Boom!
Spirit fire surged around Ye Chen, divine radiance continuously rising. The Fallen Star Flame was steadily merging with the Bone-Chilling Ghost Flame. A chilling aura of Fallen Power surged around Ye Chen, and his cultivation realm rapidly ascended in response.
Two days later.
Above Ye Chen, a magnificent Heaven and Earth Phenomenon manifested. Fallen Power swirled ceaselessly, a bone-chilling aura clinging to him like a shadow. Strange, ethereal flowers bloomed in the void, twisting the surrounding space and drawing it into the Fallen Power's overwhelming Momentum.
As night fell.
Boom!
Crack!
The void tore open, space twisting violently! A plain-skirted woman slowly emerged from the Spatial Rift. A chilling Sword Intent radiated from her, and with every step of her jade foot, the surrounding space began to collapse, manifesting an overwhelming Momentum.
It was none other than the Sword Wielder, Qingqiu!
Qingqiu's face was Stunningly Beautiful, her eyes calm and unperturbed, as if she viewed all living beings as insignificant. She stepped directly into Lu Xuan's room.
Moments later.
Ji Fuyao was startled awake from her cultivation. She bit her lip, watching Qingqiu's retreating back, a hint of suspicion in her voice. “Who’s that woman now?”
She immediately went to Xuanji Holy Lord Bai Li's room and called her out. “Fourth Junior Sister, do you know that woman?”
Divine radiance flickered in Bai Li's eyes. “No, I don’t.”
Ji Fuyao immediately took Bai Li's jade hand and walked towards Lu Xuan's room.
Meanwhile, Qingqiu looked at Lu Xuan.
Lu Xuan lay casually on his recliner, a Storybook in hand. He merely glanced at the descending Qingqiu. He didn't recognize her. He continued reading his Storybook. “What a pity, later Chen Ping’an married the City Lord of Ascension City, and Ning Yao married the last Hidden Official of Sword Qi Great Wall…”
Qingqiu paused, slightly stunned. She had been ignored? Utterly disregarded? Such a thing had never happened before! She secretly activated a supreme secret art, but found she couldn't see through the white-robed man before her. This was the man who had shattered the Fourth Star Ring, yet he was sitting here so leisurely, reading a Storybook?
Qingqiu subtly turned her head, sensing the Fallen Power emanating from Ye Chen's room nearby! “Such dense Fallen Power!” Qingqiu thought to herself.
After a moment of silence, Qingqiu finally spoke. It was the first time she had ever initiated a conversation with a man. “What’s going on with this Fallen Power?”
Lu Xuan said blandly, “Oh, that’s my disciple.”
Qingqiu was speechless. An answer completely unrelated to her question. So unbothered! So unrestrained! She saw an unparalleled casualness in Lu Xuan. Qingqiu racked her brain, but in the long river of history within the Fallen Star Sea, there was no record of a powerhouse like Lu Xuan.
Just then, Ji Fuyao, in a fiery red dress, divine radiance flowing around her, walked in with Xuanji Holy Lord Bai Li.
Qingqiu tilted her snow-white neck, glancing at the two women, and paused in surprise. Two Stunningly Beautiful women! Everyone spoke of Liu Ruyan's peerless charm, but Qingqiu felt these two women far surpassed Liu Ruyan. They weren't even on the same level! No wonder this white-robed man could remain so composed upon seeing her? Could these two women be the white-robed man's Dao companions?
Ji Fuyao sized up Qingqiu. Seeing that her Master hadn't paid Qingqiu any mind, a subtle smile played on her lips. “Hmph, hmph! Looks like she doesn’t even know Master, does she?” Ji Fuyao asked, “And you are?”
Qingqiu took out a token. On it, the Ancient Characters 'Star River' were inscribed, and a terrifying Dao and Momentum surged from it. Ji Fuyao glanced at it, then shook her head. “Never heard of it.”
Qingqiu was speechless again. Only then did Lu Xuan poke his head out. “Yeah, who are you? And why did you just walk in without knocking?”
Qingqiu was utterly at a loss for words. “I am Qingqiu, the Sword Wielder of the Star River Alliance!”
Lu Xuan simply ‘oh’ed, burying his head back into his Storybook. He sighed with emotion, “Subtle clues, far-reaching implications, truly wonderful.”
Ji Fuyao asked, “Did you come because of the Star Ring’s Shattering?”
Qingqiu replied, “Partially. The Star Ring’s Shattering has caused the Dark Void’s power to leak out. I need to suppress the Fallen Power!”
Ji Fuyao nodded. “I see.”
Qingqiu’s beautiful eyes blinked, taking one last look at Lu Xuan before turning to leave without another word, only her voice lingering behind. “Beware of Shenwu Emperor Tianye! The Fourth Star Ring was laid out by Tianye; he won’t let this go easily.”
Lu Xuan paused, slightly surprised. “Tianye?” Huh? Did he just poke a hornet’s nest of Tianyes? He remembered killing a Tianye before; by now, his grave was probably overgrown with grass.
Ji Fuyao watched Qingqiu’s retreating figure, thinking to herself, “No matter. As long as she doesn’t cause trouble. Otherwise, I’ll just have Master take her as a disciple! Hmph, hmph!”
Two days later, the aura around Ye Chen steadily stabilized, and he directly broke through to the Two-rotation Star Venerate Realm! Meanwhile, Lu Xuan directly broke through to the Nine-rotation Star Venerate mid-stage!
With everything ready, Lu Xuan slowly rose. “Let’s go! Time to destroy the Tianchen Empire!” It was time to advance into the Third Star Ring and the Second Star Ring! After all, the main sects of factions like Yanwu Sect, Panshi Sect, and One Sword Sect were all located in the Second Star Ring.
Swiftly, with a single thought from Lu Xuan, Heaven-Reaching Spatial Array Patterns surged, their profound energy enveloping Ji Fuyao and his four disciples. The group instantly vanished from their spot. Their destination: the dominant force within the Third Star Ring, the Tianchen Empire!
***
Near the Third Star Ring, within the hidden sanctuary of the Supreme Fox Clan.
Demon Fox Ah Li, in a pink dress, sat cross-legged. Spirit seals shifted in her hands, and profound energy flowed continuously as her Bloodline Power roared within her. Ancestral Bloodline! Before her stood a colossal Altar! Inside and outside the Altar, numerous Fox Clan powerhouses sat cross-legged. Before each of them floated a wisp of red thread, through which their Bloodline Power surged towards the Altar. Every face was etched with solemnity! They were helping Ah Li achieve her ultimate transformation! To forge the purest Ancestral Bloodline! Only with this could she enter the Fox Fortune Holy Land, obtain the Inheritance Power of Ancient Ancestor Tamamo-no-Mae, and change the fate of the Fox Clan!
At the same time, an ancient jade tablet floated before Ah Li. Endless ancient Dao patterns were inscribed upon it, and a mysterious aura flowed continuously. This was precisely the Secret Key to open the Fox Fortune Holy Land! Now, as the Ancestral Bloodline within Ah Li grew incredibly dense, the red Dao patterns on the Secret Key multiplied, rapidly filling up! Once these Dao patterns were completely filled, it would be time to open the Fox Fortune Holy Land!
***
Near the Second Star Ring, at the Charm Sect.
Liu Ruyan, in a long dress, wore a seductive smile on her Stunningly Beautiful face. Her perfect figure, silhouetted by the setting sun, revealed alluring curves. She was ready! Awaiting the arrival of Yun Zeng, the Sixth Prince of the Shenwu Empire! This time, she had set up Interlocking Schemes! Failure was not an option! Meanwhile, the entire Charm Sect had already been replaced by a Heaven-Reaching Grand Array, a complete deception. Numerous Myriad Phase Realm Old Ancestors lay hidden in the shadows, forcefully activating the array. Using the Charm Sect's ancient heritage, they intended to forcibly trap Yun Zeng within an Illusion. Succeed, or die trying!
Soon after.
Boom!
Crack!
The void tore! Space twisted! The setting sun cast a golden glow as Yun Zeng, clad in brocade robes, stood upon a Cloud Ship, a folding fan in hand. He emerged from the Spatial Rift, a lovesick smile on his face. “Ruyan, it’s been too long.”