159: The Seventy-Two Stars and the Opening of the Void Heaven

Tianxing City, Yun Zhu Courtyard.

A year has passed since the journey to the Thunderstorm Sea Region.

In this year, the winds and waves of the Chaotic Star Sea have become increasingly turbulent. Extreme Yin Island, in alliance with several Demonic Path Sects, has officially raised the banner of the "Reverse Star Alliance." Although they haven't openly attacked Tianxing City, most of the Star Palace's outposts in the Outer Sea have been uprooted, and the palace's prestige has faced an unprecedented challenge.

Amidst this storm, the "Qingyun Recycling Station" on the fiftieth level of Tianxing City has its doors tightly shut, with a sign hanging out that reads: "Closed for Artifact Refining, No Guests."

In the underground secret chamber.

This place no longer resembles a room; it is more like a sea of golden lightning.

Zhou Wannian (Old Man Han) sat cross-legged in the center, looking haggard with deep-set eyes, as if his essence and spirit had been drained over the past year. Yet, in his bloodshot eyes, a fire bordering on madness burned.

Floating before him was a massive blob of molten golden liquid.

That was the main trunk of the golden thunder divine wood. It had been smashed by the Star Lord Clone using the star heavy ruler and then calcined for a full three hundred and sixty-five days with the Pill Fire of a First-Grade Golden Core before it finally transformed into this essence.

"The final step."

Zhou Wannian's voice was hoarse.

From his Storage Pouch, he pulled out the bottle of taiyi star sand that he hadn't finished using.

"Ordinary green bamboo bee cloud swords, while naturally possessing Evil-Warding Divine Thunder, are made of a single material and are easily damaged when encountering top-tier ancient treasures."

"But if I add star sand with spatial attributes and then engrave the 'Light-Splitting Formation Lines' from the Cloud Seal Heavenly Scripture..."

"Go!"

With a flick of Zhou Wannian's wrist, the silver-gray star sand poured into the golden lightning liquid like the Milky Way falling from the Nine Heavens.

Zizizi—!!!

The fusion of gold and silver triggered a violent rejection reaction. The space within the secret chamber began to warp, and countless tiny black cracks drifted through the air.

"Suppress!"

Zhou Wannian shouted.

The Star Lord Clone behind him snapped its eyes open, and the terrifying force field of a Soul Transformation Stage Physical Body fully activated, forcibly suppressing the rampaging spatial cracks.

Simultaneously, Zhou Wannian's fingers flicked rapidly, releasing three thousand six hundred hand seals in a single breath.

"Divide!"

Buzz!

The mass of gold-and-silver-intertwined liquid instantly exploded.

It transformed into seventy-two spheres of light, each only the size of a thumb.

"Condense!"

As Zhou Wannian's Divine Sense carved them like a blade,

The seventy-two spheres of light began to elongate, flatten, and become sharp.

One breath.

Two breaths.

Three breaths.

"Qiang—!!!"

A unified sword hum, sounding as if seventy-two young dragons were roaring at once, pierced through the secret chamber's Restriction and even caused the entire Yun Zhu Courtyard to tremble.

The light dissipated.

Seventy-two small swords, only about an inch long, swam cheerfully around Zhou Wannian like fish.

They were pale gold throughout, but silver starlight flowed along the edges of the blades. On each sword's body, a golden thunder mark and a silver cloud seal were naturally engraved.

[star thunder bee cloud swords] (Mutated version of the green bamboo bee cloud sword).

Grade: Lifebound Treasure (Set).

Characteristics:

Evil-Warding Divine Thunder: Specifically counters Demonic Techniques and ghost paths, with three times the power of ordinary divine thunder.

Spatial Cutting: Incorporates taiyi star sand; the Sword Qi carries a spatial tearing effect, ignoring most protective spiritual lights.

Sword Formation Augmentation: When used with the Great Geng Sword Formation diagrams, all seventy-two swords can be deployed together to trap and kill a Nascent Soul Middle Stage Cultivator!

"Hahahaha!"

Looking at these lovely little guys, Zhou Wannian couldn't help but laugh out loud.

"It was worth it!"

"This year of hard labor was worth it!"

He opened his mouth and inhaled.

The seventy-two Flying Swords instantly shrank, turning into a gold and silver torrent that entered his mouth, sank into his Dantian, and began to be nurtured around that First-Grade Golden Core.

Nurtured by the Pill Fire, the Flying Swords emitted satisfied hums.

"With this set of Lifebound Treasures, even without using my Clone, I can hold my own against a Nascent Soul Early Stage Cultivator."

Zhou Wannian stood up; though his body was exhausted, his spirit was more excited than ever.

Just then,

"Knock, knock, knock."

Ling Yunxiao's voice came from outside the secret chamber.

"Old Man Han, Young Master Wen (Ling Yuling) is here. And... her expression isn't very good."

...Front hall.

Today, Ling Yuling was not wearing her signature men's clothing, but had changed into a suit of sleek Star Palace Battle Armor. A long sword hung at her waist, and her brow was filled with a killing intent.

Seeing Zhou Wannian emerge, she didn't waste words and got straight to the point.

"Teacher, the Void Heaven Palace is about to open."

"I know," Zhou Wannian sat down and poured himself a cup of tea. "Counting the days, it should be within the next few days."

"The situation has changed."

Ling Yuling took out a Jade Slip that seemed exceptionally heavy at this moment and placed it on the table.

"On the Reverse Star Alliance's side, Patriarch Extreme Yin and that Confucian Sect hypocrite 'Wen Tian Benevolence' have joined forces. Not only do they intend to seize the 'void heaven cauldron' within the Void Heaven Palace, but they have also devised a 'Hunting Plan' targeting the Star Palace Elders."

"Furthermore..."

Ling Yuling looked at Zhou Wannian with a complex gaze.

"That old devil Extreme Yin has been searching like a madman for an 'old man with Puppets.' He says that person stole his Opportunity regarding a Transformed Thunder Flood Dragon."

"Teacher, that person... was you, wasn't it?"

Although it was a question, her tone was certain.

Zhou Wannian didn't deny it, merely giving a faint smile. "The winds and waves in the Outer Sea are strong; I just picked up some unwanted rotten wood."

Ling Yuling took a deep breath.

"Teacher, this trip to the Void Heaven Palace is a narrow escape from death."

"I came this time to ask you... not to go."

"Oh?" Zhou Wannian was somewhat surprised. "Is Young Master Wen concerned about me?"

"Not entirely."

Ling Yuling gave a bitter smile. "You are now our Star Palace's 'Imperial Formation Master,' and the Primal Magnetic Ring in my body still needs your periodic maintenance. If you perish in there, I won't live long either."

"More importantly..."

"The one leading the team this time is the Star Palace's Grand Elder Jin Kui (Nascent Soul Middle Stage), but he might not be able to suppress Extreme Yin and Wen Tianren."

"Inside the Void Heaven Palace, those at the Soul Transformation Stage cannot enter—they would be suppressed by the rules—and Nascent Soul Late Stage Great Cultivators usually won't risk themselves easily. Therefore, it will be a meat grinder for Nascent Soul Early and Middle Stage Cultivators."

After listening, Zhou Wannian lightly tapped his fingers on the table.

"Young Master Wen, thank you for your kind intentions."

"However..."

Zhou Wannian pulled out the Spirit Beast bag containing the Three-Tailed Spirit Fox from his robe.

"This little guy has been crying out lately, making so much noise I can't sleep."

"It's telling me that there's something I want inside the Void Heaven Palace."

"What is it?"

"The Heaven-Supplementing Pill."

A sharp light flashed in Zhou Wannian's eyes.

"I am quite a greedy person. Core Formation is not the end, nor is Nascent Soul. What I want is... Soul Transformation."

"And in this world, only the 'Heaven-Supplementing Pill' can compensate for the shortcomings of Five Elements Spiritual Roots and increase the chances of Soul Transformation."

"So, I must wade into these muddy waters."

Ling Yuling looked at Zhou Wannian's determined gaze and, after a long while, sighed.

"I knew I couldn't persuade you."

From a hidden layer of her battle armor, she took out a tattered, yellowed piece of parchment.

"Since you insist on going, let this be my final investment in you."

"What is this?"

"Void Heaven Palace · Inner Hall Remnant Map."

Ling Yuling lowered her voice. "This is a map that generations of Star Palace Elders traded their lives for. It marks safe routes through several key Restrictions in the Inner Hall, including... a shortcut to the Cold Separation Terrace where the 'void heaven cauldron' is located."

"Good stuff."

Zhou Wannian didn't stand on ceremony and accepted it directly.

"In return..."

Zhou Wannian pulled several silver-glowing Talismans from his Storage Pouch (refined from the scraps of taiyi star sand).

"This is an upgraded version of the 'Lesser Teleportation Talisman'—the 'Star Escape Talisman.'"

"Although flight is forbidden inside the Void Heaven Palace, this Talisman utilizes the power of the stars to allow you to traverse spatial barriers over short distances at critical moments, escaping from Restrictions."

"If you are also going in, Young Master Wen, take these to save your life."

Ling Yuling took the Talismans, a hint of emotion flashing in her eyes.

"Thank you, Teacher."

"Then... we shall meet at the Void Heaven Palace."

"I hope that when the time comes, we are not enemies."

...After seeing off Ling Yuling,

Zhou Wannian returned to the backyard.

"Ling Yunxiao, I don't need to repeat the rules for watching the shop, do I?"

"Don't worry, Old Man Han. Over these past few months, Lei San has already identified all the scouts in the vicinity. We're perfectly stable." Although Ling Yunxiao wanted to go, he knew his meager level of cultivation would just make him fodder.

"Fei Yu, Tie Zhu, Star Lord."

Zhou Wannian changed into an inconspicuous gray Loose Cultivator's robe and put on the formless mask.

His face twisted for a moment, instantly transforming into a sallow-faced, sickly-looking middle-aged Taoist.

His aura was also suppressed to the Core Formation Early Stage.

"From now on, I am 'Han Li,' a mere Loose Cultivator from the overseas regions."

"Let's go."

"To that legendary... Void Heaven Palace."

...Three days later.

Above Tianxing City, the winds and clouds suddenly surged.

A massive pillar of light shot out from the peak of Heavenly Star Mountain, reaching deep into the high heavens.

High in the sky, the phantom of an indescribably magnificent palace slowly emerged. It was carved entirely from white jade and surrounded by endless astral winds, lightning, and fire, radiating a vast aura from ancient times.

The [Void Heaven Palace].

It has appeared!

Countless streaks of light, like crucian carp crossing a river, rose from all parts of Tianxing City, racing to be the first to reach that palace.

Among them were hypocrites from the Righteous Path, true villains from the Demonic Path, and countless Loose Cultivators like Zhou Wannian who wanted to pull chestnuts out of the fire.

Zhou Wannian blended into the crowd, standing atop an ordinary Flying Sword, looking completely unremarkable.

But inside his sleeves,

The seventy-two star thunder bee cloud swordss were swimming cheerfully.

And on his shoulder, the Three-Tailed Spirit Fox, using a concealment Spell, was staring intently at the palace above, its eyes full of longing.

"The void heaven cauldron..."

Zhou Wannian looked at that palace and licked his lips.

"The greatest treasure of the Chaotic Star Sea."

"Old Monster Extreme Yin, Wen Tianren, and all you hidden old monsters..."

"I'll see you all inside."