The entire vast Star River trembled because of Shi Yan alone. Is it true that countless powerful warships and experts were dispatched toward the Maya Starfield?

Feng Han, Fu Wei, and the others were utterly shocked.

In their eyes, Shi Yan was suddenly shrouded in an air of mystery, becoming even more inscrutable.

"Um, do you still need to evacuate the people to the Mist Illusion Starfield?" An Liya asked.

With so many powerful figures arriving, the Ascot family, the Fernandez family, and the Bai family were destined for a grim fate. Shi Yan could certainly explain the details, allowing everyone to remain put and await reinforcements. There was no longer any need to migrate.

Fu Wei and the others re-examined the matter.

"Those who cling to life and fear death are not qualified to continue occupying this domain. Migration is still necessary!" Shi Yan hissed, his voice deep. "Is there a relatively remote area in your Mist Illusion Starfield? I'm afraid too many deserters might affect your Mist Illusion Starfield."

"Yes, Shang Chen once mapped out a directional coordinate, situated in the desolate southwestern reaches of the Mist Illusion Starfield—a stretch of silent, abandoned mining stars and dead worlds. It is hard for mortals to survive there, but it is certainly manageable for martial artists," An Liya replied. "I can provide the direction; there is a small spatial array there known only to our family—arrangements Shang Chen made back then."

"We'll choose that spot," Shi Yan’s eyes lit up. He then turned to Fu Wei and Lin Xin. "Pass the word down immediately. Tell those unwilling to hold the line at the Demon Blood Star that they can leave now; we will facilitate their departure. But tell them one thing: once they leave, they should never think of returning."

Fu Wei and Lin Xin started, nodding their assent, and then quietly gave orders to their subordinates.

"Please give me the exact directional coordinates," Shi Yan requested of An Liya, bowing slightly.

An Liya owed him nothing, so he naturally adopted a humble posture, especially since she was Shang Yingyue’s mother.

"No problem." An Liya readily provided the coordinates.

Shi Yan readjusted the spatial array, and a new void tunnel gradually formed. He instantly passed through it.

He landed on the surface of a barren, depleted mining star, its ground scarred by excessive exploitation, devastated, riddled with deep, bottomless pits, devoid of any life fluctuations.

The surrounding gloom revealed only scattered dead stars or mining worlds, or perhaps massive, stationary meteorites—none suitable for martial cultivation. It was merely a temporary stopover, the environment extremely harsh.

Yet, he was quite satisfied. He sneered as he returned to the Demon Blood Star, calculating inwardly.

"Shall I send you away first?" he asked An Liya for her opinion.

"It's rare to visit an outer domain; I might as well rest here for a few days. There's no rush," An Liya chuckled softly, her gaze toward him carrying a strange quality, like a mother-in-law assessing a prospective son-in-law, eager to know him better.

Shi Yan naturally had no objection.

The group gathered around the spatial array to wait quietly.

In a mountain range shrouded in swirling energy, various factions were sparsely distributed, with numerous warships moored.

On one warship forged from flame crystals, Yan Chi, Bing Jie, Jing Yuwan, and several powerful figures from the Alliance stood together. They had just received the news: Shi Yan had brought an extra-domain spatial array!

This news completely startled them all.

Bing Jie, Jing Yuwan, and Stark, the new patriarch of the Ghost Pattern Clan, were immensely excited, discussing fervently and issuing orders.

Only Yan Chi remained silent, his face grim, as if suppressing a surge of fury.

"Staying on the Demon Blood Star is a death sentence. We are absolutely no match for the God Race. We thought our clan was about to be wiped out; who knew that brat had some capability?" Bing Jie exclaimed with unrestrained joy, temporarily forgetting the humiliation Shi Yan had inflicted. She declared decisively, "My Ice Clan chooses to leave. I have no desire to see our race annihilated here."

"Our Ghost Pattern Clan will naturally retreat. Who wants to throw their life away needlessly?" Stark also voiced his decision.

"Our Wood Clan will withdraw too."

"Our Dark Spirit Clan must leave as well!"

Everyone voiced their agreement.

Yan Chi’s expression grew increasingly stern. After a long pause, seeing that Jing Yuwan hadn't spoken, he barked, "What about you? What are your plans?"

The Yan Clan and the Crystal Clan were among the most ancient races in the Maya Starfield. Born here, they held a deep reliance on this place, and consequently, profound emotional ties to it.

Because of this, Jing Yuwan appeared somewhat hesitant, unable to make up her mind.

"Are you planning to evacuate everyone too?" Yan Chi scoffed.

"I will send the children away. I will stay behind with the elders. I am not as ruthless as you," Jing Yuwan sighed.

Yan Chi’s expression softened slightly, and he nodded. Then, he waved his hand. "Except for Jing Yuwan, everyone else, get off my Yan Chi warship immediately! I, Yan Chi, do not welcome you!"

A scorching, violent wave suddenly erupted from Yan Chi. Many surrounding Yan Clan members looked at Bing Jie and the others with expressions of disdain.

Bing Jie, Stark, and the others changed expression, but said nothing more. They quickly departed in their chariots. After putting some distance between themselves and the warship, Bing Jie's muttering could be heard: "Such a stubborn fool. If he insists on seeking death, he has no one to blame but himself. Dragging the entire clan down with him—he's insane!"

Yan Chi’s face was foul. He looked at the members of the Yan Clan and suddenly roared, "What do you say?"

"Swear to defend our homeland to the death!" All the Yan Clan experts knelt on one knee, shouting toward the heavens, their roar shaking the firmament.

By the Blood Pool.

Martial artists from various factions converged like swarms of ants, surrounding the Blood Pool in thousands of circles, with even more continuing to arrive.

Suspended in the void, Shi Yan frowned as he surveyed the scene, letting out a sigh of disappointment.

There were truly so many who clung to life and feared death.

At least half of the factions that had come to the Demon Blood Star were now gathered here, clearly intending to leave.

Descending from the void, his face grim, a measure of sorrow flashed through his heart. When true disaster struck, human nature proved itself to be this base...

Fu Wei, Feng Han, Lin Xin, and the Demon Blood Clan members also looked disheartened. They had not anticipated such a massive turnout; it was far beyond their expectation.

"Can we open it now?" Bing Jie led a large contingent of Ice Clan members, arriving in an imposing manner, her face impatient.

Behind her were many members of the Wood Clan and the Ghost Pattern Clan.

Shi Yan swept her with a cold gaze.

Bing Jie shivered inwardly, then nervously quieted down, fearing Shi Yan might suddenly strike. "In order, a thousand people per transport. The required crystals must be provided by you—one transfer... one million high-grade God Crystals!" Shi Yan boomed.

"One million God Crystals per transfer!"

"Isn't that outrageous?"

"You're robbing us!"

"Why so many God Crystals?"

"Too expensive!"

The crowd jumped up, cursing Shi Yan for his greed, clearly accusing him of being obsessed with money.

"Only people can leave; chariots and warships cannot pass. Those who wish to leave must pay the million God Crystals and also state the method for starting the warships they are abandoning, detailing the supplies inside them," Shi Yan stated, his eyes sharp, ignoring their clamor. "Those who complete the procedures first—pay the God Crystals and declare the warship supplies—can leave the quickest."

"One million God Crystals per person, and they have to leave behind the supplies of the ships they can't take? This fellow... is vicious!" Shang Qiu tutted in amazement.

"The God Crystals and warship supplies he gains from this venture will likely be an astronomical figure. What a ruthless young man; he's practically skinning them alive," An Liya also marveled.

"I like it! Truly a competent businessman!" Sosia's old eyes gleamed with startling light.

Detailing the warships and supplies, paying a million God Crystals for a thousand people—this posed enormous pressure even for Bing Jie and Stark. Each of their clans had tens of thousands of members, meaning they would have to pay tens of millions of God Crystals, practically spitting out centuries of accumulated wealth.

Many looked utterly unable to accept the terms.

Shi Yan made another announcement: "This spatial array cannot sustain endless transport. Each transfer causes wear and tear. Perhaps it can only support a hundred transfers. Those who pay first go first; delay, and you might not get to leave at all."

At these words, everyone erupted.

The leaders of some minor factions could no longer hold back. They rushed forward immediately, hands raised, shouting, "I have a million God Crystals! I'll handle the paperwork and detail the warship situation. I can't take it with me anyway..."

"Me too! I'm willing!"

"Make way, make way! I need to pay the fee! Please let me through!"

"Your mother! I need to pay the fee too!"

The fervor boiled over. When the leaders of the numerous factions heard the spatial array had this limitation, their expressions changed instantly, and they rushed forward desperately.

They all held up their hands, clutching their Phantom Rings. As leaders of their own factions, they fought desperately to complete the procedures, wanting only to leave as soon as possible.

"This guy—the wealth he's accumulating this time rivals what our Pill Artifact Pavilion has earned in several centuries," commented Bettyna, the Third Elder of the Pill Artifact Pavilion, looking utterly awestruck. "He's better suited for commerce than we are; this business deal... even I have to admire it."

"The key is that they know they're being exploited, yet they're fighting tooth and nail to get in. Brilliant," Fu Wei’s bright eyes shone with genuine admiration.

Bing Jie and Stark hesitated only briefly before others surged past them. Their faces immediately soured. After a moment of contemplation, they realized they had no choice if they didn't want their clans annihilated—they had to bite the bullet and comply.

What choice did they have?

"Child, take care! Remember to look after your little sister!"

"Wife, you must live well!"

"You all go! Promise me, no matter what, you will survive! Live well for me!"

Outside the perimeter of the spatial array, clamor suddenly rose. The leaders of the minor factions who had rushed forward first were suddenly turning back, choking back sobs.

They hadn't intended to leave at all. They paid the exorbitant fees only to secure a path to survival for their children, their women, and the families of their warriors. As for themselves... they chose to stay behind and fight.

"Damn it, it's just a fight to the death with the God Race! I don't believe they have three heads and six arms! Let them know the price using our blood, our lives! Perhaps our deaths can exchange for the rebirth of the Maya Starfield! Perhaps our children can return someday, back to this native soil!"

"Right, fight them to the end! Even if we die, we'll take some with us!"

"I’m staying behind; I'm not planning on keeping my life!"

Shi Yan watched silently from the side, suddenly feeling a sting in his nose. He quietly adjusted the directional coordinates, locking onto the Cloud Water Star.

Those people would not appear in a desolate, dead land, but rather in the flourishing and safe sea regions of the Mist Illusion Starfield. Their fate was set to be different from Bing Jie's and Stark's.

ps: Took my son for a check-up today, so only one update. I've nearly caught up on what I owe; four updates tomorrow~