“The Eerie Power here is incredibly rich!” Lu Xuan remarked, nodding in satisfaction. Compared to the Eerie Power in the Tai Chu Realm, this felt like its very source, pure and potent. He and Xuanji Holy Lord moved with astonishing speed, traversing the Star Sea. Two hours later, they materialized near the Eerie Sect Branch.
The Eerie Sect Branch was nestled within a perpetually dark star, shrouded in an inky liquid formed entirely of Eerie Power. It was undoubtedly the densest concentration of Eerie Power in the Fourth Star Ring.
“Who dares trespass?” A Black-robed Old Man from the Eerie Sect Branch rose into the air, Divine Radiance swirling beneath his feet. The aura of a Seven-star Supreme emanated from him, vast as an ocean.
Lu Xuan spoke calmly, “My disciple wishes to cultivate here.”
The Black-robed Old Man was about to unleash a torrent of curses when his eyes narrowed, fixing on Lu Xuan. “Aren’t you the Fox Clan rebel Cloudrise Holy Land is hunting? How dare you brazenly appear at my Eerie Sect!”
Lu Xuan simply extended a palm. “Summon your strongest here.”
The Black-robed Old Man’s face twisted into an ugly sneer. “Are you mocking me?” With a flick of his sleeve, the dense Eerie Power from the star below surged, forming a colossal black sword that swept towards Lu Xuan, threatening to crush him.
“Hmph!” Lu Xuan remained utterly unperturbed. He merely stomped his foot, and a vast ripple of Momentum surged outwards, creating an Invincible Domain. Any power that entered this domain instantly dissipated. The black sword shattered into nothingness.
Lu Xuan casually waved his hand, and a sword of Divine Radiance appeared, pressing against the Black-robed Old Man’s chest. “Call your leader.”
The Old Man, utterly stunned, turned back to the star. “Old Ancestor!”
Boom! From the depths of the Eerie Power within the star, a black figure rose. It had no physical body, instead forming its upper torso from the star’s Eerie Power, appearing as a Middle-aged Man. His gaze fixed on Xuanji Holy Lord, a look of astonishment on his face. “Tainted by Eerie and ominous power, yet she’s forged a unique path, cultivating with Eerie Power! Her physical body has actually undergone a profound sublimation! This is truly unprecedented in my long life.”
The Black-robed Old Man also turned his attention to Xuanji Holy Lord.
The Middle-aged Man then looked at Lu Xuan. “Fellow Fox Clan Daoist Friend, this woman may join my Eerie Sect Branch. In time, she might even enter the Eerie Sect Main Sect. We have no desire to interfere with the grievances between your Fox Clan and Cloudrise Holy Land, or with Liu Ruyan.”
“Where is the Eerie Sect Main Sect?” Lu Xuan asked.
“Naturally, in the First Star Ring,” the Middle-aged Man replied. “My Eerie Sect is an Ancient Ancestor-level Force! This woman may take me as her master.”
Lu Xuan’s tone was dismissive. “You’re not good enough.”
The Middle-aged Man scoffed. “How much do you, Your Excellency, truly understand about Eerie Power?”
Lu Xuan simply waved his hand, conjuring a phantom palm that effortlessly scooped up a massive, almost oceanic, amount of Eerie Power from the star’s periphery. He then absorbed it directly into his body.
The Middle-aged Man frowned. “Are you seeking death? Your Fox Clan’s bloodline is indeed powerful, but you cannot simply absorb Eerie Power like that!”
But moments passed, and Lu Xuan remained completely unharmed.
The Middle-aged Man was utterly dumbfounded. Numerous Divine Senses shot out from the star, probing Lu Xuan, but they quickly froze. They couldn’t discern his true origin or cultivation. How was this possible?
Xuanji Holy Lord spoke, her voice calm. “My Master is already at the pinnacle of the Dao of Eerie.”
“Both of you may cultivate in my Eerie Sect,” the Middle-aged Man offered, “but on one condition: you must join us.”
Lu Xuan said indifferently, “There’s no need for that. Let my disciple, Baili, cultivate here. Consider it a favor I owe your sect.”
The Middle-aged Man hesitated, then nodded. “Very well.” To have a supreme Fox Clan owe them a favor—that was a worthwhile exchange!
Lu Xuan looked at Xuanji Holy Lord. “Disciple, go. If anything happens, I will descend immediately.” Xuanji Holy Lord tilted her snow-white neck and nodded.
Lu Xuan then turned to the Middle-aged Man. “The source of this star’s Eerie Power is in the First Star Ring, isn’t it?”
The Middle-aged Man pointed to the River of Eerie Power flowing through the Star Sea. “That arrow was shot from the First Star Ring, aimed at the Dark Void!”
“The Dark Void?” Lu Xuan frowned.
“Does Your Excellency not know?” the Middle-aged Man asked. “The Dark Void devours everything, bringing ruin to all. It is the greatest crisis in our Fallen Star Sea! Every moment, the Dark Void consumes the power of this Star Sea, causing it to constantly weaken. Our Eerie Sect’s Ancient Ancestor shot an arrow into the Dark Void, hoping to use Eerie Power to balance its might. But the effect is minimal! The Dark Void is simply too powerful!”
Lu Xuan nodded slowly.
“Currently, your Fox Clan’s situation is quite dire,” the Middle-aged Man added.
Lu Xuan merely smiled faintly. “No matter.” A moment later, Lu Xuan bid farewell to Xuanji Holy Lord and departed.
Boom! Lu Xuan activated his Spatial Array Patterns, vanishing instantly. The next moment, he appeared high above the Tai Chu Realm.
Lu Xuan gazed towards the Dark Void. A powerful Momentum surged within it, transcending the entire Star Sea. He reached out, sensing a flowing power of ruin in the darkness. Strangely, this power felt akin to him. Moreover, a mysterious force within the Dark Void seemed to be summoning him!
Lu Xuan paused, asking the System, “What’s inside the Dark Void?”
“Heavenly secrets cannot be revealed!” the System replied.
Lu Xuan pondered for a moment, then decided not to enter. A wise man doesn’t linger in danger. He was currently only an Eight-star Supreme, and the Dark Void was an existence even Ancient Ancestors feared!
Lu Xuan turned and stepped into the Tai Chu Realm. In a flash, he arrived in the Northern Plains.
Ji Fuyao, clad in a fiery red dress, was diligently cultivating the Heaven-Burning Art.
Lu Xuan landed silently behind her.
Ji Fuyao immediately turned, a look of pleasant surprise on her face. “Master!”
“I’ll take you to cultivate outside in the Starry Sky,” Lu Xuan said. “The Yanwu Sect Branch is perfectly suited for you.” Ji Fuyao’s eyes gleamed with Divine Radiance as she nodded. They had once received a wisp of inheritance from the Yanwu Sect in the Bronze Ancient Palace, a trace of the Yanwu Ancestor’s power!
Lu Xuan swiftly brought Ji Fuyao to the Yanwu Sect Branch. Following his usual methods, the Yanwu Sect Branch offered no resistance. No one there could stand against Lu Xuan, and they simply submitted.
Lu Xuan looked at Ji Fuyao. “Cultivate well. The Star Sea is about to erupt in war.”
Ji Fuyao nodded earnestly. “Master, I will work hard!”
***
Near the Second Star Ring, in the Charm Sect.
Liu Ruyan had successfully condensed another Supreme Avatar: a Seven-star Supreme!
Liu Ruyan gazed at the avatar, identical to herself, and spoke calmly, “Go. Bring Dao Yi and Nangong Baixue back. And while you’re there, investigate what’s happening in the Tai Chu Realm.”