In the Huashan Mountain Range of the Wal Nebula, within the Peerless Cave Abode, the Supreme Grotto-Heaven.

Gu Xichen sat cross-legged upon a slab of jade, its entire surface a deep emerald green. He was encircled by a dark pool, ten zhang deep and spanning a thousand zhang in circumference. A massive crystalline sphere floated above his head. Tiny droplets of dew fell from the sphere's edges, carrying the medicinal essence of the Undying Lingzhi Grass, sprinkling onto his body. These essences slowly merged with him, transforming into a rising, clear qi that circulated throughout his frame, nourishing his mystical meridians and channels until they shone like jade.

Fuya, Ming lay lazily beside him, her head resting against his thigh. Her bare feet gently tapped the surface of the pool, teasing the small fish within that were on the verge of developing sentience.

At the edge of the clear, jade-green water lay vast groves of golden nanmu wood. A troupe of minor demons—beasts with rudimentary humanoid forms, still covered in thick fur, complete with claws and tails—chattered and chased each other through the grasses and thickets. These minor demons had only just managed to cultivate the ability to draw the spiritual energy of heaven and earth into their bodies, achieving human shapes only through the lingering aura emitted by the Undying Lingzhi Grass. Though their cultivation was shallow, they benefited immensely as the spiritual energy of the Lingzhi Grass had purged all impurities from their beings, leaving their future paths of practice completely unhindered.

Furthermore, the Huashan Mountain Range was continuously suffused with the power of the celestial stars day and night, resulting in an overwhelmingly dense concentration of spiritual energy. Consequently, the cultivation speed of these minor demons was astonishingly rapid. In just a few decades, the number of these semi-humanoid minor demons in the Huashan Range had surpassed one hundred thousand. All of them had pledged allegiance to the Nine Nether Sect, greatly augmenting its strength.

The increase was not limited to the Nine Nether Sect. Ever since Gu Xichen personally took charge of managing affairs on Huashan forty-nine years ago, the influence of both the Kunlun and Zhongnan sects had multiplied several times over. All suitable youths among the Earth immigrants from Heaven Star were taken as disciples; the intake alone numbered one hundred thousand. From the moment they entered, each disciple’s body was tempered day and night by the stellar energy and the spiritual essence of the Undying Lingzhi Grass, forging an incomparably stable foundation for their cultivation. The current grandeur of these three major sects faintly echoed the aura of the great primordial sects of antiquity.

After forty-nine years of arduous cultivation, relying on the stellar energy gathered by the Celestial and Earthly Great Array, Gu Xichen had steadily advanced his cultivation to the first rank of Golden Immortal. By the reckoning of that Monkey fellow, within his known experience, reaching the Golden Immortal realm in under a century placed Gu Xichen’s cultivation speed at least within the top three thousand across the Three Realms.

Through forty-nine years of slow, grinding effort, Gu Xichen had expended immeasurable mental energy. The Haotian Pagoda and the Haotian Mirror were finally repaired, and together with the Grand Primal Orb of Taiyin and the Grand Primal Orb of Taiyang, they were refined by Gu Wuchen into natal magic treasures. Indeed, the Haotian Pagoda contained all the cultivation methods of the Profound Yellow Unshakeable Body, and he had already practiced the entire compilation. Now, all that remained was the continuous tempering of his physical body, perpetually strengthening its resilience and magical prowess.

While his spirit wandered beyond the heavens, his primordial divine sense spread out like countless filaments across the vast expanse of stars surrounding Wal Planet, Gu Wuchen suddenly opened his eyes and gazed directly to the east.

A gust of yellow wind, trailing a crimson cloud, rushed toward him. Xin Jia, standing nearly three zhang tall and faintly emitting golden light, gripped an object that shone with dazzling brilliance, flying swiftly in this direction.

Over the span of forty-nine years, Gu Xichen spared no effort in helping this first group of followers, including Xin Jia, to restore their strength. Aided by the intensely concentrated stellar power emanating from Huashan, Xin Jia and his brothers had already reached the peak of the Celestial Immortal realm, poised at any moment to ascend to the Golden Immortal stage.

The four Mo Li Qing brothers, the four generals of Wind, Rain, Thunder, and Lightning, along with the Thousand-Mile Eye and Fair-Wind Ear, had all recovered their strength to the level of Golden Immortals. As for the Ten Heavenly Sovereigns, their cultivation methods were unique, and their original foundations far surpassed those of the Mo Family generals by a hundredfold. At this point, like Daoist Wuchen, they had all solidly recovered to the second rank of Golden Immortal.

Of the remaining ten thousand plus Celestial Soldiers and Generals, even the weakest possessed Celestial Immortal cultivation. The current Celestial Net and Earthly Snare Great Array was now potent enough to encompass any immortal below the fifth rank of Golden Immortal.

As for Yang Jian and that temperamental Monkey, their cultivation levels were even more astounding. In a mere forty-nine years, relying on their incredibly formidable profound techniques and divine abilities, both had reached the fifth rank of Golden Immortal. During these forty-nine years, Gu Xichen’s Profound Yellow Unshakeable Body divine ability had made immense progress, thanks in no small part to these two. Each time, they were the ones who left Gu Xichen gravely wounded and near death, allowing the Profound Yellow Unshaken divine ability to gradually mend his physical form. Now, Gu Xichen’s robust body could withstand the attacks of ordinary fifth-rank Golden Immortals! Xin Jia’s cloud ride was swift, and he soon arrived before Gu Xichen. He chuckled, bowed respectfully to Gu Xichen, and presented the artifact from the Romans he was clutching.

“Completed?” Gu Xichen asked.

“This item contains extremely pure primordial vital energy; it is truly profound beyond measure. The one hundred and eight Star Lords of the Celestial and Earthly have utilized this object to extract its innate vitality to condense their forms. They have now successfully reformed their physical bodies. Although they are not as formidable as their original Dharmic bodies, their self-cultivation is now unimpeded,” Xin Jia stated happily. “The Star Lords are currently stabilizing their bodies, so they sent this subordinate to return this treasure to the Honored Master. Given their current state, recovering their cultivation will be easy.”

Nodding with satisfaction, Gu Wuchen accepted the biological item and let his divine sense briefly probe the vitality and energy contained within.

The one hundred and eight Star Lords of the Celestial and Earthly had utilized this object to reconstruct their bodies, exhausting a great deal of its innate vitality and energy. Although the object could automatically absorb external energy to replenish its expenditure, it was now depleted by about seventy or eighty percent. It looked like it would require a good period of meticulous refinement to return to its original state. However, it was all worth it. With the thirty-six Celestial and seventy-two Earthly, the one hundred and eight Star Lords had regained Celestial Immortal cultivation immediately upon restoring their bodies. The concentration of stellar power within Huashan was expected to increase a hundredfold again, and the might of the protective mountain array would become even more inscrutable. Stowing the sacred artifact away to let it gradually absorb external energy for recovery, Gu Wuchen smiled and clapped Xin Jia on the shoulder: “How is it, Xin Long’er’s cultivation progress recently?”

Upon hearing this, Xin Jia immediately grinned so broadly he couldn't close his mouth, nodding repeatedly: “Good, very good! That child is promising; he has already reached the peak of the Void Realm!”

He cast a grateful look towards Gu Wuchen, then instinctively looked up at the massive crystal sphere floating overhead. He murmured gruffly, “If the Honored Master hadn’t picked one Undying Lingzhi Fruit and given it to that boy, how could he have achieved such a cultivation speed? Reaching the peak of the Void Realm in a mere eighteen years—that boy got off easy!”

Xin Long’er was the child of Xin Jia and Princess Mi’er. Forty-nine years ago, when Gu Xichen came to preside over Huashan, he officiated the marriage ceremony for Xin Jia and Princess Mi’er. After thirty-one years of hard waiting, they had Xin Long’er. The child was born with the cultivation of the Golden Core stage; after all, he was the descendant of Celestial Immortal Xin Jia, possessing extraordinary cultivation aptitude. Gu Xichen, wishing to fulfill his potential, picked a Lingzhi Fruit matured from an Undying Lingzhi Grass and bestowed it upon him, accelerating the child’s cultivation rate to an incredible degree, truly terrifying to witness.

If it weren't for Xin Long’er’s master, Daoist Little Zhang, deliberately regulating the child’s progress, the boy might already have cultivated to the Celestial Immortal realm. Chuckling a few times, Gu Xichen took out one hundred and eight silver flying swords and handed them to Xin Jia. The swords were wreathed in starlight. Thirty-six of them were three cun and six fen long, while the other seventy-two were seven cun and two fen long. They corresponded to the celestial arrangement of the Celestial and Earthly stars above, and the division of heaven, earth, and man below. A slight movement of one sword caused the others to stir and leap in response—they possessed an extreme degree of spiritual resonance.

“These are the thirty-six Celestial Swords and seventy-two Earthly Swords, nurtured over these years by the two Grand Primal Orbs of Taiyin and Taiyang. They are imprinted with the Celestial and Earthly Demon-Slaying Formation. Once deployed, the sword array forms itself, drawing down the power of the stars above and converging the energy of the earth veins below. Their power is immense, sufficient to contend with those ten times stronger than the wielders.”

Gu Xichen explained the origin of this set of flying swords and passed the refinement incantation to Xin Jia.

He smiled, “Xin Long’er is the first junior in our brotherhood. Let this set of flying swords serve as a gift to celebrate his coming of age! Hmm, go find that old Taoist scamp Little Zhang. Tell him I said that as a master, he shouldn't be stingy; he needs to produce a worthy item as well!”

Xin Jia happily accepted the flying swords, showing no courtesy to Gu Xichen. Laughing loudly, he shot into the sky and sped away toward the Zhongnan branch sect gate on Huashan.

Fuya, Ming, who had been pretending to sleep with her eyes closed, suddenly snapped them open, her flowing, autumn-pool eyes continuously glancing toward Gu Xichen.

Gu Xichen smiled faintly. He gently helped Fuya, Ming to sit up and lightly kissed her forehead. “Fuya, we are not in a hurry, not at all. Only after we overcome that trial can I truly be at peace with you. Cultivating the True Scripture of Taiyin, marrying now would actually be detrimental to your cultivation.”

Fuya, Ming nodded earnestly. She looked up at the sky and said softly, “I am not in a hurry either. But will those people truly come? What do they want?”

Gu Xichen also looked up at the sky with a distant gaze. Yes, would the people from the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths really come here? As for what they wanted, who could tell? Daoist Wuchen had been cast down into this realm without fully understanding why. Who knew what their intentions were? Could it be that without the Heavenly Court’s restraint, these people intended to play a game of unifying the Three Realms?

Just as he was contemplating this, the communicator on Fuya, Ming’s wrist suddenly vibrated. A subordinate from the Yaphic Empire appeared in the light screen, respectfully reporting a message: Because the high command of the Stellar Alliance perished entirely during the pursuit of the Romans, the Alliance lost control over the major civilizations. A delegation from a new power, claiming to be the Stellar Sea Covenant—formed by five Six-Star Civilizations including the Viking Empire—has arrived on Yaphic Star, bringing the official communiqué from Musar Viking, the current emperor of the Viking Empire.

Fuya, Ming paused for a moment, shook her head helplessly, and smiled at Gu Xichen: “More trouble has arrived. I need to go handle it.”

Gu Xichen nodded deeply, chuckling softly, “Go ahead, and take the Ten Heavenly Sovereigns with you.”

The two shared a light kiss. Fuya, Ming stood up, her toes skimming the surface of the pool, creating a faint ripple as she swept toward the distance. The water trembled lightly, and hazy mist curled around her body. Fuya, Ming departed like a water sprite from a deep mountain lake, carrying an indescribable elegance.

Along the way, the minor demons, still chasing and playing, bowed repeatedly to Fuya, Ming, all addressing her as “Mistress,” clearly regarding her as the mistress of Huashan.

Watching Fuya, Ming’s retreating figure, Gu Xichen’s heart suddenly stirred, his vital blood surging like a tide. Alarmed, he quickly took out a tortoise shell carapace to divine the future. After about the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, several fine cracks appeared on the shell. Gu Xichen let out a cold laugh, sharply flicked his sleeve, and stood up.

In forty-nine years, Fuya, Ming had reached the peak of the Celestial Immortal realm, and the Ten Heavenly Sovereigns were at the second rank of Golden Immortal. The fact that this strength warranted a premonition of minor trouble for Fuya, Ming was quite surprising to Gu Xichen, yet it also piqued his curiosity. He cautiously informed those remaining on Huashan and followed the hastily departing Fuya, Ming, leaving Wal Planet alone. Out of playful interest, Gu Xichen masked his aura using the Charm of Seven Emotions and Six Desires.

Yaphic Imperial Palace: The next day, its scale had expanded more than tenfold compared to its former size.

Yaphic was once a small kingdom, its territory confined to a single ordinary administrative planet. Today, the Yaphic Empire unified the Spiral Star Domain and was a behemoth secretly controlling hundreds of large and small civilizations beyond it. To display the empire’s prestige and grandeur, the Yaphic Palace had undergone numerous expansions, growing larger and larger, with an ever-increasing number of maids and servants. Even now, the palace’s periphery continued to expand outward, with more palace clusters under construction.

Such a vast empire required a significant number of administrators. Fuya, Ming appointed thirteen Imperial Chancellors, and there were over five hundred other high-ranking ministers. All these ministers were currently gathered in the grand hall where court sessions were usually held, observing the four figures cloaked in black robes in the center of the hall with wary, scrutinizing gazes.

Fuya, Ming instantly appeared on the throne. The Ten Heavenly Sovereigns quietly positioned themselves around the hall, their divine senses instantly sealing off the surrounding space.

When the Yaphic ministers saw Fuya, Ming suddenly materialize, they were already accustomed to her mysterious comings and goings. All of them respectfully knelt and prostrated themselves to greet the Empress.

Only the four men in black robes remained standing nonchalantly, appraising Fuya, Ming with eyes that seemed eager for a challenge.

Frowning slightly in displeasure, Fuya, Ming waved her hand subtly. The Yaphic ministers in the hall rose and stood in perfect, solemn formation.

After a brief pause, Yaphic Prime Minister Sel. Barbarossa stepped out from the ranks and slowly advanced a few paces toward Fuya, Ming before bowing deeply and reporting: “Your Majesty, these gentlemen are delegates from the Stellar Sea Covenant. They bring the official communiqué from the Chairman of the Stellar Sea Covenant, His Majesty Musar Viking.” He glanced back at the four men in black robes and stated in a low voice, “Mr. Dodomro, please present the communiqué to our Empress.”

Dodomro was a middle-aged man with a sallow complexion, appearing somewhat drained from excessive indulgence. Upon hearing Prime Minister Sel’s words, Dodomro let out a mocking laugh, nodded toward Fuya, Ming with an air of levity, and said casually, “We bring the decree of our Emperor. The Viking Empire wishes to form a marital alliance with the Yaphic Empire. If the Empress is willing to marry our Emperor, the Yaphic Empire will become the twenty-sixth recognized Six-Star Civilization.”

He tiptoed slightly, puffing out his chest, and laughed: “The supreme Emperor Musar Viking will assume the role of the new Chairman of the Stellar Alliance. Her Majesty the Empress should know what that implies.”

Fuya, Ming lowered her head in thought for a moment, then let out a cold sneer: “Musar Viking? I seem to recall…” Dodomro laughed, nodding repeatedly: “Her Majesty the Empress indeed should remember Emperor Musar Viking. He was your classmate when you studied at the Davilms Star Alliance First Military Academy!”

Gu Xichen, concealed atop the hall, suppressing all traces of his aura, frowned. He had already condemned this Musar Viking to death; he was finished. As for this Dodomro, whose tone was flippant and unsettling, Gu Xichen wouldn't mind letting Xin Jia smash his teeth in with a large hammer.

Fuya, Ming laughed mockingly, shaking her head repeatedly: “Musar Viking, who was expelled from the military academy for molesting junior female students, the notorious good-for-nothing throughout Davilms—he actually became the Emperor of the Viking Empire? Hmm, I always assumed he was just someone with the same name.”

Dodomro’s face darkened. He gave a cold snort: “I ask the Empress to mind her wording. His Majesty Musar is the most sagacious and divine leader in the history of our Viking Empire, revered by our entire nation. Any disrespect or slander toward His Majesty the Emperor will be regarded as a provocation against the Viking Empire!”

Fuya, Ming gave a light laugh, and the Yaphic ministers in the hall also revealed expressions of scornful amusement.

In the past forty years, Yaphic’s national strength had developed as if on wings. Forty-nine years ago, the main fleet of the Stellar Alliance was annihilated by Ducat, but Yaphic’s military power remained entirely unharmed. Over the past four decades, with the full assistance of Gu Xichen and the Earth Federation, coupled with the rigorous training received at the great drilling ground in the Thirteen-Connected Star Domain, Yaphic’s military might had long surpassed the limits imaginable for a Six-Star Civilization of that era.

Three hundred improved Death Star Cruisers, three hundred improved White Wing-class battleships equivalent to fleet-grade capital ships, millions of other auxiliary vessels, and an army composed of hundreds of millions of super-powered soldiers—this conventional military force could almost contend with the combined military strength of the twenty-six Six-Star Civilizations of the past.

Adding the twenty Nuwa I-type War Fortresses, which Gu Xichen had created through immense effort, Yaphic’s comprehensive military power could only be described as terrifying. The Nuwa I-type Fortress was an improved version of the Mother Goddess-class Fortress. Its diameter was less than thirty kilometers, nearly comparable to an improved White Wing-class battleship, but its combat effectiveness was over ten times that of the Mother Goddess-class Fortress, and its defense was nearly a hundred times greater! The defensive field of the Nuwa I was configured by Gu Xichen and the Ten Heavenly Sovereigns, supported by a Grandmaster of Formations and Artifact Refinement like Daoist Wuchen! Prime Minister Sel sneered, pointing at Dodomro with mocking derision: “Envoy of the Viking Empire, if you are willing to kneel and confess your guilt before our Empress, we might forgive your insolence!”

Dodomro raised his head arrogantly and sneered: “Confess? Doing so will invite joint strikes from the Stellar Alliance! Do you truly believe you are stronger than the ancient evil Romans of the past?”

Fuya, Ming frowned and asked calmly: “Musar Viking wishes to become the new Chairman of the Stellar Alliance—who granted him that authority? Who gave him that confidence?”

Dodomro only sneered in reply and said nothing. From far away, a cold, hoarse voice echoed:

“I granted him the authority, and I gave him the confidence. I am Dorn. Braid. Y. Demon’s Descent Dragon’s Ascent. I represent the Elder Council of the Demon’s Descent Dragon’s Ascent lineage, and I bestow such power upon Musar Viking!”

With a flash of wind and shadow, a powerfully built man, nearly three meters tall, resembling a statue carved from iron and bull muscle, suddenly burst into the hall. A muffled thunderclap echoed in the air, and the resulting air shockwave caused intense pain in the eardrums of the Yaphic ministers. Many simultaneously cried out, clutching their ears tightly.

Fuya, Ming rose vigilantly. The stout figure before her gave her an extremely dangerous feeling.

The Ten Heavenly Sovereigns surrounding the hall were about to activate the Ten Ultimate Formations when Dorn suddenly waved his hand. An invisible burst of punch energy tore through the air. Yuan Tianjun, caught completely off guard, couldn't even raise his protective spiritual light in time before being struck squarely in the chest by that distant punch. With a loud bang, a large section of Yuan Tianjun’s chest caved in. He spat out a mouthful of blood and staggered back more than ten steps, his form becoming visible in the air.

A beam of precious light shot out. The severely injured Yuan Tianjun had managed to deploy a supreme protective treasure he had refined over the years: the Ruyi Banner of Blizzards.

The banner light swept out like snow, and a fierce, frigid wind protected Yuan Tianjun’s body. Biting cold energy swept the surroundings, and ice rapidly formed within the hall.

Dorn glanced at Yuan Tianjun in surprise, then slowly nodded: “You have some skill. Although your physical body is fragile, your total energy reserve is not weak compared to mine! Hmm, join me; you will be highly valued!”

Yuan Tianjun laughed in anger. With a shake of his hand, the Array Map of Ice Crystals shot into the sky. The Ice Crystal Array, one of the Ten Ultimate Formations of ancient times, enveloped the entire hall.

The other nine Heavenly Sovereigns struck out in turn, their ten great formations merging into one, completely sealing the hall.

Qin Wan, Heavenly Sovereign Qin, set up the Heavenly Ultimate Formation. Zhao Jiang, Heavenly Sovereign Zhao, set up the Earthly Ultimate Formation…

Dong Quan, the Heavenly Lord Dong, deployed the Wind Roar Formation; Jin Guang Sheng Mu set up the Golden Light Formation; Sun Tianliang, the Heavenly Lord Sun, deployed the Blood Transformation Formation; Bai Li, the Heavenly Lord Bai, established the Blazing Flame Formation; Yao Bin, the Heavenly Lord Yao, brought forth the Soul Dropping Formation; and Wang Bian, the Heavenly Lord Wang, manifested the Crimson Water Formation. Zhang Shao, the Heavenly Lord Zhang, activated the Crimson Sand Formation. In the blink of an eye, ten massive arrays, crackling with murderous intent and faintly shimmering with immortal light, had taken shape. The heavily wounded Heavenly Lord Yuan grinned menacingly, sweeping his sword toward Dorn and roaring, "Barbarian demon! Today is the day you all perish!"

Dorn merely sneered. He suddenly threw his head back and let out a piercing cry that echoed far into the distance, a shriek that sounded like a flood dragon wailing in a vast, primordial swamp—sharp, high, and utterly desolate.

The surrounding void trembled. Over thirty bizarre, monstrous beasts sprang forth from the very air. These leviathans, each exceeding ten thousand meters in length, roared deafeningly. With a mere twitch of their colossal forms, they crushed more than half of the Yafik Imperial Palace. Several of the beasts then thrust their dragon heads forward, opening their massive maws to spew torrents of fire, incinerating yet another significant portion of the palace.

Dorn erupted in laughter. "Little woman, come back with us obediently! We must consolidate the power of the Star Alliance and continue the pursuit of the Roman people! You... have no choice!"

Gu Xiechen had already stealthily infiltrated the Ten Ultimate Formations, moving like a thief until he was directly behind Dorn. As Dorn threw his head back, laughing triumphantly, Gu Xiechen casually produced a golden brick, precisely one foot and three inches square. With silent precision, he brought it down hard upon the back of Dorn's skull.

This formidable magical artifact, known simply as the 'Golden Brick,' was a notorious harbinger of doom even during the Battle of Investiture of the Gods. Now, infused by Gu Xiechen with a massive surge of true essence, it blazed forth with a blinding golden light.

The strike landed with a dull, sickening thud, and the Golden Brick made intimate contact with the back of Dorn's head.