Although he was mentally prepared, when Zhu Cui blurted out the words "Ji Du," Ji Changkong still felt a shock.

The first time Dick encountered the Origin Poison, he noted its startling similarity in life form to the Plague Demon. Back then, Ji Changkong had strictly warned Dick not to disclose this information to anyone; even at that time, he had harbored some premonitions.

As the Origin Poison continuously evolved, he watched helplessly as it became increasingly difficult to control, its life form constantly changing until even he could barely grasp its essence.

When the Origin Poison left him and headed for the Dead Star Domain, he knew it had achieved complete independence. He understood the poison's capabilities and its inherent terrors. After consuming the Demon King's Origin Poison, its life form transformed again, resulting in significant boosts to both its abilities and intelligence.

When the Ghost Mother of the Heavens mentioned the appearance of a Plague Demon on Black Prison Star, the first thought that flashed through his mind was: could it be Ji Du? This notion lingered, and the deeper he considered it, the more probable the possibility seemed.

Though Zhu Que stated the facts, despite his prior expectations, Ji Changkong was profoundly shocked, murmuring, "It really is him..."

"You suspected it would be him?" Zhu Que inquired curiously.

Ji Changkong nodded with a wry smile. "I knew of his peculiarities. In my view, if a Plague Demon truly existed, he had the highest chance of having transformed into one. After he left me back then, he mentioned coming to the Dead Star Domain. After I broke through to the God-Connecting Realm, I could sense the auras of acquaintances, but I couldn't locate him. That’s when I knew his fortune was considerable."

"Plague Demons are terrifyingly dangerous," the Sacred Beast Azure Dragon's solemn voice resonated. "They are a type of virulent fungus. They can absorb energy from all ores and plants. Through this energy absorption, they can multiply infinitely. Wherever they pass, a vibrant, living star quickly becomes desolate silence, with not a trace of energy remaining."

"Indeed, the Plague Demon is truly frightening," Zhu Que added. "Back when Plague Demons rampaged, entire life-bearing stars and mineral planets were reduced to dead stars; all energy vanished completely from the stellar bodies."

"Plague Demons reproduce too swiftly. As long as energy is abundant, they multiply rapidly. They are like clouds of death; in just two or three years, they can turn an immense star domain into a wasteland!"

"Plague Demons are exceptionally difficult to deal with. As far as we know, only the Origin Fire can annihilate them. When we discovered their appearance, we immediately thought of Jilges's Black Heaven Demon Descent, which is why we sought you out," the Azure Dragon explained. "What are your plans?" Ji Changkong asked, his face grim.

"We must destroy him. If he remains, the Dead Star Domain is doomed. Not only the Dead Star Domain, but the entire Endless Star Domain will slowly be corroded by him, eventually becoming utterly silent!" Zhu Que declared decisively.

"I must go to Black Prison Star to see if I can suppress him," Ji Changkong mused for a moment, then suddenly stated.

"No! He must be utterly eradicated! We cannot give him any chance. The mere existence of this life form is meant to destroy this world. We cannot harbor an ounce of (chance/false hope)!" The Qilin, from a distance, roared.

"Damn it, let me go kill that brat; that'll settle everything once and for all!" The Old Demon Dragon Jilges, also far away, suddenly cried out hysterically. "If we delay any longer, my Black Heaven will cease to exist!"

Jilges sensed the weakening aura of the Black Heaven Demon Flame. He maintained a faint connection with the Black Heaven Demon Scorpion, knowing the confrontation between the Black Heaven Demon Descent and Ji Yuan was concluding. Without mishap, the Black Heaven Demon Scorpion would become a part of Ji Yuan.

Sensing this development, Jilges could restrain himself no longer. "You go first. We will handle things here. As for Black Prison Star, it's fine for you to go take a look."

The Sacred Beast Azure Dragon urged him, "Go. Remember, the Plague Demon is the most sinister creature in this world. That he has reached this stage, you bear undeniable responsibility!"

"Be careful. He is no longer the one you knew!" Zhu Que cautioned. Ji Changkong nodded, offering no thanks. Amidst the clashes of these behemoths, he transformed into a streak of dark light and vanished into the distance.

The Old Demon Dragon Jilges shouted and raged, but the Qilin intercepted him, preventing him from breaking away to pursue Ji Changkong.

The battle between the Sacred Beast lineage and the Demon Dragon was still raging fiercely, but Ji Changkong was steadily moving away. Soon, he appeared over the asteroid guarded by the demonic body.

The intensity of this battle fluctuation shocked everyone’s spirit. However, Gu Dan and Li Hentian were still condensing their essence. All external energetic fluctuations were blocked by the protective light barrier existing there. At such a critical juncture, neither of them could attend to the outside world.

Seeing that these two were safe, Ji Changkong relaxed. He stored the demonic body into the Heaven Origin Pearl and summoned the white bone skeleton into the Soul Bell, then quickly spurred the asteroid's power, flying towards the Abyss of Night.

Time flowed quickly.

In a blink, five years passed. During these five years:

The Black Heaven Demon Flame was absorbed by Ji Yuan, as expected, becoming a part of him. However, Ji Yuan remained in a flame form and had not awakened during the five years, seemingly digesting the power and knowledge of the Black Heaven Demon Flame.

In five years, Gu Dan and Li Hentian also completed the condensation of their essence. Now, both were radiating vitality, their essence flowing smoothly within their acupoints; their auras and overall presence were vastly different—like heaven and earth.

On this day, the asteroid finally entered the Star Abyss, and under Ji Changkong's activation, it slowly flew toward the Night Moon Star.

"Master..." A long, drawn-out voice suddenly echoed in his Sea of Consciousness.

Ji Changkong started in shock, then watched as a flame, constantly shimmering with multi-colored light, slowly coalesced in front of his chest. This was Ji Yuan, after absorbing the Black Heaven Demon Descent. "You've finally digested Black Heaven's power?" Ji Changkong smiled faintly. "Mmm. This fellow is more potent than the previous two. His power is stronger; absorbing him took a lot of effort." Ji Yuan moved, gradually solidifying into the shape of a small person, floating before him, replying lazily.

"Is there anything you need to tell me?" Ji Changkong asked, knowing that with every kind of Origin Fire he acquired, his understanding of ancient times increased.

"We all came from 'It'..., and 'It' is called Chaos!" Ji Yuan stated.

The "It" Ji Yuan referred to was the terrifying entity Ji Changkong had witnessed in the Heaven Origin Pearl. The Heaven Origin Pearl itself was its eye. So, "It's" name was Chaos. "It's called Chaos?" Ji Changkong was stunned.

"Yes. The powerhouses of the Chaos Realm basically refer to those who have pushed the power inherited from 'It' to its maximum. Those Chaos Realm experts seem to know something about its existence, to varying degrees," Ji Yuan nodded.

"Can the remaining four Origin Fires truly allow one to reach the Ultimate Chaos Realm?" Ji Changkong was more concerned with this topic.

"They can!" Ji Yuan replied. "Besides that, there is another method to step into the Ultimate Chaos Realm!"

"What method?" Ji Changkong's eyes brightened. Any master in the Chaos Realm yearned to step into the ultimate zenith. Both Priest Ouro and the Ghost Mother of the Heavens hoped to one day enter the Ultimate Chaos Realm, yet this realm seemed nebulous, as if no pathway existed.

Ji Yuan saying there was another way besides fusing all the Origin Fires to reach the Ultimate Chaos Realm greatly shocked Ji Changkong.

"Mastering a single Chaos Profundity to its extreme is the mark of an Original Chaos Holder," Ji Yuan explained unhurriedly. "Fusing the nine Chaos Profoundities together, and reaching perfection, allows one to step into the ultimate realm! You have mastered the Primordial Chaos and the Myriad Heavens Star River Art. Once you master the remaining seven Chaos Profoundities, bring them all to the extreme, and fuse them, you too can enter the ultimate realm."

Ji Changkong recoiled. Chaos Profoundities were not easily acquired, and cultivating them to their peak was even harder; fusing them was exponentially more difficult. Bringing nine Chaos Profoundities to the extreme and fusing them perfectly was no easier than fusing the nine Origin Fires.

"In addition, there is a third way: collecting all nine artifacts from 'It' and successfully integrating them," Ji Yuan continued. "For instance, the Heaven Origin Pearl is its eye, and the royal bloodline of the Purgatory Ghost Clan within you is another. You already possess two. If you can find its bones, heart, and similar objects, and successfully integrate them into your body, you can also reach the ultimate realm."

This was the hardest and the most terrifying method. "The most terrifying method? What do you mean?" Ji Changkong asked, confused. "As far as I know, whoever manages to fuse its nine artifacts and reach the ultimate realm will become 'It,' and will once again destroy everything in this world! Therefore, this method is not advisable. Unless they are madmen, no one would choose this path to the Ultimate Realm."

"I am not a madman, and I certainly won't do that," Ji Changkong immediately declared. After a pause, he asked again, "What else do you know?"

"The Plague Demon was originally a peculiar cell within 'It.' Once a Plague Demon appears, it continuously absorbs all existing energy. The energy in stars' ores and plants becomes the nourishment for the Plague Demon's propagation. The Plague Demon does this purely out of instinct, and its purpose is to gather energy for 'Its' resurrection."

"What?!" Ji Changkong cried out in alarm.

"The Plague Demon absorbs various energies. Once the Plague Demon gathers a certain amount of energy, it will absorb 'Its' artifacts one by one. The blood within you, and the Heaven Origin Pearl, will become the Plague Demon's primary targets in the future. Once the Plague Demon reassembles the artifacts from before 'It' disintegrated, 'It' will resurrect again!"

Ji Changkong stood there, utterly horrified and speechless for a long time. This time, he was completely shaken.