Chapter 84: Waves Outside the Valley

The death energy was like a burst levee of the Underworld River, surging and roaring, swallowing everything in its wake. The already dim Star Fall Valley now seemed to have transformed into a ghost realm; the gray, misty miasma was replaced by an impenetrable, ink-black death energy, from which faint, shrill shrieks like the wailing of ten thousand ghosts emerged, making one’s hair stand on end.

Lin Xuan took the lead, pushing his "Shrinking Ground to an Inch" to its limit. His figure flickered between the twisted terrain and the constantly collapsing spatial rifts, appearing hundreds of feet away with every step. He gripped the "Star Core" tightly in his hand; the vast and pure star power flowed continuously through his palm into his body, merging with his Chaos Dao Seed. This not only rapidly replenished his consumed spiritual power but also caused his comprehension of the "Great Circle Star Art (Fragmented)" to soar.

Leng Feng, Ye Chen, Huangfu Hao, the Heavenly Mystery Scholar, and the others also displayed their various abilities, doing their utmost to keep up behind Lin Xuan. At this moment, no one dared to hold back, nor did anyone have other thoughts; the tide of death behind them that destroyed everything was the best motivator. Even the haughty Huangfu Hao and the battle-hungry Ye Chen had to admit that in the face of such a cataclysmic disaster, individual strength appeared so insignificant.

The team sped along, not daring to pause for even a moment. Occasionally, demonic beasts infected by the death energy that had become incredibly violent would pounce from the sides, only to be easily resolved by Lin Xuan with a casual flick of his finger, his Star Annihilation Finger technique—imbued with a sliver of new insight—turning them into flying ash.

About half an hour later, the group finally rushed out of the Star Fall Valley’s perimeter and returned to the relatively "normal" outer region of the Southern Wilderness. Looking back, they saw the entire Star Fall Valley basin completely shrouded in thick, ink-black death energy, as if a massive, constantly writhing ink stain had been smeared across the earth—a sight that left one with lingering fear.

"Finally... escaped." A Demon Suppression Division cultivator collapsed to the ground, gasping for air, his face full of the relief of having survived a disaster.

The others were no better off, each having consumed a massive amount of spiritual power and looking exhausted. Only Lin Xuan, due to the continuous replenishment from the Star Core, had a steady aura, which even seemed to have improved slightly.

Everyone’s gaze once again focused involuntarily on him, especially on the crystal in his hand that emitted a soft starlight, appearing completely out of place in the surrounding Southern Wilderness environment.

Leng Feng took a deep breath, suppressing his roiling blood, and walked up to Lin Xuan, cupping his fists solemnly: "Fellow Daoist Lin, this time it is thanks to you again. If you hadn't detected the abnormality in time and led the breakout, we would likely..." He did not finish his sentence, but the meaning was self-evident. The power of that death energy eruption was such that even a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator would have had little chance of survival if caught within it.

"Commander Leng, there is no need for such formalities; we are merely in the same boat," Lin Xuan said calmly, his gaze sweeping over the group. "This is no place to linger. The mutation in Star Fall Valley may attract more attention or even unrest; we must leave the Southern Wilderness as soon as possible and return to report."

"Fellow Daoist Lin is absolutely right." The Heavenly Mystery Scholar nodded in agreement. He looked at the Star Core in Lin Xuan’s hand, a flash of realization and amazement in his eyes. "It seems this is what Fellow Daoist Lin obtained in the ruins? Judging by its aura, it should be a supreme treasure of the ancient star path, complementing your cultivation technique perfectly—truly heaven's will."

Huangfu Hao also reined in his thoughts and chimed in: "Congratulations to Fellow Daoist Lin for obtaining such an opportunity. However, the appearance of this item has caused quite a stir, and I fear..." He did not finish, but the warning was clear. A man who carries a treasure commits a crime, especially on the borders of the Southern Wilderness, where dragons and snakes are mixed.

Ye Chen was much more direct. He looked at Lin Xuan, his gaze burning: "You have become stronger. Once you stabilize what you have gained, a battle between us is inevitable."

Lin Xuan nodded at them in response. He naturally understood the principle of a man who carries a treasure committing a crime, but with the strength he had displayed, unless a Soul Transformation old monster personally intervened, he truly did not fear anyone coming to snatch it. With a thought, he attempted to store the Star Core into his dantian.

The moment the Star Core neared the Chaos Dao Seed, a sudden change occurred!

The Star Core seemed to be pulled by some force; without needing Lin Xuan to expend effort to refine it, it transformed directly into a stream of light and merged into the Chaos Dao Seed!

"Hum!"

Lin Xuan’s body trembled slightly, feeling as if a sea of stars had exploded within his dantian! The Chaos Dao Seed and the Star Core merged perfectly; countless fine starlight spots appeared on the surface of the Dao Seed, flowing slowly and self-evolving the wonders of the celestial stars. His perception and control over star power instantly surged several times over! The many profound meanings of the "Great Circle Star Art (Fragmented)," which he had only initially grasped, now flooded his mind as if water were flowing into a channel, beginning to deeply integrate with his own Chaos Dao.

For a moment, his aura leaked out uncontrollably. Although he retracted it instantly, the vast Dao rhyme that flashed for that split second—as if containing the universe and stars, governing the cycle of life and death—made Leng Feng, Ye Chen, and the others standing nearby change color in unison. They subconsciously took half a step back, horrified in their hearts!

"Late-stage Nascent Soul?! No... more than that! His Dao..." Leng Feng’s pupils constricted, unable to believe it. He felt that Lin Xuan’s realm seemed to have instantly crossed into the late-stage Nascent Soul, but the level of that Dao rhyme was far beyond what an ordinary late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator could possess!

Ye Chen gripped his sword tighter and tighter, the battle intent in his eyes growing stronger, yet also accompanied by an unprecedented gravity.

Huangfu Hao and the Heavenly Mystery Scholar exchanged glances, both seeing the shock in the other's eyes. This youth had already come into his own; he could not be fought, only befriended!

Lin Xuan himself was somewhat surprised. He had not expected the compatibility between the Star Core and the Chaos Dao Seed to be so high that they could merge directly, allowing his cultivation base to naturally step into the late-stage Nascent Soul, while his comprehension of the laws of stars advanced by leaps and bounds. He felt that if he were to use the Star Netherlight now, its power would be incomparable to before.

"A minor gain, I hope you all don't mind," Lin Xuan quickly calmed his aura, as if the previous phenomenon had just been an illusion.

The group remained silent, though their hearts were in turmoil. Such a "minor gain" was simply unheard of!

Just then, several powerful fluctuations of escape light appeared in the distant sky, speeding toward their direction. Clearly, the shocking mutation in Star Fall Valley had already attracted the attention of nearby experts.

Leng Feng’s expression turned stern: "It seems a quiet departure is impossible. Prepare to respond; it could be other teams exploring the ancient domain, or perhaps... some ghosts and monsters attracted by the phenomenon."

The group immediately composed themselves, each taking elixirs to recover their spiritual power, and looked vigilantly toward the direction of the incoming lights.

Soon, three figures appeared in their field of vision. Leading them was a beautiful woman in gorgeous palace attire, with a graceful temperament but a face as cold as frost; her spiritual power fluctuation was clearly that of a late-stage Nascent Soul! Behind her followed two old men: one with a crane-like appearance and youthful face, holding a whisk, his aura ethereal, also a late-stage Nascent Soul; the other was burly, carrying a door-sized giant sword on his back, his aura of malice soaring to the heavens, his cultivation at the peak of mid-stage Nascent Soul.

This trio’s lineup could be called luxurious!

"It’s the 'Ice Soul Fairy' Leng Ningshuang! Hasn't she always been in seclusion in the Northern Snow Mountains? Why has she come to the Southern Wilderness?" Huangfu Hao clearly recognized the beautiful woman in palace attire and exclaimed in a low voice.

"The one beside her is 'True Person Yunmiao,' skilled in array deduction, and the other is 'Giant Fault Sword' Shi Potian; both are long-established figures among rogue cultivators," the Heavenly Mystery Scholar added, his expression grave. The combined strength of these three far exceeded their own team, which had just experienced a fierce battle and was significantly depleted.

The three escape lights landed in front of the group. Leng Ningshuang’s cold gaze swept across the scene, lingering for a moment on the battered group and the distant Star Fall Valley shrouded in death energy, before finally settling on Lin Xuan, whose aura was the most stable and who seemed to be the core of the group.

"What happened here? What was the reason for that star light that pierced the heavens just now? And what about this erupting death energy?" Leng Ningshuang’s voice was like her moniker, carrying a chill as she questioned them unceremoniously, a powerful spiritual pressure permeating the air, laden with interrogation.

Leng Feng stepped forward, neither humble nor arrogant: "So it is Senior Ningshuang. This area is the mission zone for the Imperial Demon Suppression Division. We were merely clearing out remnants of the Nether Sect when we inadvertently triggered a residual restriction of the ancient domain, causing a backlash of death energy. As for the star light, it was a phenomenon produced when breaking the restriction, which has now subsided. We are just about to return to report."

He attempted to define the situation and bring up the name of the Imperial Demon Suppression Division, hoping to make the other party have some reservations.

"Nether Sect? Ancient domain restriction?" A mocking curve appeared at the corner of Leng Ningshuang’s mouth. "Commander Leng, do you think I am a three-year-old child? Could such pure and vast star power be possessed by an ordinary restriction? And this fellow Daoist..." Her gaze locked onto Lin Xuan again, a flash of surprise and suspicion in her eyes; she found herself unable to see through this seemingly young cultivator.

"On your person, Fellow Daoist, star Dao rhyme flows, originating from the same source as the phenomenon just now. The object that triggered the phenomenon must be in your hands, right?" True Person Yunmiao stroked his beard and spoke, his gaze wise, as if he could see through falsehoods.

The Giant Fault Sword Shi Potian snorted coldly, his voice like a booming bell: "Boy, hand over the treasure, lest you bring disaster upon yourself!"

The atmosphere instantly became tense!

Leng Feng, Ye Chen, and the others’ expressions darkened, their spiritual power secretly circulating. The other party was going to rob them openly!

Facing the pressure of three late-stage Nascent Soul cultivators (including two at the peak), Lin Xuan remained calm. He slowly stepped forward, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Leng Feng, and looked at the three of them with a detached gaze.

"The item is indeed with me," he admitted frankly, his voice not loud but clearly reaching everyone’s ears. "However, this item has a predestined affinity with me and has already recognized me as its master. Are you three fellow Daoists intending to seize it by force?"

The moment his voice fell, an invisible yet vast and majestic momentum spread out from him as the center! It was not simple spiritual pressure, but a supreme Dao rhyme that seemed to originate from the beginning of heaven and earth, governing chaos and evolving the starry sky!

Under this Dao rhyme, Leng Ningshuang’s icy spiritual pressure melted like spring snow, True Person Yunmiao’s insightful gaze became obscure, and Shi Potian’s soaring malice stalled slightly!

The three of them changed color simultaneously, their eyes filled with unbelievable shock as they looked at Lin Xuan!

"Dao rhyme materialized... touching the threshold of Soul Transformation?! You..." Leng Ningshuang exclaimed, losing all her previous cold composure.

They finally understood why Leng Feng and the others followed this person, and why he could remain unscathed during the mutation in Star Fall Valley! This person’s strength was absolutely not below any of theirs, and perhaps... even stronger!

To rob a powerhouse of unknown strength who might have touched the threshold of Soul Transformation and whose treasure had already recognized them as master? The cost would likely far exceed their imagination.

The scene fell into an eerie silence. The wind of the Southern Wilderness blew past, carrying a hint of tension and murderous intent.