The Dragon-Python King’s monstrous form materialized, its sheer size eclipsing the heavens beneath the blanket of encroaching clouds, obscuring every ray of light. The Dragon-Python King opened its cavernous maw, unleashing a miasma of foul stench that swept across the expanse, accompanied by a fine drizzle of saliva capable of corroding flesh.

The entirety of the island was defiled by the Dragon-Python King’s venomous spray. Each drop that struck the earth caused smoke to billow forth, eating away at the ground and leaving behind deep, bottomless pits—a testament to the toxin’s virulence, which even stone could not resist. “All of you, die!” the Dragon-Python King roared from above the clouds.

A python tail, thicker than any mountain, suddenly flashed forth from the black clouds, sweeping down with devastating force. Ten colossal peaks, each reaching a thousand zhang high, collapsed into ruin with the single swipe of that tail, sending fragments of rock scattering everywhere.

The power to move mountains and overturn seas was a dream for ordinary Heavenly Scholars, yet for the Dragon-Python King, it was achieved with effortless grace.

With the mere movement of that incomparably massive tail, the island itself could no longer bear the strain. Amidst a thunderous roar that shook the earth, the island began a slow, inexorable descent.

On the island, the combatants locked in struggle recoiled in disgust, each deploying their personal protective arts to ward off the corrosive assault of the Dragon-Python King’s saliva.

Ji Changkong also summoned his Five Elements Barrier. Since grasping the true essence of the Primordial Mystery, his comprehension of the world’s fundamental forces had ascended to a new plane, pulling his understanding of the Five Elements into that same realm.

As the Five Elements Barrier manifested, a five-hued aura cycled continuously across its surface, forming five distinct layers of defense. The fusion between each layer was flawless; the five forces blended perfectly, with every element intrinsically weaving the presence of the others within it.

Drops of the Dragon-Python King’s saliva descended from the sky, striking the Five Elements Barrier. They dissolved into wisps of light smoke and vanished instantly—not a single drop managed to penetrate the shield and harm Ji Changkong himself.

Since tossing out the Fragmented Chaos Map, he had remained standing motionless, observing the various factions fighting with a cold smirk, his thoughts inscrutable.

Not far from him stood Tiya, a formidable contender for the position of Grand Island Master of the Golden Sea. Tiya understood the terrifying nature of Ji Changkong better than anyone else. He had initially prepared to join the fray for the Fragmented Chaos Map, but when he saw Ji Changkong decisively cast the map aside, allowing the Wood, Demon, Feather, and Yangming Fire factions to fight to the death over it, Tiya remained perfectly still. This stillness was solely because Ji Changkong had not moved!

A terrifying figure capable of slaying Tuk was watching menacingly nearby—so fearsome that he was willing to temporarily abandon the Fragmented Chaos Map. Even with immense greed swirling in his heart, Tiya dared not gamble with his own life.

Especially since this little harbinger of doom also knew the Requiem of the Purgatorial Ghosts; if that technique fell into the wrong hands, even the chance of reincarnation would be stripped away!

“Little Brother, I bear you no malice,” Tiya said, not daring to compete but instead offering a gesture of goodwill, spreading his hands toward Ji Changkong. “I know my own strength. My realm is barely on par with Tuk’s. At your current age, you stand equal to him, and one day, you will easily dispatch me—I fully believe you can achieve that.” Ji Changkong’s expression was complex as he lowered his voice, “What is it you wish to say?”

“I truly admire your decisiveness, Little Brother. To offer up the Fragmented Chaos Map under these circumstances—it is precisely because of this that you are spared from joining the direct conflict, allowing you to reap the fisherman’s reward!” Tiya said with a slight smile.

Hearing this, Ji Changkong immediately realized Tiya had seen through his intention. He snorted lightly and stated sternly, “What exactly are you trying to say?”

“I do not know any masters of the Chaos Realm. Even if I acquired the Fragmented Chaos Map, I would never have the chance to possess the complete Chaos Map. After all, this is just one fragment; only by gathering all the others can one hope to grasp the ultimate Mystery of Chaos. As far as I know, the other fragments are held by masters within the Chaos Realm, and even if I obtained this one, I would not dare negotiate terms with those individuals,” Tiya explained with a smile. “If you don’t want the Fragmented Chaos Map, then why are you staying here? Just to watch the show?” Ji Changkong refused to believe he was so idle.

“Certainly not,” Tiya laughed. “Little Brother, I believe I can lend you a hand. When those others reach the climax of their struggle, perhaps I can help you retrieve the Fragmented Chaos Map. How about it?” “You want to help me?” Ji Changkong asked skeptically. “Why?”

“If you agree to help me eliminate one person afterward, I will happily assist you,” Tiya said cautiously. Their communication was conducted through a specialized Soul Resonance technique, soul-imprint against soul-imprint—not even lip-reading could detect it, a perfect secrecy while those others fought desperately.

“I understand,” Ji Changkong suddenly smiled. “You want me to help you remove your final competitor, is that it?” “Precisely,” Tiya nodded. “Whether it is the leader of the Wood Clan, the Feather Clan, or the Demon Clan, they are all figures of immense power on Fire Prison Star. Even Yangming Fire and Thunder God Mountain are among the five major human factions. Aren't you afraid of offending them?” Ji Changkong questioned with a peculiar look.

“Of course I am afraid,” Tiya managed a strained smile. “However, I imagine that once you secure the Fragmented Chaos Map, their primary focus will shift entirely to you, leaving them no spare energy to concern themselves with me. Furthermore, I believe that with your cultivation, you will eventually surpass any of them, perhaps even be able to execute all of them.” “You are a gambler!”

“On this Fire Prison Star, if one wishes to rise to the head of a faction, how can success be achieved without risking death?”

“Agreed!” Ji Changkong conceded. “If the time comes when your action is needed, I will signal you. As long as you assist me, I will absolutely help you afterward. I won't stay long on Fire Prison Star; after I help you settle things, I will depart swiftly. Since you dare to take the risk, I will match your gamble. In any case, I stand to lose nothing.”

As he and Tiya reached their agreement, the battle on the other side had reached its most critical juncture. The Fragmented Chaos Map was still held by Electric Duke, but he was now on the brink of collapse, grievously wounded, likely unable to unleash more than a tenth or two of his power. Had it not been for the desperate protection offered by Yangming Fire and Thunder Duke, Electric Duke might already be dead.

With equivalent cultivation realms, the strength of the Demon, Wood, and Feather clans—the alien races—was clearly superior. Both the Wood and Feather clans possessed innate divine abilities, strange powers present from birth, and the Demon body was incomparably resilient. These alien cultivators had an inherent advantage in comprehending the profound mysteries of power over humans, and their innate abilities often played a decisive role in combat.

The Dragon-Python King, along with the three from the Wood and Feather clans, relentlessly pursued Electric Duke. Yangming Fire and Thunder Duke struggled fiercely to resist the onslaught. Though Yangming Fire and Thunder Duke wished to retreat, they discovered that the island had been sealed off by the Dragon-Python King’s black clouds, which had even locked down the surrounding space.

Unable to escape the island, their only option was to fight until a decisive victor emerged upon its surface.

They remained ignorant that Ji Changkong was capable of matching Tuk. To these figures, Ji Changkong, whose realm was merely the Ruyi stage, was entirely beneath their notice. They were so engrossed in their own desperate battle that they had long forgotten Ji Changkong was even present on the island.

The clash among the several experts of the Divine Manifestation Realm was utterly chaotic, their energy fluctuations shaking heaven and earth. Especially the Dragon-Python King, who, having recovered his monstrous form, enveloped the entire Golden Sea in an overwhelming demonic aura. Every Heavenly Scholar within the Golden Sea keenly sensed the sheer magnitude of this demonic presence.

Tendrils of demonic energy radiated outward, penetrating deep into the earth. The residual shockwaves from the Divine Manifestation Realm experts traveled through the island, reaching the seabed billions of zhang below, and penetrating to the very core of the Fire Prison Star.

Within the core of the Fire Prison Holy Star, inside an immensely large, fiery-red prism, a handsome youth appeared to be in deep slumber, his state maintained for untold years.

Faint ripples of vibrating power shot down from the island in the Golden Sea. By the time they reached this fiery-red prism, they had become extremely attenuated.

However, the power of the Divine Manifestation Realm was sufficient to communicate with the divine. Upon reaching this point, the residual energy constantly shifted and maneuvered within the crystalline red facets, gradually affecting the colossal prism, causing it to begin showing minute cracks.

After an indeterminate period, the handsome youth within the prism slowly opened his eyes. His eyes mirrored the red crystalline structure, setting off his exquisite features with an intensely captivating allure. He lightly flexed his fingers, and the crystalline structure suddenly shattered.

He stepped forth, closed his eyes to sense the environment, and murmured softly, “Are these few dozen youngsters insane? I expressly forbade them from causing such chaos on Fire Prison Star. If this continues, the defensive barrier I painstakingly erected will surely be torn open with a massive hole. Strange, why are they so excited: i; 。 。 r 。 。 。 ”

He mumbled briefly, hesitated, then decided, “I’ll go up and take a look, and perhaps discipline them a bit, tell them to behave. This Fire Prison Star is where I cultivate; these little rascals cannot be allowed to run wild.” Having spoken to himself, his figure gradually faded, vanishing as if into thin air. Simultaneously.

The terrifying power of the barrier enveloping Fire Prison Star was violently ripped apart by a massive claw. A strange, mesmerizing woman burst through, shattering the defense that had existed across Fire Prison Star for eons, manifesting in the void above the star like a descending deity.

An eerie, sinister power, vast as the cold reaches of the starry sky, instantly enveloped the entire Fire Prison Star. Every Heavenly Scholar whose cultivation had reached the Ruyi stage felt the arrival of this power. They recoiled in terror, looking upward, unsure what catastrophe was about to befall the Fire Prison Holy Star.