"Imperial Extreme Shocking the World! Dragon Suppression of the Wilderness!"

Xiao Dinghai roared.

Faced with this supremely hard and ferocious punch, Qin Xuan neither dodged nor evaded.

The Star Monument Body Refining Technique within him activated with a roar.

His qi and blood surged as he met the attack with a simple punch of his own.

There were no frills—only the purest, most savage physical strength!

"BOOM!!!"

The collision of their fists produced a deafening blast.

The nine golden dragon illusions whimpered and shattered. The Imperial Dragon Qi had been brutally blown apart by Qin Xuan’s utterly savage power!

Xiao Dinghai’s illusion flickered violently, a look of shock flashing across his face.

"You, a Demon Cultivator, can actually withstand my Imperial Dragon Qi..."

Before he could finish, Xiao Dinghai’s illusion exploded, vanishing without a trace.

An ancient-looking golden scroll appeared, upon which were written five large words: Imperial Extreme Shocking Fist Manual.

The spectating Cultivators below were all aghast.

"One punch... He blew apart Prince Li, Xiao Dinghai?"

Qin Xuan, however, was lost in thought, recalling the details of their exchange.

’So the Imperial Dragon Qi cultivated by the Daqian Royal Family can burn Demonic Essence? It’s a natural counter to Demon Cultivators?’

His eyes narrowed slightly as he murmured to himself.

Making a mental note of this, Qin Xuan continued to ascend the steps.

Of course, he hadn’t forgotten about that Star Technique inheritance, nor the ten dazzling, grain-of-rice-sized specks of Starlight Dust sparkling beside it.

Qin Xuan pocketed them all.

’This stuff is amazing! It can absorb the insights that past Cultivators had on their Cultivation Techniques!’

A keen glint flashed in Qin Xuan’s eyes.

Instead of rushing to continue his ascent, he sat down cross-legged and began the Refinement of the Starlight Dust.

...

On the second Star Platform, the illusion of a middle-aged Cultivator appeared. He wore the ornate robes of a Patriarch and had a humble aura.

"I am Du Haixian of the Profound Cliff Du Family. It is a pleasure to meet you, fellow Daoist."

Du Haixian seemed perfectly courteous.

’That name is so familiar. Where have I heard it before...’

But before Qin Xuan could recall where,

Du Haixian let out a sudden roar. His arms swelled violently as a blue-black Wood Evil Qi surged to the heavens.

"Sinful Demon, take this!"

Yi Wood God Thunder!

BAM!

Du Haixian clasped his hands, summoning endless Yi Wood Green Qi. It formed into a gigantic Wooden Hammer wreathed in blue-black lightning, which then came crashing down with tyrannical force.

’So the Profound Cliff Du Family isn’t just about Beast Taming.’

Qin Xuan finally remembered Du Haixian’s identity.

It was the karmic entanglement from the Golden-Breaking Blood Talisman—the Patriarch of the Profound Cliff Du Family had been to the Star Ruins too!

Qin Xuan threw another punch.

Again, he used the Star Monument Body Refining Technique.

But this time, his punch’s vast qi and blood contained a faint trace of the Chixiao Monarch’s Purifying Evil True Intent!

"RUMBLE!"

Fist and hammer collided!

The rampaging Yi Wood God Thunder failed to penetrate his fist in the slightest. Instead, it was scattered into disarray by his consummately yang qi and blood.

The illusion of the Wooden Hammer cracked inch by inch before finally exploding!

Du Haixian’s illusion took a step back and slowly dissipated.

It transformed into the illusion of a cyan, hammer-shaped scroll.

Star Technique: Yi Wooden Heaven-Smashing Hammer

...

On the third Star Platform, the illusion of an old man slowly materialized. He had a stern, rigid face and wore the official robes of the Astronomical Bureau.

"I am Su Xiaotai. Please forgive any offense I may cause, fellow Daoist."

Su Xiaotai formed a seal with his hands. Water vapor suffused the air around him, manifesting as the reflection of a vast, starry sky.

"Starry Array, Water Curtain Celestial Splendor!"

Endless Gui Water Essence converged, forming a deep blue water curtain. It was flexible and dense, seemingly capable of absorbing and neutralizing any attack in the world. 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Qin Xuan’s gaze sharpened. The Position of the Chixiao Monarch manifested above his head, and a Great Sun Illusion radiated with boundless light.

"Chixiao descends, all evil retreats! Disperse!"

An incomparably pure Purifying Evil Bing Fire Divine Light shone down!

Under the illumination of this consummately yang divine light, the vast and profound Gui Water curtain began to SIZZLE.

The entire water curtain thinned and turned transparent at a visible rate before collapsing and dissipating with a POP!

Su Xiaotai’s illusion blurred and disappeared amidst the evaporating water vapor.

With a dark expression, Qin Xuan couldn’t help but curse.

"Damn it, am I squaring off against the entirety of Daqian now?"

Of the three, aside from Du Haixian who was a Golden Core True Monarch, the other two were Nascent Soul Daoist Monarchs!

’When did I offend so many of Daqian’s top brass?’

...

On the fourth Star Platform, yet another illusion of a young man in a dragon robe appeared.

His aura was even sharper, reminiscent of the din of battle.

"I am Xiao Dingjiang, fourth son of the Daqian Emperor Monarch. Let me witness your skill!"

The moment he saw Xiao Dingjiang, Qin Xuan was utterly resigned.

"Universe-Splitting Golden Spear, Pojun!"

The illusion of Xiao Dingjiang brandished a Horse-Slaying Blood Saber and unleashed a frenzied slash.

Endless Geng Metal Qi condensed into the enormous, golden phantom of a spear that seemed to tear the world asunder. It seethed with killing intent, its sharpness unstoppable.

"Will you people never stop!"

Qin Xuan was furious. He brandished his Lifebound Longsword, its tip suddenly glowing with the magnificent light of a blazing sun!

Great Sun Heaven-Burning Sword Scripture—Heaven-Burning Sword Qi!

A single, perfectly condensed point of Sun Golden Flame burst forth. Though unleashed second, it arrived first, striking the golden spear phantom with perfect precision.

"TSSSS—!"

The seemingly indestructible golden spear phantom, like a red-hot iron bar plunged into cold water, instantly glowed crimson before melting and evaporating!

The Sword Qi, its momentum undiminished, pierced through the illusion’s forehead.

The illusion of Xiao Dingjiang slowly dissipated. He shook his head, leaving behind a soft sigh.

"Such a tyrannical fire intent... The Northern Border is in peril..."

But Qin Xuan’s eyes suddenly lit up.

’Xiao Dingjiang actually cultivated an Outer Path Divine Technique...’

Another ancient scroll appeared before him, but this time, the large characters on it were a deep gold.

Beidou Star Art - Pojun Chapter!

Qin Xuan deftly pocketed it.

This so-called Beidou Star Art was just like the "Stars of All Heavens Hell-Suppressing Divine Astral" he had obtained before.

When combined, they formed a Divine Technique; when separated, they were individual Star Techniques.

Collect all seven Chapters of the Beidou Star Art, and one could achieve Outer Path Divinity Transformation!

...

The crowd below was already stunned into silence.

This Liu Mobai was simply a monster!

He’d passed four platforms, every one with a one-hit kill. Was he even going to give anyone else a chance?!

However, Qin Xuan had already ascended to the 1500th step.

The fifth Star Platform was shrouded in black fog, thick with chilling Demonic Qi.

Faint, bewitching Demonic Sounds echoed in the air.

An illusion of a woman appeared. She wore a White Bone Robe, and her features were demonically, exquisitely beautiful.

"It’s been a thousand years. Finally, a Cultivator from our Holy Sect has arrived. Senior Sister Jieyue, Senior Brother Dugu, come quickly."

The woman let out a soft laugh.

On the sixth Star Platform, a peerless beauty giggled. She was wrapped head to toe in cyan gauze, her beauty flawless and her figure graceful.

"Let me see... who is this little fellow?"

Wei Jieyue descended, barefoot, standing atop the head of her Cyan Snake Dharma Aspect.

Qin Xuan was dumbfounded, breaking out in a cold sweat.

’The Cultivator illusions in the Star Ruins can leave the Illusion Heart Platform?’

These two... weren’t they the Holy Sect’s very own Bone Charm Demon Lord and Green Snake Xuan Sha Demon Monarch, just in their younger days!

And that wasn’t all.

On the seventh Star Platform, another illusion descended. It was a Demon Cultivator who looked to be in his twenties, surrounded by thunderous astral winds and exuding a violent aura.

"Xuanba, Bo Yan, have you seen this person before?" the young Dugu Hong asked.

"Could he be the second reincarnation of that Nascent Soul Demon Monarch you mentioned, Liu Mobai?"

Beside Dugu Hong stood another young Demon Cultivator with a similarly wild and tyrannical aura, and a handsome Demon Cultivator wreathed in rising blood flames.

It was none other than Chen Xuanba and a young Ji Boyan!

"Doesn’t look like him." The young Chen Xuanba shook his head.

"When I entered the Star Ruins thirty years ago, there was no one like that in the Holy Sect."

Ji Boyan, still in his youth before he changed his Dao path, also shook his head.

"Reporting to the Sect Leader, I did not see this person when I entered the Star Ruins eight hundred years ago, either."

A slight smile touched Dugu Hong’s lips.

"Interesting. To be able to gather Miaoyin, Jieyue, Xuanba, and Bo Yan all at once... and with me here as well, this kid’s future is boundless!"

The young Dugu Hong had entered the Star Ruins two thousand years ago.

The moment Qin Xuan stepped onto the Illusion Heart Platform, Dugu Hong had also sensed the auras of his ancestor, Divine Blood Refining True Demon Monarch Dugu Hao, and Senior Chuu Hongling, the Ten Thousand Forms Demon Monarch, stirring restlessly above the two-thousandth step!

If Qin Xuan hadn’t still been below the two-thousandth step, those two would have probably been able to descend as well.

"It’s chaos. Everything’s in chaos! There’s something seriously wrong with these Star Tiers!"

Qin Xuan gulped, feeling as though he had stumbled into something extraordinary.

These five were undeniably the top brass of the current Holy Sect!

’Holy hell, five against one... Don’t tell me I’ve walked into another trap?’ Qin Xuan’s face went pale.

The only thing that gave him some peace of mind was that the five people before him all had the Cultivation of the Foundation Establishment Twelfth Level. Even their faces were those of their younger selves from when they first entered the Star Ruins.

It was as if they were frozen in time, their power no longer increasing.

"Come on, then! I’m not afraid of you!" Qin Xuan said through gritted teeth.

Wei Jieyue let out a laugh and shook her head.

"You misunderstand, kid. We didn’t come here to fight you. We came to give you a great opportunity."

Chen Xuanba nodded. "I received the same in my day. It was how I ascended to the 1989th step."

Qin Xuan’s spirits instantly soared. He immediately dropped to his knees, his face a picture of piety.

"This junior, Shi Huaizhong, humbly asks for the seniors’ guidance!"