142: Chapter 142 Three Stars Gather, Ancient Road Gate Opens

Above Chaos Valley, that crack was expanding at a speed visible to the naked eye.

It wasn't tearing.

It was being "pried open."

Like a giant beast slumbering for eternal ages, it slowly opened its first eyelid the moment it sensed three keys being inserted into the keyholes simultaneously.

Lin Ye stood where he was, holding [Star Token I] in his right hand and [Star Token II] in his left. Shi Potian stood by his side, his palm pressed against [Star Token III], which was already deeply bound to his Bloodline.

The three tokens did not touch.

But between them, a visible connection spanning physical space was forming.

That connection wasn't a line, wasn't light, and wasn't any form of energy that could be captured by conventional perception.

That was—

Star Orbits.

On the surface of [Star Token I], the seven star patterns arranged in the shape of the big dipper all lit up at this moment. Each star pulsated at a different frequency, like a heartbeat.

On the surface of [Star Token II], the three star patterns arranged in a triangle glowed with a more restrained but deeper light—that was the stellar power containing the Law of Space, steeped for ten thousand years in the phantom of the wushi bell.

On the surface of [Star Token III], the nine fist prints of varying depths all emitted a dark golden halo. Every fist print was vibrating; it was the resonance between the Ancestor's will and the forty-seventh generation successor.

Three tokens, three completely different stellar orbits, at this very moment—

Deviated from their respective paths simultaneously.

The handle of the big dipper began to curve, pointing toward a certain spot in the void that was originally empty.

The triangular star Formation began to spin. With every rotation, it left a pale silver spatial anchor at the position the handle pointed to.

The nine fist prints "struck out" in sequence. Each phantom of a fist print crossed the tiny gaps between the tokens and slammed heavily into the forming anchor point.

Once.

Twice.

Thrice.

...

The ninth time.

BOOM—!!!

That wasn't an explosion.

It was something older, more fundamental, closer to the first cry at the birth of the Universe—

"Open."

Three hundred meters above Chaos Valley, that patch of void locked simultaneously by the big dipper's handle, the triangular star Formation's anchor, and the nine Ancestor fist prints—

Split open.

It wasn't the hideous, chaotic, destruction-filled tear of a spatial rift.

It was an "opening."

Like pushing open a palace gate that had been sealed for ten thousand years.

The edges of the crack were extremely regular, forming a perfect circle about ten meters in diameter. Interweaving flows of silver-white and dark-gold energy circulated at the edges. This wasn't any known attribute of spiritual power or technological energy, but something more primitive, purer, and closer to the Origin of Laws—

Star Road Power.

Through that circular gateway, the scenery on the other side was faintly visible.

That was not the familiar starry sky of the Big Dipper Star Field.

That was another firmament.

There was no sun, no moon, and no stars in any form known to human cognition in that firmament. There were only countless stars, ten or a hundred times more dense than in the Big Dipper Star Field, scattered irregularly across the deep purple sky, each flickering at a different frequency.

The light of those stars wasn't white, yellow, or even blue or red.

It was "transparent."

Pure light, without any Impurities.

On the ground directly below the gateway, all members of the Heavenly Court looked up in unison.

No one spoke.

It wasn't just because they were shocked into silence—though that was certainly part of it.

It was because a certain pressure emanating from that gateway made everyone instinctively realize—

To speak at this moment would be a sign of disrespect toward this eternal Ancient Star Road.

【Server-wide Announcement—!!!】

Golden System text, in a font bolder, larger, and brighter than ever before, exploded simultaneously in the center of every online player's vision.

It wasn't the Big Dipper Star Field channel.

It wasn't the Eternal Star Domain channel.

It was server-wide.

For the first time since the launch of "covering the heavens era" five months ago—

A true server-wide announcement.

【Server-wide Announcement: Player "Night Emperor (Heavenly Court)" led faction member "Shi Potian (Heavenly Court)" to successfully activate three "star tokens," opening a stable teleportation gate to the "Ancient Star Road" above Chaos Valley in the Yan State of the Big Dipper Star Field!】

【Ancient Star Road · First Trial Ancient Star】

【Map Type: Special Cross-Star Field Trial Ground】

【Rank Requirement: ≥ Rank 50】

【Entry Method: Requires an "Ancient Star Road Pass" (First-time entrants can claim one for free at the teleportation gate)】

【Teleportation Gate Duration: 7 Days (Game Time)】

【After 7 days, players without a pass will be unable to enter through this gate; players who already possess a pass can teleport autonomously at any time via the pass.】

【Ancient Star Road · Server-wide Achievement Unlocked】

【Achievement Name: "Trailblazer"】

【Requirement: Become the first faction to open a stable teleportation gate to the Ancient Star Road.】

【Achieved by: Heavenly Court】

【Achievement Rewards:】

【1. All faction members (including peripheral members) receive the title "Ancient Road Pioneer": All Stats +5%, an additional +10% within the Ancient Star Road map.】

【2. Faction Leader "Night Emperor" receives the exclusive title "Ancient Star Guide": All Stats +10%, can sense all hidden quests/treasure chests/Secret Realm entrances within a 500-meter radius in the Ancient Star Road map.】

【3. Faction receives one-time special items "Ancient Road Supply Crate" ×10 (Contains Ancient Star Road specific medicines, ammunition, and repair tools).】

【4. Faction Reputation +200,000 (Server-wide).】

【5. Faction Ranking Increase: Rank 5 → Rank 4.】

———

The entire server was in an uproar.

Big Dipper Star Field · Central Continent · Divine City · Divine Temple Branch.

Michael stood before a floor-to-ceiling window. The astrology crystal he had just taken from the altar was vibrating frantically.

He looked at the line of text appearing on the crystal's surface—"Ancient Star Road · Opened · Opener: Heavenly Court."

He was silent for three seconds.

Then he turned and spoke to his subordinate behind him:

"Mobilize all Divine Temple Knights of Rank 50 or higher. Complete the application for the Ancient Road Pass within six hours."

"And—"

He paused:

"Notify the Main Temple. We need reinforcements."

———

Eternal Star Domain · Star Ring City · Headquarters of the Seventh Research Fleet.

Carl Reynolds stared at the golden announcement on the holographic screen, his finger hovering over the data pad for a full ten seconds.

He didn't issue any commands.

He simply adjusted his monocle and whispered a single sentence:

"...Three million credits."

"That money... they didn't spend it in vain."

———

Purple Mountain · Primordial Royal Court · Main Hall.

The Blood Prince crushed the crystal wine glass in his hand.

The crimson wine mixed with the blood seeping from his fingertips, dripping onto the floor with a corrosive sizzling sound.

He didn't speak.

He just stared at the line on the screen that said "Opener: Heavenly Court," staring at the name that had forced him to back down in public, cost him thirty Blood God Guardss, chased him from Purple Mountain all the way to the Eternal Star Domain, and made him lose face at the auction—

Night Emperor.

Lin Ye.

Heavenly Court.

After a long while.

"...Ancient Road." His voice was very low, like venom squeezed from the depths of his throat.

"I can't get in."

The vampire butler behind him kept his head down, not daring to respond.

The Blood Prince was Rank 59.

The entry requirement for the Ancient Star Road was Rank 50 or higher.

He met the condition.

But he didn't have a star token.

He didn't have a pass.

He had no way to enter that Ancient Road, which had just been personally opened by his mortal enemy, during the seven-day duration of the teleportation gate.

"Notify the Stone Emperor." The Blood Prince stood up, his back to everyone.

"The Primordial Royal Court, starting today—"

"Will go to full combat readiness."

"However much Lin Ye can bring back from the Ancient Road, I will make him—spit out just as much."

———

Chaos Valley.

The circular gateway still hung quietly three hundred meters in the air, the silver-white and dark-gold energy flows at its edges pulsating steadily, like breathing.

Lin Ye looked down at his palm.

The three star tokens were still in his and Shi Potian's hands, but the star patterns on their surfaces had all dimmed, returning to the dormant state they were in before activation.

【Star Token I / II / III (Activated)】

【Current Status: Energy Depleted】

【Charging Progress: 0%】

【Estimated Charging Completion: In 72 hours】

【Charging Method: Absorb starlight (Recovers 1% per hour in a starlight environment)】

【Note: The three star tokens have completed their historical mission. Henceforth, they will serve as "Ancient Star Road Teleportation Credentials" and "Specific Ruin Opening Keys," and will no longer function to open new teleportation gates.】

Seventy-two hours.

This was the seven-day window they had exchanged the three tokens for.

Within seven days, all members of the Heavenly Court—and all players in the server of Rank 50 or higher—could pass through this gateway, claim a pass for free, and enter the Ancient Star Road.

After seven days, this gate would close.

At that time, anyone wishing to enter the Ancient Road would need to possess a bound pass or find other scattered entrances in the starry sky.

This was what the Heavenly Court had traded five years of 30% spiritual energy revenue from Chaos Valley, two death-defying infiltrations into Purple Mountain, a bloody battle for three million credits in the Eternal Star Domain, and Shi Potian's brush with death in the Eighth Trial of the Ancestor Star for—

A seven-day window.

It was also the unique and non-replicable advantage that the Heavenly Court held over every other faction in the server—

A seven-day head start.

"Boss."

Chen Hao's voice came from behind him, carrying an uncontrollable tremor.

It wasn't fear.

It was excitement.

Lin Ye turned around.

He saw the most orderly, elite, and reassuring—

Ten faces since the founding of the Heavenly Court five months ago.

—

【Heavenly Court · First Ancient Star Road Expeditionary Force · Ten-Man Roster】

【Position 1 · Leader / Chaos Heavenly Emperor Body】 Lin Ye (Night Emperor)

Rank: 60 (Four Poles Peak)

Combat Rating: 97,300 - 112,000 (Capable of fighting Rank 68-72 ordinary players)

Current Equipment: myriad things mother qi cauldron embryo (Damaged / Durability 31%), Void Battle Armor (Epic Set), Chaos Battle Boots (Epic), bronze ghost mask (Legendary)

Core Skills: Chaos Domain, Chaos Heaven Opening, Chaos Star Scripture, Void Step

Ancient Road Role: Overall Commander / Main DPS / Crisis Management

【Position 2 · Deputy Leader / Vast Cold Spirit Body】 Su Qingyue

Rank: 50 (Four Poles Second Tier)

Combat Rating: 71,200 - 83,400 (Capable of fighting Rank 58-63 ordinary players)

Current Equipment: Moonlight Robe (Epic), ice soul sword (Epic), Vast Cold Amulet (Legendary)

Core Skills: Vast Cold Descent, Moon Soul Ice Sword, Frozen Absolute Domain, Sword of Great Yin

Ancient Road Role: Deputy Commander / Ice Crowd Control / AoE DPS

【Position 3 · Azure Dragon Hall Master / Hegemon Body】 Shi Potian

Rank: 57 (Four Poles Third Tier)

Combat Rating: 85,700 - 92,300 (Capable of fighting Rank 64-68 ordinary players)

Current Equipment: Azure Dragon Battle Armor (Epic / Upgraded), Hegemon Blade (Epic / Damaged), Ancestor Star Heart-Protecting Mirror (Legendary)

Core Skills: Boundless Hegemon, Star Shattering Fist, Hegemon Blood Boiling, Ancestor Star Protection

Ancient Road Role: Main Tank / Frontline Assault / Crisis Management

【Position 4 · Mecha Master / God King Body (Awakening)】 Chen Hao

Rank: 53 (Four Poles Second Tier)

Combat Rating: 61,200 - 69,800 (Capable of fighting Rank 55-60 ordinary players)

Current Equipment: chaos unit no. 1 (Legendary / Growth Type), Starflare Battle Armor Type III (Epic), God King Amulet (Rare / Resonating)

Core Skills: Mecha Piloting (Master), Particle Cannon Specialization, Emergency Repair, God King Body · Sprout

Ancient Road Role: Ranged Firepower / Mechanical Support / Reconnaissance

【Position 5 · Heavenly Court Chamber of Commerce President】 Zhao Noji

Rank: 48 (Dao Palace Peak)

Combat Rating: 32,100 - 38,700 (Capable of fighting Rank 45-50 ordinary players)

Current Equipment: Commerce President Robe (Epic), mysterious gold abacus (Legendary / Support), Star Domain Trade Permit (Temporary)

Core Skills: Asset Evaluation (Grandmaster), Negotiation Expert (Master), Resource Allocation, Emergency Procurement

Ancient Road Role: Logistics Support / Materials Management / Emergency Trading

【Position 6 · Heavenly Secret Pavilion Master】 Qin Ruoxue

Rank: 49 (Dao Palace Peak)

Combat Rating: 41,300 - 45,600 (Capable of fighting Rank 48-53 ordinary players)

Current Equipment: Heavenly Secret Robe (Epic), thousand faces cloak (Legendary), Intelligence Jade Slip (Exclusive)

Core Skills: Intelligence Analysis (Grandmaster), Disguised Infiltration (Master), Formation Breaking, Crisis Warning

Ancient Road Role: Intelligence Processing / Environmental Analysis / Trap Evasion

【Position 7 · Vermilion Bird Hall Master】 Chu Yunxi

Rank: 52 (Four Poles First Tier)

Combat Rating: 53,700 - 59,900 (Capable of fighting Rank 53-57 ordinary players)

Current Equipment: flame feather bow (Epic), Fire Phoenix Feather Robe (Epic), Vermilion Bird Token (Faction Exclusive)

Core Skills: Flame Feather Arrow Array (Master), Flame Enchantment, Eagle Eye, Vermilion Bird Protection

Ancient Road Role: Ranged Sniping / Firepower Coverage / High Ground Control

Note: Newly appointed Vermilion Bird Hall Master, formerly Chen Hao's deputy. Performed excellently commanding the Flame Feather Arrow Array during the Purple Mountain breakout. Temporarily reassigned to the expeditionary force.

【Position 8 · Black Tortoise Hall Master】 Zhou Tieshan

Rank: 51 (Four Poles First Tier)

Combat Rating: 48,900 - 52,300 (Capable of fighting Rank 52-56 ordinary players)

Current Equipment: black tortoise shield (Epic), Heavy Rock Armor (Epic), Black Tortoise Token (Faction Exclusive)

Core Skills: Immovable as a Mountain (Grandmaster), Taunt, Group Shield, Damage Sharing

Ancient Road Role: Off-Tank / Group Defense / Formation Core

Note: One of the founders of the Black Tortoise Hall and general head of the Heavenly Court's defense System. Once tanked the Rank 60 BOSS "Earth Dragon Scorpion King" for 28 minutes at Rank 53.

【Position 9 · Chief Healer】 Yun Qianxue

Rank: 50 (Four Poles First Tier)

Combat Rating: 36,700 - 41,200 (Capable of fighting Rank 48-52 ordinary players)

Current Equipment: green lotus staff (Epic), Moonlight Robe (Rare), fountain of life (Legendary / Consumable)

Core Skills: Spring Renewal (Grandmaster), Group Healing, Dispel, Combat Resurrection (30-minute cooldown)

[part:gemini-3.1-flash-lite]

Ancient Star Road Role: Main Healer / Status Recovery / Emergency Rescue

Note: The only healer class in the Heavenly Court to possess the 'Combat Resurrection' skill; has pulled core members back from the brink of death seven times in faction battles.

[Position 10 · Chief Formation Master] Lu Xinghe

Level: 49 (Peak Dao Palace)

Combat Power Rating: 40100-44500 (Can fight average players of level 49-53)

Current Equipment: star compass (Epic), Tiangang Formation Robe (Rare), Formation Dao Jade Slip (Legendary)

Core Skills: Formation Placement (Grandmaster Rank), Rune Deciphering, Energy Diversion, Temporary Position Construction

Ancient Star Road Role: Formation Support / Environmental Modification / Defensive Fortifications

Note: Founder of the Heavenly Court's Formation System, one of the primary designers of the Chaos Valley Spirit Gathering Transformation Formation; responsible for constructing the temporary positions for this Ancient Star Road expedition.

——

Ten people. Ten pairs of eyes.

Lin Ye looked at them, one by one.

Su Qingyue stood on his left, her icy blue long hair gently fluttering in the night breeze, the frost patterns on her robe shimmering under the starlight. Her gaze was calm and focused, with no fear, no hesitation, and not even curiosity about the unknown journey—only a determined trust he was already very familiar with.

Shi Potian stood on his right; since returning from the Ancestor Star, he had become much more composed. It wasn't that he spoke less—he never spoke much to begin with—it was a deeper kind of change. He stood there, no longer needing to deliberately maintain a combat-ready posture, no longer needing to be ready to burn his Hegemon Blood at any moment. He simply stood there, like a mountain.

Chen Hao stood at the edge of the mecha hangar. The cockpit hatch of the chaos unit no. 1 was already open; half his body was leaning out, still clutching the debugging tools he hadn't had time to put down. His eyes were astonishingly bright, filled with a fanaticism for mecha combat, a longing for the unknown star road, and the sentiment of 'finally waiting for this day'.

Zhao Wuji was not looking at that door.

He kept his head lowered, his fingers swiftly sliding across a floating data pad, his lips moving slightly. Lin Ye didn't need to hear to know what he was silently calculating—seven days of supply consumption, ten people's worth of medical reserves, mecha ammunition base, spare parts list, Emergency Procurement channels...

Qin Ruoxue stood at the very edge of the crowd, the hood of her thousand faces cloak half-concealing her face. She wasn't looking at the door, nor at Lin Ye, nor at anyone else. She was looking at the Intelligence Jade Slip in her palm. The data stream on the screen was refreshing at a rate of hundreds of lines per second—that was the Heavenly Secret Pavilion's intelligence network, spanning the Big Dipper Star Field, the Eternal Star Domain, and even extending outwards towards the Ancient Star Road, laying out an unprecedented information map for her.

Chu Yunxi's fingers rested on the string of her flame feather bow, gently plucking it. Her eyes were fixed on the portal three hundred meters high, her pupils reflecting the flowing silver-white and dark gold at its edges. Her level was only 52, ranking seventh among the ten, but the bow in her hand had once fired six hundred and forty-two flame feather arrows that pierced the Primordial Royal Court's defense line in the Battle of Black Stone Wasteland.

Zhou Tieshan was silently wiping the surface of his Profound Turtle Shield. It was an epic-grade heavy shield, 1.7 meters tall, 0.9 meters wide, and 15 centimeters thick. Its surface was covered in dents, cracks, and three fatal wounds that had nearly pierced through the shield. He traced every scar with his fingertips, as if having a final pre-battle conversation with an old friend.

Yun Qianxue was distributing healing potions.

Not distributing them in bulk, but personally handing them to each person, watching them stow them in their Storage Ring in the most accessible spot, and then saying softly: 'Remember the location, use it the moment you're injured, don't skimp.'

Her voice was light and soft, but no one dared not to listen.

Lu Xinghe was squatting on the ground, using his star compass to measure the energy field parameters directly beneath the portal. His brows furrowed and smoothed, his fingers tracing through the air, outlining complex phantom runes that no one else could understand. He was calculating—whether, during the seven-day duration of this portal, it was possible to build a temporary 'one-way information transmission Formation' between Chaos Valley and the first level of the Ancient Star Road.

Ten people. Ten types of preparation. One same direction.

——

[System Prompt: You have met the requirements to claim the 'Ancient Star Road Pass']

[Claim Method: Face the portal and silently recite 'Ancient Star Road Departure' in your heart]

[Claim Limit: Each player is limited to 1 per lifetime]

[Pass Characteristics:]

[1. Soul-bound, non-tradable, non-droppable, cannot be destroyed]

[2. The pass is retained after death, but coordinates must be reset at a resurrection point within the Ancient Star Road (24-hour cooldown)]

[3. Holders of the pass can autonomously teleport to unlocked Ancient Star Road levels at any time (even after the portal closes)]

[4. First-time entrants receive a 'Ancient Star Road Novice Supply Pack' (contains Town Portal Scroll x1, Ancient Star Road Special Healing Pill x10, Ancient Star Road Special Spirit Recovery Pill x10, Ancient Star Road Simple Star Map x1)]

Lin Ye raised his head, facing the portal interwoven with silver-white and dark gold.

He silently recited in his heart: Ancient Star Road Departure.

[You have obtained: Ancient Star Road Pass (First Level)]

A crystal card, palm-sized, completely transparent, with the same star patterns engraved on its surface as the star token, slowly emerged from the Void Realm and drifted into his palm.

[Ancient Star Road Pass (First Level · Trial Ancient Star)]

[Type: Cross-Star Domain Teleportation Voucher/Identity Identification]

[Quality: Legendary (Bound)]

[Description: The holder of this pass is recognized by the ancient will of the Ancient Star Road as a 'Trial Taker'. This pass will record all your achievements, combat records, and death counts within the Ancient Star Road.]

[Current Holder: Night Emperor (Lin Ye)]

[Binding Status: Bound (Cannot be changed)]

[Unlocked Levels:]

[First Level · Trial Ancient Star] Not entered

[Second Level · Eternal Star Domain] Not unlocked (Must pass the first level trial)

[Third Level · Hegemon Body Ancestral Star] Unlocked (Associated Bloodline detected, can teleport at any time, does not occupy Ancient Star Road trial progress)

[Fourth Level and beyond] Not unlocked

[Current Ancient Star Road Combat Record:]

[Trial Clear Count: 0]

[Star Ranking: None]

[Alien Player Kills: 0]

[Death Count: 0]

[Note: Every battle, every victory, every defeat, every death of yours—will be remembered by this ancient road.]

Lin Ye put away the pass. He turned around and looked at the nine faces behind him.

'Did everyone get it?'

The nine nodded.

'The pass is bound, it won't drop on death, and resurrection requires a 24-hour cooldown.' Lin Ye's voice was calm, as if reciting a tactical manual he had already memorized by heart. 'This means that in the Ancient Star Road, each of us only has one life.'

'Die once, and you cannot re-enter the Ancient Star Road for battle for 24 hours.'

'Die twice, and you are completely out of this expedition.'

'So—' He paused. 'Come back alive.'

It was not an order. It was a request.

The nine people were silent for three seconds.

Then Shi Potian spoke.

'Boss,' he said, 'you forgot to count one thing.'

Lin Ye looked at him.

Shi Potian slowly raised his right hand and clenched his fist.

That fist had once withstood three direct blows from a level 70 Progenitor phantom in the Ninth Trial of the Ancestor Star without falling.

That fist, the Hegemon patterns on the back of his hand were now slowly, steadily lighting up.

'This life of mine,' he said. 'I've already died three times on the Ancestor Star.'

'And I came back alive every time.'

His voice was very calm, so calm it was as if he were talking about a trivial matter unrelated to himself: 'So—I can die four times.'

No one laughed. Because everyone knew this was not a joke.

This was Shi Potian's way of saying: I will come back alive. And I will bring you all back alive.

——

Seven minutes later. Ten beams of transparent starlight descended from the circular portal above Chaos Valley.

That was the Ancient Star Road's guiding light.

Lin Ye stood in the center of the guiding beam, feeling his body being slowly lifted upward by a gentle yet irresistible force.

He did not look back at Chaos Valley. He did not look back at the Mecha Workshop, the Martial Arts Practice Field, the Spirit Gathering Formation, or the window on the third floor of the main hall where he had stood for countless dusks.

He only raised his head, looking at the portal getting closer and closer, looking at the deep purple sky on the other side of the portal, which had no sun, no moon, only countless transparent stars.

[System Prompt: You are about to enter the Ancient Star Road · First Level · Trial Ancient Star]

[Trial Ancient Star Basic Information:]

[Environmental Gravity: 9.7 G (Big Dipper Star Field standard)]

[Atmospheric Composition: Nitrogen 78%, Oxygen 19%, Inert Gases 3% (Breathable)]

[Spiritual Qi Concentration: 32% of Big Dipper Star Field]

[Stellar Power Concentration: 270% of Big Dipper Star Field]

[Main Threats:]

[1. Star Beast (Level 55-70, gregarious, extremely strong territorial awareness)]

[2. Gravity Adaptation Period (All players need 2-4 hours to adapt to 9.7 times gravity)]

[3. Space Rifts (Space on the outer periphery of the Ancient Star is unstable, pay attention to positioning during combat)]

[4. Alien Trial Takers (Players/NPC Trial Takers from other Star Domains, neutral/hostile random)]

[First Level Trial Objectives:]

[1. Reach the teleportation array on the opposite side of the Ancient Star within 7 days (Main Quest)]

[2. Defeat the level boss 'Star Core Giant Beast' (Optional, recommended for teams level 70 and above)]

[3. Explore the ancient star ruins, find the star tablet (Optional, records the rankings of past Trial Takers)]

[4. Other hidden quests/Secret Realms/Legacy (Need to explore on your own)]

[Wishing you great martial fortune.]

——

The guiding beam merged into the silver-white energy flow at the edge of the portal.

In that instant, Lin Ye's vision was filled with countless transparent stars.

That was not the starry sky. That was the sight seen by countless Trial Takers who had stepped onto this ancient road since ancient times, in their final glance before falling.

Those stars had no names, no coordinates, no location that could be recorded on any star map.

But every single one of them had witnessed a Trial Taker's—pride, unwillingness, regret, and the obsession they did not let go of even in death.

Lin Ye closed his eyes. Three seconds later, he opened them.

His feet stepped onto the ground of the Trial Ancient Star.

9.7 times gravity, like an invisible giant palm, pressed down from all directions simultaneously.

His knees sank slightly—then straightened again.

Behind him, the guiding beams descended one after another. Su Qingyue. Shi Potian. Chen Hao. Zhao Wuji. Qin Ruoxue. Chu Yunxi. Zhou Tieshan. Yun Qianxue. Lu Xinghe.

Nine people, nine pairs of eyes, opened simultaneously under the same strange purple sky.

In the distance, the long, low hiss of a Star Beast could be heard.

Further away, the blurred outline of an ancient stone tablet appeared and disappeared at the end of the horizon. That was the star tablet. The glory and tombstone of generations of Trial Takers.

Lin Ye took a deep breath—the 32% concentration of Spiritual Qi on this planet, carrying a strange, cold, primordial aura that felt as if it had never been breathed by humans before, surged into his lungs.

He did not look back. He simply took the first step.

'Let's go.'

Nine figures followed closely behind.

——

At the same moment. Big Dipper Star Field · Yan State · Chaos Valley.

The portal interwoven with silver-white and dark gold still hovered quietly three hundred meters in the air.

Below the portal, three thousand six hundred Heavenly Court members—Azure Dragon Hall, White Tiger Hall, Vermilion Bird Hall, Black Tortoise Hall, Mecha Workshop, Heavenly Court Chamber of Commerce, Heavenly Secret Pavilion, and countless ordinary members who were still in the level-sprinting period and unable to cross the 50-level threshold—looked up at that door.

No one spoke. No one left.

They just stood there, watching their leader, their hall masters, their companions—disappear to the other side of the door.

For a long time. A young Mecha Master wearing workshop overalls, covered in machine oil, and only level 43, spoke in a low voice: '...They'll come back, right?'

No one answered him. But of the three thousand six hundred people, not a single one left.

They just stood there. From dusk, to deep night. From deep night, to dawn.

Until the light of that door gradually faded in the morning light—like a seven-day countdown, moving forward, second by second.

——

Trial Ancient Star. Lin Ye stopped.

He turned around and looked at the nine familiar faces behind him, looking at the expression on each of their faces—no fear, no hesitation, only determination.

He did not speak. He only slowly pressed his right hand to his chest.

There, three star tokens were lying quietly in the deepest part of his Storage Ring, their energy exhausted, their star patterns dim.

But their mission was already complete.

The Ancient Star Road, had opened.

The arena for the ten thousand races to compete, had been set.

And he—they—Heavenly Court—were the first Trial Takers to set foot on this road.

Lin Ye lowered his hand. He raised his head, looking at the purple, temperatureless sun slowly rising from the end of the horizon.

'Let's go.' His voice was light, yet clearly reached everyone's ears: 'Let's go break the record.'

Nine figures stepped forward simultaneously.

Behind them, the outline of the star tablet became clearer and clearer.

Ahead, was the seven-day time limit, the 9.7 times gravity, countless Star Beasts and unknown threats—and that record, carved at the end of the Ancient Star Road, waiting to be broken—the record for the first in history.

1 day 7 hours. Nameless One. Ancient Star Road First Level, Trial Ancient Star—clear time.

The Heavenly Court has arrived.