102: Refining the crystal marrow, undercurrents surge.

The Thunder Emperor's remnant will dissipated, and the Starry Secret Hall returned to silence. Only the suspended stars and the light path extending beneath their feet spoke of the mystery and extraordinary nature of this place. Lin Xuan held the thunder source crystal marrow coffin, now shrunk to palm-size but still heavy as a mountain, and the rusty sin-slaying broken sword, from which an indomitable Battle Intent faintly emanated. His heart surged with emotion.

"System, assist me in refining the thunder source crystal marrow and analyzing the control-world Talisman patterns and spatial coordinate information it contains." Lin Xuan sat cross-legged, immersing his mind into the crystal marrow in his hand, while simultaneously issuing a command to the System in his mind.

[Command received. Beginning assisted analysis of 'thunder source crystal marrow'...]

[Detected high-density Thunder Origin energy (dormant), core contains complex control Talisman patterns (damage level 42%), Talisman structure similarity to 'Small World' core hub is 89%.]

[Beginning analysis of control-world Talisman patterns... Analyzing... Spatial coordinate anchor information found (blurred), attempting to locate weak points associated with the main world...]

[Warning: External energy interference detected. Powerful existences are attempting to forcefully Breakthrough the outer Restriction of the Secret Hall!]

The System's warning made Lin Xuan's heart clench. It was the Guixu Cult! They had managed to shake off the Thunder Emperor's remnant will and find this place so quickly!

"They're here!" Lin Xuan's eyes snapped open, and he said in a deep voice.

Upon hearing this, everyone immediately became vigilant. Su Wanqing's ice sword was unsheathed, moonlight flowing; Qu Feiyan's blood lotus faintly appeared, her charming eyes filled with killing intent; Gongsun Yu tightly gripped her thunder drum, electric arcs leaping around her body; Wangshu drifted towards the entrance of the Secret Hall, sensing the continuously impacting cold Devilish Qi against the Restriction, her face beneath the white veil extremely solemn.

"Lin Xuan, focus on refining. We will be your Protectors!" Su Wanqing's tone was resolute, guarding Lin Xuan from the left and right with Qu Feiyan. At this moment, there was no longer any animosity between the two women, only a shared determination to work together and overcome the difficulties.

Qu Feiyan even turned back to Lin Xuan with a charming smile. Though in a dangerous situation, her smile carried a reassuring allure and firmness: "Little rascal, hurry up. Your sisters can't hold on for too long."

Lin Xuan nodded heavily, no longer distracted. He fully circulated his Cultivation Technique, and with the System's assistance, frantically refined and analyzed the thunder source crystal marrow. The vast Thunder Origin power was drawn out thread by thread, merging into his Golden Core and Meridians. The purple-gold and moon-white interwoven Dan patterns became increasingly clear and profound. Simultaneously, countless pieces of information about the spatial structure, energy nodes, and the blurred spatial coordinate information of this Thunder Emperor Palace fragment surged into his Sea of Consciousness like a tide.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

At the entrance of the Secret Hall, the dark silver metal door groaned under the strain. The Restriction light on its surface flickered violently, constantly brightening and dimming. Wangshu formed hand seals, continuously reinforcing the door with the power of moonlight, but it was clear that the external attack was extremely fierce. She was struggling alone, and traces of blood had already seeped from the corners of her mouth.

"Senior Wangshu!" Seeing this, Gongsun Yu immediately struck the Kui Niu Thunder Drum, and streaks of pale golden thunder patterns assisted Wangshu in stabilizing the Restriction.

Su Wanqing and Qu Feiyan were also ready to strike at any moment, to intercept any attacks that might Breakthrough.

Time passed, minute by minute, each second feeling extraordinarily long.

Fine beads of sweat seeped from Lin Xuan's forehead. Refining the thunder source crystal marrow was far more difficult than he had imagined. Even with the System's assistance, the vast information and energy almost burst his Sea of Consciousness and Meridians. But he gritted his teeth and persevered, knowing that this was everyone's only hope.

[Analysis progress 65%... Critical spatial weak point coordinates found! Coordinate location: Southeast edge of the Thunder Emperor Palace fragment, at the convergence of energy tides.]

[Analysis progress 78%... Partial control-world authority acquired, can limitedly mobilize the Thunder Emperor Palace's remaining defensive mechanisms.]

[Warning! Outer Restriction is about to collapse! Estimated time remaining: thirty breaths!]

Thirty breaths!

Lin Xuan's eyes snapped open, a brilliant light bursting forth! "Found it! The southeast edge, where the energy tides converge, that's where the exit is!"

He rose to his feet, the thunder source crystal marrow in his hand radiating brilliant thunder light, resonating with the entire Secret Hall, and even the entire Thunder Emperor Palace fragment! He felt as if he had temporarily become the Dominator of this world. Although his authority was limited, it was enough to do something!

"Rumble—!!!"

Just then, the Secret Hall's main door finally exploded with a violent sound, blasted open to reveal a huge gap! The Black-Robed Elder, wreathed in Devilish Qi and looking slightly disheveled but with even stronger killing intent, stepped into the Secret Hall with two Late Golden Core Stage subordinates! His cold gaze instantly locked onto Lin Xuan and the brightly glowing thunder source crystal marrow in his hand!

"Hand over the crystal marrow and the broken sword, and we'll leave your corpses intact!" The Black-Robed Elder's voice was hoarse, carrying an undeniable dominance.

"Dream on!" Su Wanqing and Qu Feiyan shouted in unison, sword light and blood lotus erupting simultaneously as they bravely met the attack!

"Attack!" Lin Xuan roared, no longer hesitating, and fully activated the limited control-world authority he had just acquired! The entire Starry Secret Hall vibrated violently, and the surrounding stars seemed to come alive, projecting streaks of starlight imbued with an aura of annihilation, indiscriminately blasting towards the three Guixu Cultists!

At the same time, he shouted to everyone: "Follow me! To the southeast edge!"

He held the crystal marrow in one hand to guide them and wielded his frost silence sword in the other to clear the way, rushing towards the direction marked by the System! Su Wanqing and Qu Feiyan fought and retreated, following closely. Gongsun Yu and Wangshu also immediately caught up.

"Where do you think you're going!" The Black-Robed Elder roared, his demonic palms flying, shattering streaks of starlight, and relentlessly pursuing. The other two Golden Core demonic Cultivators also desperately entangled Su Wanqing and Qu Feiyan.

Along the escape route, Lin Xuan continuously mobilized the Thunder Emperor Palace's remaining Restrictions to block the enemy, sometimes dropping thunderous barriers, sometimes triggering spatial folds. While he couldn't severely injure them, he greatly slowed down their pursuit speed.

However, the Guixu Cult's methods were extraordinarily strange. The Black-Robed Elder, at all costs, spat out a mouthful of his Natal Demonic Essence, which transformed into a vile blood-colored Talisman. It instantly pierced through several layers of Restrictions, like a maggot attached to bone, shooting straight towards Lin Xuan's back!

This strike was swift, ruthless, and precise! It contained the enraged blow of a Nascent Soul Cultivator, its power far exceeding anything before!

"Lin Xuan, be careful!" Wangshu, who had been observing the entire situation, had a look of resolute determination flash in her cold eyes. Instead of retreating, she advanced, the moonlight around her body blazing with unprecedented intensity, as if to merge with the legendary bright moon, directly blocking between Lin Xuan and the blood-colored Talisman!

"Senior Wangshu!"

In everyone's horrified gaze, the blood-colored Talisman fiercely struck Wangshu!

There was no earth-shattering explosion, only a 'hissing' sound like melting ice and snow. The moonlight around Wangshu's body visibly dimmed and dissipated. She let out a muffled groan, her white veil falling away to reveal a face of peerless beauty, yet as pale as paper. She turned back and gazed deeply at Lin Xuan, her eyes complex and difficult to decipher—there were unspoken words, a hint of relief, and an extremely faint emotion that perhaps even she herself had not yet fully understood.

"Go..." Her lips moved slightly, uttering the last word. Her figure, like shattered moonlight, slowly dissipated, finally transforming into specks of glistening lunar glow, merging into this Thunder Emperor Palace world. Only her jade hairpin clattered to the ground.

"Senior Wangshu!!!" Lin Xuan's mind reeled, an indescribable grief and anger surging into his heart! Although he had always been wary of Wangshu, her numerous assists, especially her self-sacrificing rescue at this moment, filled his heart with complex emotions.

Su Wanqing and Qu Feiyan also showed sorrowful expressions.

"Bastard!" Lin Xuan's eyes turned crimson. He spun around abruptly, staring intently at the Black-Robed Elder, killing intent soaring to the heavens!

But he knew this was not the time for impulsiveness! He suppressed his grief, snatched up the jade hairpin from the ground, and roared, "Go!"

Utilizing the precious time Wangshu had bought them with her life, Lin Xuan fully activated the thunder source crystal marrow, leading everyone to transform into a streak of lightning. They broke through layers of obstacles, rushing straight towards the southeast edge of the Thunder Emperor Palace fragment!

There, a chaotic tide of energy was violently colliding, forming a constantly twisting vortex that shimmered with unstable light—that was the only passage out of this Myriad Ages Desolate Sea that the System had found!