"Father, this is my limit."

Ji Boying, having struggled to the 400th step, staggered to a halt. He fell to his knees, his hands trembling as they supported him on the ground, and beads of sweat dripped from his brow.

He threw his head back and let out a long roar that shook the surroundings. A sharp, ferocious aura erupted from him.

"Where is my Life Star? Aid me in this breakthrough!"

BOOM!

The moment he spoke, a star blazing with white light and surging with Evil Qi suddenly lit up!

Its cold starlight pierced through layers of stellar radiance, casting down a ferocious pillar of pure white light.

In Ji Boying’s sea of consciousness, he seemed to see a white star.

The starlight coalesced, forming the phantom of a white tiger roaring at the heavens.

The white tiger was clad in battle armor, its claws and fangs sharp, its gaze fierce and fearless.

"It’s the Hu Ben Life Star from the Taiwei Circle, one of the Three Circles!"

A Cultivator cried out in alarm.

"What in the world did that Sinful Demon from the Blood Demon Sword Sect do in this life? Why are they appearing so frequently!?"

An uproar of shock and astonishment erupted from below.

Everyone was stunned by the sheer power of Ji Boying’s display.

The Ziwei Circle, the Taiwei Circle, and the Celestial Market Circle are the Three Circles within the Purple Mansion Star Palace that contain the strongest Life Stars.

And the Hu Ben Life Star...

...is a loyal war general responsible for guarding the palace within the Taiwei Circle, valiant and unafraid of death. How could it possibly fall into the hands of the Demon Sect?

The Power of the Life Star poured into Ji Boying’s body.

Above his Dantian, a Purple Mansion filled with platinum Evil Qi began to spin wildly, its aura surging.

The Cultivators who had connected with the Life Stars of the Twenty-Eight Star Constellations all felt a tremor in their hearts.

Even Wei Qingyi, who had connected with the Jiaomu Flood Dragon, the first of the Seven Stars of the Eastern Azure Dragon, wore a strained expression and gave a bitter smile.

’So this is the pressure from a Life Star of the Three Circles...’

’It really is stronger than an ordinary Life Star.’

’Having a good father really gives him an advantage over a Demon Monarch Bloodline like me!’

[Ji Boying, 400th step, 26,000th place]

A ray of white starlight shot up, carrying Ji Boying’s name with it and inscribing it onto the Star Ruins Celestial Pride List.

"The 400th step, and only 26,000th place?"

Qin Xuan, who was trailing at the very back, shook his head.

He maintained his unhurried pace, ascending step by step.

Countless inscriptions flowed within his body, and his speed seemed to quicken ever so slightly in response to the changes in the outside world.

...

The starlight was as heavy as mercury.

This was the Gravity Domain Field beyond the 400th step.

Even someone with as profound a foundation as Liu Mobai began to struggle at the 500th step.

His folding fan was put away, and sweat trickled from his temples.

He had to regulate his breathing for a long time after every single step.

"It seems the real chasm begins after the 500th step."

A Cultivator remarked with a bitter laugh, panting heavily, his voice trembling under the immense pressure.

On the 500th step, flames surged to the heavens.

An enormous, fiery tiger walked upon the flames—it was the Tail Fire Tiger Life Star, the sixth of the Seven Stars of the Eastern Azure Dragon.

The fiery tiger’s long tail swept through the void, leaving trails of stellar True Flame, an absolutely tyrannical sight!

Unfortunately, no one connected with this Life Star.

’Twenty years ago, Ji Bochang must have successfully opened his Star Mansion right here.’

Liu Mobai’s pupils were as dark as ink.

Beside the phantom of the Tail Fire Tiger, the silhouette of a Cultivator slowly appeared—impossibly handsome, exuding both blazing intensity and cool indifference.

It was the Divine Thought Illusion left behind by Ji Bochang from long ago.

"Greetings, Master Demon Child."

"Hn." Liu Mobai nodded slightly, letting out a soft sound of acknowledgment.

As his thoughts wandered, Liu Mobai suddenly recalled the Cultivator who had stood beside him and given up the Geng Metal Breaking Evil Technique.

’Where is that person now?’

Just as he was about to speak, he heard an incredulous gasp from below.

"Look! Who is that? His speed... what’s going on?!"

Everyone looked over instinctively and was left completely dumbfounded.

Down on the Star Tier steps, the figure who had been left far behind was now moving as if on flat ground.

His speed hadn’t decreased; it had increased, getting faster and faster!

A faint layer of starlight enveloped Qin Xuan.

With every breath, he seemed to resonate with the Star Inquiry Stage. Countless ancient, obscure inscriptions materialized around him, shimmering with starlight.

"He... he didn’t run out of Magical Power."

"He’s using the Gravity Domain Field of this Star Inquiry Stage to comprehend and cultivate a Body Refining Profound Skill on his own!"

An older, knowledgeable Purple Mansion Cultivator cried out in astonishment, his eyes filled with shock.

"What? A Body Refining Technique?"

Hearing this, someone almost bit their tongue. "He can still practice Body Refinement under this kind of gravity? Is he a man or a ghost?!"

Everyone snapped out of their daze as if waking from a dream.

Someone recalled how Qin Xuan had ignored all the tempting Star Techniques along the way, only collecting the Treasures of Heaven and Earth that could strengthen his vitality and solidify his foundation.

"No wonder he was so dismissive of all the Star Technique inheritances!"

"He had a plan all along! His ambitions are enormous!"

A sense of dread spread through the crowd.

Liu Mobai watched the approaching figure from below, a flash of astonished gravity in his eyes.

’This fellow Daoist... is truly a divine being.’

Unfortunately, the immense pressure of the Star Inquiry Stage didn’t allow him to be distracted for long.

Liu Mobai gritted his teeth, a bloody mist erupted around him, and he continued his charge up the steps.

At the 600th step, Xiao Dinglan, who was at the forefront, arrived under the protection of Ye Danggui and Shi Nanxing.

A terrifying pressure descended upon them, so immense that even Shi Nanxing’s Mountain Guard Soldiers Divine Technique appeared faint and blurry.

Xiao Dinglan was forced to stop.

His face was pale as he sat down cross-legged, gazing up at the most noble Ziwei Circle in the depths of the starry sky.

"Your Highness!" Ye Danggui called out anxiously.

"It’s fine. This is my limit, but it is also where my opportunity lies."

"I will first open my Purple Mansion to increase my strength. It won’t be too late to seize the Positional Divine Techniques on the thousandth step after that."

Xiao Dinglan waved his hand, his eyes blazing, and his consciousness sank into an illusion.

It was a brilliant and dazzling starry sky, yet it gave one an inexplicable feeling of oppression.

Xiao Dinglan felt as if he were in the corner of a magnificent palace. At the palace’s very center was a colossal purple star of infinite nobility, its light enveloping all the heavens.

Beside the giant purple star, four other stars orbited, each with a different aura.

"It’s the Emperor’s Destiny Star Palace!"

Two beams of brilliant light shot from Xiao Dinglan’s eyes as he desperately tried to approach the magnificent purple star at the center.

However, despite giving it his all, he only managed to gain the recognition of the dimmest of the four outer Life Stars.

Its light was a dusty gray, as if covered in dust.

It exuded a complex aura of unwilling forbearance, a desire for recognition mixed with rejection, and its position was distant from the central purple star.

"The Polaris Star Palace’s Illegitimate Son Life Star!"

Brilliant light pulsed in Shi Nanxing’s eyes, and he trembled with excitement.

"His Highness has successfully connected with the Polaris Star Palace!"

The Polaris Star Palace also had another name: the Emperor’s Destiny Star Palace.

It was located within the Ziwei Circle, the strongest of the Three Circles.

It contained five Life Stars: the Ziwei Emperor Star, the Crown Prince, the Illegitimate Son, the Harem, and Tian Shu.

Only the reigning Emperor of Daqian was qualified to connect with them!

The Power of the Stars surged into his body, impacting Xiao Dinglan’s Dantian.

’What a pity. I failed to connect with the Crown Prince Life Star. I’m still a step behind. I’ve disappointed my master.’

But from the simple ring pendant on his neck, an ancient, comforting voice emerged.

"It’s alright. You have done your best. The position of Crown Prince has not yet been decided. You still have a chance."

RUMBLE!

Xiao Dinglan’s rank transformed into a beam of white light and shot upwards.

[Xiao Dinglan, 600th step, 17,607th place]

The Daqian Cultivators couldn’t help but cheer excitedly.

A huge clamor rose and fell like waves, each of them sharing in the glory.

"Prince Lann’s rank is higher than that pack of Sinful Demons!"

However, their celebration didn’t last long. 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Like ducks with their necks wrung, their faces flushed red and their voices died abruptly.

Liu Mobai had actually reached the 700th step!

He took a deep breath, a smile playing on his lips.

White light flickered around him.

Liu Mobai stood with his hands behind his back, gazing up at the Ziwei Circle as his consciousness was pulled into a pitch-black, starry expanse.

There was no light here, only endless cold and deathly silence.

The figure of an emperor in black robes sat upon a throne, his features obscured, his body wreathed in a ghastly, cold death qi.

"It’s the Black Emperor Life Star of the Ziwei Circle!"

A Daqian Cultivator turned pale and whispered, "One of the Five Emperors of the Celestial Vault, the Lord of the North, the Supreme of the Water Virtue, ruler of the Netherworld... one of the Five Emperors, second only to the Celestial Emperor Life Star."

The phantom of an endless river of the Netherworld flowed by.

In the black-robed emperor’s hand was a constantly spinning black pearl that seemed to devour all light.

Liu Mobai let out a muffled grunt.

The corner of his mouth tilted up slightly as a trickle of fresh blood escaped.

’The Five Emperors’ Life Stars... so they can be connected with even without Daqian blood.’

Liu Mobai swallowed the metallic taste of blood in his throat.

His Demonic Essence surged as he channeled the power of this tyrannical Black Emperor Life Star with all his might.

HUMMM!

The Star Ruins Celestial Pride List trembled slightly.

A beam of black, demonic light shot into the sky, breaking directly into the top 10,000.

[Liu Mobai, 700th step, 9,997th place]

The Cultivators were plunged into deep shock.

"Liu Mobai reached the 700th step, while Prince Lann only reached the 600th. Doesn’t that mean our Prince of Daqian is inferior to a Sinful Demon of the Demon Sect?"

Some even felt their faith wavering.

Before they could even recover, another flash of cold, clear light appeared.

"Wait, who is that? How did she surpass Liu Mobai?"

Someone’s expression changed abruptly, thinking it was another Demon Cultivator.

But when they looked closely, they saw it was a female Cultivator.