81: The descendant of the Moon Goddess, a subtle fragrance wafts through the air.

Wangshu's appearance was like dropping a piece of ice into the scorching River of Flowing Fire, instantly changing the atmosphere of the area. Her posture was ethereal, her face covered by a white veil. Although her specific features were obscured, based solely on her cold, otherworldly demeanor and the faintly revealed contours, one knew she must be a peerless beauty. Even more striking was the Taiyin aura she possessed, which was of the same origin as Su Wanqing's but far more ancient and pure.

"By the Moon Mother's dying command, I guard the star key and activate the Immortal Lord of the Blazing Sun's remnant abode." Wangshu's voice was clear as jade. Her gaze fell upon the immortal abode pivot token in Lin Xuan's palm. "It seems the time has come."

Lin Xuan suppressed the surprise in his heart, cupped his hands, and said, "Junior Lin Xuan greets Senior Wangshu."

Wangshu subtly raised her slender hand, pointing toward the tallest volcano in the distance, which was spewing golden flames. She explained in detail that activating the star key required the cardinal edict to cooperate with her Jade Hairpin.

While she conversed with Lin Xuan, her cold gaze occasionally swept over him, revealing a fleeting hint of curiosity. Especially when Lin Xuan circulated his Magical Power to activate the cardinal edict, causing the Extreme Yang Qi and Blood around him to slightly steam, she could feel a subtle, almost imperceptible tremor in her own Grand Yin Origin. Involuntarily, she took half a step closer to Lin Xuan.

This subtle movement immediately caught the eyes of the Three women behind them.

Su Wanqing's icy eyes instantly grew colder, and the knuckles of the hand gripping her Ice Sword turned slightly white.

Qu Feiyan curved her red lips into a half-smile, gracefully stepped forward, and positioned herself almost flush against Lin Xuan's other side. Her soft, delicate body vaguely brushed against his arm, and her voice was gentle and seductive: "Little Brother Lin~ This Senior looks incredibly powerful." Her gaze was challenging as she looked toward Wangshu.

Gongsun Yu pouted slightly, feeling annoyed as she looked at the transcendent, white-robed Senior who was standing so close to Big Brother Lin. She muttered quietly, "Another one..." Subconsciously, she also edged closer to Lin Xuan, seemingly wanting to be nearer to him.

Lin Xuan's arm felt itchy from Qu Feiyan's brushing, and he also sensed the coldness emanating from Su Wanqing, along with Gongsun Yu's aggrieved little glances and attempts to move closer. He immediately felt a headache coming on. He subtly put a bit more distance between himself and Wangshu, and said helplessly, "Senior Sister Qu, this is Senior Wangshu." Then he introduced them to Wangshu: "Senior, these three are my companions."

Wangshu's gaze lightly swept over the Three women, lingering briefly on Su Wanqing before nodding. She paid no mind to Qu Feiyan's petty intentions. "We must not delay. Tonight at the Hour of Zi, the Celestial Phenomena will be favorable, and that will be the time to activate the star key. Follow me."

Having finished speaking, she turned, her white robes fluttering, and led the way toward the golden volcano.

Lin Xuan quickly followed. Su Wanqing let out a cold snort and followed closely, but deliberately maintained some distance from both Lin Xuan and Wangshu. Qu Feiyan remained pressed close to Lin Xuan. Gongsun Yu stamped her foot and hurried to catch up as well.

The journey was silent, the atmosphere subtle. The closer they got to the golden volcano, the more violent and scorching the Fire Spirit Power in the air became. The Three women, including Su Wanqing, had to increase their Magical Power output to resist it, and their expressions were strained. Especially Gongsun Yu, who had the weakest Cultivation, her face was flushed red, and beads of sweat slid down her temples.

Wangshu seemed extremely familiar with this area. She led the group past several dangerous zones and arrived at a platform on the volcano's mountainside, where a complex Formation was inscribed.

"Wait here. The Hour of Zi is approaching." Wangshu stood at the Formation Core and closed her eyes to Regulate Breathing.

Lin Xuan also sat down cross-legged. Qu Feiyan sat next to him, took out a waterskin, and offered it to his lips, her voice flirtatious: "Little Brother Lin, have some water~" Her actions were intimate and natural.

Su Wanqing sat a little distance away. Seeing this scene, she simply closed her eyes, and Moonlight Essence flowed around her body. Gongsun Yu tried to follow suit and approach Lin Xuan, but was blocked by a single look from Qu Feiyan. She could only sit aggrievedly next to Su Wanqing.

Time slowly passed, and the night deepened. The moment the Hour of Zi arrived, a ray of clear radiance pierced through the fire clouds and shone upon the Formation!

Wangshu suddenly opened her eyes. The Jade Hairpin flew up, emitting a cold, clear light. She formed hand seals and injected Taiyin Power into the Jade Hairpin.

"Lin Xuan, the cardinal edict!"

Lin Xuan immediately summoned the immortal abode pivot token. Its clear, misty light and the Jade Hairpin's clear radiance shone upon each other, simultaneously shooting toward the Formation Core!

Buzz—!

The Formation was fully activated, and light burst forth! A pillar of light, mixed with the Taiyin's clear radiance and the cardinal edict's Dao Charm, fiercely shot into the churning golden lava of the volcano below!

The entire volcano shook violently! In the center of the lava, a point of incomparably brilliant golden light, containing terrifying heat and Stellar Fluctuations, slowly rose—it was the Blazing Sun Star Core!

At the same time, within the Star Core, an even hotter, more ancient consciousness slowly awakened, accompanied by the illusory image of a palm-sized, entirely crimson fragment!

The Immortal Palace Core Fragment, the chapter of the blazing sun, was about to manifest!

However, precisely at this critical moment, an unexpected change occurred!

Several incredibly powerful figures carrying monstrous Devilish Qi appeared like specters around the platform. Leading them was the Guixu Cult Black-Robed Elder, the very one Lin Xuan had encountered in the Shadowy Ravine!

"Hahaha! You are indeed here! The star key, the cardinal edict, and the Immortal Palace Fragment! All of them belong to our Cult!"

Crisis descended once more!