The vast stellar expanse of Er Ya is the most unpredictable and mysterious region in your world. The star seas within are boundless, hiding wonders that ordinary beings can barely comprehend or experience.

Every Heavenly Master who cultivates to the realm of Seven-Star Heaven, gaining the ability to shatter their divine soul and escape into the starry void, regards the endless starry expanse above their heads as the ultimate frontier they yearn to explore.

Within the boundless stellar expanse lie countless secrets, harboring wealth and supreme treasures unimaginable to the common world. For Heavenly Masters capable of projecting their divine souls into this endless realm, it seems to contain everything their hearts desire.

In truth, the number of individuals who have benefited from the boundless stellar expanse is not small.

For many years, powerful Heavenly Masters have consistently viewed the endless stellar expanse as a place for adventure and cultivation. Whenever they found leisure, they would venture there to train or wander, hoping to encounter some incredible fortune upon some distant star.

The Tian Yuan Bead held by Ji Changkong originated from beyond the heavens; the Tai Xu Secret Record residing in his mind was also obtained by Gu You from the boundless stellar expanse, and even some marvelous artifacts from the holy land of the Oro Cult trace their origins back to the celestial reaches of the endless stellar expanse.

When the Origin Poison mentioned that a portion of the Tian Yuan Bead still resided in the boundless stellar expanse, Ji Changkong was surprised, yet felt it was only natural. In his view, since the Tian Yuan Bead came from that realm, the missing piece would logically also be found there.

"What is it?" Ji Changkong asked.

"It belongs to the Tian Yuan Bead, regardless. If you can bring that thing back from the boundless stellar expanse, a mere Ghost Demon King will certainly be nothing to worry about."

The Origin Poison swayed its body, chuckling eerily. Although it intended to convey satisfaction, the resulting sound was undeniably childish.

"Where in the boundless stellar expanse?" Ji Changkong inquired again.

"The Dead Star Zone."

"The Dead Star Zone again?" Frowning, Ji Changkong was filled with doubt. As far as he knew, the Dead Star Zone was a mysterious stellar region quite distant from the continent where he resided. The Green Cloud that the Huangfu family acquired also came from the Dead Star Zone, and he had heard other rumors pertaining to it as well.

As its name suggests, the Dead Star Zone is a region where the mortality rate for exploration and cultivation is extremely high. To this day, no one truly understands what the Dead Star Zone is; it contains too many mysteries and phenomena incomprehensible to the average person.

For many years, Heavenly Masters entered the Dead Star Zone full of hope, yet an immense number perished within. Few ever returned from exploring the Dead Star Zone with their gains intact.

The Dead Star Zone has always been called the tomb of the divine soul!

"Yes, the missing part of the Tian Yuan Bead is in the Dead Star Zone. I only know the general location; I cannot guarantee whether you can find it," the Origin Poison stated.

His pupils contracted slightly. Ji Changkong suddenly recalled another matter: the previous leader of the Oro Cult, whose Star Cloud Soul Refining Art had reached perfection. It was said he could travel freely among the Big Dipper stars, the Sun Star, and the Moon Star, unrivaled everywhere he went. Yet, he vanished without a trace after entering the Dead Star Zone.

Even the previous leader of the Oro Cult, who dared to venture into the Dead Star Zone, never returned. Now, the Origin Poison informed him that the missing piece of the Tian Yuan Bead was located there. This made Ji Changkong’s heart stir, but also filled him with heavy apprehension.

On one hand, the Dead Star Zone was fraught with mortal danger. On the other hand, his own cultivation realm was too low—only Seven-Star Heaven. Even entering the Dead Star Zone would be tremendously difficult. In such a bizarre place, a Heavenly Master with only Seven-Star Heaven cultivation, should any danger arise, could face total annihilation of body and spirit.

Therefore, although he was intensely curious about the Dead Star Zone and yearned to find the missing component of the Tian Yuan Bead there, he did not act rashly.

Time rushed by, and another month passed.

Two Ghost Demon Kings, one in the Central Lands and the other in the vast Eastern Sea, continued to wreak havoc upon the Heavenly Master sects and families in those regions. Moreover, they transformed many masters from families and sects into specters under their command, gradually increasing the power held by these two Ghost Demon Kings.

Huangfu Yue and Wang Pai, among others, were still mixed up with the Ghost Demon Kings. However, rumors suggested they had begun to feel fear, their cooperation with the kings becoming increasingly uneasy. By now, it seemed they were truly realizing the terror of the Ghost Demon Kings, understanding that these evil beings, devoid of any humanity yet possessing infinitely vast power, should absolutely not be allowed to survive.

Rumors spread that Huangfu Yue and Wang Pai, and their group, had a confrontation with one of the Ghost Demon Kings. It was unclear what protective barriers they possessed, but despite falling out with the Ghost Demon King, they actually managed to escape his clutches alive, suggesting they had taken precautions before entering into the alliance.

With the increasing might of the two Ghost Demon Kings, everyone under heaven felt endangered. Because the threat they posed was so immense, even the combined forces of many experts could do little against them. Gradually, the masters from the great sects and families across the world began to gather, hesitant to remain dispersed.

Rogue cultivators who belonged to no sect or family, sensing the terror of the Ghost Demon Kings, began flocking to powerful families and sects, hoping to secure their own safety through collective strength.

For a time, Xuanyuan Valley once again became the place where these people sought refuge.

In the span of just half a month, dozens of exceptionally capable experts were added to the rear mountains of Xuanyuan Valley. They settled down there, and combined with the Heavenly Masters already residing in the back mountains, the scale of the rear mountains of Xuanyuan Valley expanded repeatedly, now housing several hundred powerful masters.

Aware of the threat from the Ghost Demon Kings, experts from the Xiao family, the Ghost Sect, and the Ji family within Xuanyuan Valley frequently visited the rear mountains, even personally assisting in setting up various defensive measures.

As before, the supreme masters within Xuanyuan Valley periodically held gatherings to share insights and realizations regarding cultivation. Due to the Ghost Demon King threat, these meetings became more frequent during this period. Even the people from the He family and the Star Stone Sect, who were initially somewhat reluctant, were now running to Xuanyuan Valley every few days.

Without anyone realizing it, Xuanyuan Valley had become the true nexus of the Blood Rain Mountain area.

Inside Xuanyuan Valley, another session for exchanging cultivation insights was underway. Xiao Xing and Gui Hai presided, personally guiding the inquirers who had gathered from all corners of Blood Rain Mountain on cultivation matters.

The explanation was only halfway through when suddenly, piercing screams erupted from outside Xuanyuan Valley.

The day was still young, and the bright moon had not yet climbed high. At this hour, without the scorching intensity of the sun, various aberrant evils that feared sunlight were beginning to emerge.

"Ghost Demons!" A trembling voice cried out from the crowd—a youth, barely twenty, his face ashen, standing alone with agony in his eyes. "It must be Ghost Demons. I will never forget that sound. My family—all of them were killed by Ghost Demons! If I hadn't escaped in time using my family's divine weapon, I would have met the same fate!"

Xiao Xing's expression shifted slightly. He suddenly rose to his full height, threw back his head, and let out a long, roaring laugh.

Mu Luo materialized beside Xiao Xing like a phantom, soundlessly appearing. His chilling gaze swept over the surrounding people before settling on Xiao Xing, asking, "What's happening?"

"Listen to the sounds," Xiao Xing replied with a wry smile.

Nodding slightly, Mu Luo said, "The Ghost Demons are here. I know. Don't worry, they won't get in."

For some unknown reason, the people who had been on the brink of terror suddenly felt a flicker of reassurance upon seeing Mu Luo's composure.

In recent days, the ravages of the Ghost Demon Kings had brought disaster everywhere. Once they arrived at a family or sect, they often caused the extermination of the entire lineage, with few exceptions. Deep in their hearts, they harbored profound fear of the Ghost Demon Kings, which was why they reacted with such panicked disorder upon hearing their approach.

"If you say so, I am relieved," Xiao Xing smiled, his demeanor calm, without a hint of panic.

"What about the back mountains? Without masters there, won't those Ghost Demons take the chance to slaughter all our friends in the rear mountains?" The youth who had suffered deeply from the Ghost Demon King's cruelty immediately became agitated and spoke up urgently.

"Master has already gone there," Mu Luo stated flatly.

While Mu Luo and Xiao Xing were speaking, Ji Changkong and Gui Rong had already arrived at the rear mountains of Xuanyuan Valley with maximum speed.

The rear mountains were shrouded in shadows, and waves of cold, merciless gray masses surged toward them. Their speed was terrifying, carrying with them infinite hatred and resentment, making the rear mountains of Xuanyuan Valley seem like a veritable hell of death.

"Heavenly Thunder Force is most effective against these things!" Gui Rong roared, "You seek death!"

Boom! Rumble!

The sound of heavenly thunder resonated from the rear mountains, electric light flashed, and thunder shook the heavens. As soon as Gui Rong made his move, astonishing thunder storms erupted nearby. Some Ghost Demons who could not dodge in time were instantly blown to dust, their souls scattered.

About a dozen Ghost Demons were blasted into wisps of light smoke. Gui Rong snorted, "No matter how you change, your essence is still soul form. As long as it's a soul, under the bombardment of heavenly thunder, there is only one way out: death!"

"Everyone, be careful! Use the power of lightning and flame against them! Even if these powers cannot destroy them, they can inflict heavy injuries," Gui Rong shouted loudly. Having battled the Ghost Demons of the Gray Mountains for many years, no one understood how to deal with them better than the Ghost Sect.

The hundreds of Heavenly Master experts in the rear mountains, initially helpless because they hadn't found the right method, immediately followed Gui Rong's instruction and targeted the swooping Ghost Demons.

Many among them knew how to wield the power of lightning and flame. Although their lightning was not as terrifying as Ji Changkong's or Gui Rong's Heavenly Thunder Force, it still possessed immense destructive power against the Ghost Demons. Furthermore, the power of flame, being one of the Five Elements, was cultivated by a great number of people.

When lightning and flame erupted across the rear mountains, the invading Ghost Demons clearly became less reckless. After several were incinerated by electrical power, some began to retreat gradually.

"Retreat! Fall back into Xuanyuan Valley immediately!" Suddenly, Ji Changkong's face changed drastically, and he roared the command.

"Good heavens!" Gui Rong sucked in a cold breath, looking ahead in disbelief.

The front line began to accelerate.