88: The aftermath is still ongoing, and the choice of the stellar core remains.

The smoke of the great battle and the aftershocks of the Star Commotion gradually subsided, but the foot of Meteorite Mountain did not return to peace.

Shattered array foundations, scorched earth, scattered debris, and bloodstains that had not yet dried formed a tragic yet solemn scene. The air was still filled with a mixture of lingering energy auras: the Ghost Qi, scorching Blazing Fierce Power, pure Buddhist Light, clear Profound Water, domineering Dragon Qi, and the thickest of all, the violent Power of the Stars belonging to the Thousand Star Remnant Realm itself.

The Imperial Dynasty's elite guards quickly spread out, taking over the battlefield, clearing remnants, treating the wounded, and setting up alerts. King Xia and several Consecrated Elders discussed in low voices, clearly arranging follow-up matters. The Disciples of the Jade Pool, led by Meng Liuli and Senior Sister Zixia, assisted in treating the injured Prodigies from various domains and collected the star core fragments scattered everywhere—the fierce battle had shaken loose quite a few deeply hidden fragments.

Ye Lingyun, Blazing Fierce, Bright Wisdom, Blue Tide, and others gathered around Lin Fan. Their auras were fluctuating, and they all bore injuries, but their spirits were relatively high. Blazing Fierce's withered left arm was temporarily suppressed by Xia Qingyue's pure Dragon Qi, but completely eradicating the Death Qi would take time. Ye Lingyun had expended immense energy, but with Sword Heart Illumination, he recovered the fastest. Bright Wisdom and Blue Tide mainly suffered from spiritual power depletion; their injuries were not severe.

"Brother Lin, that was truly close!" Blazing Fierce grimaced, unable to hide his excitement, "We actually managed to take down the lair of those Nether Pavilion bastards! And scared off that Half-step Saint Realm old ghost! If this gets out, we can brag about it for a hundred years!"

Ye Lingyun, however, looked solemn: "Brother Yan, do not be careless. Ghost Star Elder only retreated temporarily. Given the Nether Pavilion's style of operation, they will absolutely not let this go. Moreover, he fled into the deepest part of the Remnant Realm at the end; the environment there is extreme, and there might be unforeseen changes."

Bright Wisdom clasped his hands together: "Amitabha, although the evil demons have temporarily retreated, their roots remain, and resentment has been sown. There will surely be future tribulations. Benefactor Lin, you have formed a deep enmity with the Nether Pavilion; you must be extremely cautious in the future."

Blue Tide also reminded him softly: "Fellow Daoist Lin, the strength you displayed this time, and... that method used to incite the star source core, has likely attracted the attention of many parties. Fortune and disaster are unpredictable."

Lin Fan leaned against a relatively flat piece of star wreckage, circulating his Cultivation Technique to absorb Medicinal Pills and the Power of the Stars to heal his injuries, nodding: "Thank you all for the reminder. I am aware of the situation." The death spots on his right arm were slowly receding under the dual effect of the Eternal Indestructible Body's Origin and the residual medicinal power of the soul cleansing spiritual spring, but the damage to his Meridians and the depletion of his spiritual power would not recover quickly.

At this moment, Xia Qingyue and Meng Liuli walked over together.

Xia Qingyue had already changed out of her combat attire and put on her moon-white palace dress again, looking peerlessly graceful, though a trace of killing intent and fatigue lingered in her brows. She first glanced at Lin Fan, saw that although he looked battered, his aura was steady, and a fleeting hint of relief crossed her eyes. She then spoke seriously: "Lin Fan, you have rendered a great service this time. Not only did you expose and thwart the Nether Pavilion's shocking conspiracy, preventing the channeling of Star Ruins power and averting a catastrophe that could have swept across the Remnant Realm and even affected the outside world, but you also resonated with the star source core at the critical moment, providing a crucial clue for the Imperial Dynasty's subsequent actions. For this merit, I and my Royal Uncle will certainly report truthfully to my Father the Emperor; there will definitely be great rewards."

Her tone was official, yet carried recognition and solemnity.

Meng Liuli also spoke, her voice still cold, but lacking the initial distance: "Fellow Daoist Lin remained calm in the face of danger, possessing both wisdom and courage, and moreover, harboring an open heart, willing to share Opportunities with fellow Daoists to jointly resist the evil demons. The Jade Pool Immortal Palace is also deeply impressed. Should you require assistance in the future, you may present this token at any of the Jade Pool's external branch courts to seek aid." She handed over a token shaped like a seven-colored lotus, neither gold nor jade, but warm and smooth like flowing water.

Lin Fan accepted the token; it felt cool in his hand, knowing its significance was not small. He thanked her solemnly once more. He knew that after this battle, he had truly entered the sight of these top-tier powers and gained preliminary recognition and investment. But behind this recognition lay greater responsibilities and potential troubles.

"Princess, Saintess, how are the captured Nether Pavilion Disciples and the Huangfu Family members to be dealt with?" Lin Fan asked.

Xia Qingyue's eyes turned slightly cold: "The Nether Pavilion remnants, with conclusive evidence of their crimes, shall naturally be escorted back to the Imperial Capital and handed over to the Ministry of Punishments and the Consecrated Elder Pavilion for joint interrogation to thoroughly investigate their organizational structure and schemes. As for the Huangfu Family..." She looked towards Huangfu Jue and the others being guarded by the guards, their faces ashen, "Colluding with evil demons and plotting against the assembled Prodigies, their crime deserves death! However, the Huangfu Family is an ancient Family of the Human Realm, so concrete evidence and a public trial are necessary. Royal Uncle has already dispatched men to perform Soul Searching on them for evidence and has sent messages externally; presumably, the Huangfu Family's internal affairs are in chaos right now."

Soul Searching! Upon hearing this, Huangfu Jue and the others turned even paler. The Soul Searching technique causes severe damage to the Divine Soul and exposes all secrets. They were finished, and the Huangfu Family was finished too.

Lin Fan felt little pity in his heart. The Huangfu Xuan brothers had repeatedly provoked him and colluded with the Nether Pavilion to set an ambush earlier; their current fate was purely self-inflicted. He only thought of the Great Elder Lin Yuan within his own Family—did this person also have deeper ties with the Nether Pavilion? Perhaps clues could be found from Huangfu Jue and the others.

"Princess, regarding the Nether Pavilion's plot concerning the 'Star Ruins Secret Realm' and the 'star source core,' does the Imperial Dynasty know more?" Lin Fan asked the question most concerning to him.

Xia Qingyue exchanged a look with King Xia. King Xia said gravely: "The Star Ruins Secret Realm is a forbidden land left behind after the annihilation of the Ancient Star Civilization. Time and space within are chaotic, Laws are broken, and it is filled with unknown dangers and forbidden knowledge. It has always been regarded as an ominous source of disaster. The Nether Pavilion dared to actively channel its power; their ambition is definitely not just the simple star source core; they likely harbor a deeper, insane objective. As for the star source core..."

He looked toward the depths of Meteorite Mountain, his gaze profound: "That is the object formed by the condensation of the Origin Law and Star Essence after the Thousand Star Remnant Realm shattered; it can be regarded as the 'heart' or 'seed' of this realm. If one can gain its acknowledgment or refine it, it offers unimaginable benefits to those who Cultivate the Star Dao, possibly even allowing one to glimpse a trace of the mysteries of the Ancient Star Civilization. However, this object is integrated with the Remnant Realm; moving one part affects the whole. Forcibly seizing it might lead to the complete collapse of the Remnant Realm, and the consequences would be disastrous. The Nether Pavilion using a replica to channel power, then plotting for the true core, was already extremely reckless. And you..."

King Xia Hongyi looked at Lin Fan, his eyes probing, "You can actually cause the star source core to resonate with just an unfamiliar key, even causing its power to riot slightly. This matter is extraordinary. Where did you obtain that key?"

Lin Fan pondered briefly, briefly explaining the key's Origin, its suspected shared source with the star source core, and the process where he finally adventurously "embedded" it into his Sea of Consciousness to induce the resonance, omitting the parts about the System prompts.

"So that's how it is." King Xia Hongyi mused, "That key should be a 'Detonator' separated or copied by the Nether Pavilion from the true star source core using some secret method. Your ability to establish a weak connection is due to a coincidence, and perhaps also related to the Eternal Indestructible Body you possess and that Star Treasure." He did not deeply investigate Lin Fan's star pagoda; at his level, he knew everyone had secrets, and as long as they didn't harm the Imperial Dynasty or the Human Race, there was no need to probe deeply.

"Prince Hongyi, Princess," Lin Fan carefully began, "Although the Nether Pavilion's conspiracy has been broken, the star source core seems to have experienced some agitation because I activated it earlier. This Junior vaguely feels that it might be possible to guide and soothe some of its scattered power. I wonder..."

King Xia Hongyi and Xia Qingyue both became serious upon hearing this.

"You want to try guiding the power of the star source core?" King Xia Hongyi's gaze was sharp as lightning, "Do you know the risks involved? The star source core is the foundation of the Remnant Realm. Its power level is extremely high, and it is unstable due to its fragmentation. Recklessly guiding it could result in the destruction of your Divine Soul at best, or at worst, trigger a new, perhaps even more violent collapse of the Remnant Realm. At that point, not only you, but all trial takers still within the Remnant Realm could be swept into spatial turbulence, leaving no bones behind!"

Xia Qingyue also frowned, "Lin Fan, you have already rendered a great service; there is no need to take further risks. The star source core is the foundation of the Remnant Realm. The Imperial Dynasty and the various Sects have long reached a consensus: it must not be moved rashly, only observed and studied. Once the trial ends and the Remnant Realm seals, it will gradually stabilize on its own."

Lin Fan fell silent. Of course, he knew the risks, but the temptation from the System prompts to "repair the star pagoda and enhance the Eternal Indestructible Body," coupled with his urgent need to increase strength, made it difficult for him to give up easily. Moreover, he had an intuition that the resonance and agitation caused by him this time might be a once-in-a-lifetime Opportunity that might never return if missed.

"This Junior understands the risks involved." Lin Fan raised his head, his gaze firm, "But precisely because the star source core moved because of me, perhaps... I also have a responsibility to try and soothe and guide some of its naturally scattered, harmless energy to help it regain stability. Furthermore, this Junior's path of Cultivation is closely related to the stars; this action might also be an Opportunity for me. This Junior is willing to make a Heart Demon Oath, only guiding the relatively gentle power that naturally disperses, never shaking its foundation, and certainly never endangering the stability of the Remnant Realm or the safety of others."

King Xia Hongyi looked deeply at Lin Fan, then suddenly said, "Do you know that the Ghost Star Elder fled into the depths of the Remnant Realm, very likely harboring the intention to take a desperate gamble while the star source core is unstable? If you go, you might encounter him again. In your current condition..."

Lin Fan's eyes turned cold, "That's even better; it's time to settle the score completely!"

The scene fell silent for a moment. Everyone could sense the decisiveness and confidence in Lin Fan's tone. Although he was still heavily injured, the methods he displayed earlier and the potential shown during his Breakthrough in battle made people hesitant to underestimate him.

Xia Qingyue and King Xia Hongyi exchanged a look. King Xia Hongyi slowly said, "This matter is of great importance. This King needs to consult with my Imperial Brother (Xia Hongtian) and several Consecrated Elder Pavilion Elders. The Remnant Realm trial will end in one last day, and the Spatial Passage will re-stabilize and open. If you insist on trying before then, this King can permit you to go to the edge of the area where the star source core is located to attempt sensing and guiding, but you absolutely must not go deep into the core, nor cause any major disturbance. This King and Qingyue will guard you here and monitor the stability of the Remnant Realm. If anything is amiss, we will stop immediately, without fail!"

This was already a huge concession and support. Clearly, the Imperial Dynasty also wanted to see if Lin Fan, this 'variable,' could bring about some positive changes regarding the star source core, or perhaps gain some valuable information.

"Thank you, Prince! Thank you, Princess!" Lin Fan bowed solemnly.

"Fellow Daoist Lin, be very careful," Meng Liuli said softly.

"Brother Lin, we will wait for your return!" Ye Lingyun and the others also said.

Lin Fan said no more. He swallowed several rare Medicinal Pills, forced his spirits up, determined the direction, and walked towards the deepest part of Meteorite Mountain, where the Dark Gold fluctuation of the star source core faintly emanated, his steps slightly unsteady but exceptionally resolute.

Xia Qingyue watched his receding back; a trace of worry and complexity flashed in her cold eyes.

King Xia Hongyi then whispered instructions to a Protector beside him, "Send orders to speed up the clearing of the battlefield and collect all evidence of the Nether Pavilion's collusion with the Huangfu Family. Notify the outside world to prepare for reception. Also, keep a close watch on the depths of Meteorite Mountain; report immediately if there is any anomaly!"

The Remnant Realm trial was nearing its end. What kind of conclusion would Lin Fan's contact with the star source core draw for this finale?

In the depths of Meteorite Mountain, the light grew dimmer, but the Power of the Stars was so dense it almost turned liquid, flowing slowly in the air. Damaged spatial rifts were visible everywhere, some even slowly writhing, healing, and regenerating. An ancient, desolate, boundless yet fragmented Concept enveloped this place.

Lin Fan sat cross-legged behind a relatively safe giant rock and looked inward again. In his Sea of Consciousness, the options prompted by the System were still flashing.

[Do you wish to attempt guiding and absorbing some scattered star source power to repair the star pagoda and enhance the Eternal Indestructible Body?]

[Warning: This process carries risks]

He closed his eyes, sinking his mind into his Dantian. The star pagoda floated quietly, its cracks unhealed, its light dim, conveying feelings of longing mixed with a trace of fear. The golden Qi and Blood of the Eternal Indestructible Body also flowed slowly, as if anticipating something.

He took a deep breath and began using his Divine Sense, with the star pagoda as a bridge, to cautiously probe the depths of the Remnant Realm, reaching out to touch and sense the broken star source core—that Dark Gold existence resembling a cold, lifeless sun.

A vast, ancient, and indescribably heavy will, like a sleeping giant Dragon, stirred slightly.