27: Having grasped the secret, he resolved to delve deeper.

On the observation array platform, the wind wailed, and the low roar of the distant Ruins Vortex was like an eternal accompaniment. Although the enhancement in perception brought by the “immortal abode pivot token” after fusing with that tiny fragment was not significant, it was like a lonely lamp lit in the darkness, allowing Lin Xuan to glimpse a trace of order in this desolate region.

He closed his eyes and focused his mind, his entire consciousness immersed in that profound and mysterious sensation. His Golden Core Spiritual Sense, combined with the immortal abode authority, acted like the most precise compass, carefully distinguishing the extremely subtle, periodic fluctuations within the chaotic energy torrent.

Su Wanqing, Qu Feiyan, and Gongsun Yu held their breath, not daring to disturb him, their gazes focused on him, filled with tension and anticipation. They knew well that Lin Xuan's current deduction would determine their fate.

Time passed little by little. Lin Xuan's brows sometimes furrowed tightly and sometimes relaxed, and fine beads of sweat even seeped onto his temples. Deducting changes at the level of such universal power, even just the fringe rules, was an immense burden on him.

Finally, he slowly opened his eyes. They held a hint of fatigue, but deeper within, there was a sharp gleam.

"How is it?" Su Wanqing asked softly, handing him a simple white handkerchief.

Lin Xuan took it, wiped the sweat from his temples, and said in a deep voice, "Found it! There are about twelve hours until the next 'window period' appears. The location is on the southeastern edge of the vortex, about three hundred miles from here. The duration... is extremely short, possibly less than three breaths!"

Three breaths!

Everyone's hearts tightened. To seize a weak node lasting only three breaths and break through amidst such violent turbulence—the difficulty and risk were unimaginable!

"Three breaths... is that enough?" Gongsun Yu's small face was pale, her voice filled with uncertainty.

"Enough or not, we must try!" Qu Feiyan's red lips were tightly pressed, and a hint of determination flashed in her alluring eyes. "What difference is there between being trapped here and waiting for death? Since there is a sliver of hope, we naturally have to fight for it!" She looked at Lin Xuan, her eyes burning. "Junior Martial Brother, I'm entrusting my life to you."

Su Wanqing did not speak; she simply stepped forward and stood beside Lin Xuan, her cool and aloof posture stating everything.

Lin Xuan looked at the three women beside him, who were vastly different in style yet equally resolute, and a surge of heroic spirit and responsibility rose in his heart. He nodded heavily. "Good! Then let's take this gamble!"

Since the decision was made, they needed to make preparations with all their might. The next twelve hours became critically important.

Lin Xuan first set about reinforcing the crude wooden raft. He took out some Yao Beast Materials he had collected earlier, along with components disassembled from the ruined observation array platform that still contained some spiritual energy. Combining these with his own Artifact Refining methods (though not proficient, his basic rune carving was adequate) from the Golden Core Stage, he performed a comprehensive strengthening of the raft. More Water-Repelling, Wind-Controlling, and reinforcing runes were carved onto it, and he even attempted to sketch a rudimentary "Space-Breaking Array Pattern," hoping to burst forth with speed at the crucial moment.

Su Wanqing, on the other hand, was responsible for cleaning and optimizing the spiritual energy conduction paths on the raft, ensuring that Lin Xuan's spiritual energy could act upon the entire hull more efficiently. Although her Taiyin Power was not suited for Artifact Refining, her precise control over energy flow played a crucial role.

Qu Feiyan re-examined everyone's condition, distributed some Medicinal Pills she treasured that could briefly stimulate potential and stabilize the mind, and repeatedly deduced possible emergencies and corresponding strategies. Her experience and prudence were especially valuable at this time.

Gongsun Yu took on the lookout duty, while also using Lightning Arts to temper several specialized "Lightning-Guiding Stakes." If they encountered sea beasts or energy turbulence too powerful to fight, these might produce miraculous results.

The twelve hours rapidly flew by amid tense activity.

As the appointed time approached, the four once again boarded the black wooden raft, which was now completely renewed and shrouded in faint spiritual light. The raft was moored at the edge of the calm waters where the observation array platform stood, and ahead of them was the dark vortex, slowly rotating like the mouth of a massive beast, emitting endless suction.

Everyone's expressions were solemn to the extreme. Success or failure depended on this one move.

Lin Xuan stood at the head of the raft, his entire body's Golden Core spiritual energy already raised to its Peak. The mark of the "immortal abode pivot token" in his palm was slightly hot, resonating subtly with the distant "window" that was about to appear. His Divine Sense was like a taut bowstring, firmly locking onto the predetermined direction.

Su Wanqing stood behind and to his left, her ice sword hanging at her waist, her jade hands forming seals. The moonlight around her body was restrained, ready to deal with any sudden situation. Qu Feiyan was positioned behind and to his right, her red dress flapping loudly in the turbulent airflow. There was no trace of laziness left in her alluring eyes, only focused vigilance. Gongsun Yu stayed at the stern of the raft, tightly gripping the thunder light silver ring, her small face filled with determination.

Time seemed to become viscous and slow.

It's here!

Lin Xuan's pupils suddenly contracted! In his perception, the energy turbulence on the southeastern edge of the vortex, which had been incomparably violent, was gently smoothed by an invisible great hand, and the tearing force suddenly diminished by more than half! A relatively gentle "passage," just wide enough for the raft to pass, appeared clearly in the "vision" of his Divine Sense, like a fleeting epiphyllum!

"Now! Go!"

Lin Xuan roared, his Golden Core spinning wildly inside him, injecting massive amounts of spiritual energy into the raft without reservation! All the runes on the hull instantly shone to the extreme, and the rudimentary "Space-Breaking Array Pattern" erupted with blinding light!

"Whoosh—!"

The black wooden raft transformed into a streak of light, shooting into that fleeting "passage" with unprecedented speed and deadly precision, like an arrow released from a bowstring!

In the very next instant after the raft plunged into the passage, that terrifying tearing force roared back, becoming even more violent than before! The location they had just occupied was instantly swallowed by a chaotic torrent of energy!

The raft sped through the brief, stable passage, surrounded by bizarre, twisted, and rotating energy barriers, as if traveling through a tunnel composed of pure destructive power. Everyone could feel the terrifying force emanating from beyond the barriers, a force that made their Divine Souls tremble.

The three breaths of time were as short as a single inhale.

When the raft suddenly jolted, as if breaking through an invisible membrane, and the surrounding scenery abruptly changed, everyone knew they had succeeded! They had broken into the interior of the Ruins Vortex!

However, before they could celebrate, the sight before them instantly plunged the four people's hearts to the bottom.

The raft seemed to have entered a massive, inky black bubble. This was not the core of destruction they had imagined, but a relatively calm yet far more bizarre space.

The sky was a solidified, inky black, devoid of sun, moon, or stars. Below was no longer seawater, but an endless, slowly writhing black mire, like a living thing, emitting a nauseating aura of decay and deathly silence. Within the mire, massive, pale white skeletons of unknown creatures could be seen half-submerged and half-floating everywhere, and countless twisted shadows, radiating resentment and Devilish Qi, wailed and struggled within it.

The air was permeated with pure yet incomparably cold and foul Devilish Qi, more than ten times denser than the outside! Even the circulation of spiritual energy was severely suppressed.

What was most heart-stopping was that in the extreme distance of this bizarre space, at the edge of the inky black canopy, the outline of a towering, pitch-black, and ferocious-looking palace was faintly visible! A vast, ancient will, full of destruction and ominousness, was spreading out from that palace, enveloping this silent world.

This was not a passage leading to life at all, but... another absolute dead end, or rather, the true core of the Ruins—a forgotten... Demonic Domain!

"Where... where have we arrived?" Gongsun Yu's voice carried uncontrollable fear.

Su Wanqing and Qu Feiyan's expressions were also extremely grim.

Lin Xuan gazed at the black palace in the distance, feeling the suffocating will of the Demonic Path, as well as the unprecedented violent trembling emanating from the "frost silence immortal sword" within his body—and a hint of faint desire?

A massive storm raged in his heart.

Underneath these Ruins, was what was suppressed not just Devilish Qi, but... a genuine Demon Palace?!