The Xun Yuan Hao sailed through the stars for twelve days before finally reaching the unknown nebula belt at the edge of the Star Sea. Unlike the dazzling, multicolored nebulae within the Star Sea, this nebula was a deathly gray, devoid of the slightest ripple of life. Even light seemed to be swallowed by it, making the place exceptionally oppressive.
On the bridge, Shen Hao stood before the star map, his gaze fixed tightly on the core region of the nebula belt. The stagnation of space there was even more apparent than what he had sensed before. Runes on the star map flickered continuously, displaying the disorder and strangeness of the spatial rules.
"Lord Shen, the spatial stability of the nebula belt ahead is extremely poor. It contains severe erosion from the Outer Realm Rules, and the Xun Yuan Hao cannot sail directly inside," reported a Star Spirit Race disciple operating the vessel, his tone grave.
Shen Hao nodded. He had expected this. "Everyone, change into Origin battle armor forged by the Rock Spirit Race and equip Space Rune shields. Zi Xuan, lead the team with me. We will enter the nebula belt aboard a small assault ship. The remaining disciples will stay on the Xun Yuan Hao and handle outer-perimeter vigilance and communication support."
"Yes!" everyone answered in unison.
Half an hour later, Shen Hao, Zi Xuan, and ten disciples who had passed the Star Sea Origin trial boarded a small assault ship and slowly entered the gray nebula belt. The instant they entered the nebula, a powerful sense of oppression came crashing toward them.
The gray mist around them was almost tangible, continuously eroding the assault ship's defensive formation. The Desolate Rules contained within the mist sought to dismantle the formation's energy structure and transform it into Desolate