A maid beside her spoke softly, “Master, it is said that Dongbo Xueying has been gathering rare materials and that he seeks a Solar Star Core Stone. Now that he has come to visit you, he must have collected all the necessary materials and seeks your help in refining and condensing the Solar Star Core Stone.”
Star Master Lianjun nodded and looked outward. Her gaze pierced through the spatial barriers, landing upon the black-clad man standing in the void beyond the star.
“Dongbo Xueying?” Star Master Lianjun mused slightly. “The fastest genius in the history of the Divine Realm and the Abyss to reach the Third Heaven God realm. Let us meet him first. Bring him in.”
“As you command,” the white-robed elder replied respectfully.
There was one thing Star Master Lianjun hadn’t mentioned to her subordinates—Dongbo Xueying was one of only two members of the Destruction Corps in the universe. She believed such a figure was unlikely to fail in transcending his limits and was worth meeting.
…
In the void.
“Follow me, and do not stray,” the white-robed elder guided.
“Understood.”
Dongbo Xueying followed closely behind, soon descending upon the star.
This cold, desolate star was eerily silent. In the distance, deep blue flames flickered, while other regions were shrouded in mist or dotted with lakes of black liquid—each a peculiar zone, most of which were key sites where Star Master Lianjun forged artifacts. Many of these sites had been personally arranged by Empress Ganhe, making them perilous beyond measure.
A sprawling complex spanning merely ten thousand miles stood as the residence of a Venerable—a surprisingly modest abode for one of such status.
Here, life thrived. Gods and World Gods lived under Star Master Lianjun’s command.
“This way,” the white-robed elder continued to guide.
At last, Dongbo Xueying saw her—a woman clad in pristine white robes, reclining upon a vast, soft leaf, barefoot and engrossed in a book, attended by two beautiful maids.
“Greetings, Star Master Lianjun,” Dongbo Xueying recognized her at once.
“Dongbo Xueying?” Star Master Lianjun glanced up. “Are you unaware that Empress Ganhe, the Master of the Ten Thousand Gods Palace, and the Island Master of Time and Space recently joined forces against Master Niluo and your master, the Bloodblade Divine Emperor? Your master’s side suffered a heavy loss.”
Though tens of thousands of years had passed, to a Paragon, it was indeed “recent.”
“Ah.” Dongbo Xueying was taken aback. He truly hadn’t known. During the Myriad Flowers Banquet, hadn’t Empress Ganhe even supported his master, the Bloodblade Divine Emperor?
“Hmph, so you truly didn’t know.” Star Master Lianjun then said, “You’ve come to me for the Solar Star Core Stone?”
Dongbo Xueying nodded decisively. “Indeed. I have prepared the Void Black Mud and twelve supplementary materials. I hope you can refine and condense them into a Solar Star Core Stone—one jin in weight is sufficient. Name your conditions, Star Master.”
Star Master Lianjun studied him. “The refinement process is extremely intricate. Do you think I would agree so easily? What could you possibly offer that would make me name conditions?”
Dongbo Xueying remained composed. “Regardless, I must try. If it proves impossible, I shall simply take my leave.”
“A one-jin Solar Star Core Stone?”
Star Master Lianjun spoke softly. “It is not impossible for me to help, but you must agree to three conditions.”
“Name them,” Dongbo Xueying replied.
She could demand the sky, but whether he agreed would ultimately be his decision.
“First, allow one of my disciples to study the first volume of your *Bloodfiend Tome*,” Star Master Lianjun said. Original supreme techniques were exceedingly rare. Though she had become a Venerable, she possessed none.
“That is not difficult,” Dongbo Xueying replied.
“Second…”
Star Master Lianjun waved her hand, and a gray streak of light flew toward Dongbo Xueying. He caught it—a tattered cloth scroll.
“This is a fragment of an ancient formation,” Star Master Lianjun explained. “I hear you excel in the mysteries of the world. I want you to restore this formation. As for time… I am in no hurry. A Four Heavens World God lives for billions of years. I shall give you a billion years. If you fail to restore it within that time… you must return the Solar Star Core Stone to me.”
Hearing the billion-year deadline, Dongbo Xueying relaxed slightly. But if he failed, he would have to return the stone?
He immediately lowered his gaze to examine the tattered scroll.
Drawn upon it was an incomplete formation.
As he immersed himself in studying it—
His vision blurred, growing hazy and illusory. Gradually, he felt himself entering a vast world, mostly intact but partially ruined. The heavens themselves were collapsing into gray mist.
Within this broken world, flames raged with overwhelming ferocity, surpassing even the aura of Venerable Huocheng.
“Was this incomplete formation obtained from ruins?” Dongbo Xueying asked.
“It was bestowed upon me by the Empress. As for its origin, I do not know,” Star Master Lianjun replied. “Do you accept the second condition?”
Dongbo Xueying asked, “And the third?”
“The third… I have not yet decided,” Star Master Lianjun said. “For now, consider it a favor owed.”
“A favor?” Dongbo Xueying hesitated.
Favors could be trivial or monumental.
“Rest assured, I will not be overly demanding. If my request is unreasonable, you may refuse,” Star Master Lianjun said with a smile.
“No oath to bind me?” Dongbo Xueying asked.
“I trust you,” Star Master Lianjun replied. From the intelligence gathered on Dongbo Xueying, she had long judged him to be a man of honor and loyalty—unlike the cunning demons of the Dark Abyss or her own Empress, who could turn on a whim. Dongbo Xueying was someone worthy of trust.
Her final condition was merely an afterthought.
If Dongbo Xueying grew to unimaginable power in the future, this favor would be invaluable.
If he did not, then it would be as if nothing had been said.
“Three conditions, correct?” Dongbo Xueying confirmed. “If I agree, you will refine the Solar Star Core Stone for me?”
Star Master Lianjun nodded. “Dongbo Xueying, I must warn you—the refinement is extremely intricate, and the slightest mistake will lead to failure. Thus, you must provide extra Void Black Mud. I require twelve million jin. The entire process will take at least fifty thousand years. Once successful, I will notify you.”
“Agreed,” Dongbo Xueying nodded. “I accept your three conditions. Then it is settled?”
“Settled,” Star Master Lianjun smiled.
She believed that this young Dongbo Xueying—who, like Pang Yi, was a member of the Destruction Corps and had set cultivation records—was worth her effort.
…
With their agreement reached, Dongbo Xueying left behind twelve million jin of Void Black Mud and the twelve supplementary materials, taking the tattered scroll as he departed Lianjun Star.
Standing at the prow of his starry skyship, traversing the spatial tunnel, Dongbo Xueying felt an overwhelming sense of satisfaction.
Sixty thousand years of effort, the restoration of an ancient formation, a favor owed—despite all these costs, everything had fallen into place.
A smile graced his lips. To repay Patriarch Redflame’s past kindness, he had not hesitated in the slightest.
“Success came with some luck. Though Star Master Lianjun set many conditions, her willingness to help is rare indeed,” Dongbo Xueying mused cheerfully.
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