Chapter 322: The Sixth Heavenly Demon

The stone gate slowly opened, a blinding beam of light shooting out from within, and everyone instinctively raised their hands to shield their eyes.

Once the light dimmed slightly, Li An stepped in first. The room was spacious, its vaulted ceiling hanging high, and gems radiating an eerie glow were set into all four walls, illuminating the entire hall.

At the center of the hall, a basketball-sized, brilliantly radiant Star Golden Sphere hovered above a stone platform. Faint, indistinct runes circled the sphere, and the mysterious ripple of power made the heart tremble.

"This golden sphere must be extraordinary — it is very likely the core of this Star Palace," Li An said, his gaze fervent and his tone certain.

Yukinoshita Haruno leaned over curiously: "These runes seem to contain profound stellar mysteries. They may well be tied to the power needed to oppose the Sixth Heavenly Demon."

Teacher Hiratsuka Shizuka gripped her long blade and warily surveyed her surroundings: "Everyone, be careful. Something this precious surely won't be left unguarded."

Before the words had faded, a sinister, cold laugh suddenly rang out from deep within the palace: "Hmph, intruders — your time of death has come!"

Immediately after, a thick plume of black smoke rolled in, coalescing before the golden sphere into a human form — a mysterious figure shrouded entirely in a black robe. His face could not be seen, yet the evil aura he radiated made one's blood run cold.

"I am a guardian under the Heavenly Demon. You dare covet the palace's treasures today — give me your lives!" The black-robed man's voice was hoarse and low, as if rising from the deepest hell.

Li An's eyes turned cold. The power of the stars within him surged out in an instant, swirling around his body like a raging tide. The longsword in his hand hummed, its ringing echoing through the palace: "You think a sneak like you can stop me? That's a mantis trying to stop a chariot!"

The black-robed man let out an angry roar, his hands weaving as clusters of black demonic flames ignited in his palms — flames within which countless vengeful souls seemed to shriek.

Then, with a sudden shove, the demonic flames transformed into several black fire-serpents that lunged, fangs bared, at Li An and the others. Wherever they passed, the ground was scorched into deep furrows, and a stinging burnt smell filled the air.

Li An gave a cold snort. Instead of retreating, he advanced, his longsword flashing rapidly as he carved out one fierce stellar sword aura after another. Sword aura and demonic flame collided with a sizzling sound, and for a moment they were locked in a stalemate.

Teacher Hiratsuka Shizuka seized the moment, let out a sharp cry, and shot toward the black-robed man like a bolt of lightning. She raised her long blade high, its body wrapped in stellar power and flashing with a cold gleam, and brought it down viciously at the black-robed man's neck.

The black-robed man twisted aside, evading the fierce strike, and at the same time struck backhand with a black palm imprint imbued with tremendous demonic power, aimed straight at Teacher Hiratsuka Shizuka.

Seeing this, Yukinoshita Haruno quickly cast her magic. The elements in the air gathered swiftly, forming an ice wall in front of Teacher Hiratsuka Shizuka.

The black palm imprint struck the ice wall. Cracks instantly appeared across it, but it successfully withstood the blow.

Yuigahama Yui, meanwhile, watched the battle tensely from the side, waving her magic wand as water-type magic poured forth without pause, bolstering everyone's defenses and healing them to ensure their condition remained unaffected.

Seeing the black-robed man's attention split between Teacher Hiratsuka Shizuka and Yukinoshita Haruno, a cold glint flashed in Li An's eyes. The stellar power within him surged wildly, all of it converging onto his longsword.

In an instant, the longsword blazed with light, so dazzling one could barely keep one's eyes open.

"Star-Shattering Sky Slash!" Li An roared, his body shooting toward the black-robed man like a meteor, his longsword cleaving down with the momentum of world-annihilating force.

The black-robed man sensed the danger and tried to dodge, but Li An was too fast, the strike too ferocious.

A single dazzling arc of sword-light flashed past. The black-robed man let out a piercing, wretched scream as Li An's longsword sliced diagonally from his shoulder downward, splitting him in two at once. Black blood sprayed out, releasing a sickening stench.

"Hmph. Pathetic." Li An sheathed his longsword, his eyes filled with contempt.

As the black-robed man fell, the glow of the runes encircling the Star Golden Sphere gradually faded, and the sphere slowly descended into Li An's hands.

The moment Li An gripped the golden sphere, a vast surge of stellar power flooded into his body, merging with his own stellar power and lifting his strength to yet another qualitative leap.

"This golden sphere really is a treasure. With it, our odds against the Sixth Heavenly Demon have risen another few notches," Li An said joyfully.

The women gathered around, their faces alight with joy as well.

"Li An, my lord, you're amazing!" Yuigahama Yui gazed at Li An with worship in her eyes, her admiration for him growing ever more intense.

Yukinoshita Haruno gave a slight nod: "Li An, my lord, grows ever stronger. With you here, we are sure to succeed."

Teacher Hiratsuka Shizuka clapped Li An on the shoulder: "Nicely done. Let's keep searching for clues."

Li An gave a small nod, carefully stowed the golden sphere, and led the group deeper into the palace.

At the rear of the palace, they discovered an ancient study.

The study was filled with bookshelves lined with all manner of old tomes and scrolls, recording the Xiulianfa Sect of stellar power, the history of the Star Palace, and methods for combating evil forces.

Li An and the others felt as though they had found a treasure, quickly immersing themselves in the sea of knowledge, ceaselessly poring over these precious materials.

After a period of study, they finally found the key information concerning the Sixth Heavenly Demon.

It turned out the Sixth Heavenly Demon had once been a traitor of the Star Sacred Ground. In pursuit of greater power, he had colluded with dark forces, stolen the Star Sacred Ground's core secrets, and cultivated evil demonic arts, vastly increasing his strength in his bid to dominate the entire world.

And to utterly defeat him, one had to cultivate stellar power to its absolute peak, then combine it with the ancient heritage power of the Star Palace to inflict a fatal wound upon him.

"It seems our road is still long, but as long as there is hope, we will never give up!" Li An said, his fist clenched and his gaze resolute.

The others all voiced their resolve in turn, continuing to cultivate and prepare within the study as they awaited the final confrontation with the Sixth Heavenly Demon.

Day after day passed. With the aid of the Star Golden Sphere, Li An's command over stellar power grew ever more deft, and his strength ever greater. The women, too, made progress in their own fields, and their coordination grew ever more seamless.

At last, on this day, the sky outside the Star Palace suddenly shifted — a blood-red mass of dark clouds blanketed the heavens, lightning flashed and thunder roared. The Sixth Heavenly Demon had sensed the aura of the Star Golden Sphere and had come in person to seize it.

"Hahahaha, you ants — hand over the Star Golden Sphere obediently, or today will be your time of death!" The Sixth Heavenly Demon's voice rang out beyond the palace like Lei Mingban, buzzing so loudly in their ears it made their heads ring.

Li An's gaze turned icy. Wielding his longsword, he led the women out of the palace. There stood the Sixth Heavenly Demon — a towering figure wreathed in black demonic flames, his blood-red eyes betraying endless cruelty and greed.

"Sixth Heavenly Demon, your end has come! Today is the day you pay the price for all you've done!" Li An stared fearlessly straight at the Sixth Heavenly Demon. Stellar power churned within him, and the phantom stars behind him grew sharper, almost tangible.

The Sixth Heavenly Demon flew into a rage, his hands weaving as bolt after bolt of black lightning came crashing down toward Li An and the others..