49: With one hand, he overthrew the Star Thief; fragments pointed to the Treasure Tower.

Lu Qingxuan left the Star Domain where Starfall Pavilion had been reduced to ruins. Stepping into the Void Realm, his body was enveloped in a faint layer of Chaos airflow, which was the nascent form of the [Chaos Return to Ruin Dao Domain] operating spontaneously.

This region of the outer Meteor Star Sea was vast and boundless, with eternal silence as its theme. Looking out, there were scattered stars in the distance, while nearby were floating asteroid belts, shattered remnants of ancient stars, and ubiquitous storms of Chaos Star Power that could easily tear apart the protective spiritual shields of Golden Core cultivators.

He did not use any Magic Treasure for flight; relying solely on the power of his Dao Domain, he could traverse the Void Realm with ease. Wherever the [Chaos Return to Ruin Dao Domain] passed, the raging Star Power became docile, the chaotic spatial ripples were smoothed out, and the “Star Power Vortices” that Soul Transformation Cultivators would meticulously avoid were silently annihilated and swallowed the moment they touched the edge of the Dao Domain by the power containing the essence of Return to Ruin and destruction, instead transforming into pure energy that replenished Qingxuan's consumption.

He even actively guided a trace of the power of the [Star Law], making the pores all over his body seem like countless tiny vortices, efficiently absorbing the ubiquitous Star Power of this starry sky. The violent star energy, which was deadly poison to others, was converted by the [chaos immortal infant] after entering his body, becoming nourishment for the Chaos power. Occasionally encountering a colorful “Aurora Nebula”, Lu Qingxuan would directly control his Dao Domain to charge in, forcibly refining the rare “Star Essence” within it and integrating it into his own fragments of Star Law, causing his understanding and control over Star Power to increase at a terrifying rate.

Along the way, he encountered an eerie “Starry Void Mirage,” an area reflecting scenes of ancient battlefields from untold millions of years ago. Countless powerful Cultivator phantoms fought within it, Laws collapsed, and stars fell—enough to cause those with weak resolve to sink into it and have their Divine Souls ground down by the illusion. However, Lu Qingxuan's [Exquisite Dao Heart] flashed faintly, seeing through the illusion. The [Chaos Return to Ruin Dao Domain] gently vibrated, and the vast mirage area shattered piece by piece like a popped bubble, vanishing into nothingness.

He also encountered a juvenile “Star Devouring Ancient Beast” that roamed the asteroid belt and subsisted by swallowing star cores. The Ancient Beast resembled a giant whale, its scales shimmering with a cold metallic luster, capable of swallowing large swathes of asteroids with an open mouth. The aura it emitted was already close to the Spirit Transformation Late Stage. It seemed to regard Lu Qingxuan as a delicious snack, charging toward him with the immense force capable of crushing stars. Lu Qingxuan merely glanced at it indifferently, not even making a move. The [Chaos Return to Ruin Dao Domain] surrounding him reacted automatically, and a force of “Return to Ruin” spread out. The massive body of the juvenile Star Devouring Ancient Beast, upon entering the Dao Domain's range, began to disintegrate and dissolve at a visible speed, like ice meeting the sun. It let out a terrified shriek, struggling desperately, but failed to break free from this invisible destructive power. Eventually, the majority of its body transformed into the purest vital Qi and Star Origin, which Lu Qingxuan casually collected, leaving only a few remnants floating in the starry sky, serving as a warning to those who came after.

Just as Lu Qingxuan followed the guidance of the [myriad ages demon suppressing star chart] and gradually approached the vicinity of Godfall Star, intense energy fluctuations and shouts of battle came from a relatively stable asteroid belt area ahead.

His Divine Sense swept over the scene, making everything clear. A merchant fleet consisting of about five small Starships was being besieged by over a dozen Star Pirate Flying Ships, which were hideous in appearance and flew banners featuring blood-red scimitars. The merchant fleet's Cultivator guards formed a Formation to resist, but they were clearly losing ground. Their protective shields were flickering precariously, and two Starships had already been destroyed, their wreckage floating alongside the silent, tumbling bodies of Cultivators in the vacuum. The pirates howled, employing ruthless methods, clearly intending to kill everyone and seize the goods without leaving survivors.

“The Blood Blade Star Pirate Group is operating! Outsiders, stay away!” A Star Pirate Leader, whose face was covered in scars and whose cultivation was at the Early Soul Transformation Stage, grinned ferociously as he swung a blood-red saber, unleashing a saber light that sliced across the starry sky, covering the merchant fleet's last protective shield with cracks.

On the main Starship at the center of the merchant fleet, an old man's face was deathly pale, his eyes filled with despair.

Just then, a figure silently appeared at the edge of the battlefield. His steps were unhurried, as if he were strolling through his own courtyard. The dark and ambiguous Chaos airflow surrounding him made him seem completely out of place in this brutal stellar battlefield.

It was Lu Qingxuan.

His appearance immediately drew the attention of both sides engaged in battle.

“Hmm? Another one seeking death?” The Scar-faced Leader swept his Divine Sense over him, finding that he couldn't discern Lu Qingxuan's depth, but sensing that his aura didn't seem particularly overwhelming (Lu Qingxuan had deliberately restrained most of his pressure), malice immediately surged within him. “I don't care who you are, if you saw this, you must die! Second Brother, go kill him!”

A Star Pirate at the Nascent Soul Late Stage sneered upon hearing the order, piloting his flying ship out of the battle Formation and charging directly toward Lu Qingxuan. The Flying Sword in his hand shone with a cold, chilling light, aimed straight for Lu Qingxuan's head.

Lu Qingxuan's eyes were indifferent as he watched the rapidly approaching flying ship and attack, treating them like a moth flying into a flame. He didn't even make any defensive or evasive movements.

Just as the flying ship was about to collide with him, and the Flying Sword was about to strike his body—

“Buzz!”

Centered on Lu Qingxuan, the [Chaos Return to Ruin Dao Domain] silently expanded, covering only a hundred zhang in circumference.

That hideous Star Pirate Flying Ship seemed to hit an invisible wall, its forward momentum abruptly halted. Immediately afterward, the flying ship itself, along with the Star Pirate aboard, and the fierce sword light, began to decompose and dissipate within the range of the Dao Domain at a speed visible to the naked eye.

It wasn't an explosion, nor was it shattering, but a more complete... return to nothingness.

Materials turned into fundamental particles, spiritual energy was swallowed and annihilated. The Nascent Soul Late Stage Star Pirate vanished without a trace, along with his Magic Treasure and flying ship, unable even to utter a scream, as if he had never existed.

Silence!

A deathly silence instantly enveloped the entire battlefield!

Whether they were the arrogant Star Pirates or the despairing merchant Cultivators, everyone's eyes were wide open, staring in disbelief at this bizarre and terrifying scene.

A powerful enemy turned to dust and smoke, without lifting a finger?

What kind of method is this?!

The ferocious grin on the Scar-faced Leader's face completely froze, replaced by boundless terror, his voice trembling: “A Dao... Dao Domain?! Are you a Mahayana Stage Mighty One?!”

Only Cultivators in the Body Integration Stage can control a Dao Domain, and one so bizarrely powerful, annihilating a Nascent Soul Late Stage Cultivator instantly—this is definitely not an ordinary Body Integration Cultivator!

“Flee!” The Scar-faced Leader didn't hesitate for a moment, roaring the order while simultaneously burning his vital blood essence, transforming into a streak of blood-red light attempting to escape.

“It's too late to try and leave now.”

Lu Qingxuan finally spoke, his voice calm yet carrying unquestionable authority, as if the sound of the Great Dao echoed throughout this starry sky.

He raised his right hand and gently pressed down toward the Void Realm ahead.

It was not aimed at a single individual, but covered all the Star Pirate Flying Ships attempting to flee.

“Law Restriction.”

What is said is Law!

The might of the [Chaos Return to Ruin Dao Domain] suddenly increased, and an invisible power of rules descended. The Formation runes on all the Star Pirate Flying Ships instantly dimmed, and the ships lost all power, freezing in the Void Realm like dead fish. The Star Pirates who tried to use escape techniques or activate Talismans discovered in terror that their own magical power was frozen, unable to be mobilized in the slightest!

This was the initial manifestation of the Dao Domain's “Law Restriction” characteristic!

Immediately afterward, Lu Qingxuan slightly curled his five fingers.

“Return to Ruin.”

An even more terrifying power of annihilation swept out, like an invisible tide, engulfing the dozen or so Star Pirate Flying Ships and all the Star Pirates aboard them.

There were no screams, no explosions, only a heart-stopping silence. Under the stunned gaze of the merchant fleet members, those heinous Star Pirates who had driven them to despair, along with their flying ships, were completely reduced to nothingness in just two or three breaths, like pencil marks erased by an eraser, without leaving even a speck of residue.

The starry sky returned to tranquility. It was as if the intense siege had never happened.

Only the floating wreckage and corpses from the merchant fleet proved the tragedy that had occurred moments before.

On the main Starship, the elderly man who had survived the calamity, supported by a Disciple, tremblingly flew out of the Starship and approached Lu Qingxuan, bowing deeply to the ground. His voice was excited and reverent: “Th-thank you, Senior, for saving our lives! Junior Qian Fu, steward of the Flowing Cloud Merchant Fleet, is eternally grateful! May I ask your esteemed name, Senior? Our Flowing Cloud Merchant Fleet will certainly repay you handsomely!”

Lu Qingxuan's gaze swept over the merchant fleet survivors, whose eyes were filled with the relief of surviving a disaster and infinite reverence for him. He felt a slight stir in his heart, but instead of answering directly, he asked: “How much do you know about Godfall Star ahead, especially the ‘Fallen Star Lake’ region?”

Qian Fu dared not slacken, quickly and respectfully answering: “Reporting to Senior, Fallen Star Lake is a famous region on the outskirts of Godfall Star where danger and Opportunity coexist, named because its terrain resembles a massive lake formed by a falling star. The powers there are intricate and complex, dominated by three major forces: ‘Yin Sha Valley,’ which Cultivates sinister techniques and operates mysteriously; ‘Blazing Sun Mountain,’ whose members are hot-tempered and skilled in Body Refining arts; and ‘Listening to Rain Pavilion,’ a relatively mysterious force specializing in Musical Illusion Techniques. Additionally, the ‘Ten Thousand Treasures Tower’ has established a large branch in the ‘Star Gathering Workshop’ on the edge of Fallen Star Lake, which is the largest trading hub in the surrounding area and is relatively neutral.”

He paused, then added: “Recently, Fallen Star Lake seems unsettled. Rumors suggest that strange treasures have flashed with light in the center of the lake, attracting scrutiny from multiple factions, leading to much more frequent conflicts than usual. Senior, if you plan to go to Fallen Star Lake, please be careful.”

“Ten Thousand Treasures Tower...” Lu Qingxuan made a mental note of the name.

At this moment, his mind stirred, and the System notification sound, which he had deliberately suppressed, rang out in his mind.

[Ding, detectable copyable entries: 'Star Pirate Mark (Grey)', 'Blood Fiend Qi (Blue)', 'Void Realm Affinity (Blue)'... Do you want to copy?]

[Ding, special creature 'Star Realm Plankton' (Colonial) detected. Copyable entries: 'Faint Light Concealment (Green)', 'Star Energy Absorption (Blue)'...]

[Ding, special creature 'Void Realm Jellyfish' (Juvenile) detected. Copyable entries: 'Spatial Gliding (Purple)', 'Mental Interference (Blue)'...]

Lu Qingxuan swept his consciousness through the list, filtering out the useless grey and white entries, and only selected a few interesting blue and purple entries to copy, such as [Void Realm Affinity] and [Spatial Gliding]. Although they offered negligible improvement to his current strength, they might be useful in certain specific environments, which was better than nothing.

After copying was complete, he looked at Qian Fu and said calmly, “My name is Lu Qingxuan.”

“Lu... Lu Qingxuan?!” Qian Fu was stunned at first, then his eyes widened abruptly, his voice changing pitch. “Could it be... could it be Senior Lu Qingxuan, the one who single-handedly destroyed Starfall Pavilion and severely wounded True Lord Xing Lan?!”

The merchant Cultivators behind him instantly erupted in an uproar, and their gazes toward Lu Qingxuan were filled with unparalleled shock and fervor.

Starfall Pavilion was an established power in the outer Meteor Star Sea, and its Pavilion Lord, True Lord Xing Lan, was a Mahayana Stage Mighty One in the Body Integration Stage! Yet, they were actually destroyed by this seemingly young Cultivator? Although this news had only just begun to circulate locally in the nearby Star Domain, its shocking nature was unparalleled!

Qian Fu trembled with excitement: “So... so it is Senior Lu in person! Junior was blind! Senior's great name has now spread throughout the vicinity of the Meteor Star Sea, and many powers are inquiring about you, saying... saying that you must not be provoked easily!” He felt immensely lucky in his heart; he never expected that their savior would be this fiend—no, this newly risen peak expert!

Lu Qingxuan nodded slightly, unsurprised by this. His destruction of Starfall Pavilion had caused a significant stir, and the news spreading was inevitable. This was good, as it would save him a lot of trouble.

Just as he was about to leave, the two bronze fragments in his Sea of Consciousness, which were slowly fusing and emanating a vast, ancient aura, suddenly trembled simultaneously, transmitting a faint yet exceptionally clear sense of attraction!

The direction pointed directly toward Godfall Star, specifically the Fallen Star Lake region! Moreover, it vaguely pointed toward the “Star Gathering Workshop,” where Qian Fu had just mentioned the Ten Thousand Treasures Tower branch was located!

The third bronze fragment was indeed in Fallen Star Lake! And it was highly likely to be inside the Ten Thousand Treasures Tower itself! Perhaps in the treasury, or perhaps... about to appear at an auction?

A sharp light flashed in Lu Qingxuan's eyes, and his new short-term goal was clear.

He stopped lingering, gave a slight nod to Qian Fu and the others, took a step, and his figure, enveloped in Chaos airflow, instantly vanished into the vast star sea, leaving the members of the Flowing Cloud Merchant Fleet standing there, gazing excitedly and reverently in the direction he had departed.

On the Ancient Star Road, the strong are respected. Today, he crushed the Star Pirates with one hand; another storm is sure to rise in the future. Fallen Star Lake, Ten Thousand Treasures Tower, the third bronze fragment... I, Lu Qingxuan, have arrived.