In the Inter-Realm, the Celestial Ladder of Ten Directions suddenly spewed forth a host of arrogant and towering immortals.

The immortals manning the Nine Dragon Celestial Ladder, just about to question the provenance of this incoming group, recoiled as they spotted the great banner billowing with purple energy ahead of them. Every immortal's face instantly shifted. They scrambled backward, putting a great distance between themselves and the newcomers.

These were the direct lineage immortals of the Xuanhuang Palace from the Boronimipujiaole Heaven Dao Gate—not a group one could casually provoke.

Even figures as formidable as the former Primordial Celestial Venerable, the Jade Staff Elder, the Scarlet Blood Demon Ancestor, or the Azure Glare Roc King, though they commanded their own domains, did not possess the same centralized power as Xuanhuang Palace, which served as the nexus for all Dao Gate factions within their heavenly sphere.

The influence of Xuanhuang Palace dwarfed that of those four individuals by more than a hundredfold. Even though the Palace Lord of Xuanhuang, True Monarch Wuji, might possess cultivation roughly comparable to the Primordial Celestial Venerable and the others, the sheer number of their disciples and the density of their experts created an insurmountable difference in power.

Especially since leading this contingent of immortals was Zi Yujun, the most cherished direct grandson of True Monarch Wuji of Xuanhuang Palace. This made them even less approachable.

True Monarch Wuji had three sons and two daughters over the years, yet Zi Yujun was his only grandson, consequently indulging him to the point of near-anarchy. Upon Zi Yujun’s birth, True Monarch Wuji personally invited a great Buddhist sage from Boronimipujiaole Heaven to cleanse his marrow with the Dragon-Tiger Anointing Divine Art. Three months after birth, Zi Yujun had already reached the peak cultivation of a Golden Immortal.

Following this, Xuanhuang Palace expended colossal resources to cultivate Zi Yujun, who had now attained the cultivation of the Upper Grade of Grand Luo Golden Immortal, surpassing even the cultivation level of his youngest uncle by a full minor realm.

With potent personal cultivation, the vast backing of Xuanhuang Palace, and the doting favor of a titan like True Monarch Wuji, Zi Yujun’s daily conduct bordered on the frantic. The countless acts of tyranny, injustice, and ruin he had inflicted—leaving countless immortals homeless and their souls scattered—went unanswered. Who could touch him?

Over ten thousand immortals from Xuanhuang Palace charged forward like a stampede of savage rhinoceroses, thundering toward the Spiral Star Domain. Even before they were halfway there, Zi Yujun issued a decree, and these immortals unfurled banners bearing chilling slogans such as, "Blood-wash the Nine Nether Dao, leaving not a single chicken or dog alive!"

The slogans were inscribed in vermillion mixed with fresh blood upon great white banners. Nearly a thousand such flags waved in the hands of the Xuanhuang Palace immortals, the malevolent script augmented by immortal arts, illuminating the void for tens of thousands of miles. Ordinary immortals, even from millions of miles away, could clearly see the writing on those banners.

The news that Xuanhuang Palace was targeting the Nine Nether Dao spread instantly in all directions. Immortals too distant to observe directly remained where they were, while those nearby eagerly trailed the Xuanhuang procession. The clash between the incomparably powerful Xuanhuang Palace and the Nine Nether Dao—who had slain the Scarlet Blood Demon Ancestor and the Azure Glare Roc King—promised a spectacle worth watching!

Among the trailing immortals, many harbored ulterior motives.

In a massive battle like this, perhaps high-tier immortals from both sides might be gravely wounded and forced to flee, allowing them a chance to snatch some advantage. If one could slay a Grand Luo Golden Immortal, the immortal artifacts and treasures carried by such a being alone would ensure wealth beyond measure.

When the Xuanhuang contingent was still hundreds of millions of miles from the Spiral Star Domain, a terrifying surge of magical power suddenly erupted from the void ahead. The surrounding cosmos shuddered, stars appeared to spin, starlight trembled, and finally, the stars seemed to be stretched outward, their light pulled into countless sharp, acute angles.

For those opportunistic immortals who had come to watch and profit, anyone below the Golden Immortal realm had their immortal bodies suddenly explode, as if sliced by innumerable sharp blades. The surrounding stars warped like pulled dough, and the sharp-angled starlight shot out in all directions, instantly shattering the flesh and divine souls of Celestial Immortals, and leaving deep lacerations even on the bodies of Golden Immortals.

Even Taiyi Golden Immortals felt agonizing pain as the distorted starlight cut them, causing the Xuanhuang immortals to cry out in alarm.

The onlookers, who sought profit, found themselves losing vital energy before gaining anything. Terrified, these immortals scattered, fleeing the star field in panicked disarray. They exerted all their strength in a desperate flight, seeking only to escape as quickly as possible.

Yet, before they could flee far, an intensely dazzling silver light began to flicker high above in the void.

The next instant, countless threads of starlight, finer than hair and immeasurably long, rained down from the zenith. These numerous light filaments, centered around that single point of silver light, spun rapidly, shearing through the local starscape like countless blades. Except for those Taiyi Golden Immortals who could withstand the dense light-slicing, or those protected by high-grade immortal artifacts, all other immortals were effortlessly cleaved open like tofu beneath a razor, their divine souls annihilated in the blink of an eye.

Above Zi Yujun of Xuanhuang Palace, a purple, flowering jade tree erupted, showering protective light rain over his entourage. Looking up with astonishment, Zi Yujun laughed towards the void, “Heh heh, has the Young Lord of Purple Extreme Palace arrived too? Heh heh, is that lass beside him named Qing Zhi?”

After a few hearty laughs, Zi Yujun coldly surveyed the immortals still struggling under the impact of the starlight. He suddenly pointed to the jade tree above his head, unleashing a torrent of purple jade fire and light that engulfed the fortunate immortals protected by high-grade artifacts. Before they could even utter a sound, they were sucked into the purple tempest, vanishing without even dregs remaining.

With a twitch of his lip, Zi Yujun drew the voluptuous beauty in a crimson skirt, Hongzhe, closer to his side, and sped toward the source of the magical fluctuation with his retinue.

The Nine Heavens Starlight World-Ending Blast was a set of combined ancient immortal artifacts, comprising 360 individual pieces, each an exceptional high-grade immortal artifact capable of channeling the power of the Nine Heavens stars to assault the enemy. When two such World-Ending Blasts were activated simultaneously, the channeled starlight power doubled. Add two more, the power quadrupled; add four more, and the might increased eightfold.

This scaling continued, until all 360 Nine Heavens Starlight World-Ending Blasts were unleashed, their combined power rivaling that of an ordinary Innate Supreme Treasure.

Forget an early-stage Grand Luo Golden Immortal like Gu Xichen; even a true peak Grand Luo Golden Immortal would not dare withstand a full-force strike once the Purple Extreme Palace immortals had accumulated sufficient stellar energy.

Sensing the terrifying pressure emanating from the Donkey-Faced Young Lord and the other Purple Extreme Palace immortals, Gu Xichen nodded internally. What a wondrous ancient immortal artifact. Although it was merely an immortal artifact in grade, it possessed the unique ability to unleash power comparable to an Innate Supreme Treasure. The ancient immortal who forged this set must have been a true Artifact Refining Grandmaster.

A pity that such a potent spiritual treasure fell into the hands of the Donkey-Faced Young Lord.

But what a greater pity that he sought to use the power of the stars against him. Was that not comical?

The Nine Heavens Starlight World-Ending Blast channeled the intrinsic starlight power of the 360 Heavenly Star Deities residing above the Nine Heavens. This power was then compressed and condensed through a formation into unstoppable Soul-Shattering Starlight to attack the foe. However, a mere wisp of the remnant divine consciousness of the Ancient Heavenly Court’s Star Lords resided within the Purple Cloud Immortal Register Canon. Now, those Star Lords had reformed their souls and become Gu Xichen's subordinates!

The pressure from the silver light condensing in the void grew stronger, making Gu Xichen feel a sense of suffocation, as if he could not draw a full breath.

The Donkey-Faced Young Lord smiled ferociously. In the distance, Si Xin, clutching her stomach, grunted with a grimace, while both grinned widely. Within the silver tide of starlight, they moved as effortlessly as fish swimming in water, untouched by the pressure of the light beams.

The Donkey-Faced Young Lord triumphantly pointed at Gu Xichen and roared, “You are finished! Evil Dragon Venerable, you are finished! Your so-called Nine Nether Dao, all your demons and monsters—today, I, the Young Lord, shall act on behalf of Heaven and exterminate your brood of evildoers!”

The lower-generation disciples of the Nine Nether Dao stared at the Donkey-Faced Young Lord, their faces drained of color, their hearts filled with despair.

The stellar pressure in the void was too immense. How could these nearly one hundred junior disciples of the Nine Nether Dao ever have experienced such oppression?

They felt as if their very bodies were about to be crushed, their souls pulverized into dust. In their despair, they all looked toward Gu Xichen.

Gu Xichen turned back and gave these Nine Nether Dao disciples a gentle smile. “No matter. With this Venerable one here, you need fear nothing.”

That gentle smile was like hot wine flowing through their hearts. The disciples of the Nine Nether Dao felt their vital energy surge, truly ceasing to worry about the pressure bearing down on them. Indeed, with their Sect Master and Grand Supreme Master present, along with powerful seniors like Peng Hua and Yan Jiang, what was there to fear?

Unbeknownst to them, Gu Xichen had already established such immense prestige in the hearts of the Nine Nether Dao disciples. Even when facing death, a gentle word from him was enough to banish all their fear.

The Donkey-Faced Young Lord laughed, regarding Gu Xichen as if he were a fool. What use was courage and confidence in the face of absolute power?

He pointed a finger, and the terrifying power condensed by the Nine Heavens Starlight World-Ending Blast above them was about to crash down. The Donkey-Faced Young Lord gnashed his teeth and roared at Gu Xichen, “You brood of monsters, die! Qing Zhi, if I destroy all the demons of the Nine Nether Dao today, you must agree to marry me!”

Gu Xichen raised his right hand and pointed toward the void. A stream of dense, pure, and sharp stellar energy shot skyward, blossoming like thousands upon thousands of fireworks in the high heavens. Innumerable silver runes burst forth from that single, extremely thin silver beam, spinning rapidly around the stream of stellar energy. The Donkey-Faced Young Lord felt his body convulse as the Nine Heavens Starlight World-Ending Blast within him suddenly flew out of his control, transforming into a ball of silver light the size of a grain of millet, which fled into the void. Similar bursts of silver light flew out from the bodies of the other 359 immortals of Purple Extreme Palace, vanishing into the sky in an instant.

The connection between the void’s starlight and them was severed by an irresistible force. The backlash from having their spell forcibly interrupted caused the Purple Extreme Palace immortals to vomit blood. The Donkey-Faced Young Lord cried out in alarm, staring at the streak of starlight shooting from Gu Xichen’s fingertip, completely unaware of what had occurred.

With a faint smile, Gu Xichen communicated with the various Star Deities, drawing upon their intrinsic starlight power. He activated the Star Gods' innate talismans used to control stellar energy, instantly seizing command over all starlight power in that segment of the cosmos. No matter how mighty the power of the Nine Heavens Starlight World-Ending Blast or how marvelous its restrictions, it was merely borrowing the power of the stars. How could it compare to Gu Xichen, who commanded that stellar force as if it were his own limb?

The massive stellar power condensing in the void sucked the World-Ending Blasts skyward. The Haotian Mirror flashed a cyan light, shattering the internal restrictions layer by layer. In a flash, the 360 artifacts transformed, becoming silver implements, three feet six inches long, resembling segmented whips or perhaps gilded pestles, inscribed with countless mysterious runes. These strange weapons descended from the heavens and affectionately circled Gu Xichen.

After several loud laughs, Gu Xichen glanced at the dumbfounded Donkey-Faced Young Lord, swept his wide sleeve, and drew the 360 World-Ending Blasts into his cuff.

Having his connection to the World-Ending Blasts completely severed, the Donkey-Faced Young Lord nearly leaped out of his skin.

Shivering, he pointed a trembling finger at Gu Xichen and shrieked, “What wicked art did you use to steal our ancestral treasure? Return it immediately, or—or—you, you, you deserve death!”

Peng Hua shook his head and walked to Gu Xichen’s side, smiling maliciously at the Donkey-Faced Young Lord.

“What enters our hands naturally becomes our ancestral treasure. What relationship does this Nine Heavens Starlight World-Ending Blast have with your Purple Extreme Palace?”

Peng Hua glared rudely at the Donkey-Faced Young Lord and boomed with laughter, “My children, it has always been the Nine Nether Dao that robs others! Now someone dares to covet our ancestral treasure? Is there any justice left in this world?”

Amidst the loud laughter, the nearly one hundred junior disciples of the Nine Nether Dao swelled with pride and mocked the Donkey-Faced Young Lord and his party.

The Donkey-Faced Young Lord and Qing Zhi were stunned. What did Peng Hua mean by that?

That was clearly one of the ancestral artifacts of the Purple Extreme Palace, the Nine Heavens Starlight World-Ending Blast. How had it become the treasure of the Nine Nether Dao?

This, this, this was utterly unreasonable! While the Purple Extreme Palace often acted without regard for reason, Peng Hua’s brazen inversion of truth, his shameless sophistry, and his overt attempt to seize others' wealth was too outrageous!

Just as the Donkey-Faced Young Lord was about to explode in fury, a warm, clear burst of laughter echoed from the distance.

“Young Brother Qing Ju, we parted ways at Wuji Cliff a hundred years ago. Have you been well?”

Zi Yujun arrived, leading a vast host of nearly ten thousand Xuanhuang Palace immortals gliding on clouds. The great banners flew, bearing conspicuous slogans like “Flatten the Spiral Star Domain,” “Blood-wash the Nine Nether Dao,” and “Leave not a single blade of grass standing.”

Gu Xichen clicked his tongue lightly and nodded. “Very arrogant slogans. Excellent!”

The Corpse Emperor’s eyes flushed red. They were proclaiming the blood-washing of the Nine Nether Dao right in front of him. Did they take the Corpse Emperor for a mere decoration?

The many disciples and members of the Nine Nether Dao gritted their teeth and glared toward Zi Yujun.

Zi Yujun, however, did not spare Gu Xichen and his group a glance. He carefully supported the crimson-skirted beauty whose abdomen was slightly distended, and walked with a smile from his Nine Dragon chariot. He offered a gentle nod and smile to Young Lord Qing Ju, “Lady Hongzhe, Young Brother knows her. Now that she carries my child, there are some small wishes of hers that must be fulfilled.”

Young Lord Qing Ju froze. He blinked, glancing at Hongzhe’s slightly swollen stomach, then quickly turned his head to look at Qing Zhi nearby. He vigorously shook his head.

“Zi Yujun, you… you… Qing Ju admires you, admires you!”

Young Lord Qing Ju remained stunned for a long moment before finally giving a thumbs-up.

Zi Yujun smiled with measured composure. He gently stroked the slightly protruding belly of Hongzhe, his face full of mirth, and turned to Gu Xichen, leading the group with a polite nod. “Since I am expecting a child, I must accumulate merit and blessings for him. Therefore, this lord will not stain his hands with blood.”

He sighed, then calmly gestured, “Commit suicide. You might suffer less pain!”

Gu Xichen was stunned. He truly had never met anyone so utterly presumptuous.

Peng Hua was also momentarily stunned, then he whipped his head toward Hongzhe. Tears streamed down his face instantly.

“Junior Sister Hongzhe, is that child in your belly the crystallization of our love? Is it a boy, or a girl?”

Gu Xichen’s group froze, then simultaneously erupted into a bout of wild, uncontrolled laughter.

Zi Yujun’s face flushed purple with rage, his body trembling violently.