With 43,000 Yuan Crystals secured, Ji Changkong once again plunged into the starlit void, guided by Huofeng and Xiaohan, heading deep into the unknown Dead Star Domain.

Amidst the starry expanse, he encountered more and more races and witnessed countless battles. Through Huofeng and Xiaohan, his understanding of the Dead Star Domain grew ever deeper.

Of course, their stellar voyage was not always smooth sailing; sometimes they were targeted by malicious void marauders, making conflict inevitable.

Fortunately, both Huofeng and Xiaohan possessed cultivation at the Nirvana Realm, and he himself was no pushover, ensuring their journey so far had been fraught with peril but ultimately safe.

Crises in the void sometimes erupted without warning. For instance, a black hole might materialize out of nowhere, which the three of them narrowly avoided.

Through these battles and close calls, he grew increasingly composed. With his deepening grasp of the Dead Star Domain, he understood more clearly that only superior strength guaranteed a comfortable existence there.

Another half-year passed, and his comprehension of Stellar Force became more refined. He grasped several more governing principles of Stellar Force, making his speed far surpass that of Huofeng and Xiaohan.

Naturally, he never ceased his cultivation within the void. During their stellar travels, he continuously tempered the power within his body, striving to comprehend the profundities of the Heavenly Derivation Ancient Art. The cultivation of the Heavenly Derivation Ancient Art focused heavily on enlightenment—grasping the true essence of the Five Elements’ mysteries and the laws governing their existence and operation.

He vaguely felt that the speed at which he mastered the laws of Stellar Force was linked not only to his practice of the Grand Void Secret Codex but also significantly to the Heavenly Derivation Ancient Art.

In the process of cultivating the Heavenly Derivation Ancient Art, his state of mind became increasingly detached; he ceased to hold any danger in high regard, becoming fearless and dauntless, as if he were himself the master of the laws…

State of mind—this was what the Celestial Masters of the Ten Directions Heaven Realm valued most highly. Only when one’s state of mind was achieved could cultivation proceed continuously; without the proper mindset, no amount of effort could break the shackles and reach a higher, profound realm.

The cultivation of the Heavenly Derivation Ancient Art and the Grand Void Secret Codex proved extremely effective in honing his state of mind. Under the influence of cultivating both, he felt his spiritual senses becoming sharper and his comprehension constantly improving. He often experienced sudden flashes of insight, grasping specific laws in particular situations.

When he applied these laws to his body and combat, he discovered that those seemingly useless principles could often transform his body and fighting style, making his physique increasingly adapted to navigating the void and rendering his battles increasingly fluid. He could even manifest inspiration mid-engagement, turning combat into an art form. Time flew, and three years were spent traversing the starry sea.

After three years, all the acupoints within his body were saturated with vital essence; he had reached the peak of the Subtle Realm and only required a catalyst to advance further into the Nirvana Realm.

Huofeng and Xiaohan watched his transformation silently over these three years. Huofeng, who had originally harbored malice toward Ji Changkong, seemed to shift her attitude, beginning to regard him as something other than a target to be ambushed and eliminated at any moment. After three years, he no longer needed to release the Bone Skeleton to constantly guard against Huofeng.

Having broken through to the peak of the Subtle Realm, he could transform his body in an instant, hardening it to have razor-sharp fingertips and protruding spikes across his body. He felt that once transformed, even Huofeng attacking with full force could not instantly take his life.

Of course, he never revealed this transformed state to Huofeng or Xiaohan; it was his trump card, reserved only for the most crucial moments.

Even without displaying it, the moment he recalled the Bone Skeleton, Huofeng and Xiaohan sensed a subtle shift.

Though they never discussed it, from all the signs, both Huofeng and Xiaohan understood that he no longer feared them, or at least, no longer worried about being instantly annihilated by them.

This realization made Huofeng and Xiaohan even more hesitant to act rashly. Huofeng, in particular, no longer regarded him with open scorn when dealing with certain matters, sometimes even cautiously seeking his opinion. Instinctively, Huofeng and Xiaohan now viewed him as an equal opponent. The Forsaken Land.

Feiyun of the Feather Clan and a large man from the Wood Clan met at Yele’s trading post. Behind the Wood Clan man stood Yele and Karu, both appearing utterly respectful and meek. Beside Feiyun, five immense feathers shadowed the area, effectively immobilizing Yinjí. “Feiyun, are you saying this person knows the location of the Nine-Story Pagoda?” the large Wood Clan man demanded, his face grim, his narrow eyes fixed on Yinjí. “Kegu, those are not the main points.” Feiyun shook his head. “What is inside that Nine-Story Pagoda has very likely all been taken by one person.” The Wood Clan man, addressed as “Kegu,” suddenly started, shouting, “What?” “It was that brat, he got everything inside!” Yinjí quickly cried out, his expression full of terror. “Feiyun, then why did you seek me out?” Kegu scoffed. “If the Nine-Story Pagoda is empty, I have no interest in going there with you; find your daughter yourself!”

Feiyun shook his head. “My daughter sent word to me two years ago, saying she has returned to the Dead Star Domain and is currently cultivating a divine ability of my Feather Clan in seclusion. Once she emerges, she might break through to the As-You-Will Realm!”

“Feiyun, are you joking?” Kegu sneered. “You are also in the As-You-Will Realm, so you must understand how difficult it is to enter that stage. For your daughter to reach that level requires more than merely meditating for a few thousand years; it demands comprehension and fortune.”

“What if I told you my daughter obtained the Divine Phoenix Feather Wings inside that Nine-Story Pagoda? Do you still think it’s impossible?” Feiyun’s words were uttered calmly, but a flicker of unconcealed pride shone in his eyes.

“Divine Phoenix Feather Wings!” Kegu was immensely startled, then murmured after a long pause, “You old fox Feiyun, you have given birth to a lucky seed. I have no such luck; none of my sons have amounted to anything!”

“Ahem, the reason I sought you out this time is to join forces with you to track down that brat.” Feiyun coughed lightly. “On the Forsaken Land, you are in charge of the Wood Clan, and your clan’s intelligence network here is as extensive as ours, the Feather Clan. Perhaps by combining our efforts, we can locate that brat.” “There is only one item of true value within the Nine-Story Pagoda. Do you really think that item is on that boy?” Kegu was struck dumb. Feiyun’s expression turned serious. “All of you, withdraw.” Behind him, several Feather Clan experts swiftly vanished. Seeing this, Kegu also coughed lightly, and the Wood Clan members disappeared one by one. In a moment, only Feiyun and Kegu remained, along with Yinjí. “Tell him,” Feiyun nodded toward Yinjí.

Yinjí lowered his head. “On the eighth level, I vaguely saw that brat collect four items: several small vials, a fishing net, a bell, and… a thin scripture roll.”

Kegu had initially been listening with mild interest, but when Yinjí mentioned the scripture, his eyes immediately lit up. He looked at Feiyun. “Are you suggesting the fragmented map might be inside that scripture?”

“Most likely.” Feiyun nodded gravely. “Legend has it that a fragment of that map was held within the Nine-Story Pagoda. If the legends are true, that fragment must be within the scripture in that brat’s possession!” “Good! We will join forces to find that brat out!” Kegu pondered for a moment. “Even if he’s not on the Forsaken Land, we must find him!” “I’ve told you everything I know. Should you let me go now?” Yinjí looked up at Feiyun pitifully. Feiyun nodded. “Yes, you are indeed no longer of value.”

As soon as the words fell, he casually exhaled toward Yinjí. A faint wisp of smoke drifted out, brushing over the feathers on Yinjí’s body. Those feathers suddenly became as sharp as blades, instantly slicing Yinjí into several pieces. The feathers remained unstained by blood, and after killing Yinjí, they floated back lightly to his wings. “Xueli, although that brat saved you, I cannot let him live…” Feiyun murmured silently to himself.

On a planet bathed in a sky of crimson clouds, the ground was covered in plants of vibrant red, green, and violet. These plants bore sharp teeth, and their twisted branches and leaves seemed intent on devouring any living creature that passed by, appearing utterly grotesque. “Pang! Pang! Pang!”

Three impacts against the earth suddenly sounded among those plants, crushing the grotesque flora into juice. Plants in the distance moved their roots and rapidly fled underground. “We’ve finally arrived.” Xiaohan took a deep breath, excitement shining in her eyes. “Xiaohan, is this the place you mentioned?” Ji Changkong looked around, puzzled. “I can’t detect any life fluctuations. Are you certain this is it?” Xiaohan nodded. “Of course. I nearly died here last time; how could I get the location wrong?” “Be careful,” Huofeng frowned, sensing the area. “There seems to be a volcano brewing beneath the ground here. If it erupts, it could be quite ferocious!”

“Caution is useless,” Xiaohan explained. “Once these underground volcanoes detect life fluctuations, they will quickly begin to brew and erupt. We cannot evade it; we can only face it carefully.” “Now, you can tell me your purpose for coming here and what you hope to obtain,” Ji Changkong nodded, looking at her with a composed expression.

“There is an opportunity here for us to soar to the heavens!” Xiaohan’s eyes gleamed brightly. “If we survive, both Huofeng and I might enter the As-You-Will Realm, and you are guaranteed to step into the Nirvana Realm! If luck is on your side and you can evolve the ‘Blazing Thunder Sacred Fire,’ perhaps you too can reach the As-You-Will Realm!” “Interesting,” Ji Changkong chuckled. (To be continued. For future developments, please log in to… More chapters available, support the author, support genuine reading!) F