76: Core of the Ruins, Star Marrow Resonance

The danger of the Stone Sculpture Formation was still fresh in their minds, and the four people dared not stop for a moment. Taking advantage of the brief lull in the Formation's energy tide, they finally rushed out of the last stretch of the death path and stepped into the area of the collapsed architectural ruins.

The ruins were more dilapidated than they appeared from a distance, as if they had been violently crushed by a giant hand, leaving behind only broken walls and structures buried deep underground. The air was filled with thick dust and a deathly silence that had endured for ten thousand years. The Dao rhythm of annihilation originating from the Burial Star Sea seemed slightly weakened here, but a different, heavy aura of decay belonging to the passage of time itself rushed toward them.

The immortal abode pivot token's sensitivity to star marrow gold became exceptionally clear and strong at this moment, like a lighthouse in the dark night, pointing directly toward an underground entrance in the center of the ruins, half-covered by a massive stone slab.

“It's right below.” Lin Xuan's gaze was sharp. After his Divine Sense carefully swept the area around the entrance and confirmed there were no obvious Restrictions or demonic creatures lurking, he signaled the Three women to follow.

Su Wanqing silently guarded him nearby, her icy eyes vigilantly scanning every shadowed corner. Qu Feiyan's complexion improved slightly after taking a Medicinal Pill, but her aura was still somewhat unstable. She looked at Lin Xuan's focused back, then glanced at the aloof Su Wanqing beside her and Gongsun Yu, who was closely following Lin Xuan. A subtle hint of rivalry flashed in her charming eyes. Gongsun Yu, fully focused, kept her thunder light silver ring softly humming, ready to respond to any sudden situation.

The four worked together to move the heavy stone slab, revealing a downward-sloping, dust-covered staircase. The stairs seemed bottomless, and a cold, damp aura emanated from the darkness.

Lin Xuan stepped in first, the clear light of the immortal abode pivot token circulating in his palm, dispelling the darkness. The staircase wound downward, flanked by rough rock walls bearing faded murals that depicted scenes of stars rotating and crossing the Void Realm. The style was inherited from the Misty Immortal Palace lineage but was far more ancient and unadorned.

After descending about a hundred zhang, the space suddenly opened up, revealing a relatively well-preserved circular underground palace. Dozens of pearls, long since dimmed, were embedded in the palace dome. In the center was a massive, complex ritual apparatus forged from some dark silver metal. The core slot of the apparatus was empty, but scattered around it were several metal fragments of varying sizes that shimmered with starlight—it was indeed star marrow gold! The largest piece, about the size of a fist, emitted a Power of Stars far exceeding the small piece Lin Xuan had obtained previously!

However, the underground palace was not uninhabited. Surrounding the Ritual Apparatus stood four skeletons draped in tattered Star Robes and wielding decaying Scepters. Blue Soul Flames flickered in their eye sockets, emanating a dense deathly aura and a trace of residual divine majesty. Astonishingly, they all possessed the fluctuations of the Early Golden Core Stage! Sensing the intrusion of living beings, the blue Soul Flames simultaneously turned toward the four people at the entrance, and the decaying Scepters slowly lifted.

“Guardian remains...” Su Wanqing slightly raised her Ice Sword, her tone solemn. These skeletons were clearly important figures in this place when they were alive. After death, their lingering obsession transformed them into spirits guarding the area.

“It seems if we want to get the star marrow gold, we'll have to get past them.” Qu Feiyan licked her red lips. Although she was not in peak condition, her Battle Intent had been provoked.

Lin Xuan glanced over the four Star Robe skeletons, then looked at the empty slot in the core of the Ritual Apparatus. A thought suddenly flashed through his mind. He raised the immortal abode pivot token, and its clear, misty radiance shone upon the underground palace.

Buzz—!

The immortal abode pivot token, the massive dark silver Ritual Apparatus, and the scattered star marrow gold fragments simultaneously produced a strong resonance! Where the clear light passed, the four Star Robe skeletons, which were about to launch an attack, suddenly froze. The blue Soul Flames in their eye sockets flickered violently, as if they had encountered an entity that commanded their reverence. They slowly lowered their raised Scepters, and like the most loyal guards, took a step back, clearing the path to the core of the Ritual Apparatus!

What they were guarding was perhaps not just the star marrow gold, but also this Ritual Apparatus, and... the “key” that could activate the Ritual Apparatus—the immortal abode pivot token!

“As expected.” Lin Xuan understood immediately; these ruins shared a deep origin with the Misty Immortal Palace. Holding the cardinal edict, he walked step by step toward the core of the Ritual Apparatus. Su Wanqing and the Three women followed closely, cautiously watching the four skeletons whose Soul Flames remained locked onto them, despite having stepped aside.

Standing before the Ritual Apparatus, Lin Xuan could feel the immense Power of Stars contained within the star marrow gold fragments even more clearly. He carefully collected the small piece of star marrow gold he had obtained previously, along with the largest piece scattered on the ground and the other fragments. As all the star marrow gold fragments drew near, they generated a strong mutual attraction and began to automatically converge and fuse, eventually forming a single, complete piece of star marrow gold, roughly the size of two fists, irregularly shaped, but radiating a far more dazzling starlight!

[Ding! Acquired key quest item 'Large star marrow gold'! Can be used to forge the core component of the 'Void Starship'. Detecting that the Host has gathered the preliminary Materials, triggering a hidden investment return: Acquired 'Basic Starship Refining Blueprint (Incomplete Scroll)'!]

A stream of information flooded into Lin Xuan's mind, consisting of incomplete methods on how to use star marrow gold and other Materials to refine Magic Treasures capable of traversing the Void Realm. Although incomplete, it pointed the way forward and was priceless!

At the same time, the clear light of the immortal abode pivot token enveloped the complete star marrow gold and slowly guided it into the slot at the core of the Ritual Apparatus!

“Click...”

It was as if a key had been inserted into a lock, fitting perfectly!

The entire dark silver Ritual Apparatus suddenly shook, and countless faded runes on its surface lit up sequentially, like a flowing river of stars! The dimmed pearls on the dome also seemed to be injected with energy, once again emitting a soft and steady radiance that illuminated the entire underground palace as brightly as day! An ancient and vast spatial fluctuation slowly rippled out, centered around the Ritual Apparatus!

The moment the Ritual Apparatus activated, the four Star Robe skeletons simultaneously dropped to one knee, their heads bowed low, as if worshipping the return of the master they had awaited for eons.

Lin Xuan felt an intuitive flash of enlightenment. Holding the cardinal edict, he injected his Divine Sense and magical power into the activated Ritual Apparatus. Immediately, a massive, blurred star map formed by starlight appeared beneath the dome of the underground palace! Within the star map, a relatively clear path, composed of light dots, extended from their current location in the “Shadowy Ravine,” pointing toward an unknown coordinate deep within the Burial Star Sea!

This Ritual Apparatus was not only a place to preserve star marrow gold, but also a small-scale Interstellar Navigator! It marked out a relatively safe path for traversing a portion of the Burial Star Sea!

Hope was right before their eyes!

However, just as Lin Xuan was concentrating on memorizing the star map path, the stone slab covering the underground palace entrance exploded! The cold figure of the Black-Robed Elder, accompanied by two Cultists and several ferocious, twisted demonic creatures, blocked the exit!

“We found you! Hand over the star marrow gold and the Immortal Palace token!” The Black-Robed Elder's gaze greedily fixed on the dazzling star marrow gold in the core of the Ritual Apparatus and the cardinal edict in Lin Xuan's hand.

Just as they saw the hope of leaving, a fatal crisis descended upon them once more!