“Even among unranked forces, there exists a Hierarchy of Contempt.”
Ye Chen was utterly dumbfounded. “What the hell?!”
Chen Changsheng pointed to the massive black abyss behind them. “That’s the legendary Fallen Star Sea. Our Tai Chu Realm is too close to it, practically on its edge. It won’t be long before the Primordial Star itself plunges into it.”
“The closer a star is to the Fallen Star Sea, the more it’s considered trash!”
Ye Chen pursed his lips. “Uh…”
Ji Fuyao’s eyes flickered as she asked, “What about the Supremes who emerged from our Tai Chu Realm’s Five Domains before? How are they faring now?”
Chen Changsheng replied, “Their situations aren’t good. Only Liu Ruyan managed to break through to the Star Venerate Realm.”
“The rest are either dead or gravely injured.”
“Most have been reduced to Beasts of Burden.”
Instantly, Ye Chen was utterly shocked. “Beasts of Burden?!”
“But those were Supremes! Supremes who had traversed the Supreme Path! They’d schemed and sacrificed countless lives, climbing over mountains of bones to reach the Peak of the Supreme Path, only for this to be their fate? Ascension is a scam!”
Ye Chen asked, “Third Senior Brother, what about the geniuses in this Fallen Star Sea? How strong are they?”
Chen Changsheng’s gaze was profound and melancholic. “What even is a genius here? Within the Four Star Rings, it’s a completely different story. Sons of Ancient Ancestors, for example, might be born as Star Venerates! They’re simply not comparable!”
Hearing this, Ye Chen was completely stunned.
“Born a Star Venerate! That’s just a baby!”
Before stepping into the Starry Sky this time, Ye Chen had always considered himself a genius. But now, comparing himself, he finally understood the immense gap. In the Fallen Star Sea, geniuses from major powers crushed those from smaller forces right from the starting line!
Lu Xuan said calmly, “You don’t need to be disheartened. A mere Star Venerate Realm is nothing. You are destined to reach the Peak of the Great Dao! Are first-rate powers born with some special lineage?”
As these words left his lips, Ye Chen’s somewhat frozen heart immediately ignited with renewed fervor! It’s burning!
The Green-skirted Girl took a bite and said, “With Lu Xuan, invincibility is only a matter of time. Lu Xuan is practically invincible in the Fallen Star Sea.”
Lu Xuan’s face twitched. When did I become invincible in the Fallen Star Sea? he wondered internally.
Ye Chen instantly clenched his fists. “Master, I’ll work hard!”
Both Ji Fuyao and Ye Chen were fired up! “Cultivate! Fight! We absolutely cannot disappoint Master!”
Soon after, Lu Xuan finished his meal and reclined on his lounge chair. Just then, the System’s voice echoed in his ears.
“Ding! Limited-time Disciple Cultivation Quest issued! Within ten days, help your eldest disciple, Ji Fuyao, refine the Extreme Cold Three Thousand Flames!”
As the voice faded, Lu Xuan’s lips curled into a slight smile. “Finally, another quest.”
He said to Ji Fuyao, “Fuyao, next, you and I will head to the Northern Plains. I’ll help you refine the Extreme Cold Three Thousand Flames!”
Ji Fuyao paused for a moment, then replied, “Understood, Master.”
***
The Eastern Wilds.
The Eerie Abyss.
Previously, Lu Xuan had unleashed a world-shaking battle here, directly astounding the entire Eastern Wilds. Even the Overlord-level Forces of the Eastern Wilds had been alarmed! The Ji Family, the Ancient Chen Family, the Cloud Sword Sect…
“Boom!”
“Crack!”
The void tore, and space twisted. From within the spatial rift, an ancient Ancient Spirit Ark shot forth. It was colossal, spanning the void like a mountain range, inscribed with incredibly profound Dao Patterns. Wherever it passed, space itself trembled.
At the front of the Ancient Spirit Ark, a massive banner fluttered, emblazoned with an ancient character: “Chen!”
This was the Ancient Chen Family!
Ancient Chen Family Old Ancestor Chen Beifeng’s expression was solemn as he gazed down at the Sikong Family’s territory, spanning tens of thousands of miles. His face was utterly grim.
“The Sikong Family has been annihilated! The battle happened not long ago! Who could have done this? The Sikong Family was a Supreme-tier Force, possessing Supreme-tier Trump Cards. How could they have been so easily wiped out?”
Many members of the Chen Family felt a surge of crisis. After all, the Chen Family’s strength was comparable to the Sikong Family’s! If this mysterious force could annihilate the Sikong Family so swiftly, they could just as easily wipe out the Chen Family!
Several Chen Family Old Ancestors extended their divine senses, continuously probing the Sikong Family’s territory. A moment later, they all shook their heads. “All of the Sikong Family’s cultivation resources have been taken! The Eerie Power in the Eerie Abyss has also been significantly depleted. All the enslaved cultivators have perished!”
Chen Beifeng frowned deeply. “This was clearly a meticulously planned extermination and treasure hunt! The force that acted was incredibly powerful and swift, far exceeding our estimations. Even the Sikong Family’s Divine Radiance Imperial Heaven Art couldn’t resist. This enemy must be very familiar with the Sikong Family.”
Just then.
“Boom!”
Another terrifying aura appeared in the void. It was a heaven-reaching sword intent!
Chen Beifeng looked into the distance, seeing a massive sword, like a mountain range, streaking across the void, rushing towards them like a surging white river in the sky.
“Whoosh!”
Chen Beifeng said calmly, “The Cloud Sword Sect has arrived!”
The Cloud Sword Sect was also an Overlord-level Force in the Eastern Wilds, having previously produced a Sword Dao Supreme! This was a force that made the Ancient Chen Family wary!
Soon, the Cloud Sword Sect’s colossal sword tore through the void, arriving above the Sikong Family’s former territory.
Chen Beifeng cupped his hands slightly. “Daoist Friend Yun Xiaoyao!”
On the colossal sword, a green-robed sword cultivator stood with his hands behind his back, facing the heavens. He also cupped his hands in a bow. “Daoist Friend Chen Beifeng.”
A faint sword intent pulsed around Yun Xiaoyao. He surveyed the tragic state of the Sikong Family and frowned. “Who exactly made a move? To be able to annihilate the Sikong Family in such a short time?”
Chen Beifeng’s face showed worry. “That mysterious force has likely already departed!”
Yun Xiaoyao lowered his voice. “Could it be the Ji Family acting in secret?”
Chen Beifeng’s expression was grave. “Even if the Ji Family made a move, they would surely pay a price. Ji Yue Old Ancestor doesn’t seem to have a reason to act.”
A moment later, another Supreme-tier Force descended. The Ancient Luo Family!
With the Sikong Family annihilated, only four Supreme-tier Forces remained in the entire Eastern Wilds! The Ji Family, with four Supremes, was terrifyingly powerful! The remaining three forces—the Cloud Sword Sect, the Ancient Chen Family, and the Ancient Luo Family—all had Supremes who had attained the Dao.
The Ji Family hadn’t arrived yet.
The Old Ancestors of the three forces gathered, all feeling a profound sense of crisis.
Yun Xiaoyao said, “If it truly was the Ji Family, then we are also in danger.”
Chen Beifeng frowned, puzzled. “Could it be that Ji Yue Old Ancestor couldn’t hold back because the Supreme Path hasn’t opened yet?”
The Ancient Luo Family Old Ancestor said, “This epoch is destined to be incredibly bloody! A Supreme-tier Force can be annihilated like this! The cost of attaining Supreme far exceeds that of previous epochs!”
Just as the three forces were discussing, the void tore open once more.
“Boom!”
“Crack!”
A terrifying, boundless aura, like a surging ocean, poured forth. Ji Yue Old Ancestor, clad in a gray robe, his expression solemn, emerged from the spatial rift. Behind him followed over a dozen other Old Ancestors.
Seeing this, the Old Ancestors of the three forces—Cloud Sword Sect, Ancient Chen Family, and Ancient Luo Family—immediately separated.
Ji Yue Old Ancestor scanned the scene, then looked at the three forces, a playful smile on his face. “What? Do you suspect our Ji Family made a move?”
Yun Xiaoyao, Chen Beifeng, and the others remained silent. But it was clear they harbored suspicions towards the Ji Family.
Ji Yue Old Ancestor’s gaze darkened. “If our Ji Family wanted to act against you, we would have done so long ago. Why wait until now?”
Yun Xiaoyao, Chen Beifeng, and the others could only force a smile. “We also believe it wasn’t the Ji Family who acted.”
Ji Yue Old Ancestor flicked his sleeve, arriving not far from the others. “You arrived earlier. Did you manage to uncover any clues?”