As Zhang Kui spoke, a sudden silence fell over the surroundings.

He sneered inwardly. Although he couldn’t probe the area directly, he could vaguely sense several powerful qi mechanisms, the strongest belonging to this speaker.

All this talk of no fighting allowed—it’s all nonsense!

This person enveloped the area with their divine thought and clearly saw what was happening yet said nothing until Zhang Kui revealed his qi mechanism, and the Wolf Demon was about to be defeated—then intervened, clearly biased.

"Fellow Daoist, please don’t be angry."

A hoarse voice chuckled bitterly, and in an instant, shifted to reveal a figure.

An ancient elder of the Ancient Race appeared, purple-skinned and white-bearded, draped in a luxurious golden robe, with a large bronze halo-shaped Immortal Artifact rotating behind him.

"This one is an envoy from the Vast Sea Star Realm. If anything happens, I cannot bear the responsibility."

The Wolf Demon escaped with his life, though still fearful of Zhang Kui, he seemed to have gained some confidence, saying maliciously, "Pavilion Master Huang, these two are wanted by the Vast Sea Star Realm. If you help me capture them, and our alliance fails..."

He hadn’t finished speaking when his voice turned hoarse and unable to utter a word, as he saw the Ancient Race elder smiling, with his hand behind his back forming a spell.

Zhang Kui chuckled suddenly, "See, it’s not me who can’t let things go."

"It’s all a misunderstanding..."

The elder continued to smile without the slightest hint of concession.

Just then, Bo Yuan suddenly directed his gaze at the Black Wolf Demon and asked, "Moon Wolf Demon Marshal, make yourself clear: what exactly was lost, and why say it was me?"

The Black Wolf Demon initially disdained to answer, but upon seeing Zhang Kui’s amused look, he suddenly felt dread, "As soon as you left, the Supreme Treasure of Sea Dragon Venerate disappeared, throwing the Star Realm into chaos, and it remains missing to this day. Who else but you?"

Zhang Kui was speechless, "What kind of logic is that...?"

Bo Yuan was similarly disdainful at first but then his expression suddenly changed, "Where are my clansmen?"

The Black Wolf Demon twitched at the corner of his eye and chuckled dryly, "Rest assured, despite your great transgression, Venerable Sea Dragon is magnanimous and did not implicate them; they were merely expelled from the Star Realm."

"What?!"

Bo Yuan’s face instantly turned ashen and his eyes blood-red, "Ha ha, a fine Venerable Sea Dragon indeed, truly a man without his word! My clan’s Tao cultivation is weak, how can they survive outside the Star Realm!"

"Well, not necessarily..."

The Black Wolf Demon’s eyes flashed with a hint of jealousy, "One of your clansmen, through some stroke of luck, managed to tame a young Star Beast and disappeared somewhere."

Bo Yuan was taken aback, then his anger shifted to joy, and he sighed with relief, muttering, "That’s good, that’s good, as long as they’re alive..."

Zhang Kui patted his shoulder in consolation.

Speaking of which, he and Bo Yuan had many similarities; both had led their clans through adversity, but he was fortunate to have the Celestial Gang and Earthly Fiends.

Bo Yuan, with a far superior aptitude, had suffered numerous hardships, constantly oppressed, which deeply fueled his resentment and halted his cultivation progress.

If he could unlock his mind’s constraints, his future would be immeasurable.

"It seems it was all a misunderstanding."

The Ancient Race elder known as Pavilion Master Huang smiled as he mediated, "This fellow Daoist has come from afar; it’s my failing, and I must host a banquet to make amends."

"Since it’s a misunderstanding, no need."

Zhang Kui directly refused, with a hint of a deeper meaning, "I’m just a passerby, coming and going in a few days."

The elder was stunned, then smiled, "That’s fine, if you fancy anything, we at the Chaotic Sky Pavilion will sell it at cost, to make a friend."

"Thank you!"

Zhang Kui slightly cupped his hands, then left with Bo Yuan.

As he left, the Black Wolf Demon could no longer hold back his question, "Pavilion Master Huang, why be so courteous to him?"

"Ha ha, it’s all a misunderstanding, and harmony brings wealth."

The old man laughed heartily, but the hand hidden in his wide sleeve was trembling all along...

...

"It seems the Star Beast Divine Nest and the Vast Sea Star Realm intend to unite."

As Zhang Kui walked, he communicated with Bo Yuan through transmitted thought, "It seems the Vast Sea Star Realm suddenly discovered the Chaotic Sky Pavilion as an intermediary, thus coming up with this plan. It’s perfect, since our Kaiyuan Divine Dynasty can continue to remain hidden."

Bo Yuan hesitated, "Then... the Northern Star Realm."

"Of course we’ll go!"

Zhang Kui smiled, patting Bo Yuan’s shoulder, "Don’t worry, they’re humans, they’re my people too."

"Thank you, Sect Leader."

Bo Yuan, his gaze filled with excitement, sighed with relief.

Saying this, the two began to wander around the Chaotic Sky Pavilion.

The Desolate Ancient Battlefield’s relics had abundant divine materials, and the Chaotic Sky Pavilion ran an exclusive operation, naturally wealthy beyond belief.

In the eateries, various Spirit Beasts and Immortal Grass were cooked into gourmet cuisines, offering not only unparalleled tastes but also boosting cultivation and Tao cultivation.

There were inns for rest, equipped with Spirit Gathering Arrays, saturated with spiritual qi for continual cultivation, even providing information trade services.

In the numerous grand halls, treasure hunters, wanderers, and Star Thief gangs exchanged their findings for needed divine materials, supplies, even assisting in starship repairs.

Compared to the advanced prosperity of the Celestial Essence Star Realm’s Merit Mall, the goods here were far superior, featuring Cave Heaven Divine Crystals, Ancient Mirrors of the Eternal Immortal Dynasty, Immortal Artifacts... even shards from the shattered Blood Massacre.

However, the exorbitant prices failed to interest Zhang Kui.

Digging up Star Tombs was far more thrilling.

Of course, as Zhang Kui walked, he activated the "Observing Through a Wall" Immortal Skill, the cosmos within his eyes shifting, altering what he saw.

There lay, deep underground, a golden space barrier. Looking around were layers of space barriers, akin to orderly high walls, while above, the skies shone brilliantly.

No wonder...

A hint of smile appeared on Zhang Kui’s lips.

The Immortal King Tower indeed wasn’t taken, for this Secret Realm was a layer of the Immortal King Tower, somehow discovered by the Chaotic Sky Pavilion.

But how to claim it was a mystery.

Considering this, Zhang Kui led Bo Yuan toward the inn’s central hall.

The human race of the Vast Sea Star Realm was temporarily safe, but finding them would be cumbersome. Better to stay a while longer, acquire the Immortal King Tower.

Yet as they entered the hall, a surprised voice asked, "Did you two escape?"

"Red Refining Fairy?"

Zhang Kui didn’t expect to encounter this person, his expression remained calm as he slightly nodded, "Good fortune, like fellow Daoist."

With that, he and Bo Yuan parted ways, each renting a room.

Several Immortal Level Snake Demons sat around a stone table, and after the two left, the chubby Snake Demon swallowed hard, "Lord Red Refining, that person’s not to be trifled with."

"I know, shut up!"

Red Refining Fairy snapped, though her heart was racing with excitement.

Upon arriving here, she sensed an unprecedented, overwhelming Treasure Qi, so potent it nearly made her faint, seemingly unreal.

Yet Zhang Kui’s sudden appearance assured her that an unimaginable treasure was indeed hidden here!

...

For consecutive days, Zhang Kui searched every corner of the Secret Realm, finding no control array for the Immortal King Tower. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

The crafting of this Immortal King Tower was likely an Ancient Immortal Path secret, forming an isolated world without any visible flaws.

Meanwhile, every place within the Chaotic Sky Pavilion had been thoroughly scrutinized.

The Black Wolf Demon and Pavilion Master Huang seemed to have reached some agreement, as the next day, the Black Wolf Demon swiftly departed with his subordinates, while the Chaotic Sky Pavilion sent a starship to the Star Beast Divine Nest.

Zhang Kui was certainly pleased; if these two forces united, a pincer attack might impede the Blood God Sect’s momentum.

His full attention was on unraveling the Immortal King Tower’s mysteries.

Yet, he was also constantly observed by two sets of eyes.

In the main hall of the Chaotic Sky Pavilion, a member of the Ancient Race hidden in darkness kneeled and reported, "My lord, that person has not engaged in any exchanges; he either wanders around or feasts in the eateries, without anything unusual."

"Keep watching!"

Pavilion Master Huang seemed lost in thought, his eyes filled with uncertainty.

"What is this guy looking for?"

Red Refining Fairy had also rented several rooms; she dared not openly follow Zhang Kui, yet through various analyses could trace his movements.

Day after day passed. Finally, news broke that the Vast Sea Star Realm and the Star Beast Divine Nest formed an alliance, carrying out a pincer attack to wipe out several of the Blood God Sect’s legions, spreading a joyful atmosphere throughout the Chaotic Sky Pavilion.

Zhang Kui wasn’t bothered, continuing his explorations, and until one day, returning from outside, he had just entered his room when Scribe Old Ghost appeared in terror, "Sect Leader, flee quickly, True Monarch Yinghai’s subordinates have arrived!"

In the inn’s lobby, a handsome Demon Race man slowly raised a cup of wine, "Oh, a Treasure-Seeking Snake, this bloodline surprisingly remains, the Heavenly Dao is indeed wondrous."

Before him, Red Refining Fairy stood frozen, her eyes vacant, with a foolish grin on her face...