Jiquan Star, atop the World Tree.
The night wind passed through layer upon layer of leaves, carrying the distinctive fragrance of grass and wood from the Divine Wood Forest.
Emerald light flickered across the World Tree's crown, pulsing like a breath.
The Tree God's incarnation floated beside Lu Jun. The composed smile on his face had faded somewhat, replaced by grave solemnity.
"Fellow Daoist Lu Jun, the commotion from your breakthrough was far too great."
"I'm afraid it will draw attention from other Star Domains."
The Tree God's voice was lower than usual, like the wind passing through withered branches in late autumn.
He had never expected Lu Jun's breakthrough to cause such a disturbance.
It was far too massive!
It had directly set an entire Star Domain into turmoil.
Lu Jun did not turn around.
His gaze remained fixed on the distant starry sky, which was gradually being illuminated by starlight.
The radiance of the five great Gaias flowed slowly around him, like an invisible cloak unfurling beneath the stars.
His voice was calm, yet carried a trace of surprise even he had not anticipated.
"I didn't expect this either."
"According to my plan, the breakthrough into the Fourteenth Realm should have been completed within the Rainbow Bridge network. Those energy fluctuations should have been blocked off by the barrier formed by the dead planets."
"But the resonance of cosmic power was stronger than I imagined—the void throughout the entire Star Domain is responding to my breakthrough, like a bell echoing through an empty valley. There's no way to hide it."
The Tree God frowned slightly. "We originally intended to conceal Jiquan Star's location and wait until our realms had stabilized before making further plans."
"But your breakthrough may already have alerted other forces. The major powers of the