Chapter 451: Ju Sect Lost Contact

Feeling the tumultuous changes within his body, Chen Mu sat motionless on the cushion for nearly half an hour.

Deep within his consciousness, the newly forged "Soul Altar" stood majestically before the "Life Palace," glowing with radiant light, stable as a mountain, yet subtly resonating with the external heavens and earth.

Through the Soul Altar's refinement and transit, his spiritual force became increasingly pure and condensed, with a qualitative leap in both range and subtlety of perception.

With a single thought, his spiritual awareness could move as effortlessly as an extension of his limbs, enveloping hundreds of zhang around him, revealing every minute detail, even faintly tracing deeper patterns of primordial qi flow in the heavens and earth.

His true qi also flowed more smoothly and harmoniously, more tightly fused with his soul; with every gesture, he seemed to draw forth a faint trace of heavenly and earthly power to augment his actions.

This was the fundamental transformation brought by the "Ascendant Soul Altar," signifying that Chen Mu now stood squarely at the threshold of the Tiangong realm, awaiting only sufficient accumulation to open the "Life Palace" and ascend in one step!

Long silence.

Chen Mu slowly retracted the aura and ripples unconsciously emanating from his body, fully stabilizing his realm.

At that moment, through the restrictions of the Wu Quxing Hall, Chen Mu faintly sensed someone standing outside—not forcing entry, but seemingly waiting.

Another Star God?

Chen Mu's heart stirred slightly, but he did not rise immediately.

First, he took out his Star Robe and swiftly donned it; the voluminous garment automatically clung to his form, giving off an aura of depth and mystery.

Then, he retrieved the matching pure white mask.

After confirming his attire was correct and his aura fully concealed beneath the Star Robe and mask, Chen Mu rose and swept his sleeve.

Hum…

The two massive doors of the Wu Quxing Hall opened soundlessly inward.

Outside the hall was not the imagined floating island and cloud sea, but the Wu Quxing Hall's exclusive front platform, paved with silver star-stone, bordered by railings beyond which stretched boundless cloud seas and distant floating Star Lord halls.

At this moment, five figures stood silently upon the platform.

They too wore standardized Star Robes, differing slightly in color and style, each embroidered with distinct star symbols, and each wore masks—pure white, pale gold, or deep gray—concealing all features.

The five exuded extraordinary bearing: one serene, one lively, one majestic, one sharp; standing still, they blended seamlessly with the surrounding starlight and cloud sea, as if they were intrinsic parts of the "Star Palace."

Seeing Chen Mu emerge, all five turned their gazes toward him.

The Star God standing foremost, whose Star Robe was embroidered with intricate, lavish star patterns and whose aura was balanced and harmonious yet carried a trace of nobility, spoke first; his voice, soft and clear, emerged through the mask.

"Congratulations, Wu Qu, on your advancement to a higher level, having successfully forged the 'Soul Altar'—the Tiangong realm is within reach."

With that, he and the other four bowed in unison to Chen Mu, their gestures precise, steeped in ancient ritual.

Chen Mu did not dare to be negligent; he returned the bow, his voice emerging through the mask, steady and slightly low.

"Thank you, all Star Lords. I have just broken through; my aura is still unstable. Was the disturbance too great? Did I disturb you?"

"Not at all," said the Tianfu Star Lord, shaking his head gently. "We had just gathered inside to discuss a matter of importance. Your breakthrough's ripples were subtle, but since we were nearby and fellow Star Gods, we are attuned to minor changes in each other's Star Halls. We sensed it—not out of deliberate surveillance, merely passing by and coincidentally arriving as you emerged from seclusion."

So that was it.

Chen Mu's heart eased slightly.

It seemed that within the Star Palace, colleagues possessed a certain awareness of each other's "territory" changes—not real-time monitoring, but a vague connection rooted in Star God lineage.

Tianfu Star Lord stepped aside to introduce the other four.

His Star Robe was primarily pale gold, embroidered with star symbols representing abundance and stability.

"This is Tianxi Star Lord."

He pointed to a Star God whose robe was warm orange, embroidered with auspicious star patterns, and whose posture was lively.

Tianxi Star Lord nodded to Chen Mu; a faint laugh seemed to echo from behind the mask.

"This is Dikong Star Lord."

A Star God with robe deep gray bordering black, embroidered with symbols of void and extinction, whose aura was as still as a deep abyss, gave a slight nod.

"This is Tiankui Star Lord."

A Star God with robe of dark purple, embroidered with the star of leadership and supremacy, tall in stature and radiating a trace of majesty, merely regarded Chen Mu calmly.

"This is Pojun Star Lord."

The final one, robe silver-white, embroidered with the star of destruction and slaughter, standing rigid as a spear, even in stillness radiating a sharp aura around him, fixed his gaze through the mask upon Chen Mu, carrying a piercing, soul-penetrating intensity.

"Wu Qu, a pleasure to meet you!"

The four spoke in turn, voices crisp, hoarse, deep, or icy, yet all muffled by the mask's distinctive distortion.

"Greetings, Tianxi Star Lord, Dikong Star Lord, Tiankui Star Lord, Pojun Star Lord."

Chen Mu returned each bow in turn, his demeanor neither humble nor arrogant.

He sensed that all five possessed unfathomable cultivation—certainly at least Tiangong realm; Pojun Star Lord and Tiankui Star Lord exerted the greatest pressure on him.

After brief pleasantries, Pojun Star Lord's piercing eyes, seemingly able to pierce through the mask, fixed on Chen Mu and spoke bluntly: "Wu Qu, your cultivation has reached the 'Ascendant Soul Altar'—your combat power must far surpass your former self. There is a matter at hand. If you are willing, accompany us."

"Oh? What is it?" Chen Mu's heart stirred as he asked.

Tianxi Star Lord took up the thread, his tone now less lively, more solemn: "Ju Sect Star Lord is in trouble."

Ju Sect Star Lord!

Chen Mu's eyes narrowed slightly beneath his mask.

He knew that name too well!

It was Ju Sect Star Lord who had assessed and recruited Chen Mu into the Star Gods and granted him the Wu Qu inheritance.

When Chen Mu was hunted by Gao Xingde and nearly perished, it was Ju Sect Star Lord who used Lei Ting's might to severely wound Gao Xingde.

Though Ju Sect Star Lord never claimed credit afterward, Chen Mu had never forgotten this debt or the guidance he received.

"Half a month ago, Ju Sect Star Lord journeyed to the 'Heavenly Han Ruins' to investigate an anomaly linked to the 'Beast God' faction."

Tianxi Star Lord continued, "For the first few days, he sent regular updates via the Star Talisman—progress reports and scattered details—all normal."

"But five days ago, communication abruptly ceased. No matter how we tried to contact him, there was no response. The life imprint on his Star Talisman has not vanished—he may still be alive—but it is extremely faint and unstable, fixed at one location within the 'Heavenly Han Ruins,' motionless."

Tianfu Star Lord added gravely, "We suspect Ju Sect Star Lord encountered misfortune during his investigation—likely trapped, possibly Suffered Heavy 【Injury】, and in grave peril."

"The 'Beast God' faction's methods are bizarre and unpredictable. After consultation with several Star Lords, we have decided to assemble a team and depart immediately for the 'Heavenly Han Ruins' to investigate and attempt to rescue Ju Sect Star Lord."

It was all for the Giant Gate Star Lord!

Chen Mu hesitated almost not at all, and immediately said in a deep voice.

"Count me in!"