The ancient starry sky was vast and boundless.

  Silent ancient stars floated in the darkness, exuding an aura of antiquity—like fallen corpses lost in the void.

  Deeper in, a massive cluster of purple qi ebbed and flowed.

  This was the chaos of the ancient starry sky.

  A unique energy—appearing purple from afar, but shifting to myriad colors up close: gold, green, brown, red...

  Beautiful and mesmerizing, like an ever-changing neon lamp.

  Suddenly, far from this purple mass, space shattered inch by inch—like ice cracking as someone emerged from beneath.

  A slender figure with captivating black-and-white eyes.

  Long legs faintly visible under her flowing gown.

  None other than the Black-and-White Empress, who had smashed space and stepped into the temporal flow after bidding farewell to Lu.

  Her stunning face held solemnity. Her proud chest rose sharply—then deflated as she exhaled long and slow.

  "The Gate of Chaos."

  Gravity filled her eyes.

  This wasn't her first time here. In previous cosmic eras—and those before—she had always appeared.

  Last time, she left gravely wounded, recovering over an entire era.

  This time... could she leave again?

  She shook her head, dismissing the thought.

  Having lived eons, she'd long seen through such worries. Still, she wanted to try her best—face that being who emerged from chaos.

  Thinking of him, she couldn't help recalling the human Lu.

  The youth in white on his wheelchair—gentle smile, snow-pure robes.

  "Is it him?"

  Confusion gripped her—she both hoped and dreaded it was. The contradiction nearly drove her mad.

  No more hesitation outside chaos.

  She strode gracefully into the purple qi.

  Buzz buzz buzz...

  The purple surged—blurry figures within.

  Some auras pierced the heavens, some ferociously terrifying, some capable of incinerating worlds...

  All fixed on her without exception.

  She paid them little mind. Whatever schemes they brewed—she feared not.

  Schemes?

  Across countless eras—how many plotted against that being?

  Yet only she survived to this era.

  With a sigh, her enchanting form gradually merged into the purple qi.

  ...

  The conflict between gods and demons and humans ended—curtain fallen.

  No one expected humans victorious.

  Not only annihilating the army led by four Elemental Gods—but slaying three in succession. The human alliance even stormed the Elemental Realm, breaching it—forcing seizure of the Water Source Beast Ancestor statue.

  Races once allied with gods and demons trembled—fearing human reckoning. If even gods and demons fell—what chance had they?

  Neutral races pondered alliances. With five statues secured—humans poised as future hegemons.

  Befriending them wisest—better than enmity.

  Humans now mirrored past gods and demons.

  Yet humans didn't sweep the starry sky—no purging former mockers. They returned to the Nine-Layered Heaven, sealing in Five Phoenixes—focusing on cultivation and prosperity.

  Races expecting bloodshed sighed in relief.

  ...

  Five Phoenixes Continent.

  Boundless ocean.

  A resounding cry—a giant whale spouted water like a blade piercing the rainbow, soaring thousands of meters before scattering in prismatic splendor.

  Like rainbow rain over Lake Heart Island.

  Lu returned to the island. Tonggu Daoist, Elder Xuancang, and many human Quasi-Saints lingered.

  Lu's brilliance in the war had won their admiration.

  Maids Ning Zhao, Ni Yu, and Yi Yue busied with tea and snacks.

  Rustling sounds.

  Biyou peaches bloomed again—petals swirling in the breeze.

  Second floor of White Jade Pavilion.

  Lu sat on his Thousand-Bladed Chair—before him, Quasi-Saints indulging in food and drink.

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  "Brother Lu, with god-demon threat temporarily resolved—what next?"

  Tonggu stuffed a pastry from Ning Zhao into his mouth—chewing as he spoke.

  Eons striving for the ancestral land—they'd never truly relaxed with tea. Now, threat gone—they finally could.

  "No grand plans. Strengthening humans—no harm in that."

  "Five Phoenixes has vast growth potential... take it slow."

  Lu said.

  His goal: elevate Five Phoenixes endlessly. Now top-tier immortal martial—among ancient starry sky worlds.

  Yet weaker than Elemental Realms or destroyed Hunyuan Immortal Domain.

  "Indeed vast potential... With five statues as holy lands—surpassing Hunyuan no issue."

  Elder Xuancang snatched a pastry from Tonggu—munching.

  "Brother Lu, no rush. Five Phoenixes grew too fast—from low martial to this... under ten thousand years even with time arrays? Far younger than many high martial worlds. Time's accumulation yields unique wonders."

  "Free from threats—focus on growth. One day, strongest immortal martial world."

  Tonggu said.

  From years with Lu—he knew Five Phoenixes his sole weakness. All for its strength.

  Such pure devotion moved Tonggu.

  "Saint mindset... everything for the world?"

  Tonggu pondered—feeling closer to Sainthood.

  "Your plans, seniors?"

  Lu asked curiously.

  "I'll maintain the formation—guard Five Phoenixes as its barrier."

  Elder Xuancang said—gaze deep toward starry sky, complex.

  "Redemption... My fault—some old friends missed this victory smiling."

  Regret lingered.

  Other Quasi-Saints smiled.

  "We'll immerse in mortal world—experience life."

  "Relief from tense cultivation."

  Several laughed.

  Heavily wounded Old He—gaze profound: "I'll seclude on Azure Star—accompany the old fellows."

  Tonggu wiped mouth after pastry.

  "Join Old He. Eons running mad for resources—tired. Time for secluded cultivation..."

  "Bored? Mortal life—red dust trial for soul refinement."

  Old He surprised.

  He thought Tonggu would aim for Sainthood.

  "Old He, that look..."

  "Sainthood not willed. If fated—natural."

  Tonggu laughed freely.

  Relaxed mindset.

  Quasi-Saints chatted merrily—treating the pavilion as unique gathering.

  Lu listened quietly—smiling, sipping tea—among elders who devoted lives to human rise.

  Gatherings end.

  They parted—some mortals experiencing life.

  Secluded found starry spot burying Xiaoyao Zi etc.—living idly.

  Xuancang became grand array—guarding beyond Five Phoenixes.

  Lake Heart Island quiet again.

  Water and Earth Source statues—Lu forged into enlightenment stars.

  For water and earth profundities—boosting Daluo Immortals.

  Five stars hung over continent—emitting unique profundities enveloping all.

  Mysterious force silently transformed Five Phoenixes.

  Natives' talents soared—some born with profundity fluctuations.

  Innate evolution—beyond Lu's expectations.

  Five complete statues—such unique effect.

  Now, even mortals born Heavenly Human level—with profundity gifts—accelerating cultivation.

  Some cultivators' offspring...

  Born True Immortals—reaching Mysterious Immortal adulthood...

  Lu pleasantly surprised.

  Meaning...

  Future cultivators—focus on procreation for gains.

  True immortal martial?!

  One aspect—Lu wouldn't rely solely on reproduction for peak high martial or beyond.

  Time flowed.

  Century passed.

  Lu upgraded Mission Tower—not wasting time.

  From six to nine layers—harder tasks, no identity limits.

  Captured gods and demons imprisoned—task targets.

  Peace needed tension.

  Cultivators challenged tower—honing against them, earning points for pills/treasures.

  Tower focal.

  Upgraded—accommodating below Quasi-Saint, up to Daluo.

  With Mission Maiden aid—tasks, completions...

  Paired with Beast Ancestor stars—optimal.

  Century—many new Daluo born.

  Kong Nanfei, Nie Changqing etc. entered Daluo.

  Du Longyang, Prince Tianxu, Ye Shoudao, Empress Ni Chunqiu—Nine-Turn Golden Immortals.

  Cultivation eased—bottlenecks loosening.

  Lu paid little heed—letting free growth.

  He immersed in Preaching Platform—glancing three Elemental God spirits in cauldrons.

  Once roaring threats.

  Later resigned—no escape.

  Lu denied it.

  Needed for White Jade Palace soul energy.

  Three providers—endless unless instant third-layer leap.

  One drained—Lu fed recovery elixir, rotating.

  Sustainable cycle.

  Remodeled Palace—relaunched.

  Reemergence sparked frenzy—cultivators flocked.

  Lu hoped third-layer soul birth.

  But century passed—disappointing.

  Under vast Elemental God energy—no second-layer even.

  Most peaked first-layer.

  Third-layer essential for Sainthood.

  Disappointment and headache.

  Lu left island—visiting "Azure Star" as Old He and Tonggu called it.

  Ordinary once—but Quasi-Saint burials made profound.

  Life emerged—primitive, but intelligence budding.

  Soon enlightened.

  But Lu surprised: reiki drained clean.

  No reiki—no cultivation.

  At best low martial peak—like early Five Phoenixes.

  Lu's arrival—Tonggu and Old He appeared.

  Tonggu led to simple wooden hut.

  "Brother Lu, rare... centuries—you remember old brother."

  Some resentment.

  Lu smiled unfazed.

  Old He came for meal.

  Lu voiced doubts.

  Tonggu pondered—shook head: "Likely cultivation distracts soul evolution—divides focus. Soul ascent needs tranquility."

  Old He suggested: "Transform a star—no cultivation possible, but soul/mind focused."

  Lu's brows raised—enlightened.

  World undivided by cultivation—soul/mind dedicated.

  Feasible.

  "Use Azure... reiki sealed—no leak."

  "We'll watch."

  Tonggu direct.

  Lu hesitated: "Disturb seniors' rest?"

  Old He and Tonggu stroked beards—smiled.

  "No worry. Xiaoyao Zi etc. undying bodies—emanations aid souls. With your changes—better. Why we suggested."

  Lu assented.

  Mind shifted—applied Palace insights to Azure.

  Unique aura brewed in core.

  Lu didn't rush leave—secluded here.

  No time array—fearing influence.

  To avoid risks—observed meticulously.

  Millennium—Azure life civilized, intelligent, ashamed.

  Leaf coverings, fire cooking, shelters.

  Tribes formed—surviving nature.

  Tonggu, Old He, Lu observed changes.

  No reiki—no cultivation concept.

  Tribe conflicts—blood vs. blood.

  Sacrifices, totems, cultures born.

  Time progressed.

  Another millennium—tribal wars ended. Great leaders unified—civilizations rose.

  Four ancient nations—directions apart. No cultivation—geography barred crossing. Unique laws, cultures, scripts...

  Sages emerged—pondering heaven/earth, sensing supreme watchers.

  Studying truths, life origins.

  Sages marked soul evolution start.

  Lu saw dawn.

  One sage enlightened under bodhi tree—soul from first to second layer.

  Lu, Tonggu, Old He astonished—exchanged shocked glances.

  Mortal body evolving soul to second—rare.

  Flesh couldn't bear—collapsed years later.

  Lu guided soul to underworld reincarnation.

  Reborn in Five Phoenixes—extraordinary, powerful soul.

  Rapid cultivation.

  Lu pleasantly surprised.

  Continued observing Azure.

  Civilizations rose/fell—cycled.

  Four nations—Lu experimented one. As elder on green ox—east to west.

  Profound words—many enlightened, wisdom ascended—grasping truths.

  Every century—Lu incarnated, imparting fragments.

  Daoist, Confucian ideas...

  Sparking ideological clashes.

  Broad thinking—many sages impacted—second-layer geniuses born.

  Even echoed Five Phoenixes' Hundred Schools contention—millennium long.

  Dozens second-layer sages.

  Ideas influenced generations.

  Azure changed—civilizations shifted, eras turned.

  Three ancient nations crumbled—replaced by new.

  Five millennia passed.

  No third-layer yet.

  But Lu, Tonggu etc. reaped richly.

  "Feel third-layer transcendence imminent..."

  Tonggu said.

  Lu nodded.

  Guided second-layer fallen souls to Five Phoenixes reincarnation.

  Second-layer base—Heavenly Emperor level soon.

  White Jade Palace maintained.

  Many cultivators soul-evolved there.

  Lu returned to Lake Heart Island.

  Azure guarded by Tonggu/Old He—no major issues.

  Other matters awaited.

  Island breeze gentle.

  Lu raised hand—fingertip dialed. Phoenix Feather Sword slashed void rift.

  Entered—origin universe.

  Hunyuan source long collected—untouched amid busyness.

  Golden figure shot over—tears and snot.

  Daddy—you finally remembered Little Yinglong!

  Rubbing, cute, whining...

  Lu stunned.

  He'd forgotten the little guy.

  Pinched nape—held up. Brows raised.

  Rounder circle—immortal source aura everywhere. Lu's mouth twitched.

  Miserable?!

  Living in bliss unaware...

  Little Yinglong half-step Quasi-Saint...

  Glance—source fragments scattered universe.

  Idle—devoured plenty, breaking through.

  Joyful phoenix cry.

  Five Phoenixes source flapped laboriously—round as Yinglong.

  Lu facepalmed.