From the celestial tapestry of the Ancient Starry Sky emerged the Moon Devourers, one of seven mighty clans. Their dominion stretched across vast starfields, a reward for the valor of their forebears who had served the Ancient Starry Sky with unmatched distinction. Such deeds elevated the Moon Devourers to a position of revered prominence, with three of their elders seated upon the revered Council of Sovereigns, ensuring an age of unending splendor for the clan.

Yet, within the northern reaches of the Moon Devourer’s stellar realm lay a forbidden expanse, a place warded against the tread of any but the most select. A bastion, heavily fortified, where only those bearing the mantle of high station might venture to hone their esoteric arts.

Within this hallowed sanctuary stood nine colossal statues, each a likeness of a primeval god of old. Upon the crown of each effigy sat a Moon Devourer elder, their hands weaving intricate incantations, as if seeking to wrest the very essence of godhood from the stone vessels.

Since their ancient betrayal of the Gods, the Moon Devourers had ceaselessly sought the means to harness divine power, to supplant the Gods themselves. They yearned for the day they could wash away the stain of humiliation from ages past, and bend the divine beings to their will.

To this end, the entire clan devoted its strength to relentless research and tireless experimentation. After countless eons, a method was unearthed: to devour the very Gods themselves!

Yet, this path was fraught with peril, riddled with unseen cracks. To this day, none among them had achieved complete success.

The nine elders now poised atop the statues were the most gifted of their kind, paragons of arcane might. They alone were deemed worthy to enter this sacred ground and attempt the ritual.

All proceeded with a serene stillness, the forbidden place a silent tomb. But in that very moment, as a mere simulacrum of a god was summoned by the Moon Devourers within the Seven-Colored Realm, and as Wang Lin unleashed a shred of ancient covenant from a royal god’s lineage, a cataclysmic upheaval shook the forbidden land.

Thunderous cracks erupted across the nine god-statues, their surfaces now a latticework of fractured stone. The nine elders, jolted from their meditative trance, awoke in shock and dismay, utterly bewildered by the sudden disruption.

Before they could gather their senses, one of the god-statues crumbled, its divine essence dissipating into the ether.

Almost immediately, a second statue trembled, the cracks upon its surface widening into chasms until it too dissolved into dust before the elders’ horrified gaze. As the remaining seven statues began to suffer a similar fate, terror gripped the hearts of the Moon Devourers.

“Spare no effort! Prevent the collapse of the god-shrines!” A sky-rending roar echoed through the void, carried upon an indescribable wave of divine will. A wizened elder garbed in lunar robes descended from the heavens, his hand summoning a celestial tide of moonlight that washed across the starscape. So great was the arrogance of the Moon Devourers that they referred to the gods as slaves, not truly in subjugation, but in the heart of the clan’s desire! From afar, powerful auras hastened to the forbidden place. “What has befallen us?” This question hung on the lips of every Moon Devourer who arrived.

“A god of royal blood has severed the ancient covenant!” The robed elder, gazing into the trackless void, spoke through gritted teeth. Yet, in his eyes, a profound fear and trepidation began to bloom.

Unbeknownst to Wang Lin, far away in the Ancient Starry Sky, the lamentations in his ears dwindled and ceased. The Moon Devourer youth before him dissolved into a crimson puddle, his shattered bones scattered across the battlefield. Only two fragments remained, impaled upon the Seven-Colored Nail.

Wang Lin took no notice. His attention was fixed on the white Vermillion Bird, sensing the increasing intensity of the inferno within. With a deafening cry, the bird plunged downwards, vanishing into Wang Lin’s left eye.

In that instant, a sea of fire engulfed Wang Lin, consuming the strange space. He trembled, then swiftly departed, emerging from the rift at the summit of the mountain beneath the Seven-Colored Barrier. He sat, legs crossed, facing the celestial torrent of light. As it touched him, the Seven-Colored radiance contorted, as if burned by an indomitable heat.

A white-hot flame erupted from Wang Lin’s left eye, turning his gaze into a blinding beacon.

The Vermillion Bird, his third awakening was nigh. After absorbing the plumage of the Vermillion Bird from Penglai, the bird had consumed the Fire Sprite summoned by the Fire Sparrow clan. The opportunity to awaken once again was at hand!

The Seven-Colored light of the heavens was forced to retreat, as heat radiated outward. The restrictive barrier around the mountain closed in, and the energy level within grew higher and higher!

A crimson armor encased Wang Lin, absorbing the inferno erupting from within, transforming the surroundings into a sea of fire. The fires ignited, as if daring to rival the heavens themselves.

The Vermillion Bird was the master of all flame, and none knew its origins. Legend held that when heaven and earth were first cleaved, the Vermillion Bird, a creature of fire, was the spirit of the element. Regardless of the truth of the legend, there existed a clan, the Vermillion, born from flame and never defeated!

Its people wielded fire and were marked with the Vermillion Seal, a symbol of awakening which transformed their strength. The first awakening of the seal was commonplace in ancient times, but as the blood grew thin, awakenings became rare.

The second awakening was rare, but with the third awakening, it was an event thought to be impossible.

However, this was nothing compared to a third awakening! In ancient times, the third awakening was thought to be impossible, but in the earliest of times, a select few had crossed that threshold. The third awakening signified the master of all fire!

Wang Lin was now in that awakening process. The temperatures grew increasingly high, and the restrictive barrier was breaking.

The Vermillion armor melted off, not from injury, but the strength of the heat that it absorbed. It mixed into Wang Lin’s body.

The fire pouring out of Wang Lin covered all, with a red flame that burned all. In a matter of moments, the color had changed to a pure white!

The white flame had a destructive might, and as it appeared, the mountain under Wang Lin dissolved. The mountain collapsed and disintegrated, and even the lightning marked stone door was cracking! Inside of the door, the woman in the green dress evaporated. Shockingly, the beast souls within the Seven-Colored light were being burned alive! Their dao origin merged with the flames!

With that, it was as if the fire had acquired a will of its own, with Wang Lin at the center!

Within moments, the mountain dissolved, and the only thing that remained was the twelve and thirteen level beast souls from the cave.

The temperature in the restrictive barrier increased, sweeping through everything. The restrictive barrier had been damaged by past attempts, and the thinnest parts were now tearing. Heat and flame flooded out, igniting the barrier.

In a destructive roar, the barrier collapsed in a flaming sphere!

At that moment, all of the heavens and earth shook, as a mass of fire charged out into the Seven-Colored World. In the deepest part of the Seven-Colored Realm, the old man with the white hair abruptly opened his eyes, looking in the direction of Wang Lin.

In the Ancient Starry Sky, a palace floated across the endless ocean. The light within had disappeared, and a jade slip spread gentle radiance.

All was quiet in the palace, a silence that was eerie. Suddenly, a flame started, and a candlestick was lit.

“The hotter the fire, the more delicious the soul…” An old voice murmured and a withered finger appeared next to the candlestick, and a larger flame ignited. Despite this, the location of the person could not be seen. “Aren’t you afraid this flame will burn your fingers!?” A cold voice appeared in the palace. “Will it?” The finger went into the flame, allowing the flame to burn…

At the same time, in the Seven-Colored Realm, the old man’s eyes shrunk. As if receiving a command, he set off toward Wang Lin’s direction!