Ever since the sun's extinction, the five regions and two heavens had been plunged into deep gloom.
Spectral Soul Demon Venerable, his entire body wreathed in blue ghostfire, could never replace the sun. What he bestowed upon heaven, earth, and all living beings was not vitality and warmth, but chilling cold and killing intent.
Beneath this dark curtain, the countless starlights shining above Central Continent had become a source of solace for mortal souls.
But now, even these brilliant, dazzling lights had been ruthlessly targeted!
Surging tides of qi, vast and boundless, swept in to drown out tens of thousands of starlights.
Qi Sea Ancestor's great sleeves billowed as he drifted forward with a placid expression, steadily pressing onward.
Fang Yuan had deployed his forces in advance, and Qi Sea Ancestor was one of his arrangements. Upon receiving notice from the main body, he had struck immediately.
The space within the Myriad Stars Calculation Formation was in chaos.
Many Immortal Gu Masters were stationed here.
Because the formation's offensive and defensive capabilities were relatively weak, Star Constellation Immortal Venerable had stationed numerous Immortal Gu Masters within it.
She knew full well that the Myriad Stars Calculation Formation, which had only been established for a short time, would become a target for other Venerables to attack—the soft underbelly of Heavenly Court at present.
That was why she had also placed the Embroidered Tower and the Star Constellation Chessboard within the formation!
"Qi Sea Ancestor has appeared in the northeastern sector—in a single strike, he annihilated three thousand eight hundred and seventy-one stars."
"Urgent report! A clone of Fang Yuan's enslavement path dragonman—Wu Shuai—has appeared in the northwestern sector! Two thousand six hundred and sixty-four stars have fallen!"
Inside the Embroidered Tower, Star Constellation's will was about to issue commands when the entire formation space suddenly shuddered violently.
Then a scout Immortal Gu Master cried out, his voice high and shrill, tinged with panic: "Zhan Bu Du—Zhan Bu Du has appeared! He's attacking from due south, carving a straight path inward, his vanguard pointing directly at our position!"
"Zhan Bu Du?" Star Constellation's will immediately sent out probing thoughts. Through the Myriad Stars Calculation Formation, she caught sight of a radiant young man draped in a massive crimson cloak, descending like a ferocious tiger from the mountains or a maddened dragon crashing into the world. He shattered the air with thunderous booms, charging through unimpeded.
Star Constellation's will let out a quiet sigh.
That Fang Yuan could resurrect Immortal Gu Masters—she had already obtained clues about that from the Fang family. That Zhan Bu Du had been resurrected did not particularly surprise her.
But the current situation put her in a difficult position.
Qi Sea Ancestor and Zhan Bu Du both possessed quasi-Venerable combat strength, while Wu Shuai was a peak Eighth Transformation powerhouse. On this level, Heavenly Court lacked elite fighters capable of matching them head-on.
Qing Chou could count as one, but at this moment he was tasked with guarding Divine Emperor City. In terms of strategic importance, Divine Emperor City was even more critical than the Myriad Stars Calculation Formation.
As for Qin Ding Ling, Che Wei, and the others—they were certainly among the stronger Eighth Transformation cultivators, but they were clearly a full tier below Qi Sea Ancestor and Zhan Bu Du.
"If Fang Yuan can resurrect Immortal Gu Masters and preserve their cultivation, then where are the various non-human Eighth Transformation experts among his subordinates hiding right now?"
With the situation unclear, Star Constellation's will decided on a conservative strategy: prioritize defending the Myriad Stars Calculation Formation and refrain from reckless counterattacks.
Star Constellation Immortal Venerable's will personally directed the Myriad Stars Calculation Formation. In an instant, the starlight blazed with overwhelming brilliance, piercing to the eye.
Qi Sea Ancestor and Wu Shuai both had to close their eyes, resorting to investigative killer moves instead. Only Zhan Bu Du, with his thick skin and tough hide, kept his eyes wide open without a care in the world.
The starlight quickly dimmed, and Qi Sea Ancestor, Wu Shuai, and Zhan Bu Du all found their vision abruptly shifting as they were drawn into an enormous chessboard.
"Is this… the Star Constellation Chessboard?"
"Hmph! So this Myriad Stars Calculation Formation can actually borrow the power of the Star Constellation Chessboard."
"Not only that—there's likely the Embroidered Tower assisting as well!"
Fang Yuan's three clones exchanged information via voice transmission while simultaneously launching a fresh wave of furious attacks.
A torrent of bombardment pounded down. The Myriad Stars Calculation Formation trembled violently but barely held together, sustained entirely by the combined assistance of the Embroidered Tower and the Star Constellation Chessboard.
"This is bad—if the battle settles into a stalemate, how can we help the main body put pressure on Star Constellation Immortal Venerable's true body?" Qi Sea Ancestor's heart sank slightly.
The other two knew the situation was unfavorable as well, and their assaults grew even fiercer.
The Nether Sky.
The confrontation between the four Venerables continued.
Fang Yuan's clones had launched their offensive, only to be blunted by Star Constellation Immortal Venerable's arrangements. However, Fang Yuan's own situation was rapidly improving.
He had been in a difficult position before because Giant Sun Immortal Venerable had been fighting at full power.
Now his situation was improving—also because of Giant Sun Immortal Venerable.
Giant Sun Immortal Venerable's combat strength was steadily declining.
It turned out that the "All Beings, Heaven and Earth, I Reside Within" killer move, while powerful, forcibly siphoned external fortune. It was a tree without roots, water without a spring—use it and it dwindled.
Moreover, once the move's effect completely faded, Giant Sun Immortal Venerable's fortune would plunge into a weakened state that would persist for a period of time before gradually recovering.
News of the Myriad Stars Calculation Formation being under attack had reached Star Constellation Immortal Venerable the moment it happened.
But she could not immediately return to help.
If she turned back, she would be falling right into Fang Yuan's trap. And if she left Giant Sun Immortal Venerable to face Spectral Soul Demon Venerable and Fang Yuan's combined assault alone, would he be at all willing?
Star Constellation Immortal Venerable's single-minded devotion to Heavenly Court's interests would inevitably cast a shadow over the subsequent alliance between the two Venerables. After all, Giant Sun was not a Venerable of Heavenly Court—he was not of one mind with Star Constellation Immortal Venerable, only cooperating due to the circumstances.
Star Constellation Immortal Venerable even suspected that if she turned back to reinforce Central Continent, Fang Yuan might pursue her relentlessly.