In our era, the living beings were not as inexhaustible as they are now; there were only a few thousand of us, and many of those were not of high cultivation levels. Yet, in that time, there were far more powerful beings than in this current age!

Every sea of stars in that era belonged to a different type of being; every entity possessed its own domain. The domains of the weak held thin energy and barren celestial materials, while the strong seized the prime regions, controlling the most fertile star systems. Initially, although disputes arose, they did not escalate into large-scale battles.

This fragile peace endured for countless years. Many powerful beings broke through to extremely high realms, ascending to the second or even third heaven of the Domain Ancestor level. After that, however, all the mighty ones found themselves stuck at the third heaven of the Domain Ancestor, with no one knowing how to cultivate further or advance beyond that point.

All the powerful entities were trapped, unable to continue their breakthrough.

Then, a notion—it appeared without clear origin—suggested that the essence blood of us Primordial Beings, if increasingly merged and integrated, could shatter the evolutionary bottleneck, perfect ourselves, achieve a renewed metamorphosis, and subsequently step into the ultimate realm, a place none of us knew.

Some believed it and began attempting to slay lower-level beings, consuming their essence blood to refine their own lineage.

It was indeed practical and effective! That individual who first experimented grew immensely powerful, and then it began savagely hunting beings weaker than itself, constantly perfecting its essence blood, growing ever stronger!

This trend spread like a demonic fire, engulfing the entire sea of stars with an unstoppable momentum. All Primordial Beings, whether seeking power or purely defending themselves, were drawn into the fray, slaughtering one another. The strong absorbed the essence blood of the weak, while potentially facing assassination and consumption by even stronger entities.

Across countless millennia, the universe, once placid, descended into chaos due to this singular cause. In a mere span of tens of thousands of years, endless fighting caused the starscape to collapse; countless stars pulverized; heaven and earth were ruined; and beings faced extinction one by one.

The beings who ultimately survived were the most powerful. Yet, in the quest to transcend all others and enter the heavens beyond the Domain Ancestor realm, the battles among them did not cease. The result was the end of the Primordial Era: beings were nearly wiped out entirely, and those who survived were gravely wounded, falling into a prolonged slumber.

Huang, Shi, and Hui were among those severely injured sleepers who awoke only to find themselves in the next, new age.

Zi Yao explained the genesis of the conflict in that era, though she omitted the brutal specifics of the final battle. But Shi Yan could imagine how terrifying that confrontation must have been.

“All because of a rumor?” Shi Yan asked, astonished.

“It was not a rumor, but a fact. We confirmed it: by absorbing the Primordial Blood of the others, we could indeed perfect ourselves, evolve our life forms, and transform toward higher planes. If it weren't true, such a devastating war would never have erupted, nor would it have led to the termination of our age,” Zi Yao clarified.

“You truly believe one can transform life by absorbing Primordial Essence Blood?” Shi Yan was amazed.

“Legend says that before heaven and earth formed, there was only a single sleeping life in the universe, called ‘The Primordial.’ No one knows what it was, nor how it came to be. It is said that the universe and all existence were created by it; it is the source of all species, the very reason for the formation of heaven and earth.”

“Legend claims that after it split the heavens and opened the earth, its power was utterly depleted, and it perished. Its infinite body exploded, its flesh shattering into countless pieces, each fragment forming one of us, the Primordial Beings. The Primordial Blood within us is its purest lineage. By consuming each other’s blood, we could refine ourselves, slowly morphing toward what it was. It is rumored that whoever absorbs all the Primordial Blood can become the original entity…”

“That’s absurd,” Shi Yan shook his head.

“No, it is not absurd; I believe it is true.” Zi Yao’s expression grew solemn as she looked deeply at Shi Yan. “The Rune Pagoda of Profound Mysteries you assimilated is the key to the Gate of the Primordial. Opening that Gate allows entry into the depths of its mind, where one can learn the ultimate secrets of the Great Dao and the origin of all species.”

Shi Yan recoiled. “The Rune Pagoda of Profound Mysteries, the key to the Gate of the Primordial? Is that truly what they say?”

“This Rune Pagoda was refined from fragments of its skull bone; it is supremely mystical. Rumor holds that only the Rune Pagoda can unlock the Gate of the Primordial and allow exploration of its profound mysteries,” Zi Yao stated without a trace of jest. “This is why everyone fought desperately to seize the Rune Pagoda!”

“The Gate of the Primordial truly exists? And you know where it is?” Shi Yan’s expression was strange.

“I know where it is. In fact, our final battle took place right before the Gate of the Primordial. The rumor was that if one could break through past the Domain Ancestor realm and integrate the Primordial Blood to sufficient strength, one could directly blast open the Gate and enter the depths of its mind. Alas, even the mightiest among us, Huang, failed to reach that realm back then. The refinement of the Rune Pagoda was incomplete at that time. Now, after an entire era, it has fully materialized and can serve as the key. Had the Rune Pagoda been successfully refined then, we could have opened the Gate of the Primordial!” Zi Yao exclaimed.

Her account of the Primordial Era, the Rune Pagoda, and The Primordial was like opening an unfamiliar window for Shi Yan, allowing him to glimpse scenery entirely different from his current age.

His fragmented memories, jogged and developed by Zi Yao’s words, began to piece themselves together, bringing him knowledge and an impression of that era.

Passages of Primordial text, scenes upon scenes, gradually became clear within his secondary soul.

They were scenes of world-shattering battles!

It was the bloody conflict between Huang and countless colossal Primordial Beings—a battle so horrifyingly intense, so brutally savage, it was beyond comprehension!

Shi Yan suddenly closed his eyes, his body trembling slightly, as he absorbed the shockwave of those memories, seeking to understand the terror and cruelty of that age and uncover more of its secrets.

After a long, long while.

He emerged from those visions, his expression heavy, silent.

“Now, do you believe what I told you?” Zi Yao suddenly asked.

Shi Yan nodded, sighing. “I believe it. Those memories cannot be false; those past battles are still clearly imprinted deep within my mind.”

Within the confines of this valley, he and Zi Yao repeatedly exchanged information, probing the myriad mysteries of the Primordial Era.

It wasn't until he felt a stirring within the acupoints of his body that he finally spoke. “I need to purify my power.”

Zi Yao smiled radiantly. “I know your methods of cultivation are peculiar. Here, take these people. You have eliminated them; use them to enhance your strength.”

Beams of divine light enveloped Napton, Keith, Oliver, and several other Five Race powerhouses, delivering them into Shi Yan’s hands.

Shi Yan grinned widely, accepting them without courtesy. He seized Napton and the others, immediately casting them into his own domain to be refined through the Devouring Profound Mystery.

Concurrently, Zi Yao’s divine sense shifted, pulling out Xiao Lie and Jia Ni as well. Gazing at Jia Ni and Xiao Lie, who were bound by layers of seven-colored divine light, she spoke coldly, “You are not members of the Seven Tribes; the blood within you is highly suitable for me to brand. I will inscribe my mark deep within your soul altars. If you cooperate obediently, both of you can survive; otherwise, I will scatter your souls!”

With that, she gave neither Xiao Lie nor Jia Ni the chance to speak, once again retracting them into her own world.

In the valley.

Shi Yan and Zi Yao separately circulated their powers, refining Napton, Xiao Lie, Jia Ni, and the others, completing the matters left unfinished.

Outside the valley.

In the Sacred Divine Palace of the Tianmu Clan.

Evelyn, Adams, and Martial Brother and Sister Mahisha were reunited after several months.

“Hey, Little Ya, you broke through in your cultivation? You reached the Virtual God Realm?” Mahisha exclaimed upon arrival, staring at Evelyn’s disciple with utter confusion.

Evelyn smiled faintly. “The reason I called you both here is precisely because of this.”

“Because of Little Ya?”

“Yes,” Evelyn nodded, then addressed Little Ya. “Take out that crimson crystal and show your Martial Aunt and Martial Uncle.”

Little Ya reverently produced the small flame crystal gifted by Zi Yao, holding it so tightly her little hands gripped it desperately.

For these past months, relying solely on this small flame crystal, she had managed to gather divine power and successfully break through to the Virtual God Realm.

Previously, Shi Yan had claimed that the energy within this flame crystal could increase her cultivation speed tenfold and sustain her until she reached the Immortal Realm.

Not only did she disbelieve it, but even Little Ye hadn't, and her master, Evelyn, had been skeptical at the time.

But now, she was the first to believe it. From that tiny flame crystal, she sensed a seemingly inexhaustible torrent of fiery power!

“It’s this flame crystal. It was gifted by Shi Yan’s female companion, and the power it contains is simply immeasurable!” Evelyn’s expression was slightly agitated. “That’s not the most important thing; Little Ya, show them!”

Little Ya quickly circulated her power, and strands of orange-red flames rose slowly from her small hands. Then, the vibrant flame within the crystal bizarrely transformed, coalescing into a lifelike Phoenix rising from the ashes! The Phoenix adopted a posture of spreading its wings to soar, releasing intense waves of heat, as if struggling to break free from the ruby-red crystal!

Adams and Mahisha were stunned into silence. Adams stood frozen for a long moment, then suddenly convulsed, shouting, “It’s exactly the same as the totem of the Fire Phoenix Clan!”

“This is also why I summoned you,” Evelyn took a deep breath, her expression heavy. “Because it is identical to the sacred totem of the Fire Phoenix Clan, and its energy is terrifyingly potent, I was perplexed and needed you to help me figure out a course of action.”

“This…”

Mahisha and Adams exchanged a look, completely bewildered but secretly astonished.

Just then, a group of Fire Phoenix Clan members, personally escorted by the Old Patriarch of the Tianmu Clan from outside the star, arrived. An ancient, withered elder of the Fire Phoenix Clan, upheld by all his clansmen, stepped forward. This man was the pride of the Fire Phoenix Clan—their only Domain Ancestor!

On the exquisite armor covering his chest was the emblem of a phoenix rising from ashes. Under the respectful guidance of the Tianmu Clan’s Old Patriarch, he descended toward the surface of the star. Before he even fully landed, he suddenly trembled violently, letting out a frantic shriek. Abandoning everyone else, he charged directly toward Evelyn’s Divine Temple.

…RQ