Ancient Star Domain

In the vast expanse of the starry sky, countless stars flashed rhythmically, like innumerable gems scattered across a black velvet fabric.

They connected with each other in a seemingly disorderly yet harmonious and unified manner, emitting a radiant divine light that illuminated the dim starry space.

Numerous Demon Gods of great Mana held the Great Celestial Stars Banner, each corresponding to an Ancient Star.

There were also hundreds of millions of Heavenly Soldiers and Generals, each wielding a smaller version of the Celestial Stars Banner, drawing terrifying star power from those myriad stars.

However, the Great Formation was not yet truly completed at this moment, for there was still one key position missing—the master of the Taiyin Star, the pivotal point of the formation, had not yet taken their place.

Emperor Donghuang's brows furrowed as he looked towards Emperor Jun, the Demon Emperor, with inquiring eyes.

The Demon Emperor Emperor Jun replied with a smile, "Your sister-in-law is with child and cannot travel; it is her sister Chang Xi who is now taking her place as the master of the Taiyin Star."

"Chang Xi?"

Emperor Donghuang paused slightly.

"Yes, her," said the Demon Emperor Emperor Jun smilingly. "I recommended her as your Dao companion at first; she was the most suitable candidate. Unfortunately, at that time, you were solely focused on pursuing Daoist enlightenment and mysteries, otherwise she would be your Dao companion already."

Emperor Donghuang remained indifferent and replied lightly, "Brother, let's not mention this again. In this lifetime, I am only devoted to proving the Dao. Power, artifacts, beauty, and alike are but passing clouds to me, leaving no trace."

"Of course I know your aspirations, but there's something you don't know…" At this point, the Demon Emperor Emperor Jun gestured and created a space where only they existed, then continued smiling, "The reason I bring up the past is that I've just learned from your sister-in-law that her sister Chang Xi actually possesses a Nine-Colored Glaze Heart!"

"Nine-Colored Glaze Heart?"

A sharp light suddenly flashed in Emperor Donghuang's eyes, a radical departure from his previous detachment. His gaze sparkled with excitement, and his breathing became slightly hurried.

"Rumors say that those born with a Nine-Colored Glaze Heart are naturally attuned to the Dao, making their comprehension of Daoist Laws doubly effective!"

"That's right, indeed so," Emperor Jun, the Demon Emperor, confirmed with a nod and a smile. "Were you to take her as your Dao companion and explore the Dao through Dual Cultivation, you could also utilize the miraculous effects of the Nine-Colored Glaze Heart!"

Emperor Donghuang nodded thoughtfully, seemingly struck by an idea; a slight curve formed on his lips, as if he had found the most correct path through an indecipherable fog.

Suddenly, a panicked voice came from a far-off place.

"Your Majesty!"

"Your Majesty, there is great trouble!"

"The Empress, she... she..."

"Hm?"

The Demon Emperor Emperor Jun looked up to see a noble and spirited Fairy rushing towards them, her face filled with anxious worry.

"Wang Shu?"

Emperor Jun naturally recognized the maid who served by his consort's side. His expression turned grave, and with a gentle wave of his hand, he brought Fairy Wang Shu to his side, then asked in a deep voice, "What happened to the Empress?"

Startled, Fairy Wang Shu froze for a moment before regaining her composure and said urgently, "It's Fairy Chang Xi! She was captured by Xuan Yangzi on her way here!

He even declared that if Emperor Donghuang does not lift the seal on the Ancient Star Domain within half a day, he will harm the Empress!"

"Hmph!"

Emperor Donghuang's eyes narrowed slightly, a faint flicker of anger passing through them. He stated in a firm voice, "This Xuan Yangzi is truly troublesome!"

The Demon Emperor Emperor Jun also looked extremely disturbed.

Xuan Yangzi had caused chaos in the Heavenly Court time and again, and each attempt at capturing him with a large force had ended in failure, allowing him to slip away.

In a sense, each of Xuan Yangzi's escapes was a serious provocation against him as the Demon Emperor.

"With Fairy Chang Xi captured and her banner missing, the Celestial Stars Formation cannot be activated, nor can we use it to pinpoint Xuan Yangzi's location..."

The Demon Emperor Emperor Jun furrowed his brows deeply, struggling to come up with a better plan.

He tried to predict Chang Xi's whereabouts using the River Map and the Luo Book, but could only derive a rough location.

"Now we can only dispatch all the Demon Gods and the Heavenly Soldiers and Generals to spread out and search the entire Ancient Star Domain!"

This was a crude method.

For a Quasi-Saint level of ability, hiding out if one truly wished to, would render them undetectable to Demon Gods at the Daluo Golden Immortal Level.

And those hundreds of millions of Heavenly Soldiers and Generals were even less useful—mere decorations.

At that moment, Emperor Donghuang seemed to have thought of something and said pensively, "That Xuan Yangzi is cunning and full of schemes; perhaps we can ignore him for the moment and send all the Demon Gods and Heavenly Soldiers and Generals to pursue the Red Cloud Ancestor..."

Emperor Jun immediately understood his meaning.

"You mean, use the Red Cloud Ancestor as bait to lure Xuan Yangzi into showing himself?"

"That's right!"

Emperor Donghuang said earnestly, "In recollection of the past times when Xuan Yangzi made an appearance, it was always related to the Red Cloud Ancestor... Perhaps there exists some connection between him and the Red Cloud Ancestor.

Previously, I thought he was after the Hongmeng Purple Qi, but it turns out that it was already on him!

Clearly, his repeated traversals through time and space were aimed at the Red Cloud Ancestor... perhaps to save him, or perhaps for something else.

In any case, should he learn that the Red Cloud Ancestor might die because of him, it's very likely he will show himself!"

...

In another star domain, the Red Cloud Ancestor was traveling with the Xuan Ming Ancestor Witch.