Chapter 676: The Location Marked on the Star Chart

In the underground hall of the Divine Emperor’s mansion within the Black Mist Sea, Dongbo Xueying began to comprehend the clone technique created by his master.

“Ultra-Miniature Universe?” Dongbo Xueying flipped his hand, and a droplet of deep silver liquid material hovered above his palm. As he channeled his Taihao Force into it, intricate patterns emerged on the droplet’s surface, swirling and distorting the surrounding space, giving rise to a chaotic void.

An invisible chaos enveloped this small region, completely isolating it from the outside world—even severing causality and shielding it from the perception of the universe’s operational laws.

“The consumption of Taihao Force is incredibly fast,” Dongbo Xueying remarked with surprise.

“This chaos…” With a thought, he split off a World Deity Power clone, which stepped forward into the chaotic void. Upon contact, it encountered resistance.

With a slight exertion—equivalent to the strength of a Two-Heaven World Deity—the clone pierced through the layer of chaos.

*Pop.*

As if passing through a thin membrane, the clone found itself in the vast underground hall, which was naturally expansive for cultivation purposes. The ‘Ultra-Miniature Universe’ only covered an extremely small portion of it.

“If that tiny space counts as an Ultra-Miniature Universe, then I just exited the universe?” The clone smiled, realizing that although it couldn’t sense its original body, it could still vaguely perceive the white-robed true self in the material world. Since their souls shared the same origin, the clone could sustain itself. If both bodies lost connection, the clone would dissipate.

—

After carefully studying the ‘Cosmic Stone Core,’ Dongbo Xueying concluded that its sole function was to create an ‘Ultra-Miniature Universe,’ which merely concealed the detection of the universe’s operational laws and offered negligible defensive capabilities.

“Of course,” he mused. “Master crafted this Cosmic Stone Core solely for me to practice the clone technique. If it had additional functions, the cost would have been far greater.” Still, the energy consumption was staggering—his Taihao Force and World Deity Power couldn’t sustain it for even the duration of a cup of tea. “I must prepare everything perfectly to condense the second clone in the shortest possible time.”

Storing the Cosmic Stone Core, Dongbo Xueying immersed himself in comprehending the clone technique. This method, unique to the Bloodblade Divine Emperor in the cultivator’s universe, was exceptionally difficult to master. Yet once perfected, its benefits would surpass even those of supreme techniques.

—

While Dongbo Xueying taught his disciples and practiced the clone technique, within a small wooden courtyard in the Bloodblade Divine Court:

“Bloodblade, seeking me right after the Ten Thousand Flowers Banquet?” The Primordial Origin Master smiled as he took a seat.

The Bloodblade Divine Emperor nodded. “I need a piece of ‘Blackwater Divine Iron.’ Only you possess it.”

“You’ve already used up your share?” The Primordial Origin Master was surprised. Long ago, the two had ventured into an unknown, perilous realm—no less dangerous than the Heartlake Island, yet far more mysterious. There, they had jointly discovered a peculiar metal, naming it ‘Blackwater Divine Iron’ and splitting it equally.

“Of course I’ve used it. Otherwise, why would I come to you?” the Bloodblade Divine Emperor replied.

“But it’s crucial to me as well,” the Primordial Origin Master shook his head.

“My master acts for the sake of the entire cultivator’s universe!” a black bird perched on the Divine Emperor’s shoulder squawked.

The Primordial Origin Master frowned. “What do you intend to do?”

“After countless studies of the three Blackwater Divine Iron pieces, I’ve devised a way to use them alongside the Cosmic Copper Furnace as dual poles in a formation—the ‘Void Dual-Pole Array,'” the Bloodblade Divine Emperor explained. “This array can scan the cosmic void, the most powerful detection method I can conceive. I plan to meticulously search the ten starfields where the Mother Goddess Cult hides. It should take tens of millions of years to complete.”

The Primordial Origin Master’s eyes gleamed. “A worthy cause. I’ll gladly assist.” Mid-sentence, his expression shifted. “This array… is called the Void Dual-Pole Array?”

“Yes,” the Bloodblade Divine Emperor affirmed.

“You’re nearing a breakthrough?” the Primordial Origin Master pressed.

“Not yet. Only brushing the edge,” the Divine Emperor admitted.

The Primordial Origin Master chuckled. “Brushing the edge is impressive enough. You’ve outpaced us all. I once thought to rival you, but now I see I’ll lag behind.”

The Bloodblade Divine Emperor laughed heartily. “Our cosmic epoch is still young. If I can take that step, so can you. The Third Cosmic Epoch birthed the ‘Heartlake Island Master’ and the ‘Demon Patriarch.’ Why can’t our Eighth Cosmic Epoch match them? I refuse to believe otherwise!”

“Hah! Indeed, anything is possible!” The Primordial Origin Master, prideful as the first ruler of this epoch, rose and tossed an object forward.

At first glance, it resembled a black iron lump. Yet the chilling aura it emitted caused the surrounding void to collapse, condensing into black droplets that orbited the metal, warping space repeatedly.

“Take it,” the Primordial Origin Master said. “Eradicating the Mother Goddess Cult requires my contribution too.”

With that, he departed.

The Bloodblade Divine Emperor caught the ‘Blackwater Divine Iron.’ He had intended to offer treasures in exchange, but he knew the Primordial Origin Master’s temperament—once given, no compensation would be sought.

“Mother Goddess Cult,” the Divine Emperor murmured, gazing at the hovering black metal with anticipation. “I won’t rest until you invaders entrenched in our universe are purged.”

—

Over a hundred thousand years had passed since the Ten Thousand Flowers Banquet.

“How long will you be gone this time?” Yu Jingqiu walked alongside Dongbo Xueying.

“Hard to say,” he replied.

“Where to?” she asked.

“I obtained a star map after clearing the Three Demonic Halls trial. I intend to investigate,” Dongbo Xueying said. “Fortune or peril, I cannot predict. But with my current strength, self-preservation is assured.”

The clone technique remained unfinished for now. His mastery of the Slaughter Path was consolidated, and his disciples thrived under his guidance. ‘Mo Chongyun’ had grasped the Material Godheart eighty thousand years after becoming his disciple, ascending to a Two-Heaven World Deity. Pleased with his progress, Dongbo Xueying formally accepted him as a personal disciple, investing greater effort in his training. ‘Jia Yun’ proved even more exceptional, comprehending the top-grade ‘Sky-Opening Godheart’ in just seven thousand years and the ‘Extreme Point Godheart’ in ninety-nine thousand. Factoring in prior cultivation, he had mastered a top-grade Godheart in fifteen thousand years—surpassing even Mo Chongyun, who had taken thirty-two thousand years before the Divine Court Battle.

Clearly, both disciples were prodigies, advancing far faster under Dongbo Xueying’s tutelage. He accepted Jia Yun as his third personal disciple.

With his disciples progressing swiftly, it was time to explore the location marked on the mysterious star map. Clearing the Three Demonic Halls entitled one to a treasure from the Demon Patriarch’s vault—or even, with luck, an ancient demon. Yet all he had received was a sheet of paper inscribed with an ancient star chart. Regardless, it demanded investigation.

—

Before departing, Dongbo Xueying returned to the material world, leaving behind critical but non-combat assets like the Demonic Saber true artifact and the Cosmic Stone Core. Then he set out.

“The Moon Star, the Sun Star, Heartlake Island, the Six Paths Heavenly Wheel…”

Now in the Eighth Cosmic Epoch, the ancient star map differed vastly from the present. Yet some landmarks endured—the Six Paths Heavenly Wheel, Heartlake Island, the Sun Star, and the Moon Star remained eternal, reappearing even after cosmic resets.

“Using them as references, the marked location lies within the current epoch’s Temporal Island territory.” Flying through a spatial tunnel, Dongbo Xueying soon emerged into a vast void.

Surveying the emptiness, he knew the target lay somewhere within—though its precise coordinates had blurred over time, spanning trillions of miles.

*Boom.*

Expanding his perception and leveraging his mastery over worldly forces, his awareness instantly blanketed a hundred trillion miles in all directions.