188: On the outskirts of the Burial Star, the first ambush occurred.

The Zangxing Mountain Range lived up to its name. From a distance, the mountains appeared an ominous, somber color, with many peaks strangely twisted and broken, as if by immense force. The air was filled with faint Star Power radiation and a subtle, almost imperceptible Death Qi. According to fragmented ancient records, in ancient times, fragments of an extraterrestrial demonic star once fell here, not only altering the landscape but also disrupting the Spiritual Qi, giving rise to many fierce creatures rarely seen elsewhere. It also concealed some secrets from beyond the heavens.

Lin Xuan and the four others descended on their escape light, landing in a rugged, rocky area at the edge of the mountain range. The netherworld token in their hands vibrated more and more noticeably, its cold touch seemingly directly connected to an unknown presence deep within the mountains.

"The Spiritual Qi here is chaotic, and Divine Sense is significantly suppressed." Su Wanqing frowned slightly; her extended Divine Sense felt as if it had sunk into a quagmire, unable to reach far.

"Not only that," Qu Feiyan sensed the surrounding auras, a hint of solemnity flashing in her charming eyes, "the Devilish Qi, Death Qi, and that... indescribable strange Star Power are intertwined here, making one very uncomfortable." Her purified Blood Lotus Demonic Art was particularly sensitive to such auras.

Gongsun Yu didn't feel anything special, just that it was gray and dim here, not as bright as outside. Yun Shang, on the other hand, silently circulated her Star Spirit Body, trying to communicate with the chaotic Star Power in this place. Although difficult, she could feel that if she could Cultivate here, the tempering effect on her Star Spirit Body might far exceed that of the outside world.

Lin Xuan sensed his surroundings with his primal nascent soul, combined with the System's scan, quickly analyzing the environment: "The energy field here is complex, naturally forming many interferences and traps. Stay close to me, and do not easily use large-scale Divine Sense probes, lest you attract unknown dangers."

Following the guidance of the netherworld token, he chose a route with relatively "calm" energy fluctuations and led everyone cautiously deeper into the mountain range.

What they saw along the way was desolation and ruin. Scorched earth, twisted withered trees, and occasionally, some bones flickering with eerie phosphorescence, belonging to humans and various bizarre Yao Beasts. A faint smell of decay permeated the air.

After traveling for about half a day, they crossed a low mountain riddled with holes, as if it had been scoured by a meteor shower, and a relatively open valley appeared ahead. Scattered within the valley were more large, dark stones with a metallic luster, which were the "Meteorite Star Steel" they had seen previously on the outskirts of Qiwu Valley, but here, there were more of them, and their quality seemed to be better.

"Be careful, there's an ambush."

Just as everyone was about to pass through the valley, Lin Xuan suddenly stopped, his gaze sharply sweeping towards a seemingly ordinary meteorite stone forest to their left.

Almost as soon as he finished speaking—

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Dozens of gray-black shadows, like specters, shot out from the shadows of the stone forest! They were not corporeal, but condensed from pure Devilish Qi and the unique Death Qi Star Power of the Zangxing Mountain Range. Their forms were blurry, emitting silent howls, and they lunged straight at the five individuals!

"It's a 'Star Fiend Demonic Shadow'!" Qu Feiyan recognized these things. "Monsters bred from the long-term interweaving of Death Qi and Devilish Qi here. Physical attacks are largely ineffective; they specialize in devouring living Souls!"

"Form a formation!" Lin Xuan shouted in a low voice. The Taichu Sword Domain instantly unfolded. Although its range was not large, the Chaos-derived essence isolated these incorporeal demonic shadows, making it impossible for them to break through the sword domain's defense, no matter how they attacked.

Su Wanqing lightly tapped her frost silence sword. Taiyin Moon Essence flowed like mercury, and wherever it passed, the Star Fiend Demonic Shadows shrieked as if encountering their nemesis, their forms rapidly fading and dissipating. Taiyin Power, being extremely yin and cold, inherently had a strong suppressive effect on Soul-like entities.

Qu Feiyan snorted coldly. Her purified Blood Lotus Demonic Art circulated, and pure blood lotuses bloomed. They no longer carried the violent, flesh-corroding aura but instead exuded a strange power of purification and transcendence. When the demonic shadows touched the blood lotuses, they melted away quickly, like ice and snow meeting the sun.

Gongsun Yu's thunder urgency sword summoned lightning. The supreme yang and rigid Chaos Thunder Gang was even more the natural enemy of these sinister entities. Purple lightning swept across, and large swathes of demonic shadows vanished into thin air.

Yun Shang also conjured a small Star Shield, obtained from a previous experience, to protect herself with faint Star Power. At the same time, she continuously pointed out the weakest points in the demonic shadows' energy cores, assisting everyone in attacking more efficiently.

Although these Star Fiend Demonic Shadows were numerous, their individual strength ranged only from Foundation Establishment to Early Golden Core Stage. In front of the five individuals, who cooperated tacitly and possessed counteracting methods, they were quickly cleared out.

However, the instant the last demonic shadow dissipated—

Boom!

An extremely condensed, incredibly fast black light, like a venomous snake striking, burst out without warning from a shadow beneath their feet, aiming directly for Yun Shang's back, who was protected behind Lin Xuan! This strike was vicious and cunning, timed to perfection. It was clearly an ambush laid long ago, and the previous demonic shadows were merely a diversion!

The attacker's aura was extremely well hidden, only erupting with the formidable pressure of an Early Nascent Soul Stage cultivator at the moment of the strike! Moreover, their spiritual energy was sinister and strange, carrying the unique decaying and deathly essence of the Guixu Cult!

"Be careful!"

Lin Xuan reacted incredibly fast, having detected the black light the moment it appeared, but he was slightly further from Yun Shang, and rescue was already too late!

Su Wanqing and Qu Feiyan were also slightly entangled by the remaining demonic shadows, beyond reach!

Gongsun Yu was even more entangled by several demonic shadows!

It seemed Yun Shang was about to perish!

At this critical moment, Yun Shang, who had been silently accumulating Star Power, as if enlightened, let out a delicate cry and slammed the small Star Shield in her hand onto the ground!

"Star Radiance Barrier!"

Buzz!

A slightly illusory yet solid light barrier, condensed from brilliant starlight, instantly formed behind her! On the light barrier, specks of stars flowed, emitting pure and vast Star Power!

Hiss!

The sinister black light fiercely struck the Star Radiance Barrier, emitting a grating friction sound! The light barrier trembled violently, flickering erratically, and cracks appeared on its surface, but it ultimately did not shatter immediately, forcefully blocking this fatal blow!

Although it was only for an instant, this precious moment was enough!

"Seeking death!"

Lin Xuan, enraged, struck out. His sin-slaying ancient sword hadn't even left its scabbard; he simply punched out from a distance! On his fist, vital Qi surged, entwined with a trace of ancient phoenix might and Chaos airflow, striking later but arriving first, smashing fiercely towards that shadow!

Bang!

A muffled thud, accompanied by the sound of bones shattering.

A figure shrouded in a gray robe spat out fresh blood and was violently blasted out of the shadows like a broken sack, crashing heavily onto a meteorite rock in the distance. Its aura instantly withered, clearly not long for this world.

Only then did everyone see clearly: it was a gaunt old man with sinister eyes. On the corner of his robe, an inconspicuous whirlpool pattern, seemingly capable of devouring light, was embroidered—it was the mark of the Guixu Cult!

"A Nascent Soul assassin from the Guixu Cult..." Su Wanqing's icy eyes were frosted; the opponent's stealth assassination methods were indeed superb.

Lin Xuan walked to Yun Shang's side, looking at her pale little face and the trace of blood overflowing from the corner of her mouth due to forcefully activating a defensive spell technique beyond her Realm. A hint of approval and concern flashed in his eyes: "You did very well, staying calm in a crisis."

Yun Shang suppressed the surging vital Qi within her, shaking her head: "Thanks to the Star Radiance Stone Senior Brother Lin bestowed upon me, my perception and control of Star Power have greatly improved, otherwise..."

"First, regulate your breathing." Lin Xuan handed her a Medicinal Pill for healing, then looked coldly at the dying Guixu Cult Nascent Soul assassin.

It seemed the Guixu Cult not only knew they were coming but had already set up a killing trap here. This journey to the Zangxing Mountain Range was destined to be fraught with danger at every step. And at the destination indicated by the netherworld token, what awaited them was probably an even more perilous den of Dragons and tigers.