After so many years, Ouyang Luoshuang carried an air of sacred purity, likely brought on by the subtle refinement of her cultivation of the Moon Radiance Profundity. Ouyang Luoshuang, originally possessing an ethereal and distant aura, aloof and cold, seemed to leap to an entirely new level of attraction once this sacred quality was added.

Perhaps the reason she was captured lay in her exquisite features and captivating demeanor; that flawless sanctity was like poison to many men—utterly irresistible. Ban Yu had previously told Shi Yan that Xing Ming, having lost his wife early, lived a life of utter debauchery, using his influence within the Shattered Palace to frequently abduct and imprison beautiful women of various races for his pleasure.

In recent years, as the prospect of reaching the Immortal realm faded for Xing Ming, he gradually shifted his focus to the unbridled enjoyment of life. Ban Yu surmised that Ouyang Luoshuang must have been someone Xing Ming coveted, instructing Xing Shang and Wei Yun to abduct her purely for his own hedonistic pursuits.

Gazing at Ouyang Luoshuang, currently restrained by the Primordial Spirit Lock, and feeling the unique aura emanating from her, Shi Yan nodded subtly. The two stared at each other for a long moment.

Shi Yan pondered briefly, then reached out and lightly tapped her fair forehead. A starlight bloomed and vanished instantly before the Primordial Spirit Lock could react.

Frowning in thought, Shi Yan’s eyes held a strange depth as he mused silently. The sacred, flawless aura surrounding Ouyang Luoshuang gave him a persistent sense of familiarity, as if someone he knew possessed a similar quality...

He focused intensely, searching, constantly drawing upon his memories. After a considerable pause, his expression froze, and he suddenly stood stunned.

He remembered now... Back in the desolate region of the Ancient Continent, he had entered a strange lake that led him to the Primal Realm of a certain Ancestor of the God Race.

That Primal Realm contained the sun, moon, and stars, and within it flowed a divine, sacred energy. That sacred energy would occasionally flicker forth when Heige channeled the power of the Light Profundity.

Stroking his chin, Shi Yan looked deeply at Ouyang Luoshuang, a thoughtful light in his eyes. The three powers of the Three Gods Cult—Sun, Moon, and Stars—traced their origin back to the legacies left by the God Race; they were miraculous evolutions of the Light Profundity.

Ouyang Luoshuang, as the Moon God of the Three Gods Cult, had cultivated the Moon Profundity for many years. On the Continent of Divine Grace, she had even merged with a Yin-cold Primal Realm, then entered the Vast Star River, refining her realm further and gaining new insights and understandings.

Step by step, she advanced her power. Gradually, her Profundity seemed to be returning to its original essence...

Shi Yan speculated that her current sacred aura was due to her realm reaching a certain height, a process of returning to simplicity and truth, manifesting some genuine core of the Light Profundity. Of course, this was merely his speculation.

Perhaps Ouyang Luoshuang had undergone some other miraculous encounter that caused her Profundity to draw ever closer to the intricacies of the Light Profundity, acquiring that mystical, sacred aura. “We are nearly at Phantom Star.

Once we arrive, I will find the key to the Primordial Spirit Lock for you. Rest assured, I will grant you freedom; you won’t be imprisoned forever,” Shi Yan suddenly stated.

Ouyang Luoshuang watched him quietly, a flicker of helplessness crossing her eyes, as if she dreaded his journey to Phantom Star, fearful that Shi Yan intended to bring doom upon them both. ...

Ban Yu gazed ahead, his expression grave as he watched Phantom Star gradually sharpen into focus. Phantom Star was encircled by rings of pale white halos, these rings resembling rivers of energy laced with extremely terrifying restrictions, put in place by the Thousand Illusions Sect to prevent warships from approaching.

The Thousand Illusions Sect, as a sect, rarely relied on external artifacts; this was a rule established by Ling Xiang. As the main star of the Thousand Illusions Sect, Phantom Star rarely saw chariots or warships moving about.

The sect favored the various illusory beasts active within the Phantom Domain, treating them as means of transport. The Illusion Butterfly was one such beast renowned for its agility.

Currently, numerous Illusion Butterflies drifted gracefully around the outer white halos. Each butterfly was roughly the size of a war chariot, with warriors of the Thousand Illusions Sect seated upon them.

On previous occasions, merchant ships would halt outside the halos, and the warriors of the Thousand Illusions Sect would use the illusory beasts to ferry the materials they had ordered from the Vast Ocean Merchant Guild to Phantom Star. But today, things were clearly abnormal.

The warriors of the Thousand Illusions Sect riding the Illusion Butterflies did not stop at their usual positions. Instead, upon sighting the merchant ships, they suddenly dispersed, subtly encircling the fleet before leisurely closing in.

“Sir, the Thousand Illusions Sect is surrounding us! What should we do?” A warrior from the Merchant Guild on the leading ship frowned, anger surfacing in his eyes.

Ban Yu scoffed internally, unafraid, as the Vast Ocean Merchant Guild possessed sufficient backing to deal with the Thousand Illusions Sect. “Continue forward.

Let them surround us. Rest assured, even if we gave them the courage, they wouldn't dare attack our Guild!” He glanced back over his shoulder, clear in his mind that the purpose of the Thousand Illusions Sect’s Illusion Butterflies was primarily the mysterious young man inside the cabin, as Xing Shang and Wei Yun were clearly among the riders.

The Merchant Guild warriors aboard the ship all knitted their brows, their expressions unreadable as they looked behind them. They were all aware of why the Thousand Illusions Sect had come.

In their view, regardless of Shi Yan’s identity, he should have departed long ago, avoiding lingering on the merchant ship. If he intended to reach Phantom Star, he should have disembarked earlier and found a stealthier way to enter, perhaps by taking a different route.

Since their merchant ship's route and docking location were fixed, locating him would be simple, and continuing on would only create more difficulty in escaping, as it was now. “I am Hao Feng, captain of the Thousand Illusions Sect’s Illusion Butterfly squad.

I request the friends from the Merchant Guild to halt immediately!” Hao Feng’s clear and distinguished shout rang out at the opportune moment. He glanced towards Ban Yu from a distance, nodding slightly in greeting.

Ban Yu frowned and let out a cold snort. “We have not yet reached the agreed location.

Proceed!” The Merchant Guild warriors obeyed, completely disregarding Hao Feng’s reprimand. Amidst the sharp cries of several Illusion Butterflies, the merchant ship forcefully pierced the encirclement and continued toward Phantom Star, only stopping beside the white halos.

This was their customary stopping point. Hao Feng had ordered them to halt early because he didn't want them too close to Phantom Star; any loud disturbance caused by a conflict might attract the attention of the experts on the star, potentially jeopardizing the promise he had made to Xing Ying.

Ban Yu afforded him no such courtesy. Hao Feng’s face turned icy, but he dared not lash out at Ban Yu immediately.

He shouted repeatedly, directing the circling Illusion Butterflies to surround the seven merchant ships once more. Then, he leaped off his own butterfly and landed gracefully onto Ban Yu’s ship, his gaze immediately locking onto the closed room.

Simultaneously, Xing Ying, along with Xing Shang, Wei Yun, and about a dozen Void God Realm warriors from the Shattered Palace, also arrived on Ban Yu’s ship alongside Hao Feng. “I hear your Guild violated the agreement this time by bringing an unknown individual aboard.

Do you realize the consequences of transporting an unidentified person to Phantom Star?” Hao Feng sneered. “The Vast Ocean Merchant Guild’s reputation traversing the starry seas is the most widely lauded, which is why everyone trusts your Guild.

This time, you have actively torn up the agreement; how do you intend to explain yourselves to everyone?” Xing Ying’s phoenix eyes held a fierce glint; her practiced coquetry vanished, revealing a sharp, unkind face. Her cold aura was like that of a beautiful, highly venomous sea snake dwelling in damp darkness.

Ban Yu felt a surge of resentment toward Shi Yan, but he equally despised the visages of Hao Feng and Xing Ying. He snorted coldly and replied, “This was an order issued by the City Lord of my Cold Iron City.

This matter is beyond my control. If you have doubts, have your superiors seek out our City Lord for discussion.

I am only responsible for conveying one person.” He refused to yield an inch. “It seems the Vast Ocean Merchant Guild has grown too large and is resorting to coercion.

I will report this matter to my father and see how your City Lord explains himself,” Xing Ying said, her gaze chillingly cold. “As you wish.” Ban Yu shrugged, ignoring her, and turned toward the closed room behind him.

He mused for a moment, then stated, “As per the City Lord’s instructions, I was only responsible for bringing you this far. I am not involved in what happens next.” Upon hearing this, Hao Feng, Xing Ying, Xing Shang, Wei Yun, and the others all blinked, their eyes filled with surprise.

Seeing Ban Yu’s rigid stance, they had assumed he was determined to protect Shi Yan. After all, Ban Yu represented the Vast Ocean Merchant Guild; if he were set on safeguarding Shi Yan, claiming it was the will of the Guild’s higher-ups, they would indeed have to handle the situation with caution and circumspection.

Yet, after his show of toughness, Ban Yu abruptly severed his connection to Shi Yan. This sudden shift stunned them, leaving them feeling inexplicably bewildered, unable to guess the true nature of Ban Yu’s relationship with Shi Yan.

“Friend, how long will you hide? It’s time to come out and meet us,” Hao Feng recovered first after a brief shock, shouting with a cold laugh.

In his view, since Ban Yu had voluntarily washed his hands of the matter, it had nothing to do with the Guild. Without the obstacle of the Vast Ocean Merchant Guild, what could Shi Yan possibly accomplish in the vicinity of Phantom Star, within his sphere of influence?

Wouldn't he be at their mercy? Hao Feng grew secretly agitated, eager to capture Shi Yan quickly, question him about the situation, hand him over to Xing Ying’s judgment, and then seize the opportunity to enjoy some intimate moments with Xing Ying, savoring the wild and fiery delights of her beauty.

The thought brought an unconcealed lust to Hao Feng’s eyes; he was growing impatient. “The roles sent by the Thousand Illusions Sect, the Shattered Palace, and the Celestial Water Palace to welcome me are you lot?” Shi Yan’s cold, hard voice drifted from the locked room.

The next moment, the door flew open, and his body, majestic as a mountain, materialized directly from the stone bed within. Xing Ying and Hao Feng’s eyes simultaneously lit up.

Xing Ying looked at Shi Yan, and Hao Feng looked at Ouyang Luoshuang, both sets of eyes flashing with strange light, their spirits instantly galvanized. In Xing Ying’s sight, Shi Yan, with his imposing physique, cold demeanor, and strong aura, was the pinnacle of manhood, possessing far more masculine charm than the so-called young talents she had encountered.

It made her feel a restless yearning. Similarly, Ouyang Luoshuang, without her veil, her exquisitely beautiful face and sacred, flawless aura, deeply captivated Hao Feng.

This pair of adulterers, upon the door opening, were momentarily stunned, fixated on Shi Yan and Ouyang Luoshuang inside, nearly forgetting the purpose of their arrival. While they were dazed, Shi Yan strode out, his voice cold, “Even if Ling Xiang, Xi Ze, and Luo Lin do not come to greet me personally, at the very least, Gu Lian, Xing Ming, and Laina should have emerged.

The Thousand Illusions Sect, the Shattered Palace, and the Celestial Water Palace show a shocking disregard for protocol, sending mere juniors to welcome this venerable one. I truly must demand an explanation from Ling Xiang, Xi Ze, and Luo Lin myself!”