20: Before the passageway, a moment of choice.

On the Star Gazing Platform, the Circumferential Stars Purification Grand Array was still operating slowly, drawing down beams of pure radiance that enveloped the platform and its surrounding area in a relatively clean Starlight Domain. The Devilish Qi was blocked outside, surging relentlessly but unable to cross the boundary. The lingering destructive power from the recent world-shattering collision kept the shadows of evil in the darkness from approaching easily.

Lin Xuan sat cross-legged at the core of the Formation eye, fully circulating his Cultivation Technique to consolidate his newly achieved Early Golden Core Stage Realm, while simultaneously recovering the heavily depleted Spiritual Qi. The Golden Core bobbed in his Dantian, absorbing Spiritual Qi much more efficiently than the Foundation Establishment Stage. Coupled with the Medicinal Pills provided by Su Wanqing and the dense Power of Stars surrounding him, his condition was rapidly recovering.

Su Wanqing stood quietly beside him, acting as his Protector. Cool moonlight flowed around her, reflecting the Star Constellation Grand Formation. She looked at Lin Xuan's calm and focused profile, sensing the increasingly profound and powerful aura emanating from him. In her heart, there was both joy for his Breakthrough and an unspeakable sense of urgency. His pace was too fast; she had to work harder to keep up with him, rather than just being protected.

Qu Feiyan leaned against a broken stone pillar, her seductive eyes like silk, her gaze mostly fixed on Lin Xuan, openly displaying appreciation and desire. Lin Xuan's heroic posture—condensing the Star Constellation light sword and forcefully shaking the demonic source—was deeply etched in her heart. This man was not only mysterious and possessed Heaven-Defying Opportunity, but his Heart-Nature and courage far surpassed his peers. She licked her red lips. The idea of making him her subordinate had not diminished; instead, it grew hotter due to his increasing power. However, now that he was Golden Core, those shallow Seduction Arts she used before would likely be ineffective. She needed to change her approach... Gongsun Yu didn't have so many complicated thoughts. She curiously observed Lin Xuan consolidating his Realm, then looked at the blocked Devilish Qi outside, muttering softly, "Golden Core Stage, huh... I wonder when I'll be able to Break through. Although this trip to the Immortal Palace was terrifying, seeing Fellow Daoist Lin Break through to Golden Core makes it worth the price!" She was already planning how to brag about this experience to her clan when she returned.

About half an hour later, Lin Xuan slowly opened his eyes. The Divine Light within them was restrained, his aura was stable, and his Spiritual Qi had recovered by about seventy to eighty percent. The Realm of the Early Golden Core Stage was now completely firm.

"How do you feel?" Su Wanqing asked softly.

"Better than ever before." Lin Xuan stood up, feeling the surging power within him and a more acute perception of the surrounding Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi. His gaze swept over the Three women, finally resting on the eastern side of the Immortal Palace. "Without further delay, we should head to the void passage."

Relying on the perception granted by the immortal abode pivot token, he could clearly "see" the backup passage located in a Side Hall on the east side. The entrance to the passage was concealed by a layer of faint spatial fluctuation; its condition seemed unstable, but it was not completely damaged.

The four people wasted no more time. Led by Lin Xuan, they maintained a partial effect of the Star Constellation Purification Formation enveloping them, moving through the dim Devilish Qi Domain like a mobile beacon, heading towards the eastern Side Hall.

Along the way, the number of Demonic Creatures encountered significantly decreased. Even if some foolish ones rushed forward, they were easily dealt with by the greatly strengthened Lin Xuan, without even needing Su Wanqing or Qu Feiyan to act. The power of the Golden Core Stage was displayed thoroughly at this moment.

Soon, a smaller Hall appeared before them. The hall door was askew, seemingly struck by immense force, and the three characters "Dunxu Hall" on the lintel were dim and lifeless.

Stepping inside the hall, the internal furnishings were simple, even somewhat messy, as if they had undergone a hurried evacuation. In the center of the main hall, a Gate of Light, composed of countless silver Runes and constantly twisting and fluctuating slightly, was suspended in mid-air. Beyond the Gate of Light was a deep, rotating, indistinct sight of the Void Realm. This was the hope of leaving the Misty Immortal Palace—the void passage!

However, the expressions of the four people were not good.

The void passage before them was extremely unstable! The silver Runes on the edge of the Gate of Light flickered erratically, sometimes clear and sometimes blurry. The spatial fluctuations emanating from within were also sometimes strong and sometimes weak, filled with a sense of disorder. They could even see subtle Spatial Cracks flashing near the Gate of Light.

"Is... is this passage reliable?" Gongsun Yu swallowed, her small face pale. "Will it send us somewhere inexplicable, or just tear us to shreds?"

Qu Feiyan carefully observed the passage, her seductive eyes serious. "The spatial structure is severely damaged, and its stability is extremely poor. Forcing passage carries a genuinely high risk."

Su Wanqing looked at Lin Xuan, awaiting his decision.

Lin Xuan frowned deeply. With his Golden Core Stage Divine Sense and the perception granted by his Immortal Abode Authority, he could more clearly perceive the state of the void passage. Just as Qu Feiyan said, it was extremely unstable, and the success rate was likely less than fifty percent. Moreover, he vaguely sensed that the aura on the other side of the passage seemed abnormal; it did not directly connect to the familiar Cultivation World.

Should they risk everything and leave through this extremely unstable void passage? Or should they stay, find a way to completely resolve the demonic source, or search for other means of departure?

Staying meant continuing to face the unfathomable demonic source, which could erupt again at any moment. The danger level might not be lower than Transmigrating through the void passage. Furthermore, the resources of the Immortal Palace were limited, the energy of the demon suppression token was depleted, and they would eventually face the full erosion of the Devilish Qi.

Leaving, however, required gambling on a survival chance of less than fifty percent, along with an unknown transmission destination.

This was a dilemma.

Lin Xuan's gaze swept over the Three women. Su Wanqing's eyes were firm, clearly following his lead; Qu Feiyan had a faint, ambiguous smile, seeming interested in participating no matter what decision he made; and Gongsun Yu wore an expression that said, "You decide."

He took a deep breath, and a hint of resolution flashed in his eyes. Staying meant too many variables. He had personally experienced the horror of the demonic source, and it was definitely not something they could currently resolve. Rather than waiting for death, it was better to fight for that sliver of hope!

"Get ready, we are going to force the passage open!" Lin Xuan said in a deep voice. "I will use the Immortal Abode Authority and Spiritual Qi to stabilize it for a moment. You must pass through at the fastest possible speed!"

He looked at the chaotic silver Gate of Light, his eyes sharp.

"Let's take the gamble!"