All Suffered Severe Injuries
The roar of the Star Formation was like a great bell at the Beginning of Heaven and Earth, shaking the bluestone slabs of the Floating Island so much that they trembled slightly, and tiny specks of light seeped out from every Dao Patterns. When those specks of light landed, they turned into star-like fireflies, dancing an ancient sacrificial dance among the stone slabs. The dance contained the directional codes of the Twenty-Eight Mansions, and each leap echoed the Star Orbit in the sky.
The light of billions of stars twisted into a silvery torrent at the center of the formation, carrying the guidance of the Big Dipper, the majesty of the Ziwei, and the vitality of the Four Symbols, surging and stirring up the tides of the Milky Star River. The Azure Dragon's azure radiance transformed into a swimming dragon on the crest of the wave, its scales opening and closing, Inhale and Exhale in the vitality of the East. Each scale reflected the rising sun, and within the halo of the rising sun, the phantom of the Golden Crow appeared, scattering fine golden light as it flapped its wings. The Vermilion Bird's crimson glow ignited into a sea of fire in the trough of the wave, and golden feathers floated in the flames, transforming into a rain of light that nourished the Star Core as it fell, the raindrops landing on the desolate... On the Star Core, tiny sprouts emerged; the white light of the White Tiger split into sharp edges on the side of the waves, the blades flowing with the chilling aura of the west, yet upon touching the purplish-black energy, they transformed into purifying rain. Where the rain touched, the purplish-black energy melted like ice and snow, revealing the starlight hidden beneath; the blackness of the Black Tortoise solidified into a boulder at the bottom of the waves, the patterns on its tortoise shell connecting with the earth's veins of the Floating Island, drawing upon the Spirit Spring deep within the earth's core. The spring water overflowed along the Star Orbit Patterns, rippling with fine silver waves in the stream of light, the center of the waves reflecting the miniature image of the Big Dipper, flowing with the waves.
Each ray of light carries the will of "evolution," not to crush evil into Void, but to allow the distorted Star Orbit to flow again along their ancient paths, and to let the lifeless Star Core bloom anew. It is as if heaven and earth are using Star Power as a brush, dipping it in the waters of the Heavenly River, to redraw the blueprint of the universe's birth on this vast canvas of the void. In the picture, the stars are orderly, full of vitality, and even the edges of Primordial Chaos are tinged with budding green.
The Evil Emperor Phantom melted away in the torrent, churning violently like boiling oil meeting water. From the rising smoke came countless agonizing screams, the struggles of star spirits enslaved by the Annihilation Aura. Their screams were mixed with memories of past brilliance and a yearning for freedom, each cry a lament that broke the hearts of those who heard it.
Those ashen stars, etched with human faces, shattered one after another, countless tiny specks of light drifting from the fragments—the remnants of swallowed star souls. Now, transparent wings unfurled amidst the starlight, still glistening with the morning dew of the Beginning of Chaos, reflecting the stars' original forms. They emitted soft, liberating cries, which coalesced into an ancient melody, harmonizing with the roar of the Star Formation to form the most solemn symphony in the world, cleansing the void polluted by deathly silence.
The Star Orbit on the inverted Star Map were forcibly straightened by the torrent, producing a crisp sound like gears snapping into their proper places. Each crack made the phantom's body tremble, as if countless invisible hands were tearing at its bones. The names of the inverted Star Constellations were returning to their original positions at a visible speed. The azure light of "Jiao Mu Jiao" was pointing east again, its head held high, Inhale and Exhale in the wood energy of the east; the crimson flames of "Xin Yue Hu" returned to the south, its tail swaying gently, stirring up the fire energy of the south; even the most unruly "Kui Mu Lang" had sheathed its claws, becoming as docile as a dog in the Star Orbit, a hint of awe for order flashing in its wolf eyes.
In the illusory eyes, the star-like bones were gradually tinged with pale gold by starlight, and even the afterimages of collapsing galaxies in the pupils began to reverse. The Flame Sect of Supernova Explosion re-condensed into a star, and the flares on its surface transformed into gentle bands of light, slowly flowing around the star; the light and heat swallowed by the Black Hole slowly spewed out, weaving a dazzling Nebula in the void, the color of the Nebula gradually changing from a deathly gray-black to a brilliant seven colors; even the dispersion of the Nebula reversed to contraction, gas and dust embracing each other in gravity, reenacting the birth of a star from dust to brilliance, a scene so gentle that heaven and earth held their breath, as if time itself slowed down at this moment, quietly guarding this beautiful new life.
"No--!" The roar of the Tianyan Evil Emperor pierced through the phantom, carrying the excruciating pain of his origin being torn apart, causing the flowing clouds Floating Island to shatter into mist. When the mist landed, it condensed into tiny Ice Crystals, but within the Ice Crystals were fragments of starlight, refracting a faint light, like a glimmer of hope in despair.
His purplish-black Emperor Robe shattered inch by inch, revealing a body beneath wrapped in Deadly Star Core. These grayish-black Star Core, like scales, were embedded in his flesh, Star Core surfaces bearing the traces of Devouring Stars —twisted and painful, recording the final lament of those stars. Now, however, they cracked in the light of the Star Formation, each fissure oozing golden Star Power, as if awakened stars were retaliating against their host. Wherever the Star Power flowed, his flesh shimmered with a transparent luster, and one could vaguely see the surging Star River within his meridians—the imprint of the Zhou Tian Star Dou, attempting to purify this corrupted body and return it to its stellar origin.
He could feel the Star Origin within his body, which had been devoured, awakening. It surged through his meridians and tore at his soul, as if trying to burst from his body and return to the embrace of the Zhou Tian Star Dou. Even his most prized Annihilation Power was being steadily defeated by this torrent of awakening, dissipating like the receding tide and revealing the foundation beneath, which had long been eroded by Star Power.
Within the pillar of light that Ren Xiaoyao had transformed into, the stars swirled more rapidly, and the power of the Star Formation surged to its peak along with his bloodline. His hair was dyed silver-white by the Star Power, and when it fluttered, it was like Milky Way cascading to the ground. Each strand of hair was tied with a wisp of starlight, connecting with the stars in the sky, as if every breath he took was mobilizing the power of the entire Star River.
The light of the Ziwei Emperor Star was like a gilded longsword, its blade engraved with runes of Star Officials. As the runes flickered, it seemed to echo with the solemn reverence of officials paying homage. It precisely pierced the brow of the illusory figure, and a cloud of golden and purple light burst forth from the figure's forehead—the most intense collision between death and life. Countless illusory stars emerged from the light, some joyful in their new life, others sorrowful in their Annihilation, ultimately transforming into peaceful specks of light in the golden glow, like shooting stars, trailing long tails as they fell into the Star River.
The Big Dipper Handle swept across, carrying the force of the Heavenly River Way, slicing the phantom's left arm into a cloud of purplish-black dust. Where the dust landed, tiny blades of grass broke through the scorched earth, their leaves still adorned with stardust, sprouting under the nourishment of Star Power. As the tender shoots unfurled, ripples of green spread through the void, and where the ripples spread, patches of new green sprouted from the barren land, as if spring had arrived early.
The illusory Star Officials of the Twenty-Eight Mansions moved forward in unison. The Azure Dragon breathed, coiling around the figures' bodies; wherever the azure Dragon Qi passed, the purplish-black aura dissolved, revealing faint starlight beneath. That starlight bound the figures like chains, tightening its grip. The Vermilion Bird's flames scorched its foundation; the crimson flames did not destroy, but rather ignited a hidden life force within the figures. As the flames flickered, tiny Flower Buds bloomed at the figures' ankles, their petals glistening with starlight, delicate and vibrant. The White Tiger's claws tore through its defenses. The white claw-like wind, imbued with Purifying Power, pulverized the Annihilation Aura into dust. The Star Sand, upon landing, transformed into shimmering Star Sand, which gathered into streams flowing towards the distant Star River. The Black Tortoise Shell blocked all its escape routes. The mysterious patterns on the shell flowed, forming a Closed Loop Star Realm. The Totems of the Twenty-Eight Mansions appeared on the boundary walls, preventing the phantom from breaking through no matter how it charged. Each impact stirred up a ripple of Star Power, within which the ancient seal script of the word "Order" emerged, radiating an inviolable majesty.
"Puff--"
Ren Xiaoyao suddenly spat out a mouthful of golden blood. The blood droplets transformed into tiny stardust in the air, merging into the light stream of the Star Formation. After landing, those stardust took root on the bluestone slabs and grew into miniature Star Tree. The trees bore translucent white star fruits, with faint Star Orbit trails visible beneath their peels, emitting a delicate fragrance.
Although his union with the Zhou Tian Star Dou allowed him to draw upon supreme power, he also suffered the backlash from the high-speed rotation of the Star Orbit. His sea of consciousness felt as if it were being pierced by countless starlight, every inch of his soul trembling in excruciating pain. It was as if countless stars were being born and Annihilation within his sea of consciousness, each birth and death bringing tearing pain. The Star Power surging in his meridians was almost tearing his body apart, and spiderweb-like golden patterns appeared beneath his skin, a sign of the overflowing Star Power. The patterns spread across his cheeks, condensing into a tiny star mole at the corner of his eye, shimmering with light of the same origin as the Ziwei Emperor Star, like an inextinguishable star mark.
But he didn't let up, his fingertips firmly anchored to the core of the Star Formation, the very core of the yin- Yin-Yang Fish Eyes of the Tai Chi Star Chart, which was now rotating, absorbing and releasing Star Power, its rotation perfectly synchronized with his heartbeat. His gaze pierced through the pillars of light, like two beams of condensed starlight, locking onto the true form of the Tianyan Evil Emperor —he could see the madness deep in the other's eyes, a madness that concealed jealousy of the stars, jealousy of their eternal light and orderly operation; he could also smell the hidden fear, a fear stemming from an instinctive awe of "life," from the despair of being ultimately devoured by life.
The Evil Emperor Phantom let out a shrill explosion and completely disintegrated into countless purple-black light spots.
The points of light did not dissipate; instead, as if drawn by a force, they converged toward the true form of the Tianyan Evil Emperor, like a flock of bats returning to their nest. However, the moment they touched his body, they were scorched by the Star Power, emitting a sizzling sound. The points of light turned into wisps of green smoke as they burned and dissipated into the air.
The Tianyan Evil Emperor's true form was thrown backward by the recoil, his black Emperor Crown rolling off his head and striking the bluestone slab with a crisp sound. The jade beads on the crown shattered, revealing the dead ash encased within. As the dead ash dispersed, it revealed several tiny remnants of Star Core, the remains of the earliest stars he had devoured. The remnants still bore traces of being gnawed, a horrifying sight.
His once cold and hard face was now covered with cracks, as if countless Star Core were shattering beneath his skin, with golden Star Power seeping from each crack. The Star Power outlined Star Orbit trails on his cheeks, like a Star Map in formation, with orderly stars in the picture, forming a stark contrast with the Annihilation Power within his body, as if announcing his defeat.
The Black Blood that spilled from the corner of his mouth turned to ashes as it hit the ground, but the moment it touched the bluestone slab, it was absorbed by the Star Orbit Patterns deep within the slab, turning into a faint wisp of life. That life spread along the patterns, causing a withered blade of grass on the edge of the slab to turn green again, its leaves unfurling as if mocking his incompetence.
He clutched the last half of the Purple-Black Jade Slip, his knuckles charred black by the Star Power. The runes on the jade slip were dim and lifeless, yet they still stubbornly exuded an aura of death. The runes twisted and turned, as if uttering a final lament, the sound weak and desperate, like a candle flickering in the wind.
The resentment and madness surging in his eyes almost solidified into a tangible form. He stared in Ren Xiaoyao's direction, his pupils reflecting the other's figure shrouded in starlight, as if he wanted to engrave that name into his very bones, so that every movement of the stars would remind him of this humiliation, and every ray of starlight would become a mockery of him.
"Ren Xiaoyao!" He steadied himself against the void, his voice hoarse like a broken gong, each word dripping with blood. The blood froth turned into Black Flames as it landed, only to be instantly extinguished by Star Power. "You think you've won? The Star Origin I've devoured is already connected to the deathly silence of the void!"
He abruptly pressed half of the jade slip to his brow, and a purplish-black crack instantly appeared there, from which surged Annihilation Aura a hundred times denser than before. The aura was as viscous as ink, and wherever it passed, even the air condensed into gray-black crystals. Countless withered Star Map were engraved on the crystals, and the stars in the Star Map were all dim and lifeless, exuding an aura of death.
The Annihilation Aura enveloped his figure, turning him into a twisted black shadow. From within the shadow came the sound of stars shattering, as he burned his last bit of essence to gain the power to escape. Each burning weakened his aura a little, but also increased his speed of escape, like a gambler betting everything for a sliver of hope.
"The Star Power of this Floating Island is but a corner of the universe! When I summon the Deadly Star Sea, I will crush you and all the Zhou Tian Star Dou into stardust!"
The shadowy figure suddenly contracted, transforming into a streak of purplish-black light. The light moved faster than a star, trailing a long, Annihilation Aura at its end, like a brush dipped in ink, drawing a hideous mark in the void. That mark was like Dao Wound, etched into the void, lingering for a long time.
Ignoring the obstruction of the Star Formation, it forcefully tore a crack in the Star Realm barrier. The Star Power at the edge of the crack surged wildly, forming serrated blades of light. The blades cut through the stream of light, but could not stop it from escaping. They could only leave countless tiny sparks of Star Power in its trajectory, like ashes after it had burned out.
The streak of light raced towards the depths of the universe, its trajectory bearing the lingering traces of his venomous vow. That vow, like a poisoned starlight, pierced deep into the void, tinging the Nebula it passed with a tinge of gray. "I, the Tianyan Evil Emperor, hereby swear—within three hundred years, I will return to claim your soul, so that you may witness the stars you guarded howling in deathly silence!"
The instant the light vanished, the Star Formation's brilliance dimmed abruptly, like a candle flame that had burned out. As the light faded, countless stars fell from the sky, spreading a layer of shimmering Star Sand across the Floating Island's surface. The Star Sand shimmered with a soft light, like a hymn to this victory.
The pillar of light that Ren Xiaoyao had transformed into cracked open with a "crack," and a faint white mist welled up from the crack—it was the condensed Star Power he had expended. Countless stardust scattered from the pillar of light, like a golden rain. The raindrops fell on the grass and trees, and the leaves unfurled and sprouted new green leaves; they fell on the water and stirred up ripples of starlight that spread and connected with the distant Star River.
He fell from the pillar of light, crashing heavily onto the bluestone slab in the center of the Tai Chi Star Chart with a dull thud. The Star Orbit Patterns on the slab lit up again with the shock, but quickly dimmed again, as if responding to his exhaustion and moved by his sacrifice.
The Star Orbit Patterns on the stone slab gradually faded as the supporting force disappeared, leaving only faint golden marks, like the traces left by the receding tide. The marks still retained the warmth of Star Power, and a faint pulse could be felt when touched, resonating with the distant Star River, as if the Floating Island and the entire universe were breathing together.
The Chaos Halo on the Floating Island flowed again, but it was no longer as warm as before, carrying a trace of weariness after surviving a catastrophe. The halo brushed over the grass and trees, and the leaves drooped slightly, as if panting. Dewdrops rolled off the grass leaves and dripped onto the Star Sand, making a soft, rustling sound, like a lullaby, soothing the land that had just experienced a great battle.
He propped himself up on his arms, his chest heaving violently, each breath accompanied by a tearing pain. The air he inhaled transformed into streams of Star Power within his lungs, nourishing his parched meridians. Wherever the streams flowed, they brought a refreshing coolness, alleviating his pain.
The blood he coughed up stained the bluestone slab in front of him, spreading out and faintly connecting with the remaining Star Orbit Patterns, transforming into a fragmented Star Map. The position of the Ziwei Emperor Star in the map was exactly opposite the cinnabar mole between his eyebrows, emitting a resonant glow, as if confirming his close connection with the stars.
His sea of consciousness was still roaring, the phantoms of the stars had dimmed considerably, the light of the Ziwei Emperor Star was as faint as a candle in the wind, and the outlines of the Four Symbols Star Officials had become blurred. Only the Big Dipper was still stubbornly twinkling, its handle pointing in the direction where the Tianyan Evil Emperor had fled—in this battle, although he had won, he had also exhausted more than half of his Star Power, and even the most stable Star Orbit in his sea of consciousness showed signs of loosening. The road to repair would be long and arduous.
But as he gazed in the direction where the Tianyan Evil Emperor had fled, there was no fear in his eyes, only a trace of solemnity. It was as if he could pierce through the endless void and see the trajectory left by that purplish-black stream of light in the depths of the universe. That trajectory was like an unhealed wound, faintly aching on the skin of the stars, constantly reminding him of the potential threat.
"Three hundred years..." he murmured to himself, raising his hand to wipe the blood from his lips. The burning pain from the collision of Star Power and Annihilation Aura still lingered on his fingertips. The pain was sharp and clear, constantly reminding him that this duel was not over, like an indelible mark on the Star Orbit, deeply imprinted in his soul.
"The movement of stars is never afraid of waiting." Three hundred years is a long time for Mortals, enough for the Seas Turn into Mulberry Fields and for beauty to turn white hair; but for stars, it is just a cycle of the Stars Move, the distance for the Ziwei Emperor Star to complete one cycle of the heavens, short and leisurely.
The wind swept across the Floating Island once more, carrying the soft whispers of the Star River. But this time, the whispers carried a hint of wariness, as if whispering a warning of lurking danger. The wind rustled through the Star Sand, creating a delicate sound, like a cautionary tale, singing of vigilance against the future.
The distant Zhou Tian Star Dou slowly returned to their positions, their Star Orbit regaining their orderly order. However, several temporary Auxiliary Stars temporarily filled the space around the Ziwei Emperor Star. Although their light was not as bright as the original Auxiliary Stars, it was exceptionally firm, as if silently guarding and protecting this Star Realms that had just escaped from crisis. Their positions formed a simple Star Formation, constantly monitoring the anomalies in the void, not allowing any Annihilation Power to invade again.
Ren Xiaoyao closed his eyes and began to regulate his breathing.
Within his sea of consciousness, he guided the remaining Star Power to flow slowly, like a gentle stream nourishing his Damaged Meridians and soul. Under the irrigation of the stream, the dim stars gradually regained their faint light, like lights slowly being lit in the darkness, weak yet full of hope.
He knew that the oath of the Tianyan Evil Emperor was like a poisonous thorn stuck in the veins of the Heaven and Earth Order. Three hundred years later, that purple-black stream of light would surely return with an even more terrifying, Deadly Star Sea. The duel at that time would be the ultimate contest between the vitality and desolation of the entire universe, concerning the survival of the stars and the future of the universe.
But he wasn't worried—what he protected was never the light of a single star, but the ceaseless vitality of the Star Circulation, the power that could nurture new life in desolation and create order in Primordial Chaos. This power was hidden in the birth of every star, in the movement of every Star Orbit, and in the instinctive yearning for life in All Things in Heaven and Earth; it was indestructible and endlessly regenerating.
As long as this vitality remains, three hundred years from now, no matter where that Deadly Star Sea descends from, he will stand here.
The Tai Chi Star Chart beneath his feet will light up again, and the Zhou Tian Star Dou in his sea of consciousness will roar once more. He will stand shoulder to shoulder with billions of stars to face another battle. The Star Formation then will be more dazzling than it is today, and the Star Power then will be more immense than it is today.
On the bluestone slab, his figure was gradually enveloped by the newly gathered starlight, which converged from all directions. Some of the starlight came from the distant Big Dipper, carrying a guiding radiance; others came from the nearby earth's veins, wrapped in a heavy Spiritual Charm. They gently enveloped him, like the universe embracing its Guardians. The starlight was also mixed with the soft chirping of the saved stars, the purest gratitude, each sound as clear as celestial music.
His aura gradually merged with the morning light and Chaos Halo of the Floating Island, becoming an inseparable part of the pulse of the Star Realms. His heartbeat synchronized with the twinkling of the Ziwei Emperor Star, each beat stirring a tremor in the Star Orbit; his breath resonated with the tides of the Star River, each Inhale and Exhale causing the Nebula to shift, as if he himself were a star quietly awakening.
The purplish-black streak of light that had vanished into the depths of the universe was now traversing the desolate Nebula. The venomous trail it left behind, like a dark scar, spread across the void. Wherever the trail passed, even the faintest stardust ceased to pulsate, the once-shining dwarf stars extinguished their last glimmer of light, and drifting meteorites turned into stubborn, gray-black rocks. Even the flow of time itself seemed to stagnate.
This trajectory is the manifestation of the Tianyan Evil Emperor's obsession, Curse he refined with his remaining essence, extending towards that forgotten, Deadly Star Sea at the edge of the universe. There, the graveyard of stars, the end of light, is also the only salvation in his eyes—for three hundred years, he will use the desolation as soil and Star Remains as seeds to cultivate a power capable of devouring all life.
The Star Sand on the Floating Island still shimmered, and the order of the Zhou Tian Star Dou had been restored. The cinnabar mark between Ren Xiaoyao's brows echoed the Ziwei Emperor Star, and the starlight around him became increasingly warm and gentle, like a stream thawing in early spring, silently accumulating surging power.