187: The power of the fifth transformation, the first battle of the secret

At the top of the star tower, Xiao Chen stood with his hands behind his back, his green robes fluttering. His aura was completely internalized, returning to its original simplicity, as if he had merged with the surrounding world.

However, the slight pressure inadvertently revealed when his profound eyes, like the chaotic starry sky, opened and closed, caused a sense of awe to involuntarily rise from the depths of the souls of Xuan Kongzi, His Majesty Emperor Yan, and other core members of the Anti-Alliance who stood by his side.

"Five-Turn Dou Saint Peak... and definitely not an ordinary Fifth Revolution Dou Sheng!" Xuan Kongzi felt the vast, ocean-like, hidden power within Xiao Chen's body, and his heart was filled with shock and relief.

He could perceive that Xiao Chen's breakthrough was not merely an accumulation of energy, but a qualitative leap in his life level and understanding of laws! His foundation was far more profound than imagined!

"Chen'er, your strength has greatly increased, but the Pavilion Master Tianji is mysterious and unpredictable. Although Soul Heaven Emperor self-destructed, his remaining forces are colluding with the Heavenly Secret Pavilion, and they still cannot be underestimated.

What are your plans next?" Xuan Kongzi asked in a deep voice, his eyes filled with concern and solemnity.

Xiao Chen's gaze looked towards the Soul Burial Mountain Range, which was still shrouded in a thick, impenetrable mist of destiny, isolating all prying eyes.

His Saint Realm soul could vaguely sense that deep within the mist, a terrifying and strange aura was constantly growing, as if it was nurturing some extremely formidable existence.

"Pavilion Master Tianji... although his plan to steal Soul Heaven Emperor's imperial foundation was interrupted by me, he will never give up," Xiao Chen's voice was calm, yet carried a chilling killing intent.

"He is now in hiding, surely digesting what he has gained and plotting a greater conspiracy. We cannot give him a moment to breathe."

He turned around and looked at everyone, his eyes sharp as blades: "Passive defense will only lead to our demise. We must take the initiative to attack, eliminate all strongholds of the Soul Hall and the Heavenly Secret Pavilion in the Central Region, cut off their resource supply and intelligence network, and force the Pavilion Master Tianji to show himself!"

"Active attack?" His Majesty Emperor Yan frowned slightly. "Now that the web of destiny of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion covers the Central Region, our actions may be difficult to hide from his perception. Rashly attacking might lead to an ambush."

"No matter," Xiao Chen's lips curved into a confident smile. "He has his web of destiny, and I have my Chaos Sacred Realm.

Now that my Sacred Realm has initially formed, it can, to a certain extent, distort and shield destiny's prying eyes. Moreover..."

He raised his hand, and a faint, almost imperceptible wisp of chaotic energy quietly circulated in his palm. "I have initially refined that wisp of Origin Qi, and have a deeper understanding of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion's methods of destiny.

It's perfect... to use their strongholds to test my new strength!"

Upon hearing this, everyone's spirits lifted! Xiao Chen's confidence and power infected everyone!

"Good! In that case, we shall follow Saint Xiao and sweep away all the demons!" Venerable Feng exclaimed with heroic spirit.

"Issue the order!" Xiao Chen's voice was firm, echoing throughout the entire Pill Tower Holy Domain! "All members of the Anti-Alliance, from this moment on, divide into three routes!"

"The first route, led by Teacher and His Majesty Emperor Yan, will oversee the central command, coordinate the overall situation, consolidate defenses, and contact other reclusive forces and neutral races on the continent to jointly resist the great enemy!"

"The second route, led by Elder Feng, the Flower Sect Master, and the Wonderful Sound Emissary, will clear out the remaining forces of the Soul Hall and the hidden agents of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion in the eastern Central Region!"

"The third route..." Xiao Chen's gaze swept over Ao Zhan, Flame Heart, and other outstanding young talents, finally landing on Flame Heart's face, which was filled with worry but also immense determination. He said softly: "Xin'er, you will come with me to strike directly at the heart of the enemy, heading to the periphery of the Soul Burial Mountain Range to remove the most important destiny node the Heavenly Secret Pavilion has established there — the 'Star-Gazing Platform'!"

"Star-Gazing Platform?" Flame Heart's beautiful eyes narrowed. "It is said to be one of the core hubs of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion for monitoring the Central Region's destiny and weaving the web of destiny! The defenses must be extremely strict!"

"It is precisely because of its importance that we must remove it first!" A cold light flashed in Xiao Chen's eyes. "Cut off its 'eyes,' and let's see how it can still control the overall situation!"

"Brother Chen, I'll go with you!" Flame Heart responded without hesitation, tightly holding Xiao Chen's hand. She knew this journey would be fraught with danger, but as long as she could be by Xiao Chen's side, she would face any peril without regret!

"Ao Zhan, gather three hundred Dragon Guards and come with me!" Xiao Chen ordered.

"Yes, sir!" Ao Zhan solemnly accepted the order, his eyes burning with fighting spirit!

...Three days later, on the outskirts of the Soul Burial Mountain Range, in Meteorite Valley.

This place was strategically located and dangerous, perpetually shrouded in a dense mist of Power of Starlight, making it an important stronghold that the Heavenly Secret Pavilion had operated for many years.

Deep within the valley, a gigantic tower, a thousand zhang tall and entirely constructed from starmetal, stood majestically. Atop the tower, a massive crystal compass floated, continuously drawing Power of Starlight from the heavens and the energy of the earth's dragon veins, emitting profound and unpredictable destiny fluctuations.

This was the Star-Gazing Platform!

At this moment, the Star-Gazing Platform was heavily guarded! Thousands of Heavenly Secret Pavilion disciples, clad in white robes with star patterns, formed a profound Star Array, protecting the entire valley as if it were an impregnable fortress!

Furthermore, a subtle yet powerful aura lurked within the Star-Gazing Platform, clearly indicating the presence of a powerful expert.

Above the valley entrance, space subtly twisted, and Xiao Chen, Flame Heart, Ao Zhan, and three hundred fierce Dragon Guards from Ancient Dragon Island quietly appeared.

"As expected, the defenses are tight." Flame Heart's soul perception swept across the valley, her expression solemn. She could feel that the power of the Star Array was enough to trap and kill an ordinary Fourth Revolution Dou Sheng! Moreover, the aura within the Star-Gazing Platform was at least at the Fifth Revolution Dou Sheng level!

"A mantis trying to stop a chariot, that's all." Xiao Chen's gaze was calm. He took a step, and was already above the valley! He did not conceal his presence; the vast pressure of a Five-Turn Dou Saint Peak descended like an invisible mountain, pressing down on the entire valley!

"Enemy attack!!!"

Alarm bells instantly blared within the valley! The Star Array's light surged, and countless dazzling Power of Starlight arrows rained down on Xiao Chen like a torrential downpour!

At the same time, from within the Star-Gazing Platform, a figure shrouded in starlight shot into the sky, its aura having clearly reached the mid-stage Fifth Revolution Dou Sheng! This was the Star-Gazing Elder of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion stationed here — Xing Yunzi!

"What audacious madman dares to trespass on the Star-Gazing Platform?!" Xing Yunzi's voice was cold. A star-light-infused whisk appeared in his hand as he vigilantly stared at Xiao Chen. He felt an immense threat emanating from Xiao Chen!

"The one who will take your life!" Xiao Chen didn't bother with pleasantries. He pointed his fingers like a sword and lightly slashed at the massive Star Array below!

"Chaos... Genesis!"

A grayish sword qi silently cut out! The sword qi seemed slow, yet it instantly traversed space, directly striking the core node of the Star Array!

"Crack—!"

It sounded like shattering glass! The Star Array, which was capable of resisting a Fourth Revolution Dou Sheng, was instantly cut open with a huge gap by Xiao Chen's sword, which contained the artistic conception of creation and the essence of Origin Qi, as if it were made of paper!

The array's light dimmed rapidly, and countless array foundations shattered! The Heavenly Secret Pavilion disciples presiding over the array all spat blood and flew backward!

"What?!" Xing Yunzi's face turned pale with horror! His proud valley-guarding array was actually broken so effortlessly by the opponent?!

"Die!" Xiao Chen pressed his advantage, his figure flickered, and he was already in front of Xing Yunzi! He threw a simple, direct punch!

On the fist, chaotic energy condensed, as if containing the weight of a world!

"Star Protection!" Xing Yunzi was terrified, desperately urging his whisk, drawing upon the Power of Starlight of the heavens to set up a thick barrier of starlight in front of him!

"Boom—!"

The punch landed! The starlight barrier couldn't even hold for an instant before it exploded!

The force of the punch squarely struck Xing Yunzi's chest!

"Pfft—!"

Xing Yunzi was hit as if by a meteorite, spewing blood, his chest caved in. His body shot backward like a broken kite, crashing heavily into the wall of the Star-Gazing Platform, his aura instantly becoming extremely weak!

One punch! Severely injuring a mid-stage Fifth Revolution Dou Sheng!

"Elder!" The Heavenly Secret Pavilion disciples in the valley were terrified and fled in all directions!

"Dragon Guards, listen up! Annihilate the remaining enemies! Destroy the Star-Gazing Platform!" Ao Zhan roared, leading three hundred Dragon Guards to charge into the valley like tigers descending a mountain! The sounds of battle instantly resounded throughout the valley!

Xiao Chen didn't even look at the battle below. His gaze was fixed on the tall Star-Gazing Platform, especially the crystal compass still slowly rotating atop the tower!

"Destiny node... shatter for me!"

Xiao Chen grabbed in mid-air! A colossal hand, formed from chaotic energy and covering the sky, appeared out of thin air and fiercely grabbed towards the crystal compass!

"Buzz—!"

Just as the giant hand was about to grasp the compass, the compass suddenly erupted with dazzling starlight! An incredibly powerful force of destiny burst forth from it! Countless threads of karma, like venomous snakes, coiled around the chaotic giant hand, attempting to twist and decompose it!

"Hmph! A mere ownerless object dares to resist?" Xiao Chen snorted coldly, and with a thought, the world power of the Chaos Sacred Realm descended with a rumble! Suppress! Annihilate!

"Crack! Crack!"

Those threads of karma shattered under the crushing force of the world power! The chaotic giant hand grasped the crystal compass without hindrance!

"Shatter!"

Xiao Chen's five fingers suddenly clenched!

"Boom—!!!"

The crystal compass let out an unwilling wail and exploded with a bang! Countless fragments of destiny scattered! As the compass shattered, the dense Power of Starlight mist above the valley instantly thinned considerably! It was as if an invisible net that had always shrouded the Central Region had been torn open!

"We succeeded!" Flame Heart's beautiful eyes lit up!

However, at the very moment the compass shattered!

"Xiao Chen... you really... came..."

A cold, ethereal voice, as if from the heavens, suddenly echoed deep within Xiao Chen's soul!

Immediately after, from the center of the shattered compass, an extremely solid ray of starlight suddenly shot out, condensing into a blurry figure in the air! It was a powerful divine sense projection of the Pavilion Master Tianji!

Its aura had clearly reached the Five-Turn Dou Saint Peak level! And even... faintly carried a trace of imperial might!

"This Venerable... has been waiting for a long time!" The Pavilion Master Tianji's projection let out a cold laugh. "Are you... satisfied... with this 'meeting gift'?"

Xiao Chen's pupils constricted slightly, but his face showed no fear; instead, he revealed a mocking smile:

"Just a projection... and you dare to play tricks in front of me?"

"Today, I will first destroy this manifestation of yours, and later, I will slay your true body!"

The aura of a Five-Turn Dou Saint Peak erupted with a roar! The Chaos Sacred Realm expanded once more! The prelude to the final showdown... officially began!