Chapter 1028: with translation of chapter title

Cold dew dripped down the giant fern leaves, making a faint sound. Han Wuxian's figure slid back like a ghost into the shadow of the rock wall where Yunli was hiding. He immediately sensed something amiss.

The air retained an extremely faint yet bone‑chilling killing intent! Although the other party tried hard to conceal it, that star‑qi unique to the Star Trace Guard of the Ascending Bright Sect, carrying connotations of plunder and destruction, clung like a bone‑deep maggot, impossible to hide from the Star Chart Mark of the Green Lotus Fairy within him, which had clashed with it many times before.

"Someone's been here!" Han Wuxian's heart jolted, instantly on high alert. His eyes flashed like lightning as he scanned the spot where Yunli was hiding. The cover of dry twigs and leaves had been carefully moved aside; although it was replaced, the handling was clumsy, leaving traces. Yunli remained curled up, but her breath seemed even weaker, the pallor on her face deepening in pain, and the black miasma of the star‑corroding aura on her shoulders seemed to stir a bit.

It's the Star Trace Guard! They indeed followed the aura of the Star Pivot Fragment and found this place! Although they didn't strike immediately, they were clearly confirming the target, or… waiting for something?

Han Wuxian's thoughts raced. The other side hadn't killed the gravely injured Yunli right away—either they feared this unknown environment or its guardian beast, or they wanted to use her as bait to draw out any possible companions, or… wait for her poison to fully erupt so they could take the Star Pivot Fragment without effort.

Star Chart Mark

Eclipsed Star Miasma

Yunli seemed to sense the life‑saving object; she strained to open her eyes, seeing the berry in Han Wuxian's hand, and a strong will to survive flared in her dim eyes. She said no more, opening her mouth as wide as she could.

Han Wuxian carefully crushed the berry; its cool juice and semi‑solid pulp flowed into Yunli's mouth. The berry melted at once, and a vast surge of vital stellar power exploded!

Azure Water Black-Armored Crocodile Turtle

A soft halo of azure light speckled with starlight instantly shone from within Yunli's body! The terrifying black miasma of the star‑corroding aura on her shoulders, as if encountering its nemesis, hissed and sputtered, violently churning and contracting.

The bluish‑black poison wound faded at a speed visible to the naked eye, and the edges of the charred wound began to grow pink new flesh! Her paper‑white complexion quickly regained a hint of color, and her feeble breath, as if injected with a stimulant, suddenly became steady and strong.

"Ugh…" Yunli let out a relieved sigh, her tightly knit brows finally relaxing a little. She glanced gratefully at Han Wuxian and struggled to sit up.

"Don't move! The poison's just been dispelled, but you're still very weak! We can't linger here—reinforcements have arrived!" Han Wuxian spoke extremely fast, grabbing her and at the same time pushing his spiritual sense to the utmost, alert to the surrounding darkness. He clearly felt that the two icy presences had not withdrawn; like venomous snakes lurking in the dark, they were slowly closing in from two directions! The distance was now less than a hundred zhang.

"The Star Trace Guard… they… have a tracking artifact…" Yunli also sensed that familiar, hate‑filled icy aura; a flicker of fear and hatred crossed her eyes.

"I know!" Han Wuxian scanned his surroundings, looking for a sign of life. The path back to the Impact Crater was blocked, venturing deeper into the unknown forest was too risky, and Yunli, having just been detoxed, could not move easily. His gaze finally fell on the distant direction of a vast lake that appeared especially deep and tranquil in the night‑dark, yet hid great horror.

Retreat to the lakeside! Han Wuxian decided at once. Deep in the lake's center lay a powerful stellar undulation that might disrupt the Star Trace Guard's tracking device!

Moreover, that terrifying Azure Water Profound Armor Crocodile Turtle, though ferocious, had been wary of the earlier star chart imprint burst; perhaps… it could be used—this is the only path of survival in desperation!

He no longer hesitated, hoisting the mobility-impaired Yunli onto his back in one motion. Yunli let out a soft gasp, a flush rising on her pallid face, but at this life-and-death juncture she could not afford many concerns; she immediately wrapped her arms around Han Wuxian's neck, pressing her head against his sturdy back, feeling the warmth that brought a sense of safety in desperation.

Hold on tight! Han Wuxian shouted low, infusing his legs with spiritual power, unleashing the Crane Treading Cloud Steps to the fullest!

His figure shot forth like a low‑hovering green smoke, racing toward the lake!

Hmph! Trying to escape? Too late! The icy snort sounded like a cold wind sweeping through the woods!

Two dark‑silver figures shot out like ghosts from the shadows of the giant trees to Han Wuxian's left and right, moving as fast as lightning—exactly the two early‑Nascent Soul Star Trace Guard pursuers!

One held a silver compass whose face starlight locked onto Yunli on Han Wuxian's back; the other fixed his gaze on Han Wuxian like a venomous snake, fingers splayed, condensing five hair‑thin strands of silver starlight that exuded an aura capable of piercing the void!

Star Finger·Pierce Void!

Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish!

Five silver finger‑streaks tore through the darkness, emitting a piercing shriek, instantly blocking all of Han Wuxian's escape angles! They aimed straight at his vital points! The Nascent Soul Cultivator struck out in fury, killing intent icy!

The shadow of death descended instantly!

Han Wuxian's pupils contracted sharply! Carrying a person, his speed was already limited; facing this deadly‑space Nascent Soul killing move, he could hardly avoid it!

Be careful! Yunli on his back cried out in alarm!

At the critical moment!

Golden Yang Blazing Heaven Force—burst forth! Han Wuxian's eyes shot golden light! Deep in his dantian, the dormant golden spiritual power bearing majestic heavenly might was ignited completely by the life‑or‑death crisis! Though his arms could not exert force, his leg power surged instantly!

He suddenly made an emergency stop and turn, forcing his body to twist at an impossible angle! He barely dodged three of the finger‑streaks! But the other two—one grazed his left rib, drawing a spray of blood; the other slammed into his back's vital spot, aimed straight at Yunli on his back!

No! Han Wuxian roared! He forcibly twisted his body, trying to shield with his own flesh!

In that split second!

Hum!

Han Wuxian's chest and Yunli's chest on his back simultaneously burst forth with azure starlight! The two beams instantly merged, forming a thin shield that flowed with countless profound stellar trajectories!

Ding!

That deadly star finger slammed hard into the azure shield, emitting a piercing metal‑clang! The shield shuddered violently, cracking all over, yet held firm! The tremendous impact hurled Han Wuxian and Yunli flying backward!

Pfft!

Han Wuxian felt a sweetness in his throat and spat blood again! Yunli also let out a muffled groan; the injury she had just suppressed was aggravated.

Yet riding that impact, the two flew like a broken‑kite another several dozen zhang toward the lake—now less than a hundred zhang from the shore!

Huh? A stellar shield? The Star Trace Guard who struck flashed a hint of surprise, then turned to deeper greed: "Such pure stellar power! Besides the Star Hub fragment, this kid must have other secrets! Let's take him down together!"

The two figures again turned into streams of light, pursuing relentlessly!