"Purple Gold Star Crystal?" Dick looked surprised, regarding him with curiosity. "Why do you ask about that?"

"I seized two 'Light Reversals' from the Zakk race. One of them, the Guangchen, possessed a magical artifact that could emit a fantastic wave called the 'Ice Magnetic Ripple.' The power of this ripple was terrifying; it actually destroyed the light-hole I had condensed..."

Having associated with Dick for so long, he knew Dick's penchant for jest, so he did not deliberately conceal anything, instead laying out the actual situation point by point.

Dick frowned, listening intently for a while. After a long pause, he finally said, "If it truly is as you describe, this 'Ice Magnetic Ripple' is indeed formidable. Perhaps even the Star Scale Armor on our bodies couldn't block it. Those Zakk fellows are quite capable."

"Your Dark Star race's understanding of the Essence of Stars should be far deeper and more profound than the Zakk race's. If the Zakk know of the Purple Gold Star Crystal, I presume your Dark Star race must know of it too?"

"That's right, we certainly know of the Purple Gold Star Crystal. It is an extremely rare marvel. Perhaps only one tiny piece exists among one hundred thousand living stars. No one knows how these crystals are formed. They present in shades of purple and gold, and at the center of the crystal are specks of starlight. That starlight is exceptionally peculiar, almost seeming to possess life as it flows within the Purple Gold Star Crystal." Dick pondered for a moment, slowly recounting what he knew, then hesitated before adding:

"The Purple Gold Star Crystal is immensely precious even within our clan. Only those who have made outstanding contributions to the race are awarded an extremely small fragment. For us, this crystal is an essential material for cultivating certain Grand Divine Arts. Some of our clan elders require Purple Gold Star Crystal when transforming their entire scale armor into star-stone."

The supreme experts of the Dark Star race undergo a process where their entire scale armor is petrified into star-stone, allowing the scales to retract into their bodies like stars. When not in combat, these scales are tempered repeatedly through the flesh and blood within. Once engaged in battle, the scales can instantly regenerate.

Scales tempered repeatedly by flesh and blood become far more resilient than the Essence of Stars once they emerge from the body. Unless attacked by divine weapons of immense pedigree, ordinary assaults cannot penetrate the armor covering their bodies.

"So, the Purple Gold Star Crystal is an unparalleled treasure even within your Dark Star race?" Ji Changkong thought, realizing the difficulty of obtaining it. Dick's words confirmed that the crystal was a treasure coveted by everyone in the Dark Star race.

"Mm," Dick nodded.

"Do you know where one might find the Purple Gold Star Crystal?"

"I know, but if you could locate tens of thousands of living stars and search through every single one, perhaps you might find a fragment. The probability is exceedingly low," Dick replied, expressing his helplessness.

"I see. Then forget it. Oh, right, tell me more about how to identify a Purple Gold Star Crystal. Heh, maybe my luck will turn, and I'll run into one someday."

"No problem." Dick hid nothing, carefully explaining his understanding of the Purple Gold Star Crystal to Ji Changkong.

The two discussed the situation on that living star for a while longer. Afterwards, Ji Changkong casually asked, "Do you know about the Shadow Demon race?"

"The Shadow Demon race?" Dick's pupils contracted, revealing extreme astonishment. "You encountered a member of the Shadow Demon race? Did you offend them?"

"Uh, I suppose I did, but it was the Zakk race's 'Ice Magnetic Ripple' that killed him."

Dick let out a slight sigh of relief, his expression turning solemn. "It's a blessing you didn't kill them. The Shadow Demon race is one of the most vengeful in the Endless Starfield. If any of their experts are harmed, they will certainly pursue revenge to the death without rest! Legend has it that the Shadow Demon race has some connection with the Purgatory Ghost race; I don't know if that's true. Apart from some powerful, ancient high-level races within the Dead Starfield, the Shadow Demon race generally acts without restraint in the outside world."

"Connected to the Purgatory Ghost race?" Ji Changkong was taken aback. "What do you mean?"

"Legend says that some survivors of the Purgatory Ghost race are secretly manipulating the Shadow Demon race. The reason the Shadow Demons have been so fearless in recent years is because they have the backing of some Purgatory Ghost experts. You should know that the Purgatory Ghost race was an overwhelmingly powerful race in the Endless Starfield back then. If not for that sudden catastrophe, the Purgatory Ghost race would undoubtedly be one of the most dominant races in the Dead Starfield!" Dick explained. "By what you say, the high-level races within the Dead Starfield are the most powerful? How many races are there in total in the Dead Starfield?" Ji Changkong asked in surprise.

"Indeed, the Dead Starfield contains marvelous powers and supreme treasures from before the Great Destruction. It is said to be the best-preserved starfield from that era. Generally, experts from all other starfields who possess sufficient confidence will enter the Dead Starfield, as it offers the suitable environment for their cultivation."

"No one knows how many high-level races reside in the Dead Starfield. Over the years, high-level races from various starfields—including primordial lifeforms and the Ten Directions Heavenly Sages who reach the pinnacle of cultivation, like yourselves—have passed through the Dead Starfield. In short, anyone who can establish a foothold there is definitely a powerful entity," Dick said with conviction.

"Mm, I understand." Ji Changkong looked up at the starry sky, his gaze seeming to span across endless starfields to land in the Dead Starfield. He murmured inwardly: Sooner or later, I will have a place there! After chatting with Dick for a while longer, Ji Changkong took advantage of the 'Guangchen' and departed. Although he hadn't obtained what he wanted, he had at least learned about the Purple Gold Star Crystal and some secrets of the Shadow Demon race from Dick.

On the main star of the Zakk race, on a certain celestial sphere, numerous experts of the Shadow Demon race suddenly descended.

Once the Shadow Demons materialized on the Zakk main star, they wasted no time. Their leader began a merciless slaughter, demanding to see the Zakk patriarch. Fortunately, the Zakk race seemed to have prepared; as soon as the Shadow Demon experts arrived, large contingents of Zakk powerhouses were waiting.

The battle between the two races erupted instantly.

Simultaneously, some smaller stars belonging to the Zakk race also experienced invasions by the Shadow Demons. The conflict between the two races broke out everywhere, sweeping across numerous life-bearing stars.

Five Elements Continent.

The two 'Guangchen' vessels broke through the chaotic and disordered void and slowly descended toward Xuanyuan Valley.

All the experts in Xuanyuan Valley felt the strange objects in the heavens with their soul senses. One by one, they emerged from the valley in fright, gazing up at the exotic objects descending from above.

Many felt uneasy, assuming a full-scale invasion by foreign races.

However, when Ji Changkong's figure appeared from within the 'Guangchen,' the people of Xuanyuan Valley were stunned.

As the two 'Guangchen' vessels landed in a valley just outside Xuanyuan Valley, that area was already crowded with experts from the valley—people from the Ji family, the Xiao family, the Ghost Sect, and Heavenly Sages gathered here from all corners of the world.

They had never witnessed such artifacts capable of traversing the outer domain and were extremely interested. Before Ji Changkong could even disembark from the 'Guangchen,' these people began bombarding him with endless questions. The arrival of the two 'Guangchen' vessels shook the entire Five Elements Continent, making Xuanyuan Valley undeniably the center of attention.

East Heaven Peak.

In a dilapidated small hut, a ragged old man stared blankly at the sky. He tightly clutched a sword, as if holding onto his very life.

Yi Rou held a broom, sweeping half-heartedly with a mournful expression, murmuring to herself, "Grandpa Dun, will that person still remember me? Ever since he left East Heaven Peak last time, he hasn't returned. He probably won't come back anymore..."

The old man held his sword, still staring dazedly at the stars, drool involuntarily trickling down his chin.

Yi Rou sighed softly, then condescended to wipe it clean with her handkerchief, muttering, "Grandpa Dun, when will you wake up? Will you really stay muddled forever? That won't do..."

Yi Rou whispered, not expecting an answer, merely seeking an audience.

For several years now, since this old man sent the Ghost Demon King into a spatial rift with a single sword strike, the juniors of the Yi family had shown him much more respect. Yet, no one dared approach him, nor did anyone dare speak to him.

This terrifyingly powerful yet demented old man posed a threat no less than the Ghost Demon King to everyone. If the old man went mad and lashed out at someone nearby, perhaps no one in the Yi family could stop him.

The head of the Yi family, Yi Ci, had a new residence built for him. Unfortunately, the old man refused to move, content to stay in the broken hut, staring vacantly at the starry sky all day.

In the vast Yi family, only Yi Rou frequently visited, tidying the hut and talking to him.

"Grandpa Dun, do you think I'm being overly sentimental? Do you think he likes me?"

Yi Rou nervously twisted the corner of her garment and asked shyly. "He will like you! With me here, he'll like you whether he wants to or not!"

Suddenly, the old man named Hong Mandun smiled and responded. The blankness and confusion vanished from his face, and the divine light in his eyes was simply too piercing to look at directly! "Grand... Grandpa Dun!" Yi Rou's mind struggled to catch up. She stared at him blankly, stammering, "You... you spoke? How... how can you speak?"

"Silly girl, I was merely practicing a secret technique that caused this. Now that the secret method is complete, of course, I can speak," Hong Mandun said, ruffling Yi Rou's hair with immense paternal affection. "Let's go. I'll take you to find that brat. If he refuses to marry you, I'll destroy that Xuanyuan Valley of his."

As the words fell, Hong Mandun's figure warped, and he vanished into the void with Yi Rou grasped in his hand.