CHAPTER 399: CHAPTER 340 10 STAR LORDS! [2ND UPDATE, REQUEST FOR MONTHLY TICKETS!]

As the crowd grew larger, more people began to see through the scene—

"Xu Ancestor’s Sword Qi is getting more ferocious. It seems his cultivation has advanced further!"

"Such mastery of Sword Dao—terrifying!"

"Could he have reached the level of Divine Transformation Great Power?"

"That seems to be the case! The person fighting against Xu Ancestor is the Independent Immortal Old Ancestor from Starfall Pavilion, ’Eight Extremes Venerable.’ He is skilled with the ’Eight Extremes Gang Flame,’ an ability derived from the ’Nine Revolutions Gang Flame.’ Throughout Starfall Pavilion, only he has mastered this technique."

"Eight Extremes Venerable?!"

"Heavens! This is a figure who was famous across the Star Sea thousands of years ago, a Second Tribulation Independent Immortal! And yet, he cannot defeat Xu Ancestor?"

"Not only that!"

"Look at Xu Ancestor—relying on Sword Dao and Magic alone, he’s already pushed Eight Extremes Venerable into such a disheveled state. And yet, his most formidable Immortal Array hasn’t even been unleashed. His full strength likely rivals that of a Third Tribulation or Fourth Tribulation Independent Immortal!"

"Unbelievable!"

"Unbelievable!"

...

Xu Ancestor.

The Seven-star Sword Lord.

This individual is known for being low-profile, but his reputation in Zone 8 is far from small.

Yet, until now, most people only assumed—

Xu Ancestor’s array formations could fend off Great Powers; his barehanded strength could stand undefeated among the first three realms.

No one expected that, after years of keeping a low profile, his sudden reappearance would reveal him to already possess Great Power-level combat strength.

Truly shocking.

Outside the Ten Wheel Star, the Divinity Transformation cultivators exchanged heated discussions, their expressions filled with astonishment.

Meanwhile, within the battlefield—

Eight Extremes Venerable could hardly express his misery.

Before undergoing Soldier Dissolution, he had already achieved Fourth Transformation cultivation. After Soldier Dissolution and cultivating anew, he was now a Second Tribulation Independent Immortal, essentially equivalent to a Great Power of the Second Transformation.

But in terms of strength, he surpassed typical Second Transformation or Second Tribulation cultivators.

And yet—

He was being utterly suppressed!

Eight Extremes Venerable gazed at the man known as the ’Seven-star Sword Lord,’ Xu Ning.

He couldn’t see through him at all.

The man seemed shrouded in mist, hiding his cultivation and depth from view.

He appeared to be in the Divine Separation Realm.

Yet resembled someone in the Divine Transformation Realm.

Upon closer inspection, he seemed merely a Primordial Unity cultivator of the Second Realm.

Too enigmatic.

Even amid such an intense battle, Xu Ning maintained a perfect veil of mystery.

This ability alone marked him as extraordinary.

Feeling his Sword Dao firsthand, Eight Extremes Venerable dared not relax for even a moment.

That infuriating sleeve technique—it wasn’t fatal, but it constrained his abilities, disrupted his Magic, destabilized his movements, and hampered his tunneling speed.

"Xu Ning!"

"What do you want?!"

Eight Extremes Venerable retreated and fled. A dignified Second Tribulation Independent Immortal, battered to such a miserable state, his fury boiled internally.

"What do I want?"

"Guxian, you brought Netherworld Mansion’s remnants, the ’Witch Bone Demon,’ to harm Wuhe Immortal Sect. Did you think I wouldn’t know?"

"Had I not possessed certain means to severely wound the ’Witch Bone Demon,’ I would’ve been dead by now, and Wuhe Immortal Sect would have been destroyed!"

Amid the starry skies, Chen Jichuan commanded the Sword River, seven stars shimmering, skillfully pressuring Eight Extremes Venerable into vigilance.

Upon hearing Eight Extremes Venerable’s questioning, he sneered internally, his fury bursting outward as he shouted.

This wasn’t mere fabrication.

In recent years—

Due to the rapid rise of Wuhe Immortal Sect, Starfall Pavilion’s business on Ten Wheel Star had suffered greatly, with profits plummeting.

Rather than addressing their shortcomings by strengthening their inner resources, Starfall Pavilion resorted to sinister and underhanded methods.

The Eight Extremes Venerable standing before him, real name Guxian, was one of Starfall Pavilion’s Independent Immortals renowned for deceit.

He used Starfall Pavilion’s network to uncover Wuhe Star’s headquarters within Zone 8.

Recently, he orchestrated a scheme against Chen Jichuan, bringing the Witch Bone Demon, who was later repelled by Chen Jichuan.

Eight Extremes Venerable believed he was operating covertly, unseen by both Chen Jichuan and the Witch Bone Demon.

Yet he had long been marked by Chen Jichuan.

Chen Jichuan avoided entangling himself with the Witch Bone Demon, wary of Eight Extremes Venerable’s lurking presence. Only after the Witch Bone Demon fled did Chen Jichuan decisively strike, ensnaring Eight Extremes Venerable.

This was a rare opportunity to gain prestige—

First defeating Witch Bone Demon.

Then repelling Guxian.

With these accomplishments, the reputation of Wuhe Immortal Sect’s Xu Ning Ancestor would undoubtedly spread across the Jiulong River System, no longer confined to Zone 8.

When he returned to Zone 9 and Wuhe Star, rallying followers and establishing his legacy would become far easier.

Naturally, he wouldn’t let Eight Extremes Venerable escape easily.

Instead, he maneuvered and pressured him towards Ten Wheel Star, drawing an audience of Divinity Transformation cultivators.

Then, publicly addressing him.

His goal was achieved.

...

Meanwhile—

"What Netherworld Mansion?"

"What Witch Bone Demon?!"

"I’m merely passing through this place. Xu Ning, your provocation is baseless! Don’t slander me!"

Eight Extremes Venerable’s face darkened, stubbornly refusing to admit anything.

"Stubborn like a dead duck!"

Chen Jichuan sneered, refusing to argue. Mana surged as his attacks grew threefold stronger.

Eight Extremes Venerable’s pressure immediately intensified.

Amid the starry skies—

The many Divinity Transformation cultivators listening to Xu Ancestor’s calmly spoken words suddenly understood—

"So that’s the reason."

"No wonder they’re fighting."

"Indeed. Wuhe Immortal Sect is rising powerfully, boasting numerous Divinity Transformation cultivators and top-tier Pills. In the grander Jiulong River System, it may not stand out, but within Ten Wheel Star, it rivals Starfall Pavilion."

"I didn’t expect Starfall Pavilion to stoop to such despicable tactics!"

"Netherworld Mansion’s Witch Bone Demon!"

"Hiss!"

"The Witch Bone Demon mentioned by Xu Ancestor is also a Second Tribulation Independent Immortal, known for his cruel and sinister methods. He’s incredibly hard to deal with, yet he was severely injured by Xu Ancestor?!"

"In recent years, this figure has committed numerous atrocities, massacring twelve sects and slaying even many Divine Separation Realm cultivators."

"Could all of this have been backed by Starfall Pavilion?"

...

Just as Chen Jichuan anticipated.

His pursuit of Eight Extremes Venerable, followed by his proclamation of the Witch Bone Demon’s defeat, immediately sparked widespread astonishment.

Not just that.

He casually saddled Starfall Pavilion with an unjust accusation—

"It only takes words to spread rumors; disproving them requires breaking one’s legs with running."

Even though the Witch Bone Demon’s attack on Wuhe Immortal Sect had undeniable ties to Starfall Pavilion and Eight Extremes Venerable—

Chen Jichuan lacked solid evidence, yet spoke with certainty.

The surrounding Divinity Transformation cultivators, one after another, dismissed any attempt at verification. A quick mental appraisal was enough for most to believe outright.

Some even connected the Witch Bone Demon’s past atrocities to Starfall Pavilion, pinning the blame firmly on them.

"Nonsense!"

Eight Extremes Venerable seethed inwardly.

Yet he found himself speechless.

Reflecting on the events leading up to this mess, his fury surged uncontrollably.

The intelligence claimed Xu Ning could deploy formations rivaling Great Powers and maintained strength that dominated Divinity Transformation cultivators across the first three realms.

But what of reality?

"Xu Ning’s combat strength rivals that of a Third Transformation or Third Tribulation Great Power!"

"The intelligence was inaccurate!"

Eight Extremes Venerable harbored deep resentment.

If the Witch Bone Demon had tested the waters and yielded such information, this venture might have been worth the trouble.

But instead, he himself was pulled into the fray, exposing his identity—a disastrous outcome.

"How did he discover me?!"

Eight Extremes Venerable prided himself on exceptional concealment, yet he was still outed. The baffling revelation frustrated him.

Boom boom boom!

Clang clang clang!

The battle in the starry skies raged on.

Eight Extremes Venerable grew increasingly disheveled.

Were this battle to drag on amid the vast cosmos, with him continuously encumbered for ten or twenty years, his life might ultimately be forfeit to Chen Jichuan.

But fortunately—

...

"Ten Wheel Star!"

Eight Extremes Venerable swung his long weapon sideways—

Boom boom boom!

The blow shifted stars in their orbits, forming a fiery barricade to push away the relentless Chen Jichuan.

He then quickly turned and transformed into a streak of blazing light, racing toward Ten Wheel Star.

Within Ten Wheel Star resided the rule of the Ten Star Lords, under whose protection few would dare act recklessly. If he could reach its sanctuary, his safety would be secured, and his reinforcements from Starfall Pavilion would arrive to ensure his escape.

"Lucky it’s nearby!"

Eight Extremes Venerable felt immense relief.

But just as the thought surfaced, before it even fully formed, he saw an enormous foot emerge seemingly from nowhere, descending like the heavens themselves to stamp down upon him.

Boom!

The blazing streak dissipated.

"Ah—"

Eight Extremes Venerable was sent flying, tumbling through space, unable to regain control.

...

"This—"

Inside and outside Ten Wheel Star, the Divinity Transformation cultivators, who had long been drawn to the spectacle in the starry skies, were stunned.

They watched as Eight Extremes Venerable fell into disadvantage, saw him transform into a blaze and attempt to reach the sanctuary of Ten Wheel Star under the protection of the Ten Star Lords.

But none of them foresaw—

Before he could enter, a single foot had already stomped down upon him.

"It’s the Red Feet Star Lord!"

Within Ten Wheel Star—and indeed across Zone 8 and the Jiulong River System—the one whose feet were as vast and powerful as the heavens could only be the ’Red Feet Star Lord,’ eighth among the Ten Star Lords.

His feet could traverse the four corners of the cosmos, could shatter stars.

A single step was enough to defeat someone like Eight Extremes Venerable, a Second Tribulation Independent Immortal, without resistance.

Truly formidable.

"Ten Wheel Star denies access to Great Powers."

"Regardless of Divine Transformation or Independent Immortal, none may enter without the invitation of the Ten Star Lords."

"Eight Extremes Venerable’s reckless attempt to escape into Ten Wheel Star is wishful thinking!"

The spectators in the starry skies sneered and mocked.

Humans harbor resentment toward the wealthy. Even cultivators aren’t exempt from such sentiments.

Starfall Pavilion had amassed untold quantities of Primordial Stones through its Pill trade. Seeing one of their Independent Immortals suffer humiliation today brought joy to onlookers.

...

"Red Feet Eight!"

Eight Extremes Venerable barely steadied himself.

Though he had been sent flying, as a Second Tribulation Independent Immortal, he hadn’t sustained any injuries from the blow.

His face was devoid of dignity, yet he understood that his survival was due to the other party showing mercy.

Suppressing his inner fury and forcing a smile, he adopted a respectful demeanor, bowing in Ten Wheel Star’s direction and cupping his hands in salute. "Guxian of Starfall Pavilion, passing through Ten Wheel Star, humbly seeks an audience with the esteemed Ten Star Lords. If I have offended in any way, I beg for your forgiveness!"

Starfall Pavilion.

Ten Wheel Star.

The former was one of the five major factions of the Jiulong River System, immensely wealthy, with countless powerful figures among its ranks.

But the latter was not to be trifled with either.

Especially in recent years.

The Ten Star Lords had consecutively passed their Sixth and Seventh Independent Immortal Tribulations, all ten siblings achieving the Seven Tribulations Realm.

Seven Tribulations Independent Immortal.

At this level of Great Power, even a single individual from the Jiulong River System commanded respect and authority.

Let alone ten individuals, all brothers and all within the Seven Tribulations Realm.

Today, they were an untouchable force across the Jiulong River System.

Even a faction as powerful as Starfall Pavilion dared not provoke them.

But Eight Extremes Venerable had not anticipated—

The Ten Star Lords would disdain his presence completely. Not only would they decline to grant him sanctuary, but they would also send him flying with a single kick.

"Outrageous!"

"Utterly outrageous!"

Eight Extremes Venerable felt a mixture of humiliation and rage, yet presented an even more deferential front.

...

Silence fell briefly within Ten Wheel Star.

Just as the crowd anticipated that the Ten Star Lords might grant Starfall Pavilion some measure of face, a thunderous voice roared out from within the star, shaking the rivers of light and echoing across the cosmos—

"Begone!"

A single word rang out like rolling thunder, carrying across the starry expanse.

"Big Mouth Nine!"

Eight Extremes Venerable’s mind roiled in shock, his face pale and flushed alternately. He recognized the speaker as ’Hengha Star Lord,’ also known as ’Wind Thunder Star Lord.’ He was ranked ninth among the Ten Star Lords.

His hums resonated as thunder.

His breaths swirled like wind.

He was formidable and terrifyingly so.

"Good, good, good!"

"Such great Ten Star Lords!"

Eight Extremes Venerable endured the humiliation, frustration burning within him.

Regardless of his boiling anger, he forced it down and made a respectful bow toward Ten Wheel Star before gritting his teeth and saying, "Guxian takes his leave!"

No response was given from Ten Wheel Star.

As he turned away, however, a gentle voice called out—

"Mr. Xu."

A boyish figure emerged from Ten Wheel Star—a young man with crimson lips, sparkling teeth, and eyes full of vitality. He politely cupped his hands toward the starry expanse, saying, "Pray, come in for a conversation."

"Wide Eyes Ten!"

"Shui De Star Lord!"

Eight Extremes Venerable cast a glance back, his inner resentment surging further. Without any hesitation, he disappeared into the distance.

...