The Continent of Fiends. Demons! Great, hulking fiends soared above the Demonic Light Coast, one after another. In a secluded, rubble-strewn corner of the Demonic Light Coast, massive meteorites hung suspended, slowly rotating under the influence of chaotic forces, bursting with refracted beams of demonic light. Evil and chilling.
This was a region of spatial turbulence, where strange spatial energies became entangled, mixing within the chaos and imparting a profound sense of shuddering dread.
Zhong Huang stood grim-faced beside the spatial turbulence zone, his eyes blazing with icy light.
Behind him stood a host of wicked beings. Each one exuded towering demonic energy, their faces etched with bloodlust and brutality, glaring fiercely at the one figure slowly pacing toward them.
Carrying a massive severed head in his hand, Ji Haotian’s expression was calm, imbued with the cold ruthlessness of one who disregards life. A Nine-Headed Demon Dragon forged a path ahead of him, its savage eyes glittering with a combative luminescence.
The Nine-Headed Demon Dragon had originally been condensed from nine chains mixed with the blood essence from within Ji Haotian’s body. However, through Ji Haotian’s frenzied slaughter, the dragon gathered ever-increasing negative souls—resentment, violence, and bloodlust—finally granting it true life.
Like Ji Haotian, this Nine-Headed Demon Dragon was deeply steeped in demonhood, constantly seeking to crush the souls of others to harvest the final essence of their grievance.
Lifting the enormous severed head, Ji Haotian finally reached Zhong Huang's side, standing before the spatial turbulence zone.
“After I woke you, this is how you treat me?” Zhong Huang’s face flickered between complex emotions, his eyes flashing with cold light, his tone sullen.
Ji Haotian’s expression remained unchanged. He spared Zhong Huang a somewhat numb glance and stated calmly, “Open the spatial tunnel to the Five Elements Continent, or I will keep killing until you have no subordinates left to use.”
Zhong Huang was a preeminent fiend even on the Continent of Fiends, possessing a formidable reputation. Yet, when dealing with Ji Haotian now, he was utterly helpless.
Ji Haotian had only just entered the Nine Palaces Heaven Realm; the acupoints within his body had not yet been tempered by stellar essence. Yet, for some unknown reason, he possessed terrifying power, and his methods were completely devoid of human empathy. Whoever blocked his path, he killed—arrogant, high-handed, and merciless.
Zhong Huang had originally intended to rely on Ji Haotian to deal with the Master of the Demon Cave. But once Ji Haotian realized he could not locate the Demon Cave Master, he immediately demanded that Zhong Huang send him back to the Five Elements Continent, a request Zhong Huang naturally refused.
Thus, Ji Haotian began a brutal massacre of Zhong Huang’s subordinates, employing vicious methods and showing no quarter.
Zhong Huang gathered many allies, hoping to destroy Ji Haotian on the Continent of Fiends. Unfortunately, once Ji Haotian became lucid, he proved exceedingly cunning. Whenever he sensed Zhong Huang intending to surround him, he would slip away quietly, fully exploiting the advantages offered by the Continent of Fiends’ numerous mountains, swamps, and marshes.
For several days, Ji Haotian would launch sudden attacks from within the swamps or dense forests, targeting Zhong Huang’s people specifically. Every strike resulted in a kill.
When Zhong Huang and his forces managed to coordinate, Ji Haotian would vanish without a trace. Once they relaxed their vigilance or dispersed, Ji Haotian would reappear to resume his slaughter of Zhong Huang’s retinue.
In just a few short days, Ji Haotian had killed eight of Zhong Huang’s top experts, and even the ferocious, green-haired brute fiercely loyal to Zhong Huang now lay headless in Ji Haotian’s hand.
Zhong Huang finally grasped the true horror of this demonic man. Watching his masters become terrified one by one, unable to muster the courage to fight, Zhong Huang reluctantly agreed to Ji Haotian’s demands, leading him to this spatial turbulence zone.
“Open the passage to the Five Elements Continent, or I will continue to kill!” Ji Haotian casually tossed the green-haired head aside and spoke with composure.
Zhong Huang suppressed the heavens-defying rage churning within him and entered the spatial turbulence zone. He unleashed the power of the Nine Palaces Heaven Realm and began searching for the precise location of the Five Elements Continent according to secret methods.
However, after releasing his spirit, Zhong Huang’s senses swept across the area to no avail. In the vast star field, the Five Elements Continent seemed to have vanished into thin air.
A shock went through him. With his back to Ji Haotian, Zhong Huang’s eyes were filled with confusion as he rapidly calculated a countermeasure. Having lost so many men to Ji Haotian, Zhong Huang was genuinely afraid; he only wished to send this scourge away quickly. But now that his spiritual sense could not locate the Five Elements Continent, this thoroughly disrupted his plans.
A string of thoughts flashed through his mind. Zhong Huang resolved: I must open a conduit for him. Otherwise, he will never rest. If the Five Elements Continent is gone, I will open another path. As long as he cannot return, that is enough.
With this thought, a mysterious location suddenly surfaced in Zhong Huang’s mind, and he instantly formed a plan.
His will soared, his spirit connected. Gradually, Zhong Huang’s spirit settled upon an extremely remote area. Utilizing a specialized secret technique, Zhong Huang connected with the surrounding meteorites, channeling the power of the Nine Palaces Heaven Warrior into them. Using the chaotic forces influencing the meteorites’ collisions, he began to forge a conduit leading somewhere unknown.
“It’s open. Go, and I never want to see you again!” Zhong Huang retreated, his face cold, his tone menacing.
Ji Haotian remained utterly unmoved, stepping toward the conduit step by measured step. Just as he was about to enter the tunnel, he turned back, “You aren't lying to me, are you?”
“If I lie to you, you can come back and find me,” Zhong Huang scoffed.
Nodding slowly, Ji Haotian replied, “True. If you trick me, I will return and slaughter every last one of you.”
With that, Ji Haotian hesitated no longer, plunging into the pitch-black, bottomless tunnel, vanishing in the blink of an eye.
“You’ll never be able to return,” Zhong Huang first breathed a sigh of relief, then suddenly burst into wild, triumphant laughter, the sound brimming with the joy of successful deceit.
Poison Dragon Pool.
Greedily clutching Shang Bingjie’s small hand, Ji Changkong sat down upon an ancient tree near the edge of the pool, a subtle smile playing on his lips.
Shang Bingjie leaned back comfortably against his shoulder, looking up at the dense canopy of stars, exhaling softly. “This feels wonderful.”
“To think nothing, to release the burdens on your heart, to forget the forces that bind your soul, and simply focus on the most ordinary things—this is indeed an experience never had before. I haven’t found this feeling in a very long time.”
The starlight glittered and sparkled; the moonlight was cold, pure, and flawless, much like the maiden beside him.
This journey into the mortal world allowed the pair to set everything aside and fully savor a rare tranquility. Surprisingly, upon returning to the Poison Dragon Pool, they felt as if they had gained immeasurably.
Their souls seemed to have been purified every moment during that month-long trip. Forgetting their troubles and letting go of their obsessions, their realms appeared to advance at an astonishing rate. Although the acupoints within their bodies had not been cultivated, their comprehension of life and worldly emotions had reached an entirely new level.
One must experience many ‘realms’ in life to gradually mature. Only by grasping the true meaning of existence can inspiration spark during the cultivation of strength.
During this journey, the two had neither gathered internal power nor utilized their vital energy. Yet, now they felt their internal vital energy was utterly abundant, like an ancient well freshly filled with the purest water, leaving them completely comfortable and at ease.
Learning to perceive, learning to love someone—there were no grand vows, no earth-shattering declarations of passion. But as they held hands, a wondrous sense of mental communion connected them.
“Bingjie, I have found a place for you. There is something you need there.” Holding her hand, Ji Changkong felt relaxed, gazing up at the sprawling stars. The protective barrier around his heart had been torn away during this past month.
“What place?” Shang Bingjie asked casually.
“Follow me.” He stood up and walked toward the Poison Dragon Pool, floating above it, then slowly sinking down.
Under Shang Bingjie’s puzzled gaze, he reached the bottom of the pool, opened the spatial conduit leading to the unfamiliar continent, pointed to it, and said, “Go cultivate there for a while. It will benefit you. My Uncle Li and Dick are both there.”
“What is there?” Shang Bingjie questioned curiously.
“Living Stars, Stellar Essence.”
Her eyes instantly brightened. After gazing at Ji Changkong for a long moment, Shang Bingjie smiled faintly. “You trust me?”
“A month ago, I wouldn’t have. But now, I do,” Ji Changkong stated frankly.
She gave a soft nod, grasping his hand briefly before letting go. Without hesitation, she slipped into the tunnel.
She didn't speak another word; everything was understood.
Shang Bingjie traveled from that spatial turbulence zone to the unfamiliar continent where the Ancestral Fiend was hidden deep underground.
Ji Changkong remained at the Poison Dragon Pool, diligently cultivating, refining the Stellar Essence stored within his acupoints to make his internal power even more profound.
It was exceptionally smooth!
In the days that followed, the speed at which he refined his acupoints increased dramatically. Perhaps due to the sublimation of his soul, he could now refine an acupoint thoroughly in almost just two or three days.
This pace was astonishing!
In only two months, he managed to fully refine thirty-four acupoints!
He had paused for a month, setting aside everything to wander the mortal world with Shang Bingjie. He had assumed this delay would slow his cultivation speed, but once he truly immersed himself again, he discovered that occasional pauses led to even faster progress!
The results of his two months of cultivation equaled two years of arduous effort for others.
Knowing the trick and armed with ample experience, Ji Changkong redoubled his efforts in the Poison Dragon Pool, deaf to the outside world, diligently refining one acupoint containing Stellar Essence after another.
Xuan Yuan Valley.
Gu Bang was currently stationed long-term within the valley and rarely visited Heaven Mountain these days. Today, Gu Ya was speaking with Xiao Xing, Han Feng, and their group when he saw someone rushing toward them.
The newcomer was Ji Changxiao, his expression grave. After bowing respectfully, he immediately reported, “Something has happened!”
“What is it?” Xiao Xing asked.
“A Nine Palaces Heaven Warrior from another life star outside the valley has died suddenly.” Ji Changxiao reported.
“Died suddenly?” Xiao Xing looked utterly bewildered. “How could that happen? What exactly occurred?”
“Someone heard an explosion coming from a cave outside the valley. When they investigated, they found the man covered in blood, his spirit already gone,” Ji Changxiao stated.
Gu Bang slowly stood up, a thoughtful look on his face, and his figure vanished in a flash.
Xiao Xing and Han Feng’s group immediately rushed out toward the location Ji Changxiao indicated. Within moments, they arrived inside an unremarkable cave outside the valley, watching Gu Bang frown as he examined the injuries on the deceased.
After a long pause, Gu Bang frowned and said in a deep voice, “These fellows truly have not given up their wicked designs. Something must have occurred already.”
“What is it?” Xiao Xing asked.
“Back on the Hai Lan Continent, these people intended to seize the Living Star site discovered by a major power in the Raging Sea Region. They only gave up the idea because of the appearance of Tian Lu and the Death Pact. They have been comfortable in Xuan Yuan Valley for a while, and I suspect they couldn’t hold back. It seems they have begun to act.”
“Ah?” Xiao Xing and Han Feng both exclaimed in shock.
“No wonder these people have been clamoring about going into seclusion recently; they were preparing to act covertly. Hmph, one dying suddenly now clearly indicates that his soul was the first to dissipate!” Gu Bang concluded.
“What should we do?” Xiao Xing was anxious. “Although these people come from other life stars, they are currently within Xuan Yuan Valley. If they start dying one by one here, Xuan Yuan Valley will likely be seen as the hidden culprit. Saint, should I summon Changkong?”
“Let’s not disturb Changkong for now,” Gu Bang shook his head. “He is at a crucial juncture. He hasn't focused seriously on cultivation for a long time; we shouldn't interrupt him over everything.”
He paused. “Besides, this matter requires dealing with souls. While Changkong’s Ancient Nine Transformations Grand Array is miraculous, it cannot accompany the soul into the Endless Star Domain; it would be useless there.”
“Then what do we do?” Xiao Xing’s brow furrowed.
These Nine Palaces Heaven Warriors who came from the Hai Lan Continent, though not fully integrated into Xuan Yuan Valley, had gained much goodwill from many valley members due to their efforts to curry favor. Many people in the valley owed them favors; even Xiao Poshan achieved the Nine Palaces Heaven Realm only after guidance from the big bald man.
Many in Xuan Yuan Valley now regarded them as their own, and some even saw them as honored teachers. Under these circumstances, it seemed inappropriate for Xuan Yuan Valley to ignore their misfortune entirely.
“I will go look for them. I have a general idea of their approximate direction, and I can persuade them to return,” Gu Ya said after a moment of thought, letting out a sigh of helplessness.
“Saint, how can you do that? If you run into danger, how will we explain it to Changkong?” Xiao Xing and Han Feng became agitated together.
“Hantian and Changkong are at the Poison Dragon Pool, and Xiao Poshan just went there too. I am the only one currently in the Nine Palaces Heaven Realm in the valley, so only I might persuade them to listen,” Gu Ya told them, his gaze firm. “My decision is made. I will return to Heaven Mountain immediately to handle this. You two must manage Xuan Yuan Valley well and absolutely ensure no outside enemies enter during this time.”
With that, Gu Ya’s figure began to blur, slowly disappearing.
Begging for guaranteed monthly tickets, I can barely hold on. Please! (To be continued) D
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