The Misty Illusion Star Domain, bordering the Fiery Rain Star Domain and the Mara Star Domain, is shrouded in a dense, hazy fog that obscures the light of stars and suns.
The most powerful entity in the Misty Illusion Star Domain is "Flowing Fire," a tightly knit alliance composed of many great families within the domain, who collectively govern the region. Thanks to the existence of "Flowing Fire," the Misty Illusion Star Domain has enjoyed years of peace, with all local forces united.
Unlike the Mara Star Domain, the Misty Illusion Star Domain is intimately connected to the cosmic galaxy; here lies a place called the "Domain Sea," which contains numerous void passages capable of linking to various other star domains.
The "Domain Sea" is akin to the turbulent void regions of the Shadow Hell. Within it exist many life-bearing stars, upon which are moored a multitude of bizarre and peculiar battleships—some crafted from beast bones, others shaped like flying birds, some resembling floating wood, and others molded after colossal ships. These vessels are immensely large, often stretching ten thousand meters long, appearing like scattered chunks of meteors.
Some battleships are docked on the life-bearing stars, while many others remain suspended in the stellar currents. The "Domain Sea" sees constant movement, a bustling hub of activity where giant vessels frequently enter and exit the void passages connecting to other domains. The shouts and laughter of various races echo as they move materials in—a dazzling array of goods—and transport the unique ores of the Misty Illusion Star Domain out.
The "Domain Sea" functions as a stellar port, linked to major star domains, with warships from numerous factions constantly coming and going to conduct interstellar trade.
Naturally, as the gateway for the Fiery Rain Star Domain, the "Domain Sea" is firmly held in the grip of Flowing Fire. On the life-bearing stars within this area, many Flowing Fire martial artists act as guards, patrolling on war chariots to prevent any other star domain from breaking the established rules.
The exceedingly prosperous "Domain Sea" sees its life-bearing stars teeming with activity. The largest trading venues in the Misty Illusion Star Domain are spread across these very stars, accommodating martial artists and forces from all major domains in colossal material exchanges.
On Yunshui Star, the largest life-bearing star in the "Domain Sea," towering structures built by various races dominate the landscape: conical edifices, formations of solid rock, wooden constructions, and unique, nest-like structures. The variety of strange buildings houses different races and peoples.
Yunshui Star is the most flourishing celestial body in the "Domain Sea," with hundreds of millions of individuals arriving and departing daily, carrying countless materials, transported by thousands of battleships.
The largest market and the premier auction house are both situated on Yunshui Star, making it the most dazzling star in the "Domain Sea." For many years, it has been controlled by Flowing Fire—or more precisely, by the family of An Liya.
An Liya's family is one of the foremost within Flowing Fire. Her maternal grandfather was once one of Flowing Fire's chief leaders, but he was tragically killed by the Bai family. Nevertheless, An Liya’s lineage retains an extremely high status within Flowing Fire. This is largely because An Liya herself is among the top-tier alchemists in the Misty Illusion Star Domain, possessing a formidable reputation across the entire Star Sea. She is, in essence, a golden signboard that commands respect from every family in Flowing Fire.
An Liya also married well: Shang Chen, a Traveler of Destiny, who has wandered through various star domains for years, always remaining shrouded in mystery.
In the past, within Flowing Fire, certain families, angered by the murder of An Liya's father by the Bai family, attempted to seize control of Yunshui Star from An Liya’s lineage. That rival family was also immensely powerful, and many within Flowing Fire at the time chose to watch with detached indifference.
Yunshui Star, being the most prosperous star in the "Domain Sea," had always been the core of An Liya’s family—it was their very pillar of strength.
Many people fully expected that An Liya’s family would be unable to protect it and would be forced to yield control of Yunshui Star to preserve their remaining influence.
However, to everyone's shock, the head of the family that had most vehemently pushed to seize Yunshui Star suddenly died an abrupt and brutal death at the most critical moment.
That individual possessed the cultivation realm of Second Heaven Origin God and was also one of Flowing Fire's leaders.
An Liya, being an alchemist, did not possess great combat power. At that time, Shang Yingyue and Shang Qiu were still young, and An Liya's family strength was at its weakest. Moreover, Shang Chen was nowhere near the Misty Illusion Star Domain, wandering God knows where.
No one ever discovered what truly happened.
But from that day forward, no one within Flowing Fire dared to challenge An Liya’s family again. Yunshui Star remained firmly in their grasp, and no matter whether Shang Chen was present or absent, no one dared to harbor ill intentions toward it.
Flowing Fire carried a rumor: Shang Chen had befriended a mysterious and wicked power in the universe, and it was this entity that had conveniently resolved An Liya's trouble while Shang Chen was away traveling.
A cultivator at the Second Heaven Origin God realm was already considered formidable within Flowing Fire, yet he met an untimely end, and the killer’s identity remains unknown to this day.
No one ever dared to covet Yunshui Star again.
Yunshui Star.
Across its vast territories, numerous diverse battleships were moored, and structures as massive as mountains loomed.
A magnificent edifice, constructed of intensely cold stone, stood at the continent's center, encircled by numerous restrictions and energy barriers. Within, countless guards at the Divine King and Source God realms patrolled. This was the exclusive domain of An Liya’s family—they were the true masters of Yunshui Star.
In a bitterly cold secret chamber, streaks of Ice Soul Cold Crystal surrounded Shang Yingyue. The extreme cold emanating from these crystals sealed and froze the chamber itself.
The chamber, spanning several thousand square meters, lay deep underground, entirely white as the ground crystallized into frost. Only four figures remained inside, speaking in hushed tones while silently watching Shang Yingyue.
Shang Chen, Shang Qiu, and An Liya—the three closest to Shang Yingyue—were present. In addition, there was a white-haired, ancient woman leaning on an ice-jade cane, possessing the cultivation of First Heaven Origin God: Sossia, An Liya's mother.
After being cast out by the Desolate One, Shang Yingyue traveled through several void passages in other star domains before finally returning to the Misty Illusion Star Domain and arriving back at Yunshui Star.
She briefly explained what occurred in the Desolate One’s domain and then declared her intention to enter seclusion, needing to utilize the Primordial-grade materials she had acquired for intense cultivation. She had been cultivating quietly ever since, drawing power from the Ice Soul Cold Crystals and molding balls of lightning in her palms, channeling the profound essence of thunder.
Upon hearing that Shang Yingyue intended to cultivate, An Liya was greatly shocked. After inquiring carefully, she learned that her daughter aimed to break through to the Origin Realm.
An Liya was ecstatic. She mobilized the family's resources and contacted powerful allies to come and stand guard.
Sossia, Shang Yingyue’s maternal grandmother, who had been away from Yunshui Star, immediately set aside all her duties and rushed back from the Flowing Fire headquarters to protect her granddaughter during her breakthrough.
Shang Chen, as the father, was also urged by An Liya to return. The whole family gathered in the icy chamber to stand guard for Shang Yingyue, hoping for her safe ascension to the Origin Realm.
“Will she be alright?” An Liya, her hair elaborately coiled, possessed a noble and elegant demeanor like a rare orchid. Now, her brows were tightly furrowed, and she couldn't help but whisper her concern, her beautiful eyes darting toward Shang Yingyue.
“Little Chen, you practice the Art of Destiny; surely you can foresee something?” Sossia narrowed her eyes, driving the tip of her ice-jade cane into the ice and snow with an anxious pressure.
“Father, sister must be fine, right?” Shang Qiu also asked with hopeful anticipation.
Breaking through from the Third Heaven Void God realm to the Origin Realm was a struggle between life and death. Many perished, their soul altars shattering completely. It was impossible not to be tense. Although they knew Shang Yingyue's talent was astonishing and that the trials in the Ancient Continent's Desolate Land had tempered her, giving her a strong chance of success, they were still terrified.
Failure meant, at best, the destruction of the physical body; at worst, complete annihilation of the soul altar. Caution was paramount.
Under the anxious gazes of his wife, daughter, and mother-in-law, Shang Chen could only offer a wry smile. “How many times have I told you? For those with my bloodline, the threads of destiny are completely obscured; I cannot predict what will happen. Can you please stop asking?”
These three had posed the same question hundreds of times, and even Shang Chen’s resilient nerves were starting to fray.
An Liya, Shang Chen, and Sossia all displayed expressions of disappointment, collectively shooting Shang Chen a critical look. An Liya even hissed, “Useless fellow! You can predict the life and death of others, yet you can’t even see through your own woman! What good is practicing that useless profound art…”
Hearing his wife’s grumbling complaint, Shang Chen could only smile bitterly and pretend not to hear, narrowing his eyes in silence.
“Yue’er seems different since she returned. She… speaks strangely about that boy named Shi Yan,” An Liya suddenly breathed out.
The old woman Sossia narrowed her eyes, her scrutinizing gaze fixing on Shang Chen. “Little Chen, how long do you intend to hide things about that boy? You won’t even reveal them to your own family? What is his background, what is his true identity?”
Having arrived late, she had missed hearing many of the secrets Shang Yingyue shared about the Ancient Continent—secrets only Shang Chen and An Liya knew. Even An Liya was somewhat unclear, deeply puzzled by Shi Yan’s origins.
“This…” Shang Chen offered another bitter smile. When facing his family, he always felt utterly powerless. “For now, I cannot say much more. Give me some time. Once I have sorted things out, I can reveal them. Saying too much now… would not be good for you, and it could bring disaster upon the entire Flowing Fire.”
At these words, An Liya, Shang Qiu, and Sossia all recoiled, their faces registering profound horror as they stared at him.
“Is that boy’s origin truly that terrifying?” Sossia’s wrinkled face trembled slightly, then she waved a dismissive hand, her eyes uneasy. “If it’s hard to speak of, then don’t. My heart isn't good; I can’t handle too much stimulation.”
They were family, and they knew Shang Chen would never harm them. They also knew how the contenders who coveted their family’s influence had met their mysterious ends. They were aware that Shang Chen possessed terrifying secrets and trusted that he acted for their well-being, so they said no more.
“The time is not right. When the moment comes, I will explain everything clearly,” Shang Chen stated.
“Then tell me this: if… if our Yue’er has something with that boy, is it a good thing or a bad thing for her?” An Liya asked sternly.
Shang Chen frowned again, troubled. He pondered deeply for a long moment before replying, “If that boy manages to succeed, it will be a blessing for Yue’er, and a fortune for the entire family. But if he fails, it will be a catastrophe, and we will all suffer with him. Alas, I am troubled by this too.”
Swish!
Suddenly, a thread of bright silver light emanated from a painting on the chamber wall. It pierced through and dissolved into Shang Chen’s body.
Shang Chen’s expression shifted. He sensed it for a moment, then said abruptly, “I apologize; I cannot wait for Yue’er any longer. I must leave for a while.”
“Why? What could be more important than our daughter?!” An Liya demanded, glaring.
“That boy has exited the Desolate One’s domain; he is sending me a message. It is of grave importance, I must go,” Shang Chen sighed helplessly, bowing to his wife, offering a pained smile, and then quietly departing.