Vandler was a member of the Phantom Race, who, years ago, led his retainers to invade the Cloud-Mist Domain. He was viewed as a deadly enemy by the local Cloud Folk, and the Phantom Race paid a terrible price to seize control.

The elder of the Cloud Folk, named Darsa, was now the chief of the tribe, yet previously, he was merely the leader of one of the Cloud Folk’s several great families.

When Vandler first infiltrated the Cloud-Mist Domain, Darsa keenly sensed an opportunity. He knew perfectly well the Cloud Folk stood no chance against the Phantom Race; defeat was only a matter of time. Darsa secretly colluded with Vandler, and his daughter, Cilan, became the intimate link between him and Vandler...

The specifics of the arrangement were difficult for outsiders to ascertain, but the result was Darsa creating a breach in the Cloud-Mist Domain, directly ushering Vandler and the Phantom Race's strong figures into the hidden location of the then-current Cloud Tribe Chief. Darsa and Vandler joined forces and struck down the previous generation's Cloud Tribe Chief.

With the death of the former Cloud Chief and Darsa's maneuvering from within, the Cloud Folk’s resistance soon crumbled. Ultimately, Darsa ascended as the new Chief of the Cloud Folk, and his daughter, Cilan, became Vandler’s lover.

Darsa and Vandler had reached an agreement long before: Darsa would become the Cloud Chief, and the Cloud Folk and the Cloud-Mist Domain would pledge allegiance to the Phantom Race, with Vandler as their primary authority.

It was a mutually beneficial bargain.

With Darsa's assistance, Vandler took command of the Cloud-Mist Domain and gradually solidified his footing, eventually grasping the entire domain in the palm of his hand.

With Darsa helping from the inside, coupled with Vandler’s undeniable talent, he quickly earned the respect of the Cloud Folk. Upon his arrival, Vandler did not engage in massive plunder; instead, he managed the Cloud-Mist Domain as his personal territory, even introducing many profound secrets and mysteries of the Phantom Race, gradually winning the genuine acceptance of the Cloud Folk.

It could be said that the trust and obedience of the Cloud Folk were directed solely at Vandler, rather than any other powerful figure within the Phantom Race.

The Cloud Folk had effectively become Vandler’s private army.

Now, Mandis had suddenly arrived, bringing with her Shi Yan and a Life Star. She appeared poised to bestow sovereignty over the Cloud-Mist Domain upon Shi Yan, something Vandler naturally could not accept, and neither could the Cloud Folk.

However, Mandis was the pinnacle expert of the Phantom Race, and Vandler dared not confront her openly. He suppressed his feelings, signaled Darsa to remain calm, and then said with a smile, "You have traveled a great distance; please, first take some time to rest. We can discuss other matters later. Grandmother, what do you think?"

"Shi Yan and the others will stay here. (Meiji) and I have been away from the tribe for too long; we must return immediately to manage the greater situation." Mandis perceived Vandler's thoughts but chose not to voice them directly. "Regarding this Cloud-Mist Domain, I have agreed that Shi Yan and his group will be the ones to govern it. You have no objections, do you?"

"Naturally, I will cooperate fully with whatever Grandmother decides," Vandler agreed instantly.

The Cloud Folk behind him all wore expressions of displeasure; this discontent was not directed at Vandler but at Mandis, Shi Yan, and their entourage.

"That is good then." Mandis fixed him with a deep glance, waved her hand, and commanded, "You may withdraw now; I have something to discuss with Shi Yan."

"Understood." Vandler withdrew with his subordinates and the Cloud Folk.

Mandis’s gaze sharpened. "Vandler has been too close to her these past years and is growing increasingly arrogant; he even dares to outwardly comply while inwardly defying my orders."

Meiji looked in the direction Vandler had departed, her mind turning over possibilities. "We have been gone for so long; I wonder if she has been making any subtle moves within the tribe..."

"Who?" Shi Yan asked, startled.

"Within our Phantom Race, besides Grandmother, there is another powerful figure; her name is Candice. She... is Grandmother's sister. Her realm... I am not entirely clear about it either," Meiji looked toward Mandis.

"Mandis? Candice? Sisters?"

Shi Yan’s expression was strange, a huge mystery swirling in his mind, though he said nothing outwardly.

As soon as Meiji mentioned Candice, Mandis’s delicate face suddenly grew cold, and she let out a chilling snort. "Don't even speak of you; even I am not entirely clear about her cultivation realm. However, based on my speculation, she must have also broken through to the Second Heaven of the Domain Ancestor Realm. Vandler’s advancement to the Domain Ancestor Realm was undoubtedly due to her assistance! My dear sister has held a grudge against me for years and has constantly vied with me, causing no end of trouble for me—hmph! If she weren't my sister, she would have died long ago!"

"May I be so bold as to ask, are you truly biological sisters?" Shi Yan asked curiously.

"Same father, different mothers," Mandis replied curtly, then barked, "I do not wish to discuss her further. I brought you to the Cloud-Mist Domain this time hoping you would become its master. If Vandler dares to scheme in the shadows, you deal with him directly! I know that although Vandler is in the Domain Ancestor Realm, since he only recently advanced, he shouldn't be able to defeat you! The warriors under his command, and those strong Cloud Folk experts, will certainly not be a match for the people by your side!"

"I did not come to the Phantom Race’s domain to invite trouble, nor do I wish to be entangled in your sisterly feud," Shi Yan frowned.

"Grandmother’s actions have a deeper meaning, actually. Beneath this sea of clouds..." Meiji began speaking while glancing at Mandis. Seeing Mandis nod, she continued earnestly, "Legend says the 'Fallen Star River' lies beneath this sea of clouds!"

"The Fallen Star River? What is that?" Shi Yan’s interest was piqued.

"A Primordial Divine Artifact! If a practitioner of the Star Mystery manages to possess the Fallen Star River, they will undoubtedly unleash infinite power! This Primordial Divine Artifact was extremely famous in the Primordial Era, rumored to possess the profound ability to command the stars of the heavens. When the Primordial Era ended, the Fallen Star River vanished, and no one knew where it went. Before our Phantom Race conquered this Cloud-Mist Domain, we heard from the oldest residents here that the firmament of the Cloud-Mist Domain once possessed the most brilliant river of stars, but one day, it suddenly fell into the depths of the sea, never to be seen again..." Meiji explained.

Shi Yan looked up at the sky and noticed that the firmament of the Cloud-Mist Domain was indeed overcast and gray, devoid of any brilliant, twinkling stars.

"The mystery Vandler cultivates is the Star Mystery. The reason he went to such lengths to break into the Cloud-Mist Domain and remains here to cultivate is precisely because of this legend," Meiji said, gazing down at the cloud sea. "Grandmother invited you to the Cloud-Mist Domain naturally hoping you could suppress Vandler, but also to offer you an opportunity—whether you can find the Fallen Star River depends on you. However, I received news that Vandler has been unusually active in the Cloud-Mist Domain recently; it seems he has found a clue, and that clue lies within the former sacred land of the Cloud Folk, the very location where the Divine Grace Continent now sits!"

Upon hearing this, Shi Yan's eyes finally lit up.

The Primordial Divine Artifact, the Fallen Star River! A divine weapon perfectly suited for a practitioner of the Star Mystery!

Taking a deep breath, Shi Yan smiled and said to Mandis, "Thank you for your consideration, Grandmother. I understand."

"Meiji mentioned... the refinement of your Mystery Origin Talismans doesn't require such cumbersome materials... Ahem, I dare to make a request just once. If there is another opportunity in the future, well, I will require one Primordial Origin Talisman. I also wish to use it to break through my current realm!" Mandis said seriously. "Rest assured, I will offer a sufficient price!"

"Easy enough!" Shi Yan grinned widely.

"Pat, pat!" Mandis clapped Shi Yan on the shoulder. "Meiji and I must return to the Phantom Race first. I need to confirm that Candice hasn't caused trouble in my absence. You handle the affairs of the Cloud-Mist Domain as you see fit; as for Vandler... you manage him too!"

...

In the depths of the vast, boundless sea of clouds, there was a stretch of continent spanning immense distances, upon which mountain peaks, towering into the clouds, stood majestically solemn.

At the apex of a mountain shaped like a colossal beast, there were numerous grand and magnificent palaces. This was the territory of the Darsa family. After Darsa and Vandler conspired to slay the previous Cloud Tribe Chief, this place became even more honored and prosperous, effectively the pinnacle of power for the Cloud Folk.

In a hall adorned with countless gems, Darsa, his daughter Cilan, and several strong figures from the tribe accompanied Vandler, along with Vandler’s elder sister, Fan Huimai.

Fan Huimai was Vandler’s full sister. As a woman of the Phantom Race, she was naturally stunningly beautiful and seductive, her eyes shimmering as if holding infinite allure. Her figure was voluptuous, clad in a deep crimson gown that plunged low, revealing swathes of fair, beautiful cleavage, causing the eyes of many Cloud Folk strongmen in the hall to burn with feverish desire.

Many young, robust, and skilled Cloud Folk youths secretly swallowed, looking at Fan Huimai without concealing their lust.

Fan Huimai giggled coquettishly, occasionally casting a seductive glance that made the Cloud Folk men's blood surge, nearly turning them into madd