Chapter 106: Aftermath Ripples

The earth-shattering battle at the edge of the Imperial Mausoleum restricted zone and the destruction of the Shadow Tower’s core lair could not be entirely covered up after all. The heaven-piercing demonic energy, the brilliant starlight, and the subsequent movements of the Imperial City Guard sealing off the restricted zone still caused a massive uproar among the high-level circles of the Imperial Capital through various channels.

Although the Imperial family publicly claimed they had cleared out a group of evil cultivators who had infiltrated the Imperial Mausoleum with malicious intent, and deliberately downplayed the role Lin Xuan played in it, those truly in the know—especially the Zhao family, the Star Palace, and those forces hidden behind the scenes—naturally had their own sources of information.

Lin Xuan’s strength, especially that Star Manifestation capable of easily slaying half-step Soul Transformation demonic creatures and purifying demonic energy, once again deeply shocked everyone. His threat level, in the assessments of various forces, was raised to an unprecedented height. Corresponding to this was more hidden apprehension, more intense killing intent, and... more cautious observation.

Inside the Zhao family residence, the atmosphere had been as oppressive as the calm before a storm for days. The successive losses, especially the destruction of the Imperial Mausoleum lair (in which the Zhao family had also secretly invested and held interests), left the Zhao family’s upper echelons not only furious but also feeling a chill. They began to re-evaluate the cost of a death match with Lin Xuan; some radical voices were temporarily suppressed, replaced by more insidious and long-term schemes.

As for the Star Palace, they also seemed to have adjusted their strategy due to the ability Lin Xuan displayed in restraining star power, and especially demonic energy. That blatant pursuit and plundering turned into more covert surveillance and investigation.

Regarding the surging winds and clouds in the outside world, Lin Xuan did not pay much heed. He remained reclusive, spending most of his time in the Azure Cloud Cottage, digesting the gains from this trip to the Imperial Mausoleum.

The greatest gain was naturally the application and insight into the Chaos Star Manifestation during actual combat. The battles against the half-step Soul Transformation demonic creature and the Shadow Tower assassins gave him a deeper understanding of the power and characteristics of the manifestation, as well as the supernatural abilities in the core chapters of the "Heavenly Cycle Star Art." He felt that he was not far from the peak of the late Nascent Soul stage, and had even touched the threshold of Soul Transformation.

Next was the pitch-black fragment obtained from the core of the white bone altar, which contained a trace of strange golden light. He tried various methods to investigate it, only to find that the object was indestructible and impervious to spiritual sense; it contained an extremely obscure yet incomparably noble power of "order" and "protection," which was completely different from the star origin of the star core or the life-and-death power of the Chaos Dao Seed.

"The aura of this object is somewhat similar to the 'State-Founding Divine Artifact' fragments described in ancient texts that support the dragon vein fortune of the dynasty, but it is also different..." Lin Xuan recalled the sporadic records in the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion jade slip, and had vague guesses in his heart, but could not be certain. "Perhaps Huangfu Tianji will know something." He decided to find an opportunity to use this object as a lead to probe the Imperial family's stance.

In addition, he took all the materials seized from the Shadow Tower lair—excluding those too heavily polluted by demonic energy that had to be destroyed—especially those blade fragments containing refined metal energy, and threw them all into the further tempering of the Chaos Immortal-Slaying Sword embryo.

Inside the quiet room, the Chaos Dao Fire burned fiercely. Lin Xuan used his spirit as a hammer and his thoughts as an anvil, melting and refining countless materials into streams of pure energy, repeatedly hammering the gray, misty sword embryo suspended in the center of the Dao Fire.

The sword embryo hummed, and the golden patterns upon it slithered like living dragons and snakes, constantly absorbing the refined metal energy and the tempering of the Chaos Dao Fire. Inside the sword body, the scene of chaos at the beginning of time and the evolution of stars became increasingly clear, and its spirituality grew at an astonishing speed.

At the same time, Lin Xuan also attempted to integrate his own insights into the "Heavenly Cycle Star Art," especially the condensation method of the "Starfall Divine Spear," into the sword intent. One could see that within the Dao Fire, tiny specks of starlight were occasionally absorbed by the sword embryo, causing a hint of brilliant starlight to appear faintly in the depths of the gray, misty sword light.

This tempering process lasted for seven full days.

When Lin Xuan finally infused a wisp of pure Chaos origin energy into the sword embryo, the entire quiet room was suddenly filled with a sharp, peerless, and terrifying sword intent that seemed capable of severing karma and slaying immortals and gods!

"Clang—!"

A sword chime that seemed to come from the beginning of heaven and earth resounded through Lin Xuan's mind!

The Dao Fire dissipated, and a long sword, about three feet and three inches long, with a deep chaotic color throughout its body, natural golden and silver patterns flowing like the veins of the heavenly stars on its blade, and a cold glint at the tip that seemed capable of freezing time and space, hung quietly before Lin Xuan.

The sword was forged!

It was no longer an embryo, but the true—Chaos Immortal-Slaying Sword!

Although this sword was still only at the peak of a magic treasure and had not yet ascended to a spirit treasure, its essence was extremely high, containing the two supreme Dao rhymes of Chaos and Stars; its potential was infinite, and its power already far exceeded that of ordinary spirit treasures! Lin Xuan could feel that he was in perfect harmony with this sword, wielding it as easily as his own arm, and its sharpness was enough to easily tear through the defenses of a late Nascent Soul cultivator!

He reached out and grasped the hilt, and a feeling of being connected by blood arose spontaneously. With a casual wave, a gray, misty sword qi containing starlight swept past, and a bottomless, fine mark appeared silently on the wall of the quiet room, the array runes within it instantly annihilated.

"Good sword!" A look of satisfaction appeared in Lin Xuan's eyes. With this sword in hand, his offensive power had reached a new level.

Just as he was familiarizing himself with the power of the new sword, his heart stirred, and he received a message from Huangfu Hao.

"Brother Lin, the Falling Star Lake has had frequent anomalies recently, and starlight often surges into the sky from the center of the lake. I fear the time for the Star-Gazing Platform to appear will be advanced. We need to plan early."

Lin Xuan's gaze sharpened. Advanced?

He replied: "I understand. Your Highness may prepare first; we shall depart in three days."

Putting down the communication jade talisman, Lin Xuan's eyes were deep. The Falling Star Lake Star-Gazing Platform concerned the subsequent inheritance of his Star Dao, and might even hide clues to dealing with the Ruins Abyss; he was determined to obtain it.

This trip was destined not to be peaceful. The Star Palace, other forces that might appear, and even the demonic shadows of the Ruins Abyss might show themselves.

But he was fearless.

The Chaos Dao Seed rotated slowly in his dantian, the Star Manifestation appeared faintly in his palm, and the Immortal-Slaying Sword chimed softly at his side.

His strength was no longer what it used to be.

"Feng Xi," he called out softly.

With a flash of green light, the magnificent Azure Phoenix landed in the courtyard, its aura full and its divine light shining; it was clearly also prepared.

Lin Xuan stroked the cold blade of the Chaos Immortal-Slaying Sword and looked toward the Falling Star Lake in the north.

"It is time to go and meet that Star-Fall Secret Realm and take back the opportunity that belongs to me."

Three days later, a green rainbow and several streaks of light from the Imperial City Guard quietly left the Imperial Capital, heading straight for the Falling Star Lake three thousand miles to the north.

The gaze of the Imperial Capital followed and focused there.

A new round of storms was about to unfold on the shores of the Falling Star Lake.