In the starry sky where invisible gravity twisted and the principles of heaven and earth fell into disorder, hundreds of thousands of Black-Armored Imperial Guards stood in strict formation, their presence vast and imposing. At that moment, three hundred thousand imperial guards, together with Shi Hong, lord of Changshan Satellite City, all raised their heads toward the starry sky.

As a disciple of the True Radiant Sky Emperor, Shi Feirou had naturally been to the Chaotic Imperial City before. She had even once served as a commander of an imperial guard legion, striking fear into the region. Because of this, both the Black-Armored Imperial Guards and Shi Hong recognized her vessel.

Even those powerhouses of the Shadow War God Race, confronting them from tens of thousands of kilometers away, recognized that silver battle sword. The black giant at their lead, who carried late stage true spirit cultivation, revealed a grave expression. "She actually came as well."

Before countless gazes, the silver battle sword dispersed into boundless radiance and faded away, revealing Shi Feirou in her splendid gown, standing beside a young man in a black imperial robe. It was Chen Chu.

For an instant, Shi Hong and the others froze in surprise. Who was this youth standing shoulder to shoulder with Shi Feirou?

A ring of golden-white brilliance erupted behind Chen Chu, illuminating the heavens like a star, and with it came an explosive aura.

Boom!

Beneath a pressure equal to that of a semi-primordial existence, the entire starry sky quivered, unable to bear the monstrous aura that seemed like a colossal beast looming over all.

Roar!

The black giant of the Shadow War God Race bellowed. Profound dark-blue principle patterns flashed across its body, and a sharp saber will shot into the sky. The will, already at the level of principles, drew upon the power of heaven and earth and condensed into an illusory black chopping saber that slashed upward.

Boom!

The starry sky shattered, and principles fell into chaos. Within the golden-white brilliance, the black saber condensed from saber will disintegrated, shaking space and time, while the radiance covering the Shadow War God Race's territory was also cleaved apart.

Beyond that, five other top-level civilizations unleashed their strength together, barely holding back the pressure of the semi-primordial aura. As for those alien races without true-spirit-level guardians, the law and principle domains surrounding them were shattered by the golden-white brilliance, and their bodies sank heavily, almost unable to remain standing.

Apart from the Shadow War God Race and the five top-level civilizations' experts, everyone else lowered their heads, unable to look directly at the dazzling figure.

Boom!

The starry sky trembled as golden-white radiance surrounded Chen Chu. Beneath his feet seemed to appear invisible steps. With each stride he took, the heavens themselves quaked.

So strong!

Even Shi Hong's face revealed shock as he stared at the youth striding on light. He wondered which true-spirit-level supreme from the six divine regions had arrived.

Just then, in the ears of Shi Hong and all Imperial Guards above the ancient level, Shi Feirou's calm voice sounded. "All of you, the Flamewheel Emperor has already returned to the divine region and is preparing to break through to the primordial level. This is Chen Chu, the new city lord of the Chaotic Imperial City, bearing the title Divine Might."

This was the new city lord. Shi Hong's pupils contracted. At once he bowed respectfully. "Shi Hong of Changshan. I greet the Divine Might Supreme, and congratulate you for becoming the third lord of the Chaotic Imperial City."

His words caused the three hundred thousand Imperial Guards to freeze, then erupt with excitement. None of them had thought this terrifying powerhouse was the new city lord.

"We, the Changshan Imperial Guards, welcome the City Lord's arrival!" The Imperial Guards dropped to one knee, their voices shaking the heavens and echoing across the starry sky.

Looking down at the sea of kneeling guards, Chen Chu slowly nodded. "All of you rise. As fellow cultivators, I have merely taken a step ahead. There is no need for excessive ceremony."

His calm words were like a decree of the Heavenly Dao itself. All of the guards rose instinctively. Meanwhile, the Shadow War God Race and the alien powerhouses realized who that terrifying young man was.

Chen Chu and Shi Feirou stepped forward, descending upon the head of a colossal beast. The true-spirit-level beast trembled instinctively, letting out a low growl of reverence.

Gazing at Shi Hong, whose rugged face resembled that of a man in his forties, Chen Chu said, "Lord Shi, what is the current situation here?"

Shi Hong solemnly answered, "At present, the phenomenon of the chaotic divine object remains obscure, with no sign of emerging. As for the Heavenly Pool Forbidden Zone, its environment is special. The stronger one's cultivation, the greater the repulsion and pressure, requiring more power to resist. Therefore, we are all waiting outside the forbidden zone. Because news has spread, members of twenty-seven alien civilizations have already gathered at the entrance. However, their strength isn't great, consisting only of nearby wanderers who arrived quickly. Their true powerhouses have yet to arrive, including the Shadow War God Race."

Chen Chu nodded, his gaze sweeping over the hundreds of thousands of Imperial Guards. These warriors, all cultivators of the Ninth Heavenly Realm, wore black scale armor that released waves of black mist. The armor, appearing ferocious and domineering, melded with the swirling clouds of smoke, forming a vast, boundless haze that shrouded the entire force.

Every unit of a hundred carried banners that fluttered within the surging mist, their display majestic and awe-inspiring. Most importantly, their eyes were sharp and their expressions remained resolute. Even when facing ancient- and true-spirit-level existences, they showed no fear. This aura, will, and confidence were enough to let these guards evolve into monstrous powerhouses.

While Chen Chu pondered and studied the Imperial Guards, Shi Hong turned to Shi Feirou. "Palace Master Shi, you must be close to breaking through to the peak."

Shi Feirou gently shook her head. "It is difficult. This last seclusion of three hundred years allowed me some progress, but breaking through to the peak of the true spirit level will still take time."

Though she said that, she didn't deny the possibility. As a result, Shi Hong and the five ancient-titan-level generals couldn't help but feel envy. After all, the peak of the true spirit level would be just one step away from the primordial. Although many had been stuck at the peak for tens of thousands of years without advancing, there was still a glimmer of hope.

After exchanging greetings, Shi Feirou looked toward Chen Chu. "Big Brother Chen, as city lord, you must uphold the dignity befitting your station when facing other civilizations."

As Shi Feirou spoke, she reached into the void with her left hand, taking out a palm-sized dark-violet miniature divine palace model. With a toss, she cast it into the air.

Boom!

The void shuddered as rippling shockwaves spread in all directions. Purple-black divine light surged as the miniature temple expanded, transforming into a towering palace eight thousand kilometers high.

Unlike ordinary divine palaces, this one was more like a royal platform. It rested on a floating black island ten thousand kilometers across, and surrounded by thirty-six colossal purple stone pillars, each carved with the relief of a colossal beast.

The palace had no walls or roof. Every pillar extended upward into the void, reaching somewhere unknown. They stood in 6 rows of 6, forming 6 layers. At their center rose a 3,000-kilometer-high royal platform, upon which sprawled 9,999 steps.

Atop the steps rested a ten-thousand-meter-high purple-black throne. Its massive back stood straight and unwavering, piercing into the void like the pillars themselves. Inscribed with runes embodying the profound principles of heaven and earth, it radiated solemnity and sanctity.

Before this divine palace suffused with chaotic aura, even true spirit powerhouses felt their hearts quake. For those below the true spirit level, an invisible oppression weighed down on them, compelling reverence toward the towering purple-black divine palace.

"So it is the Divine Firmament Palace!" Shi Hong exclaimed.

Chen Chu's eyes gleamed with curiosity. "This palace is called the Firmament?"

Shi Hong nodded. "Yes, City Lord. The Divine Firmament Palace is a unique supreme treasure. A thousand years ago, it appeared at the auction of the Chaotic Ancient Divine Region. I happened to be present and was fortunate enough to witness it once. However, since this treasure carries no offensive function and its price was exorbitant, it went unsold. Later, it was said to have been purchased by a powerhouse of another divine region. I didn't expect that this treasure would now be in Palace Master Shi's possession."

As the words left his mouth, Shi Hong grew momentarily puzzled. He remembered that Shi Feirou already possessed the supreme treasure of the Starry Lake Pavilion, which she used as a display of prestige whenever she traveled. The Divine Firmament Palace didn't suit her style, so why had she spent so much to buy it?

Only after Shi Hong finished speaking did Shi Feirou smile at Chen Chu. "Big Brother Chen, this divine palace, though majestic, doesn't quite match my temperament, so I have rarely used it. Since you require a suitable conveyance today, I wish to present this to you. Please, do not refuse."

Shi Hong and the five ancient-titan-level generals exchanged glances, each one visibly startled. Shi Feirou, renowned in the Flamewheel Divine Region, carried not only the identity of a true emperor's direct disciple, but also a status no lesser than the great emperors of the dynasties across the six divine regions. Yet at this moment, not only did she lower her bearing, she willingly offered a chaotic supreme treasure and even feared that Chen Chu would refuse her gift.

Meeting her expectant gaze, Chen Chu shook his head slightly. "Feirou, there's no need to be so courteous. Since you've shown such thoughtfulness, I naturally won't refuse."

Shi Feirou's face bloomed with a radiant smile. Her regal beauty seemed to outshine the heavens themselves, causing even Shi Hong and the other powerhouses to lose themselves for a brief moment.

In truth, when Chen Chu spent time with Shi Feirou and her sister, he occasionally felt a sense of dissonance, especially whenever she addressed him as Big Brother Chen as she always had. After all, the two sisters had lived for over ten thousand years, while he was but eighteen. Yet for cultivators who surpassed the ancient titan level, time had long since lost its meaning. Thus, Chen Chu didn't dwell on it, and their conversations remained natural.

He also keenly sensed the sisters' persistence toward him. It wasn't love in the usual sense, but a special, indescribable bond. It was akin to kinship, yet somehow different. The reason must have been the profound impact left on them by his appearance amid despair in those apocalyptic years. The memory had etched itself too deeply.

Holding the control token of the Divine Firmament Palace, Chen Chu's figure flickered as he and Shi Feirou passed through the thirty-six stone pillars, appearing atop the royal platform. Before countless eyes, he walked to the throne and sat down.

Boom!

The instant Chen Chu sat down, the entire palace quaked faintly, time and space twisting around it. His figure expanded, matching the throne like a deity ten thousand meters tall.

At his feet, black mist surged and roared like a rising tide between the thirty-six pillars, as though an ancient emperor who ruled over the universe had descended. Such overwhelming majesty caused the surrounding alien races' expressions to darken.

However, it didn't end there. As Chen Chu sat on the throne, refining the palace, his aura fused with it. Suddenly, his bloodline power was stirred, and a domineering and violent roar shook the starry sky. The pressure within it made every alien tremble, cold dread rising from the depths of their souls. It was as though they faced a natural predator.

Behind the throne, within the endless black void, the phantom of a colossal beast formed of countless lines emerged. It was a long, dragon-like beast, yet not a dragon. Its massive purple-black head rivaled a star, three pairs of sword-like horns jutting straight upward. A row of sharp dorsal fins stretched down its back, fading into the depths of the void with the rest of its immense body.

This beast was a bloodline projection of the Dragon Emperor within Chen Chu. Although the bloodline strength had originated from the Dragon Emperor, after Chen Chu's true form evolved and transformed again and again, ultimately becoming the Primordial Demon God, the bloodline had long since changed.

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