Only a power of this caliber could be deemed a Supreme Power, the most formidable force in the entire Solar Star Domain! The Five Elements Continent had not seen a ten-direction Heavenly Sage for millennia; thus, it naturally harbored no Supreme Powers.

Shang Bingjie watched Ji Changkong with cold eyes. "For years, your Five Elements Continent has produced no formidable figures, and ten-direction Heavenly Sages haven't appeared in ages. The overall strength of the Five Elements Continent is far inferior to the continents ruled by the Eight Supreme Powers."

Her few words struck Ji Changkong with profound shock. He had never expected the Five Elements Continent to be at such a disadvantage compared to other continents in the Solar Star Domain. He had always assumed that with the Guiyuan Sect, the Mani Cult, the Asura Imperial Clan, and the Qiankun Sect, the Five Elements Continent was in no way inferior to any other continent in the Solar Star Domain. To be scorned by Shang Bingjie was completely unexpected.

"Of the Eight Supreme Powers, besides the Parting Heaven Sect, the Celestial Serpent Cult, and your Shang Family, which others exist? Among the Eight Supreme Powers, which one is the strongest?" Ji Changkong's curiosity deepened, prompting him to press further.

This time, Shang Bingjie didn't hesitate or mince words, answering him cleanly...

In the Solar Star Domain, eight powers reigned supreme, each guaranteed to produce a ten-direction Heavenly Sage within a millennium—some even fostered several!

These Eight Supreme Powers were: "Heavenly Slaughter" on the Heaven's Fate Continent, "Devil's Den" on the Demon Fiend Continent, "Death Pact" on the Central Heaven Continent, the Shang Family on the Sea Veil Continent, the Parting Heaven Sect on the Ancient Wilderness Continent, the Celestial Serpent Cult on the Movana Continent, "Flying Flower" on the Qilan Continent, and the Vajra Mountain on the Jinyun Continent.

In total, there were eight Supreme Powers, ranked by strength in order. The "Heavenly Slaughter" of the Heaven's Fate Continent was unanimously considered the strongest, followed by the "Devil's Den," then the "Death Pact" of the Central Heaven Continent, and finally the Vajra Mountain of the Jinyun Continent.

The Eight Supreme Powers hailed from eight distinct continents, all renowned throughout the Solar Star Domain. Experts from other continents, whether above the Moon or the Sun, would tread carefully if they encountered Heavenly Sages from these eight continents; knowing they belonged to a Supreme Power made them even more guarded.

Shang Bingjie briefly explained the Eight Supreme Powers to him. After listening, Ji Changkong finally realized how narrow his former perspective had been. He hadn't anticipated such a complex political landscape in the Solar Star Domain, nor the existence of such terrifying forces.

Thinking this through, he suddenly felt that the Guiyuan Sect and the Asura Imperial Clan of the Five Elements Continent were not so fearsome after all. Families that hadn't produced a ten-direction Heavenly Sage in thousands of years were virtually unknown in the Solar Star Domain. While the Guiyuan Sect and Asura Imperial Clan held immense prestige within the Five Elements Continent, they would be utterly disregarded outside of it.

The Eight Supreme Powers! One day, my Xuanyuan Valley will become a power like the Eight Supreme Powers, striking terror into the hearts of every Heavenly Power in the Solar Star Domain!

Silently steeling his resolve, a thought sparked in Ji Changkong's mind. He channeled power into the twelve Heavenly Fires that bound the bald giant and the Celestial Serpent Cult fanatic. The power surged dramatically; the twelve sentient Heavenly Fires fused their strange energy with the flares, erupting instantly.

The already dying bald giant and the Celestial Serpent Cult scoundrel were immediately melted down under the immense force of the twelve Heavenly Fires, dissolving into two faint wisps of smoke that vanished within that Celestial Aperture.

A brilliant light flashed in Shang Bingjie's eyes, and she nodded lightly. "You are quite formidable, managing to kill people from the Parting Heaven Sect and the Celestial Serpent Cult. It seems you are a top expert on your home continent."

"By the way, have you ever heard of someone named Yao Kui? He seems to be from your Five Elements Continent as well."

"Yao Kui?" Ji Changkong shook his head. "Never heard of him. What's wrong?"

Shang Bingjie snorted coldly. "That Yao Kui is audacious enough to have killed many experts from our Shang Family on the Sun. My purpose in coming to the Heart of the Sun this time is twofold: to cultivate within the Celestial Apertures, and to hunt down that Yao Kui. For him to be from the same place as you, and yet you haven't heard his name?"

"No. If I manage to return to the Five Elements Continent this time, I will help you inquire about him," Ji Changkong said.

"Be careful. Rumor has it that Yao Kui is extremely powerful. On previous occasions in the Heart of the Sun, Yao Kui single-handedly dominated a Great Celestial Aperture, even killing an expert from the Devil's Den. This person might have already gained the power of the Heart of the Sun and possibly reached the Nine Palaces Heavenly Realm. You might... you might not be his match yet."

"Oh, I understand." Ji Changkong mused to himself that within the Heart of the Sun, in his pure spirit form, he might not match a Nine Palaces Heavenly Master. However, back on the Five Elements Continent, with his spirit returned to his body, he was confident he could handle a Nine Palaces Heavenly Master who had only just entered that realm.

Of course, he would not reveal such arrogant thoughts in front of Shang Bingjie.

After chatting for a while longer, Ji Changkong recalled the twelve Heavenly Fires. Seeing another, larger Celestial Aperture slowly approaching, Ji Changkong ceased idle talk and began to diligently study the mysteries of the twelve Heavenly Fires.

The twelve new Heavenly Fires possessed their own spiritual consciousness. During combat, they attacked according to his will without the need for his explicit control. The consciousness within the twelve Heavenly Fires seemed to have absorbed his wisdom; their movements were not only agile but also highly methodical. They had captured the bald giant and the Celestial Serpent Cult fanatic with ease just moments ago, piquing Ji Changkong's curiosity even more about these twelve flames.

Experimenting with the power of the twelve Heavenly Fires, Ji Changkong grew increasingly delighted. He discovered that not only did he not need to expend much mental energy to control them, but the energy attached to the Heavenly Fires did not diminish over time after they formed!

The original Heavenly Fires would weaken slightly every moment after taking shape; the longer they persisted, the weaker their power became. But these newly formed twelve Heavenly Fires were so peculiar; the energy contained within them remained constant!

This meant he could utilize the full potential of the twelve Heavenly Fires!

The more intently he pondered the new Heavenly Fires, the more he recognized their immense power. As the next, larger Celestial Aperture drew near, Ji Changkong's confidence swelled.

"Be careful. As soon as the new Aperture forms, attack immediately! Show absolutely no mercy! This time is different from before; there will be four people," Shang Bingjie warned with a grave expression.

Long before Ji Changkong's spirit entered Shang Bingjie's Celestial Aperture, the peak Heavenly Sages from other continents had sensed the aura of the Nine Luminaries Life Tree. That was precisely why, when their Celestial Apertures began merging, the apertures from other continents ceased their fighting; they were waiting for this opportunity, waiting to confront Ji Changkong!

As the Celestial Aperture of the Celestial Serpent Cult fanatic and the bald giant of the Parting Heaven Sect merged with the Celestial Apertures of Ji Changkong and Yu Ziling, two other Celestial Apertures had merged as well. That other Great Celestial Aperture now contained four peak experts from different continents, and it was slowly bearing down on the Great Celestial Aperture shared by Ji Changkong and Yu Ziling.

The ultimate goal of the eight small Celestial Apertures was to merge into one Great Celestial Aperture. The four Bagua Heavenly Masters clearly targeted the Nine Luminaries Life Tree held by Ji Changkong; once merged, they would certainly show no mercy.

"Rest assured. The moment I sense the aura of those four, regardless of where they come from or whether they belong to the so-called Eight Supreme Powers, I will immediately go all out and kill them as quickly as possible!" Ji Changkong stated calmly.

Shang Bingjie nodded gently. "I will help you. Those four fought for a long time previously, and their spiritual energy is somewhat depleted. If we are careful, we still have a chance."

"Life or death rests on this battle!" Ji Changkong roared, his expression intensely focused. As the Great Celestial Aperture approached, he took the initiative, flying directly towards the space where the two apertures were about to merge.

The twelve Heavenly Fires danced around Ji Changkong like twelve flame spirits, dispersing flexibly, spreading out to their designated spots, ready to strike at any moment.

Shang Bingjie stared at Ji Changkong, who had rushed to the front once again, a peculiar light flickering in her eyes. But it was only for an instant; she quickly regained her composure, shook her head sharply as if to clear all chaotic thoughts from her mind, and then her tall figure shot out like lightning, arriving instantly beside Ji Changkong.

Kaka! Zazakaka!

The sound of Celestial Apertures merging echoed from the sky above their two apertures. Flames danced everywhere, and the sky was forcefully torn open by a massive fissure.

Hahahahaha! Hahahahaha! Jieee! Jieeejiejejeje! Eerie, chilling laughter erupted from the rift in the sky. Four powerful auras, brimming with arrogance and dominance, burst forth.

With a cold snort in his heart, Ji Changkong acted without a second thought, killing intent surging. The twelve Heavenly Fires suddenly shot out from all directions. Before the two apertures could even fully merge, the twelve Heavenly Fires plunged into the gigantic, torn opening.

Ji Changkong didn't know what had happened, but the frantic yelling suddenly cut off, as if someone had violently clamped down on a throat.

Shang Bingjie, who had been preparing to attack, immediately halted her offensive, staring blankly at the widening fissure. Her stunningly beautiful face was filled with an expression of utter astonishment, as if witnessing something unbelievable.