Tu Shiqi and Ya Yun, due to their unique status, were in extreme danger; before the Dragon Lizard clan could fully comprehend the insidious methods of the Soul Race, their exposure could immediately draw a siege from the Soul Race, possibly even inciting the Dragon Lizard clan itself to act.

After all, on the surface, the Dragon Lizard clan and the Soul Race maintained friendly relations, and the Dragon Lizard leader also enjoyed a significant rapport with Singh.

Until they were ready to openly sever ties with the Soul Race, they would undoubtedly side with them against Tu Shiqi and Ya Yun. This very reason forced Ya Yun to remain exceedingly low-key on Dragon Lizard Star, deliberately concealing her identity and her true strength, blending in with the regions populated by third-rate powers.

If they revealed themselves prematurely, they might well be handed over to the Soul Race by the Dragon Lizard clansmen before they ever reached the Dragon Lizard leader. Therefore, this matter could only be handled by Shi Yan, who would first make contact with the Dragon Lizard, inform them of the Soul Race's machinations, and thereby sow hatred in the Dragon Lizard leader’s heart toward Singh. Only then would matters proceed smoothly.

At this time, since not all the alien visitors to Dragon Lizard Star had arrived, and the Dragon Lizard clan had not yet organized the grand ceremony to announce the conditions for exchanging for the Immortal Pills, Tu Shiqi and Ya Yun decided to keep a low profile and await news from Shi Yan.

Shi Yan and Audrey had been gone for a considerable time, and they had no idea about the current situation of the Sky-Eye clan. After informing Tu Shiqi and Ya Yun of the location of their stone cave, they took their leave.

The pair returned to the cave inhabited by the Sky-Eye clan, and surprisingly, found that Evelyn, Adams, and Marisha had still not returned. They didn't dwell on it, settling into the inner stone chamber to rest, preparing to carefully review their recent gains while waiting for the three Sky-Eye members to come back.

The stone chamber was rudimentary; the stone walls bore no decorative carvings, furnished only with a stone table, stone stools, and a stone bed upon which rested a single prayer cushion.

Martial artists dedicated to the Dao seldom fussed over external comforts. Furthermore, the Dragon Lizard clan was known for its rugged customs, so naturally, they offered little in the way of luxury. Of course, the Dragon Lizards did treat the Soul Race and the Water Clan with special deference, putting in extra effort for their reception.

Audrey sat on the stone bed, her straight, beautiful legs crossed, her bright eyes sparkling, a faint smile of contentment playing on her lips.

Shi Yan stood near the stone table inside the room. A Phantom Realm Stone lay upon it. He released a wave of divine sense, embedding it into the stone, slowly imprinting his soul's mark to gain perfect control over it.

All seven Phantom Realm Stones needed this process—each one refined and etched with his soul signature before they could be used at will.

He imprinted his divine sense into the first one. As he channeled a mere sliver of divine power into it, the stone instantly brightened, shimmering as if inflating like a balloon, threatening to rapidly coalesce into a small world.

He smirked, nodding in satisfaction. He withdrew the divine power, praising the Phantom Realm Stone internally as truly extraordinary and perfectly suited for him.

Suddenly, a strange glimmer flashed in Audrey’s bright eyes from the stone bed. She pursed her lips and whispered softly, “Thank you.”

Shi Yan looked up and smiled at her.

Having returned to the stone chamber, Audrey had already bathed and changed into a dazzling silver silk dress. Her long hair, draped over her snow-white shoulders, was still damp, and the chamber was filled with the clean scent of her recent cleansing. Her fair, jade-like cheeks were touched with crystalline moisture, and her eyes shone like the cold moon.

Those unfamiliar with her would deem her aloof and unapproachable; in truth, she was often like that toward others. But at this moment, her expression was serene, even tinged with a hint of shyness. Head bowed, she murmured through gritted teeth, “Today, I benefited greatly from your efforts. It will bring immense improvement to my future realm and cultivation. I am profoundly grateful…”

The cave was deathly quiet, yet her soft whisper sounded loud and clear.

Putting down the Phantom Realm Stone, Shi Yan flashed a wide, relaxed smile and said, “It must be fate that brought us both to this Void Sea Realm. Here, as long as we hail from the same domain and know each other, mutual care is expected. Hmm, if you’re grateful, ha, how do you intend to show it?”

He had a habit of teasing casually, and he spoke this way partly to ease any hint of subservience Audrey might be feeling.

After arriving in the Void Sea Realm, the proud daughter of heaven from the Nether Emperor Clan had gradually accepted reality. She finally understood that the four great races of the Desolate Domain were nothing substantial. She realized that even with her Prime God cultivation, surviving in the Void Sea Realm on her own would be difficult. Here, she depended on Shi Yan’s protection for everything, a reality that was eroding her pride.

This was the first time she felt insecure, and although she masked it well, Shi Yan could sense it.

“How do you want me to express my gratitude?” The beautiful woman, still looking down, had her exquisitely drawn eyebrows tremble slightly, seeming intensely nervous and uneasy.

“Kiss me,” Shi Yan laughed broadly, grinning widely.

A streak of silver light flashed past, and a fragrant aura instantly enveloped him. Before he could react, he felt a soft, warm, yielding body suddenly press against him. A sensation like an electric shock bloomed on his left cheek, followed by the sound of the beauty whispering close to his ear, “Are you satisfied now?”

Shi Yan was utterly stunned, staring blankly at the woman pressed against him. She was clad in a silver silk dress that revealed the exquisite curves of her graceful figure. Her long legs were straight, and her shoulders, bare above the fabric, looked like white jade. She was positioned slightly lower than him, and when he looked down, he could see a tantalizing, deep valley between her full breasts.

In this moment, Audrey was devoid of her usual arrogance, completely stripped of her habitual high-and-mighty demeanor.

Her snow-white neck flushed crimson; her eyes were tightly shut, unwilling to meet his gaze. Her long eyelashes fluttered, betraying the intense nervousness churning within. She was undoubtedly inexperienced; this sudden kiss seemed to have consumed all her courage, leaving her flustered and unsure what to do next.

Audrey’s vulnerability in that instant nearly drove Shi Yan wild; his eyes instantly blazed with a heat as fierce as a boiling ocean!

The loneliness of the Void Sea Realm, the pressure from the seven great races, and the uncertainty of the future—all these emotions converged. He paused for a few seconds, his breath deepening, and with a sudden movement, pulled her fiercely into his embrace. He buried his face in her snow-white neck, nibbling passionately, while one hand climbed her straight, beautiful leg, lingering where her shapely hips met her thigh.

“Mmm…”

A shocking flush spread over the beauty’s body, which trembled convulsively as if shocked by electricity. She let out sounds like unconscious murmurs, collapsing utterly boneless in his arms, completely lost to the moment.

Years ago, when she returned from the Desolate Domain, a magnificent figure often occupied her heart…

Driven by this feeling, she had meticulously investigated the man’s history. She couldn't say what motivated her—only that she needed to know his past, his whereabouts, and his experiences.

When she learned of his notorious philandering, she had flared up in righteous anger, feeling a strange, inexplicable irritation. News of him was constantly circulated within her clan. On Giant Wave Star, she had watched him fight Heg, witnessed the fall of the most dazzling generation among the God Race in the sea of stars, and seen his comprehensive rise. The shadow he cast in her mind grew ever deeper.

Some things, without conscious realization, seep into the core of the heart and become indelible.

In her eyes, across the vast Desolate Domain, only that one man could ever stir her emotions. Regrettably, his boundless promiscuity had always caused her inner resistance, forcing herself not to dwell on him, compelling herself to ignore his existence.

Until, until she arrived in this Void Sea Realm—an unfamiliar environment where he was the only familiar face, with no one else from the Desolate Domain. There were no constraints from her mother’s clan, nor the distracting presence of other women by his side.

Here, she could finally release her soul and truly commit herself…

Shi Yan held her tightly, his mouth gliding down from her elegant neck, slowly tracing toward the most exquisite valley between her breasts. The body in his arms suddenly grew scorching hot, sending currents of sensation through him. For some inexplicable reason, embracing her form gave him an unprecedented, marvelous feeling.

It was as if their souls could unite, fostering something infinitely wonderful.

His hands ceaselessly explored, gradually slipping beneath the silk dress, moving over her smooth, ample body. His breathing grew heavy, like a beast, and he felt himself losing control, unable to stop.

However, just as he felt on the verge of collapse, about to lift her onto the stone bed, the stone door of the cave suddenly flew open.

Evelyn’s loud voice rang out simultaneously, “You’re back?”

Audrey snapped awake as if emerging from a dreamscape. Her entire body shuddered as she frantically broke free. Her face was so red it looked as if blood was seeping through; she instantly scrambled back to the stone bed, her form collapsing like mud against the stone wall. Her bodice was flung open, exposing half of her full, soft breasts, and the silk dress on her straight legs had ridden up to the very root, revealing a damp patch near her lower abdomen.

“Get out! You, you get out first!” Though she tried to shout, her voice was weak and listless. Her hands didn’t know where to go; she nervously tugged at the fabric near her chest and pulled down the hem of her skirt to cover her legs, appearing utterly embarrassed and helpless, as distressed as one could be. Her watery eyes were shrouded in an unshakeable mist, looking like something from a painting.

“Gulp!”

Shi Yan’s blood surged, his eyes burning like a sea of fire. He involuntarily swallowed hard.

After several deep breaths, he secretly circulated his profound insight, channeling a stream of coldness that instantly doused the flames, allowing him to stabilize his composure and return to relative normalcy. He glanced deeply at the woman curled limply on the stone bed and said in a low voice, “I don’t know why, but your effect on me surpasses anyone else! It’s simply unimaginable!”

Audrey’s body still trembled faintly, as if electricity continued to course through her. Her beautiful eyes were now shining again. She used a similar method of icy control to steady her mind before biting her lip, her face blushing deeply as she said, “I, I don’t know why either. I couldn't resist your… your advances at all; I was instantly submerged and lost. I think this might be related to the fact that our souls have both merged with the essence of the Ancient Continent. It’s truly inexplicable.”

Finishing, she bit her lower lip and scolded with a blush, “Hurry up and get out! They, they are already inside! We can discuss this later; I don’t want them to see me like this!”

Shi Yan chuckled wryly, then moved away from the stone chamber, returning to the larger hall outside.

As soon as he left, Audrey’s body went limp again, as if her bones had dissolved. Her heart hammered wildly. She pressed a hand to her chest, replaying the scene in her mind, feeling as if a fire was surging and churning within her body.

“Is this what things are like between a man and a woman? It’s such a… such an irresistible feeling.”

A captivating glow swam in her eyes, and countless thoughts bloomed in her mind. She sat there dazedly, immersed in the illusion, unable to recover for a long time.