144: Chapter 144 The Dragon Lizard Pact: A Bountiful Return

Inside the cavern, the atmosphere was frozen solid.

The Star Miasma Dragon Lizard's dark silver vertical pupils stared intently at Lin Yue, or more precisely, at the star origin crystal in his hand.

Within the crystal, a galaxy slowly rotated, emitting the purest Power of the Stars.

For the Dragon Lizard, which fed on the Power of the Stars, this was an irresistible temptation.

"Roar..."

A low Dragon roar carried a hint of hesitation.

It clearly understood Lin Yue's words; its intelligence was indeed not low.

But as the overlord of this place, it was not accustomed to being "negotiated" with by a human.

Lin Yue's expression was calm as he continued to transmit his thoughts with his Divine Sense:

"This crystal is enough for you to recover from your injuries, and also enough for your mate to conceive offspring."

He pointed to the pale golden female Lizard:

"The hatchling in its belly has an Innate deficiency and requires a large amount of Power of the Stars to nourish it. Otherwise... even if it's born, it won't live past a hundred days."

These words touched the Dragon Lizard's soft spot.

It turned to look at its mate, a hint of worry flashing in its dark silver vertical pupils.

Three months ago, in the battle with the Black Lotus Cult, although it repelled the invaders, it also suffered serious injuries.

And its mate, in order to protect the nest, forcibly activated its Origin, causing the hatchling in its belly to be Innately damaged.

This was also why they did not pursue the fleeing remnants of the Black Lotus Cult—their injuries required recuperation.

"What do you want?"

The Dragon Lizard finally spoke, its voice echoing directly in Lin Yue's Sea of Consciousness, hoarse, low, and carrying the unique majesty of the Dragon Clan.

"starfall iron."

Lin Yue pointed to the small mountain of Ore:

"Three tons, enough for me to set up a formation."

"Three tons..."

The Dragon Lizard scanned the Ore pile.

It had only occupied this mine for three months and hadn't had time to fully digest it. Three tons was not a significant loss for it.

"Not enough."

It shook its head:

"This crystal is worth far more than three tons of starfall iron."

"Then how much do you want?"

"All of it."

A hint of greed flashed in the Dragon Lizard's eyes:

"Give me the crystal, and you can leave alive. Otherwise..."

It took a step forward, its scales bristling, and Star Miasma Dragon Flame condensed in its throat.

The threat was self-evident.

But Lin Yue smiled.

"You wouldn't dare."

His tone was firm:

"If you go all out, your injuries will certainly worsen, and you might even harm your Origin. By then, let alone protecting your mate and hatchling, you yourself won't live for more than three years."

The Dragon Lizard's pupils contracted.

"Moreover..."

Lin Yue changed the subject:

"This crystal is just a deposit. After the matter is settled, I can give you more."

"More?"

The Dragon Lizard stopped, its greed growing even stronger:

"You have more of these crystals?"

"Yes, but not on me."

Lin Yue said frankly:

"I need starfall iron to set up a formation to fight a powerful enemy. If this battle can be won, I can promise to provide one star origin crystal of the same quality every month for three years."

Three years, thirty-six star origin crystals!

This condition made the Dragon Lizard's breathing quicken.

With these crystals, it could not only fully recover from its injuries but also allow its mate to give birth smoothly, and even... potentially Breakthrough its Bloodline limitations to evolve into a true Star Dragon!

"Conditions."

The Dragon Lizard suppressed its excitement:

"What do you want me to do?"

"First, three tons of starfall iron, delivered now."

"Second, if my Luoxia Sect encounters danger in the future, you need to assist once."

"Third..."

Lin Yue looked into the depths of the cavern:

"Tell me, what exactly happened with the Black Lotus Cult here?"

The Dragon Lizard was silent for a moment, then slowly nodded:

"The first condition, yes. The second condition... I can only promise to act once within my capabilities. As for the third condition..."

A look of recollection flashed in its eyes:

"Three months ago, a group of Black-robed Cultivators came here, excavating tunnels and mining Ore. At first, they were well-behaved, only operating on the periphery."

"But two months ago, a 'big shot' among them arrived. That person's aura was sinister, and their Cultivation was unfathomable, at least Mid Nascent Soul Stage. He ordered them to dig deeper, to search for the 'Star Core'."

"Star Core?"

Lin Yue's heart stirred.

The Star Core was the most essential part of the starfall iron Mineral Vein, containing the purest star Origin, and might even develop sentience.

"Our Star Miasma Dragon Lizard race has guarded this Mineral Vein for generations. The Star Core is the Foundation of the Mineral Vein; once it's taken, the entire Mineral Vein will gradually dry up."

The Dragon Lizard's tone was filled with anger:

"Of course, we wouldn't allow it. So a conflict broke out."

"In that battle, we killed dozens of their people, but we also suffered serious injuries. Especially that 'big shot', the Cultivation Technique he Cultivated was extremely strange, capable of devouring the Power of the Stars for his own use, which greatly suppressed us."

"Finally, he retreated with heavy injuries, but before leaving... he left something deep within the Mineral Vein."

The Dragon Lizard looked in a certain direction deep within the cavern:

"That place is now filled with a chilling evil Qi. We dare not approach, only guarding the Ore on the periphery."

"Left something?"

Lin Yue's eyes narrowed:

"Can you take me to see it?"

The Dragon Lizard hesitated for a moment, then shook its head:

"It's very dangerous there. I can sense that thing absorbing the Mineral Vein's Origin and converting it into evil power. In a few more months, the entire Mineral Vein might be contaminated."

"Precisely why we must go see it."

Lin Yue said in a deep voice:

"If that thing is truly allowed to completely transform the Mineral Vein, not only will the starfall iron be ruined, but the entire Falling Star Valley could become a land of evil. By then, you will have nowhere to hide either."

The Dragon Lizard fell into a struggle.

After a long while, it looked at its mate.

The female Lizard nodded gently, letting out a low growl.

"Alright."

The Dragon Lizard finally agreed:

"I'll take you. But if the situation goes wrong, I will leave immediately."

"Understood."

Lin Yue turned to Star Radiance:

"Fellow Daoist Star Radiance, you wait here as backup. If I don't return after the time it takes an incense stick to burn, immediately activate the Space-Breaking Talisman and leave."

"Sect Master Lin..."

"Don't worry, I have a sense of proportion." Lin Yue gave her a reassuring look... Under the Dragon Lizard's guidance, Lin Yue ventured deeper into the cavern.

Lin Yue gave her a reassuring look... Under the Dragon Lizard's guidance, Lin Yue ventured deeper into the cavern.

The deeper they went, the denser the evil Qi became.

The originally silvery-white cave walls gradually took on a dark gray hue. The embedded Star Crystals dimmed, and fine cracks appeared on their surfaces.

The air was filled with a nauseating stench of decay.

"It's there."

The Dragon Lizard stopped and pointed forward.

There was a newly excavated mine tunnel, its entrance only tall enough for one person, completely dark inside, with faint flickers of dark red light.

Even more bizarrely, the ground around the tunnel entrance was covered with dark red patterns.

The patterns extended like blood vessels, spreading from inside the tunnel to the outside, finally connecting to the Ore on the cave walls.

Those Ores, whose silvery-white luster had completely faded, had turned a lifeless dark gray, their surfaces even showing tiny holes, as if something had hollowed them out.

"This is... the Spirit Devouring Clan's corrosive patterns!"

Lin Yue's face changed drastically.

He had seen similar records in the star lords manual.

The Spirit Devouring Clan had a secret technique that could convert energy sources like Spiritual Veins and Mineral Veins into "Evil Energy" for their absorption.

And the converted energy source would completely lose its vitality, becoming worthless waste.

"The 'big shot' from the Black Lotus Cult is indeed a parasitic body!"

An alarm blared in Lin Yue's heart.

The other party had not only found Falling Star Valley but also buried such a vicious thing deep within the Mineral Vein.

Clearly, even if they couldn't get it themselves, they wouldn't let others have it!

"Can it be removed?"

The Dragon Lizard asked.

"Difficult."

Lin Yue shook his head:

"The corrosion has already penetrated deep into the Mineral Vein's Origin. To completely remove it, one would need the purification power of the Late Nascent Soul Stage, or... a higher level of star Origin."

He looked at the star origin crystal in his hand.

This one, he feared, was not enough.

"It must be destroyed quickly."

Lin Yue's eyes were firm:

"Otherwise, the entire Mineral Vein will be lost."

He stepped towards the mine tunnel.

"Be careful."

The Dragon Lizard warned:

"There's something inside."

"I know."

Lin Yue nodded, starfall sword already in hand.

He stepped into the mine tunnel.

The tunnel was narrower than expected, only wide enough for one person to pass.

On the surrounding cave walls, dark red patterns slowly writhed like living things, emitting a chilling evil Qi.

Lin Yue held his breath, protected by the Power of the Stars, and slowly advanced.

After about ten zhang, the path suddenly opened up.

A small stone chamber appeared before his eyes.

In the center of the stone chamber, a dark red heart floated!

The heart was about the size of a human head, covered with grotesque blood vessels, and was beating slowly and powerfully.

With each beat, a surge of dark red evil Qi spread out, extending along the patterns on the ground, eroding the surrounding Ore.

And beneath the heart, three corpses lay.

All were Black Lotus Cult Cultivators, but their deaths were extremely bizarre—their bodies were shriveled, as if all their vital essence had been sucked dry, yet their faces bore strange smiles, as if they had seen some blissful scene before death.

"Spirit Devouring Evil Seed..."

Lin Yue gasped.

This was an evil object cultivated by the Spirit Devouring Clan, capable of parasitizing energy sources, continuously devouring and transforming them, eventually turning the entire energy source into an "Evil Energy Nest."

Once mature, it could breed new Spirit Devouring Clan members!

"What a vicious scheme!"

Lin Yue's eyes were icy cold.

The Black Lotus Cult, or rather the Spirit Devouring Clan behind it, intended to turn Falling Star Valley into their hatching ground!

He must destroy it!

He raised the starfall sword, infusing it with the Power of the Stars.

But just as the sword light was about to strike—

Buzz!

The Evil Seed heart suddenly accelerated its beating!

A terrifying burst of evil Qi erupted, transforming into countless dark red tentacles that swept towards Lin Yue!

Where the tentacles passed, even space emitted sizzling corrosive sounds.

"Slash!"

Lin Yue advanced instead of retreating, his sword light like a reversed galaxy!

The starfall sword truly lived up to its name as a fifth-tier Magic Treasure; wherever its light passed, tentacles snapped.

However, the broken tentacles did not disappear; instead, they transformed into more tiny tentacles, surging forward like a tide.

More troubling was that the Evil Seed heart seemed to sense the threat and began frantically drawing on the Mineral Vein's Origin!

The entire stone chamber vibrated violently, and the cracks on the cave walls rapidly spread!

"I can't let it keep drawing!"

Lin Yue's thoughts raced, and he suddenly remembered something.

He put away the starfall sword and formed hand Seals.

In his Sea of Consciousness, the star dragon nascent soul opened its eyes, its left hand holding stars, its right hand a Dragon shadow, simultaneously releasing its Origin power!

"With stars as the guide, and Dragon as the lock—Seal!"

A net of light, interwoven with Power of the Stars and Dragon Qi, flew from Lin Yue's palm, shrouding the Evil Seed heart!

This was a secret Seal technique he had learned from the Star Lord Inheritance—Star Dragon Seal!

It specialized in countering evil and filth!

As the net of light descended, the Evil Seed heart struggled violently, but suppressed by both the Power of the Stars and Dragon Qi, it ultimately could not break free.

Its beating speed gradually slowed.

The spreading evil Qi also began to recede.

"It's done!"

Lin Yue breathed a sigh of relief.

But just then—

Crack!

A crisp sound.

The cave wall finally couldn't bear it and collapsed!

Large chunks of Ore fell, and the entire stone chamber began to collapse!

"Go!"

Lin Yue made a decisive move, grabbing the sealed Evil Seed heart and rushing out of the stone chamber.

Behind him, the mine tunnel completely collapsed.

He rushed out of the tunnel entrance, where the Dragon Lizard was already waiting.

"Hurry! This place is collapsing!"

Lin Yue shouted.

The Dragon Lizard didn't waste words, opening its mouth to spew a stream of Star Miasma Dragon Flame, melting the falling Ore and forcefully clearing a path.

The two humans and one Lizard rushed out of the cavern, returning to the small mountain of Ore.

Star Radiance, seeing them emerge, breathed a sigh of relief:

"What happened inside?"

"No time to explain, let's get out of here first!"

Lin Yue looked at the Dragon Lizard:

"starfall iron, three tons, I need it now."

The Dragon Lizard nodded, and with a sweep of its massive tail, three tons of starfall iron from the top of the small Ore mountain were stripped off and piled to the side.

Lin Yue waved his hand to collect it, then took out a jade box from his storage ring and sealed the Evil Seed heart within it.

"Here's the crystal for you."

He tossed the star origin crystal to the Dragon Lizard:

"Remember our agreement. If the Luoxia Sect encounters danger, I will use this communication talisman to contact you."

He then tossed out a specially made jade talisman.

The Dragon Lizard took the crystal and jade talisman, looking deeply at Lin Yue:

"Human, I remember you. The agreement... I will abide by it."

"Farewell for now."

Lin Yue no longer delayed, and together with Star Radiance, activated the Space-Breaking Talisman.

Space vibrated, and their figures gradually blurred.

At the last moment, Lin Yue looked back at the Dragon Lizard.

It was carefully handing the star origin crystal to its mate, a rare hint of tenderness flashing in its dark silver vertical pupils.

"Perhaps..."

A thought flashed through Lin Yue's mind:

"In the future, they could become good allies."

A flash of light.

The two disappeared.

In Falling Star Valley, the Dragon Lizard watched the direction they disappeared, let out a low roar, and with its mate and the remaining Ore, quietly vanished into the depths of the valley... Luoxia Sect, teleportation array platform.

Light shone, and the figures of Lin Yue and Star Radiance appeared.

"They're back!"

The crowd waiting nearby breathed a sigh of relief.

"Sect Master Lin, was this trip smooth?" Immortal Master Qingluan asked.

Lin Yue nodded, waving his hand to release the three tons of starfall iron:

"The Materials are all here."

He looked at everyone, his tone solemn:

"But there's also bad news."

"The Black Lotus Cult buried a 'Spirit Devouring Evil Seed' in Falling Star Valley."

"This battle, I fear, will be even more perilous than we imagined."