The Primordial Bead and that black vortex suddenly underwent a strange transformation. The experts from the Wood Clan, Feather Clan, and Three-Eyed Clan surrounding them possessed almost no power to resist; their souls were forcibly wrenched from their bodies, becoming a wisp of pure energy within the Primordial Bead and the black vortex.

The abrupt change stunned many onlookers. Those who remained untouched completely abandoned their pursuit of Ji Changkong, terrified that a moment’s delay might spell their doom. In a flash, no one remained near Ji Changkong. Even Xiao Han and the Fire Phoenix fled in terror.

Vicks and the other masters of the Blood Clan likewise turned ashen-faced, retreating from Ji Changkong’s vicinity with expressions of sheer panic, their gazes toward him now laced with deep dread.

In mere seconds, the souls of over twenty powerful experts had been violently extracted. Such a bizarre shift deterred many from contemplating any further antagonism toward Ji Changkong.

His body recovered, and within his core, the leaping flames continued to swirl in the Taiji pattern. The "Blazing Thunder Sacred Fire" and the "Netherworld Cold Flame" remained distinctly separate yet appeared harmonious, slowly rotating. A trace of peculiar aura emanated from them, imparting a feeling of extreme danger.

“Fire Phoenix! Look what you’ve done!” Xiao Han was furious enough to vomit blood, gritting her teeth, “He has already adapted to the aura of the ‘Netherworld Cold Flame’; even for you, now in the Ruyi Realm, injuring him is impossible!” “I have obtained what I desired,” the Fire Phoenix stated coolly. “I am now in the Ruyi Realm; this was the primary reason I came to the Life Vortex—I am content.” “And what about me?” “You are nothing to me.” A flicker of light ignited in the eyes of both women; it seemed a formal rupture was imminent.

“I believe we can talk now,” Ji Changkong said, regaining his composure. He gently shook the bell in his hand, and the white bone skeleton dissolved into a beam of white light, vanishing into the center of the bell. He looked calmly at Vicks. “What exactly is going on with that black vortex?” “You don’t know?” Vicks looked utterly astonished. “I know nothing at all.” “The Primordial Bead is in your hands, and you know nothing?” “I truly know nothing!”

Vicks fell silent, his crimson eyes flashing as if weighing his words. After a moment, he nodded. “Remember this: you absolutely must let the Primordial Bead devour the black vortex. Once you possess the black vortex, you will receive immense benefits later!” “Oh?” A strange smile touched Ji Changkong’s lips. “What immense benefits?” “There are too many people here to discuss it in detail. When Lord Gudi awakens, he will tell you everything.” “Good.”

Before their conversation could conclude, the Primordial Bead and the black vortex mutated once more. An even fiercer suction force emanated from both entities, causing many nearby bodies to shudder and their faces to contort in terror. Those distant from the Primordial Bead immediately felt their souls drifting uncontrollably, a sensation of being pulled apart.

The bodies of those whose souls had been extracted earlier now floated listlessly, their faces pale, utterly devoid of any spark of life. It was clear their souls could never return. Without a soul, even the most powerful cultivator was doomed.

The renewed alteration of the Primordial Bead and the black vortex targeted everyone’s soul. The powerful suction intensified with terrifying speed.

Even Vicks and the three great elders of the Blood Clan looked utterly grim, struggling secretly to maintain control. “Swish, swish, swish!” Strange sounds echoed through the water. The souls of three Ice Clan experts suddenly shot out from their heads and plunged instantly into the Primordial Bead. The faces of the surrounding experts from various great clans instantly paled; their mental defenses seemed to finally shatter.

It was unclear who acted first, but streams of figures shot upward into the sky, fleeing heavenward. No one dared remain below any longer.

“Your Excellency! We must retreat!” Vicks cried out in alarm. “We Blood Clan can offer no more help with what is happening below; you must rely on yourself now. When you emerge from below, you may come to the castle. The three of us will awaken Lord Gudi and have him resolve the doubts in your heart.”

Without waiting for Ji Changkong’s assent, Vicks’ body convulsed violently again, his expression growing even more distressed. “Go! Everyone withdraw!” As Vicks spoke, two more souls were torn from their bodies, plunging into the black vortex.

This finally broke the resolve of even Binnar of the Ice Clan and Huotuo of the Fire Demon Clan, who both yelled in fright, “Go up! Everyone go back!” “Ji Changkong! I will remember this! Hmph!” Xiao Han cast one last hateful glance at him before spinning away.

The Fire Phoenix watched him coldly for a moment, then her serpentine slender waist twisted gracefully. Her exquisite figure snaked upward through the water like swaying seaweed, soon vanishing from sight.

Before long, the vast expanse of seawater saw experts of every clan depart in succession; only he remained below. He considered leaving, but he could not bear to part with the Primordial Bead. This object was clearly a wondrous treasure, and it had formed an intimate link with his soul. Though the sucking force on his soul emanating from the Primordial Bead grew stronger, he remained unaffected. Despite knowing the danger of staying, he resolved to take the risk.

Once he confirmed that truly no one else remained nearby, he relaxed, then settled completely, attempting to connect with the Primordial Bead through his spirit.

With a flicker of thought, his Soul Sea suddenly boiled, and the Soul Seal within it flared with blinding light.

The divine thoughts in his mind flew out uncontrollably, fastening tightly onto the Primordial Bead. Instantly, his soul’s spiritual power streamed into the bead like flowing water. Upon receiving this influx of soul-spiritual power, the Primordial Bead erupted in even brighter radiance. The bead, originally the size of a fist, began to swell slowly.

The fist-sized Primordial Bead gradually grew to the size of a head, and then the rate of its expansion accelerated rapidly. In just a few breaths, the bead became as large as a millstone, and within a few more seconds, it swelled to the size of a house…

As the Primordial Bead expanded, the black vortex seemed to deliberately grow in response. After more than ten seconds, the black vortex covered an area spanning ten miles. Bubbles surfaced with ‘gurgling’ sounds within the vortex, and vaguely, the illusion of an enormous being began to manifest. The spiritual energy in his mind was finally depleted by the Primordial Bead.

A dizzying sensation washed over him, as expected. Having exhausted both his vital essence and spiritual power, all he had left to rely on was the form of the Hellfire Ghost Race he was currently assuming. Even at this moment!

The Primordial Bead suddenly shot out, plunging into the black vortex under a mountain-toppling momentum. Blinding light suddenly burst forth from the black vortex, its rainbow brilliance so intense it made Ji Changkong’s eyes ache. The black vortex expanded again. In just a single breath, the vortex enveloped the entire sea area, boundless and vast, as if swallowing the heavens and earth. Even Ji Changkong and his demonic body were caught within the black vortex.

He felt as if he had arrived in another world, one strikingly similar to the scene inside the Primordial Bead. The sky was filled with swirling cyclones, each spinning fiercely. However, this world was saturated with murky fog that clung to every corner.

Suspended in this world, all he could see was an indistinct panorama. Apart from the cyclones overhead, there was only the surrounding turbid mist; visibility was severely limited.

Floating high above, he gazed down intently and discovered that beneath his feet were countless spheres. These spheres displayed various colors, shimmering with multicolored halos. Above these spheres were miniatures—shrunk by a billion times—of towering mountains, flowing water, plants, and flowers.

Stars!

A thought flashed in his mind, startling Ji Changkong. He looked closer at the nearest sphere below. The scene shrunk onto that sphere was exactly everything found on a Star of Life.

The spheres beneath him were countless, densely packed. Tens of thousands were visible within his range of sight, yet this hazy world seemed infinite. How many more stars lay beyond the visible horizon? He tried to move his limbs, attempting to walk in this strange realm.

There was no resistance whatsoever!

With a mere thought, he and his demonic body could move forward side-by-side. In the endless haze, all he saw were stars. These stars had likely existed for eons, possessing potent Heaven and Earth energies and most of the material composition of a Star of Life.

Yet, there was no life.

He tried to approach a star, only to find that it seemed infinitely far away. No matter how hard he tried, the star in his sight maintained an insurmountable distance. “Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!” A strange wind sound drifted from afar. As he stood there, puzzled, he focused his gaze and suddenly perceived that a colossal, indescribable creature seemed on the verge of revealing itself. His face changed, and Ji Changkong looked up toward the sky, observing from beneath the aerial cyclones.

In the vast expanse of cloud and mist, a terrifying creature spanning hundreds of millions of miles was writhing. As the creature twisted, stars were crushed into dust. In the murky fog, the terrifying being moved. Its full form was obscured, but the occasional glimpse of an icy peak, resembling a dragon or a serpent, was covered in ferocious scales.

That mere fraction visible was magnitudes larger than the Four Sacred Beasts. Suspended above, Ji Changkong stared dumbfounded, unable to believe his eyes. Was this an illusion? Could such an immense creature exist in this world? What exactly was it?

Questions flooded his mind, yet merely existing in the same world as this being made his spirit tremble; the thought of resistance never even surfaced.

As it writhed, dozens of stars were pulverized. What kind of power was this? If the stars below were indeed stars that once existed, this creature could destroy everything—it alone was sufficient to annihilate the world!