A colossal star suddenly flashed into view, manifestly larger than the surrounding celestial bodies; compared to it, those neighboring stars were no bigger than grains of rice, yet this single star, though distant, appeared as massive as a millstone.

The meteor beneath him continued its trajectory toward that star. Ji Changkong had already recalled the White Bone Skeleton, and his Demon Body was now safely contained within the Tianyuan Pearl.

Sitting cross-legged atop the massive meteor, he cautiously suppressed his aura, observing his surroundings in secret.

Ships—Dark Stars, Light Stars, and Heaven Stars—drifted slowly through the void. These miraculous instruments forged by the Tiangong Clan were all heading toward the immense star named Fire Prison Star. In addition to these Tiangong artifacts, numerous avian-shaped marvels and flying tools resembling primeval beasts traversed the expanse.

Upon a gigantic cloud mass, figures flickered into sight amidst a constant murmur of feminine voices, punctuated by bursts of laughter like silver bells. On a strange, broad mat, several members of the Three-Eyed Clan conversed with contented smiles, clearly enjoying themselves.

All manner of bizarre flying instruments gradually revealed themselves, shaped variously like birds, beasts, or divine weapons—a thousand strange forms, yet all possessing the singular ability to traverse the star-sea for long journeys, just like the Dark Stars crafted by the Tiangong Clan.

Fire Prison Star was a well-known giant within the Dead Star Domain. On Fire Prison Star, masters from all major races converged, families and sects held immense power, and every conceivable rare cultivation material could be found.

It was precisely the prosperity of Fire Prison Star that drew Star Travelers from every direction. Rather than relying solely on essential energy for propulsion during the long star-sea voyages, more powerful families and factions utilized various peculiar flying tools, making the appearance of strange craft near Fire Prison Star entirely normal.

Ji Changkong’s eyes were truly opened this time. Even before drawing near Fire Prison Star, he realized it was the bustling hub for Star Travelers in the Dead Star Domain. Star systems like the Abandoned Land and Tiannan Star were utterly insignificant in comparison.

No wonder Shang Lingyu, the daughter of Shang Mu, had come to Fire Prison Star. Here were masters to be revered, treasures so dazzling they made one’s eyes swim. Only the most supremely skilled cultivators thrived here, and all the great families and factions vied fiercely to recruit them, ensuring no talent would go unappreciated.

Strange auras emanated from the surrounding flying tools, and he subtly masked his own. A quick mental probe revealed that those vessels were teeming with masters.

There were dozens of Star Travelers at the Nirvāṇa Realm, and six or seven strong experts at the Ruyi Realm. Within that cloud mass, an energy fluctuation was vaguely discernible that made even Ji Changkong’s heart tremble—a terrifying magnitude of power capable of devastating heaven and earth. He immediately concluded that among those women, there resided an expert of the Divine Connection Realm!

This was a genuine Divine Connection Realm powerhouse, not a reborn individual like Shang Yunlang. That person’s aura felt ancient, as if it had existed since the dawn of time, so overwhelmingly vast that Ji Changkong dared not probe further, withdrawing his divine sense almost instantly.

Fortunately, the Divine Connection expert above seemed entirely unconcerned with him; perhaps, in that one's estimation, someone at the Ruyi Realm was hardly worth a second glance.

A sense of discouragement stirred in Ji Changkong for the first time. He had presumed that upon breaking through to the Ruyi Realm, he could wander Fire Prison Star freely. Yet, before even entering, he encountered a Divine Connection expert. This experience served as a stern internal warning: he must not let his guard down on Fire Prison Star.

Suppressing his aura, just as he prepared to approach Fire Prison Star, he ceased probing others with his divine sense. He sprang from the meteor, following in the wake of the other vessels as they drew near the planet.

He observed that although Fire Prison Star was enormous, the vast majority of its surface was shrouded in inexplicable cloud masses. These clouds contained an extremely formidable restrictive power, seemingly designed to block unauthorized entry.

Only a small sector remained free of the clouds, but that area was heavily guarded by numerous masters.

Every incoming Star Traveler, whether solitary or in a group, was routed through that designated area. The stationed guards, drawn from various major races, maintained solemn expressions, systematically ordering the arrivals to form queues. Each person about to pass through was required to present some Yuan Crystals.

Of course, some individuals approached the guards and displayed strange tokens. The guards’ expressions shifted upon seeing the different tokens.

At times, the guards immediately adopted expressions of deference and flattery, not only waiving the Yuan Crystal fee but also courteously inviting the visitor to proceed with smiling faces.

At other times, even after presenting a token, the visitors were still required to pay a portion of Yuan Crystals, though the amount was small. Different tokens, it seemed, yielded slightly different results.

Ahead of Ji Changkong was the flying cloud mass, within which elaborately adorned maidens smiled and chattered merrily. Upon getting closer, Ji Changkong noticed an elderly woman among them, chuckling contentedly while clutching an old tree root, her expression serene.

When Ji Changkong stole a glance at her, the old woman offered a faint smile and even nodded gently toward him.

Ji Changkong instantly tightened his aura, fearful that she might discern something about him. However, the old woman paid him no mind and asked with a gentle smile, "Young man is truly impressive! A Star Traveler at the Ruyi Realm so young is indeed rare, hehe."

"Granny, is he really that impressive? He looks a bit dull-witted; I can't tell," said a girl no older than fifteen or sixteen, her hair tied in a ponytail. She glanced at Ji Changkong and laughed innocently. The girl was not beautiful, possessing an ordinary appearance, though she bore a faint resemblance to the old woman.

Yet the old woman seemed deeply fond of her. Nodding with a smile, she replied, "Not yet a thousand years old, yet having reached the Ruyi Realm—that speed is not achievable by just anyone. Hehe, in our Dead Star Domain, only a mere ten or so people have managed this feat. And since he doesn't understand many of Fire Prison Star’s rules, he must have just arrived from another domain. Achieving this level in another domain is no small matter."

"Is he really that powerful?" the girl asked. Despite being only at the Nirvāṇa Realm, she seemed intensely curious about everything.

The old woman nodded again, then smiled warmly at Ji Changkong and inquired, "Young man, this must be your first visit to Fire Prison Star, yes? If you haven't joined any faction, are you interested in becoming a retainer for my Kui Shui Sect? Hehe, the compensation for a retainer at our Kui Shui Sect is quite good, what do you say?"

Ji Changkong smiled and shook his head. "Thank you for your kindness, Granny. I am only on Fire Prison Star to find someone; once I find them, I plan to leave." "I see. Then I won't press you," the old woman replied, nodding. "Suit yourself. If you change your mind, you can come to the Kui Shui Sect to find me. Just ask for Granny Yu." "Thank you."

The old woman, who introduced herself as ‘Granny Yu,’ said nothing more. She approached the checkpoint guards, presented a token, and the guards immediately straightened, bowing respectfully as they granted passage. The cloud mass shimmered momentarily and vanished into the breach, entering Fire Prison Star.

"Are you with Granny Yu?" a guard at the Kunwu Realm asked politely as Ji Changkong approached. Shaking his head, Ji Changkong replied, "No, this is my first time on Fire Prison Star." "One hundred Yuan Crystals." Upon hearing this, the guard dropped his cordiality and adopted a strictly official tone. "No other procedures?" "None needed for scattered Star Travelers like you, as long as you have sufficient Yuan Crystals." The man said coolly.

'Very good,' Ji Changkong thought, nodding inwardly. He dutifully produced one hundred Yuan Crystals. The guard took them, then nodded: "Pass granted!" A streak of rainbow light flashed through the opening, revealing a vast expanse of white mist.

Without much hesitation, Ji Changkong flew into the dense white fog, plummeting toward Fire Prison Star below. Upon entering, he immediately perceived that the ambient energy here was tens of times richer than on Tiannan Star. Merely breathing a few times invigorated the body, making one feel refreshed and possibly even subtly strengthened. After falling for half an hour, he landed upon a mountain peak soaring ten thousand zhang high.

This was Fire Prison Star. Ji Changkong surveyed his surroundings, spotting figures moving on distant peaks. On a flat expanse further away, the masters of two factions were locked in battle, colorful beams of light intertwining in the void, clashing with various profound powers to ignite brilliant flares.

Not rushing to leave the mountain, he stood atop the summit, gazing intently, absorbing every detail of the scene to gain a better understanding of Fire Prison Star.

He extended his divine sense outward, letting it sweep in all directions. He discovered that Fire Prison Star seemed boundless. Even near this single peak, extraordinary auras manifested intermittently. As his sense roamed, he realized the area was thick with masters: more than a dozen experts at the Nirvana Realm and three at the Ruyi Realm.

Truly worthy of its reputation as the vibrant capital of Star Travelers—Fire Prison Star gathered the strong from all races. He would certainly need to be cautious here. Fire Prison Star was so immense; how was he to locate Shang Lingyu?

He possessed a faint understanding of Shang Bingjie’s Soul Sea, which might allow him to sense Shang Lingyu if she appeared within a thousand-mile radius. But Fire Prison Star was vast; predicting where Shang Lingyu might materialize was impossible. Finding an unknown person on Fire Prison Star felt like searching for a needle in a stellar haystack.

He immediately recalled the peculiar profession: Wind Messengers. These individuals, who traded in information for Yuan Crystals, were ubiquitous and invariably well-informed. Perhaps through a Wind Messenger, he could uncover some useful intelligence. With this thought, he resolved to find the busiest trade hub and locate a Wind Messenger to first clarify the various circumstances of Fire Prison Star.

Only by understanding Fire Prison Star, its rules, and any major recent events could he integrate smoothly. A sharp axe cuts wood quickly, and he began his preparations.