Chapter 1004

Gale winds howled, rolling up vast yellow sand, striking the exposed rocks and emitting a mournful sound. Han Wuxian's figure swiftly moved along the rugged mountain path, like a pale gold stream of light merging into the wind.

Having left Gen Dao Huang Du several days ago, he deliberately avoided bustling towns and major teleportation networks, choosing a more remote ancient trade route that also helped him evade unnecessary attention.

The dragon-patterned jade talisman bestowed by the Baocheng Emperor warmed faintly at his waist, providing an intangible protection that allowed him to obtain supplies at relay stations and occasionally receive brief information about route safety and regional dynamics.

Yet this 'convenience' brought an intangible sense of shackles that clung like a shadow. He clearly felt he was not alone; the feeling of being watched, like a bone-deep ulcer, came and went, yet its source remained elusive.

He knew it was the 'shadow' dispatched by the Baocheng Emperor, tasked with ensuring his arrival at the Dongxing Sea Region.

Along the way, he did not relax his cultivation and comprehension. The power of the Light Dao aroused by life-and-death struggles in the secret realm gradually settled and refined through quiet contemplation.

The wounds on his arms, nourished by pills and spiritual power, had recovered more than half; though not at peak, they no longer hindered combat. More importantly, his understanding of 'Light' had deepened somewhat. It was not merely the golden flame that burns away evil, but also contained insight that pierces illusion, speed that transcends limits, and a quality that… encompasses all phenomena yet stands apart from them.

In his sea of consciousness, the faint light emanating from the fragmented star map seemed to brighten slightly as his comprehension of the Light Dao deepened, producing a faint, ineffable resonance with certain entities in the distant starry void.

"Grey Mist Yama... Yan Xirou..." The name was like a mantra, constantly turning in his heart. The Baocheng Emperor's reaction was like a thorn, deeply embedded in his heart.

He forced himself not to dwell on that terrifying speculation, but once the seed of doubt was planted, it silently grew in the darkness. He could only transmute all his anxiety and unease into forward momentum. Find the star sea map, find her! Perhaps all the answers lie in the Dongxing Sea Region!

After several days of travel, crossing several mortal kingdoms and desolate regions rarely visited by cultivators, an ancient stone city perched on perilous mountain passes finally appeared ahead—'Wanghai City'.

This is the last sizable city on the eastern edge of the Nan Ting Mountain Region, and an important waypoint on the long journey to the Dongxing Sea Region. It is said that an ancient giant teleportation array remains here; though long neglected and costly to activate, it can greatly shorten the time needed to cross the endless ocean.

If one does not take the route through the Heavenly Spirit Realm and wishes to avoid risking crossing the realm barrier, for a Golden Core cultivator this might be the best option.

Han Wuxian concealed his aura, entering like an ordinary traveler, paid the entrance fee in spiritual stones, and stepped into this stone city battered by wind and frost, exuding a mixed scent of sea brine and ore. The streets were narrow and crowded, passersby hurrying, including fierce local cultivators and weary merchants and adventurers preparing to cross the sea. The air was filled with a particular restlessness and unease characteristic of coastal regions.

He did not linger, heading straight to the city center's iconic ancient structure built of massive blue stone blocks—the 'Haiyan Pavilion'. This is where the ancient teleportation array is controlled. After paying an activation fee that would make an ordinary Golden Core cultivator wince, he was led by a silent, stern old man to a square behind the pavilion, shrouded by a powerful prohibition.

In the center of the square stood a massive formation base, shocking in its size, silently upright.

The base was cast from an unknown black metal, its surface engraved with bewilderingly complex stellar sigils and spatial Dao patterns, many areas now blurred, even showing fine cracks that revealed the vicissitudes of time.

At this moment, several huge spiritual stones embedded in the formation's core emitted a faint glow, obviously charging and warming up.

"The teleportation destination is the outer anchorage of the 'Shattered Star Isle' in the Dongxing Sea Region. Activating the array takes half an hour, during which spatial fluctuations will be intense; please fellow cultivators wait outside the array and do not interfere." The old man's hoarse voice delivered the instruction, then he retreated to the edge of the prohibition, sat cross-legged, and closed his eyes to rest.

Han Wuxian nodded, his gaze sweeping over the empty square.

Besides him and that old man, only in the distant corner's shadows did two cultivators of comparable strength appear to be seated in meditation, also awaiting teleportation. He chose a spot slightly away from the array, with his back against a thick stone pillar, sat down, quietly regulating his breath while vigilantly watching his surroundings. A faint, barely perceptible warmth came from the dragon-patterned jade talisman at his waist, as if reminding him that the ever-present 'shadow' had also infiltrated this place.

Time passed second by second. The light on the formation base grew brighter, the stellar sigils lighting up one by one, emitting a low hum. Space began to warp, the air filling with an ozone-like burnt smell and palpable spatial fluctuations.

Just as the formation's light was about to peak and the teleportation was about to commence!

Suddenly, an anomaly arose!

"Hum!"

A piercing shriek that could rupture eardrums rang out without warning! It did not come from the formation, but from the tip of the massive stone pillar behind Han Wuxian! A thread-thin, pitch-black radiance exuding a strong ominous and destructive aura shot out like a venomous snake from its hole, moving faster than visual perception could track, silently striking at the vital point on the back of Han Wuxian's heart!

An ambush! Moreover, a meticulously planned killing strike timed to perfection! The target was aimed directly at his old wound that had not yet fully healed!

Han Wuxian's body hairs instantly stood on end! The instinctive reflex honed between life and death surpassed all thought! At the critical moment when the black light was about to strike his body, he didn't even have time to turn around; the dormant Light Dao spiritual power within him, like a beast facing a lethal threat, erupted explosively!

"Clang!"

A crisp ringing like metal on metal exploded!

Han Wuxian's body surface instantly manifested a thin as a cicada's wing yet extremely condensed golden light membrane! The black light fiercely struck the membrane, bursting out blinding sparks! The membrane violently trembled, like glass struck by a heavy hammer, instantly covered in spider‑web‑like cracks! A sinister, toxic force, carrying strong corrosive and cursing power, like bone‑eating maggots, frenziedly burrowed into Han Wuxian's body through the cracks!

"Pfft!" Han Wuxian, as if struck heavily, turned deathly pale instantly and spat out a mouthful of reverse blood! The wounds on his arms, just healed, tore with excruciating pain; that sinister toxic force surged straight into his meridians and dantian, causing the circulation of his spiritual power to stall!

"Bone‑piercing nail?! Someone from the Xuan Men?!" Han Wuxian's heart jolted; he instantly recognized this toxic implement! At the same time, gritting his teeth against the pain, he used the impact's momentum to roll forward violently!