87: The wounds in my heart are gradually healing, and the path ahead is radiant with starlight.

The tranquility of the Crimson Flame Phoenix Tree Forest lasted for several days. The warm spring water and the gentle, rich fire spirit power in the forest acted like the most meticulous healers, nourishing Qu Feiyan's damaged Meridians and Divine Soul. The gruesome wounds on her back had largely healed, leaving only five faint pink new flesh marks. Although her aura was still weaker than her peak, she could now remain conscious for extended periods and circulate her Cultivation Technique independently to absorb the vitality of the place and consolidate her cultivation.

Lin Xuan still guarded her side, but no longer needed to constantly transfer Qi. He merely offered her clear water or a Spirit Pill to solidify her foundation and cultivate her origin when she finished her cultivation. The unspoken understanding and warmth that had settled between them after experiencing life-and-death peril became increasingly apparent. When Qu Feiyan occasionally looked at Lin Xuan, the seductive eyes held less of the deliberate teasing and calculation of the past, replaced by a genuine softness and reliance. She would even quietly watch his profile when Lin Xuan was meditating, lost in thought.

As for Su Wanqing, ever since Lin Xuan performed his “state of mind investment” that day, breaking through her Bottleneck, she had been meditating alone under a massive phoenix tree a short distance away. The chill emanating from her body was no longer as biting and sharp as before; instead, it had become much more restrained, like moonlight sinking into a deep pool—calm on the surface, but undergoing a profound transformation within. She no longer deliberately avoided Lin Xuan and Qu Feiyan's direction, and when her gaze occasionally swept over them, it appeared calm and unruffled. However, deep within her icy eyes, there seemed to be a hint of clarity after seeing through some of the illusions. She was processing Lin Xuan's words and re-examining her own Dao and heart.

On this day, Qu Feiyan finished a cycle of cultivation, her pale complexion much rosier. She stretched, her graceful curves subtly visible beneath her thin clothes, exuding a lazy charm after her recovery. Her gaze drifted, first landing on Su Wanqing, who was meditating under a tree not far away, a slight curve to her red lips. Then, she looked at Lin Xuan, who was studying a star map.

"Little Brother Lin~" Her voice still carried an innate charm, but without the deliberate coquettishness. "Sister, I've practically gotten half my life back. If I keep soaking in this spring water, my bones will turn to jelly."

Lin Xuan looked up at her words, seeing that her complexion had indeed improved greatly. He felt relieved and smiled, "Junior Sister, your injuries have just healed. You still need to recuperate properly and not be careless."

"I know," Qu Feiyan pouted, her eyes darting. She suddenly said, "Speaking of which, being able to escape death this time is all thanks to Little Brother Lin's selfless treatment, and... Junior Sister Su's timely assistance." She spoke quite seriously, her gaze also turning towards Su Wanqing.

Su Wanqing seemed to sense it, slowly opening her eyes. Her clear, cold gaze met Qu Feiyan's, but she said nothing.

Qu Feiyan continued, her tone carrying a rare hint of frankness, "Junior Sister Su, I have offended you many times before. Senior Sister thanks you here." Although she didn't specify what the "offense" was, both knew she was referring to their past rivalries and secret competitions.

Su Wanqing remained silent for a moment before speaking coolly, "As fellow disciples, it is only right." Her tone was flat, but no longer carried the obvious resistance from before. She could tell that Qu Feiyan's gratitude was sincere at this moment, and after experiencing such danger, some personal grievances seemed to fade in the face of life and death. Of course, this didn't mean they had completely reconciled, but rather that a mutual understanding and temporary peace, based on their shared experience, had developed.

Lin Xuan watched this scene, secretly breathing a sigh of relief. The internal easing of tension within the team was crucial for their upcoming journey.

Just then, Wangshu's clear, cold voice came from not far away: "Now that her injuries are fine, we need to leave this place as soon as possible."

Everyone's gaze converged. Wangshu still had her face covered with a white veil, her figure ethereal. She pointed to the star map in Lin Xuan's hand: "According to the star map, the nearest stable spatial node to leave this fragment of the River of Flowing Fire is located at the 'Starfall Pavilion' ruins. We must reach there before the Guixu Cult tracks us down again."

"Starfall Pavilion?" Lin Xuan looked down at the star map. Sure enough, not far from the glowing dot representing their current location, a pattern resembling a pavilion was marked, with the words "Starfall" next to it.

"That was an important stronghold in ancient times for observing celestial phenomena and channeling Star Power. It is said that an Immortal Lord once preached there," Wangshu explained. "Although it has been abandoned, its core Formation might still be operational, which could guide us out of this fragmented region and even possibly provide clues about the whereabouts of other Immortal Manor fragments."

Finding a way out and potentially obtaining clues to new Immortal Manor fragments! Everyone's spirits were lifted.

"No time to lose, let's set off now," Lin Xuan said decisively, putting away the star map.

Qu Feiyan stood up from the spring water, her soaked clothes clinging to her body, outlining a breathtaking figure. She circulated her Qi to evaporate the moisture and changed into a clean, fiery red dress. Although her face was still somewhat pale, much of her charming and enchanting demeanor had returned, though her eyes were a little calmer than before.

Su Wanqing also stood up, tidying her plain white long dress, and her icy gaze swept over everyone: "Let's go."

Gongsun Yu was already prepared, hurrying to Lin Xuan's side, her small face full of anticipation and a hint of nervousness.

Wangshu led the way, her figure gracefully soaring, sweeping over the burning phoenix tree forest canopy. Lin Xuan followed closely, with Su Wanqing and Qu Feiyan on his left and right. Although they didn't communicate, they tacitly maintained a certain vigilant distance. Gongsun Yu followed closely behind Lin Xuan.

The five figures transformed into several streaks of light, leaving the Crimson Flame Phoenix Tree Forest, which had given them a brief respite and a place to heal, and sped towards the Starfall Pavilion indicated by the star map.

The lava rivers and erupting volcanoes beneath them were gradually left behind, and the scenery ahead began to change. There were more shattered floating mountains, with faint outlines of broken palace eaves and fractured stone tablets visible on them. The pervasive heat in the air began to mix with a hint of ancient and desolate aura, and... a faint, elusive stellar fluctuation.

"Be careful," Wangshu warned, "The space near Starfall Pavilion is more fragmented, and there are often hidden spatialcrack (rifts) and residual stellar Restrictions."

Hearing this, everyone became more vigilant. Lin Xuan spread his Divine Sense to its maximum extent, while secretly communicating with the chapter of the blazing sun fragment in his Dantian, using its keen perception of energy fluctuations to assist in detecting dangers ahead.

Sure enough, after traveling only a hundred li, a spatial rift, almost imperceptible to the naked eye and distorting light, silently lay ahead. If Lin Xuan hadn't sensed the subtle energy turbulence in advance, they would have almost crashed into it.

"Three to the left, one to the front right, and above..." Lin Xuan quickly reported the positions, guiding everyone through the dangerous gaps like swimming fish.

Su Wanqing's ice sword was ready at any moment, blood-colored lotus flowers flickered at Qu Feiyan's fingertips, and Gongsun Yu also gripped her small Magical Artifact. Wangshu, on the other hand, seemed quite familiar with this area, always able to predict some particularly hidden Restriction fluctuations in advance.

In this highly vigilant state, the team's progress was not too fast, but it was steady.

During the flight, Lin Xuan noticed that Su Wanqing's aura seemed different from before, more rounded and restrained, subtly echoing the faint Taiyin Star Power (originating from some broken channeling Formations) in the surrounding environment. His heart stirred; it seemed that the "state of mind investment" had been remarkably effective, and Junior Sister Su seemed to have truly made a Breakthrough, though it had not yet fully manifested.

While Qu Feiyan's injuries had improved, when she used her magic power, Lin Xuan could vaguely feel a discord in her Qi Sea, a sign that the hidden danger of the Nine Revolutions Bewitching Soul Art had not yet been removed. He secretly pondered that once they found a safe place, he needed to quickly give her the nirvana phoenix blood pill to consume.

Several hours later, in front of a more dilapidated Void Realm area, where countless huge stellar fragments floated, the majestic and broken outline of a pavilion finally appeared at the end of everyone's vision.

The pavilion was entirely cast from a strange dark golden metal, and even after countless years, it still emitted a faint starlight. However, most of the pavilion had collapsed, leaving only the main framework and some ruined walls, telling of its former glory and current desolation.

"That is Starfall Pavilion," Wangshu stopped, her white veil fluttering in the faint stellar wind. "Be careful, I feel... something inside seems to have awakened."

Her tone carried a hint of solemnity.

Lin Xuan and the others also looked intently, only to see a few faint blue lights, like ghost fires, slowly illuminating in the depths of the ruined Starfall Pavilion.