Chapter 1163: Ancient Beast Beneath the Pool

Inside the Main Star Hall, the chaotic starlight gradually subsided, the massive Tai Chi formation diagram slowly ceased rotating, and the celestial light pillars of the dome dimmed one by one. The elders maintaining the formation, including the headmaster Tian Shu Zi, all wore a barely perceptible pallor, their qi fluctuated, clearly the suppression of that star‑evil ancient beast had exhausted them.

At the center of the formation's eye, space warped slightly, and Han Wuxian staggered out, crashing heavily onto the cold star‑stone floor.

"Puff!" they could no longer suppress it, a spray of dark‑golden blood mixed with shredded organs erupted, their skin cracking into countless tiny bloodstains, qi waned to the extreme, worse than before entering the Star Source Pool. The star‑evil ancient beast's enraged strike and the backlash of the self‑detonating void star vial nearly reduced them back to their original form.

Yet in their hand they clutched a gentle yet mighty cluster of starlight—the drop of celestial marrow that had almost cost them their life—this Zhou Tian star marrow was not destroyed in the explosion; instead they forced it to survive with the last sliver of Returning to Void Power, pulling it out!

The star marrow swirled slowly in their palm, the miniature galaxy within seemed to breathe with life, emitting a Stellar Origin Essence of utmost purity, tinged with a trace of creative power, instantly drawing every gaze in the hall. The aura was gentle yet vast, invigorating the spirits of all the elders.

"Master! Dao Companion Han!" Yun Chen rushed forward at once, steadied the wobbling Han Wuxian, quickly fed several soul‑nurturing, Dao Foundation‑stabilizing spirit pills into their mouth, and used pure spiritual energy to help them dissolve.

Tian Shu Zi stepped forward, arriving before Han Wuxian. Their gaze swept over Han Wuxian's grievous wounds, then rested on the brilliant star marrow drop; a flash of complexity crossed their eyes, quickly replaced by gentle approval: "Good! Little friend truly lives up to the trust! Though the injuries are severe, bringing back the star marrow is a great achievement!"

They extended a finger, pointing into the air. The star marrow rose lightly, hovering before Han Wuxian's forehead.

"No time to waste, heal at once! I, the old one, will personally shield you!" Tian Shu Zi declared decisively, leaving no room for doubt. With a sweep of their sleeve, several streams of light flew out, forming a set of banners etched with the Zhou Tian constellations; they instantly assembled an arcane array, enveloping Han Wuxian and sealing the interior from the outside.

"Brothers and junior disciples, lend me a hand to activate the Star Marrow Dao‑Shaping Array!" Tian Shu Zi said in a deep voice, first sitting cross‑legged, fingers forming a seal.

Behind them, the elders' expressions varied, yet none objected; they all sat as instructed, channeling pure stellar mana into the array.

Buzz!

The array instantly flared with dazzling starlight, completely engulfing Han Wuxian and the star marrow.

Han Wuxian felt a gentle yet irresistible force envelop them, guiding the star marrow to slowly merge into their forehead's sea of consciousness!

Boom!!!

An indescribable, overwhelming energy detonated within them in an instant! Yet the energy was not violent; it carried a womb‑like warmth and tolerance, like the first strand of life at the universe's birth, rushing through their limbs, dantian, meridians, and even the deepest recesses of their spirit!

Their shattered, crack‑riddled Returning to Void Sword Core, under the nourishment of this creative power, healed and mended at an unprecedented speed, like parched earth finally receiving rain! The fissures not only vanished, the sword core itself became more condensed, pure, and profound; within its gray‑white Silence Extinction essence, countless tiny star lights naturally ignited, as if a fragment of the night sky had been forged into the sword core!

The dreadful aftereffects of the burned Dao Foundation and soul source were easily soothed by the creative power contained in the star marrow, even further solidifying and strengthening their initially tenuous Early Nascent Soul cultivation, steadily advancing toward the Mid‑Nascent Soul stage!

Even more wondrous, the star marrow's power resonated strongly with the Star‑Patrol Torch in their arms. The lantern flew out of its own accord, hovering above their head, shedding a warmer, purer starlight that harmonized with the star marrow, cleansing their flesh and spirit, fully purging the slight impurities they had previously absorbed and the subtle corruption brought by the star‑evil beast.

Their Returning to Void Sword body, under this dual‑forge, also underwent subtle changes. The gray‑white hue beneath the skin became more restrained, radiating a faint layer of star‑light treasure glow; its strength and resilience increased by more than double, and its ability to sense and absorb surrounding stellar aura reached an astonishing level.

The entire process lasted a full day and night.

When the array's light gradually faded and the last strand of energy from the star marrow was fully absorbed, Han Wuxian slowly opened their eyes.

In their pupils, the post‑injury dimness was gone, replaced by radiant divine light: the left eye like a reservoir of Returning to Void, deep and silent; the right eye like a hidden galaxy, dazzlingly bright! Their aura was harmonious and full, vast and mighty, clearly solidified at the pinnacle of Early Nascent Soul, just a step away from the Mid stage! Injuries fully healed, condition even surpassing before!

They gently clenched a fist, feeling the raging, thunderous power within—so fierce it seemed a single punch could shatter stars—and the harmonious, perfectly attuned sensation with the Star‑Patrol Torch and the surrounding stellar environment, a surge of heroic fervor rising in their heart.

"How does it feel?" Tian Shu Zi's gentle voice rang out. He and the other elders had already concluded their cultivation and stood up; though their expressions showed slight fatigue, their eyes held satisfaction.

Han Wuxian rose to full height, bowed deeply to Tian Shu Zi and the elders, speaking earnestly: "Thank you, headmaster, thank you, esteemed seniors, for your support! This grace I, Han Wuxian, will remember in my heart!"

This gain far exceeded expectations. Not only was the Dao Foundation fully restored and cultivation advanced dramatically, but more importantly, the Returning to Void Sword body and stellar power fused perfectly, clearing many obstacles from their future path.

Tian Shu Zi stroked his beard and smiled: "Little friend, no need for courtesy; this is what you deserve. After this star‑marrow tempering, your Dao Foundation is exceedingly stable, and your immortal path looks promising." He then added, "However, you have roused the ancient beast at the bottom of the Star Source Pool and forged a mortal enmity with the Nether Path; you must be exceedingly cautious in the future."

Mentioning the star‑evil ancient beast, Han Wuxian immediately recalled the final roar, full of anger and archaic syllables; their expression hardened, and they asked: "Headmaster Tian Shu Zi, that ancient beast at the pool's bottom… what is its origin? It seemed to… say something at the end?"

With those words, the hall's atmosphere briefly stalled.

A few elders' gazes subconsciously turned toward Tian Shu Zi.

Tian Shu Zi's expression remained unchanged, but a barely perceptible darkness flickered in their eyes as they slowly said: "That ancient beast is a fusion of the star‑evil that has accumulated in the Star Source Pool over countless ages and some… ancient lingering thoughts; it possesses no sentience, only violent instinct. Its howl is Chaos Disorder; perhaps, due to your injuries, you misheard it."