127: The Central Region is shaken, and undercurrents are surging.

In the outer reaches of the Yun Shen Mountain Range, deep within a secluded valley, lay a secret stronghold of the Starfall Pavilion.

The stronghold was built into the mountain, its exterior indistinguishable from ordinary rocks, yet its interior was a world apart, equipped with a spirit-gathering array and a concealment barrier, making it rich in energy and extremely secure.

Xiao Chen and Feng Xian had stayed here for three days.

Feng Xian's injuries were quite severe, requiring time to recuperate.

Xiao Chen, on the other hand, guarded Feng Xian while seizing the opportunity to digest what he had gained from the ancestral land.

Inside the secret chamber, Xiao Chen sat cross-legged, starlight swirling around his body.

The star origin imprint on his brow emitted a soft glow, resonating with the Star God Contemplation Method's stars he was visualizing in his sea of consciousness.

The incomplete insights inherited from the nine ancestral statues were deeply etched into his soul like a brand, especially the fragments of the artistic conception concerning the sixth form of the Nine Axes of Heaven Opening, "Heaven Opening," which elevated his understanding of Heaven Opening Axe Intent to a whole new level.

"The Star Immortal Body and the Heaven Opening Axe Intent... these two artistic conceptions seem to be able to merge."

Xiao Chen's thoughts stirred, and he attempted to integrate the artistic conception from the general outline of the Star Immortal Body, which involved refining oneself with Power of Starlight to forge an eternal and indestructible body, into the Heaven Opening Axe Intent.

One represented protection and eternity, the other creation and pioneering; seemingly contradictory, yet they subtly contained the profound truth of yin and yang giving birth to each other, and establishment after destruction.

He pointed his fingers like a blade and gently slashed at the void.

This time, no sharp axe-qi burst forth from his fingertips; instead, a faint starry light membrane appeared, upon which subtle chaotic currents flowed.

Where the light membrane passed, space was not torn apart, but rather rippled like water, becoming even more resilient and stable.

"Using Power of Starlight to order space, and the Heaven Opening Axe Intent to forge a path forward... this is no longer a simple attack, but an integration of offense and defense, capable of even influencing the rules of a region of heaven and earth!"

Xiao Chen's eyes erupted with joyful light.

The application of this merged artistic conception far exceeded his previous imagination!

Although it was still in its nascent form, its potential was boundless!

He felt that although his cultivation realm had not changed (One-star Dou Zun Peak), his true combat power, especially his control and application of power, had undergone a qualitative leap!

If he were to face a Peak Dou Zun (Peak Battle Venerable) of Soul Jade's level again, he was confident he could defeat him within three moves!

Even against a Two-Star Dou Zong, he would have the power to fight!

"It's just a pity that the power of the star origin imprint has been consumed quite a bit and cannot recover on its own."

Xiao Chen sighed slightly as he inwardly observed the slightly dimmed imprint on his brow.

This imprint was like a powerful energy reserve; using a bit meant having a bit less, and it had to be kept as a trump card for critical moments.

At this moment, the stone door of the secret chamber gently clicked, and Feng Xian walked in.

After three days of recuperation, his complexion was much rosier, and his aura had stabilized; although his injuries were not fully healed, he was no longer in critical condition.

"Brother Xiao, your aura... has become even more unfathomable."

Feng Xian genuinely praised, sensing the restrained yet vast artistic conception emanating from Xiao Chen.

"Just a slight insight, that's all."

Xiao Chen reined in his aura and asked, "How are Brother Feng's injuries?"

"They are no longer critical, thank you for your concern, Brother Xiao."

Feng Xian's expression turned serious, and he said in a deep voice, "Brother Xiao, I just received a message from the Pavilion; something big has happened in the Central Region!"

"Oh?"

Xiao Chen's gaze sharpened.

Feng Xian took out a jade slip, infused it with his soul power, and a light screen appeared, displaying the latest situation map and information flow of the Central Region.

"The Soul Hall has publicly announced the 'Emperor Hunting Plan'!"

"They declared that the Xiao Clan are ancient traitors, and that their ancestral land's inheritance contains the power of Outer Realm Heavenly Demons, and you, Xiao Chen... have been listed as a 'Public Enemy of the Continent'!"

Feng Xian's tone was heavy, "The Soul Hall, together with the Heavenly Nether Sect and Ice River Valley, has formed the 'Demon Extermination Alliance,' calling upon all forces in the world to jointly eliminate the remnants of the Xiao Clan!

They are also offering Heavenly-tier cultivation techniques and eighth-grade medicinal pills as rewards for capturing you or providing your whereabouts!"

On the light screen, the Soul Hall's proclamation and bounty order scrolled, every word piercing, depicting Xiao Chen as a demon who colluded with Outer Realm Heavenly Demons and intended to destroy the continent!

Below, there was information about countless forces responding, including some sects that were originally neutral!

"Distorting black and white, utterly shameless!"

Xiao Chen's eyes shot out cold light, burning with rage.

The Soul Hall was crying 'thief' while being the thief, placing the crime of betrayal on the Xiao Clan; their intentions were punishable by death!

"Not only that," Feng Xian continued, "the Soul Hall also declared that the Pill Tower is harboring evil and is an enemy of the continent!

The Demon Extermination Alliance has begun a full-scale suppression of the Pill Tower and its allies!

Many branch towers of the Pill Tower in the Northern Region have been destroyed, and their affiliated forces massacred!

Along the borders of the Central Region, skirmishes are escalating, and a major war is on the verge of breaking out!"

The light screen showed scenes of Pill Tower strongholds being attacked and disciples suffering casualties, which were incomparably tragic.

Xiao Chen clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white.

Because of him alone, the entire Pill Tower was embroiled in war!

This guilt and anger almost consumed him.

"Starfall Pavilion... what is its stance?"

Xiao Chen took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down.

Feng Xian's expression was complex: "There are disagreements within the Pavilion.

Some elders believe that the Soul Hall is too powerful, and their proclamation is misleading, making it unwise to confront them directly.

However, my master (Venerable Feng) overruled all objections, insisting that Starfall Pavilion stand with the Pill Tower!

He has already ordered the activation of the sect's protective array and is preparing for war!"

Xiao Chen was moved; Starfall Pavilion's choice to support them under such pressure, this friendship, he would engrave it in his heart forever.

"There's even worse news," Feng Xian's voice was low, "According to our intelligence, the Soul Hall seems to have... reached some kind of agreement with the Heavenly Secret Pavilion!

The Heavenly Secret Pavilion has already begun to use its vast intelligence network to fully search for your whereabouts!

I'm afraid it won't be long before this place is exposed as well!"

"Heavenly Secret Pavilion..."

Xiao Chen's eyes were cold.

This mysterious organization had indeed intervened!

With their assistance, the Soul Hall's search net would become even more terrifying.

The storm was brewing!

The entire Central Region was stirred up because of him alone!

The Soul Hall's "Emperor Hunting Plan" was like a huge net, tightening from all directions!

"Brother Xiao, what are your plans next?"

Feng Xian looked at Xiao Chen, his gaze firm, "No matter what, I, Feng Xian, and Starfall Pavilion, are willing to fight alongside Brother Xiao!"

Xiao Chen was silent for a moment, a look of determination flashing in his eyes.

Fleeing would not solve the problem.

The Soul Hall's target was him and the Xiao Clan's inheritance; as long as he lived, the war would not cease.

Allies like the Pill Tower and Starfall Pavilion would also continue to be implicated.

"I cannot implicate my friends any longer."

Xiao Chen slowly rose, his aura like a sharp sword about to be unsheathed, "The Soul Hall wants to kill me, so let them come!

I want to see if this 'Emperor Hunting Plan' can hunt down this spark of mine that is about to ignite a prairie fire!"

He looked at Feng Xian and said solemnly: "Brother Feng, thank you for Starfall Pavilion's righteousness!

But this matter started because of me, and I cannot drag your esteemed Pavilion into eternal damnation.

Please convey my thanks to Venerable Feng; this kindness, Xiao Chen will never forget!

But I must leave this place and draw the Soul Hall's attention away!"

"Brother Xiao! You..." Feng Xian was shocked, "The Soul Hall has set up an inescapable net; you alone, it's too dangerous!"

"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."

Xiao Chen's lips curved into a cold arc, "The Soul Hall wants to play; I'll play a big one with them!

Emperor Hunting?

Let's see who hunts whom in the end!"

He already had a plan in mind: instead of passively hiding, it was better to take the initiative!

He would use the Soul Hall's eagerness to eliminate him to set up a counter-kill trap!

And the location, he had already decided—deep within the Yun Shen Mountain Range, a place even Dou Saints feared!

There, space was chaotic, and there were countless perilous areas, making it an excellent battlefield for fishing in troubled waters and for the weak to defeat the strong!

"Brother Feng, do me a favor."

Xiao Chen took out an empty jade slip and imprinted a piece of information into it, "Find a way to 'accidentally' leak this jade slip to the Heavenly Secret Pavilion or the Soul Hall's scouts."

Feng Xian took the jade slip, and his soul perception swept over it, his expression suddenly changing: "Brother Xiao! You're going to... use yourself as bait?!"

The information in the jade slip was none other than false intelligence about Xiao Chen "seriously injured and recuperating in a certain perilous area deep within the Yun Shen Mountain Range"!

"To be reborn from death."

Xiao Chen's gaze was deep, "Doesn't the Soul Hall want to find me?

I'll show them a clear path!

Let's see if they have the guts to come deep into this Yun Shen Mountain Range and fight me to the death!"

Feng Xian looked at Xiao Chen's firm and confident eyes, knowing that persuasion was useless, and could only nod heavily: "Alright! Brother Xiao, take care!

Starfall Pavilion will constantly monitor the situation, and if needed, we will not hesitate to die!"

"Take care!"

Xiao Chen cupped his hands in salute, no longer hesitating, his figure moved, transforming into a faint, almost invisible stream of light, silently leaving the stronghold and speeding towards the more dangerous, more unknown depths of the Yun Shen Mountain Range!

His retreating figure was resolute and solitary, yet carried the momentum of a spark that would surely ignite a prairie fire!

The sky of the Central Region, because of his actions, would be completely ignited!

A shocking game of chess, centered around "Emperor Hunting" and "Counter-Hunting," thus began!

And the outcome of this game would determine the fate of the entire continent's future!