Samsara of Stars
A young, bright-eyed woman in teal robes floated here after assailing the Star Core Astral Tribulation; her willowy figure shook and her long eyelashes fluttered, her gaze distant as a nostalgic light of a lifetime's remembrance. Slowly, tears dripped from the edge of her eyes like a river of sorrow and a stream of happiness.
Slowly, the light of awareness returned; she wiped her eyes by instinct, her nose sniffled, and her spiritual sense expanded. The reliving of her entire life of cultivation within the Mortal Dao was bittersweet but expected. She sensed that she was in a world without chaos mana, heat, cold, and air.
"So this is the Samsara of Stars?" She remarked with a heavy sniff of clogged, lingering emotions. She knew that this wasn't her first time seeing this space. During her first Astral Core Tribulation, she had seen from an unfathomably far distance a Solar Star that reflected her path of cultivation.
Her Astral Soul trembled. A warning. It was coming!
She readied herself, circulating her Mental Incantation to steady and anchor her Sea of Consciousness, slowly bringing forth her World-Bound Star Domain. She was rather knowledgeable of the ninth Astral Tribulation, the Mortal Star Eradication Tribulation, and knew that she had to rely on herself to overcome this lethal tribulation.
Then, she gazed in the distance. Her first feeling was...despair. Only despair.
The young woman in teal's eyes glazed over as she felt a sense of overwhelming terror. She was a peak talent among her clan and society of cultivation. If she dared to declare herself as the second-most talented within her clan, then none would dare to proclaim themselves as the first.
Her World-Bound Star Domain had been pushed to the Supermassive category at the very peak, only on the cusp of reaching Absolute. She couldn't take that final step without certain conditions despite the assistance of her father, a powerful Sage with a True Soul, as he told her numerous times that taking that step required her to acquire something from the great dao during the tribulation, a heavenly treasure, or an alchemical product. At least, for a mortal. However, her father thought she should get there naturally by the grace of the great dao rather than external treasures or products that might leave some flaws in her foundation.
Her willowy figure and shapely peaks shook as she clenched her pearly white teeth. In the distance, a star of great enormity was coming her way! She used a special Ocular Spell to grasp its size, realizing that it had exceeded the limits of Absolute-sized and reached the 'apex' of Absolute!
While she had been taught that the Absolute size for Solar Stars of 1.08 trillion miles diameter was meant for cultivators, their absolute limit allowed, while the ninth Astral Tribulation often sent 'apex' versions that bypassed that limit to challenge or eradicate them, seeing them was a different experience altogether.
She summoned her teal-colored World-Bound Star at the peak of the Supermassive size. It radiated intense solar radiance beneath her feet as she executed an immaculately refined Domain Controlling Method. Her control was perfect, and she readied herself to resist despite the despair in her heart. After all, she was not some flower in a pot; her foundation had been built on battles and death, and many had lost their lives in her hand in the pursuit of her cultivation.
Moreover, this challenge was a reflection of her outstanding talents and cultivated foundation. She refused to give in so easily.
"Come at me, you damn bloated bastard!" Without her father's oversight, she let loose and spouted the vulgarity in her heart, easing her nerves and relieving her tense spine. Unlike the Mortal Star Formation Tribulation, the Mortal Star Eradication Tribulation was meant to claim your life, a test by the great dao to verify if a cultivator had the right to possess such astonishing power.
She formed a hand-seal; her World-Bound Star Domain tethered itself to her as it pulled back, unleashing solar radiance to grind away the incoming solar radiance of a star! She took the common strategy that a young mortal alchemist once intended to do, before learning that he was going to be tag-teamed and his opponents were so terrifying that just the gravity and heat were enough to rip his skin apart and burn his body.
From within her body, a talisman pulsed with an icy flow as her sensation of heat from the collision of solar light was cooled down. This was her preparation.
She had other preparations too! With a father who was a Sage with a True Soul, often referred to by cultivators as an Enlightened Sage, she had ways to even survive should the tribulation turn south!
Then, just as she was being chased by that star meant to eradicate her entirely and for the great dao to reclaim what it had given her, she froze.
The teal-colored star chasing her froze.
"What?!" Her willowy body was unable to even tremble. An oppressive aura had enveloped her, she felt several dao auras. Her knowledge clashed with this, and she was in disbelief. What was a great dao?!
They were Mortal, Mystic, and Immortal! This is what she knew.
She was aware that there were other daos as well, accepted and often governed or regulated by the great daos. They commonly included the Ethereal Dao, Material Dao, and Mind Dao when discussed or expounded about by literati of cultivation or high-level cultivators.
There were more obscure daos that she was aware of, their existences a little more esoteric, a little more terrifying, such as the lofty and fascinating Limitless Battlefield that was said to be overseen by the War Dao, the extraordinarily inclusive Alchemic Dao, the omnipresent Void Dao, the limited Weapon Dao, and the Primordial Dao of beasts.
There were many things said about the daos, such as there were only 3,000 daos or that each great dao governed their choice of 999 daos, totaling 3,000 daos that constitute the grand dao of all things, of all life, all Laws, and of all creation, including cultivation. She was unable to fully grasp these elusive and far-reaching concepts, or whether either or neither of those things were true, but her familiarity with dao aura was unnatural due to her blessed physique.
She had felt the Alchemic Dao before in her lifetime after observing a Worldly Awakening of a True Saint after her father brought her to an alchemist on the verge, assisted him, and allowed her and others to experience such a great phenomenon to pick out an additional World Rune suited for her. A benefit only those with great parents and greater wealth could afford.
It was here.
She had felt the Void Dao once after observing the celestial phenomenon of a natural-born Void Portal known as a Void Bridge. An extremely rare event that her father had brought her to, traversing quintillions of miles away from home to the other side of the galaxy so she could personally witness it, elevating her resonance with space and her understanding of time, including witnessing extraordinary astronomical wonders in the works. Supposedly, he had bought the specifics from a very powerful Heavenly Seer at the Sage, all for her.
It was here too. There was a sharp dao that she had never felt before, exceeding any type of Sword Intent she had ever experienced, and it seemed to contain an essence of The End. The feeling sunk her consciousness into nihility.
What was here?!
As if bestowing her salvation, a dao of the beginning, causing the flashes of brilliance regarding her own birth, the birth of Solar Stars, of planets, of all creatures and all things, and encapsulating the very beginning pulled her back. Unknowingly, her eyes were wet with tears once again.
Was that...genesis? The other daos were always present amongst the great dao, and she interacted with them via Cultivation Methods or comprehension.
The Ethereal Dao; her Sword, Battle, and Sky Intent. The Mind Dao; her Mental Incantation Method.
The Material Dao; her Elemental Intents, Teal Intent, and Cloud Intent.
Suddenly, an unfathomable presence emerged and her heart nearly gave out. It contained great unfathomability that left her confused and fearful. She had felt faint auras like this throughout her lifetime given her status...
Was that...the Mystic Dao?! BUT HOW?! Her deep blue eyes widened as her heart clenched. Her father had once told her that the great daos never infringed on each other's domains...what was she witnessing then?!
QUAKE! The Samsara of Stars shook violently and she felt her soul wince in pain, spewing out some essence blood without wanting to. Her entire expression grew pale.
Was that the Mortal Dao's retaliation?! However, that unfathomable presence remained, staunch and unyielding. The thought that this was an argument between great daos caused her to be exceptionally fearful and wish to escape.
Escape?
She suddenly saw the apex Absolute star, meant to grind at her until death, spin a little faster, and then, as if beckoned by some incredible power, it released a few strands of solar light rays her way before moving away at light speed. Her mind was too shaken to properly react. By the time she regained her senses, she realized her World-Bound Star had begun to evolve. Most naturally, the Absolute limit was lifted as her father had once said.
She couldn't help but think about what he said to her just prior to her assailing her tribulation.
"Yu'er, there's been a new star classification born in the world. The limits of cultivation within the Mortal Realms have been elevated. Those who missed out on this opportunity, already stepping through into the Mystic Realms, are weeping and throwing tantrums. Haha! The so-called pinnacle is now out of their reach. But not for you. The heavens are kind and our efforts have not been punished.
"It's called Defiant. How appropriate! Hahaha! When you ascend, your World-Bound Star will naturally reach the absolute size, and when it does, you'll obtain a hint of will from the great daos and additional information about that Tier. You'll be able to reach it and truly become a top-tier talent of this generation!"
The plan was for her to use her World-Bound Star Domain, which already had the Star Core structure and potential to become an Absolute Solar Star to receive the guidance of the next level, the future pinnacle! She would strive for the peak!
However, before she could contemplate or feel elation or bafflement, an aura of raw eternity descended. Her eyes glazed over and her soul was enraptured by the beauty of the eternal. Her soul yearned for it. Her True Soul yearned for it.
Was that...the Immortal Dao?!?! But...but...why?! The Alchemic Dao, the Void Dao, that horrifying dao, that benevolent dao, the Mystic Dao, and the Immortal Dao?!
If you included the Mortal Dao that was always within the Samsara of Stars, wasn't that seven Daos?! Moreover, there seemed to be something strange with the Alchemic Dao and the Void Dao...by relying on her physique and instincts, it felt as if she felt two other presences along with them, and the only one she could guess that felt similar was the Primordial Dao, the dao of beasts!
Before she could grasp anything further, her tribulation was coming to an end as she felt that her star meant to grind her away had vanished. A strangely hollow feeling reverberated through her soul.
Was it...devoured?!
Before another thought escaped her mind, she and her World-Bound Star Domain were pulled out of the Samsara of the Stars as a true-blue Starlord, and one who had done so by challenging an Apex Absolute Star! Her path to the pinnacle was not disrupted, but whether she could truly reach the Defiant-size for her World-Bound Star Domain would depend on fate and fortune!
-----
Void-Blank Space
A slit in the fabric of space leading into the Samsara of Stars formed. A figure was thrown out with the force that, should he land on a Supermassive Solar Star, it would be obliterated from existence. The figure had no clothes, completely nude, excluding a saber held in their left hand.
Spinning wildly in the Dark Void, Wei Wuyin's silver eyes were utterly bloodshot with madness. A triumphant grin was plastered across his face. He didn't seem to mind the spinning at all!
"HAHAHAHA!!!" Laughter originating from the very soul resounded throughout the world, scaring away any Void Creature, even a few Kaku Eaters that were egregiously large.
This laughter lasted a full nine minutes, uninterrupted. When it finally came to an end, he was fully clothed once more in his signature hybrid alchemic and battle robes, and he halted his momentum with a single swish of his sleeves.
"Alright, alright. That's enough," Wei Wuyin said with a smile as Ori's laughter continued. It was a little shaken by the event more than the others, but Wei Wuyin's ease soothed its Astral Soul and now it was no longer bothered in the slightest.
Wei Wuyin inspected his Mind's Eye.
Little Defiant was once again there, yet there were seven vague outlines of belts surrounding it. There were two layers, with three orderly and horizontally spinning belts at the outer layer, while four crisscrossing and animated belts that sometimes formed '??' or '+' shapes at certain times, even both shapes at the same time, were in the inner layer. They resembled Mystic Radiance Belts and Transcendence Radiance Belts.
Additionally, there were two halos above and beneath Little Defiant, but they were so indistinct that they could be considered transparent, only mere outlines of a possibility. If the new additions were counted, there would be nine belts in total.
Little Defiant seemed slightly larger, slightly fuller. Wei Wuyin smiled contentedly as it released a pulsing wave of solar energy, as if to ease all of Wei Wuyin's worries.
"We didn't die," Eden voiced. As if saying that the worst-case scenario of the Mortal Dao smiting them into non-existence didn't occur. Given what they did, they definitely deserved it. However, the Mortal Dao was far gentler than the Mystic Dao. If it was the latter, there was no question they would've been slaughtered without the protection from a being like Fuxi, infringing on its domain so heavily.
"And we weren't banned from entering the Samsara of Stars," Wei Wuyin added with a tone of relief. He attributed this to Little Defiant's status as the Lord of Stars, and while he wasn't exactly certain, this was the truth. If it was somewhere else, maybe, but the Samsara of Stars?
"As if it could ban us! Let it try! I'll go in again and take all its Solar Stars then, not just what we took!" Kratos arrogantly growled.
"Tch," King echoed.
Wei Wuyin chuckled. These two had always been domineering! However, as he stared at Little Defiant, maybe they might have gained the qualifications to be now. Just maybe...
Because if there was a peak as a mortal cultivator, he no longer had the slightest doubt-he had reached it. There was nothing else left. The absolute peak.
"Astral Idols?" Wei Wuyin inquired as he inspected his surroundings. He located Su Mei's Saint Ring in the blink of an Ascended's eye.
"Two months," Eden replied. They had everything set, just needed to familiarize themselves with the unique process of evoking their Astral Idols with Little Defiant and develop a proper internal circulation method to prevent Wei Wuyin from exploding from the infusion of power. Wei Wuyin nodded, not wanting to die like that.
With a thought, a Void Portal erupted into existence. He walked right in, returning to the Minor Elysium.
-----
Within a world of a single color, a voice was slightly astonished.
"The myriad of changes born from a single decision. Sticking to one's principles or following one's heart...how extraordinary.
"...But will their next challenge be too much? Little ones, good luck."
-----
"Two months," Su Mei opened her eyes to Wei Wuyin and announced. After two months, it would arrive. With or without her consent, her Mystic Ascension was coming.
Wei Wuyin's expression changed.

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