132: Three Star Dou Zun, the Change of Ancient Dragon Island

At the top level of the star tower, time quietly slipped away during cultivation. Xiao Chen sat cross-legged, the Power of Starlight around him flowing like a tangible substance, echoing the real starry sky outside the tower. The star origin imprint on his glabella emitted a soft yet profound light, continuously drawing in the pure Power of Starlight within the tower, nourishing his physical body and soul.

After the life-and-death struggle in the Yun Shen Mountain Range and Xuan Kongzi's careful guidance, Xiao Chen's integration of the "Star Immortal Body" and "Heaven Opening Axe Intent" reached a new height. He no longer viewed them as independent systems, but rather integrated their essences, forming a unique combat style of his own—with stars as the foundation, the furnace as the crucible, and the Heaven Opening Axe Intent as the edge!

Within his Qi Sea, the nascent "star furnace" became increasingly solid. Nine Dou Qi stars slowly rotated around the core, and with each cycle, a wisp of nascent pale golden Dou Qi was refined, possessing the vastness of the stars, the dominance of the furnace, and the sharpness of the axe intent, making its quality extremely high. The barrier of Peak Two-star Dou Zun had long been on the verge of collapse under the impact of this new power.

"It's time," Xiao Chen's mind was clear as still water, and he adjusted his state to the optimum. He did not rush to break through the bottleneck, but instead first immersed his mind in his Sea of Consciousness, carefully observing the fragments of artistic conception inherited from the nine ancestral statues, especially the insights regarding the sixth move of the "Nine Axes of Heaven Opening," "Heaven Opening."

"Heaven Opening... is not merely destruction, but rather breaking through chaos, establishing order in the universe, and creating new life..." Xiao Chen had an epiphany, combining this "break before establishing" artistic conception with the "Star Immortal Body's" artistic conception of forging an eternal foundation by drawing Power of Starlight. In that instant, he seemed to touch the edge of some fundamental law!

"Rumble!"

It was as if a thunderclap exploded within his body! The chaotic light at the center of his Qi Sea suddenly expanded, the phantom of the star furnace completely solidified, and profound star runes and Heaven Opening axe marks appeared on its walls! The nascent Dou Qi surged forth like a breaking dam, instantly shattering that solid barrier!

Three-Star Dou Zun! It was a natural progression!

Vast power swept through his entire body; his meridians, bones, and internal organs were cleansed once more, becoming tougher and more transparent. His soul power also surged, and the early Heavenly Realm Soul stage was completely stabilized, with his perception range expanding to nearly ten thousand zhang, allowing for exquisite control over energy. More importantly, his mastery of the Power of Space had made a qualitative leap; he could now perform medium-distance spatial shuttles with relative ease, covering thousands of li in an instant!

Xiao Chen slowly opened his eyes, stars appearing and disappearing within them, and chaotic light flowing as they opened and closed. He felt the surging power within his body, gently clenched his fist, and subtle ripples appeared in the space around him.

"Three-Star Dou Zun... my strength is several times greater than when I was a Two-star! Now, facing the early Five-Star Dou Zun Two Netherworld Elders again, even without the aid of the star origin, I have the power to fight!" Xiao Chen was full of confidence. This breakthrough was not just a level increase, but also a deepening of his understanding of the essence of power.

He stood up and stretched his muscles and bones, his joints crackling like thunder. He tried to unleash a newly comprehended move, pointing his fingers like a blade and gently slashing at the void. A subtle, light-distorting spatial rift quietly appeared, then quickly closed. This strike, imbued with the spatial cutting power of the "Heaven Opening" artistic conception, was far more powerful than before.

"It's time to come out of seclusion," Xiao Chen reined in his aura, his gaze directed outside the tower. By his calculations, the matter of Ancient Dragon Island was probably imminent.

He pushed open the stone door of the secret chamber, and Xuan Kongzi's projection was already waiting outside.

"Three-Star Dou Zun! Good! Good! Good!" Xuan Kongzi felt the restrained yet vast aura emanating from Xiao Chen, exclaiming "Good" three times, his eyes filled with relief, "In such a short time, you've broken through two stars, yet your foundation is so solid, Chen'er, your talent far exceeds what this master expected!"

"It's all thanks to Master's guidance and the star tower's assistance," Xiao Chen bowed respectfully.

Xuan Kongzi waved his hand, his expression turning serious: "During your seclusion, the external situation has become increasingly tense. Soul Hall, in alliance with Heavenly Nether Sect and Ice River Valley, has intensified its suppression of my Pill Tower, and conflicts are constantly escalating. As for Ancient Dragon Island... the situation seems to be quite unfavorable."

He took out a new communication jade slip and handed it to Xiao Chen: "This is an urgent message Venerable Feng just sent; take a look."

Xiao Chen's soul power sank into the jade slip, and his expression immediately changed. The information in the jade slip indicated: abnormal spatial fluctuations had appeared around Ancient Dragon Island, with mysterious powerful individuals frequently probing, suspected to be from Soul Hall! More seriously, a rebellion seemed to have occurred within Ancient Dragon Island, with elders colluding with external enemies, intending to harm His Majesty the Dragon Emperor! The whereabouts of the dragon phoenix origin fruit had been exposed, attracting the covetous gazes of countless forces in the shadows! Venerable Feng speculated that Soul Hall's target might not only be the dragon phoenix origin fruit, but also to use this opportunity to control or weaken the Ancient Void Dragon clan, clearing obstacles for the "Emperor Hunting Plan"!

"Soul Hall... truly ubiquitous!" A cold light flickered in Xiao Chen's eyes. The Ancient Void Dragon clan was powerful; if Soul Hall succeeded, its strength would undoubtedly surge, and the threat to the entire continent would be unimaginable!

"Chen'er, the journey to Ancient Dragon Island is extremely perilous. The situation on the island is complex, with not only Soul Hall's conspiracy but also internal rebellion, making it a true den of dragons and tigers. Are you sure you still want to go?" Xuan Kongzi asked in a deep voice.

Xiao Chen nodded without hesitation: "I must go! Soul Hall is ambitious, and if they gain control of Ancient Dragon Island, the consequences will be unimaginable. Moreover, the dragon phoenix origin fruit is of great importance; it might be related to the ancient secrets of my Xiao Clan. Both for public and private reasons, this disciple cannot stand idly by!"

"Good! Since you've made up your mind, this master won't stop you." Xuan Kongzi waved his sleeve, and a palm-sized, crystalline jade token with nine star patterns carved on it, and a silver talisman, flew before Xiao Chen.

"This is a Nine-Star Bodyguard Talisman, containing one of my full-power strikes, capable of withstanding one blow from a Five-Star Dou Zun Peak, but it can only be used once. This Splitting Sky Evasion Talisman is a higher-grade escape talisman than a Splitting Sky Talisman; it can tear space and flee a hundred thousand li, but it requires time to activate, and the spatial fluctuations are intense, making it easy to track. Keep them well; they might save your life at a critical moment."

"Thank you, Master!" Xiao Chen solemnly accepted the two life-saving items, a warm current surging in his heart.

"Additionally, remember this on your trip: the Ancient Void Dragon clan is proud and xenophobic, especially wary of humans. You must act cautiously, and you can first rendezvous with the people from Starfall Pavilion and act according to the situation. If things become impossible, preserving yourself is paramount!" Xuan Kongzi finally admonished.

"This disciple understands!" Xiao Chen bowed, "Master, take care; this disciple will depart now!"

Without much farewell, Xiao Chen's figure moved, merging into space, and quietly left the star tower and the Pill Tower Holy Domain. He did not leave through conventional channels, but rather, relying on his Three-Star Dou Zun Power of Space, directly performed long-distance spatial shuttles, heading towards the secret coordinates of Ancient Dragon Island's periphery provided by Venerable Feng.

A few days later, above a vast and boundless void sea, space rippled slightly, and Xiao Chen's figure appeared. The scene before him deeply shocked his mind.

He saw that on the distant horizon, it was not an ordinary island, but a colossal, indistinct land shrouded in chaotic mist! Mountains rose and fell on the land, ancient trees reached the sky, and the outlines of magnificent palaces were faintly visible. Moreover, a primal, ancient, and majestic Dragon Emperor's might permeated the heavens and earth, making one's soul tremble! This was the dwelling place of the Ancient Void Dragon clan—Ancient Dragon Island! Rather than an island, it was more like a fragment of an ancient continent suspended in the void!

"Such powerful Dragon Emperor's might! Such solid spatial barriers!" Xiao Chen's Heavenly Realm Soul perception spread out, and he could clearly feel that a powerful spatial barrier had been set up around Ancient Dragon Island, its strength far exceeding that of the Pill Tower Holy Domain! Forcibly breaking in would surely result in a backlash.

He activated a special dragon scale communication talisman according to the contact method given by Venerable Feng. The talisman transformed into a faint light, shooting towards Ancient Dragon Island.

After a moment's wait, ripples spread in the void ahead, and a small spatial boat, entirely black, ancient in design, with a dragon head carved on its bow, quietly appeared. Two figures stood on the boat; the one at the front was a handsome young man in a star robe, none other than Feng Xian! Beside him was a middle-aged man in a green tight-fitting suit, with a stern face and sharp, eagle-like eyes. His aura had astonishingly reached Peak Four-Star Dou Zun, and a faint Dragon Emperor's might emanated from him, clearly indicating he possessed Dragon Emperor's bloodline!

"Brother Xiao!" Feng Xian's face lit up with joy when he saw Xiao Chen, and he quickly steered the spatial boat closer, "You're finally here!"

"Brother Feng!" Xiao Chen cupped his hands, his gaze falling on the middle-aged man.

Feng Xian introduced: "Brother Xiao, this is Senior Green Pheasant, an honored guest of my Starfall Pavilion. He possesses a trace of Azure Dragon bloodline and is quite familiar with Ancient Dragon Island."

Green Pheasant's gaze was like lightning, sweeping over Xiao Chen, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes. He cupped his hands and said, "Are you Xiao Chen? You truly live up to your reputation. To be a Three-Star Dou Zun at such a young age, with an aura as profound as an abyss, I am impressed."

"Senior Green Pheasant, you flatter me," Xiao Chen returned the greeting. He could feel the pure and powerful Dragon Emperor's bloodline power within Green Pheasant, whose strength was absolutely not to be underestimated.

"Let's cut the pleasantries; the situation is urgent." Green Pheasant's expression was solemn as he pointed towards Ancient Dragon Island, "The rebellion on the island has already begun. The Third Elder, Rebel Leader, has colluded with external enemies, controlling a portion of the Dragon Emperor's warriors, and is currently besieging His Majesty the Dragon Emperor's sleeping palace, the Dragon God Palace! Powerful individuals from Soul Hall are mixed among them, their intentions unclear. We must infiltrate the island as quickly as possible and establish contact with His Majesty the Dragon Emperor!"

Xiao Chen frowned: "The external barrier is strict; how do we infiltrate?"

Green Pheasant took out a dragon-shaped jade pendant emitting spatial fluctuations: "This is a token His Majesty bestowed upon me years ago; it can temporarily open a secret passage. However, the entrance to the passage will undoubtedly be heavily guarded by rebel forces, requiring a forceful breakthrough!"

Feng Xian interjected: "According to our investigation, the passage entrance is guarded by the rebel general Black Dragon Commander (Peak Three-Star Dou Zun) leading a Black Dragon Guard squad. We must act quickly; once we get entangled, the consequences will be unimaginable!"

A sharp glint flashed in Xiao Chen's eyes: "If that's the case, then let's fight our way in!"

As a Three-Star Dou Zun, working with Feng Xian (Peak Eight-star Dou Zong) and Green Pheasant (Peak Four-Star Dou Zun), facing a Peak Three-Star Dou Zun commander, they were not without a fighting chance!

"No time to lose, let's go!" Green Pheasant activated the dragon-shaped jade pendant, and a faint light shot towards a certain spot in Ancient Dragon Island's barrier. Ripples immediately appeared on the barrier, and a spatial vortex, just wide enough for a few people to pass through, slowly formed!

"Go!"

The three exchanged glances, transforming into three streaks of light, and plunged into the vortex without hesitation!

What kind of turmoil will Ancient Dragon Island's situation unleash with Xiao Chen's arrival? The safety of the Dragon God Palace, the ownership of the dragon phoenix origin fruit, Soul Hall's conspiracy... everything will intensely collide in this isolated dragon clan holy land!