Lord of the Rending Stars

Inside the Nine Universes Palace, the silver disc that Qingyang had given him slowly rotated in the palm of the Nine Universes Venerable, its silver light as clear as water, reflecting a dazzling brilliance throughout the palace.

Even though Venerable Jiuyu deliberately concealed the aura of this domain-type treasure, it still spread out like ripples.

"A treasure of the realm..."

A tall, slender, and handsome cosmic venerable was the first to speak, his voice tinged with emotion, "King Liefeng, what a generous gesture! Jiuyu, you've made a worthwhile friend."

The speaker was none other than Venerable Xuyuan, who also belonged to the Virtual Universe Company and had a close relationship with Jiuyu. He was highly respected among the Universe Venerables and rarely praised others, but at this moment he nodded slightly to Qingyang, which could be considered as approval.

The Venerable Nine Universes carefully put away the Binding Sea, patted Qingyang on the shoulder, and smiled sincerely: "Brother, this gift is too precious. I wanted to decline, but given our life-or-death friendship, it would be too formal to refuse. Hahaha, I'll accept this Binding Sea."

Qingyang smiled and said, "I'm glad you like it, Brother Jiuyu. I've been refining artifacts for thousands of years, and this is the only one I've ever created. If it weren't for Brother Jiuyu breaking through to the Venerable realm, I wouldn't have been willing to give it up."

This statement was half true and half false. While Fu Kong Hai was indeed the only high-quality domain treasure Qing Yang had crafted so far, his crafting skills were maturing rapidly, and crafting another one was only a matter of time. However, those present, unaware of his true abilities, looked at him with even more complex emotions upon hearing him say that he had "crafted a high-quality domain treasure over thousands of years."

What does it mean to refine a top-quality treasure over thousands of years?

Among human weapon refiners, those who can refine domain-level treasures all have accumulated hundreds of thousands or millions of epochs of experience. This King Liefeng has only cultivated for tens of thousands of years and refined weapons for only ten thousand years, yet he can offer a domain-level treasure as a congratulatory gift. Either his weapon refining talent is unparalleled in history, or he has a master guiding him, or... both.

"King of the Rending Beacon," another cosmic venerable spoke, his voice deep and resonant, "I am the Venerable of the Big Dipper, and I have a question to ask you."

Qingyang cupped his hands in greeting and said, "Senior Beidou, please speak."

The Venerable Beidou was a burly man with a square face, and his body was enveloped in a faint aura of starlight. He stared intently at Qingyang: "I have a commission to forge a domain-level treasure, which has been hanging in the Star Forging Pavilion for hundreds of years, but no one has dared to accept it. I wonder if King Liefeng is interested?"

Qingyang did not immediately agree, but instead asked, "Senior Beidou, could you please tell me your specific requirements?"

The Venerable Beidou nodded, his divine power condensing into a light screen, on which appeared the crafting diagram of a domain treasure. It was a domain treasure with stellar attributes, requiring "Star Core Refined Gold" as the main material to construct a law cycle within the artifact that simulates the gravitational field of stars.

After observing for a moment, Qingyang had already made his judgment. The difficulty of forging this domain treasure was about 30% higher than that of the Boundless Sea. With his current forging skills and the assistance of the Star-Chopping Cauldron, his success rate was about 60%.

"It's worth a try," Qingyang replied succinctly, "but we need all the materials provided by the senior, and the refining process may take a long time."

A hint of joy flashed in the eyes of Venerable Beidou, and he immediately agreed, "I have already prepared all the materials. As for the timeframe, the art of weapon forging cannot be rushed, so King Liefeng, please proceed with the task."

The two exchanged contact information on the spot and agreed on follow-up matters. This scene, witnessed by the other Universe Venerables, stirred their interest. If King Liefeng could refine domain-level treasures, then other types of treasures would naturally be no problem for him. Immediately, two more Universe Venerables stepped forward to inquire about the refining process.

Qingyang responded to each question with neither servility nor arrogance. He had come to the banquet today for two reasons: first, to celebrate the arrival of Venerable Jiuyu, and second, to take the opportunity to enhance his reputation among the higher-ups of his clan.

A weapon refiner's reputation isn't built on self-praise, but on solid works and commissions. Today's trip was worthwhile.

Just then, a clear, cold voice came from outside the hall: "Senior Brother Jiuyu, please forgive Bingfeng's lateness."

Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw Bingfeng, dressed in an ice-blue robe, stride into the hall. He concealed his chill, but with each step he took, tiny ice crystals would condense in the space beneath his feet before dissipating.

Nearly ten thousand years have passed, and the aura of the Ice Peak is even more profound than when he was in the Kunwu Ruins. Although he has not yet broken through to the Universe Venerable level, he has vaguely touched that threshold.

Venerable Jiuyu stepped forward and said with a smile, "Not too late, not too late, you've come at just the right time."

Bingfeng nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping over everyone in the hall, lingering on Qingyang for a moment longer, a barely perceptible smile curving his lips, before he flipped his hand and took out an item.

It was a suit of ice-blue armor, shaped like fish scales. Each scale was inscribed with dense water-law runes, which, under the light of the hall, reflected a chilling aura.

"Senior Brother Jiuyu has broken through to the Venerable Realm, and I have nothing to congratulate you on." Bingfeng handed over the armor, "This is the 'Frost Scale Armor' that I found deep in a secret realm of the universe. It cannot compare to Qingyang's domain treasure, but I hope Senior Brother will accept it with a smile."

"Excellent armor! Junior Brother Bingfeng, this gift is quite generous," Venerable Jiuyu exclaimed in admiration.

Bingfeng said calmly, "Since Senior Brother Jiuyu has broken through to the Venerable Realm, I naturally have to express my gratitude. Besides, I didn't forge this armor. Unlike some people, who forge gifts themselves, showing both thoughtfulness and skill."

When he mentioned "certain people," he glanced at Qingyang.

Qingyang was both amused and exasperated. "Brother Bingfeng, are you praising me or insulting me?"

Bingfeng's smile widened slightly. "Of course, I'm praising you."

Venerable Jiuyu laughed heartily, pulling Qingyang with one hand and Bingfeng with the other, and walked into the hall. "We're happy today, come, come, let's have a good drink together."

A low murmur of astonishment rippled through the hall once more. The gifts at today's banquet were increasingly precious. Qingyang had gifted a domain treasure, and Bingfeng had gifted a treasured armor. These two brothers, whom Venerable Jiuyu had befriended during his time as an Immortal King, were truly generous.

The immortal area of ​​the main hall is separated from the area of ​​the cosmic sovereign by a narrow passageway, yet it feels as if they are two separate worlds.

On the jade table in the Venerable One's area lay bottles of Fire Ape Fruit Wine, each containing tens of millions of Chaos Yuan. The wine was amber in color, exuding a rich fruity aroma and fluctuations of law. With each sip, one could faintly feel the pulse of law, which, for those cultivating the immortal laws of space, was no less than a mini-enlightenment.

On the jade table in the Immortal Zone lay a bottle of Dragon Blood Secret Wine, worth millions of Chaos Yuan. The wine was deep red, and its taste was like a raging fire burning the throat. It was slightly beneficial for tempering the divine body, but compared to Fire Ape Fruit Wine, it was like a firefly compared to the bright moon.

King Qianwu, King Beiming, and King Yuanchen sat at the very edge of the Immortal Zone. All three were considered strong among the King-level Immortals. Qianwu, Beiming, and Yuanchen had all successfully comprehended one of the three great mysteries of the Space Law, possessing the strength of a high-level King.

In any part of the human realm, they would be important figures holding sway over a region. But in this Nine Universes Palace, amidst the radiance of countless Universe Venerables and Kings of Invincibility and Limitless Kings, they could only sit on the edge.

Qianwu picked up the Dragon Blood Secret Brew in front of him and drank it all in one gulp. The wine burned like fire as it went down his throat. He exhaled a long breath of turbid air: "Dragon Blood Secret Brew, which costs a million Chaos Yuan per bottle, is something I wouldn't even dare to dream of normally. Today, thanks to Venerable Jiuyu, I've finally had the chance to drink it."

Bei Ming was a lean, middle-aged man with narrow, always half-closed eyes, looking as if he hadn't woken up properly. He slowly took a sip of wine and said indifferently, "Is that all you've got? You're satisfied with a million-yuan bottle of wine? Look at the Universe Venerable Zone, they drink Fire Ape Fruit Wine worth tens of millions of yuan, and a small sip is equivalent to an F-grade divine weapon."

"How can that be compared?" Yuan Chen asked in a deep voice. He was as tall and imposing as an iron tower, with a rugged face. Even the wine cup on the jade table trembled slightly when he spoke. "Which of those beings in the Venerable Zone hasn't lived for millions of epochs? We've only been cultivating for a short time, less than a million epochs. Being able to sit here is already an incredible stroke of luck."

Qianwu poured himself another glass of wine, his gaze sweeping across the aisle and landing on Qingyang, who was talking with Venerable Jiuyu in the Venerable area, his eyes filled with complex emotions.

"What level of treasure do you think that Binding Sky Sea that King Liefeng gave us is?" Qianwu asked in a low voice.

Bei Ming squinted, recalling the aura emanating from the silver disc: "It was at least a common treasure, possibly even a top-tier treasure. Didn't you see how Venerable Beidou immediately commissioned King Liefeng to refine it? What kind of standards does Venerable Beidou have? Anything that catches his eye can't be bad, can it?"

"A treasure of the realm..."

Qianwu muttered repeatedly, his tone full of bitterness, "After all my cultivation, I, Qianwu, can't even afford a single ordinary treasure weapon. Yet King Liefeng just casually gives away a domain-level treasure."

Yuan Chen said in a deep voice, "You compare yourself to King Liefeng? He was able to compete with King Fengwu in the Kunwu Secret Realm during the Realm Lord stage, and after breaking through to Immortality, he ascended to the heavens in one step. What are we? He is a figure from the heavens."

"That's not how it works," Bei Ming said slowly. "While King Liefeng is indeed a genius, we don't need to underestimate ourselves. The path of cultivation is long, and those who sit on the edge today may very well be sitting in the Venerable Zone tomorrow."

Qian Wu smiled bitterly, "Breaking through to the Universe Venerable realm? Easier said than done. I've been stuck at the advanced King level for decades, my spatial laws remaining completely untouched. The Nine Universe Venerable was able to break through within ten thousand years because of his extraordinary talent and countless battles in the outer realms, accumulating sufficient foundation. And us? We sit in the rear, peacefully cultivating, how could we possibly experience that life-or-death struggle?"

Yuan Chen nodded in deep agreement: "I feel the same way. I have long since comprehended spatial sealing, one of the three great mysteries of the laws of space, but I am always just a hair's breadth away from teleportation. That hair's breadth cannot be solved by seclusion."

Bei Ming was silent for a moment, then said softly, "That's why we also need to find an opportunity to go to the outer battlefield. How can we achieve a breakthrough without experiencing life and death? Didn't Venerable Jiuyu comprehend the laws of space in his battle with the Fireworm Clan?"

The three exchanged a glance, and each saw a certain determination in the other's eyes.

Qian Wu finished another cup of Dragon Blood Secret Wine and slammed the cup down on the jade table: "After this banquet, I will apply to the military for a transfer to the outer battlefield. What good is being a high-ranking king? Without breaking through to the Venerable realm, one is ultimately just an ant."

"Count me in," Yuan Chen said in a deep voice.

Bei Ming squinted, said nothing, and simply drank the wine in his cup in one gulp.

Their conversation was not loud, but which of the immortals present was not sharp-eared and sharp-eyed?

For a moment, the Immortal Zone was filled with the low murmurs of many Immortals, as many King-level Immortals exchanged information about the extraterritorial battlefield.