467: Zhu Xi

At the edge of the Eternal Night Star Ruins, a brilliant ancient star burned in solitude, forming a stark contrast to the surrounding silent stellar ruins.

It was named Zhu Xi Ancient Star, the only blazing sun in this dark Star Domain, and also the Human Race Holy Temple's stronghold in the Eternal Night Star Ruins.

This ancient star was massive, ten times the area of the Mystic Yellow Dao Territory, entirely enveloped in a crimson-gold divine radiance. From a distance, it resembled a sphere wrapped in Eternal fire, suspended in the endless darkness of the Chaos Sea.

Its surface was not barren like ordinary stars, but covered with vast lands, endless oceans, and ancestral divine mountains stretching for hundreds of millions of miles.

This was a living star; its Origin was still boiling, still burning!

It is said that within this ancient star, the Human Race Holy Temple, using supreme methods, had embedded several ancestral pulse, enough to support a dozen Dao Ancestors in Cultivating here.

And on the surface of the ancient star, amidst the undulating mountains and rivers, ancient runes were carved, with the faint echo of Dao sounds. This was set up by the Human Race Holy Temple's supreme Array Ancestor, sufficient to defend against the attacks of a Fourth-Step Dao Ancestor.

This star should not have existed in the Eternal Night Star Ruins.

The Star Devouring Clan, which devours stars for sustenance, considered a living ancient star to be the most delicious delicacy.

Especially an existence of the Zhu Xi Ancient Star's caliber, its rich stellar Origin was enough to drive the Star Devouring Clan's powerhouses mad.

Yet, the Holy Temple deliberately placed this ancient star at the edge of the Eternal Night Star Ruins!

This was a blatant provocation!

The Star Devouring Clan were enemies, so the Human Race Holy Temple naturally wouldn't be polite to them. This star was like a thorn, deeply embedded in the Star Devouring Clan's territory, making them feel as if they had a bone stuck in their throat, yet powerless to do anything.

If not for the invasion of the Tianyang Ruins, Zhu Xi Ancient Star would have been the Human Race Holy Temple's bridgehead for attacking the Eternal Night Star Ruins.

For the Star Devouring Clan, Zhu Xi Ancient Star was not just a star, but also a disgrace!

A disgrace that must be washed away with blood!

Therefore, they had secretly plotted many times over the years, but could never find an opportunity to act.

There were three Dao Ancestors on Zhu Xi Ancient Star, one of whom was a Third-Step Dao Ancestor. With three Dao Ancestors stationed there, and utilizing the grand array, they were sufficient to make a Fourth-Step Dao Ancestor bleed.

Even in the Chaos Sea, a Fourth-Step Dao Ancestor was an absolute powerhouse. The Star Devouring Clan only had one such powerhouse, who was currently summoned to Tianyang Pass to stand guard.

"Who goes there?"

As Xu Qing's figure just appeared in the chaotic mist outside Zhu Xi Ancient Star, the entire star's defense system was instantly activated.

Zhu Xi Ancient Star was one of the Human Race's important transit points, so it was naturally heavily guarded.

The entire ancient star was enveloped by a crimson-gold divine array light barrier. To enter or exit the ancient star, one had to pass through nine Zhu Xi Passes.

On these passes, countless intricate runes could be vaguely seen moving, monitoring all activity around them like living beings.

"Buzz—"

As soon as Xu Qing approached, a low tremor sounded from the Void Realm.

A bronze ancient mirror, suspended in the star ring, lit up simultaneously, its surface emitting dazzling divine light that enveloped him entirely.

This was the "God-Illuminating Mirror," a top-grade chaotic spiritual treasure-level investigative treasure, capable of seeing through all disguises and directly peering into a Cultivator's Origin.

The mirror's light swept over, leaving no Bloodline or Dao Soul hidden.

At the same time, one of the nine alarm bells on the pass's city wall, without wind, began to ring, emitting a crisp metallic tremor.

These bells, seemingly ordinary, were actually "Soul-Shaking Bells" forged from Chaos refined gold, specifically targeting existences beyond the Immortal Monarch Realm.

Once a being whose cultivation could not be seen appeared, a bell would ring, alerting the Human Race powerhouses within the pass.

"Halt!"

A cold shout came from deep within the pass, and twelve figures in crimson armor stepped through the air.

Each of them wore the "Star Incineration Emblem" unique to Zhu Xi Ancient Star on their chest, and their cultivation was at least that of an Immortal Overlord. The middle-aged man leading them held a bronze war halberd, and his cultivation was at the Immortal Venerable Realm.

Xu Qing noticed that the stance of these guards subtly conformed to the number of stars in the Zhou Tian, and their Qi mechanisms were interconnected.

Further away, on the watchtowers of the pass, dozens of archers had already drawn their rune-carved Meteorite Crossbows, their arrows locked onto Xu Qing.

Through the cracks in the city wall, giant dao crystal cannons, gleaming with cold light, could be vaguely seen—these were "Monarch-Slaying Cannons" capable of obliterating Dao Sovereigns.

"Holy Temple, Xu Qing!"

As Xu Qing spoke, he took out the Holy Temple's Grand Elder Token and activated it, causing the sun, moon, and stars to appear simultaneously.

Upon the appearance of the Grand Elder Token, the expressions of the few changed. Although they were not yet Elders of the Humanity Palace, they knew what this token represented.

Even the Emperor of Zhu Xi would have to bow to a Holy Temple Grand Elder.

"Greetings, Grand Elder Xu!"

The few immediately clasped their fists in salute.

They had no doubts. Although they didn't know Xu Qing, the Humanity Palace token required the holder's soul blood to recognize its master; if it wasn't the person himself, the token simply couldn't be activated.

"Rise!"

As Xu Qing's voice fell, an invisible force lifted them up.

"This Venerable is visiting Zhu Xi Ancient Star for the first time. Are there any delicious foods or wines here? Please recommend some!"

Xu Qing asked with a smile.

The middle-aged man leading them heard this and replied with a smile: "Replying to Grand Elder Xu, there is a Star-Picking Tower in the imperial capital, which has a fine wine called 'Broad Cold Soul Drunk.' One cup can intoxicate a Dao Sovereign, and it possesses many profound mysteries. Unfortunately, it is expensive; a single pot is worth ten thousand Zhu Xi Ancient Coins."

"Oh? Then this Venerable must try it! Let's go!"

Xu Qing immediately became interested. With a wave of his hand, a storage ring was tossed out.

"Grand Elder, take care!"

The middle-aged man leading them took the storage ring and respectfully saw him off.

Only after Xu Qing had gone far did he probe it with his Dao sense, and his expression changed in surprise; inside were several Immortal medicines suitable for their Dao.

Few people were this generous.

After Xu Qing entered the pass, he walked towards the imperial capital.

Zhu Xi Ancient Star, for the convenience of conscription, was established in the form of a kingdom.

There was only one country here, the Zhu Xi Ancient Kingdom, and the royal family of the ancient kingdom were descendants of one of the Dao Ancestors.

The entire ancient kingdom had an independent currency system, the Zhu Xi Coin. Only Zhu Xi Coins could be used here. Zhu Xi Coins were divided into four grades: Zhu Xi Copper Coin, Zhu Xi Silver Coin, Zhu Xi Gold Coin, and Zhu Xi Ancient Coin.

Generally, Immortal items needed to be purchased with Zhu Xi Ancient Coins.

The simplest way to obtain Zhu Xi Coins was to exchange them for energy stones.

For example, one Zhu Xi Ancient Coin was worth 10 top-grade dao crystals, and there was an exchange limit: no matter who it was, they could only exchange once every 100,000 years, and each time they could only exchange an amount worth 100,000 Zhu Xi Ancient Coins.

This was done, firstly, to increase the value of Zhu Xi Ancient Coins; secondly, to collect a large number of Chaos energy stones through exchange rates, accumulating wealth for the Holy Temple.

Once there was a limit, profits would follow.

The Zhu Xi Ancient Kingdom could only conduct transactions with Zhu Xi Coins, so some people, in order to obtain more Zhu Xi Ancient Coins, would privately exchange them in the black market.

But little did they know that a large portion of the people in this black market were from the Holy Temple. In this way, limits were imposed officially, while secretly acting as middlemen, raising exchange rates to earn the difference.

The Human Race Holy Temple's ability to develop to its current extent, cultivating so many powerhouses, in addition to legitimate means, also involved many illegitimate means behind the scenes.

For a force to develop, these are unavoidable methods.

The development of the Xuanhuang Merchant Guild was also like this; for its development, all obstructing forces had already been annihilated.