Another two years passed. Three years earlier, news that the Lei, Yan, and Yao Clans had been destroyed almost simultaneously had swept across the Central Plains in barely a day. It stirred up towering waves, striking everyone's hearts like a heavy hammer and leaving them horrified, dizzy, and unable to recover for a long time.
By now, even the most foolish could see that whether the Soul Clan or the Gu Clan had done this, or both had taken part, an earth-shaking war would erupt between the two surviving clans. Its victor would become the true master of the Central Plains-and indeed, the entire Dou Qi Continent!
For a time, everyone in the Central Plains feared for their own safety. Those who had relied on the clans keeping one another in check to claim the moral high ground and gossip about the Gu Clan's slaughter at its Coming-of-Age Ceremony vanished without a trace overnight.
Some powerful factions with ties to the two clans knew they could not remain untouched by the coming war, so they pledged allegiance outright and became subordinate factions. Far more chose to shut their doors, seal off their mountains and clans, terrified of being dragged into the conflict.
Yet the Soul and Gu Clans, at the center of it all, unexpectedly sank into an eerie silence. Throughout this period, not even the slightest clash occurred between their affiliated forces. Many saw clearly, however, that this was merely the brief calm before the storm.
In the southern Central Plains, within the brightest star in Starfall Pavilion's Star Domain.
Invisible soul power enveloped the entire immense star, while a profound aura rose and swirled around it. This energy had appeared after Hun Changqing arrived three years ago, and as time passed, its aura grew ever deeper and more