Refinement, Starry Sky Realm Second Layer

The shrill scream of the Space-time Blade tearing through space intertwined with the thunderous pulse of the Heart of the Ruins, composing a symphony of death.

Hua Qiang's combat boots sank deep into the cracked rock beneath him. Scarlet Blood Qi condensed into a tangible shield around his body, deflecting every splattered scrap of heart flesh.

Thick, magma-like dark-purple blood seeped from the crisscrossing cracks across the Heart of the Ruins. Every drop that hit the ground corroded the land within thirty zhang into smoking pits.

Golden light immediately blazed in Hua Qiang's eyes. This was good stuff—he absolutely could not waste it.

"Absorb!"

Hua Qiang bellowed, and the star imprint on his forehead suddenly lit up.

The Blood Demon Scripture was pushed to its limit. Hundreds of bloody vortices emerged around him like the greedy maws of giant Taotie, devouring all the blood splashing through the air.

Dark-purple energy surged through his meridians straight into his dantian, stirring monstrous waves in his sea of qi.

Hua Qiang could clearly feel every wisp of energy remolding his flesh and blood. His bones crackled like frying beans, while the veins beneath his skin writhed as though alive.

The Heart of the Ruins seemed to sense the threat of death, and the entire space suddenly shook violently.

Countless ancient runes surfaced across the heart floating in the void, transforming into thousands upon thousands of black chains that coiled toward Hua Qiang with pressure capable of tearing space apart.

Hua Qiang's pupils constricted slightly. The Space-time Blade turned into a streak of light, forming a Taiji Diagram before him. Blade light collided with the chains, erupting in dazzling lightning.

However, there were simply too many chains. Several slipped through the net and viciously pierced his left shoulder, instantly corroding wounds deep enough to