Consuming Earths, Devouring Skies

In chaotic space, besides Yan Zaizen, two figures floated about. The first exuded a blood-red color, had a metallic body, muti-faced, and radiated a malicious and bloodthirsty aura. It was the Asura Golem! Beside it, with an examining gaze, Pinaka's soul form hovered silently.

After recovering, she now retained the ability to appear as a soul form, in a similar way a phantom could. In the myriad realm, she could definitely be classified as a heaven-toppling, earth-shattering, nation-collapsing beauty. Her skin was as white as jade, eyes had a silver-blue color filled with vibrant intelligence, her hair was the deepest black imaginable, and finishing her beautiful ensemble of features, her robe was dark-amber radiating a sovereign's aura.

Pinaka touched the Asura Golem with her hands, her eyes lit up with a brilliant light, "I believe it's possible."

"You sure?" Yan Zaizen's had been cultivating in chaotic space for such a long time that he almost forgot about the Asura Golem. From what Pinaka informed him, this Asura Golem had an actual Asura soul. As she tells it, an Asura was an entity from hell. It was a specific race that inhabited hell amongst other soul-based races. However, they were essentially at the top of the food chain within hell, even considered royalty! To obtain an Asura's soul was the same as kidnapping a prince from a kingdom.

It was insanely difficult!

Yet, somehow, the Asura Phantom Palace Master achieved it.

"Yes." Pinaka's gaze started to grow with confidence the longer she examined the Asura soul. Her intention was simple but also incredibly complex to do. Refine the Asura soul into a star! Yes, a soul star! To reach the Astral Soul Realm, one had to refine their Aurora, Soul Flame, and soul energy into a soul star. However, they would typically require a vast quantity of time and effort. Not to mention, it could lead to death if the soul flame collapsed during the process.

Unless! You could refine a Hell Star. Unlike normal soul stars, a Hell Star was refined from the soul of a creature from hell, the stronger, the better. Because of a unique composition of a soul from hell, they could be perfectly utilized to replace the soul flame and Aurora! Essentially, all you needed was the proper method, the requisite soul energy, and an actual soul from hell to refine a Hell Star.

"If you could refine a Hell Star, the benefits you would receive couldn't be estimated. Not to mention, you'll still be able to refine your own Aurora Star. It'll be far easier to do so if you refined the Hell Star first." When she initially saw the Asura Golem, she was in disbelief. However, she realized this asura was like a newborn child, quite literally. Despite being so young in comparison to other asuras, it was still this powerful!

From this, one could imagine the strength of fully matured asuras.

"Okay." After some consideration, Yan Zaizen nodded. Since the asura was already dao-linked to him, it shouldn't be hard to refine it thoroughly. As for this Hell Star, he wasn't exactly sure of the true benefits, even Pinaka wasn't completely sure, but to have two central stars in his soul would definitely lead to benefits. As for how much or in what direction? He was excited to find out.

"Good!" With bright eyes, Pinaka waved her hand releasing waves of her soul energy. It encapsulated the asura in an egg-like structure. "We'll have to refine it completely; this will definitely take some time. Come." Yan Zaizen followed along, his hands placed on the egg and sent his soul energy through. Surprisingly, the asura didn't beg or fight back. It seems its will truly had been completely shattered after becoming the soul of a golem.

-----

Fallen Stars Continent, Presba.

In the Water Veil Sect, two beautiful young women faced each other in fierce combat. One was dressed in icy-blue, her aura suffusing the atmosphere with a chilly air. With each wave of the deep-blue sword, ice-attributed qi-essence would be viciously unleashed in all sorts of shapes and sizes. Her icy-cold beauty was exceptional and her cultivation was nothing to mock.

The other, which exchanged blows with equal ferocity, had a soft almost ocean-like aura that seemed to emanate an ever-changing aura. Her hands held no weapon, but on her face was a silk veil that disguised her features, but radiated immense power. As they exchanged blows, they flew across the skies, not holding back a single bit, but incapable of overwhelming their opponent.

"Halt!" After several minutes of fierce combat, a soft but powerful voice resounded. The two ceased their exchange and dashed towards the voice with trained movements, as if they've done this countless times before. They stood before an elegant woman that seemed to contain a fierce force within her body, and her gaze held an indiscernible emotion.

This woman was Yao Wuhen, the Sectmaster of the Water Veil Sect!

"Lin Feilin, Ya Qinqan...both of your progress have been astounding." She complimented as she praised these two girls. Lin Feilin's qi cultivation reached the mid-Qi Unification Realm, while her foundation was exceptionally stable, both her pathways and dantian reached the late-stage. While Ya Qinqan was the same! They were perfect equals in every way, from cultivation to comprehension into laws.

While Ya Qinqan conceptual World Law of Water reached the initial-Force level, Lin Feilin was also exceptional! Her conceptual World Law of Ice reached the initial-Force level as well! Despite her cultivation being late, when Bai Lufeng and Tao arrived in Presba, they specifically sought her out and provided her with all sorts of conceptual methods and arts suitable for her, grand-tier elixirs and pills, low-grade essence crystals, and armaments!

This was under the direct request of Yan Zaizen. Due to this, she immediately caught up with Ya Qinqan in such a short period of time. Not to mention, due to Lin Feilin's relationship with Yan Zaizen, Yao Wuhen accepted her as a direct disciple, teaching her personally and advising her cultivation. With all this, it would be hard for her not to succeed even if she tried.

It paid off, as when Tao arrived and saw the relationship between Lin Feilin and Yao Wuhen, he decided to reward her as an incentive for taking care of the Yan Clan and Yan Zaizen's Sixth Sister. Therefore, Yao Wuhen felt gladden by her decision. It truly was a smart one. As for the Yan Clan, Yan Zaizen also provided them with resources and advice: 'Qi Cultivation is impossible; cultivate the body and soul!'

Due to the Yan Clan's bloodline of mimicry, reaching the peak-Qi Unification Realm was as difficult as exceeding the heavens, let alone reaching the Origin Core Realm. Therefore, he left this for them and provided them with resources to allow them to explore this path. Perhaps, one day, they'll discover a way to initiate the Essence Path once more, but as of right now, they were completely unsuited for it.

After that, Tao and Bai Lufeng left to handle their main mission - finding Yan Zaizen's impersonator.

"If you two can reach the late-Qi Unification Realm before the Xiantu Dao Trials, I'll allow you both to participate." Yao Wuhen informed, but in truth, her senses were intently focused on Lin Feilin nearly ignoring Ya Qinqan.

"As you know, the Xiantu Dao Trials take place once in millennia, therefore, this is your only chance. If you miss this, you'll be forced to travel a much harder path!" Yao Wuhen informed. In truth, the Xiantu Dao Trials truly was special. It doubled as a trial by fire with immense opportunities and a selection! Not only for the Xiantu Emperor's dao candidate but for all those old monsters looking for good disciples to continue their legacy!

It was for this very reason that Yao Wuhen's focus was mostly on Lin Feilin. It's highly likely that many, many people will follow suit after knowing about her relationship with Yan Zaizen. Wouldn't that be indirectly associating themselves with someone who could rival or even exceed the Xiantu Emperor? As a matter of fact, Presba Imperial Family came personally to Lin Feilin. They gave her gifts, invited her to wine, and more.

Her status in the country was so frighteningly high that she felt a little overwhelmed. There were even a few young men attempting to capture her heart but was left with only the coldest of shoulders imaginable. If it wasn't for her status as Master, she felt that Lin Feilin wouldn't even give her face. There would be many True Essence experts willing to teach her their very legacies.

After all, Yan Zaizen's name had already reached the entirety of the realm. Everyone knew of his achievements and many young women had him as their ideal man while young, hot-blooded men took him as their challenge or wished to be taken as his disciple. However, if any of them knew that Yan Zaizen wasn't even a hundred years old, they would be frightened out of their minds.

"Yes, Master." Lin Feilin replied, her eyes icy-cold but her thoughts were still left with a rather surreal situation. A while ago, Yan Zaizen was weak and frail, passing out in Han Genji's cavern where she had to clean him up and place him into bed. Now, he dominated the entire realm with a name far-and-wide. Not to mention, the resources, treatment, and lifestyle she had were essentially that of a goddess.

Even her master had fear at displeasing her. She could sense it acutely by her actions, whether they were unconscious or conscious actions, they were still revealing a simple fact: 'She was no longer a normal girl.'

She was even declared the next Clan Master of the Lin Clan. With a single word from her, a territory was etched out and they were thriving despite their small numbers. Marriages were happening that would've been impossible and relationships were fostering. It truly felt surreal. One moment, her family was wiped out, her master was killed, and she was going to be married off to a man she didn't love. The next?

Her family was already stronger than before, her master's death was avenged, she no longer had to consider other's opinion on marriage, and she had a profound status. Her every word was weighed by all thoroughly, considered complete, and agreed upon nearly unanimously.

"Yes, Master." Ya Qinqan replied. To her, the sudden development of Yan Zaizen left her feeling odd in her heart. Others may not know of Yan Zaizen, but she truly did. He was nothing more than a talentless boy who foolishly yearned for her love. With everything he had, he helped her fiercely. He endured the ridicule of his clan so that she could rise. She abandoned him the moment she got the chance. Now, he was in the sky while she was in the dirt struggling for the acknowledgment of others.

Life was strange.

Life was cruel.

"We'll end today's training session. Dismissed." Yao Wuhen declared, but a second later, she added, "Lin Feilin, I have something discuss with you. Stay behind."

Lin Feilin calmly nodded, as if expecting this. For the past few years, Yao Wuhen had been giving her private lessons and bestowing her full knowledge of cultivation onto her without restraint. A large reason for her quick development was thousands of years of experience being bestowed to her consistently.

Ya Qinqan saw this and her eyes flickered, but she simply left. As she did, her hands clenched viciously. "I'll show you all!"