Under the leadership of the initiator, this group of twenty-seven people slowly moved in one direction. The initiator walked ahead, constantly explaining precautions, urging everyone to be cautious and by no means careless.

Ji Changkong and Yu Ziling lagged behind. Yu Ziling paid no attention to the initiator’s words upfront, focusing instead on advising Ji Changkong on necessary precautions. It was clear that Yu Ziling was not participating in such an operation for the first time; she knew the ropes intimately. Thanks to her explanations, Ji Changkong didn't need to heed the initiator, content to listen only to her.

Ahead of Ji Changkong and Yu Ziling were the last three individuals to join, whom the initiator had named Twenty-Five, Twenty-Six, and Twenty-Seven. These three came from the same place, appearing rather eccentric and aloof, communicating amongst themselves furtively and not truly listening to the initiator’s instructions.

The three ahead of Ji Changkong and Yu Ziling would occasionally cast secret glances backward at the pair. If they noticed Ji Changkong and Yu Ziling quickening their pace and drawing closer, the trio would immediately cease their mental exchanges and fall silent, seemingly guarding themselves against the duo behind them.

“Hmph,” Yu Ziling observed the sneaky trio ahead with disdain. She condensed her spiritual thought into a single thread and, in a manner imperceptible to others, explained to Ji Changkong: “Although everyone is heading to the Moon’s Core together, each harbors ulterior motives. If we find nothing in the Moon’s Core, so be it. But once we secure a harvest, the ones we must truly guard against are not the Moon Demons, but these very companions!”

“Those three up front, judging by their behavior, this isn't their first team operation. They hail from one place, and their mutual trust is beyond question. Should any contingency arise within the Moon’s Core, these three will undoubtedly act in concert. Naturally, when it comes to seizing another's spoils, they will surely be equally unified in their objective. In a large group, you must always be wary of such small cliques; they are the most dangerous!”

Ji Changkong let out a soft, wry laugh and nodded slightly, ensuring the ripple of his soul-thought remained confined to what only Yu Ziling could perceive. “Mmm, I understand the situation. Rest assured, I know where the line is.”

Yu Ziling chuckled sweetly. “I knew you would grasp it. After all your campaigns across the South and North, you must have witnessed every type of dirty trick, so you certainly see the reality of things. The reason I tell you this is so you know that what others can do, we can also do. In the Moon’s Core, if others scheme against us, we can certainly seize their spoils too. As long as one is powerful enough, anyone can take advantage in the Moon’s Core!”

“Mmm, I’m aware,” Ji Changkong thought. Yu Ziling was truly unchanged from those years; not only would she refuse to be taken advantage of, but she actively sought to profit at others' expense. If those fellows truly provoked her, they would likely be courting death.

He noted that there were several small groups similar to the trio ahead within the current assembly. Clearly, not a few harbored ill intentions. A careful observation revealed that the initiator, conversely, seemed unattached and clean, not entangled in small factions. Furthermore, it appeared that almost every one of the twenty-seven individuals had not come alone.

With his current breadth of experience, he naturally understood the complexity of the situation, realizing that every person in this group was likely far from benevolent. Thinking this, Ji Changkong sneered inwardly, resolving that once they truly reached the Moon’s Core, anyone who dared harbor malice toward him would face a bloodbath to establish a clear deterrent.

“Watch out!” The initiator suddenly transmitted a forceful soul-thought from up front. Those following closely behind the initiator immediately focused their attention and quickened their pace, rapidly converging near the front.

They were still on the dark side of the moon. In a nearby area, numerous gray-smoking vents had appeared, resembling nascent volcanoes on the Five Elements Continent. Gray smoke billowed from these vents, dissipating immediately upon emergence. This entire region seemed affected by the smoke, appearing hazy, as if veiled by a gray gauze.

Pits and depressions marred the landscape around the large and small vents, leaving no flat ground. Gray-brown earth, gray-brown stones, gray-brown clouds—the world was uniformly dim. Desolate, silent, devoid of life, devoid of flora—it was a world that induced profound oppression.

Here, even the light of the Moon’s Essence seemed repelled. While in this area, one could not even utilize spiritual power to absorb the essence of the moon; the soul gained no refinement whatsoever in this region. Moreover, the gray-brown clouds carried a faint, corrosive aura. The twenty-seven souls stationed here all had to expend mental energy to shield themselves, preventing injury from the corrosive atmosphere.

Standing here, the participants’ souls struggled to absorb the moonlight essence, while simultaneously having to drain their spiritual power for defense—a place utterly unsuitable for cultivation, yet it housed the very entrance to the Moon’s Core.

Following Yu Ziling’s explanations, Ji Changkong exhibited no unusual reactions. Though it was his first time here, he remained remarkably calm, silently utilizing his mental power to guard his soul. Ji Changkong and Yu Ziling stayed close together, intently watching the initiator as he zipped back and forth between the smoking vents.

According to Yu Ziling, these vents were the entrances to the Moon’s Core, but not every one was viable. Perhaps due to the shifting terrain, only one or two passages would be open at any given time; most others would be firmly sealed by gray-brown rock.

After a certain interval, a passage that was previously open to the Moon’s Core might become blocked, while a previously sealed one might suddenly clear of obstruction.

In short, this place was bizarre. The accessible path to the Moon’s Core changed with every phase, and even when an entrance was open, it remained clear for only a very brief period before being blocked by rock once more.

Some individuals who frequented this area over long periods gradually discerned the opening patterns of these vents. These people often became the initiators of expeditions. Newcomers, even those aware of the Moon’s Core’s existence, could never find the gateway without the guidance of these experienced leaders.

“This! Everyone descend quickly, or it will be difficult to get down later!” The initiator suddenly stopped, pointing to a vent barely the width of a water bucket, and urgently transmitted a soul-thought.

Shadows flocked forward, twisting and shrinking their souls, swiftly flying into that vent. The three from the same place—Twenty-Five, Twenty-Six, and Twenty-Seven—who had been lagging at the rear, suddenly accelerated, dashing into the vent like lightning, vanishing in the blink of an eye.

“Rushing to be reincarnated!” Number Nine, who should have gone next, was forcibly shoved aside by Twenty-Five, Twenty-Six, and Twenty-Seven and couldn’t help but curse under his breath.

Twenty-Seven, just about to squeeze into the vent, paused abruptly in the middle, and a faint chill emanated from his elongated soul.

“Twenty-Seven, move out!” A soul-thought urged him down from within the vent.

Twenty-Seven, blocking the entrance, transmitted a thought to Number Nine: “You remember this!”

As the thought faded, Twenty-Seven swiftly dove into the vent, disappearing instantly. Several souls impatient to enter seized the opportunity and squeezed in, vanishing just as quickly.

“Hmph! Who’s afraid of whom!” Number Nine snorted near the entrance, found two gaps, and eagerly darted in as well.

The initiator lingered by the vent, urging the others to hurry. Only after everyone had rushed inside did he call out, “Number Seventeen, Number Twenty-Four, you two, quickly now.”

Ji Changkong, who hadn't been in a hurry to descend, found it amusing when his number was called. Seeing Yu Ziling already plunging into the vent ahead of him, he hesitated no longer and followed closely behind.

Inside the vent was a narrow passage leading deep underground. This passage was utterly dark, comprised entirely of solid rock. Fortunately, souls could alter their size and shape at will, so the narrowness of the tunnel presented no hindrance; they flew downwards one after another. Ji Changkong followed Yu Ziling, with the initiator right behind him.

“Everyone, move faster! Do not throw tantrums in the passage, or you’ll only end up stuck, preventing everyone’s exit. Delaying this operation is minor, but being sealed in the passage would be disastrous. You all know the rock here can impede soul passage. If you get sandwiched between rocks, you’ll be trapped until the next geological shift opens the passage…” The initiator, close to Ji Changkong’s soul, solemnly explained the mysteries of the locale.

Most of the twenty-seven in this group seemed experienced, needing no reminder. They moved at their maximum speed downward, each trying not to fall behind the others.

Newcomers like Ji Changkong usually had guides and were instructed beforehand, so the initiator didn't worry excessively about them either. Everyone exerted their full capabilities, afraid of being left at the rear, and thus, no conflict arose within the tunnel.

“Number Twenty-Four, you are quite fast…” The initiator transmitted a faint thought behind Ji Changkong.

“Average speed, everyone else is fast too,” Ji Changkong replied casually without looking back.

“Those others are fast because they’re giving their all, but you… you aren't using your full strength! This speed should feel quite easy for you, shouldn’t it?” The initiator, close behind Ji Changkong, perceived some subtlety through his soul and couldn't help but ask.

“Right now, I’m also putting in great effort,” Ji Changkong said, concealing his true power.

“...Is that so.” The initiator chuckled softly and stopped pestering Ji Changkong.

The dim passage seemed endless. In the darkness, Ji Changkong could only vaguely perceive the elongated form of Yu Ziling’s soul. Occasionally, due to excessive speed, Ji Changkong would accidentally brush against Yu Ziling’s soul.

The collision between soul and soul caused Ji Changkong’s spirit to waver slightly, evoking a remarkably peculiar sensation.

It was as if his soul had established some intimate connection with Yu Ziling’s; his own soul would skip a beat, and his spirit felt… surprisingly gratified.

“Number Twenty-Four, you… you be careful, don’t go so fast, stop… stop bumping into me!” After a moment, Yu Ziling sent a broken, intermittent soul-thought from ahead, cautioning Ji Changkong.

“Oh,” Ji Changkong acknowledged, immediately adjusting his speed to avoid contact with Yu Ziling.

However, just as Ji Changkong’s thought settled, his form lurched forward, and his soul smashed again into the phantom beauty of Yu Ziling’s leg. That same peculiar feeling resonated within him once more—

“You!” Suddenly, Yu Ziling sent an exasperated thought, her soul trembling slightly. “What are you doing?”

“Number One behind me bumped me! It has nothing to do with me!” Ji Changkong quickly declared, angrily turning back to glare at the initiator, deliberately amplifying his soul-thought. “What are you doing?”

“The rock behind us is starting to close the passage; I have no choice. Being last, I have to push forward aggressively,” the initiator transmitted helplessly, feigning injury.

“Hmph!” Yu Ziling muttered an annoyed curse at the initiator, then warned Ji Changkong: “You… you be careful not to hit me again. Keep some distance.”

“Understood,” Ji Changkong assured her immediately.

“Kid, you seemed quite happy with that last bump. I was just lending you a hand, how about it? Doesn't the feeling of soul-contact between a man and woman have a unique savor?” An exceedingly faint thought, intermittent and cautious, came from the initiator behind him, intended only for Ji Changkong to hear.

Such weak thought transmission required Ji Changkong to expend effort to perceive. Yu Ziling, who was further ahead, certainly couldn't detect it.

Startled, Ji Changkong frowned, uncertain of the initiator’s motive, and replied sternly: “Nonsense! Everything before was unintentional; don't slander me.”

“Slander?” The initiator behind him chuckled softly, and his soul bumped against Ji Changkong’s again.

Feeling the pressure from the initiator, Ji Changkong’s soul involuntarily struck Yu Ziling’s soul once more. Her slender, beautiful leg, purely formed of soul illusion, actually flattened slightly from the impact.

“Number Twenty-Four, you… you brute! Are you… addicted to bumping? Is this endless!” Yu Ziling roared in anger.

“I couldn't help myself! Although the feeling was indeed quite pleasant,” Ji Changkong hurriedly tried to plead his innocence, “but—”

“Faster! Faster!” The initiator seized the moment to speak, helping Ji Changkong out of the tight spot. This time, the situation was different…

The passage widened. Yu Ziling’s soul was upright, and as Ji Changkong rushed up from behind, his form slammed violently against her lower back and hips. The bodies, purely materialized from soul essence, somehow felt even more tangible. Their hips and abdomen collided heavily. With the initiator intentionally pushing, Ji Changkong’s lower abdomen pressed tightly against Yu Ziling’s hips, while his chest was firmly glued to her back.

“Oh…” A dreamlike murmur escaped Yu Ziling’s soul.

A wonderful sensation flooded Ji Changkong’s heart and spirit like a spring, making him almost groan aloud in pleasure.

“Damn it, Number Seventeen, are you ever going to stop? Why do you keep pushing me?” Just then, the person ahead shouted in exasperation.

Yu Ziling flinched violently, her soul trembling. A strange force suddenly erupted from her soul, and a soft shove sent Ji Changkong flying away. “Friend up front, you’re too slow; I was just giving you a boost!”

“Hmph, I’ll deal with you later!” The person ahead snorted coldly, clearly intending to settle scores with Yu Ziling once they exited.

“Bastard, are you satisfied now?” Yu Ziling suddenly turned back, flying in reverse, facing Ji Changkong head-on, glaring at him through gritted teeth.

Feeling somewhat guilty, Ji Changkong managed an awkward smile and pointed evasively behind him at the initiator, looking utterly innocent. “It was all him! It had nothing to do with me.”

“Sometimes the rear is indeed dangerous, but a few times, it wasn't my fault…” At some point, the initiator had created a distance between himself and Ji Changkong. He shrugged, explaining casually.

Yu Ziling glared at Ji Changkong hatefully, grinding her teeth. “You scoundrel! A few years haven't passed, and while your realm has risen, you’ve filled your belly with mischief!”

“I’m being framed…” Ji Changkong made a distressed face, wanting to explain but unsure what to say. He could only turn back and glare resentfully at the initiator, muttering low, “You’ve ruined me this time.”

“But you got your advantage too, didn't you?” The initiator chuckled softly, then suddenly added, “Remember, you owe me a favor!”

“Nonsense, I don't owe you a thing!” Ji Changkong cursed.

Just then, a dazzling light appeared ahead. The initiator immediately straightened up and called out, “Everyone, be careful! We’re about to exit the passage.”

The blinding glare in the dim tunnel was intense. Fortunately, everyone was in soul form and experienced no discomfort from the sudden strong light, only accelerating their pace, eager to escape the lightless passage.

This time, no one needed prompting. They all sped up, one after another flying out of the tunnel.

Ji Changkong and Yu Ziling emerged from the dark passage just before the initiator. After the initiator also burst forth, he suddenly turned back toward the passage behind him and poured a wave of his soul-essence into it.

Miraculously, the passage began to slowly seal itself. In just a few breaths, the passage into which he had injected his essence was completely closed.

The initiator turned around, grinning at Ji Changkong, surveyed the fellow participants who had descended with him, and announced, “One more stretch, and we reach the Moon’s Core. I assume most of you have traveled this path before, so I won't elaborate much. Just keep one thing in mind: do not scatter and avoid pointless conflict until we reach the Moon’s Core. If you have deep-seated grievances, save them for later.”

The initiator had evidently sensed the resentment brewing among many during the tunnel journey and sought to prevent a fight from breaking out prematurely that might jeopardize the remainder of the operation.

The individual who had been highly dissatisfied with Yu Ziling glared at her viciously and muttered under his breath, “Ugly woman!” Yu Ziling, her face wreathed in smiles, seemed completely unbothered. She shifted a few steps closer to Ji Changkong and lowered her soul-thought transmission: “It’s all because of you, this fellow, that he holds a grudge against me. If he makes a move against me, you are responsible for resolving this trouble.”

“No problem,” Ji Changkong nodded, secretly observing that person for a moment and memorizing his soul-signature.

They must now be inside the moon. The surroundings were filled with bright stones, their surfaces covered in a crystalline sheen, radiating potent Moon Essence light, illuminating the area brilliantly.

Ji Changkong looked around, realizing he seemed to be in a sealed valley. The ceiling was covered in similar glittering stones, dozens of feet above them, and the surrounding walls also shone brightly. Only the front was intensely lit, leading to an unknown destination.

“Be careful now; we are very close to the Moon’s Core. This place is called Moonstone Valley. Everyone who descends from the vents above lands here in the Moonstone Valley. It won’t take long to get to the Moon’s Core from here, but we must be cautious. On the way to the core, we might encounter other teams, so pay attention…” Yu Ziling explained softly.

“Can one reach the Moonstone Valley from other places too?” Ji Changkong asked, confused. He hadn't noticed any other soul clusters near the vents earlier; how could other teams have entered?

“Your guess is right; there are indeed other passages leading to Moonstone Valley. The vents we found are just one area; there are several similar clusters of vents on the dark side of the moon. Those places might also have passages that happen to be open, so it’s very possible other groups have entered. If we do meet them on the way to the Core, we’ll handle it then,” Yu Ziling replied.

The instigator had long since moved from the rear of Ji Changkong’s group, now positioned right at the very front, cautioning everyone not to provoke any other teams they might encounter, advising them to avoid conflict unless absolutely necessary. A chorus of acknowledgments followed as they proceeded quietly. Once more, Ji Changkong found himself walking alongside Yu Ziling at the very back.

“Ji Changkong, you scoundrel, were you deliberately taking advantage of me earlier?” Once they had put some distance between themselves and the vanguard, Yu Ziling suddenly spun around, glaring at him as she whispered her accusation. “No!” Ji Changkong was not foolish enough to admit anything; he shook his head quickly. “It was entirely that Number One causing trouble; it had nothing to do with me?”

“Him causing trouble?” Yu Ziling clearly didn't believe it. She scoffed, “He doesn’t even know you, so why would he help you so much? Stop trying to wriggle out of it. I saw… I saw you looked quite pleased with yourself—tell me, was it intentional?”

In a situation like this, admitting anything was out of the question. Ji Changkong repeatedly shook his head, insisting, “It truly wasn’t intentional! Don’t force me to confess; I was a victim too!”

“You were a victim too?” Yu Ziling let out a cold laugh, gritting her teeth and rolling her eyes. “You’re playing innocent after profiting! Be honest, weren't you satisfied after taking liberties with this young lady?”

Yu Ziling began to glare at him with growing resentment. Eventually, she suddenly spun away, perhaps having lost interest in Ji Changkong’s inadequate replies.

“No!” Ji Changkong clenched his jaw, refusing to yield an inch.

“Hmph!” Yu Ziling snorted angrily, her figure suddenly accelerating as she swiftly flew toward the front, as if utterly unwilling to waste another second arguing with him.

Ji Changkong managed a wry smile, thinking how truly difficult it was to fathom the minds of women; he had no idea what went on in their heads. Following behind Yu Ziling, his gaze fixed on her graceful and captivating back, he couldn’t help but let his imagination wander again.

This was clearly not her true appearance. Since she had gone to the trouble of concealing her face, why hadn't she hidden her figure as well? This girl was something else. If you’re going to disguise yourself as ugly, why not commit to it entirely? Why be half-concealed, half-revealed? He genuinely couldn't fathom what she was thinking. With such a crime-inducing figure, what could her real face possibly look like? Ji Changkong mused privately.

Suddenly, waves of soul fluctuations pulsed through Ji Changkong’s spirit sense, yanking him violently out of his reverie. His eyes flashed brilliantly, and the speed he maintained at the rear abruptly increased—he quickly caught up to Yu Ziling.

Ahead of their small party, another group materialized abruptly. Those individuals were just emerging one by one from the passage carved into the stone wall. In a short time, all thirty-five figures had assembled. As the passage behind them sealed shut, this group of thirty-five perfectly blocked the path forward for Ji Changkong’s contingent.

The instigator who had maliciously suggested provoking Yu Ziling earlier was now at the very head of their team, suddenly raising a hand to halt their advance.

Their side consisted of only twenty-seven people, while the opposing team had thirty-five. By sheer numbers, their group was clearly at a disadvantage. It appeared the leader of their group was keen to avoid conflict, stopping now as if waiting for the other party to pass first.

“Lei Jia! Long time no see. Are you here to steal my business again?” Suddenly, the leader of the opposing group stepped forward. He was an overwhelmingly imposing and arrogant giant, and although everyone knew his massive physique was merely a soul manifestation, his advance still caused a palpable pressure to weigh on the crowd’s minds. “Meng Gang! Is that you?” The man called Number One, Lei Jia, showed obvious emotional turmoil, glaring hatefully at the towering giant, his teeth gritted. “What do you want this time?”

“Hahaha!” The giant, Meng Gang, roared with laughter, looking down on Lei Jia with utter disdain. He addressed Ji Changkong’s group: “Following this fellow Lei Jia will only lead to ruin. How about it? Switch sides and join me? I guarantee you’ll get the rewards you seek in the Moon Heart later on. Heh heh, otherwise, when we reach the Moon Heart, don’t blame us for not showing mercy! You only get this one chance! Remember, once you enter the Moon Heart, you become my sworn enemy! Think it over carefully!”

An incredibly violent soul vibration emanated from Meng Gang. His soul became like a raging tornado, suddenly wild and explosive. Everyone could sense the terrifying power contained within his spirit.

Ji Changkong frowned slightly. He could tell that this giant Meng Gang possessed the strongest soul power among everyone present. Unless one considered the subtlety of soul techniques, among the sixty-two people in both teams combined, no one—not even himself—could match the sheer intensity of Meng Gang’s spirit strength.

The giant suddenly displaying his power immediately stunned many members of Ji Changkong’s group. The confidence of those who had originally followed Lei Jia began to waver instantly.

“Ahem… as long as we can enter the Moon Heart, it doesn't matter who we follow. My apologies, we’re moving on.” Number Twenty-Five, who had joined last, bid farewell to Lei Jia and suddenly walked toward Meng Gang’s side.

Numbers Twenty-Six and Twenty-Seven, who had been walking with him, naturally did not remain with Lei Jia; both immediately joined the giant named Meng Gang without the slightest hesitation, not even sparing Lei Jia a second glance. In their view, Meng Gang’s faction was clearly much stronger than Lei Jia’s. According to Meng Gang’s warning—that upon entering the Moon Heart, Lei Jia would instantly become an enemy—those allied with Lei Jia would inevitably suffer. Weighing the two situations, they naturally made the more pragmatic choice.

Many others shared their thinking. Eleven people in total subsequently defected to Meng Gang’s team. None of them bothered to inform Lei Jia, feeling their action was entirely self-evident.

As a result, Meng Gang’s faction instantly swelled to forty-nine members, leaving Lei Jia with only thirteen. The gap between the two sides, already present, had now become a staggering disparity. “Hahahaha!” Meng Gang boomed with laughter, arrogantly proclaiming, “Lei Jia, you’re dead meat, and anyone who follows you is heading for a dead end! Let’s go! We’ll settle scores with them inside the Moon Heart!”

Meng Gang led his enlarged contingent away, occasionally casting cold, sneering glances back at Lei Jia during their departure, as if already planning how he would deal with him later.

Lei Jia’s expression grew grim, his spirit vibrating intensely—he was clearly furious. Only after Meng Gang had completely left did Lei Jia mutter with evident frustration, “I hate these turncoats the most!”

Ji Changkong and Yu Ziling stood alone at the back, watching half their companions vanish. A wry smile touched Ji Changkong’s lips. People were often this pragmatic; under the pressure of threat and personal gain, few could hold fast to their original allegiances. Still, only half leaving left Ji Changkong genuinely surprised; he hadn't expected half would remain steadfast, just like him.

“In the Moon Heart, while having more people offers advantages, it doesn’t guarantee absolute victory. Those who stayed likely possess some sense of camaraderie. I won’t say much more, other than to promise that I will do my utmost to ensure everyone’s safety within the Moon Heart.” Lei Jia looked at the remaining group, hesitating slightly, sounding a touch less confident than before. “However, before we enter, we should slow our pace to avoid immediately running into Meng Gang and his group right after reaching the Moon Heart.”

“Who is this enemy? Since he is certain to become an adversary, shouldn't you introduce him to us?” Ji Changkong asked with a smile. “He comes from the Haiwei Continent, just like me. Meng Gang and I have been rivals ever since we were both on the Haiwei Continent…” Lei Jia explained, frowning.

“The Haiwei Continent?” Ji Changkong suddenly exclaimed, asking, “You… you’re not from the Five Elements Continent?”

Up until this point, he had assumed everyone here hailed from the Five Elements Continent. He had been puzzled, wondering how the Five Elements Continent could possibly harbor so many powerful cultivators. To gather dozens of Eight Trigram Heavenly Masters just meeting casually on the Moon seemed excessive. Having accessed intelligence networks concerning the Duan and Xiao families, he knew the total number of Eight Trigram Heavenly Masters on the entire Five Elements Continent was no more than a hundred, many of whom could already send their spirits to travel the Sun, and others were not perpetually cultivating in spirit travel to the Moon.

Lei Jia had assembled over twenty Eight Trigram Heavenly Masters here, and Meng Gang led over thirty more. This sheer quantity had always made Ji Changkong feel something was amiss. In his estimation, the Five Elements Continent simply couldn't spare that many masters to cultivate on the Moon, and besides, he had never heard the names Lei Jia or Meng Gang mentioned on the Five Elements Continent, leading to his lingering doubt. Hearing Lei Jia’s clarification, however, his mind suddenly cleared, realizing his own thinking had been too narrow.

“Yes, what’s so strange about that?” Lei Jia looked at Ji Changkong. “I know the Five Elements Continent has quite a few Eight Trigram Heavenly Masters, but there are masters from dozens of continents cultivating here—it’s not just people from your Five Elements Continent who can come.”

“Why didn’t you tell me about this?” Ji Changkong looked accusingly at Yu Ziling with a wry smile.

“I assumed you already knew! That’s common knowledge! Starting from the Moon, we can encounter celestial masters from other continents. Heavens! You didn’t even know that basic fact!” Yu Ziling reacted with feigned astonishment.

The exchange between the two left Lei Jia and the others astonished. They stared at Ji Changkong with strange expressions, thinking he must be a complete novice. No wonder he dared to remain; he hadn't grasped the situation at all until this very moment. Truly, ignorance breeds fearlessness.

Aware that he was being deeply looked down upon, Ji Changkong could only offer a bitter smile. He admitted honestly, “Indeed, I genuinely didn't know that before. I thought everyone here was from the same place as us.”

Lei Jia, however, showed no intention of teasing him. He nodded and explained, “Don’t find it strange. At the Seven Star Heaven Realm, everyone might be in different stellar regions—for example, those from your Five Elements Continent might cultivate in the Big Dipper Sector, while those from our Haiwei Continent are in the Southern Dipper Sector, and so on. But once we reach the Eight Trigram Heaven Realm, because our soul power is sufficient to cross that distance, masters from different continents all converge here to cultivate on the Moon. On the Moon and Sun, although we aren't from the same continent, the communication of souls transcends language, so we have no barriers in interaction; masters from any continent can communicate directly through their souls…”

“Alright, I’ll explain this part to that scoundrel later. Lei Jia, you should tell us about your rival, Meng Gang, who comes from the same place as you,” Yu Ziling interrupted him.

Lei Jia paused. Seeing that everyone except Ji Changkong had lost interest in hearing these basic facts, he could only offer Ji Changkong an apologetic shrug and begin discussing Meng Gang. “That fellow is incredibly formidable; he was a major figure on our Haiwei Continent. He is vicious and brutal in his dealings; anything he desires, he will stop at nothing to obtain. His enemies, he will go to great lengths to annihilate them. Those who oppose him… almost… almost never end well. Therefore, we must be extremely wary of him. Moreover, his soul attack method is extremely domineering—like a tornado that can grind another’s spirit into dust!”

“Hmm, quite interesting,” Ji Changkong smiled. “I haven't had the chance to kill anyone from another continent yet…” 【Note: Dear 3Z readers, the current chapter has reached the last page of this book】

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