Dark Star, Qiyun Mountain — a place brimming with spiritual energy and abundant power, one of the most renowned crystal vein mines on Dark Star, and also one of the most important assets of Lingxiao Sect on Dark Star. The crystals mined here each year accounted for more than a tenth of Lingxiao Sect's entire revenue.
Such an important asset naturally had a powerhouse stationed to guard it.
A figure in a form-fitting dress that traced every curve of a slender silhouette, hair pulled back cleanly at the nape — giving off an air of valiant elegance. Qiu Yimeng, once the eldest miss of the Qiu Family of Zhongdu and now its head, was the one holding this post. Decades of ups and downs, relentless striving, and the aura emanating from her had already reached the first stage of the Void King Realm.
It could be said that among the younger generation who had once left Zhongdu together, aside from Yang Kai, she was the highest in cultivation — a level that even many of the older generation couldn't match. This was partly due to her exceptional talent, but there was a far greater reason.
The stars in the sky were too far away. If she wished to reach for the stars and invite the moon, how could she dare not work her hardest? Even if she couldn't grasp them, she wanted to at least be a little closer.
As one of the main battlegrounds of the war between two Great Star Domains, Dark Star naturally received considerable attention from the Great Desolate Star Domain. Across the entire Dark Star, dozens of battlefields raged, and all manner of critical resource sites saw frequent conflict.
Qiyun Mountain was no exception — the Great Desolate Star Domain had set its sights on it as well. They had their own Void King Realm expert leading several hundred warriors, with Return Void Realm cultivators appearing in droves. They had been locked in a grinding struggle with Qiu Yimeng's Lingxiao Sect forces here for five years, fighting hundreds of battles both large and small, neither side able to gain a decisive edge. The Great Desolate Star Domain wanted to seize the crystal vein but couldn't manage it, and Qiu Yimeng wanted to wipe them out but found herself equally powerless. Even requesting reinforcements from Lingxiao Sect was no solution — if one side called for aid, so would the other. And the reinforcements arrived quickly; if Lingxiao Sect deployed more Void King Realm experts, the enemy would bolster their strength in turn.
Over five years, a tacit consensus had been reached — both sides would fight using only their existing forces, neither calling on their backers for anything more.
A fierce determination was fermenting in Qiu Yimeng's heart. Decades had passed. He had surely climbed higher and further by now, hadn't he? If she couldn't even deal with the people right in front of her, how could she ever hope to draw closer to him?
In times of quiet, she cultivated hard, not daring to waste a single moment.
A sudden urgent knocking came from beyond the door.
"Come in!" Qiu Yimeng opened her eyes.
The door swung open, and a broad-shouldered, powerfully built man stepped in, his killing intent so dense it was nearly tangible. The man was none other than Tu Feng — the Blood Guard who had followed Yang Kai during the succession war and rendered extraordinary service.
The Yang Family's Blood Guards were all exceptional individuals, and their loyalty to the Yang Family was absolute. After coming to Dark Star with Yang Kai, these Blood Guards had experienced explosive growth in their strength. Tu Feng, one of the foremost among them, now stood at the third level of the Return Void Realm — just a single step from the Void King Realm.
Qiu Yimeng's forces were almost entirely drawn from the Eight Great Families of Zhongdu, so having Yang Family Blood Guards under her command was only natural.
"Elder Qiu!" Tu Feng clasped his fists.
Having reached the Void King Realm, Qiu Yimeng held the rank of Elder within Lingxiao Sect.
"What is it?"
"Those bastards are on the move."
"Again?" Qiu Yimeng's brow furrowed — something felt off. The frequency was too high. The last clash had been only five days ago. By all rights, both sides should have observed at least a month of truce. How could they be back again after just a few days?
Tu Feng's expression was peculiar. "They're not attacking. They're trying to flee."
"Flee?" Qiu Yimeng's frown deepened. After five years of fighting here, everyone knew each other inside and out. Why would they suddenly try to run? A vague understanding dawned on her. "What were those sounds just now?"
She had been cultivating at the time. She'd heard some unusual noises but hadn't thought much of it. Now that she considered it, those sounds seemed to have come from the starry sky — and the direction they originated from…
Could it be…
Tu Feng said with excitement, "I was just about to tell you — the warships of the Great Desolate Star Domain seem to have been destroyed."
"The Grand Elder made a move?" Qiu Yimeng's expression turned serious.
Those dozen or so warships had been anchored outside Dark Star, their gaze fixed hungrily upon the entire planet. They were not only the backbone of the Great Desolate Star Domain warriors' confidence in their raids on Dark Star, but also a restraint on Lingxiao Sect's overall operations.
Although Lingxiao Sect was far from weak now, with Void King Realm powerhouses appearing in steady succession, the only third-level Void King Realm expert currently stationed at the Sect was Grand Elder Ye Xiyun. The others were elsewhere, far from Dark Star — and distant water couldn't quench a nearby fire.
Unless Ye Xiyun acted personally, no one could do anything about those warships.
No — even if Ye Xiyun acted, she couldn't achieve this level of destruction. Unless those few had returned to Lingxiao Sect to join forces with her. Those few had come back? Qiu Yimeng couldn't help but connect the dots. If so, it all made sense.
Tu Feng said, "The details aren't clear, but right now is the perfect opportunity for us to strike."
Qiu Yimeng rose to her feet, a cold smile on her lips. "Time to settle the score."
With their backers gone, those Great Desolate Star Domain fighters would be panicking. Qiu Yimeng certainly wasn't about to let such a perfect chance to beat a drowning dog slip by.
Stepping outside, pairs of eyes turned toward her, each one radiating powerful auras. Looking over these familiar faces, Qiu Yimeng gave a slight nod.
She turned her gaze outward. Several hundred li away, streaks of light flickered across the sky like meteors — dazzlingly bright, but they didn't fall. Instead, they shot upward. Those were the Great Desolate Star Domain warriors attempting to flee Dark Star.
She turned to look in the other direction. At an even greater distance, the same spectacle filled her eyes.
It seemed the destruction of the warships had thrown the Great Desolate Star Domain forces into complete disarray. They no longer had the nerve to remain on Dark Star and were scrambling to escape.