39: My vow to follow the path is arduous, though the road ahead is difficult.

Inside the Star Remains Hall, the aftershocks of the battle had not yet completely subsided. The air was filled with chaotic energies, a mixture of spiritual power, Devilish Qi, and Power of Stars. On the crystal altar, the drop of sealed True Blood of the Demon Lord still slowly rotated, emanating an unsettling pressure.

Facing Lin Xuan's direct, core-hitting question, the gentle expression on Daoist Shoujing's face completely vanished, replaced by a sense of world-weariness and gravity forged by endless years. His gaze swept over Lin Xuan and the Three women, finally landing on the drop of demon blood, and he sighed deeply.

"Alas, since things have come to this, further concealment is useless." Daoist Shoujing's voice was low and carried a hint of weariness. "This old man is indeed no ordinary Cultivator, but one of the 'Dao Servants' appointed by ancient immortals and gods to guard the Seal of this Demon Palace for generations."

"Dao Servant?" Gongsun Yu repeated curiously.

"That's right." Daoist Shoujing nodded. "We Dao Servants merge our bodies with certain rules of the Seal, sharing the lifespan of the Demon Palace itself. Our duty is to maintain the Seal's operation, monitor the Demon Lord's status, and prevent his escape. The Purifying Demon Spring on Fangcun Spirit Isle is a vital node of the grand sealing array, and it is guarded by this old man."

He paused, then continued, "As for this drop of True Blood of the Demon Lord... it is a drop of his Origin essence blood spilled when he was wounded during the initial sealing. It contains some of his power and will, making it extremely difficult to completely eradicate. To prevent it from being used by the demonic creatures inside the Demon Palace or... other entities, thereby strengthening the Demon Lord, successive generations of Dao Servants take turns guarding it and continuously purifying and eroding it with the power of the Purifying Demon Spring. The reason this old man left the Spirit Isle this time was that I sensed fluctuations in the secondary barrier sealing the demon blood here. I came specifically to check and reinforce it, but unexpectedly encountered an ambush by this 'Thousand-Faced Phantom'."

"Other entities?" Lin Xuan keenly seized upon the phrase. "Do you mean... Fallen Dao Servants?"

Daoist Shoujing's eyes dimmed. After a moment of silence, he nodded slowly: "You must have seen the message left by the Star Mark Inspector. He spoke the truth. Over endless years, not all Dao Servants have been able to adhere to their original intentions. The Demon Lord's remnant consciousness is pervasive; its power of temptation and corrosion far exceeds imagination. Indeed, some of our peers, either due to an unstable Dao Heart or weariness of their role as eternal prisoners, were ultimately corrupted by demonic thoughts, fell into the Demonic Path, and became the Demon Lord's minions, lurking in the shadows of the Demon Palace, waiting for an opportunity to destroy the Seal and help the Demon Lord escape."

His voice carried grief and helplessness: "The Thousand-Faced Phantom just now was immensely powerful and exceptionally cunning. It was definitely not an ordinary demonic creature, and it is highly likely it was controlled by or was the Incarnation of a Fallen Dao Servant. Its target was precisely this drop of True Blood of the Demon Lord."

The truth, like a cold tide, engulfed the four people. The Demon Palace was not just a prison; it was a cruel battlefield, and they had unknowingly been drawn into it.

"Then Senior, you..." Su Wanqing looked at Daoist Shoujing, her clear, cold eyes filled with inquiry.

Daoist Shoujing met her gaze openly: "Though this old man's Dao Heart has been tempered, I dare not say it is indestructible through ten thousand calamities. However, my resolve to guard the Seal and prevent the Demon Lord from reappearing in the world has never wavered. Otherwise, I would not have fought that Phantom to the death just now." He changed the subject, looking at Lin Xuan. "Young friend Lin, you possess a fragment of the 'immortal abode pivot token' and were able to condense a Golden Core in such a short time. Your profound fortune and firm will make you truly exceptional. Perhaps... you are the variable that can turn the tide in this situation."

Lin Xuan's heart stirred slightly, but his expression remained unchanged: "Senior, why do you say that?"

"To restart the 'circumferential star lock,' stabilize the Seal, and even open a safe passage to the outside world is not something ordinary Cultivators can achieve." Daoist Shoujing's gaze was piercing. "It requires a certain affinity with the Power of Stars, sufficiently powerful Divine Sense and spiritual power, and furthermore... a trace of recognition stemming from the Origin of the Immortal Palace. The 'immortal abode pivot token' on your person is one of the keys. And your rate of growth gives this old man hope."

He pointed towards the depths of the Star Remains Corridor: "The Demon Suppressing Palace is located at the core of the Demon Palace. The path is fraught with danger, not only powerful demonic creatures and various Restriction traps but also the schemes of the Fallen Dao Servants you must guard against. Relying solely on the four of you, hope is slim."

"So, what does Senior mean?" Qu Feiyan interjected, her charming eyes shifting.

"This old man can point out a relatively safe path for you and provide some information regarding the Restrictions and potential dangers along the way," Daoist Shoujing stated solemnly. "However, my true body must guard the Purifying Demon Spring node and cannot leave for too long. If I were absent for too long, I might be noticed by other Fallen Dao Servants, which would be detrimental. Therefore, you must primarily rely on yourselves."

He paused, then added: "Furthermore, this old man will, to the extent possible, mobilize the power of the Spirit Isle to provide remote support once, when you enter the core area of the Demon Suppressing Palace. But you only get one chance, and it must be used at the most critical moment."

This was undoubtedly help in time of need. With the guidance and information from Daoist Shoujing, this 'insider,' their success rate in exploring the Demon Suppressing Palace would greatly increase.

Lin Xuan and the Three women exchanged glances, each seeing determination in the other's eyes.

"Thank you, Senior." Lin Xuan cupped his hands and said solemnly, "Please guide us on the path."

Daoist Shoujing said no more. Using his green bamboo staff as a brush, he drew upon a trace of the Power of Stars to sketch a simple yet clear route map on the smooth floor, marking several Restriction nodes that required special attention and areas where Fallen Dao Servants might be lying in ambush.

"...Remember, the outer perimeter of the Demon Suppressing Palace has the 'Ten Thousand Demons Corroding Heart Grand Array,' which can provoke Heart Demons, so you must firmly guard your Dao Heart. The palace gates are guarded by the 'Twin Stone Demons,' who possess infinite strength and share a life force; you must destroy their cores simultaneously to pass. After entering the palace, the 'circumferential star lock' in the core area is protected by thirty-six Star Official Puppets. They will attack any unauthorized person who approaches, so you must use the aura of the 'immortal abode pivot token' to guide them, or defeat them by force..."

Daoist Shoujing explained in detail, telling them everything he knew without reservation.

Finally, he looked deeply at Lin Xuan: "Young friend Lin, the situation inside the Demon Suppressing Palace changes rapidly. This old man does not know everything, and you must adapt to circumstances. I hope you... take care of yourselves."

After finishing his instructions, Daoist Shoujing's figure gradually became illusory, finally transforming into specks of clear light and dissipating on the spot. He had clearly returned to Fangcun Spirit Isle.

Inside the great hall, only Lin Xuan and the Three women remained, along with the crystal altar sealing the True Blood of the Demon Lord.

"I didn't expect the waters of this Demon Palace to run so deep." Qu Feiyan looked at the spot where Daoist Shoujing had vanished, a complex expression on her charming face.

Su Wanqing looked at Lin Xuan: "How much of what he said is credible?"

Lin Xuan pondered, "Seven parts truth, three parts reserved. His stance on guarding the Seal should be genuine, but regarding the number and strength of the Fallen Dao Servants, and the specific situation inside the Demon Suppressing Palace, he might be concealing something, or perhaps he doesn't fully know himself. Nevertheless, the path and information he provided are crucial to us."

He firmly memorized the route map on the ground, then looked with determination toward the depths of the Star Remains Corridor—the road leading to their final destination.

"Regardless, we must go to the Demon Suppressing Palace."

"Let's go. The road ahead is difficult, but we... have no choice."

The four took a brief rest, adjusting their condition to the best possible state, and then resolutely embarked on the journey Daoist Shoujing had pointed out, leading to the deepest part of the Demon Palace—the Demon Suppressing Palace.

Starlight guided them, but demonic shadows lurked. The final test lay ahead.