"The Star Sea" is the protective grand formation of the Auroran Cult, connecting to the Danjin Star Domain and possessing various miraculous uses. Once the "Star Sea" is established, it can accelerate the rate at which the spiritual energy of heaven and earth gathers in a place; the "Star Sea" is simultaneously a spiritual array that gathers this energy and a deadly formation that slaughters enemies like cutting weeds.

Sensing the potential crisis facing Xuanyuan Valley, Ji Changkong began taking precautions. Once the "Star Sea" took shape, not only would Xuanyuan Valley gather much denser spiritual energy, but it would also be truly enveloped. Should Xuanyuan Valley ever come under siege, the "Star Sea" would become a deadly trap for any who dared approach.

The "Star Sea" was originally the protective grand formation of the Auroran Cult, but regrettably, even the current Holy Land of the Auroran Cult has not managed to deploy it. This is partly because establishing the "Star Sea" requires an unimaginable supply of cultivation materials, and partly because the core method for its deployment was lost with the disappearance of the previous Cult Master.

Even Mu Luo was unclear about the most crucial mystery of the "Star Sea," but seeing Ji Changkong's intent to deploy it, he naturally understood that Ji Changkong must have obtained the deployment method from the Auroran Cult's Holy Land along with it. Otherwise, Ji Changkong wouldn't have proposed such a thing.

Once the decision was made, Ji Changkong immediately set into action. Deploying the "Star Sea" demanded colossal human and material resources. Fortunately, Xuanyuan Valley now boasted nearly ten experts at the Eight Trigrams Heaven Realm, with an even greater number of experts from the Seven Stars Heaven and ______ Heaven Realms.

The various rare materials required for the "Star Sea" were staggering in quantity; the sheer number of Top-Grade Supreme Origin Stones alone numbered in the tens of thousands!

In addition to the terrifying amount of Origin Stones, various extremely precious spiritual treasures were needed. The most significant reason the Auroran Cult currently couldn't deploy the "Star Sea" was the difficulty in gathering so many rare heavenly materials and earthly treasures.

Ji Changkong first conferred with Mu Luo, detailing the primary specifics of deploying the "Star Sea." Then, he sought out Han Hai, Mo Yunyi, Xiao Xing, Gui Rong, Gui Hai, Ji Yuying, Ji Yuxing, and other high-level figures from the three factions, gathering them in the Ji family's assembly hall.

Han Hai, Mo Yunyi, Xiao Xing, Xiao Porshan, Gui Rong, Ji Yuxing, and the others had no idea what Ji Changkong planned. When they heard he intended to construct a grand defensive formation for Xuanyuan Valley, they all became interested, pressing Ji Changkong for details.

"Changkong, this grand formation called the 'Star Sea'—what conditions does it require?" Mo Yunyi asked.

"Tens of thousands of Top-Grade Supreme Origin Stones, thousands of types of rare cultivation materials, and in addition, the assistance of several Eight Trigrams Heaven Masters!" Ji Changkong stated.

At these words, everyone in the assembly hall was dumbfounded. Even those as knowledgeable and affluent as Xiao Xing, Gui Hai, and Gui Rong wore expressions of shock, completely stunned.

"Ah!!" Ji Yuxing’s eyes rolled back, and he nearly fainted right there.

"Ch-Changkong, what on earth are you trying to pull off? This… how can a grand formation require so many things? Heavens!" Fu Hai muttered, rubbing his forehead.

"What an ambitious undertaking!" Xiao Porshan exclaimed low, his eyes gleaming as he stared deeply at Ji Changkong. "Young man, your audacity belies your age! What precisely are you planning?"

"To transform Xuanyuan Valley into the most terrifying death-trap in this world. Anyone who dares move against Xuanyuan Valley will suffer an unimaginably heavy blow!" Ji Changkong declared gravely.

"Once this 'Star Sea' takes form, how will Xuanyuan Valley change?" Gui Rong inquired.

"Firstly, once the 'Star Sea' is formed, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth in Xuanyuan Valley will become dozens of times richer! Even if Xuanyuan Valley is unguarded, we need not fear the intrusion of a few Eight Trigrams Heaven Masters! Even if an Eight Trigrams Heaven Master recklessly enters the 'Star Sea,' they will be blasted into dust by it!" Ji Changkong articulated each word deliberately.

Bang!

Xiao Porshan slammed his palm onto the chair beneath him, shattering it to pieces, and stood up abruptly, roaring, "Excellent! If the Star Sea truly has such power, we will raise it even if it means bankrupting our families! If that is true, what fear does Xuanyuan Valley have left? Whether it’s the Huangfu family or that Chu family, if they dare approach Xuanyuan Valley, we will make them regret it!"

Gui Rong, Gui Hai, Xiao Xing, Mo Yunyi, and the others all stood up as well, their faces alight with uncontrollable excitement. They exchanged glances, their breathing becoming slightly ragged.

The impact of the "Star Sea" on them was too immense. Merely its wondrous effect of making the spiritual energy dozens of times denser was enough to make them willing to pay any price to achieve it.

Imagine: if Xuanyuan Valley’s spiritual energy became dozens of times denser, it meant that the disciples of the three families cultivating there would advance roughly ten times faster than before!

What kind of concept was that? It meant that a Heaven Master cultivating in Xuanyuan Valley for one day would be equivalent to cultivating for ten-plus days outside! It meant the young members of the Ji, Gui Sect, and Xiao families would start ahead of everyone else from birth and maintain a commanding lead!

Furthermore, with the "Star Sea" established, Xuanyuan Valley would become an absolute death-trap capable of slaying Eight Trigrams Heaven Masters. This meant that even if the current experts were away, they wouldn't need to worry about anything happening to Xuanyuan Valley; it meant they could pursue their ambitions without hesitation, free from worry!

"As long as the 'Star Sea' truly possesses this capability, my Gui Sect will support it with everything we have, even if it means ruin!" Gui Rong took a deep breath and immediately pledged his support.

"No need for words. All of the Xiao family's reserves will be put forth!" Xiao Xing decided resolutely.

"As for our Ji family… it seems we have nothing," Ji Yuxing said somewhat embarrassedly, his old face flushing red with awkwardness.

In recent years, the Ji family had cultivated using the materials brought back by the Gui Sect from the Gray Mountain Range, trading those materials with the Chen family’s Spiritual Treasure Pavilion for various goods, and relying on the accumulated assets of Ji Changkong. Compared to the Gui Sect and the Xiao family, the Ji family truly seemed to have nothing noteworthy to offer.

Ji Yuying smacked his lips, let out a dry chuckle, and shook his head without speaking.

Ji Changkong had given him some items, and originally, he intended to say that the Ji family did have some foundation. However, thinking of the wealth held by the Gui Sect and the Xiao family, he suddenly felt that what he possessed was utterly insignificant, so he held his tongue.

"Your Ji family has Changkong; that already means you have made great strides. Without Changkong, even with all the heavenly materials, we wouldn't know how to deploy the 'Star Sea'!" Xiao Xing noticed the embarrassment of Ji Yuxing and Ji Yuying and offered a comforting smile.

"Second Grand-uncle, Third Grand-uncle, there’s no need to feel awkward. Hehe, what our Ji family can offer might not be less than theirs…" Ji Changkong said with a sly grin.

"Boy, what does your Ji family have?" Xiao Porshan stroked his beard and teased. "Stop boasting. If you don't have it, you don't have it. We won't mock you."

Gui Rong, Gui Hai, and Xiao Xing also smiled kindly. They knew the Ji family’s foundation was thin; much of their cultivation in Xuanyuan Valley over the years had been subsidized by the other two families. They inwardly thought Ji Changkong was talking nonsense.

"Han Zhou."

Ji Changkong gestured toward Han Hai and chuckled, "Everyone looks down on us. Tell them, are we truly that lacking?"

Han Hai smiled and said, "Gentlemen, you've misjudged this. Changkong truly brought back quite a few valuable things this time. I suspect if his own coffers weren't full, he wouldn't have dared to conceive the idea of deploying the 'Star Sea' in the first place."

"Oh?" Xiao Xing became interested, smiling as he looked at Ji Changkong. "After taking a trip out, did you manage to amass wealth comparable to the Xiao family's or Gui Sect's accumulation over hundreds of years?"

"Not quite comparable, but I certainly acquired significant gains." Ji Changkong took out ring after ring from his Spatial Pouch, saying with a smile, "I took a trip to the Southern Yi to visit the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect and managed to loot much of their accumulated wealth. The savings of several Elders and Qu Le are now in my hands. Hehe, plus the countless rare flowers and strange herbs from the Poison Dragon Pool in the Cloud Dream Marsh, and the Black Jade Origin Crystals at the bottom—tell me, is our Ji family truly penniless?"

"Ah?" Ji Yuxing cried out in extreme delight, shouting excitedly, "Changkong, is that true?"

Nodding affirmatively, Ji Changkong replied, "Without this foundation to support it, how would I dare conceive the idea of deploying the 'Star Sea'?"

"You are formidable!" Xiao Porshan exclaimed in disbelief, "Boy, what did you eat to grow up? You not only connected with the Divine Archer Gate during your trip to the Southern Yi but also cleaned out the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect? You are too ferocious!"

"Wonderful!" Gui Hai rubbed his hands and laughed heartily. "If the three of us join forces, with the resources we command, we can certainly give it a try. If we manage to bring the 'Star Sea' to fruition, as long as the 'Star Sea' remains unbroken, our three families will stand supreme under heaven!"

"Uncle Han will contact the Chen family's Spiritual Treasure Pavilion, the Southern Yi Divine Archer Gate, and the Auroran Cult of the Western Regions. We can use our excess cultivation materials to exchange for what we need from them. However, deploying the 'Star Sea' might also require some unique materials from the Northern Barbarians and the Eastern Sea. I have no recourse there; I can only rely on the Spiritual Treasure Pavilion for exchanges," Ji Changkong frowned.

"For the Eastern Sea and Northern Barbarians, we don't need to operate entirely through the Spiritual Treasure Pavilion. Our Xiao family has connections in both regions. List the materials needed from those two areas for me; our Xiao family will procure them first. If we can't get them, then you can approach the Spiritual Treasure Pavilion," Xiao Xing offered.

"Haha, so Uncle Xiao has connections in the Northern Barbarians and the Eastern Sea. No wonder the Xiao family, despite its low profile, possesses hidden strength even more formidable than the Ye family!" Ji Changkong laughed.

Xiao Xing let out a dry chuckle. "If we didn't work hard, we would have long ago been sacrificed as cannon fodder by the Chu family."

"Then it's settled. Our three families will work together. For this period, we will focus on finding the necessary heavenly materials and earthly treasures, while Mu Luo and I study the terrain of Xuanyuan Valley to determine the most optimal starting point."

"Indeed. If you need anything, just say the word. For the prosperity of our three families, we will offer our full support," Xiao Xing nodded.

"Boy, what exactly are you trying to turn Xuanyuan Valley into with this endeavor? Once the 'Star Sea' is formed, Xuanyuan Valley will likely never fear the three major Imperial Families again," Xiao Porshan mused, seemingly lost in thought.

"I want to make Xuanyuan Valley a power comparable to the Guiyuan Sect, the Qiankun Sect, or the Manichaeism! A power universally revered! A place where everyone mentions Xuanyuan Valley with utter awe! A place where the Chu, Huangfu, and Wu Imperial Families must bow down at our feet! Coming to pay their respects at Xuanyuan Valley every year!" Ji Changkong's expression turned serious as he spoke gravely.

"Good! Good! Good!" Xiao Porshan roared his approval, heartily clapping Ji Changkong on the shoulder and laughing loudly, "What an arrogant ambition! But I like it! My Xiao family will certainly give our full support. I also want to see the Chu family bowing at our feet!"

Mo Yunyi, Ji Yuxing, Gui Rong, and the others looked on with unrestrained excitement and elation. The beautiful vision Ji Changkong painted revealed a new world, a future belonging entirely to Xuanyuan Valley!

"Before the 'Star Sea' is complete, we must not leak any information, lest someone interfere with our grand project mid-way. Even among our own people, it must be kept secret for now," Xiao Xing suggested after some thought.

Everyone nodded repeatedly, eagerly launching into a fervent discussion about the "Star Sea." The elders put their heads together, carefully considering every detail and pre-emptively devising countermeasures to ensure everything proceeded flawlessly.

This deliberation lasted a full two days and two nights. Everyone left the Ji family's assembly hall invigorated, having thoroughly dissected every problem related to the "Star Sea." They then began the massive procurement and exchange of the required materials with smiling faces.

The Ji family, Gui Sect, and Xiao family deployed their networks, along with vast human and material resources, to secretly communicate with various powers across the world, sending out the resources they controlled to trade for the necessary heavenly materials and earthly treasures.

The Spiritual Treasure Pavilion, the Southern Yi Divine Archer Gate, the Auroran Cult of the Western Regions, various tribes of the Northern Barbarians, and the scattered small islands of the Eastern Sea—all these forces, overtly or covertly, frequently contacted Xuanyuan Valley. They did not know what Xuanyuan Valley was trying to achieve, assuming the exchanges were for the sake of the many visiting cultivators.

Unbeknownst to anyone, precious and rare spiritual treasures scattered across the world began converging on Xuanyuan Valley through various channels. Simultaneously, many renowned rogue cultivators across the realm heard the news and arrived, joining the outer ranks of Xuanyuan Valley month after month.

Such a massive undertaking, however carefully the Ji family, Gui Sect, and Xiao family concealed it, could not escape the notice of certain watchful entities. Many major powers sensed the frequent activities of Xuanyuan Valley and harbored doubts, while factions holding grudges against the three dog families of Xuanyuan Valley sensed impending danger, sparing no expense to investigate Xuanyuan Valley’s news, desperate to discover what grand scheme was underway.

Stirred by these watchful eyes, Xuanyuan Valley’s hostile forces gathered at the Huangfu residence behind the Imperial Palace in Tianshui City, along with…

Thanks to the brothers for the monthly passes. Someone still remembers me. Heh heh.