“This way, follow me.” Fen Tushang walked ahead, occasionally turning back to look curiously at Qian Jin. Why did this young man want him to tell everyone that it was Qian Jin who had configured the potions? He didn't seem like someone who sought the limelight.

“Old Elder, you’re not an alchemist, so you wouldn’t know,” Duan Fengbu’er followed beside Qian Jin. “Alchemists are an arrogant bunch. If we don’t tell them that Qian Jin is mixing the potions, those brutes will probably rush over to provoke us again, or even insist on mixing the potion for your grandson themselves.”

Fen Tushang suddenly recalled that whenever a new alchemist joined the family, some others would always come over to spar and exchange pointers. These sessions often turned into days of commotion. He had been too preoccupied with his grandson and had forgotten this detail.

The two characters, Qian Jin, fueled by the propaganda of the Serpent Emperor Pan Hongji and the pressure transmitted from the Demon Race by the Rushing Flow Mirror, had gradually taken on a power that felt like a magic incantation.

When the alchemists of the Fen Tu Clan heard that Qian Jin himself was personally mixing the potions, their usual competitive spirit vanished. They flocked over like a crowd of zealous fans, eager for a glimpse of the legendary alchemist.

Two body-conditioning alchemists were fortunate enough to become Qian Jin’s assistants. This instantly turned the eyes of the other alchemists crimson with jealousy. They lamented why they hadn't chosen the conditioning path back then. To assist the Great Master Qian Jin—not only would their pharmaceutical skills advance, but more importantly, they would have endless bragging rights when meeting peers later!

Qian Jin didn’t dwell on this. He simply buried his head, swiftly dropping various medicinal herbs into the mixture, configuring them at breakneck speed. Every alchemist watched until their eyes blurred.

No measuring apparatus! No scales! He didn’t even glance at the crates beside him to identify the herbs; his two hands moved like four, rapidly grabbing and delivering the ingredients. Qian Jin’s movements stunned every alchemist present.

No measuring apparatus? It sounded simple, but like mysterious elixirs, even the slightest inaccuracy in potion-making could cause disaster.

If they concentrated all their mental energy, the alchemists present were confident they could manage one instance without measuring tools. But to forgo them entirely? That was impossible!

And when coupled with that eye-dazzling speed, even the former Grand President of the Alchemists’ Guild himself could never achieve it.

The rumors were true! Looking at Qian Jin, all the alchemists finally understood: the Qian Jin described in legends was less imposing than the reality they witnessed.

The rumors hadn't exaggerated Qian Jin’s strength; they had diminished it!

The alchemists were unaware that the strength the Serpent Emperor Pan Hongji knew of Qian Jin was already miles apart from his current capabilities. Yet, even the rumored power had established Qian Jin as a Craftsman in the hearts of countless alchemists.

Though the current Qian Jin was still a vast distance from reaching the true Craftsman realm, no one doubted that he would attain it one day.

Potions emerged, one vial after another.

“Family Head Elder, these potions must be administered to Brother Kuangxiao regularly,” Qian Jin said, his expression less than ideal. “Even with these potions sustaining his life, I fear he won't live longer than a year.”

A deep sorrow spread across Fen Tulang’s face, faint tear tracks etching his eyes. The pain of a white-haired elder sending off a younger one was something no youth could comprehend.

“I trouble you,” Fen Tulang’s voice carried fatigue, weariness he hadn't felt in years. “Young man, you should rest now.”

“Understood.” Qian Jin nodded and allowed a nearby warrior to guide him to rest. Such configuration was no less draining than battle; he needed proper rest and a chance to enter the Endless World to consult with Master Adams, perhaps finding a way to save Fen Tu Kuangxiao after all.

After a night of rest, Qian Jin awoke again, his mind lost in thought, recalling Master Adams’s words. Only the God of Stars possessed the ability to reverse such life and death. Perhaps that mysterious potion, which supposedly could deify a pig if successfully configured by Olala, might also achieve it.

But, for now! There was no potion capable of allowing someone who had surrendered their Battle Soul to live out a long, happy, and healthy life.

“Comrade, I have three pieces of news: one I don't know if is good or bad, one that is definitely bad news, and another that might be good or bad. Which one do you want to hear first?” Duan Fengbu’er tried his best to cheer Qian Jin up. The events everyone had faced recently made it hard to categorize them as good or bad.

Qian Jin had finally condensed his own Battle Soul, and upon condensing it, he manifested three Souls! But the price was the death of Uncle Fabreidis.

Duan Fengbu’er wouldn't bat an eye at the death of an Entering Saint expert. But Fabreidis was different; in a sense, he was family to them all.

Such a warrior had perished before their very eyes! That pain would jolt Duan Fengbu’er awake even in dreams, let alone Qian Jin, who was closer to Fabreidis.

Fen Tu Kuangxiao’s scene yesterday had undoubtedly stimulated Qian Jin’s mind. Under such pressure, Duan Fengbu’er genuinely worried that Qian Jin’s thoughts might also take a wrong turn.

“The first piece of news, I just heard this morning: Jin Zetianlu has issued a challenge to you. One month before the Newcomer King Tournament begins, he awaits you at the Taiji Sea in Hanli Prefecture, to settle the feud over you killing his disciple. If you refuse to come, he will enter the interior of the Zhence Dynasty, attack the Luo Family’s caravans, and slaughter until you appear.”

Qian Jin’s brow furrowed. He had met all sorts of warriors, but never one like Jin Zetianlu, who explicitly stated the consequences of refusing the duel for everyone to hear! This was a direct threat! If he went, it was undeniably conceding to the threat; if he feared the threat. If he didn’t go? Qian Jin believed that since Jin Zetianlu dared to say it, he would surely act on it.

“Jin Zetianlu, a warrior who is not a Bloodline Warrior…” Qian Jin genuinely couldn't fathom what trump card the man possessed to issue such a challenge.

Had he obtained a Soul Weapon? Qian Jin had heard that Jin Zetianlu was at the peak of the Battle Soul state, and with a suitable Soul Weapon, he could enter Sainthood. But finding one Soul Weapon was incredibly difficult; finding one perfectly suited to his body and Battle Soul was harder than pulling a needle from the bottom of the ocean.

If he hadn’t entered Sainthood, Qian Jin couldn't fathom Jin Zetianlu’s thinking. Had he, like Fen Tu Kuangxiao, descended into a state of madness, thus issuing the challenge?

“This news also comes with a small tidbit from the Serpent Emperor: the Lei Family has pledged allegiance to the Qian Family and has already entered Hanli Prefecture, where they have been in contact with Jin Zetianlu…”

“Qian Zhanxuan?” Qian Jin shook his head, dismissing the guess. “It can’t be him! That man wouldn’t do this. Even if Jin Zetianlu is truly stronger than me, as long as he hasn't entered Sainthood, he won't be overwhelmingly stronger. In that case… if I manage to win, I will gain more combat experience.”

“Qian Zhanxuan definitely wouldn’t do this!” Qian Jin shook his head. “That man only trusts himself. Both times he moved against me, he intended to kill me. He doesn't want me engaging with a warrior of comparable strength. He is an experienced warrior…”

“Comrade, who it is doesn’t matter; what matters is that your opponent is Jin Zetianlu.” Duan Fengbu’er pulled out a brand-new notebook. “The Serpent Emperor entrusted this to me to give you. It contains Jin Zetianlu’s profile, which will help you in combat.”

“Then please thank the Serpent Emperor for me.”

“What is there to thank him for? He's counting on you to modify his Second Altar.” Duan Fengbu’er waved his hand. “The second matter…”

“Do you remember that time you fought someone from the War Hall?” Duan Fengbu’er pursed his lips. “Qie Shuai went and took him out, but news that you fought him still reached the ears of the War Hall.”

Qian Jin picked up the tea by his bed and gently moistened his lips. This news wasn't surprising; there were too many people present that day, and surely some harbored ill intentions.

“The Serpent Emperor said that upon hearing the news, the War Hall intended to deal with you.” Duan Fengbu’er raised his hand and made a beheading motion across his neck. “They decided they want you dead.”

“Dead?” Qian Jin held his chin in his hand. “That seems a bit too domineering?”

“What’s strange about that?” Duan Fengbu’er leaned back into the sofa, using his hands clasped behind his head as a pillow. “The War Hall and the Blood Palace—they don't belong to any major power. They are completely transcendent existences, the dream destination for countless warriors and bloodline warriors.”

“Given enough time, if you maintain a unique environment, after a few hundred years, they can transform into something transcendent. How could the Blood Palace and the War Hall not have taken longer than a few hundred years?”

“That’s why they don't even care about imperial authority,” Mu Nei Zence said with a gentle smile, shaking his folding fan, though his eyes showed distinct hatred for the War Hall and the Blood Palace. “When the Imperial Edict demanded they send people to the Human-Demon Battlefield, they dared to completely ignore it. They send forces if they wish; if they don't, even if the Demon Race attacks fiercely, they act as if they see nothing.”

Duan Fengbu’er tossed the letter he was holding to Qian Jin. “This is a letter from the Serpent Emperor for you. His assessment of the War Hall is very similar to what 'Show-off Six' said. Moreover, the Serpent Emperor says the War Hall absolutely won't let this slide easily this time. They even received a letter from Qian Zhanxuan…”

“Qian Zhanxuan again?” Qian Jin clenched the letter in his hand until it wrinkled slightly. If Qian Zhanxuan had conveyed word to the War Hall, then if they truly intended to execute him, they wouldn’t arrogantly send one or two people; they would mobilize genuine lethal force!

Secret Execution

The final words of Pan Hongji’s letter included an attached secret document from the War Hall. The words ‘Secret Execution’ pulsed with resolute killing intent.

Secret Execution! Qian Jin smiled and burned the letter. Those four words represented his identity. Previously, the War Hall could have simply announced publicly that they intended to eliminate someone named Qian Jin. But now? It could only be a secret execution. Even with their transcendent status, they couldn't openly disregard one of the current leaders of the major powers; that would undoubtedly trigger massive public upheaval.

Even the overbearing Qian Zhanxuan would exercise restraint in such a situation. Although the War Hall was transcendent, it was still inferior to Qian Zhanxuan’s prestige and strength. All they could manage was a secret execution.

“The last piece of news will definitely interest you.” Duan Fengbu’er reached behind him and pulled out a piece of metal, tossing it out.

Qian Jin stared at the new object in Duan Fengbu’er’s hand, dumbfounded. This thing was a hundred, perhaps a thousand times more shocking than the challenge from Jin Zetianlu, and a hundred to a thousand times more shocking than the War Hall’s intent to execute him!

A shield!

There were many shields in the world, and many shattered shields, but only two of this kind of broken shield existed in the first place! Now, only this single half remained.

Qian Jin had considered countless ways to search for the other half, but he always felt the possibility of finding it was close to zero. Furthermore, if news of the shield spread too widely, not only would the Qian Family join the search, but the Demon Race would too.

At that point, his own massive power couldn't compare to the search capabilities of the Qian Family and the entire Demon Race. If the other half of the shield were fortunately found, it might just as easily fall into the hands of the Qian Family or the Demon Race.

If it fell into the Demon Race’s hands, he could still impersonate Rushing Flow Mirror and trick the shield away. But if it truly fell into the Qian Family’s hands, then…

“Did you not expect this? This half-shield was in Fen Tu Kuangxiao’s possession all along,” Duan Fengbu’er lightly weighed the shield in his hand. “After Fen Tu Kuangxiao woke up, he discovered his Battle Realm could still be opened, so he intended to give all his collected items and materials to Fen Tu Kuangge, to contribute materials for forging his Soul Weapon.”

“And then…” Duan Fengbu’er tossed the half-shield toward Qian Jin. “I found this among them. He said a mysterious person had secretly infiltrated the Fen Tu Family’s underground some days ago, awakened him using a special method, and gifted him this half-shield, claiming the location marked by this half-shield held a set of Sacred Artifacts.”

The tip of Qian Jin’s finger touched the surface of the half-shield, and his body trembled. Countless phenomena rose before his eyes. The shattered shield within his body seemed to come alive at this moment; his Qi flowed rapidly, and the incomplete star he had seen previously suddenly appeared complete.

Though it was daytime, a black celestial curtain filled Qian Jin’s vision, dotted with countless brilliant stars.

At this moment, Qian Jin felt as if he were truly immersed among the stars. Countless stars formed with his breath and perished with his breath. Starlight seemed to pour down from the heavens, entering Qian Jin’s body.

An illusion! Yet, Qian Jin felt it was intensely real.

For a moment, Qian Jin felt like a child looking up at the stars.

For another moment, he felt he was a component of the stars themselves.

And then, he felt these stars were merely toys he had created, which he could pluck from the curtain at any time.

Unknowingly, Qian Jin became lost among the stars, unable to find himself or a way out, gazing around blankly, even forgetting how to think.

“Comrade… Comrade…” Duan Fengbu’er’s concerned voice seemed to pierce through the endless loss of control, violently scattering the stars in the sky.

“I…” Qian Jin looked at the half-shield in his hand, somewhat bewildered. “What happened to me?”

“How should I know what happened to you?” Duan Fengbu’er carefully examined Qian Jin. “Ever since you got this half-shield, you’ve been in a daze. It’s been over an hour.”

Over an hour? Qian Jin felt like he had only just experienced a few seconds, perhaps not even one, yet so much time had passed?

“Did you hear what I said just now? Fen Tu Kuangxiao said the person who gave him the shield mentioned that if one could decipher the diagram on this shield, they could find a place housing a set of Sacred Artifacts.”

Sacred Artifacts? A set!

Even though Qian Jin had witnessed countless grand spectacles and studied forging under Uncle Black for many years, hearing the words ‘set of Sacred Artifacts’ made his scalp tingle.

“Kuangge was just saying that this should be a sea chart,” Duan Fengbu’er tapped his forehead lightly. “I really have no right to comment on this area. They are re-examining the Fen Tu Family’s sea charts now…”

“No need to check,” Qian Jin watched the half-shield spin between his fingertips. “I used to think it was a sea chart too, but later I realized it’s not a map at all.”

“Not a sea chart?” Duan Fengbu’er’s gaze fell on the spinning shield. “Does the map recorded on this shield depict a location yet to be charted?”

Qian Jin’s fingers bent slightly, flicking the half-shield upward where it spun continuously, his gaze following its rise and fall. “It is a Star Map, not a sea chart.”

“A Star Map?” Duan Fengbu’er’s spirits immediately drooped. “Star Maps seem simple, but they are far more complex than sea charts… I’m afraid…”

“No ‘I’m afraid’,” Qian Jin suddenly gripped the half-shield as it fell back into his palm. “It is in the Ancient Desolate Sand Sea!”

The Ancient Desolate Sand Sea! Duan Fengbu’er sucked in a sharp breath of cool air. Despite the air being chilly, the sensation inhaled into his lungs was intensely hot and dry, as if he had instantly returned to that parched, lonely, savage, and scorching Ancient Desolate Sand Sea that devoured countless lives.

Qian Jin stood motionless, holding the half-shield. If he had obtained this half-shield earlier and managed to restore the two halves into a whole through any means possible, then Uncle Fabreidis wouldn’t have died.

This half-shield was undoubtedly a Sacred Artifact level existence, but since it was only half, its defensive capability was no longer at the Sacred Artifact tier. While slightly better than many Battle Weapons, it might not even reach the level of a Super Battle Weapon.

Even Chekfulit’s Demonic Eye of Destruction, in its current state, could pierce that shield with a few more strikes.

But, if it were a complete shield, then even if the opponent were Qian Zhanxuan, he wouldn't have the ability to shatter it! Even if Qian Zhanxuan wielded a battle sword of equal Sacred Artifact rank, he still couldn't pierce the shield!