On the Divine Grace Continent, Shi Yan swept his soul across the land, gathering nearly every minute movement from every corner of the continent into his awareness. He noticed that many of the ancient and powerful members of the Celestial Demon Race were absent, as were even Xia Xinyan, Zi Yao, and others who had temporarily left.

Recalling what Dicaro had said, a thought struck him, and he immediately suspected those individuals might already be engaged in the fighting.

"War has broken out." Azure Dragon's expression was grave. After a moment of thought, he waved his hand, "Follow me."

His shadow flickered, and he materialized within the Celestial Demon Mountain Range. He reached out and brushed the air, and a long-sealed lake in the valley slowly unrolled like a vast painted scroll.

The surrounding peaks suddenly became crystalline, projecting brilliant radiance that flowed into the center of the lake.

Immediately, scenes began to flicker and alternate within the water. These scenes represented various star domains where battles were raging. Numerous warships zoomed across the void, martial artists clashed, engaging in fierce combat.

As Azure Dragon cycled through his profound mysteries, the images gradually sharpened. Shi Yan could even discern the faces of the fighting martial artists.

He calculated quietly and found twelve scenes displayed in the center of the lake, each representing a different star domain. Within the center of every domain, forces from the Celestial Demon Race, the Bloodthirsty, the Thousand Illusions Sect, the Shattered Palace, the Heavenly Water Palace, and others were involved. Their target was invariably the Divine Race.

To be precise, it was the forces belonging to the twelve Divine Families!

He saw many familiar faces: Leanna, Yang Qingdi, Feilan, Kato, Benny, and the others were all prominently listed. Also present were figures like Cang Yun from the Celestial Demon Race and other members of the Demon clans, along with experts from the Thousand Illusions Sect. Their adversaries in every battle were the supreme powerhouses of the Divine Race.

Warships roared and rammed into one another; altars of profound mystery materialized, exploded, and shattered into motes of light scattered across the expanse.

The fighting was incredibly brutal. While he remained on the Divine Grace Continent, the entire Galaxy was engulfed in intense conflict.

"For now, the fighting is concentrated in these twelve star domains. These twelve domains are not the ancient domains of the Divine Race; they are merely domains that the Divine Race has either captured or is on the verge of capturing. All twelve Divine Families are participating. However, the Immortal-level existences have reached a tacit understanding not to engage immediately, because a single Immortal-level being is enough to alter the situation of an entire star domain."

"Currently, with the exception of the Nether Sovereign Race maintaining neutrality and watching coldly, almost every other faction and race has become involved in this war. Our Celestial Demon Race, the Undead Demons summoned by Xuan He, the Thousand Illusions Sect, the Shattered Palace, the Heavenly Water Palace, along with smaller factions like those from the Morte and Wu’e star domains, and your Bloodthirsty lineage—all are engaged in battle."

"Ming Hao is indeed formidable. The forces he commands, even this mere glimpse, are terrifyingly significant," the Holy Beast Azure Dragon stated with solemnity, pointing at the flickering scenes in the lake to explain the recent situation to Shi Yan.

Shi Yan’s face was grim as he followed the Azure Dragon’s guidance, scrutinizing the fierce battles unfolding within those myriad seas of stars.

Ming Hao cultivated the profound mystery of Soul Control. Over ten millennia, he had secretly enslaved the souls of countless powerful beings—many on the level of Mu Wei or Bai Yefeng, or Belo. In the vast star sea, certain factions that had previously vanished suddenly reappeared in this war, their leaders bearing the shocking mark of a blood-colored cloud pattern on their foreheads.

Take Randolph, for instance. He now controlled the Dark lineage, originally belonging to the Chatris family of the Divine Race. This time, however, Randolph appeared under the banner of the 'Black Ghost Divine Cult' Leader. This 'Black Ghost Divine Cult' had once flourished tens of thousands of years ago, practicing evil arts so venomous—using living sacrifices to enhance their power—that they were besieged and annihilated by numerous factions.

Everyone thought the 'Black Ghost Divine Cult' had truly vanished. Yet, upon Randolph’s reappearance, he commanded tens of thousands of former 'Black Ghost Divine Cult' followers, who worshipped him as a god, each one fanatically eager to die for him.

Several other factions were similar to the 'Black Ghost Divine Cult'—forces that should have been swallowed by the river of time and long since extinguished.

However, the moment the Bloodthirsty and the Divine Race officially declared war, these factions mysteriously resurfaced. Without exception, their leaders were Ming Hao’s loyal thralls. The strength of these factions was not weak; some were even significantly stronger than the Wu or Jiao families, sending a wave of dread through the entire star sea.

Everyone knew this battle had only just begun.

This meant that Ming Hao had not yet deployed his full might; it signified he still held even more devastating trump cards, causing anxiety to simmer among the martial artists of every faction.

The terrifying nature of Ming Hao was slowly manifesting. Martial artists familiar with the subtlety of Soul Control began to watch their own loyal subordinates closely, suspecting they might be soul-servants enslaved by Ming Hao, ready to heed his call at any moment.

"Who currently holds the upper hand?" Shi Yan looked up, inquiring of Azure Dragon.

Azure Dragon’s expression turned bitter, and he confessed frankly, "The Divine Race holds a comprehensive advantage. If the battle continues to unfold like this, the Divine Race is certain to win!"

Shi Yan was astonished. "How can this be?"

"Look at a direct confrontation in one of the battles," Azure Dragon raised his hand and pointed, magnifying one scene in the lake. It showed a clash between a mixed legion comprising the Divine Race and allied members from the Wu Family, Jiao Family, and Celestial Demon Race.

The Divine Race members possessed warships tempered from the rarest and most precious materials. Every Divine Race warrior was clad in exquisite armor, brandishing divine weapons, equipped with life-saving elixirs, and fighting in an impenetrable, meticulous formation with clearly practiced coordination.

Compared to them, the martial artists from the Wu Family, Jiao Family, and Celestial Demon Race were at an absolute disadvantage in terms of weaponry, armor, combat experience, and battle-array refinement!

"Over ten thousand years, the Divine Race has continuously invaded various star domains, turning them into their colonies, plundering countless cultivation resources, and forging elite soldiers and divine generals. Their people have been fighting constantly for ten millennia, accumulating immense combat experience. They hold an overwhelming advantage in armor, divine weapons, spiritual medicines, warships, morale, and battle formations. If not for the fact that the Bloodthirsty lineage and we have a greater number this time, the beginning would likely have been a rout."

"These ten thousand years have truly fattened the Divine Race. A single Divine King warrior, amplified by those divine weapons, spiritual medicines, and sheer morale, can equal the combat strength of two of our side," Azure Dragon took a deep breath. "Once they form their battle array, the advantage becomes even more pronounced. The Divine Race army's reputation for being invincible is truly not an empty boast."

The Holy Beast Azure Dragon's words, coupled with the visual evidence presented, suddenly intensified the pressure on Shi Yan.

He had guessed the Divine Race was strong, but only now, seeing the actual combat, did he comprehend the true depth of their power. The current battle was a combined effort of various forces, yet they couldn't seize the advantage, illustrating the heights the Divine Race's strength had scaled through ten millennia of accumulation.

"If the fighting continues according to the current situation, the probability of the Divine Race winning this war is extremely high," Azure Dragon sighed. "The Divine Race has the Four Heavenly Kings, and figures like Grand Elder Feng Jue of the Elder Council are also at the Immortal realm, alongside numerous Progenitor Gods from the twelve families—they are like clouds of experts. If the Divine Race's reproductive capacity wasn't so vastly inferior to that of the Human Race, this vast star sea might truly have been entirely conquered by them within ten millennia."

"Given what you've told me, does this mean we have no hope of winning this battle?" Shi Yan frowned deeply.

"No, there is you. You are the biggest variable!" Azure Dragon's eyes suddenly blazed with intense light. "You are the heir of the Bloodthirsty. You can reverse this situation! I believe you can!"

"Even Xuan He, Ming Hao, and Phillett might not be able to reverse this disadvantage. How can I?" Shi Yan was taken aback.

"Because Xuan He, Ming Hao, and Phillett are not the heirs of the Bloodthirsty. They cannot. But you can!" Azure Dragon commanded.

"I am eager to hear more," Shi Yan genuinely sought guidance.

"You understand the Devouring Profound Mystery. This Devouring Mystery not only allows you to advance rapidly but can also augment the power of everyone bearing the blood-colored mark! In a battle, as long as you use the Devouring Mystery to absorb vast amounts of power and transfer it into your Bloodthirsty retainers, their strength will instantly surge. Powerful strength, profound realms, and the creation of numerous super-warriors can compensate for any disadvantage!" Azure Dragon proclaimed.

"Back then, when the Divine Race and the various powers of the Star Sea moved against the Bloodthirsty, their primary target was the Lord of Bloodthirst! Because as long as the Lord of Bloodthirst existed, the power of the Eight Retainers could increase limitlessly. If one of them suffered a severe injury, they could quickly recover by slaying and devouring the power of Divine Race members and transferring it to the injured one. That was the most terrifying aspect of the Bloodthirsty lineage."

"The Divine Race's Land of Fallen Gods was created by referencing the Devouring Mystery—using the blood-essence absorbing characteristic of the Netherworld Demon Flower, a similar devouring mechanism—to forge a recovery ground for the Divine Race. But compared to the true Devouring Mystery, the effect of the Land of Fallen Gods is utterly incomparable. If you can utilize the Devouring Mystery skillfully, you will surely turn the tide!"

Azure Dragon clearly possessed a profound insight into the mysteries of the Bloodthirsty lineage. As he finished speaking, Shi Yan felt an instantaneous awakening, as if struck by a bolt of clarity.

He recalled the old days of conquering territories with Feilan, Leanna, and Kato, pouring the power he absorbed through the Devouring Mystery into the marks on their foreheads...

He realized the suggestion made by Azure Dragon was exquisitely precise.

Indeed, Ming Hao, Xuan He, and Phillett might not be able to reverse the situation, but he could! Because he was the successor of the Lord of Bloodthirst, and he understood the Devouring Mystery!

"You are certain that Immortal-level beings won't engage for now?" Shi Yan’s expression shifted suddenly.

"It is a tacit understanding," Azure Dragon nodded. "If the Divine Race does not wish for individual star domains to collapse and vanish, they will adhere to this agreement, at least for the short term."

Shi Yan grinned. "Where is the nearest battlefield to here?"

"The Fire Rain Star Domain," Azure Dragon understood his intent. "The situation there is the most perilous. If you go there and can secure victory, and the Bloodthirsty martial artists in the Fire Rain Star Domain are greatly strengthened because of you, that could truly become a breakthrough point."

"Who is there?" Shi Yan asked again.

"Benny is there, and Kato is there too, along with the martial artists from this Mariya Star Domain. Start changing the tide of this war from there," Azure Dragon instructed.

Shi Yan nodded, preparing to depart.

Just then, Azure Dragon added, "Take Gui Liao with you. He has been constrained by me for too long; it's time for him to get some air."

"Good."