88: Stars are guarded, and feelings are stirring beneath the surface.

The broken outline of the Starfall Pavilion unfolded before everyone's eyes. Dark golden metal gleamed with a cold, hard luster under the starlight. Collapsed beams and shattered walls silently spoke of the cruelty of time. Most striking were the several slowly brightening, faint blue lights deep within the pavilion, like the cold eyes of an ancient beast awakening from slumber.

"They are Star Remains Guardians," Wangshu's clear, cold voice carried a hint of confirmation. "The Starfall Pavilion's ancient defense mechanism, driven by residual Power of Stars. It seems that even abandoned to this extent, it still doesn't allow outsiders to easily trespass."

Before she finished speaking, those faint blue lights suddenly accelerated. Accompanied by the grating sound of metal friction, several figures abruptly shot out from the shadows of the ruins!

They were three humanoid metal constructs, about two people tall, dark bronze in color, their surfaces covered with profound star patterns. Their joints were connected by faint blue energy, and their eyes were precisely those two blue lights. They held long halberds condensed from starlight, their movements slightly stiff, yet exuding a heavy and cold Aura, locking onto the intruders.

"Be careful, their strength is considerable, and they are not afraid of ordinary Spells!" Wangshu warned, as her jade hairpin floated before her, moonlight flowing around it.

Without further words, battle erupted instantly.

Su Wanqing's ice sword unsheathed, transforming into a clear, cold moon rainbow, striking directly at the head of the foremost Star Remains Guardian. The sword's edge clashed with the starlight halberd, producing a clang of metal, with ice shards and starlight scattering. The guardian was knocked back several steps, its faint blue eyes flickering, before fearlessly charging forward again.

Qu Feiyan let out a delicate shout, and a blood lotus bloomed in her palm. Streaks of blood-colored threads, like living things, coiled around another guardian, attempting to restrain its movements. However, with a swing of its starlight halberd, most of the blood-colored threads were easily severed, and the guardian advanced towards her with heavy steps.

Gongsun Yu was a bit nervous, but still mustered her courage, taking out a small thunder-glowing hammer Lin Xuan had given her. She unleashed streaks of delicate yet explosive lightning, striking the third guardian. Although it didn't cause much damage, it successfully attracted some of its attention.

Lin Xuan's gaze was solemn; he didn't immediately use the frost silence sword. His figure flickered, cutting into the battle like a phantom. Golden-red light burst forth from his fist, the power of Vast Sea Asura Golden Body erupted, and he directly punched the guardian fighting Su Wanqing!

"Dong!"

With a dull thud, the metal on the guardian's chest deeply caved in, and its massive body flew backward, smashing down half of a ruined wall. But soon, it swayed and stood up again, faint blue energy flowing through the indentation, slowly repairing itself!

"Such a hard shell!" Lin Xuan frowned slightly. The material and energy core of these guardians were extraordinary.

His thoughts raced. The fragment of the "chapter of the blazing sun" within him vibrated slightly, and a scorching, noble will integrated into his magic power. He punched again. This time, his fist not only carried the immense strength of the Golden Body but also contained a trace of pure blazing sun evil-breaking intent!

"Boom!"

As the fist landed, the faint blue energy on the guardian's surface violently fluctuated and dissipated as if encountering a nemesis. The dark bronze metal body began to melt under the scorching Fist Intent! The blue light in the guardian's eyes flickered rapidly, then extinguished completely, and it crashed to the ground, turning into a pile of scrap metal.

"Blazing sun power has a miraculous effect on them!" Lin Xuan shouted.

Su Wanqing and Qu Feiyan immediately adjusted their strategies upon hearing this. Su Wanqing's sword technique changed, and a trace of the blazing sun Qi that Lin Xuan had transferred subtly blended into her moonlight. Although conflicting attributes made perfect Fusion difficult, it still made her Sword Qi more penetrating, constantly leaving deep scorch marks on the guardian's body. Qu Feiyan, on the other hand, gave up on restraint. The power of the blood lotus condensed into streaks of scorching blood flame arrows, specifically targeting the energy connection points at the guardian's joints.

Wangshu did not directly participate in the attack. She controlled her jade hairpin, scattering clear light, and set up a moonlight barrier around everyone, resisting the occasional starlight impacts from the Star Remains Guardians. At the same time, her sharp gaze swept across the battlefield, seemingly searching for something.

With Lin Xuan's blazing sun power as a Breakthrough, the remaining two Star Remains Guardians were soon defeated one by one, turning into scattered fragments.

The battle ended, and everyone caught their breath slightly.

"These guardians... seem to be protecting something." Su Wanqing sheathed her sword, her icy eyes looking deeper into the Starfall Pavilion. It was dark there, but a more subtle and powerful star fluctuation could vaguely be felt.

Lin Xuan nodded, he had the same feeling. He walked to the remains of a guardian, picked up a core fragment that still contained faint blue energy, and carefully sensed it. "The energy is very pure, but the structure is unstable, as if it has been maintained for too long."

Just then, Wangshu suddenly spoke, her voice carrying a hint of peculiarity: "Their attack pattern... is linked to the Restriction protecting the core area. Our battle just now might have triggered something deeper."

As if to confirm her words, the entire Starfall Pavilion ruins suddenly trembled slightly! The star patterns inscribed on the ground beneath their feet lit up with faint blue light, spreading like blood vessels towards the depths of the pavilion.

"Be careful!" Lin Xuan whispered, pulling Gongsun Yu to his side, his gaze fixed on the direction of the flowing light.

Su Wanqing and Qu Feiyan also immediately moved closer, standing on Lin Xuan's left and right, their expressions solemn.

The tremor lasted for a few breaths, then gradually subsided. But deep within the pavilion, where it was originally dark, a brighter, more stable blue radiance now lit up, like a portal quietly opened.

"It seems that what they don't want us to easily get is inside," Qu Feiyan licked her red lips, a flicker of excitement and vigilance in her eyes.

Lin Xuan took a deep breath, feeling the clear pull from the immortal abode pivot token in his palm towards that cluster of light, and said in a deep voice, "No matter what, we must go in and investigate."

He stepped forward first, walking towards the blue radiance. Su Wanqing followed without hesitation, walking alongside him. Qu Feiyan chuckled softly, and gracefully followed, her gaze lingering for a moment on Lin Xuan and Su Wanqing's extremely close backs. Gongsun Yu tightly grasped Lin Xuan's sleeve, her small face full of nervousness, yet firm.

Wangshu watched the four walk towards the light cluster, her face beneath the white veil calm and undisturbed. She quietly clasped an ancient jade pendant carved with a crescent moon in her palm, then stepped into the blue halo.