Shang Chen had traversed the inner and outer domains for many years, his skill in stealth reaching the zenith of perfection, rendering him virtually untraceable. The ability of Shang Yingyue to turn invisible on the Ancient Continent Wilds years ago was thanks to Shang Chen’s tutelage; that very artifact granting invisibility was also forged by Shang Chen himself.

In this specific discipline, Shang Chen truly deserved the title of Grandmaster. However...

this time, even Shang Chen felt a knot of trouble forming in his mind. The Umbra Clan were masters of stealth and detection.

Their profound mysteries were peculiar, their souls possessing unique attributes in this field, often allowing them to perceive marvels invisible to the common senses. The Umbra Clan members dispatched by Beilo were the absolute elite of their kind, positioned across areas neither too close nor too far from the Demon Blood Star.

Shang Chen had expended considerable effort navigating between these reconnaissance points, narrowly evading the sentinels deployed by the Umbra. Finally breaking through the Umbra defenses and stepping into the periphery of the Demon Blood Star’s territory, Shang Chen was immediately struck by dozens of dazzling bolts of lightning as soon as he arrived.

He instantly convulsed, his senses reeling from the shock, even the long hair he took such pride in becoming tightly curled. Shang Chen’s expression darkened.

With his experience and sharp perception, the moment the lightning struck, he discerned the bolts as "Jiyin Electro-Light." This lightning was formless and invisible, programmed to spontaneously attack based on life signatures. It was a supreme treasure of the Ghost Mark Clan, originally intended for the defense of their sacred grounds.

Even with the profound mastery of the Triple Heaven of the Initial God realm, Shang Chen had no prior warning, yet was left dizzy and reeling. This demonstrated the unique nature of the "Jiyin Electro-Light." With his hair sticking up, Shang Chen’s face abruptly turned grim.

He cursed inwardly and pressed onward. “Celestial God’s Crossbow!” Shang Chen suddenly cried out, quickly activating an arcane mystery to conceal himself in the center of a nearby marsh.

Hovering above his head was a crossbow fashioned from five-colored crystal, a supreme treasure unique to the Wood Clan. It could condense the essential energy of the Five Elements into endless volleys of arrows, enough to overwhelm even the divine body of an Initial God, piercing it with a gaping hole upon impact.

This artifact was also a guardian treasure of the Wood Clan’s holy land. Seeing it deployed outside the Demon Blood Star made Shang Chen genuinely scream.

“God-Slaying Blood Curse!” “Heavenly Demon Heart-Loss Abyss!” “Flaming Sorrow Hundred Changes Realm!” “Ten Thousand Layer Crystal God Wall!” As he proceeded, Shang Chen continuously let out sharp cries, his demeanor exceedingly grave. He suddenly offered a silent eulogy for the God Race.

The restrictions, barriers, and formations surrounding the Demon Blood Star were the most extreme artifacts from various powers and races across the Maya Star Domain. These things were supposed to be confined to the sacred grounds of each race, forbidden objects, honed over countless years by entire species into deadly contraptions.

But now… they were all being utilized. Shang Chen calculated grimly and found that there were hundreds of different types of barriers alone surrounding the Demon Blood Star.

Dangerous restricted zones and walls numbered in the hundreds and thousands, interwoven densely to form a vast, complex territory of absolute peril. Even he, at the Triple Heaven of the Initial God realm, proceeded with extreme caution.

Ultimately, he dared not venture too deep, instead shouting out from the periphery: “I am Shang Chen! I have come to see Shi Yan!” He was genuinely fearful of the might of those lethal arrays.

Shang Chen was certain: if the Ascott Family, the Fernandez Family, or the Bai Family dared to advance rashly, they would pay a devastating price. Perhaps the Demon Blood Star would be razed to the ground, but those three families would leave behind tens of thousands of lives.

They would discover how terrifyingly ferocious and catastrophic a star domain martial artist becomes when resolved to die. The leaders of the various factions, holding a death-defying resolve, had brought out their ultimate trump cards and formidable arrays, clearly intending to inflict heavy damage on the God Race at the cost of their own lives.

Shang Chen understood immediately. A war chariot cautiously materialized, a faint, eerie luminescence emanating from its prow.

A figure atop it gazed at Shang Chen from afar, observing and discerning for a long moment before saying, “Senior, please proceed slowly...” How could Shang Chen dare not proceed slowly? He crept forward at a snail’s pace, constantly monitoring the surrounding deadly formations.

After an exhausting amount of time, he finally reached the war chariot and let out a breath of relief. “This place is truly impregnable.

You’ve built yourselves a gigantic shell, hiding inside, intending to grind down the God Race slowly?” Zadok forced a wry smile. “What other choice is there?” Shang Chen paused, realizing Shi Yan probably hadn't disclosed too much.

He nodded, refrained from explaining further, and waved his hand. “Lead the way.” Zadok cultivated Space Mysteries, allowing him the flexibility to retreat smoothly if danger arose nearby.

Having met Shang Chen before, he was the one chosen to receive and escort him in. Passing through hundreds of layers of barriers and formations, the war chariot struggled through the dark crimson cloud layer of the Demon Blood Star and finally began its descent toward the ground.

“You scoundrel, why have you shown up so suddenly?” A delighted, feminine cry echoed out from the magnificent palace complex below, bearing a familiar voice. It was, naturally, Anliya.

Shang Chen was not surprised, merely smiling faintly. “If you can come, why can’t I?” He had already spotted the spatial teleportation array near the blood pool upon arrival, a sight that made him secretly marvel and raise his estimation of Shi Yan further.

For someone at the Virtual God Realm to forge a teleportation array connecting to the outer domains was astonishing in Shang Chen’s eyes. As far as he knew, many who cultivated Space Mysteries at the Second Heaven of the Initial God Realm could not achieve the power Shi Yan displayed.

The ability to refine a spatial teleportation array proved Shi Yan already possessed the capacity to roam the star rivers, free from the threat of being trapped. Traversing the void, sailing through the sea of stars—this was the unique hallmark of cultivating Space Mysteries and the key metric for judging the caliber of a spatial expert.

Shi Yan had achieved this stage. “Senior Shang Chen, what excellent timing.

How was the experience wandering through those strange arrays and restricted zones? Oh, and your hair?” Beside a stone pillar where a massive dragon soared through the void, Shi Yan chuckled merrily.

Shang Chen looked utterly embarrassed and grumbled, “Your methods are too vicious.” He quickly straightened his robes and smoothed down his disheveled hair, causing the onlookers to burst into hearty laughter. “It’s all because of you people!” Shang Chen retorted angrily.

Shi Yan waved a hand, bowed slightly, and said, “Let’s discuss this inside.” There were too many ears outside; some matters he preferred not to share widely, so he shot Shang Chen a meaningful look. Shang Chen instantly understood.

... The periphery of the Demon Blood Star.

On this day, dull roars echoed intermittently. Warships of the God Race, their crystalline surfaces gleaming brightly, slowly emerged from the shadows.

On the high viewing platform of the foremost vessel, the powerhouses of the Ascott Family, the Fernandez Family, and the Bai Family were all gathered, gazing toward the Demon Blood Star with relaxed expressions. Fick, the Patriarch of the Ascott Family; Lanote, the Patriarch of the Fernandez Family; and Bai Can, the Head of the Bai Family, were drinking and making merry.

Younger members like Philip and Mia attended them, daring not to speak much, only straining their ears to overhear how they planned to deal with the Demon Blood Star. Fick and the Sloan brothers maintained calm demeanors, speaking only of the wonders of the Maya Star Domain’s many mines and the beauty of the scenery along the way.

They omitted any details regarding the impending battle. Lanote and Bai Can echoed their laughter.

These bloodthirsty leviathans, having traveled thousands of miles intending to carve up the Maya Star Domain, now acted as if they were sightseeing, all appearing unconcerned. It was as if victory was already secured, needing no further worrying.

Indeed, in the historical annals of the God Race’s wars, reaching this stage usually signaled a foregone conclusion. There were many clear precedents to draw upon.

In the star domains previously occupied by the Ascott and Fernandez Families, once the enemy was routed several times and clearly outmatched, they would often abandon resistance and willingly submit as vassals of the God Race to preserve their species’ survival. There were a few exceptions where stubborn elements fought to the death.

In those cases, the God Race would deploy their ultimate strategies: sowing discord, gradually dividing the opposition... As a result, internal strife would erupt within the enemy ranks.

Those willing to surrender and those determined to fight would clash, ultimately benefiting the God Race, who would find the final push effortless, requiring little effort or time to seal the overall victory once they formally launched their attack. In the eyes and hearts of Fick, Lanote, and Bai Can, this time would be no different; it would be equally effortless.

Thus, as the warships approached the Demon Blood Star, drawing ever closer, the three patriarchs continued to drink and feast, utterly disregarding the enemy and showing complete disdain. “Let’s discuss the division of the Maya Star Domain.” Fick finished his drink with a hearty laugh.

“The territories formerly belonging to the Flame Clan, the Medicine and Artifact Pavilion, the Divine Light, and the War Alliance—my Ascott Family will take those. My family will not interfere with the western and southern regions of the Maya Star Domain...” “Brother Fick, you’ve bitten off the most fertile land in one gulp, making things difficult for me?” Lanote shook his head.

“I want the territories of the Ice Clan, the Crystal Clan, and the Wood Clan!” Bai Can declared... The three began to argue over the finer details.

Philip, Mia, and the other juniors remained silent, listening intently, learning the bargaining tactics of their elders. The warship drew ever nearer to the Demon Blood Star.

Suddenly, Sloan let out a sharp cry: “Something is wrong!” The haggling patriarchs looked up impatiently, frowning as they looked toward Sloan, clearly displeased. Sloan pointed in the direction of the Demon Blood Star, took a deep breath, and said, “Such a potent energy fluctuation!” The three patriarchs finally snapped out of their discussion, focusing their senses on the Demon Blood Star.

A single glance was enough to change all their expressions; their brows furrowed tightly. “Judging by their stance, they don’t intend to surrender meekly,” Fick snorted coldly, suddenly giving an order: “Beilo, go to the perimeter and shout.

Tell anyone who doesn't wish to be buried with the Demon Blood Star that they can leave now, and our God Race will treat them well. As long as they sign the treaty and willingly become our vassals, we absolutely will not slaughter them all.” This was the customary method the God Race had employed for years: gradual division, slow erosion.

Beilo bowed respectfully. “Understood.” Beilo, the leader of the Umbra Clan, personally moved to the perimeter of the Demon Blood Star’s barrier and shouted as Fick had instructed.

Fick smiled calmly and said to Lanote and Bai Can, “Just wait. In a few days at most, the interior of the Demon Blood Star will descend into chaos.

There will always be those who fear death and seek to survive; they will inevitably become our inside contacts. We can resume our drinking.” “Good.” Lanote and Bai Can had seen scenes like this countless times and were utterly accustomed to it.

They carelessly resumed drinking and continued their previous topic. —The minute details of carving up the Maya Star Domain.

...(To be continued)RQ