Chapter 72: Encounter with Wu Gang at the Gates of the Moon Palace, the Taiyin Star Lord Emerges from Seclusion

The warship slowly approached the Taiyin Star, and an indescribably chilling aura struck them face-on.

This cold was not the winter chill of the mortal world, but a desolate frigidity originating from the depths of the soul.

Su Chen activated his inner magic power, barely resisting the cold, and inwardly marveled.

“No wonder this is the ultimate yin place of the Three Realms—just the outer Taiyin energy is so dominant. A mortal without cultivation here would freeze into an ice statue in an instant.”

Tianpeng Yuan Shuai , however, was accustomed to it; as a high-ranking general of the Heavenly Court with profound cultivation, this chill meant nothing to him.

He pointed to the palace complex shrouded in clear radiance ahead and said to Su Chen, “Brother, look—there’s Guanghan Palace.”

Su Chen gazed intently and saw, amid swirling clouds and mist, jade pavilions and fairy towers, faintly visible.

Though indistinct, the crisp, solitary, lofty aura radiated unmistakably.

“What a magnificent Guanghan Palace—truly a sacred immortal realm,” Su Chen praised.

At that moment, a figure appeared without warning before the warship, blocking their path.

The man wore simple gray linen robes, stood tall, with a rugged, ancient face, resembling a mortal woodcutter.

Yet in his hand, he carried a massive axe, polished to a gleaming shine.

The axe looked ordinary, but the moment Su Chen glanced at it, he felt a faint tremor in the opening-path axe at his waist.

A dominant will, emanating from the axe, surged from the man’s weapon and vanished in an instant.

“Who is this man? Such overwhelming pressure!”

He could not discern the woodcutter’s cultivation base; he only felt the man stood as if fused with the Taiyin Star behind him, unfathomably deep.

“Wu Gang!”

Tianpeng Yuan Shuai clearly recognized the man—he immediately dropped his casual expression and adopted a solemn one, bowing respectfully.

“So it is Brother Wu Gang. Tianpeng greets you.”

Wu Gang? The legendary Wu Gang punished to chop the moon tree?

Wasn’t he supposed to be chopping that eternally uncut cassia tree?

Why was he here? And why did his aura feel so terrifying?

This was no look of a punished soul!

Wu Gang merely glanced at Tianpeng Yuan Shuai , his eyes falling on the massive warship behind him, his voice as still as a bottomless well, revealing no emotion.

“Tianpeng, this is not your Tianhe. Your warship has crossed the boundary. Withdraw immediately.”

His words were simple and direct, yet carried an undeniable, domineering authority.

Tianpeng Yuan Shuai forced a smile and quickly explained, “Brother, you misunderstand—I was merely patrolling here, happened upon the extraordinary scenery of the Taiyin Star, and wished to draw closer for a glimpse. No other intent. We’re leaving now, right away.”

He spoke the words but did not order an immediate retreat; instead, he asked curiously, “By the way, Brother, why are you here today? Don’t you need to chop your precious cassia tree today?”

Wu Gang, upon hearing this, gazed toward Guanghan Palace and said slowly, “The Star Lord has emerged from seclusion.”

“What?” Tianpeng Yuan Shuai ’s smile froze on his face.

Wu Gang ignored his shock and continued, “The Star Lord’s decree summons all celestial officials of the Taiyin Star to pay homage at Guanghan Palace. I am on my way.”

As he spoke, his gaze returned to Tianpeng Yuan Shuai , this time carrying a hint of warning.

“The Star Lord dislikes outsiders disturbing her, especially now. Tianpeng, mind yourself. Leave quickly, lest you bring ruin upon yourself.”

With those words, Wu Gang’s figure dissolved into a streak of light, shooting toward Guanghan Palace and vanishing from sight in an instant.

“The Taiyin Star Lord has emerged from seclusion?”

Tianpeng Yuan Shuai murmured to himself, as if recalling something terrifying.

The once-majestic aura of the great general was now gone—he looked like a mouse that had seen a cat.

Su Chen, standing nearby, felt his heart pound violently.

Plans could not keep pace with change.

He had calculated every possibility, yet never anticipated that the legendary Taiyin Star Lord, Chang Xi, would emerge now.

This was a disaster!

“Yuan Shuai ?” Su Chen ventured cautiously.

Tianpeng Yuan Shuai jumped as if stepped on a cat’s tail, snapping back to awareness.

Without a word, he grabbed Su Chen’s arm.

“Go! Quick! Get out of this damned place!”

His voice trembled with panic—there was no trace left of the Grand Commander of the Heavenly River Army.

Su Chen stumbled as he was yanked, still dazed, dragged back into the ship’s cabin.

“Order! Full speed retreat! Now! Immediately!”

Tianpeng Yuan Shuai ’s roar echoed across the entire warship.

Though the heavenly soldiers did not know what had happened, seeing their commander in such a state, they dared not ask—immediately scrambling to turn the ship around and max out its speed.

The massive warship fled like a creature escaping death, hastily retreating beyond the Taiyin Star’s domain, racing toward the Heavenly River Camp.

The warship raced on until the silver star was completely out of sight; only then did Tianpeng Yuan Shuai ’s taut nerves relax slightly.

He collapsed into his chair, exhaled a long breath, still trembling with lingering fear.

Su Chen stood beside him, watching his terrified state, deeply curious about what the Taiyin Star Lord had done to make Tianpeng Yuan Shuai so afraid.

He could not help asking, “Yuan Shuai , what happened? Is the Taiyin Star Lord truly that terrifying? You’re the Grand Commander of the Heavenly River Army, the Emperor’s trusted general—why such fear?”

Tianpeng Yuan Shuai let out a bitter laugh, picked up the cup on the table, and downed a large gulp of water before regaining his composure.

He looked at Su Chen and lowered his voice: “Brother Su Chen, you’re new here—you don’t understand the danger. Terrifying? It’s far worse than terrifying!”

A deep wariness surfaced on his face.

“Do you think the Taiyin Star Lord is just an ordinary goddess? Let me tell you—it’s nothing like that!”

“She is Chang Xi—the former Empress of the Ancient Demon Court, wife of the Demon Emperor Jun! A primordial deity born at the dawn of heaven and earth!”

“Back then, I...”

Here, Tianpeng Yuan Shuai realized he had spoken too much and hastily changed the subject.

“The War between the Wu and Yao clans—how brutal was that cataclysm? Even titans like Demon Emperor Jun, Dong Huang Taiyi, and the Twelve Ancestral Wu perished. Yet she survived. I don’t know how, but she became the Taiyin Star Lord of the Heavenly Court—and her power is utterly unfathomable!”

“Let me put it this way,” Tianpeng Yuan Shuai gestured, “even the Jade Emperor treats her with utmost respect and never interferes in any matter of the Taiyin Star. Tell me—is she not terrifying?”