The wind and sand gradually subsided, leaving the Gobi in disarray. Lin Wudao tightened his grip on the black jade fragment. Fine patterns appeared on its surface, actually matching the trails of the afterimages the mysterious man had left as he departed. Stirred by a thought, he circulated the Mystic Heaven Creation Instruction, trying to decipher its mysteries. Suddenly, the fragment shot out a beam of golden light, tracing half an incomplete star chart in the air.
"Ding! Fragment of the Jade Void Palace's Star Spirit-Guiding Formation Diagram detected. Resonance established with the crystal inside the Thunder-Devouring Demonic Wolf." "The complete formation diagram can pinpoint the whereabouts of the supreme treasure of High Antiquity-the Chaos Spirit Pivot."
The system notification sounded in his sea of consciousness.
Just as Lin Wudao was about to examine it closely, a sudden clatter of urgent hoofbeats came from afar. Dozens of black-clad riders appeared like phantoms on the horizon. They wore heavy black iron armor, the Jade Void Palace insignias on their chests gleaming coldly beneath the moonlight. The silver-haired woman leading them held a gilded whip, its tip wreathed in faintly visible immortal Qi. From a distance, she shouted, "Lin Wudao, by order of the Jade Void Palace, come back to the mountain with us!"
Lin Wudao's gaze sharpened. The Chaos Sword left its sheath and lay across his chest. "I've never had any dealings with the Jade Void Palace. Why should I listen to you?"
"Because of this." The woman flung out a Jade Slip. It burst open in midair, revealing a phantom of the mysterious man from the Jade Void Palace. The phantom said with a faint smile, "Little fellow, if you don't want to know the secret of the Chaos Spirit Pivot, then go along with this disciple of mine. Rest assured, the Jade Void Palace never forces anyone against their will." Before the phantom dispersed, a streak of light entered Lin Wudao's brow. It was actually a method for operating the Star Spirit-Guiding Formation.
Lin Wudao pondered for a moment, then put away the Chaos Sword. "Lead the way." He knew full well that the Jade Void Palace might be the key to uncovering the secret of the supreme treasure of High Antiquity.
The Jade Void Palace stood atop a sea of clouds. Its nine main peaks crouched like giant dragons, while palaces and towers floated amid the clouds and mist, echoes of Dao resonance drifting through the jade halls and jeweled towers. Lin Wudao followed the others through layer upon layer of restrictions, arriving before a building called the Star-Gazing Pavilion. The silver-haired woman lifted the beaded curtain. Sandalwood incense curled through the hall, where the mysterious man stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at an enormous star chart hanging on the wall.
"You're here." The mysterious man turned, lightly tapping the star chart with his folding fan. "This star chart records the last place the Chaos Spirit Pivot appeared, but to activate it, we must gather all three fragments of the Star Spirit-Guiding Formation Diagram. The crystal inside the Thunder-Devouring Demonic Wolf is one, and the second..." Before he could finish, a violent tremor suddenly came from outside the hall, and a shrill scream tore through the sky.
The mysterious man's expression shifted slightly. "This is bad! Outside enemies have invaded!" He hurried out of the Star-Gazing Pavilion with Lin Wudao. Black clouds loomed over the Jade Void Palace like a besieging army. Countless black-robed cultivators had formed a sinister grand formation, and at its core stood none other than Youmingzi and Tianxuzi. Youmingzi held the Thunder-Devouring Demonic Wolf's crystal. It resonated with the black jade fragment from afar, releasing heart-quaking fluctuations.
"The Jade Void Palace shelters Lin Wudao and even wants to seize the Chaos Spirit Pivot for itself! Today, we will raze this mountain!" Tianxuzi held the Xuantian Mirror, and a golden pillar of light shot from it straight into the Jade Void Palace's mountain-protecting formation. Ripples spread across the formation. The palace-guarding Law Treasures on the nine main peaks lit up one after another, only to dim the instant they touched the pillar of light.
Lin Wudao gripped the black jade fragment tightly as its radiance blazed. "They're here for the Star Spirit-Guiding Formation Diagram!" Before he finished speaking, a jade talisman suddenly flew from the mysterious man's sleeve. It transformed into countless streams of light that merged into the grand formation, forcibly reversing its core. The attacks from Youmingzi and the others were all reflected back, and the black-robed cultivators screamed as they were sent flying backward.
"Paltry tricks." The mysterious man snorted coldly. Just as he was about to press his advantage, Youmingzi suddenly threw back his head and laughed. "You think this is over? Look behind you!"
Deep within the Jade Void Palace, a blood-red pillar of light shot into the sky, carrying peals of sinister laughter. Lin Wudao's pupils abruptly contracted. That presence was extremely similar to the flame demon's remnant soul he had encountered in the ancient ruins. The mysterious man's expression changed drastically. "This is bad! Someone used the chaos to undo the restrictions on the Demon-Sealing Abyss!"
From beneath the Demon-Sealing Abyss, countless black shadows burst out of the earth. Leading them was a giant whose entire body burned with purple-black flames. He held an enormous battle-axe, its blade covered in ancient curse runes. Roaring, the giant charged toward the Jade Void Palace, space shattering inch by inch wherever he passed.
"This is... an Extraterrestrial Heavenly Demon!" The mysterious man's expression was grave. "Back then, Great Emperor Xuantian had to join forces with numerous mighty figures to seal him. How could..." He suddenly turned to Lin Wudao. "Lend me your black jade fragment!"
Without hesitation, Lin Wudao tossed him the black jade fragment. The mysterious man formed seals with both hands. The fragment resonated with the Jade Void Palace's palace-guarding Law Treasures, releasing dazzling light. Within that radiance, Great Emperor Xuantian's phantom flickered in and out of view. The phantom raised a hand and swept it outward, and a golden barrier temporarily blocked the Extraterrestrial Heavenly Demon.
"Lin Wudao, take my disciple to retrieve the second fragment of the Star Spirit-Guiding Formation Diagram! I'll hold them off here!" As he spoke, the mysterious man brought forth the Jade Void Palace's supreme treasure-the Nine Heavens Exquisite Pagoda. The pagoda blazed with light, enveloping the Extraterrestrial Heavenly Demon, Youmingzi, and all the others.
Lin Wudao nodded and rose on his flying sword after the silver-haired woman. Their destination was none other than the Jade Void Palace's most dangerous forbidden ground-the Immortal Burial Valley. It was said that immortals who had fallen during High Antiquity were buried there, and that clues to the second formation diagram fragment lay hidden within. At that moment, an eerie black mist shrouded the Immortal Burial Valley, as though pairs of eyes were watching their every move from the darkness...