Chapter 374: Exploring the Star

Beyond the Central Continent.

A figure appeared out of nowhere in the deep, dark expanse of space.

Compared to the vast, boundless Central Continent, his figure appeared utterly minuscule.

He gazed silently into the depths of space for a while…

"The path Xuan took…"

Xu Xing stared at a specific trajectory extending into the depths of space.

It was precisely the 'path' Xuan had traversed after crossing the Starfront Battlefield, crossing over into the Central Continent.

There may not have been any hidden tricks, but…

In his hand, the entirely crimson Moon Shadow swirled with the light of sword Dao, slashing upward in one sudden motion!

Zzzzz~!

The dark, profound space seemed to wrinkle, and a blade of light—existing not in this world, harming nothing of reality—swept across.

Boom—!

As if a storm had erupted in some unknowable realm beyond reality, planets lying directly upon the 'path' saw a flash of red light vanish instantly.

But because it lasted too short a time, few paid attention.

In the blink of an eye, the blade of light swept along the very 'path' Xuan had taken to reach the Central Continent, arriving at the distant Star's Other Shore!

"No anomalies."

Xuan, in order to conserve power, truly seemed to have left no hidden tricks behind.

His eyes flickered, and Xu Xing slashed again without warning!

Boom—!

The blade of light, not of this world yet rippling through space, was repeated several times—still no irregularities found—so Xu Xing finally ceased.

The next instant, his figure vanished without warning.

Less than a billionth of a billionth of a second later, he crossed the vast distance and appeared at the Starfront Battlefield.

Stretching before him, massive interstellar fortresses hung silently in place; palaces rivaling the size of star systems, grand halls everywhere.

These were colossal artifacts, painstakingly crafted by the Gedaxian Sects, capable of slightly enhancing Dao Union and even Xuan Communion, and able to teleport cultivators in critical moments.

In this Starfront Battlefield, even the slightest enhancement could sometimes become the decisive factor altering the tide of battle.

Since compressing volume drastically increased cost, they were simply built as palaces and grand halls—allowing the Cang race and Dao Soldiers and诡beasts to rest slightly when not under attack.

"Ji ji ji! Xu Xing, brat."

"Elder."

A twisted black shadow materialized beside Xu Xing, as if it had always existed within this cosmic space.

Alongside it appeared a hunched, white-haired figure.

You and Min.

"Brother Dao."

"Brother, thank you for watching over the Sword Sect."

"It was only right, Brother Dao, no need to thank me."

But You's entire black shadow trembled, as if gazing across the Starfront Battlefield's opposite shore: "I went to check before—those Cang brats have vanished, nowhere to be found."

"Have you gone back since then, Elder?"

"No. Since three months ago, I've felt the opposite shore growing increasingly dangerous…" Here, You's tone grew grave, "It must be that old bastard Xuan has recovered."

Though it rankled.

Yet he had to admit—Xuan, that old bastard, was indeed formidable; only Xu Xing among their side could stand against him head-on.

"He's only 'died' once in all these years—recovering quickly is understandable…" Xu Xing's longsword glowed with fiercer crimson light, "I'll go over and check now."

"Brother Dao's current state…"

Though back in the stars, Min still kept track of the group's situation.

"No issue."

"Be careful."

"Rest assured, Elder, I know my limits."

Zzz~!

A flash of crimson light—directly crossing the entire Starfront Battlefield—headed toward the Star's Other Shore! …………

The Star's Other Shore.

Beyond the boundary reachable by the Tai Xuan Realm's celestial forces stationed on the Central Continent—this was now the Cang race's primary stronghold under Xuan's lineage!

Looking out, the star region showed no difference from within the Starfront Battlefield.

The closer to the Starfront Battlefield, the more desolate and ruined it became; fragments of artifacts floated silently in the void.

Utter silence!

The Dao principles were hollow and leaky; here, one could not even sense the 'Great Dao' detected by the Tai Xuan Realm.

Naturally, no new Dao Union could arise.

Star regions, star systems, star systems and planets.

Even in some star systems with suitable environments, some alien races still existed.

But!

Not a single Cang race member.

Not one! Not a single one! Not a trace!

As the Cang race's current stronghold, the Star's Other Shore showed not even a shadow of a Cang being.

Xu Xing stepped forward, his gaze sweeping the eight directions.

He could sense a subtle yet powerful aura swirling beyond this starry shore.

"A domain of the past, or…"

If Xuan further concealed himself with the power of the Ancients, he truly could evade me…

Hum~

A vast crimson sword light flared to life—initially only a thin line, but in an instant it surged wildly, filling all corners of the cosmos!

Like a tidal wave sweeping across star realms, it crushed forward, reducing all resistance to dust.

Merely brushing against it, planets shattered into powder, stars extinguished and scattered as drifting embers.

"Xuan! Still hiding your head and tail?!"

The voice echoed throughout the entire starry shore with the crimson light.

But… no response.

Suddenly, Xu Xing's expression halted—he snapped his gaze toward a certain point.

The roaring crimson light retracted; a single thread of sword light darted onward, entering a deeper void of space devoid of any celestial bodies.

After calmly staring for a moment, Xu Xing sneered.

"A nest of rats."

He raised his sword and slashed!

The sword light, impossibly slender yet infinitely long, severed and cut through all things, shattered every concealment, and crushed down with supreme sharpness!

Even space itself was cleaved open by this strike, revealing the rolling purple qi concealed within.

It was a dao field formed of condensed purple qi—vast and boundless, like a galaxy spanning the cosmos, radiating an ineffable, transcendent, primordial aura.

Amidst the interweaving, churning purple qi, emerged those perfect figures hidden within, radiating terrifying might.

Like divine kings walking from the primordial age, empresses descending from the nine heavens, sovereigns sweeping the cosmos…

Their eyes, like seven-colored glass, fixed tightly on Xu Xing above, filled with unmasked coldness and fury.

Each of them was a Cang Clan heavenly general of the Dongzhen rank; some had once ruled the Tai Xuan Realm in ancient times, dominating all races, wielding life and death at will.

"Master Jianzu!"

"Base human vermin!"

"Despicable usurper of the rightful throne!"

Roles reversed—facing this human vermin they once crushed with a flick of their fingers, their only possible "weapon" capable of "harming" him now was mere words.

Liu Yu, Cheng Di, Shang Min…

Xu Xing looked at those familiar faces from distant memories, spoke not a single word, and swung another sword strike!

"Master Jianzu, cease this now."

With a sigh, the purple qi coalesced into a giant hand, reaching out to grasp the sword light. (End of chapter)