96: The moonlight conceals the womb, and the strings of love secretly contend.

The dust at the entrance of the side hall slowly settled, revealing the scene inside. What should have been an elegant palace was now mostly ruins. Only in the deepest part, a human-sized sphere of light, enveloped by soft moonlight, quietly floated. The surface of the light sphere shimmered with flowing colors, and within it, life seemed to pulse gently, emitting an extremely pure Grand Yin Origin aura. This was precisely the energy source sensed earlier. However, beneath the light sphere, the jade platform that originally supported it was shattered, with a clear scratch mark remaining, indicating that the Guixu Cult shadow had taken a fragment during the chaos.

After unleashing that enraged strike, the colossal phantom of the Thunder Emperor's remnant consciousness visibly dimmed, like a flickering candle in the wind, swaying slowly in the air. Its hollow, thunderous eyes gazed at the moonlight sphere, and amidst the anger, a trace of indescribable sorrow and... guilt? It no longer attacked, merely floating in silence, as if lost in ancient memories.

Everyone's attention, however, was more drawn to Wangshu.

She stood before the ruins, gazing at the moonlight sphere. The white veil couldn't completely hide the slight trembling of her body. In her clear, cold eyes, the intense fluctuations from before had subsided, replaced by a deep, almost deathly sorrow and understanding.

"Senior Wangshu?" Lin Xuan took a step forward and asked. He could feel that Wangshu's state was off; the sorrow was so profound it didn't seem feigned.

Wangshu slowly turned her head, her gaze passing through the white veil to rest on Lin Xuan's face. Her eyes were complex and difficult to read, containing inquiry, a faint trace of reliance, and even... a subtle flutter, one she herself hadn't noticed, born from thescorching sun Qi and resolute will emanating from Lin Xuan. She didn't answer Lin Xuan's question; instead, she softly asked, "Do you know what this is?"

Lin Xuan shook his head.

"This is the 'moonlight womb'," Wangshu's voice carried an ethereal echo, as if from a distant time. "It was formed by the Moon Mother using a portion of her own Origin, fusing it with a wisp of Innate Grand Yin Essence, and expending immense effort. It is neither a Magical Artifact nor a Medicinal Pill, but rather... a seed, a hope. The Moon Mother divined the heavenly secrets, knowing that the great calamity of the Immortal Palace was unavoidable. Thus, she left this moonlight womb with the Thunder Emperor, with whom she had a past connection, to be nurtured, hoping that in the future, it could give birth to a new Grand Yin Legacy and continue the Dao lineage."

She paused, her gaze once again falling upon the sphere of light, her sorrow deepening: "Now the moonlight womb remains, but its core, the 'Ten Thousand Year Cold Jade Marrow' needed for its gestation, has been taken by the Guixu Cult... The life force of the moonlight womb is slowly fading."

Upon hearing this, everyone was astonished. This not only concerned Wangshu's mission but also the hope of a Legacy left by an ancient powerful being!

Lin Xuan frowned deeply. The Guixu Cult had schemed so meticulously, all to destroy the fallback plan left by the Moon Mother?

At this moment, the Three women's thoughts were more focused on the inexplicable atmosphere flowing between Lin Xuan and Wangshu.

Su Wanqing's icy eyes flickered slightly. She took a step forward, standing shoulder to shoulder with Lin Xuan, her clear voice carrying a hint of imperceptible protectiveness: "Since it was left by the Moon Mother and concerns the continuation of the Dao lineage, we should do our best to retrieve that Cold Jade Marrow core." As she spoke, her gaze calmly met Wangshu's, subtly narrowing the distance between herself and Lin Xuan.

Qu Feiyan gracefully stepped forward, a smile playing on her red lips, but she positioned herself on Lin Xuan's other side. Her charming gaze swept over Wangshu, finally resting on Lin Xuan, her tone intimate: "Junior Brother Lin~ It seems we'll be busy again. But with Junior Brother here, big sister believes we'll surely succeed." As she spoke, her arm seemed to casually brush against Lin Xuan's hand.

Gongsun Yu watched her two Senior Sisters' actions, blinked, and also ran to Lin Xuan's side, tugging at his sleeve. She whispered, "Big Brother Lin, we'll help you and Senior Wangshu!" Though naive, she instinctively wanted to capture Lin Xuan's attention by his side.

For a moment, Lin Xuan found himself subtly surrounded by the Three women. Su Wanqing's cool protectiveness, Qu Feiyan's charming closeness, Gongsun Yu's innocent reliance—three different emotions intertwined like invisible threads.

Wangshu took in this scene, and the corner of her lips beneath the white veil seemed to move almost imperceptibly. She paid no mind to the Three women's little schemes, her gaze still fixed on Lin Xuan. She said coolly, "Although the moonlight womb's life force is fading slowly, time is still pressing. Deeper within the Thunder Emperor Palace, there might be a way to leave, or perhaps clues to the Guixu Cult's next move. We must act quickly."

Lin Xuan felt the subtle "pincer attack" from the Three women beside him, and Wangshu's focused (as he saw it) gaze. He couldn't help but smile wryly, yet a surge of heroic spirit and responsibility also rose within him. He took a deep breath, suppressing his chaotic thoughts, and said in a deep voice, "Senior Wangshu is right. System, scan the paths deep within the Thunder Emperor Palace, analyze energy flow, and search for possible teleportation arrays or core areas."

[Scanning... High-intensity energy convergence detected in the direction of the main hall, suspected to be the control core. Path blocked by multiple damaged Restrictions. A hidden passage detected on the right, with relatively stable energy reactions, leading to an unknown area, possibly a bypass to the rear of the main hall.]

[Warning: Unstable spatial fluctuations and life reactions (non-Thunder Spirit) detected within the passage.]

"Take the right passage," Lin Xuan ordered decisively.

Everyone no longer delayed. With Lin Xuan leading the way, Wangshu followed closely, and the Three women, each with their own thoughts, walked on either side of Lin Xuan. The group headed towards the deep, secluded passage.

The passage was dimly lit, with blurred thunderous murals remaining on the walls, narrating the Thunder Emperor's past glory. The air was filled with dust and a faint, non-thunderousfishy smell.

As they walked, Su Wanqing deliberately kept pace with Lin Xuan. Occasionally, when fallinggravel appeared above, she would preemptively wave her moonlight to sweep them away. Qu Feiyan would periodically converse with Lin Xuan in low tones, using the opportunity to analyze the situation and draw closer. Gongsun Yu followed even more closely, her small hand occasionally "accidentally" brushing against Lin Xuan's clothes.

Lin Xuan was fully focused on scouting and vigilance, not responding much, but his very presence was like a magnet, attracting the gaze and affection of the Three women.

Wangshu followed at the rear, watching the young man ahead, subtly surrounded by three stunning women, yet still standing tall with unwavering eyes. A faint trace of appreciation flickered in her clear, cold eyes. She could feel that this young man, who possessed the Immortal Palace cardinal edict and a fragment ofscorching sun, seemed to be entwined with some indescribable Luck. Even her own heart, which had long been as still as an ancient well, rippled slightly because of him. The crisis of the moonlight womb, perhaps... could truly be resolved by him?

Just as these undercurrents of affection surged and everyone harbored their own thoughts, Lin Xuan, who was at the very front, suddenly stopped and low-growled, "Be careful! There's something ahead!"

From around the corner ahead in the passage, a bone-grinding, rustling sound, like bones rubbing together, accompanied by a dense aura of death and resentment, rushed towards them!