Staying in the sect, controlling beasts and cultivating immortals

Chen Xueqing's situation was the most critical. She hovered above the star map altar in the center of the main hall, her spirit body as transparent as glass, as if she would completely dissipate at any moment. The star key fragment in her arms glowed erratically. She was trying to use her own spiritual essence as fuel to forcibly activate the altar and open a temporary teleportation channel for everyone—even if the end of that channel was unknown, and it might even lead directly into the void turbulence.

Above the inn, the pale golden protective shield was now covered with spiderweb-like cracks, its light dimming like a candle flickering in the wind. Outside the shield, the enormous, twisted body of the Void Beast almost obscured half the sky, its countless dark green fleshy tentacles lashing and corroding the shield with each attack, widening the cracks and causing the entire inn to tremble violently.

"You beast!" Yu Changsheng's eyes turned cold.

He did not rush out of the Star Tower immediately, but instead held his hands in front of his chest. Within the Origin Dao Embryo, the newly born starry sky began to move according to some mysterious trajectory.

The remaining array formations of the Starfall Ancient Road, like a sleeping dragon being awakened, began to respond to the call of the "Lord of the Origin Star".

First, there was the End of the Hour Inn itself. The star array patterns engraved on the ground, walls, and dome lit up one by one, and the damaged parts repaired themselves. The powerful star energy surged from the depths of the earth and flowed into the central altar.

On the altar, the Star Key fragment in Chen Xueqing's arms seemed to be drawn by some invisible force, automatically rising and hovering directly above the altar. The cracks on the surface of the fragment began to slowly heal. Although it was far from being fully restored, it exuded an ancient and majestic aura—the majesty of the Star Dome Forgers' lineage.

"This is..." Chen Xueqing weakly opened her eyes, saw the changes in the Star Key fragments, and sensed the unusual activity of the post station formation. A glimmer of hope flashed in her eyes, "Brother Changsheng... did you succeed?"

At the same time, Yu Changsheng's idea resurfaced.

Not only Mochen Post Station, but also the ruins of Zhongchen Post Station and Chuchen Post Station, which are tens of thousands of miles away, as well as those small nodes scattered throughout the ancient road that have long been forgotten, all lit up with a faint light at this moment, as long as the star array has not been completely annihilated.

These lights are faint, like fireflies in the night, but when millions of fireflies come together, they become a galaxy.

The Starfall Ancient Road, a star passage that had been silent for 30,000 years, was briefly "awakened" at this moment.

"In my name, I summon the power of the stars!" Yu Changsheng declared loudly from the ninth floor of the Star Tower. His voice wasn't loud, but it traveled through the array's veins and resounded throughout the entire ancient road area. "Suppress!"

As the word was uttered, countless stars echoed its sentiment.

Above the End of the Night Inn, the pale golden light shield that was about to shatter suddenly shone brightly! Not only were all the cracks repaired instantly, but the thickness of the light shield also increased tenfold, and dense star runes appeared on its surface. Each rune contained pure star power and suppressing laws.

The tentacles of the Void Beast lashed out and struck the light shield, but instead of causing damage, they were shattered by the recoil, spraying out dark green pus and blood that corroded the void.

"Roar--!"

The monstrous beast cried out in pain, letting out a deafening roar. For the first time, a look of surprise and uncertainty appeared in its enormous eyes, composed of countless compound eyes. It instinctively sensed that an aura that made it wary and even fearful was awakening in the post station below.

Inside the post station, Elder Qingyi, Elder Jianchen, and the others felt a gentle yet vast stellar energy surging into their bodies from the array patterns beneath their feet, rapidly repairing their injuries and replenishing their depleted spiritual energy. While it couldn't instantly restore them to their full strength, it was enough to stabilize their lives and prevent further deterioration.

"It's Fellow Daoist Yu!" Elder Jian Chen's spirits lifted. "He succeeded! Disciples, hold on!"

The Xuan Tian disciples also felt the nourishment of the star power. Although they were still exhausted, the flame of hope was rekindled in their eyes.

Nourished by the star power, Chen Xueqing's spirit body solidified slightly. She looked up towards the Star Tower, a relieved smile on her lips.

On the ninth floor of the Star Tower, Yu Changsheng did not stop after completing all of this.

He made a fist with his right hand, and in the starry sky projection within the Origin Dao Embryo, the two Dao principles representing "annihilation" and "stars" began to intertwine and merge.

Outside the tower, on the surface of the starlight shield above the End of the End Post Station, countless star runes flowed and converged, eventually condensing into a "Sword of Star Annihilation" that stretched for thousands of feet. The sword was semi-transparent, with a galaxy surging within, while the blade exuded a sense of pitch-black annihilation, like returning to the void.

This sword strike not only contained the power of Yu Changsheng's original Dao embryo, but also mobilized the star power reserves accumulated by Mochen Post Station over 30,000 years, as well as the enhancement provided by the remaining formations along the entire ancient road.

Its power has surpassed the Nascent Soul stage and touched the threshold of the Void Refinement stage.

Sensing a deadly threat, the Void Beast ceased its attacks on the light barrier and instead frantically waved its tentacles, attempting to tear through the void and escape. However, the surrounding space had been reinforced and sealed off by the ancient road formation, making it impossible to break through in a short time.

"cut."

Yu Changsheng uttered a single word softly.

The sword, capable of annihilating a thousand feet of stars, fell silently.

Without a deafening roar, the sword's edge sliced ​​through space as smoothly as cloth, revealing the pitch-black void beneath. The dark green tentacles, fleshy sprouts, and bone spurs that tried to block its path vanished into the most basic particles the instant the sword touched them, leaving not a trace of dust behind.

The sword's speed appeared slow, but it was actually faster than lightning, and the Void Beast's massive body simply didn't have time to completely dodge it.

"laugh--"

As the sword flashed, nearly a third of the beast's body was cleanly severed. No blood splattered at the cut, because the flesh, bones, and energy around the wound had all been completely eroded by the intent of annihilation and "returned to nothingness."

"Awooo—!"

The monstrous beast let out an extremely shrill howl, its remaining body twisting wildly as it recklessly crashed into the not-yet-completely-closed spatial rift. It sacrificed itself to force its way into the deep void and disappear.

Only a few broken, still wriggling and corroding tentacles, along with the lingering stench and void fluctuations in the air, prove that it once existed.

After delivering its strike, the Star Extinction Sword slowly dissipated, transforming back into starlight and merging into the protective light shield.

Inside and outside Mochen Post Station, all was silent.

The survivors stared blankly at the now-calm sky and the slowly healing spatial rift, unable to recover for a long time.

As the gates of the Star Tower slowly opened, a figure emerged. Yu Changsheng wore a simple blue robe and carried nothing of value, except for the starry river flowing in his eyes and his aura as deep as the sea. He looked much the same as before he entered the Star Tower, but everyone who saw him instinctively felt a sense of insignificance and awe in the face of the vast starry sky.

"Brother Changsheng!" Chen Xueqing's spirit floated over, still ethereal, but filled with joy.

Yu Changsheng reached out and gently supported her spirit body, channeling a pure and gentle stream of primordial star power into her to help stabilize her form: "Xueqing, you've worked hard."

Chen Xueqing shook her head, her eyes slightly red: "It's good that you're alright."

Elder Qingyi rose with the help of her disciples, while Elder Jianchen, dragging his severed arm, also approached. The two looked at Yu Changsheng with a mixture of relief and emotion in their eyes, ultimately bowing deeply: "Congratulations, Fellow Daoist Yu (Changsheng), on inheriting the Starry Sky Dao lineage and making great progress in your cultivation!"

Yu Changsheng quickly returned the greeting: "Elders, you flatter me. If it weren't for your selfless protection, I would never have been able to safely climb the tower. I will remember this kindness forever."

His gaze swept over the remaining Xuantian disciples, seeing the weariness and pain in their eyes, but also the relief and resilience of those who had survived the ordeal. These disciples were the last embers of the Xuantian Sword Sect.

“Although the Void Beasts have retreated, they have not been completely annihilated. Moreover, outside the Ancient Road, the Yin Sha Sect and other forces will probably not let this go easily.” Yu Changsheng said in a deep voice, “The most urgent task is to heal everyone’s injuries as soon as possible, stabilize the End of the Hour Post Station, and find a way to leave the Ancient Road and revitalize the sect.”

He looked at the Star Key fragment floating above the central altar. At this moment, the fragment had been partially repaired, and its resonance with the altar was becoming increasingly strong.

“The Star Key fragments are connected to the core of the End of the Night Inn. With the help of the star power and inheritance here, they may be gradually repaired. Once the Star Key is complete, we can reposition our external coordinates and open a stable return channel,” Yu Changsheng said. “In addition, there are some inheritances and resources left by the creator of the Star Dome on the ninth floor of the Star Tower. Among them, there may be treasures that can help Elder Qingyi repair her origin, Elder Jianchen regenerate his severed arm, and help the disciples heal their injuries and break through their cultivation levels.”

Upon hearing this, a glimmer of hope immediately shone in everyone's eyes.

Elder Qingyi's damage to her essence and Elder Jianchen's severed arm are both near-irreversible injuries. If there is a way to restore them, it would undoubtedly be tremendous good news.

“However, before that,” Yu Changsheng changed the subject, looking out at the endless, deep Starfall Ancient Road beyond the post station, his gaze profound, “we still need to deal with another matter.”

Chen Xueqing seemed to sense something: "Is it... that call that originates from the same source as the annihilation?"

Yu Changsheng nodded: "The Starry Sky Forger sealed the Void Sovereign beneath the 'Starry Sky Ruins' at the end of the ancient road. Now that I have inherited the Origin Star and resonate with the ancient road, I can clearly sense that the seal is loosening. That Sovereign may be causing some disturbance due to the brief revival of the ancient road's formation and the fluctuation of the power of annihilation."

He paused, then continued, "Moreover, I suspect there may be more to the story than meets the eye regarding the collapse of the ancient road and the fall of the forger. The forger who fell into the void may still have some remaining will or backup plan lurking somewhere on the ancient road. These are all potential dangers that must be investigated."

Upon hearing this, Elder Qingyi and Elder Jianchen both became solemn.

The Void Sovereign is a terrifying being that even three Nascent Soul stage experts had to sacrifice their lives to seal. If it were to break free, not only would these individuals face calamity, but the entire cultivation world would likely be plunged into chaos.

"What are your plans, Fellow Daoist Yu?" Elder Qingyi asked.

"Let's heal and rest first, and stabilize our cultivation levels," Yu Changsheng said. "Once everyone has recovered some of their strength and the Star Key fragments have been further repaired, we will head to the depths of the ancient road to investigate the seal's condition. If necessary... we may need to reinforce the seal, or even completely eliminate this hidden danger."

His voice was calm, yet carried an undeniable determination.

Inheriting the Starry Sky Dao lineage means taking on the responsibility of protecting the ancient path and balancing the void. This is not only the forger's last wish, but also his practice of his own "Dao".

Fight for a glimmer of hope, protect those you care about, and weigh all forces and circumstances.

Now, what he wants to protect is not only his companions, but also the countless ordinary and extraordinary beings in the worlds connected by this ancient road.

The road ahead is long and fraught with peril.

But in Yu Changsheng's eyes, there was only unwavering starlight.

"Everyone," Yu Changsheng opened his eyes, his gaze seemingly reflecting the rise and fall of stars, "we need to accomplish three things within three hours: First, help Chen Xueqing completely fuse with the Star Key and open the return passage; second, repair everyone's injuries, especially Elder Qingyi's Dao Foundation and Elder Jianchen's severed arm; third, explore the Starry Sky Palace—the seal of the Void Ruler must be reinforced."

With a wave of his hand, nine pillars of starlight suddenly descended from the ninth layer of the starry sky, each containing a different inherited item: three "Star Origin Crystals", two bottles of "Nirvana Soul Liquid", a scroll of "True Explanation of Devouring Void Runes", a "Chaos Emperor Blood Stone", a ball of "Emerald Gold Daoist Spiritual Light", and an ancient "Starry Sky Forging Furnace".

“These are resources left to their successors by the creators of the Starry Sky,” Yu Changsheng explained. “Star Origin Crystals can repair the physical body and spiritual power, Annihilation Soul Liquid can condense the divine soul, and the True Explanation of Devouring Void Runes can help comprehend the laws of space… You can use them according to your own circumstances.”

Elder Qingyi sighed softly and took the lead in walking towards the Star Origin Crystal: "My Dao Foundation has been eroded by the evil energy of the monstrous beast, and I need to use the power of the stars to cleanse it." She placed her palm on the crystal, and the pale golden star power flowed into her body like a stream, and her face gradually regained its color.

Elder Jian Chen looked at the Starry Sky Forging Furnace, a resolute glint in his single eye: "The regeneration of a severed arm requires the reconstruction of the meridians. This furnace should be able to help me refine the origin of the stars and reforge my arm bones." He sat cross-legged in front of the furnace and threw the Chaos Emperor Blood Stone into it. The furnace fire immediately ignited with seven-colored light.

The disciples of the Xuantian Sword Sect also chose resources to heal and cultivate, and starlight flowed and energy rose within the post station.

Yu Changsheng walked to Chen Xueqing's side and gently placed his hand on her forehead. A wisp of pure primordial power separated from the Origin Star within his Origin Dao Embryo, flowing along his arm into the depths of Chen Xueqing's spiritual body. The Star Key fragment seemed to be summoned, rising from her bosom and hovering between the two of them.

“The Star Key is the linchpin of the Starry Sky Dao lineage,” Yu Changsheng said in a low voice. “Back then, the creators divided the ancient road authority into nine fragments, which were scattered in all directions. The one in your hand has already merged with the three array hubs of the Beginning Star Station, the Middle Star Station, and the End Star Station. If you can obtain two more, you can open the main passage to the ‘Starry Sky Relics’.”

Chen Xueqing's eyelashes trembled slightly, and her spirit gradually solidified. She opened her eyes, her emerald-gold pupils fixed on Yu Changsheng: "I sensed... the locations of the other fragments. One is in the 'Meteor Abyss' deep within the ancient road, and the other is... at the end of the Soul-Severing Corridor."

Yu Changsheng frowned slightly. The Soul-Severing Corridor was a perilous place formed by the ancient path being torn apart by a great evil spirit of annihilation. It was filled with void turbulence and the remnants of star debris, and even cultivators at the Void Refinement stage might not be able to escape unscathed. As for the Meteor Abyss, it was a legendary forbidden area, where star debris was piled up into a deep abyss, where the "Starfall Evil Spirit" was nurtured, even by the creators of the starry sky.

“Let’s go to the Meteor Abyss first,” Chen Xueqing said softly. “The fragments there fluctuate more clearly, and… the Star Key transmitted a memory to me: a follower of the Star Dome Forger, ‘Starfall Venerable,’ is sleeping in the Meteor Abyss. If we can awaken him, we might be able to learn the true reason for the collapse of the ancient road back then.”

Yu Changsheng nodded. He turned to look at the group who were healing: "In about an incense stick's time, Chen Xueqing and I will go to Meteor Abyss to retrieve the second Star Key fragment. Elder Qingyi and Elder Jianchen will lead the group to stay behind at Mochen Post Station to repair the station's protective array. At the same time, they will set up the 'Star Dome Guiding Array' based on the Star Tower—once we return with the fragment, we will immediately open the passage and teleport to the edge of the Soul-Severing Corridor."

"Sect Master," a disciple of the Xuantian Sword Sect couldn't help but ask, "Will that Void Beast... return?"

Yu Changsheng looked up at the deep void outside the post station: "The monstrous beast was severely injured by my Star Annihilation Sword and dares not approach the End of the Night Post Station for the time being. However, it has locked onto the aura of the Star Keys and will surely lurk in the shadows of the ancient road, waiting for its chance to strike. Therefore, we must hurry—before it recovers, gather the Star Keys and reinforce the seal." (End of this chapter)