Lin Wudao's body nearly collapsed under the excruciating pain. His Essence Blood and spiritual power surged madly into the Star Spirit-Guiding Formation Diagram, and the cracks across its surface actually began healing at a speed visible to the naked eye. The enormous hand of the Lord of the Devil-Sealing Abyss descended with world-destroying pressure, shattering space inch by inch wherever it passed. Everyone felt their breath stop, as though even their souls were about to be crushed.
At that critical instant, Su Yao suddenly bit through her fingertip and, using her blood as a guide, lashed out with her gilded whip. Its tip coiled around one finger of the enormous hand. "Wudao, go!" Her voice was shrill with anguish. Spiritual power burned furiously along the whip, and blood-red patterns instantly covered her fair face. The Holy Maiden also raised her jade flute to her lips, turning the Clear Heart Incantation into a barrier of sound waves that temporarily held back the enormous hand's assault.
Pain stabbed Lin Wudao's heart, but he knew he could not afford the slightest hesitation. He drove the Chaos Sword into his palm, letting his blood run down the blade to drench the formation diagram, while circulating the Chaos Heaven-Devouring Instruction to forcibly devour the demonic Qi raging around him. System! Activate every power amplification! he roared inwardly. The image of the Star Palace in his sea of consciousness suddenly burst with boundless light, resonating with the formation diagram.
At the sight, a complicated look flickered through Tianxuzi's eyes. The golden light he controlled from the Xuantian Mirror suddenly changed direction, merging with the spiritual power of the Jade Void Palace cultivators and pouring into the formation diagram. "So be it! If we truly let this monster destroy the Star Palace, everyone will be buried with it!" he shouted through gritted teeth. The Heavenly Mysteries Sect disciples also brought out their Law Treasures one after another, joining in the transfer of spiritual power.
Just as everyone joined forces to resist, the twelve mysterious Ancient Witch Clan cultivators suddenly formed hand seals. Their blood-red compass hovered in the air and actually began absorbing the power of the falling stars. Ancient witch script emerged on its surface, transforming into blood-red chains that bound the enormous hand of the Lord of the Devil-Sealing Abyss. Strangely, more than half the star diagram's power absorbed by the enormous hand was diverted into the compass.
"They're taking advantage of this to seize control of the Star Palace!" True Person Baixuan's expression changed sharply, and the Supreme Void Azure Nether Sword's radiance surged. "We must cut those blood-red chains first!"
Lin Wudao, however, discovered something even more terrifying-as the falling stars continued to descend, although the formation diagram was healing, the body of the Lord of the Devil-Sealing Abyss was rapidly expanding. Beneath the monster's skin, dark-gold runes pulsed like blood vessels. They were none other than the Star Palace's sealing patterns. "This is bad! It's going to refine itself into a new seal!" Lin Wudao shouted. "If it succeeds, the entire world will be dragged into the Demon-Sealing Abyss!"
By now, Lin Wudao's body was so transparent that his bones were almost visible, and his consciousness was beginning to blur. Yet deep within his sea of consciousness, the immortal corpse's lingering memories suddenly surfaced-the powerful cultivator who had guarded the palace had chosen, at the final moment, to merge his Primordial Spirit with the seal, exchanging eternal imprisonment for the world's peace.
"So that's how it is..." Blood spilled from the corner of Lin Wudao's mouth, and a smile of acceptance appeared on his face. He abruptly pulled out the Chaos Sword, condensed the last of his spiritual power into a blade of light, and severed Su Yao's whip where it bound the enormous hand. "Su Yao, live on!" His voice pierced the battlefield, and then he shot toward the Lord of the Devil-Sealing Abyss like a meteor.
Under everyone's shocked gazes, Lin Wudao pressed the Star Spirit-Guiding Formation Diagram against the monster's chest while circulating the Mystic Heaven Creation Instruction, forcibly reversing the flow of spiritual power. The light erupting from the formation diagram dyed the entire sky gold. The Lord of the Devil-Sealing Abyss let out an unwilling roar as the star diagram's power it had absorbed began flowing backward, pouring into Lin Wudao's body in its entirety.
"Ding! Host activation of 'Sacrifice Mode' detected. Merging with the Star Palace's source power!"
The system notification thundered, and Lin Wudao's sea of consciousness burst apart with a deafening crash, countless stars flickering within it. He saw the Star Palace's true form-it was not a palace, but an enormous sealing Law Artifact, suppressing the most evil existence from High Antiquity.
The Ancient Witch Clan's blood-red compass suddenly shook violently, and the twelve cultivators spat blood as they were hurled backward. Freed from the blood-red chains, the body of the Lord of the Devil-Sealing Abyss began crumbling inch by inch, but its dying counterattack was even more terrifying. Countless black tentacles reached out of the abyss, seized the surrounding cultivators, and dragged them into its depths.
Lin Wudao's body had completely turned into light, yet his consciousness was incomparably clear. After absorbing the final trace of the star diagram's power, he formed seals with both hands. The Star Spirit-Guiding Formation Diagram transformed into countless runes that coiled like chains around the rift of the Demon-Sealing Abyss. "With me as the guide, let the seal be reforged!" His voice resounded through heaven and earth. Light and runes intertwined, completely enveloping the entire Demon-Sealing Abyss.
When the light faded, an illusory Star Palace floated above the Demon-Sealing Abyss, but Lin Wudao's figure had vanished without a trace. Su Yao knelt on the ground, tears blurring her eyes, the gilded whip in her hand hanging limply. The Holy Maiden put away her jade flute and gazed at the sky, saying softly, "He... succeeded."
Tianxuzi remained silent for a long time before putting away the Xuantian Mirror and turning to leave. The Ancient Witch Clan cultivators disappeared into the clouds with their shattered compass, as though they had never appeared. Everyone from the Jade Void Palace bowed deeply toward the Star Palace. True Person Baixuan let out a long sigh. "Junior Brother Wudao, the Jade Void Palace will remember your deeds forever."
Yet deep within the Star Palace, a faint consciousness was awakening. Lin Wudao's voice sounded in the void. "This isn't the end... the secrets of the Star Palace are only just beginning..." In the shadows, a pair of scarlet eyes watched it all, and a low, cold chuckle rang out. "Interesting, truly interesting..."