“He probably got careless. Those star seas, though inherently weak, can still become a formidable force if they manage to unite!”
The black-robed elder scoffed at the remark. “To fall in such a backwater, that Guixuan truly was a piece of work.”
As he spoke, he scanned the surroundings. Nearly ten figures were streaking towards the Fallen Star Sea.
The black-robed elder sighed. “It seems no one else could be bothered with this place.”
The cold middle-aged man chuckled, a self-deprecating sound. “Indeed. Who would contend for such a remote corner of the cosmos? Most of our Eerie Domain powerhouses are busy around the Lingxu Star Sea and Tianyuan Star Sea. Only low-tier Heavenly God Realm cultivators like us are assigned to these forgotten fringes.”
The black-robed elder frowned. “I wonder how many Star Sea Condensation Pearls this star sea can yield. Will there be enough for us all? If the journey is long and the spoils meager, it’s hardly worth the effort.”
The cold middle-aged man’s spirit arts shifted, probing the Fallen Star Sea. His eyes gleamed, and he licked his lips. “I sense a nascent power blossoming within it, like a freshly opened bud waiting to be plucked.”
The black-robed elder let out a low chuckle. “An unexpected bonus, indeed. Guixuan actually left us a pleasant surprise.”
To them, a nascent star sea was like an untouched maiden, brimming with irresistible allure. The sensation of the Eerie Power first breaching it was… indescribable. If you know, you know.
The cold middle-aged man let out a chilling cackle. “No doubt, a strong cultivator has emerged in that star sea, but his power won’t exceed a one-star Heavenly God Realm. He must cherish this post-war star sea immensely, like a beloved wife. But he won’t expect his precious wife… to be utterly ravaged and trampled beneath our feet. Heheheh.”
Life in the star sea was dreadfully dull. We Eerie Domain Emissaries thrive on the despair and struggle of living beings. Sometimes, we even grant them a flicker of hope… only to then smash that fragile bubble of expectation to dust with a single blow.
A short while later, the cold middle-aged man pointed towards Ye Chen, who was outside the Fallen Star Sea. “What in the world is he doing?”
Ye Chen had manifested his Ancient Ancestor form, a colossal figure. Behind him, the Enlightenment Furnace roared, its light illuminating the heavens. As his spirit arts shifted, the Fallen Star Sea itself seemed to transform into a massive pill, being infused with vast amounts of Dao Power. The very fabric of its rules was rapidly perfecting!
His hand seals were intricate and arcane, weaving countless Dao patterns with every breath.
The black-robed elder licked his lips. “Just an Ancient Ancestor Realm ant. Probably trying to reinforce this star sea.”
The cold middle-aged man sneered. “But what good will that do? Pathetic ants. They believe defeating Guixuan means they’ve reached the pinnacle of existence, but in truth, they’re nothing but frogs in a well. I can sense that with every Dao pattern this ant lays down, the star sea grows even more… tender.”
The black-robed elder nodded. “Since we’re the first to arrive, let’s make our move. I’d initially considered sharing a broken star sea, but this… this is ours alone.”
The cold middle-aged man grinned. “Agreed.”
Moments later, a thunderous boom echoed, followed by a sharp crack. The starry sky above Ye Chen ripped open, space twisting violently.
From the gaping tear, two incomparably sinister auras seeped out. Eerie Power, like a black river, poured forth, coalescing into two dark Great Daos. Eerie Dao patterns pulsed across their surfaces, greedily devouring the surrounding void.
The black-robed elder and the cold middle-aged man slowly descended from their ominous black Daos, their gazes sweeping over Ye Chen with utter contempt, as if he were nothing more than an ant.
The cold middle-aged man scoffed. “Ant, you can stop your futile efforts. This star sea is ours now.”
A sudden boom echoed as Ye Chen spun around, his eyes widening. “Heavenly God Realm!” he murmured, a flicker of recognition in his gaze.
Yet, no fear marred his features. Instead, battle intent erupted from him like an inferno.
“Desolate Heaven Art!” Instantly, his entire form blazed with golden light, Martial Dao Power surging forth like a colossal golden sun. Days of refining the Fallen Star Sea had forged an intrinsic connection between him and the cosmic realm.
He drew upon it, siphoning the very essence of the Fallen Star Sea. Reborn under Lu Xuan’s power, the Star Sea now pulsed with immense energy. Even without fully perfecting its rules, Ye Chen could channel enough of its strength to temporarily manifest the power of a one-star Heavenly God.
In that instant, Ye Chen seemed to merge with the Fallen Star Sea itself, his aura skyrocketing until he stood firmly at the one-star Heavenly God Realm. An Ancient Ancestor, yet he now rivaled a Heavenly God!
With a resounding boom, Ye Chen unleashed a punch. Terrifying Martial Dao will blazed, his aura, vast as an overturned ocean, surged forth with unimaginable might. This was a strike that defied life and death!
“I am the Martial Ancestor! I shall suppress all enemies in this world!” His heaven-shattering fist print, vast as a cosmic domain, hurtled directly towards the cold middle-aged man and the black-robed elder.
Initially, the two emissaries scoffed, but their expressions quickly turned serious. The heaven-shattering Martial Dao fist print descended, unleashing endless divine light that coalesced into a surging river of power, even beginning to scorch the Eerie Great Daos beneath their feet!
They exchanged a glance, then struck almost simultaneously. Two sinister Eerie palm prints, imbued with the power of the Eerie Great Dao, slammed down. Martial Dao and Eerie Great Dao clashed, unleashing a terrifying roar that ripped through the void!
Ye Chen was sent hurtling back a million zhang! Yet, the black-robed elder and the cold middle-aged man were also forced to retreat several thousand zhang!
The black-robed elder’s face twisted in astonishment. “How is this possible? An Ancient Ancestor Realm cultivator actually managed to do that?”
The cold middle-aged man sneered, his killing intent intensifying. “It seems Guixuan’s demise wasn’t entirely unwarranted. If an Ancient Ancestor can wield such power, then the one backing him must be even more formidable.”
They naturally refused to believe Ye Chen alone could have dispatched Guixuan. The truth was, Ye Chen had forcibly channeled Heavenly God Realm power, and the backlash was already setting in, his body now streaked with blood. He was clearly spent, unable to continue the fight!
Despite his injuries, that single punch had clearly shown Ye Chen the chasm between himself and a true Heavenly God Realm expert.
Ye Chen let out a ragged, defiant laugh. “Heavenly God Realm? Nothing more than that!”
The black-robed elder cackled, a chilling sound. “Hahahahaha! I’ve never encountered such arrogance! Who filled your head with such nonsense? An Ancient Ancestor and a Heavenly God are worlds apart!”
The cold middle-aged man looked down at Ye Chen, his voice dripping with disdain. “Ant, summon the one truly behind this star sea! I’ll grant you a dignified death!”
A faint smile touched Ye Chen’s bloodied lips. Slowly, deliberately, he uttered a single word: “Master!”
The very next instant, a deafening boom and a sharp crack tore through the cosmos. The starry sky ripped open, and space twisted violently once more!
From within the newly formed rift, Lu Xuan emerged, a figure in pristine white robes. A gentle divine radiance shimmered around him, his robes billowing as if caught by an unseen cosmic breeze, as he slowly, unhurriedly stepped forth.
Trailing casually behind him were Ji Fuyao, Chen Changsheng, Xuanji Holy Lord, and the rest of his disciples.
The black-robed elder scoffed, but his sneer faltered as he realized he couldn’t discern Lu Xuan’s cultivation level.
The cold middle-aged man’s lips curled into a disdainful smirk. “Just putting on airs!”
The black-robed elder bared a mouthful of yellowed teeth. Noticing that all eyes turned to Lu Xuan in deference, he finally addressed him. “So, you’re the strongest one in this backwater?”