The final layer of the small world contained eighty-one ancient temples in total, all of them inwardly sustained by the protective formations of sages and worthies — which was why they had endured to the present day, even surviving the fierce battles that had raged within them.

Yet the moment an Emperor’s weapon appeared, it instantly reduced the hall containing the ancient star-road charts to powder. Trace after trace of imperial immortal might seeped outward, filling every top-tier expert present with a deep, shuddering dread — hearts leaping to their throats.

“Damn it!” Dongfang Ye cursed. He and the Monkey had been moving to collect the other two star-orbs — but they had shattered, scattering like streams of flowing light in all directions. They had only managed to scoop up a fraction.

Many people reached out to seize these fragments. They contained star domain coordinates — things that in the future would command priceless sums, before which even saints would bow their heads.

Fortunately, the purple star-orb in the Black Emperor’s massive paw had been kept safe. It quickly stowed it away before anyone could snatch it.

“Flash!”

A beam of sacred light vanished. That mysterious figure had entered another ancient hall — the Dragon-Pattern Black Gold Cauldron drifting and hovering within it!

“Yao Guang’s Holy Son — dare you face me in battle?” Ye Fan strode forward, his thick black hair streaming behind him, both brows angled sharply upward, killing intent reaching to the sky.

No one answered him. That hall was utterly silent — only ring after ring of ripples spreading outward, those ripples shaped like mysterious dragon patterns, as though great black dragons were coiling within. Their powerful and surging fluctuations washed over everything like a great ocean.

No one knew how many years the Dragon-Pattern Black Gold Cauldron had been concealed within Yao Guang Sacred Ground. Today it had appeared here — and the sight of it had stunned everyone, for it was too extraordinary.

Generation upon generation of sages had poured their heart’s blood into it. All the disciples of the sect had devoted their entire lifetimes, unwavering and devout, reverencing it like a deity — five hundred generations of bowing heads, five hundred generations of prayer, five hundred generations of worship — until at last it had achieved the extreme Dao.

It had become the greatest miracle in the world, an eternal legend. No one knew what had truly happened on that stormy night of thunder and lightning when rain poured down in torrents — the deluge had concealed everything.

“Hiss!”

A thread of dark radiance descended from the Heaven-Devouring Demon Vessel — transforming into a black divine sword that slashed into that hall. The several coiling black dragons immediately surged out to meet it, the two crashing together and dissolving into an ocean of ink!

That was a cosmic black hole — an abyss that devoured all things — pitch-black and lightless, without a trace of vitality. Any living being that entered would be reduced to dust and returned to eternal silent death.

A dragon cry rose clear and cold. A great black dragon coiled through the ancient temple — winding around pillars and beams — every scale glinting with cold light, the body brimming with explosive force.

The Dragon-Pattern Black Gold Cauldron hovered and floated. Within it were tens of thousands of such great black dragons — streaming from the cauldron’s mouth, only their tails remaining inside — as though the cauldron were a sacred land of ascending dragons.

Ye Fan was without fear, the Heaven-Devouring Demon Vessel hovering above his head. His footsteps remained constant and unhurried, their rhythm in harmony with the pulse of life of this small world. He was at ease and undaunted.

“In this moment, what do you still hesitate over? If you wish to kill me, then come. Face me in open and honest battle!”

“If the two Emperor’s weapons clash in full force, countless lives will be devastated.” The calm voice came from within the ancient hall.

“A fine show of compassion for all living beings. If you truly feel that way, why act as you have?” Ye Fan’s footsteps did not slow. He arrived before the ancient hall.

“I am very interested in what lies on the other shore of the starry sky. What if we journeyed there together?” The voice within the hall said.

“Boom!”

Without any warning, both Emperor’s weapons simultaneously released a thread of imperial might — fine threads of dark radiance, not a full-scale collision — yet even the halls sustained by the ancient sages’ formations were reduced to powder, ceasing to exist.

Sacred light flashed. The Dragon-Pattern Black Gold Cauldron and that figure vanished again, entering another divine temple — still holding the standoff, not yet striking in earnest.

“Hiss!”

Ye Fan shook the Heaven-Devouring Demon Vessel, sending out strands of black light — like an ascending immortal in flight — every thread of light penetrating into the ancient temple to cut down the hidden adversary.

The Dragon-Pattern Black Gold Cauldron shuddered — drawing in all manner of light, blocking the assault. This time the imperial ripples had not destroyed the building — a kind of equilibrium had formed between the two weapons, their clash contained and controlled.

Yet every person present trembled with dread. Two Emperor’s weapons in confrontation — though this was only a tiny thread of dark radiance probing and testing, if it truly broke loose and erupted, never mind this place — the entire Central Province would sink beneath a boundless abyss.

The other Emperor’s weapons had also begun to stir, each one shielding its own faction. Not a single person dared make a reckless move — all of them terrified of being drawn into an abyss from which no escape was possible.

Suddenly, the Dragon-Pattern Black Gold Cauldron surged forward of its own accord, hovering in midair. From it descended strands of black-gold energy, and within the cauldron’s mouth, a figure like an immortal was taking shape.

“Zheng!”

The Heaven-Devouring Demon Vessel gave a soft ring. The vessel-body and vessel-lid separated, releasing tens of thousands of threads of dark radiance. Faintly, as if from within, came the sigh of a woman — as though a goddess were about to be reborn!

A demonic weapon, coexisting with both demonic and divine nature — the demon vessel had transformed into a cocoon, as though a great Emperor were about to shed and be reborn within it. A world-shaking oppressive might shocked everyone into stillness.

“Clang!”

The Dragon-Pattern Black Gold Cauldron gave a light tremor. The immortal silhouette within its mouth vanished, retreating back inside — and then it transformed into a beam of dark radiance and tore through the air, departing!

“Pop!”

This small world was punctured through in one spot. The Dragon-Pattern Black Gold Cauldron was gone. Several figures had ridden it and vanished in an instant — as though they had sensed some inconceivable power and been driven away.

“The Dragon-Pattern Black Gold Cauldron did not retreat because it was outmatched — rather, the Heaven-Devouring Demon Vessel had something uncanny about it just now, and that unsettled them into withdrawing.” Qi Luo frowned in thought.

“The Heaven-Devouring Demon Vessel was forged from the Ruthless Emperor’s own body. Beyond its unfathomable power, it possesses certain qualities that cannot be compared with anything else — and no one can explain them fully.” The Black Emperor said.

“Something strange also happened with the Dragon-Pattern Black Gold Cauldron. They seemed to have difficulty controlling it, and were forced to make a temporary retreat. My guess is it will reappear before long — be on your guard!” The Old Blind One said.

The Heaven-Devouring Demon Vessel’s dark radiance receded. It quickly returned to stillness — appearing ancient and unassuming once more, with nothing remarkable about it. This allowed those watching from a distance to let out a breath of relief and turn once again to contesting for their own prizes.

Ye Fan took out the water-blue star-orb and focused his mind upon it. A series of symbols flickered from within, imprinting themselves upon his heart — they were the eight trigram symbols of the Eight Diagrams, yet arranged in many groups, describing star domain coordinates through their combinations.

The Monkey, the Black Emperor, and the others came forward. Ye Fan handed it to each of them in turn without a word, simply letting them each memorize the information — it might prove of great use someday.

Ji Ziyue’s eyes shimmered with the glint of unshed tears as she looked at the water-blue star-orb in her palm. She knew that Ye Fan would inevitably depart — that he had now obtained what he sought, and could set off.

“This thing is used in this way…” the Black Emperor said quietly, explaining how to activate the five-colored sacrificial altar. Now that they had obtained the key to reach the other shore, it could fully deduce the method of use.

“Why were the star domain coordinates of the Northern Dipper not left behind?” Duan De was puzzled.

Ye Fan also sighed. Only four extraordinary star-orbs had been found — none of them related to the Northern Dipper. There was simply no way to know the coordinates of that ancient star within the celestial vault.

“Let’s go help ourselves to a fine share.” Dongfang Ye glanced toward the central great hall. Their purpose in coming to assist Ye Fan had been accomplished — the secret of crossing the star domains had been found in full. Now they also wanted to go and gather some precious items.

“The factions with Emperor’s weapons don’t lack for a saint’s insights and wisdom — only that ruined jade cauldron and the transcendence immortal scripture are what they absolutely must have. And fortunately that’s so — otherwise we’d have had little chance at these gains.” Qi Luo said. “Let’s have a look first, and hold off on contesting for now — avoid becoming ash and rubble in the fallout.”

The jade cauldron touched upon the secret of ascending to immortality — it had existed since the Primordial Age, and was said to be an artifact from the mythological era. It was very likely to draw “unruly” saints to the scene!

“You two should set off now — while all the sects are still drawn to the front of the central ancient palace. Wait much longer and even the five-colored sacrificial altar may turn into a sea of battle. That place matters greatly too.” The Old Blind One urged.

“True — the five-colored sacrificial altar is of critical importance. It will be fiercely contested. Leave now, while you still can.” The Monkey also spoke.

“What a pity — I was unable to settle things with Yao Guang’s Holy Son. I had hoped to finish him off before departing.” Ye Fan said with genuine regret.

“At ease — with me here, he can worry. Even if he were truly an Emperor’s son rather than merely inheriting an Emperor’s legacy — so what of it?” The Monkey spoke with confident ease, golden fur gleaming with radiance all over his body.

Ye Fan nodded. In this age, the Monkey was not inferior to anyone of his generation. The heights he would one day scale were beyond imagining — and most importantly, the Fighting Buddha still lived, holding court on Mount Sumeru. Who would dare lay a finger on him?

“Yao Guang’s Holy Son is shrewd. He won’t dare stir up trouble for several decades at least — not unless he wishes to understand the consequences firsthand.” Half-Saint Qi Luo said. He was destined to become a Slaughter Saint — a threat far greater than any ordinary saint. If he truly decided to be ruthless, he could make the entire world tremble.

“There’s no need to worry — my family has the Void Mirror. It is more than sufficient to counter the Dragon-Pattern Black Gold Cauldron.” Ji Ziyue spoke as well. In a certain sense, a family that had once produced a great Emperor truly stood far above other sacred grounds.

Duan De spoke with total nonchalance: “What, you think the Heaven-Devouring Demon Vessel is just decorative? After this, set up a hill for me in Heavenly Village — call it the ‘Emperor’s Burial Mound.’ That’s got the right ring to it. We can use it as a base and go attack Yao Guang Sacred Ground whenever we’re in the mood. Honestly I think we’d probably unearth something rare and priceless there, because every time I pass through the Southern Region, Yao Guang gives me the feeling of a giant burial mound — like a sect erected right on top of a grave.”

The moment he said it, everyone dissolved into laughter. This one was truly something else — impossible to deal with. He spent his days scheming against other people’s ancestral graves. No one had any recourse against him, and everyone feared him.

“With this emperor here, who has the nerve — when we get back I’ll carve a hundred and eighty killing formations and simply wipe out Yao Guang entirely!” The Black Emperor proclaimed shamelessly.

“Let’s go. We set off.” Ye Fan reached out and gave a pull to the very quiet Pang Bo.

The group passed through the ancestral temple, walking deeper and deeper toward its innermost reaches — where there were no ancient structures, no trees, no signs of life — where only a vast mist rolled and swirled, uncanny and mysterious.