I want to tread the heavens

As midnight approaches, the moon hides and the stars fade, marking the deepest part of the night.

Beneath the dry well, the old starship named "Boundary-Breaking Shuttle" had shed its accumulated dust. Half a piece of starstone was embedded in the core array eye, and a dim stream of light meandered along the rough hull's texture, like a sleeping behemoth slowly awakening, emitting a low and rhythmic hum. Inside the cramped cabin, five hundred spirit stones were neatly stored, and dried beast meat and water were locked in a cabinet. The tattered star map marked with the edge of the "Xunfeng Minor Realm" was carefully pressed down in front of the driver's seat by Ling Xiao with a cloth. The storage ring was slipped on his finger, slightly cool, yet heavy against his skin.

Uncle Rong gave the outer hatch a final check of the airtight latch, his broken knife slung diagonally behind his back, his grey shirt crisp and clean. Fa Cai crouched at Ling Xiao's feet, its silver-grey fur gleaming coldly in the dim light of the cabin. Its amber pupils, no longer lively as usual, were now as deep as a still pool, its pointed ears vibrating sharply, sensing every movement of air outside. Its message was clear and tense: "The iron box... is alive... outside... it's noisy..."

Ling Xiao's fingertips traced the cool control lever, his palms slightly sweaty with anticipation and uncertainty. The basic Zhou Tian technique of the "Zhou Tian Xing Chen Body Refining Technique" circulated automatically within his meridians, bringing a sense of steady power. He looked at Uncle Rong, who nodded slightly, his eyes as calm as an ancient well, yet radiating unspoken trust.

Above the well, Guo Yun stood alone in the wind, her white hair and robes fluttering in the night. She said nothing, only crushing a jade talisman engraved with the Guo family's secret patterns, the jade powder scattering into the darkness with the wind—this was the last trace she could erase for them.

"Prepare, activate the formation." Uncle Rong's voice echoed in the cramped cabin.

Ling Xiao took a deep breath, channeling the power of meteors into the control array core. The Boundary-Breaking Shuttle shuddered violently, its tail nozzle unleashing a burst of eerie blue flames, the heat dissipating the moisture from the bottom of the well. The concealment array on the dry well's stone walls shone brightly, locking the roar and heat firmly within its confines.

Just as the shuttle was about to rise from the ground and pierce the gray, misty sky above the old earth—

Without warning, the complete Star Key (two jades combined) on Ling Xiao's chest suddenly became scorching hot, the heat almost burning his skin! At the same time, the animal skin star map pressed in front of the driver's seat, the spatial node marked on it leading to the Xunfeng Minor Realm, began to seep out a piercing dark red bloodline, which spread rapidly between the leather fibers like a living thing, instantly polluting the surrounding star field markings!

"Something's wrong!" Ling Xiao's pupils contracted sharply, and he brought the control stick to a sudden stop. The Boundary-Breaking Shuttle hovered about ten feet above the bottom of the well, its buzzing sound becoming shrill.

Uncle Rong strode to the star map, and after just one glance, his face turned ashen: "The Star Key warns, blood stains the star path... This is a terrible omen, spatial nodes have been forcibly contaminated or occupied!" His battle-hardened instincts instantly awakened, "They're after us!"

Fa Cai's fur stood on end, a low, extremely threatening roar rumbling from his throat. His silver eyes were fixed on the void beyond the cabin wall, in the direction the star map indicated, his thoughts piercing Ling Xiao's mind like sharp needles: "Stinky! Lots! Fangs! They're here! Run—!"

Almost simultaneously, Guo Yun's slightly hurried voice resounded through the communication bone talisman left in the well wall: "Yue Rong! Ling Xiao! Stop! The ground observation array is warning of an abnormal spatial fold in the Northwest Heavenly Region, with violent spiritual energy fluctuations accompanied by a high concentration of magical energy! The intensity... far exceeds that of the previous scout! It's like... the dimensional tearing fluctuations of a small assault ship!"

"The Demon Vanguard." Uncle Rong squeezed out four words through gritted teeth, his hand already on the hilt of his broken sword. "They calculated the exact moment we left, intending to strike us while we were halfway across the void."

Ling Xiao's heart pounded, and a chill ran down his spine. The burning heat of the Star Key, the strange phenomena of the Star Chart, Fa Cai's frenzy, and Guo Yun's warning struck his mind like a series of thunderbolts. The Demon Clan hadn't given up; they had even deployed ships capable of traversing the void, precisely blocking their only escape route!

"What should we do? Force our way in?" Ling Xiao looked at Uncle Rong, the power of the meteorite surging through his meridians, carrying the sharpness of a newborn calf, but he also knew that going there might be like walking into a trap.

"We can't rush in." Uncle Rong said decisively. "With the node controlled, it's like the trap is already open. The Breaking Boundary Shuttle's defenses aren't enough for a single volley from them." His gaze swept across the narrow cabin, over Ling Xiao's young yet resolute face, and over Fa Cai's bared teeth and growling. Countless military formations and countermeasures flashed through his mind in a flash. "Third Elder!"

"Yes!" Guo Yun replied immediately, clearly aware that the situation had become extremely dangerous.

"Seal off all traces at the wellhead, activate the highest-level concealment array, and simulate the fluctuations of the lifeless ley lines! Immediately shut down the Boundary-Breaking Shuttle and sink it into the icy pool at the bottom of the well! You, retreat to the surface, block all news, and only report to the outside world that there are unusual ley line movements. Strictly prohibit anyone from approaching within ten miles of this area!" Uncle Rong spoke rapidly, his commands clear and ruthless. "They've come for Xingyue and Ling Xiao. Unable to find their targets, they won't dare to easily descend upon the old land and trigger boundary repulsion. They'll only seal the nodes and search for any remaining traces in the void. This is our only window of opportunity!"

"Understood!" Guo Yun replied without hesitation. The runes above the wellhead shone brightly, and layers of even thicker camouflage array light curtains descended.

Ling Xiao gritted his teeth, suppressing his resentment, and followed instructions. The core of the Star Stone dimmed, and the Boundary-Breaking Shuttle slowly sank into the depths of the perpetually cold pool at the bottom of the well. The icy, bone-chilling Yin energy of the earth veins instantly enveloped the hull, temporarily isolating it from all energy leakage.

Darkness and deathly silence once again engulfed the bottom of the well.

Inside the cabin, only the heavy breathing of the three people could be heard.

Uncle Rong lit a dim psionic lamp, its yellowish light illuminating his deeply lined yet incredibly calm face. "They came too fast, too precisely." He unfolded the star map, still slightly oozing dark red veins, his finger pointing to a murky node. "The meteor compass points here, so they blocked this spot. This shows that their perception of the star key, or their prediction of our route, is terrifyingly accurate."

"What did that spy send back before he died?" Ling Xiao clenched his fist.

"More than that." Uncle Rong shook his head. "It's more likely... that you possess two supreme bloodlines, making you the most conspicuous beacon in the darkness. Every time you fully unleash your cultivation technique, every time you draw upon the origin of the stars, you are reporting your location to them. Although you didn't go all out this time, the fluctuations from the activation of the Boundary Shuttle array, coupled with the special nature of the node, were enough for the demonic detection ships near the void to detect something."

Furious, scratching the floor with its claws in frustration, conveyed its thoughts: "Hide... Bedbugs will find... bite me to death..."

"We can't hide for long." Ling Xiao looked at Uncle Rong. "They're sealing off the nodes because they're waiting for us to show up, or they're waiting for a stronger force."

"Not bad." Uncle Rong's gaze was sharp as a knife as he swept over Ling Xiao and Fa Cai. "A direct assault is a dead end. But their target is you, so their main fleet will definitely be concentrated near the node. If... there is a 'surprise force' that can take advantage of the opening to bypass the node's front and tear a temporary opening through the weak point in the void turbulence..."

His finger swept across the star map, then sharply pointed at a spot not far from the contaminated node, marking the edge of a chaotic storm zone: "Here! Ancient texts of the Starfall Clan record that between the Old Earth and the Xunfeng Realm, there exist several extremely unstable 'undercurrent paths,' fraught with danger, even Nascent Soul cultivators struggle to cross them. However, the Boundary-Breaking Shuttle is small; if the Star Key is used as a guide, supplemented by…"

He looked at Fa Cai: "...The Howling Moon Wolf bloodline's keen perception of void fluctuations might offer a glimmer of hope. Go through!"

"A diversionary tactic?" Ling Xiao instantly understood.

"It's a matter of sacrificing a pawn to save the king, and also a desperate attempt to survive," Uncle Rong said in a cold voice. "I'll be that 'pawn.' While I pilot another ship... or create enough chaos to divert their main force's attention, you and Fa Cai can seize the opportunity to break through via the hidden path!"

"No way!" Ling Xiao stood up abruptly. "If anyone should be leading the way, it should be me..."

"Sit down!" Uncle Rong barked, his voice carrying an undeniable authority. "Your life isn't just yours! It was bought with the lives of our Lord and Mistress, it's the hope of both the Starfall and Devouring Heaven clans! I am your guard, it's my duty, and it's my choice! Besides..." His tone softened slightly as he patted the broken sword at his waist, "This old man's bones aren't so easily broken. As long as you break through, I have my own way of escaping."

The cabin was deathly silent. Fa Cai seemed to sense that resolute determination, and quieted down, resting his head on Ling Xiao's lap, gazing at him with his silver eyes.

Ling Xiao clenched his teeth, his nails digging into his palms until blood seeped out. He knew that the "escape method" Rong Shu had mentioned was a matter of life and death.

"There's no time for arguing." Uncle Rong watched as the psionic lamp wick crackled and sparked. "Once they've set up their blockade, it'll all be over. Prepare, Ling Xiao. Remember, once you're out of the Old Earth, you are your own commander. Assess the situation, seize opportunities, survive, and become stronger."

Above the wellhead, Guo Yun's voice transmission rang out again, tinged with urgency: "The observation array shows that the magical energy fluctuations at the node are intensifying, indicating that the deployment pod may be separating! They might be about to conduct a probing landing search!"

"Understood." Uncle Rong replied calmly, then looked at Ling Xiao, his eyes as deep as the starry sea, "Xiao'er, are you afraid?"

Ling Xiao took a deep breath, suppressing all his emotions, his eyes filled only with a cold starlight and burning fighting spirit: "I'm afraid. But I'm even more afraid of letting you down."

He gripped the control stick again, slowly channeling the power of the stars into it. The Boundary Shuttle emitted a suppressed low hum from the depths of the icy pool, like a hibernating dragon raising its head.

On the last night in the old land, the winds of change are blowing. The dangers of the starry sea are looming ahead.