“Lu Xuan, I don’t understand. You aren’t one of those Innate Beings, those fools like Ancient Ancestor Mei. You’re an outsider to this Star Sea. So why do you protect it?” the Eerie Lord demanded, his voice a chilling rasp.
Lu Xuan remained silent. The answer had long been clear to him from the memories of his previous reincarnation. He was an outsider to the Fallen Star Sea. This Star Sea had been broken and ravaged when he, severely injured, descended upon it and merged with its Heavenly Dao. That act had made him the first Innate Being in the eyes of all living creatures. Ancient Ancestor Mei, Ancient Ancestor Lie Yuan, and Ancient Ancestor Hansheng, on the other hand, were merely products of this Star Sea’s Heavenly Dao. It was only natural that their power paled in comparison to his. In his previous life, he had already stepped into the Half-step Heavenly God Realm.
As the Eerie Lord exposed these secrets, every living being in the Star Sea stared at Lu Xuan in utter shock. In the past, many powerful cultivators had claimed that Lu Xuan was a shackle hanging over their heads. They were wrong. Their realms were so far beneath his, how could they possibly comprehend a shackle? It was Lu Xuan who had always protected them, standing unrivaled through all ages!
“Boom!”
“Crack!”
The Eerie Lord continued to dissipate, until only his head remained. It was charred black, covered in terrifying Dao patterns, and black Eerie Power surged like a boundless ocean. These Dao patterns twisted and reformed, coalescing into a bizarre symbol.
“Lu Xuan, I have marked this Star Sea. What awaits you all will be a terror beyond anything you’ve ever known… Hehehehe!”
Boom!
An unprecedented sense of dread washed over everyone. It was a power that transcended the seen, a force from the unseen depths of destiny! Clearly, this Star Sea had been targeted by even stronger entities, powers far surpassing the Eerie Lord himself!
“Too much nonsense,” Lu Xuan said flatly. His large hand descended once more.
“Boom!”
Even though the Eerie Lord had already stepped into the Heavenly God Realm, he couldn’t withstand Lu Xuan’s attack. Annihilation! Death! The Eerie Lord’s head shattered and reformed countless times, only to shatter again. All the Dao imprints on his body were relentlessly ground away, obliterated countless times with every breath. He tried to struggle, but it was useless! Utterly useless!
Soon, the Eerie Lord truly died.
Lu Xuan clapped his hands, a faint smile playing on his lips. “Finally, this world is peaceful.”
Ji Fuyao smiled radiantly. “Even if there are countless powerhouses beyond the Star Sea, Master remains invincible!”
Ye Chen declared, “If Master had not been born, the Star Sea would have been eternal night!”
Chen Changsheng sighed with emotion. “Master is truly the longest river, the highest mountain!”
Across the entire Star Sea, all living beings knelt before Lu Xuan.
“Thump!”
“Thump!”
Like a surging tide, they prostrated themselves. Ji Fuyao, Ye Chen, and the others looked at Lu Xuan with profound reverence and awe. They had once believed Ancient Ancestors were the strongest, but now they knew there was the Heavenly God Realm! And above the Heavenly God Realm, there were even more powerful beings!
“Master,” Ji Fuyao asked curiously, “what realms lie beyond the Heavenly God Realm?”
Lu Xuan said calmly, “The Heavenly God Realm, the Divine Venerate Realm, and the Dominator Realm… Each realm is divided into nine stars, and each star has early, mid, and late stages.”
Chen Changsheng’s expression shifted subtly, a sense of crisis washing over him. He had completely exposed himself this time! He had burned himself out, poured everything he had into the fight! With so many stronger entities still out there, he absolutely had to lie low.
Lu Xuan chuckled. “Third Brother, what are you panicking about? You’ve already refined the Bronze Ancient Palace. That supreme treasure was something I brought from outside the Fallen Star Sea, and even Dao-Seeking Realm experts flock to it. I’m sure you’ve already seen its wondrous uses.”
Ji Fuyao and Ye Chen looked at Chen Changsheng in surprise. So, Chen Changsheng could lie low again. But they quickly understood that Chen Changsheng’s power as an expert also stemmed from Dao Yi’s past cultivation of Master’s Origin of Dao. After all, Master was a powerhouse from beyond the Fallen Star Sea! To cultivate the Great Dao with Master as a mirror was naturally to transcend all others. In the previous life, if Dao Yi hadn’t developed two obsessions, he would undoubtedly have been the First Senior Brother, the first to step into the Ancient Ancestor Realm.
At this moment, everyone’s gaze turned to Chen Changsheng and Wuwu. They had now stepped into the Ancient Ancestor Realm, but their karmic ties with Dao Yi had not been completely severed. With a single thought, they could resurrect Dao Yi.
Chen Changsheng looked at Wuwu, and Wuwu looked at Chen Changsheng. Both wrote a single character in their palms. Moments later, they opened their hands and exchanged a knowing smile. Both had chosen to bid Dao Yi a final farewell! After all, that was their main body. With a wave of their hands, they would part ways forever!
“Boom!”
Spirit seals shifted in Chen Changsheng’s hand, and dense Dao patterns emerged before him. Around Wuwu, a vast golden light appeared, like a colossal sun setting, like a golden mountain reflected. The two mysterious powers overlapped, and finally, a Daoist-robed man slowly formed in the void. Dao Yi! Many gazes fell upon Dao Yi. Dao Yi lowered his head in shame. In his previous life, he had actually obeyed Ancient Ancestor Mei, hindering Ji Fuyao and Ye Chen, which, in a way, led to their demise. “I’m sorry, Sir!” he murmured. “I’m sorry, First Senior Sister…” Fortunately, Sir had schemed for two epochs, turning the tide when it was about to collapse, saving this Star Sea.
Ye Chen sighed. “Indeed, women affect cultivation speed!”
Dao Yi gave an awkward smile, then bowed respectfully to everyone present. With a thunderous sound, he struck himself with a palm. “Boom!” Self-annihilation! Dao Yi’s Daoist robe ignited, and his Great Dao began to continuously dissipate. Previously, Chen Changsheng and Wuwu hadn’t been able to completely sever their connection because they hadn’t reached the Ancient Ancestor Realm. Now, they had! And Dao Yi, at his peak, had only been a One-star Ancient Ancestor! This karmic tie would finally dissipate. Some people walk and walk, then drift apart. Dao Yi let out a bitter sigh, knowing this was his own doing, and no one else was to blame. Moments later, he bowed respectfully to Lu Xuan, then to Ji Fuyao, Ye Chen, Chen Changsheng, Xuanji Holy Lord, Wuwu, Ah Li, Qingqiu, and Little Qing. With a gentle wave of his hand, his form completely turned to dust! He was gone.
At this moment, Qingqiu, in a simple dress, her jade legs swaying gently, suddenly knelt softly before Lu Xuan. “Master, please accept my bow.”
Just then, the System’s voice sounded in Lu Xuan’s ear. “Ding! Disciple Recruitment Quest issued: Accept Qingqiu as your seventh disciple!”
Lu Xuan paused, slightly startled. He said to the System, “You’ve been silent for so long, I thought you croaked.”
System: “I’m here, always here!”
Lu Xuan: “…”
He looked at Qingqiu, and in his eyes, the past years flickered like fleeting clouds. In the previous life, Qingqiu had just been a little kid, but she often came to listen to him preach the Dao. Even though she didn’t understand, she listened attentively, as if comprehending everything. This profound connection had lasted for an entire epoch. In this life, the first time they met, Qingqiu hadn’t recognized Lu Xuan as Sir because the Sir of the previous life had been gentle as jade, a humble gentleman, like a spring breeze. But in this life, Lu Xuan was still as a spring breeze, yet when he moved, his sharpness was like thunder. As the saying goes, “Kindness without sharpness becomes a blade that harms oneself!”
At this, Ji Fuyao, Ye Chen, and Chen Changsheng also interceded for Qingqiu. “Master, please accept Qingqiu.” Among them, Ji Fuyao, Xuanji Holy Lord Baili, and Ah Li were especially firm, surrounding Lu Xuan and saying sweetly, “Master, please accept Qingqiu as our Seventh Junior Sister.”