In the Sacred Realm of Grand Clarity, clouds and mist swirled in a hazy, ethereal drift.

Yet the most enigmatic sight of all was the Eight Trigrams Palace standing at the very center. At this moment, several figures had gathered before it, gazing at it intently without cease.

Purple vapors billowed and churned from it, as though it were an ancient incense burner consecrated to the divine, veiled in a drifting haze.

What truly commanded attention, of course, were the scriptures inscribed upon it. Everyone save Ye Fan studied them with great care, straining to grasp something — yet no matter how hard they tried, comprehension eluded them.

Ye Fan made no effort to commune with the text. He was no stranger to the scriptures of Laozi. Back in his homeland, he had loved seeking out the strange and wondrous, often leafing through ancient tomes, and had naturally encountered them before.

What astonished him was that the others could read them at all — for these were inscriptions from the other side of the starry expanse, carved into this purple palace, profoundly mysterious.

“Can you all read this script?”

The others seemed to snap out of a trance. They stared at each other in bewilderment, then exchanged glances of wonder, before finally all shaking their heads, puzzled and confused.

“Strange — I understood it just a moment ago, but now that I look more carefully, I can’t make sense of it at all.”

Ye Fan heard their words and felt a start in his heart. He said, “These characters carry great meaning. You entered the state of the Dao, and through understanding the Dao, you understood the text.”

The others all nodded, studying the inscriptions carefully once more in deep contemplation — and found that they could read them again. It felt deeply uncanny, as though some imprint were being transmitted through the palace itself.

The purple palace, like an incense burner, gave rise to plume after plume of violet smoke that curled upward into the air. Its surface was densely covered, every inch carved with characters, each one gleaming with crystal radiance, as though they were about to brand themselves into the void.

Ye Fan smiled and said nothing more. If the others wished to study them, he had no reason to stand in their way and make himself the villain for nothing.

These were not cultivation scriptures in any practical sense. Though the word “Dao” appeared throughout, there was no specific method of practice to be found. If anyone claimed they could cultivate through these words alone, that was pure nonsense.

“I’ve had enough — ‘the gateway to all mystery, profound beyond profound’ — I can’t make sense of it. There’s talk of the Great Dao, yet no method or gate. This reads more like a preface than the main body of a scripture.” Li Tian said.

“A preface…” Ye Fan murmured thoughtfully.

“I read until my head was spinning, and yet there was not a glimpse of the One Breath Transforming into Three Purities. It’s truly a shame.” Yan Yixi said with regret.

“The original master of the Eight Trigrams Palace must have been an ancient sage of immense wisdom — one who commands reverence. Even this preface alone carries truths of the highest order.” Yi Qingwu said, her beautiful eyes shimmering with wonder as she stood before the purple palace, gazing at it without pause.

Hearing them speak, Ye Fan recalled legends from the other side of the starry expanse, and could not help furrowing his brow. He murmured to himself, “Why would this be?”

Now, upon the earth, there were no more cultivators. Countless ancient texts remained — yet only preludes and forewords, never the actual methods of cultivation. It was as though someone had deliberately cut away the most vital parts.

The Classic of the Way and its Virtue was revered as a sacred text by Daoists. Yet in truth, not even a fragment related to cultivation practice could be found within it. It could soothe and refine the heart — but to actually cultivate through it was utterly impossible.

According to legend, the Classic of the Way and its Virtue existed in two parts. One was the version known to the world, passed down for ordinary mortals to read. The other had never been made manifest — it was seen only by Yin Xi when Laozi passed westward through the Hangu Pass.

“That’s it…” Ye Fan understood. The second part of the Classic of the Way and its Virtue was the one that held the true methods of cultivation — within it lay the gateway to circulating the breath and exhaling the essence, and beyond that, the supreme secret art of the One Breath Transforming into Three Purities.

The Eight Trigrams Palace was covered in inscriptions. If the upper part of the Classic of the Way and its Virtue adorned its exterior, might its interior contain the lower part — those secret arts including the One Breath Transforming into Three Purities?

Ye Fan gave voice to this thought, and the others were immediately seized with excitement. Such a cultivation method was breathtaking in its allure — everyone longed to obtain it.

It was not merely a matter of multiplying one’s combat power several times over. Rather, it was the ability to manifest several true versions of oneself — each possessing perception, a physical body, and spiritual power equal to the original. To have several complete versions of oneself — the very thought was terrifying.

“Boom!”

The Eight Trigrams Palace shuddered faintly as purple qi surged and churned. Forcing their way inside proved troublesome indeed — it was protected by esoteric, inscrutable formation runes that could not be broken by brute force alone.

“As I suspected, it requires an auspicious moment — waiting for the night of the full moon, when the power of the stars and celestial bodies is gathered to unlock it.”

The Sacred Realm of Grand Clarity had already been opened. The bright moon hung high above, pouring down its silver radiance upon this place, casting everything in a pure, immaculate white — utterly sacred.

As the purple vapors billowed, they swirled like bewitching rosy clouds, making the Eight Trigrams Palace appear all the more sacred and solemn — inspiring a deep urge to kneel in reverence.

“Who exactly was the original master of this place? This aura is so mysterious and awe-inspiring.” Yan Yixi said.

“A person who embodied naturalness and non-action…” Ye Fan murmured to himself.

“With a nature like that, one would expect a serene, cloud-like disposition — yet they left behind such an imposing Dao imprint. Just how powerful must their cultivation have been…” The others grew solemn. When they thought of how this figure’s mount had already been a fully accomplished Divine King two thousand years ago, all of them fell silent.

Moonlight descended, washing over the Eight Trigrams Palace. The power of countless stars above poured down in streams, causing the purple palace to resound with a strange and wondrous reverberation.

Following the information obtained from the serpent spirit, combined with their own understanding, they slowly broke open the Eight Trigrams Palace — and no danger befell them in the process.

The several figures stepped inside, and immediately felt a warm mist envelop their bodies, as though bathed in celestial air. A sense of comfort pervaded them from head to toe. This was a treasure palace — cultivation here would progress several times faster than anywhere else.

“No wonder Xiao Dezi has been growing more and more frighteningly powerful. It would be hard not to become extraordinary practicing in a sacred ground like this.” Li Tian said.

Inside the purple palace, it was entirely empty — nothing but a stone platform, utterly still and silent. Though spotlessly clean and dust-free, it felt as though no one had come or gone here for a very long time.

“Crack!”

Li Tian felt along the stone platform and discovered it was in fact a stone bookcase. When he opened it, he nearly cried out in shock — inside lay a scripture, with the three characters for Classic of the Way and its Virtue carved upon its cover.

“We’ve struck it rich! The supreme scripture of that old man on the ox, containing the secret arts of the One Breath Transforming into Three Purities and all manner of other mysteries — this must be the true text of the Classic of the Way and its Virtue!”

Hearing his shout, the others all crowded forward, barely able to contain their excitement. If they could obtain this treasure scripture, it would all have been worth it, no matter what.

It was a stone scripture — thick and heavy, steeped in the weathering of history. Through the three characters on its surface, a vision was transmitted: an old man riding an ox, heading westward, with purple vapors rolling across thirty thousand li, passing through a place called Hangu Pass, before condensing into a scripture.

“It’s this one — it must be the second half that can actually be cultivated!”

They could barely restrain themselves, flipping rapidly through the stone pages. The sheets were hard and thick, and the others were trembling with anticipation — yet when they opened it, they found not a single character on any page.

“A wordless heavenly book? Let me look again — that wretch Yin Tiande managed to learn from it, so there’s no reason I can’t comprehend it.” Li Tian said.

He turned it over and flipped it back again, studying it from front to back and back to front, until the very last page — and still understood nothing. He was so furious his teeth ached.

“You’re holding it upside down — it needs to be turned right-side up.” Yan Yixi pointed out.

“I was trying to read it in reverse.” Li Tian refused to admit it.

“Stop wasting your effort — look at what’s down there.” Ye Fan pointed to the base of the bookcase, where a scattering of fine stone shavings lay, as though someone had ground them away.

“That son of a —!” Li Tian could no longer hold himself together. He hurled the book to the ground.

Yi Qingwu picked up the stone scripture. Her slender, jade-like fingers traced gently over its surface, and glimmers of crystalline light began to bloom.

“The Lunar Palace Heaven-Mending Art!” Yan Yixi said, recognizing what she was attempting — she was trying to use a secret technique to restore the book.

Yet in the end, Yi Qingwu let out a faint sigh and set the stone scripture down helplessly. Yin Tiande had been thorough — the book was beyond any possibility of restoration.

“What a pity — to think that Laozi’s scripture cannot be read even once…” Ye Fan sighed softly. This ancient sage had come from the same world as he did, yet he could not read a single word of his teachings. It was a profound regret.

Afterward, they searched carefully and found yet another pill-refining scripture — and again it was the same: the text had been erased, leaving nothing to be gained.

“Xiao Dezi really is thorough. One day, when we catch him, we’ll make him hand over both that half-page divine ancient scripture and the Classic of the Way and its Virtue.” Li Tian said.

Of course, he could only say such things. That person was already a Sovereign — in the future, it would be Li Tian himself who would have to go around him.

Since Laozi had been able to come to this world, he must have traveled the ancient starry path. They hoped to find clues here. After the setback with the Classic of the Way and its Virtue, they felt uncertain in their hearts — afraid that even if such a path existed, it too might have been destroyed.

“As expected — there is nothing…” Ye Fan was deeply disappointed. They had searched for half the day, not only turning the entire Eight Trigrams Palace upside down but nearly digging through the entire Sacred Realm of Grand Clarity — all for nothing.

“That wretch Xiao Dezi is too possessive. Whatever he gets his hands on, he destroys so no one else can have it. Did he even cut off the road?” Li Tian cursed.

Ye Fan gazed up at the starry sky. Was he doomed to grow old and die in this world? Not only had he failed to return to his homeland, but he had been separated from the people he once knew — perhaps forever.

※ ※ ※ ※

At that moment, in the Northern Dipper Star Territory, the sky was stained with blood. Even the Monkey had sustained grievous wounds, and Li Heishui had likewise retreated into the Great Barren, his injuries too severe to heal.

In the Southern Region, Ji Haoyue was covered from head to toe in blood. He carried on his back someone who had nearly been reduced to a bloody pulp, and brought that person back to his clan before setting him down.

Li Heishui was desperately weak. He said, “I’m still alive… but it won’t be for long. The barbarians… Wu Zhongtian, Liu Kou — how are they? Are they still in this world?”

“I don’t know.” Ji Haoyue replied with only those few words.

“Li Xiaoman… and that other woman — so terrifying…” Li Heishui coughed up a mouthful of blood and collapsed limply into the blood and filth.

In the Purple Subtlety Ancient Star Territory, within the Sacred Realm of Grand Clarity.

Ye Fan stood dazed and lost in thought. Where was the path home?

“My sect intends to undertake a great migration, but we want to leave and there’s no road to be found — it’s driving me mad.” Li Tian paced back and forth.

A whole sect amounting to two people fleeing — and he had the nerve to call it a great migration. No one had the energy to bother with him.

Ye Fan fixed his gaze on the Eight Trigrams Palace and stood motionless. No one knew how much time passed. Then, suddenly, he rose to his feet and strode forward with great purpose.

“Rise!”

With great force, he lifted the entire purple palace, hauling it up from the ground. An overwhelming surge of aura flowed outward in an instant.

“Brother Ye, you truly possess divine strength!” Li Tian exclaimed. The palace alone emanated an aura that made one’s heart tremble with dread — every tendril of purple vapor weighed ten thousand jun, and lifting the whole thing should have been nearly impossible.

Yet Ye Fan’s entire body blazed with golden blood-energy, and he raised it above his head.

“Hum!”

At that very moment, five-colored divine light appeared upon the ground, flashing in rapid succession — profoundly mysterious.

“This is… a small five-colored altar!” Yan Yixi was greatly startled.

Beneath the Eight Trigrams Palace, there was a small altar no more than one zhang across. It had brightened from its former dimness, flowing with five-colored radiance, forming the shape of an Eight Trigrams gateway.

“That’s it!” Ye Fan released his hands. The purple palace did not fall — it hovered in the air, on the verge of passing into the Eight Trigrams gateway.

“We can leave.” Ye Fan said, his voice filled with excitement. He called for the others and they quickly stepped inside the Eight Trigrams Palace.

“Boom!”

At that very moment, the purple vapors surged and churned. The Eight Trigrams Palace carried them into the ancient starry path — and in the next instant, it vanished.

Boundless darkness. Even the Celestial Eye could not pierce through it.

But it did not last long. A flash of radiance burst before their eyes, and they emerged from the spatial passage.

“This doesn’t feel like the ancient starry path — it’s different from what I’ve seen before.” Ye Fan said with suspicion.

“This is… we haven’t left the Purple Subtlety Ancient Star Territory. We’re in the domain exterior — hovering above it!” Li Tian said in astonishment.

At that moment, it could be seen clearly: a great life-bearing star lay directly beneath them, breathtaking in its splendor, vast beyond measure, suffused with an imperial aura that made one tremble.

Ye Fan too was startled. At this moment, the Eight Trigrams Palace seemed just like a satellite orbiting the earth, circling this ancient life-bearing star.

“That is…” Yan Yixi’s pupils contracted sharply as he pointed forward.

In that instant, the entire group shuddered. A celestial palace stretched across the space before them, orbiting this life-bearing ancient star just as the Eight Trigrams Palace did.

“The Eight Trigrams Palace — it’s about to collide with the celestial palace ahead!”

Their expressions grew grave. Why was there a celestial palace blocking their path here? Something within it seemed to be calling out to the Eight Trigrams Palace with a mysterious force.