The lights and shadows of the spatial translocation array shifted, the star map, brilliant as the Milky Way, was magnificent and mysterious, with two points of starlight perpetually glowing with brilliance.
Few noticed the radiance of those two stellar points, remaining ignorant of their profound mystery—because most people possessed scant knowledge of the subtleties of space and could not discern what those two spots signified.
Only a sparse few understood: Zhaduo, who also cultivated the profound truths of space, and Anliya and others hailing from the Foggy Illusion Star Domain. They possessed a deep comprehension of the array’s many subtle intricacies; from those minute details, the truth was crystal clear in their minds.
Anliya and Sossia exchanged a glance and nodded subtly.
Zhaduo knew the score but found it inconvenient to speak openly; a pair of eyes, slightly cold and sharp, also held a flicker of astonishment.
Gradually, the multitude of martial practitioners from various factions gathered near the blood pool rapidly thinned out. Bingjie, Stark, and their retinues all departed after paying exorbitant fees, leaving behind their warships and the materials upon them. The destination they headed toward... would likely prevent them from recovering for at least a century.
Standing beside the translocation array, Shi Yan’s expression was impassive as his thoughts traversed the two voids on the left, shifting hundreds of times.
As the translocation array flickered and transformed for the final time, and the last wave of people vanished from sight, Shi Yan fell silent for a brief moment before shouting, "Is there anyone else who wishes to depart the Maya Star Domain?!"
The crowd remained silent.
Those who had gathered from all corners of the Demon Blood Star were martial practitioners from various powers, numbering in the millions—all pure martial artists, not mortals.
The Maya Star Domain held tens of billions of mortals. Some perished in the calamity, but the vast majority resided in areas designated for mortals, regions lacking dense Heaven and Earth energy or exploitable ores, and thus unvalued by the martial practitioners here.
The God Race held no interest in those frail mortals either. When the fighting commenced, the various factions had relocated their mortal populations to that designated area.
To the God Race, those mortals were no different from ants. That direction did not contain a Life Star worthy of their notice, nor any ore deposits; the God Race would not waste effort there.
The mining of many ores required slaves, but specifically slaves capable of cultivating profound arts. Mortals were incapable; plunging several kilometers underground would cause them to suffocate. To the God Race, mortals served absolutely no purpose.
The true martial practitioners cultivating profound arts in the Maya Star Domain numbered perhaps ten million. A portion perished in the fighting, leaving only a few million gathered on the Demon Blood Star. Of these, at least ninety percent were unable to participate in combat, as their cultivation realms were all below the God King level.
Only one-tenth, some seventy or eighty thousand individuals, were at the God King level or above; they were the main force for the impending battle.
Watching as those who came chose silence, Shi Yan’s expression took on a strange quality.
He cast a cursory glance and realized that while many had been sent away, they were precisely those who could offer no real aid in combat—all below the God King realm—they were the descendants of the warriors who had stayed behind...
Yet, those who remained were all God King realm practitioners, and even those who surpassed the God King realm. They were the true core of the fighting force, and they... had all chosen to stay and fight to the death!
Factions like Bingjie’s and Stark’s, who had sought mass migration, were merely a small minority. The proportion of those who feared death and sought to flee was significantly smaller than anticipated.
It turned out that when disaster strikes, when homeland is about to be seized, the number of those brave enough to swear their lives in defiance was so immense!
Shi Yan, along with Blood Fiend, Bass, and the others, felt their spirits soar.
"Elder Sister Jilan, for those factions whose main members stayed but sent their descendants away... tally up their Divine Crystals," Shi Yan commanded suddenly.
Referred to as Elder Sister by Shi Yan, Jilan appeared radiantly honored and pleased, giving a captivating smile. "Very well."
The leaders of the factions who had intended to leave all paused, confusion clouding their faces at Shi Yan’s words, and they remained where they were.
"Tally complete! The total is... six hundred and fifty-three million Divine Crystals!" Jilan’s face broke into a joyous bloom.
As the chief steward of the Demon Blood Star, the accumulation of Divine Crystals over a thousand years on this planet would not remotely approach this figure. Jilan felt the ecstasy of a windfall descending from the heavens.
Fuwei, Zhaduo, Anliya, and the others were also shaken, revealing expressions of stunned awe.
Six hundred and fifty-three million Divine Crystals—this number was simply too vast, equivalent to the total revenue of the Medicine and Artifact Pavilion for over a century, and Shi Yan had acquired all of it in the span of a single day.
"Senior Anliya, could I trouble you for a favor?" Shi Yan suddenly asked.
"Tell me what it is," Anliya replied, astonished.
"In a moment, I need you all to return and hand those Divine Crystals back to the clansmen of their respective families—I mean... the clansmen of the families that chose to stay," Shi Yan gestured to the surrounding crowd.
The leaders of the smaller factions who had planned to depart were profoundly shaken by this statement, their expressions showing utter disbelief.
They had never imagined Shi Yan would make such a decision.
Fuwei, Fenghan, Linxin, Blood Fiend, and the others were also stunned, unable to fathom Shi Yan’s reasoning. Those six hundred and fifty million-plus Divine Crystals were an astronomical sum that made even their hearts flutter with desperate greed, yet Shi Yan chose to let them go.
If he was going to release them, why had he squeezed them so hard for money in the first place?
They were bewildered and unable to understand.
For the leaders of those minor factions, Shi Yan’s decision was a monumental surprise, causing many to shout out in relief. Many had accumulated only a million Divine Crystals over decades. Having spat up blood to pay the initial levy, done so only to ensure the continuity of their bloodlines, they had privately cursed Shi Yan’s entire ancestry eighteen times over, branding him a vampire, calling him utterly ruthless.
They had not expected that while their hearts were bleeding, Shi Yan would arrive at this decision.
They trusted that if their offspring carried a million Divine Crystals, they could secure an ideal foothold in any star domain; their lives would be far better, and cultivation venues would surely be guaranteed. This realization spurred them to renewed fervor.
Anliya gazed deeply at Shi Yan, her luminous eyes filled with an unusual astonishment. After a long pause, she nodded firmly. "Don't worry, I will handle this perfectly for you!"
"Thank you!" Shi Yan bowed deeply.
"Why?"
"Why are you doing this?"
"Shi Yan, give us an answer," Jing Yuwan cried out sharply.
Not far off, Yan Chi stood alone atop a barren mountain, also watching this scene intently.
Shi Yan raised his hand.
The entire crowd quieted down.
"I originally assumed that under the desperate pressure from the God Race, the majority would flee out of fear for their lives. For those individuals... I did not intend to offer them much convenience, so I demanded an exorbitant price, wanting to make things difficult for them," Shi Yan stated with a grave expression. "Later, I realized I was wrong. Far more people chose to remain and defend to the death. Those who knew the certainty of death yet chose to stay... You all have earned my respect! Those who dare sacrifice their lives must have their families protected. Those six hundred million-plus Divine Crystals that will reach your descendants are Divine Crystals earned with your lives!"
The bodies of the crowd shook violently; their eyes turned red as they looked at Shi Yan. Some tightly clenched their fists, gritting their teeth and growling low.
The Yan Clan Chief in the distance also experienced a tremendous shock, his resolute face trembling slightly, nodding silently to himself.
"Everyone, rest assured, I will arrange for your families' well-being, ensuring their safety and that they are treated with honor, so you have no worries!" Shi Yan’s voice suddenly deepened. "Prepare for the final battle!"
The crowd roared in response, their collective enthusiasm echoing their agreement.
Fuwei, Fenghan, Anliya, and the others looked deeply at Shi Yan. The majesty Shi Yan displayed at this moment was branded into their hearts, impossible to erase for the rest of their lives.
It was at this moment that he not only gained the acknowledgment of his friends and kin but also commanded the respect of all the faction leaders still remaining on the Demon Blood Star. This miraculous youth had stunned everyone, inspiring their fighting spirit and igniting an astonishing surge of momentum.
Subsequently, Shi Yan’s series of directives were implemented. The various factions collaborated to construct arrays, utilizing the Demon Blood Star to set up various defensive lines across the star field.
No one shirked their duties or acted lazily. Everyone's potential was unleashed, pouring their most brilliant inspiration into their remaining lives, casting countless stunning and unique barriers around the Demon Blood Star, making it impregnable. Numerous light curtains, resembling concentric rainbows, materialized around the periphery of the Demon Blood Star.
The Demon Blood Star was enveloped by countless barriers, formations, and light screens, with numerous war chariots dispersed like swimming fish in every corner, awaiting the arrival of the God Race warships.
They were free of all concerns, unafraid of death, desiring only to inflict the greatest possible harm upon the God Race. Their unity was astonishing.
In their ranks, there was not a single person who feared death or harbored illusions of luck. The resolve of these 'Death Warriors' was certain to deliver a surprise to the God Race, making them understand that the Demon Blood Star would be a meat grinder, forcing the God Race to pay a heavy, bloody price.
In the dark star river.
"I will go to the Demon Blood Star alone first to make contact with that young man; otherwise, it will be difficult," Shang Chen said with a smile to his daughter aboard a war chariot as lustrous as jade crystal. "We are approaching the Demon Blood Star now. I have spotted many scouts from the Shadow Clan. Tell Sha'ei and the others to remain patient for a while."
"Will it be dangerous for you to go alone?" Shang Yingyue worried.
"I won't be in danger going alone," Shang Chen replied casually. "I’ve operated across major star domains for hundreds of years—what scene haven't I seen? Don't worry, I have my methods. Yes, I will contact you once I reach the Demon Blood Star."
"I will instruct Sha'ei and the others to halt temporarily and disperse, waiting for the God Race to fall into our trap willingly," Shang Yingyue nodded.
"That is excellent," Shang Chen smiled, his expression becoming peculiar. "If my guess is correct, your mother is already on the Demon Blood Star. That young man... should have refined a translocation array."
"Ah?" Shang Yingyue exclaimed.
"Your mother carries a small trinket, one I refined personally. I can sense her presence within the same star domain. She must be on the Demon Blood Star. I wonder... what her opinion of that young man is?" Shang Chen muttered.
Shang Yingyue suddenly grew tense.
"Alright, you calm down Sha'ei and those fellows. I'm leaving now; I'll contact you shortly," Shang Chen laughed heartily, then flashed into the sea of stars like a void phantom. With a few twists and turns, his presence and aura vanished completely.