Now that Evan Chu had broken through to late Immortal Lord Realm, his consumption of Immortal Stones was absolutely massive. Two supreme-grade Immortal Stones were absorbed in less than half an hour, yet the Chaos Immortal Force in his body barely increased.
This kind of consumption was astronomical. Evan felt that the amount of Chaos Immortal Force he possessed was not inferior to a mid-stage Immortal Emperor—he could even compare with some late-stage Immortal Emperors.
After absorbing nearly six Immortal Stones in a row, he saw only the slightest increase in Chaos Immortal Force within his dantian. If he relied on Immortal Stones to improve his cultivation, who knew how many years it would take—not to mention the cost. He'd just used supreme-grade Immortal Stones; if he tried high-grade or mid-grade ones, progress would be even slower.
With the Timewheel Bracelet now restricted, unless Evan possessed Divine Power, he could only enter and exit freely a limited number of times. It seemed he still had one chance left, so he had to seize it. After burning through another hour or two of cultivation, he simply stopped. The night sky was thick with stars, and Evan decided to gaze up at the heavens, searching for inspiration, his heart burning with restless ambition.
Borrowing the power of the stars was incredibly potent—Evan had experienced this firsthand back in Lumastream City. If he could directly transform the Chaos Immortal Force within him into Stellar Power, it would make using it much more convenient.
Although he had used Stellar Power before, it was always far too weak to be of much use. Still, Evan didn't dare recklessly experiment—the odds of success felt almost nonexistent, yet the hunger to break through burned fiercely in his chest.
The stars in the night sky kept twinkling, and the Big Dipper star corresponding to the Star Mark beside his dantian remained the brightest in the heavens. Evan stared straight at that star, feeling countless invisible threads connecting him to it, unable to shake the feeling that his fate was intertwined with the cosmos itself.
Evan didn’t turn around at the sound—he already recognized the aura. "Luna, why are you out here, lost in thought?" Suddenly, her voice rang out from behind him, cutting through the silence like a blade.
Evan didn’t turn around at the sound—he already knew who it was. "Luna, why aren’t you resting? Is there something bothering you that you want to talk about?"
Evan’s feelings for Luna were a wild mix of gratitude and deep affection. If not for her, he would never have become who he was today. He’d always treated her with the utmost respect—otherwise, he might have already found an excuse to pull her into his arms and never let go.
"I do have something I need your help with. My mother has become an Immortal Infant after everything that’s happened—I hope you can help her recover her body. As for my father, you can handle him however you like, just spare his life and let him quietly live out the rest of his days in the Immortal Realm.
This blow from Skyshade Hall hit him hard—I believe he’ll turn over a new leaf. But what I’m truly worried about is my mother. Can you help her?" Luna asked softly.
Evan slowly turned to face Luna, her white robes glowing in the starlight. He stepped forward and gently pulled her into his embrace, whispering, “Luna, your burdens are my burdens. Whatever you ask, I’ll move heaven and earth to make it happen.”
"Evan, we’ve endured so much together and finally reached this moment. I’m truly happy to become your woman at last."
It felt like she’d waited a lifetime for this day. Every night she dreamed that tomorrow her wish would finally come true—and now that it had, she could hardly believe it was real. Luna’s voice trembled with emotion.
As Evan breathed in Luna’s faint, sweet fragrance, a wave of comfort washed over him. "We’ve suffered through endless storms, but now the skies have finally cleared. Once Frostbane Imperial Palace is built, I’ll give you a wedding that shakes the Immortal Realm itself. I want every immortal to witness your joy, Luna."
"Thank you, Evan. But my mother’s situation can’t wait—you need to help her as soon as possible. She’s still in the Emperor Martial Domain, so I hope you’ll go there soon. Will you?" Luna looked up at the man she loved, her eyes full of hope and urgency.
"Anything for you. But first—should I steal a kiss?" Evan teased, his eyes sparkling with mischief and affection.
Luna said nothing; instead, she took the initiative and pressed her lips softly to Evan’s. Their kiss was gentle and fleeting—a tender promise, not a fiery outburst.
They settled onto a massive boulder, sitting back-to-back beneath the starry sky. Evan broke the silence: "Luna, why do the stars shine so brightly, while the Stellar Power we absorb feels so feeble?"
"Because the stars themselves are pure energy bodies. The Stellar Power we touch is just a thin trickle—too weak, too scarce to reveal the true might hidden within the stars themselves.
The Stellar Power we absorb is like drawing from low-grade Immortal Stones, while the real thing is like supreme-grade Immortal Stones or Immortal Crystals. If you can one day turn that thin stream into the torrent inside an Immortal Crystal, the stars’ true power will be yours," Luna said, her voice full of hope.
"Luna, there’s a Star Mark in my dantian that links me to a certain star in the sky. I’ve borrowed its power before—it’s terrifyingly strong. But every time, my mind feels like it’s being torn apart, as though my soul itself might shatter," Evan admitted quietly.
"To borrow Stellar Power directly from the stars—that’s something only the most monstrous geniuses could dream of. You’re strong, Evan, but you’re not there yet. I think you’d need at least god-tier cultivation, maybe even after ascending to the God Realm, before you can truly wield that power. Don’t rush. Once you reach the God Realm, the sky’s the limit," Luna urged, her words both gentle and fierce.
Evan fell silent. The two sat quietly, back-to-back, gazing at the stars and savoring this rare, hard-won peace. Before they knew it, dawn broke over the horizon.
Soon after, they returned to the main hall. Lynn Ling and Lara Luo were already present, along with several other powerful cultivators from the Emperor Martial Domain.
"Evan, while you were in seclusion, Nolan Nangong wanted us to investigate the Immortal Emperor Treasure, but we delayed because of my condition. Just now, disciples reported strange phenomena on the lake’s surface—signs that the Immortal Emperor Treasure vault is stirring. That ancient Immortal Emperor was terrifyingly strong—I believe we must go and see for ourselves," Lynn Ling said, her voice resolute.
"I remember the Immortal Emperor Treasure Key was won by Nolan Nangong, right? Has he truly never tried to open it?" Evan wondered aloud, curiosity and a trace of challenge in his voice.
"There are countless restrictions and deadly mechanisms inside the Immortal Emperor Treasure. Even though Nolan Nangong is a late-stage Immortal Emperor, he dared not rush in alone. Now that the day the Immortal Beasts break the seal draws near, I think we must investigate. With you here, Evan, we’re much more confident," Lynn Ling said, her tone grave and determined.
"We’ll have to ask Nolan Nangong about it. Honestly, I’m not that interested in the Immortal Emperor Treasure—the items inside might help you all, but soon I’ll be heading to Emperor Martial Domain with Luna anyway, so I’ll consult him then," Evan replied.
"That’s perfect. Dream Spirit Sanctuary will have Lara Luo go with you this time. If you really secure items that can boost your strength, it’ll be a huge help in the coming war against the Immortal Beasts," Lynn Ling said, her eyes shining with hope and resolve.
"You’re not coming with us?" Evan asked, surprise and confusion flickering in his eyes as he looked at Lynn Ling.