Beyond the celestial sphere of Tian Yun Star, in the vast and starlit void, lay a place of eerie mystery.

From afar, this realm appeared as a colossal amalgamation of drifting debris, fused together into an immense, impenetrable sea of flotsam, stretching beyond mortal comprehension.

Crimson and azure were its sole, monotonous hues, painting the entirety of this floating sea in a repetitive pattern. Once every five thousand years, this uncanny sea would emanate a surge of peculiar energy. In the wake of this resonating power, a multitude of bizarre objects scattered across the starry expanse would find themselves ensnared, drawn inexorably into its depths.

Amongst this strange detritus were remnants of corpses, forgotten arcane artifacts – a medley of all things imaginable.

This place was akin to a cosmic cornucopia, drawing in its bounty every five millennia, yet never relinquishing its spoils. To seek treasures within, one had to brave its perilous entry!

The origins of this place remained veiled in obscurity. It was said that even at the dawn of Tian Yun Star, this realm had already existed for countless ages.

Whispers abounded, claiming this to be the remnants of a celestial mansion, once belonging to a potent Immortal Sovereign of the Celestial Realm. After the shattering of that realm, this place, through some unknown confluence of events, suffered cataclysmic repercussions, transforming into a realm of Oblivion. Yet, this apparent desolation was merely a protective enchantment. Those blessed with fortune and destiny might venture within and restore the Immortal Sovereign’s abode to its former glory.

Others suggested that this place was, in truth, a conduit to an uncharted dimension. Here, one might possibly uncover that fabled realm that surpassed even the Celestial Realm itself.

In short, a plethora of rumors swirled around this place, most stated with utmost conviction, as if founded upon undeniable truths.

This sea of drifting wreckage, its age and creation lost to time, nestled to the eastern reaches beyond Tian Yun Star and, over countless years, became known as the Eastern Sea of Tian Yun!

On the day Tian Yunzi attained enlightenment, he invited several of his most trusted confidants, including the Sword Sovereign Ling Tianhou before their fateful estrangement. Together, this fellowship embarked on three expeditions into this Eastern Sea!

The first two ventures yielded naught but emptiness. Only the final expedition brought any form of revelation, and even then, less than half of the party returned.

From that day onward, Sword Sovereign Ling Tianhou and Tian Yunzi severed their ties. For countless years, they remained silent about the events that transpired during their third foray into the Eastern Sea.

All that Tian Yunzi uttered was this:

“Ancient fiends dwell within this Eastern Sea. Henceforth, it shall be known as the Demon Gate of the Eastern Sea, one of Tian Yun Star’s forbidden grounds!”

The term “ancient fiends” spread far and wide, etched into the memories of countless souls.

Even the Cultivation Alliance dispatched envoys to scrutinize the Demon Gate of the Eastern Sea. However, both Tian Yunzi and Sword Sovereign Ling Tianhou, along with other reclusive elders of great power, stood united in their stance.

They would never permit outsiders to enter, declaring, “This is Tian Yun Star’s forbidden domain!”

This decree held firm for many years, and the Demon Gate of the Eastern Sea gradually solidified its reputation as a place of confinement and peril.

Although other mysterious locales similar to the Demon Gate of the Eastern Sea dotted the celestial tapestry, they were few and far between. The Cultivation Alliance deemed it unworthy to risk alienating the many cultivators of Tian Yun Star over a single enigmatic place.

The opening of the Demon Gate of the Eastern Sea, occurring once every five thousand years, was an event of paramount importance on Tian Yun Star. At the moment of its awakening, it unleashed tidal phenomena that would persist for months!

This tidal surge was the manifestation of the strange energies emanating from within the Demon Gate. Spreading across vast distances, cultivators within its influence could witness countless strange and precious treasures, forbidden arcane arts, the petrified remains of monstrous beasts, and a myriad of inexplicable objects drawn from the cosmos, as if consumed by the maw of the Eastern Sea.

Each time the Gate opened, nearly all the ancient recluses of Tian Yun Star would dispatch their disciples. Despite the manifest dangers, it was a rare opportunity presented every five thousand years, and the risk was deemed worthwhile.

Every opening of the Demon Gate of the Eastern Sea saw a multitude of entrants, ranging from hundreds to over a thousand. Their cultivation base ranged from nascent soul to those who had just started to grasp the subtleties of Yin-Yang essence.

Yet, that was the upper limit. Tian Yun Star enforced a strict regulation: no cultivator whose cultivation base exceeded the stage of Spirit Severing was allowed to enter.

After all, this event was primarily intended for the younger generation of each sect. To ensure their survival, the opening was only partial, which dampened the internal dangers.

However, the cosmos knows no absolutes. Ultimately, everything depended on the attractions that appeared during the tidal surge of the opening. If a truly heaven-defying treasure were to manifest, it could incite the interest of the reclusive elders. Should they be stirred, the Demon Gate of the Eastern Sea would become a veritable crucible.

At this moment, only five days remained until the opening of the Demon Gate of the Eastern Sea!

In the void beyond, countless cultivators had already gathered, each preparing to venture within. They donned their respective sectarian attires, and although intermingling, remained distinctly separate, clustered among their fellow sect members.

As time wore on, the number of cultivators at the Eastern Sea steadily swelled. Occasionally, long-secluded elders would arrive with their disciples, causing waves of clamor among the assembled. Most cultivators would respectfully yield way, clearing a path for the revered elders.

On this particular day, a crimson beam of light painted the starlit sky, accompanied by an overwhelming stench of blood that instantly permeated the surrounding area, dyeing everything in a sanguine hue.

“The Ancestor of the Blood Star!” The moment the sanguinary aura appeared, someone recognized the identity of the arrival. An abrupt silence descended upon the assembled cultivators.
In the vast expanse of the star-strewn heavens, a crimson aura pulsed with unnatural life. From this blood-tinged radiance drifted a colossal jade stone, suffused with the same sanguine hue. Upon this macabre throne sat a maiden of stark and captivating contrast. Her eyes, sharp as a falcon’s, held a dangerous glint, and a subtle air of menace clung to the curve of her brow. She was draped in a gown of purest white, a beacon against the bloody jade, creating a jarring yet mesmerizing spectacle.

Though seated, her slender form was easily discerned. Raven tresses cascaded around a face of alabaster perfection, skin like polished crystal, and a nose of exquisite refinement. But it was her eyes that held the true power. Like the dawn reflecting on a still lake, they shimmered with a beguiling allure, yet within their depths lurked an unfathomable darkness, a chilling promise of oblivion for any who dared to lose themselves within. Her crimson throne sailed onward, and at its passage, the gathered cultivators scattered like leaves before a tempest, clearing a path until she reached the outskirts of the Eastern Sea Demesne, a desolate expanse where she finally stilled her unholy conveyance.

Silent throughout her journey, the maiden now closed her eyes and settled into a meditative repose.

“Ersixue, daughter of the Blood Ancestor!” a murmur rippled through the crowd. Her name, whispered with a mixture of dread and awe, revealed her lineage.

Yao Xinghai, the Blood Ancestor, was a notorious figure within the Tian Yun star system, an ancient monster of fearsome power. Seven times he had challenged the Heavenly Fortune Diviner, and seven times he had been defeated. Yet with each failure, his strength only grew, his final battle against the Diviner showcasing a terrifying mastery of sanguine arts.

He claimed a lone star beyond Tian Yun, where he ruled as a dark lord, cultivating his twisted techniques by harvesting the essence of his captive subjects.

Yao Xinghai had taken no disciples, save for one daughter, Ersixue, whom he cherished above all else. He bestowed upon her the full extent of his dark power, even defying fate to grant her extraordinary abilities.

He and his daughter remained secluded on their blood-soaked star, rarely interacting with the outside world. Yet their isolation only amplified the fear they inspired.

Meanwhile, upon Earthstar, one of the five satellite worlds orbiting Tian Yun, a different scene unfolded. Outside the largest teleportation array within the territory of the Profound Abyss Sect, young master Xu Yunshan stood patiently. He idly tapped a jade fan against his palm, his gaze drawn towards the distant horizon, his tranquility betrayed by a hint of anticipation.

Three ancient figures stood in his wake. Their robes were simple, but a palpable aura of power emanated from them, thinning the air around them.

Encircling them were hundreds of Profound Abyss disciples, each seated in meditation near the teleportation circle. They remained silent, channeling their spiritual energy, ready to unleash their combined power at a single command and, with the aid of the enchanted jade crystals embedded in the array, activate the ancient portal.

Xu Yunshan continued to tap his fan, his expression serene.

Soon, a cloud of rosy light streaked across the sky. Xu Yunshan’s brow furrowed with a flicker of annoyance, and he lowered his fan, his gaze fixed on the approaching luminescence.

The pink haze descended swiftly, resolving itself into a maiden barely out of her youth. She wore a dress of the same rosy hue, and her skin shimmered with an ethereal glow, like a sculpted jade figure. A delicate fragrance wafted from her, akin to the scent of a rare mountain orchid, enchanting all who beheld her.

“Brother, you promised! If I could catch up, you would let me come!” The maiden puffed out her cheeks and pouted.

Xu Yunshan’s eyes widened in exasperation. “Nonsense! This journey to the Eastern Sea Demesne is far too dangerous for you. Father may be in seclusion, but he has forbidden your participation! Xuan Yi, take her back to the sect at once!”

One of the three elders, Xuan Yi, stepped forward and bowed slightly. “Young Mistress, please do not make my task difficult.”

The maiden scoffed, ignoring Xuan Yi completely. Her eyes locked onto Xu Yunshan. “Mother agreed!”

Xu Yunshan was about to retort when his expression shifted. He turned his gaze towards the distant heavens, a faint smile gracing his lips.

“Brother Wang, I have been expecting you!”