As the spectral shadows of volcanoes manifested, they drew upon the celestial energies with a ravenous hunger. With each new volcanic apparition, Wang Lin advanced, a phantom volcanic chain trailing in his wake.

Such a sight would have caused even the most seasoned starfarer to gasp in disbelief, their eyes wide with awe and apprehension. For these volcanic echoes possessed an unnerving verisimilitude. At first glance, they appeared mere illusions, but a longer gaze evoked the sensation of standing within the very maw of a volcano, a tangible heat and primal power that stirred the soul. This dance between reality and illusion could shake the foundations of any cultivator below the Ruined Nirvana stage, and even those who had achieved it would feel its influence. After all, this was the first of the three secret arts of the Immortal Emperor Bai Fan – Mountainfall! Wang Lin’s inner fury found form in these manifestations, an external expression of the earth-shattering power of Mountainfall. He rode upon his Mosquito Beast, guided by its keen sense for its kin. The Mosquito King’s face was a mask of grim determination as it picked up the potent scent of its brethren.

Thus, the lone figure and his beast traversed the cosmos at breakneck speed. After but half an incense stick’s worth of time, Wang Lin furrowed his brow. The Mosquito Beast was still wounded and its pace faltered. At this rate, who knew how long it would take to find those who had stolen its kin?

Furthermore, Wang Lin felt the impending approach of celestial tribulation. The cultivation he had sealed with the Nine Transformation Seal within his body was beginning to stir.

This was the outer starfield, unlike the perpetually burning territories of the Vermillion Bird Sacred Sect. Here, the celestial energy was chaotic and untamed. As Wang Lin moved forward, some of this wild energy slipped past his seal and flowed through his body, reshaping his meridians.

A Cleansed Nirvana cultivator’s body was remade by celestial energy to better understand the mysteries of the universe.

After a moment’s consideration, Wang Lin made a gesture in the air before him. With a tearing sound, a rent in space, ten yards in length, appeared. This rift was not stationary, but moved with Wang Lin, as if it were a small boat gliding across the surface of an endless ocean.

Reaching into this tear in reality, Wang Lin retrieved a yellowed paper talisman. With a thought, the rift shrunk and vanished. He slapped the talisman onto the Mosquito Beast. The beast shuddered as a vortex of wind erupted from its body, spiraling upwards into the starry expanse.

This vortex, the color of ochre earth, howled as it spun, and above it, a massive avian form took shape. With a screech that echoed through the heavens, the Mosquito Beast, imbued with incredible power, shot forward, its speed eclipsing even that of lightning.

The Mosquito Beast reached its peak velocity. Wang Lin leapt upon its back, and the starlight was no longer a point but a blur, as if painting streaks of brilliant color around them.

This was the speed of a Ruined Nirvana cultivator! The Mosquito Beast had never experienced such velocity before, and it cried out again with newfound power, but it adapted swiftly, and tore through the void.

A squadron of cultivators, recalled from the battlefield, flew in formation as beams of light when suddenly, a hurricane engulfed them, scattering them like leaves. They cried out in surprise and were overwhelmed.

“W-what was that!?”

Only then did the distant cry of the Mosquito Beast reach them, far behind it.

The cultivators paled, their expressions a mixture of terror and bewilderment. They exchanged fearful glances and swiftly departed.

Driven by its newfound speed and the scent of its kin, the Mosquito Beast soon arrived at a shattered asteroid field. Even in the Central Alliance territories, this place was considered remote. Few planets dotted the area, and those that did were untamed and desolate.

As such, few cultivators ever ventured here.

Seeing the asteroid field, the Mosquito Beast cried out once more, its anger palpable. It plunged directly into the debris, shattering any rocks that stood in its path.

Rampaging through the asteroid field, the Mosquito Beast was a force of nature, heading straight for the depths of the asteroid field.

Deep within the asteroid field, a formation of azure light was nearly complete. Almost a hundred cultivators scurried amongst a maze of rocks, as the two purple-robed elders watched with anticipation. Once the formation was completed, they could safely return to the Cloud Sea Starfield with their captured Mosquito Beasts.

At that point, the Heavenly Gate Sect would reap immeasurable benefits from the beasts.

The elders chuckled, their earlier worries fading as the final stages of the formation approached, but suddenly, the dozen or so Mosquito Beasts they had captured and sedated with incense began to stir and cry out.

Their eyes were now blood red, and they struggled against their bonds.

The shift caught the attention of the two purple-robed elders, and those assembling the formation. The beasts struggled with unprecedented ferocity, trying to escape the confines of the incense.

“Something is amiss!” one elder said grimly.

His companion was about to respond when he abruptly turned. From beyond the azure light barrier, a muffled but earth-shattering sound reached their ears.

The azure light pulsed, casting the surroundings in an eerie glow.

The elders’ faces darkened. Before they could approach, a ferocious cry echoed from beyond the azure barrier.

Among the cultivators assembling the formation, three youths who had brought back the original Mosquito Beasts suddenly blanched. They recognized the cry of the escaped Mosquito King! “It actually pursued us! With the elders here, perhaps we can capture it!” The three exchanged glances and hurried towards the outer edge of the formation.

Outside the azure light barrier, the Mosquito Beast, fueled by rage and unimaginable speed, crashed headlong into the protective shield. A deafening roar shook the asteroid field.

Yet, the barrier held firm. Despite the Mosquito Beast’s impact, the azure light flickered but did not shatter. The Mosquito Beast rebounded and fell back hundreds of yards, nearly injured.

Driven by bitter resentment, the Mosquito Beast cried out once more, the desire for bloodlust shining from its eyes.

Wang Lin, standing beside his beast, studied the barrier with an icy gaze. He stepped forward and placed his palm against the azure shield. The power of fire within him erupted in a sea of flames that enveloped the barrier in an instant.

A cacophony of crackling and roaring filled the air, but the azure light did not waver.

“Futile effort!” a scornful voice echoed from within the azure shield. The two purple-robed elders had arrived, their faces mocking.

Their earlier tension had vanished upon seeing Wang Lin’s cultivation level.

The two elders had not reached the Ruined Nirvana stage, or even the Great Perfection of Cleansed Nirvana. They were only in the late stages of Cleansed Nirvana. They were not emissaries truly sent from the Cloud Sea Starfield, but had arrived by furtive means.

Wang Lin waved his hand, and the sea of flames retreated and circled him. His cold gaze pierced through the barrier.

“Release the remaining Mosquito Beasts and deliver those three impudent fools. I may spare your lives!” Wang Lin spoke slowly, his voice laced with menace.

The elders laughed. One of them, with a sneer, said, “Such arrogance in the Alliance Starfield! You dare threaten us with such meager cultivation? It is absurd.”

Though they scorned Wang Lin, they remained cautious, not daring to step outside the barrier. In their eyes, this youth could not be the master of the Mosquito Beast, but rather a disciple whose purpose was to lure them out.

They believed the true cultivator, a master of great power, was hiding nearby. Though their spiritual senses detected nothing, they were still deeply suspicious.

Wang Lin did not waste time. He raised his right hand and pointed to the heavens. He took a deep breath, and the power sealed by the Nine Transformations within him erupted. In that instant, the aura of Cleansed Nirvana blazed forth from Wang Lin’s body, drawing upon the celestial energy of the starfield.

As the pure celestial energy flooded into Wang Lin’s body, sounds reverberated from within him. At the same time, a palpable power began to coalesce above the asteroid field.

A cloud of tribulation materialized without warning, spreading to engulf the entire field.

At that same time, a wave of oppressive pressure descended from above, sealing off the asteroid field.

“T-this is…”

“Tribulation!” The two purple-robed elders opened their eyes in disbelief. Fear washed over them. Despite being Cleansed Nirvana cultivators, they had little experience with tribulation. The only reason they were able to recognize it was that they had witnessed one just before they traveled to the Alliance Starfield.