151: Starry Ruins Illusion, where hidden fragrances vie for brilliance

The closer one got to that sky-piercing silver beam of light, the more violent the surrounding Power of Stars became. It was like an invisible tide, constantly battering the Cultivators' protective spirit light. What danced in the air was no longer gentle starlight, but shards of Star Power sharp as blades. An ordinary Foundation Establishment Cultivator would likely be torn to shreds in an instant here.

Lin Xuan and the other four connected their flight lights, working together to withstand this violent energy. Su Wanqing was surrounded by cold moonlight, freezing and pushing away the chaotic Star Power that approached; Qu Feiyan was wreathed in bloody light, devouring some of the Star Power like a whirlpool and turning it to her own use; Gongsun Yu had lightning protecting her body, as the extremely Yang and rigid thunder had a certain restraint against Star Power; Yun Shang was like an elf in the sea of stars, guiding a portion of the Star Power to flow smoothly, lightening the team's burden; Lin Xuan stood in the center, coordinating and supporting, his Taichu Sword Intent hidden but ready, prepared to slice through the most dangerous impacts at any moment.

Along the way, they saw more figures of Cultivators, as well as more slaughter and deaths. In order to get a step ahead, or to fight over some broken Magical Artifact shimmering with starlight that erupted from the edge of the light beam, the Cultivators would often start fighting at the slightest disagreement, their blood instantly evaporated by the violent Star Power.

"Men die for wealth, birds die for food." Qu Feiyan licked her red lips, a flash of bloodthirsty light passing through her alluring eyes, but it quickly faded. She only leaned closer to Lin Xuan, almost pressing against him, her breath fragrant like an orchid. "Junior Martial Brother, it's so dangerous here. You must protect this sister well, okay?"

Su Wanqing glanced at her, her icy eyes devoid of any ripples, but she quietly took half a step forward, just enough to stand between Qu Feiyan and Lin Xuan. Her cold voice rang out: "The Star Power vortex ahead is abnormal. Be careful."

Lin Xuan felt the two distinct yet suggestive auras coming from his left and right, and couldn't help but smile bitterly in his heart. He gently squeezed Su Wanqing's slightly cool, soft hand, then cast a "Stop messing around" look at Qu Feiyan, saying in a deep voice: "Focus! We are about to enter the influence range of the light beam!"

Indeed, the scene ahead changed drastically. That thick silver beam of light was not solid, but composed of countless violent Power of Stars and spatial fragments. Around the light beam, space was extremely distorted, forming a huge, constantly shifting illusion of Star Power. Within it, one could see broken palaces and pavilions, floating lands, phantom images of galloping star rivers, and even countless phantom creatures composed of pure Star Power weaving through, emitting hisses that bewitched the mind.

This was the outer perimeter of the Yaoguang Star Ruins — the Stardust Illusion!

Countless Cultivators rushed into this illusion. Some were instantly confused by the phantoms and slaughtered each other; some were torn apart by Star Power phantom beasts; others fell into suddenly appearing spatial rifts and vanished without a trace.

"Guard your hearts and minds! Follow my guidance!" Lin Xuan shouted in a low voice. Combining his Divine Sense with the System, he acted like the most precise radar, scanning and analyzing the true trajectory of energy flow within the illusion to find a relatively safe path. His left hand was still holding Su Wanqing, while his right hand subconsciously protected Gongsun Yu, whose cultivation was slightly weaker.

This subtle action made Su Wanqing's icy eyes warm slightly, while Qu Feiyan let out an almost imperceptible huff.

The five of them were like a lone boat in a raging sea, struggling to navigate through the bizarre and murderous Stardust Illusion. Lin Xuan's guidance was shockingly precise; he could always avoid fatal phantom traps and spatial rifts at the very last second.

"Three steps to the left, there is an undercurrent of Star Power!"

"There is a phantom attack above, it's fake, ignore it!"

"That floating land to the front right is solid, we can land there temporarily!"

Under his leadership, the team continued to penetrate deeper without any mishap.

Along the way, they encountered a group of "Star Nightmares" formed by the combination of dense Star Power and the grudges of remnant souls. These monsters were intangible and formless, capable of directly attacking the Divine Soul and emitting ear-piercing shrieks.

"Disturbing my peace!" A flash of blood light appeared in Qu Feiyan's eyes as she struck first. She did not use the crimson serpent whip, but instead formed hand seals. An enchanting blood lotus bloomed before her, and the heart of the lotus emitted a powerful suction force, actually pulling and devouring several Star Nightmares! Her aura rose slightly as a result. The Blood Lotus Demonic Art had a natural restraint against soul-body entities.

Su Wanqing was not to be outdone. The frost silence sword hummed softly, and an invisible Taiyin sword wave spread out. Wherever it passed, the Star Nightmares' movements slowed as if frozen, and then they were completely purified and dissipated by the extinction intent contained within the sword wave.

The two women seemed to be competing, with each clearing the Star Nightmares faster than the other.

Lin Xuan felt a headache watching this. Just as he was about to speak, suddenly, a seemingly calm nebula ahead surged violently, condensing into a huge palm made entirely of stars. Carrying immense pressure, it slammed down fiercely toward the five of them! Its power was already approaching a strike from a Nascent Soul Cultivator!

"Be careful!" Lin Xuan's pupils shrank. Just as he was about to fully activate the Taichu Sword Domain, he saw two figures, one on the left and one on the right, rush out simultaneously!

"Moonlight Barrier!"

"Boundless Blood Sea!" Su Wanqing's frost silence sword traced a perfect lunar wheel, and the cold, bright moonlight transformed into a solid barrier, blocking the front. Qu Feiyan channeled the blood-evil energy around her, transforming it into a churning ocean of blood, carrying the power of devouring and corrosion, to meet that giant star palm!

"BOOM—!!!" A violent explosion rang out in the illusion, and the energy storm tore a blank space in the surrounding phantoms. The moonlight barrier shook violently but remained tough and unbroken; the blood-colored ocean was scattered by more than half, but it also wore down nearly half of the giant star palm's power.

Both women groaned in unison and took a step back, their faces pale, but they had ultimately joined forces to block this terrifying blow.

As the dust settled, Su Wanqing and Qu Feiyan looked at each other. Their eyes were complex, holding competition and defiance, but also a trace of subtle acknowledgement after fighting together against a common enemy.

Lin Xuan took the Opportunity to step forward and took out two "Star Origin Pills" obtained from the System's return, which could quickly restore Divine Sense and mana. Without a word, he stuffed them into the two women's hands: "Don't push yourselves. Quickly take them and regulate your breathing."

His tone carried unquestionable concern, and his actions were incredibly natural.

Su Wanqing glanced at him and silently accepted the Medicinal Pill and took it. Qu Feiyan gave Lin Xuan an alluring roll of her eyes and said coquettishly: "At least you still have a conscience~" She also obediently swallowed the pill.

While the two women were regulating their breathing, Lin Xuan carefully observed the front. The System indicated that by passing through this most chaotic area, they could reach the core of the Stardust Illusion, which was also the true source of that silver beam of light.

Gongsun Yu leaned over to Lin Xuan's side and whispered: "Big Brother Lin, Senior Sister Su and Senior Sister Qu both seem to care about you very much."

Yun Shang also covered her mouth and chuckled on the side, finding the interactions between the Senior Sisters and Senior Brother Lin quite interesting.

Lin Xuan rubbed Gongsun Yu's head and smiled helplessly: "Children shouldn't ask about such things."

A moment later, the two women finished recovering. After their joint effort just now, the atmosphere seemed to have eased slightly, but that invisible sense of competition still remained.

"Let's go, the core area should be ahead." Lin Xuan led the way.

The five of them passed through the last twisted nebula, and the view before them suddenly opened up.

It was a huge, circular basin that looked as if it had been smashed out by a meteorite. In the center of the basin, it was not the complete palace they had imagined, but a vast, incomparably magnificent, yet ruined site! Broken, sky-supporting stone pillars were inserted diagonally into the ground, collapsed palace walls told of the vicissitudes of time, and countless rubble fragments shimmering with starlight covered the land.

And at the very center of the ruins, that thick silver beam of light was erupting from a bottomless subterranean cave. Inside the light beam, one could vaguely see the phantom image of a huge stone gate covered with profound star patterns, which was slowly condensing and becoming solid!

"The gate of the Star Palace!" Yun Shang exclaimed excitedly, "Legend has it that hidden deep within the Yaoguang Star Ruins is a portal leading to the ancient Star Palace!"

At this moment, hundreds of Cultivators had already gathered around the basin, all staring intently at the phantom stone gate within the light beam, their breathing rapid. Ling Tianyu's group was also among them, and upon seeing Lin Xuan and his four companions appear, a trace of gloom flashed in Ling Tianyu's eyes.

However, getting close to the central cave was no easy task. Within the basin, a powerful Star pressure permeated, and the closer one got to the center, the greater the pressure became. There was also an invisible force field that interfered with the circulation of spirit energy and flight.

They could only traverse this ruin on foot!

And within the ruins, besides the heavy pressure, there were more and more powerful Star Power phantom beasts roaming, and even some ancient war spirits clad in broken star armor and wielding starlight weapons!

The real test was only just beginning.

Lin Xuan took a deep breath, feeling the ancient and majestic Power of Stars in the air, his Battle Intent burning in his eyes.

"Let's go."

He stepped into this ancient Star Ruins site first. Su Wanqing followed closely by his side, cold as the moon; Qu Feiyan followed half a step behind, enchanting as fire; Gongsun Yu and Yun Shang followed closely behind.

The Opportunity was right before their eyes, and the road to it was destined to be paved with thorns and bones.