Alert! The Dragon Lord has emerged from seclusion!

The twelve cleaners froze simultaneously, the dark red crystals on their chests dimmed and then cracked.

They fell straight down like puppets with broken strings, and then fell silent.

The roar of the Star Devourer apostle abruptly ceased underground.

The demonic shadow, composed of countless distorted faces, seemed to be gripped by an invisible giant hand, collapsing madly inward.

Three hundred feet, one hundred feet, ten feet... eventually compressed into a pitch-black sphere the size of a fist, hovering above the crack.

On the surface of the sphere, faces continued to wail silently, but could no longer utter a sound.

The silver threads of Zhang Qingyuan's whisk came undone, and he staggered back a step, only to be supported by Abbess Huiming.

The old Taoist looked at the pitch-black sphere, then at Lin Chen in the center of the platform, his eyes filled with shock and complex emotions.

The entire summit of Jade Void Peak was deathly silent.

The only sounds were the wind and the soft rustling of snow sliding down.

Everyone looked at that figure.

Lin Chen stood quietly at the center of the formation, his body devoid of light, pressure, or even the aura of cultivation.

He stood there, seemingly one with heaven and earth, yet also seemingly transcending them.

The nascent soul has been formed, and the seed of chaos has entered the body.

At this moment, he is no longer simply the Nine Suns Burning Heaven Body, nor is he the bearer of the Seven Star Origin.

He is—the Chaotic Dao Body.

Su Qingxue was the first to react, her icy blue eyes fixed on Lin Chen, her voice trembling slightly: "You... succeeded?"

Lin Chen turned to look at her, the vision of the fading starlight in his eyes slowly subsided, returning to a deep black.

He smiled slightly, a smile as gentle as ever, yet imbued with an indescribable sense of vastness.

"Um."

He walked toward Luo Yunyi—or rather, toward the starlight left behind after Luo Yunyi disappeared.

The starlight was extremely dim, like a candle flickering in the wind.

Lin Chen stretched out his hand, and the chaotic energy in his palm circulated, gently enveloping the starlight.

The starlight flickered slightly, like the beating of a heart, gradually coalescing into a blurry human-shaped outline.

"The body of Yao Guang is destroyed and then rebuilt."

Lin Chen said softly, transferring a pure stellar essence into the starlight, "You will not disappear. You will become the new 'star core'—a pure, unpolluted star core."

The starlight gradually became clearer, eventually transforming into a fist-sized, crystal-clear silver crystal.

Inside the crystal, the faint silhouette of Luo Yunyi sleeping could be seen.

He handed the crystal to Su Qingxue: "You can keep it for now. Once she awakens, her Yao Guang body will be completely perfected."

Su Qingxue solemnly accepted it and put it into her bosom.

Only then did everyone recover from their shock.

Shushan Lingxuzi sighed, "The Chaotic Dao Body... I have lived for four hundred years, and only today do I know what the 'Dao' is."

After Zhang Qingyuan of Longhu Mountain finished his meditation, he walked up to Lin Chen and bowed deeply: "Fellow Daoist Lin's actions today not only relieved the crisis of Yuxu, but also thwarted the ambitions of the Heavenly Dao Alliance and saved all living beings."

"This old Taoist priest, representing the righteous sects, thanks you."

Lin Chen returned the greeting: "You flatter me, Celestial Master. Without the guidance of all of you seniors, I would not have been able to accomplish this."

He looked at the pitch-black sphere that sealed the Galactus Apostle: "What should we do with this demon?"

Zhang Qingyuan pondered, "The Star-Devouring Apostle is an extraterrestrial demon. Killing it would be inauspicious, but releasing it would bring disaster. I suggest that we hand it over to the Demon-Suppressing Pagoda of Dragon Tiger Mountain and refine it with Samadhi True Fire for a hundred years, which may completely purify it."

"Can."

Lin Chen then looked at the remains left behind by the Heavenly Dao Alliance—the fragments of the Cleaners and the belongings of Xuanming and the other two.

He raised his hand and grasped, and all the fragments gathered together. Under the decomposition of the chaotic energy, they were reduced to the most basic materials and energy.

"The Heavenly Alliance will not let this go," said Abbess Huiming of Putuo Mountain in the South China Sea with concern. "With the loss of three stewards and twelve cleaners today, they will surely retaliate."

The High Priest of Northern Xinjiang, Saru, spoke in a hoarse voice: "Then let's attack them! Catch them off guard and strike at their heart!"

Miao Jiang Lan Fenghuang shook her head: "The Ruins of Return are unpredictable and dangerous. Rushing in might lead to an ambush."

The crowd was buzzing with discussion.

Lin Chen listened quietly, and only after the voices subsided did he slowly speak: "What the Heavenly Dao Alliance wants is the Chaos Seed, and the seed has already merged with me."

"As long as I live, they will not give up."

He looked around at everyone: "So, they will do two things next. First, try to separate the seed; second, if they fail to separate it, they will kill me to take the seed."

Ye Qingcheng's hand gripping the sword bulged with veins: "Then let them come!"

Shen Qingqiu calmly analyzed: "They will be more cautious and more insidious. Next time they strike, it probably won't just be with force."

Qin Yurou looked at Lin Chen with concern: "What should we do?"

Lin Chen turned his gaze eastward, towards the direction of Guixu.

"Waiting passively is not the solution." His voice was calm, yet carried an undeniable determination. "Since it's going to end sooner or later, we might as well take the initiative."

"Go to Guixu?" Su Qingxue frowned. "That's the Heavenly Dao Alliance's stronghold, and the dangers there are unknown."

"It is precisely because this is our old lair that we have the answers we seek." Lin Chen turned to the three elders of the Carefree Sect, "Elders, I have a request."

Master Xuanbing nodded: "Speak."

"Please ask Xiaoyao Valley to temporarily safeguard the star core that Luo Yunyi transformed into, and take care of the other six." Lin Chen paused. "I alone am enough for the journey to Guixu."

"No way!" Ye Qingcheng was the first to object. "Are you going to your death?!"

Shen Qingqiu also shook his head: "Although the Chaos Dao Body is strong, you have only recently formed your Nascent Soul and your realm is not yet stable. It is too risky for you to venture into the enemy's lair alone."

Chu Ling'er and Mu Qingyao's eyes reddened with anxiety.

Qin Yurou bit her lip and remained silent, but her eyes said it all.

Su Qingxue walked up to Lin Chen, her icy blue eyes staring directly at him: "Have you forgotten our agreement? Seven Stars and Nine Suns, to live and die together."

Lin Chen met her gaze and saw the unwavering determination in her eyes, which warmed his heart.

He looked at the other five women, each with the same expression on their face.

"Okay." He finally nodded. "But we can't all go. The situation in Guixu is unclear; we need someone to provide support from the outside."

The final decision was that Lin Chen, Su Qingxue, and Ye Qingcheng would go first to infiltrate the Ruins of Return and investigate. Shen Qingqiu, Qin Yurou, Chu Ling'er, and Mu Qingyao would remain on the outer perimeter to form a support team with experts from Xiaoyao Valley and other sects.

Master Zhang Qingyuan stated that Longhu Mountain will join forces with various sects to set up the "Zhou Tian Xing Chen Grand Array" on the outer perimeter, which can forcibly tear open space to provide support should there be any changes in the Guixu.

The plan was set.

……

Three days later, on the shore of the East China Sea.

Lin Chen, Su Qingxue, and Ye Qingcheng stood suspended in mid-air above the sea.

Ten thousand miles ahead lies the legendary Guixu—the abyss of ten thousand seas, the end of heaven and earth.

The seawater there is not blue, but a deep, dark black, like a giant maw that swallows all light and sound.

Above the sea, space is distorted, and occasionally streaks of light like colorful auroras flash by, beautiful yet deadly.

"The Void of Return has nine layers of restrictions."

Su Qingxue unfolded an ancient sea chart in her hand. "The first three layers are called 'Illusory Sea Mystery,' the middle three layers are called 'Netherworld Weak Water,' and the last three layers are where the Heavenly Dao Alliance's headquarters, 'Heavenly Evolution Palace,' is located."