The Sword of the Falling Star cleaved into the abyss, carrying the power to destroy heaven and earth. The entire Immortal Burial Valley shook violently, as though heaven and earth would collapse at that very moment. The Lord of the Devil-Sealing Abyss let out a heaven-shaking, earth-shattering roar. His enormous, scale-covered hand lashed out and collided with the Sword of the Falling Star, unleashing waves of power that swept outward like a tsunami. The Holy Maiden hurriedly played her jade flute, blowing out barrier after barrier of sound waves, while Su Yao brandished her gilded whip and plunged into fierce combat with the remnants of the Ancient Witch Clan.
Lin Wudao gripped the sword hilt tightly, the power of the falling star surging wildly through his meridians. He could feel the power within the sword contending with the Lord of the Devil-Sealing Abyss's Devil Qi. Yet the Devil Master's strength far exceeded his imagination. The pressure from that enormous hand nearly left him unable to breathe, and his feet plowed two deep furrows through the ground.
"Boy, you think the likes of you can stop me?" The Lord of the Devil-Sealing Abyss's voice dripped with boundless mockery. "The second floor of the Star Palace holds a secret powerful enough to overturn the cultivation world. I've waited far too long for this moment!" Before he finished speaking, vast quantities of Devil Qi, thick as ink, suddenly surged from the abyss, coalescing into countless hideous devil phantoms in the air and lunging at Lin Wudao.
Lin Wudao circulated the Chaos Heaven-Devouring Instruction, frantically devouring the devil phantoms. But the Devil Qi contained a peculiar corrosive power. With every bit he devoured, his meridians felt as though they were being scorched by raging flames. Blood kept seeping from the corner of his mouth, yet he still gritted his teeth, his gaze as resolute as iron. "As long as I'm here, don't even dream of taking half a step out!"
At that critical moment, the system's notification suddenly sounded: "Ding! Resonance detected between the Sword of the Falling Star and the Lord of the Devil-Sealing Abyss's Devil Qi. Analyzing the sealing mechanism of the Star Palace's second floor..." Something stirred in Lin Wudao's mind. He forcibly suppressed the churning Qi and Blood within him and focused on sensing the changes in the sword's power. He discovered that, as the Sword of the Falling Star clashed with the Devil Qi, it was gradually unraveling the Star Palace's runic restraints on the Lord of the Devil-Sealing Abyss.
"So that's how it is!" A sharp gleam flashed through Lin Wudao's eyes. "Your power comes from the Star Palace, but you're also bound by it!" He abruptly circulated the Mystic Heaven Creation Instruction, fully merging the power of the falling star with the Chaos Heaven-Devouring Instruction to form an entirely new power-the power of star chaos.
The instant the power of star chaos poured into the Sword of the Falling Star, the blade erupted with light that stretched tens of thousands of feet, and a complete phantom image of the Star Palace appeared within it. The palace's phantom image resonated with the runes on the Lord of the Devil-Sealing Abyss and began operating in reverse, continuously drawing out the Devil Master's power.
"No! Impossible!" the Lord of the Devil-Sealing Abyss roared in terror, his enormous hand flailing wildly as he tried to break free of the Sword of the Falling Star's restraints. But the sword was now like a net spread across heaven and earth, holding the Devil Master fast. Seizing the opportunity, Lin Wudao controlled the Sword of the Falling Star to trace an enormous Falling Star Formation Diagram in the void, completely enveloping the Lord of the Devil-Sealing Abyss.
Meanwhile, Su Yao and the Holy Maiden finished off the remnants of the Ancient Witch Clan and hurried to Lin Wudao's side. Su Yao swung her gilded whip, its tip wreathed in golden flames, lashing the Devil Master's body; the Holy Maiden played her jade flute, turning sound waves into invisible blades that sliced through his Devil Qi. Working together, the three finally caused the Lord of the Devil-Sealing Abyss's resistance to weaken little by little.
Just as the Devil Master was about to be completely sealed, eerie laughter suddenly rang out from the abyss. "You think this is the end? How naive!" Before the voice finished speaking, a streak of dark red light shot from the depths of the abyss and merged straight into the Lord of the Devil-Sealing Abyss's body. His presence instantly surged. He broke free of the Falling Star Formation Diagram's restraints and slammed his enormous palm toward Lin Wudao.
Lin Wudao's expression changed abruptly, and he barely managed to raise a Falling Star Shield. But the power of the Devil Master's strike was too great. The shield shattered instantly, and Lin Wudao was blasted away, crashing heavily to the ground. He struggled to rise, wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, and watched the Devil Master warily. He knew that this dark red light had to be connected to the remnant soul of the Devil Master of High Antiquity.
"It seems our plan will have to be brought forward." A sinister voice echoed through the void. "Lin Wudao, the second floor of the Star Palace is not something you can lay your hands on. I advise you to give up before it's too late. Otherwise, the entire cultivation world will be buried alongside you for your stupidity!"
Lin Wudao tightened his grip on the Sword of the Falling Star and struggled to his feet, sneering. "If you want the Star Palace, you'll have to step over my corpse first!" There was not a trace of fear in his eyes. Instead, an even fiercer fighting spirit burned within them. He knew this battle had reached the critical moment between life and death, and he would never retreat...