Demonic Cultivator(511-520) (Patreon)

Chapter 511: Everything is Predestined

A month later, at the Cloud Pavilion of the Starshatter Sea, Eastern Second Ring, Chu Xuan carefully attached the spiritual sense jade slips presented by He Zhao, Tao Zheng, and Wang Tiancheng to his forehead, reviewing each in turn. He had no concerns about the slips from He Zhao or Tao Zheng. Their loyalty was unwavering; even if they harbored any ill intentions, they wouldn't dare tamper with their spiritual sense slips. Given their realms, they simply weren't qualified.

"Not bad, the Black Pill Pavilion manages about eighty large spirit stones in pure profit each year," Chu Xuan mused. "The Ning, Liu, and Song cultivator families together contribute about one hundred seventy large spirit stones annually. Thus, without lifting a finger, I can easily collect two hundred fifty large spirit stones each year. No wonder everyone enjoys being a rentier; who doesn't like money falling into their lap while sitting comfortably at home?" He chuckled softly to himself.

After reviewing the slips from He Zhao and Tao Zheng, Chu Xuan picked up the one offered by Wang Tiancheng. However, he did not immediately place it against his forehead but instead set it within a small array he had prepared in advance.

Wang Tiancheng was cunning and unpredictable, necessitating caution. Every spiritual sense jade slip he received was first placed in a special detection array to verify its safety before he would read it with his spiritual sense. This precaution was a must for those he deemed unreliable, even if they had submitted to him. It was a safeguard against unexpected betrayals.

After a while, when the array elicited no reaction, Chu Xuan nodded and finally placed the jade slip against his forehead. Moments later, having digested the contents, he stroked his chin, deep in thought. Wang Tiancheng's work was relatively solid. The small jade slip contained an abundance of information.

"Anomalies continue to persist in the first ring, with cultivators gradually growing accustomed to them, yet some have stumbled upon treasures," he read. "The market prices for magic tools and treasures in the eastern seas have dropped significantly, rumored to be due to the Ji family of Purple Flame Island releasing a large stockpile. The Heaven Demon Sect has been increasingly active, even clashing slightly with the Divine Sword Sect.

"Over the Serpent Buddha Temple's main island, a Buddha's light soared skyward, likely indicating significant advancements in the spiritual realm of its venerable abbot. Near Golden Thunder Island, several cultivators have vanished, likely due to a powerful wild Corpse King hiding there, possibly the work of the Heaven Demon Sect's Corpse True Master. Numerous foreign cultivators have arrived at the Starshatter Sea, including those from the sixth-level Mountain Sword Sect, presumably drawn by the ongoing anomalies."

Chu Xuan frowned as he mulled over the disparate pieces of intelligence. Individually, they seemed unrelated. Yet, when combined, those with a keen mind could unravel the threads to find a coherent narrative.

"Hmm, I can't make it out either," he slapped his thigh and sighed. Even with all his efforts to unravel these threads, sorting through such complex thoughts wasn't straightforward. However, one thing was clear.

The cultivators from those sixth-level sects wouldn't have ventured here without cause. Their presence in the Starshatter Sea suggested that the frequent anomalies were no trivial matter and might indicate the imminent emergence of a significant treasure.

As for how these sects came to know of this, Chu Xuan was unsure. However, considering that sects like the Reincarnation Sect had their own divination techniques, it wasn't surprising that other great cultivators possessed similar abilities, even if slightly inferior to Wen Lingtian. Perhaps they had sensed a great opportunity in the Starshatter Sea, prompting them to send their younger members to investigate.

"But the wild Corpse King near Golden Thunder Island is somewhat intriguing," Chu Xuan remarked, raising an eyebrow. "From Wang Tiancheng's description, doesn't it sound a lot like a Corpse Demon?"

Could it be that some Corpse Demons had escaped from the relics of the Eight Extremes Palace? Or perhaps, the Bai Chuan Hall, located somewhere in the Starshatter Sea, had silently emerged, causing these aimlessly wandering Corpse Demons to land on the islands?

He shook his head. With too few clues, it was hard to guess. Nor did he care to ponder further. Even if Corpse Demons appeared in droves, posing a threat to the cultivators' survival, what did it have to do with him?

The strongest in the Starshatter Sea were the two Nascent Soul great cultivators deep within the first ring—Purple Star True Monarch and Seven Kills True Monarch. If Corpse Demons or even greater Corpse Demons were to emerge, causing significant turmoil in the Starshatter Sea, these towering figures would have to deal with it. Compared to those two Astral Projection True Monarchs, he was merely a minor Deity Transformation cultivator. It was better not to get involved in such matters.

"All things follow fate; a thousand years are but a blink in eternity. Deity Transformation lasts merely two thousand years; prioritizing one's own safety is paramount."

With a nonchalant smile, Chu Xuan returned to Blue Star to continue his cultivation.

...

Eastern Second Ring, Golden Thunder Island. A massive tower ship approached the harbor and docked. The ship's mast flew a shimmering golden flag, immediately drawing the attention of the cultivators.

After all, most saw only flying boats on a regular basis, and even if there were tower ships, none were as colossal as this. Such a grand tower ship was indeed a rare sight. The cultivators murmured amongst themselves, with some well-informed ones quickly guessing that this must be a Dragon-class tower ship.

Given that the Exquisite Treasures Alliance led far ahead in the realms of tower ships and flying boats, surpassing many sixth-level cultivation sects—and even some seventh-level sects would purchase their ships—it was no surprise. Thus, the Exquisite Treasures Alliance's standards for Peregrine, Gyrfalcon, and Dragon-class ships had become widely recognized. Even sects hostile to the Exquisite Treasures Alliance used the same standards.

As for the glittering golden flag, one only needed a glance to guess that it was indeed the banner of the Exquisite Treasures Alliance. The Exquisite Treasures Alliance always flaunted itself this way, never hiding its presence. Several figures leapt from the deck of the tower ship, landing gracefully on the ground. The surrounding cultivators quickly stepped aside, not daring to offend these prominent members of the Exquisite Treasures Alliance.

The leader, a man with a jade-like face and elegant demeanor, seemed not so much a merchant of the Exquisite Treasures Alliance but rather a learned scholar. Behind him were three others, a man and two women. The man was tall and handsome, striking enough to captivate countless female cultivators anywhere he went. The two women were stunningly beautiful and identical, as if carved from the same mold. The arrival of these four instantly drew the attention of the cultivators, particularly the twin Nascent Soul female cultivators who were especially eye-catching.

If Chu Xuan were here, he would recognize that the male cultivator was Situ Kong, formerly the Holy Son of the Reincarnation Sect. Though the sect had fallen, a cultivator of such exceptional talent as Situ Kong was highly sought after. The Exquisite Treasures Alliance, with its quick actions and generous offers, had secured his allegiance. With his remarkable talents, it hadn't taken long for him to become a leading figure among the Nascent Soul generation within the Alliance. Now, he had been ordered by Celestial Fortune True Master to come to the Starshatter Sea due to the numerous anomalies appearing in the first ring.

"Why haven't we gone directly to the first ring but came to the Eastern Second Ring instead?" Situ Kong asked, puzzled.

Celestial Fortune True Master smiled slightly, "I've heard that Shang Tianjue of the Heaven-Shaking Sect will come to the Eastern Second Ring. You've been wanting to face him, haven't you? I'm fulfilling your wish."

Chapter 512: The Treasures of the Starshatter Sea

Upon hearing this, Situ Kong's eyes lit up. To become a core figure in a sect, one must continually prove oneself, climbing the ranks step by step. His method was to constantly challenge others, using the strong as stepping stones to ascend. Since he wasn't a disciple nurtured by the Exquisite Treasures Alliance from a young age, his ways to reach the core were limited.

Now, within the Exquisite Treasures Alliance, there were few peers in the same realm worth his effort. Thus, he had set his sights on the genius contemporaries from other sixth-level cultivation sects. Shang Tianjue, since joining the Heaven-Shaking Sect, had risen meteorically, dominating and overbearing.

This man was not a prodigy of cultivation talent per se but rather a prodigy of combat prowess. His combat style was particularly fierce, excelling in trading blow for blow. Aptly nicknamed "The Tyrant," his reputation was well-deserved.

His most formidable achievement was using arrays and talismans to fight to the death a newly advanced, albeit injured, Deity Transformation cultivator—a feat that left him unrivaled for a time.

It was precisely for this reason that Situ Kong had been closely monitoring Shang Tianjue. Unexpectedly, this trip to the Starshatter Sea offered him a chance to face Shang Tianjue. Defeating or even killing Shang Tianjue would elevate his reputation further!

Afterwards, within the Exquisite Treasures Alliance, he would certainly overshadow the other two prodigies, enjoying an absolute allocation of resources. From then on, his path would accelerate, and in a few decades, he would surely step onto the Deity Transformation path!

Seeing Situ Kong so excited, Celestial Fortune True Master added, "Besides Shang Tianjue, there's actually another matter. Zhao Hai Jian, Song Ru Zhen, and Song Ting Feng—three Deity Transformation elders—vanished in the Eastern Second Ring, and there has been no conclusion to their disappearance."

Situ Kong was puzzled. "Wasn't it investigated last time? It should have been the leader of the Black Robber Bandits, Wang Tiancheng, who played a significant role."

"However, with his strength, it would not have been possible to kill all three Deity Transformation cultivators at the same time. It's very likely that Zhao Hai Jian and the others fought over a treasure, both sides suffering, giving him a chance to act. But Wang Tiancheng is also missing, and this case is destined to remain unsolved…"

Celestial Fortune True Master smiled faintly, "The continuous anomalies in the Starshatter Sea—who can resist? That Wang Tiancheng will show up sooner or later; we just need to wait."

Situ Kong nodded repeatedly, "I understand."

Celestial Fortune True Master looked thoughtful, "With the treasures of the Starshatter Sea surfacing, it's going to be troubled times again."

Situ Kong, full of confidence, declared, "We cultivators shine brightest amid chaos!"

Celestial Fortune True Master laughed heartily, "Well said!"

Several days later.

At the Eastern Second Ring, on Strange Peak Island, in the Golden Immortal Tower, a lavish banquet was being held. The Tian Mozi of the Heaven Demon Sect was hosting cultivators from the Heaven-Shaking Sect. Female cultivators of the Heaven Demon Sect, scantily clad and exuding charm, moved gracefully between the banquet tables. Zhang Jinzhou and Tian Musen enjoyed exquisite delicacies, surrounded by beauty, thoroughly enjoying themselves.

Yun Lan sipped her tea lightly, her eyebrows furrowed in distress, clutching her heart, evoking pity. Her makeup was exceptionally stunning today, drawing frequent glances from both male and female cultivators at the banquet. However, her gaze was fixed on another impressive figure.

Zhang Jinzhou approached and whispered with a sneer, "Sister Yun, stop staring like a lovesick fool."

Yun Lan's expression remained cool, "What's it to you?"

Tian Musen chuckled lightly, "Shang Tianjue doesn't care for women's charms, he's domineering and ruthless. No matter how enchanting you are, Sister Yun, in his eyes, you're just a pile of bones."

Yun Lan's face soured at this remark.

Zhang Jinzhou cleared his throat, "Look, Sister Yun, our Heaven-Shaking Sect has countless male cultivators. Why hang your hopes on this one tree? Take Tian Musen here, isn't he also quite something?"

Yun Lan turned her head away disdainfully. After a while, she bit her red lips and suddenly declared, "The man I want, I'm never failed to get!"

She abruptly stood up, picked up a wine cup, and walked towards Shang Tianjue, who was drinking alone. Zhang Jinzhou and Tian Musen shrugged their shoulders, wearing expressions of spectators at a play.

"Senior Brother Shang…"

Yun Lan approached Shang Tianjue, her breath fragrant and her smile beguiling. Her beauty at that moment was enough to make any man's heart skip a beat.

"Scram."

Shang Tianjue didn't even turn his face, just coldly spoke out.

For some reason, there was a snap sound. The wine cup in Yun Lan's hand suddenly exploded. Wine splattered all over the floor. The eyes of everyone nearby were drawn to the scene.

Yun Lan's face turned beet red, and her expression was extremely ugly. She stomped her foot furiously and turned to leave.

The cultivators from the Heaven-Shaking Sect, realizing that the story's protagonist was Shang Tianjue, withdrew their gazes. Over the years, Shang Tianjue's formidable reputation had already become well-known throughout the Heaven-Shaking Sect. Even many Qi Refining disciples had heard of his fearsomeness.

On the other side of the banquet hall, the Xue Mozi of the Heaven Demon Sect was conversing in hushed tones with the Blood Wine True Master of the Heaven-Shaking Sect. Their attention, too, was drawn to the commotion.

Xue Mozi expressed his surprise, "This Shang Tianjue really is peculiar, to so easily push away such a beautiful cultivator?"

Blood Wine True Master laughed heartily, "That's just how he is, and frankly, that's what I like most about him."

Xue Mozi nodded in agreement, smiling, "All these years, you haven't changed a bit; you still favor such disciples." He then shifted the topic, "But with Shang Tianjue's talents, why has he come to the Starshatter Sea? Shouldn't he be cultivating diligently within the sect?"

Blood Wine True Master grinned, "He wasn't initially required here, but he volunteered, wanting to experience the Starshatter Sea. However, I suspect he's also here to investigate his brother's whereabouts. Besides, with his capabilities and temperament, he's not suited for secluded bitter cultivation. He should engage more in external trials and combat, which suits his growth much better."

Xue Mozi nodded in understanding.

Blood Wine True Master chuckled, then grabbed the liquor gourd from his waist and took a hearty swig. "Enough about him. It's been years since we last met. What exactly happened to you? If it wasn't for the sect master informing me, I wouldn't have known you were the old demon of the Heaven Demon Sect. I thought you had died in the Heavenly Metal Battlefield; I never expected we'd meet again."

Xue Mozi sighed heavily, "It's a long story. You might know about the old demon that appeared on the Heavenly Metal Battlefield; his strength was overwhelming. He destroyed my physical body, and had I not escaped in time, even my soul might have been annihilated. I later took over the body of a cultivator named Xiao Xian and used a teleportation array to escape the battlefield, only to find myself in the territory of the Exquisite Treasures Alliance. I dared not reveal my identity, and after many twists and turns, I arrived at the Starshatter Sea. I assumed the name Xue Mozi and started to build my power. Only recently did I manage to contact the sect master through an elder stationed here in the Starshatter Sea."

Xue Mozi spoke of his past with a sense of melancholy.

Blood Wine True Master looked him up and down in astonishment, "What about your current strength?"

Xue Mozi smiled helplessly, "I've acquired a secret technique that allows me to disguise myself as a higher realm. This mid-stage Deity Transformation aura is merely a facade."

Chapter 513: Irresistible

Blood Wine True Master was initially stunned, then burst into laughter, "Hahaha! The old demon of the Heaven Demon Sect, who was once half a step into the late stage of Deity Transformation, now has to disguise himself as being in the mid-stage of Deity Transformation. Your attacks on various factions, including the Divine Sword Sect and the Serpent Buddha Temple, must also be deliberate, right?"

Xue Mozi gave a bitter smile, "Exactly. If demonic forces do not constantly engage in battles, the enemies naturally perceive us as weak and turn to attack us. To maintain the facade of the Heaven Demon Sect's strength, I really have to strain every nerve."

Meanwhile, Shang Tianjue was still facing the wall, drinking alone. The lively banquet of the Heaven Demon Sect hosting the Heaven-Shaking Sect cultivators seemed to him nothing more than a pointless social gathering. He was pondering something important.

Where is Shang Xingchen?

During the war between the Reincarnation Sect and the Heaven-Shaking Sect, Shang Xingchen eventually became an elder of the Heaven-Shaking Sect's subordinate sect, the Heavenly Infinite Sect. He was able to enter the Heaven-Shaking Sect because Shang Xingchen had given up his spot for him, a gesture he scorned. With his own abilities, he could have entered the Heaven-Shaking Sect without needing Shang Xingchen's charity. That's why he cared even more about Shang Xingchen's whereabouts.

On a mission to the Holy Flame Star, tasked with purging the remnants of the Red Flame Palace, Shang Xingchen had also gone to the Holy Flame Star. However, according to reports from Yun Lan, Zhang Jinzhou, Tian Musen, and others, just as they were about to penetrate the heart of the Red Flame Palace, a group of marauders from the Starshatter Sea suddenly appeared.

The Heavenly Infinite Sect suffered heavy losses, and its sect master, Chu Xuan, was pursued by a Deity Transformation marauder and perished in the Nether Fire Valley. Shang Xingchen was also abducted by the marauders from the Starshatter Sea.

Shang Tianjue had secretly tasked people to search the Starshatter Sea for a long time, but he could never find Shang Xingchen's whereabouts. It seemed his brother had vanished without a trace.

"The words of Yun Lan and the others are half-truths," he muttered to himself. "I need to see with my own eyes, hear with my own ears."

Shang Tianjue's expression was cold. There were things he couldn't do while within the sect. But now that he was in the Starshatter Sea, he could act.

On the deck, Kang Jia gazed out at the vast Starshatter Sea, filled with awe. Beside him, a red-robed cultivator laughed heartily, "Haha, naturally, the Starshatter Sea is the most mysterious and enigmatic place in the Stormy Star Region. It's no wonder you find it extraordinary on your first visit, fellow Daoist Kang. By the way, you probably don't have acquaintances here in the Starshatter Sea, right? You could stay with me for a few days. It would be good to have someone to look out for each other."

Kang Jia expressed his gratitude, "That would be much appreciated, fellow Daoist Han."

As he looked again towards the Starshatter Sea, ripples of memory began to stir deep within him. During the battle at the Heavenly Metal Battlefield, his senior brother and mentor, Shangguan He, died under the attack of a mysterious dark tree. Thanks to Shangguan He's help, he narrowly escaped with his life. Since then, he had been investigating what exactly that dark tree was.

However, after the Reincarnation Sect was demoted to a fifth-level cultivation sect, Feiry Sky Cloud Pavilion, as a subordinate sect, was also affected and collapsed within a year as the supports faltered and followers scattered. Kang Jia had sensed something was wrong early on and had left Feiry Sky Cloud Pavilion under the pretext of carrying out a sect mission, thereby avoiding getting caught in the crossfire.

Now, he had become a wandering cultivator, unable to rely on the power of a sect, only on himself. After extensive investigation, he discovered that the Starshatter Sea might have clues about the dark tree, which led him to this place.

The red-robed cultivator, whom he met en route, was a Nascent Soul cultivator from Heavenly Martial Pavilion named Han Ye, returning from an external mission. The two got along very well, hit it off immediately, and after fighting side by side against several marauders, they became friends.

"By the way, fellow daoist Han, what mission are you on this time? If it doesn't involve Heavenly Martial Pavilion secrets, could you share it with me?" Kang Jia asked.

Han Ye looked somewhat troubled, but eventually shook his head, "It probably doesn't have much to do with Heavenly Martial Pavilion. I'm actually looking for the descendants of a senior. This senior, named Zhao Xuan, was on a mission in the southern waters of the Starshatter Sea years ago and suddenly disappeared. Only my grandfather Han Zhao returned alive to the Heavenly Martial Pavilion.

"My grandfather has always felt guilty for not being able to save Senior Zhao Xuan, so he sent me to find Zhao Xuan's descendants and bring them to the Heavenly Martial Pavilion for nurturing. However, after searching in Senior Zhao Xuan's hometown for a long time, I found that her descendants have declined. The few remaining Zhao family cultivators have left that star to make their way in the world, and no one knows where they are now."

Kang Jia nodded repeatedly, "Elder Han Zhao truly has a noble spirit; after so many years, he still remembers to lend a hand to the descendants of an old friend."

Upon hearing this, Han Ye showed a hint of pride, "That's true! My grandfather, Han Zhao, is now the second leader of the Heavenly Martial Pavilion. If not for his chivalrous and benevolent nature, how could he have risen to such a position?"

Kang Jia's expression became serious, "The second leader of the Heavenly Martial Pavilion! I apologize for my ignorance."

Before coming to the Starshatter Sea, he had certainly done his homework. The region was dominated by four major powers: the Bone Hiding Hall, Heavenly Martial Pavilion, Three Corpses Hall, and Soul Locking Manor, each a gathering place for formidable cultivators.

The strongest among them were late-stage Deity Transformation cultivators who could turn the tide with a mere gesture. Unexpectedly, the fellow daoist he had befriended along the way turned out to be the descendant of such a powerful figure.

However, upon further reflection, this connection could facilitate his search for traces of the mysterious black tree. As one of the four major forces of the Starshatter Sea, Heavenly Martial Pavilion undoubtedly possessed many ancient archives, among which might be texts concerning the black tree.

Kang Jia earnestly requested, "Fellow Daoist Han, if I visit Heavenly Martial Pavilion, may I be permitted to browse through your sect's archives? Not the manuals of cultivation techniques, but the historical records of the Starshatter Sea. I've always been fond of reading such materials."

Han Ye hesitated for a moment, "If it's just historical texts, that shouldn't be a problem. Those are just gathering dust in our scripture hall anyway. But I can't make this decision alone; I must ask my grandfather for permission once we return to Heavenly Martial Pavilion."

Kang Jia was overjoyed, "Thank you very much, Fellow Daoist Han, regardless of the outcome."

Han Ye waved his hand dismissively, "We fought marauders together, comrades in battle; let's not stand on ceremony!" He then threw an arm around Kang Jia's shoulder, laughing heartily, "When we get back to Heavenly Martial Pavilion, I'll take you to the hot springs first. It's a wonderful place!"

Kang Jia was taken aback, "Hot springs?"

Han Ye gave a knowing smile typical of men, "The hot springs are a paradise of gentleness."

Kang Jia's face turned red, "I'm not that kind of person. My senior brother always cautioned me against indulging in sensual pleasures..."

Han Ye chuckled, "Avoiding sensual pleasures? Let's see if you can still avoid them when you're thrown among a bevy of beauties."

Kang Jia's face grew even redder. Who could have known? A new friend was already pulling him to bathe together. Playing so wildly. It was simply... irresistible!

Chapter 514: All Thanks to Chu Xuan's Random Teleportation Array

Throughout the Starshatter Sea, sect cultivators arrived on tower ships. Initially, the local cultivators of the Starshatter Sea didn't pay much attention to the various anomalies in the first ring. However, as these sect cultivators appeared, they began to sense that something was amiss. If these were merely anomalies, why would they attract sect cultivators?

Influenced by this, an increasing number of Starshatter Sea cultivators also started converging toward the first ring. Those too far away settled temporarily in the second ring, waiting for the right moment.

Moreover, with the influx of foreign cultivators, conflicts between them and the local cultivators of the Starshatter Sea became frequent. The Starshatter Sea is limited in size, and islands rich in Spiritual Qi are even scarcer. Every newcomer needs a place rich in Spiritual Qi for their cave abode. But how could there be enough cave abodes to accommodate everyone?

On Golden Phoenix Island, Chu Xuan reviewed the reports presented by his subordinates, his eyebrows raised. This was because the Mountain Sword Sect had arrived at Golden Phoenix Island. They brought one Deity Transformation cultivator, four Nascent Soul cultivators, and as many as fifty Golden Core cultivators. In addition to this sixth-level cultivation sect, numerous fifth-level sects had also joined the fray.

Golden Phoenix Island was large, but it struggled to accommodate so many people. In just a month, there had been dozens of incidents of malicious combat among the cultivators, causing chaos and unrest.

Fortunately, the Deity Transformation cultivator from Mountain Sword Sect, known as "Jian Lingzi," had old ties with Yun Feijian, which helped keep the sect cultivators in line. There had been no major conflicts between the groups. Instead, they coexisted relatively harmoniously on Golden Phoenix Island.

"Exquisite Treasures Alliance list: Celestial Fortune True Master, Situ Kong, Gao Yun, Gao Xuan..."

"Heaven-Shaking Sect list: Blood Wine True Master, Shang Tianjue, Yun Lan, Zhang Jinzhou, Tian Musen..."

"Tsks, quite a few acquaintances indeed."

Chu Xuan picked up the spiritual sense jade slip presented by Wang Tiancheng and chuckled lightly. During the battle on Holy Flame Star, he was suddenly pursued by marauders from Nine Yin Island, forcing him to flee into the Nether Fire Valley. If not for his mastery in the art of disguise and infiltration, reversing his method to hide among the Nine Yin Island marauders and make his way to the Starshatter Sea, he might have perished on Holy Flame Star!

He didn't believe for a moment that Yun Lan and others hadn't played a role in stirring the waters during that incident. However, the name Shang Tianjue particularly surprised him.

Back when he was merely a Golden Core cultivator, Shang Tianjue had orchestrated a counterattack against Feather Transformation Heaven Palace. Despite sacrificing his own physical body, he successfully caused the death of a Deity Transformation ancestor from Feather Transformation Heaven Palace. To this day, his dominant performance as the "Tyrant" still earned Chu Xuan's admiration.

Now, having stepped onto the Deity Transformation path himself, seeing this name again stirred a sense of nostalgia within him. Simultaneously, the mention of Shang Tianjue brought another individual to mind—Shang Xingchen. This elder from the Heavenly Infinite Sect had parted ways with him in the relics of the Eight Extremes Palace and his whereabouts since then were unknown. Chu Xuan found himself missing the times he could exploit Shang Xingchen, even feeling somewhat nostalgic about it.

After digesting all the intelligence and memorizing the current affairs, Chu Xuan returned to Blue Star to continue his cultivation. Ten thousand Light Spirit Caterpillars continued their exploration of the vast primitive forest, striving to produce a comprehensive and detailed map—a task that still required much time. For now, all he could do was proceed with his cultivation in a methodical manner.

Starshatter Sea, Northern First Ring, Corpse Island.

The island was covered with lush primeval forests, but each tree eerily resembled the arms of the dead stretching out from the ground. Grotesque and twisted, the trees lent the island a chilling and fearsome appearance. The skies above the island were perpetually shrouded in gloomy clouds, with occasional harsh, raspy noises echoing through the air—whether from crows or ghosts, no one could say.

Many cultivators steered clear of this island, approaching only with the utmost caution and respect. In reality, Corpse Island was a forbidden area of the Three Corpses Hall, its significance even surpassing that of their main hall located on Dark Yin Island. It was said that the island held numerous ancient cultivators' corpses buried beneath it, which perpetually exuded an ominous, unyielding chill.

This setting was exceptionally conducive for the cultivation of corpse path cultivators. Moreover, corpses left on the island could transform into wild corpse puppets within a year. In ten years, they could advance to become corpse generals. After a century, they invariably became corpse marshals!

Deeper within the island, there were even several wild corpse kings!

However, not every cultivator from the Three Corpses Hall had the privilege to set foot on Corpse Island. Only the most core members were granted access. Occasionally, a few cultivators from the Three Corpses Hall were tasked with bringing a large number of collected corpses to the island. But even they were not permitted to venture deep into Corpse Island, as disturbing the wild corpse puppets could easily lead to disastrous consequences.

At this moment, deep within Corpse Island, a figure emerged. Tall and handsome, dressed in white, his face had grown particularly pale from long periods away from sunlight. It was Shang Xingchen.

"Since leaving the Eight Extremes Palace, I've been cultivating here on Corpse Island. I've lost track of how many years have passed," he mused. "But indeed, Corpse Island has been a beneficial place. Not only have I advanced to the eighth level of the Nascent Soul, but I've also tamed two corpse kings. Compared to my time in the Eight Extremes Hall, my strength has more than doubled." Shang Xingchen's expression was wistful.

He paused, then suddenly smiled, "I do owe thanks to Chu Xuan's random teleportation array. If not for that array, how could I have ended up here?" Initially, he had feared the random teleportation array might bring numerous dangers, perhaps even transporting him into a den of fierce beasts, facing certain death upon arrival. This was not mere speculation, as there had been precedents. Many had hoped to use random teleportation arrays as a means of escape, but more often than not, they jumped out of the frying pan and into the fire.

Unexpectedly, he landed directly on Corpse Island and even received the inheritance of the Ancestor Ye from the Three Corpses Hall. Quite inexplicably, he became a cultivator of the Three Corpses Hall. The serendipity and coincidences involved were too complex to explain in brief.

The reason he came to the shore today was also due to the last words left by that ancestor. Every fifty years, cultivators from the Three Corpses Hall would come to Corpse Island to dispose of a large number of corpses. If he missed this occasion, he would have to wait another fifty years.

Sure enough, after waiting a short while, he saw a tower ship swiftly approaching Corpse Island. The cultivators from the Three Corpses Hall also spotted him from afar, their expressions turning to surprise. As the ship docked, four cultivators—three men and one woman—quickly flew down from the deck and surrounded him.

The leading Nascent Soul cultivator demanded, "Who are you, and why are you in the forbidden grounds of the Three Corpses Hall?"

Shang Xingchen threw a token made from bones towards him. "I am Shang Xingchen, the direct disciple of Ancestor Ye. Here is my token."

The leader caught the token and inspected it closely, his shock evident. He almost couldn't hold onto the token. Without hesitation, he knelt on one knee, "Liao Tan pays his respects to Uncle Master Shang!"

The other three exchanged glances, then quickly half-knelt, echoing, "We, too, pay our respects to Uncle Master Shang!"

Chapter 515: The 45th Level of Body Refining

Ancestor Ye was a ninth-level Deity Transformation cultivator from the Three Corpses Hall who had long been in seclusion on Corpse Island, seeking an opportunity to achieve the Astral Projection stage. The current three Deity Transformation cultivators of the Three Corpses Hall had all been disciples of Ancestor Ye. The token in Shang Xingchen's possession was indeed Ancestor Ye's identity token, unmistakable and irrefutable.

"Rise, we are all Nascent Soul cultivators, and should address each other as senior brothers and juniors, there's no need for such formality," Shang Xingchen said with a warm smile that seemed to brighten even the gloomy surroundings of Corpse Island.

The female cultivator from the Three Corpses Hall immediately felt a great liking for Shang Xingchen upon seeing his smile. The other three felt similarly, finding Shang Xingchen to be approachable and amiable.

"That won't do, you are the direct disciple of Ancestor Ye, even if our realms are the same, we cannot address you as our peer," one of them insisted. "Uncle Master, do you plan to return to the main island now?"

Liao Tan asked respectfully.

Shang Xingchen nodded with a smile, "Indeed, but if you have urgent matters, I can wait."

Liao Tan shook his head quickly, "Given your esteemed status, we should escort you to Dark Yin Island first before returning to Corpse Island. That would be impolite to refuse," Shang Xingchen replied with a smile.

Aboard the tower ship, Shang Xingchen conversed at length with the four Three Corpses Hall cultivators. Thanks to his approachable nature and warm demeanor, he quickly learned their names, realms, unique skills, and more. Particularly with the female cultivator from the Three Corpses Hall—had Shang Xingchen not restrained himself, she might have thrown herself at him.

"Liao Tan, you mentioned earlier that many sect cultivators have arrived at the Starshatter Sea on tower ships?" Shang Xingchen suddenly realized a critical point and asked.

Liao Tan, the strongest among the four Nascent Soul cultivators, nodded, "Indeed, the continuous anomalies in the first ring seemed trivial at first, but with nothing substantial found, we didn't take it seriously. However, the arrival of many sixth-level cultivation sects suggests these anomalies might not be so simple."

Shang Xingchen pondered. Although only Deity Transformation cultivators were stationed across various forces in the Starshatter Sea, those sixth-level cultivation sects had Astral Projection ancestors. These powerful cultivators might have divined some unusual signs but couldn't determine exactly what they were, thus sending people to investigate further. If anything significant was uncovered, likely more would be sent.

"Among those sects, is the Heaven-Shaking Sect present?" Shang Xingchen suddenly asked.

Liao Tan nodded, "Yes, the Heaven-Shaking Sect has also sent people, currently residing in the Eastern Second Ring. Additionally, the Exquisite Treasures Alliance, Mountain Sword Sect, and many others, including numerous fifth-level cultivation sects close to the Starshatter Sea, have sent quite a few people too."

Upon hearing that the Heaven-Shaking Sect had also arrived, Shang Xingchen nodded thoughtfully. There was a chance he might encounter Shang Tianjue. He was curious about how Shang Tianjue was faring now, as well as Yun Lan, Zhang Jinzhou, and Tian Musen. He wondered if they were still thriving. If they were doing well, he felt it was his duty to ensure they did even better.

"And there's Chu Xuan, the sect master. I wonder under what guise he's blending in elsewhere now," Shang Xingchen mused with a slight smile. In his previous interactions with Chu Xuan, he often found himself at a disadvantage due to the difference in their strengths, sometimes even having to concede benefits. However, if he could join forces with Shang Tianjue, he was confident they could turn the tables on Chu Xuan and perhaps extract some benefits from him. He had long coveted the secrets Chu Xuan held.

"Even if Chu Xuan is strong, he must be stuck at the pinnacle of Nascent Soul, unable to advance further. His body cultivation level also needs more qi and blood from demonic beasts to progress," Shang Xingchen thought to himself. "With so many sect cultivators now in the Starshatter Sea, conflicts must be escalating. Chu Xuan is probably having a hard time managing all this."

Shang Xingchen chuckled softly at the thought.

...

On Golden Phoenix Island, at the Cloud Pavilion, Ning Tai knocked respectfully at the door. After a while, the courtyard door slowly opened. Ning Tai greeted with respect, "True Master, I've brought this year's offerings from the various families."

He stood in the courtyard, not taking another step forward, and began to declare loudly, "The Ning family contributes thirty-one large spirit stones. The Liu family, forty-five large spirit stones. The Song family contributes…" He continued, "In total, one hundred and one large spirit stones this year."

Chu Xuan stepped forward, his expression as calm as an ancient well, and simply stated, "Too little."

Ning Tai spoke gravely, "The conflict between the sect cultivators and those of the Starshatter Sea has intensified. Moreover, many marauders are taking advantage of the situation, pillaging the islands. Both my Ning family and the Song family have had properties on their islands plundered by these marauders, which is why the contributions have decreased. If we do not take decisive action, such incidents are likely to continue."

Chu Xuan slightly furrowed his brow. He understood what Ning Tai was implying—they needed him, a Deity Transformation cultivator, to intervene. A firm strike now could prevent endless troubles later.

However, with so many cultivators now gathered in the Starshatter Sea for this grand event, the situation was exceedingly complex. It was possible that some sect cultivators were stirring the pot from behind, and marauders were certainly exploiting the chaos.

Taking action was out of the question.

However, Chu Xuan, while choosing not to intervene directly, considered deploying Wang Tiancheng instead. Wang Tiancheng, himself a leader among the marauders, commanded a group of skilled and formidable black-clothed thieves. The strategy was simple: set a thief to catch a thief, pit the strong against the strong!

Chu Xuan casually remarked, "This matter is now understood; you may go."

Ning Tai hesitated, wanting to say more, but ultimately, he bowed respectfully and replied, "Yes." He was concerned that Chu Xuan's disregard might cause the Liu and Song families to become disillusioned and perhaps even defect to Yun Feijian or True Master Sun's side. However, he quickly reminded himself that he was merely an old Nascent Soul cultivator, while Chu Xuan was a mighty Deity Transformation cultivator. Persuasion was not his place.

His role was to execute the True Master's orders thoroughly and without hesitation. A subordinate who acted promptly and obediently was indeed a good subordinate.

Watching Ning Tai's departing figure, Chu Xuan nodded with a smile. Ning Tai was indeed shrewd and reliable. It was unfortunate that his lifespan was nearing its end, and he could no longer progress further.

"There are indeed pills that could extend the lifespan of a Nascent Soul stage cultivator in my possession," Chu Xuan thought. "But whether he can obtain them depends on his own abilities."

A leader must balance rewards and punishments, keeping personal and official matters distinct. Ning Tai was a useful subordinate but not to the extent that Chu Xuan would go out of his way to preserve his life at all costs.

"Continue cultivating; my body refining stage is nearly at the forty-fifth level," Chu Xuan mused as he stepped out and returned to his Water Curtain Cave. He immediately began to eat sea turtle meat seasoned with cumin, black pepper, honey, and salt among other flavors.

The various tastes of turtle meat entered his mouth rapidly. Under this intense consumption, Chu Xuan's qi and blood grew stronger by the day, surging powerfully. If one were to calm down and listen, they could hear the drum-like beats of his heart, the river-like flow of his blood!

"Body refining forty-fifth level, break through today!" Chu Xuan roared lowly, his whole body's blood qi tumultuous as he prepared for a breakthrough.

Chapter 516: The Fruit of My Labor, Truly Detestable to be Stolen

In the modest training room of the Water Curtain Cave, the intensity was palpable. The beating of his heart sounded like war drums; his blood flowed like rivers; and his rising heat was akin to steam. The energy clashed and echoed, unceasing.

If a lower-level cultivator were to be present, merely hearing these overwhelming sounds of qi and blood might cause extreme pain, forcing them to cover their ears and cry out in agony on the ground. If directly impacted by this force, their heart meridians would be severely damaged, leading to death from bleeding from the seven orifices.

This phenomenon continued relentlessly for three days. The qi and blood became increasingly vigorous, resembling a dragon ready to break its chains and soar into the heavens. At one moment, it felt as if an invisible bottleneck was suddenly shattered. With a booming sound, the surging qi and blood calmed down as quickly as a fish entering the sea.

Chu Xuan's skin, which had been red-hot, gradually cooled down to its normal state. He then opened his eyes, revealing a smile. "The 45th level of body refinement!"

He had reached the 45th level of body refinement faster than he had anticipated. Roughly speaking, a cultivator at the 45th level of body refinement was equivalent to a fifth-layer Deity Transformation cultivator in terms of qi cultivation. Of course, body cultivators and qi cultivators each had their advantages, and it wasn't entirely appropriate to compare realms directly.

But now, with the robust physical body of the 45th level of body refinement, his survivability had significantly increased. Even if he had to withstand one or two spells from a Deity Transformation cultivator, he could do so unscathed. Not to mention, he also possessed the cultivation of the second level of Deity Transformation, Deity Transformation spells, and numerous low-grade spiritual weapons.

With such capabilities, if the unrest in the Starshatter Sea widened, threatening him, he wouldn't be powerless. While he might not be the chess player in this game of turmoil, he could at least claim a share of the spoils.

"Hm? There's also news from Chenxi?" Chu Xuan felt a wave of thought from Chenxi and was immediately delighted. It was indeed a double celebration!

In the blink of an eye, his mind was filled with a vast and detailed map. The map displayed forests, rivers, hills, ravines, ferocious beasts, and ruins. With a thought, it could shift into a bird's-eye view, topographical map, or a map of beast territories, among others.

This was the map compiled from the long-term exploration by ten thousand Light Spirit Caterpillars, flying in all directions. Now, only about seven thousand of these worms remained. The other three thousand had perished in various accidents, mostly caught in the conflicts of giant beasts, killed by inexplicable residual effects.

Even though the Light Spirit Caterpillars' shells were incredibly hard, capable of resisting attacks up to the 40th level of body refinement, they could only defend passively. If they sustained too many hits, their shells would naturally fracture.

Chu Xuan had never intended to use the Light Spirit Caterpillars for combat. After all, these insects were designed exclusively for extreme defense and survival, without any offensive capabilities.

However, the rate of casualties among the Light Spirit Caterpillars also indicated that the strength of these giant beasts wasn't too formidable and still within his capability to manage.

"The map depicts the territories of over three hundred giant beasts," he mused aloud. "There are many conflicts among these territories. To navigate the safest route and avoid these dangerous behemoths, one must adapt on the fly."

"Additionally, my suspicion was correct; there are not just one but several abandoned villages. It appears a catastrophe akin to a zombie virus has indeed struck here."

Chu Xuan stared at the map, deep in thought. Now that he had a good grasp of the situation, it might be worth taking a look in person. Not to mention, during their travels, the Light Spirit Caterpillars had discovered that many giant beasts were stationed near peculiar fruits, seemingly waiting for them to ripen. These fruits could very well be potent medicines for enhancing qi and blood. Securing them could further advance his body refinement state.

"If I could elevate my body refinement to the forty-sixth level before the turmoil in the Starshatter Sea begins, that would be ideal," he contemplated. "The jump from forty-six to forty-seven is a significant threshold, requiring a massive amount of demonic beast meat and potent medicinal herbs to cross—a task far more daunting than advancing from forty-four to forty-five or from forty-five to forty-six."

Reaching the forty-sixth level of body refinement was effectively reaching his current limit. With such power, he could easily overpower any cultivator below the sixth level of Deity Transformation. Indeed, as long as he did not encounter the late-stage Deity Transformation experts from the four major forces, he could move unchallenged.

After making all necessary preparations, Chu Xuan stepped forward. A flash of white light ensued, and the world spun around him. Once the light faded and the scene stabilized, he found himself standing in a lush primeval forest.

Towering pillars rose into the clouds around him, their tops unseen. Tender, verdant trees shot up from the ground, their huge leaves spreading out in all directions. Upon closer inspection, these towering columns were ancient trees, and the tender green trees were merely weeds.

In comparison, Chu Xuan felt as if he had been shrunk and thrown into his own backyard, pitifully small. It was truly humbling. From time to time, he could hear the faint roars of giant beasts, clearly fighting over their territories—a scene not unlike what he had previously seen through the Myriad Realm Mirror.

"The spiritual Qi here is scarce, yet it's more than five times richer than on Blue Star," he noted. "Forceful cultivation here might barely allow one to achieve Foundation Establishment, but progressing further would be inadequate."

"However, the air is permeated with a strange power that seems to slowly enhance my physique." Chu Xuan took a deep breath and immediately sensed the anomaly. This mysterious force must be the primordial power of this planet. Perhaps it was the reason why the flora and fauna were so enormously large.

"This power, let us call it the Titan Force." And this planet, let it be known as Giant's Star."

Chu Xuan did not waste any more time and swiftly chose a direction to fly towards. About an hour later, he arrived at his destination. There was a small spring here, but the water in the spring was not the clear, bottom-visible type one might expect. Instead, it was red, resembling blood at first glance.

In the middle of the spring, a small tree bore two unripe fruits that were turning red, clearly about to ripen. Beside the spring lay a mountainous beast, seemingly napping with its eyes closed.

Chu Xuan frowned as he looked at the tree. The map had indicated that there were originally three fruits here. Now, with only two remaining, it was apparent that the giant beast had consumed one.

"Stealing my fruit, truly detestable," Chu Xuan muttered, shaking his head.

The giant beast seemed to sense the approaching danger and slowly got to its feet. Its bell-sized eyes scanned the surroundings but failed to locate the source of the threat. Just as it was about to shake its head and lie down again, it finally noticed the small figure floating in front of it. Despite the small size of this figure, it seemed to contain immense qi and blood, instinctively making the beast salivate.

It immediately opened its massive mouth, intending to swallow Chu Xuan in one gulp. Chu Xuan's qi and blood surged dramatically, condensing into a massive furnace, which he then slammed down.

Heavenly Furnace Descends!

Chapter 517: Automated Virtue Accumulation Machine 2.0

The qi and blood furnace descended from the sky like Mount Tai crashing down. With just one strike, the gigantic beast was left in complete disarray.

"Not dead?" Chu Xuan frowned and immediately condensed the qi and blood furnace again.

The second strike came down and finally crushed the beast's skull. Blood gushed out, completely soaking the ground. However, curiously, the spring absorbed all the blood. The slightly unripe fruits quickly matured, turning a bright, alluring red.

Chu Xuan was delighted and immediately plucked the two fruits. He had initially planned to dig up the entire tree, roots and all. However, as soon as the fruits were picked, the tree withered instantly. He could only attribute this to the peculiar nature of the local flora.

As for the blood spring, it seemed only capable of absorbing blood, and while the water contained more of the titanizing force, it had no other miraculous properties. The flesh of the giant beast, equivalent to a body cultivator of the thirty-sixth level, was not particularly useful. If not for its massive size, it would have had its head blown apart by the descending furnace strike without any significant resistance.

Following the map, Chu Xuan continued onward. Soon, he collected many similar fruits and slew several more giant beasts. Once, he attempted to cross a mountain range only to discover halfway that the "mountains" beneath his feet were actually a mountain-sized beast!

Knowing that even mightier beasts lurked deep within the forest, he turned and fled without a moment's hesitation. Such beasts could have a qi and blood strength potentially equal to his own. Currently, he was only interested in finding powerful medicinal herbs for body refinement within the forest. There was no need to provoke such formidable creatures.

"Up ahead is a village ruin; it might be good to check it out. Perhaps I could encounter those crazed giants," Chu Xuan pondered thoughtfully. The existence of the village indicated that the giants were intelligent beings. Perhaps he could use soul-searching techniques to explore their memories, thereby gaining a deeper understanding of this place.

Chu Xuan entered the ruins of the village, waiting patiently. Soon enough, a crazed giant appeared. This giant was not strong, and Chu Xuan quickly subdued it. He cast a soul-searching spell, and the giant immediately calmed down, appearing almost demented.

Chu Xuan furrowed his brow deeply. His guess was right. The giants called the plague "Sang Plague." Those infected by the Sang Plague were referred to as "Sang People." Once there were too many Sang People, the surviving giants had no choice but to abandon their homes and seek new places to live.

After this giant was infected with the Sang Plague, even the memories in its mind became fragmented. For years, it had wandered this vast forest. Sang People, indistinguishable from wild beasts, also completely lacked a concept of time.

Chu Xuan sifted through the fragmented memories of the giant, gaining little information. However, one thing was certain: the villages covered by the forest, which were abandoned in quick succession after outbreaks of the Sang Plague, all decided to relocate at the same time. But where they moved to, or where they ended up, remained unknown.

Chu Xuan clenched his fist, his qi and blood coalescing into a giant hand, which he used to crush the giant's skull. An invisible essence, seemingly out of nowhere, entered his brain.

Chu Xuan paused, then his face broke into a broad smile. "Virtue!"

By now, he knew exactly how virtue was generated. He carried such virtue because it was bestowed by the heavenly Dao of humanity. Any act beneficial to humanity could earn virtue. Previously on Blue Star, killing millions of zombies had been a significant act of virtue, leading to the creation of his four-tier virtue golden wheel.

Killing demonic beasts and extraordinary creatures also earned virtue because they posed threats to humanity. However, these acts accrued less virtue and certainly couldn't compare to the automated virtue-accruing mechanism of a zombie farm.

Upon arriving on Giant's Star, Chu Xuan hadn't considered giants as part of humanity. Only after he had killed a giant infected by the Sang Plague and received virtue far exceeding that from killing zombies did he understand.

The definition of "humanity" was indeed broad. The common folk of Mystic Azure Star were considered humanity. The humans of Blue Star were humanity. And now, he realized, the giants of Giant's Star were also humanity! Perhaps the giants evolved from small humans to adapt to Giant's Star.

Chu Xuan was thrilled. He had long felt that the automated virtue-accruing machine on Blue Star was outdated, but he had lacked a way to upgrade it. Now, the solution had come to him on its own!

It seemed highly necessary to prepare the Automated Virtue Accumulator 2.0. He could almost see the fifth-tier virtue golden wheel beckoning to him. Amid his excitement, he paused to think and frowned slightly.

Chu Xuan sighed lightly. "To set up an automated virtue machine like the zombie farm on Blue Star currently seems a bit challenging." The prospect of creating the Automated Virtue Machine 2.0 appeared to be a long and daunting path.

Over the next month, he traversed the map compiled by the Light Spirit Caterpillars, collecting those powerful medicinal herbs for body refinement. Along the way, he also hunted the crazed giants referred to as Sang People by the locals. He roughly estimated that slaying one Sang Person was about equivalent to killing ten thousand ordinary zombies. If they were stronger, they could even equate to twenty thousand, thirty thousand, or more ordinary zombies.

After a month, he had gathered over a hundred red fruits and slain more than twenty Sang People, amounting to the virtue of killing approximately two hundred thousand ordinary zombies. Although the fifth tier of the virtue golden wheel still showed no signs of emerging, now that he had this means of increasing virtue, it seemed only a matter of time.

Chu Xuan finally chose a spacious cave and stepped out, returning to Blue Star. The one hundred plus red fruits needed time to be refined and absorbed.

Inside the Water Curtain Cave, Chu Xuan shook his head gently, "It's a pity that the flesh of these fruits cannot be ripened with Psionic Cubes, otherwise I would never run out of powerful medicine." He had already tried it. Unlike the black whale meat or the sea turtle meat, the fruit flesh could not be ripened with Psionic blocks, which was truly unfortunate.

He picked up one of the fruits and peeled off the outer skin. Beneath the peel was succulent, weighty white flesh. With a gentle push, it leaped into view like a white rabbit—plump, delicate, and irresistibly charming.

The fruit dissolved in his mouth almost instantly, turning into warm juice that slid down into his stomach. In that moment, his mouth was fragrant, and his body warmed pleasantly.

Chu Xuan felt his qi and blood surge at a visibly rapid rate and was greatly delighted. This fruit was indeed extraordinary. One piece of this fruit was even equivalent to five or six kilograms of sea turtle meat.

The key point was... it tasted much better than the sea turtle meat! Although the sea turtle meat was rich in qi and blood, it was quite tough, much like turkey meat, and became waxy when eaten in excess. Even with various seasonings, eating the same type of meat every day could make one sick.

Now, suddenly eating this red fruit nearly brought him to tears. It was truly a lifesaver for a body cultivator!

Chapter 518: A Dismissive Welcome

In the deepest reaches of the Starshatter Sea, above the vast expanse of weak water, floated a solitary island. Atop this island stood a palace entirely cloaked in red. At the entrance of the palace, a stone dragon on the left and a stone tiger on the right were sculpted with such intricate detail that they seemed as though they might awaken at any moment.

No cultivators could be found within ten thousand li of this red palace, which stood at the heart of this deserted area. Even the four major Heaven-grade forces of the first ring dared not approach this part of the sea. This palace was known as the Falling Star Palace, rumored to be forged from the largest celestial fragment within the Starshatter Sea.

The masters of the Falling Star Palace were the two strongest beings in the Starshatter Sea: Purple Star True Monarch and Seven Kills True Monarch. At this moment, however, a towering ship arrived from the starry sky, slowly sailing into this forbidden area, approaching the Falling Star Palace.

At the palace entrance, the stone dragon and stone tiger seemed to sense something, their stone flakes shedding rapidly. In the blink of an eye, they transformed into a hundred-zhang-long dragon and a hundred-zhang-long tiger, floating in mid-air and facing the newcomers.

"Falling Star Palace is forbidden. Trespassers will be killed!" The dragon spoke in human tongue.

The tiger remained silent, but its mouth was already condensing a beam of red light. The next moment, the beam shot forth. It seemed slow, but in reality, it had crossed a thousand li as soon as it was released, aiming to obliterate the ship into fragments.

From within the ship, a hearty laugh echoed. "Old friends arrive, and this is how you greet your guests?"

As the voice fell, a Taiji diagram of yin and yang fish appeared above the ship. The red beam struck the diagram and was instantly neutralized, dissipating into nothingness.

The stone dragon and tiger, anthropomorphized for a moment, seemed taken aback. They then obediently returned to their places. The scattered stone flakes rapidly reattached to their bodies, and in no time, they resumed their roles as majestic guardians of the Falling Star Palace.

However, the phrase "Trespassers will be killed" still seemed to echo in the air. It was unclear who had issued it.

With no further obstructions, the ship quickly reached the Falling Star Palace. A figure in purple leaped from the ship and in the blink of an eye arrived at the entrance of the palace. He lightly patted the stone tiger and smiled, "Back in the day, it was I who entrusted you, this little cub, to Seven Kills. Now, to think you would face me without the slightest mercy."

The stone tiger's body stiffened, daring not to make a single move.

"Are you still not coming out? Or do you two old friends not wish to see me?"

The purple-robed man stood at the entrance, speaking lightly, yet his voice resonated powerfully, stirring waves across thousands of miles of the sea's surface.

After a long pause, a woman's lazy voice finally drifted from within the palace.

"Who is it, disturbing our rest this early? Such a nuisance."

Then came a child's tender yet precociously mature voice.

"Xue Ziyi? Shouldn't you be guarding Illusory Spirit Mountain? Leave at once. We agreed long ago that the two of us would cultivate peacefully here in the Starshatter Sea, not interfering with the sects nearby. Likewise, your Creation Cave Heaven should avoid entering the Starshatter Sea and disrupting the balance here. Have you forgotten?"

Xue Ziyi laughed loudly. "Of course I remember, but something unexpected has occurred, forcing my hand. Forgive me."

The child's indifferent voice echoed again from within. "We won't see you."

Xue Ziyi laughed even more cheerfully. "Seven Kills, you're still as stubborn as ever."

At this moment, the lazy female voice sounded again. "Oh, Elder Xue from the Creation Cave Heaven? It's been a while."

The child complained impatiently, "You're always so slow to react."

The woman giggled. "You know me—I've always been slow since childhood."

Xue Ziyi cupped his fists politely. "You two, I've truly come here on important business. Could we discuss this inside?"

The child's voice replied decisively once more. "No. Please leave."

With a long sigh, Xue Ziyi turned to go. "Fine, if that's how it is, I'll leave you two to deal with the Luo Zu's incarnation yourselves."

After saying this, he lightly tapped the ground, preparing to return to his ship.

Boom!

Suddenly, the doors of the Falling Star Palace swung wide open, nearly striking the stone dragon and tiger.

A child with porcelain-white skin and rosy cheeks appeared abruptly.

"Come inside," the child said stiffly.

Xue Ziyi shook his head vigorously. "No, no. Someone just gave me the cold shoulder, and quite rudely at that."

The child gnashed his teeth. "Are you coming in or not? If you don't, I'm going to lose my temper."

Only then did Xue Ziyi give a sly smile. "My thanks to Seven Kills True Monarch for the invitation."

Inside the palace, aside from the scattered floor lamps, it was nearly empty.

Xue Ziyi glanced around casually, shaking his head with a tsk. "This palace is a bit too empty, isn't it? You've lived here all these years, going out just once every century—what's it all for? Just to cultivate that Solar Golden Wheel Divine Light?"

The child replied coldly, "None of your business."

"Tell us exactly what's going on with Luo Zu."

At this moment, the lazy woman finally rose and gracefully walked toward the child and Xue Ziyi.

"Oh? How did you get in? Seven Kills, didn't you just say you wouldn't see him?"

The child frowned impatiently. "Enough, enough. You're always slow to react. Go back to your cultivation. I'll handle this."

The woman giggled softly. "Then I'll leave it to you."

As she turned, she cast a flirtatious glance at Xue Ziyi.

Watching her slender waist as she departed, Xue Ziyi sighed appreciatively. "She is still as beautiful as ever."

The child scowled. "Enough nonsense. She acts that way with everyone."

Xue Ziyi chuckled quietly.

The child immediately asked, "Another incarnation of Luo Zu has appeared?"

Xue Ziyi nodded with a smile. "Indeed. He emerged from an extraterritorial battlefield and even devoured one of our Astral Projection elders from the Creation Cave Heaven. Afterward, he vanished without a trace. We've been ordered by our sect to track down his whereabouts ever since. Recently, we uncovered some clues indicating he might be heading toward the Starshatter Sea."

The child's frown deepened. "Why would this incarnation suddenly come to the Starshatter Sea? Shouldn't he be seeking revenge against the powerful seniors who originally killed him?"

Xue Ziyi shrugged. "I'm just a minor Astral Projection cultivator; how could I know such hidden secrets? Perhaps this incarnation thinks differently from the others. Our Creation Cave Heaven originally had four Astral Projection cultivators. One was killed, and two have just been assigned to guard Illusory Spirit Mountain, unlikely to return within the next five hundred years. All these years, I've been managing everything on my own, tracking down this Luo Zu incarnation. Do you know how difficult that's been for me?"

The child impatiently cut in, "Speak plainly."

Xue Ziyi wiped away nonexistent tears from his eyes and continued, "Ancestor has requested your assistance in dealing with this Luo Zu incarnation."

The child sneered. "Impossible. Why would a dignified Void-Refinement ancestor need our help?"

Xue Ziyi chuckled. "True, Ancestor didn't explicitly request it. But when he spoke to me about this matter, he specifically mentioned the two of you. It's actually me, Xue Ziyi, who's asking for your help. Besides, you two must protect Falling Star Palace. The arrival of Luo Zu's incarnation will surely cause chaos and bloodshed. It's mutually beneficial. Why not cooperate?"

Chapter 519: How Dare You Touch Him?

After finishing his statement, Xue Ziyi looked towards the child and smiled silently. The child scoffed coldly, "The two of us practice the Solar Golden Wheel Divine Light and cannot leave the Falling Star Palace for long periods. If that Luo Zu incarnation dares to invade the Falling Star Palace, he will surely not return alive! Xue Ziyi, your words earlier seemed almost like a threat."

Xue Ziyi shook his head repeatedly, "How dare I threaten you? You are the venerable Seven Kills True Monarch; how could I possibly threaten you?"

The child snorted a few times. After a long pause, he spoke, "I want a Primordial Spirit Item."

Primordial Spirit Items can significantly increase the chances of a Deity Transformation cultivator ascending to the Astral Projection phase. But for Astral Projection cultivators, it's also the prime choice for crafting spiritual treasures.

Xue Ziyi nodded, "Agreed! It's a deal!"

The child was momentarily stunned and then cursed, "It seems I quoted too low a price."

Xue Ziyi smirked cunningly, "But you are a dignified Astral Projection True Monarch; you cannot go back on your word."

The child remained silent for a long while before reluctantly nodding. If Xue Ziyi were merely an Astral Projection cultivator, he could easily retract his agreement. But Xue Ziyi now represented the seventh-level cultivation sect, Creation Cave Heaven, backed by the Void Refining Dao Monarch.

As the saying goes, 'even when striking a dog, one must consider its master.' How could he dare offend a Void Refining Dao Monarch?

After a long silence, the child finally spoke, "Tell me then, what exactly should we do? How do we deal with this Luo Zu incarnation?"

Xue Ziyi smiled, lowering his voice, "First do this... then that... and finally this... just so… The order from the sect is to capture Luo Zu alive if possible, only killing him as a last resort."

The child frowned, "May I be so bold as to ask, when you say 'the sect,' do you mean the eighth-level cultivation sect above you?"

Xue Ziyi also fell silent for a moment before shaking his head, "The ancestor casually mentioned it to me; this order wasn't issued by an eighth-level sect, but was instead directly issued by a ninth-level sect."

The child's eyes widened in shock.

At the level of an Astral Projection cultivator, many things might be reluctantly learned, but they still permeate one's knowledge. For instance, he was aware that the endless ocean of stars, the countless celestial bodies, and the trillions of common people were all under the jurisdiction of a vast and bloated alliance known as the "Heavenly Dao Immortal Alliance." Those ninth-level cultivation sects were the real power holders. This command coming directly from a ninth-level sect underscored the importance the higher-ups placed on this matter.

"I understand," the child nodded solemnly.

Xue Ziyi smiled. "I'm leaving now. I'll be waiting outside the Starshatter Sea during this time. If anything unusual happens in the Starshatter Sea, I will show up immediately."

The child nodded again.

Only then did Xue Ziyi board the building ship and leave the Falling Star Palace.

The child watched the departing building ship, his brow deeply furrowed. On his delicate, youthful face was the sort of worry that one would expect only on someone who had experienced great hardships.

"An eventful autumn... an eventful autumn indeed..."

He sighed deeply, his gaze inadvertently sweeping over the stone dragons and stone tigers.

"When Xue Ziyi returns next time, hit him hard for me, and don't you dare show any weakness. If today's events dare happen again, I'll stew you for soup!"

He glanced coldly and said.

The stone dragons and stone tigers trembled all over, their stone chips fluttering as they nodded repeatedly.

The child snorted coldly and with a wave of his small hand, the gates of the Falling Star Palace shut with a loud thud.

...

On an unnamed deserted island south of Golden Thunder Island.

Zhang Jinzhou lay on the ground, a dazed expression on his face, drool trickling from his mouth.

Shang Tianjue sat with closed eyes, frowning, memories he had extracted using the soul-searching technique flashing through his mind.

The memories of Zhang Jinzhou over the past seven hundred years were now crystal clear to him. The war above the Holy Flame Star, the disgraceful dealings of Zhang Jinzhou, Tian Musen, and Yun Lan, and the sudden intrusion of the robbers from the Nine Yin Island—he had seen it all.

Shang Tianjue looked down at Zhang Jinzhou from his lofty position.

Suddenly, he lifted his foot and casually crushed the latter's head. Red and white splattered everywhere.

"Only I can touch my brother. You three are less than pigs and dogs, how dare you touch him?"

Shang Tianjue's expression was as cold as an iceberg, eternal and unmelting.

"Sigh..."

A light sigh came from not far away.

Shang Tianjue didn't turn around, for he knew it was the voice of Blood Wine True Master.

"You sure got here fast. Planning to clean house?" he said indifferently.

Blood Wine True Master picked up his wine gourd and guzzled it down, "You casually killed a Nascent Soul Steward. How am I supposed to explain this to the higher-ups when we get back? There's no hurry to kill after the situation becomes chaotic."

"Want to kill? Just kill," Shang Tianjue spoke calmly.

Blood Wine True Master scratched his head, "Damn, you're even more audacious than I was back in the day. I told the sect master the same thing when I killed his eighth grandson, but I was kneeling when I said it. Ha ha ha ha ha ha!"

Shang Tianjue remained silent.

Blood Wine True Master's laughter suddenly stopped. When two people laugh, that's genuine laughter. If one person laughs and the other does not, that's an awkward laugh.

Blood Wine True Master could only say, "I am your master. Admit your mistake, and I will cover this up for you. Just say that Zhang Jinzhou disregarded orders and went out seeking opportunities, only to be killed by robbers."

Shang Tianjue shook his head, "I have never acknowledged you as my master."

Blood Wine True Master's expression darkened, and his Deity Transformation aura burst forth, pressing down on Shang Tianjue like a mountain.

Boom.

The rocks beneath Shang Tianjue's feet suddenly shattered. Both his feet sank deep into the ground.

Seeing that Shang Tianjue showed no sign of admitting his fault, Blood Wine True Master increased the pressure.

Crack.

Fresh red blood dripped from the corner of Shang Tianjue's mouth, hitting the ground. Yet, he still did not submit, standing his ground, not even bending his knees.

"Sigh..."

Blood Wine True Master sighed deeply, then casually waved his hand, releasing the pressure.

Shang Tianjue's body swayed slightly, but he ultimately steadied himself, refusing to fall.

"Damn it. A Deity Transformation True Master like myself, actually being completely controlled by a young fellow like you. Damn it. What can I do? I like you."

Blood Wine True Master casually tossed a bottle of elixir at him, "Get lost, get lost, get lost. I didn't see anything today. Cover it up yourself."

With that, he turned and walked away, leaving no trace behind.

As Blood Wine True Master disappeared into the distance, Shang Tianjue finally put away the two Deity Transformation period talismans he had been holding in his hands. As for the elixir, he didn't even look at it and turned to leave.

However, the elixir suddenly flew up and shot towards him.

Shang Tianjue frowned and immediately sped up to escape, but the elixir was faster, breaking through the air and crashing into his chest, nearly knocking him to the ground.

"You can't refuse what I give you! If you don't take it, tomorrow I'll report to the sect master and expose your deeds. You won't last a day in the Starshatter Sea, nor will you be able to find your brother!"

The scolding of Blood Wine True Master came from inside the jade bottle of the elixir. Clearly, Blood Wine True Master had left a spiritual sense on it.

Hearing this, Shang Tianjue's expression turned ugly, and he ultimately had no choice but to accept the elixir.

Chapter 520: Everyone Has Their Own Path

A month later, on Golden Phoenix Island, Chu Xuan listened to Ning Tai's report and sighed slightly.

"The situation in the Starshatter Sea is indeed escalating. If it weren't for the fact that the True Master from Mountain Sword Sect is on good terms with Yun Feijian, even Golden Phoenix Island might not be at peace. It's odd about the Heaven Demon Palace, though. They clearly have the backing of the Heaven Shaking Divine Sect, yet they haven't aggressively attacked other forces, remaining much as they were before."

Chu Xuan tapped his finger lightly, deep in thought.

Ning Tai continued, "True Master, there's another matter..."

"Go on," Chu Xuan nodded.

Ning Tai respectfully said, "The Liu family claims that their Hundred Herbs Garden on Yellow Stone Island was raided by robbers. Most of their spiritual plants were plundered, and even some of the Liu family members stationed on Yellow Stone Island were harmed. They're requesting a reduction in this year's tribute."

Chu Xuan's expression remained neutral. He had already ordered Wang Tiancheng to deal with those who recklessly plundered Golden Phoenix Island and its surrounding isles. Wang Tiancheng would certainly not dare to disobey his orders, much less secretly plunder the territory of the Divine Sword Sect.

Yet the Liu family claimed that the Hundred Herbs Garden on Yellow Stone Island was raided. He did not believe there was no trickery involved. Even Ning Tai, who was unaware of the command Chu Xuan had given to Wang Tiancheng, could sense that something was off, simply based on his understanding of human nature.

Chu Xuan simply stated, "Tell them, my eyes tolerate no sand."

Ning Tai blinked, then nodded, "Understood."

He turned to leave, then hesitated, seeming to want to say something else.

Chu Xuan, noticing his expression, casually remarked, "If you have something to say, just say it. You're not like Liu Yong or Song Danqing; you're my confidant."

Ning Tai nodded respectfully, "What I'm about to say might damage the harmony between you and another True Master."

"Speak."

Encouraged by Chu Xuan's nod, Ning Tai spoke softly, "A few days ago, Zhu Caier came to visit, subtly suggesting that my Ning family should join under True Master Sun. As far as I know, Zhu Caier also visited the Liu, Song, and other families."

Chu Xuan couldn't help but chuckle.

No wonder. It seems Liu Yong is thinking of changing allegiances.

Chu Xuan chuckled, "Now, in these turbulent times, a strong backing is indeed more in line with the interests of a cultivating family. Ning Tai, you don't have much time left; you should also think about the welfare of your descendants. If you wish to join True Master Sun's sect, then go. I can understand."

Ning Tai bowed even deeper, "What are you saying, True Master? My Ning family has sworn allegiance to you. In this life, we are your followers and will never serve another master!"

Chu Xuan just smiled, "Good. Later, convey my words to Liu Yong and Song Danqing. Those who wish to leave may do so; those who wish to stay are welcome to stay. I, He Liang, will never force anyone to remain."

"Yes." Ning Tai nodded respectfully and turned to leave.

...

Elsewhere.

Inside the Cloud Sea Tower on Golden Phoenix Island.

The family heads of the Liu, Song, and He families were gathering in the most luxurious private room at the location.

Song Danqing puzzledly said, "Wasn't it Liu Yong who called us here? Why hasn't he arrived yet?"

He Family's head, He Kong, shook his head, "I don't know; he must have been delayed by important matters."

The group sipped their drinks for a moment. Then Liu Yong stormed into the private room, furious.

Song Danqing asked softly, "Fellow Daoist Liu, why are you so angry? What troubling matter have you encountered? Right, your Liu family was attacked by robbers, suffering heavy losses. Did the True Master agree to reduce your tribute?"

Liu Yong said angrily, "Speaking of that makes me even more furious. That True Master had Old Ghost Ning bring a message. He said that his eyes tolerate no sand! What does that mean? Does he think I orchestrated this myself? Are those dead Liu family members not human?"

Liu Yong paused, then continued, "It reminds me of the previous incident. Robbers attacked several of my islands and disrupted my business, yet the True Master turned a blind eye! It truly disheartens me!"

Song Danqing sighed deeply, "Calm down, Fellow Daoist Liu, calm down. It's inevitable for the True Master to think this way; as his subordinates, we should help alleviate his worries."

Liu Yong snorted, "My mind is made up. My Liu family will switch allegiance to True Master Sun! Fellow Daoists, would you like to join me in this change?"

Song Danqing's expression changed dramatically, "Ah? Fellow Daoist Liu, changing allegiance is a great taboo! Moreover, even if you wish to join True Master Sun, he might hesitate to accept you out of fear of True Master Wu Xin."

He Family's head, He Kong, remained silent, just watching Liu Yong.

Liu Yong sneered, "Zhu Caier had already discussed this matter with me. Moreover, True Master Sun has long been renowned; why would he fear a newly risen True Master?"

"Besides, Heartless True Master also had Ning Tai bring me another message. Our cultivating families are free to come and go as we please; He Liang never forces anyone to stay."

Liu Yong laughed sarcastically, "Listen to that tone! A Deity Transformation True Master is indeed lofty! He clearly doesn't take our families seriously at all!"

Upon hearing this, Song Danqing and the others fell silent. The words were indeed heart-piercing.

Liu Yong continued, "If any of you wish to join True Master Sun with me, let's go together!"

Seeing that quite a few people seemed interested, Liu Yong spoke again, "Now that the Starshatter Sea is becoming increasingly unstable, it's only sensible to pledge allegiance to a capable True Master. A strong support is essential! It must be sturdy and powerful enough to protect us all! Everyone, isn't that the case?"

He Kong immediately stepped forward, "Fellow Daoist Liu speaks the truth! My He family also wishes to join under True Master Sun!"

After he spoke, a few other heads of smaller families stepped forward, sharing the same sentiment.

Song Danqing, however, remained indecisive.

Liu Yong couldn't help but look at him. "Young brother Song, still hesitating? What's so good about True Master Wu Xin? Neither strong in power nor character. Zhu Caier also told me that True Master Sun's realm has further improved. He's now at the fourth level of Deity Transformation, surpassing Yun Feijian! He's a big tree with deep roots, one that won't fall!"

Song Danqing seemed even more tempted by the words. Words of agreement were almost on the tip of his tongue.

Yet, after a long contemplation, he ultimately shook his head, "I often teach the Song family disciples about loyalty. Many times, what a leader needs isn't a shrewd and capable subordinate, but a loyal and trustworthy one. Even without much ability, as long as one is sufficiently loyal, they can live well. I, Song Danqing, have no grand ambitions; I just wish for the well-being of the Song family. Rashly changing allegiances now would not be wise. I plan to stay under Heartless True Master."

Liu Yong was astonished, "Song Danqing, have you lost your mind?"

He tried to dissuade him further.

But Song Danqing shook his head again, "Don't persuade me anymore, everyone has their own path."

He then stood up, "I'll be leaving now."

Wu Wei and Zhang Chufeng also stood up to leave.

However, the number of people who followed Song Danqing was few, roughly only one-third of those who had originally pledged allegiance under Chu Xuan.