A curtain of darkness descended, swallowing the light and bringing with it a chill and despair that pierced straight into the soul. Su Yan felt the spiritual energy around him nearly grind to a halt, while the barrier of [Starlight Bodyguard] fluctuated violently under the darkness's corrosion, emitting overwhelmed sizzling sounds.
"I can't take it head-on!" Alarm bells blared in Su Yan's mind. The energy level of this Guixu Shadow far surpassed any monster he had encountered before! Without hesitation, he activated [Wood Escape] again, his figure flashing to the side and rear at the last possible instant, barely evading the curtain's central coverage.
But the Guixu Shadow's attack was not so simple. The spreading darkness seemed alive, splitting into several tendrils that pursued them relentlessly at astonishing speed!
"Star Fire!" Little Big Dipper roared, blocking Su Yan's path as it opened its mouth and spewed blazing silver-white Iceflame. Star Fire collided with the dark tendrils, producing violent energy-annihilation sounds. Although it successfully blocked them for a moment, the dark tendrils seemed endless. They merely dimmed slightly before condensing and attacking again!
"Armor Shattering Talisman!" Su Yan gritted his teeth and fired a streak of yellow light at the shadow's core area. Yet the talisman's light sank into the darkness like a stone into the sea, failing to stir even the slightest ripple! This Guixu Shadow seemed immune to conventional weakening methods!
"Try physical attacks!" Su Yan shouted urgently. Little Big Dipper transformed into purple lightning, its claws flashing with cold light as they viciously tore at an approaching dark tendril.
"Rip!" A small portion of the tendril was torn away, releasing even denser Aura of Guixu, but fresh darkness instantly flowed in to replenish it. Little Big Dipper's attack worked, but its efficiency was far too low, like a drop in the ocean! Worse still, the dark aura lashed back, making Little Big Dipper howl in pain as its health dropped noticeably. The [Life Steal] effect was greatly weakened against such pure energy corrosion.
The Guixu Shadow gave a soundless sneer. More dark tendrils closed in from every direction, completely sealing off Su Yan's retreat. The massive body of darkness slowly approached, the void at its center resembling a vortex that sought to drag in their very souls.
A desperate situation! The enormous gap in level and attributes, combined with the unique nature of the Power of Guixu, had rendered nearly all of Su Yan's methods ineffective!
Did he really have to use that life-saving [Minor Heavenly Star Escape Talisman]? The mission had only just begun, and fleeing in such a miserable state was something he could not accept! Besides, Elder Xingyan had specifically said this was a tempering of one's character. If he retreated now, it would inevitably leave a flaw in his Dao Heart.
In that flash of lightning-fast thought, Su Yan's gaze swept over the several [Dust-Cleansing Star Orchid] still stubbornly flickering with faint light, then over the two cloudy gray-white drops of dew in the jade bottle in his hand.
The power of purification... against Guixu... A mad idea flashed through his mind.
"Little Big Dipper, cover me!" Su Yan shouted. Instead of retreating, he charged straight toward the massive body of darkness! At the same time, he drew one drop of [Purifying Star Dew] from the jade bottle and suspended it at his fingertip!
"Star Track Deduction!" He pushed the Compass's newly acquired ability to its limit. His Spiritual Power burned at an unprecedented rate as he tried to find the one faint thread of survival among countless hopeless futures! Countless fragmented images flashed through his mind before finally settling on one scene—sending the Star Dew containing purifying power directly into the core where the Guixu energy was most concentrated, triggering an internal energy conflict!
Now!
A trace of resolve flashed through Su Yan's eyes. The cloudy gray-white drop at his fingertip, wrapped in his spiritual energy, shot out like an arrow loosed from a bow. It did not fly toward the dark tendrils, but straight at the deepest void vortex at the very center of the Guixu Shadow!
"Plop!"
A soft sound, like a drop of water falling into a deep pool. The Purifying Star Dew sank into the Dark Core.
Time seemed to freeze for an instant.
The next moment—
"Aooow—!!!"
A howl filled with pain and fury erupted from within the Guixu Shadow. It did not travel through the air, but resounded directly within their souls! The massive body of darkness twisted, expanded, and contracted violently, as though something had exploded inside it! The darkness, once as solid as a curtain, now resembled boiling ink, constantly churning as countless chaotic gray-white spots of light appeared across its surface. That was the purifying power of the Purifying Star Dew clashing fiercely with the Guixu energy!
It worked! Though it could not purify such a massive shadow, this internal conflict originating from its very source had clearly caused it tremendous pain and disruption! The dark tendrils closing in on them instantly lost control, becoming scattered and fragile!
"This is our chance!" How could Su Yan possibly miss such a rare opportunity? Resisting the dizziness caused by the excessive depletion of Spiritual Power, he shouted sharply, "Little Big Dipper! Attack its core!"
Little Big Dipper and its master were of one mind, and it had already been gathering strength. It let out a long cry as the star markings across its body burst with unprecedented brilliance, forcibly driving out the trace amounts of Aura of Guixu that had invaded its body! It transformed into a purple meteor burning with silver-white Star Fire and crashed without hesitation into the Guixu Shadow, whose core area defenses had been greatly weakened by the internal conflict!
[Advanced Poison]! [Life Steal]! [Star Fire]! Every last bit of power erupted at this moment! Little Big Dipper's claws and fangs, wrapped in Star Fire and poisonous light, savagely tore open the boiling darkness and struck a section that had been weakened by the purifying power with perfect precision!
-1888! (Critical Hit!)
A huge, exhilarating golden number floated up!
The Guixu Shadow let out one final soundless shriek filled with unwillingness and venom. Its enormous body of darkness rapidly contracted like a punctured balloon before collapsing with a boom, transforming into pure experience points, several wisps of refined [Guixu Origin Aura], and a [Shadow Crystal] that flickered with dim light.
[System: Successfully defeated the elite leader 'Guixu Shadow' (Level 36) above your level! Obtained a large amount of experience!] [System: Congratulations, you have reached Level 22!] [System: Your summoned beast 'Little Big Dipper' has reached Level 22!] [System: You comprehended the true essence of battle in a desperate situation. Your Dao Heart has become more steadfast.] [System: Successfully collected the third drop of 'Purifying Star Dew'.]
After the battle ended, Su Yan was nearly drained. He staggered several steps before leaning against a rock and barely managing to stay upright. Little Big Dipper lay on the ground as well, panting heavily. Several wounds on its body had been corroded by dark aura, but its eyes shone unusually brightly with the excitement of victory.
"Well done... buddy." Su Yan rubbed Little Big Dipper's head, took out his best Golden Wound Medicine and recovery pills, and shared them with his companion as they hurriedly recovered.
He looked at the final barely collected drop of Purifying Star Dew in his hand, which was likewise cloudy gray-white, then at the wisps of [Guixu Origin Aura] on the ground that were trying to gather again but gradually dissipating after losing their main body. His heart still trembled with lingering fear, yet he was also filled with the joy of harvest.
Defeating a Level 36 elite leader above his level had granted an enormous amount of experience, directly raising both him and Little Big Dipper by one level. More importantly, this experience of hovering on the edge of life and death before ultimately winning through wisdom and courage was an invaluable tempering of the mind.
He carefully stored away the [Shadow Crystal] and [Guixu Origin Aura]. Both items contained pure Power of Guixu. Though dangerous, they might prove useful in certain special forms of refining or research.
After resting, Su Yan did not dare remain any longer. The Guixu Rift in the depths of Falling Star Lake exerted too much pressure on him. No one knew whether even stronger beings had been alerted by the recent battle.
He quickly retraced his path and left that lake region shrouded in death and void.
After returning to a relatively safe area, Su Yan immediately used Star Pavilion's teleportation service and returned directly to the pavilion.
Inside the Star Gazing Pavilion, Elder Xingyan looked at the three drops of cloudy Star Dew Su Yan had presented, the mission report, and the [Shadow Crystal]. A trace of surprise flashed through his eyes once more.
"You... actually encountered and defeated the Guixu Shadow?" Xingyan's tone carried a hint of disbelief. "It seems this old man still underestimated your potential and decisiveness. Using the Purifying Star Dew to trigger its internal conflict was a dangerous plan, but it struck directly at its weakness. Good! Very good!"
He put away the mission items with satisfaction, transferred the promised 500 contribution points to Su Yan, and added, "Since you have already withdrawn the introductory volume of the Star Refining Body Art in advance, cultivate it properly. Furthermore, since you have come into contact with and collected contaminated Purifying Star Dew, and even obtained Guixu Origin Aura, you may be able to try using them to temper your body."
"Use that to temper my body?" Su Yan froze. Wasn't that stuff highly corrosive?
"Risks and opportunities coexist," Xingyan explained. "The essence of the Star Refining Body Art is to draw upon the Power of Stars to cleanse and temper the flesh. The Power of Stars itself possesses certain purifying and ordering properties. If you can guide an extremely weak wisp of Guixu Origin Aura that has been neutralized by Purifying Star Dew and merge it with star power to temper your body, you may be able to forge stronger resistance to the Power of Guixu, perhaps even... give your body the beginnings of being impervious to all techniques. Of course, this method is extraordinarily dangerous. You must proceed with the utmost caution. A single mistake could cause your body to collapse and injure your soul. You may consider it yourself."
After leaving behind those words filled with both temptation and warning, Xingyan dismissed Su Yan.
Back in his small courtyard in Chang'an, Su Yan looked at the several wisps of dim [Guixu Origin Aura] and the cloudy [Purifying Star Dew] in his hand, lost in thought.
Elder Xingyan's suggestion was undoubtedly extremely bold. The Power of Guixu was a destroyer of order. Using it to temper his body was no different from playing with fire. But if he succeeded, the gains would be immense. Especially after witnessing how difficult the Power of Guixu was to deal with, improving his resistance to it seemed particularly important.
Fortune is found in danger... Su Yan's gaze gradually grew firm. He decided to give it a try! Of course, he had to make every possible preparation first.
He first spent a large amount of contribution points and Dream Coins at Star Pavilion to exchange for several precious medicines that could stabilize the mind and protect the meridians: [Meridian Protection Pill] and [Soul Stabilizing Incense]. He then set up a small Spirit Gathering Array and Defense Array.
Once everything was ready, he sat cross-legged within the array. He first circulated the Star Qi Drawing Art and Star Refining Body Art, adjusting his condition to its peak as the barrier of Starlight Bodyguard enveloped his body.
Then, he cautiously drew out a wisp of [Guixu Origin Aura] thinner than a strand of hair, while also drawing out a drop of [Purifying Star Dew]. He wrapped them in his spiritual energy and slowly guided them together, allowing the two to make preliminary contact and neutralize each other outside his body.
"Sizzle..."
Gray-white and dim darkness intertwined, giving birth to an extremely unstable energy that nonetheless contained a strange balance. Su Yan could sense the contradictory powers of destruction and rebirth coexisting within it.
He took a deep breath and guided this wisp of neutralized, strange energy into his meridians, beginning to circulate it along the route of the Star Refining Body Art!
"Urgh!"
Excruciating pain! It felt as though countless tiny ice needles and flames were moving through his meridians at the same time, burning and freezing them! Wherever the energy passed, the walls of his meridians shook violently, sending tearing pain through his body! The Starlight Bodyguard barrier flickered unsteadily, barely resisting the corrosion caused by energy dispersion.
Su Yan kept his mind clear and circulated his cultivation method with all his strength, guiding the Power of Stars to continuously repair and nourish the battered meridians. The medicinal power of the [Meridian Protection Pill] spread out, forming a protective layer, while the fragrance of [Soul Stabilizing Incense] steadied his mind and helped him resist the void-like whispers within the energy that tempted him to give up.
It was an incredibly painful and prolonged process. Sweat instantly soaked his robes, his body trembled uncontrollably, and a trace of blood even seeped from the corner of his mouth. Little Big Dipper stood guard nearby, pacing anxiously but not daring to disturb him.
Who knew how much time passed? When that wisp of strange energy was finally refined with great difficulty and completely fused into his flesh, blood, and meridians, the agonizing pain receded like a tide, replaced by an indescribable sense of comfort and resilience.
He felt that his meridians had widened slightly and that his physical strength had improved noticeably. More importantly, it seemed that his body had gained an innate resistance to the powers of "void" and "corrosion."
[System: Successfully tempered your body with 'Guixu Origin Aura' (neutralized). Star Refining Body Art proficiency has greatly increased. Physical strength +10. Resistance to corrosive negative statuses permanently increased by 5%.]
He had succeeded!
Su Yan opened his eyes, a sharp glint flashing through them. Though the process had been dangerous, the rewards were enormous! This 5% increase in resistance might save his life at a crucial moment!
He looked at the remaining Guixu Origin Aura and Purifying Star Dew without becoming greedy, fully aware that excess was as bad as deficiency. He carefully stored the remaining materials away. This trip to Falling Star Lake could be considered a perfect success.
His strength had improved, his resistance had increased, and he had completed a commission from Star Pavilion's upper ranks, accumulating contribution points and goodwill. Su Yan felt that he was steadily moving, step by step, toward a path where he could face the truth of this world.
Next, should he continue accumulating resources through Star Pavilion missions, or explore the other new markers on the Compass's Star Map that might be connected to the "Resurrection Node" or the "End Times Cult"?
Before you continue