Ling Xiang, Xi Ze, and Luo Lin were discussing how to handle the matter of Shi Yan tomorrow, wondering whether they should set up some kind of trial or obstacle regarding the handover of the Bloodthirsty Skeleton, or if simply handing it over would appear too straightforward.

"His cultivation realm is rather low; setting up a trial might overwhelm him. We have to give him the item anyway, but we can't let him think we were too casual about it. This is truly bothersome…" Luo Lin said with a wry smile.

"Indeed, the First Heaven of the Prime God realm is hardly worth mentioning. If he weren't the new Sovereign Lord, he wouldn't even warrant attention. But if we just hand over the Bloodthirsty Skeleton directly, it seems too easy. Will he suspect us, thinking we’re plotting some trick?" Ling Xiang mused.

"This sort of thing is your specialty; don't look at me. I'm not good at schemes and stratagems," Xi Ze waved his hand dismissively.

As Xi Ze spoke, Ling Xiang and Luo Lin’s expressions stiffened, showing a slight awkwardness.

Suddenly, Ling Xiang’s expression shifted. An ancient book materialized from his sleeve. He tapped it, and the pages flipped open, emitting a wondrous fluctuation. Faintly visible on the parchment were the surrounding halos around Phantom Star, as if he could perceive all changes beyond the star's perimeter through the scroll.

Simultaneously, a soul message transmitted from within the book, reaching directly into Ling Xiang’s Sea of Consciousness.

Xi Ze and Luo Lin remained silent, both frowning as they watched Ling Xiang’s movements, waiting in silence.

They knew that ancient book was Ling Xiang’s unique treasure, named the “Myriad Illusion Shifting Tome,” capable of connecting to the profundities of the Phantom Domain and nurturing countless transformations, boundless in its mystery.

They looked toward Ling Xiang, eager to know what had transpired, because they understood that while conversing with them, Ling Xiang had instructed that no one should disturb him unless a truly significant crisis arose.

For someone to contact Ling Xiang inappropriately while they were discussing vital matters plainly indicated that the situation was serious.

As expected, Ling Xiang tucked the Myriad Illusion Shifting Tome back into his sleeve, his face changing slightly. "A meteor fragment storm has suddenly erupted within the Phantom Domain. Billions of fragments, like sharp swords, are surging toward Phantom Star, shushuw.cn-First Release stopped only by the outer defensive halo. However, many of the Illusion Sect’s phantom beasts and disciples have been struck by this fragment storm, and some have died."

"Who dares to be so audacious?" Luo Lin’s expression turned grave.

This was the main star of the Illusion Sect, an extremely renowned and powerful force within the Star Sea. Few factions in the world dared to challenge the Illusion Sect.

"Besides the madmen from the Four Great Races, no one blind enough would dare to cause mayhem in my Phantom Domain!" Ling Xiang’s handsome face was overlaid with a touch of chilling coldness. "I heard them say they saw a person riding the Essence of the Moon, charging recklessly straight toward our Phantom Star."

"What does that person look like?" Luo Lin’s heart stirred, feeling as if he was vaguely grasping something.

"It is said he looks languid, occasionally drinking and eating fruit along the way. He clearly holds us in utter disregard," Ling Xiang stated coldly.

"Languid… languid, languid!"

Luo Lin was profoundly shaken. A flash of electric light crossed his mind, and he exclaimed, "Xiaoyao! It must be Xiaoyao!"

At these words, Ling Xiang and Xi Ze both started in alarm, showing looks of sheer horror.

"It must be him! The master referred to by the young girl beside Shi Yan must be Xiaoyao! I should have guessed it long ago!" Luo Lin exclaimed.

Hearing the name Xiaoyao, Ling Xiang and Xi Ze’s expressions grew heavy. Thoughts flashed through their minds, connecting the familiar feeling that had been puzzling them, and they both realized Luo Lin’s guess was correct: the incoming person was likely Xiaoyao, the Xiaoyao Heavenly King among the Four Heavenly Kings of the God Race, a peerless figure renowned since the previous era.

This person had vanished for ten thousand years, so long ago that Xi Ze, Ling Xiang, and Luo Lin struggled to recall him clearly.

When Xiaoyao was at the height of his power, Ling Xiang, Xi Ze, and Luo Lin were mere juniors, still following their masters, only at the Prime God realm. They were all well aware of Xiaoyao's methods from back then, and hearing that the visitor was him caused their complexions to change.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

At this very moment, Phantom Star violently shook, as if struck by a colossal beast.

The ground on Phantom Star convulsed fiercely; numerous mountains collapsed, rivers overflowed. Phantom Star, which had been tranquil for countless years, seemed on the verge of an apocalypse, striking terror into the hearts of all martial artists of the Illusion Sect.

"Where is the Sovereign Lord of the Illusion Sect? Open your gates, or must I force my way in?" A soft, lingering voice echoed from the depths of Phantom Star’s clouds, resounding in every corner of the star, vibrating the very souls of all martial artists.

That voice seemed to exert the pressure of Heavenly Might upon the firmament of Phantom Star, suffocating those below.

"He really has come!" Xi Ze muttered with focus.

"If he can blast his way in, we might as well let him in," Luo Lin said with a wry smile.

Ling Xiang nodded, then suddenly pulled out the Heavenly Fragrance Calming Jade Box in his hand and hastily handed it to Luo Lin. "You quickly find Shi Yan, give him this box, and tell him to leave immediately."

Xi Ze’s spirit stirred, and he handed over his own Heavenly Fragrance Calming Jade Box, tossing it to Luo Lin. "Tell that brat to leave quickly. If he dies on Phantom Star, we will all be in trouble."

Without a word, Luo Lin took the boxes and vanished without a trace.

Meanwhile, even more violent tremors resonated from the heavens, and that soft, lingering voice spoke again. "Refining the successive layers of barriers for the Illusion Sect is not easy; it would be a pity to damage them. I will count to three; those below should deliberate. One…"

Ling Xiang sighed inwardly and called out loudly, "Senior Xiaoyao honors us with his presence. I, Ling Xiang, the current Sovereign Lord of the Illusion Sect, respectfully welcome your arrival." He deftly manipulated the Myriad Illusion Shifting Tome, dissolving the outer defenses, allowing Xiaoyao passage.

A man of feminine grace and striking handsomeness suddenly pierced the firmament atop the Essence of the Moon and descended directly into the central heartland of Phantom Star.

Numerous martial artists on Phantom Star gathered upon hearing the commotion. The Phantom Lake where Ling Xiang and Xi Ze were located instantly transformed, the scenery shifting into a dense forest, forming a magnificent complex of palaces.

Within the surrounding palaces, Ban Yu, Xing Ming, Xing Shang, Wei Yun, Gu Lian, and the others materialized one by one, staring at the newcomer with expressions of shock.

Many of them were unaware of the visitor's identity, yet they felt an instinctive dread because the aura emanating from the man descending from the sky gave them an overwhelming urge to kneel in submission.

"Who dared to strike my disciple in the Chaotic Lands?" With a deafening boom, the Moonstone beneath Xiaoyao’s feet pulverized several palaces. He descended leisurely, surveying the surroundings, and his eyes fell upon Xing Shang, causing him to curve his lips into a smile.

Xing Shang’s soul nearly fled his body.

"Come here." Xiaoyao extended a hand.

Xing Shang and Wei Yun were lifted into the air like chicks grasped by the neck, flying instantly before Xiaoyao. Xiaoyao opened his mouth and exhaled two streams of moonlight, which pierced into the eyes of Xing Shang and Wei Yun, burrowing deep into their Seas of Consciousness and memories, rummaging through them wildly.

Under the gaze of everyone present, Xing Shang and Wei Yun exhibited expressions of extreme terror. Filthy blood involuntarily trickled from the corners of their mouths, eyes, ears, and nostrils, and the light in their eyes rapidly dimmed. Their skin withered like dried wood, losing all vitality and luster.

A chilling sensation radiated from each of them; their minds were gripped by fear and unrest. They could see that Xiaoyao was employing Soul-Sifting Art, directly peeling away Xing Shang and Wei Yun’s memories, at the cost of destroying their very essence and life force, to extract the information he required.

Xing Ming felt a profound, bone-chilling cold, as if instantly frozen, and he began to tremble uncontrollably.

A terrifying chill flashed in his eyes, and he looked toward Xi Ze with pleading desperation, gritting his teeth. "My Lord, considering that this old servant has served you and your father for two generations, I beg you to grant this old servant a path to survival."

As he finished speaking, the life auras of Xing Shang and Wei Yun completely dissipated, and Xiaoyao had acquired everything he wanted.

Xiaoyao’s smile turned cold as he looked at Xing Ming. "So the mastermind was you."

"My Lord!" Xing Ming suddenly roared. While shouting, he threw himself onto the ground, incessantly kowtowing toward Xi Ze, his head quickly bleeding profusely.

Xing Ying, standing nearby, paused for a moment before she too suddenly knelt down, sobbing hysterically, repeatedly banging her head against the ground toward Xi Ze, heedless of the blood staining her face or the pain in her body, constantly crying out, "My Lord, please save my father!"

In that moment, the father and daughter knew that only if Xi Ze acted was there a sliver of hope for Xing Ming’s survival.

This was because Xing Shang and Wei Yun had died without even a chance to fight back. They knew Xiaoyao was an Immortal expert; killing them would be as simple as lifting a finger for someone of that caliber, requiring no effort whatsoever.

The martial fanatic Xi Ze’s face was as dark as still water. He watched Xing Ming and Xing Ying kowtow incessantly and suddenly said, "Senior Xiaoyao, two of my Shattered Palace members have died. Let this matter end here."

"End it?" Xiaoyao sounded surprised, turning to look at Xi Ze with interest. "You are Ximeng's son, aren't you? Heh heh, even your father had to address me as Brother Xiaoyao back in the day. For someone from your Shattered Palace to dare hold my disciple hostage—to end this matter is simple: all participants must be completely eradicated, and then it will be over."

He raised his hand to seize Xing Ming, his eyes narrowed, his expression chillingly cold. "Come here."

"No!" Xing Ming shrieked.

"My father showed you respect, but that doesn't mean I must!" Xi Ze suddenly roared. His coarse hemp clothes seemed to inflate with thick thunderous power as he strode toward Xiaoyao, throwing out a punch.

An extremely simple and brutal punch!

Rumble!

The space around Xiaoyao instantly erupted in continuous, massive explosions. Billions of arcs of thunderous energy surged, threatening to tear the heavens and earth into countless voids.

Xi Ze cultivated the profound meaning of Thunder. Most cultivators who practiced the meaning of Light would also dabble in Electricity, believing that cultivating both Thunder and Lightning made them stronger—Xi Ze’s father, Ximeng, for example, cultivated both.

But Xi Ze was different; he cultivated only Thunder. For ten thousand years, he had been immersed only in this singular world of Thunder, dedicating every beautiful aspect of his life to it. He disdained lust, ignored the sect’s important affairs, sought no pleasure, and sealed himself off like an ascetic monk, pursuing the Dao his entire life, cultivating Thunder every day without a moment’s slackening.

This punch condensed his lifelong obsessive pursuit of Thunder—Thunder that shatters the heavens and moves the eight extremes of the universe!

The sky-shaking thunder roared out, deep as Xi Ze’s angry cry. That roar was filled with fierce dominance and the loneliness of ten thousand years.

Even Xiaoyao, from the previous era, showed a grave expression amid the explosion of billions of muffled thunders, a strange light appearing in his eyes.

As Xiaoyao’s double pupils opened and closed, his eyes became crescent moons. The three phantom moons deep in Phantom Star’s firmament suddenly rolled and solidified into reality, circling around Xiaoyao, but they were repeatedly pulverized and exploded, creating world-annihilating fluctuations.

Xi Ze stopped after throwing one punch, yet between Xi Ze and Xiaoyao, the sky was filled with phantom fist imprints, each one seeming like a thunderous strike from the Ninth Heaven, constituting a distinct world of thunder in itself.

... [shushuw.net]