Chapter 255: Star Chart

At the end of the road of starlight lay a relatively calm region, like the tranquil center of a storm's eye.

Everyone sat collapsed on the ground, panting heavily, the feeling of surviving a catastrophe leaving them all momentarily silent.

Kelinda's wounds had stopped bleeding after simple treatment from the Elf, but her face remained pale.

Zhang Cheng carefully helped her up and let her lean against his chest.

"Thank goodness you're all right."

Kelinda smiled weakly, her eyes filled with tenderness.

"Thank you, Zhang Cheng."

Zhang Cheng gently stroked her hair, feeling the warmth of this moment, his heart a jumble of emotions.

He looked down at Kelinda, his eyes full of tender concern and self-reproach.

"It's my fault. I didn't protect you well enough."

"No, you already did very well."

Kelinda grasped Zhang Cheng's hand. Her hand was somewhat cold.

"If it weren't for you, we might not have made it out at all."

After the brief moment of tenderness, everyone began to discuss their next plan.

Xingyun Zhizhe spoke slowly, his voice like an ancient bell's toll, carrying a mysterious rhythm.

"This nebula is called the 'Lost Domain.' Entering is easy, but leaving is hard. To depart, you must find the nebula's core, where the key to leaving is hidden."

Xingji Xiake scratched his head.

"The core? This nebula is so vast—where are we supposed to find it?"

Xingyun Zhizhe stroked his long beard.

"The Lost Domain is not entirely without pattern. The flow of power within it follows specific trajectories. By following these trajectories, we can find the core."

As he spoke, he extended his hand, and streams of light emerged from his fingertips, outlining a complex star chart.

Everyone sat gathered together, listening attentively to Xingyun Zhizhe's explanation, gradually gaining a deeper understanding of this mysterious nebula.

They knew the road ahead was still full of unknowns and danger, but to leave this place, they had to press on.

The Blue Star Guardian looked at the star chart, pondered for a moment, and then said,

"These resources..."

He pointed to several luminous crystals that Xingyun Zhizhe had provided, his tone laden with implication.

"How should we distribute them?"

The moment the Blue Star Guardian finished speaking, Xingji Xiake could not wait to clamor:

"Of course whoever contributes the most gets the most! I've been hacking through brambles this whole way, nearly got sprayed by that Stardust Witch's venom—I should at least get a bigger share!"

He thumped his chest, a hint of boastfulness in his voice.

The Guangming Shizhe furrowed his brow slightly:

"Xiake, your words are mistaken. We are a team and should distribute things equally. Besides, if I hadn't acted in time, you would have been pierced by that Shadow Assassin's dagger long ago."

"What do you mean? Looking down on me?"

Xingji Xiake's eyes blazed with fury, and the atmosphere turned tense as a drawn sword.

The Elf girl looked at Kelinda with worry, then turned to Zhang Cheng, hoping he would step forward to mediate.

Though weak, Kelinda still maintained her graceful bearing, only shaking her head slightly to signal that she was in no condition to intervene.

Seeing this, Zhang Cheng stood up, looked around at everyone, and his steady voice carried an unquestionable authority:

"Everyone, hear me out."

He paused, and only after everyone quieted down did he continue:

"I understand how everyone feels. These resources are crucial to us. I believe we should consider both how much each person contributed and fairness. How about this: we first divide the resources into two portions. One portion is distributed equally, ensuring everyone receives a basic amount for recovery. The other portion is distributed according to each person's contribution. As for the size of contributions, we can discuss and decide together."

This proposal won most people's approval. Even Xingji Xiake, who had been shouting earlier, could find no reason to object and could only nod sullenly.

The way everyone looked at Zhang Cheng was filled with admiration.

Xingyun Zhizhe clapped his hands and laughed:

"An excellent plan. The young man truly has wisdom."

He distributed the shimmering crystals in his hand according to Zhang Cheng's plan, and everyone absorbed the energy within the crystals to restore their strength.

Just then, Xingyun Zhizhe's expression changed abruptly. He stared fixedly at a certain spot on the star chart, his tone grave:

"This is bad... deep within the nebula, there are abnormal energy fluctuations..."

Before Xingyun Zhizhe could finish speaking, everyone felt an indescribable pressure, as if the entire nebula were trembling.

"What is that?"

The Elf girl clutched tightly at Kelinda's sleeve, a trace of trembling in her voice.

Kelinda gently patted her hand and comforted her:

"Don't be afraid. Zhang Cheng is here. He will protect us."

This offhand comfort only doubled the pressure on Zhang Cheng. After all, he was just an ordinary human from Lan Xing. Faced with the unknown forces of the cosmos, his heart too was filled with unease.

Xingji Xiake feigned nonchalance and whistled:

"What's there to be afraid of? It's just some energy fluctuations—might even be some kind of treasure!"

The Guangming Shizhe, however, shook his head gravely:

"I'm afraid things aren't that simple. This energy fluctuation is highly unstable. We must be careful and cautious."

Even the Shadow Assassin, who had remained silent throughout, furrowed his brow slightly, seemingly sensing a lurking danger.

"Let's go take a look."

Zhang Cheng clenched his fists, his tone firm.

Rather than sit and wait for death, it was better to take the initiative; perhaps they could still find an opportunity to leave this Xingyun.

Everyone advanced toward the direction from which the energy fluctuations came; the mist in the Xingyun grew thicker and thicker, and visibility was extremely low.

Suddenly, the Blue Star Guardian let out a muffled groan, staggered, and nearly fell.

"Lord Guardian!"

Zhang Cheng quickly steadied him and found that his face was pale and cold sweat seeped from his forehead.

"My old wound has flared up again..."

The Blue Star Guardian's voice was weak,

"You all go, don't worry about me. I don't want to drag everyone down."

"Don't say such foolish things,"

the Xingji Xiake rarely turned serious,

"We are a team—how could we leave you behind!"

The Guangming Shizhe also chimed in:

"Exactly. We've been through so much together; how could we give up so easily!"

Even the Shadow Assassin, who was always cold and ruthless, silently stood beside the Blue Star Guardian to show support.

Zhang Cheng carried the Blue Star Guardian on his back and said firmly:

"We walk together."

At last, they arrived at the place where the energy fluctuations were most intense.

Before them was a massive energy barrier, flickering with an eerie light, like a gateway to another world.

Inside the barrier, energy surged and churned; the scene within was impossible to see clearly.

Everyone looked at one another, and for a moment, no one dared to step forward.

The Xingji Xiake gritted his teeth and said:

"Let me try!"

He reached out his hand and slowly approached the barrier...