The ancient starry sky hung heavy with tension.

  Tonggu Daoist, Elder Xuancang, and the many human Quasi-Saints stared fixedly at the Saint Killing Array, desperate to know what was happening inside and how it would end.

  But the array's unique nature blocked even their primordial spirits from penetrating it.

  One thing was certain: that terrifying aura earlier had undeniably been the God-Demon Emperor's descent. An Emperor intervening—to suppress Lu?

  The gods and demons... utterly shameless.

  Every human Quasi-Saint burned with righteous fury, yet felt profound helplessness.

  Soon, however, they sensed the terrifying aura weakening—fading until it vanished entirely, leaving only the lingering killing intent permeating the ancient starry sky from the Saint Killing Array.

  "What's going on? The aura weakened... Did the Emperor leave?"

  "Possible. If an Emperor truly acted, the array couldn't hold... Perhaps something happened inside that we don't know."

  Many experts murmured.

  Powerful experts from various starry sky races watched with gleaming eyes.

  Even an Emperor couldn't crush the humans outright?

  At this rate, the human race might truly rise—becoming the new hegemon of the ancient starry sky.

  Hidden in the stars, the Wood Elemental God was dumbfounded.

  What was this?

  Hadn't the Gold Emperor intervened?

  An Emperor acting—and failing?

  With Water and Earth Elemental Gods already dead, the gods and demons severely weakened—he'd hoped the Emperor would boost their morale.

  Instead, the Emperor arrived with thunder... and left like drizzle.

  The Wood Elemental God felt ill.

  He inwardly cursed these inactive Emperors—finally acting, only to fizzle out.

  Boom!

  Suddenly...

  The Saint Killing Array roiled like a surging blood sea.

  Then, the Gold Elemental God's skull tumbled out.

  The ancient starry sky fell briefly silent—before erupting completely.

  Like boiling water, chaos exploded.

  The Gold Elemental God—a powerhouse under the Gold Emperor—fallen even with the Emperor's descent...

  What did this mean?

  Tonggu Daoist seemed to realize something.

  In the current Five Phoenixes, only the Black-and-White Empress could contend with the Gold Emperor.

  "Right! It must be the Black-and-White Empress. No wonder Brother Lu was so composed from the start—he had a mighty backer."

  "The Black-and-White Empress is an ancient chaos creature—terrifyingly strong, standing at the ancient starry sky's pinnacle. With such a backer, even I, Tonggu, would be bold."

  Tonggu laughed in relief after piecing it together.

  Lu's safety was assured.

  This sparked envy in Tonggu—sometimes... relying on a powerful partner felt so good.

  He wanted that too—he was tired of struggling alone.

  Alas...

  Tonggu lacked Lu's charm.

  Heartbreaking.

  When the human masses saw the Gold Elemental God's skull fall...

  Five Phoenixes cultivators and those from the original ancestral land erupted in thunderous cheers echoing through the stars—like a heaven-shaking tsunami.

  This battle—the humans turned utter despair into victory, crushing the gods and demons.

  Most Undying and Great Dao-tier gods and demons fallen; Heavenly God-tiers suffered heavy losses.

  Three Elemental Gods slain in succession.

  The gods and demons' invasion—a total rout, shattered beyond repair.

  Humans reaped immense gains.

  The scattered god and demon corpses alone were endless treasures—convertible resources to birth countless human powerhouses.

  This was merely surface benefit.

  Greater: with the former hegemon gods and demons routed...

  Humans could seize control of the ancient starry sky—many resource-rich ancient stars becoming spoils.

  This left many powerful races green with envy.

  Jealous—but powerless.

  Humans earned it through strength. Want it? Topple the old overlords yourselves.

  After this war...

  Some gods and demons might linger in the Elemental Realm—but no longer a threat.

  They lost their hegemonic status.

  Of course, their foundation remained—many God-Demon Emperors.

  But the Gold Emperor's aggressive arrival and meek departure...

  Made many experts think: Emperors weren't invincible after all.

  ...

  Inside the Saint Killing Array...

  The Black-and-White Empress sat enthroned, legs crossed—gazing down coldly at Lu.

  Lu sat on his Thousand-Bladed Chair, white robes fluttering.

  They faced each other.

  "Thanks for the assistance, Empress."

  Lu broke the silence first.

  "No matter..."

  "That guy was too cowardly—barely satisfying to fight."

  The Black-and-White Empress waved dismissively.

  Her gaze lingered on Lu—meaningful.

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  "I'm leaving."

  She said.

  "Leaving? To the starry depths? Chaos depths?"

  Lu asked—he recalled her mentioning it.

  She nodded. "Yes, the starry depths. You're curious why only the Gold Emperor remains—truth is, the others went to the chaos depths. Something more important awaits there."

  "Your human Saints likely went too."

  Lu's eyes sharpened.

  God-Demon Emperors, human Saints—peak ancient starry sky existences—all gathered in the depths.

  For what?

  Something terrifying lurking there?

  Lu didn't ask—he knew she wouldn't say.

  Reading his thoughts, she smiled.

  "No need to concern yourself. In fact, I don't want you there—even if you reach Saint level, stay away."

  Lu started.

  Dismissing him?

  No—deeper meaning.

  The chaos depths' threat—tied to him?

  Perhaps... the system's secret?

  Lu narrowed his eyes—brilliance flickering.

  "Take good care of the girl. Her talent is exceptional—with time, she'll naturally step into chaos-tier."

  The Black-and-White Empress said.

  This was why she lingered—to entrust Zhu Long.

  Though brief their time, blood-deep bond was unbreakable.

  Soul-level connection.

  Lu nodded.

  "Hm... and the black-and-white beast—care for it too."

  She added after thought.

  The beast on Lu's lap nearly teared up—you remembered me.

  With that, she lingered no more—punching space, stepping into time—vanishing instantly.

  The array healed—dense death and killing intent weaving.

  Lu's white robes clashed with it. Gazing at her disappearance, he exhaled slowly.

  Chaos depths—so dangerous?

  Even she gave a deathbed-entrustment vibe.

  After long thought, Lu retracted the Spirit Pressure Chessboard. Pressure and intent vanished.

  His figure emerged in the starry sky.

  Whoosh whoosh whoosh...

  Countless gazes locked on him—the white-robed youth who deployed the Saint Killing Array, reversing human doom.

  Even altering the ancient starry sky's balance.

  Mere Heavenly Emperor—yet slaying three Elemental Gods. Legendary.

  Human cheers intensified.

  Five Phoenixes and ancestral cultivators roared in unison.

  Victory!

  Decisive human triumph!

  After eons—humans rose from god-demon encirclement, gaining voice and massive win.

  Countless Heavenly Emperors and Quasi-Saints' blood paved this path—now reaching its end.

  Many elders wiped silent tears.

  Carving bloody light from endless dark—proving dawn anew.

  Worth lifelong remembrance.

  Lu remained calm—detached.

  Tonggu Daoist, Elder Xuancang, and Quasi-Saints sped over—gazes on Lu full of awe, disbelief, emotion.

  Who imagined the arrogant, invincible gods and demons shattered by this youth?

  "Brother Lu, what about the Gold Emperor?"

  Tonggu asked curiously.

  An Emperor—starry myth. They'd prepared to collect Lu's body.

  Yet the outcome astonished.

  "Ran into the Black-and-White Empress. Gold Emperor grumbled and left—she called him a coward."

  Lu said bluntly—no face spared for Gold.

  Eavesdropping starry races nodded in understanding.

  So that's it.

  Gold Emperor met the ferocious Black-and-White Empress—ancient chaos creature, unfathomably strong.

  Wounded once, she stormed Wood's realm—nearly instant-killing Wood Emperor for the statue. At peak now—Gold dared not fight.

  Death would be true loss.

  Hidden Wood Elemental God inhaled sharply—no hesitation, fleeing through spatial turbulence.

  Good he was cautious—else Elemental Gods wiped out.

  Old Gold dead, Ah Shui dead, Old Earth long gone...

  Old Fire—cold forever.

  Gods and demons weakened more than last war.

  Humans lost too—Xiaoyao Zi, Lei Hongfeng-Yue couple, many Heavenly Emperors...

  Heavy—but bearable compared.

  Wood fled.

  But hesitating—he took the Water Source Beast Ancestor statue.

  A treasure—if humans got it...

  They'd complete the five.

  Momentum unstoppable—human prodigies exploding.

  He worried provoking humans.

  But gambled—they'd consolidate, not strike soon.

  His survival bought gods and demons breathing room.

  In the ancient starry sky...

  "Brother Lu, you killed the Earth Elemental God?"

  Tonggu asked excitedly.

  Lu nodded.

  "Got the Earth Source statue?"

  Another nod.

  Tonggu and Xuancang exchanged glances—gratified.

  "Another... four now. Only Water Source missing—pity, taken by that cowardly Wood."

  "Likely back to Elemental Realm—too dangerous, can't storm it."

  Tonggu joyful yet pained.

  Complete five—human rise unstoppable.

  Eavesdropping races listened.

  Current humans—terrifying.

  "Water Source statue... taken?"

  Lu pondered.

  Then looked at Tonggu.

  "Old Brother Tonggu, know where the Wood Elemental Realm is?"

  Tonggu started—expression shifting, inhaling deeply: "You're not thinking of seizing the Water Source statue directly?"

  Too bold—even for a Heavenly Emperor?

  This dominance—beyond peak Quasi-Saint Tonggu.

  Lu nodded: "Not that I care about the statue—OCD acting up. Want the cute little statues neat and tidy."

  Tonggu, Xuancang: "..."

  OCD like this?

  Starry experts stunned—then gasped.

  This new human leader—fiercer than Tonggu or Xiaoyao Zi.

  Lu smiled.

  Besides that—Gold Emperor threatened him. Rare these years.

  Uncomfortable—he'd make Gold uncomfortable too.

  While Black-and-White Empress's deterrence lingered...

  "Where are the Five Phoenixes cultivators?"

  Lu turned—white robes fluttering, leaning on Thousand-Bladed Chair, hands on armrests—asking faintly.

  "Here!"

  Boom!

  At the Nine-Layered Heaven passage...

  Five Phoenixes cultivators radiated frenzy.

  Zhu Long soared—Quasi-Saint aura unleashed.

  Tantai Xuan laughed: "Whatever Young Master Lu wishes—Five Phoenixes follow!"

  Lu Jiulian hand on Green Lotus Sword—nodded slightly.

  Overlord, Tang Yimo, Sima Qingshan, Bai Qingniao—all peaked auras.

  Once nascent immortal martial—now immensely strong.

  Cultivators rose—aura like blazing suns.

  Momentum piercing heavens.

  Shocking hidden starry observers.

  Tonggu laughed heartily.

  Human Quasi-Saints rejoiced.

  Humans—eons suppressed—finally dawned freely.

  "Old Brother Tonggu."

  Lu looked over.

  Tonggu inhaled deeply—Lu wanted madness? Then madness.

  Eons repressed—time to unleash.

  Next—Tonggu spread hands. Vast spatial profundity surged—silver lightning shattering surroundings.

  Terrifying void rift enveloped Five Phoenixes and human forces.

  Buzz...

  Next—instant starry crossing for all but guarding Quasi-Saints.

  In the void...

  Hidden experts chilled—shocked.

  "What are humans doing?"

  "Tonggu mad? Such cost—even mastering space profundity—he'll drain dry!"

  "Direction... Elemental Realm? Humans... counterattacking?!"

  Starry races incredulous.

  They thought humans would consolidate gains—convert spoils to strength.

  But no pause—straight to Elemental Realm...

  Exterminate gods and demons?

  "Or... for the Water Source statue..."

  One murmured.

  Many realized—yes. Humans held four—complete five for perfection.

  They'd gamble too.

  Success—save eons of cultivation.

  ...

  Boom!

  Tonggu's spatial profundity mighty—crossing with army, barely strained.

  Even Lu admired.

  He could cross alone—but with masses? Uncertain.

  Tonggu hands behind back—robes fluttering, hair flying—immortal poise.

  Seeming effortless.

  But inwardly suffering—energy draining madly. Crossing with so many—exhausting.

  But facade started—couldn't stop midway.

  Elemental Realm spanned starry depths.

  Five continents floating—gold, red, green, blue, brown.

  Each vast—larger than former Hunyuan Immortal Domain.

  Peak immortal martial worlds.

  Boom!

  Finally...

  Outside Elemental Realm.

  Space rippled—cracked.

  Massive rift—human army emerging.

  Many wandering and guarding gods and demons sensed—wary.

  Seeing humans emerge...

  All panicked.

  Wood Elemental Realm...

  Returning Wood Elemental God shuddered—eyes crimson fury.

  "Humans... truly dare invade?"

  "Exterminate us all?"

  "Our Emperors live!"

  Wood panted.

  He rose—primordial spirit sweeping Wood Realm—watching approaching human army.

  Momentum like rainbow—battle cries shaking Elemental Realm.

  Wandering gods and demons fled—no daring stay.

  Human assault on Elemental Realm...

  Terrifying.

  Defending gods and demons couldn't resist human onslaught.

  Expedition army's annihilation crushed morale—Elemental Gods gone, fighting spirit nil.

  Lu placed piece—instant Saint Killing Array.

  Guarding Heavenly God-tiers enveloped.

  Soon...

  Under incredulous gazes...

  Heavenly God-tier corpses rained.

  This eroded every god and demon's will.

  Humans deployed Saint Killing Array—expedition failed, gods and demons doomed.

  Lu led Five Phoenixes and humans—storming Elemental Realm.

  Gold Elemental Realm flattened first.

  Resisting gods and demons—Lu arrayed, wiping Heavenly God-tiers...

  Others crumbled under assault.

  Gold fallen.

  Water fallen.

  Each Elemental Realm's fall boosted human momentum.

  In Wood Realm—Wood Elemental God horrified.

  "Gold Emperor won't act... Can't wait for death."

  Eyes flickering—resolve, hesitation.

  He abandoned Water Source statue—bait to distract, fleeing himself.

  He knew humans wanted it—fleeing with it might draw pursuit.

  So abandoned.

  After Water and Fire Realms fell...

  Wood last—with Elemental God.

  Lu white-robed—gaze shifting to Wood Realm.

  "Wood Elemental God's aura..."

  Tonggu said.

  Human Quasi-Saints worried Gold Emperor might act—but he hadn't, likely fearing Black-and-White Empress.

  Full extermination hard.

  But this war—vent human rage, suppressed eons.

  Wood Elemental God no death fight—no will even.

  Turned—shattering space, fleeing fast.

  At passage mouth—Water Source statue jammed, blocking pursuit.

  Lu indeed ceased chase.

  Wood unwilling to fight—an Elemental God fleeing, hard to stop.

  His goal the statue anyway...

  No need pursuing.

  Lu saw Wood heading starry depths—chaos depths.

  Where even Black-and-White Empress deemed dangerous.

  Best avoid for now.

  Lu seized Water Source statue—shrinking trophy-sized. Cool, soothing aura—like cold shower in summer heat.

  Thus—five Beast Ancestor statues complete!

  With set collected—Lu lingered no more. Elemental Realm breached.

  Many gods and demons captured—transported to Five Phoenixes.

  Lu pondered upgrading Mission Tower—such reserves to birth countless powerhouses.

  No occupation—unrealistic, unnecessary.

  Peak worlds—but Five Phoenixes sweeter.

  Tonggu rested—tore space again, ferrying army home.

  Though seemingly shuttle tool—Tonggu enjoyed.

  Elemental Realm—after human ravage—declined. Once glorious, longed-for by countless—now ruined.

  But ancestral—soon after human departure...

  Scattered wandering gods and demons returned warily.

  Perhaps eons later—revive.

  Human army returned to Five Phoenixes.

  Starry races watched triumphant humans—silenced. Former mockers muted.

  Lu brought Water Source statue home.

  Planning transform new Water and Earth statues into enlightenment stars.

  External god-demon threat ended—next, vigorously develop Five Phoenixes.

  Upgrade Mission Tower, handle origin universe immortal source, utilize three Elemental God spirits in Preaching Platform, restart White Jade Palace for soul refinement...

  Busy times ahead.

  Yet Lu oddly anticipated.

  Refining all resources—how strong would Five Phoenixes become?!