The Star Chaser starship tore through the void, speeding across the boundless sea of stars toward that legendary forbidden region—the Annihilation Star Sea. The atmosphere aboard was grave, unlike any of their previous journeys.
Li Wuyang stood before the main control room viewport, watching the stars streak past outside. The closer they drew to the Annihilation Star Sea, the more "dim" and "lifeless" the surrounding starry sky became. The once-brilliant river of stars gradually thinned, and the starlight itself weakened, as though its energy were draining away. An invisible aura of decay permeated the void, oppressing the mind and spirit; even the starship's shield seemed to have dimmed somewhat.
"We've entered the outer zone of influence of the Annihilation Star Sea," Yun Yi said as he piloted the starship, staring gravely at the energy readings that kept issuing warnings across the star chart. "The spatial structure here is unstable, the laws are tending toward 'stillness,' and the spiritual energy is sparse and inert, making it nearly impossible to absorb and replenish. The starship's energy consumption is several times higher than in normal regions."
Master of Qingwei Temple held a whisk and closed his eyes to sense the area for a moment before speaking slowly. "Boundless Heavenly Venerate. The Annihilation Dao Rhyme of this place has begun to reveal itself. All things here tend toward an end. Any ordinary living being that remains for long will suffer a loss of vitality and have their Dao heart clouded. Fellow Daoist Li, perhaps your Chaos Dao Body feels differently here?"
Li Wuyang nodded slightly. Indeed, unlike Yun Yi and Yue Liuli, who felt discomfort, he instead experienced a strange sense of "comfort" within this increasingly lifeless starfield, like a fish returning to the sea. The thin energy in the air, which was tending