Yin Xue watched the five Great Elders maneuver, observing how they deployed the power of the Fanyun Celestial Vein, engulfing the masters from the Sun Star Domain in their net. Seeing them trapped, a sense of desolation washed over her.

At this moment, Tuole realized that he and his two brothers were merely warriors fighting for the Fanyun Celestial Vein in the eyes of these Elders; they held no real authority.

The Second Elder, in particular, had used their parents and relatives within the Fanyun Celestial Vein as leverage, a threat that deeply wounded Tuole. In this current predicament, Tuole was at a loss for what to do. He desperately wanted to save Shang Bingjie but felt utterly powerless.

With a bleak sigh, Tuole shook his head, lowering his gaze deeply, his heart heavy with guilt, unwilling to meet the bewildered look in Shang Bingjie's eyes.

"Brother! Don't move!" Hei Bing sent a mental message. Simultaneously, she used her Soul Arm to tightly grasp Hei Can.

Hei Bing discerned that her brother was about to speak, and knowing his temperament, realized that Hei Can would inevitably say something inappropriate at this juncture. If he spoke, he would certainly offend the five Great Elders of the Fanyun Celestial Vein, which was why she continuously tried to stop him.

"No! What the Fanyun Celestial Vein is doing is too vicious. That person clearly saved us; we cannot be this shameless!" Hei Can stated grimly, his posture stubborn.

"Brother! If you act recklessly, neither you nor I can remain in the Black Sky Altar. Think about our relatives," Hei Bing cautioned.

Hei Can froze, struggling intensely internally for a moment. Then, with a sudden sigh, he slowly calmed himself down.

When the five Great Elders of the Fanyun Celestial Vein made their move, the remaining Hao Miao adherents and the masters of the Black Sky Altar became instantly galvanized. These people had long viewed those from the Sun Star Domain as enemies; if Tuole and his brother hadn't intervened, they might have long ago repaid kindness with enmity.

With the arrival and proactive attack by the five Great Elders, the factions from the Hao Miao Sect and the Black Sky Altar immediately declared their unwavering support for the five Elders.

The five Great Elders had secured control of the situation. After enveloping the area in their light barrier, they descended from the gloomy sky, pausing near Tuole and the other brother.

The First Elder glanced at Tuole, frowning slightly. He spoke softly, "Tuole, I know you harbor resistance and feel that what we are doing is excessive."

"First Elder—" Tuole puckered his lips, starting to speak but stopping short.

"There is no alternative. I must act for the sake of our Fanyun Celestial Vein, for our Meteor Sea Star Domain, which compels me to resort to this desperate measure," the First Elder sighed, his face etched with feigned compassion. "If the Dark Star Race can cooperate with him, they can certainly cooperate with our Fanyun Celestial Vein. That brat is merely one person, and his reputation in the Sun Star Domain is not yet established. As long as he arranges for the Dark Star Race to join us, with the status of our Fanyun Celestial Vein in the Meteor Sea Star Domain, the Dark Star Race will inevitably align closely with us."

"Tuole, you must understand one thing: we must maintain the initiative; we cannot entrust our destiny to the hands of others! If we rely on that brat to broker a connection with the Dark Star Race, that brat effectively gains leverage over us, and we will inevitably be constrained in everything we do henceforth!"

"Furthermore, the Dragon Crystal of the Calamity Dragon was ultimately discovered by the three of you. Even without that brat's interference, if we had arrived, would the Calamity Dragon Crystal have escaped? That Dragon Crystal inherently belongs to our Fanyun Celestial Vein; how could we allow him to reap such enormous benefits?"

"Tuole, you are still young and cannot afford to be rash. It was not easy cultivating you in the mountain; we invested genuine effort. You cannot consider only yourselves in everything you do; you must first think of the mountain!"

The First Elder lectured him earnestly, adopting the air of one disappointed that iron could not be forged into steel. Tuole and Tuolie kept their heads lowered, silent, only nodding occasionally.

"Good, it's best if you understand," the First Elder's expression softened slightly, and he immediately inquired, "After Tuolong left, recount everything that happened on this dead star in detail. Knowing the enemy and knowing ourselves ensures victory in a hundred battles. We need to understand everything about that brat."

"Let me explain," Tuolie volunteered readily.

"Go, go!" The First Elder waved dismissively and huffed, "You little rogue, you can't tell a lie without leaving holes in it. Shut up! Let your elder brother speak."

Tuolie managed a dry laugh, daring not to speak further.

The Second Elder also crept closer, fixing Tuole with a cold stare. "Tuole, think carefully before you speak. If you babble nonsense, you know the consequences when we return to the mountain!"

"Tuole, don't disappoint us," the other Elders chimed in together.

The five Elders knew Tuole was poor at lying. Using the threat against his parents and relatives, they pressed him in turn until Tuole's resolve wavered. He secretly offered an apology to Ji Changkong in his mind before beginning to truthfully recount the events.

"A divine weapon that allows the true body to descend directly—"

When Tuole described how Ji Changkong relied on the Vast Star Sea Map to materialize his physical body, the eyes of the five Elders lit up, their excitement surpassing even the news of the Calamity Dragon Crystal being in Ji Changkong's possession.

"This brat truly is a treasure trove," the Second Elder murmured, a sinister glint flashing through his eyes.

On the Sun Star Domain side, everyone settled down, silent.

They understood that against such overwhelming power, any attempt to resist would only result in their souls being scattered. Given the current circumstances, only the hope vested in Chi Naizhou offered a potential turning point.

Gu Fu appeared calm, seemingly unconcerned by the crisis, merely glancing at Shang Bingjie with a hint of pity before sighing internally.

"Don't worry, she is safe for now. Those five old fellows plan to use her to blackmail Kong Kong. They certainly won't take her life source poison right away," he comforted Gu Fu, using extremely faint soul fluctuations to transmit, "Old Grandfather, I have a way to poison all these people's souls, but I cannot guarantee killing them before they realize it. That is to say, if I act, they will have a moment to react, but they won't die instantly."

Gu Fu listened quietly, then after a pause, instructed the Source Poison: "Little one, don't rush into danger. We will wait. If it truly comes to that, then it won't be too late to act."

If the people of the Meteor Sea Star Domain discovered their souls were poisoned, they would certainly launch an immediate massacre, and the battle would erupt in the shortest possible time, potentially causing catastrophic losses to the Sun Star Domain side.

To be safe, Gu Fu did not endorse his suggestion.

The Source Poison nodded slowly. "Oh, I understand, Little F—"

The vast, boundless starry sky shimmered with flowing light. Energies from various star domains clashed, erupting in brilliant flares.

The larger tidal surges of energy impacted the surrounding meteoroids, immediately causing them to glow brightly, sending them shooting out into the void, transforming into spectacular meteors.

In a bizarre, gloomy region, a mysterious iron ship advanced slowly. Flames jetted from the ship like coiling fire snakes, profoundly strange and ominous.

In this dark, peculiar territory, chaotic forces also flew in like surging tides, briefly manifesting near the iron ship, only to be swept aside by the vessel's powerful defensive wards.

The iron ship maintained its steady, uniform pace forward.

Within the sealed hull, a young man with a cold expression sat cross-legged. One by one, the acupoints on his body began to illuminate.

In a trance, these acupoints shone like dazzling stars, and the youth's body seemed like an immeasurable sea of stars—marvelous and perfectly harmonious.

A blinding beam of light suddenly shot out from an acupoint on his back. The light struck the iron walls of the ship, producing a clear, resonant ding-ling sound.

After the flash subsided, wisps of starlight drifted out from that acupoint, intertwining beautifully like ethereal mist.

Suddenly, under the acupoint's suction, those strands of starlight were violently drawn back in. Within the acupoint, a single point of starlight began to expand rapidly, emitting an even more intense drawing force.

The inexhaustible vital energy within his body poured toward that acupoint as if flowing into the ocean.

This single, small acupoint acted like a fathomless abyss, absorbing a full third of his internal energy and causing his spirit to weaken momentarily.

Taking a deep breath, the youth slowly opened his eyes. He temporarily halted the refinement of the acupoint and took out piece after piece of Yuan Stones, which contained immense primordial heaven and earth energy, immediately beginning to absorb the energy to replenish his depletion.

Only after his internal energy recovered, consuming hundreds of ruined Yuan Stones, did the youth close his eyes again, resuming the refinement of the acupoints.

Time slipped by in the unfathomable expanse of the star fields. After countless acupoints were thoroughly refined, the youth opened his eyes, walked calmly toward the circular, and casually manipulated it. Then he murmured to himself, "Soon. Refine three more acupoints, and I should arrive."

Saying this, the youth once again settled down, focusing his mind entirely on his cultivation.

"How long has it been? Why hasn't that brat returned yet?" the Second Elder of the Fanyun Celestial Vein asked, his expression icy. His venomous, snake-like eyes swept over the masters of the Sun Star Domain opposite them, clearly harboring murderous intent. The First Elder also frowned lightly, looking up at Shang Bingjie, who still maintained a dazed expression. "Second Brother, how much longer can your Soul Tethered Skull restrain that girl?"

"Three or four hours, perhaps."

The Second Elder replied.

"This girl is somewhat troublesome. After all, her true body descended, and her grandmother was killed by us. If she truly fights desperately, we must be cautious," the First Elder hesitated, seemingly deep in thought.

"Why not just kill her now? It saves trouble!" The Second Elder, having lost a strand of his soul essence, still harbored deep resentment.

"Yes, that's acceptable." The First Elder pondered for a moment before finally nodding, smiling slightly. "That brat's grandfather is here anyway; I imagine he won't act rashly." Saying this, the First Elder's gaze fell upon Gu Fu opposite them, and he even offered a nod with a smile.

Gu Fu, who had remained composed until now, finally furrowed his brow deeply, sending a faint soul message to the Source Poison: "Make your move. Let's risk it all."

The Source Poison nodded, glaring malevolently at the Second Elder.