Lin Wudao stepped out of the Star Palace, faint starlight swirling around him. With every step, ancient star patterns appeared beneath his feet. He raised his hand and looked at his palm, where a miniature star chart slowly revolved. The power within it felt both unfamiliar and familiar.
"This Falling Star Physique truly is extraordinary," Lin Wudao murmured, feeling the spiritual power surging within him. "But what exactly did that Devil Master of High Antiquity mean?"
Just then, several sounds of rushing air came from the direction of the Jade Void Palace. Su Yao led the way, her gilded whip trailing golden afterimages behind her. Her eyes were filled with delight and disbelief. "Wudao! You're still alive!"
The Holy Maiden followed close behind, holding her jade flute across her chest as she warily examined the presence surrounding Lin Wudao. "Junior brother, your presence... seems to have changed enormously."
Lin Wudao nodded slightly and was about to explain when his expression suddenly sharpened. He looked up at the sky and saw a dark red fissure silently spreading through the previously tranquil clouds. Waves of fluctuations that made his heart tremble emanated from the fissure.
"This is bad! It's the presence of that Devil Master of High Antiquity!" Lin Wudao's expression changed abruptly. "He hasn't been completely destroyed!"
Before his words had faded, a massive, scale-covered claw reached out of the fissure. Black liquid dripped from its tips, corroding the clouds below with a sizzling sound. Then a figure stepped out of the fissure: the very Devil Master of High Antiquity whom Lin Wudao had severely wounded earlier. Now, his presence was even more terrifying than before. Dark red Devil Qi coiled around him, and his eyes gleamed with bloodlust.
"Brat, did you think you could destroy me completely?" The Devil Master's voice brimmed with resentment. "I lay dormant in this Star Palace for countless years. How could I perish so easily!"
Lin Wudao clenched his fists, circulating the power of the falling star within him as the star patterns around him grew brighter. "Since you've delivered yourself to my doorstep, I'll send you back to the place where you were sealed!"
The Devil Master laughed wildly and waved a hand, sending countless black beams shooting toward Lin Wudao. Lin Wudao's figure flickered as he unleashed Falling Star Phantom Steps, weaving between the beams. Seizing his opportunity, he condensed a falling star sword in his hand and slashed at the Devil Master.
The falling star sword collided with the Devil Master's Devil Qi, erupting in dazzling light. However, the Devil Master's strength far exceeded Lin Wudao's expectations. A single blow sent Lin Wudao flying backward, blood seeping from the corner of his mouth.
Seeing this, Su Yao and the Holy Maiden immediately moved to help. Su Yao whirled her gilded whip, golden flames coiling around its tip as she lashed at the Devil Master; the Holy Maiden played her jade flute, its sound waves turning into invisible blades that sliced through the Devil Master's Devil Qi.
"You think the likes of you can stop me?" The Devil Master snorted coldly, forming seals with both hands as he chanted. In an instant, dark clouds filled the sky, and a massive black vortex appeared above them. Countless devil soldiers and generals poured out of it.
Lin Wudao wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, his gaze resolute. He took a deep breath and circulated the Chaos Heaven-Devouring Instruction while also summoning the power of the falling star. Within his sea of consciousness, a phantom image of the Star Palace appeared. The power of myriad stars gathered in his hands, forming a massive falling star sphere.
"Go!" Lin Wudao shouted, hurling the falling star sphere at the black vortex. The sphere collided with the vortex, erupting in an earth-shaking explosion. The vortex began to shake violently, and the devil soldiers and generals were shattered one after another, reduced to nothingness.
At this, a flicker of panic crossed the Devil Master's eyes. He formed seals with both hands again, and a dark red pillar of light shot from his hands straight at Lin Wudao. Lin Wudao neither dodged nor evaded. He poured the power of the falling star into the Chaos Sword and unleashed his strongest strike.
"Falling Star Annihilation!"
The Chaos Sword collided with the dark red pillar of light, and the tremendous impact tore apart the surrounding space. Lin Wudao's body swayed under the force of the collision, but he gritted his teeth and poured everything into sustaining his attack.
Just then, Lin Wudao suddenly discovered a trace of something familiar mixed into the Devil Master's attack-it was power from the Star Palace!
So that's it... A thought stirred in Lin Wudao's mind. "You still haven't completely broken free of the Star Palace's restraints!"
Lin Wudao circulated the power of the falling star, resonating with the power within the Chaos Sword. Around his body, the phantom image of the Star Palace grew increasingly solid. Countless rays of starlight shot from it and coiled around the Chaos Sword.
"Break!"
With a furious roar, Lin Wudao's attack broke through the Devil Master's defenses and pierced straight into his heart. The Devil Master let out a wretched scream, and his body began to collapse.
"No! I refuse to accept this!" The Devil Master's voice was filled with despair. "I will return!"
At last, the Devil Master's body dissipated completely, leaving only a streak of dark red light that flew into the distance. Lin Wudao wanted to pursue it, only to discover that his strength was completely exhausted. He nearly fell to the ground.
Su Yao and the Holy Maiden hurried forward to support him. Su Yao's face was full of concern. "Wudao, are you all right?"
Lin Wudao shook his head and looked in the direction where the Devil Master had disappeared, a trace of wariness flashing in his eyes. "A sliver of the Devil Master's primordial spirit still remains in that light. We must find him as soon as possible, or there will be no end to the trouble ahead."
The Holy Maiden nodded. "Indeed. And the secrets of this Star Palace seem far more complicated than we imagined. Perhaps we should return to the Jade Void Palace and discuss a plan with the palace master and the elders."
Lin Wudao drew a deep breath, recovering some strength. "All right. But before that, there's one more thing I need to do."
He turned to look at the Star Palace, determination shining in his eyes. He knew this was only the beginning. More challenges and secrets lay ahead, waiting for him to unravel them...