Chapter 1088

·

·

·

Protagonist:

Xu Zhangqing

Nine Extremes Heavenly King took a step forward; the void ripples left behind by the collapsed Star Bone Throne had not yet dissipated, and a passage paved with starlight unfolded beneath their feet.

Xu Zhangqing followed half a step behind him; the starlight beneath his feet was soft yet solid, and with every step he took, fine stardust rose from under his soles.

Wherever the two walked, the void folded itself, compressing a distance that would originally require crossing who knows how many light-years into a matter of inches.

Xu Zhangqing pondered for a moment, then asked, "Heavenly King, may I be informed about the Great Dao Venerable in advance?"

Nine Extremes Heavenly King did not stop walking; countless stars being born and dying were reflected in his star nebula eyes, and he remained silent for quite a while before speaking: "The situation of the Great Dao Venerable cannot be explained by others."

"His existence permeates past, present, and future, like the river of time itself."

Upon hearing this, Xu Zhangqing's footsteps paused slightly: "Omnipresent?"

"Correct."

A rare solemnity entered Nine Extremes Heavenly King's tone: "If you pluck a blade of grass, speak a word, or make a decision in the Tianyuan Realm, the Great Dao Venerable may have seen it millions of years ago."

"Not precognition, but time has no before or after before him."

Xu Zhangqing asked no more.

This information was too much; asking further would only seem frivolous.

He turned his gaze to the starlight passage beneath his feet and changed to a more practical question: "Then what about the Beidou Star Domain? What kind of place is it?"

"The Beidou Star Domain, also known as the Beidou Immortal Gate."

Nine Extremes Heavenly King raised a hand and drew in the void; a star map outlined by starlight appeared before the two of them: "Its layout is vastly different from that of the Tianyuan Realm."

"Qin Hua Golden Core can only become an Outer Disciple."

"Earth Grade Golden Core qualifies one for promotion to Formal Disciple."

"And a Nascent Soul True Monarch who dominates a region in the Tianyuan Realm is merely a mere Formal Disciple in the Beidou Immortal Gate."

Xu Zhangqing raised his eyebrows upon hearing this.

A Nascent Soul True Monarch was actually just a Formal Disciple.

This standard placed in the Tianyuan Realm would be enough to make countless cultivators weep without tears.

Nine Extremes Heavenly King's words were not yet finished; he continued: "As for the Spirit Severing stage, one can barely be considered to have some status and serve as a Steward in one of the Nine Offices."

"Only by reaching the Void Refining stage can one enter the core of Beidou."

"The Nine Offices?"

"The Nine Halls that govern Beidou."

Nine Extremes Heavenly King pointed his finger at the star map; as starlight flowed, stars lit up one after another: "Tian Xuan Star, the Supreme Elder Zhong Shu, governing the Supreme Elder Office and Ji Temple Tower."

"The collection, statistics, and distribution of faith power, and the testing of faith purity, are all handled there."

"Ji Temple Tower stands ten thousand zhang high; countless star souls are sealed within its tower body, and it is the gathering place of faith."

"Tian Ji Star, the Punishment Zhong Shu."

"It governs Immortal Law, Tian Lao, Spiritual Root stripping, and star soul refining."

"Clouds of punishment shroud the entire star; punishment platforms are spread across it, and every bolt of lightning contains infinite cycles of punishment."

"Tian Quan Star, the Military Zhong Shu."

"The Heaven Patrol Office and Star Guard Army are both garrisoned here, with military fortresses stretching for tens of thousands of li, over one hundred thousand troops, commanded by Qixing Star Lord."

The Heavenly Patrol Bureau and the Star Guard Army are both garrisoned here, with a continuous military fortress stretching tens of thousands of li, a garrison exceeding a hundred thousand, commanded by the Qixing Star Lord.

"The Star Spirit Grass Office manages all spirit field cultivation and seasonal allocation; the Pill Cauldron Office monopolizes pill refining and unified distribution; the Wind Thunder Office governs celestial phenomena control, rainmaking and thunder, and heavenly tribulation punishment."

"The three offices are all on Yu Heng; it has the largest population, and spirit fields are spread everywhere."

"Kai Yang Star, the Cultivation Method Zhong Shu."

"The Yan Fa Office is located here; thousands of Yan Fa Halls and Cangjing Ge are scattered like stars and chess pieces, cultivation methods are strictly controlled by grade, and transmitting methods requires authorization and the sealing of oath marks."

The Yan Fa Si is established here, with thousands of Yan Fa Dian and Cangjing Ge scattered like stars and chess pieces; cultivation methods are strictly controlled by cultivation grade, and transmission of methods requires authorization and the formation of an oath seal.

"Governed by the External Affairs Office, it is the gate of the Beidou Star Domain."

"Jie Xing examination, intelligence gathering, and external negotiations all take place here."

"The Jie Xing condensed from the law of time stretches across the outside of the star domain; all who enter the domain must undergo faith examination."

Upon saying this, Nine Extremes Heavenly King scattered the star map with a wave, then spoke in a deep voice: "The last one, Tian Shu Star."

Speaking to this point, the Nine Extremes Heavenly King waved and dispersed the Star Map, then said in a deep voice: "The last one, Tian Shu Xing."

"The location of the Great Dao Heavenly Seat, not open to the outside."

"A time barrier shrouds the entire star; golden faith threads cover the plain, and all faith ultimately gathers here."

While Xu Zhangqing recorded these points one by one, he pieced together a complete picture of the Beidou Star Domain in his mind.

The Nine Offices each performed their duties, like nine tightly meshed gears, jointly operating this vast immortal machine.

And Tian Shu Star was the heart of this machine.

Xu Zhangqing suddenly asked: "What about the Creation Dao?"

As the words fell, Nine Extremes Heavenly King's footsteps paused for an instant.

Though it was only an instant, Xu Zhangqing keenly caught it.

The starlight on both sides of the passage even dimmed slightly in that instant.

Nine Extremes Heavenly King did not look back, his tone calm to the point of coldness: "News on this aspect, I am not good at revealing."

The Nine Extremes Heavenly King did not turn back, his tone calm to the point of near indifference: "News on this aspect, I cannot disclose."

He paused, then added: "After meeting the Lord of the Great Dao, everything will naturally become clear."

Xu Zhangqing heard this and asked no further questions.

The other party had already put things to this point; asking another word would be tactless.

The two continued forward.

The Star Brilliance Passage grew brighter ahead, the void barriers on both sides began to thin, and a vast star domain's outline gradually appeared through the barrier.

At first it was only a blurry patch of light, as if seen through a layer of water mist.

As the distance drew ever closer, that patch of light gradually became clear.

It was a star domain countless times vaster than the Tianyuan Star Domain, with stars arranged around seven brightest stars as their core, forming a huge Star Xuan spanning the void.

The seven main stars were arranged according to the positions of the Beidou Qixing, and around each main star orbited dozens of auxiliary stars, like subjects guarding a royal court.

The light of the seven main stars was each different.

Tian Shu Xing was pure gold, like a light ball condensed from liquid gold.

Around the stars was wrapped a time barrier visible to the naked eye, golden threads gathering from all directions and spreading across the star's surface into an endless golden plain.

Tian Xuan Xing was a warm milky white, like warm jade soaked through countless kalpas.

A Supreme Elder Tower ten thousand zhang high rose from the star's dial face, and a vast sea of faith power surged around the star.

Tian Ji Xing was a cold dark purple, with punishment clouds shrouding the entire star.

Lightning flashing within the clouds showed a strange crimson color, and each time lightning fell, a faint wail endlessly cycled could be heard.

Tian Quan Xing was rust-dark red, and from space one could see endless military fortresses on the star's surface.

The Star Guard Army's encampment expanded outward in concentric circles, and the Qi Sha Dian at the exact center was like a broken sword plunged upside-down into the star's dial face.

Yu Heng Xing was the largest, presenting a vibrant emerald green full of life.

Spirit Fields, the smoke and fire of pill cauldrons, and dharma arrays for summoning rain and thunder interwove on the star's surface into a busy and orderly scroll.

Kai Yang Xing was the most orderly, with thousands of square Yan Fa Dian arranged like chess pieces, each hall floating above with a cultivation method insignia representing different grades.

Yao Guang Xing lay at the outermost edge of the Star Xuan, corresponding from afar with Tian Shu Xing.

A time realm barrier spanning countless li, like a translucent light curtain, separated the entire Beidou Star Domain from the outside world.

Countless arrays flowed across the light curtain's surface, and from time to time star boats stopped before the barrier to undergo inspection.

Between the seven main stars, countless star ships traveled back and forth on fixed routes, each ship's prow glowing with the insignia spiritual light of its respective Hall Master.

From afar, it was like blood flowing through the veins of the Star Xuan.

Xu Zhangqing took in the magnificent scenery, remaining silent for a long time.

The Nine Extremes Heavenly King did not urge him, merely standing with hands behind his back at his side.

The Star Brilliance Passage ahead of the two had by now extended to the realm barrier at the end.

The light curtain condensed from time law, sensing the aura of the White Tiger Mark, silently slid open to both sides, revealing a straight passage leading to the star domain's core.

At the end of the passage, Tian Shu Xing slowly rotated in silence!