Chapter 1162

The pool bottom was not dark; on the contrary, it was even brighter. There, a mass like a miniature sun floated, its splendid light indescribable in words.

Each pulse emitted an extremely pure Stellar Origin Essence, causing Han Wuxian's dantian Return-to-Void Sword Core to leap with joy.

Heavenly Circuit Star Marrow Source!

Around the marrow source light mass, dozens of gray-black, ever-shifting shadows swirled and danced! They had no fixed form, sometimes like smoke or mist, sometimes condensing into ferocious beast heads or anguished human faces, emanating greedy, violent, mad Chaos will! They constantly tried to rush into the light mass, but were rebounded by the pure force of the marrow source, emitting silent screeches.

These are Star Calamities! They are drawn to the marrow source yet cannot Devour it, like poisonous bees swarming honey!

Han Wuxian's appearance was like dropping cold water into boiling oil!

Those Star Calamities instantly became agitated, sensing the aura of a living soul… and the purifying power of the Patrol Star Torch that they instinctively despise!

Woo!!!

Dozens of Star Calamities, like sharks smelling blood, instantly reversed direction, turning into gray-black lightning bolts that tore through the liquid starlight and frenziedly lunged at Han Wuxian! Their speed was astonishing!

Han Wuxian's scalp went numb, but he had prepared beforehand!

Patrol Star, repel!

He exerted the Patrol Star Torch to its fullest! The lamp burst forth with unprecedented brilliant azure radiance, like a blue sun rising in the star sea! The pure purifying light condensed into a solid ring, fiercely spreading outward!

Hiss—

The few Star Calamity shadows at the forefront, upon contacting the azure light domain, were like meeting their bane, emitting shrill wails as over half were instantly purified and evaporated! Those behind visibly hesitated, showing fear, circling the periphery, unwilling to approach easily.

Effective!

Han Wuxian felt a surge of joy, not daring to delay, he bore the radiance of the Patrol Star Torch and forcefully rushed toward that mass of marrow source light!

The closer he got, the stronger the resonance of the Patrol Star Torch became, while those Star Calamities grew ever more agitated and violent, recklessly striking the azure light domain, causing the halo to fluctuate violently!

Han Wuxian gritted his teeth and persisted, his speed increasing!

Finally, he reached the marrow source light mass! The Void Star Bottle in his hand unleashed a strong suction without needing activation!

Hum—

Within the marrow source light mass, a thumb-sized drop of crystal-clear liquid, inside which a miniature galaxy seemed sealed—the Heavenly Circuit Star Marrow—was smoothly drawn into the bottle!

Success!

However, at the very moment the star marrow was taken

The entire Star Source Pool bottom fell dead silent for an instant!

Immediately after!

Roar!!!!!!

An indescribable roar, filled with endless violence and fury, erupted terrifyingly from the deepest part of the pool bottom, from beneath where the marrow source light mass had been!

The entire liquid star sea boiled madly! An unimaginably huge, terrifying existence formed from the purest Star Calamities slowly awakened!

It was not a mere shadow, but a huge beast-like entity, entirely formed from Chaotic star principles and violent will—a Star Calamity Ancient Beast! Its size was mountain-like, its aura surpassing that of a God‑Transformation cultivator, even making Han Wuxian feel it more terrifying than an incarnation of the Seven Slaughter Netherlord!

It is the true guardian of the Star Source Pool bottom! Those earlier Star Calamities were merely emanations of its aura!

Taking the star marrow thoroughly awakened this slumbering ancient beast!

"No good!" Han Wuxian's soul fled in terror; without thinking, he turned and fled madly southeast as Heavenly Pivot had instructed, simultaneously pushing the Patrol Star Torch to its utmost!

"Roar!" The Star Calamity Ancient Beast bellowed, shaking the star sea; a massive claw wholly formed of Chaotic Star Calamities, ignoring distance, instantly appeared above Han Wuxian and came down hard!

Under that claw, the azure light domain of the Patrol Star Torch shattered like paper!

Han Wuxian felt his soul about to split, his bones about to be crushed, a mouthful of blood spurted out, and his body was slammed toward the pool bottom like a meteor!

It's over!

At this moment of despair

"Vile beast! Cease your rampage!" Heavenly Pivot's solemn voice rang like heavenly thunder, piercing the star sea and descending!

Hum—

Countless immensely thick star‑light chains, like the whip of a heavenly deity, appeared out of nowhere, instantly entwining the Star Calamity Ancient Beast, tightly binding and dragging it! This was the Heavenly Pivot and the various Elders outside maintaining the array, exerting force together!

The ancient beast roared angrily and unwillingly, struggling madly; the star‑light chains stretched taut, obviously unable to hold it for long!

"Little friend! Hurry and go!" Heavenly Pivot's voice came with a hint of urgency.

Han Wuxian seized this fleeting opportunity, burned his essence blood, again turned into escape light, and desperately rushed southeast!

Although the ancient beast was temporarily restrained, it suddenly opened its massive jaws and spewed a gray‑black torrent of utter destruction formed from the utmost Star Calamities, like a reversed galaxy, roaring after Han Wuxian!

It was too fast! There was no way to completely dodge it!

A flash of ruthlessness crossed Han Wuxian's eyes as he violently hurled the Void Star Bottle, which had just collected the star marrow, backward!

Boom!

He actually intended to self‑detonate this spatial treasure to block the Star Calamity torrent!

Boom!!!!

The Void Star Bottle exploded with a bang! The drop of Heavenly Circuit Star Marrow inside, struck by the impact, burst forth with an unimaginable stellar storm, violently colliding with the Star Calamity torrent!

A terrifying energy shockwave instantly swept across the entire pool bottom!

Han Wuxian leveraged the recoil from the explosion, his speed surging again, until he reached the slightly rotating star‑light gate formed by the array at the southeast corner!

Without a second thought, he dove straight in!

In the final instant before his silhouette vanished, he glanced back to see the Star Calamity Ancient Beast having broken many of its chains, its huge eyes filled with violence and… an indescribable sense, as if feeling betrayed? It fixed its gaze on the direction where Han Wuxian had disappeared and let out a roar even more terrifying, yet bearing a strange rhythm!

Within that roar seemed to be mixed a few vague, ancient syllables, not human speech, yet they were etched directly into Han Wuxian's soul depths:

Steal……Marrow……Thief……

Star……Skeleton……Remnant……Spirit……

Return……Come……

Han Wuxian's mind and spirit were greatly shaken; before he could ponder further, he was completely engulfed by the transmission's strong light.

The Star Source Pool bottom left only the enraged ancient beast, the ravaging energy, and a faint, complex sigh from Heavenly Pivot.