The Milky Way descended from the heavens!

The night sky of Jinling City was instantly illuminated. All the people in the city saw this meandering heavenly river stretching for thousands of kilometers, exclaiming in wonder.

This stroke by Qin Heng was like a bright silver ribbon of light, thousands of kilometers long, drawn across the sky. It hung in the night, dimming the stars and making the moon lose its luster, as if everything had been replaced by this heavenly river!

Supremely noble!

Unparalleled!

It truly resembled the ancient legends, where the Queen Mother would draw a line with her hairpin, causing the Milky Way to appear and separate immortals from mortals!

Such a dreamlike scene, which should only exist in films or virtual reality, had now actually appeared in the real world. Unbelievable!

By comparison, the Starlight and palace phantoms shimmering behind Hong Guchen were like fireflies against the Milky Way—insignificant, not even worthy of attention!

Inside the Misty Rain Lounge, everyone was stunned.

They stared at Qin Heng in disbelief, eyes wide, faces etched with incredulity, as if gazing upon an Immortal.

Those who were originally kneeling and begging Hong Guchen for mercy now turned to kneel before Qin Heng.

Just as Qin Heng had said moments ago, how could a mere star from the Southern Dipper Six compare to the vast and dazzling Milky Way?

They were not even on the same level!

Could the light of a firefly dare to compete with the splendor of the Milky Way?

"How is this possible? How can this be possible? Such means... are simply like those from the legends..." Hong Guchen's eyes widened, his face deathly pale. He yelled at Qin Heng in disbelief, "Who are you? Who on Earth are you!?"

Hong Guchen had completely lost his earlier shock. The way Qin Heng had drawn the heavenly river with a hairpin seemed to remind him of something inconceivable.

His entire being surged with Innate True Qi. Star Power coalesced behind him, suffused with a deathly aura, as a majestic Star Palace phantom undulated. His entire aura began to rise infinitely.

It was as if he was about to ascend to the heavens!

On a mountain peak across the Qinhuai River, the elder in Daoist attire watched the heavenly river descending from the sky with bewildered amazement, muttering, "So it's true. Spiritual Energy is reviving, a grand era is about to begin. Even such ancient Immortal Laws are appearing!"

"Ancient Immortal Laws, what are those?" the black-robed youth asked, looking at the sky in astonishment. "Is the heaven-shaking technique Qin Xuantian is employing now an ancient Immortal Law?"

"Master, are ancient Immortal Laws this powerful?" the white-robed youth also asked with uncertainty. "A hairpin cleaves the void, drawing out a heavenly river... It's simply, simply an Immortal's technique!"

"This is an Immortal Law. Calling it an Immortal's technique is not incorrect," the elder in Daoist attire replied, his expression extremely solemn, his voice deep. "In the Mythological Era, the Encompass Starry Pavilion was called the Star Palace. However, few knew that before it was called the Star Palace, it had another name."

"Another name?" Both youths were stunned, looking at the elder in Daoist attire with surprise.

"Yes." The elder in Daoist attire nodded slightly. "The Encompass Polaris Star Palace! It is said to be the legacy of Emperor Ziwei of the Celestial North Pole, the fount of all phenomena, master of all stars, revered beyond measure!"

"Emperor... Emperor Ziwei!?" Both youths were dumbstruck. They turned to look at Hong Guchen standing in the distance in midair, exclaiming in astonishment, "So the Encompass Starry Pavilion is the legacy of Emperor Ziwei! Then what connection does Qin Xuantian have to this?"

"From ancient times to the present, from the Encompass Polaris Star Palace to the Star Palace, and then to the Encompass Starry Pavilion, so many legacies have fragmented and scattered—" the elder in Daoist attire said, looking at the heavenly river in the sky and stating solemnly, "Gathering Star Power, drawing forth a river of stars—this is the Divine Skill, 'True Law of the Heavenly River,' recorded in the ancient Immortal Law, the 'Ziwei Encompassing Starry River Jade Scroll.' It's said to have been lost as far back as the era of the ancient Star Palace, with only scant descriptions remaining. Unexpectedly, we can now witness this Immortal Law reemerge! Incredible! In myth, the hairpin used by the Queen Mother to draw the Milky Way was said to be a gift from Emperor Ziwei. This alone shows just how powerful this Divine Skill of the Martial Dao is!"

"Doesn't this mean that Qin Xuantian's control over Star Power makes him practically an ancestor to Hong Guchen?" the black-robed youth exclaimed incredulously, looking towards Hong Guchen above the Qinhuai River. He shook his head and sighed, "A nineteen-year-old Innate Grandmaster... I'm afraid he is fated to fall today."

"It's truly a pity. Master, should we not save him to foster some good karma? After all, he's such a young Great Grandmaster with boundless potential," the white-robed youth said. "With your strength, Master, Qin Xuantian wouldn't even notice if you made a move, right?"

"Heh, you little rascal. Forming good karma with Hong Guchen is tantamount to making an enemy of Qin Xuantian." The elder shook his head gently. "Hong Guchen is undoubtedly doomed today. Let's go. That Qin Xuantian... he has already noticed us."

"How is that possible? Master, you are—" the two youths exclaimed in utter shock. But they saw that the elder in Daoist attire had already departed, heading down the mountain, so they quickly hurried after him.

"Qin Xuantian..." The elder walked ahead, hands clasped behind his back, his expression grave, murmuring to himself, "Just who are you?"

Just moments ago, he had indeed felt an impulse to save Hong Guchen. Firstly, it would be a pity for such a young prodigy to die. Secondly, it would indebt the Encompass Starry Pavilion to him significantly. Thirdly, he was confident he wouldn't be detected.

However, just as he was about to act, he clearly felt Qin Xuantian's gaze lock onto him. Though separated by the Qinhuai River, that gaze—devoid of killing intent yet chilling to the extreme—still enveloped him.

This made his heart tremble and filled him with shock. He immediately abandoned his plan.

Because in that gaze, he perceived a dangerous warning. He was almost certain that if he dared to intervene, Qin Xuantian would likely charge over and strike them both dead—him and Hong Guchen together!

How formidable! This Qin Xuantian... he's truly, unreasonably strong!!

「Meanwhile, in the skies above the Qinhuai River.」

Hong Guchen's gaze remained fixed on Qin Heng, all his strength gathering. He declared in a deep voice, "Tell me, where did you obtain this ancient Immortal Law!? This is the heritage of my Encompass Starry Pavilion! You dare to steal our sect's Secret Technique? You deserve to die ten thousand deaths! Just you wait. Soon, people will come for you. They will cripple your martial cultivation and ensure this Immortal Law is returned to its rightful owner!!"

HUM!!

Suddenly, the sound of rending air arose. Hong Guchen actually abandoned his attack, turned, and fled in the opposite direction! His entire being, wrapped in Starlight, streaked across the sky above the Qinhuai River like a bright meteor.

He fled!?

The Innate Grandmaster who, just moments ago, was so imposing and superior, proclaiming he would kill Qin Xuantian—was actually scared into fleeing outright!

Incredible!

This left everyone utterly dumbfounded!

What happened to the famed Innate Grandmaster? What about the supposed pinnacle of martial prowess in the mortal world?

He actually fled!?

"Fleeing?"

Qin Heng, however, chuckled softly. He raised his palm, pressed it gently downwards, and said with a smile, "I must say, that was a wise choice. You're stronger than your grandfather, Hong Tianshu. A pity, though. It's too late!"