The moon was a silver platter, the stars twinkling. On the silent sea, heads emerged one by one, scattered randomly across the area like watermelons floating in the ocean.

The cool seawater murmured; there were no islands around, only reefs—massive, dark, and silent, jutting up like sharp points from the water. Shi Yan stood atop a reef, looked up at the sky, and broke into a silent, wide grin.

They were back. The stars and the bright moon in the firmament meant this place was no longer that sunless, forsaken land.

No matter where this was, just seeing the celestial bodies overhead and feeling the power of the stars pouring down made him feel quite content. Pinpoints of starlight quietly descended from the sky, gathering in the Star Martial Soul located in his heart, increasing some unseen power.

Still unaware of the profound mysteries of the Star Martial Soul, he couldn't yet wield it or make it do anything, yet he instinctively knew it was extraordinary. Especially after absorbing the Essence of the Sun, he vaguely sensed a transformation within the Star Martial Soul.

He couldn't articulate the change, but he knew it was marvelous, surely adding something more to the original Star Martial Soul. His consciousness sank into the Blood Patterned Ring, and the mental projections of the Profound Ice Cold Flame and the Ten Thousand Year Earth Core Fire immediately responded, conveying a probing query.

“It’s fine.” Shi Yan replied casually, observing things numerous times in secret. He found that the space confining the Nine Nether Soul Devouring Flame was identical to the sealing scene in the Yin Beast Mountain.

The Nine Nether Soul Devouring Flame was still trapped by a massive piece of white crystal, its aura and soul fluctuations completely contained. Shi Yan could see it, but he couldn't sense its life aura; he just felt the entity was incredibly strange.

When the Profound Ice Cold Flame was first confined in the Blood Patterned Ring, Shi Yan could still communicate with it. Though he couldn't borrow its power, he could clearly feel its presence, that chilling fluctuation.

But the Nine Nether Soul Devouring Flame was different. The Blood Patterned Ring seemed exceedingly cautious regarding it, masking all its aura and life fluctuations.

When Shi Yan’s consciousness entered the ring, he could only see the flame, but could glean almost no information about it. Slowly withdrawing his consciousness, Shi Yan stood on the reef, frowning as he surveyed his surroundings.

In the surrounding sea, heads of members from the Yin Ghoul Clan and the Winged Clan slowly surfaced. After appearing, these members of the alien races began finding footholds for themselves.

There were many large reefs nearby, scattered everywhere, making it easy for them to find resting places. These beings from the forsaken land, once settled, looked up at the myriad stars with ecstatic disbelief, uttering continuous sounds of awe.

Those brilliant stars and that bright moon were sights they had never witnessed before. Imprisoned for who knew how many years, the alien races gazed at the heavens, an overwhelming sense of rebirth washing over them.

Many even shed silent tears. Even the leaders of the alien races, such as Di Shan, Yu Rou, and Yi Tianmo, were deeply moved, their bodies trembling as they looked at the starry expanse, unable to suppress their excitement.

After a long, long while, Di Shan, Yu Rou, and the remaining three of their group quietly composed themselves and flew from their respective spots, gathering near Shi Yan. “We have finally arrived here…” Yu Rou’s voice was filled with emotion.

“After being imprisoned for so many years, we always knew the beauty of this world, but to witness it firsthand is still deeply moving. Master, we truly should thank you.” Frowning slightly, Shi Yan pondered for a moment, then suddenly said, “I don’t know your ancestral customs, but I am not accustomed to your form of address.” “Oh?” Yu Rou paused, then smiled radiantly, “According to tradition, you are one of our people, of both races.

From now on, your commands will be treated as absolute doctrine by both our clans. Is the title ‘Master’ not suitable?” “Just call me by my name,” Shi Yan shook his head.

“Furthermore, I have no intention of strictly controlling either of your clans; you are entirely free to act as you see fit. Regardless of your traditions, I don’t believe I possess the capability to lead your two clans to achieve world-shaking feats.” The five leaders—Di Shan among them—stared at him in astonishment.

Any ambitious martial artist given the chance to subjugate their two clans would hold onto that power tightly, never letting go. Why would he say such a thing?

Did he truly not value this strength? “Since we have already sworn an oath, regardless of your thoughts, Master, we will serve you,” unexpectedly, Di Shan, who had been the most resistant before, suddenly declared with resolute spirit, “Our ancestors’ dying wishes must be followed.

As long as Master exists, we will obey your commands.” “Master, although your cultivation is not yet overwhelmingly strong, we believe that given time, you will certainly become a peak powerhouse on this continent. With your talent, sooner or later you will enter the True God realm, perhaps even reaching the God King realm!” A strange light flickered in Yu Rou’s beautiful eyes.

“Therefore, we believe the future we desire for our clans can be delivered by you, Master!” “Master possesses three Heavenly Fires, the bloodline of the Undying God King, astonishing talent, and has grasped the profound essence of the Yin Ghoul Clan’s soul secrets. Moreover, Master seems to possess an exceedingly terrifying greatsword; the aura emanating from that blade even makes me tremble.

By all accounts, Master will undoubtedly become a preeminent figure in the future. Our clans have long lifespans, and we can wait until Master becomes an unparalleled expert,” Di Shan asserted sharply.

Yi Tianmo, Kabar, and Zhameng adopted solemn expressions. Shi Yan stood stunned for a long moment before giving a wry smile and shaking his head.

“I don’t know what you are thinking, but I can give you an opportunity right now.” Taking a deep breath, Shi Yan looked towards the three Yin Ghoul Clan members—Yi Tianmo, Kabar, and Zhameng. “Let me be clear: I truly have no ambition to rule your two clans.

My cooperation with you was solely to survive long enough to arrive here, nothing more. Now that our agreement is fulfilled, you are completely free to leave.

You don't need to concern yourselves with me, and I will not constrain you. Think it over carefully; I never wish to force anyone.” Yi Tianmo and the other two Yin Ghoul leaders showed reluctance.

They were bound by Di Shan and Yu Rou, and Shi Yan knew these three were inherently arrogant. With their powerful souls in human society, they possessed terrifying destructive capability.

Such individuals kept close were ticking time bombs, capable of killing him if things went awry. Shi Yan was self-aware; even with his current understanding of soul mysteries, he was far inferior to these three.

Until he knew their true intentions, he preferred not to stay too close to them. Yi Tianmo’s eyes flickered with strange light as he seemed to be carefully weighing something.

Di Shan and Yu Rou remained silent, watching him with shadowed expressions. Kabar and Zhameng also showed indecision.

They knew Yi Tianmo was the most cunning and possessed exceptionally sharp judgment, so they waited silently for his decision. “I have already sworn an oath; it will not be broken,” Yi Tianmo finally declared.

“Rest assured, Master. From this moment forward, I will truly serve you without any disloyalty, because I also believe what Di Shan and Yu Rou said: Master will inevitably become a famous figure throughout the world.

Following you, we might not suffer any loss.” As soon as these words were spoken, Kabar and Zhameng showed relief. After a moment of thought, they both nodded vigorously.

“If you are so insistent, I cannot say much more,” Shi Yan mused, nodding faintly. “Although I harbor no ambition toward your two clans, if you insist on aligning yourselves with me, I won’t be overly modest.” “Splash, splash, whoosh!” In the distance on the sea, several more heads emerged.

This was the final group to appear. Shi Yan, who had been talking with Kabar and Zhameng, glanced over there, his brow suddenly furrowing.

Those few were Cao Zhilan and her group, who had come from the Endless Sea. They had lagged behind, only ascending the Sky Ladder after the Yin Ghoul and Winged Clan members had already passed, thus emerging last.

At the end of the Sky Ladder, a dazzling beam of light plunged down, leading to this reef-strewn area of the sea. Even at this moment, Shi Yan did not know which region of the Endless Sea this was, but judging by the feel of things, he knew it was still the Endless Sea.

“Master, those few people seem to be your enemies. How should we deal with them?” A ruthless glint flashed in Yi Tianmo’s eyes.

“Shall we…?” “Keep an eye on them for now; these people might be useful later,” Shi Yan shook his head. After a moment’s thought, he suddenly pointed at Cao Zhilan and quietly commanded, “Bring her over here.” Yu Rou smiled faintly, suddenly flying out.

In a flash, she reached Cao Zhilan’s side, grabbed her by the collar, and brought her directly before Shi Yan. “Do you know what place this is?” Shi Yan asked, his brow deeply furrowed.

He knew Cao Zhilan was different from ordinary people; she carried many treasures and was intimately familiar with the situation in the Endless Sea, which was why he asked. Cao Zhilan indeed did not disappoint him.

Under his gaze, she took out a dark green crystal shard. Frowning slightly, she looked at the tiny points revealed within the stone with shimmering eyes, carefully discerning the patterns for a while before suddenly exclaiming in surprise, “The Yuanluo Sea Domain!” “The Yuanluo Sea Domain!” Shi Yan’s expression shifted slightly, surprise coloring his tone.

“How can we be in the Yuanluo Sea Domain? The entrance to the Abyss Battlefield is in the Azure Sky Sea Domain, clearly very far from here.

Strange, we’ve arrived in the sea domain of the Three Gods Cult…” Cao Zhilan was also very perplexed, shaking her head to indicate she didn’t understand either. After a pause, she added, “This is indeed strange; I also don’t know what happened.

Perhaps it has something to do with the nearby Snow Dragon Island. Some areas around that island are quite bizarre…” “Snow Dragon Island…” Shi Yan’s expression moved.

He suddenly recalled a girl with hair cascading past her hips. After breaking free from the freezing of the Profound Ice Cold Flame, on his way to the Galuo Sea Domain, he had boarded a small boat belonging to the Three Gods Cult, where he met a young maiden.

That girl’s family was from Snow Dragon Island.