The Shattering of Starlight, The Awakening of Destiny

Boom!

A dazzling burst of starlight erupted like a collapsing sun, shaking the heavens. With a deafening explosion, Lu Ze was blasted away, blood spraying wildly as his hands were forcefully shattered. His Starclaw spun chaotically in the void.

As the starlight receded, Fei Shuang stood amidst the fading brilliance, her long hair fluttering messily in the wind. In her hand, only the hilt of a broken broadsword remained, blood dripping steadily from its edge.

Her face was slightly pale. That strike had been overwhelmingly powerful, but the backlash was just as terrifying.

Had it been Bing Yi unleashing such an attack, the recoil alone would have crippled her on the spot.

But Fei Shuang possessed the Primordial Demon Power, which had neutralized most of the counterforce. Though injured, her condition was far from critical.

With a swift movement, Fei Shuang shot toward Lu Ze, who was still tumbling through the air. Between her brows, the ancient "Demon" rune ignited and burned fiercely, unleashing a force even more violent and domineering than before.

"Damn it!"

Lu Ze’s heart nearly leaped from his chest in terror. He never expected Fei Shuang to still have such monstrous power left after that exchange.

"Just you wait...!"

He roared, his body ablaze with starlight, merging instantly with his Starclaw.

Boom!

With another thunderous explosion, the Starclaw ripped through space itself, carrying Lu Ze as he vanished from sight.

In the very instant Lu Ze disappeared, Fei Shuang’s aura plummeted. Her body swayed before she suddenly plummeted from the sky.

"Fei Shuang!"

Yue Xiaoqian and the others cried out in shock. The warrior who had just stood invincible had collapsed so suddenly.

Yue Xiaoqian rushed forward, catching Fei Shuang in her arms. Fei Shuang forced a weak smile and said, "That guy was too strong. I couldn’t beat him, so I had to give everything to scare him off… Heh, looks like I succeeded. So much for the so-called Nine Star lineage’s ‘genius’… nothing special at all..."

Her face was flushed with excitement, but her breath came in shallow gasps.

Yue Xiaoqian quickly fed her a healing pill, and only then did Fei Shuang’s complexion improve slightly. The others finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"If we didn’t need to save our strength to protect Big Brother Long Chen, we could’ve joined forces with you and tried to take him down," Huo Ling’er said, unwilling to accept that Lu Ze had escaped.

Lu Ze was strong, but even more despicable, venomous, and cunning. He had clearly held back a trump card yet chose to flee instead of fighting to the end.

A man so treacherous and cowardly wouldn’t present many chances to be killed. Letting him go today meant it would be even harder to take him down in the future.

"Protecting Lord Long Chen is our priority. Whether he lives or dies doesn’t matter," Fei Shuang said, turning toward the still-burning Kun Cauldron.

Boom!

Suddenly, the entire world trembled. The earth quaked, and an overwhelming, sacred energy swept across the entire Heavenly Domain Battlefield.

"What’s happening?!"

Everyone’s expressions changed. The battlefield itself seemed to be undergoing some kind of transformation.

"The clash between the Nine Heavens Realm and the Chaos Realm has ruptured the Heavenly Ridge.

The battlefield’s Fortune has begun to erupt. This is the final opportunity within the Heavenly Domain Battlefield. Follow me to Heavenly Ridge."

The ancient, resonant voice of the Kun Cauldron echoed in their minds.

The Kun Cauldron rarely spoke with others, for those who conversed with it risked being entangled in karma—a fate often more curse than blessing.

But today, with Long Chen still in slumber within the cauldron, the group was leaderless. The Kun Cauldron had no choice but to guide them.

Hearing the legendary existence address them, everyone was thrilled beyond words.

"Long Chen miscalculated the energy needed for his Nirvana Rebirth. He requires even more power to nourish his body, preventing him from waking anytime soon.

We must reach Heavenly Ridge immediately. Only the surging fortune there can accelerate his recovery.

I must focus on tending to Long Chen and cannot assist you in battle. Everything will be in your hands."

"Senior, rest assured! We will protect Long Chen with our lives!" Yue Xiaoqian vowed solemnly.

Long Chen had always protected her. Now, at last, it was her turn to protect him. She would not fail.

The Kun Cauldron trembled slightly, its divine symbols burning like a sacred sun on the move.

Its pace was slow, carefully balancing the forces within so as not to disturb Long Chen’s slumber.

Inside the cauldron, Long Chen’s brow glowed with a blood-colored petal, and countless silk-like Soul Threads extended from the Three Thousand Heavenly Star Daffodils, slowly drifting toward him.

Long Chen’s soul had been scattered into the daffodils. Spreading them was easy, but retrieving them was a different matter.

The Evil Moon Seal on his forehead could only summon the fragments, but each piece had to reach out and find its way back.

These threads endured alchemy flames, divine liquids, and fiery trials, burning away impurities with every inch they moved.

This was an unforeseen consequence of Long Chen’s plan. He had anticipated the physical Nirvana, but not the soul’s transformation, leaving him unable to wake as planned.

Without Long Chen, the Kun Cauldron was bound to protect him and could not engage in battle. That left his protection solely to the group.

Despite their determination, Yue Xiaoqian and the others were deeply uneasy.

The Kun Cauldron was too conspicuous. The moment it reached Heavenly Ridge, countless powerhouses would covet it. Could they truly defend Long Chen alone?

But there was no turning back. With gritted teeth, they pressed onward.

Fei Shuang swallowed a pill from the Kun Cauldron, rapidly recovering. The battle with Lu Ze had been her first fight after fusing with the Star Arm, and she had gained tremendously.

Just as Long Chen had once told her: Every powerful enemy is a gift from the heavens. Overcoming them forges your true strength.

Though she hadn’t defeated Lu Ze, the battle had pushed her to new heights. Her control over Star Power and Primordial Demon Power had become far more refined.

She had also made mistakes. She had summoned her Demonic Rune without first activating her Eight-Star Battle Form, missing out on a massive power boost.

But every mistake was a lesson, and that meant she still had more room to grow. Fei Shuang glanced at the Kun Cauldron, her eyes filled with admiration and gratitude.

Then, noticing Yue Xiaoqian’s gaze, her face flushed red.

Yue Xiaoqian smiled knowingly.

Fei Shuang’s blush deepened. She hurriedly focused on her recovery, pushing all distractions aside.

As tension gripped the air, the Primordial Demon Clan warriors stayed on high alert.

They could feel it.

They were being watched.

Three days later…

A deafening roar shook the heavens.

Before them lay a massive abyss, rainbow radiance bursting forth, splitting the skies.

"We’re here!"

As they gazed upon the sight ahead, their nerves tightened further.

The final battle awaited.