Chapter 1271: Star Sea Reunion

Chapter 1276

Numerous Dao Integration corpses, like kites on strings, floated haphazardly. The expressions on their faces still held the joy of escaping disaster.

“Damn it…”

Looking at these faces, so vibrant just moments ago, now utterly frozen, Guan Xingxiu could no longer bear it. His Falling Star Divine Sword transformed into a golden streak, slashing straight ahead.

A cyan figure suddenly appeared, blocking the path of the sword light.

Ice crystals, blooming like flowers, emerged from his fingertips. The surrounding air seemed to freeze, and the Falling Star Divine Sword was halted mid-air.

“This is… Qing Shuang?”

Xu Guanhai looked at the familiar yet strange figure and couldn't help but exclaim.

It turned out that the one who cast the spell to block the Falling Star Divine Sword was none other than Dao Integration Qing Shuang, who had recently perished, his essence drained.

However…

The five surviving Dao Integration experts suddenly felt their nerves tense up again.

“This place isn't suitable for long stays after all. How about we recuperate for a while, then break out together?”

Guan Xingxiu squinted, unable to hide the shock in his heart.

A flicker of determination crossed Guan Xingxiu’s eyes: “Then let’s destroy this monster first!”

Xu Guanhai gave a bitter smile: “Old Guan, it seems we can’t escape this calamity. I, Old Xu, might not fear one or two Spirits of Heaven and Earth. But so many… and this terrifying flying vessel too.”

Familiar faces, one after another, seemed to drift out of the shadows.

“We’re still inside the flying vessel! We’re imprisoned!”

“If we don’t leave, we’ll surely die. Let’s fight for it!”

Lan Yu strode forward, blocking the path among the Spirits of Heaven and Earth, and said gravely, “Query current task completion probability.”

But just like the true starry void, this place seemed boundless. The glow of the Falling Star, like a firefly, vanished in an instant.

What terrified them even more was that behind the new Spirit of Heaven and Earth, Qing Shuang, a thin line extended, stretching into the void.

All the floating Spirits of Heaven and Earth fell silent. A moment later, the cold voice of the Exalted Vessel came: “Current task feasibility: extremely high.”

The five survivors were surrounded.

Sun Luchang’s face turned pale, his body trembling uncontrollably: “How is this possible? It’s bad enough they died, but their Spirits of Heaven and Earth can be extracted and refined? What kind of evil art is this…?”

“Old Guan, be careful! This Qing Shuang isn't Ji Wantao himself, but a Spirit of Heaven and Earth!” Xu Guanhai instantly saw through it and shouted a warning.

Only Xu Guanhai offered a bitter smile: “I didn’t expect to live a bit longer, so I guess that’s a bonus. Everyone, relax. This fellow just devoured so many Dao Integration experts; maybe it can even hold out until His Holiness the Heavenly Venerate arrives?”

Zi Mei, however, was pensive: “This place is far from the Profound Yellow Realm, and the Heavenly Dao’s laws have naturally lost their effect here. If certain special methods are employed, it might be possible to disguise oneself as the Heavenly Dao and absorb these Spirits of Heaven and Earth.”

As they conversed, time slowly passed.

“Are we… out?” Sun Luchang was stunned.

When they had all recovered to their best state and made their move, their actions went surprisingly smoothly, beyond their imagination.

The seemingly desperate crisis vanished into thin air just like that.

“Energy replenishment plan aborted.”

“No!” Guan Xingxiu looked grimly at the surrounding void.

Sun Luchang wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and let out a long sigh of relief. He still found it hard to believe: “It was… resolved just like that?”

“Wait!” Just as the Falling Star Divine Sword was about to pierce the vessel’s deck, Lan Yu suddenly called out to him.

“Go!” Still not giving up, Guan Xingxiu summoned the Falling Star Divine Sword, which shot rapidly into the darkness.

However, it went and never returned, completely swallowed by the darkness.

After careful observation, they noticed that the Spirit of Heaven and Earth, Qing Shuang, no longer had its previously indistinct face. Instead, it bore a striking resemblance to Immortal Venerate Qing Shuang, Ji Wantao, in his lifetime.

Lan Yu’s expression didn't relax at all: “It’s only temporary. It seems now that as long as we don't try to escape, and its energy is sufficient, it won’t attack us.”

Zi Mei said nothing, her expression equally serious.

The thin lines were identical to the ominous weapons they had previously seen the vessel use to slay Dao Integration experts.

The Falling Star Divine Sword suddenly burst forth with blinding light, attempting to illuminate the dark space.

“Furthermore, they were previously ambushed. If the five of us work together and defend collectively, we might succeed in escaping this wretched place.” Xu Guanhai conveyed this using spiritual sense transmission.

“Current energy reserves: sufficient.”

Voices continuously echoed. The floating, expressionless Spirits of Heaven and Earth were dragged by the thin lines back into the void.

Not only did no Spirits of Heaven and Earth emerge to block them, but even the Exalted Vessel itself was like paper, easily torn to shreds.

As they confronted the vessel, numerous thin lines extended from the void.

“I have the Heavenly Capital Training Ground. If I deploy the training barrier, it should buy us a good amount of time,” Lan Yu said.

Guan Xingxiu nodded, stating coldly, “However, when its energy becomes insufficient, it will certainly hunt and absorb us. Hmph, to think that we are high-ranking officials of the Immortal Alliance, yet now we are reduced to mere fodder for an artifact in this cold void. How ironic…”

The others also sensed something amiss and used various methods. But without exception, none could escape this void prison.

“That damned thing never intended to let us go from the start. We were planning our escape, but it ambushed us a step ahead!” Sun Luchang said bitterly.

“This place seems to be some kind of formation. It bears some resemblance to the ancient legendary Two Poles and Myriad Dust Formation,” Xu Guanhai said, enlightened, after observing for a while.

Then he expressed some regret: “It’s a pity I don’t understand formations; otherwise, I could try to break it.”

“I don’t either.”

Everyone remained silent, then collectively turned their gazes to Lan Yu.

This veteran Dao Integration expert, having lived for thousands of years, should surely know something about formations, right?

Under the expectant gazes of the other four, Lan Yu shook his head helplessly: “I do have some knowledge of formations, but the level of this formation…”

“Is far beyond mine. I cannot comprehend it,” Lan Yu said truthfully.

In an instant, everyone felt a surge of despair.

A deathly silence enveloped the group.

“This formation is an absolute confined space; I cannot discern an exit. However, if the Exalted Vessel intends to destroy us again, it will inevitably open a gap. That will be our opportunity.”

After a while, Lan Yu suddenly spoke again, rekindling everyone’s hope.

“I’ll deploy the training ground; everyone go inside to take cover, in case the vessel ambushes us again.”

As he spoke, a circular structure appeared in the dark void.

Having no better option, they flew into it.

As the opening closed, the five looked at each other, and a surge of fighting spirit instantly rose in their hearts.

“Old Lan, can you control this artifact? Now is not the time for sparring! If we waste all our energy, what will we do when the vessel makes its move later?”

“What?! Old Guan, why are you ambushing me?!” Xu Guanhai cried out in alarm.

Even as the five forcibly suppressed their inner restlessness, they couldn't help but attack each other.

Lan Yu explained somewhat helplessly: “This treasure was personally passed down by the Grand Archmage in the past. Once inside, one will be continuously compelled to train until exiting. This is the inherent nature of the treasure and cannot be controlled. I didn't bring this out earlier precisely for this reason.”

“However, I can adjust the training intensity, and I’ve already set it to the lowest. Don’t suppress your fighting spirit; just make casual moves and maintain a combat state. With the supplies we have, there’s no need to fear energy depletion.”

After a period of chaotic skirmishing, everyone gradually adapted.

They engaged in light sparring while also conversing peacefully.

“This kind of warm-up isn't bad; at least it ensures we’re always in optimal condition to strike,” Xu Guanhai said, finding joy amidst his bitterness.

Sun Luchang, on the other hand, sighed repeatedly: “It’s been a long time since I’ve fought like this with anyone. Fellow Daoists, please go easy…”

Guan Xingxiu then returned to the main topic: “In this desperate situation, we only have one chance. Therefore, we must be fully aware of each other’s strongest techniques.”

Guan Xingxiu’s words were met with agreement from everyone.

He then spoke first: “My strongest attack is something I recently comprehended in this starry sea. It’s called ‘Sword Splits the Galaxy.’ Be careful!”

Guan Xingxiu gave a low cry, and his sword light slashed out. In an instant, it seemed as though infinite starlight was born from within it.

The Star Splitting Sword did not strike the other four, but instead fiercely hit the sky of the training ground.

The sky curtain trembled, cracks appeared, and then rapidly healed.

Guan Xingxiu praised: “What a fine treasure!”

The four then each demonstrated their killer moves.

As they trained, they also developed a greater rapport with each other.

They even collectively deduced a combined attack technique.

In the void-trapping formation, the passage of time went unnoticed.

The five Dao Integration experts, like swords being sharpened, cultivated their essence, qi, and spirit.

They only awaited the opportune moment to unleash their strongest strike.

After an unknown period…

A massive tremor startled them.

It wasn't the shaking of the training ground, but the vibration of the entire dark void outside of it.

Or rather, it originated from the Exalted Vessel.

During their prolonged training and cooperation, the five had implicitly achieved a certain degree of telepathic understanding.

They instantly reached a consensus, waiting for a weakness to appear.

Without any warning, darkness vanished, and light reappeared.

They seemed to be back inside the vessel’s cabin.

But the five, having learned their lesson once, did not hesitate in the slightest.

Their strongest combined attack, meticulously prepared for a long time, was unleashed directly.

“Sword Splits the Galaxy!”

“Evening Gaze on the Starry Sea!”

“Feather Annihilation!”

Shouts echoed simultaneously as five rays of light merged into one, fiercely striking the vessel’s wall.

However, a sight that filled them with despair appeared.

A black hole inexplicably appeared on the wall, directly swallowing the immense destructive power of the five’s combined attack.

The hole slowly healed, and the wall returned to its original state.

Yet their killer move, practiced for so long, seemed like a joke, failing to cause even the slightest damage.

All five turned ashen.

Guan Xingxiu’s Dao heart was even shattered, his form swaying precariously.

“How is this possible?” he murmured to himself in a daze, looking utterly unable to accept it.

With their strongest attack having failed, the five were disheartened, almost unable to conjure any thought of resistance.

But soon, another violent tremor from the Exalted Vessel roused them.

“Wait? Is the vessel under attack from outside?”

“Void Calamity?”

The five immediately realized, their faces filled with wild joy.

“We still have a chance!”

They also noticed the vessel's abnormality at this point.

The Spirits of Heaven and Earth that had been absorbed earlier did not appear.

The vessel also seemed to have undergone a major battle, as subtle cracks could vaguely be seen on its walls.

While the five were filled with doubt and remained still.

The cold voice of the Exalted Vessel sounded again.

“Starry Sea Unknown Civilization, Third Battle.”

“Reserve energy has been depleted.”

“After deduction, the probability of winning the upcoming battle is zero.”

“Executing backup plan…”

“Transmitting data…”

“Initiating vessel self-destruction…”

The vessel’s voice caused the five surviving Dao Integration experts’ expressions to change dramatically.

“Not good!”

Lan Yu instinctively deployed the training ground, once again enveloping the five within it.

The other four also employed various methods to protect themselves.

“Initiating… In… In…”

However, something that stunned them even more happened again.

The Exalted Vessel’s voice seemed to be interfered with, stuttering and repeating incessantly.

But no explosion occurred.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Above the vessel, massive roars sounded again.

Amidst rolling dust, a circular opening suddenly appeared. More than thirty unknown beings in strange armor poured through the gap.

They were well-trained, with ten of them surrounding Lan Yu and his companions.

The rest continued to explore further inside the vessel.

“Elder Brother Lan Yu, you’re well-traveled and knowledgeable. What do you make of the current situation?” Xu Guanhai asked via transmission.

Guan Xingxiu said with some uncertainty, “Unknown civilization of the Starry Sea?”

“Possibly. Don’t act rashly; let’s try to communicate first.”

After all, the Exalted Vessel, which had left them helpless, was easily subdued by these mysterious individuals. Their strength was evident.

If they could avoid fighting, it was better not to.

After some discussion, it was still Lan Yu who spoke up: “Fellow Daoists, we mean no harm…”

The response from the other side was quick, and in the same language: “Less talk, quiet down!”

“Brother Liu, we can't break their protective artifact for now. Should we use the Immortal Sigil again?”

“No rush; just keep them contained. We’ll deal with them after we tow this vessel back.”

“Immortal Sigil?”

Lan Yu and the others exchanged glances.

Time slowly passed in an eerie atmosphere.

A slight tremor from the Exalted Vessel broke the stalemate.

“Phew… We can remove the defenses now.”

Amidst sounds of relief, another team of people arrived inside the Exalted Vessel and took over.

Leading them was a long-haired man in a strange Daoist robe, with a broken half of a black jade hairpin stuck in his hair.

Although the aura emanating from this man was the same Dao Integration realm aura as Lan Yu and his companions, it also seemed to be mixed with another mysterious power.

This caused the five Dao Integration experts from the Profound Yellow Realm to involuntarily feel a faint sense of danger.

It was like facing a terrifying calamity in the endless dark void.

“Fellow Daoist…”

Lan Yu and the others attempted to communicate with the long-haired Dao Integration expert.

However, the other party seemed not to hear them at all, merely muttering to himself: “Brother Zhao was indeed right; a vessel was truly captured in that direction. This hasn't happened in thousands of years.”

“Keep a close eye on them!”

Lan Yu and the others were about to speak again, when they saw the long-haired man glance at them inadvertently.

In his dark eyes, a character appeared like a ghost.

It appeared in Lan Yu and the others’ minds, and in an instant, it became like the heavens and earth, filling everything they saw, felt, and heard.

They could not see or hear.

They plunged into endless darkness.

To outsiders, it seemed as if the long-haired Dao Integration expert had merely glanced at them, and the five of Lan Yu were struck by awe.

They stood motionless and dazed.

The scene was silent. After the long-haired Dao Integration expert left, people began to whisper.

“Elder Wang is getting stronger and stronger. You know, these few are undeniably powerful Dao Integration experts!”

“What Dao Integration nonsense? Without understanding the power of Immortal Sigils, what difference is there between them and us Core Formation or Nascent Soul cultivators? They’re just a bit stronger, that’s all.”

“Makes sense.”

The long-haired Dao Integration expert hurried back. As for the captured vessel, professionals would naturally come to inspect it.

Although the vessel’s craftsmanship was indeed impressive, the most crucial aspect was that no power fluctuations of the True Immortal Sigil were detected.

Therefore, its true value was, in fact, ordinary.

What the long-haired Dao Integration expert cared about now was something else.

Zhao Xian from the Dao Proving Academy had actually predicted the arrival of this flying vessel from the depths of the starry sea…

How did he do it?

Could it be that he had secretly comprehended another power of the True Immortal Sigil?

The long-haired Dao Integration expert was utterly perplexed. He subconsciously touched the half-broken black jade hairpin on his head.

“Has this person, who has been dormant for seven or eight years, finally decided to show his true potential?”

“First, he entered Spirit Transformation in the morning and Dao Integration in the evening within a single day, completely shattering the Immortal Vessel’s understanding of cultivation speed, and then comprehended a brand-new True Immortal Sigil…”

The long-haired Dao Integration expert hurried his steps, quickly returning from the Immortal Vessel's docking port to the Broken Immortal Tower.

In a quiet, dimly lit secret chamber, the long-haired Dao Integration expert met Zhao Xian, who also had disheveled hair.

“Brother Zhao.” The long-haired Dao Integration expert no longer held his previous arrogance and spoke softly.

Zhao Xian remained oblivious, his eyes closed, pondering who knew what.

From time to time, his fingers gently traced lines in the void, murmuring incantations.

The ignored long-haired Dao Integration expert not only wasn't angered but instead focused intently on the trajectory of Zhao Xian’s fingers in the air, secretly pondering it.

After an unknown period, Zhao Xian finally spoke: “Was that flying vessel found?”

The long-haired Dao Integration expert nodded.

“This immortal vessel comes from the other side of the starry sea, where the Profound Yellow Realm once was.”

“The Profound Yellow Realm, like our Immortal Vessel, has survived the great tribulation until now. But they still retain a considerable amount of resources…”

A trace of surprise flashed across the long-haired Dao Integration expert’s face.

Zhao Xian continued: “It’s just a pity that the Profound Yellow Realm is too far from us. And too close to the Immortal Ruins.”

“It wouldn’t be cost-effective for the Immortal Vessel to make a trip. Of course, the specifics will still need to be decided by the Elder Council.”

As Zhao Xian spoke, he handed a light spot to the long-haired Dao Integration expert.

After reviewing the information in the light spot, the long-haired Dao Integration expert’s breathing quickened slightly.

“Brother Zhao, how did you perceive all this?”

Before leaving, the long-haired Dao Integration expert asked in a hushed voice.

Zhao Xian smiled slightly: “Though the starry sea is vast, in the eyes of a True Immortal, it can be seen through with a single glance. Wang Hai, when you comprehended the True Immortal Sigil, did various strange phenomena not appear in your mind?”

Wang Hai naturally wouldn’t say no. He nodded and said, “So that’s how it is. Brother Zhao truly possesses extraordinary talent!”

Zhao Xian accepted it calmly, then handed over another light spot: “This is my new comprehension. After you’ve seen it, submit it to the Elder Council.”

Wang Hai treated it like a priceless treasure, instantly forgetting his previous discomfort and eagerly examining its contents.

“Marvelous, truly marvelous.”

Wang Hai was completely engrossed, immersed and unable to extricate himself.

It was a long time later, when the half-broken black jade hairpin on his head trembled slightly, as if it would break free at any moment, that Wang Hai finally sobered up.

“Brother Zhao is truly a great talent!” This time, Wang Hai bowed sincerely, then left the place in great excitement.

Zhao Xian, or rather, the Saint Embryo Li Fan, watched Wang Hai’s retreating figure, sensing the other party’s twisted form slowly losing control under the influence of the True Immortal Sigil’s power, and revealed a subtle smile.

Due to the inconsistent flow of time, nine years had passed since Zhao Xian broke through to Nascent Soul and was accepted as a core disciple by the Dao Proving Academy.

The real Zhao Xian, influenced by the illusion created by Saint Embryo Li Fan, remained constantly tense and worried about the future destruction of the Profound Immortal Vessel. Even with Li Fan’s help, inner demons frequently arose.

Even the spiritual sense avatar sent out by Saint Embryo Li Fan was about to be depleted, yet Zhao Xian's condition hadn't improved.

Furthermore, due to repeated abnormal manifestations, he was noticed by the Third Elder of the Academy, almost exposing Li Fan’s existence.

Li Fan also vaguely sensed, in terms of cultivation, the differences between the Profound Immortal Vessel and the Profound Yellow Realm.

Immortal Vessel cultivators, whether breaking through bottlenecks or during daily practice, were extremely susceptible to inner demons.

These inner demons originated from the Dao of the Starry Sea, directly afflicting the cultivators themselves.

Every time Li Fan helped block them, the inner demons appeared with increasing frequency thereafter.

And as Zhao Xian’s actual cultivation realm grew stronger, the power of these inner demons also increased daily.

So Li Fan simply stopped wasting effort on him and directly used the Dao Pill technique he learned on the Profound Immortal Vessel on Zhao Xian.

Spiritual sense merged, replacing him.

Completely eliminating the possibility of inner demons appearing from the root.

Zhao Xian’s own talent could only be described as passable.

But to Li Fan’s surprise, after the Dao Pill was consumed, he, who had inherited Zhao Xian’s body, also simultaneously inherited the characteristics of the Immortal Vessel’s natives.

Similarly, cultivation would be accompanied by the intrusion of inner demons.

However, compared to Zhao Xian, Li Fan, having experienced many worldly affairs, had a strong will.

Ordinary inner demons could not shake him.

Thus, his cultivation proceeded without obstacles.

According to his plan, he infiltrated the Dao Proving Academy, greedily absorbing the technological accumulation of the Immortal Vessel over thousands of years.

Then he voluntarily offered his services, representing the academy to come to this Broken Immortal Tower.

To learn and test the method of harmlessly utilizing the True Immortal Sigil, as mentioned by the Broken Immortal Tower.

What the Broken Immortal Tower said was not false.

They indeed mastered a brilliant method of using a portion of the True Immortal Sigil’s power with a mortal cultivator’s body.

Just like how the Dao Integration cultivator named Wang Hai previously subdued Lan Yu’s group of five with a single move.

The key lay in the half-broken black jade hairpin he wore.

This hairpin was a world-destroying relic collected by the Immortal Vessel from the vast ruins. Over the years, it had been influenced by the True Immortal Sigil. Its main body thus retained traces of the Dao corresponding to the True Immortal Sigil.

And it was also continuously scoured by the echoing starlight in the void.

The collision of two different True Immortal powers created the unique existence of this black jade hairpin.

The Immortal Hub Institute of the Immortal Vessel, over the years, also mastered the method of entering the Dao through these world-destroying relics, grasping the residual power of the True Immortal Sigil.

However, they chose relics that were influenced by only a single True Immortal power.

The deeper one entered the Dao, the stronger the binding force of the True Immortal Sigil. Not only would the body undergo terrifying changes, but even the mind would be affected, leading to madness.

The Broken Immortal Tower accidentally discovered this relic that had remnants of two True Immortal Sigil powers.

They utilized and studied one of these powers, treating the echoing starlight attached to it as an anchor.

When entering the Dao too deeply, one could detach from the Dao-entering state by tracing back the influence of the echoing starlight.

Doing so, although the power mastered was not as strong as that of the Immortal Hub Institute at its extreme, it was superior in safety and could be promoted to most cultivators.

Even at the Nascent Soul stage, with the assistance of special world-destroying relics and after a period of tempering, one could instantly activate and unleash the power of the True Immortal Sigil.

And if one were to fight in the starry sea, where the surrounding environment happened to have residual True Immortal Sigil power corresponding to it, then its might could only be described as terrifying and dreadful.

Far exceeding the limits of ordinary Dao Integration cultivators on the Immortal Vessel.

Due to the proposal of this method, the Broken Immortal Tower rose to prominence, almost completely replacing the Immortal Hub Institute and becoming the de facto ruler of the Immortal Vessel.

However, considering that the power of senior Dao-entrants would still be needed in extreme circumstances, the Immortal Hub Institute was still preserved.

Li Fan, having infiltrated the Broken Immortal Tower, also personally tried “entering the Dao” with an anchor point.

But having witnessed the full manifestation of a true True Immortal Sigil, how could he possibly value such a cunning method?

What interested him here was the research on different True Immortal Sigils.

Because Immortal Vessel cultivators could only infer the origin of True Immortal Sigil power through world-destroying relics, like blind men touching an elephant, each cultivator developed many different comprehensions based on their individual observations.

Li Fan, as a direct witness, was able to select the correct versions from a heap of conjectures.

As for "Hunger," "Chaos," "None," and other sigils whose complete forms he had seen, they were naturally a given.

Then there were "Solitude" encountered while traversing the starry sea, and also "Fall," "Null"…

It truly felt like Li Fan had found a treasure.

True Immortal Sigils, though manifesting in different forms of power, all originated from the hands of the Immortal of Inscribing Dao.

In a sense, they also shared commonalities.

After mastering four or five correct answers, Li Fan could more easily find versions closer to the truth from the Broken Immortal Tower’s research.

This was also the fundamental reason why he, after disguising himself as Zhao Xian, was consistently able to submit his so-called “comprehensions.”

In fact, it was indeed worthy of being a True Immortal Sigil; even versions inferred from power manifestations could still rival cultivators’ offensive divine abilities.

When Saint Embryo Li Fan practiced outside the Immortal Vessel, the destruction caused made him secretly gasp in amazement.

Among the numerous documents in the Broken Immortal Tower, what interested Li Fan the most was the speculative research on the classification of True Immortal Sigils.