He neither confessed nor denied.

Though surprise flickered within Ran Yue’s heart, she swiftly regained her composure. Seeing Wang Lin’s silence, she harbored her own suspicions. Though his sorcery held echoes of the Thunder Celestial Envoy’s, the Envoy’s status was beyond compare, and doubt lingered.

What truly confounded her was her inability to perceive his cultivation. This alone fueled her uncertainty about Wang Lin’s true identity.

As for the other three, especially Sun Xueshan, his respect for Wang Lin bordered on fervent zeal. Upon hearing Ran Yue’s words, he was immediately convinced that the man before them was indeed the Thunder Celestial Envoy.

“Esteemed Senior, if you seek Ran Yun Star, this humble one offers to guide your path,” Sun Xueshan said, his voice laced with deference.

Wang Lin nodded, taking his seat upon the silver dragon. He soared northward, with Sun Xueshan hastening to follow. Ran Yue and the others trailed behind.

After a short flight, Wang Lin furrowed his brow. Their pace was far too slow. At this rate, the journey would consume seven days. He pondered for a moment, then eased the Star Compass’s speed, matching their own.

In this unfamiliar expanse of the Luo Tian Starfield, there was no need to rush. He could use this opportunity to gain insight into this realm, to better navigate its currents in the days to come.

“Are there other cultivation stars of note near Ran Yun Star?” Wang Lin inquired, his voice even and measured.

Sun Xueshan, who had been furtively admiring the dragon-shaped Star Compass beneath Wang Lin’s feet, his eyes gleaming with envy, responded eagerly, “Indeed, Ran Yun Star is but one of many vassal stars under the dominion of Qian Huan Star, one of the five great stars of the Northern Domain. Many such lesser stars lie in its vicinity.” Though a sliver of doubt gnawed at him – how could this powerful figure be ignorant of such common knowledge? – he quickly dismissed it. The Luo Tian Starfield teemed with countless minor cultivation stars, such as Ran Yun, and the explanation seemed plausible enough.

Wang Lin’s face remained impassive, but his thoughts stirred.

“Qian Huan Star… Qian Huan… The name stirs a faint echo. Was it not the Vermillion Bird disciple, Liu Mei, who cultivated the Thousand Illusions of Heartless Dao? Surely it is no more than coincidence… for these are two separate star domains.”

“The Northern Domain… So the Luo Tian Starfield is divided into four regions. And I find myself now in the Northern Domain.”

Through Sun Xueshan’s simple words, Wang Lin gained a glimmer of understanding of this vast new realm.

At that moment, Ran Yue spoke softly, “Respected Senior, having rescued us, we are yet ignorant of your noble name.”

“Xu Mu,” Wang Lin replied, his voice flat. He knew that Tian Yunzi and his cohorts would pursue him sooner or later, and so concealed his true identity.

“Xu…” Ran Yue’s eyelids twitched almost imperceptibly, her heart jolting. She quickly lowered her head, her mind swimming with speculation.

“Xu is a prominent surname upon Qian Huan Star in the Northern Domain. The Xu family’s influence is like a celestial tree. Can it be that he hails from their lineage?” Had she not already entertained so many theories about Wang Lin’s identity, she would have thought nothing of it. But her earlier conjectures had left her prone to seeing shadows, inflating every possibility.

Even Sun Xueshan’s pupils narrowed when Wang Lin introduced himself as Xu Mu, and his reverence deepened.

“May I inquire where Xu Senior hails from?” Ran Yue ventured, then instantly regretted her boldness. Fear gnawed at her. Such a question, from a junior, could easily offend. She quickly added, “Forgive my impertinence, Senior. I spoke out of turn.”

Wang Lin glanced at the woman, a subtle observation that did not betray his thoughts. She was intelligent, possessed the bearing of a noble lady, and her words revealed her as the leader of the group.

“Dong Lin Star. Do you know of it?” Wang Lin asked, withdrawing his gaze. His tone was measured, revealing neither pleasure nor displeasure.

“Dong Lin?” Sun Xueshan’s face contorted with shock. His expression went from shock to fear. He reflexively recoiled, his face drained of color.

The others two males, who were also from the Ran family, mirrored his reaction. Their complexions turned ashen, and their gazes were filled with terror.

Even Ran Yue gasped, any prior guesses all but vanished

The intensity of their reaction seemed disproportionate to their cultivation levels. The Nascent Soul cultivators Wang Lin had encountered before, though lacking the cunning of Spirit Severing experts, were generally calculating individuals, not easily shaken. Yet these four seemed almost naive in comparison.

Combining this observation with what he already knew, Wang Lin had a sudden realization: These cultivation clans, with their rigid family structures, likely shielded their members from the harsh realities of the world.

Without having faced countless life-or-death trials, even with advanced cultivation, they would never become eagles soaring through the heavens.

Wang Lin remained impassive, his gaze sweeping over the four, his voice as smooth as ever, “Are you familiar with Dong Lin Star?”

Ran Yue’s face grew paler. She replied respectfully, “Esteemed Senior, Dong Lin Star is the foremost star in the Eastern Domain of Luo Tian. It is also known by another name: the Star of Slaughter. Furthermore, it is said to be ethereal, appearing and disappearing as it wills…” Ran Yue held back a further truth: All who came from Dong Lin Star were ruthless. There was a legendary tale of a Dong Lin cultivator who had slaughtered every member of every clan on an entire cultivation star.

To many in the Luo Tian Starfield, Dong Lin Star was a terrifying nightmare.

Even Sun Xueshan dared not meet Wang Lin’s eyes, his mind spinning with uncertainty. *Why does Xu Mu want to visit Ran Yun Star?*

This question echoed in the minds of the Ran family members, growing stronger with each passing moment. Their pace slowed, a subtle reluctance to guide Wang Lin to Ran Yun Star creeping in.

Yet, for all their misgivings, they dared not refuse. They pressed on, their hearts heavy with apprehension. Their direction was fixed towards Ran Yun Star.

In their eyes, Wang Lin spoke little, yet seemed to know everything. On several occasions, whenever they subtly tried to alter their course, they were met with Wang Lin’s chilling gaze.
**Translation:**

Days hence, a cerulean sphere swam into Wang Lin’s divine sense, its surface dominated by vast oceans. From afar, the star, known as Ran Yun, possessed a captivating beauty, radiating a potent spiritual energy that nourished all within its embrace.

The expressions etched upon the faces of his four guides confirmed Wang Lin’s suspicions: this was Ran Yun Star.

Its spiritual essence dwarfed that of his home, Suzaku. Without hesitation, Wang Lin strode forth, his Star Compass erupting in a blinding silver radiance as it plunged into Ran Yun’s atmosphere. The light faded, and Wang Lin found himself beneath an azure sky, the invigoratting spiritual energy was thick in the air.

A deep breath filled his lungs, and with a subtle shift of his form, Wang Lin vanished.

His guides, their faces ashen with dread, hurried back to their clan, their hearts pounding in their chests. They recounted all they had witnessed, hoping to prepare for the inevitable repercussions.

As Wang Lin descended upon Ran Yun, across the vast expanse of the Luo Tian Starfield, a streak of obsidian hurtled through the heavens of the Alliance Starfield. This dark comet exuded an aura of terrifying power, carving a path of destruction and leaving chaos in its wake.

Within the streak rode an elderly man, his face hardened by years of harsh experiences. His gaunt features were etched with a venomous glint. Most remarkably, he traversed the star-strewn skies not with the aid of a Star Compass, but through some uncanny ability to traverse space.

He was not alone. Beside him floated a woman of surpassing beauty. Her lips were a natural crimson, her delicate brows arched in perpetual concern, and her dark eyes held a captivating allure. Her very presence stole the breath from any who dared to gaze upon her.

Her raven hair was intricately woven into three braids, one secured behind her head with a jade hairpin depicting butterflies at play amidst clouds. The remaining braids cascaded freely over her shoulders. She was adorned in a silken gown, adorned with delicate floral embroidery, and a gossamer skirt that rippled with every movement.

Her beauty rivaled even that of Hong Die. She possessed a carnal magnetism that further enhanced her bewitching presence.

She was no mere companion, but a disciple. Though her own cultivation was considerable, she relied upon her master’s power to keep pace with his incredible velocity.

As they flew, she glanced back at the starfield they were leaving behind, her eyes filled with a mixture of emotions – longing, regret, and a profound sense of complexity.

“We are leaving…” she whispered, her voice tinged with sorrow.

“Mei’er, do you feel regret?” The formidable elder turned his gaze upon her, a flicker of affection softening his harsh features.

“This disciple has spent her entire life in this place. Departure brings a certain pang of sorrow.” she answered in a soft voice

The old man chuckled. “Do not dwell on it. Once you have attained a high level of cultivation, you may return. I had hoped to find a certain treasure within this Starfield, but the acquisition of you as my disciple is a prize of immeasurable value!”

The woman smiled faintly, her gaze returning to the starfield.

The elder met her gaze, it was by chance that he found this disciple. It was a surprise to find that she was a practitioner of The Dao of Thousand Illusions of Emotionlessness.

The cultivation of the Dao of Emotionlessness is not confined to any one Starfield. There are many methods, but they mostly involve emotional insights. The fact that she was able to cultivate to the Thousand Illusions level on her own was very rare, but that was not what made the old man want to take her as a disciple. The most important thing was the fact that she had a hint of developing towards the Ten Thousand Illusions of Demonic Dao.

He, as the Great Elder of the Illusion Clan, of Qianhuan Star in the Northern Territory of Luo Tian Starfield, had seen many juniors in his clan, but few could compare to this girl’s talent.

Therefore, the old man immediately made up his mind to take this woman as his disciple!

Over the hundreds of years, he became even more fond of his disciples, even giving up the search for the Heavenly Inversion Pearl for her.