Chapter 108: First Encounter

The purple meteorite mountain stood towering and majestic, anchored in the starry sky like an eternal world. Its aura was vigorous and vast, so immense that even a million stars could only orbit around it.

At this moment, a rain of meteor fire, crimson and searing, plummeted through the cosmos. Countless vast rifts, millions of miles long, crisscrossed the void, obliterating everything in their path. Such an unprecedented fire-sun storm was something even cultivators who had roamed the Hurricane World for centuries had never witnessed.

"The Hurricane World prohibits ships; to disregard that is sheer folly!"

From afar, many watched the scene. Amidst the perilous meteor shower, a golden Dao ship struggled forward, drawing sighs from onlookers.

"Those people are doomed."

"A fire-sun storm triggered by the disintegration of dozens of sun stars is a once-in-a-century catastrophe. Even a Dao ship will be destroyed."

Most cultivators shook their heads, deeming the group on the golden ship foolish. To defy the laws of the Hurricane World was either arrogance or ignorance, and their demise seemed certain.

Yet, soon, many were astonished. Though the golden ship teetered on the brink of ruin, it steadily approached the purple meteorite mountain. Looking closely, one could see dense, luminous fist imprints erupting from the ship, carving a safe path through the fire-sun storm. The booming sounds of impact were heavy and rhythmic, echoing clearly across the galaxy.

"Good heavens, they’re actually holding out!"

"There is... a Light Lord on board!"

The cultivators drew sharp breaths. In a fire-sun storm of this magnitude, even the most formidable warriors would be insignificant; there was no explanation other than the presence of someone who had grasped the Profound Meaning of Light.

"Why would a Light Lord travel by ship? Could there be someone on board they are forced to protect?"

As the onlookers speculated, the confrontation between Feng Shang and the storm reached a fever pitch. He was exhilarated, his eyes glowing with fervor. He continuously wove seals, releasing them to shatter and dissipate the crimson flames, erupting in brilliant radiance.

"The ship looks like it’s breaking," Little Huang said, her eyes sparkling. Although the ship pitched and rolled, she felt no fear, finding the motion amusing instead. The Starry Purple Chain on her snowy wrist shimmered, enveloping her and keeping her as steady as a mountain.

"We can't wait for the ship to capsize; we must evacuate." Qing’er produced a blue-purple Destruction Slip inscribed with complex and profound patterns of the sun, moon, and stars. It was the Sun-Moon Shuttle Slip, capable of instantly traversing vast distances to reach the purple meteorite mountain. With a wave of her small hand, the slip blossomed with light.

A dazzling, sacred radiance enveloped the golden ship. Just as it was about to teleport, a massive shockwave ripped through the void!

"What’s happening!"

The chaotic void distorted space-time, causing the luster of the Sun-Moon Shuttle Slip to vanish instantly. The sacred light receded, and the slip fell to the floor.

"Oh no, it’s a space-time collapse!" the young man and Old Yuan cried out in unison.

***

"Hmm?" Feng Shang, most sensitive to the void, sensed it first. His expression shifted, his heart racing. Space-time collapse was terrifying; it could crack divine crystals and sever light power, let alone fragile flesh. How could such a danger occur here?

*We must get out of here!*

Without time to ponder the cause, he extended his "Something from Nothing" energy, forming six large hands to grab the others. But time granted him no mercy. The collapsing space-time formed a vortex, disintegrating the golden ship from the center outward.

*Crack!*

A fissure spread from the heart of the ship, splitting it cleanly in two. Precious wood splinters flew, and the ship’s protective Dao patterns dimmed. The vessel’s spirit let out a mournful wail; the ship, once so sturdy that even divine blades could not leave a mark, was destroyed!

"Old Yuan!" As the hull cracked, the little bald boy lost his footing and tumbled toward the edge, screaming.

"Young Master!" Old Yuan lunged for him in a panic, but under the influence of the collapsing space-time, he could neither manifest light-speed nor even fly normally.

It all happened in a flash. As the ship fell apart, the group was scattered, on the verge of being swallowed by the space-time vortex.

"Roar!"

Suddenly, a miserable, ferocious howl echoed. The collapsing space-time froze for a heartbeat, and the phantom of a Azure Heavenly Calamity appeared in the cosmos. Its massive head opened its maw and swallowed everyone. Immediately after, the imposing Azure Heavenly Calamity phantom plunged into the space-time vortex.

...

"A miscalculation," Xia sighed softly, a look of regret crossing her features. Her beautiful eyes shimmered; she looked like a celestial being descended to the mortal world, elegant and refined. She looked toward the center of the Annihilation Array, where the Azure Heavenly Calamity phantom had just been shifted in.

"The sixth child of the Heavenly Calamity, is it?"

"Who are you?" The Azure Heavenly Calamity spoke in a deep voice like rolling thunder, causing the surrounding star domain to tremor.

He appraised the mysterious woman. She was extraordinary. Moreover, there seemed to be others hidden around her, and this star domain felt strange, shrouded by some power.

"The Shrine belongs to me," Xia said, her beautiful eyes swirling with multi-colored light. Her celestial form was graceful and elegant, surrounded by a hazy mist, her presence as ethereal as clouds veiling the moon or snow whirling in the wind.

"The creator of the Shrine?" The Azure Heavenly Calamity narrowed his eyes dangerously.

"Uncle Calamity, let us out!" Feng Shang’s voice echoed from within the Azure Heavenly Calamity phantom.

Having witnessed everything from the Hurricane World to the transport through the vortex, the young master realized someone was plotting against him. This made him indignant! He was always the one setting traps for others; when had he ever been toyed with?

Xia shifted her gaze, appearing to pierce through the phantom to see the scene inside. With a flick of the Azure Heavenly Calamity’s jaws, the wreckage of the golden ship and the seven people were spat out.

"So it was you plotting against me!" Upon meeting, Feng Shang frowned and interrogated the mysterious stranger. But when his gaze fell upon the beautiful moonlight sword at her waist, it suddenly lit up. *A fine treasure!*

Xia did not respond. She calmly studied Feng Shang’s delicate face for a moment, then shifted her gaze to his right hand, her pupils slightly contracting.

*Bang!*

Without warning, a terrifying, soul-destroying ray of light—like an invisible bolt of lightning—erupted from Xia’s fingertip, aimed directly at Feng Shang’s brow, seeking to shatter his soul and primordial spirit.

"Brother Feng Shang!" The three girls cried out in alarm.

A light flared at Feng Shang’s brow. Before the lethal ray could strike, a tiny golden thread coiled upward and instantly shredded it.

"Five-Element Primordial Gold Threads," Xia murmured, naming the treasure.

In the depths of Feng Shang’s primordial spirit sea, sixty-three strands of golden thread floated. Each one shone with a dazzling, priceless radiance. He had never revealed them before, but they were a treasure of incalculable value, protecting him from soul injuries.

"This... the Nine Sovereigns truly dote on him," Old Yuan muttered, stunned, his mouth hanging open for a long moment.