Chapter 172

Star-Fragment Isle, Guest Reception Hall.

This palace, located on the northwest side of the island and usually used to receive distinguished guests, was currently filled with a solemn and hidden agitation. The formations in the hall were fully opened, isolating the inside from the outside, and the dome inlaid with bright pearls cast a soft yet bright radiance, illuminating the different expressions of everyone in the hall.

Wei Gong sat in the main seat, his expression solemn with a trace of imperceptible expectation. Lin Xuan sat quietly on the lower left of Wei Gong, his green robe simple, his aura restrained, only the light halo occasionally flowing in his Chaos Tribulation Pupils revealing his extraordinary nature. Zhao Yuan sat slightly behind Lin Xuan, his complexion still pale, but his posture was straight, his eyes calm, and he was silently observing everyone in the hall.

In the center of the hall stood two groups of people, distinct from each other, but all emitting an aura that could not be underestimated.

The group on the left was led by a middle-aged man in a luxurious purple-gold robe, without a beard, with narrow and shrewd eyes, who was Qian Wantong, the "Golden Abacus," one of the three major shopkeepers under the Pavilion Master of the continent's number one chamber of commerce, the "Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion." Behind him followed several attendants with steady auras and sharp eyes, clearly guards and appraisers. Qian Wantong had a slick smile peculiar to merchants on his face, but his eyes occasionally swept over Lin Xuan and Zhao Yuan, especially lingering on the ancient "Jiying" sword at Zhao Yuan's waist, a flash of surprise appearing.

The group on the right was led by an old man with a short stature but unusually thick arms and fire-red hair and beard, who was "Master Fire-Refining" Yan Lie, one of the three major elders of the continent's weapon-refining holy land, the "Heavenly Workshop." The disciples behind him all had scorching auras, and faint magic tool spiritual light flowed on their bodies. Master Yan Lie's temper was obviously fiery and direct, and at this moment, he was staring with a pair of copper-bell eyes, undisguisedly sizing up Lin Xuan, his eyes full of exploration and a trace of... excitement at seeing a hunter?

"Wei Gong is here, Venerable Lin is well, young master Zhao is well." Qian Wantong was the first to arch his hands, smiling, "The Demonic Abyss is a disaster, the Sea Eye has changed, and the world is shaken. Although my Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion is a merchant, I also know the principle that if the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold. Hearing the news, the Pavilion Master specially ordered Qian to bring heavy treasures and secret news, rushing to Star-Fragment Isle day and night, to do my meager part."

Master Yan Lie snorted, his voice like a bell: "Our Heavenly Workshop doesn't have so many twists and turns! Venerable Lin closed the Demonic Abyss crack with Chaos Tribulation Power and turned the tide, and this old man admires it! That filthy thing in the Sea Eye sounds evil! We brought some junk left by our ancestors that specializes in restraining filthy star power, and a stone that has been at the bottom of the box for I don't know how many years, to see if it can help!"

The two had different styles, but their sincerity did not seem fake.

Wei Gong nodded slightly. "The two of you have come from afar, sending charcoal in the snow, and this old man thanks you on behalf of the Alliance. I wonder what treasures the two of you have brought? What advice do you have?"

Qian Wantong smiled slightly, not selling it. He took out a jade slip from his bosom that was neither gold nor jade, was pale green all over, and had countless fine runes flowing on its surface, and offered it with both hands: "This is the secret treasure of my Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion—a fragment of the 'Zhou Tian Star Purification Great Formation.' According to research, this formation originates from a branch of the ancient 'Star-Falling People' and is specifically used to purify negative energy such as resentment and blood evil mixed in star power, and has a miraculous effect on stabilizing star barriers and resisting homologous pollution. Although it is a fragment, the core formation principles and several purification runes are preserved quite completely, which may provide some inspiration for your island's defensive formations and research on Sea Eye pollution."

"Zhou Tian Star Purification Great Formation"! Only two words different from the "Zhou Tian Star Dou Formation" of Star-Fragment Isle, but its efficacy was specialized in "purification"! Hearing this, True Person Beichen's eyes suddenly erupted with scorching light. If it weren't for etiquette, he would probably have stepped forward to snatch it. The value of this object to the Star Palace and Star-Fragment Isle was immeasurable!

Master Yan Lie was not to be outdone. With a wave of his big hand, a disciple behind him immediately held up a heavy box, three feet square, made of "Spirit-Sealing Black Iron." The moment the box opened, a pure star energy aura that was cool, vast, yet carried the sedimentation of time, instantly filled the entire hall! Even Lin Xuan was slightly moved.

The box was lined with soft star-patterned brocade, and on the brocade lay an object quietly.

It was a strange crystal about the size of a human head, irregular in shape, deep dark blue all over, and inside it seemed to be sealed a miniature, eternally rotating brilliant galaxy! The surface of the crystal was not smooth, with natural concave and convex textures like star trajectories, and at this moment, it was emitting soft and steady dark blue starlight with the opening of the box, illuminating the surroundings like a dream.

What was even stranger was that the star power emitted by this crystal seemed to be... even more pure and essential than that "Star Essence" fragment! And its fluctuations carried an indescribable "stability" and "bearing" meaning, as if it could suppress all vanity and anchor all things' souls.

"This is... 'Star Source Marrow'?!" True Person Beichen exclaimed, his voice changing. "A miraculous object that only has a one-in-a-billion chance of being born under the extreme conditions of a star core's extinction and collapse, condensing the most essential source power and 'non-perishable' Dao rhyme of the stars?! This object... isn't it already extinct?!"

Master Yan Lie stroked his fire-red beard proudly: "Hmph! You have some discernment! This piece of 'Star Source Marrow' was brought back by our Heavenly Workshop's founding ancestor after a narrow escape while exploring an ancient Star-Falling ruin, and has always been offered as a treasure of the workshop. This thing is extremely hard; no divine fire can refine it, and no formation can be carved on it. Apart from emitting some pure star power to nourish the soul and being a decoration, it is useless! It's just gathering dust!"

He changed the subject and pointed to Zhao Yuan: "But before coming, we heard that this young friend Zhao carries star inheritance and is stained with some demonic seed, and his soul is unstable. I pondered, this broken stone has no other ability, but it is 'stable'! Stable as a turtle! Can it be used as an 'anchor' for him to stabilize his soul, and by the way, guide some star power to help him cultivate?"

Qian Wantong also added at the right time, looking at Lin Xuan: "There are also sporadic records in the ancient books of my pavilion that 'Star Source Marrow' has an extremely strong suppression and isolation effect on all soul-level erosion, pollution, and turmoil due to its extremely high essence and extremely stable nature. Perhaps... it can play a certain 'isolation' or 'weakening' role on the demonic seed that resonates with the Sea Eye core within young friend Zhao? Of course, how to use it specifically still needs the deliberation of great beings like Venerable Lin."

Star Source Marrow! An ancient miraculous object that specializes in restraining soul erosion, stabilizing Dao foundation, and guiding pure star power!

Whether it was the fragment of the "Zhou Tian Star Purification Great Formation" or this "Star Source Marrow," it could be called a "symptomatic medicine" that pointed directly to the current predicament of Star-Fragment Isle and Zhao Yuan! The Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion and the Heavenly Workshop had really spent their blood this time, and also showed amazing intelligence ability and determination.

Wei Gong took a deep breath, suppressed the excitement in his heart, stood up solemnly, and bowed solemnly to Qian Wantong and Master Yan Lie: "The two of you have brought heavy gifts, which are truly timely rain! The Alliance will keep it in mind! In the future, if there is any need, as long as it does not violate the great righteousness, Star-Fragment Isle and even the Alliance will definitely repay it!"

Qian Wantong returned the salute hurriedly: "Wei Gong is too polite, we are all of the human race, it should be so." Master Yan Lie waved his hand: "Stop with these empty words! Just use the things! Hurry up and see if that kid can use this stone!"

Everyone's eyes focused on Zhao Yuan.

Lin Xuan had already stood up, walked to the "Star Source Marrow," his Chaos Tribulation Pupils flickering, sensing carefully. After a moment, he nodded: "The essence of this object is indeed extremely high, and its 'stability' and 'bearing' Dao rhyme will also be of great help to my deployment of the 'Chaos maze.' If the source star power is stimulated by a specific formation, combined with the power of the 'Star Essence' fragment, it may be possible to build a 'Star Source Anchoring Formation' for Zhao Yuan that stabilizes the soul, isolates demonic seed resonance, and accelerates his cultivation recovery."

He looked at Zhao Yuan: "Are you willing to try? Using this as an 'anchor,' combined with treatment, the process may be faster, the pain may be slightly reduced, but deep binding with this object may also bring unknown changes."

Zhao Yuan did not hesitate, stood up, and bowed deeply to Qian Wantong and Master Yan Lie: "Thank you two seniors for your generous gift! This junior is willing to try!" A firm light shone in his eyes. He would never let go of any opportunity that could accelerate recovery and increase the chips to resist the demonic seed and the Sea Eye.

"Good!" Master Yan Lie slapped his thigh, "Then hurry up and do it! If you need any materials or manpower, our Heavenly Workshop will cover it! Qian fatty, your Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion's formations are powerful, so you should contribute more to the deployment of that purification formation!"

Qian Wantong smiled and nodded: "It should be so. Time is pressing, please arrange the venue, Wei Gong, we will discuss the formation details with Venerable Lin and Elder Beichen immediately."

Immediately, everyone stopped exchanging pleasantries and entered into intense preparations.

The formation location was chosen in a "Geocentric Quiet Room" deep underground in the Star-Fixing Hall, where the earth veins and star power converged most stably. This place was deep in the core of the island, with heavy formation protection, and external interference was reduced to the minimum.

With Lin Xuan as the lead, the core team consisting of True Person Beichen, the formation masters brought by Qian Wantong, and Master Yan Lie and his disciples began to design and deploy this unprecedented "Star Source Anchoring Formation" based on the principles of the "Zhou Tian Star Purification Great Formation" fragment, combined with the characteristics of the "Star Source Marrow," Zhao Yuan's physical condition, and the power of the "Star Essence" fragment.

The formation was extremely complex. The core was naturally the "Star Source Marrow," which was placed on a special star-gold base engraved with countless guidance and amplification runes. Around it, "Star Essence" fragments were used as auxiliary eyes to deploy nine layers of nested purification and stabilization rune rings. Further out was the huge formation map borrowed from the principles of the Purification Great Formation, specifically used to filter, transform, and guide star power, almost covering the entire floor and part of the walls of the quiet room.

The material consumption was huge, many of which were treasures brought by the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion and the Heavenly Workshop. The deployment process required extremely fine control and cooperation, and any slight mistake could lead to formation failure or even backlash. Lin Xuan's Chaos Tribulation Power played a key role of reconciliation and stabilization, especially when communicating with high-essence miraculous objects like "Star Source Marrow," the inclusive and defining characteristics of Chaos power made it possible to guide the star power in the marrow more smoothly.

Three days and three nights, without sleep or rest.

When the last rune in the Geocentric Quiet Room was lit, the entire formation emitted a low hum, as if the stars were rotating, and dark blue and gray light intertwined and flowed, forming a stable and mysterious energy field. Everyone who participated in the formation deployment, including Lin Xuan, showed a tired but relieved expression.

"The formation is complete." Lin Xuan's voice was slightly hoarse, but his eyes were bright. "Zhao Yuan, enter the center of the formation and sit in front of the 'Star Source Marrow.' I will guide the power of the formation to build a 'Star Source Anchor' for you. The process requires you to cooperate with all your might, open your mind, and guide the newborn 'Chaos starlight' to resonate with the star power in the marrow."

Zhao Yuan took a deep breath, walked into the center of the formation where light flowed, and sat cross-legged in front of the "Star Source Marrow" that was emitting deep dark blue starlight. A cool, vast, yet incomparably heavy aura rushed toward his face, making his spirit lift, and even the demonic seed in his consciousness sea seemed to restrain its restlessness under the pressure of this pure and noble star origin aura.

He closed his eyes, fully operated the newborn, weak "Chaos starlight," and slowly let go of his guard against external energy.

Lin Xuan pressed his hands down, and Chaos Tribulation Power was injected into the formation core.

Hum—!

The light in the quiet room flourished! The "Star Source Marrow" erupted with brilliant dark blue starlight, as if a sleeping star had been awakened! The pure star origin power, like a tide, surged out, and after being purified, transformed, and guided by the layers of formations around it, it turned into a gentle yet majestic star power light pillar, shrouding Zhao Yuan.

At the same time, the purification power of the "Star Essence" fragment was also stimulated, turning into wisps of dark blue light bands, merging into the star power light pillar, giving it stronger purification and protection characteristics.

Zhao Yuan only felt a kind of indescribable, cool and heavy power pouring in from the Baihui acupoint on the top of his head, instantly flowing through his limbs and bones, surging into his dantian, nourishing the Nascent Soul covered in cracks! The moment this power touched his own "Chaos starlight," it actually produced a wonderful resonance and fusion! His "Chaos starlight" was like parched land receiving sweet rain, becoming strong and solid at a speed visible to the naked eye! The cracks on the Nascent Soul, under the triple nourishment of the Star Source Marrow origin, Star Essence purification, and his own newborn power, began to heal and consolidate at an unprecedented speed!

More importantly, a powerful and stable "anchoring" force was emitted from the depths of the "Star Source Marrow," like invisible roots, deeply piercing into Zhao Yuan's consciousness sea and Nascent Soul core! Under the suppression of this force, the evil fluctuations emitted by the demonic seed in the consciousness sea were forcibly suppressed and isolated! Those "resonance" signals that attempted to transmit outward seemed to have hit an invisible and heavy "Star Source Wall," becoming extremely weak, distorted, and difficult to penetrate!

The demonic seed itself seemed to feel the high and pure star power suppression that made it extremely uncomfortable, and began to struggle crazily, dark purple light flickering, attempting to impact the invisible "anchoring." But under the suppression of the "Star Source Marrow" at the essence level and the layer-by-layer weakening of the formation power, its struggle appeared futile and powerless.

Zhao Yuan's heart was settled! He could clearly feel that there was an extra layer of solid "buffer" and "isolation" between him and the demonic seed. Although the demonic seed still existed and erosion continued, its activity and threat were temporarily suppressed to the lowest point! And, in this state, the "danger" of him perceiving the demonic seed and parsing its connection with the Sea Eye core seemed to have decreased a little?

"Focus! Take this opportunity to consolidate the Nascent Soul, strengthen the starlight, and try to comprehend the fusion of 'Chaos starlight' and Star Source power at a deeper level!" Lin Xuan's voice was like a steady rock, ringing in Zhao Yuan's consciousness.

Zhao Yuan immediately restrained his mind and fully guided this majestic and pure power, beginning deep cultivation.

In the Geocentric Quiet Room, starlight flowed, and formation patterns flickered.

Zhao Yuan's aura began to climb and stabilize bit by bit at a steady speed.

And at the same time that the "Star Source Anchoring Formation" was successfully activated and Zhao Yuan entered deep cultivation.

Deep in the Return-to-Ruins Sea Eye, in that "void of existence."

Deep in the viscous "fluid" flickering with dark gold and dark purple starlight, that "embryo" wrapped in filth seemed to sense a signal of an important "coordinate"... suddenly becoming extremely weak, nearly severed!

A cold will mixed with doubt, anger, and deeper greed slowly diffused in the "fluid."

Its newborn, tiny energy "veins" began to squirm and explore more actively, as if searching for the trace of the "delicious prey" that had suddenly "disappeared"...