Chapter 1081: Ancient Aura

That overwhelming aura, like a tangible barrier, boomed into the first few pursuers who entered the cave entrance!

The leading small commander brandished a long sword, infusing it with spiritual energy, ready to charge into the cave first; upon hearing this, he felt a heavy pressure as if from the primeval chaos covering him! That pressure was neither the sharpness of metal nor the fierceness of fire, but a reverence and suppression originating from the very source of life.

It was as if ants gazed at the heavens while dust faced the earth directly.

Puff!

His protective aura shattered piece by piece like paper, his whole body struck as if by a heavy hammer, and the invisible aura flung him outward, slamming him hard against the cliff behind him; his throat went sweet, spitting a mouthful of fresh blood, his gaze toward the cave's depths filled with horror and disbelief: "What… what is this aura?!"

The other Blue Scale Peak disciples fared no better; the two closest to the entrance were shaken so violently that all seven orifices bled, screaming as they were flung backward, crashing into the snow and unable to rise. The remaining ones, terrified, immediately retreated, their hands gripping bows, arrows, and talismans trembling slightly, staring at the cave entrance shrouded in Dark Gold light as if they were looking at the maw of a beast that selects its prey.

Inside the cave, Han Wuxian seemed oblivious to the commotion outside.

At this moment he was enduring unimaginable pain and transformation. The light emitted by the Dark Gold material was not a source-less water, but a frantic extraction of the core energy within him that had merged earth veins and stellar power; simultaneously, the primordial aura from the cave's depths surged like a broken dam, forcefully flowing through the resonant link into his limbs and bones!

This was not nourishment, but rather a forced tempering!

The raging energy collided, tore, and reassembled within him; the meridians that had been frozen by Bone-Eating Azure felt as if they were plunged into a red‑hot branding iron, or crushed under ten‑thousand‑year ancient ice, the alternating cold and heat causing excruciating pain that made his vision flicker black repeatedly, nearly causing him to lose consciousness several times.

Strangely, whenever his consciousness was about to shatter, the layer of Dark Gold material would release a gentle yet resilient force that shielded the core of his Sea of Awareness; at the same time, the aura from the cave's depths that surged into his body, while destructive, subtly repaired his damaged flesh, and even the domineering Bone-Eating Azure toxin, upon contacting this ancient aura, melted like snow under a scorching sun, emitting a sizzle and fading in color at a visible rate!

Ugh!

Han Wuxian could not help but let out a suppressed howl of pain, his crimson‑gold eyes clouded with blood vessels yet flashing with unyielding light. He could clearly feel his body undergoing a complete metamorphosis, the layer of Dark Gold material seeming to come alive, merging more deeply with his flesh, bones, meridians, and even his soul.

Outside the cave, the small commander regained his composure, staring at the deep dark‑gold halo at the entrance and the faint painful roars emanating from within; a flash of ruthlessness and greed crossed his eyes: "Something's off! This kid must be using some secret treasure to heal! That aura is strange, but he must be expending a huge amount! Attack! Use the Blue Scale Delusion‑Breaking Arrow to pierce his defense!"

Two surviving Blue Scale Peak disciples immediately nocked their bows; this time the arrows were no longer wrapped merely in cold frost spirit but covered with a fine blue‑scale pattern, the tips flashing with a sharp light that could dispel illusion.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

The Delusion‑Breaking Arrow pierced the wind and snow, striking the dark‑gold veil at the cave entrance with pinpoint accuracy!

Clang! Clang!

Two crisp metallic clangs rang out, and the Delusion‑Breaking Arrow was rebounded directly by the light veil; the shaft trembled, the blue‑scale pattern dulled, clearly failing to breach the defense.

"Damned!" the small commander snarled, about to step forward himself, when his complexion suddenly changed and he thrust his head upward toward the cave's depths.

Not only him, but even Han Wuxian inside the cave sensed the anomaly.

The ancient aura rising from the cave's depths seemed… to have become even more ferocious?

Boom!

A muffled, thunderous roar echoed from the deepest part of the cave, as if something immensely heavy had been roused and began to awaken slowly. The entire cave shuddered violently, stones constantly fell from the ceiling, and the surrounding rock walls sprouted specks of pale blue phosphorescence, like countless eyes opening in the darkness.

What made hearts race even more was a pressure far more vast, colder, and purer than the previous aura—a fusion of stars and earth—that pressed down slowly, as if a primordial beast that had slept for billions of years finally opened its eyes and began to weigh down!

This time, the pressure distinguished no friend from foe; both the pursuers outside and Han Wuxian inside felt a shiver emanating from the depths of their souls!

"Retreat! Quickly retreat!" the small commander's face turned deathly pale, no longer caring to chase Han Wuxian, he turned and darted toward the cliff wall, "This place is strange! It's an ancient seal! Get out of here quickly!"

The remaining Blue Scale Peak disciples were so terrified they fled in panic, daring not to linger, scrambling and rolling after the small commander, and vanished in an instant into the wind and snow on the cliff.

Only after the pursuers' presence vanished completely did the all‑encompassing vast pressure slowly recede, though it never fully dissipated, sinking back into the depths of the cave as if lying in wait, or perhaps… watching.

Inside the cave, the tremors gradually subsided.

The Dark Gold light surrounding Han Wuxian also dimmed, though it did not vanish entirely, reverting to a deep, restrained glow, like a close‑fitting armor that continuously mended his wounds and suppressed lingering toxins.

He lay limp on the cold rock, gulping breath after breath, his body drenched in cold sweat; the fear brought by that pressure was even more heart‑pounding than when facing the pursuers.

"What lies deep within the cave…?" he gazed at the endless darkness speckled with pale blue phosphorescence, his crimson‑gold eyes filled with solemn curiosity.

At that moment, he noticed that as the aura from the cave's depths calmed, an extremely pure strand of energy bearing the essence of stars and earth flowed along the previous resonant link, slowly entering his body and gently merging into his core.

This energy was far gentler than the previously raging influx, yet impossibly pure, instantly restoring a hint of warmth to his depleted dantian and considerably easing the excruciating pain.

Han Wuxian felt a stir in his heart, forcing himself to sit up and begin attempting to guide the energy's flow. He knew that although the pursuers had temporarily withdrawn, they would not give up easily; he had to regain his strength quickly, uncover the cave's secrets, and truly survive.

Unnoticed by him, the star‑pattern on the surface of the Dark Gold material pulsed in subtle synchrony with his breathing and the pale blue phosphorescence on the cave walls, a delicate… synchronized flicker. The secret beneath the Fallen Star Cliff seemed only just beginning to be uncovered.