Alert! The Dragon Lord has emerged from seclusion!

"The star core contains immense stellar power, but it has been corrupted and constantly emits distorted energy, affecting all life around it."

She looked at the carvings on the rock wall: "I suspect that those monsters are mutated creatures that were corrupted by the nuclear energy of the polluted planet."

"The 'Seven Stars Returning to Their Positions' that the man in black robes is trying to do may be to use the essence of seven people with special physiques to purify or... completely activate that star core."

Just then, the scratching sounds from the monster outside suddenly stopped.

Immediately afterwards, a gentle, almost eerily warm male voice pierced through the barrier and entered:

"Miss Luo, you've found new friends? That's so touching."

Everyone froze at the same time.

The voice continued, "However, the game is over. Hand over the Body of Yao Guang, and I can let the rest of you... die a quick death."

Inside the cave, the cold light from the emergency lights cast swaying shadows on the rock walls.

The gentle yet chilling voice from outside the barrier made the air almost freeze.

Luo Yunyi's body tensed up noticeably, and she instinctively gripped the silver dagger in her hand—even though her wound was still being treated.

Shen Qingqiu continued working, whispering, "The last fragment will be ready soon. Don't move."

Lin Chen gave Ye Qingcheng a wink.

The two moved silently to either side of the barrier, their Nine Yang True Qi and Frosty Yin Qi circulating quietly within their bodies.

Chu Ling'er closed her eyes, her spiritual power extending outwards like threads. After a moment, her face turned pale: "Outside... there's only him."

But around him... there were at least fifty of those monsters gathered.

Moreover... the aura emanating from him is strange, like that of a living person, yet also like...

"What does it look like?" Ye Qingcheng asked in a low voice.

"It's like an empty shell, with something else inside," Chu Ling'er described with difficulty. "His soul... is broken, forcibly stitched back together."

The male voice outside the barrier seemed to be able to hear the conversation inside, and chuckled softly: "A psychic body? What an unexpected gain."

"Looks like today is my lucky day."

Before the words were even finished, the talisman barrier sealing the cave entrance suddenly trembled violently!

The white light seemed to be torn apart by an invisible hand, and cracks began to appear.

"He's trying to force his way through!" Ling Feng shouted, and he and two ice guards simultaneously poured their true energy into the barrier in an attempt to reinforce it.

But the opponent's strength far exceeded expectations.

The cracks spread rapidly, accompanied by an extremely cold and corrosive force—this was no ordinary Yin energy.

It's more like a corrupted energy formed from the distortion and contamination of starlight.

"Step back!" Lin Chen said in a deep voice.

Almost as soon as he finished speaking, the barrier shattered!

The biting cold wind, carrying a foul stench, rushed into the cave.

At the entrance of the cave, a young man dressed in a black fitted robe stood there.

He was indeed very young, and his face could even be described as handsome, but his pure black eyes swallowed up all the light.

Looking at it for too long feels like your soul is being sucked in.

His skin was unusually pale, as if he had never seen the sun, and a gentle but cold smile hung on his lips.

Behind him, countless dark blue monsters lay silently, their dark red crystals on their chests flashing rhythmically, as if they were breathing.

"Let me introduce myself. My name is 'Shadow,' the seventh elder of the Netherworld Sect—of course, that's a self-proclaimed title."

The man in black robes bowed slightly, his movements as elegant as if he were attending a banquet. "I originally only wanted the Yao Guang Body, but I didn't expect to gain something extra."

"Medicine spirit, spiritual communication, cold yin... Hmm, this one has the Frost Yin Body? And—"

His gaze fell on Lin Chen, and for the first time, a flicker of emotion appeared in his black pupils—an undisguised greed: "Nine Suns Burning Heaven Body."

"The perfect furnace that the sect leader has been searching for for many years."

Lin Chen stepped forward, shielding everyone behind him: "The Netherworld Sect has been destroyed, and the Old Ghost of the Netherworld is dead. What can you do alone?"

"Destruction?" Ying chuckled. "That's just a facade. The Netherworld Sect has been passed down for a thousand years, but its true core has never been exposed. As for the sect leader... that old geezer is nothing more than a puppet in the open."

His words revealed a startling secret: "The 'Seven Stars Return' plan was never about extending anyone's lifespan."

"Its true purpose is to open the 'Star Core,' draw in power from beyond the realm, and reshape the laws of this world."

Shadow spread his arms wide, his tone fanatical: "What do you think those monsters are? They are failed experiments—attempts to fuse star core fragments with living beings to create the perfect 'Star Servants'."

"Unfortunately, most of them have lost their rationality and are left with only instinct."

"But Miss Luo is different." His gaze fell back on Luo Yunyi. "The Yao Guang Body is the most special of the Seven Stars, governing 'Po Jun' and controlling change and rebirth."

"Your origin is the key to unlocking the final seal on the star core."

With Shen Qingqiu's help, Luo Yunyi struggled to her feet, her voice icy: "Where is my father? Where is Luo Changfeng?"

Shadow tilted his head, as if recalling something: "Ah, that stubborn scholar. He did find some secrets he shouldn't have known, so we invited him to be a guest at the 'Star Core Chamber'."

"It's been three years, and he's still there...thinking."

These words struck Luo Yunyi's chest like a heavy hammer.

Her body swayed, but her eyes sharpened even more: "Take me to see him."

"Of course," Ying smiled. "I was going to take you with me anyway. But now your friends are coming too."

Behind him, the crawling monsters all raised their heads, and the dark red crystals simultaneously burst forth with dazzling light.

Battle is imminent.

Lin Chen knew he couldn't just passively defend himself.

The shadow's strength is unfathomable, at least at the Golden Core stage, and he controls these fearless monsters.

"Ling Feng, protect the wounded!" he shouted, taking the lead in attacking.

Lin Chen unleashed his Nine Yang True Qi without reservation, transforming into a golden meteor that hurtled straight towards Ying's face.

With this strike, he used the nascent harmonized Yin and Yang power. The true energy, interwoven with gold, red and light blue, was like a spiral drill, and wherever it passed, the air emitted a shrill tearing sound.

Ying's smile remained unchanged; she simply raised her hand slightly.

In front of his palm, space suddenly distorted, forming a miniature black hole-like vortex.

Lin Chen's incredibly powerful strike crashed into the vortex, but it was like a mud ox entering the sea, swallowed up without even a ripple!

"Very pure yang energy, what a pity..." Ying flicked her finger slightly.

The miniature vortex suddenly reversed, and an energy ten times colder and more chaotic than Lin Chen's attack surged out, shooting straight at Lin Chen's chest!

too fast!

Lin Chen only had time to turn to the side before the energy grazed past his left arm.

laugh--!

The sleeves of the windbreaker instantly turned to ashes, leaving three deep, black wounds on the skin of the left arm that revealed the bone.

Even more terrifying, there was no blood at the wound site, only countless fine black lines wriggling under the skin, trying to burrow into the body.