Within the shattered expanse of the Luo Tian Starfield, lay the ruins of what was once the Lei Xian Realm, devastated and near annihilated by a cataclysm long past. Now, only silence reigned, and no living soul dared tread upon its desolate fragments.

Across the fractured sky, treacherous rifts shimmered and faded, like the tattered edges of a forgotten tapestry, eternally swept by phantom winds.

炎雷子, the Flame Thunder Lord, had claimed the lion’s share of the Lei Xian Realm’s mainland long ago, leaving behind only a scattering of jagged, irregular stones adrift in the ruined firmament, drifting listlessly in their cosmic purgatory.

Deep within the heart of this derelict world, a circular aura pulsed with an ethereal light, a radiant sphere a thousand fathoms across. Peering closer, one could discern a humble thatched hut nestled within, surrounded by a delicate garden of blossoming flora. Before the hut sat an old man cloaked in black, not lost in meditative chants, but rather carefully scrutinizing a verdant leaf, as if deciphering the secrets woven within its veins.

This elder was none other than the formidable Zhan Lao Gui, a legendary figure who had appeared during the first battle of the Cloud Sea!

None knew where Zhan Lao Gui secluded himself within the realm, nor could any imagine that amidst the wreckage of the Lei Xian Realm, a hidden sanctuary thrived.

Lost in his contemplation of the leaf, Zhan Lao Gui suddenly stirred, his gaze snapping towards the distant horizon. A flash of piercing light erupted from his eyes, but upon closer inspection, a faint and almost imperceptible flicker of gold could be glimpsed within that radiance!

So minute was this golden hue that it bordered on nonexistence. “Xian!” The word escaped Zhan Lao Gui’s lips, his pupils constricting, as the leaf in his grasp crumbled into dust, swirling away like a miniature vortex.

Visibly shaken, Zhan Lao Gui rose to his feet, his eyes blazing with a brilliance that threatened to pierce the heavens, desperately seeking the source of his unease!

His gaze could penetrate the fabric of reality, pierce through the veil of realms both within and without, yet he could not find the one who had stirred his ancient soul!

“Could it be a celestial of royal blood?!” Zhan Lao Gui muttered, his face etched with astonishment, as he drew a deep breath, struggling to regain his composure. He understood, with a profound clarity, that true immortals, those blessed with celestial lineage, were set apart by their very blood. It was this celestial inheritance that allowed others to sense their presence, yet prevented them from pinpointing their exact location.

Such was the nature of this arcane power, a gift of blood!

The purer the celestial blood, the more elusive its bearer became, even obscuring the precise origin of their celestial aura, shrouding it in an impenetrable fog.

This explained why the youth in Zhaohe had mistaken a mere emanation for the arrival of a full-fledged immortal, for he could not perceive the events unfolding at the Alliance headquarters. He could only vaguely sense a terrifying celestial presence emanating from within the realm.

“Nine ranks of Xian, with gold marking the pinnacle! Beyond lies the Luo Xuan Heaven… This newly descended celestial, the purity of their celestial power suggests a noble lineage, yet their cultivation is merely that of a seventh-rank immortal… Long ago, I was blessed with a celestial inheritance, and my cultivation has only reached the Early Stage of the Void Tribulation, equivalent to an Earth Immortal. If I could but claim their bloodline…” Zhan Lao Gui’s eyes gleamed, as he fell into a brooding silence.

Elsewhere in this interdimensional tapestry, lay a vast and desolate expanse, forever shrouded in twilight. It existed both within and without the boundaries of the realm, a world layered upon another.

It was as if a painting lay hidden beneath another, only revealed by peeling away the outer layer.

Here, countless statues of ancient gods, demons, and fiends stood guard across the boundless plains. Wang Lin had once traversed this place during his tribulation, as had the youth now within the Zhaohe Starfield.

This was the forgotten ancient celestial domain, lost to the stars, of legend…

Ten thousand or more ancient statues covered the ground, a silent, watchful army. At their heart stood four colossal ancient god statues, their size dwarfing the very heavens.

These ancient god statues were marred by the absence of star points upon their foreheads, as if they had been forcefully extracted, leaving deep, desolate pits. Within each of these hollows, a figure bathed in golden light sat in eternal meditation.

“Celestial power… such pure celestial power… If Master could obtain it, it would surely hasten his awakening and the return of his memories!” The golden figure within the first statue murmured, reaching out as if to escape the confines of the ancient god’s brow. But as his hand extended, a surge of strange power erupted from within the statue, coalescing into an arcane seal.

The golden figure’s hand collided with the seal, instantly recoiling as a furious roar echoed from within.

“White Tiger, cease wasting your celestial power. This seal has imprisoned us for ages, and it will not be long before we break free!” A voice resounded from within the second statue, a golden figure equally trapped. “朱雀, Vermillion Bird, you are skilled in strategy. What are the chances of your plan succeeding?” A sinister tone emanated from the third statue.

“It will not fail, and the results will soon be seen…”

These four gargantuan statues were in fact the prisons of the Four Great Generals of the Ancient Celestial Emperor: Qing Long, Bai Hu, 朱雀 and Xuan Wu!

If Wang Lin were to witness this scene, he would surely be stunned, his mind reeling. His first thought would be: If the true Vermillion Bird General was imprisoned here, then who was the being who claimed the mantle of the Vermillion Bird in the forsaken lands of the Ancient Starry Sky!

Meanwhile, within the Kunxu Starfield, at the headquarters of the Cultivation Alliance, Wang Lin raised his right hand towards the heavens. The colossal palm, forged of spiritual energy, materialized with thunderous force, descending upon the massive Mountain and River Diagram before him.

Wang Lin’s expression remained calm, yet his heart was filled with apprehension. When Long Panzi had first stirred from his slumber, his cultivation was merely at the Void Nirvana realm, allowing Wang Lin to sever his arms.

But now, with the emergence of the Mountain and River Diagram, Long Panzi, now one with the cultivation star, was unleashing an aura of overwhelming power befitting a mid-stage Void Spirit!
The incense of the Mountain and River Scroll solidified the air, making it heavy and real. That Long Panzi, a master of the Third Step, possessed such incense was no surprise to Wang Lin, for he was the teacher of Chong Xuanzi, and existed before the fall of the Four Great Immortal Realms, a contemporary of the previous Sealing Sovereign.

Before their shattering, the Four Great Immortal Realms were sources of incense, and Long Panzi must have gained immense fortune during that time. Though the reason for his merging with a cultivation star remained a mystery, his power was undeniable.

“Mid-stage Emptiness Illusion…” Wang Lin muttered, his eyes flashing with golden light. The earlier slaying of Tian Zhao, the Grandmaster, seemed simple, yet it required him to unleash his full power despite the forces of repulsion tearing at him. Only then, with a punch, a lightning strike, and a sea of fire, could he destroy the foe’s physical form and claim his soul.

It was his limit, and the consequences were dire. The repelling force was nearly impossible to suppress, writhing within his body as if to tear him apart. Though hidden from view, Wang Lin endured the agonizing pain.

Against a mid-stage Emptiness Illusion cultivator, Wang Lin had no confidence. Thus, he risked everything to unleash the Spirit Imprisonment Seal!

This casting was the second time Wang Lin disregarded the torment of the repelling force, unleashing his full bloodline essence. As a result, the repelling force raged within him, causing blue veins to bulge beneath his skin, writhing and revealing countless blood vessels.

But Wang Lin cared not. He had come to save Clear Water! He would save him, no matter the cost!

His face contorted, Wang Lin stepped forward, raising his right hand with a roar. The massive Spirit Imprisonment Seal, infused with boundless essence, had become a true immortal art!

A deafening roar shook the heavens as the Spirit Imprisonment Seal, now a gigantic hand, descended upon the Mountain and River Scroll, ripples emanating from its edges. From afar, it was a peculiar sight.

The hand sought to tear apart the scroll, and as it approached, the boundless ripples touched the Mountain and River Scroll first. The scroll trembled, its internal suction intensifying, twisting the ripples.

In that moment, the gigantic palm struck the Mountain and River Scroll!

A cataclysmic explosion ripped through existence, unleashing a shockwave. Wang Lin coughed blood, staggering backward as the repelling force erupted within, tearing at his being.

His immortal body, akin to a nascent soul, attacked his physical form, while his physical body unleashed the power of the Dao Ancient, seeking to destroy the immortal body!

The clash tore at Wang Lin, the sounds of rending flesh echoing as his body threatened to split asunder.

The Spirit Imprisonment Seal, amidst the chaos, grabbed onto the Mountain and River Scroll, tearing a corner of the painted scene. Plunging into the scroll, it pulverized mountains and rivers within!

But the Mountain and River Scroll possessed a strange magic. The collapsing landscapes reformed instantly, and within, a gigantic palm appeared, initially blurred, but quickly solidifying as if learning, colliding with Wang Lin’s Spirit Imprisonment Seal. The ensuing roar shook the starfield, and on the vast cultivation star, the old man within the white light surged with power, approaching the peak of the mid-stage Emptiness Illusion!

“Those who violate my Alliance shall have their Dao extinguished, their souls scattered, and their bodies destroyed!” the ancient voice boomed, the Mountain and River Scroll returning to its original state, the tear mended, slowly pressing down on Wang Lin.

Wang Lin laughed in fury, his gaze locked on the old man within the white light. He raised his right hand, and from within his being, a bow materialized!

“What use is your Alliance! The Outer Realm Starry Sky invades, the Inner Realm is broken, countless Cloud Sea cultivators have fallen, the Summoned River is lost, Luo Tian gave his life, and the Kun Xu struggles! Yet your disciple Chong Xuan became a dog of the Outer Realm, your Alliance occupied by invaders and turned into a tribe! And the Seven-Colored Realm hides its filth here!

I am the current Sealing Sovereign, come to destroy the Seven-Colored Realm, to save my brother Clear Water, to slay the invaders. By what right do you obstruct me?!”

“You… what did you say?” the ancient voice faltered.