Standing at the prow of the Starfield Ark, Dongbo Xueying watched as layers of space-time seemed to part like water before him. The sun ahead, initially radiating a gentle glow, grew increasingly intense as they pierced through the void, its light scorching hotter and hotter upon his skin. Simultaneously, the star expanded in his vision, its rays now carrying a terrifyingly aggressive edge.
“Whoosh—”
Finally, they fully traversed the space-time layers, arriving at the very core of the universe.
Squinting, Dongbo Xueying beheld the colossal sun before him. Flames surged sporadically from its surface, exuding a torrent of searing heat—a force embodying both destruction and life, permeating every corner of existence. It was omnipresent! Even in the darkest, most concealed regions, the sun’s power seeped through.
At the same time, an overwhelming, suffocating rule pulsed outward in all directions.
“The Sunstar’s Rule?” Dongbo Xueying had to admit that only by standing this close could one realize its rule might belong to the same tier as the Material Realm or the Dark Abyss, yet its oppressive force was undeniably far greater.
The Material Realm was like a vibrant, thriving land. The Dark Abyss, a desolate and perilous desert.
But the Sunstar?
It was a colossal, landmass-like meteor—brimming with aggression, rampaging unchecked.
“Utterly domineering and savage, radiating a fear-inducing destruction. Yet beneath that annihilation lies the profound power of life,” Dongbo Xueying mused. He stowed the Starfield Ark and soared through the void toward the Sunstar.
—
The Sunstar was no place for survival.
Only those of the highest cultivation levels could endure here. An ordinary Four Heavens cultivator would likely turn to ashes the moment they set foot on its surface.
“Whoosh.” Dongbo Xueying landed on the Sunstar’s “surface.”
Though flames raged across its exterior, they had liquefied, forming a vast “ocean” of fiery liquid. This immense sea even had waves, each surge amplifying the flames’ ferocity.
**Boom—**
In the distance, the flames blazed blindingly bright. The fiery ocean beneath his feet was relatively calm, its “surface” undulating slowly, while further away, turbulence reigned.
“Xueying.” A figure approached—none other than the true form of the Crimsonflame Ancestor.
“Ancestor.” Dongbo Xueying smiled.
“Thank you for making the journey,” the Crimsonflame Ancestor said hastily.
“It was no trouble. I’ve been secluded in cultivation for too long—it was time to venture out,” Dongbo Xueying replied. Having comprehended all nine Supreme Divine Hearts, the next step was their perfect fusion into the Heavenly Dao. Seclusion alone wouldn’t suffice. Places like the Sunstar and the Moonstar were ideal for cultivation, their rules far surpassing the Heavenly Dao. Even a slight insight here could lead to a breakthrough.
“Here’s the Sunstar Corestone.” Dongbo Xueying tossed it over.
The Crimsonflame Ancestor caught it, barely containing his excitement. “Come, let me show you inside.”
**Whoosh.**
The two plunged into the Sunstar’s fiery ocean, diving deeper.
Dongbo Xueying’s body was enveloped in Taihao Force, effortlessly shielding him from the scorching “waters.”
“The Sunstar is pure destruction. No life can be born here,” the Crimsonflame Ancestor remarked.
“Oh?” Dongbo Xueying chuckled but didn’t argue.
According to his master, the Bloodblade Divine Emperor, deep within the Sunstar’s fifth layer—the “Sunstar Abyss”—dwelt two terrifying creatures. Strictly speaking, they weren’t conventional lifeforms but manifestations of the Sunstar’s rules, possessing the power of Dominators. They had never left the Sunstar, spending most of their time slumbering or playing in the abyss, occasionally venturing into the fourth layer, the “Void Mire.”
The Void Mire was accessible only to Dominators and a select few Paragons, such as Fire Devil Paragon and Qing Jun.
Thus, the existence of these two beings was a well-kept secret, unknown to most mighty figures.
After a long flight, the two finally reached the bottom of the Sunstar’s outermost layer—the “Sunstar Ocean.”
Dongbo Xueying gazed down at the endless expanse of thick stone beneath, concealing even more terrifying flames.
The Crimsonflame Ancestor landed on the stone layer, sitting cross-legged. His presence subtly influenced the surrounding rules, resonating with the Sunstar’s own. The flames’ harm to him diminished significantly.
“With the Sunstar Corestone, I can sit here—but venturing deeper is beyond me,” the Crimsonflame Ancestor said with a smile.
Dongbo Xueying descended as well, his feet touching the stone.
“Be careful,” the Crimsonflame Ancestor warned.
But Dongbo Xueying remained composed. The Taihao Force shielding his body—even his feet—was pierced by tendrils of flame erupting from the stone. Clearly, the purely yang and rigid Taihao Force wasn’t suited for defense. Instantly, a suit of black armor materialized around him, effortlessly blocking the flames.
It was no jest—Dongbo Xueying’s *Annihilation Extreme Armor* could withstand a full-force strike from the White Monarch with only minor damage. Even top-tier Paragons wouldn’t dare take such a blow head-on.
As a member of the Annihilation Legion, his physical defense was peerless, rivaling even the mightiest Paragons.
“Different indeed.” Standing atop the stone, Dongbo Xueying immediately sensed a shift in the Sunstar’s rule fluctuations.
**Thud! Thud! Thud!** The intense impact accelerated his heartbeat as the overwhelming, tyrannical rule mysteries enveloped him.
After a long moment of contemplation, Dongbo Xueying opened his eyes.
“Impressive, isn’t it?” The Crimsonflame Ancestor grinned. “Master even a sliver of its power, and you’ll forge your own path. Grasp a portion, and you’ll rival a Dominator.”
“Truly remarkable. I’ll venture deeper,” Dongbo Xueying said.
“Deeper?” The Crimsonflame Ancestor was stunned.
Even with the Sunstar Corestone, he could only linger on the second layer’s surface.
**Whoosh—**
Without hesitation, Dongbo Xueying forced his way downward, his immense strength parting the stone layers. As he descended, the stone above slowly sealed itself behind him. Layer after layer tore open under his advance, the flames within growing fiercer—yet still no threat to his armor.
—
In a desolate corner of the Divine Realm, amidst barren starry skies, floated a solitary continent.
Countless black bamboos covered ninety percent of its land, their chilling aura seeping into the soul.
At the continent’s heart stood a sprawling, opulent palace complex.
Within one such palace, its doors shut tight, a lone figure sat upon a throne—a gaunt, black-robed man with dark skin adorned with strange patterns and two protrusions on his forehead.
This was the “Bamboo Sage,” one of the Twin Saints of the Mo Clan and the very same who had forcibly taken the Crimsonflame Ancestor’s Sunstar Corestone.
A cold voice suddenly echoed through the hall.
“Bamboo Sage, the Star Lord Lian Jun has refined a new Sunstar Corestone and given it to Dongbo Xueying. He, in turn, delivered it to the Crimsonflame Ancestor at the Sunstar. Both are there now.”
The Bamboo Sage smirked. “Admirable. Your ability to sense the Corestone is truly remarkable.”
“Hmph.” The voice snorted and fell silent.
The Bamboo Sage sat cross-legged, tracing the karmic threads.
Indeed, both Dongbo Xueying and the Crimsonflame Ancestor were at the Sunstar.
“Dongbo Xueying is there too? Troublesome. Though young, his rank on the Cosmic Deva-Demon Ranking slightly surpasses mine.” The Bamboo Sage mused. “I’ll wait. Once he leaves, I’ll kill the Crimsonflame Ancestor and reclaim the Corestone.”
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