On the periphery of the Star Domain surrounding the capital circle of the Han Dynasty Empire, near a busy traffic artery, stood a figure with his hands clasped behind his back, silently poised atop a small meteorite barely a few meters in diameter.

A black bead, the size of a fist, hovered quietly before him. Ancient, profound, earthworm-like characters continuously surfaced on the bead's exterior, and wisps of dark light were perpetually imprinted upon Gu Xichen's brow. Gu Xichen’s face shifted constantly through joy, helplessness, and dejection—a rapid cycle of emotions betraying his currently complicated state of mind.

Half a month prior, he had assisted Chi Long Lieyan in slaying the Innate Black Dragon. In accordance with his promise, Chi Long Lieyan ceded the highly confidential navigation route established by the Blazing Dragon Empire to Gu Xichen. Furthermore, he generously handed over the entire roster of intelligence operatives the Blazing Dragon Empire had embedded in the Star Domain, along with the authority to deploy them. Gu Xichen had arrived here in the Star Domain seven days ago.

Along the way, he had been immersed in studying the nature of the Innate Black Dragon's matrix—the original form of the pearl. The results of his research were astonishing and delightful, yet tinged with a degree of frustration.

In a certain sense, this fist-sized treasure bead was indeed a supreme treasure comparable to the Grand Yin Profound Pearl. However, if the Grand Yin Profound Pearl was considered fully matured, having achieved cultivation success and ascended to the Celestial Realm, this black bead—or perhaps the Grand Sun Profound Pearl—was, at best, an infant still in the womb. To allow it to mature to the level of the Grand Yin Profound Pearl would require an astronomical infusion of Primordial Spirit Qi for nourishment, and meticulous tempering through immense expenditure of vital energy.

Currently, it possessed only the most basic function of the Grand Sun Profound Pearl: converting the surrounding Universal Spirit Qi into Grand Sun Blazing Flames. As for abilities like opening a Sun Space or condensing Sun Spirit Stones, those would only become attainable through Gu Xichen's arduous cultivation, constantly seeking out Primordial Spirit Qi to replenish the Grand Sun Profound Pearl. After all, since it was a natal spirit treasure born alongside an Innate Being, rather than a primordial supreme treasure condensed at the opening of the Primordial Chaos, an incomplete functionality was understandable.

Regarding how much Primordial Spirit Qi would be needed to elevate the Grand Sun Profound Pearl to the echelon of the Grand Yin Profound Pearl, Gu Xichen privately estimated that based on the amount of Primordial Spirit Qi currently stored within him, it would likely take the equivalent of ten billion of himself crammed into the Grand Sun Profound Pearl to reach the current level of the Grand Yin Profound Pearl.

The cosmos now was largely permeated with Acquired Spirit Qi. To find sufficient Primordial Spirit Qi to advance the evolution of the Grand Sun Profound Pearl would be difficult, very difficult, exceedingly difficult.

Yet, what brought joy to Gu Xichen was that this Grand Sun Profound Pearl was inscribed with an Innate Cultivation Method—precisely the technique for cultivating Grand Sun Qi, which Gu Xichen urgently required. Of course, the Innate Black Dragon could not compare to the Grand Yin True Monarch, and this technique could not compare to the Grand Yin True Scripture. Nevertheless, by borrowing the principles from the Grand Yin True Scripture, Gu Xichen could easily use this technique as a seed to deduce the complete Grand Sun True Scripture.

With the cultivation experience gained from the Grand Yin True Monarch and the foundation provided by the complete innate technique, deducing the complete methodology of the Grand Sun True Scripture was a natural progression.

In half a month, Gu Xichen had completed the third layer of the 'Human Character' chapter of the Grand Sun True Scripture, already reaching the Great Completion stage. The 'Earth Character' chapter, deduced based on the Grand Yin True Scripture, had advanced to the boundary of Profound Embryo Nurturing Heaven.

With the Innate Primordial Spirit suppressing both Yin and Yang energies, these two opposing yet co-originating spiritual energies achieved a dynamic balance within Gu Xichen. While the Yin and Yang energies grew mutually, and he had not yet perceived any immediate marvel, Gu Xichen had a subtle realization: perhaps his future opportunity to surpass the Grand Yin True Monarch lay precisely here.

This realization was not something Gu Xichen had attained through his own insight, but rather a piece of information suddenly transmitted to him by the Vast Heaven Pagoda.

After prolonged contemplation, silently recalling the marvelous divine abilities and techniques latent within the Grand Sun Profound Pearl, Gu Xichen opened his mouth and swallowed the bead. A rush of heat shot directly into his Sea of Consciousness. The Grand Sun Profound Pearl ascended and hovered above the Innate Primordial Spirit, slowly spinning within the black eye of the Taiji Vortex, perfectly opposite the Grand Yin Profound Pearl in the white eye.

The two profound pearls generated two streams of energy within the vortex—one thick and one thin, one black and one white. These black and white currents spiraled outward in circles throughout the vast Sea of Consciousness, gradually coalescing into a hazy stream that settled within the Innate Primordial Spirit. As Gu Xichen’s Innate Primordial Spirit absorbed this ethereal energy, its surface immediately erupted in dazzling light, continuously spitting out streams of multicolored energy towards the Taiji Vortex, which gradually integrated into the two profound pearls.

A colossal transport vessel, stretching one hundred thousand meters long, slowly glided through the void ahead. The multi-pointed star crest of the Polar Star Empire was clearly visible on its hull—a merchant vessel dedicated to transporting specialized cargo for the Polar Star Empire's royal family. Twelve small White Winged Warships escorted the transport, constantly broadcasting signals to drive away smaller vessels obstructing the route.

Gu Xichen opened his eyes, glanced at the transport, and let out a cold smile.

After a moment of thought, Gu Xichen took out the eighteen Tears of the Celestial Gods he had obtained from killing the Innate Black Dragon and swallowed them. Immediately, a torrent composed of pure Soul Origin power surged into his Sea of Consciousness, rapidly flowing into the Innate Primordial Spirit, gradually strengthening it. This time, Gu Xichen controlled the impulse of his Innate Primordial Spirit to absorb this origin power directly; instead, he used his Innate Primordial Spirit merely as a conversion engine, transforming the power into Primordial Spirit Qi homologous to his own.

The soul origin power contained within each Tear of the Celestial God was equivalent to the entire soul power possessed by a Celestial Immortal of the Grand Supreme Heaven. Eighteen tears meant eighteen Celestial Immortals.

The myriad Golden Stars orbiting the Taiji Vortex trembled simultaneously, and they all gravitated towards Gu Xichen's Innate Primordial Spirit, eager to claim a wisp of Primordial Spirit Qi. Previously, when Gu Xichen divided his soul and the pearls condensed the true forms of various Heavenly Gods, the strongest soul origin provided was only at the Nascent Soul level. These proud Golden Stars and Celestial Immortals disdained such meager power; they were merely passively condensed into true forms if drawn by lot.

But now, Gu Xichen was offering soul origin power at the Celestial Immortal level. Once condensed into a true form, they could immediately recover their Celestial Immortal realm status, and within a short period, regain their Celestial Immortal cultivation. This was vastly easier than the toilsome path faced by Xin Jia or the Molijin brothers, who struggled painstakingly to recover from the Nascent Soul stage, True Golden Core stage, or even the Qi Condensation stage. Even the current Yao Mian had only regained his Void Realm cultivation, illustrating how difficult it was even for former Gods and Immortals to re-cultivate!

However, Gu Xichen allowed none of these erratically flying Golden Stars an opportunity. He let out a sharp cry, and his Innate Primordial Spirit unfurled a stream of multicolored energy onto the Taiji Vortex. Immediately, intense black and white light erupted, scattering outwards. All the surrounding Golden Stars obediently returned to their original positions, continuing their rotation around the Taiji Vortex.

Gu Xichen snorted coldly, black and yellow energies flourishing on his body. He projected his divine sense towards the Golden Stars and sharply commanded: "There will be a day when you see the light again! No disputes today!"

The Vast Heaven Pagoda cooperated with Gu Xichen, releasing a torrent of profound black and yellow energy that swept over them. The surrounding Golden Stars were immediately subdued by the impact of the profound black and yellow, and they projected consciousness of submission and allegiance.

Nodding with satisfaction, Gu Xichen divided the Primordial Spirit Qi derived from the eighteen Tears of the Celestial Gods into ten equal portions. The Innate Primordial Spirit opened its eyes, two streams of multicolored light swept over the surrounding Golden Stars, and he roared sharply: "Where are the Ten Heavenly Monarchs of Jin'ao Island? Manifest your true bodies swiftly and aid me in my endeavors!"

Ten Golden Stars joyfully surged towards the Innate Primordial Spirit, quickly claiming one portion of Primordial Spirit Qi each.

Wisps of swirling winds surged in the void around Gu Xichen, and immediately, ten hazy human figures gradually manifested beside him. A stream of turbid energy and a stream of clear energy jetted out from Gu Xichen’s body, rapidly absorbed by the ten figures. Gu Xichen expelled all the Primordial Pure Qi and Primordial Turbid Qi stored within his physical cells, sending them into the bodies of the ten, exhausting his strength to help them rapidly recover their cultivation and solidify their true forms.

The eighteen portions of Primordial Spirit Qi, divided into ten, allowed each to firmly establish the Grand Supreme Heaven realm. Coupled with Gu Xichen's selfless expenditure of Primordial Spirit Qi to help them recover their power and condense their true bodies, in just three days, the ten Heavenly Monarchs of the ancient Jin'ao Island appeared beside Gu Xichen, their faces alight with smiles, respectfully bowing in obeisance.

These ten Heavenly Monarchs of Jin'ao Island possessed complexions ranging from black, white, blue, and purple, and their appearances were enough to frighten the faint-hearted on a moonless night. Their cultivation levels were not exceptionally high; during the ancient Investiture of the Gods battle, they were merely mid-tier. However, the ten were masters of the Ten Absolute Formations; their arrays possessed the power to confound ghosts and gods, and slay Buddhas. Even the peak twelve Golden Immortals of the Chan Sect suffered setbacks against them, revealing the mastery they held over the Dao of Formations.

Gu Xichen was about to challenge a Six-Star Civilization. This civilization contained not only deeply hidden cultivators like the Wood Daoist but also the unfathomably profound Emperor of the Polar Star Empire. According to Chi Long Lieyan's introduction, the power of the offerings supporting the Polar Star Imperial Family was not to be underestimated, yet the Blazing Dragon Empire had no intelligence regarding who these retainers were.

To contend against such a formidable force, formations were exactly what Gu Xichen desired.

Glancing at the plain blue cloth robes worn by the Ten Heavenly Monarchs, Gu Xichen shook his head and casually handed each of them a storage ring. The rings contained vast quantities of innate and acquired materials, mountains of Zakla Crystals, as well as numerous Immortal Artifacts and personal magical treasures refined by the Great Unrefined Wanderer. They were free to use whatever they wished according to their own intentions.

The Ten Heavenly Monarchs gleefully blew a wisp of immortal energy onto the storage rings and quickly slipped them onto their fingers. Without Gu Xichen needing further prompting, they swiftly retrieved Immortal Artifact-grade protective robes from within and donned them, swaying slightly as they saluted and greeted each other. Several Heavenly Monarchs were even happily stroking the flesh bodies condensed from Primordial Spirit Qi, inwardly praising that the strength of these bodies was no less than their original ones.

Gu Xichen gave the Ten Heavenly Monarchs a few more instructions, telling them to alter their robes to styles favored by the nobility prevalent in the Star Alliance. Only then did he instruct them to sit cross-legged in the void and begin refining a few handy Immortal Artifacts for immediate use. As for their natal artifact treasures used for setting up formations, they would have to refine those gradually. Since condensing their Celestial Immortal-level bodies had completely depleted the Primordial Spirit Qi stored in his body, he had no means left to waste spirit energy helping them forge their natal artifacts.

After cultivating for a few days, a luxury cruise liner, constructed entirely of transparent, pale blue crystal, sailed slowly past ahead. Its hull glittered with iridescent light, achieving an extreme level of opulence. Guarding this vessel, which looked like a delicate crystal artwork that could shatter into dust with a light touch, were over a dozen shark-shaped, pitch-black warships. The fleet sailed ostentatiously down the center of the route, its arrogance reaching a peak.

The crest visible on the cruise liner indicated it belonged to the Viking Empire, another Six-Star Civilization friendly with and a traditional ally of the Polar Star Empire. Beneath the battle-axe and spear insignia representing the Viking Empire was a shining silver silk-pouch crest filled with Starlight Silver—the emblem of the 'Silver Mountain Conglomerate,' the seventeenth-ranked giant financial group within the Viking Empire, identifying the passenger as a family member.

Gu Xichen smiled. He extended his hand and shone a brilliant, sharp beam of light towards the distant cruise liner.

Immediately, a dazzling light signal returned from the cruise liner: one long flash, three short flashes, seven long flashes, five short flashes—the exact signal prearranged between Gu Xichen and Chi Long Lieyan.

Summoning the Ten Heavenly Monarchs, Gu Xichen stepped onto water clouds and floated towards the cruise liner. As the vessel rounded a nebula, he slipped inside without alerting anyone.

A tall, slender young man awaited Gu Xichen in the cruise liner's outrageously luxurious reception hall. Beneath a transparent dome nearly a hundred meters high, the three-hundred-meter circular hall was piled high with pale-gold rose blossoms. Beneath the blossoms lay heaps of silver-glowing Starlight Silver coins. The young man was grinning, scooping handfuls of thumb-sized natural pearls from a nearby chest and scattering them wildly around. Nearly a hundred young women—slender or voluptuous, beautiful or pure, but all possessing striking allure—were shrieking as they chased the rolling pearls on the floor. The small pieces of cloth they wore, clinging lightly, slipped off during their struggles and falls, revealing swathes of fair skin.

Upon seeing Gu Xichen enter, the young man clapped his hands and shouted lightly. The panting young women, clutching handfuls of coins and pearls, fled the reception room with crisp, oriole-like laughter. A few of the most curvaceous girls, who had been throwing flirtatious glances at Gu Xichen while twisting their bodies enticingly, suddenly caught sight of the Ten Heavenly Monarchs' multi-colored and terrifyingly hideous faces. They shrieked and bolted away.

"A group of lovely little darlings!" the young man lightly bowed to Gu Xichen. "However, life on a long journey without their companionship... how utterly dull it would be."

With a soft sigh, the young man straightened up and spoke to Gu Xichen: "I am Valerius, the first-in-line heir of the Viking Empire's Silver Bank Family. In our traditional Viking dialect, this name means 'Silver-Shining Mountain.' I am here to cooperate with you, to help you grasp all intelligence within the Star Domain, and then assist you in enacting whatever you desire here."

Gu Xichen regarded the young man with satisfaction. No one could be a better cover identity. He smiled at Valerius: "Very well. I will tell you if I require anything. What is your relationship to His Majesty, the Red Dragon?"

Valerius shrugged helplessly, forcing a bitter smile. "Ah, the founder of the Silver Mountain Family, my ninth-generation ancestor, was an illegitimate son of the Old Ancestor Red Dragon. The Silver Mountain Family is the most crucial espionage headquarters for the Blazing Dragon Empire within the Viking Empire. Therefore, we request that you grant us sufficient time to evacuate before you destroy the Star Domain."

After a pause, Valerius chuckled dryly: "Your glorious deeds on Tarsus have spread across twenty-six Six-Star Civilizations, so your appearance..."

The young man gently brushed his face with his palm, and the silk garment instantly transformed into the image of a middle-aged man with a slightly rare countenance, imbued with a tyrannical, sinister, and terrifying aura. He even manipulated his facial features into a dual pattern of white and black, resembling a watermelon that had gained sentience—a look that playfully contrasted with the visages of the Ten Heavenly Monarchs. This dual-colored aura of white and black was the hazy energy resulting from the fusion of Grand Yin and Grand Sun energies, a transformation art so advanced that even Celestial Immortals several levels above Gu Xichen could not see through it.

The cruise liner slowly steered towards Star Planet Nine, the most important external commercial port of the Star Domain. Valerius had traveled to the Polar Star Empire many times, and Star Planet Nine was his most frequented destination. The Silver Mountain Conglomerate’s largest branch in the Polar Star Empire was established here.

After thorough inspection by the Polar Star Imperial military, the cruise liner docked at a spaceport. The entire party disembarked onto the spaceport deck. They were required to transfer to transportation pods specially arranged by the Polar Star Empire to enter Star Planet Nine. As the captain of the bodyguards Valerius brought, Gu Xichen naturally followed Valerius closely. The Ten Heavenly Monarchs had also changed into rugged leather combat gear characteristic of the Viking Empire, their eyes darting around as they followed the group off the cruise liner.

Fresh, so fresh! Everything here felt novel to the Ten Heavenly Monarchs; it was a high-tech civilization, entirely different from the cultivation worlds they were familiar with. Everywhere were flashing light screens, hovering transport vehicles, and the terminals of the intelligent port auxiliary system crawling everywhere.

Gu Xichen let his finger twitch slightly, and a lentil-sized mechanical spider joyfully leaped onto the ground. It eagerly scurried towards the nearest intelligent auxiliary system terminal. This was a clone of Xiao, but because of its minuscule size, this clone possessed very weak capabilities. However, given enough time to control sufficient electronic machinery, it could rapidly construct a massive computational network, allowing the infinitely capable Little Xiao to develop a powerful avatar here.

Gu Xichen watched the little spider bounce its way into the body of a terminal. After only about three seconds, the terminal, shaped like a mechanical octopus, turned around and swiftly rushed toward another terminal. Then two, four, eight, sixteen—in just over five minutes, while Valerius was noisily describing the famous red-light district of Planet Nine, every terminal in this docking bay had been occupied by Xiao. Subsequently, a vast throng of terminals began spreading outwards.

Gu Xichen smiled faintly, precisely as Valerius was enthusiastically recounting how he had swiftly enjoyed the company of a certain gentle lady on Planet Nine. Gu Xichen nodded along noncommittally, and the group proceeded towards the nearby transportation pod rental area while admiring the surroundings amid Valerius's energetic monologue.

Outside the transportation pod rental station, Valerius's butler was about to finalize the rental arrangements with the port management when a group suddenly cut in from the side. A Mank family member, standing over three meters tall and covered in shaggy fur, smashed the butler aside with one punch, then turned to Valerius and let out a few "gurgling" laughs.

"Oh my, why are you always so clumsy?" a flirtatious and affected voice emerged. It belonged to a stunningly beautiful woman with an alluring demeanor, clad in an extremely thin, flesh-toned latex suit. The tight top squeezed her ample curves to the point of near explosion.

This woman’s dark blue eyes shot a glare at the gritting-teeth Valerius. With a cautious, cat-like gait, she approached until she was about five meters from Valerius, gently raising a hand to salute him: "Long time no see, Valerius. You caused me a loss of over three hundred billion Star Alliance gold coins last time, and you made me lose face in front of my circle of friends. How shall we settle this debt?"

Valerius glared fiercely at the woman and growled in a low voice: "Daphne, must you exercise your authority and prowess only against those who stare?"

Valerius's butler staggered to his feet, his white beard stained red with blood. After bowing respectfully to Valerius, he spat out seven of his front teeth.

Daphne cried out in exaggerated shock: "Oh dear, really! Must I take out my might on your subordinate? It's just that my subordinate's hands and feet are a bit clumsy, and..."

"And what, Daphne?" Daphne could not finish her sentence, for Gu Xichen had pointed at the gleefully grinning, massive Mank tribesman and roared sharply: "Take him out!"

A burst of wild laughter erupted from the Ten Heavenly Monarchs. The ten figures rushed forward. They swarmed the still-uncomprehending Mank tribesman, grabbing him. With a synchronized cry of "One, two, three!" they ripped the large man into five pieces. With a wet splash, the ten Heavenly Monarchs hurled the man's bloody body several hundred meters away. Blood sprayed across the ground, and his trailing intestines and viscera flew high, sticking to the nearly thousand-meter tall transparent alloy ceiling of the spaceport.

Dofna’s face twisted in horror as she hastily recoiled, several attendants immediately rushing to shield her. Dofna shrieked in furious indignation, "Vasilis! How dare you! You, you…"

Gu Xiechen flickered, instantly appearing beside Dofna, his hand rising and falling to deliver a vicious slap across her face.

A sharp cry of pain erupted, and fourteen perfectly white, crystalline teeth shot from Dofna’s mouth—fourteen, precisely.

Gu Xiechen snatched the fourteen teeth out of the air. He casually handed them to Vasilis’s butler. The butler, clearly a ruthless sort himself, glanced at Vasilis. Receiving a silent nod of assent, he opened his mouth and swallowed all of Dofna’s teeth, flashing a savage grin at the still-screaming Dofna, his face contorted.

The surrounding onlookers gasped in unison. Someone, clearly eager to stir up trouble, shouted accusations, denouncing Gu Xiechen for lacking gentlemanly conduct.

Gu Xiechen, his own face reddening like an overripe watermelon, casually waved a hand. A surge of powerful wind shot out, flinging the incessant heckler nearly a hundred meters away. The man spat a gout of blood, clutching his stomach and writhing on the ground, howling in agony, instantly silencing the rest of the crowd.

“Gentlemanly conduct?” Gu Xiechen shook his head. “There was a time I wouldn’t strike a woman!”

Before the words had even settled, Gu Xiechen delivered a brutal kick to Dofna’s lower abdomen, sending her and the few bodyguards behind her flying thirty to fifty meters away.

The crowd erupted into chaos, and a contingent of port guards hurried toward the scene; the port management was finally reacting.

Dofna managed to prop herself up, lifting one side of her body from the ground, and roared hoarsely at Vasilis.

“Vasilis, this isn't over between us!”