"Crack! Crack! Crack!"
Thunderous booms echoed across the sky. Energy storms swept through the surroundings, and the heavens of the entire Star Realm seemed to shatter, with massive fissures hundreds of meters long ripping open. The terrifying shockwaves ravaged everything in their path.
"Not good! The Star Realm is collapsing! Run!"
"Hurry! While we still can—run!"
"We can't! The spatial turbulence is too strong!"
The Star Realm's space had been expanded by Chen Xiaoming; naturally, its stability was nowhere near the ancient worlds'. Now, as it crumbled, panic spread like wildfire among the crowd.
"Roar!"
At that critical moment, the Violet-Gold Lion King let out an earth-shaking roar and stepped forward. Violet-gold divine light erupted from its body, stabilizing the surrounding void and halting the spread of destruction.
Elder Feng's figure flickered into motion, releasing his Half-Saint cultivation base. Though he was not as mighty as the Lion King, he too worked to suppress the fracturing space.
One man and one lion, joining forces—at last they stabilized the realm. Only then did the fleeing crowd come to a halt.
"Huff... That was terrifying. They almost shattered the Star Realm!"
"This place is too dangerous—one stray shockwave could kill us all!"
"I'm heading for the high tower. It's much safer there!"
Countless figures flew toward the tower—where at least Titled Palace's Dou Saints among the magical beasts stood guard, providing a much higher measure of safety.
"Crack! Crack! Crack..."
As the crowd moved, faint sounds echoed from above. Everyone looked up—and saw the terrifying energy tides gradually recede. A flash of gold and silver light streaked across the sky, and then, silence.
Cracks appeared all over the Soul Clan elder's body. A golden-silver spear light had pierced through the center of his brow, and wisps of soul power drifted out, dissolving into the heavens.
"Gulp..."
Everyone stared in dazed horror at the elder whose life force was rapidly fading, at a loss for words.
They had only just started preparing to retreat—yet the outcome had already been decided. The Soul Clan elder had been defeated—and killed—in a single strike.
"Whoosh!"
Without warning, Hun Miesheng, who had yet to join the battle, suddenly moved, ripping through space in an attempt to escape.
"You think you can flee?"
A cold, chilling voice rang out. An overwhelming icy aura swept toward Hun Miesheng from behind. Without a second's hesitation, he accelerated, trying desperately to merge into the folds of space.
But a silver radiance flashed—instantly engulfing him. In that moment, he felt as though he had fallen into a quagmire, struggling to move.
The path to survival lay just one step ahead—so close he could almost touch it.
"Die."
Chen Xiaoming's voice sounded behind him. With a flick of his spear, a streak of golden-silver spear light shot out, piercing straight through Hun Miesheng's skull, obliterating his soul.
"No—!"
A final, unwilling roar echoed out, and the Soul Hall's master, Hun Miesheng, perished—his life extinguished completely.
Chen Xiaoming waved his hand, collecting Hun Miesheng's corpse, then swept his gaze across the Soul Hall experts the three enemies had brought with them. Without hesitation, silver light burst forth. In mere moments, he had slaughtered them all.
With a light step, Chen Xiaoming returned to the high tower.
"Teacher!"
"Palace Master!"
Xiao Xun'er, Elder Feng, and the others rushed forward, respectfully saluting him. As Chen Xiaoming's gaze passed over them, he saw the younger generation of Titled Palace disciples staring at him with eyes full of admiration and pride.
Satisfied, Chen Xiaoming nodded. Yet when he looked upon the devastated Star Realm, his brow furrowed slightly.
Even though the Violet-Gold Lion King and Elder Feng had stabilized the space, large sections of the Azurewood Mountains had still been destroyed. At a glance, at least one-fifth of the area had been reduced to ruins.
Chen Xiaoming exchanged a glance with the Lion King, sending a silent message. Receiving the signal, the Lion King leapt forth, enlarging his form dramatically. His blood energy surged. With a mighty stomp, he flattened the shattered mountain ranges into level ground.
There was no time to delay. After such a fierce battle on the day of establishing the sect, Chen Xiaoming had no plans to postpone the founding ceremony.
It was simply more efficient to level the ruins than to attempt reconstruction.
After giving a few simple orders, Chen Xiaoming looked over the distant crowd and nodded slightly. Mu Qingluan flew out toward them.
Meanwhile, Elder Feng, Xiao Xun'er, and the others followed Chen Xiaoming back into the great hall within the high tower.
Because of their resounding victory, the atmosphere in Titled Palace surged with excitement, and the unity among the sect members grew stronger than ever.
Even those from the Starfall Pavilion, who had initially harbored reservations toward Chen Xiaoming, now genuinely admired him after witnessing his prowess.
Inside the grand hall, wine cups clinked and laughter filled the air. As the conversations deepened, everyone discovered that Chen Xiaoming, while heavy-handed in battle, was otherwise easy to get along with—so long as he wasn't provoked.
Reassured, many felt their previous worries lift.
Three days later.
The Founding Ceremony concluded, and peace returned to the Titled Palace. The space previously shattered in the battle was now being painstakingly repaired by the Violet-Gold Lion King—tempted by the lure of powerful elixirs.
Inside the grand hall—
Chen Xiaoming, Xiao Xun'er, and Elder Feng sat cross-legged, deep in discussion about the future development of the sect.
Though Venerable Wind handled the day-to-day affairs, Chen Xiaoming was the true power behind the throne.
"The Soul Clan came at us with overwhelming force... I fear they won't let this go," Elder Feng said, full of worry. On the very day of the sect's founding, Chen Xiaoming had slain three of their Dou Saints—an irreconcilable enmity had been forged.
"No need to worry. The Soul Clan won't come," Chen Xiaoming said coldly, a flash of killing intent glinting in his eyes. If they didn't show, so be it. If they did—he wouldn't mind ending their ambitions ahead of schedule.
Seeing Chen Xiaoming's determination, Elder Feng said no more, shifting to discuss other matters instead.
Xiao Xun'er remained respectfully silent at Chen Xiaoming's side, quietly listening.
Their conversation lasted long into the night. When the others finally left, Chen Xiaoming stretched lazily, then disappeared with a flash.
Somewhere in the Star Realm, atop a towering tree—
Chen Xiaoming lay leisurely atop the treetop, gazing up at the countless stars unique to the Star Realm's night sky. Under the dazzling starlight, a trace of nostalgia filled his eyes.
The night was silent. Chen Xiaoming quietly pondered alone, smiling faintly as if seeing something beyond the stars.
Time drifted by unnoticed. When he finally opened his eyes again, he realized he'd fallen asleep without even knowing it.
Casting a glance at the vast starry sky, he moved through the void, leisurely returning home—bathed in the endless starlight, his figure radiant in the night.
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