The Seventh Star Gate Opens

As each Star Gate opened, Long Chen's aura surged dramatically. By the time the seventh gate activated, an overwhelming surge of starlight engulfed his entire being, forming a radiant Starry Battle Armor around him.

"BOOM!"

The moment the battle armor manifested, an infinite torrent of star power erupted, shaking the heavens. A pillar of light shot skyward, shattering the firmament above.

"This power...?!"

The experts of the Nine Star lineage were in complete shock. They had never witnessed such a celestial phenomenon before. The instant the Starry Battle Armor appeared, its suffocating pressure made them feel as though both their bodies and souls were imprisoned.

"That’s just Starry Battle Armor, a low-tier star technique! How could it be this terrifying?"

They couldn't believe their eyes. Each of them had cultivated high-tier Star Battle Armor, yet in their eyes, such armor was worthless.

But Long Chen's Starry Battle Armor radiated a might far beyond theirs, completely overturning their understanding of star techniques.

"Interesting... but this level of power still isn't enough to stand against me."

Bing Yi's voice was cold, filled with absolute confidence. "Do you have any idea how much stronger I am now? Your strength is still insignificant before me."

"Oh? Then how about this?"

"BZZT!"

Suddenly, a violent explosion echoed as 999 strands of Imperial Flame ignited around Long Chen, bathing him in an ocean of flames.

"BOOM!"

The ground beneath him fractured like a spiderweb, sending thousands of cracks surging in every direction.

"No!"

The experts of the Nine Star lineage turned pale and quickly retreated, but the fractures were already upon them.

"PFFT!"

A scream was cut short as one unfortunate soul was engulfed by the fissure, his body instantly reduced to dust.

That man was none other than the one who had once crippled Fei Shuang's arm through deceit. He shouldn't have been here in the first place, but because he had been leading the way, he had joined the group.

As the weakest among them, he tried to escape when the deadly cracks approached. But to his horror, he realized that space had been sealed—he couldn't even cry out before he was obliterated.

"PFFT! PFFT! PFFT!"

He wasn't alone in his fate. Five others who reacted just a moment too late were also caught in the destruction, their bodies and souls annihilated in an instant.

"What kind of power is this?!"

The remaining Nine Star experts barely escaped the devastation, staring at the battlefield ahead with sheer terror.

Black fissures crisscrossed the land, emitting a shrill, eerie wailing like the cries of tormented souls. The entire world trembled, as if unable to withstand Long Chen's existence, its very laws thrown into disarray.

"Wasn’t he supposed to be a wandering beggar? The lowest-tier disciple of the Yellow Rank?!"

Fear gripped their hearts. The pressure of Long Chen's star power reached deep into their souls, leaving them shaking.

"His Imperial Flames aren't even fused yet, and he's already this terrifying. Am I seeing things?! If he fuses them... how powerful will he become?!"

"BOOM!"

Long Chen’s Starry Imperial Flames erupted, sharp as millions of celestial swords, tearing through the void. The battlefield was now laced with black lines, as if the world itself was on the brink of collapse.

Bing Yi's once-arrogant expression finally vanished. Her pupils shrank to pinpricks, her face betraying disbelief.

Long Chen’s scattered, chaotic aura was already enough to rival hers. If he learned to control it, she realized with horror that he wouldn’t even need to fuse his flames to suppress her.

For the first time, a shadow of doubt crept into her heart. She had always regarded him as an insignificant insect, yet now, this Yellow Rank disciple was shaking her very confidence.

Long Chen stood amidst the shifting star sea, Imperial Flames surging. His Supreme Bone at his chest pulsed with an unearthly glow.

With his Bloodline Power evolving, his 999 Imperial Flames had finally solidified, but his Starry Imperial Flame was the most potent of them all. He hadn't even begun fusing his Dragon Blood Imperial Flame, let alone wielding its full might.

But today… he faced a so-called Highborn Heavenly Rank disciple, a direct descendant of the Nine Star lineage.

His battle spirit ignited.

"Is this enough? If not... I still have more—BURN!"

With a furious roar, all of Long Chen's Imperial Flames ignited at once. The starlight around him erupted like a cosmic explosion, illuminating the battlefield.

"BOOM!"

The sheer force blasted Bing Yi straight into the air.

"Lady Bing Yi!"

The experts of the Nine Star lineage were horrified. Their near-invincible goddess, the one they worshipped like a deity, had been sent flying by sheer aura alone.

"Crescent Moon Heavenshattering Slash!"

Long Gu Xie Yue ripped through the void, descending upon Bing Yi like a falling star river.

"Fool! You think raw strength alone can match a Highborn Heavenly Rank disciple?! Naïve!"

Bing Yi's enraged voice echoed as a colossal Eight-Star Divine Diagram appeared behind her, forming a towering astral giant in the sky.

"That’s the Heaven-Earth Manifestation!"

The Nine Star experts gasped in awe.

Bing Yi’s talent was monstrous—she had actually mastered Heaven-Earth Manifestation at her current level, a technique reserved for God-Emperor powerhouses!

"Lady Bing Yi possesses the bloodline of the Celestial Eye Clan! Her ocular arts are unmatched. By merging her star power with her Eye Arts, she has gained the ability to wield Heaven-Earth Manifestation early! This time, Long Chen is dead for sure!"

"BOOM!"

The blade of Long Gu Xie Yue clashed with the astral giant’s massive fist.

A stellar explosion burst forth, scattering countless fragments of light across the heavens. Long Gu Xie Yue’s colossal shadow shattered beneath the impact.

"Lady Bing Yi is invincible!"

The Nine Star experts erupted in cheers.

"Your power is chaotic and scattered. Against my Heaven-Earth Manifestation, what can you possibly do?! No matter how you struggle, an ant will always be crushed underfoot!"

Bing Yi sneered as the astral giant raised its foot, preparing to stomp Long Chen into oblivion...

To be continued…

Translated by Basingh.

Final Thoughts:

Long Chen’s explosive awakening has completely shattered the arrogance of the Nine Star experts. But Bing Yi’s Heaven-Earth Manifestation is a forbidden technique—can he survive?!

Author’s Summary:

A chapter filled with shockwaves, broken skies, and shattered beliefs. As Long Chen’s power escalates, his enemies realize their arrogance may cost them dearly…