Shi Yan secretly imprinted a soul fluctuation of space, centered on dark energy, onto the surface of the massive, three-legged cauldron housed within the meteorite. Then, accompanied by Audrey, he boarded the Sky-Eye Clan’s Fire Crystal Cloud Skiff, watching intently as the meteorite containing the Primordial Divine Artifact plunged into a vast cavern on Dragon Lizard Star.

His imprint, founded on dark energy, was not repelled by the three-legged cauldron, allowing him to maintain a connection through soul sense.

“We go this way,” Evelyn said, casting a lingering glance after the disappearing meteorite before pointing toward a different opening. Within that cavern, the stark white bone warships of the Dragon Lizard Clan were visible, with their kinsmen standing guard.

Countless peculiar vessels, warships, and conveyances, bearing members of myriad strange races, descended through numerous similar caverns into the interior of the Dragon Lizard Star.

The outer shell of Dragon Lizard Star was devoid of clouds or mist; the star, formed from condensed star fragments and meteorites, was directly exposed to the sea of stars. The majority of the holes riddled across Dragon Lizard Star served to absorb meteorites, while a smaller portion acted as reception portals, guiding extraterrestrial visitors into the star’s interior.

“We… enter the star’s interior directly?” Audrey expressed surprise.

On the Divine Marsh Continent, the Nether Emperor Clan members lived on the surface of stars, not within the sunless depths of a celestial body. Her established common sense led her to assume they would also descend onto the surface of Dragon Lizard Star.

Yet, she observed these bizarre, alien beings all disappearing straight down into the hollowed-out interior of Dragon Lizard Star through the stone tunnels, which greatly astonished her.

“Of course. The outer layer of Dragon Lizard Star is nothing but meteorites and stellar debris; the Dragon Lizard Clan hasn't bothered to maintain it. The Dragon Lizards all reside inside the star,” Evelyn explained naturally.

Soon, their Fire Crystal Cloud Skiff arrived at the entrance cavern. Mahisha retrieved the bracelet, and after Evelyn exchanged a few words, the Dragon Lizard guard nodded reassuringly.

The Cloud Skiff passed through a zone of hazy vacuum before landing in an immense abyss. This abyss resembled a magnificent valley, its periphery lined with circular rock walls, dotted with numerous openings. Within each aperture, the faint movements of beings from various races could be discerned.

Inside the valley, there was a level docking area where their Cloud Skiff settled near a cluster of bizarre star-river warships. A member of the Dragon Lizard Clan examined their bracelet tokens, summoned another kinsman, and instructed them to escort Evelyn and the others to their lodgings.

It was then that Shi Yan noticed that under the guidance of the Dragon Lizard escorts, they too entered one of the caverns visible along their route. Only upon entering did they realize its interior was vast, containing over a dozen stone chambers of varying sizes, areas for meditation and cultivation, bathing and washing facilities, and zones for refining items—it had everything.

“The Dragon Lizard Clan resides entirely within these caverns. Since Dragon Lizard Star is merely piled up from star fragments and meteorites, there is no concept of a ‘surface.’ There is no flora or fauna, only forcefully agglomerated stellar debris and meteorite chunks. Furthermore, Dragon Lizard Clan members are inherently drawn to stone; they are thick-skinned and tough, preferring to live within rock chambers,” Evelyn explained with a smile after their guide departed.

The cavern they occupied was situated on one side of the circular rock wall. Shi Yan sensed that this entire region was akin to a colossal teacup, with the platform for docking vessels and chariots serving as the base. Countless caves were carved into the inner wall of the cup, all designated for hosting the visitors from different races.

Focusing their gaze, they could observe that in the areas opposite them, on both the left and right, every section contained stone caves where beings similar to themselves were engaged in hushed conversations, communicating in a myriad of peculiar languages.

Drawing upon the language memories imprinted by Mahisha, Shi Yan discovered that he still couldn't understand the tongue used by many of these creatures; they were employing unique languages outside the scope of his existing knowledge.

Within the surrounding cavern openings carved into the rock face, many beings exuded powerful auras. Those at the Origin God, Void God, and Primeval God realms were most numerous, though there were also many who had reached the Immortal realm. However, almost all of the Immortals seemed to be at the First Heaven of the Immortal realm; he detected no aura belonging to a Second Heaven Immortal expert.

The attending Dragon Lizard escorts were only at the Void God or Primeval God levels, tasked with arranging lodgings and rest for the various visiting races in their designated stone chambers.

“There are perhaps a thousand people here, with only a few dozen at the Immortal realm, and they are all only First Heaven Immortals,” Audrey murmured, narrowing her eyes slightly as she released her soul power, quickly drawing a conclusion before expressing astonishment: “Their cultivation levels aren't particularly profound.”

Evelyn’s expression shifted in alarm, and he looked deeply at her. “You, at merely the First Heaven of the Primeval God realm, can perceive all of that?”

Audrey offered no reply, merely shrugging noncommittally.

Evelyn inwardly recoiled, shedding his previous disdain and explaining seriously: “This is just one sector. There are many such areas within the Dragon Lizard Clan’s domain. Some specialized sectors are reserved only for the more formidable races. To put it plainly, this area is designated for third-rate races.”

He had previously held Audrey in low regard because she seemed to be benefiting solely from Shi Yan’s presence; her First Heaven Primeval God cultivation meant little to him. But for him, at his own cultivation level, discerning the personnel and power distribution in this sector immediately was extremely difficult, yet Audrey, with a mere sweep of her soul, lucidly laid out the details, which truly horrified him.

Only then did he realize that Audrey was likely not someone to be underestimated, and his attitude immediately became cautious.

“There are many other similar sectors?” Astonishment dawned on Audrey’s cool face.

“Naturally. For example, the Aquatics—have you seen them? They are on friendly terms with the Dragon Lizard Clan and occupy a superior sector. If the Soul Clan or members of the other Six Great Races were to arrive, they would be treated as the most honored guests by the Dragon Lizard Clan, residing in the best sectors and personally attended by the Dragon Lizard Clan’s high-ranking figures,” Evelyn said with a hint of dejection.

Their Sky-Eye Clan was merely a third-rate race, inferior to the Dragon Lizard Clan in power, so naturally, they wouldn't be prioritized. Securing a place here was already considered fortunate. Yet, a lingering sense of regret and depression remained in their hearts.

While they conversed, members of other races also exchanged words in their respective chambers. Many others continued to arrive, being assigned to different caves by the Dragon Lizard personnel to settle in.

At the warship docking area, a massive jade platform shaped like a lotus flower lay vacant. Several martial artists sat quietly in the corners of this lotus platform, heads bowed and silent. In front of them, various cultivation materials were often laid out—sometimes alchemical pills or timber, other times scriptures or divine weapons, or perhaps rare crystals, none of them alike.

“What is that?” Shi Yan asked, pointing at the lotus-shaped jade platform.

“It takes time for the various races to arrive, and the Dragon Lizards also require time after feeding. The Grand Assembly will commence once the majority of attendees have arrived. Until then, all visitors must wait in their assigned chambers. Of course, the Dragon Lizard Clan has an alternative arrangement: that lotus platform is established for members of all races to freely exchange cultivation materials. Anyone possessing a rare wonder they no longer need can bring it to trade…”

Evelyn explained with a smile before pausing. “Most visitors are interested in the Dragon Lizard Clan’s Immortal Pills. I brought my junior sister hoping we might successfully trade for one. Whether we succeed remains uncertain, however.”

“Immortal Pills?” Audrey’s expression shifted with emotion. “What do you mean?”

Evelyn looked toward Mahisha and continued, “My junior sister is at the peak of the Third Heaven of the Primeval God realm. With a Dragon Lizard Clan Immortal Pill, she might be able to break through to the Immortal realm. These Immortal Pills are marvels across the vast sea of stars; even the Seven Great Races might not possess them.”

Hearing this, Shi Yan’s body shook violently, and he exclaimed, “A pill that allows a breakthrough to the Immortal realm? How is that possible? How can such a realm be crossed simply by consuming a pill? Absolutely impossible!”

“If you knew how arduous the refinement of the Immortal Pill is, perhaps you would believe it,” Evelyn replied with a wry smile. “The method for forging Immortal Pills remains an unsolved mystery to this day. Legend holds that only Primordial Beings know it, and only Domain Ancestor level experts can craft them. An Immortal Pill requires, at minimum, a Level Seven Life Star, teeming with billions of inhabitants, as its foundation. A Domain Ancestor level expert must then refine the Life Star and the billions of beings upon it into a pill-sized object. The Level Seven Life Star, the souls of billions, and the ambient energies of the world on the star combine to form the Immortal Pill, seizing the very creation of heaven and earth to enable a Primeval God martial artist to reach the Immortal realm.”

Ignoring Shi Yan and Audrey’s horrified gasps, he pressed on: “Of course, the Immortal Pill only offers a very high probability for a peak Primeval God expert to ascend to the Immortal realm; it is not an absolute guarantee. Success still depends on individual aptitude and talent. There have been many who failed and died violently after swallowing one.”

He paused, surveyed his surroundings, and then spoke in a low voice using the language of the Desolate Domain: “Rumor has it that the Primordial Being ‘Xi’ retreated to the Ruins precisely because of the Immortal Pill refinement. He left the Void Sea to search for Level Seven Life Stars populated by billions in outer domains to forge these pills. But something happened, and he perished somewhere out there. The Dragon Lizards only found his remains and obtained the dozen or so finished Immortal Pills after a long period, relying on a bloodline connection. Even the Dragon Lizards do not clearly understand the details of Xi’s demise; it remains an enduring enigma.”

When Evelyn finished speaking, Audrey’s face turned ashen. “To use billions of lives and a Level Seven Life Star as the foundation to refine a single pill—that Xi was utterly depraved! The refinement of the Immortal Pill is nothing less than mass slaughter, all for the sake of creating one Immortal martial artist. The sacrifice is too immense!”

“That is why the Immortal Pill is so precious. Naturally, the refining method is now nearly lost, and few would commit such atrocities to create them. This is also why the Immortal Pill attracts so many beings and races; they recognize its miraculous nature. The Soul Clan constantly tries to curry favor with the Dragon Lizard Clan in hopes of learning the Immortal Pill refinement method through them, but alas, the Dragon Lizards claim they do not know either. However, the Soul Clan suspects they are deliberately concealing it…”

“How many Immortal Pills do the Dragon Lizards currently possess?” Shi Yan, silent for a long moment, suddenly commanded, his eyes blazing with brilliance. “I must break through to the Immortal realm quickly; otherwise, traversing this sea of stars will truly be difficult at every turn. I must have one of those Immortal Pills!”