68: Ancient Path of Stars and Bones, Embers of Dragon's Might

Following the guidance of the Remaining star map, after leaving the illusory sound pavilion area, the four people did not return along the original path to the perilous core ruins. Instead, they proceeded along an ancient path covered by massive Star Remains (suspected fragments of shattered stars) and solidified lava veins. This path was extremely hidden; without the star map's guidance, it would have been impossible to find. A few rune markings in the style of an Immortal Palace remained on the road, but most were dim, suggesting it was a long-abandoned emergency passage or Interstellar Skyway.

The decaying aura permeating the air seemed to have faded slightly, replaced instead by a heavy Pressure, seemingly originating from antiquity. Like invisible shackles, the further they advanced, the more difficult it became to walk. The scattered Star Remains around them were immense, their surfaces smooth as mirrors, reflecting the solemn and vigilant figures of the four.

"This path... seems to retain some kind of powerful 'Potential'." Su Wanqing felt the heart-stopping oppressive feeling in the air, her cool tone carrying a hint of caution. "Is it related to the Dragon Clan?"

"Dragon Fall Abyss..." Lin Xuan silently recited the place name he had obtained from the star map, realizing the truth. "It seems this name is not baseless. A True Dragon likely fell here, or perhaps it was once an active area for the Dragon Clan. The residual Dragon Might has persisted through the ages, forming a natural barrier."

This Dragon Might tested both the mind and the Physical Body. Gongsun Yu had the lowest Cultivation; her pretty face was pale, and her breathing was rapid, requiring her to fully circulate her Golden Core Magical Power just to resist. Su Wanqing and Qu Feiyan were slightly better, but their expressions were also solemn. Lin Xuan, relying on his Mid-stage Golden Core cultivation and the formidable Physique granted by the Nine Revolutions Golden Body Art, could handle it with ease, yet he could sense that deep within the Dragon Might, there seemed to be a subtle trace of... resentment and unwillingness.

"Stay close to me." Lin Xuan released his own Aura, forming a relatively gentle Force Field that slightly offset some of the Dragon Might, easing the Pressure on the Three women. The Three women immediately moved closer to him; the Pressure instantly decreased, and their gaze toward him held a greater degree of dependence.

After traveling for about half an hour, a massive natural archway, formed by the ribs of some creature, appeared at the end of the path. Passing through the archway, the sight before them was shocking.

It was an incomparably vast Abyss, bottomless, containing only dense, impenetrable darkness. And suspended in the center of this darkness was a Dragon Bone, whose sheer size was beyond description!

The Dragon Bone snaked for thousands of miles, its entire structure presenting a dull, dark gold color. Most of the bones had petrified, covered in the marks of time and massive traumatic fissures. Even so, it still exuded a terrifying majesty that made the Soul tremble, as if it might awaken at any moment and let out a Dragon Roar capable of shattering the starry sky. The Dragon Might permeating this place was more than ten times stronger than outside!

"This is... the Dragon Fall Abyss?" Gongsun Yu's voice trembled slightly, completely awed by the sight before her.

"It seems so. An existence at least at the level of an Ancient True Dragon perished here." Qu Feiyan's charming eyes were also filled with shock; she could feel the residual afterglow of power within the Dragon Bone, enough to destroy heaven and earth.

Lin Xuan's gaze was sharp as he scanned the Abyss. He noticed that around the massive Dragon Bone, countless tiny specks of light, like fragments of stars, were suspended in the Void Realm. They moved slowly along a mysterious trajectory, forming an unstable "Light Bridge" vaguely leading to the other side of the Abyss. This appeared to be the only way to leave this place, and it was the route indicated by the Star Track Map.

However, in the eye sockets of the Dragon Bone's enormous skull, two points of dark, Ghost Fire-like red light suddenly flared up! A cold, dead, and desolate Will, filled with the Aura of Corruption and destruction, swept over them like a tide, instantly diluting the original ancient Dragon Might!

"This is bad! The Dragon Bone has been corrupted! Something has occupied the Dragon Remains!" Lin Xuan's expression changed drastically as he shouted sternly.

The Dragon Bone's skull suddenly lifted slightly. Although the movement was sluggish and stiff, the two points of faint red Ghost Fire had already locked onto the four intruders! The entity occupying the Dragon Remains clearly regarded this ancient Dragon Corpse as its lair and weapon!

"Roar—!"

A silent roar, not originating from flesh and blood but from the Soul and Resentment, enveloped the corrupted Dragon Might and the Sinister Power unique to the Guixu Cult, transforming into a visible black Shockwave that violently charged toward the Rib Archway where the four stood!

Wherever it passed, the suspended Specks of Starlight dimmed and annihilated!

The power of this strike far surpassed any enemy they had encountered before, having already reached the Peak of the Golden Core Realm, and even subtly touching the threshold of a higher realm!

"Form a Formation! Do not fight it head-on; use the force to rush across the Light Bridge!" Lin Xuan made an instant decision. Directly resisting a blow from the corrupted Dragon Remains was unwise; their goal was to use the unstable Light Bridge to escape!

The four understood each other implicitly. They immediately centered around Lin Xuan, and Su Wanqing, Qu Feiyan, and Gongsun Yu poured their Magical Power into him without reserve, forming a sturdy Four Symbols Shield. Simultaneously, Lin Xuan activated the immortal abode pivot token, which emitted a bright clear light, attempting to stabilize the Light Bridge ahead that was violently swaying due to the Shockwave.

"Boom—!!!"

The black Shockwave slammed violently into the Four Symbols Shield!

The shield twisted violently, its light flickering erratically. Su Wanqing and the Three women simultaneously groaned, blood spilling from the corners of their mouths. Lin Xuan's Qi and Blood surged, but he held on tightly, using the immense impact force to propel the shield, like an arrow shot from a bow, toward the Light Bridge leading to the far side of the Abyss!

By the narrowest margin, the four skimmed the edge of the black Shockwave and rushed into the range of the Light Bridge. Behind them, the Rib Archway where they had been standing shattered with a crash under the Shockwave, turning into dust.

The Light Bridge was extremely unstable. They felt the suction force of Void Turbulence beneath their feet, surrounded by Starlight that continuously annihilated and Reborn. Behind them, the corrupted Dragon Remains seemed enraged; the faint red Ghost Fire in its eye sockets flared brightly, and its massive body began to struggle even more fiercely—a second wave of attack was brewing!

They had to rush across the Light Bridge before they were caught!