Above, radiant, multicolored clouds diffused light everywhere, making the illumination here not only sufficient but even brighter than on the surface world.

On the ground, exotic flowers and strange grasses carpeted the earth, with colossal fungi and plant life shaped like dwellings. Various strange beasts, never before seen on the surface, rested quietly, showing no fear of strangers.

Luminous stones, crystal clear and immense—some as large as houses—were scattered in every corner. These stones took on myriad shapes, some naturally forming figures of beasts or flora, giving the entire area a sense of vibrant vitality.

The colors of the vegetation here were intensely brilliant—reds, greens, purples—as pure as the finest pigments.

Rivers snaked and wound like long serpents, their waters so pure and untainted that one could see the tiny fish swimming within at a glance.

This was a fairy-tale world seemingly existing only in imagination, so beautiful, so pristine, as if untouched by the slightest defilement of the mortal realm.

Furthermore, the spiritual energy here was extraordinarily rich, with strands of celestial power swirling within the overhead clouds. Merely breathing a few lungfuls of this fresh air brought an immediate sense of exhilaration and refreshment.

"Don't be so quick to marvel; though this subterranean world is beautiful, we must first restore the power within our bodies," Xiao Han reminded them, then quietly sat down. She retrieved a massive Primal Crystal she had mined from a Yuan Grade ore vein and began the process of replenishing her inner strength. Huo Feng remained silent and followed suit.

Ji Changkong was not so relaxed. Wary, he released the White Bone Skeleton, sent it a mental instruction, and only then sat down, taking out a sizable Primal Crystal from his mustard seed pouch to silently restore his vital essence. Time flowed quickly.

After an indeterminate period, Ji Changkong was the first to awaken. Having the highest cultivation, his recovery speed was naturally quicker. Noticing that Huo Feng and Xiao Han were still deeply engrossed in their practice, he chose not to disturb them and instead wandered this world with the White Bone Skeleton.

This was the marvelous realm within the Star Heart, unreachable by ordinary people. Even accomplished Ten Directions Celestial Masters would have to survive the perils of erupting lava just for the chance to arrive here.

This was undoubtedly another stunning world. Where Yun’er held wonders unseen on the surface, this place offered a magnificence beyond surface-world comprehension. Cultivating here, one’s progress might well be faster than elsewhere. Perhaps, Ji Changkong mused, people actually lived here?

With this thought arising in his mind, he attempted to unfurl his spiritual sense, seeking to probe other regions of this world to see if any Celestial Masters resided in Yun’er. "Shush-shush-shush!"

As soon as his spiritual sense expanded, before he could properly perceive anything, he heard a strange sound echoing from a distance. Moments later, an alien being with an air of profound arrogance appeared before his eyes.

The being’s complexion was unnervingly pale, giving the impression of grave illness. Though clearly male, his frame was slender, and his face, while quite handsome, featured ferocious, pointed fangs that actually protruded slightly from his mouth, resting against his upper lip, creating an extremely bizarre appearance.

Ji Changkong detected no strong life fluctuations emanating from him; his internal aura was saturated with corpse energy and death qi. If not for his exceptionally bright eyes, he would have mistaken the man for a mere animated corpse. "Tap-tap-tap!"

At some unknown point, Huo Feng and Xiao Han had already moved to stand beside him. Xiao Han frowned at the newcomer and exclaimed, "Blood Clan!" Blood Clan, early—

Ji Changkong started, his eyes filled with doubt. He had heard snippets about this race, rumored to be born immortal, possessing endless longevity, never dying naturally unless slain by another.

The Blood Clan was one of the most ancient, high-level races in the Endless Star Domain, boasting a long history and a developed civilization of their own. However, they rarely interacted with other high-level races. Even in the Dead Star Domain, Blood Clan members lived primarily in dark underground locales, seldom venturing to the surface.

Blood Clan members were synonymous with power in the Dead Star Domain because they possessed the dual abilities to diligently practice the Way of the Celestial Master and wield a peculiar innate divine talent: strengthening themselves with the blood of the powerful!

Even without cultivation, the strength of a master Blood Clan member increased simply with the extension of their lifespan. Moreover, they were naturally agile, and their bodies were far more robust than those of ordinary humans. Once these inherently advantaged beings took up the path of the Celestial Master, their progress was often meteoric. If they consumed the blood of the powerful, this rate of advancement accelerated even further!

Every single member of the Blood Clan was formidable. In the same Ten Directions Heaven Realm, one Blood Clan master could contend against two experts from the Feather Clan or Wood Clan, or even match seven human Ten Directions Celestial Masters! This was a race born to be mighty!

Sadly, they were not the absolute strongest race in the Dead Star Domain, due to their sparse numbers and the immense difficulty of reproduction. It took at least a thousand years for two Blood Clan members to conceive a single child. Humans required only a few months, while the Feather and Wood Clans needed merely a few years. This biological constraint prevented the Blood Clan from achieving absolute dominance in the Dead Star Domain, where the balance of power seemed perpetually maintained." "Who are you?" the Blood Clan member asked, eyeing the trio coldly, his expression severe.

He possessed only the cultivation of the Ten Directions Heaven Microscopic Realm, yet he showed no fear towards Huo Feng or Xiao Han. Instead, a subtle air of haughtiness emanated from him, as if he held dominion over their very lives.

"This isn't your Blood Clan territory; what business is it of yours who we are?" Xiao Han retorted with a scoff. "This subterranean world, before you, didn't even have Blood Clan members here. You must be latecomers too, right?"

"Correct. We didn't discover this place before. Yun’er has many inhabitants cultivating here," the Blood Clan member conceded with a nod. "However, now that our Blood Clan has found this place, it is now a forbidden zone for us. Anyone wishing to cultivate here must submit to the constraints of the Blood Clan. Otherwise, they must leave immediately, or we will strike them down!"

Pausing briefly, the Blood Clan master tilted his head back, sneering coldly. "This area is now managed by our Blood Clan’s House of Augustus. I am one of the overseers here. If you have descended from the surface world, you must accompany me for registration."

"Where are you taking us?" Xiao Han seemed wary of the Blood Clan, forcefully suppressing the anger churning within her. "Reluctantly."

"You will know when you get there," the Blood Clan expert stated. "We must understand your intentions. Whether you plan to stay long-term or merely explore, you must receive our approval and pay the required Primal Crystals to us. If not, you can leave right now!"

Xiao Han frowned, hesitating before reluctantly turning to Huo Feng and Ji Changkong. "We should go with him." Clearly, Xiao Han held considerable reservations about the Blood Clan.

"I am the overseer, Marquis. Follow me," the Blood Clan member introduced himself briefly before arrogantly leading the way, seemingly certain they dared not flee.

Though somewhat indignant, Xiao Han had no choice but to follow obediently, whispering secretly to Ji Changkong, "Bear with it for now; don't provoke the Blood Clan. These people are absolute sticklers; they never allow any breach of the rules they establish. If someone breaks their code, they are deemed an irreconcilable enemy, one who must be eliminated!" Ji Changkong nodded helplessly. "Understood."

"Since our House of Augustus descended here, this place has become our domain. The cultivators who lived here previously now operate according to the rules of the House of Augustus, and that is how they manage to live in peace. If you intend to reside in Yun’er long-term, you must also adhere to our regulations," Marquis stated coolly as he walked ahead.

As he spoke, Ji Changkong noticed numerous other alien beings—Feather Clan, Wood Clan, and even some human Celestial Masters. They lived either in tree hollows, had carved chambers out of massive stones, or simply sat cross-legged beneath the rivers.

Most of these individuals possessed the cultivation of the Ten Directions Heaven Microscopic Realm, with one or two matching Huo Feng and Xiao Han at the Nirvana Realm. Upon seeing Marquis approach, every one of them nodded respectfully, their expressions tinged with awe.

Even the Nirvana Realm Celestial Masters showed deference to Marquis, which further curbed any impulsive action from Huo Feng and Xiao Han.

Under his guidance, an hour later, Ji Changkong, Huo Feng, and Xiao Han were led before a magnificent, ancient castle.

The structure spanned hundreds of acres and towered a thousand zhang high, built entirely from the local transparent, crystalline stone. At a glance, the castle resembled a crystal city, flashing with a rainbow of multicolored light—truly breathtaking.

Even Huo Feng and Xiao Han, who scarcely resembled typical women, showed expressions of astonishment upon seeing the massive castle constantly radiating prismatic light, murmuring softly in what seemed to be silent praise of its grandeur.

"Marquis, who are these three?" Another Blood Clan member stood before the castle, calling out casually.

"These are three outsiders who just descended from the surface world. I'm bringing them to process their paperwork," Marquis replied.

"Outsiders?" The second individual’s expression grew strange as he shook his head. "It won't be possible today. Three of the Five Great Elders are in slumber, another has gone out, and the last one has traveled to the territory of the Ice People. They likely cannot process paperwork for these three."

"You three will wait here until an Elder returns," Marquis frowned, stating coldly. "Until an Elder is back, you are not permitted to go anywhere. You can only move freely once you have secured approval from one of the Elders."