149: First exploration of Star Valley, working together to slay the dragon

Upon entering Starfall Valley, it felt as if they had stepped into the depths of a galaxy.

The surroundings were no longer the pale white of the ice plains, but were shrouded in a profound, flowing dark blue. There were no sun or moon in the sky, only countless flickering stars, both bright and dim, casting cold radiance. The terrain within the valley was complex; there were towering rock pillars that seemed to have been eroded into honeycomb shapes by Star Power, bottomless rifts sparkling with starlight, and vast stretches of peculiar ground as smooth as glass, reflecting the starry sky. The air was filled with dense Power of Stars, but this energy was not gentle; instead, it possessed a chaotic and sharp quality, constantly attempting to invade the Cultivator's body and disrupt their Qi.

"Such intense Power of Stars, and... it's quite violent." Gongsun Yu frowned slightly, a trace of lightning light automatically surfacing on her skin to repel the chaotic Star Power attempting to intrude.

Yun Shang took a deep breath, but a look of comfort appeared on her face. Her Star Spirit Body was in its element here, and the starlight around her body resonated faintly with the outside world. "Although the Star Power here is chaotic, it is very pure and highly beneficial to my Cultivate." She pointed to a wisp of tangible starlight lingering at her fingertips, which was several times brighter than when she was outside.

Lin Xuan spread out his Divine Sense, coordinating with the System scan, staying vigilant of the surroundings. "This place's magnetic field is chaotic, and Divine Sense is suppressed. Everyone, stay close and do not get separated. Yun Shang, you are responsible for sensing the flow patterns of the Power of Stars and avoiding areas where the energy is particularly violent."

"Understood, Senior Brother Lin." Yun Shang immediately focused her mind, a star map seeming to rotate in her eyes as she perceived carefully.

Su Wanqing and Qu Feiyan protected the flanks of the team with tacit understanding. Although Su Wanqing's frost silence sword remained sheathed, a faint, chilling Sword Intent had already permeated the area, causing the approaching chaotic Star Power to become sluggish. Qu Feiyan appeared casual, but in reality, her blood lotus Demonic Technique was already circulating in secret, ready to unleash a thunderous strike at any moment.

The five of them proceeded cautiously, moving in the general direction of the Yaoguang star position based on the vague guidance of the star path compass and Yun Shang's sensing. Along the way, they saw many Cultivators, some carefully collecting Spiritual Plant and Ore that emitted starlight, while others were fighting with other Cultivators or creatures within the valley.

The creatures within Starfall Valley were also extremely peculiar, mostly born from the combination of pure Power of Stars and the special environment here. They encountered a type of creature shaped like a leopard but entirely composed of dark blue starlight, a "Star Shadow Leopard." It was extremely fast with sharp claws and teeth capable of tearing through protective spiritual light. However, the strength of this Yao Beast was roughly at the Early Golden Core Stage, and it was whipped into nothingness by Qu Feiyan, dissipating into pure Star Power, leaving behind only a "Star Core" the size of a pigeon egg.

"The Star Power contained in this thing is quite pure." Qu Feiyan picked up the Star Core and tossed it to Yun Shang. "Little Yun Shang, use this for your Cultivate."

Yun Shang took it happily: "Thank you, Senior Sister Qu!"

Continuing deeper, the strength of the Star Beasts encountered gradually increased. During one encounter where they were surrounded by several Mid-stage Golden Core "Star Brilliance Giant Apes," the five of them demonstrated excellent coordination. Lin Xuan's embryonic Taichu Sword Domain unfolded; although the range was not large, it effectively disrupted the Giant Apes' joint attack; Su Wanqing's sword struck like pouring moonlight, instantly freezing one; Qu Feiyan's illusory body flickered, and her crimson serpent whip, like a poisonous snake, entangled another; Gongsun Yu's thunder urgency sword invoked the Chaos Thunder Gang, and the violent thunder caused significant damage to the Star Beasts; Yun Shang constantly pointed out the weak points of the Star Beasts' energy cores and deflected their attacks by manipulating starlight.

The battle was clean and efficient, yielding several higher-quality Star Cores.

"Good coordination." Lin Xuan nodded approvingly. Through actual combat, the team's tacit understanding had improved once again.

However, the dangers of Starfall Valley were far more than this. Besides Star Beasts, there were various natural star traps. Sometimes, seemingly flat ground would suddenly collapse when stepped on, revealing a Star Power vortex below that devoured spiritual energy; sometimes, "Star Power Rain" would descend from the sky without warning, each drop containing highly penetrating star rays; and there were areas where space was extremely unstable, occasionally cracking open small fissures and spewing out destructive energy capable of annihilating a Golden Core Cultivator.

Once, Gongsun Yu almost stepped onto a piece of seemingly ordinary glass-like ground, but fortunately, Yun Shang timely sensed the extremely dangerous "Annihilation Star Quicksand" surging beneath it, avoiding a crisis.

"Everyone, be extremely careful. This place is filled with dangers at every step." Lin Xuan's expression was solemn as the System continuously sent warnings, marking points of energy abnormality.

After traveling for about half a day—by outside time it should have been afternoon, but the valley was still filled with stars—the five of them arrived at a relatively open area. Scattered here were many huge, dark stones with a metallic luster. According to Yun Shang's identification, they were rare "Meteorite Star Steel," a top-grade Materials for refining Magic Treasure.

Just as they were preparing to collect some, a huge shadow loomed over them, accompanied by a fishy wind and powerful pressure!

"Roar—!"

A deafening roar sounded, and a behemoth slowly swam out from behind a pile of Meteorite Star Steel! It was over ten zhang long, shaped like a giant python, but covered in dark blue scales. Each scale seemed to be embedded with a miniature star, and a single horn on its head pointed directly at the starry sky, constantly absorbing the surrounding Power of Stars! Its aura had reached the Golden Core Peak!

"It's a Star Brilliance Single-Horned Flood Dragon! This type of Yao Beast usually guards extremely precious Heaven And Earth Treasure with star attributes!" Yun Shang exclaimed, her voice tinged with nervousness. "It is extremely strong and can manipulate the surrounding Star Power, making it very difficult to deal with!"

The Star Brilliance Single-Horned Flood Dragon's cold, vertical pupils locked onto the five people who had intruded into its territory, especially the pure energy radiating from them (Lin Xuan's Qi and blood, Su Wanqing's Taiyin, Gongsun Yu's thunder), making it drool with greed.

"Golden Core Peak... just right for practice!" Far from fear, Lin Xuan's eyes flared with Battle Intent. He needed pressure to hone his Taichu Sword Domain and seek the opportunity to Breakthrough to Nascent Soul!

"Form up!" Lin Xuan barked lowly.

Su Wanqing understood instantly. Her frost silence sword was unsheathed with a clang, and the cold Taiyin Moon Essence spread out, faintly echoing with the embryonic Taichu Sword Domain that Lin Xuan had quietly unfolded. The chilling Sword Intent caused the Star Power flow around the Star Flood Dragon to slow down slightly.

Qu Feiyan giggled, her figure turning into several blood shadows, harassing the Star Flood Dragon from different directions. Her crimson serpent whip, like a poisonous dragon leaving its cave, specifically attacked its eyes, the seven-inch vital spot, and other critical areas.

Gongsun Yu stepped back, her thunder urgency sword pointing to the sky, invoking the thin thunder energy in the valley, brewing a stronger Chaos Thunder Gang, ready to deliver a heavy blow at a critical moment.

Yun Shang fully activated her Star Spirit Body, on one hand interfering with the Star Flood Dragon's control over the surrounding Star Power, and on the other, constantly informing the others of the weaknesses in the Star Flood Dragon's energy circulation.

"Humans... become the nourishment for this Flood Dragon's advancement!" The Star Flood Dragon actually spoke in indistinct human language. The starlight on its horn flared, and an extremely condensed pillar of star light bombarded Lin Xuan, who was in the lead, like divine punishment!

"Well come!" Lin Xuan did not dodge or evade. His sin-severing sword swept across the sky, his Taichu Sword Domain was fully activated, his Qi and blood surged like a dragon, and he slashed out with one sword! The sword light divided, containing the principles of the Five Elements, and collided violently with the star light pillar!

Boom!

The energy storm swept out, causing the surrounding Meteorite Star Steel to hum. Lin Xuan's figure swayed, and his Qi and blood churned, but he successfully took this blow! Although the Taichu Sword Domain did not completely neutralize the light pillar, it weakened its power by more than half!

The Star Flood Dragon was stunned, seemingly not expecting that this human, whose aura was inferior to its own, could withstand its attack head-on.

The moment it was stunned, Su Wanqing's sword arrived!

"Moonlight Slash—Freeze!"

A Sword Gang as cold as the moon, following the gap cut open by Lin Xuan, precisely hit the neck of the Star Flood Dragon! The extreme cold energy erupted, instantly freezing a small part of its body!

"Hiss!" The Star Flood Dragon roared in pain, struggling violently, and the ice shattered. But Qu Feiyan's phantom and crimson serpent whip had already arrived, like maggots on a tarsal bone, constantly leaving bloody marks on its body. Although not deep, they greatly interfered with its movements.

"Thunder Urgency—Nine Heavens Pull!"

The Chaos Thunder Gang that Gongsun Yu had been brewing for a long time finally erupted. A thick, purple-black thunder fell from the sky, fiercely striking the single horn of the Star Flood Dragon!

"Roar!!!" The Star Flood Dragon let out a painful wail, and the starlight on its horn dimmed significantly. This blow truly damaged its Origin!

Lin Xuan seized the opportunity, his figure moving like lightning. The Taichu Sword Domain contracted and condensed onto the sin-severing sword. He became one with the sword, turning into a stream of light that tore through the starry sky, piercing directly at the base of the Star Flood Dragon's horn, which had been scorched black by the thunder—that was the core where all its Star Power gathered!

"Puchi!"

The Sword Gang containing the Taichu Law-breaking intent pierced into the Star Flood Dragon's vital point without hindrance!

The Star Flood Dragon's huge body twitched violently, its eyes full of unwillingness and fear, and finally it crashed to the ground, its aura rapidly dissipating.

The battle ended.

The five of them panted slightly and smiled at each other. Joining forces to slay a Golden Core Peak Star Flood Dragon, although it consumed some energy, it brought more of an improvement in tacit understanding and confidence.

"Let's see what it was guarding." Lin Xuan walked to the place where the Star Flood Dragon was coiled, pushed aside several huge pieces of Meteorite Star Steel, and his eyes lit up immediately.

It was a small tree, barely a foot tall, entirely carved like purple crystal. Hanging between the branches were three fruits the size of longans, with a galaxy seemingly flowing inside—Star Dao Fruit! This fruit contained pure Star Dao Rhyme, which was of great benefit for comprehending the Star Law, and was an excellent main ingredient for refining Medicinal Pill to increase cultivation!

"Good stuff!" Even in Su Wanqing's eyes, a trace of joy flashed.

However, just as Lin Xuan was preparing to pick the Star Dao Fruit, a round of applause came from not far away.

"Wonderful, truly wonderful! I didn't expect you Fellow Daoists to be so strong, even capable of slaying this Star Brilliance Single-Horned Flood Dragon."

Ling Tianyu was seen turning out from behind a huge piece of Meteorite Star Steel with his group of guards, wearing a hypocritical smile, but his eyes were greedily staring at the Star Dao Fruit tree.

"However, this Dao Fruit tree, as well as the Star Cores on you, and that sword..." Ling Tianyu's gaze swept over the frost silence sword in Su Wanqing's hand, making no secret of his possessiveness. "This Young Lord has taken a fancy to them. Why not... make it convenient for me?"

The guards behind him stepped forward at the same time, their powerful auras merging into one, among which there were actually two Late Stage Golden Core Cultivators!

Having just experienced a great battle, the five of Lin Xuan had consumed quite a bit. Now, facing Ling Tianyu's group, who were rested and had the advantage in numbers, the situation suddenly became severe.

Lin Xuan slowly stood up, protecting the Star Dao Fruit behind him, and looked at Ling Tianyu with cold eyes: "It seems that the lesson I gave you outside the valley was not enough."