Chapter 175: Peering into Secrets in the Blind Spot

Perception, like a fish on a line, followed the unprecedentedly clear "path of belonging" created after the demonic seed was "knocked upon." It pierced through the heavy disguises and distortions of the "Chaos Mirror Restriction," crossed the cold, viscous deep-sea sludge, avoided countless violent and filthy energy turbulence, and cautiously probed toward that dark region marked as the "absolute blind spot," where even starlight and spiritual sense seemed to be completely swallowed.

All of Zhao Yuan's focus was attached to this strand of perception composed of "Chaos Star Radiance." With the stability of the "Star Source Anchoring Array" and the cover of the "Chaos Mirror Restriction," he could clearly "feel" that the connection between himself and the "distortion core" had never been so "close." He could even vaguely "hear" a fluctuation mixed with satisfaction and greed emanating from that cold will, triggered by the "beacon" becoming "clear" (albeit disguised) once again.

But at this moment, his target was not the "distortion core," but something deeper.

The speed at which his perception extended was extremely fast, yet it felt incomparably slow. All around was endless darkness and chaos; only the dark red "resonance trajectory," composed of "filthy contract runes" and the Demon Abyss mark, was clearly visible, like a bloody umbilical cord in the darkness, pointing the way.

Finally, after an unknown amount of "traveling."

In front of his perception, the eternal darkness suddenly changed.

It did not become bright, but rather... became more "heavy" and more "viscous"! It was as if the darkness itself had mass and substance, transforming into a boundless, slowly writhing "sea of shadows." In this "sea of shadows" floated countless larger, more ancient fragments of stellar skeletons, as well as some indescribable, semi-illusory dark red "reefs" that seemed to be composed of solidified resentment and despair.

And in the very center of the "sea of shadows"—

Zhao Yuan's "perception" suddenly stalled!

There, suspended in the air, was... an "egg"!

A giant egg, vast beyond imagination, composed entirely of the filthiest dark red and dark purple energy crystals, its surface covered in constantly pulsing, twisting "filthy contract runes" and hideous, vein-like structures!

The shape of the giant egg was irregular, more like a deformed aggregate squeezed and fused together by force, existing somewhere between stellar remains and flesh. Its diameter was estimated to exceed a thousand zhang, quietly suspended at the core of the "sea of shadows," pulsing slowly like a heart. Every pulse caused the entire surrounding "sea of shadows" to vibrate, emitting an even denser aura of filthy star baleful energy and blood resentment.

What was even more soul-shattering was that directly above the giant egg, at the "dome" of the "sea of shadows," countless immensely thick chains, flickering with eerie dark gold and dark purple light, hung down! These chains were not physical entities, but were condensed from highly concentrated, materialized "filthy contract laws" and the "force of star-fall backlash"! One end of them was deeply embedded into the unknowable dark void above, while the other end, like countless vicious suckers and roots, was tightly wrapped around and pierced into the top of the dark red giant egg, as if they were continuously transporting something into the egg, or perhaps... binding and imprisoning it!

And inside the giant egg, through the semi-transparent, constantly twisting filthy crystal walls, Zhao Yuan vaguely "saw" a shadow outline that was even more massive, more twisted, and radiated a terrifying aura that froze the soul! The outline seemed to possess multiple limbs and an extremely unnatural form, as if it were forcibly pieced together from countless broken stellar spines, twisted tentacles, and rotting giant maws, slowly writhing and growing in tandem with the giant egg's pulse! A cold will, even more ancient, violent, and closer to the essence of a "mad star god" than the "distortion core," was emitting a faint yet incomparably clear "fetal movement" fluctuation from within that shadow, like a sleeping ancient beast!

This was the "other half"! This was the "target" that the "distortion core" was desperate to reach and merge with! An embryo of a "Star Skeleton Evil God" that had been imprisoned and sealed here for endless years by the backlash of ancient contracts and the pollution of the Demon Abyss, yet was still slowly "gestating," attempting to break free from its bonds?! Or perhaps, it was the core "divine remains" and collection of resentment left behind when a certain "Star God" fell and was twisted and corrupted during the "Three Enclosures Star God" contract backlash?!

And the "distortion core" itself was very likely a part of the "tentacles" or "extended organs" separated from this "Star Skeleton Evil God embryo," wandering in the sea eye to absorb nutrients, and now the time had come to return to the main body to assist in its complete "birth" or "resurrection"!

Just as Zhao Yuan's mind was reeling from the shock of this terrifying sight—

"Hum—!"

Inside that dark red giant egg, within that massive shadow outline, an "eyelid" composed of countless shattered stellar crystals, which had been tightly closed, seemed to... twitch ever so slightly!

Immediately following this, a cold, violent, grand will filled with endless hunger and extreme rage at being "peered upon" erupted like an awakened volcano from the gap in the "eyelid," slamming fiercely into the perception Zhao Yuan had extended!

The level of this will far surpassed the "distortion core"! It carried the true, terrifying pressure of a "star" authority after it had fallen and been twisted, as well as the ultimate resentment and poison of having been imprisoned for eons!

"Ant... how dare you... peer upon... the god's... embryo?!"

The intermittent yet terrifying intent, which seemed to resound directly in the depths of his soul, carried a torrent of filthy star baleful energy capable of freezing thought and polluting the Dao foundation, and surged back along Zhao Yuan's perception channel!

The "Chaos Mirror Restriction" trembled violently! Countless distorted images on its surface shattered instantly! The strand of "Chaos Star Radiance" that Zhao Yuan was attached to began to disintegrate and dissolve instantly, like thin ice exposed to the scorching sun! Even more terrifyingly, that horrific will and the torrent of filth were attempting to follow this connection, which was about to snap, to invade Zhao Yuan's sea of consciousness in reverse, pollute his "Chaos Star Radiance," and even... attack his soul origin directly through the demonic seed!

"Not good!" In the quiet room at the earth's core, Lin Xuan's expression changed drastically! He had been monitoring the state of the restriction, and at this moment, without the slightest hesitation, his hand seals changed abruptly!

"Chaos Return to Ruins! Mirror Shatter!"

The "Chaos Mirror Restriction" shrouding Zhao Yuan collapsed inward with a boom and exploded! It transformed into countless fine, gray blades containing the true meaning of "Return to Ruins," slashing fiercely toward the incoming filthy will and the torrent of star baleful energy! At the same time, he instantly severed all connections between Zhao Yuan's strand of perception, the demonic seed, and the outside world!

Pfft—!

Zhao Yuan was struck as if by a heavy blow, violently spitting out a large mouthful of blood mixed with pale golden starlight and dark purple stains! His body flew backward, slamming hard against the wall of the quiet room before sliding down limply. His face was as pale as paper, blood spilled from his seven orifices simultaneously, his sea of consciousness felt as if it were being pierced by billions of steel needles, his Nascent Soul trembled violently, and the cracks that had just healed split open again in several places! The light of his "Chaos Star Radiance" dimmed, nearly collapsing.

But at the same time, he had successfully forcibly branded the final key information and "images" he had "captured" regarding the "Star Skeleton giant egg" and the "contract chains" deep within his spiritual sense.

"Zhao Yuan!" Lin Xuan's figure flashed, appearing beside Zhao Yuan. A vast and gentle Chaos Tribulation power immediately surged into his body to protect his heart meridian and the Nascent Soul core, while simultaneously guiding the power of the "Star Source Marrow" and "Star Essence" fragments to perform emergency nourishment and purification.

True Person Beichen, Elder Ling Shuang, and the others also gathered around, their expressions extremely grim. They could feel the filthy and terrifying will that had erupted from the quiet room just a moment ago, which made even them, experts at the late and peak stages of the Nascent Soul realm, feel a sense of palpitation.

It took a full stick of incense's time, with everyone working together to treat him, for Zhao Yuan to barely stabilize his injuries. He slowly opened his eyes, which still held lingering fear and pain, but more than that, a clarity of having survived a disaster.

"What... did you see?" Wei Gongshen's voice sounded outside the quiet room, filled with urgency.

Zhao Yuan sat up with Lin Xuan's support, panting for a moment before speaking with difficulty. He described, in broken sentences, the scenes he had "seen" regarding the "sea of shadows," the "Star Skeleton giant egg," the "contract chains," and the terrifying will of the "Star Skeleton Evil God embryo."

Every sentence made the expressions of those present grow uglier. When they heard "Star Skeleton Evil God embryo," "contract chain imprisonment," and "distortion core as a returning part," even Wei Gongshen could not help but gasp.

"So that's how it is... so that's how it is!" True Person Beichen's voice trembled. "No wonder the ancient Star-Fall people could not completely purify it even with the full strength of their civilization, and could only seal it... That is actually the core remains of the 'Star God' itself, which fell and corrupted during the backlash of that year! It has been imprisoned at the deepest part of the sea eye by the power of the contract backlash and some even more ancient force! The Demon Abyss has been trying to pollute and catalyze this 'Evil God embryo' all these years, using the 'distortion core' as an extension to transport nutrients to it, helping it break free from its bonds and completely 'be born'!"

"Once it successfully merges and breaks the chains..." Elder Ling Shuang's voice was cold. "A complete 'Evil God,' birthed by the remains of a fallen Star God and the pollution of the Demon Abyss, descending upon this world... the consequences are unimaginable! I fear the entire Vast Sea, and even the continent, will be reduced to a land of blood and food!"

Qian Mou wiped the cold sweat from his forehead: "We must stop the fusion! We must destroy the 'distortion core' before it reaches the blind spot and makes contact with the giant egg! Or... destroy those 'contract chains' connecting to the giant egg? The chains seem to be both an imprisonment and a supply channel; if we can cut them..."

Lin Xuan listened in silence, the light in his Chaos Tribulation Pupils rotating rapidly, clearly performing rapid deductions. A moment later, he said slowly: "Cutting the chains might delay its 'birth,' and could even trigger a backlash, severely wounding the 'embryo.' But the chains are formed by the ancient contract backlash laws and unknown forces; they are incomparably sturdy and contain terrifying backlash curses, making them difficult to shake with ordinary power."

He looked at Zhao Yuan, whose aura was withered but whose eyes were firm: "However... Zhao Yuan's newly comprehended 'Chaos Star Radiance' possesses the 'slashing' of annihilation, the 'oneness' of stars, and the 'change' of chaos. Perhaps... it can have a special restraining and destructive effect on those chains that are of the same origin (stars) yet polluted (filthy contracts). It is just that, with his current state and cultivation base, it is far from enough."

Master Yan Lie stood up abruptly: "Then help him improve! Throw resources at him! Use the best elixirs, the most powerful arrays! Can't the 'Star Source Marrow' still be used? Keep pouring it in! I will even take out my 'Soul-Tempering Fire' that I've been saving! As long as it can make his 'Chaos Star Radiance' a bit stronger, enough to cut those damn chains, that's all that matters!"

A fierce look flashed in Wei Gongshen's eyes, and he made the final decision: "Let's do it! Gather all the resources of the alliance, at any cost, to help Young Master Zhao Yuan raise his 'Chaos Star Radiance' to a level capable of threatening the 'contract chains' in the shortest possible time! At the same time, all delay and interference arrays are to operate at full power to buy time for Zhao Yuan! Fellow Daoist Lin, you are fully responsible for coordinating the improvement! If you need anything, just ask!"

Lin Xuan nodded: "Time is tight, we must take risks. I need to take Zhao Yuan back into the depths of the 'Star Tempering Platform,' combining the 'Star Source Marrow,' 'Star Essence' fragments, 'Soul-Tempering Fire,' and even more extreme stellar environments to carry out the most violent tempering and fusion. The process is dangerous, the pain far exceeds anything before, and there is even a risk of his foundation being completely destroyed. Zhao Yuan, do you dare?"

Zhao Yuan wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, struggled to stand straight, his gaze sweeping over everyone before finally landing on Lin Xuan's face. He revealed a pale yet incomparably firm smile: "Why would I not dare? This life of mine was picked up to begin with. If I can use this broken body to sever the Evil God's shackles and win a glimmer of survival for my human race, even if my soul were to scatter, I would have no regrets!"

"Good!" Lin Xuan said no more, grabbing Zhao Yuan to steady him. "There is no time to lose, let's go now!"

Everyone watched as Lin Xuan took Zhao Yuan and transformed into a stream of light, once again throwing themselves toward the "Star Tempering Platform" at the southeast corner of the island, their eyes filled with anticipation, worry, and determination.

And just as they were busy preparing for this final "chain-severing" operation.

Deep in the Return to Ruins sea eye, the "distortion core" that was accelerating its movement seemed to become even more "excited" and "urgent" due to the brief awakening and anger of the "Star Skeleton giant egg's" will. Its movement speed actually increased slightly on top of what was already a high speed!

At the same time, the sea eye monitoring array sent out even more urgent alarms—the runes on the surface of those dark golden chains connecting to the "Star Skeleton giant egg," specifically those near the direction of the "distortion core's" movement, were becoming bright and active at a speed visible to the naked eye, as if they were... "welcoming" the return of something!

The fetal movement grew increasingly violent.

The time left for Star Fragment Island, for Zhao Yuan, and for the entire alliance... was running out.

(End of Volume Nine [A Single Spark Starts a Prairie Fire])