The Yuánluó Palace had seven thousand elite troops, and the Zǐjīng Peng commanded thirteen legions of the Tiānpéng Army."

The sudden and complete vanishing of these two formidable Immortal Armies, renowned throughout the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, immediately shocked all Immortals.

The world is never short of opportunistic speculators who stir up trouble, and the Immortals are no exception. Numerous trivial and long-buried grievances between the Yuánluó Palace and the Zǐjīng Peng King were unearthed, and all sorts of bizarre rumors instantly spread across the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths.

Eventually, even gossip surfaced regarding an incident from several epochs ago: the Yuánluó Heavenly Venerate and the Zǐjīng Peng King fighting over a certain female Immortal, with rumors claiming the Zǐjīng Peng King was caught in the act by the Yuánluó Heavenly Venerate. This rumor was so vivid and detailed that some even asserted the female Immortal was a direct niece of the Yuánluó Heavenly Venerate, whom the Heavenly Venerate had selfishly claimed as forbidden property, while the Zǐjīng Peng King and the woman had been in a relationship of true love!

Heaven only knows where the Yuánluó Heavenly Venerate, who never had siblings, acquired such a direct niece, but every Immortal believed the story!

With the Yuánluó Heavenly Venerate absent, the Yuánluó Palace could only manage to defend its ancestral grounds. Yǎnyǔ and Yǎngù, along with their seven sons, stubbornly held the fortress, daring not to make the slightest move. Even now, they remained a mid-tier dominant power in the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, whom few dared to provoke carelessly.

The Zǐjīng Peng King, upon realizing the extent of the situation, flew into a rage. Accompanied by countless subordinates and allied forces of great Demon Immortals, he turned the Spiral Starfield inside out.

Moreover, whispers of shadowy figures—some genuine, some fabricated—began to surface from unseen depths, inciting Immortal factions from the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths down to the Mortal Realm to mobilize, centering their activities around the Spiral Starfield. For a time, shadows flickered wildly around the Spiral Starfield as countless schemes and stratagems unfolded.

As the master of secular power in the Spiral Starfield, and the Empress of the Yǎfēikè Empire, Fúyǎ Míng naturally became the focus of their attention.

Inside the grand court hall of the Yǎfēikè Imperial Palace, more than a dozen figures renowned as the supreme overlords of the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths were seated high on the dais, resembling a pack of starving wolves, their eyes fiercely fixed on Fúyǎ Míng, who stood in the center of the hall. The hall was dimly lit, which only emphasized the deep, inky blackness of Fúyǎ Míng’s hair, making her fair little face appear almost translucent. Her breathing was light and gentle, like the first wisp of fragrance exhaled when an epiphyllum blooms. Dressed in a black uniform, a large portion of her body seemed to melt into the shadows of the hall, akin to a wandering phantom in the mortal world, radiating a heartbreaking coldness.

Several male Immortals, including the Zǐjīng Peng King, made no effort to conceal their admiration for Fúyǎ Míng. Some pondered whether any of their disciples might be worthy of such an exquisitely beautiful, elf-like woman. They were surprised to find such an outstanding woman in the Mortal Realm, whose cultivation at the peak of the Tàiyǐ Golden Immortal realm was astonishing even in the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths.

Several other male Immortals, lacking in virtue, narrowed their eyes and appraised Fúyǎ Míng up and down, calculating whether their harems could be graced with another supreme collectible. Fúyǎ Míng possessed too many alluring qualities. Unlike the female Immortals of the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, sequestered in deep palaces as mere possessions, this Empress governing a vast empire had a distinct, intoxicating persona.

Even standing before so many top-tier beings whose words in the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths could determine the life or death of billions of Immortals, Fúyǎ Míng stubbornly held her head high, her delicate chin arrogantly tilted toward the heavens. Her gaze was firm and clear, meeting the Immortals with an air of absolute equality.

What a magnificent woman. Even when those with ill intentions intentionally or unintentionally released subtle spiritual pressure, Fúyǎ Míng’s body refused to budge, like a snow lotus perched on an icy cliff—unmoving despite the fiercest blizzard.

The System Law Heavenly Venerate, who had been thoroughly humiliated and forced into a retreat by Gǔ Xié Chén, also sat high on the dais. She made no attempt to hide her appreciation for Fúyǎ Míng, eyeing her with a continuous, gentle smile. Such a brilliant woman—it was no wonder that insignificant brat from the Heavenly Perimeter of the Three Gods’ Palace was smitten with her. Even the System Law Heavenly Venerate, being a woman herself, harbored an almost ambiguous affection for Fúyǎ Míng.

If she were to take Fúyǎ Míng as a disciple, given her stunning beauty, her chilling temperament, and her superb aptitude, she might just cultivate the Profound Mechanism Secret Arts to a level surpassing her master. Having such a treasure in hand would serve as excellent capital for future networking with powerful figures. The System Law Heavenly Venerate gazed at Fúyǎ Míng, a blush slowly spreading across her face.

“Little girl, everything you’ve told us just now, was there anything you held back or concealed?” The System Law Heavenly Venerate could no longer restrain her delight in Fúyǎ Míng and asked cheerfully, beaming radiantly.

Fúyǎ Míng kept her head high, her tone exceptionally calm. “What more do you wish to know? The entire sequence of events is exactly as I related. Cloud Bloom Mountain is no longer in the Spiral Starfield; as for where they went, I do not know.”

Two streams of purple energy shot from the Zǐjīng Peng King’s eyes. He spoke with a chilling sneer, “You don’t know? Heh heh, then you also don’t know about the tragic death of this King’s child? You also don’t know about the annihilation of thirteen legions of my Tiānpéng Army?”

The outside Immortals only knew that the cultivators from the War Immortal Academy and the Tiānpéng Army had vanished. Only the Zǐjīng Peng King knew that his thirteen legions of elite subordinates, his most beloved child, the Zǐmóu Jiù King, and his four sworn brothers, had all had their souls scattered. The life essence tablets they kept near him had all shattered, and nearly simultaneously.

The Zǐjīng Peng King glared fiercely at Fúyǎ Míng. If she failed to provide any more useful intelligence, he would not hesitate to use torture to interrogate this junior.

The deaths of his beloved son and sworn brothers filled the Zǐjīng Peng King with a destructive impulse. Undoubtedly, obliterating this proud, stubborn, and beautiful woman would be a delightful experience that might slightly ease his mood.

Of course, before moving to destroy the noble Fúyǎ Míng, he needed to ascertain exactly what had occurred to inflict such catastrophic losses upon him. The Evil Dragon Venerable, Gǔ Xié Chén, could not possibly possess the means or strength to cause this outcome. Therefore, he must extract information from Fúyǎ Míng.

So many Immortals descended from the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, and everyone knew their purpose: the opportunity for the Great Dao, the occasional lingering aura of the Mother Sage. They would abandon even their own parents for it, so what did it matter if one schemed against others behind their backs?

The crucial thing was to determine who was scheming against them: Orthodox Immortals? Demon Immortals? Ghost Immortals? Or perhaps Demon Immortal allies who claimed brotherhood and familial ties on the surface? This concerned life and death; one could not be careless.

If he could figure out where his son went before disappearing, tracing the cause and effect of the incident would be much simpler.

“Now, little girl, don’t be afraid. King Peng cherishes his juniors above all else. Answer his questions properly, and you will surely be safe.” The System Law Heavenly Venerate gave the Zǐjīng Peng King a smiling glance and gently persuaded Fúyǎ Míng, “The Evil Dragon Venerable is a retainer of your Yǎfēikè Empire. Surely you aren't claiming ignorance about where he relocated his cavern-abode, are you?”

Fúyǎ Míng looked back at the System Law Heavenly Venerate with cold eyes, using only the words she had pre-arranged with Gǔ Xié Chén to respond.

“It is true the Evil Dragon Venerable is a retainer of Yǎfēikè, but the conduct of a retainer does not require reporting to me. As for why Cloud Bloom Mountain relocated its abode, surely the Heavenly Venerate knows the underlying reasons? The relocation was sudden; before the Venerable could even explain the matter to me, he vanished.”

The Zǐjīng Peng King shook his head in dissatisfaction. Such a stubborn little woman required a demonstration of force; otherwise, how would she willingly divulge what he needed to know? With a sigh, the Zǐjīng Peng King coldly commanded the System Law Heavenly Venerate to be silent, then lunged, aiming a claw at Fúyǎ Míng’s throat.

His sharp claws clamped tightly around Fúyǎ Míng’s slender, pale neck. A faint tremor passed through the Zǐjīng Peng King’s heart, but he quickly suppressed his emotions. He growled low, “Little woman, this King is about to use the Soul Searching Art. If you don’t wish to suffer, confess honestly!”

Fúyǎ Míng narrowed her eyes, resembling a lazy cat preparing for sleep, or perhaps a fierce tiger preparing for a final, fatal strike.

At the spatial coordinates where the subspace overlapped with the hall, thousands of Death Star Cruisers had completed their charging, their massive stores of Divine Crystals prepared for self-detonation. Millions of White Wing-class battleships stood ready to unleash a full-power strike, and countless space mines filled with immense quantities of antimatter were poised in the subspace. The moment Fúyǎ Míng gave the command, the immense military power accumulated by the Yǎfēikè Empire over several centuries would be unleashed.

In the subspace, an army of over a hundred thousand Heavenly Soldiers and Generals was also prepared. Leading them were the Eight Great Marshals and the Five Extreme War Gods who once served under the Western Supreme Emperor of the Thirty-Three Heavens’ Six Sovereigns. Although their current cultivation was only at the Golden Immortal realm, they possessed terrifying divine abilities and cultivation techniques.

These Eight Great Marshals and Five Extreme War Gods were the primary bodyguards Gǔ Xié Chén had prepared for Fúyǎ Míng; thus, he had invested heavily in them. Every single one of the Innate Artifacts left behind by the Kunlun Immortals had been gifted to them without exception. These commanders, along with their accompanying three thousand Valiant Troops, were outfitted with supreme Immortal Artifacts forged over hundreds of years by Gǔ Xié Chén and the Daoist Wú Chén, using rare heavenly materials and earthly treasures.

These supreme Immortal Artifacts possessed immense destructive power. If they could merge with the Innate Primordial Spirit, they would immediately become Innate Artifacts. Even at their current level, the power of each was no less than that of the demonically stolen strength of the Three-Legged Cauldron.

With the Qīnglián Húntiān Banner and other Innate Artifacts in Fúyǎ Míng’s possession, the fact that the Zǐjīng Peng King dared to grip her neck at close range meant he had placed his own life directly on the blade's edge. At such close proximity, if Fúyǎ Míng unleashed her integrated Seven Treasures Sword, the Zǐjīng Peng King would have no time to evade.

If not for the terrifying cultivation of the dozen or so Immortals present, and the fact that their retinues were composed of supremely skilled cultivators, Fúyǎ Míng would have already acted.

Looking at the Zǐjīng Peng King whose eyes gleamed with murderous intent, Fúyǎ Míng’s tone grew colder: “Zǐjīng Peng King, release your hand.”

The Zǐjīng Peng King’s body stiffened slightly. He suddenly felt a chill down his spine, as if ignoring Fúyǎ Míng’s command would bring him immense trouble that very day. But a mere female Immortal at the peak of the Tàiyǐ Golden Immortal realm—even if her power cultivated in the Mortal Realm was astonishing—did she have the standing to threaten him?

With a chilling, dry laugh, the Zǐjīng Peng King tightened his grip on Fúyǎ Míng’s throat and sneered, “Little woman, this King is about to employ the Soul-Raking Technique! Heh, heh, do you perhaps have another trump card?”

The Qīnglián Húntiān Banner stirred slightly. Fúyǎ Míng was about to risk everything in a mutually destructive fight when a clear, cool Buddhist chant echoed from the entrance of the hall.

“Namo Amitābha Buddha, Peng King, this poor monk has karmic affinity with this woman!”

Following the chant, an invisible force forcibly repelled the Zǐjīng Peng King’s five fingers, causing him to stagger backward repeatedly until he finally flopped back into his original seat. This force also gently lifted Fúyǎ Míng, drawing her back a dozen steps until she landed beside a black-robed nun who had materialized out of thin air. Fúyǎ Míng, who had been bracing for a fatal blow, froze. The immortal power surging within her smoothly subsided. She frowned, looking at the nun.

If she could avoid it, Fúyǎ Míng truly did not wish to engage in battle with these Immortals in the Spiral Starfield. Relying on her few supreme innate treasures and the support of so many Heavenly Soldiers and Generals, Fúyǎ Míng was confident she could retreat unharmed. However, the citizens of the Spiral Starfield would all perish. Regardless of the Immortals’ power, the full-force strike of the hidden, colossal fleet in the subspace alone would be enough to shatter the vast Spiral Starfield.

These were all subjects of Yǎfēikè; if battle could be avoided, it was best avoided.

However, this nun looked exceedingly strange. The moment one looked at her, a chilling coldness penetrated to the core of one’s heart.

The nun’s skin was dark and withered, resembling dried mushroom skin. Several prayer scars dotted her completely bald scalp. Her body, short at less than five feet and thin as a bamboo pole, was draped in a loose, flowing black monastic robe. She was barefoot, yet the soles of her feet were as white as fine jade, untouched by dust, emitting a brilliant white light in the dimly lit hall.

Around the nun’s neck hung a string of jet-black prayer beads devoid of luster. In her hand, she clutched an identical string of beads. When one focused on these beads, one could see within each one a statue of a Buddha, each depiction of the Buddha distinct, representing the true forms of the Buddhas from all realms of the Buddhist domain.

Her face was set in a cold, expressionless mask. The nun stared at the Zǐjīng Peng King with eyes that were predominantly white with only a small sliver of black, conveying cold indifference, and spoke in a frigid tone: “This poor monk rarely leaves the mountain. This woman has affinity with me; my mantle lies with her. If the Peng King is willing to establish a benevolent connection, this monk shall take this woman away.”

The Zǐjīng Peng King and the group of Immortals exchanged glances but remained silent for a long time. They looked at the nun with complex expressions, each face contorted as if all their intestines were knotted—like someone desperately needing to pass gas but unable to do so.

After a long pause, the System Law Heavenly Venerate suddenly let out a delicate laugh: “So it is you, esteemed Elder! Oh my, this matter is simple after all. As long as Empress Fúyǎ Míng answers a few questions for us, it is no problem for the Elder to take her away!”

The nun shot the System Law Heavenly Venerate a glare. The latter spat blood from all seven orifices and was sent flying backward.

Flicking her wrist beads lightly, the nun spoke in a tone as cold as a million-year-old glacier: “All evils begin with desire; the sea of suffering is boundless, but turning back leads to the shore!”

The System Law Heavenly Venerate lay on the ground, unable to move for a long time. She hadn't even realized how she had been struck. She possessed the cultivation of a High-grade Grand Unity Golden Immortal, yet a mere shock to her chest sent her flying. This nun’s cultivation was terrifyingly extreme.

After spitting out a dozen mouthfuls of blood, the System Law Heavenly Venerate managed to push herself up stiffly and said to the nun with a bitter smile, “The sea of suffering is boundless, but haven’t we already reached the shore? Elder, though you are a supreme expert, such words make little sense!”

The Zǐjīng Peng King, as if awakening from a deep dream, quickly nodded in agreement. They possessed the cultivation of Grand Unity Golden Immortals, holding positions of supreme authority in the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths. The ‘sea of suffering’ was meant for mortal beings; they all considered themselves to have already reached the other shore.

The nun’s lips curled into a cold arc, indicating scornful amusement toward the System Law Heavenly Venerate. She moved her beads a few times before stating coldly, “The sea of suffering is boundless; where is the shore? If one does not transcend the cycle of life and death, one is still struggling in the bitter sea.”

The Zǐjīng Peng King could no longer contain his rising anger and roared, “We have already transcended the cycle of life and death!”

The nun let out a cold laugh, her strange eyes—predominantly white with a mere sliver of black—fixed intently on the Zǐjīng Peng King, sneering, “Do you not face the calamity of death? If this poor monk struck you dead with one palm, would you still claim to have transcended the cycle of life and death?”

The Zǐjīng Peng King was stunned and instinctively took a step back.

The System Law Heavenly Venerate and the other Immortals clamped their mouths shut. Not one dared to utter another superfluous word.

Shaking her head, the nun stated faintly, “To be immersed in the sea of suffering yet unaware—truly pitiable, pitiable! To speak of transcending reincarnation, you are far short, this poor monk is far short, and those from the distant past... they were far short as well.”

With a soft sigh, the nun grasped Fúyǎ Míng’s wrist. An almost imperceptible force effortlessly washed away all of Fúyǎ Míng’s immortal power and cultivation. The vast immortal energy was completely integrated into her physical body, nourishing it until her flesh and blood were even stronger than those of the Monkey King or Yang Jian currently.

The nun nodded in satisfaction and stated faintly, “This poor nun is named Wúxìng. I reside in the Great Snow Mountain of Repentant Joy in Bōluónímì. You have affinity with this poor nun, and I have come today to guide you into my Buddhist Gate.”

Fúyǎ Míng gasped in shock. She fiercely shook her hand, trying to fling off the Old Nun Wúxìng, but the old nun’s grip was as unyielding as a great mountain; she couldn't budge. Frantically, she cried out, “I apologize, I have no… no affinity with you—”

The Old Nun Wúxìng simply sealed Fúyǎ Míng’s five senses and stated coldly, “Whether there is affinity is not for you to decide. If this poor nun says there is affinity, then there is affinity. Return to the Great Snow Mountain, and you shall be my final disciple. All my inheritance shall be passed entirely to you.”

“The mortal world is full of suffering, nothing is worth lingering over. Come with this poor nun now!”

The Old Nun Wúxìng’s body shimmered, and she vanished without a trace, taking Fúyǎ Míng with her.

The Eight Great Marshals and Five Extreme War Gods guarding the subspace stood stunned for a moment, unable to clearly perceive how the Old Nun Wúxìng had departed.

Finally, they managed to receive a sliver of Fúyǎ Míng’s consciousness and hastily proceeded with their separate duties.

The Zǐjīng Peng King and the others were left speechless, staring blankly at one another. In the presence of the Old Nun Wúxìng, they lacked the courage even to speak. Even with their peak Grand Unity Golden Immortal strength, compared to an existence at the level of the Old Nun Wúxìng, they could not even lift their heads.

Helplessly, the group dispersed to conduct their own investigations.

Starting from the day Gǔ Xié Chén and his party were trapped by the White Cold Heavenly Venerate and the Jade Staff Elder, half a month later, Fúyǎ Míng was forcibly taken away by the Old Nun Wúxìng.

One month later, the star domains originally demarcated for the Yuánluó Palace were carved up by the various major powers of the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths.

Three months later, the Wandering Immortal Star and the Thirteen Chain Starfield were discovered. Hēijiékè, without hesitation, led billions of Dark Creatures possessing the bloodline of the Innate Great Sage and threw himself into the embrace of the Zǐjīng Peng King. Through his own self-recommendation, and because of the immense merit of leading his army to defect, Hēijiékè became the financial steward for the Zǐjīng Peng King’s lineage of Demon Immortals.

Gǔ Yùrú, equally decisively, led a massive army of Templar Knights to pledge allegiance to the new power structures.

Half a month after that, legend had it that a small, smooth, and astute old man, accompanied by a group of figures whose skills were inscrutable, joined the retinue of a certain great figure from the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths—a terrifyingly powerful Demon Immortal.

One year later, the division of power in the Mortal Realm finally stabilized. The Immortals established their domains and began searching ancient ruins everywhere.

The Mortal Realm gradually calmed down. Although minor frictions occasionally flared up between the various factions of the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, no major incidents occurred thereafter.

The case of the missing cultivators from the War Immortal Academy and the Tiānpéng Army slowly faded away, never to be mentioned again.

Cultivators are unaware of time; in the blink of an eye, ten thousand years had passed.