Chapter 180

On the other side, Gu Yusheng was repeatedly honing his Bright Moon Sword Intent. The confrontation with the core fragment gave him a deeper understanding of the "purification" and "void-cutting" traits of his own sword intent. He faintly felt that his sword path seemed to have touched the threshold of the next realm—no longer merely sharpness and purity, but involving a rule-level "definition" and "judgment".

Mei Ruoxue immersed herself in comprehending the Profound Ice Principle. The chaotic spacetime power erupted from the core fragment, though dangerous, also let her directly feel another powerful rule force distinct from the ice-cold principle. This contact instead stimulated her reflection and organization of her own principle; the chill surrounding her became more inwardly restrained, but once it erupted, it would become even more terrifying.

After about half a month of rest, the three's condition had not only fully recovered but each had also made progress.

That day, Shi Ran was trying to use her strengthened divine sense combined with the Heaven-Scanning Order to more precisely locate the recent golden light point on the Sea of Consciousness map when, suddenly, the Heaven-Scanning Order twitched slightly and transmitted a new piece of information that had previously been hidden:

"Detected increase in host's soul compatibility, energy reserves reached basic threshold, now unlocking 'Basic Assistance Combat Mode (False)' and 'Low-Level Energy Creation Permit (Minuscule)'."

Shi Ran was first stunned, then overjoyed!

She immediately focused her mind to interpret this information.

"Basic Assistance Combat Mode (False): Consuming Heaven-Scanning Order energy can slightly boost the host's divine sense strength and reaction speed for a short time, and attach a weak 'Breaking Seal' and 'Anti-Evil' effect to the host's attacks (dealing extra damage against energy shields, illusions, and evil entities, etc.). Note: This mode consumes considerable energy and places a certain burden on the host's physical body; use with caution."

"Low-Level Energy Creation Permit (Minuscule): Consuming Heaven-Scanning Order energy can create a minuscule amount of attribute-less pure spiritual energy from thin air (about one percent of the spiritual energy contained in a low-grade spirit stone), or, based on an existing sample, simulate the creation of a minuscule amount of simple-structured material (such as clear water, ordinary plants, etc.). Note: This function is extremely low in efficiency, mainly used for emergencies or concept verification, and cannot be used for large-scale cultivation or production."

Although these two newly unlocked functions come with qualifiers like "False" and "Minuscule," for Shi Ran they are undoubtedly a timely boon!

The former boosted her immediate combat power, giving her an extra trump card at critical moments; the latter, though it created only a minuscule amount of energy and matter, yet the rule‑power it represents—'creation from nothing'—let her see the deeper potential of the Heaven‑Patrol Token.

"Looks like, replenishing the Heaven‑Patrol Token's energy not only activates its core functions but also unlocks these useful auxiliary abilities." Shi Ran felt elated in her heart, "We must find the next energy source as soon as possible!"

She told this good news to Gu Yusheng and Mei Ruoxue. Upon hearing it, they also gained a new understanding of the Heaven‑Patrol Token's marvel.

"With such assistance, we are more confident in facing the unknown ahead." Gu Yusheng smiled and said.

Mei Ruoxue then asked directly: "Has the next target been confirmed?"

Shi Ran nodded, pointing to the flashing golden speck on the sea‑of‑consciousness map: "According to the Heaven‑Patrol Token's current sensing, this golden speck lies due north, extremely distant, seemingly near the ruins of an ancient battlefield called the 'Sea of Star‑Arrows'. The information database contains scattered records of the Sea of Star‑Arrows; it was once the battleground where ancient cultivators of this realm fought extraterritorial heavenly demons, countless mighty beings fell there, the spatial structure is fragile, killing intent pervades, yet it may also leave behind powerful legacies… or remnants containing special energy."

"Sea of Star‑Arrows…" Gu Yusheng and Mei Ruoxue both showed solemn expressions. Obviously, they had both heard of the fearsome reputation of this perilous land.

"That place may indeed contain what you need." Mei Ruoxue pondered, "But the danger level is absolutely not comparable to that core fragment we just encountered. It is said that even Void‑God cultivators dare not easily venture into the depths of the Sea of Star‑Arrows."

"I know." Shi Ran's eyes were firm, "But this is the clearest target we can currently track. Moreover, the Heaven‑Patrol Token seems to be quite 'interested' in the energy there."

Gu Yusheng clapped his palms and said: "Since the direction is set, we must forge ahead no matter how perilous. The path of cultivation is inherently like rowing against the current. With sufficient preparation and careful action, that is enough."

Opinions were once again unified.

The three no longer delayed, packed up, and left the valley where they had been staying, turning into three streaking blurs as they raced due north toward the legendary battlefield where stars and immortals‑demons are buried—the Sea of Star‑Arrows.

The northward journey was far longer and more arduous than they had imagined.

After the demonic calamity, the human world lay in ruins. Once‑fertile plains turned to scorched earth, majestic mountain ranges were cleaved in half, rivers changed course, lakes dried up, and the air was suffused with a faint demonic qi and deathly stillness. Formerly prosperous towns now only had broken walls and ruined tiles; occasional surviving human settlements were barely clinging to life, heavily guarded, and filled with wariness—or even hostility—toward outsiders.

Shi Ran and her companions wished to avoid trouble, so they steered clear of those settlements and took desolate routes. Nevertheless, the demonic disaster's influence was everywhere. Besides low‑level demonic creatures roaming about in various forms, even more dangerous were the mutant, feral beasts born from chaotic spiritual qi and demonic corrosion, as well as random small‑scale spacetime rifts and energy turbulence caused by unstable spatial structures.

That day, they passed through a withered forest known as the 'Wailing Ghost Woods'. The trees were entirely scorched black, twisted in form; when the wind blew over the bare branches, it emitted a wailing sound like the sobs of wronged spirits. According to scattered information they had gathered, this place had once been a demonic qi eruption point; although the source of the demonic qi had been sealed by a certain mighty being, the lingering demonic intent and deathly qi intertwined, breeding all manner of strange evils.

"Be careful, the resentment here runs deep; ghostly things may spawn." Gu Yusheng frowned slightly, his Bright Moon Sword Intent naturally flowing, clear radiance showering down, dispersing the chilling aura that tried to approach.

Mei Ruoxue said nothing, but the cold around her intensified, a fine frost condensing on the ground beneath her feet, making it hard for anything lurking in the shadows to get close.

Shi Ran then tried to activate the Heaven‑Patrol Token's 'Basic Auxiliary Combat Mode (False)'. With a thought, a cool yet mighty surge of energy welled up from the token, merging into her limbs, bones, and sea of consciousness. Instantly, her senses became extraordinarily sharp; everything around seemed to slow down—the grain of the withered branches, dust motes floating in the air, even the flow of the intangible resentment—were clearly reflected in her mind. At the same time, she felt her spiritual power's circulation speed up a trace, a faint silver gleam flickering imperceptibly at her fingertips; that was the embryonic form of the 'Dispel Evil' effect.

"This auxiliary mode is indeed useful!" Shi Ran secretly rejoiced; this omniscient‑like sense of control greatly enhanced her ability to anticipate and respond to danger.

Suddenly, a rustling sound came from the forest ahead, accompanied by a grating bone‑on‑bone noise that made the teeth ache. Dozens of skeletons clad in tattered armor and wielding rusted weapons, their eye sockets flickering with ghost‑green soul fire, crawled out from behind the scorched trees and the soil, surrounding them. These skeleton soldiers were obviously corrupted by the lingering resentment, turned into undead beings.

"Hmph, demons and monsters, dare to block the way!" Gu Yusheng snorted coldly, not drawing his sword but pointing his fingers like a blade and slashing through the air. A condensed, substance‑like moon‑bright sword arc swept out, cutting like a hot knife through butter, instantly cleaving more than a dozen skeletons in half! The purifying power contained in the sword intent also directly annihilated those ghost‑green soul fires.

Mei Ruoxue's side was even simpler; she merely tapped her foot lightly, and an extreme cold spread outward in a ring. Any skeleton touched by the cold instantly stiffened, then from the feet up a thick layer of ice rapidly formed, and in the blink of an eye they became ice sculptures, which then cracked with a 'crack!' and turned to ice powder, the soul fire within also vanishing.

Shi Ran was not idle either; she seized the moment to test her new ability. Her body flickered, and with the aid of the auxiliary mode she moved as swift as a ghost, dodging a rusted blade swung by a skeleton, while pointing her fingers like a sword, the faint silver gleam at her fingertips flashing as she tapped the skeleton's skull.

"Pfft!"

With a soft sound, the skull that appeared solid, at the instant the silver gleam touched it, melted away like ice under a scorching sun, forming a hole; the soul fire within emitted a silent shriek and instantly extinguished. The skeleton's frame clattered and fell to the ground.

"The Dispel Evil effect works notably on these undead creatures!" Shi Ran felt assured, her body moving again like a butterfly among flowers, weaving through the skeleton horde; the silver gleam flickered between her fingers and palms, and each strike rendered a skeleton completely immobile. Though her efficiency was not as overwhelming as Gu Yusheng's and Mei Ruoxue's, it still displayed respectable combat power, starkly different from her former reliance on talismans and basic techniques.

Seeing Shi Ran handle the situation with ease, Gu Yusheng and Mei Ruoxue both flashed a hint of surprise and approval. They could sense that her movements and attacks now possessed a precision and penetrative quality she had never had before, hard to put into words.

After easily disposing of that group of skeletons, the three pressed deeper. The farther they went into the heart of the Wailing Ghost Woods, the heavier the resentment grew, and the appearing evils became stronger and stranger. There were resentful spirits capable of spewing corrosive black smoke, shadow demons that could manipulate darkness for assassinations, and even a huge 'Hatred' formed from countless lingering souls and grudges.

Against these foes, the trio's cooperation grew ever more seamless. Gu Yusheng's Bright Moon Sword Intent took the lead, its radiant sword arcs like a beacon in the darkness, purifying all defilement; Mei Ruoxue's Profound Ice Cold controlled the battlefield, her extreme‑cold domain restricting the evils' movements and creating chances for a killing blow; Shi Ran, relying on her heightened divine sense and the Heaven‑Patrol Token's auxiliary support, handled scouting and early warning, and used the 'Dispel Evil' effect to precisely strike down spiritual‑type evils that had high resistance to physical or pure energy attacks.

Before a swamp reeking of thick, ink‑like resentment, they encountered this expedition's greatest obstacle—a 'Thousand‑Year Corpse King' almost fused with the marsh itself. The corpse king's flesh did not rot, was harder than steel, possessed boundless strength, and could command the deathly qi and poisonous miasma of the swamp; the corpse poison it spewed from its mouth could corrode even protective spiritual light.

Gu Yusheng's sword arcs struck the corpse king, leaving only deep wounds down to the bone, but could not kill it in one blow; those wounds, nourished by the thick deathly qi, would slowly heal. Mei Ruoxue's cold could freeze the corpse king's movements, yet its internal torrent of deathly qi constantly assaulted the ice, greatly diminishing the freezing effect.

In the fierce battle, the corpse king seized an opportunity, bluntly withstanding a sword arc from Gu Yusheng; its gigantic, putrid claws, reeking of foul wind, lunged straight at Shi Ran, who seemed the weakest! The corpse poison coating the claws was so dense it almost became solid; wherever it passed, even the air emitted a 'hiss‑hiss' of corrosion.

"Watch out!" Gu Yusheng and Mei Ruoxue cried out simultaneously, wanting to rescue but already too late.

At the critical moment, Shi Ran's pupils contracted slightly; her divine sense, pushed to the extreme under the auxiliary mode, she did not choose to clash head‑on but instead fully activated the Heaven‑Patrol Token, mobilizing its energy and combining it with her faint perception of spacetime traits, she performed a 'weak spatial disturbance' on the space before the corpse king's claws!

"Buzz!"

The space before the corpse king's claws twisted and folded ever so minutely. This tiny change caused the originally certain strike to drift ever so slightly, grazing Shi Ran's sleeve as it swept past! The violent blast and dispersed corpse poison shook her, making her blood surge, but she ultimately suffered no substantive injury.

At the same time, Shi Ran's fingertip silver gleam flared to its peak, pushing the auxiliary mode's 'Dispel Evil' effect to its current limit; she pointed at the soul fire jumping in the corpse king's eye sockets, exposed after its missed attack!

"Sizzle—"

The silver gleam, imbued with the Heaven‑Patrol Token's purifying power, pierced the soul fire like a red‑hot needle into ice, instantly vanishing into it. The corpse king let out an earth‑shaking roar, its massive body shuddering violently; the soul fire flickered wildly, blinking on and off, and its movements froze instantly.

"What a chance!" Gu Yusheng would not miss such an opportunity; his Bright Moon Sword Intent gathered to its peak, body and sword becoming one, transforming into a radiant, startling streak that tore through the darkness, piercing straight through the corpse king's gaping maw and exiting the back of its skull! The mighty sword intent exploded within its body.

Mei Ruoxue also struck at the same moment; her extreme cold, no longer scattered, condensed into an azure‑blue ice‑crystal spear, which she shot precisely through the wound Gu Yusheng had opened, straight into the corpse king's core, completely freezing and annihilating its remaining vitality and soul.

The corpse king's massive body crashed to the ground, kicking up a sky‑wide spray of foul mud, and finally dissipated into wisps of black smoke that vanished into the air.

When the battle ended, Shi Ran only then felt a wave of weakness; the spatial disturbance just now and the extreme activation of the Dispel Evil effect had taken a considerable toll on her and the Heaven‑Patrol Token. Mei Ruoxue rushed to her side, supported her, and asked anxiously: "Are you alright?"

Gu Yusheng also walked over and handed her a pill exuding a clear, icy chill: "Heart‑Clearing Pill; it can resist residual corpse poison and steady the mind."

Shi Ran took the pill and swallowed it; a cool current flowed through her whole body, her discomfort quickly easing considerably. She shook her head, giving a somewhat weary smile: "No problem, I just expended a lot. The Heaven‑Patrol Token's auxiliary ability truly can save lives at critical moments."

Gu Yusheng looked at the dissipating remains of the corpse king on the ground and sighed: "Your move just now seemed to affect space? The Heaven‑Patrol Token actually has such a marvelous use?"

Shi Ran nodded: "Just the crudest interference; it consumes a huge amount and has a low success rate. If the situation weren't dire, I wouldn't dare use it lightly." She also felt a lingering fear in her heart; had the Heaven‑Patrol Token's energy not been replenished, unlocking these auxiliary functions, that earlier attempt would likely have brought more danger than safety.