On his forehead flickered a celestial star mark, from which threads of starlight shimmered. Endless currents of Star Dao-rhyme flowed and intertwined. In the next instant, one could see a war arrow of stars appear out of thin air, its body seemingly formed from countless miniature stars condensed together. Within this arrow, one could feel the boundless might of the heavens—an overwhelming stellar force. Just one shot carried the power to slay all beings, annihilate all things, and destroy heaven and earth themselves.
Not only that—at the very moment the star arrow condensed, the countless women transformed into stars simultaneously released beams of astral light, fusing into the arrow, making it ever more radiant and condensed. On closer inspection, no fewer than three hundred stars were gathered within it, empowered by the might of the entire Zhou Tian Star Formation.
The star rings in the women's hands, after long refinement with abundant stellar essence, had nearly all been forged to the level of Innate Spiritual Treasures. Even if some were only of lower grade, gathered together—over three hundred in number, born from the same origin and linked through the Zhou Tian Star Formation—they channeled not only the power of the rings but also the strength of the women themselves. One had to know: none of these women were weaklings. In the Holy King Palace, even a pig could be cultivated into a terrifying beast.
All the might of the Zhou Tian Star Formation poured wholly into the Bright Moon Bow, transformed from Cai Yan and Yao Yue, and into the Stellar Arrow, incarnated by Lian Xing.
In this moment, the power condensed within the bow and arrow was immeasurable. The aura it released—just one glance was enough to stir an instinctive shudder from the heart, the chilling sense of standing before death itself.
"Supreme Destiny Diagram—Stars and Moon as One!!"
Yao Yue and Lian Xing cried out together.
Shua!!
At their shout, the Bright Moon Bow and the Stellar Arrow naturally drew together in midair. They touched without backlash or collision, the arrow resting effortlessly on the bowstring. For when the bow first condensed, it had already formed a perfect full moon. It looked exactly like a war bow that had long been drawn to its fullest.
"Jiutian Dao Venerable, you deserve death!!"
Cai Yan gripped the Bright Moon Bow and shouted coldly, the arrowhead aimed straight at the Dao Venerable.
"These are a pack of mad women."
The Dao Venerable's eyes widened as he witnessed the Zhou Tian Star Formation manifesting directly within the Holy King Palace. Though the formation did not appear vast in scale, its true nature was utterly terrifying. At its core lay the Star Rings, treasures nurtured to the rank of Innate Spiritual Treasures. Over three hundred such treasures united—this was something even the Demon Court of the previous era could not match. Back then, their Star Banners were merely Acquired Spiritual Treasures, and even those drained half the foundations of their race to forge.
Yet now such a colossal astral force was gathered into a single arrow. In but an instant, the Dao Venerable felt his heart tremble violently. Especially when that arrowhead pointed directly at him—the feeling grew unbearable.
"Sisters as one—let us send you to the afterlife."
Cai Yan's voice rang cold and sharp.
Shua!!
As her words fell, the Bright Moon Bow flared and the Stellar Arrow shot forth. Starlight burst across the sky like fireworks. Its speed—there were no words to describe how fast it was. In the blink of an eye, the arrow streaked across the heavens, as though the distance between heaven and earth did not even exist before it.
Fast!
Too fast.
So fast that even the Dao Venerable could not resist.
This was the Stellar Arrow—an arrow containing death itself.
And as it tore through the void, countless illusory starlights appeared, each identical to the true arrow. Within this myriad of astral shadows, even divine sight and spiritual will could scarcely discern which was real.
He could not even react.
The arrow light surged forward, so fast that even the Dao Venerable could not evade. Here, within the territory of Great Yi, without the blessing of a Saint's karmic position, even he could not escape. The influence of Great Yi was far greater than he had imagined.
"Netherworld God Mandala Grand Barrier!!"
Unable to dodge, the Dao Venerable could only wave the Nether God Banner and unleash a supreme defensive divine ability.
At once, countless skeletons, wraiths, and lost souls poured forth, transforming heaven and earth into a domain of death. Together they coalesced into a giant bone lotus, its petals formed from endless skulls and spirits. The lotus wrapped completely around him, layer upon layer, until it resembled a tightly closed bud wrought of death itself. Within its depths seemed to lie an entire Netherworld.
Bang!!
Starlight rained down, each astral arrow striking the bone lotus. Even the illusions carried power no less than an Innate Treasure's strike. Petals of bone shattered and withered, releasing torrents of death energy that corroded the starlight. Yet more petals bloomed anew, layer upon layer, endless and inexhaustible, a cycle of death and rebirth.
Its defense was terrifying—even Innate Treasures could not easily break it.
The surrounding void turned into a forbidden zone of life, where even Dao-proving experts would be gravely wounded or slain.
Bang!!
At last, the true Stellar Arrow struck. With a thunderous roar, countless petals shattered in an instant, unable to withstand its edge. Starlight pierced the lotus, tearing it apart and exploding with blinding force.
The battlefield was engulfed in destruction—death energy and astral power colliding, warping space, tearing reality.
When the light faded, all eyes turned in shock.
The Dao Venerable's figure was revealed, wretched and torn, robes in tatters. His chest bore a gaping hole, his heart obliterated. The Stellar Arrow's power ravaged his body, starforce tearing at his very essence. Blood dripped from his lips—divine blood that cratered the earth where it fell.
"Madwomen… you madwomen…"
His face was pale, fear flashing in his eyes. If not for his cultivation at the Hunyuan realm and the protection of the Nether God Banner, that one arrow would have blown his body to pieces. Even so, his sacred body was cracked, his origin injured, and his strength diminished by nearly forty percent in a single strike.
He was gravely wounded.
The women of Great Yi… were insane.
This formation of Star Rings was terrifying enough to contend with saints themselves.
"A fine chance—kill him!!"
Donghuang Taiyi's eyes lit up. To strike a crippled opponent was the safest path—and the most rewarding. To him, the Dao Venerable was now nothing more than a soft persimmon.
Dang!!
A golden ancient bell appeared above the Dao Venerable's head, its toll splitting heaven and earth, shattering time and space itself. Waves of golden sound rolled across the battlefield, enveloping the Dao Venerable.
"Donghuang Taiyi—you court death!!"
The Dao Venerable roared in fury, lashing out with the Nether God Banner. Battle erupted once more, fierce and unrelenting.
"The Eastern Emperor Bell, a supreme treasure indeed… Dao Venerable Juntian is in grave danger."
A voice echoed from the void.
On the altar, golden light surged, and in an instant the broken body reformed—flawless, without the slightest wound.
"The Holy King!!"
"Husband!!"
Cries of joy rang out from countless throats—citizens of Great Yi, courtiers, and the women of the Holy King Palace alike. Their ecstasy was beyond concealment.