Earth Vein Demon Subdual and Starfire Spreading

The life-and-death struggle in Falling Star Lake and the dangers of tempering his body in the Guixu were like a complete baptism, making Su Yan's demeanor even more composed and his gaze sharper. The steady improvement in his strength brought greater confidence, but the Star Pavilion elder's warning about the "End Times Cult" and earth vein pollution weighed heavily on his mind.

After returning to Chang'an and resting for several days, Su Yan once again submerged his consciousness into the Compass, which had reached 50% repair. On the Star Map, besides the flickering abnormal nodes and resource points, he focused on the areas where he had previously discovered "resurrection" nodes, as well as the faint earth vein anomaly deep within the Black Wind Mountain mine.

"Blocking is not as good as dredging, destroying is not as good as transforming..." Patriarch Bodhi's teachings echoed in his ears. Passively clearing the "sown" nodes was ultimately a superficial solution. He had to find a way to stop their "resurrection," or even... take the initiative to destroy the "End Times Cult's" layout within the earth veins.

He set his next target to the southern region outside the Great Tang, bordering the Quicksand River, an area where he had previously discovered a "resurrection" node. This time, he not only intended to clear the node but also to attempt to use the Compass's new abilities and his own insights to delve into the earth veins and investigate the source.

During his preparations, Su Yan visited the Star Pavilion again and used his accumulated contribution points to exchange for an [Intermediate Earth-Evasion Talisman] and a copy of the Basic Earth Vein Guidance Technique. The former would allow him to safely infiltrate the shallow earth veins for a short period, while the latter provided some basic methods for guiding and calming earth vein energy. Though not profound, it was suitable for his current needs.

With everything ready, Su Yan set out again with Little Big Dipper. After numerous fierce battles and the indirect benefits of Star Dew tempering, Little Big Dipper's aura was even more ferocious, and the faint golden sharpness on its claws and teeth seemed to have solidified.

Returning to the woodland near a tributary of the Quicksand River, the cleared node indeed showed faint abnormal fluctuations again, like stubborn moss. Su Yan didn't immediately purify it. Instead, he first used the Compass to sense carefully, while simultaneously circulating the Basic Earth Vein Guidance Technique, probing the ground with a trace of gentle spiritual energy.

His senses extended along the flow of earth vein energy. At first, everything was normal, but when he focused his perception beneath the "resurrection" node, a familiar resistance, carrying a sense of decay and finality, quietly emerged. This resistance did not come from the node itself but originated from the deeper earth vein network, like the tangled root system of a poisonous tumor, continuously supplying foul energy and nourishing the "weeds" on the surface.

"As expected..." Su Yan's eyes turned cold. He tried to use the Basic Earth Vein Guidance Technique to dredge and isolate the deep, foul energy transport, but found it to be of little effect. The "root system" was extremely tenacious and tightly integrated with the earth veins. With his current cultivation and mastery of techniques, it was difficult to shake.

"Since it's difficult to dredge, then... I'll forcefully sever it!" A thought arose. He thought of Little Big Dipper's [Starfire], which contained the power of order and purification, as well as his own physical body and spiritual energy, which had greatly increased resistance to corrosive forces after being tempered by the Breath of the End.

A bold plan took shape in his mind.

First, he set up a simple isolation formation around the "resurrection" node to prevent the purification from causing too much commotion and attracting unnecessary trouble. Then, he took out the [Intermediate Earth-Evasion Talisman] and activated it with his spiritual energy!

With a flash of yellow light, Su Yan's figure instantly sank into the ground. The spiritual energy shield formed by the Earth-Evasion Talisman enveloped him, isolating him from the pressure of the soil and allowing him to move freely in the shallow underground. Before him was a dim world composed of soil, rocks, and crisscrossing streams of earth vein energy.

Following the Compass's guidance, he "swam" towards the source of the deep, foul energy. The deeper he went, the more concentrated the suffocating "Breath of the End" became, even beginning to erode the Earth-Evasion Talisman's shield. Su Yan immediately circulated the Star Refining Body Art, his body surface emitting a faint glow, repelling the corrosive force.

After advancing about tens of meters, the scene before him made him gasp.

He saw a branch of the earth vein, which should have been pure and gentle, now entangled and permeated by countless fine, black, vein-like energy threads. The originally pale golden earth vein energy had become dim and mixed. It was these "black veins" that were continuously supplying pollution to the surface!

And at the source of these "black veins," a pulsating mass of pure "Breath of the End" energy, about the size of a millstone, was firmly attached to the main earth vein trunk, like a parasitic heart! [Earth Vein Erosion Core] (Special Elite, Level 30)!

The aura emanating from this core was more concentrated and evil than the "Sower" projection he had encountered in the bamboo forest before!

"Found you!" Su Yan's eyes flashed with ferocity. It was this thing that was constantly polluting the earth veins and causing the surface nodes to appear!

Without hesitation, he immediately ascended and returned to the surface.

"Little Big Dipper, get ready to work! This time, we're digging out its roots!" Su Yan briefly explained the situation underground. Upon hearing this, Little Big Dipper's eyes instantly ignited with fighting spirit, and it growled, pawing the ground as if eager to start.

The plan was simple and brutal. Su Yan used the Earth-Evasion Talisman again to infiltrate and directly attack the [Earth Vein Erosion Core]! Meanwhile, Little Big Dipper would guard the surface node. Once Su Yan attacked underground, the core would inevitably react violently, possibly spawning powerful guardians or directly affecting the surface node's mutation. Little Big Dipper needed to withstand the pressure, hold the line, and be ready to provide support at any time.

This was a risky move! Fighting in the earth vein environment was full of variables. Once the Earth-Evasion Talisman failed or was destroyed, Su Yan would be in extreme danger.

But Su Yan had no choice; leaving this core intact would lead to endless trouble.

He adjusted his state, amplified the [Starlight Bodyguard] to its maximum, and infiltrated the ground again, quietly approaching the pulsating dark mass.

He stopped when he was about ten meters away from the core. This distance was sufficient to launch an attack and leave some room for reaction.

He took a deep breath, and starlight condensed at his fingertips. It wasn't for drawing talismans, but for pushing the powers of the Star Qi Drawing Art and Star Refining Body Art to their limits, mixed with a strong will for order and purification, and he unleashed a full-power punch! -- [Star Radiance Evil-Breaking Fist]!

This was something he had comprehended after the battle in Falling Star Lake, combining his own characteristics. It wasn't a superficial application recorded in the skill bar, but a highly compressed star power at the tip of his fist, delivering a point-to-point dual impact of physical and energy!

A condensed silver fist light, like a meteor piercing the darkness, fiercely struck the [Earth Vein Erosion Core]!

"Dong!!!"

A muffled, drum-like roar echoed underground! The core convulsed and expanded violently, its dark energy churning like boiling water! A violent, pained mental shock filled with destructive intent, accompanied by a dense Breath of the End, surged back at Su Yan like a tsunami!

At the same time, on the surface, the "resurrection" node erupted with soaring black energy, the ground cracked, and several [Earth Vein Golems] (Level 28, Elite) made of pure Breath of the End and soil and rock crawled out, roaring as they charged towards Little Big Dipper, who was guarding nearby!

Underground, Su Yan bore the brunt of the core's fiercest counterattack. The mental shock made his vision black and his ears ring. The Starlight Bodyguard shield fluctuated violently, as if it would shatter at any moment! The dense Breath of the End, like a persistent leech, frantically eroded his protective spiritual light!

"Hold it for me!" Su Yan roared. The resistance brought by the Guixu tempering played a crucial role at this moment! His meridians and flesh seemed to have an invisible barrier, greatly weakening the corrosive force! He endured the soul-level sting and punched again! [Star Radiance Evil-Breaking Fist]!

Boom, boom, boom!

He was like a tireless pile driver, unleashing wave after wave of silver fist light onto the core. The dark energy on the core's surface continuously dissipated, only to be replenished by drawing power from the earth veins. It pulsed faster and faster, becoming increasingly unstable!

On the surface, Little Big Dipper was in a tough fight. The three [Earth Vein Golems] had extremely high defense and powerful attacks, with a certain resistance to magic. Little Big Dipper exerted its speed to the limit, using the openings created by weakening the golems with [Armor Shattering Talismans] (Su Yan had prepared a few for it) to constantly weave and attack. It unleashed [Starfire], bit with [Advanced Poison], and sustained itself with [Life Drain], stubbornly dragging them in place and preventing them from interfering with the underground battle. The aftermath of the battle shattered nearby trees and cracked the ground.

This was a race against time! It depended on whether Su Yan could destroy the underground core first, or if Little Big Dipper would be defeated by the Earth Vein Golems, or if Su Yan would be exhausted by the core's backlash!

Su Yan could feel the Earth-Evasion Talisman's power rapidly depleting, and the shield had already begun to flicker. He gritted his teeth, pouring his remaining magic power into his fists without reservation, even drawing a trace of the Compass's origin star power!

"Final blow! Star Track... Guidance!"

He had a sudden inspiration and activated the Compass's ability again, not for deduction, but to use the star track to lock onto the core's most vulnerable "point" that was most crucial for its connection to the earth veins!

Punch! The starlight shone brilliantly, as if guiding a miniature galaxy, accurately striking that "point"!

"Crack--!!!"

A crisp sound, like shattering glass. The pulsating dark mass suddenly froze. Numerous spiderweb-like cracks appeared on its surface, and finally, it exploded with a bang! Pure Breath of the End energy surged wildly, but without the core's restraint, it was quickly dispersed and diluted by the flowing earth vein energy.

The [Earth Vein Golems] on the surface froze instantly, as if their power source was cut off, and then disintegrated into ordinary soil and rocks.

The battle was over!

Su Yan almost at the same moment the core exploded, the Earth-Evasion Talisman also happened to exhaust its energy, "spitting" him out onto the ground. He collapsed, his face pale, his body soaked in sweat, his magic power and mental strength both depleted. Little Big Dipper was also panting on the ground, its tongue hanging out, with several new scars on its body, but its eyes were filled with the exhaustion of victory.

[System: Successfully destroyed 'Earth Vein Erosion Core'! Gained a large amount of experience points!]

[System: Congratulations on leveling up to Level 23!]

[System: Your summoned beast 'Little Big Dipper' has leveled up to Level 23!]

[System: Your understanding of 'Breath of the End' has deepened, and your perception of earth vein energy has improved.]

[System: Successfully cleared the earth vein pollution source. Anomalous nodes in this area will no longer naturally respawn.]

No longer naturally respawn! Seeing the last system prompt, Su Yan let out a long sigh of relief. It was worth it!

Although the process was dangerous and he had almost exhausted all his trump cards, the results were significant. Not only did his level increase, but more importantly, he had verified the possibility of actively delving into the earth veins to clear pollution sources! This provided a viable strategy for him to fight against the "End Times Cult" in the future.

He rested for a long time before regaining some strength. He tidied up the battlefield slightly, collecting a few [Concentrated Breath of the End Crystals] and some earth vein essence materials.

On the way back to Chang'an City, Su Yan's mood was complex. On one hand, he was elated by this success. On the other hand, he knew that destroying one core might be just a drop in the ocean for the "End Times Cult's" vast plan. The anomaly beneath the Black Wind Mountain mine, and the deeper pollution that might exist in other areas, still hung over him like the Sword of Damocles.

"I must get stronger faster, repair the Compass, make allies, accumulate resources..." Su Yan clenched his fists. He thought of the Star Pavilion, the Wind and Snow Pavilion, and even the mysterious "Heavenly Secrets Pavilion." Individual strength was ultimately limited. Perhaps it was time to start consciously building his own network of relationships and information channels.

A single spark can start a prairie fire. This small flame, ignited by his transmigration and the Compass, was burning stubbornly in the wind, attempting to illuminate more dark corners.