Limitless Evolution: I Have Infinite Potential.

Swish, swish, swish!

Every eye turned toward Hong Qianye.

After a short pause, he finally said, "As for the origin of this Star Gate... I've only heard rumors. Nothing solid."

Ye Junlin waved it off. "Rumors are fine. Go on."

"They say that in ancient times, countless transfer nodes existed throughout the Kunlun Realm, directly linking it to the Grand Thousand Worlds. Back then, cultivators could move freely between worlds. But something happened, and the sages sealed all the nodes—never to be reopened."

The crowd fell into a hushed silence, staring at the illusionary Star Gate in stunned disbelief.

Could it really hold such power?

There had always been legends: that Kunlun was a massive cultivation world, just one of many planets scattered across the endless cosmos. In ancient times, once a cultivator reached the Transformation Stage, they could leave Kunlun and explore the stars.

But eventually, some unknown force bound them to this world, trapping every generation in a cage of fate.

Only by overcoming the heavenly tribulation and ascending to the Immortal Realm could one break free and roam the universe.

But how many actually survived tribulation?

For nearly all cultivators, this realm was both cradle and coffin.

Now, this Star Gate… it might change everything. A shortcut to the outside universe. If news spread, the entire realm would erupt.

The Crown Prince's eyes gleamed. "Father, if this is real, our Great Zhou could expand beyond the stars! This is our chance!"

In his mind, the universe was overflowing with spiritual treasures. If Great Zhou were the first to breach interstellar travel, they'd amass power unimaginable—an endless stream of peerless cultivators.

"Exactly," the Great Zhou Emperor said, clearly stirred. No ruler could resist that kind of temptation.

"Idiots. Do you even know what you're saying?" Ye Junlin scoffed.

The father and son turned red. "Ye Junlin, what's that supposed to mean?"

"You really think Great Zhou would be the one expanding? More likely, you'd be the ones getting invaded."

"If this Star Gate was such a blessing, why did the sages seal it?"

"And the mysterious figure who sent demons to this place—why do you think they were so desperate to take control of it?"

"Use your heads, for once."

His sharp words slammed into their fantasies like a slap. Thinking back on recent events, an uneasy chill crept into their hearts.

All this time, they'd believed the Kunlun Realm was a prison.

Now, it seemed more like a fortress.

"Besides," Ye Junlin added with a grin, "you don't even know how to open it."

The pair froze, faces darkening in embarrassment.

Right—they didn't even know how to activate the thing, yet they were already dreaming of cosmic conquest. What a joke.

"Whatever. Keep dreaming. With this Star Gate around, your days of peace are over," Ye Junlin said flatly, turning away from the Ancestor Tomb.

He'd come to investigate, and now that his curiosity was satisfied, he saw no point in sticking around.

"We need to raise our guard," the Emperor muttered grimly. He knew now—chaos was coming.

Still, he was a Tribulation Stage cultivator, supported by the empire's fate. Even if the demons returned, he believed they could hold out.

After all, the Great Zhou Dynasty was at its peak. And he had faith in its power.

"If what you say is true, then those dark beings from the Underworld Abyss deserve annihilation," Li Wujie said, voice cold. "They betrayed the realm and sold themselves to alien races!"

Ye Junlin's eyes narrowed. "What I want to know is what really happened to the Kunlun Realm back then. I'm guessing the truth lies in the Immortal Realm."

Only those who ascended could traverse the stars. Whatever happened back then... it was likely tied to those beyond this world.

"The Immortal Realm…" Li Wujie's expression grew serious. It was the sacred land every cultivator dreamed of reaching.

The Spiritual Energy there was so rich, people joked that even a stone tossed in a latrine would start cultivating eventually.

"Don't get too dreamy," Hong Qianye said coolly. "That place is harsher than you think. Only strength matters."

Years ago, after overcoming his tribulation, he didn't ascend right away. Instead, he chose to stay in the Central Region to temper himself. He'd heard too much about the brutal hierarchy of the Immortal Realm—how it stripped away freedom and buried even the most talented beneath its power structure.

In the Kunlun Realm, a True Immortal like him was revered—unrivaled.

But in the Immortal Realm? He'd be at the bottom of the food chain.

As the saying went: better to be the head of a chicken than the tail of a phoenix.

And he didn't have backing. If he ascended now, he'd be hunted by old enemies before he even found his footing.

Remaining in the Central Region meant survival.

Immortals couldn't descend easily, after all. And here, he reigned supreme.

The downside? The cultivation environment here was lacking. Breakthroughs were rare.

That was why most who survived tribulation stayed unless their lifespan was nearing its end.

Eventually, the group boarded the Kunpeng and departed from the Great Zhou.

Bathed in brilliant sunlight, Ye Junlin lounged lazily in his seat, hands folded behind his head, mind drifting back to everything that had happened.

Anyone with half a brain could see it—the Underworld Abyss's sudden invasion wasn't random. Someone was pulling strings behind the scenes, trying to open the Star Gate and pave the way for an alien invasion.

Soon, the other four domains would be hit just as hard.

A catastrophe was brewing in the shadows.

Not that Ye Junlin cared much.

He was a transmigrator blessed with a ridiculously overpowered system. If anyone came looking for trouble, he could erase them with a flick of his finger.

His life motto was simple: relax when you can, flex when you must.

No pressure, no panic.

Just vibes.

"Oh right, almost forgot," Ye Junlin mumbled, pulling out a bag of pet food from his system inventory.

As soon as he opened it, a rich, milky scent filled the air.

Top-grade beast food.

"Mmm? Smells amazing~" Bai Xiaoxi's nose twitched. When she saw the bag, her eyes sparkled and she rushed over.

"Master, can Mouse try some?"

Ye Junlin raised an eyebrow, amused. "It's for pet beasts."

"But Mouse is a beast!" she blinked innocently.

Ye Junlin chuckled.

Right. He kept forgetting—this cute disciple of his was technically a little white mouse in her true form.

"Fine. I'll let you have this bag," Ye Junlin said, tossing it to her.

"Yay! Thank you, Master!" Bai Xiaoxi hugged the bag like a treasure, grinning ear to ear.

Off to the side, Hong Qianye snorted. "This silly mouse thinks of nothing but food. Just like that damn Ye Junlin."

He could see her potential, but ever since she joined Ye Junlin, she'd been following him around like an overeager puppy.

Still stuck at the early Transformation Stage.

A complete waste of talent, in his opinion.

Bai Xiaoxi grabbed a handful of the food—each piece glowing like luminous candy—and tossed them into her mouth.

Her eyes lit up.

"So good!"

The more she ate, the more hooked she became.

Then, her body started glowing. Pure Spiritual Energy surged through her.

Her cultivation skyrocketed.

Mid Transformation Stage… late… peak…

Breakthrough.

Unity Stage.

And still climbing.

By the time the bag was empty, she'd reached the Great Ascension Stage.

"This… is absurd," Hong Qianye muttered, staring like he'd seen a ghost. Everything he thought he knew about cultivation had just shattered into pieces.

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