The one they called Paridai. The soul sped like lightning, hardening in an instant. As this soul swept forward, the strands of energy lingering on Tianheng Star were swept away by a phantom wind, strangely dispersing as if making way.

The spiritual power emanating from this mass of soul was dense and profoundly sinister, far more terrifying than that of those facing it.

Suddenly, the mass of soul rapidly twisted and transformed, like threads weaving together; in just a few seconds, its form shifted. This soul had transformed into the likeness of a graceful, lithe young maiden, her cheeks veiled by a light mist of white gauze.

Even in the form of a soul, being able to condense and restore one's original appearance using only spiritual consciousness and soul power was an ability no ordinary person possessed.

In the Endless Star Domain, a globular shape was the most natural form for a soul—it was the soul's innate state. Altering the soul's form required the expenditure of additional spiritual power.

Therefore, even those capable of changing their soul's appearance rarely did so. Firstly, it consumed more spiritual power; secondly, they did not wish to expose their identities in the Endless Star Domain, lest they bring enemies made there back to the Five Elements Continent.

Paridai, upon appearing, immediately shifted her soul form to her true appearance without hesitation, apparently unconcerned about her identity being known. Her spiritual power was immensely concentrated; even under this form, which required extra energy, it seemed negligible compared to her vast reserves.

"Gan Li of the Fire Stream Sect from the Fire Luo Mountain Range greets the Saintess!"

"Gan Qian greets the Saintess!"

"Gan Su greets the Saintess!"

The three figures, their souls carrying the scent of sulfur, immediately surrounded Paridai as she reverted to her true appearance, their soul thoughts humbly paying respects.

Saintess? Ji Changkong's heart stirred, and he instantly grasped her identity! This Paridai was the Saintess of the Manichaean Cult, renowned alongside Ayiguli, known in the Western Regions as the "Flower of the Sun"!

"So it's a disciple of Youlan, the Saintess of the Manichaean Cult! I didn't expect to encounter you on Tianheng Star; my trip has proven lucky indeed!" Ji Changkong’s soul thought was cold as ice. As this mental transmission was released, his nebula-shaped soul drifted forward like a fleeting phantom.

"This is a matter between my Xuanyuan Valley and the Western Regions' Manichaean Cult. Those uninvolved are best advised to retreat far away!"

Under everyone's gaze, the nebula-shaped soul twisted and warped, similarly reverting to Ji Changkong's true appearance within a breath. His expression was cold and indifferent as he swept his gaze over the clusters of souls, beginning to chase them off impolitely.

The moment the words "Xuanyuan Valley" were uttered, those who had been incited by the three Gan individuals began to hesitate.

In recent days, every Heavenly Master from the Five Elements Continent had heard of the formidable rise of Xuanyuan Valley. They knew that the valley was currently at its zenith, teeming with experts. They knew that today's Xuanyuan Valley was far more powerful than the Huangfu family had ever been.

Coupled with Ji Changkong's connection to Gu Ya, many regarded Xuanyuan Valley as a forbidden ground that could not be provoked!

On one hand, there was the notorious ferocity of Xuanyuan Valley; on the other, there was the sheer power Ji Changkong and his group had just displayed!

Thus, as soon as those people heard the name "Xuanyuan Valley," they immediately began to weigh their options.

Before long, some Heavenly Masters, likely from the Three Kingdoms of the Central Lands, began to quietly withdraw, pulling away from the engaged parties, unwilling to be caught in this volatile situation.

"Everyone! What are you worried about? In the Endless Star Domain, how would Ji Changkong know who you are? Even if he luckily escapes, could he possibly seek revenge afterward? Think clearly. Ji Changkong possesses a treasure capable of gathering stellar energy; consider how immensely beneficial obtaining such a treasure would be for your cultivation!" Gan Li urgently stepped forward to intervene when he saw everyone beginning to falter.

Gan Li's words indeed had an effect. Some souls that were preparing to retreat actually stopped, moving to stand alongside Gan Li and his group, clearly driven by greed ignited by significant profit.

While Gan Li was speaking, more clusters of souls arrived from the distance. Upon arrival, these souls gathered around Paridai, their soul thoughts bearing the characteristic aura of the Manichaean Cult.

Including these newcomers, nineteen soul clusters gathered around Paridai, seven more than on Ji Changkong's side!

"Ji Changkong, the hatred between our Manichaean Cult and the Heavenly Mountain Sect and Xuanyuan Valley is too deep. Hehe, because we are separated by such a vast distance, it is genuinely difficult for us to clash on the Five Elements Continent. To have the fortune of meeting you on Tianheng Star today, we certainly cannot miss this opportunity." Though Paridai, in her true form, was veiled by misty gauze, the exposed eyes—even though formed of soul—still possessed a captivating power that could ensnare the soul.

"Everyone, Ji Changkong cultivates the Star Nebula Soul Refining Art of the Ouroboros Divine Sect. Although he is a man of the Central Lands, he has another identity. Hehe. You people from the Central Lands need not hold back. If you help us kill him today, those small pebbles that transform from the Soul Devouring Fungus contained within his soul after death, I can guarantee..."

"Hehe, perhaps you don't yet know the origin and purpose of those small pebbles. I can explain them to you..."

Paridai's soul possessed a marvelous power of enchantment. Her soul thought wafted slowly through the void like a narcotic, dissolving the mental defenses of many. Those already intending to deal with Ji Changkong were one thing, but even some who had retreated were swayed by her power, hurrying back from the distance to stand by her side.

In a short time, every soul that hadn't fled stayed put, gathering beside her!

On Tianheng Star, unable to draw upon the power of the Celestial Origin Pearl, Ji Changkong's nebula-shaped soul, though wondrous, was weaker in the strength of the Endless Star Domain than his physical body on the Five Elements Continent.

This was precisely why he had resorted to threats and inducements to drive out those unaffiliated rogue cultivators! Otherwise, he wouldn't have bothered speaking; he wouldn't have spared even those with malicious intent.

Who knew that Paridai was so formidable? With just a few words, she managed to gather everyone back together.

It was only then that Ji Changkong truly recognized the terrifying nature of the Manichaean Cult's "Boundless Enchantment" art. The Holy Mother Youlan had once stirred up a massive tempest in the Central Lands using this very art, manipulating the so-called noble talents of the Central Lands at will. Today, her successor, Paridai, used the same technique to gather these people against him.

With things having come to this pass, Ji Changkong knew further words were useless; only gathering strength to destroy Paridai and the forces surrounding her was the only path left.

A killing intent flared. Ji Changkong, in his true form, had rays of faint light flash through his eyes. These lights flickered once within his pupils and then vanished abruptly.

Paridai’s soul-captivating, bewitching eyes suddenly contracted. Her two arms, like sections of snow-white lotus root, shot upward. Spiritual power re-coalesced like fragmented flowing light, instantly transforming into a brilliant, shimmering ribbon of colored light, with threads of visible luminescence flowing rapidly across the ribbon like water.

Paridai’s graceful form danced lightly, the ribbon in her hand circling, sending out waves of beautiful yet deadly light.

Pinpricks of blinding light suddenly erupted from these light waves. Minute soul rays struck the light waves, colliding with Paridai's spiritual energy ripples, and were forcibly blocked, shattering midway.

"Hehe, since I have made the first move, can all you valiant heroes truly bear to stand by and watch?" Paridai’s sensual soul thought flowed out like soft water, seeming intent on melting away the coldness in everyone's hearts.

The Manichaean Cult experts standing beside Paridai, including the rogue cultivators she had charmed into staying, seemed like lost ghosts under the influence of her intoxicating words, and they charged toward Ji Changkong and his group.

Including the rogue cultivators, there were twenty-six enemies, among them the three experts with dense spiritual power like Gan Li. In terms of both quality and quantity, the opposition held the advantage over Xuanyuan Valley!

"Everyone, be careful!" Ghost Elder Seven’s soul flickered ominously, and balls of ghostly fire glowing with an oily green light suddenly flew out from his soul, rocketing toward the charging attackers.

Xiao Yunduan, Lan Xingyun, and the others, seeing Ghost Elder Seven make the first move, immediately launched their own assaults.

For a time, the entire area was filled with wildly scattering tides of spiritual energy. Brilliant flashes of light exploded in the void like fireworks, as the spiritual attack fluctuations of both sides violently collided, making the sky of Tianheng Star appear breathtakingly beautiful.

After using the spiritual fluctuations to block Ji Changkong's soul ray attacks, Paridai let out a soft laugh. Her graceful figure drifted forward like a willow catkin. As she waved the ribbon in her hand, waves of spiritual impact force, infused with the energy of light and heat, formed conical light beams that carved a path ahead.

Ji Changkong’s heart suddenly tightened!

He could feel that those conical light beams contained an extremely sharp spiritual fluctuation. Light and heat were merely superficial; within those cones was a savage hatred capable of piercing and annihilating all soul thoughts!

This was absolutely not a righteous power!

It was true, as legends claimed, that the Manichaean Saintess cultivated both righteous and evil forces, mastering the powers of both light and darkness!

His soul shifted, strange light mingled with the small pebbles, and suddenly floated to one side! At this moment, Ji Changkong's soul bizarrely split in two!

One soul cluster, containing the small pebbles that could gather stellar energy, rapidly flew toward the distance. The other remained in place, waiting with a cold expression for the conical light beams rushing toward it.

As soon as Paridai took action, the enchantment she placed on the others immediately weakened.

Those rogue cultivators who were after the pebbles suddenly abandoned their siege of Ghost Elder Seven and the others. They instantly changed direction, ignoring the shouts of the Manichaean Cult experts, and chased after Ji Changkong’s other soul cluster.

The twenty-six enemies suddenly plummeted to fourteen due to the temporary departure of the rogue cultivators! At this point, the two sides were evenly matched. (To be continued)