaction.

……………………

For reasons unknown, the main building of Cloud Peak Manor—designed for Ye Zhongming by the Su Clan—had a circular plaza in front. At its center stood a square stone platform, ten meters on each side and raised about two meters above the ground, bare and empty.

Ye Zhongming knew this was the manor's hub. Originally, he had wanted it placed inside the castle, but supposedly Jie Su had insisted it be out here.

With the first phase completed, this stone platform served as the formation's eye—as long as it remained, the formation wouldn't fail, unless someone completely destroyed the platform.

However, the material used to make it was reportedly so rare that ordinary attacks wouldn't leave a scratch.

Right now, beside the platform, the evil dragon looked utterly defeated, its head tucked into its wings, its entire body curled into a ball.

Beside it stood White Dragon Horse, looking proud, seated on the ground as it watched Yangos. Occasionally, it would poke the evil dragon with a claw or wing, muttering things like "Get up, let's keep fighting," "Can't take a hit," "Are you even a male dragon?" and "How can you say you can't?" and so on.

Nearby, Yellow Ball lounged lazily in the sun, with Leilei Bird beside it, occasionally using its beak to gently peck through its golden fur.

Inside the castle and around it, the Red Female Guard members were busy cleaning and arranging the castle, as well as familiarizing themselves with and practicing the formation's various functions.

These female warriors, who held the most fervent loyalty to Ye Zhongming, were all smiling here. Because in this place, they could completely leave the past behind and show their true selves.

Moreover, they absolutely loved this new home—they had already made it their lifelong haven.

"What happened?" Ye Zhongming walked over to Yangos. Xiao Min and Dai Zhi, who were testing the formation nearby, came over and said with a smile, "The evil dragon saw White Dragon Horse and asked its gender. At first, it ignored him, so he thought it was easy to bully. So for the past few days... this has been the norm."

Yangos's body twitched, curling itself into an even rounder ball.