An ancient scroll written on divine hide fell like a stone into still water, sending ripples spreading in every direction. All factions turned their attention to it. Though that ancient star had vanished, many still harbored expectations.

Even the Ancient Clan learned of it. Among them were those who had heard of the Life Tree — passed down through tales from their ancestors — a wondrous tree that should by rights grow only in the immortal realm.

The outer-domain battlefield churned with hidden currents. The confrontations and skirmishes were gradually intensifying. The situation had evolved to a point where neither side could control it anymore — a great war was inevitable.

The Ancient Clan waited in anticipation. Word had it that a Great Saint was coming — very likely wielding an Extreme Dao Ancient Imperial Weapon. Such a sweeping move suggested that one of the Primordial Imperial Clans harbored an expanding ambition. To gain control of Eternal would have far-reaching consequences.

Some among them harbored quiet worry, feeling that if Eternal truly possessed the divine armor of an ancient god, they had likely been luring the snake out of its hole on purpose — intentionally drawing out the imperial weapons.

“Ahh…”

Deep in the star region, an Ancient Saint of the Primordial Fallen Peng Clan was slain. His head was severed and his great body crashed down, blood gushing forth.

Their kind were born with black Peng wings, taking a human-like form — a single beat of those wings could cleave the cosmos itself and shatter the universe into fragments. Yet now they had become holy beasts hunted by others, unable to escape death.

The Ancient Clan retreated into the deepest reaches of the star sky, nearly vanishing into the vast cosmos, waiting for a Great Saint from the Big Dipper to arrive — yet they were still found.

It was largely the appearance of the divine hide recording the Life Tree that had set the peerless powerhouses of the Eternal Prime Star in motion. The repercussions were enormous.

At the same moment, the Xutuo Clan of the Eternal Star Region nearly suffered clan extinction. The Nine Phoenix King of the Primordial Imperial Clans descended in person, and with a single strike turned tens of thousands of li around into nothing but ash and ruin.

But the clan had already evacuated, leaving only their sacred land to be destroyed.

“The divine hide scroll has been entrusted to other parties — kept safe by several major factions.”

The Ancient Clan learned of this and frowned. Not only were Eternal’s powerhouses hunting them, but certain strong individuals within the Ancient Clan had also begun proactively targeting the Eternal side, wanting to join in and eliminate some of the heritages.

“Luanfeng and Miluo — several peerless powerhouses acting together — have pushed deep into the star depths, striking the Ancient Clan’s main forces and slaying several holy beasts before returning. They traded this for that divine hide scroll.”

This news spread, setting the Eternal Star Region into turbulent waves. People’s hearts surged with agitation. The ancient scroll recording the secrets of the ancient gods had finally been obtained by someone.

Many minor factions were deeply regretful — their power was insufficient, and they had no way to participate.

“Wait — could this be a scheme by the holy beasts? A ploy to lure the tiger from its mountain, to draw away supreme powerhouses like Luanfeng and Miluo so that the Nine Phoenix King can sweep through our great factions and heritages of Eternal unimpeded?”

In this extraordinary time, someone raised the sensitive concern — afraid that a catastrophe was about to descend upon the Eternal Ancient Star.

“There is no need for concern. Eternal has a true Great Saint. The Xutuo Clan would not dare form an alliance with those holy beasts — they would be annihilated for it.”

Luanfeng and Miluo had disappeared, going deep into the cosmos. They knew well enough that their absence made no difference. There was a far more fearsome individual holding down the situation.

They knew that person harbored far-reaching ambitions and would most likely don the ancient god’s immortal armor when the moment called for it. For now, they were watching with cold eyes, ready to deliver a killing blow when necessary.

A few days later, the Xutuo Clan announced they had a secondary scroll — still to be exchanged for holy beast blood.

“The Xutuo Clan is far too greedy, selling the same thing twice. This ancient scroll cannot be worth that much. The star region doesn’t even exist anymore — who would still be so invested in it?”

Though they were criticized, the Xutuo Clan paid it no mind. This was their chance to rise again, and moreover the clan believed that star region still existed — it was simply hidden.

In a deeper sense, that place surely harbored an immense secret. Why else would it be concealed from all of heaven and earth?

Ordinary people could criticize and ignore it, but immortal heritages like the Cao Family, the Canghai Clan, the Moji of the Primordial Demon Sea, the Sun Never Sets Royal Clan, and others all wanted to obtain it badly. They had the standing to explore it, and if that ancient star could truly be found, the resources alone would be enough to make them glorious for ten thousand years.

The value of the Life Tree was immense — a legendary immortal medicine. Where it existed, the inheritance and secrets of ancient gods surely followed, making it one of the rarest of immortal lands.

The great families did not venture beyond the domain to hunt holy beasts — the losses were too severe, and they risked losing the Saints of their clans at any time. They pooled their rare and precious valuables and exchanged them collectively with the Xutuo Clan for the secondary scroll, warning the clan not to sell any more copies.

The fact that these great heritages placed such importance on it sent the world into astonishment and growing attention. Ye Fan was among the onlookers. He wanted to make a move, but had never found the opportunity.

Finally, a disciple of the Yanyun Clan leaked the secret of the secondary scroll. He had made a rubbing copy of it and was secretly auctioning it off, trading it for holy beast blood — acting against his family’s will.

But on that very day, the auction house was destroyed. Someone had intervened with overwhelming force, seizing the secondary scroll, and rumors began to fly everywhere afterward.

“It was the God who acted. I saw that person — they belong to that organization. They rarely appear, but I would never mistake it.”

That same day, a disciple from another ancient noble family also leaked core secrets for the sake of holy beast blood, bringing a rubbed copy of the ancient scroll to make a trade.

Ye Fan seized the opportunity. His mastery of the Word Techniques was unrivaled under the heavens, and combined with his own power — enough to battle an Ancient Saint — he flashed past like a bolt of golden lightning and took the secondary scroll.

From that point forward, the ancient star region recorded on the divine hide was no longer a closely guarded secret. Every major faction made their moves, obtaining information through various channels. Many now had some knowledge of it.

In a short span of time, a wave of enthusiasm ignited. Even the holy beasts beyond the domain no longer drew the same intense focus — many mercenary groups set out, determined to explore that ancient star region.

Among the Ancient Clan and the outer-realm Sages and Venerables, certain individuals let their eyes glimmer with deep interest, very much tempted to go and see for themselves.

“Do not act rashly. Wait until they find that ancient star region, then we move to take what we want. Why waste our energy searching blind? Only what one can see with one’s own eyes is real — everything being whispered about now is just the clouds of the past.”

The Primordial Clans held still. Word had reached them that one of the Primordial Imperial Clans was on its way — a world-shaking Great Saint wielding ancient imperial weapons was nearly upon them!

As for the outer-realm Sages and Venerables, a portion of them set out, trailing the exploration teams into the distant reaches of the star sky. The situation grew ever more entangled and uncertain, defying any attempt to predict how it would unfold.

“This is surely a scheme by those holy beasts — a trick to lure away our Eternal powerhouses with cunning, so they can launch a massive offensive assault!”

“Exactly — it is those holy beasts’ ploy. The holy beasts beyond the domain will multiply in force and come crashing against our Eternal Prime Star.”

No one knew when this speculation had begun to circulate, but it was now on everyone’s lips, hotly debated. Many called for an investigation into the Xutuo Clan, insisting that releasing the divine hide scroll at this particular moment could only mean they had colluded with the enemy — a betrayal of the entire star region.

Ye Fan thought carefully for a long while. He decided to set out.

No matter how one looked at it, he was more than capable of protecting himself. Even if a great war broke out, he had no fear. What he needed now was precisely battle — to forge himself through it, to rise further, to break through the shackles of the Saint realm’s barriers.

He could feel it. To achieve sainthood, he needed a battle fought with boiling blood, a baptism of a life-or-death calamity. He needed to find the right battlefield.

The Eternal Star Region no longer held great pull for him. His primary concern now was to leave something behind for disciples and companions like Ye Tong, Xiao Que’er, Li Tian, and Li Heishui.

If he could refine the fifth-stage evolution fluid, the Heavenly Court’s strength would leap forward dramatically, giving those without unparalleled innate talent the possibility of standing supreme over a region.

This was what he wanted to accomplish. Once he set foot again on the ancient path of the strongest trial, he would never be able to turn back.

“Push deep into the Tanmu Ancient Star Region — find the star where the ancient gods once dwelled — obtain the Life Tree — and let us set sail toward our dreams!”

“Warriors — what are you waiting for?! Take up your weapons, venture into the depths of the cosmos, and explore the unknown divine lands! For our glory and our rise — set out!”

Certain mercenary corps were recruiting elite members and assembling various small squads, all eager to enter the Tanmu Star Region as recorded on the divine hide scroll.

In the end, Ye Fan set out. He joined a mercenary corps called the Holy Light, intending to use this powerful organization’s resources to facilitate his exploration.

The starriver shimmered with brilliance. The cosmos stretched without limit. A great mothership ascended into the sky, surrounded by a dozen or more warships, and plunged through a star gate beyond the domain.

Darkness descended. They advanced through the void channel, following the coordinates recorded on the divine hide scroll, crossing the expanse again and again. The entire journey was one of utter solitude.

At the same time, a great cosmic mothership from the Big Dipper Star Region was crossing the universe, drawing close to the Eternal Prime Star, radiating a terrifying aura of dominance.

These were the Big Dipper’s reinforcements. An elderly figure sat with eyes closed and unmoving. On the rare occasions his eyes opened even slightly, the divine light within them was enough to chill the soul — power without boundary.

“Approaching the Eternal Star Region — Ancestor Kings have come to receive us.”

The Great Ox-Demon King came in person to welcome them and was ushered into the cabin. He froze at once. Before him stood a tall, powerful, long-limbed ancient imperial prince with blue hair draped over his shoulders — and the Ox-Demon King knew immediately that this heralded a great battle.

He then paid his respects to the Great Saint, who sat immovable and unshakeable as a mountain, and reported on the current state of affairs at length before finally departing.

Huo Qizi’s hair fell loose around him, his eyes burning like divine lamps, his body tall and powerfully built, the ancient imperial blood within him rolling like thunder, awe-inspiring in its force. He sat where he was and looked toward the Great Saint of his clan, saying, “The Life Tree… was that arranged by the Nine Phoenix King?”

The Great Saint of the Huolin Cave — eyes like lightning bolts — stood inside the mothership, gazing out at the life-bearing ancient star named Eternal, and said, “I can feel a powerful killing intent. There will be rivers of blood — a world-shaking great battle is coming!”

Within the cosmic mothership stood a great many powerhouses, each one either imposingly built or sharply formidable — the combined forces of the great Primordial clans, joined together to sweep this star region once and for all.

A great catastrophe was about to begin!

After more than a dozen course corrections, the cosmic mothership appeared again and again across the star sky, leaping through space again and again. Half a month later, the Holy Light Mercenary Corps finally arrived in the Tanmu Star Region.

This was a quiet and undisturbed star region that had not seen a visitor in who knew how many tens of thousands of years. But recently its silence had been broken, and it was slowly growing lively.

Many ships had entered, all of them exploring, all of them hoping to find that ancient life star — yet days had passed with no clue to speak of.

“Young friend, you seem quite young — why have you come to take a risk like this? This is the kind of work where you might not come back alive,” an old mercenary said, speaking to a young man.

“I enjoy adventure. That is the only kind of thing that has any challenge. A dull life of repetition and routine holds no appeal for me,” the young man replied. His smile was radiant, his teeth gleaming white, a head of golden hair shining brilliantly.

This was the ship carrying Ye Fan’s group — one of the dozen or so warships of the Holy Light Mercenary Corps.

“What is your name?” the old mercenary asked with a smile.

“My name is Dao Yi,” the young man replied with a brilliant smile.

“Hmm — a remarkable surname. I recall that a million years ago, the divine being of our Eternal Prime Star was named Dao Yan — a glorious and magnificent deity, an immortal legend,” the old mercenary said with a sigh.

“Indeed,” the young man nodded.

Ye Fan sat to one side, listening to their conversation, while also keeping his eyes on the large screen. He saw a massive mothership passing overhead.

“That is… the God!” The old mercenary’s expression changed abruptly as he caught sight of the markings on that ship.