A wisp of pale blue smoke, like a flash of lightning, shot through the dim, cold expanse of nothingness.

Within the blue vapor, Zhen Ru’s body contracted. She pressed one hand to her chest, clutching a walnut-sized, golden pill. The pill had already fused with the flesh of her wound, and rich, fragrant spiritual energy was being channeled from it into her muscles and blood.

The pierced wound ceased its bleeding, and as the pill’s energy replenished her, a hint of color returned to her face.

Even as she healed, she fled with all her might, her heart churning with anxiety and terror.

She repeatedly glanced back into the void behind her. Each turn made her expression grow sterner, and the dread in her heart intensified.

Two massive swords, forged from converging spatial light blades, advanced with an unparalleled, fierce momentum, tearing through the heavens and earth, ripping long fissures across the desolate void. From these cracks billowed an ancient, icy coldness, threatening to drag the world into eternal despair and ruin.

Faintly visible at the tip of one of those swords was Shi Yan’s soul imprint, indicating that a portion of Shi Yan’s mental will and spirit had been channeled into the colossal spatial blades, intent on relentlessly pursuing and killing her.

Suddenly, several massive, turbulent meteorites materialized in the star-field ahead. Zhen Ru secretly breathed a sigh of relief and swiftly dove into the cluster.

The meteors resembled mountains, islands, or the shattered remnants of fallen kingdoms. They were relatively close to one another, colored variously—some crimson, others ice-blue—and they constantly shifted under the influence of some magnetic field.

The moment Zhen Ru entered the mass, her form vanished instantly, and her speed naturally dropped.

She knew this asteroid field was formed by the distorted soul magnetism left behind after a Domain Overlord perished. Over countless years, this instability had gathered tens of thousands of meteorites, filling the area with a bizarre, potent energy that made it difficult even for slightly lower-ranked Ancestor Domain experts to escape easily.

She was familiar with this place.

Before coming to the Phantom Tribe, she had thoroughly studied the surrounding situation and had designated this area as her ultimate escape route, even setting up contingencies.

“Whoosh!”

The light smoke that was Zhen Ru pierced through the dense, swirling meteorites, reaching the center of the cluster.

A dark-gold meteorite stretching for a hundred miles stood out conspicuously among the smaller stones. Numerous stone pillars were arranged upon it in the pattern of the Nine Palaces and Eight Trigrams formation. From a distance, the meteorite pulsed with a faint golden sheen, containing violent energy fluctuations within.

Zhen Ru suddenly descended, landing atop one of the stone pillars. The pillar began to shake violently; golden light flowed like water inside it, forcing all the pillars to unleash soaring golden rays that interwove into a vast sea of gold.

Hundreds of figures from the Myriad Form Tribe suddenly coalesced from within those stone pillars, most of them possessing profound cultivation.

As soon as they materialized, they cried out joyously, “We welcome the Matriarch!”

“Gather your strength, activate the formation to shift heaven and earth!” Zhen Ru wasted no time, issuing a decisive command. “Begin immediately!”

The hundreds of Myriad Form Tribe members instantly shifted their comprehension of the profound mysteries, pouring their energy into the stone pillars.

In an instant, the terrifying power within the pillars converged, causing the massive meteorite to tremble fiercely, making the nearby smaller stones rumble and burst. Layers of dazzling golden light screens spread from the surface of the largest meteorite, enveloping it completely.

Strangely, as the golden light screens expanded, the meteorite began to shrink and contract, seemingly manifesting the innate divine ability of the Myriad Form Tribe to undergo limitless transformation.

Zhen Ru’s expression remained cold, her eyes showing deep seriousness. She dared not let down her guard and kept a vigilant watch behind her.

“Rumble! Rumble!”

Deafening explosions echoed out as expected. Distant, smaller meteorites shattered, followed by dazzling great blades that carved a path forward, tearing every obstructing rock to dust. With infinite intimidation, they charged headlong, continuing their relentless assault. The power that tore through space violently struck the newly formed golden light screen.

“Crack!”

Like an eggshell breaking, a sharp crack sounded through the brilliant golden light. Amidst the flying golden sparks, dozens of Myriad Form Tribe members had their divine bodies instantly turned into wisps of smoky ash.

They didn't even have time to let out a single agonizing scream.

The light blades, gathered from spatial power, weakened significantly after this single strike, gradually dimming.

After gathering strength for another blow, the colossal spatial blade completely dissipated, but the golden light screen had also shattered entirely. Another thirty-plus Myriad Form Tribe members were instantly annihilated, their souls scattered.

“Shi Yan! I swear eternal enmity with you! I will grind your bones to dust!”

Blood trickled from Zhen Ru’s lips as she ground her teeth fiercely, standing atop a stone pillar. She transmitted her bone-deep resentment across the spatial distance toward Shi Yan.

Because of her greed, her already sparse people had suffered a loss of one-fifth in one go—and all of them were elites. As the Matriarch of the Myriad Form Tribe, the pain was crushing, and she was filled with deep regret.

“Grind me to dust? Hmph! You will never have the chance in this lifetime!”

Within the Phantom Tribe’s domain, Shi Yan gently set Mei Ji down, stood up, and sneered coldly toward the heavens, responding to Zhen Ru’s threat.

Simultaneously, he reached out, grasping at something in the empty void.

A dazzling river of stars flew from the depths of the vast nothingness—it was the Fallen Star River, still sticky with blood that hadn't dried, blood he had unleashed against Fandler.

With a slight shake of the Fallen Star River, drops of Fandler’s blood fell, each one resembling a red pearl with a crimson luster.

The blood fell upon many members of the Phantom Tribe. Those warriors were first surprised, then their eyes filled with ecstasy.

“The blood of an Ancestor Domain expert is highly beneficial for refining your physique and transforming your physical bodies,” Shi Yan grinned menacingly.

“Thank you, Little Brother.”

“Thanks a lot, haha!”

“That’s exhilarating!”

Many Phantom Tribe members savored the benefits of Fandler’s blood, their spirits soaring, and they expressed their gratitude.

The old woman, whom Mei Ji called ‘Aunt Fang,’ showed an uneasy expression. After hesitating, she asked tentatively, “You… what did you do to Fandler? He is still a member of our Phantom Tribe, and one of our few Ancestor Domain experts. You wouldn’t have killed him, would you?”

Those who had been cheering moments before fell silent upon hearing this. Their expressions became complicated.

They were indeed very dissatisfied with Fandler and felt he deserved punishment, but if Fandler had truly been killed, they still felt a sense of sorrow. This person held some prestige within the Phantom Tribe, and even if he had erred, they didn't feel destruction was the necessary retribution.

Mei Ji’s complexion gradually regained color. Her life fluctuations intensified, and she opened her eyes. Her beautiful gaze held clear sadness. “Fandler and I were in the same small tribe back then; he took very good care of me. Alas, I never imagined we would become mortal enemies one day.”

“Rest and recover. He won't die. He cultivates the profound mystery of the stars; my Fallen Star River only incapacitates him temporarily and cannot claim his life,” Shi Yan said softly.

At these words, many Phantom Tribe members secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

They were unhappy with Fandler, but they didn't wish to see him killed by an outsider like Shi Yan. Even Mei Ji could not bring herself to kill the kinsman who had once cared for her.

“Aunt Fang, you must immediately go to the Central Communication Hall and contact Grandma!” Mei Ji’s heart suddenly stirred with unease. “Candice and Fandler dared to act rashly; there must be anomalies at Grandma’s end too. Hurry and report the situation here, telling her to be extremely careful!”

Aunt Fang and several of the older Phantom Tribe members suddenly understood and rushed toward the Central Communication Hall at their fastest speed.

Previously, the Hall had been controlled by Candice and Fandler’s faction. After Candice and Fandler fled, although many parts of the Hall were damaged, the core communication stones had not all been disabled.

Soon, Aunt Fang and a few Phantom Tribe members arrived at the Communication Hall, fumbling and working among the ruins.

Shi Yan frowned, waiting for news, eager to ascertain the situation on Mandis’s side.

Several minutes later, Aunt Fang and the others returned, their faces ashen. “We can’t reach