A Void King Stage Three expert, striking with full force, could obliterate an entire cultivation star.
And in this expanse of the cosmos, six Void King Stage Three experts and one Void King Stage Two expert had gathered together. Seven of them pouring their power out simultaneously — what a spectacle that would be! If all that energy were unleashed at once, it could annihilate every star within a million-li radius, reducing this region of space to an empty void.
Yet in truth, that did not happen. The Eight Radiance Formation formed by the nine Star Emperor Tokens had, at this moment, seemingly transformed into a bottomless pit. No matter how much Saint Power the powerful cultivators fed into it, it devoured everything.
Expressions shifted across every face as the group realized they had underestimated the Great Emperor's methods. The Star Emperor Tokens, crafted tens of thousands of years ago and surviving to this day, still retained such tremendous power — it was hard to imagine just how unfathomable the Great Emperor's own strength must have been.
Without a word exchanged, eyes met across the void and understanding passed between them. Every expert redoubled their efforts, driving even more power into the Eight Radiance Formation.
As time wore on, the Eight Radiance Formation's glow grew ever brighter, and the formation itself kept expanding. What had originally been no larger than a washbasin was now the size of a table.
Every Void King wore a grim expression. Pushing their Saint Power out at such a feverish pace placed no small burden on each of them.
And yet there was a wild exhilaration in it. Some among them had not gone all-out in a very, very long time. Having already ascended to the pinnacle of the Star Domain, who among mortals was even worthy of forcing them to use their full strength?
But this Eight Radiance Formation was an outlet for that pent-up power!
Gu Cangyun could not help but burst into hearty laughter, utterly disregardful of his own energy depletion. He wrung power from his body as though determined to find where his absolute limit lay.
The others naturally refused to fall behind. One after another they unleashed their secret techniques, and in moments the torrent of energy flooding into the Eight Radiance Formation swelled with even greater force.
After a while longer, their expressions turned ugly once more.
Despite continuously pouring Saint Power into the formation, they found no sign that the path to the Star Realm had been opened. Instead, the Eight Radiance Formation simply kept growing larger.
They could not help but glance toward Yang Kai, hoping to read something in his face. But Yang Kai's expression remained calm and composed — not the slightest hint of alarm. He fed his power into the formation at a measured, unhurried pace, no less than anyone else.
His composure steadied the others' nerves. They each produced recovery spirit pills, popped them into their mouths, and continued their efforts.
This persisted for three full days and nights. During that time, the Void King experts consumed who knew how many spirit pills and precious medicines to sustain the flow of power. Then, at a particular moment on the third day, a resonant boom suddenly echoed through the starry void.
The blazing Eight Radiance Formation surged outward in an explosive expansion, then contracted in an instant to the size of a house, stabilizing in the blink of an eye.
Streams of mysterious light flowed across its surface. The Eight Radiance Formation hung silently in the void like the gaping maw of some great beast. The nine Star Emperor Tokens had long since vanished.
One by one, the experts withdrew their hands and stared at the entrance of the Eight Radiance Formation before them, stunned into silence.
"So this is the passage?" After a long pause, the Ghost Ancestor was the first to speak. He could feel the power of the void emanating from it. It bore some resemblance to a Void Corridor, yet was entirely different — deeper, more perilous, and enough to send a chill down even his spine.
"Go in, or don't?" Gu Cangyun turned to survey those around him.
No one could give an answer.
All eyes turned to Yang Kai.
Yang Kai frowned slightly, then spoke. "Going in is a foregone conclusion, but… everyone should take some time to recover first."
"Yang Kai is right," Chi Yue agreed with a solemn nod. "There may be dangers within."
"Then let's take half a day to recover. Who knows how long this thing will last? If we dawdle too long and it disappears, all this will have been for nothing." Wu Dao voiced the concern on everyone's mind.
No one objected. They each produced spirit pills and settled into meditation nearby to restore their energy.
Yang Kai, for his part, drew a large handful of Saint Crystals from his Space Ring, channeling his Saint Power to break them apart. Rich energy radiated outward, enveloping the area and assisting the experts in their recovery.
Half a day later, the group reconvened before the entrance of the Eight Radiance Formation.
Yang Kai stepped forward without the slightest hesitation. "I'll take the lead. The rest of you follow behind!"
"How can we let you do that?" Ai Ou snorted. Whatever else, Yang Kai was his son-in-law. As a father-in-law, he naturally could not allow Yang Kai to take the risk. If something happened to him, wouldn't Xue Yue be left a widow?
As he spoke, he moved to enter first.
Yang Kai extended an arm to stop him, saying lightly, "I am proficient in spatial force. This is a type of Void Corridor — it's better if I go first."
"Yang Kai has a point. Ai Ou, don't be stubborn. In this situation, spatial force is more useful." Chi Yue nodded in agreement.
Ai Ou hesitated for a moment, then finally relented. "Then be careful, boy."
Yang Kai smiled faintly and turned to Long Tianshang. "Senior Long, I'm counting on you to keep an eye on the Dark Star while I'm away."
"Rest easy. I'll visit regularly. Travel is easy now, anyway. As long as the Heng Luo Chamber of Commerce endures, the Dark Star will remain safe and sound," Long Tianshang said in a deep voice.
"Thank you, Senior." Yang Cupped his fists in a formal salute, then turned and plunged straight into the entrance of the Eight Radiance Formation.
Right behind him, Gu Cangyun, Wu Dao, and the Ghost Ancestor flashed inside one after another.
Chi Yue followed close behind.