Chapter Sixty-Three Extraordinary Mind

“Don’t worry, I know what I’m doing.” Feng Shang replied with a gentle smile. “No matter how powerful a divine shrine may be, it can’t surpass the World God Talisman. Even if I were to obtain it, I wouldn’t use it—I’m simply curious to see it for myself.”

The black-robed figures trembled, exchanging uneasy glances. This distinguished young master from the flourishing star domain had actually mentioned the legendary World God Talisman…

Such audacity—could he really possess that world-ending talisman of destruction?

“Sir, may I ask—who exactly is this young lord?”

From a distance, the old woman was in shock. She had already suspected Feng Shang’s extraordinary origins when she saw the celestial ship descend from the heavens. Now, hearing him speak, she realized she had underestimated him.

“Young Lord Shang is the direct grandson of a certain elder of mine. He grew restless in tranquility and decided to tour the Ancient Origin Domain,” the young man explained.

“I see.”

The old woman nodded deeply. That elder must surely be an unfathomable figure in the cultivation world—perhaps even a ruling authority within the Holy Palace of the Star Sea.

“Where is Lu Han now? I wish to see him.” Feng Shang idly waved a folding fan, its surface painted with constellations and a firebird striking at the sky. The entire fan was crafted from ancient crystal jade infused with divine fragrance, and its tip was adorned with two dazzling scarlet plume feathers—the most precious top feathers of the Starry Sky Divine Bird, the Flaming Torrent Sparrow.

The faint aura of Daoist power that lingered around it made it clear: this was yet another Daoist treasure.

The black-robed figures could hardly breathe. Just how immense was this young lord’s wealth? The divine treasure ship he arrived in, and now this red fan in his hand—each alone was enough to bankrupt countless old demon lords…

“Lord Lu Han is currently on the Ancient Murky Star, in the forbidden zone of the Starry Sky within the Flashing Cloud Star Domain—the Great Cold Furnace Ice Ruins. That’s where Lord Lu Han acquired his divine shrine,” one of the black-robed figures replied nervously, daring not to conceal anything.

“The Great Cold Furnace Ice Ruins,” Feng Shang repeated softly. Then, his gaze shifted to the old woman. “You must have a map of the Flashing Cloud Star Domain. Send me a copy.”

“At once,” she replied hastily.

As the master of the star domain, she possessed the most comprehensive map of the Flashing Cloud Star Domain—marking the coordinates of a hundred thousand great star systems, barren regions, and detailed descriptions of every forbidden expanse.

Such a map was invaluable.

For star cultivators, a star domain map was essential. Without clear directions, aimless wandering in the cosmic expanse could lead one into any number of forbidden zones.

The old woman transmitted the map to Feng Shang via divine thought.

He closed his eyes, golden light flickering between his brows. After a moment, he opened his eyes and smiled. “Not far at all—only 950,000 light-years from here. With a half-hour jump through the dark universe, we’ll arrive.”

The Flashing Cloud Star Domain contained a hundred thousand great star systems, each spanning tens of thousands of light-years. By comparison, 950,000 light-years was indeed not far.

“Young lord, what should be done with these people?”

The old woman approached, shaky but resolute, glaring at the black-robed figures with sparks of anger in her eyes. Ever since being nailed to the city wall, she had endured their unceasing insults.

Had Feng Shang’s party not arrived in time, she would surely have perished at the hands of these star fiends.

“Please, young lord, don’t kill us—we’ve told you everything!”

The black-robed figures shivered, eyes wide with terror. All previous ferocity had vanished, replaced by abject fear.

They knew that ignorance and arrogance were useless now. Only humility—lowering themselves and begging for mercy—might sway this noble young lord to spare them.

“Hm, they’re actually quite obedient,” Feng Shang mused, considering.

“Young lord! What they have done—killing them a thousand times would not be enough!” the old woman protested urgently, seeing that Feng Shang might let them go. Her gaze was sharp as she offered, “If you’ll allow it, why not use your soul scorpions to make their lives a living hell?”

The black-robed figures turned pale, hatred flashing in their eyes as they looked at her.

“Heh, you’re not wrong,” Feng Shang chuckled. “I, too, despise such behavior. Killing a few star fiends is no trouble for me. But on closer thought, they never actually wronged me.

“In a universe of spiritual energy, the law of the jungle reigns supreme. The star fiends are strong, the Flashing Cloud is weak—so they were trampled. I am stronger than the star fiends—so they grovel before me, obeying my every word.

“I may dislike it, but that’s not enough to make me want to kill.”

The old woman was left dumbstruck. Was this the logic of those who stood at the top? Simply because they hadn’t crossed him, and had shown humility, they were spared?

The black-robed figures looked up, hope flickering in their faces.

“Brother Feng Shang,” a small voice piped up.

Little Phoenix tugged at Feng Shang’s sleeve, frowning and whispering, “You’re going to let the bad people go?”

“Of course not. Their crimes are unforgivable,” Feng Shang replied, shaking his red fan. “I won’t kill them, but I will shatter their spirit cores and exile them into the stars. If fortune favors them, and they manage to reforge their cores without encountering star beasts, they might survive.”

The black-robed figures’ faces turned ashen. To have their spirit cores shattered and then try to reforge them—there was little hope of success…

“Afraid?”

Feng Shang smiled. “I’ve heard that, at the edge of life and death, people can unleash astonishing potential. Fail, and become dust in the universe. Succeed, and you live.

“Star fiends are outlaws, always living on the edge. Compared to certain death, this is a chance—not so bad, is it?”

“We accept!” the black-robed figures answered through gritted teeth.

“Very well.”

Feng Shang nodded with a smile. His eyes flashed with blue light, and in an instant, with five crisp cracks, the spirit cores in their abdomens shattered. Pale-faced, the black-robed figures looked at one another, yet in their eyes blazed a newfound fire.

They wanted to live.

They would reforge their spirit cores—whatever it took.

With a wave of his red fan, a mighty wind swept them skyward. The black-robed figures were flung high above, speeding away from the Flashing Cloud Continent, cast adrift into the starry void.

The old woman’s expression was complex.

The young man sighed. All things considered, he didn’t find Feng Shang’s actions objectionable.

“Let’s return to the ship and set out for the Great Cold Furnace Ice Ruins.” With the matter settled, Feng Shang summoned the three ladies aboard, his voice filled with an unprecedented ease.

Qingming’s bright gaze flickered—she was genuinely surprised.

“The Flashing Cloud Star Domain will send out some forces. I must remain here. I wish you success, young lord—may you slay the star fiend Lu Han,” the old woman said respectfully, bowing.

“As for those men, I’ve given them a precious hope. Don’t go against my wishes and hunt them down in the stars,” Feng Shang said calmly, glancing at her.

The old woman shuddered, bowing her head even lower.

Qing, her small white hands folded behind her, walked with a dancer’s grace, light as a butterfly, delicate and beautiful. She also glanced at the old woman, then leaned close to Feng Shang’s ear and whispered, “Brother Feng Shang, I didn’t expect you to do this.”

“I’d rather trick people than kill them,” Feng Shang replied. “Killing a villain who hasn’t crossed me only breeds more hostility. But letting them go unsettles my conscience. Only this way feels easy.”

At his words, Qing’s clear, innocent eyes seemed to brighten with understanding. She smiled faintly, and with her serene, ethereal beauty, she was as captivating as ever.

Brother Feng Shang was not merely lazy.

He possessed a rare wisdom, simply hidden beneath a childlike exterior, seldom revealed.