Within the Spatial Grand Array Stone Platform, forged from Void Crystal, lines of starlight interwoven into a net, shining brightly where they crossed, dazzling to the eye.

Suddenly, a halo of five-colored light emerged from the stone platform. Within the halo, a figure gradually shifted from indistinct to clear, as if solidifying from a water reflection until it fully manifested.

Shi Yan, who had been sitting quietly for a long time, suddenly opened his eyes, focused his gaze on the newcomer, and frowned. "You're a bit late."

Shang Chen smiled carelessly. "Yue'er is about to break through to the Prime God Realm; as her father, I naturally must guard her closely. If it weren't for the message you sent, I would still be watching over her and wouldn't have rushed to appear."

"It seems the tempering in the Desolation had a profound impact on her realm. She acquired quite a few rare treasures there, and her will has become much tougher. She has a completely new understanding of the Profound Meanings of Frost and Lightning. Her breakthrough is only logical." Hearing the mention of Shang Yingyue, Shi Yan's expression softened, and a hint of tenderness entered his eyes.

When he fought with Hassen for the Origin Fruit, his Void Realm was nearly incinerated to ash by Hassen's Blazing Karma Fire. At that moment, Shang Yingyue and Cecilia had fearlessly rushed forward to help him.

Alas, both of them were targeted by the Desolation and struck down by lightning bolts like twin meteors, plummeting from the sky and immediately sustaining heavy injuries.

The actions of Cecilia and Shang Yingyue had deeply moved him, warming his heart. He hadn't initially held deep affection for Shang Yingyue or Cecilia, but he gradually began to view them differently.

Shang Chen, with his keen perception, noticed the subtle shift in his expression and his heart immediately sank. He inwardly cursed this turn of events.

He never wanted Shang Yingyue to become entangled with Shi Yan. He understood Shi Yan’s danger better than anyone, knowing that Shi Yan walked a path of no return—unless he overcame insurmountable difficulties to succeed, the trials along the way were enough to scatter his soul ten thousand times over.

He did not want women to weep over this, nor did he wish for the Anliya family to be dragged into it.

A struggle of that magnitude concerned the future pattern of the universe, something he couldn't fully grasp. He certainly didn't want his own people to suffer misfortune alongside Shi Yan.

"You came looking for me because of your great-grandfather, right?" Shang Chen composed himself and asked gravely.

"I found the Seven-Colored Ghost Demon Flower," Shi Yan confirmed.

"Your great-grandfather is sealed by me in the frigid glaciers of the Evil Ghost Northern Territory. Shall we leave now?"

"I will point out the direction, and you forge the path. If you take me along through the spatial crossings, our speed will be much greater. I can also briefly explain the current situation in the Mayar Star Field to you along the way."

"Good."

Shang Chen continuously indicated the direction, and Shi Yan, using his divine power as the foundation, rapidly constructed spatial bridges, transporting them across billions of miles in an instant, crossing star after star.

Along the way, Shang Chen meticulously recounted the situation in the Mayar Star Field: the powerful invasion of the God Race, advancing as if through uninhabited land, until Lianna led the counterattack of the Demon Race and the Fiend Race, followed by the God Race deploying more experts, leading to the major routs of the Medicine Artifact Pavilion, the War Alliance, the Divine Light, and numerous other forces... Shang Chen narrated in great detail, as if witnessing each scene firsthand, with few discrepancies.

Shi Yan listened quietly, his face grim. Whenever they passed a Life Star, he would release his divine sense to probe it.

Most of the Life Stars were silent; those exhibiting strong life fluctuations were predominantly guarded by members of the God Race.

Time quietly slipped by.

One day, he and Shang Chen appeared in the extreme northern reaches of the Mayar Star Field, landing on an intensely cold star. From the outside, this star appeared as a colossal ice sphere, exuding an aura of extreme cold.

Upon reaching the surface, they found that the icy plains were dotted with numerous glaciers, undulating like a forest of icy swords, giving off an intensely chilling sensation.

Shang Chen led Shi Yan to a remote glacier, carved an opening into the ice, and descended toward its core, where he began dismantling the various seals he had personally arranged.

At the center of a large ice-blue crystal, a gaunt figure, all bare bone and mangled flesh, was revealed—it was unmistakably Yang Qingdi.

He had been encased in ice for many years; his bones, flesh, tendons, and even the altar of thought in his mind were frozen. His vitality seemed entirely gone, like a fossil encased for millennia.

"Hand me that Seven-Colored Ghost Demon Flower," Shang Chen extended his hand.

Shi Yan unhesitatingly took out the rare treasure he had obtained from Mia.

Holding the Seven-Colored Ghost Demon Flower, Shang Chen’s expression sharpened. His arm easily pierced the frozen crystal and thrust the demonic flower, shaped like a beautiful woman's face, directly toward Yang Qingdi's brow. The flower instantly turned icy blue, silently shrinking until it smoothly merged into the mark on Yang Qingdi's forehead.

That mark was, strikingly, a blood-red symbol—the unique mark of the Bloodthirsty lineage.

As soon as the Ghost Demon Flower entered Yang Qingdi's mind, his frozen Sea of Consciousness erupted into turmoil. Countless minute Corrupt Soul Aphids let out despairing chirps, terrified and restless, attempting to flee.

Ying ying ying!

The Ghost Demon Flower, within Yang Qingdi's mind, sounded like a woman weeping, enough to wrench the heart.

Surprisingly, those countless tiny Corrupt Soul Aphids froze their minute bodies stiff, their weak souls shattered by the sound of the weeping, leaving them no strength to resist.

As the Ghost Demon Flower cried out, it slowly shrank and melted, like burning energy, transforming into a milky-white paste that flowed into Yang Qingdi's altar. This paste possessed the miraculous effect of cleansing the tiny bodies of the Corrupt Soul Aphids...

Suddenly, green, foul pus streamed from Yang Qingdi’s seven orifices—his eyes, nostrils, lips, and ears became streaked with blood. The minuscule corpses of the Corrupt Soul Aphids were within this green discharge, where billions of toxic fungi were purged. Yang Qingdi's confused and scattered consciousness gradually regained emotional coherence.

His Soul Altar began to turn slowly, and the Profound Meaning of the Despair Realm rapidly ascended. Having endured this calamity, his realm achieved another astonishing breakthrough.

Crash!

The ice crystal melted, and drops of clear water began to fall. Soon, Yang Qingdi’s horrific divine body was revealed.

"It will take him a considerable amount of time to recover; his physical body's damage is too severe," Shang Chen looked at Shi Yan. "Although he possesses the bloodline of the Undead Demon Race, giving him terrifying regenerative capabilities, his demon blood is finite. The healing of his divine body requires the accumulation of sufficient demon blood—in this regard, he is far behind you."

"It’s fine; I will ensure he recovers quickly."

A sharply angled stone appeared silently in Shi Yan’s palm. The stone was magnificent and dazzling like a ruby, releasing astonishing blood qi fluctuations, with faint wisps of crimson threads drifting out from it.

Shi Yan pressed the blood-red stone onto the back of Yang Qingdi’s left hand. Blood mixed with pus oozed from Yang Qingdi's hand, where a single drop of demon blood was struggling to repair the internal injuries...

The moment the Blood Essence Stone landed on Yang Qingdi’s hand, it instantly connected with his bloodline. Countless drifting blood threads wrapped around Yang Qingdi’s body like vibrant red hair. In just a few breaths, Yang Qingdi was enveloped by the blood-red filaments.

He was encased in a blood cocoon.

Surging flesh and blood essence grew rapidly. The blood cocoon was exceptionally rich in qi, equivalent to the total essence of a fully formed Prime God Realm body.

"Blood Essence Stone!"

Shang Chen exclaimed in shock, then nodded secretly. He knew that Yang Qingdi's complete recovery had now become simple.

The Blood Essence Stone was a supreme treasure of the Undead Demon Race, capable of rapidly condensing Undead Demon Blood. It was a wonder countless times more precious than the Undead Grass. With a Blood Essence Stone, a member of the Undead Demon Race could potentially achieve resurrection unless all their demon blood was refined away!

To speak nothing of merely healing injuries.

Shang Chen stopped worrying about Yang Qingdi, his expression turning stern. "I have fully explained the situation in the Mayar Star Field; what do you plan to do?"

"...What to do?" Shi Yan mused, his voice heavy. "Naturally, I must resist. Do you have any suggestions?"

The world energy on the Continent of Divine Grace was rapidly replenishing, but since it had been depleted for too long, recovering to a state suitable for Prime God Realm cultivation in just a few years was still somewhat difficult. For now, he couldn't move his relatives and friends again.

If he had a few decades or a century more, the Continent of Divine Grace would become like an ordinary Life Star, suitable for the cultivation of most martial artists. In a century, the world energy on the continent would continue to surge, making it a cultivation ground coveted by martial artists across the universe, second only to the Desolation. At that time, the Continent of Divine Grace would bring him unimaginable benefits, meaning all those related to him would receive heavenly favor.

But not yet.

"The native forces of the Mayar Star Field have been crushed by the God Race, even their fighting spirit lost. Of course, their true strength was always inferior to the Three Great Families," Shang Chen stated factually. "Barring any surprises, the core power structure of the Mayar Star Field will be purged, and the entire domain will be forcibly occupied by the God Race, just as they have occupied other star fields."

Shi Yan remained silent, knowing that what Shang Chen said was true.

"You should utilize your influence," Shang Chen suddenly advised.

"My influence?" Shi Yan was stunned.

"Yes, your influence as 'Shi Yan'!" Shang Chen’s eyes held a strange gleam. "Do you realize how resonant your name is in the major star fields now?"

Shi Yan became even more confused.

"Sha Ao is a rising talent of the Gu God Sect, the designated future leader of the sect. His journey into the Desolation was the final tempering; as long as he emerged alive, Sha Ao will be the future leader of the Gu God Sect, and the Gu God Sect is the premier power in the Wudong Star Field—even the God Race dares not provoke them lightly!"

"The Jiao Shan and Jiao Hai brothers are the sons of the Jiao family head. The Jiao family is the true overlord of the Sirius Star Field. If the brothers emerge alive, the future head of the Jiao family will certainly be chosen from among them!"

"Wu Feng and Wu Bai are direct descendants of the Wu family in the Mote Star Field. The fact that they entered the Desolation shows their status within the family; they are set to become the leading figures of the Wu family in the future."

"Mo Di is the direct grandson of Black Wind Old Monster of the Black River Star Field. Black Wind Old Monster is the true sovereign of the Black River Star Field, with disciples scattered everywhere; Black Wind Old Monster himself is the reputation."

"Fuler..."

Shang Chen looked at him deeply, naming one powerful figure after another, detailing the background that followed each name.

"Sha Ao, Jiao Shan, Jiao Hai, Wu Feng, Wu Bai, Mo Di, Fuler, and the others—they represent the universe's major powerful star fields. Without you, they should have been wiped out by the God Race members in the Desolation. Now that they have emerged alive, they have gained recognition from their families and possess significant speaking power. Moreover, the God Race has drawn the enmity of these forces..."

He paused, then smiled. "Most importantly, they are all looking for you. Sha Ao, Jiao Shan, Wu Feng, Mo Di, and the rest are searching for you through their respective channels. After exiting the Desolation, it seems... they still regard you as their leader in their hearts."

Shi Yan stood there, stunned.