Star Boundary

Inside Kate's Knowledge Sea, she observed her surroundings with a frown. "Hmm? Is this really my Knowledge Sea?" she asked aloud, her tone laced with confusion.

"But what is going on?" Kate murmured, noticing the abundance of Destruction Element Particles drifting around her. She paused, her thoughts piecing together her situation. "How long have I been cultivating?" she wondered before her eyes shifted to her bloodline's purity, now at 20%.

"Right, I woke once before when I noticed my bloodline was stuck at 20%," she recalled. "And I theorized that the Star Field is interfering with my progress." A determined expression crossed her face. "I better wake up first."

After some time, Kate's eyes fluttered open. She immediately noticed Dr. Mei tending to her.

"Dr. Mei?" Kate muttered weakly.

"Milady, your body is currently recuperating. Please don't force yourself," Dr. Mei replied gently.

Kate shifted her gaze, noticing Yang Yan seated nearby, engaging in a lively conversation with Dr. Mei. The sight was rare, almost surreal.

"Is that you, Senior Yang Yan?" Kate asked.

Yang Yan glanced over, her regal demeanor apparent. "Yes, it's this queen. Do you want something from me?"

"Yes," Kate said, her voice steady despite her weakened state. "Once you go back to the Star Boundary, can you take me with you?"

The request visibly surprised Yang Yan, who raised an eyebrow.

"How'd you know about the Star Boundary?" Yang Yan asked seriously, her expression sharp.

Kate met her gaze calmly. "You don't have to worry. I even know what lies beyond the Star Boundary. But right now, I'm dying. I need to go to a higher world to complete my Blood Purification."

"Blood Purification? Are you a monster?" Yang Yan asked, her tone skeptical.

Kate chuckled weakly. "No, but observe this kind of Qi."

Yang Yan extended her Divine Sense to inspect Kate, and her eyes widened in shock. "You... you're a Divine Spirit!"

"Indeed. I'm a Pharygon now," Kate replied.

"A Pharygon? What is that?" Yang Yan asked, intrigued.

"I found a Dragon and Phoenix Source, and I merged them. Now I'm suffering from the consequences, so please, help me."

Yang Yan's expression softened slightly. "I see. Then I'll take you with me. But in return, I want to take this girl as my disciple."

"Dr. Mei?" Kate asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Yes," Yang Yan confirmed. "Her heaven-defying ability to transform anything is—"

"Okay, you can take her," Kate interrupted, "but once we leave the Star Boundary, she'll return to me."

"That's fine," Yang Yan agreed. "But where are you planning to go?"

"Like I said before," Kate began, "beyond the Star Boundary lies the Outer Universe."

Suddenly, the room felt cold and heavy, as if the weight of her words carried an undeniable truth.

"Is that true?" Yang Yan asked, her voice low.

"Of course. Why would I lie to you?" Kate replied confidently.

"Where did you get this information?" Yang Yan pressed.

Kate smiled faintly. "Senior is wise to ask. The source is from the Dragon and Phoenix themeselves."

Yang Yan nodded thoughtfully. "I see. This queen agrees to your terms. But in return, I want to accompany you."

"Then you must keep this a secret," Kate said firmly, her voice carrying authority. "Even from the Great Emperors."

Yang Yan nodded once more, a rare seriousness overtaking her usually regal demeanor. "Understood. I agree."

"I can't let go of this disciple of mine," Yang Yan thought to herself, glancing at Dr. Mei, "who can transform something into anything she understands."

"Then I'll come get you when it's time to leave," Yang Yan said before vanishing in a flash of light.

"Thank you, Senior Yang Yan," Kate said, watching the lingering shimmer of her departure.

"Milady, are you planning something?" Dr. Mei asked cautiously.

"What rank are you now?" Kate asked, her voice steady despite her weakened state.

"I did not disappoint milady. With Senior Yang Yan's guidance, I managed to break through to the Origin Returning Realm, and I've also become a low-rank Origin King Artifact Refiner," Dr. Mei replied proudly.

"I see, that's good progress," Kate said, nodding slightly. "Then, is there progress on our warship?"

"Yes, Milady, but so far, it's all blueprint revisions," Dr. Mei admitted.

"That's fine," Kate replied. "I expected that we'd only perfect it once we arrive in the Outer Universe."

After a pause, Kate's gaze turned serious. "Can you call Sister Su Yan? I can't stand up right now."

Even in her weakened state, her tone carried an undeniable authority.

"Yes, Milady," Dr. Mei responded with a bow before flying off swiftly to fulfill the request.

Kate coughed violently, spitting out pure golden blood now stained with streaks of violet. "Ughh, my body... I think it's collapsing. The multiple powers clashing inside me are tearing me apart," she thought, her face pale and drenched in sweat.

"How did it even come to this?" Kate murmured weakly to herself when, suddenly, Yang Kai appeared before her.

"Are you okay?" Yang Kai asked urgently, rushing to support her frail body.

"Do I look like I'm okay? I'm dying here!" Kate snapped, her voice raspy and full of frustration.

"I know, I know, I'm sorry, okay?!" Yang Kai replied, panic flashing across his face.

Kate grimaced through the pain. "Right… let me copy the Small Sealed World Bead," she said, her words instantly stunning Yang Kai into silence.

"You how do you know about the Sealed World Bead?!" Yang Kai demanded, his voice laced with shock and suspicion.

"How do you think this happened?" Kate retorted sharply.

"What do you mean- YOU!" Yang Kai's expression darkened as realization hit him. "Did you use your peeping-into-the-future ability again?"

"IT'S CALLED HEAVENLY TIME RIVER!" Kate shouted angrily, the strain causing her to cough even more blood.

Yang Kai knelt closer, his concern deepening. "How much did you sacrifice?" he asked quietly, observing her weakened state.

"Her vitality… it's so faint. Is this really how demanding the Heavenly Time River is?" Yang Kai thought to himself.

"I'm lying again," Kate thought bitterly, gritting her teeth to keep her facade intact. "But this time, I really am suffering. I need to fix this problem the sooner, the better."

"Here," Yang Kai said, handing the Small Sealed World Bead to Kate.

"Take out all the living beings inside," Kate commanded, her voice unwavering despite her fragile state.

Yang Kai hesitated but complied, releasing Liu Yan, Xiao Xiao, and his Embodiment from the bead. "Is that okay?" Yang Kai asked cautiously.

Kate snatched the bead from his hand, her eyes blazing with determination. "Copy this!" she thought furiously.

A sudden and deafening thunderclap echoed through the sky, followed by a massive explosion. The impact sent Yang Kai flying, debris scattering in all directions as Kate's house was obliterated. The commotion drew every master in High Heaven Sect, their eyes wide in disbelief as they took in the scene before them.

Kate lay at the epicenter, her body battered and bleeding profusely, golden and violet blood staining the ground around her. She coughed violently, spitting out more blood, and gritted her teeth. "Looks like copying such legendary treasures will be rejected," she thought grimly.

Despite her battered state, Kate's voice erupted, loud and defiant. "SINCE I SET MY EYES ON IT, I'LL TAKE IT! EVEN IF ALL OF HUMANITY STANDS AGAINST ME, NO ONE CAN STOP ME FROM MY DESIRES!"

Her shout pierced the heavens, and with it came another strike of tribulation thunder.

"COPY IT!!!" Kate roared as more thunder descended upon her, bombarding her relentlessly.

"PHARYGON TRANSFORMATION!" she bellowed, invoking her transformation. Dragon horns sprouted from her forehead, shimmering golden dragon scales covered her body, and ash-grey phoenix wings with golden-tipped feathers unfurled from her back.

The crowd gasped, their awe and fear palpable. "What kind of monster is she?" someone muttered in disbelief. "Or is she a Divine Spirit?"

From afar, Yang Yan watched the scene unfold, her expression unreadable. "She's enduring this willingly," Yang Yan thought, her eyes narrowing.

Kate felt every strike, every blow of the tribulation tearing at her body. "It hurts so much... I can't even feel anything anymore," she thought as darkness began to close in. "I'm probably going to suffer even more after this."

With one final thunderclap, Kate's battered form collapsed, hitting the ground face-first, unconscious.

After the thunderous chaos settled, Yang Kai immediately rushed toward Kate's unconscious body. "Kate! Are you okay?!" he called out desperately, picking her up gently.

As he did, two Small Sealed World Beads slipped from her hand and fell to the ground. Yang Kai's eyes widened. "So, she succeeded," he thought, quickly pocketing the two beads. "I hope no one saw that," he muttered to himself, glancing nervously at the gathering crowd.

Before he could act further, Su Yan approached him with worry etched on her face. "Junior Brother, what happened to Junior Sister?" she asked.

Yang Kai's face turned grim. "She faced some kind of calamity. This world... it's rejecting her existence," he said, his voice heavy.

The surrounding crowd erupted into murmurs at his ominous words.

"What do you mean by that?" Su Yan pressed.

"It's complicated," Yang Kai replied, shaking his head. "But I need your help for now. Can you bring her to your peak and let her rest there?"

Su Yan nodded without hesitation. "No problem."

She carefully took Kate from Yang Kai's arms and cradled her protectively. Without another word, Su Yan flew off, carrying Kate toward her peak, her heart filled with concern.

Meanwhile, inside Kate's Knowledge Sea, distant echoes of agony resonated through the vast expanse. Kate sat gasping for breath, her soul writhing in pain.

"It's good that it's over," she muttered, clutching her chest. "But my soul... it's so badly damaged. Even with the help of the Soul Warming Lotus, it might take 30 to 50 years to recover. That's such a long time!"

Her thoughts shifted as an idea sparked. "Right, I have the Dao Enhancement Lotus!" she exclaimed. A flicker of hesitation crossed her face as she pondered aloud, "Should I rebuild my soul using the Dao Enhancement Lotus? Since I'm staying here, I better make myself comfortable."

As she reflected, a brilliant golden light emerged from the enormous cage within her Knowledge Sea. The light coalesced into a golden, majestic table that materialized before her.

Kate raised an eyebrow at the dazzling sight. "Does Gilgamesh just love shiny things, or what?" she muttered wryly, running her fingers along the smooth, ornate surface of the table.

"But for now, let's focus," Kate said, summoning her CCC screen. With practiced movements, she began preparing to synthesize the Soul Warming Lotus and the Dao Enhancement Lotus. "If this works, my recovery might not take decades after all," she thought, determination flashing in her eyes as she worked meticulously.

Before proceeding, a new pop-up appeared on Kate's CCC screen:

"This item requires 50 thousand years of lifespan."

Kate read the message and scoffed. "Just go get it," she muttered, her resolve unwavering despite the price. As she made her choice, her soul form grew even more translucent, a faint shimmer betraying its fragile state.

Meanwhile, in the outside world, inside Su Yan's serene room, Su Yan sat quietly, keeping a vigilant watch over Kate's unconscious form.

Suddenly, a ripple of energy spread through the room. Kate's Saint Qi grew erratic, becoming violently turbulent. Her entire body began to glow with an intense, radiant light, filling the room with an oppressive aura that startled Su Yan.

"Junior Sister!" Su Yan exclaimed, her eyes widening as she felt the overwhelming power radiating from Kate. She immediately activated her own protective aura, bracing herself for whatever was about to happen.

But then, nothing happened. Everything suddenly stopped, leaving the room eerily quiet. Su Yan, feeling the oppressive tension lift, sighed in relief.

After a few days...

"Is that you, Senior Sister Su Yan?" Kate's weak voice broke the silence.

Su Yan immediately moved closer. "Yes, Junior Sister. Are you finally awake?"

"Only for a moment," Kate said faintly. "Can you give this to those two?" she asked, her hand trembling as a Gate of Babylon (GoB) opened. Two golden lights emerged and flew towards Su Yan, imprinting themselves onto the back of her hands.

"Are these the keys for Sister Xue Yue and Qing Luo?" Su Yan asked, inspecting the glowing imprints with a mixture of curiosity and awe.

"Yes... I only woke up to give these," Kate replied, her voice fading as her form shimmered and disappeared. In her place, the Void Archives materialized, floating down and resting softly on the bed.

"This artifact again," Su Yan muttered, staring at the mysterious object.

Moments later, Yang Yan entered the room. "Where's Kate?" she asked, scanning the area.

"She's inside this artifact," Su Yan replied, gesturing towards the Void Archives.

Yang Yan stepped closer, examining it with a furrowed brow. "Hmm… this isn't an artifact. I can't detect any refining methods, nor do I recognize the material it's made of."

Su Yan remained silent, her gaze fixed on the Void Archives as Yang Yan straightened herself.

"Anyway, we'll leave now," Yang Yan said, vanishing into thin air without waiting for a response.

After a long time inside Kate's Knowledge Sea...

"It's been a while since I've walked. I want to go outside," Kate murmured to herself, flexing her translucent hands. Her eyes gleamed faintly as she studied them.

"I've recovered about 10%, and with the help of the Dao Warming Spirit Lotus, I can actually sense some Dao Marks forming on my body," Kate thought, her tone laced with intrigue.

Her gaze drifted to the golden table before her. "The Dao Enhancement Lotus is truly miraculous. It not only speeds up cultivation and provides insights into all Daos, but it also harmonizes the elemental energies of conflicting Daos. Now that it's fused with the Soul Warming Lotus, it's transformed into a Soul-type treasure of unparalleled worth," she mused.

"With its new form, I don't even need to keep it hidden here anymore," Kate realized, her confidence growing.

Suddenly, a ripple spread through her consciousness. Her vision wavered as she sensed the faint pull of the outside world.

"I'm waking up," Kate whispered with a mixture of anticipation and resolve. Her form shimmered and began to fade as she prepared to re-enter reality.

As Kate opened her eyes, the faint outline of Dr. Mei came into view, carefully attending to her.

"Huh... déjà vu?" Kate murmured weakly, her lips curling into a faint, tired smile.

"Milady, it has been about a year since we arrived in the Star Boundary," Dr. Mei replied gently.

"A year?" Kate muttered, surprise flickering across her face. "I see... It feels like just yesterday. Too much has been happening."

Dr. Mei nodded with a relieved expression. "It looks like Milady's body is quite stable now."

Kate sighed lightly. "Yes, but my soul is still injured. Recovery will take some time."

"Milady," Dr. Mei began hesitantly, "Master Yang Yan has been looking for you. She said that once you awaken, you should meet her."

"I see," Kate said, nodding slowly. "Then tomorrow, I'll meet her. For now, I need to stabilize my condition."

"As you wish, Milady. I'll return tomorrow and won't disturb you further," Dr. Mei said with a respectful bow before departing.

Kate leaned back, closing her eyes briefly. "A year... yet I still feel like I'm racing against time," she thought to herself before refocusing her energy on recovery.

The Next Day – Inside Yang Yan's Residence

Kate entered, greeted by Yang Yan's steady gaze. "It's good that you're awake," Yang Yan said, her tone firm but caring. "I've already arranged a place for you to stay. Once you're ready, head to Spirit Beast Island. I've spoken with them about your situation, and they're happy to assist."

Kate nodded respectfully. "I see. Then, Senior, please take care of Dr. Mei in my absence. I'll focus on recuperating at Spirit Beast Island first."

Yang Yan sent out a message, and shortly after, a figure appeared the formidable Li Wu Yi.

"So, you're the injured Divine Spirit?" Li Wu Yi asked, his piercing gaze assessing her.

"Yes, sir," Kate replied confidently despite her weakened state.

"Then let's go," Li Wu Yi said, opening a Void Corridor with a casual wave of his hand.

Kate stepped forward, and the two disappeared into the shimmering portal, leaving Yang Yan watching thoughtfully.

In a serene fish pond with blooming lotus flowers surrounding a picturesque gazebo, a Void Corridor shimmered into existence. From it emerged Li Wu Yi, accompanied by Kate.

"Oh, your uncle is back," a graceful woman remarked as she looked up from the gazebo.

"Uncle Li?" a young woman in vibrant robes said, rushing over.

Li Wu Yi smiled. "Welcome to Spirit Beast Island. That old woman over there is Jiu Feng, a member of the Phoenix Clan, and the little girl is Princess Mo Xiao Qi, daughter of the Martial Beast Great Emperor."

Jiu Feng's eyes narrowed. "Old woman, you say?" she said icily, releasing a faint yet chilling aura.

"No, no! You must have misheard!" Li Wu Yi quickly corrected, raising his hands in surrender, beads of sweat forming on his brow.

Mo Xiao Qi turned her curious gaze to Kate. "So, what kind of Divine Spirit are you?"

Kate took a moment to compose herself. "I had the fortune of finding both a Dragon Source and a Phoenix Source. With sheer audacity, I refined them together, resulting in me becoming a new kind of Divine Spirit called the Pharygon Divine Spirit."

"They seem trustworthy based on the manhua," Kate thought to herself. However, the collective reaction of her hosts caught her off guard.

"Dragon and Phoenix Source?!" Jiu Feng, Mo Xiao Qi, and Li Wu Yi exclaimed in unison, their voices filled with astonishment.

"Yes," Kate replied calmly, despite their reaction. "But this reckless act caused impure bloodlines to form within me. As a result, I'm currently suffering from bottlenecks and can't properly use my strength."

Jiu Feng nodded, her sharp gaze softening slightly. "I see. That explains why the Martial Beast Great Emperor himself agreed to shelter you here."

Seeing Kate's Phoenix lineage faintly resonate with her, Jiu Feng added, "Since you carry a Phoenix bloodline, I'll lend you my assistance whenever you need it. Just ask."

"Thank you, Senior," Kate said with genuine gratitude. "For now, I only need a large piece of land to place the Celestial Emberlake. It's essential for my recovery."

"Celestial Emberlake? What's that?" Jiu Feng asked with a curious tilt of her head.

"It's similar to the Phoenix's Parasol or the Dragon's Dragon Pond," Kate explained.

"I see," Jiu Feng said thoughtfully. "So, it's a cultivation ground where one can refine and enhance their bloodline."

"Exactly," Kate replied. "That's why I need a secure location. And if it's not too much trouble, please have it sealed off. If someone accidentally enters, they might not survive."

Jiu Feng nodded in agreement. "You're right. A Phoenix might try to cultivate there, only to perish because of the Dragon aspects of your bloodline."

"I'll take care of the sealing," Li Wu Yi said confidently. "First, let me ask the Great Emperor about a suitable location."

He sent a message through his communication artifact. Moments later, his expression froze as a reply came swiftly.

"Eh?!" Li Wu Yi exclaimed, clearly shocked.

"What's wrong?" Jiu Feng asked, her brows furrowing.

"The Great Emperor has granted permission to use the land behind his palace," Li Wu Yi said, his voice laced with disbelief.

"Isn't that a Forbidden Area?!" Mo Xiao Qi said, wide-eyed.

"Since it's the Great Emperor's command, we have no choice," Jiu Feng said, her tone firm. "Let's go."

Without hesitation, she soared into the sky, leading the group, with Kate and the others following closely behind.

In the Forbidden Area, Jiu Feng stopped and looked around. "This is the place."

Kate took a deep breath as she gazed at the surroundings. "Wow, is this really the Forbidden Area? Why do I feel a faint Dragon's roar?" she murmured. Her eyes widened slightly. "My Source is synchronizing with it."

Noticing Jiu Feng and Li Wu Yi exchange worried glances, Kate's curiosity was piqued. "Is something wrong?" she thought to herself, but before they could respond, she turned her focus back to the task at hand.

"Since this is the place the Great Emperor has chosen for me, I'll place the Celestial Emberlake here," Kate said. With a flick of her hand, a miniature version of the Celestial Emberlake materialized before her.

The heavens reacted instantly, thundering as if an Emperor Realm expert was breaking through.

"The heavenly response is quite strong," Li Wu Yi said, his expression tense as he studied the changes.

"PLACE!" Kate commanded.

The Celestial Emberlake soared to the center of the open land, expanding and merging seamlessly with the earth. The air grew thick with the auras of both Phoenix and Dragon, spilling out and spreading across the area.

Li Wu Yi quickly moved into action, weaving layers of Space Principles to seal the area. "Done," he said as he descended.

"Thank you, Senior," Kate said weakly before suddenly coughing blood.

"Golden blood?" Jiu Feng said, her tone shifting to surprise.

"Whoa! Sister, you have golden blood?" Mo Xiao Qi added excitedly. "But I thought you had issues with your bloodline purity?"

Li Wu Yi frowned, inspecting the blood. "Judging by this, I can sense astonishing vitality."

Jiu Feng narrowed her eyes in thought. "No, this must be your third blood transformation, isn't it?"

Kate nodded lightly. "Senior is wise. My human blood was red. Later, I found an inheritance that turned it golden. Now, my Divine Spirit blood is violet."

"Violet?" Jiu Feng asked, intrigued. "That's an unusual color for blood."

Kate smiled faintly. "No need to worry. Violet happens to be my favorite color."

Jiu Feng chuckled. "I see. Well, then, we'll leave you to your cultivation."

"Thank you, Seniors," Kate said, bowing slightly as Jiu Feng, Li Wu Yi, and Mo Xiao Qi flew away, leaving her alone in the newly sealed Celestial Emberlake.

After entering the sealed Celestial Emberlake, Kate slowly removed her clothes, piece by piece. "The clothes in the manhua are beautiful but quite revealing," she muttered under her breath. Folding them neatly to the side, she gazed at the shimmering waters. "Now that I'm here, I'd better finish my blood purification as fast as possible."

Kate stepped into the lake, feeling the warm, radiant energy envelope her body. She allowed herself to relax momentarily, but soon her senses heightened.

"This lake… it's filled with Destruction Dao Marks!" she realized, her eyes widening in surprise.

Her gaze instinctively shifted toward the towering Parasol Tree. "Then the Parasol must be..." Without hesitation, she flew toward the tree, inspecting it closely.

Her heart raced as she examined its majestic form. "I'm right! The tree is brimming with Creation Dao Marks!" Kate exclaimed, excitement lighting up her face.

The realization thrilled her, but she quickly refocused her priorities. "No, purifying my blood is more important right now," she thought, grounding herself.

Hovering back to the middle of the lake, she positioned herself beneath the towering Parasol Tree. Its roots reached deep into the lake, creating a powerful connection between the energies of destruction and creation.

"The tree is standing firm by its roots, drawing energy from both forces. This balance... it's incredible," Kate murmured.

Taking a deep breath, she centered herself. "Now, let's purify my blood."

She sat cross-legged in the center of the lake, the energies of the Celestial Emberlake beginning to swirl around her, ready to transform her from within.

Days turned to months, then to years. Before long, nine years had passed. Kate opened her eyes, her gaze sharp and steady. "I've been in retreat for about nine years, and I've broken through many times," she thought as she flew toward the shore.

"Finally, I'm a pure Pharygon Divine Race," Kate said aloud, dressing herself in a fresh set of robes. "I better design a good Hanfu-style battle dress later."

Taking a deep breath, she felt the transformation within her. "So this is how a Divine Spirit breakthrough feels. Like nothing happened. I broke through to the Dao Source Realm years ago, and I didn't even feel anything. All I needed was to purify my blood to advance... This is clearly cheating," she thought with a wry smile.

She clenched her fist lightly, sensing the vast strength coursing through her veins. "At the very least, all of my blood is violet now. I just need to purify it further, and I'll breakthrough again," she mused as she ascended into the air, her figure cutting through the skies.

With her next goal in mind, she flew toward the largest pond, where the grandest gazebo stood, her mind already planning her next steps.