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On several occasions, he was almost overwhelmed by the realistic sense of despair in the hallucinations, or cornered by the complex puzzles.

But whenever this happened, he either relied on the key ideas provided by the "Logic Hint Chip" (which he only used once, in the third and most complex logical deadlock), or relied on the anchoring sense brought by the "Seed of Truth" to forcibly stabilize his mind, or recalled the expectations of his companions and the instructions of the sages, and in the end, he always managed to get through it by the narrowest of times.

Veins bulged on his forehead, and a trace of blood even seeped from the corner of his mouth (a sign of mental overload), but his eyes grew brighter and brighter, and his understanding of stellar runes and dynamic logic deepened at an astonishing speed.

Having traversed countless layers (at least seven or eight), Chen Ye once again, with exquisite skill, unlocked an ultra-complex combination lock composed of five layers of composite roulette wheels, twenty-four nodes, and seventy-two modules, and then withstood a terrifying illusion simulating "eternal oblivion"—

The entire platform suddenly began to shake violently!

The central "Star Code Lock" device slowly sank and eventually disappeared. In front of the platform, all the constructed energy bridges converged into an incomparably dazzling and solid starlight avenue, leading straight to a portal emitting a soft white light deep in the void.

The surrounding "mirrors of the heart" shattered and dissipated, and those persistent illusions finally vanished completely.

"The path to wisdom and courage... all tests... passed." The voice of the starry sky rang out again, this time with a subtle, almost imperceptible ripple.

Total time: three hours and one quarter. Rating: Excellent.

"Trial participant, your wisdom, courage, and willpower have been recognized by the highest will of the Corridor."

"As an additional reward, you will receive the 'Blessing of the Starry Sky Corridor'—a permanent increase in your comprehension of the laws of the stars and your mental resistance. At the same time, you can directly enter the core control room of the 'Starry Sky Puzzle Corridor' to obtain the 'Wisdom Star Key'."

As soon as he finished speaking, a beam of pure starlight descended from the sky and entered Chen Ye's brow.

Chen Ye felt a cool sensation in his mind. His soul, which had been exhausted and on the verge of collapse due to the intense simulation and the impact of the illusion, was instantly soothed and became more solid and clear. His perception of the stellar energy flowing in the surrounding space also became more acute and clear.

More importantly, a profound understanding of "the movement of stars," "energy resonance," and "the essence of logic" was imprinted deep into his consciousness like a brand. Although he could not fully comprehend it now, it undoubtedly laid a more solid foundation for his future path.

"Blessings of the Starry Sky Corridor"...truly extraordinary!
He looked at the gate at the end of the Avenue of Stars ahead; that should be the core control room.

Without hesitation, he stepped onto the Walk of Fame.

The road was solid, and starlight flowed. Soon, he arrived at the gate.

The portal opens automatically.

Behind the door was a circular room, not spacious, but filled with a mysterious atmosphere. In the center of the room, a three-dimensional model composed of countless intricate starlight runes floated, a miniature projection of the entire "Starry Sky Puzzle Corridor".

Above the model, a key floats silently.

The key was about half a foot long, its entire body seemingly formed from pure starlight, crystal clear, with a galaxy slowly flowing inside. The handle of the key was engraved with an open eye, radiating wisdom.

Wisdom Star Key!

Chen Ye stepped forward and reached out to grasp the key.

It felt warm and smooth to the touch, as if holding a handful of flowing starlight. The key resonated with the power of the holy blood and the power of the star crown within him, transmitting a vast and wise fluctuation of intent.

"Smart Star Key...Approved..."

A message entered my mind: This key is not only one of the three keys used to unlock the seal between star cores, but it also contains some of the advanced wisdom and logical deduction methods of the Holy Spirit Clan. Wearing it and studying it for a long time can continuously improve one's wisdom and understanding.

Chen Ye carefully put away the Wisdom Star Key.

He looked at the projection of the central corridor model, and a thought struck him. He tried to communicate with it using his mind.

The model lit up slightly, revealing the condition of other areas of the corridor.

He saw that, on a certain section of the "Path of Wisdom," Daoist Yuxu and Zhiyin were trapped in a complex rune maze, struggling to deduce the truth, but they seemed to be out of immediate danger.

Deep within the "Path of Courage," Jiu Feng is engaged in a fierce battle with a "shadow" conjured from her own inner demons. The two are evenly matched, and the battle is brutal, but Jiu Feng's eyes are filled with fighting spirit, and she has not been defeated.

"They are still persevering..." Chen Ye was slightly relieved.

He checked the time again. A little over three hours had passed since he embarked on the Path of Wisdom and Courage.

There is less than an hour and a half until the stars meet!

Time is still of the essence!

He must leave immediately and head to the eighth floor of the Eternal Tower to reunite with Jiufeng (if she can successfully obtain the Key of Courage), and then prepare to enter the Star Core when the starlight converges!

He didn't disturb Yu Xu and Zhi Yin, nor did he interfere with Jiu Feng's battle (that was her trial). Following the instructions given by the model, he found another exit from the core control room—a short teleportation array that led directly to the main staircase on the second floor.

Standing in the teleportation array, Chen Ye took one last look at the place that had given him both the test and the reward.

Then, starlight illuminated, teleporting him away.

The next moment, he appeared on the second floor of the Tower of Eternity, in front of the massive staircase leading to the third floor.

Dongxu Daoist, Wanyi, Shijian, and Guanghu immediately surrounded them.

"Brother Chen! You're out!" Daoist Dongxu exclaimed in delight. "How was it?"

Chen Ye showed the Smart Star Key and briefly explained the situation.

"That's wonderful!" Wan Yi and Shi Jian were overjoyed. "Miss Jiu Feng and Senior Yu Xu..." Daoist Dong Xu looked at the other two entrance light screens that were still lit up.

“They are still undergoing trials, but they are safe for now,” Chen Ye said. “We can’t wait for them. The starlight convergence is about to occur, and I must go to the eighth level immediately. Senior Dongxu, you continue to stay here and provide support for them. Regardless of whether they succeed or not, if I do not return in one hour, you must immediately evacuate the second level and return to the foot of the Holy Mountain to reunite with Alpha and the others, and then make further plans.”

"Brother Chen, you're going to the eighth floor alone? It's too dangerous!" Dongxu Daoist said anxiously.

“I have the Wisdom Star Key and am more familiar with the tower's structure. Moreover, the Judgement might be nearby to provide backup,” Chen Ye said firmly. “Time is of the essence. This is the only way.”

He patted Lightfox's head: "Lightfox, you stay here too and help keep watch."

The light fox whimpered reluctantly, but eventually nodded.

Having finished explaining, Chen Ye didn't linger any longer. He turned around and quickly ran towards the stairs leading to the third floor.

His figure quickly disappeared into the darkness above the stairs.

Behind him, Daoist Dongxu and the others gazed at him with worry for a long time.

Only one hour remains until the stars meet.

The final battle and hope both rest on the top of the tower.

The third level is the "Hall of Elements." This was once where the Holy Spirit Clan studied the fundamental elemental laws of the universe and conducted experiments on harmonizing elemental energies. However, now, the elemental energies within the hall are completely unbalanced and in utter chaos.

Frost and fire formed and vanished haphazardly in the air, turning the ground into scorched earth one moment and covering it with thick layers of ice the next. Twisted metal debris and energy conduits were scattered everywhere like the skeletons of monsters, and the air was filled with the pungent smell of burnt metal, sulfur, and snow.

As soon as Chen Ye stepped inside, he felt several chaotic elemental energies lashing at him like whips. He immediately raised his Starshine Shield and covered his entire body with the power of his Holy Blood to resist the alternating attacks of extreme cold and heat.

According to the incomplete map provided by the ruling, he needs to traverse the core experimental area of ​​the "Hall of Elements" to find the spiral staircase leading to the fourth floor.

In the center of the hall, several enormous, damaged energy harmonizers intermittently spewed out uncontrolled torrents of elemental energy. The ground cracked, and from some fissures surged a strange, dark red liquid, resembling lava yet exuding a chilling aura. In the air, distorted afterimages of elemental spirits occasionally materialized, emitting silent shrieks and instinctively attacking any intruders.

Chen Ye didn't want to waste time forcing his way through. He activated his Heavenly Eye, carefully observing the patterns of the energy torrent and the wandering paths of the elemental afterimages, searching for a relatively safe gap.

"Three points to the left, after the frost erupts, there will be a three-breath gap... Ten feet ahead, the paths of fire and ice intersect, and the elemental clash at the intersection will create a brief stable zone... There are damaged protective runes on the right wall, which can be temporarily attached to avoid the corrosive liquid on the ground..."

He was like a swift bird darting through a storm, his movements agile and swift, each move precisely seizing that sliver of "order" amidst the chaotic energy.

The shield formed by the fusion of Holy Blood Power and Star Crown Power, while unable to completely isolate the erosion of chaotic elements, greatly reduced the damage. His body alternated between scalding hot and icy cold, with ice crystals even condensing on his skin and rapidly melting, leaving burn marks, but he gritted his teeth and did not slow down.

After passing through half of the hall, a relatively open platform appeared in front of us. In the center of the platform was the entrance to the spiral staircase leading to the fourth floor.

However, two enormous creatures are lurking at the edge of the platform.

They were two bizarre elemental aberrations. The one on the left had a body made of burning rock and flowing lava, with thick limbs and a constantly rotating vortex of fire on its head, radiating terrifying heat. The one on the right was made entirely of pale blue ice, with a more slender body and several sharp, segmented limbs made of ice crystals extending from its back, emanating extreme cold.

The auras of the two mutated beings had both reached the peak of the Golden Core stage! Moreover, they seemed to possess a certain awareness of coordination, one on the left and one on the right, firmly sealing off the platform entrance.

"A distorted fusion of the remains of a fire elemental lord and the remains of an ice elemental lord..." Chen Ye judged that this was a monster born in an extreme elemental environment.

Force their way in? Two peak Golden Core cultivators, with complementary attributes, their combined power is amplified, making them difficult to defeat in a short time.

Taking a detour? The map shows that this is the only reliable route; other paths are either completely blocked or lead to unknown and dangerous areas.

Time ticked by, second by second. There were only about half an hour left until the stars met.

A resolute glint flashed in Chen Ye's eyes. He couldn't be held up here!

He took a deep breath, gripped the Wisdom Star Key with his left hand, and tightened his grip on the Vengeful Soul Greatsword with his right.

"In that case... let's try out the new power."

The Wisdom Star Key is more than just a key; the wisdom it contains allows him to have a more refined understanding and control of energy. Furthermore, the "Blessing of the Starry Corridor" enhances his perception of the laws of the stars (broadly including the laws of energy).

He attempted to mobilize the power of the Holy Blood and the Star Crown within his body, no longer simply by layering or covering them, but by trying to achieve a deeper level of "resonance" and "weaving".

The power of holy blood represents life, purification, and order.

The power of the Star Crown represents stars, guidance, and stability.

Guided by his will, the two forces began to intertwine and merge in a mysterious trajectory. The Key to Wisdom glowed faintly, as if providing some kind of "blueprint" or "catalyst".

Gradually, a brand-new, thin as a cicada's wing yet radiating a strange luster, energy armor slowly took shape on his body. This armor was not a physical object, but a pure energy structure, exhibiting a faint gold and silver interwoven color, with tiny star runes flowing on its surface.

This isn't an offensive skill, but rather a "self-adaptive energy deflection armor" that Chen Ye temporarily created based on his newly acquired understanding. Its principle isn't to withstand damage head-on, but rather to analyze, simulate, and deflect the nature of the energy from attacks, guiding most of it in a harmless direction, and even... absorbing and converting a small portion for his own use in a very short time!

Of course, this is just theory, and its effectiveness remains to be seen.

The two elemental aberrations spotted Chen Ye, simultaneously letting out low roars (a roar of fire and a crackling sound of frost). The fire elemental aberration suddenly opened its mouth, spewing out a thick pillar of crimson fire! The ice elemental aberration swung its ice crystal limbs, unleashing dozens of ghostly blue ice blades like a torrential rain!
Ice and fire, two extreme attributes of attack, instantly covered all of Chen Ye's room to dodge!
Chen Ye did not retreat; instead, he met the attack head-on and charged towards the platform entrance! His speed was increased to the maximum!
The moment the attack struck, the gold and silver armor on his body shone brightly!
The pillar of fire and the ice blade hit simultaneously!
The anticipated violent explosion or freezing did not occur. Instead, the thin armor surface shimmered with gold and silver light, like the precise movement of beads on an abacus. The energy fluctuations of the flames were quickly analyzed and simulated; some were deflected to the sides, while others were even absorbed by the armor, transforming into a weak, reverse-flowing flame barrier that neutralized some of the subsequent pillars of fire.

The energy structure of the ice blades was sharper and more condensed, making them much harder to deflect. Most of the ice blades were forcibly altered, grazing past Chen Ye's body. Only a few struck his armor, unleashing a chilling aura that caused a thin layer of ice to condense on the armor's surface, but they did not penetrate it. (End of Chapter)