The sudden appearance of the Azure Dragon, the Ancestral Sage of the Celestial Demon Race, struck the powerhouses of Undying Island with sheer terror. These were beings of the legendary Immortal level, and today, they were privileged enough to lay eyes upon one.

The Azure Dragon clearly held no interest in the others. His pupils contracted. "I wish to speak with you alone," he stated, his gaze fixed on Shi Yan.

Shi Yan nodded. "Very well."

The Azure Dragon offered a faint smile and vanished instantly.

Simultaneously, a colossal force, like a tempestuous whirlwind, tightly enveloped Shi Yan, rendering him immobile. A dizzying sensation struck him momentarily.

When the disorientation subsided, he regained his senses to find himself deposited within the Celestial Demon Mountain Range of the Azure Sea Domain. The peaks and valleys were arranged like the lines on a palm, marvelous in their configuration. The spiritual energy permeating the Celestial Demon Mountain Range was incredibly dense; a single breath of the milky-white, misty air was invigorating to the soul.

The Azure Dragon smiled, gazing upon the mountain range with satisfaction. "When we departed back then, the ambient spiritual energy here was becoming unsuitable for cultivation. After so many years, I never expected to return to our homeland."

Shi Yan, unsure of the Dragon's true purpose, remained silent and listened intently.

"It is thanks to you that all members of my Celestial Demon Race owe you gratitude," the Azure Dragon said with a benign smile.

"No need for thanks," Shi Yan replied indifferently. "By merging with the Primordial Fruit, I gained benefits as well. In the end, it was no loss for me."

"Haha, of course you wouldn't suffer a loss. Your Bloodthirsty lineage has only ever suffered a major setback once, courtesy of the God Race." The Azure Dragon paused in thought. "For the next ten thousand years, the Divine Grace Continent will be the most conducive place for cultivation in the entire universe. Land here will soon become priceless. Since the Divine Grace Continent is, after all, the ancestral star of the Celestial Demon Race, we must migrate here..."

Shi Yan nodded.

He knew the Celestial Demon Race would inevitably return, as this place would soon be far more suitable for their cultivation. They would certainly understand how to prioritize.

"This continent needs a new demarcation," the Azure Dragon declared, dropping any pretense of subtlety. "The regions surrounding the Celestial Demon Mountain Range must naturally belong to our Celestial Demon Race. The surrounding seas should also be allocated to us. I hope you can ensure that the people you need to relocate move out of this sea area as much as possible. By the way, what do you call this sea area now?"

"The Boundless Sea."

"Yes, the Boundless Sea. Our Celestial Demon Race requires the Boundless Sea. We will dedicate the next ten thousand years to arduous cultivation here; this place is ours from now on." The Azure Dragon stated his claim plainly.

Shi Yan's gaze suddenly turned cold.

Having merged with the Origin, he naturally knew that the Boundless Sea would soon possess the richest spiritual energy. Near the Celestial Demon Mountain Range existed a peculiar force field—a field not created by the Celestial Demon Race's brute strength, but a natural formation of the continent itself. Cultivating near that field seemed to allow one's divine sense to touch the very source of profound truths.

Even if the soul didn't directly enter the source of truths, meditating there would vastly deepen one's comprehension of the Dao.

It was similar to the Extreme Dao Purgatory Field in the Blazing Flame Star Domain back then—it accelerated the speed of comprehending one's realm, incredibly marvelous.

He could also sense that the force field was expansive, gradually spreading toward the Boundless Sea like ripples, and within a century at most, the entire Boundless Sea would be encompassed by this mysterious field.

This force field was also interconnected with the Dark Magnetic Fog and Haze, which were undergoing strange transformations, breeding numerous spirit herbs and crystal stones—many types he had only ever witnessed on the Ancient Continent Wasteland...

"The areas blanketed by layers of mist to the east of the Boundless Sea were originally places where our Celestial Demon Race powerhouses cultivated assiduously. That area also belongs to the Boundless Sea, and in the future... it should belong to the Celestial Demon Race as well," the Sacred Beast Azure Dragon stated solemnly.

Shi Yan grew increasingly uncomfortable.

In his estimation, the Boundless Sea and the Dark Magnetic Fog would become the most unique locales on the continent in the future. The Boundless Sea would be rich in spiritual energy, accelerating insight into profound truths, while the Fog would gestate countless rare treasures. These two places were set to become the most precious oddities.

This was precisely why he had brought the Yang Family and Shi Family clansmen to the Boundless Sea rather than the main land of the Divine Province. Now, the Ancestral Sage of the Celestial Demon Race, the Azure Dragon, arrived demanding stewardship over the two most valuable prospective domains, a demand he would not easily concede to.

Yet, he did not refuse outright. Instead, he spoke with an apologetic expression. "Talking to me is useless."

The Azure Dragon frowned. "How is it useless?"

"I cannot make the decision," Shi Yan spread his hands, looking troubled. "This Boundless Sea already has an owner. The Yang Family—it has always been the Yang Family's sea."

The Azure Dragon snorted. "You merged with the Origin. The fate of this continent can be decided by your single word!"

"Several chieftains of our Bloodthirsty lineage have an agreement with the Yang Family: descendants of the Bloodthirsty lineage will undergo trials in the Boundless Sea from now on. If your Celestial Demon Race seizes the Boundless Sea and the Dark Magnetic Fog, those chieftains will likely object. If you wish to negotiate, go speak with them." Shi Yan stated calmly.

This Ancestral Sage of the Celestial Demon Race was clearly attempting to exert pressure. Before the chieftains of the Bloodthirsty lineage appeared, he sought to force a definitive answer from Shi Yan using his Immortal might.

Shi Yan was nominally the inheritor of the Bloodthirsty Lord and effectively the current spokesperson for the Bloodthirsty lineage. Furthermore, having merged with the Origin, if he yielded under the Azure Dragon's pressure and agreed immediately, the Azure Dragon could later use that consent to trouble Xuan He and Fei Liet as much as he pleased.

"You are the new generation of the Bloodthirsty! Your nod is all that is required!" the Azure Dragon pressed again.

Innumerable mysterious runes flowed within his eyes, glittering like diamonds, swirling in his pupils. An indescribable coercive power gradually intensified, growing stronger and more formidable.

Shi Yan's expression shifted sharply. He let out a cold snort. "Senior, are you attempting to bully me? Forcing my agreement before the strong figures of my Bloodthirsty lineage arrive?"

"I hope you will nod your consent because the Boundless Sea and that misty area were rightfully mine, belonging to the Celestial Demon Race. We only request those two regions; compared to the entire continent, it is not excessive!" the Azure Dragon insisted, his imposing aura—a majestic, overbearing demonic energy field—pressing down on Shi Yan like ten thousand mountains.

Shi Yan felt as if breathing had become a struggle.

He knew the Azure Dragon was not using his full power, merely releasing a fraction of it, yet he faced a pressure greater than confronting ten Ficks combined. A sense of defeat settled within him, the feeling of being utterly outmatched.

Crack, crack, crack!

His entire skeleton gave a series of sharp reports. Only by transforming into the combat form of the Undying Demon Race could he barely withstand the pressure. His eyes glowed blood-red as he roared fiercely, "If your Celestial Demon Race wishes to monopolize the Boundless Sea and the Dark Magnetic Fog, try killing me first!"

The Sacred Beast Azure Dragon gazed deeply at him, a flicker of unusual light crossing his eyes. After a long silence, he snorted coldly.

The tenfold pressure immediately descended upon Shi Yan. The sky visibly sagged beneath the intensity; under the Dragon's oppressive aura, even the heavens seemed on the verge of collapsing.

Shi Yan shuddered violently, his meridians and bones on the verge of shattering. He clenched his teeth, maintaining clarity in his spiritual platform, and began burning his Undying Demon Blood. Suddenly, he burst into wild laughter. "My secondary soul is merged with the continent's Origin. If I perish, the hope of your Celestial Demon Race will be severed. How dare you touch me?"

A flash of inspiration illuminated his mind, and he suddenly understood.

The Azure Dragon absolutely would not harm him!

On the contrary, if he were in mortal danger, the Azure Dragon would have to exert every means possible to protect him, lest his soul altar be destroyed.

Because he was the most fundamental guarantee for the future strength of the Celestial Demon Race!

Having grasped this point, he genuinely felt no fear and began laughing heartily. "Who are you trying to scare? I will now drop all defenses. See if you dare kill me!"

The moment the words left his mouth, he instantly retracted all his power and ceased burning the Undying Demon Blood.

Seeing this display, the Azure Dragon’s expression truly contorted. He hurriedly withdrew all traces of coercion, his face turning exceedingly grim. "Are you genuinely unafraid of death?"

"I fear death. I fear it greatly. But I do not fear you, because you dare not touch me," Shi Yan said, his eyes bright. He suddenly stood up, looking toward the Celestial Demon Mountain Range with undisguised mockery. "You want to reap all the benefits? It's not that easy. You Celestial Demons hid for so long, yet the God Race remains dominant. Do you truly believe the cosmos revolves around you now? What a joke!"

The Azure Dragon suddenly felt a headache coming on. Shi Yan’s assessment was entirely accurate; given a thousand times the courage, he still wouldn't dare kill Shi Yan.

Because Shi Yan represented the future of the Celestial Demon Race’s ancestral star. If he perished, the Divine Grace Continent losing its Origin would revert to its former state!

This meant the opportunity the Celestial Demon Race had awaited for ten millennia would be destroyed by his actions. As the current leader of the Celestial Demon Race, how could he dare?

"Then tell me what to do?" The Azure Dragon practically pleaded, his earlier imposing demeanor completely gone, replaced by a show of grievance. "Our clan's population is sparse; we urgently need the Boundless Sea and the Dark Magnetic Fog to restore our vitality. What do you say?"

"Once the dominance of the God Race wanes, we will discuss this matter further," Shi Yan, having grasped the Azure Dragon's weakness, felt completely at ease and stated calmly. "For now, the sea regions near the Celestial Demon Mountain Range can be opened to your people. As for the future arrangement, we will settle that separately."

The Azure Dragon could only agree with resignation.

"I will arrange for my people to arrive immediately." He wasted no further words. He opened his mouth and spat out a sphere of lightning, enveloping Shi Yan and tossing him directly back to Undying Island.

In an instant, he returned from the Celestial Demon Mountain Range to Undying Island. The Blood Fiends were still there, all looking at him with surprise.

"You're back," Shang Chen suddenly said, his gaze anxious.

"When did you arrive?" Shi Yan asked, taken aback.

When he returned to the Blood Demon Star, he had checked and known Shang Chen was absent. He hadn't expected Shang Chen to track him back to Undying Island via the teleportation array.

"You have one day to finalize matters here, and then we must leave as quickly as possible," Shang Chen urged sharply.

Shi Yan paused. "What is so urgent?"

"Sha Gou, Mo Fu, Wu Feng, Jiao Shan, and the others who helped you break into the Maya Star Domain back then—their star domains are currently under intense attack by the God Race. The situation is critical." Shang Chen stated with gravity.

Shi Yan's heart tightened. "Can I, by myself, truly help them resolve this crisis?"

"The alliance formed by the major star domains is gathering to discuss countermeasures against the God Race. You are the representative of the Bloodthirsty lineage; you must attend and declare your stance." Shang Chen explained.

"It was Fei Liet who sent you here again?" Shi Yan asked, his eyes narrowing slightly.

Shang Chen nodded awkwardly. "He is currently confined and unable to move freely, so he asked me to convey the message to you."

Shi Yan snorted coldly. "Only giving me one day. You people are certainly capable."

"The situation demands it," Shang Chen explained with a wry smile.

"Fine, I understand. One day it is. I look forward to seeing this grand gathering of the major star domains."

...(To be continued...RQ