Chapter 128: Star Chart Sea Eye, Dragon Energy Warning

Xue Chan's words were like ice prisms falling to the ground, breaking the delicate balance that seemed harmonious at the banquet.

All eyes were focused on Lin Xuan. This green-shirted guest minister, who had previously been so low-key as to be almost invisible, suddenly became the focus of the entire hall under the naming of the overseas envoy.

A trace of surprise flashed in Huangfu Hao's eyes, then he returned to calm, raised his glass to sip, and watched the changes quietly. He trusted that Lin Xuan had his own way of dealing with it.

Lin Xuan put down his wine glass and met Xue Chan's ice-cold eyes, which seemed capable of freezing the soul, with a calm gaze. He did not directly answer the question about thunder tempering, but instead smiled slightly and asked back: "Elder Xue Chan also seems to have profound insights into the meaning of thunder extinction. The Mystic Ice Pavilion's cultivation method is extremely yin and cold, yet it can gain insight into the changes of thunder's yang and rigidity. It can be seen that there are three thousand avenues, and they all eventually lead to the same destination."

This answer neither denied nor fully admitted, but instead cleverly raised the other party, leading the topic to the more abstract "all roads lead to the same destination," appearing calm and composed, with extraordinary demeanor.

A trace of extremely fine fluctuation flashed in Xue Chan's cold eyes. She looked at Lin Xuan deeply, did not ask further, just nodded slightly: "What the fellow Daoist said is very true." Then she moved her gaze away, returning to her cold and aloof appearance.

But between this question and answer, Lin Xuan's weight in everyone's hearts was already different. To be able to make the overseas Mystic Ice Pavilion Elder, who was higher than the top, take the initiative to ask and recognize, how could it be something an ordinary Soul Formation guest minister could do?

Xing Lan's interest grew stronger. He put down his wine glass, the gentle smile on his face unchanged, but he pulled the topic back: "Fellow Daoist Lin has extraordinary insight. I wonder, what is your opinion on this 'Source Primordial Demonic Energy' and 'Ruins Abyss Demonic Energy'? Are they from the same source? And how should we deal with them?"

This question was sharper, pointing directly to the core. Clearly, they had done their homework before coming and knew the details of the demonic disaster that occurred in the Tianyuan Imperial Dynasty very well.

Lin Xuan's expression remained unchanged, pondering slightly, and said: "My cultivation is shallow, and my knowledge is limited. Just from my personal experience, the Ruins Abyss Demonic Energy that descended on this realm is more inclined to 'devour' and 'chaos' in essence, aiming to turn all things into its nourishment and a part of itself. As for the 'Source Primordial Demonic Energy' you mentioned, since it is named 'Source Primordial,' it must be closer to the origin of 'nothingness' or 'ending,' aiming to make all things 'return to silence' and 'return to nothingness.' The two may be similar, but the roots and directions may be different."

He paused, then continued: "Methods of response vary by person and by power. The power of chaos may be contained or transformed; the majestic dragon aura may be suppressed or dispersed; the supreme Yang thunder may be purified or annihilated. Yet these are all stopgap measures. To address the root cause, one must likely seek its source, explore its foundation, and either seal, destroy, divert, or guide it. This is not something one person or one sect can achieve; it requires gathering collective wisdom and combining collective strength."

This argument not only showed his understanding of demonic energy (combining the characteristics of his own chaotic tribulation power) but also cleverly threw the question back, implying the necessity of cooperation, and at the same time once again highlighted his vision and pattern.

Xing Lan, Man Shi, and Xue Chan all showed grave expressions. Lin Xuan's words were by no means empty talk, but a true reflection on the essence of different demonic energies, and even faintly pointed out the direction of "treating the root cause." This made them rate the Tianyuan Continent and this mysterious Lin-surnamed cultivator even higher.

"Fellow Daoist Lin has high insights, which enlightened us." Xing Lan bowed, his tone much more sincere. "Gathering the wisdom of the masses and combining the strength of the masses is exactly the idea upheld by our three major overseas sects. The hidden danger of the Return to Ruins Sea Eye concerns the safety of all living beings in this realm, not just the Endless Hanhai area. If we can get the help of your dynasty and talents like Fellow Daoist Lin, it is truly the fortune of all living beings."

He once again emphasized the tone of cooperation and raised the height to the level of "all living beings in this realm."

Huangfu Hao intervened at the right time and said loudly: "Fellow Daoist Xing Lan is very right. The demonic disaster has no boundaries, so we should work together. Although I am not talented, I am willing to do my best for the Tianyuan Imperial Dynasty to discuss the response strategy with the overseas immortal sects. As for the clues to Star Essence Gold and Chaos Breath Soil, I will issue a decree tomorrow to order the relevant departments to search for them with all their might, and once there is news, I will inform you immediately."

"In that case, thank you, Your Majesty!" Xing Lan and others raised their glasses to thank him. The atmosphere of the banquet eased again, drinking and talking, as if the sharp edges just now had never happened.

But in private, divine sense exchanges were quietly unfolding between the host and the guests.

Xing Lan transmitted to Huangfu Hao: "Your Majesty, to be honest, my Star Palace has a secret method that can use the power of the stars of the heavens to roughly deduce the direction of treasures. Your Majesty possesses dragon energy, perhaps you can help me and try to sense whether 'Star Essence Gold' is within the continent. As for 'Chaos Breath Soil'... perhaps we can discuss it further with Fellow Daoist Lin."

Huangfu Hao moved in his heart and replied: "Since Fellow Daoist Xing Lan is interested, I will naturally cooperate. We can try it at the Star Observatory tomorrow. As for Fellow Daoist Lin... he has a detached temperament, I can introduce him on his behalf, but whether we can talk deeply depends on his own wishes."

"Naturally."

On the other side, Xue Chan also quietly transmitted to Lin Xuan: "The power Fellow Daoist Lin possesses does not seem to be pure chaos... the meaning of extinction and reincarnation within it is actually somewhat similar to the 'Mystic Ice Extinction Dao' I practice. If you have time in the future, I would like to discuss the Dao with you and verify our insights."

Lin Xuan replied: "Elder Xue Chan is too polite. Mystic Ice Extinction, the withering of all things, is also a way home. If there is fate, we can participate in it together." He did not refuse. This Mystic Ice Pavilion Elder gave him the feeling that although she was cold, she was straightforward and not as deep as Xing Lan.

Man Shi was interested in Eunuch Wei beside Huangfu Hao, and the two exchanged a few words about body refining through the air, quite cherishing each other.

The banquet lasted until late at night. The overseas mission was respectfully sent back to the Welcoming Immortal Hall.

Returning to the secret room of the Nurturing Heart Hall, Huangfu Hao withdrew the barrier and let out a long breath, laughing at Lin Xuan: "Brother Lin, thanks to you today. That Xing Lan, seemingly gentle, is actually step-by-step. Elder Xue Chan is a straightforward person."

Lin Xuan nodded: "The Star Palace has big plans. They are in such a hurry to find Star Essence Gold and Chaos Breath Soil; the situation of the Return to Ruins Sea Eye is probably more serious than they said. Be careful with the Star Observatory deduction tomorrow, don't let them take the opportunity to spy on too much of the imperial dynasty's fortune or the secret of the star core in your body."

"I understand." Huangfu Hao's expression was grave. "I have discussed it with the Pavilion Master of Heavenly Secrets, and he will protect us in the dark. Brother Lin, your insights into Source Primordial Demonic Energy and Ruins Abyss Demonic Energy seem to be pointing to something?"

Lin Xuan pondered: "I perceive with chaotic tribulation power that the two are indeed different, but... at a higher level, they may come from the same vein, just in different forms of expression. If this is true, then the Return to Ruins Sea Eye and the Demonic Abyss rift in this realm are probably not isolated. The truth behind this may far exceed our imagination."

Huangfu Hao heard this, and his heart sank even more.

The next day, Star Observatory.

This platform is located in the northwest corner of the imperial palace, nine zhang nine high, built entirely of "Star Pattern Stone" that can gather star power, and is a place for past imperial dynasties to observe celestial phenomena and calculate national fortune. After the repair and blessing of the Pavilion Master of Heavenly Secrets, it looks even more mysterious.

Xing Lan, Man Shi, and Xue Chan were invited. Lin Xuan and Eunuch Wei accompanied Huangfu Hao, and the Pavilion Master of Heavenly Secrets was hidden in the dark.

Xing Lan took out an exquisite star disk and placed it in the groove in the center of the Star Observatory. The star disk automatically connected with the Star Observatory array, and suddenly, the night sky above the platform seemed to be pulled closer by an invisible force, the stars were exceptionally bright, and wisps of pure starlight were guided down, gathering on the star disk.

"Your Majesty, please inject a wisp of dragon energy into the star disk and visualize the shape and quality of 'Star Essence Gold'," Xing Lan said solemnly.

Huangfu Hao acted accordingly, and a wisp of pale golden dragon energy from his fingertip was injected into the star disk. The star disk hummed, and countless tiny starlights appeared on it, beginning to rotate and arrange slowly, seemingly deducing something.

Xing Lan closed his eyes, his hands forming seals, chanting words, and the starlight around his body flourished, merging with the star disk and the Star Observatory. His divine sense followed the starlight, seemingly spreading toward the depths of the boundless night sky.

Time passed bit by bit. The arrangement of starlight on the star disk became more and more complex, gradually outlining a blurred, constantly changing star chart.

Suddenly, Xing Lan's body trembled slightly, he groaned, and a wisp of blood spilled from the corner of his mouth! The starlight on the star disk was suddenly chaotic!

"Senior Brother Xing Lan!" the accompanying Star Palace disciples exclaimed.

"It's okay..." Xing Lan waved his hand, opened his eyes, and a trace of suspicion and fatigue flashed in his eyes. He looked at Huangfu Hao and said in a deep voice: "Your Majesty, the deduction is blocked. Star Essence Gold... seems to exist on the continent, but its heavenly secrets are covered and distorted by an extremely strong force, making it difficult to accurately locate. This covering force... is very strange, as if it is entangled with the earth's dragon veins and the imperial dynasty's fortune itself."

He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and continued: "In addition, during the deduction process, I vaguely sensed that... deep in the earth's veins of the continent, there seem to be more than one... 'hollow' or 'rift' related to demonic energy, one of which is near the imperial capital, but it is sealed by a stronger force. Another one... is in the south, very far and obscure."

As soon as these words came out, the faces of Huangfu Hao, Lin Xuan, and others all changed!

The "hollow" near the imperial capital was clearly the Demonic Abyss passage that Lin Xuan had temporarily sealed! And the one far in the south... did it refer to Star Fall Lake? Or... the Return to Ruins Eye of the Ten Thousand Demon Mountains? Or, another demonic den?

Xing Lan's deduction actually touched such core secrets!

"Fellow Daoist Xing Lan has worked hard." Huangfu Hao suppressed the shock in his heart and said in a deep voice, "I will order people to investigate the earth vein hollows mentioned by the Daoist. As for Star Essence Gold..."

Just then, an anomaly occurred!

Above the Star Observatory, the pure starlight that had been guided down suddenly became stained with a layer of extremely faint yet extremely uncomfortable dark red! At the same time, the dragon energy in Huangfu Hao's body surged violently without warning, emitting a low dragon roar with a warning meaning!

The Imperial Jade Seal he wore (repaired after damage) also became slightly hot!

"Dragon energy warning?!" Eunuch Wei exclaimed.

Gray-purple light flashed in Lin Xuan's eyes, and he looked up at the sky. Under the induction of chaotic tribulation power, he "saw" that the dark red was not the starlight itself changing color, but a kind of extremely obscure, evil-minded, and filthy strange power that had seeped in from somewhere, polluting part of the starlight that had been guided down!

"Something... is spying on this place through star induction!" Lin Xuan shouted, and shot out instantly!

He pointed like a sword, and a wisp of gray-purple Extinction Thunder Tribulation power shot out, not attacking anyone or anything, but slashing toward the invisible connection between the polluted starlight and the Star Observatory array!

"Swoosh—!"

As if burning off some invisible thread, the dark red faded rapidly, and the starlight returned to purity. The restlessness of the dragon energy also calmed down.

But everyone's heart sank.

Xing Lan's face was pale, and his gaze toward Lin Xuan was full of shock and gratitude: "Thank you, Fellow Daoist Lin! That just now was... Star Evil Filth? No, more evil... it seems to be some kind of... demonic thought, using the stars as a medium..."

Xue Chan and Man Shi also had grave expressions; they could also feel the evil spying that had flashed by just now.

The Pavilion Master of Heavenly Secrets' blurred figure appeared on the Star Observatory silently, his tone unprecedentedly serious:

"Not an ordinary demonic thought. It is a high-level demonic awareness that can distort and use star power... its source is probably not in this realm. Your deduction may have... alarmed some terrible existences sleeping in the depths of the starry sky, or exposed the coordinates of this realm."

He looked at Xing Lan, then at Huangfu Hao and Lin Xuan: "The Source Primordial Demonic Energy of the Return to Ruins Sea Eye, the Ruins Abyss Demonic Awareness you encountered, and the star demonic thought just now... I have a premonition that there is probably a darker thread connecting them that we have not yet seen."

"The Endless Hanhai and Tianyuan, seemingly far apart, are actually in the same invisible net. The real storm... may have just begun." ===== CHAPTER 129 =====