Nestled within a lush forest interlaced with a spiderweb of rivers, a scenic vista cradled numerous bamboo dwellings. The ambient energy here was thick, imbued with a wondrous, delicate fragrance—a rare and precious quality in the vastness of the cosmos, marking this as a unique locale and the very heartland of the Phantom Sect.

Deep within the woods, waterfalls cascaded over low hills, and palaces mingled with pavilions dotted the landscape. Warriors from various factions moved among them, drawing in the energies of heaven and earth, tempering their physical forms, and strengthening their souls.

The Phantom Sect was an ancient power, adhering to the principle of leaning into the forces of nature. On Illusion Star, warships and chariots were seldom seen; its practitioners disdained reliance on external apparatus, viewing the development of the self as the fundamental path of cultivation.

Deeper still in the forest, a secluded island rested within a crystalline lake, overgrown with vibrant, dense greenery.

Around the island’s edge, nimble fish darted joyfully through the clear waters, seemingly forever immersed in tranquility, unaware of potential dangers.

Within a pavilion upon this small island, a handsome man in a blue robe lay reclining, deeply engrossed in a scroll held in his hands.

After a long pause, he frowned, raised his gaze to the sky, a flicker of astonishment crossing his eyes.

Shafts of strange light began to pulse directly overhead, resembling falling meteors. His gaze sharpened; he raised a hand and pulled at the void, as if dragging the firmament down with one hand.

Deep within the clouds, several figures, unimpeded by the protective barrier, descended one after another, finally coming to rest upon the island.

Among the arrivals were both men and women, all possessing unfathomably profound cultivation levels: Xing Ming of the Shattered Hall; Gu Lian and Gu Ling of the Phantom Sect; and Layna and Cecilia of the Heavenly Water Palace were clearly present.

In addition to these, there were one man and one woman.

The man was tall and broad-shouldered, his hair cropped short and standing stiffly like hedgehog quills. His face was rugged, clad in coarse martial attire still dusted with grime, clearly not a man of refinement.

Yet, next to him, Xing Ming of the Shattered Hall was impeccably respectful, moving with extreme caution.

This man was Zephyr, the Master of the Shattered Hall, famed as a Martial Fanatic. His entire life had been devoted to martial cultivation; he eschewed women and material possessions, disregarded petty details, and dedicated every moment of his existence to comprehending the power of the cosmos. Zephyr had inherited his position from his father, who had specifically named him as the new master before his death.

Although he held the title of Shattered Hall Master, he paid little heed to the Hall's affairs. The Shattered Hall comprised numerous smaller sanctuaries, and he rarely concerned himself with their trivial matters, intervening only when the Hall faced an existential crisis, which he would address with noticeable impatience.

Despite Zephyr’s frequent apathy toward the Shattered Hall, the leaders of its subordinate halls held him in profound awe, even more so than they had revered his late father.

This reverence stemmed from his sheer strength; his martial prowess guaranteed the Shattered Hall’s prestige. Zephyr had attained the Immortal Realm far quicker than his father had, and his personal combat strength surpassed his predecessor’s, establishing him as the apex fighter of the Shattered Hall—none could match him, and he continued to grow stronger.

As long as he remained immensely powerful, Zephyr could remain detached from the Hall's governance and still command absolute respect; no one would dare challenge him.

Among the arrivals besides Zephyr was a woman. She possessed delicate, exquisite features and a graceful figure, bearing a seven-tenths resemblance to Layna. Mature and richly captivating, she was Layna’s elder sister, Lorrain, the Palace Master of the Heavenly Water Palace.

“Ling Xiang, you have been immersed in the beauty of mountains and streams for years; has your cultivation advanced further?” Lorrain’s attire was not opulent but strikingly plain and elegant. As she landed, she smiled faintly and spoke casually.

Ling Xiang, in his blue robe, was the Sect Master of the Phantom Sect; Zephyr, in rough hemp clothes, was the Master of the Shattered Hall; and Lorrain, clad simply, was the Palace Master of the Heavenly Water Palace.

These three were leaders of overwhelmingly powerful factions, all true masters of the Immortal Realm. Yet, perhaps due to the sublime heights of their cultivation, they placed no emphasis on dress or bearing, treating their status as inconsequential—as if they had reached a state of natural simplicity, guided purely by their inner cultivation.

Ling Xiang smiled languidly, setting aside his scroll. “It is never that easy. For years, I intentionally suppressed my power, wandering alone to the very edges of the Star Sea, pouring my spirit into landscapes and calligraphy to keep my soul pure and clear. Despite such effort, my realm has merely held steady, not regressed. To advance even a fraction feels nigh impossible.”

Zephyr nodded, his voice rough yet powerful, stating gravely, “At our level, simple ascetic practice, or relying on external aids like elixirs and spirit herbs, is clearly not the right path anymore. In recent years, I dispersed my power, shattering my Soul Altar piece by piece, immersing myself as a mortal to experience the world’s hardships and tempering. I sense a slight shift in my realm, but breaking through remains infinitely distant.”

Zephyr sighed, looking dejectedly toward the immense starry expanse. “I truly do not know how he cultivates.”

The moment Zephyr mentioned “him,” a heavy silence fell upon the gathering, as if a colossal mountain had settled on their hearts, making even breathing feel strained.

“Back then, none of us had reached the Immortal stage. Our masters and fathers were qualified to join that battle; they were nearly annihilated. Countless experts perished. Afterward, our master told us the battle shook the heavens and earth. That person, truly worthy of being called the foremost expert—even though his soul was extinguished, his physical body shattered into existence.”

Lorrain, Mistress of the Heavenly Water Palace, sighed mournfully.

All present wore solemn expressions, their brows deeply furrowed, lost in distant memories, remaining silent for a long while.

“In those days, our predecessors were fortunate enough to obtain fragments of his remains and passed them down to us, hoping we might one day grasp that unknown power through the bone. Ten millennia have passed; have any of you gained anything?” As Ling Xiang spoke, a small box materialized in his palm, crafted from the same material as the box held by the president of the Giant Wave Merchant Guild: Heavenly Scent Calming Jade.

Hearing this, Zephyr and Lorrain’s expressions became intensely complex. With a shared thought, two boxes of the identical Heavenly Scent Calming Jade material appeared in their own hands.

Lorrain let out a bitter sigh, glancing at Layna beside her. “Over the years, my sister and I have exhausted every method, attempting to unlock the mysteries within his skeletal structure, searching for the way to obtain that power. Alas, all failed. Several attempts proved exceedingly perilous; my sister and I nearly suffered fatal injuries.”

She looked toward Ling Xiang, then to Zephyr. “You have devoted your entire life to cultivation. Have you discerned any mystery? That power... have you perceived it?”

Zephyr’s face grew heavy, his thick brows knitting into a single, dark line. He shook his head. “Nothing at all.”

“The same for me,” Ling Xiang replied, frowning deeply.

Gu Lian, Xing Ming, and Layna had remained quiet since arriving, listening intently without interrupting.

At this point, Layna, after prolonged thought, could not refrain from speaking. “The skeletal fragments our predecessors obtained all belonged to that one man. Ten thousand years have rushed by. Now, the Divine Race dominates the firmament, and the Bloodthirsty lineage has secured the Genesis Fruit. The inheritor of that man has also emerged and defeated Hage. The Star Sea, which has been calm for millennia, is bound to see conflict erupt again. We must make a choice.”

“... A choice.”

Ling Xiang turned away, looking toward the distance, toward the clear lake bottom where fish darted. “Why must we choose? Why is it always the four great races vying for control of the heavens, and we—are we forever relegated to choosing a side? Do we truly lack the qualification to participate in the war, to contend for dominion over the cosmos?”

At these words, Zephyr, Lorrain, Gu Lian, Xing Ming, and Layna were all deeply shaken.

Ling Xiang suddenly spun back, his eyes sharp as honed blades. “For a hundred thousand years, the heavens have seen only the alternating dominance of four races. We have always been forced to passively follow one faction’s lead, capable of fighting but never reaping the fruits of victory. Ten thousand years ago, to aid the Divine Race in defeating the Bloodthirsty, our predecessors from the Phantom Sect, the Shattered Hall, and the Heavenly Water Palace perished. We were severely weakened, yet afterward, when the Divine Race won, what did we gain?”

Zephyr, Lorrain, and the others fell silent.

“We gained nothing. Our sacrifice of blood and flesh bought the rise and dominance of the Divine Race. We forged their might, yet our own standing barely changed. We remain confined to our respective stellar territories, merely safe from Divine intrusion.”

Ling Xiang’s sharp roar stripped away his usual serene aura, revealing a startling, sharp edge.

Zephyr and the others were visibly moved, their expressions shifting to contemplation, their brows furrowed in silence.

“This time, the Phantom Sect refuses to be mere participants. Our ancestors missed every rare opportunity over these ten millennia, but I, Ling Xiang, refuse to miss this one!” he growled.

“You wish to contend for the prizeShuShuWu.cn - First release?” Zephyr and Lorrain asked in unison.

Ling Xiang laughed freely. “Did you not come here for the same reason—to take a gamble? The Bloodthirsty lineage is weakened now, and the Divine Race is strong. Yet, the Bloodthirsty are known for miracles. If we maneuver cleverly, we will have a chance to overturn the pattern of tens of thousands of years where the four great races held dominion!”

“I ask only one thing: what is the view of that person from the Giant Wave Merchant Guild regarding this matter?” Lorrain suddenly inquired.

“The same as mine.” Ling Xiang smiled.

Lorrain and Zephyr exchanged a glance, nodding slightly, a fervent light igniting in their eyes.

“Before that, to show our sincerity, the Giant Wave Merchant Guild has already sent him a piece of that bone. Since we have failed to comprehend its mystery for years, we might as well send the remaining fragments as a congratulation on that young man ascending to the position of Venerable Lord,” Ling Xiang suddenly proposed.

“What if he fails to reach the pinnacle?” Lorrain and Zephyr frowned.

“Then we choose Ming Hao. Regardless of who takes charge, all we desire is a life-or-death struggle between the Bloodthirsty and the Divine Race—ideally, one where both are mutually destroyed,” Ling Xiang stated with a smile.

Lorrain nodded, glancing over at Cecilia, then turned to Layna. “Recently, keep a close watch on this girl. Do not let her stray far from your side.”

“I understand,” Layna confirmed.

Cecilia’s face twisted into an expression of deep woe.

From the moment she heard Ling Xiang’s first sharp exclamation, she knew that for a considerable time, she would likely be prevented from seeing Shi Yan again; her freedom was about to be curtailed.

The Phantom Sect, the Shattered Hall, and the Heavenly Water Palace—long content to play supporting roles for tens of thousands of years, along with the Giant Wave Merchant Guild—were now unwilling to remain supporting actors. They intended to compete for the leading roles, aiming to suppress the dominance of the four great races, seeking to replace them through their combined strength.

This time, the conflict in the Star Sea was set to become far more intricate.