The Essence of the Star hovered before him, like a crystal-clear, tempting diamond. It rotated ceaselessly. A series of dazzling, bright lights slowly streamed from the tips of Ji Changkong’s ten fingers, converging upon the fist-sized Essence of the Star. Under the illumination of the ten beams, the Essence of the Star erupted with a brilliance so blinding it hurt to look at, and thin streams, visible like flowing water, began to ooze from it.

He extended a hand, palm facing upwards, catching the strange liquid flowing from the Essence of the Star. The essence that poured out pooled in his palm, unexpectedly forming a small vortex. As the vortex spun, the liquid within his palm gradually vanished, as if seeping directly into Ji Changkong’s skin.

Suddenly, Ji Changkong seemed to become a source of light, his entire body illuminating. Beneath his flesh, specks of starlight glittered brightly, slowly circulating along the path of his Yuan Power.

From afar, Zhou Qiangwei’s beautiful eyes were fixed on Ji Changkong, unblinking.

The Seven Star Heaven Realm required tempering the body with the Essence of the Star. This fellow was truly inscrutable. When he was merely in the Eight Trigrams Heaven Realm, he could fight Duke Bag Jiu to a draw, radiating an aura of profound mystery. In just a few short periods, he had already broken through to the Seven Star Heaven Realm. If he met Bag Jiu again, would he emerge victorious? Zhou Qiangwei pondered silently.

Zhou Qiangwei did not know that Ji Changkong had already poisoned Bag Jiu to death in the Poison Valley several months prior.

When cultivating, one often loses track of time. This tempering of Ji Changkong’s body with the Essence of the Star did not employ the “Extreme Body Tempering Technique.” Instead, he slowly guided the essence from the Star Essence through his Yuan Power, allowing it to flow gently within his body, permeating every tendon, meridian, and cell of his limbs and frame.

The Seven Star Heaven Realm demanded the tempering of the body with the Essence of the Star from each of the seven stars of the Big Dipper, meaning the body must contain the Star Power of every single star. However, a person’s meridians and bones could not absorb too much Essence of the Star; balance was crucial.

The Essence of the Star from a single star, once a sufficient quantity was absorbed, provided ample benefit to the body. Any excess would yield no further advantage, and might instead cause the body’s meridians to stiffen or even become blocked.

Therefore, Ji Changkong did not utilize the body’s maximum capacity—the “Extreme Body Tempering Technique”—to force the Essence of the Star to circulate violently. He knew that the meridians and bones within him still needed to absorb the Star Dust or Essence of the Star from the remaining six stars of the Big Dipper. Having too much power from just one star would ultimately be detrimental.

While cultivating with the Essence of the Star, Ji Changkong curiously discovered a sense of profound comfort and tranquility within his Divine Soul. After being tempered by the Star Essence, his Divine Soul seemed to have found a superior environment for advancement, and his senses in every aspect felt distinctly heightened.

Half a month later, Ji Changkong suddenly awoke, and the scattered points of light flowing over his body vanished instantly.

Standing up, he first glanced at Zhou Qiangwei. Seeing her face flushed and sitting quietly with vibrant energy, he relaxed. Ji Changkong slowly drew a deep breath. “Someone is approaching. Be cautious.”

The Celestial Winged Dragon also seemed to sense the anomaly. It soared out from the Poison Dragon Pool and landed beside Ji Changkong.

The fierce beasts nearby, seeing the Celestial Winged Dragon emerge from the Poison Dragon Pool, began to gather in the area, their eyes gleaming fiercely, silently waiting for something.

The fierce beasts of the Poison Dragon Pool possessed an innate sensitivity to danger, especially highly spiritual beasts like the Celestial Winged Dragon. They could sense any individual who might pose a threat to them long before they arrived.

The movements of the beasts and Ji Changkong made Zhou Qiangwei realize that enemies might be coming to the Poison Dragon Pool. Her heart tightened, and instinctively, she only wanted to stay closer to Ji Changkong, immediately moving toward him.

“Could it be the Chi Yi Clan? After learning my whereabouts from Zhongli Hui, perhaps they’ve come. Maybe even people from my Ye family…” Zhou Qiangwei murmured.

“Unlikely. Zhongli Jingyi shouldn't be that sort of person. Besides, he visited the Poison Dragon Pool with Zhongli Hui back then. If it were Zhongli Jingyi approaching, the fierce beasts wouldn't be displaying such high alert,” Ji Changkong shook his head, explaining.

Zhou Qiangwei let out a slight sigh of relief and forced a weak smile. “It’s a relief if it isn't him. If it were him coming with my mother, I truly, truly wouldn't know what to do.”

The sound of crunching footsteps grew louder. The arrivals seemed aware of the keen vigilance of the beasts in the Poison Dragon Pool and made no attempt to conceal their approach.

A moment later, a group of several dozen Heavenly Masters from the Yellow Yi Clan emerged from behind the dense thicket. The leader was savagely featured and powerfully built; it was none other than Prince Zaxi of the Yellow Yi Clan, who had fled in humiliation the last time.

“It’s you again! Do you not tire of living?” Upon seeing only Zaxi, Ji Changkong relaxed slightly, his expression calm.

“Oh! A beauty is here too! Hah! Excellent!” Zaxi’s eyes, filled with lust, swept over Zhou Qiangwei, and he suddenly became animated, laughing loudly.

Zhou Qiangwei looked disgusted, too weary to speak to such a man, and remained silent with a frozen expression.

After returning from the Chi Yi Clan, Ji Changkong understood why Zaxi had previously targeted Zhou Qiangwei’s Ye family members. The Ye family, hailing from the Central Lands, intended to marry Zhou Qiangwei off to Zhongli Jingyi, hoping that once Zhongli Jingyi achieved prominence, he could bring greater benefits to the Ye family.

As one of the Seven Great Families of the Central Lands, the Ye family held influence in every corner of the world. If Zhongli Jingyi secured the Ye family’s support, it would greatly benefit his status in the Southern Yi territories. The alliance between the Ye family and Zhongli Jingyi...

Zaxi, as the Prince of the Yellow Yi Clan and a candidate for the future Holy Lord of the Southern Yi, clearly viewed Zhongli Jingyi as his greatest enemy and did not want him to ally with the Ye family.

Upon receiving news from Ye Youshan that the Ye family had arrived, he naturally sought to sabotage this marriage alliance beneficial to Zhongli Jingyi. If he could humiliate Zhou Qiangwei and her mother before they reached the Chi Yi Clan, and then spread the word, Zhongli Jingyi would never marry Zhou Qiangwei.

By doing so, the Ye family would assume Zhongli Jingyi lacked capability, unable to protect even a woman, ensuring the marriage would fail. It might even bring trouble upon Zhongli Jingyi.

With Zaxi’s utterance, Ji Changkong immediately knew that Zaxi’s arrival was likely not because of Zhou Qiangwei, otherwise, he wouldn't have been surprised to see her. If he wasn't here for Zhou Qiangwei, he must be here for the Poison Dragon Pool or Ji Changkong himself. Regardless of his motive, Ji Changkong would not let him leave satisfied.

Patting the massive head of the Celestial Winged Dragon, the beast let out a low roar that echoed throughout the entire Poison Dragon Pool.

At the Celestial Winged Dragon’s roar, all the fierce beasts shook their heads and swayed, ready to pounce on these outsiders who dared to threaten them.

“Zaxi, I let you escape last time. Will you be so lucky this time?” Ji Changkong smiled nonchalantly, suddenly soaring into the sky, streaking towards Zaxi like a falling meteor.

The Seven Star Heaven Realm allowed him to soar freely through the sky. Although it was only a single level breakthrough, Ji Changkong could finally fly in the void—something he couldn't even achieve by borrowing the power of the Heaven Origin Pearl.

“Who said anything about escaping?” Zaxi smiled, glancing at the bald elder beside him. “Elder Lu Qi, what do you think?”

The bald elder kept his eyes lowered, spared Ji Changkong a glance, and slowly nodded. A small arrow suddenly shot out from his sleeve.

Ji Changkong, flying in the void, prepared to meet the arrow cautiously upon seeing it launch, even pulling out the Dragon Radiance from his Mustard Seed Pouch.

Unexpectedly, the small arrow did not fly toward him. It exploded mid-air, blossoming into a sun pattern resembling a sunflower.

Swish! Swish! Swish!

The sharp whistling sound of iron arrows slicing through the air shattered the calm. A massive arrow, ten feet long, tore through the void and suddenly shot toward him from afar. The projectile was long and thick, like a drawn sword; wherever it passed, sand and stones flew, and large trees shattered upon impact.

The arrow carried an overwhelmingly sharp, domineering aura, seemingly intending to grind anything blocking its path into dust.

Ji Changkong’s expression changed abruptly. He dared not hesitate, drawing the power stored in the Heaven Origin Pearl into his body with all his might while still in the void.

In the Seven Star Heaven Realm, his body had been refined by the Essence of the Star, and his Divine Soul had undergone a rebirth. The current Ji Changkong possessed a vastly increased power compared to his state in the Eight Trigrams Heaven Realm.

Precisely because of this, when he absorbed the power of the Heaven Origin Pearl, he immediately sensed the energy flowing into his body was fast and fierce. In an instant, his body was saturated with immense power, giving him an urgent need to release it.

Due to his realm advancement, the amount of power he could borrow from the Heaven Origin Pearl seemed to have increased significantly. This power stored within him far surpassed what he could absorb in the Eight Trigrams Heaven Realm.

ROAR!

With a furious bellow, the Dragon Radiance in his hand transformed into a blood dragon. Amidst a surging tide of blood, the Blood Dragon Great Nine Styles—The Decisive Strike—was executed flawlessly. A terrifying, world-destroying energy was contained within the blood tide, surging toward the massive arrow like an unleashed flood.

A deafening explosion erupted from the Poison Dragon Pool. Under the clear blue sky, a light so blinding it hurt the eyes suddenly appeared, accompanied by a soul-shaking roar, releasing fierce waves of energy that spread in all directions through the void.

Wherever this wave of energy passed, the ground shook violently, and towering ancient trees were uprooted. Three Yellow Yi Heavenly Masters, who were too close to the impact site, were instantly pulverized by the bursting energy wave as they couldn't evade in time.

After the explosion subsided, the area was a scene of devastation, agonizing to behold—not a single branch ten feet long, not a single stone the size of a fist remained.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Ji Changkong fell back to the ground from the void, clutching his long saber, breathing slightly heavily. His arms felt numb, but a fierce desire for combat surged within him. “Who! Show yourself!”

He could sense that the person who launched that arrow was absolutely not an ordinary Eight Trigrams Heavenly Master. The power contained within that single arrow was even greater by a small measure than the full force of Bag Jiu’s ultimate strike back then. Moreover, at the moment the arrow shattered, Ji Changkong recognized that it was just an ordinary iron arrow, not something magical like the Star, Moon, and Sun Arrows that paired with the Sun Radiance Bow.

For a mere iron arrow to possess such astonishing power meant that the attacker not only possessed profound Yuan Power but also that his mastery of archery had reached a level unattainable by most.

Zaxi and the bald elder stared with expressions of shock and disbelief at Ji Changkong, who stood proudly holding his long saber.

Even Zhou Qiangwei was startled, her beautiful eyes wide with astonishment. She knew Ji Changkong was powerful, but she hadn't expected him to be so overwhelmingly strong that a single swing of his saber could cause such a massive disturbance, a feat capable of splitting mountains and clearing land.

“The younger generation is truly formidable!” a deep shout suddenly came from afar. In an instant, Arrow God Gong, the First Elder of the Divine Archer Sect, appeared, holding a great bow.

“Arrow God Gong!” Ji Changkong exclaimed, his expression shifting to one of alarm. “As the highest-ranking elder of the Divine Archer Sect, why have you come all the way to the Poison Dragon Pool in the Cloud Dream Marsh, and why have you rashly attacked me?”

“Zaxi mentioned there was a young expert guarding the Poison Dragon Pool. I wanted to see what kind of young expert was so formidable that even the Eight Trigrams Heavenly Master Bag Jiu was forced to retreat. Now that I see you, your reputation is well-deserved,” Arrow God Gong scrutinized Ji Changkong with great interest, his face filled with admiration.

Ji Changkong snorted coldly. “Is this how you choose to demonstrate your admiration—by launching a sneak attack from behind?”

Arrow God Gong showed no embarrassment, smiling faintly. “A true master is a powerful Heavenly Master who fears no ambush and is unconstrained by trivial matters. Since Zaxi called you a young expert, you should naturally be able to withstand one of my arrows. The result proves you indeed could handle it.”

“Enough talk. What is your true purpose for coming to the Poison Dragon Pool?” Ji Changkong asked impatiently.

“I seek an item. If young brother is willing to let me take that item from the Poison Dragon Pool, then for any matter young brother faces in the Southern Yi territories in the future, you may come to Heavenly Wolf Mountain to find me,” Arrow God Gong said with a smile.

“Star River Water?” Ji Changkong inquired.

His eyes brightened, and the smile on Arrow God Gong’s face grew wider. “Since Brother Ji brings this up, it seems the rumors outside are true.”

“That’s right. I am here to request the Star River Water of the Poison Dragon Pool. If young brother is willing to part with it, I will pay any price. Young brother, I hear you guard the Poison Dragon Pool. You must be able to communicate with its fierce beasts. Could you explain to them that we mean no offense, we only wish to beg for the Star River Water within the pool, and do not wish to engage in a major conflict with them?”

“There is no Star River Water in the Poison Dragon Pool. I fear you will be disappointed,” Ji Changkong shook his head.

Arrow God Gong frowned slightly but replied calmly, “Young brother, why be so unaccommodating? Although the Star River Water is precious, gaining the friendship of our Divine Archer Sect—is that not satisfying enough? Young brother, tell me, what exactly do you want? As long as I can manage it, I will certainly do my best.”

He paused, then added, “You know, with the power of our Divine Archer Sect, forcibly taking the Star River Water from the Poison Dragon Pool is not an insurmountable task. I am persuading you nicely because I do not wish to make an enemy of a future overlord like yourself, nor do I wish to see the fierce beasts of the Poison Dragon Pool harmed.”

After pondering for a moment, Ji Changkong suddenly asked, “Do you truly desire the Star River Water that much?”

Arrow God Gong’s expression lit up with joy. “If young brother assists me, you will win the friendship of the Divine Archer Sect. I see that your true strength lies in the Seven Star Heaven Realm, yet you withstood my arrow. This is truly exceptional. Though I do not know who you are, I am certain you will become one of the overlords of the world in the future. I believe young brother will certainly have need of our Southern Yi Divine Archer Sect someday.”

So, Zaxi and the others had not revealed his identity to him. Ji Changkong was inwardly stunned. After hesitating for a moment, Ji Changkong smiled broadly. “Fine. I will give you the Star River Water.”

“You have it?” Arrow God Gong’s joy intensified.

Zaxi’s face changed, his eyes filled with a strange look. He had spread the rumor about the Star River Water in the Poison Dragon Pool, and he knew perfectly well that no such thing existed there. Ji Changkong suddenly claiming to possess it made him, the insider, realize something was wrong.

“Of course,” Ji Changkong said with a slight smile. He reached out and patted the Celestial Winged Dragon’s head, saying cheerfully, “You see, I am on such friendly terms with the fierce beasts of the Poison Dragon Pool that I can have them do anything for us. A mere Star River Water is certainly no issue.”

“That makes sense,” Arrow God Gong nodded, smiling and praising him. “Brother Ji is truly extraordinary. It seems it won't be long before the world has its youngest Eight Trigrams Heavenly Master.”

“Thank you for the compliment.” Ji Changkong put away the Dragon Radiance saber in his hand, took out half a bottle of “Heavenly Poison” from his Mustard Seed Pouch, and casually tossed it over. The “Heavenly Poison” floated in mid-air, slowly drifting toward Arrow God Gong.

Arrow God Gong took the small bottle of “Heavenly Poison” with a smile that did not diminish, feeling quite gratified. “Splendid! Coming to the Poison Dragon Pool today was truly my most correct decision. Not only do I obtain the Star River Water, but I also get to know a heroic figure like young brother! Splendid! Truly splendid!”

“Great Elder, getting this Star River Water seems too easy. Perhaps… perhaps there’s a catch,” Zaxi quickly interjected. He, Wan Xiongjie, Gong Ba, and the others had planned to use the “Heavenly Poison” to ambush Arrow God Gong. Having a guilty conscience and knowing Ji Changkong couldn't possibly produce the Star River Water, he was genuinely anxious that Ji Changkong might form an alliance with Arrow God Gong.

“Great Elder, it’s always best to be cautious. Shouldn’t we have someone test it first?” the bald elder frowned.

“Unless it is the ‘Heavenly Poison’ from the Myriad Poisons Sect, what other poison could possibly harm me?” Arrow God Gong let out a knowing laugh. He glanced at the bald elder again and waved his hand. “Even if it were a potent poison, I would survive, and others would surely die. There’s no need to send others to their deaths.”

“That is the ‘Heavenly Poison’,” Ji Changkong chuckled.

“Brother, please don't be angry.”

Arrow God Gong smiled, then added, “Zaxi spoke casually, don't mind him. I trust you.” He thought Ji Changkong was angry and deliberately used words to provoke him, seeming a bit apologetic.

Saying this, Arrow God Gong undid the small cap on the “Heavenly Poison,” looking as if he intended to consume it immediately. (To be continued)

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