499: Solar Eclipse

Just three years after Xu Qing entered closed-door cultivation!

In the deepest part of Fallen Star Ancient City, three hunched figures sat cross-legged on an altar made of Starfall Meteorite.

Their skin was covered with star marks, and every wrinkle flowed with starlight accumulated over the years. These were the three oldest Half-Ancestors of the Fallen Star Clan, currently healing the Dao injuries left by the great battle several years ago.

"Crack--"

In the silence, a hair-thin crack suddenly appeared in the center of the altar.

The three Old Ancestors opened their eyes simultaneously, and surprise flashed in their cloudy star pupils.

This Star Altar, personally crafted by the progenitor, had never suffered the slightest damage in millions of years... "Boom!"

A brilliant golden light suddenly burst forth from the crack!

The light contained a terrifying will that surpassed the understanding of Half-Ancestors, instantly illuminating the entire Forbidden Ground.

Before the three Old Ancestors could react, the golden light split into three, drilling into their glabella like venomous snakes.

"Ugh ah--"

Their aged bodies twitched violently.

Starfall Ancestor's withered hands tightly clutched his own throat, star-like blood beads splattering from between his fingers; Old Ancestor Yue Shi next to him let out a non-human roar, and the Star Diagram Dharma Idol that appeared behind him shattered inch by inch; the youngest Old Ancestor Chen Guang even spewed golden flames from his seven orifices, rolling on the ground and smashing seven star pillars.

"It's... Tian... Tianyang..."

Starfall Ancestor squeezed out a few words through gritted teeth, his left hand struggling to form a Seal, attempting to self-detonate his Primordial Spirit.

Suddenly, his twitching movements stopped abruptly, and an eerie calm appeared on his star-spotted face. The other two Old Ancestors also froze simultaneously, like three Puppets whose strings had been suddenly cut.

"Crack!"

Three crisp cracking sounds rang out.

The starlight in the pupils of the three Old Ancestors was completely extinguished, replaced by an eerie golden glow.

The golden glow flowed like liquid, gradually forming identical patterns: three burning sun wheel imprints, which then vanished.

"This body... barely usable."

"Starfall Ancestor" slowly got up, moving his unfamiliar limbs.

He raised his hand and gently stroked the altar; the previously cracked fissure instantly healed, as if it had never existed.

Old Ancestor Yue Shi let out a metallic, grating laugh from his throat: "The Star Dao Body of the Fallen Star Clan is indeed more suitable for carrying our Bloodline than those mixed-bloods."

Old Ancestor Chen Guang suddenly turned his head to look south, the direction of Tianyang Pass.

"Proceed with the plan!"

The three aged bodies simultaneously revealed a sinister smile, and fragmented golden light flowed from their star-like wrinkles.

The Star Diagram on the Forbidden Ground's dome silently shifted, signaling the awakening of a terrifying existence.

And in the deepest part of their Sea of Consciousness, three lingering wisps of starlight struggled desperately, but were ultimately submerged by the endless golden light. The last guardians of the Fallen Star Clan thus silently became others' Puppets.

Half a year passed, like fine sand in an hourglass, silently flowing away.

Fallen Star Ancient City remained bustling and prosperous, with merchant caravans from various Star Domains coming and going endlessly.

On the streets paved with jade, hawking cries rose and fell; in the auction houses suspended in mid-air, rare treasures attracted Cultivators to bid competitively.

No one noticed that in the depths of certain people's pupils, a fleeting golden glint occasionally flashed.

In the core Star Palace of the Ancient City, three Half-Ancestors were holding a "Blessing Ceremony."

Tens of thousands of Fallen Star Clan elites knelt outside the hall, gazing devoutly at the high platform, unaware that they were witnessing a terrifying ritual.

"Today's blessing is a manifestation of the progenitor's spirit."

Starfall Ancestor's voice echoed over the square.

He lightly tapped his fingertip, and countless golden light points scattered like spring rain, merging into the glabella of the kneeling individuals.

The Cultivators touched by the light points trembled, the starlight in their eyes gradually dyed golden, yet returned to normal in the blink of an eye.

"Thank you, Old Ancestor, for your grace!"

Cheers shook the heavens and earth.

No one discovered that those clan members who were "blessed" became unusually silent upon their return; even less did anyone notice that several shopkeepers in the merchant caravan encampment had recently been holding secret meetings late at night.

Old Ancestor Yue Shi stood on the Star-Gazing Platform, looking at the endless stream of merchant caravans, a strange arc curving at the corner of his mouth.

Tiny golden lights continuously drifted out from his sleeve. These lights, like living dust, silently attached themselves to goods, traveling with the merchant caravans to every corner of the Eternal Immortal Domain.

"The thirty-seventh merchant caravan." Old Ancestor Chen Guang's hoarse voice sounded from behind.

The most terrifying were the travelers coming and going.

In the inn, a Loose Cultivator who was meditating suddenly opened his eyes, golden light swirling in his pupils; in the restaurant, a guild manager, chatting and laughing, paused his words, a golden pattern flashing on the back of his neck; even among the patrolling guards, a member revealed a strange smile when no one was around.

It was like a silent plague, spreading amidst cups clinking and extending through trade.

The infected were completely unaware, continuing their lives as usual, only at a specific moment would they suddenly receive a "command" from some supreme being.

And deep beneath Fallen Star Ancient City, the Forbidden Ground, originally sealing the progenitor's relics, had now been transformed into a golden nest.

Countless golden threads extended from the central light cocoon, each connecting to an infected being.

A human-like silhouette was vaguely visible within the light cocoon, gradually becoming clearer as the scope of the infection expanded.

"Looking at this trend, it can be completed in another thousand years!"

Starfall Ancestor caressed the light cocoon.

Fanaticism appeared simultaneously on the faces of the three Half-Ancestors, "When the passage is complete, the Lord's will can..."

At this moment, a merchant caravan from Eighty-First Fortress City was driving out of the city gate.

The young Cultivator leading the caravan rubbed his eyes, always feeling that things had been a bit blurry lately.

He did not know that a speck of golden light was slowly wriggling in the jade pendant at his waist.

In the deepest part of the Chaos Sea, a Forbidden Ground that even Dao Ancestors dared not easily set foot in.

Here, there were no stars, no light, only Eternal darkness and twisted Laws. The Void Realm was like a shattered mirror, covered with hideous cracks, and behind each crack, some indescribable existence seemed to be dormant.

Seven figures emerged from the Chaos mist; their forms were vague and indistinct, seemingly real and illusory, surrounded by chains capable of shattering the Great Dao.

Their mere presence caused the surrounding space-time to continuously collapse and reassemble, emitting a mournful wail of unbearable strain.

"Everyone--"

Jinyan's voice rang out, deep and hoarse, like the lingering sound of billions of stars exploding simultaneously.

His figure was the most solid, burning with an inextinguishable golden divine flame throughout, each wisp of flame reflecting the destruction and Rebirth of a world.

"The Eclipse Sun Plan has begun."

The progenitor of the Black Crystal Blood Flame Clan slowly raised his head. His body was carved from black obsidian, with scarlet blood patterns flowing on its surface, and his voice was like an echo from the abyss: "This time... let's not have any more mishaps."

Jinyan chuckled, lightly tapping his fingertip. The scene of Fallen Star Ancient City appeared in the Void Realm — in the depths of countless beings' pupils, golden sun wheels slowly rotated.

"Don't worry, in a thousand years at most, my will can penetrate the Great Chaos Infinite Array and truly descend upon the Southern Abyss." His voice carried an undeniable confidence, "By then, the land of Eternal Southern Abyss will be ours for the taking."

"I hope so."

A hoarse voice sounded; it was a dark demonic shadow wrapped in layers of shrouds.

His existence was the most eerie, seemingly condensed from pure death, and beneath every inch of the shroud, the wails of billions of Revenant faintly emanated.