The Sun Star

The blazing sun of the Sun Star burned with an unimaginable heat. Any divine metal that entered would instantly vaporize into spiritual essence; only beings at the Ancestral God level remained unaffected.

First, a black mist of corpse qi surged from the vast land into the Sun Star, and then a millstone-sized stone lotus bloomed beneath the towering golden tree. The two great powers of the Celestial Realm had simultaneously manifested their imprints.

All the cultivators nearby warily withdrew, avoiding the corpse mist and the stone lotus as if they were venomous serpents or scorpions.

"How can we contend with this? Now that two supreme beings have appeared, the rest of us likely have no chance."

"All sacred treasures in this world belong to those of virtue, not to be claimed by ferocity or brute force."

Just then, a hoarse voice rang out abruptly.

Speaking such words before the imprints of these two experts was nothing short of audacious—it was like a birthday star who had lived too long, tired of life itself.

The speaker was an unremarkable old man who appeared to be in his fifties or sixties. He was thin and small, with a wizened, shriveled face that was long and narrow like a shoe last. A wisp of a goatee jutted from his chin, curling slightly upward. In terms of appearance, he was simply like an old goat.

"You're dead!" was the expression everyone gave him, as if looking at an imbecile. Anyone who dared to speak like that in front of these two must have something wrong with their head.

The female Ancestral God who had arrived with him quickly retreated several steps, widening the distance, fearing she might be caught in the blaze.

"Oh, my good bodhisattva, my lady benefactress, weren't you the one who said that to me on the road? Why are you backing away now?" The dry little man's goatee twitched and bent upward, his murky yellow eyes fixed on the retreating female Ancestral God with utter confusion.

What a muddled and reckless fellow! And such a person could become an Ancestral God? Jaws dropped all around, and many were baffled, wondering how he had ever cultivated to that level.

But contrary to everyone's expectations, the two great powers did not make any move after manifesting their imprints. The corpse mist condensed into a black corpse-like shadow and stood there motionless, while the stone lotus remained still as a carved rock. They did not show any intention of attacking the little old man.

"Those two supreme beings are truly extraordinary—they can look down upon all gods." Everyone thought that the Corpse King and the Lotus King had simply ignored him, treating him as empty air.

Just then, the golden tree, thick as a mountain and ten thousand zhang tall, rustled loudly. Its branches and leaves shook and trembled, flashing with shafts of golden light.

Meanwhile, the phoenix nests on the golden tree shimmered with flowing light, appearing most mysterious and resplendent. Divine phoenixes and vermilion birds circled above, their cries clear and melodious, echoing far into the distance.

A dignified middle-aged woman's voice came down from the towering golden tree, saying, "The Lotus King and the Corpse King have arrived. Forgive me for not coming out to greet you."

The assembled experts were startled. So this was the Phoenix Matriarch! It was said she had been in seclusion for ages, but today even she had been awakened.

From beneath the golden tree, the millstone-sized stone lotus transmitted a voice: "Phoenix Matriarch, you need not be so courteous. I have only come to observe. The cultivator just now spoke with reason—all sacred treasures in this world belong to those of virtue. I merely wish to see what heaven-defying treasure is about to appear."

"Heh heh... Just here to join the excitement. The treasure belongs to the virtuous." The corpse that had condensed from the mist gave a fleshless smile that nonetheless sounded utterly sinister, like a peerless evil ghost blowing icy wind, making chills run down one's spine.

"No one is to withdraw. The treasure will choose its own master."

Many had already thought of retreating, but upon hearing the Corpse King say this, none dared to make a rash move, uncertain what this ancient corpse meant by it.

"Phoenix Matriarch, where exactly is the Sun Star Palace? Give us a clear direction."

It was that dry little old man again, stroking his goatee and looking up at the golden tree, asking such a question.

Truly a man without fear of death! All the cultivators felt it was a miracle he had lived this long.

"I do not know where the Sun Star Palace of old was located. Since I came to the Sun Star, I have never discovered it. After I settled here and planted this divine tree, I named it the new Sun Star Palace."

Hearing the Phoenix Matriarch's answer, many cultivators could not help but examine the golden tree, which seemed cast from pure gold, extending their divine sense to search it.

"Could that heaven-defying war treasure really be hidden in this golden tree?" someone murmured softly.

"I can tell you with certainty, that is impossible. I have cultivated here for hundreds of thousands of years and know this golden tree better than anyone." The Phoenix Matriarch clearly denied that conjecture. "Legend says that a king once dwelt in the Sun Star, but by the time I arrived, he had already fallen many years ago. Over all these years, I have found no trace of any ruin. I suspect the true Sun Star Palace is sealed away, lacking someone strong enough to open it. Or perhaps the time for it to unseal has not yet come."

"That is right. I knew that person." The Corpse King's normal laugh was enough to make one's hair stand on end and send chills up the spine. "That person once lived in the Sun Star. In his day, he looked down upon the world and gazed upon all gods. But in the end, he fell."

This ancient corpse had lived through the ages. A hundred million years ago, he was already a supreme expert. Living to the present, most of his contemporaries had died out. In a sense, living long was itself a form of capital—an invincible asset. One's power would slowly grow over time. Countless world-shaking opponents had been ground down by him through sheer longevity, granting him his current supreme status.

Even someone the Corpse King praised so highly must have been an extraordinary figure in the past—without a doubt, an invincible Stone-Man King!

"In the old days, my achievements were far inferior to what they are now. I once watched from afar, and there was indeed a divine palace within the Sun Star." The Lotus King's imprint also spoke. "But after that king fell, the Sun Star Palace vanished as well. However, when I calculate the time, that star palace should be due to reopen."

Just then, a cultivator exclaimed, "The Five Elements Spirit Treasures are radiating auspicious light, pointing deep into the Sun Star!"

Gold, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth—the five elemental spirit treasures had already merged into a single five-colored star, now bursting forth with beams of light aimed at a specific direction.

"Well, what are we waiting for? Let's go! The treasure belongs to the virtuous." The dry little old man was the first to charge forward.

You really have tired of living! Everyone already saw him as a dead man.

The stone lotus flickered and vanished in an instant. At the same time, a puff of black mist churned, and the Corpse King also rushed into the depths of the Sun Star. The assembled experts followed close behind, not daring to overtake the two supreme beings, but unwilling to fall behind one another.

Xiao Chen mingled with the crowd and flew forward with them.

The scorching heat caused flames to leap beneath many people's feet. Under the vibration of divine power, great fires blazed all around.

The direction indicated by the Five Elements Spirit Treasures was the core of the Sun Star. The closer they got to the star's core, the more intense the heat became. Some Ancestral Gods, if they did not pay close attention, found their ornaments catching fire.

Xiao Chen felt waves of scorching heat. The Celestial Realm was truly extraordinary—not only was its great earth uncommonly solid, able to withstand battles between Ancestral God-level experts, but even its Sun Star was far more terrifying than those in the lower realms, containing endless power. After all, in the lower realm, an Ancestral God could easily refine and shatter a sun. It could be said that the Celestial Realm was a world, a stage, specifically designed for Ancestral God-level beings. How else could it accommodate the strongest from all worlds?

"I have also been to the Sun Star's core in the past. I never noticed any abnormality back then. A star palace hidden there? How could I have missed it..." The old man who seemed ignorant of death muttered to himself.

Everyone ignored him and rushed forward swiftly. However, they did not enter the Sun Star's core, because the direction indicated by the Five Elements Spirit Treasures changed once more.

"Oh? A star palace that moves?"

Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh! All the Ancestral Gods changed direction again, moving like flowing light or flashing lightning. Ahead, phoenixes sang in long, clear cries. A forest of golden trees gathered—fire-essence phoenix trees. This was the Phoenix Clan's burial ground.

More than a dozen undying phoenixes guarding the place were about to block the crowd, but the Phoenix Matriarch quickly transmitted a command, calling them back and clearing the path for the experts to pass through.

The Phoenix Clan had no choice. The heaven-defying war treasure had drawn even the supreme powers of the Celestial Realm. If they tried to block them, they might invite the disaster of genocide.

"The Phoenix Clan certainly knows how to choose a geomancy treasure ground for their bones..." The dry little old man, whether genuinely foolish or simply pretending to be, actually said something like this at such a time. "This was the location of the Stone-Man King's star palace!"

At that moment, the Five Elements Spirit Treasures shone brilliantly, pointing straight ahead at the vast, boundless forest of fire-essence phoenix trees before the burial grounds.

With a rumbling sound, the land of phoenix trees seemed to suffer an earthquake. Cracks split open, spatial fissures appeared, and many fire-essence phoenix trees were uprooted and flung into the distance.

Amidst this blazing forest of divine trees, a fissured space slowly appeared. Ancient halls emerged like the tip of an iceberg, and divine light burst forth from the cracked space.

"Boom!"

The space trembled violently, and an ancient divine palace complex finally manifested completely. All the halls were connected, radiating a strange brilliance that formed an impenetrable curtain of light guarding this star palace.

Only the great central hall's gate stood wide open, unobstructed by the light curtain.

Both the Corpse King and the Lotus King arrived before this star palace, which had been sealed for endless ages.

The Corpse King stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at the majestic palace complex. He nodded slightly and said with a note of emotion, "It truly was left by him. As in the old days—even though he fell, he still maintained such boldness, leaving the gates open for anyone to enter."

With those words, black corpse mist surged, and he was the first to charge in, vanishing instantly.

At the same time, the stone lotus imprint also disappeared from its spot.

The other Ancestral Gods quickly followed. Some did not want to enter through the main gate, attempting to forcibly break through the light curtain and enter from a different direction.

Just then, the Phoenix Matriarch's dignified voice rang out: "Do not think of shattering this seal. The two king-level experts themselves did not choose that course—do you believe you can? The invincible Stone-Man King of that era acted just so. If you do not take the path he left, then in the end, you will not only destroy yourselves but also this place, and even the Celestial Realm itself will be affected. I cannot allow anyone to destroy the Sun Star."

All the experts dared not act rashly. Everyone had their own ideas, but at this moment, they had to consider forming alliances. Since this star palace was so complex and unpredictable, and the two supreme beings were no longer traveling with the group, that meant everyone still had a chance. Acting alone would certainly be unwise—the moment they entered, someone might strike from the shadows.

In but a short moment, several dozen cultivators quickly chose their traveling companions. Most were those who had prior friendships. Others were from the same faction who had arrived together, such as the Otherworld faction: they had sent six experts, all top-level Ancestral Gods, showing how highly they valued this heaven-defying war treasure.

Of course, these were not all the cultivators who had come to the Sun Star to seek the treasure. Many more were still on the way, and perhaps even more powerful beings, even other Celestial Realm supremacies, might appear.

"Heh heh heh..." Just then, the six experts of the Otherworld faction sneered coldly, their eyes sweeping grimly over a few nearby cultivators.

Opposite them, four people returned the cold glare with expressionless faces, evidently also powerful cultivators.

"Faction of the Nine Provinces—you've come with your old, weak, sick, and crippled. Best be careful, or else once you enter, you might never come out again." Among the Otherworld faction, a middle-aged cultivator stared coldly at the four. His hair was as white as blood, and he appeared unfathomable—in truth, a supreme expert of incalculable power.

"The same warning to you. Beware that joy does not turn to sorrow!" The four cultivators of the Nine Provinces faction responded flatly.

"Good. We'll meet inside!" The white-haired cultivator and the other five experts of the Otherworld faction flashed with light and shot into the star palace ahead.

The others also entered one after another. Then the four from the Nine Provinces also vanished from their spot, charging inside.

Xiao Chen's heart trembled. The Otherworld faction's experts made his heart race—he could not immediately fathom the white-haired cultivator's cultivation level. But even more terrifying, one of the remaining experts seemed even more heart-stopping than the white-haired one. This was entirely a matter of intuition and instinct.

In the end, only Xiao Chen and that dry little old man remained on the scene. Everyone else had already entered the unsealed star palace.

"Not a single person was willing to travel with me, old one. What kind of eyes do you all have? Can you not see a great expert like me here? Truly disappointing!" The little old man was rather narcissistic and finally shook his head.

Xiao Chen was speechless. Given how muddled this old man was, who would dare travel with him? If he suddenly blurted out some stunning remark that angered the imprints of the Corpse King and Lotus King, everyone with him would die together.

Not wanting to delay, Xiao Chen also headed inside.

"No help for it. I'll just have to make do and take one burden along with me." The little old man stroked his goatee and looked up as he sighed.

Xiao Chen looked left and right. By now, there was no one else around. This old fellow was clearly referring to him.

"You should take care of yourself, old sir. Go on your own!" He really did not wish to walk with this old goat.

"Young man, you really don't know what's good for you. Where else can you find an invincible being like me? Come, come, come—I will take you with me to storm this star palace. If we obtain the heaven-defying war treasure, I'll let you play with it for a few years first."

With that, he took one step and was already in front of Xiao Chen. Without waiting for an answer, he grabbed Xiao Chen's hand and pulled him inside. "Given that your divine sense hasn't even reached the Ancestral God level, if you go in without me, a supreme expert of the world, to protect you, it would be like moths throwing themselves into a fire!"

"..."

Xiao Chen was quite speechless. This old goat was truly presumptuous—so forward and familiar. For the moment, he simply could not shake him off.

"Those who just went in are just so many cabbages. The real experts are all holding back in the rear. Take me, for example..." As they walked, this old goat kept babbling.

"Do you really think you're the Sage of the Stone, old sir?" Xiao Chen had tried several times to shake him off without success, so he could not help but say.

"If it pleases you, you may consider me the Sage of the Stone. Of course, if you think that's not enough to demonstrate my strength, you may address me as the Sage of the Stone's older brother..."

"The Sage of the Stone's older brother... You certainly dare to say that, old man. Mind that heaven does not strike you down with lightning, and that the Sage of the Stone descends to wipe you out!"

As they spoke, the two had already entered the star palace. The ancient halls were majestic and vast, an endless sea of palaces stretching out before them.

"Mm..." Xiao Chen frowned not far in. Ahead lay a corpse, pierced by a half-length broken spear. His divine sense had long been extinguished. It was an Ancestral God from the Nine Provinces faction. His death was gruesome—his body pitch-black, the broken spear having devoured his consciousness and corroded his flesh.

"A bitter struggle can no longer be avoided."