Beyond the fissure at the bottom of the Altar lay not the secret chamber they had imagined, but a spiral staircase leading deep underground. Stones of "star marrow," long since bereft of spiritual light, were embedded along both sides. A strange scent filled the air-stale and deathly still, yet faintly tinged with pure spiritual energy.
Han Li walked at the very rear of the group, his spiritual sense spreading out in fine threads to scan their surroundings at every moment. He could feel the staircase extending toward the depths of the earth at an extremely slow pace.
This staircase was actually paved with void stone and involves spatial folding... Han Li was inwardly stunned. The ancient Kunwu Sect used the Space Laws to such an astonishing degree!
Ahead, the Taiyi Sect Master and the Heavenly Demon Sect's Grand Elder remained evenly matched. By now, however, their contest had shifted from clashes of spiritual power to exploring and vying over this underground staircase.
"Heh heh, you old fossil, there are treasure fluctuations up ahead!" The Heavenly Demon Sect's Grand Elder gave a savage laugh. His figure flickered, transforming into a streak of black light that raced down the spiral staircase!
"You won't get there first!" the Taiyi Sect Master snapped. With a flick of his horsetail whisk, countless silver strands became a ribbon of silver light and pursued relentlessly!
One behind the other, the two vanished like shooting stars into the end of the spiral staircase.
Han Li did not rush after them. Instead, his figure flickered, and he landed on a platform beside the stairs. A black stone pillar half a person's height stood upon it, its surface covered in runes. Above the pillar floated a fist-sized "star core," giving off faint starlight.
"This is... a star core?" A sharp