Lin Wudao's consciousness drifted through the endless void, surrounded by darkness as thick as ink. Only the phantom of the Star Palace flickered in the distance. He could not feel his body, yet he could clearly sense the power of the star chart surging in his sea of consciousness. Those ancient runes roamed the depths of his consciousness like living things, constantly rearranging and evolving.
Ding! Host has successfully fused with the Star Palace's source and activated the hidden ability-Falling Star Reversal.
The system notification rang out in the void.
Host's soul detected to be incomplete. Repairing...
Meanwhile, after the people of Jade Void Palace had dispersed, the Star Palace above the Demon-Sealing Abyss suddenly erupted with countless rays of starlight. A barely perceptible presence followed the starlight down into Immortal Burial Valley, condensing into a translucent figure beside the immortal corpse's remains. Nourished by stellar power, Lin Wudao's soul gradually solidified. He lowered his head to look at his illusory palms and felt an unfamiliar yet mighty power flowing through his soul body.
"So this is the core of the Star Palace-the power of the falling star," Lin Wudao murmured, his gaze sweeping toward the chains left behind by the immortal corpse. The incantations on the chains suddenly lit up, turning into streaks of light that sank into his soul body. "These chains aren't just a seal. They're also the key to unlocking the palace's deeper reaches..."
Meanwhile, at Jade Void Palace, Su Yao knelt before Lin Wudao's secluded cultivation chamber, tightly gripping the Chaos Sword he had left behind. The blade was dull and lightless, as though it had lost its soul. "Wudao, you promised me..." Her voice choked, and her tears dripped onto the sword's hilt, actually causing a faint glimmer to rise from the blade.
The Holy Maiden hurried over, the jade flute in her hand blazing with light. "Junior Sister Su Yao, something unusual is happening at the Star Palace! The spiritual power fluctuations coming from the Demon-Sealing Abyss... seem to have something to do with Junior Brother Wudao!"
At the same time, within the Heavenly Mysteries Sect, Tianxuzi gazed at the northern sky, frowning in thought. His Xuantian Mirror suddenly activated on its own, projecting an image of Lin Wudao's soul condensing. "That brat actually survived?" His pupils abruptly contracted. "Just how much of the Star Palace's power has he mastered..."
In Immortal Burial Valley, Lin Wudao's soul body slowly rose into the air and flew toward the Star Palace. The closer he drew to the palace, the clearer the star chart in his sea of consciousness became. When he touched the palace gates, all the runes on them lit up, transforming into a flowing river of stars that drew him inside.
Inside the palace lay a resplendent starry sky. Tens of thousands of stars floated there, each corresponding to different restrictions and secret treasures. Lin Wudao's gaze was drawn to the enormous star chart in the center. The points of light flickering within it suddenly joined into a line, pointing into the depths of the palace.
Ding! Stellar core zone detected. Host may expend power of the falling star to unlock it.
The system notification sounded again.
Just as Lin Wudao was about to act, a tremendous crash of snapping chains suddenly came from the depths of the palace. A dark figure stepped out of the darkness, wreathed in Devil Qi of the same origin as the master of the Demon-Sealing Abyss, yet his presence was even more terrifying than that master's. "To think someone could enter this place in soul form." The dark figure's voice was hoarse. "Hand over the power of the falling star you absorbed, and I'll spare you the agony of having your soul scattered."
Lin Wudao's expression hardened. He circulated the power of the falling star, and a shield of starlight appeared around his soul body. "Who are you? Why are you inside the Star Palace?"
The dark figure let out a piercing laugh. "Me? I am the Devil Master of High Antiquity sealed here. During that great war, those immortals who called themselves righteous suppressed me here, using this Star Palace to imprison my Primordial Spirit. And you are nothing more than the key to breaking my seal!"
Before he had finished speaking, the dark figure swept his hand, sending countless black chains shooting toward Lin Wudao. Lin Wudao unleashed Falling Star Phantom Steps, his figure flashing repeatedly through the starry sky as he simultaneously drew on the power of the stars to strike back. Yet the Devil Master's power was far too great. Every attack left cracks in his soul body.
"Is that all you've got?" the Devil Master sneered. "Back then, the immortal corpse used his Primordial Spirit as a catalyst to reinforce the seal. Now, a mere remnant soul like you thinks he can stop me?"
Lin Wudao's heart jolted as he suddenly recalled that indistinct figure in the immortal corpse's memories. Gritting his teeth, he poured all his power of the falling star into his soul body and shouted, "What the immortal corpse senior could do, I can do too! System, activate Falling Star Sacrifice!"
Warning! Using Falling Star Sacrifice while in soul form will cause the host to dissipate permanently! Confirm?
"Confirm!"
Lin Wudao's soul body erupted with dazzling light, and he turned into a streak of light, charging toward the Devil Master. The Devil Master panicked. "No! You're insane!" The two powers collided with a thunderous crash. The entire Star Palace shook violently, stars began to fall, and countless cracks opened in space.
In the final moment before his consciousness dissipated, Lin Wudao seemed to see Su Yao's anxious face and hear the Holy Maiden playing her flute. A trace of unwillingness welled up in his heart, yet he also felt at peace. Perhaps this is my mission...
Yet just as his soul body was about to dissipate completely, a mysterious power suddenly enveloped him. The Chaos Heaven-Devouring Instruction began circulating on its own, madly absorbing the power of the falling star. Lin Wudao's consciousness re-formed in the darkness, and he heard a hint of excitement in the system notification:
Ding! Source power of the Devil Master of High Antiquity detected. Chaos Heaven-Devouring Instruction has broken through to the great accomplishment realm! Host's soul transformation complete. Falling Star Physique acquired!
When the light faded, Lin Wudao reappeared in the center of the palace. He lowered his head to look at his solid body, feeling the surging power within him as a cold smile curled his lips. Meanwhile, the Devil Master's figure was slowly dissipating, his unwilling roar echoing through the palace. "I will not... perish like this..."
Lin Wudao clenched his fists and looked into the depths of the palace. "Next time, I won't give you another chance. I will uncover every last secret of the Star Palace."
Just then, an urgent transmission came from the direction of Jade Void Palace. "Junior Sister Su Yao! An unusual phenomenon has appeared in the northern sky. Within the Star Palace's light... there's a familiar figure!"
Su Yao abruptly raised her head, hope shining in her eyes. Gripping the Chaos Sword tightly, she dashed northward. Outside the Star Palace, a new storm was quietly brewing...