The fallen fragment of the walking meat tree twitched on the ground.
It was only a broken branch, but it was thicker than a stone bridge. Its bark looked like dark green flesh, with faint red veins pulsing beneath the surface. Several tentacle-like roots dragged across the soil weakly, leaving shallow trenches behind.
Fang Yuan's gaze heated.
Hei Lou Lan's eyes also shone.
Fang Ming was silent, but his attention was fixed on the branch.
Walking meat tree.
A rare strength path plant from black heaven.
Its trunk, branches, leaves, and roots were all excellent materials for refining strength path Gu worms. To strength path Gu Immortals, this was far more useful than ordinary desolate beast flesh and bones.
But none of the three moved.
Above them, the eighth star hall shook.
A deafening explosion burst out from within the hall. Starlight scattered like broken glass. The roof cracked open, and a huge shadow surged out from the gap.
Roar!
A dragon roar shook the air.
A massive zombie dragon flew out of the eighth star hall.
Its body was hundreds of meters long. Grey stone-like scales covered its body, and pale white zombie energy coiled around it like mist. It had eight claws, each one sharp and powerful. Its eyes were half open, cold and lifeless, but the aura it released was horrifying.
Hei Lou Lan's expression changed. "Zombie dragon."
Fang Yuan stared at it. "Eight claws. When it was alive, it was likely an immemorial desolate beast. Even after becoming a zombie dragon, it still has peak rank seven battle strength."
Fang Ming's eyes narrowed slightly.
Peak rank seven.
And it was not an ordinary peak rank seven threat.
A dragon body had natural advantages in attack and defense. Zombie energy gave it strange vitality. Its aura carried wind path and dark path traces, and its movement was shockingly fast for such a huge body.
This was not something they could touch casually.
The zombie dragon opened its mouth.
Pale white zombie fire poured out, burning through the air toward Shi Lei.
Shi Lei dodged to the side, but the zombie dragon's huge body twisted in midair. Its tail swept across the sky with terrifying speed.
Boom!
Shi Lei was struck directly and sent flying like a meteor, crashing into the side of a mountain.
The mountain trembled. Rocks collapsed, burying him inside.
Hei Lou Lan sucked in a cold breath.
Fang Ming's gaze deepened.
Shi Lei had been knocked away so violently, yet Fang Ming did not believe he was finished. A famous rank seven expert would not die from one exchange. But this proved the zombie dragon's strength.
The walking meat tree fragment was valuable.
But trying to collect it now meant moving under the eyes of Shi Lei, Star Lord Wan Xiang, and a peak rank seven zombie dragon.
Fang Ming suppressed the temptation.
Myriad Clones would not guarantee safety here. Against opponents of this level, numbers were not enough. One wide battlefield method, one dragon flame, one careless exposure, and the hidden advantage they had preserved until now could vanish.
From beneath the collapsed rocks, Shi Lei's furious voice sounded.
"Worm, you have angered me!"
The mountain exploded.
Shi Lei shot into the sky, his golden pupils full of battle intent.
"Immortal killer move — Shocking Rock Break!"
A small hill formed almost instantly in the air and smashed toward the zombie dragon.
Hei Lou Lan's eyelids twitched. "So fast."
Fang Ming also noticed.
The activation speed was abnormal for such a powerful immortal killer move. Shi Lei was not merely a brute who liked fighting. His killer moves were refined, direct, and suited to battle rhythm.
The small hill crashed into the zombie dragon.
But the zombie dragon did not avoid it. It raised its head and rammed forward.
Boom!
The hill shattered.
Shi Lei laughed loudly and charged forward again.
The sky became a battlefield of human and dragon.
Shi Lei's earth path attacks struck with heavy force, while the zombie dragon responded with claws, tail, zombie fire, and terrifying speed. Every clash sent shockwaves outward. Clouds scattered. Mountains trembled. Starlight from the ruined hall flickered above them.
Star Lord Wan Xiang stayed at the side, unable to interfere deeply.
Fang Yuan watched briefly, then transmitted, "Retreat."
Hei Lou Lan agreed immediately.
Fang Ming did not object.
The walking meat tree fragment remained behind them.
The three withdrew into deeper concealment and retreated to a safer distance. Only after the pressure from the battle weakened did they stop.
Hei Lou Lan looked back once, unwillingness flashing in her eyes. "That walking meat tree fragment…"
"Not worth being exposed," Fang Yuan said.
Fang Ming added calmly, "Shi Lei and the zombie dragon are both too close. If their fight shifts downward, even hiding may not save us."
Hei Lou Lan's gaze moved to Fang Ming. Seeing that even he had no intention of taking the risk, she fully suppressed her greed.
Fang Ming continued watching the sky from afar.
Shi Lei was dangerous not only because he was rank seven.
His combat instincts were sharp. His killer moves activated quickly. He endured heavy injuries without losing rhythm. His battle madness did not mean stupidity. If Fang Ming had tried to fight him earlier, even with Myriad Clones, the result would have been unpredictable.
Direct strength could not solve everything.
Fang Yuan suddenly said, "There is another question."
Hei Lou Lan understood at once. "How they entered?"
Fang Yuan nodded. "The area where we entered had no investigative Gu. If they came through the star hall system, they would not have arranged their surveillance like this."
Hei Lou Lan continued, "Connecting heaven Gu and hole earth Gu are unlikely. Both sides must agree. The heavenly spirit of Starry Sky grotto-heaven has not appeared either."
Fang Ming listened quietly.
Fang Yuan's eyes darkened. "Then the most likely answer is a loophole. A spatial crack."
Hei Lou Lan's lips curled. "If they entered through a crack, that crack may still exist."
Fang Ming nodded slightly. "An entry point, an escape route, or an ambush location."
Fang Yuan glanced at Fang Ming.
Fang Ming had not spoken much, but his conclusion matched theirs.
The three were silent for a breath.
They had entered through Fixed Immortal Travel. Shi Lei and Star Lord Wan Xiang had likely entered through another route. If they could find that crack, it might be useful later.
But before they could search, the battle in the sky changed again.
Shi Lei roared.
His aura surged outward.
The sky around him began to transform. Grey rocky clouds spread rapidly, covering the zombie dragon and Shi Lei together. In only a few breaths, the battlefield was sealed inside a huge grey rock domain.
Fang Yuan's pupils shrank.
"Rolling Rock Battlefield."
Hei Lou Lan's expression turned serious. "Immortal battlefield killer move."
Fang Ming also stared at the grey battlefield.
A battlefield killer move.
This was another layer of Shi Lei's strength.
Not only could he fight directly, he could also isolate the battlefield. Once inside such a domain, vision, movement, and support would all be restricted. If Fang Ming had been caught inside, even Teleport Gu might not be reliable without testing the battlefield's restrictions.
The grey rock battlefield sealed Shi Lei and the zombie dragon away.
The eighth star hall suddenly became much quieter.
Star Lord Wan Xiang hovered outside for several breaths.
Then his body turned into starlight and rushed into the eighth star hall.
Hei Lou Lan's eyes flashed. "The defenders are gone."
Fang Yuan smiled coldly. "Do you dare to gamble?"
Hei Lou Lan answered without hesitation, "Do you?"
Fang Ming looked at the ruined eighth star hall.
Shi Lei was trapped in battle with the zombie dragon. The zombie dragon was isolated. The walking meat tree had already been broken. Star Lord Wan Xiang was alone inside.
The danger was still great.
But the main defenders were gone, and the central opportunity was about to be taken.
If they hesitated, they would only watch someone else harvest the true benefit.
"Go," Fang Ming said.
The three moved at once.
They concealed their figures and flew toward the eighth star hall from a hidden angle. Broken starlight drifted around the hall. The closer they came, the more terrifying the battle traces became.
The outer hall was ruined.
Pillars were broken. The ground was scorched by zombie fire. Huge claw marks tore through the walls. Tentacle-like branches from the walking meat tree lay scattered everywhere, some still twitching faintly. There were also deep impact marks filled with strength path dao mark pressure.
Hei Lou Lan looked at one broken wall and frowned.
Just looking at the damage, she could feel the power behind the attacks.
Fang Ming swept his gaze across the scene.
The walking meat tree's attacks had left unusual strength path traces. They were heavy, invasive, and difficult to remove. Star Lord Wan Xiang had been injured by them earlier; that injury was likely not simple.
They moved quickly, but none of them relaxed.
Soon, they reached the inner hall.
The doors were already open.
Inside was darkness.
Star Lord Wan Xiang stood within, his back facing them. No, he was not standing.
He was trembling.
Then, with a thud, he knelt.
"Immortal Venerable, please spare me!"
His voice was filled with fear.
Fang Yuan, Hei Lou Lan, and Fang Ming stopped at almost the same time.
At the far end of the inner hall, a huge throne was faintly visible in the darkness.
A woman's figure appeared before it.
She wore a dark blue robe. Her hair was like a river of stars, falling down behind her. Her face was calm and indifferent, and her eyes looked down from above as if everything beneath her was insignificant.
An aura erupted.
Rank nine.
Star Constellation Immortal Venerable.
Hei Lou Lan's body stiffened instantly.
Fang Yuan froze.
Fang Ming's pupils contracted.
The pressure was overwhelming. It did not merely press on the body. It pressed on the soul, the thoughts, the will, and even the instinct to resist.
Star Lord Wan Xiang was already kneeling and begging.
Hei Lou Lan's legs trembled. Her will was strong, but before a rank nine aura, even a formidable person like her felt as small as dust.
Fang Yuan gritted his teeth. His eyes were bloodshot, but his body could not move.
Fang Ming was also heavily affected.
Unfathomable Will Immortal Gu stirred within him, helping his mind resist the overwhelming suppression. His thoughts did not collapse immediately. His will did not kneel. But the pressure was too high.
This was Star Constellation.
Even if it was only an image, even if something about it was wrong, the level was too terrifying.
Dream Feather Immortal Gu also reacted faintly.
A thin, almost invisible dream path protection spread through Fang Ming's consciousness. It helped him sense the abnormality beneath the rank nine pressure. It slowed the dream erosion and gave him a little more clarity than the others.
But only a little.
Fang Ming could not move freely.
His body felt sealed.
His thoughts slowed as if sinking into deep water.
His soul felt as if it was being crushed between heaven and earth.
Star Constellation's figure raised a finger.
"You juniors are too daring."
Her voice echoed through the hall.
"Kneel."
The word fell like heavenly law.
Hei Lou Lan's knees bent.
Star Lord Wan Xiang slammed his head harder against the ground.
Fang Yuan trembled violently.
Fang Ming's bones creaked. His will resisted, but resistance was not victory. Unfathomable Will protected him from immediate collapse, while Dream Feather delayed the dream's pull, but neither could fully break the suppression.
Fang Yuan's eyes flashed with ruthless light.
This feeling.
This impossible pressure.
This unreality hidden beneath overwhelming truth.
Dream realm!
The realization struck him like lightning.
He could not speak.
He could not warn the others.
He could only act.
True solid bat wings.
Detonate!
The bat wings on Fang Yuan's back exploded.
Pain erupted through his body. Flesh tore apart, bones shattered, and dark blood splashed. The valuable bat wings that he had obtained with so much effort were destroyed in an instant.
But the pain became power.
A violent shock tore through the pressure binding him.
The Star Constellation figure looked at him.
For an instant, her gaze seemed to contain surprise.
"An immortal zombie, yet so fascinating."
The hall shattered.
The rank nine pressure vanished.
Fang Yuan gasped silently, his body cold and damaged. The darkness of the inner hall disappeared from his perception, replaced by broken fragments of dream light.
For a brief moment, he was awake.
He saw Hei Lou Lan fallen into the dream, motionless.
He saw Star Lord Wan Xiang still kneeling, trapped.
Then he saw Fang Ming.
Fang Ming was still awake.
Barely.
His eyes were open. His body was rigid. His face was pale, and faint dream light flickered around him as if something was trying to drag him down.
Fang Yuan's gaze sharpened.
Fang Ming had not fallen immediately?
He had some defensive measure against dream realms or mental suppression.
Fang Yuan's mind moved rapidly.
What method?
Immortal Gu?
Killer move?
Soul path? Wisdom path? Dream path?
Before he could think further, Fang Ming's eyes changed.
The faint clarity inside them dimmed.
Unfathomable Will and Dream Feather had delayed the dream trap, but the pressure came from too high a level. The Star Constellation dream was not something Fang Ming could block completely.
Dream light swallowed him.
Fang Ming fell into the dream.
Fang Yuan understood instantly.
Fang Ming's defensive measures were real, but not absolute. They could delay the dream erosion, perhaps preserve partial awareness, but they were not concrete protection against a dream realm of this level.
Then Fang Yuan's own surroundings changed again.
The fragments of dream light closed around him.
The scene shifted.
The ruined inner hall vanished.
The oppressive Star Constellation aura disappeared.
Fang Yuan found himself above clouds, facing the back of a blue-robed Gu Immortal.
The man stood under a clear moon and laughed loudly.
"Heaven has taken pity on me. I, Seven Star Child, have finally combined the seven star spaces into one, forming the unified Starry Sky grotto-heaven!"
His laughter was filled with joy.
"I have passed another huge obstacle in my cultivation journey. I am one step closer to rank nine! One step closer!"
Fang Yuan's heart sank.
Cold spread through his body.
He had escaped the Star Constellation dream.
But he had entered another dream.
A dream within a dream.
And this time, his true solid bat wings were already gone.
At the edge of the dream, unseen by Fang Yuan, a faint feather-like light trembled.
Dream Feather reacted quietly.
But the dream did not break.