90: Star core resonance, emotions intertwined

Inside the Starfall Pavilion's secret hall, time seemed to be frozen by starlight. The central Star Marrow Spirit Pool shimmered, with starlight floating in its deep blue water, emitting a soul-soothing aura that calmed the mind. Lin Xuan and Qu Feiyan still stood embraced in the pool, their soaked clothes clinging to their bodies, outlining breathtaking curves and solid contours. The Star Power chains had mostly dissolved under their combined efforts, but the remaining restraints and the pervasive heavy pressure within the hall still kept their bodies tightly pressed together.

Qu Feiyan's head rested on Lin Xuan's shoulder, feeling the strong heartbeat and warm body temperature emanating from his chest. Her nose was filled with his unique scent, a mix of sunshine and faint herbs. The nourishment from the pool water and the guidance of Lin Xuan's magical power caused the cold, sharp pain that had plagued her Divine Soul for years to recede like a tide, replaced by an indescribable warmth and tranquility, and even a hint of lazy drowsiness. She had never felt so relaxed and... safe beside any man. Her arms, wrapped around Lin Xuan's neck, unconsciously tightened a little more, as if fearing this fleeting warmth would vanish.

Lin Xuan could clearly feel the softness of the delicate body in his arms and its gradually rising temperature, as well as the subtle tremor transmitted through her wet clothes. He was not made of stone; in such an enchanting scene, with Qu Feiyan, a peerless beauty, in his arms, ripples inevitably stirred in his heart. But his Dao Heart was firm, and he knew that the crisis was not yet over. He forcefully suppressed the amorous thoughts and focused on guiding his magical power to completely dissolve the last few stubborn Star Power chains.

"Crack... snap..."

Faint cracking sounds echoed, and the last bit of deep blue starlight entwined around them finally completely dissipated.

The pressure suddenly lightened.

Lin Xuan let out a sigh of relief, about to release his embrace, but found that Qu Feiyan was still tightly wrapped around him, showing no intention of letting go. She lifted her enchanting eyes, her watery gaze fixed on him. Gone was the usual calculation and flirtation, replaced by a misty, almost dependent daze.

"Lin Xuan..." Her voice was slightly hoarse, carrying a hint of fragility after escaping danger, "Don't move... just a little longer..."

This almost coquettish whisper softened Lin Xuan's heart. The hand he was about to use to push her away paused, then gently landed on her smooth back, patting it reassuringly. "It's alright, the chains are gone."

By the pool, Su Wanqing had already severed all the chains attacking her and was silently meditating. Her gaze seemed to be fixed on the Void Realm, but the corner of her eye took in the sight of the two in the pool, tightly embracing and whispering. In the depths of her icy eyes, a trace of sadness and bitterness quickly flashed, which she forcefully suppressed. However, the chill unconsciously emanating from her body caused a thin layer of frost to condense on the ground near her. She knew she shouldn't feel this way; the situation was critical just now, and Lin Xuan was saving someone, but... her emotions were ultimately difficult to fully calm.

Gongsun Yu also escaped. She looked at the two still not separated in the pool, then at Senior Sister Su, who was radiating cold air, scratched her head, and whispered to Su Wanqing, "Senior Sister Su, is Sister Qu very seriously injured? Does Big Brother Lin have to hold her to heal?"

Childish innocence, yet it was like a needle, gently piercing through a certain facade. Su Wanqing did not answer, merely closed her eyes, and the moonlight circulating around her accelerated.

Wangshu stood by the entrance's halo, her face under the white veil calm and unruffled, like a jade sculpture. Only she knew that when Lin Xuan unhesitatingly embraced Qu Feiyan and fought the chains side-by-side, the instantly erupting aura, a mix of masculinity, responsibility, and a hint of blazing sun nobility, caused a minuscule, even to her unexpected, tremor in her Grand Yin Origin.

Just then, the star core fragment suspended in the center of the Spirit Pool seemed to change due to the complete disappearance of the chains. It no longer emitted a suppressive halo. Inside the dark golden crystal, the miniature star map slowly decelerated its rotation, finally coming to a stop. A soft yet incredibly pure beam of starlight, as if guided, shot out from it, not towards anyone, but directly into the immortal abode pivot token that quietly appeared in Lin Xuan's palm!

"Buzz—"

The cardinal edict glowed intensely, merging with the starlight beam. Clearer, more complex star map projections emanated from the edict, slowly unfolding in the secret hall's air! Within the star map, besides the originally marked "Starfall Pavilion" light spot, several blurry but ancient-feeling light spots further away were successively lit. One of them pointed directly to a certain direction deeper within the Desolate Sea, its fluctuations originating from the same source as the "chapter of the blazing sun" fragment Lin Xuan had sensed before, yet even more subtle and powerful!

"This is... a more complete immortal abode relic coordinate!" Lin Xuan's spirits lifted, his gaze burning as he looked at the star map in the air. This star core fragment was actually the key to unlocking deeper clues!

Opportunity and crisis coexisted. The moment the star map appeared, everyone felt that outside the secret hall, the cold malice of the Guixu Cult, which had been temporarily blocked, seemed to stir restlessly, as if it had caught the scent of prey.

Lin Xuan collected himself and gently patted Qu Feiyan's back: "Senior Sister Qu, we should go up now."

Only then did Qu Feiyan seem to awaken from a dream, an almost imperceptible blush rising on her enchanting face as she released her arms. The two leaped out of the Spirit Pool and used their cultivation to dry their clothes.

Lin Xuan looked at the star map in the air, then at the Three women beside him, each in a different state, and said in a deep voice: "The star core fragment has resonated with the cardinal edict, pointing to a new direction. But the people of the Guixu Cult probably won't give up. We must leave the Starfall Pavilion as soon as possible and proceed to the next location according to the star map's guidance."

Su Wanqing opened her eyes, her icy gaze now calm, though when she looked at Lin Xuan, a trace of indescribable complexity lay deep within: "Let's go."

Qu Feiyan tidied her dress, resuming her languid and alluring posture, but her gaze towards Lin Xuan held more lingering affection and warmth than before.

Gongsun Yu nodded quickly.

Wangshu said faintly, "Follow me. I know a relatively safe path to leave the Starfall Pavilion ruins."

A new journey lay ahead, with greater secrets and dangers awaiting exploration. And between the four, the threads of emotion, quietly growing and intertwining amidst life-and-death crises and enchanting healing, also became clearer and more inseparable, like the starlight entwined within the Starfall Pavilion.