The Sea of Star Rivers was said to have been formed when an Ancient Great Emperor condensed countless star rivers and guided them into the Star Sea of the Eternal Star Domain.
The Sea of Star Rivers held an extremely high status within the Eternal Star Domain. The older generation could not enter; only those who had stepped into the Forbidden Domain could enter it.
Some had also heard that Emperor Daoyan had left something inside. In any case, no one had ever entered to see for themselves.
Xu Changqing had spent a long time learning of this place. Before he rose to prominence, he had constantly explored Secret Realms and obtained many good things, so he was especially fond of places like this.
In the past, he had not dared to fight over things related to Ancient Great Emperors, but now, he did.
Ahead of him, the dreamlike ocean rose and fell, rippling with starlight. All kinds of fantastical colors intertwined, while the surroundings were pitch-black. Only this sea glittered brightly.
The Star Sea lay at the very edge of the Eternal Star Domain. Once the creatures of the Eternal World learned the conditions for entering, not many people came here.
Xu Changqing stood on the beach of the Star Sea. Every grain of sand radiated brilliant light. As far as the eye could see, starlight filled his vision in a breathtaking sight.
He crouched down and reached out to touch the sea surface, immediately discovering that it was densely covered in runes. All kinds of gleaming golden runes and laws of order intertwined together.
However, he did not sense that vast, majestic aura of an Ancient Great Emperor—the aura of an emperor.
Therefore, he guessed that this was not some relic left behind by an Ancient Great Emperor.
"Let's go in and take a look." Xu Changqing murmured, rising to his feet and gazing at the boundless Star Sea, like an ocean formed from countless murmuring stars gathered together.
The sea breeze stirred his white hair, but his face remained expressionless. He stepped onto the calm Star Sea and walked deeper, one step at a time.
Along the way, he saw silver threads woven together beneath his feet, supporting his entire body.
After walking for some distance, he discovered an enormous Stone Pillar ahead. It stood in the center of the Star Sea, shrouded in dreamlike misty light.
Golden ancient characters were inscribed upon the Stone Pillar.
Xu Changqing looked at the enormous Stone Pillar ahead. Dense runic light flowed across it, and an extraordinary aura rushed toward him. Only after arriving here could he sense a trace of an emperor's aura.
The boundless Star Sea, the dreamlike journey, the tiny white-haired figure, and the pillar towering beyond the domain formed a stark contrast.
"Daoyan."
"Zhan Kong."
"Dao Yi."
"Fen Tian."
"Lin Qianyu."
"Qi Di."
Xu Changqing looked at those ancient characters. The gleaming golden words were Text of the Great Dao; people from every era could understand their meaning.
The Stone Pillar was densely covered in ancient writing. Thus, the inscriptions were names.
The Stone Pillar also stated that it was a Stone Tablet for testing inheritors, though rather than calling it a Stone Tablet, it was more accurate to call it an enormous heavenly pillar.
"What kind of place is this? Why did even Emperor Daoyan come here?" Xu Changqing was somewhat bewildered. He saw that Dao Yi had also made it onto this ranking.
Even Lin Qianyu was among them.
He walked over and reached out to touch the Stone Pillar.
Buzz!
A humming sound rang out, followed by blooming silver light. Great swathes of silver radiance spilled from the Stone Pillar and enveloped him.
Xu Changqing discovered that a great deal of information had appeared in his mind.
This Stone Pillar had been left behind by a quasi-emperor. No one knew from what era. At that time, Emperor Daoyan had not yet risen to prominence and had come here in his youth to obtain an inheritance.
This Stone Pillar also represented the trial ground for the strongest members of the younger generation in the Eternal Star Domain. Whoever ascended it could enter the inheritance grounds left by that quasi-emperor expert.
Those who chose to set foot upon the Ancient Trial Path would come here to test just how great the gap was between themselves and the powerful figures of the past.
But the gap was obvious. Emperor Daoyan's name, left here during his youth, had never been surpassed.
After returning from the Ancient Trial Path, these people would choose to leave inheritances or certain items within it.
It was not impossible that Emperor Daoyan had left something inside. The only question was what he had left behind.
The silver radiance shrouded Xu Changqing, allowing him to understand the purpose of this place.
It had originally been left behind by that quasi-emperor expert for his inheritors, but people had mistaken it for the final trial before setting foot on the Starry Sky Ancient Road. As long as one left their name on the ranking and stepped onto the Starry Sky Ancient Road, they would become a powerful figure in their own right.
"Use your strongest Divine Ability to strike the Stone Pillar and leave your name on the ranking. Then enter a certain passage and continue undergoing trials. There are four trial stages in total."
"Emperor Daoyan left something behind, but one must surpass his strength."
Xu Changqing pondered for a while, then withdrew his hand from the Stone Pillar and quietly looked at the enormous pillar before him.
After taking several steps back, he took out the Bone Saber.
"Surpassing Emperor Daoyan is all. He isn't that strong." A cold light appeared in Xu Changqing's eyes. The young Emperor Daoyan was not particularly strong to him.
Compared to the Undying Heavenly Emperor or the Fighting Saint Emperor, Emperor Daoyan was still far weaker.
Boom!
The moment those words fell, Xu Changqing abruptly erupted with his strongest combat power. White mist bloomed from within his body and spread through the dreamlike Star Sea. A streak of clear light shot from the crown of his head beyond the domain, illuminating the heavens.
Within his bright, mirror-like Sea of Bitterness, white mist began to overflow from below, dyeing the tranquil sea white. Pure, incomparable Life Essence was released.
The light of potential within his body gathered together. His five viscera and six bowels radiated different lights, which condensed into Nine-Colored Divine Light.
Above the Sea of Bitterness hung a Transparent Long Saber.
This was Xu Changqing's Secret Technique, a technique meant to counter the Jie Zi Secret.
Draw Saber Slash Heavenly Art!
The Transparent Long Saber had appeared on the day he developed Saber Intent. After his Emotion Severing, it had become what it was now.
At this moment, Xu Changqing mobilized the Saber Intent he had nurtured for hundreds of years.
Outside his body, Xu Changqing's physical body continued to emit white mist. All the Great Dao Laws here were somewhat suppressed by him.
His glabella split open, and the tip of a Transparent Long Saber slowly emerged before merging with the Bone Saber in his hand.
In the end, the Bone Saber was enveloped in light. When it appeared again, it had gained a Saber Sheath, black in color.
Boom!
Behind him appeared the Vision of a Mountain of Corpses and Sea of Blood. A white-haired man knelt halfway atop a mountain of corpses, while before him lay fallen Ancient Great Emperors and broken weapons.
Emperor's Fall Phenomenon!
Xu Changqing's aura grew increasingly powerful, faintly on the verge of breaking through to Saint. His physical body burst with dazzling flames, while endless runes emerged from his body.
All the Spiritual Energy between heaven and earth was absorbed by him. The dreamlike material of the Sea of Stars beneath his feet was drawn in, transforming into a reversed star river above his head.
"Heaven's Will!"
Xu Changqing murmured softly. The aura of Heavenly Tribulation spread from his body as countless Transparent Long Sabers appeared above his head, slowly merging together before entering the Bone Saber.
The combination of the two Secret Techniques made the entire Sea of Stars tremble, while the enormous Stone Pillar bloomed with even more blazing radiance.
Boom!
Xu Changqing erupted with a powerful fluctuation. His Profound Technique unfolded, and his strength instantly entered the Divine Prohibition Domain.
The disturbance here was also noticed by some members of the younger generation who had come to test their combat power.
They saw a white-haired figure erupt with terrifying fluctuations. Even from far away, they could feel a suffocating pressure.
The white-haired figure was burning all over. Blazing light scorched the Starry Sky, comets fell from the heavens, and the entire dark sky was covered in white flames—an incomparably magnificent sight.
In the end, the younger generation who had come for the trial saw the white-haired figure shoot into the sky and swiftly surpass Emperor Daoyan's name.
Above Emperor Daoyan's name, he swung his saber with all his strength.
Screech!
The world instantly turned white. Amid a resounding clang and the aftershocks unleashed by the energy collision, the entire Sea of Stars surged with towering waves that slammed against the enormous Stone Pillar.
"Ah... my eyes!" The experts hidden in the shadows were instantly blinded by the white light.
Blood flowed from their eyes.
Boom!
The Energy Tide spread outward. Boundless Saber Intent, like a vast ocean, swept across the Star Sea. Saints closer to Xu Changqing were blown away directly, shredded to pieces by the Ruthless Blade Intent.
The moment Xu Changqing touched the Stone Pillar, many people nearby had noticed him. Xu Changqing had naturally noticed them as well, but he paid them no mind.
To him, obtaining the good things came first.
Besides, there might be something left behind by Emperor Daoyan inside, or perhaps a Cultivation Technique Inheritance.
He did not even have an emperor's Secret Technique yet.
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