Chapter 181: Heaven's Patrol Token

After this battle, the three gained a deeper understanding of each other's strength and methods, and their rapport grew.

Shi Ran was no longer a burden needing constant protection; she had truly become an indispensable team member, possessing unique and powerful support and crowd-control abilities.

After passing through the Wailing Ghost Forest, the road ahead remained dangerous but was much smoother than before. They crossed the cracked wasteland, traversed the Death Canyon riddled with spatial rifts, and briefly explored the abandoned Ancient Cultivator's Cave Dwelling, gaining little yet feeling more deeply the ancient glory of this realm and the devastation wrought by the magical calamity.

During this period, Shi Ran continually familiarized herself with the new functions of the Heaven's Patrol Token. She tried using the "Low-level Energy Creation Permit"; a flash of light from her palm condensed a tiny amount of nearly invisible pure spiritual energy and a crystal-clear droplet of water. Though the amount was pitifully small, it might prove useful in extreme environments. She also infused a strand of the token's energy into her daily cultivation, finding it beneficial for tempering her divine sense and increasing spiritual purity, though she dared not overdraw the token's reserves.

Two months later, an endless expanse of eerily dark-red sea appeared on the horizon.

Even before approaching, a terrifying aura of desolation, death, and countless remnants of violent energy assailed them. Low-hanging clouds turned an ominous purple-black; twisted lightning flashed soundlessly across the sky, bringing no light. The sea surface showed no waves, only slow, suffocating writhing of viscous, blood-plasma-like water. Occasionally, massive white bones of unknown creatures broke the surface, or shattered warships and magical implements drifted to and fro.

The air was thick with chaotic law fluctuations; space here became extremely fragile, visible to the naked eye as tiny black cracks appearing and disappearing, exuding a suction that devoured everything. Deeper down, vague giant shadows swam beneath the sea, emitting a palpitant aura.

This place was the ancient battlefield—the Star Arrow Sea.

"We have arrived." Shi Ran stopped, gazing at the lifeless dark-red sea with a solemn expression. In her sea of consciousness, the Heaven's Patrol Token conveyed an unprecedentedly strong sensation; that golden point of light flickered deep within the deadly sea, as if calling—and also warning.

Gu Yusheng and Mei Ruoxue also wore grave expressions. Even with their dispositions, facing this legendary forbidden land sent a soul-deep shudder through them. The danger here far surpassed that of the Wailing Ghost Forest; it was a true life-threatening zone.

"Space here is extremely unstable; do not fly recklessly," Gu Yusheng said after a moment's observation, his voice low. "We must find a relatively safe area before proceeding deeper."

Mei Ruoxue sensed the chaotic energy flow in the air and pointed to a left-side coast littered with black reefs: "The energy there is relatively stable; there seem to be traces left by predecessors."

The three cautiously approached the reef area. Only upon nearing did they realize the black reefs were not natural formations but the remnants of some colossal structure, its surface etched with indistinct runes from which a faint defensive array pulsed, seemingly resisting the Star Arrow Sea's deadly aura. This place resembled an ancient outpost or a temporary refuge.

Just as they stepped onto the reefs, preparing to examine them closely, an anomaly erupted again!

Shi Ran's Heaven's Patrol Token in her sea of consciousness suddenly trembled violently—not because of the distant golden point, but due to a strong reaction to something nearby!

Following the sensation, she saw beneath a fractured black stele inscribed with flame patterns a long-decayed skeleton, only a bony frame remaining. Clutched in the skeleton's finger bones was a fragment about the size of a fingernail, wholly black yet covered with countless star-like sparkling points.

The fragment emitted an aura sharing the token's origin, yet it carried a completely different, blazing and violent intent!

"Is this… another fragment of the Heaven's Patrol Token?!" Shi Ran's heart jolted, and she instinctively activated her own token.

Hum!

The token in her hand burst forth with unprecedented brilliant light, no longer silver-white but tinged with a faint gold. The black fragment gripped by the skeleton likewise seemed awakened; its stellar points flared, projecting a blurred, incomplete, flame-burning token phantom.

The two phantoms met in midair, emitting a silent resonance.

A new stream of information flowed along this resonance into Shi Ran's sea of consciousness:

"Detected same-origin fragment ('Blazing Sun Envoy' Permit residual)..."

"Attempting to read the fragment's residual information..."

"Information database updated: Permit level identification—'Heaven's Patrol Envoy' (Shi Ran, soul-bound, permit not fully activated), 'Blazing Sun Envoy' (fallen, permit dissipated)..."

"Detected Blazing Sun Envoy's final record: ……'Star Arrow Sea Core……Altar……Demonic Claw Resurgence……Guard……'……information severely corrupted..."

"Same-origin fragment recovery program initiated……Absorb this fragment to replenish energy and attempt to repair part of the database?"

Shi Ran's heart surged with tumultuous waves. Blazing Sun Envoy! Demonic Claw resurgence! Guard?

This skeleton was actually a fallen Heaven's Patrol Envoy! The information he left seemed to point to a certain altar in the Star Arrow Sea Core… and… that Demonic Claw that destroyed spacetime stars?

She unhesitatingly confirmed in her mind: "Absorb!"

Instantly, the light of her Heaven's Patrol Token blazed forth, generating a gentle yet irresistible pull. The stellar points on the black fragment detached one by one, turning into streams of light that merged into her token. The skeleton that had clutched the fragment, having seemingly fulfilled its final duty, quietly turned to ash and scattered in the Star Arrow Sea's wind.

After absorbing the black fragment, the token's light gradually drew inward, but Shi Ran clearly felt its internal energy surge once more, becoming fuller. More importantly, the "fragmentary information database" gained many entries concerning the Blazing Sun Envoy's Permit, applications of flame law, and scattered records of parts of the Star Arrow Sea.

At the same time, the note on the "Trans-temporal Beacon Positioning Function" changed again: "Energy threshold further increased, key medium sensing range expanded. Detected residual same-origin fragment information, the association level with the specific spacetime coordinate 'Earth' slightly rose..."

Earth! The association has increased!

Although still weak, this is undoubtedly an uplifting signal!

Shi Ran suppressed her excitement and shared the newly obtained information with Gu Yusheng and Mei Ruoxue.

Upon hearing that the skeleton was another Heaven's Patrol Envoy and that its residual information pointed to the Demonic Claw and an altar in the Star Arrow Sea Core, Gu Yusheng and Mei Ruoxue's faces turned extremely grave.

"It seems the core of the Star Arrow Sea not only holds the energy source you need, but may also conceal a great secret tied to the origin of this realm's magical calamity." Gu Yusheng spoke slowly, his gaze fixed on the depths of the dark-red dead sea, eyes sharp as a sword.

Mei Ruoxue was surrounded by a chilling aura, her voice icy: "The Demonic Claw has resurfaced……if the mastermind behind the destruction of the stars still has schemes in this realm, their plot must be earth-shaking."

Shi Ran drew a deep breath, gripped her now warmer and mightier Heaven's Patrol Token, and felt its surging energy and the newly added information.

The road ahead was undoubtedly more perilous; the true form of the star‑destroying Demonic Claw was likely a terrifying existence beyond their imagination. Yet at the same time, hope grew clearer—the clues to returning to Earth, the restoration of the Heaven's Patrol Token, and the chance to unveil the truth of the magical calamity all pointed to the deepest reaches of that deadly sea.

"Let's go." Shi Ran's voice firm and calm: "No matter what lies within, we must venture forth."

The three exchanged glances, each seeing unshakable resolve in the others' eyes. They adjusted their breath, brought their condition to peak, then stepped forward onto the black reefs, advancing resolutely toward the Star Arrow Sea that had swallowed countless stars and immortals.

The dark‑red water surged silently beneath their feet, like the throbbing gut of a colossal beast. On the horizon, purple‑black clouds roiled, oppressively suffocating. The new expedition, likewise a deeper crisis, had already unveiled its curtain. The secrets of the Heaven's Patrol Token and Shi Ran's path home would reach a decisive turning point in this Star Arrow Sea journey.