0p0 Chapter 1020 The Starlight Elder
Chapter 1020 The Starlight Elder
About two and a half hours later, the scenery ahead began to change.
The originally dense and chaotic fragments of stellar debris gradually thinned out, and the silver light of the spatial turbulence was no longer so dazzling and turbulent.
A relatively empty "void lake" appeared in front of them, and in the center of the lake, a complex of buildings far larger than Chuchen Post Station floated silently.
It was not a single palace, but a complex of buildings consisting of several silver-white towers, domed halls, and winding covered bridges, with an ancient and strange style, full of the geometric beauty and star rune decorations unique to the creators of the starry sky.
The entire complex is enveloped in a soft, pale golden light, with star-like shadows slowly swirling on its surface, radiating a stable and powerful spatial anchoring force.
The most eye-catching feature is the tallest spire in the center of the complex. Instead of an ordinary pointed top, a multifaceted crystal, several meters in diameter, is suspended above it and slowly rotates.
The crystal seemed to contain a miniature galaxy, with countless points of light moving along mysterious trajectories within it, emanating a powerful and pure aura of stellar origin.
“Zhongchen Post Station.” Chen Xueqing’s weak but excited voice rang in Yu Changsheng’s mind. “I have an impression of it in my inherited memories!”
This is an important transit and supply station set up by the Starry Sky Forgers between the outer and middle sections of the ancient road, with a protection level far exceeding that of the Chuchen Station!
Look at that 'Starry Sky Core' at the top of the tower; it's the key to maintaining the relay station's formation and also a 'beacon' guiding the star route!
Yu Changsheng's spirits lifted, and he quickened his pace.
As one gets closer, it becomes clear that while the light shield of Zhongchen Post Station remains intact, many buildings show obvious signs of damage. Some towers have collapsed, and the covered bridges are broken, indicating that they have also suffered from the erosion of a long period of time and unknown disasters.
However, the overall structure remains intact, with the central spire and the core of the galaxy perfectly preserved, emanating an aura of stability that cannot be faked.
Just as they were less than a thousand feet away from the golden light shield of the post station, another unexpected event occurred!
It did not come from inside the post station, nor from the pursuers behind them, but from a seemingly calm void to their side.
"Om-!"
Without warning, the void twisted violently, as if being squeezed by an invisible hand, and then suddenly tore open a pitch-black rift hundreds of feet long!
The edges of the crack were not smooth, but covered with serrated, wriggling, and multiplying dark green fleshy buds, emitting a pungent, nauseating stench and a cold, greedy will that was of the same origin as the Devouring Nest but even more pure and violent!
"Hiss—Roar—!"
A deafening roar, mixed with the agonizing screams of countless creatures, burst forth from the rift.
Immediately afterwards, an unimaginably huge claw, covered with dark green scales and pale white bone spurs, slowly emerged from the crack!
The claw, even just the fingertips, was as big as a small mountain!
Thick, dark green pus, corroding the void, flowed from its claws. Wherever it passed, even the space itself emitted a sizzling sound, becoming polluted and eroded, leaving wounds that would never heal.
Even more terrifying was that as the claws extended, the will emanating from the other end of the rift, filled with hunger and destruction, firmly locked onto Zhongchen Post Station—and Yu Changsheng and his group who were approaching the station!
"Void Beast!"
Chen Xueqing gasped in shock as the terrifying records from her inherited memories flooded her mind.
"When the ancient road collapsed, powerful star beasts or extradimensional creatures that were swept into the deep void were corrupted and mutated by chaotic energy and negative will!"
They feed on stellar energy and spatial structures, and especially like to attack the relay nodes left by the Starry Sky Forgers, devouring the 'beacon' cores within them!
This...this aura definitely surpasses the Nascent Soul stage, and is probably approaching...the Void Refinement stage!
Refining the void!
These two words struck everyone's hearts like a heavy hammer. The fleeting sense of relief that had just arisen from seeing hope was instantly frozen and crushed.
Elder Qingyi's face was ashen, and Elder Jianchen's sword-wielding hand was bulging with veins, yet he felt utterly powerless. Faced with a being at the Refinement Void level, even with Yu Changsheng, the newly promoted Nascent Soul cultivator, they were like ants facing a mountain.
Yu Changsheng's pupils contracted sharply, and his heart sank.
The slight sense of pride and confidence that came with just rebuilding the Dao Embryo and advancing to the Divine Transformation stage seemed so insignificant under the overwhelming pressure of the Void Refining Technique.
The mere existence of the claw protruding from the crack caused the space around him to begin to solidify, making it extremely difficult to maintain the star passage.
We can't tough it out!
They might not even have time to escape!
The Void Beast's target was clearly the Star River Core of Zhongchenyi, but they happened to be blocking its way and became the first "appetizer" to be attacked!
In the blink of an eye, Yu Changsheng's mind raced.
A direct confrontation would mean certain death; should we simply flee to the post station?
Judging from the beast's imposing presence, it remains to be seen whether the golden light shield of the post station can withstand a strike from a Void Refinement cultivator, and it will also take time for them to approach the shield.
In the critical moment, his gaze suddenly sharpened and fell on the slowly rotating "Starry Sky Core" at the top of the central spire of Zhongchen Post Station.
Chen Xueqing said it was a "beacon," the key to guiding the starship's course...
An extremely risky, even insane, idea flashed through his mind like lightning in the darkness.
"Xue Qing!" Yu Changsheng transmitted his voice with the fastest speed and the most concentrated divine sense.
"Activate the Star Key Fragment at full power, simulating the 'guidance' fluctuations of a Starry Sky Forger with the highest authority. Target—the Star River Core! Ignore energy consumption!"
At the same time, he suddenly bit his tongue and spat out a mouthful of his life essence blood, which contained the true essence of Xingji and the blood of the Chaos Emperor, onto the Xingji Sword!
"Senior Mo Yu, please help me!"
The Star Silence Sword erupted with unprecedented light!
Within the sword, the dormant sword intent of annihilation was forcibly awakened, mixing with the Star Ember Fire and the essence of the Chaos Emperor's Blood, transforming into a "Blood Refining Sword Seal" that was condensed to the extreme, carrying Yu Changsheng's entire will and determination, and imprinted on the sword.
Yu Changsheng gripped the sword with both hands and poured his recently recovered and not yet fully stabilized Nascent Soul cultivation into it without reservation!
The Starry Night Dao Embryo spun wildly, even emitting a humming sound as if it couldn't bear the weight, and the newly reforged foundation trembled slightly.
Instead of slashing at the terrifying giant claw that reached out, he concentrated all his power at the tip of his sword, aiming at a specific location on the golden light shield of Zhongchen Post Station. This was a "node" that he had instantly determined, based on his keen perception of the power of stars and the resonance of the Starry Night Dao Embryo, where the energy flow of the entire post station's protective formation would inevitably experience a slight delay and convergence when facing external threats to the Void Refinement Realm!
This sword strike is not intended to kill the enemy, nor to defend; it only aims to—break through the enemy's defenses and create temporary disruption!
"Star Silence - Formation Breaker!" The sword was drawn, but silently.
A thin, hair-like, and indistinctly colored sword thread detached from the sword tip and, with speed beyond comprehension, precisely pierced the array node that Yu Changsheng had identified!
"puff……"
A barely perceptible sound rang out. At that point, the golden light shield flickered and distorted violently, as if a pebble had been thrown into a calm lake, and ripples rapidly spread throughout the entire shield!
The stability of the photomask was momentarily disrupted.
And in that very instant!
Chen Xueqing exerted all her strength, even burning her already weakened spiritual essence, and the Star Key fragment in her arms burst forth with a blazing emerald-gold light like the sun! A beam of light, purely condensed from the Daoist aura of a high-level Star Dome Forger, ignored the brief disruption of the light shield and shot straight toward the core of the galaxy at the top of the spire!
It was as if a sleeping giant had been awakened by a familiar call. The core of the galaxy shuddered violently, and the trajectory of the miniature galaxy running inside instantly changed, bursting forth with starlight a hundred times stronger than before!
This starlight was not an attack, but rather carried a clear meaning of "guidance" and "confirmation." It merged with the emerald-gold pillar of light emitted by Chen Xueqing, and then fed back an even thicker and more solid pillar of starlight that crossed the void and instantly enveloped Yu Changsheng and the people under his light band!
"Buzzing—!"
The Void Beast's giant claws seemed to sense that its "prey" was about to escape, as well as the fluctuations caused by the stirring of the Star River Core. It let out a furious roar and accelerated its grab!
Wherever the claw-like wind reached, space shattered inch by inch, and a terrifying suction force came, trying to pull everyone along with the starlight pillar into the crack.
Just a fraction of a second before the giant claws were about to close!
The starlight pillar suddenly contracted, pulling everyone within it as if by an invisible hand, and with incredible speed, it "whooshed" into the golden light shield of Zhongchen Post Station, which had momentarily "gaps" due to interference with the array nodes!
"boom--!!!"
Almost at the same time, the Void Beast's giant claw slammed down on the golden light shield!
A power powerful enough to crush stars erupted, causing the golden light shield to dent violently. The star-like phantoms on its surface flickered and faded wildly, emitting a deafening roar. The entire Zhongchen Post Station complex shook violently, and many already dilapidated buildings collapsed with a crash.
The light shield dimmed rapidly, and countless tiny cracks appeared, as if it would collapse completely at any moment.
However, it ultimately blocked the furious attack from the Void Refinement level expert!
Within the protective barrier, the starlight dissipated, and Yu Changsheng and the others landed safely on the plaza beneath the central spire. However, everyone was utterly exhausted, especially Yu Changsheng and Chen Xueqing.
Yu Changsheng knelt on one knee, propping himself up with the Star Silence Sword. His face was ashen, his breath was catching up with him, and dark golden blood kept spilling from the corner of his mouth.
The sword strike "Formation Breaker," which had just been imbued with all his cultivation and essence, had almost drained all the power of his newly advanced Nascent Soul stage, and even damaged some of the foundation of his Starry Night Dao Embryo. The fact that he didn't faint on the spot was a testament to his strong will.
Chen Xueqing was in even worse shape. The emerald-gold cocoon almost completely dissipated, and her spiritual body became as transparent as water vapor that could evaporate at any moment. The Star Key fragments fell back into her arms with dim light. She couldn't even stay conscious and collapsed softly, only to be caught by a female disciple of the Sword Sect who had just reacted.
Although Elder Qingyi, Elder Jianchen, and the others were also shaken by the near-death experience, they were now reborn and, disregarding their own weakness, immediately went forward to check on them.
"Fellow Daoist Yu!"
"Brother Changsheng!"
Yu Changsheng waved his hand, indicating that he could still hold on. He struggled to lift his head and look outside the light barrier.
The void beast's giant claw, having failed in its first strike, seemed even more enraged. A more terrifying roar emanated from its gaping maw, and its other claw began to extend, a more powerful force brewing as it relentlessly bombarded the golden light shield. The shield teetered on the brink of collapse, the cracks slowly widening.
However, the defenses of Zhongchen Post Station were clearly not to be underestimated.
The core of the galaxy atop the central spire shone brightly, and immense stellar power was mobilized, surging wildly along the array patterns on the surface of the complex towards the light shield, repairing the cracks and resisting external impacts. For a moment, a stalemate ensued.
"This light shield... won't hold for long."
Elder Jian Chen looked solemnly at the devastating scene outside.
“The energy of the core of the galaxy is also limited, especially after a long period of time,” Elder Qingyi said breathlessly.
"We must find a way to leave before these monstrous beasts breach our defenses or the inn's energy runs out, or... activate the inn's deeper functions."
Yu Changsheng endured the dizziness and excruciating pain, his gaze sweeping across the square.
The plaza floor was engraved with a massive star map a hundred times more complex and profound than that of Chuchen Post Station. Several key nodes on the star map corresponded to the entrances of several well-preserved halls. He barely extended his divine sense outwards, attempting to communicate with this post station.
Just then, an old, weary voice, yet filled with surprise and scrutiny, suddenly rang out in the air above the square, or more precisely, directly into the souls of everyone present.
“The Dao of the Starry Sky…and…the aura of Return to Nothingness and Annihilation? How many years has it been…and there are still inheritors who can activate the emergency guidance of ‘Zhongchen’…you little guys, you’ve gotten yourself into a lot of trouble.”
Everyone was startled and looked in the direction of the divine sense fluctuations—the central spire had a window lattice that was originally just a decorative relief, and now it was slowly emitting a soft white light. In the light, a blurry, old man's phantom, formed from pure starlight, quietly appeared.
He was dressed in an ancient star robe and wore a star crown. His face was kind but carried an ancient vicissitude. His gaze seemed to pierce through the light barrier of the post station. He was "looking" at the Void Beasts that were attacking wildly outside, and then "looking" at the disheveled crowd in the square.
The phantom of the Starlight Elder slowly descended from the top of the spire, transforming into an old man with white hair and beard, dressed in a star-patterned Taoist robe.
His gaze swept over the crowd, lingering for a moment on the Star Key fragment in Chen Xueqing's arms, a ripple appearing in his eyes: "The inheritance fragment of the Star Dome Forger... has actually been damaged to this extent."
"Senior is..." Elder Qingyi forced herself to stand up and bowed respectfully.
“I am the ‘Stardust Guardian,’ the last guardian of Zhongchen Post Station.”
The old man's illusory figure raised his hand and gently stroked the damaged array patterns inside the post station, which repaired itself to some extent. "Thirty thousand years ago, the ancient road collapsed due to a starfall. I guarded this post station with my remnant soul, waiting for the inheritor to return."
He looked at Chen Xueqing: "Child, the Star Key fragment in your arms was originally the core hub of this inheritance. Now that the fragment is incomplete, it cannot activate the complete Starry Sky Inheritance, and instead will attract beings like Void Beasts."
"Attracted by it?" Elder Jian Chen's expression was solemn. "Senior, are you saying that the monstrous beast came for the Star Key?"
“Exactly.” The Stardust Guardian nodded. “The Starry Sky Forger sealed the Void Beast in the ‘Boundless Rift’ outside the Ancient Road. Only the aura of the Star Key can penetrate the seal. You came with fragments, inadvertently guiding it in the right direction.”
Yu Changsheng endured the excruciating pain of his fetus splitting open and asked in a deep voice, "Senior, do you have a solution?" (End of Chapter)