Chapter 157: Zhaohe Star System

In the crowd, the expression of the Elder with the highest cultivation, a Mid-Stage Ascendant, changed. He hurriedly took a step forward and cupped his hands in greeting.

His movements were extremely swift, for fear that even a moment's delay would be seen as disrespect.

The crowd behind him also lowered their heads one after another, not daring to meet that gaze.

"May I ask which Sect's Senior expert you are?"

The Elder spoke respectfully, his voice trembling slightly.

"We are of the Qingyue Sect from Planet Yuzhu. I am Cheng Yu, an Elder of the Qingyue Sect."

Chu Yuan swept a calm glance over them. His gaze lingered on the Elder for a brief moment before moving away.

A Mid-Stage Ascendant was no different from an ant in his presence.

"Where is this place?"

Cheng Yu was taken aback. He had not expected this Senior to ask such a question. How could a powerhouse capable of merging with the Void Realm not know where he was?

But he did not dare to ask further, nor did he dare to show the slightest doubt. He respectfully said, "Senior, this is the southern region of the Zhaohe Star System, the Fanyun Star Domain."

"The Zhaohe Star System?"

Chu Yuan's heart stirred slightly, and his eyes flickered.

He had never heard of this place, but the word 'Zhaohe' felt strangely familiar.

He fell silent for a moment, searching deep within his memories, and finally remembered. The Zhaohe Star System was the star system where the ancient Shan Immortal Realm was located.

He had once read this name in an ancient Jade Slip. At the time, he had only glanced over it and paid no attention. He never expected that he would actually come here in person today.

It seemed this place was not the Alliance Star Domain.

Seeing Chu Yuan remain silent, Cheng Yu, the Elder of the Qingyue Sect, felt increasingly apprehensive.

Although he could not perceive the cultivation of the person before him, he had only ever felt that naturally emanating pressure from his own Ancestor—no, this was even stronger than his Ancestor.

His Ancestor was a powerhouse of the Yang Solid Realm, which was already close to a top-tier existence in this Zhaohe Star System. Yet, the feeling this Senior gave him was even more unfathomable than his Ancestor.

He did not dare to look up, standing with his hands at his sides, a layer of fine sweat beads forming on his forehead.

Chu Yuan's gaze bypassed Cheng Yu and fell upon that silver Lightning Galaxy.

Thunderous light surged, and electric serpents exploded silently, illuminating the entire Star Domain in alternating light and dark.

Just as he was about to ask something, a sharp streak of purple light tore through the air from the side. As fast as lightning, it shot straight toward his upper back with a piercing whistle.

Chu Yuan did not move.

The streak of light slammed into his back. The purple thunderous light instantly exploded, turning into a massive cage of lightning that enveloped his entire body.

Thunderous light surged and electric serpents coiled around him, layer upon layer, completely swallowing his figure.

The Void Realm distorted, and a Black-robed Elder stepped out from a rift.

His face was gaunt, his eyes sinister, and a cold sneer played at the corner of his mouth.

He glanced at Chu Yuan, who was trapped in the lightning prison, and then at the members of the Qingyue Sect bound by lightning chains, stroking his beard as he smiled.

"Hmph, I didn't expect to encounter this Lightning Galaxy. Hahahahaha!"

The Elder's laughter was dry, yet filled with smugness.

"You people of the Qingyue Sect, stay right there for a moment. Hahahahaha!"

With those words, another dozen-odd purple streaks of light flew out from his sleeves, accurately striking every Qingyue Sect Disciple present.

Cheng Yu wanted to resist, but his neck was wrapped by a streak of light. As the thunderous light entered his body, his spiritual energy instantly solidified. Unable to even speak, he was completely sealed.

Standing with his hands behind his back, the Black-robed Elder's gaze fell upon the restricted Cultivators, a disdainful sneer playing on his lips: "You people of the Qingyue Sect still want to waste words with me? If I weren't slightly wary of that old fellow from your Sect, I would have refined you all into my Immortal Puppets today."

Licking his chapped lips, a greedy, cold light flashed in his eyes. He then turned around and cast his gaze toward that silver Lightning Galaxy.

"These guys have definitely notified Old Monster Qingyue. I must hurry."

He muttered to himself.

"Otherwise, once that old fellow arrives, it will only cause unnecessary trouble."

He immediately pinched a hand Seal, and a massive Immortal Array slowly formed in front of him.

The array patterns flowed and spiritual light intertwined, transforming into an invisible giant hand that reached into that galaxy of thunderous light.

"Thunderous light, gather!"

In an instant, endless electric light gathered toward the array like a hundred rivers returning to the sea. The silver lightning surged and compressed within the array, finally turning into a fist-sized lightning ball that floated in the palm of the Black-robed Elder.

The lightning ball was entirely silver-white, with countless tiny bolts of lightning surging inside, emitting a terrifying aura that made one's heart palpitate.

"Hahahahaha!"

The Black-robed Elder threw his head back and laughed.

"The quality of this Lightning Source looks exceptionally good this time. Once I refine it, my cultivation can improve by a few more fractions. While that old fellow hasn't arrived yet, I must collect more of this Lightning Source."

Just as he was about to change to another area to continue condensing the Lightning Source, a voice suddenly sounded behind him. It was as calm as water, yet it exploded in his ears like a sudden clap of thunder.

"Lightning Source?"

"It actually contains quite a bit of Origin Energy. For those who Cultivate the Dao of Thunder, it is indeed a decent item."

The Black-robed Elder was suddenly startled. He abruptly looked down, only to find that the Lightning Source in his palm had actually vanished.

He instantly retreated a thousand Zhang, his gaze sharp as a knife as he locked onto the source of the voice.

It was the black-robed man he had sealed first.

At some unknown point, he had already broken free from the lightning prison. Standing with his hands behind his back in the Void Realm, he played with the silver-white lightning ball in his hand, his expression as calm as water.

"You actually managed to break free from my lightning prison!"

The Black-robed Elder's pupils contracted slightly, and his face darkened.

The lightning prison technique was an immortal spell he had accidentally obtained in the Shan Immortal Realm thousands of years ago. It was a binding technique. With his Mid-Stage Yang Solid cultivation, even an Early-Stage Yang Solid powerhouse would find it difficult to break free easily.

Earlier, he had sensed this person's aura and paid it no mind. He didn't expect that he would be so careless; this person was actually hiding his true strength.

Suppressing the shock in his heart, he said in a low voice, "Fellow Daoist, may I know which Sect you belong to? State your name."

Chu Yuan casually tossed the lightning ball into his mouth and swallowed it, refining it completely in an instant.

Silver lightning flashed and vanished between his lips and teeth. His expression did not change in the slightest, as if he had only swallowed a sugar pill.

"My name…"

"…you are not worthy to know."

Veins throbbed on the Black-robed Elder's forehead, and a flash of anger crossed his eyes.

He had cultivated for thousands of years; when had he ever been so disregarded?

He gritted his teeth and sneered, "How arrogant! Today, I shall test your depth, Fellow Daoist, to see if you truly have the means or if you are merely playing tongue tricks!"

He raised his hand, and a small pagoda flew out from his sleeve, expanding against the wind until it was a hundred Zhang in size.

The bottom of the pagoda was pitch-black, like a giant mouth devouring all things, as it came crashing down toward Chu Yuan's head.

"Hahahahaha!"

The Black-robed Elder laughed.

"You actually aren't dodging? Once covered by my Immortal Suppressing Pagoda, even someone of the Kuinie Stage can forget about escaping easily!"

Chu Yuan still did not move. Standing with his hands behind his back, he calmly watched the giant pagoda fall.

He did not even furrow his brows, as if the pagoda were nothing more than a fallen leaf.

It was precisely this indifference that made the Black-robed Elder feel even more uneasy.