19: The power of the Golden Core temporarily repelled the demonic source.

The Golden Core was newly formed, and a grand phenomenon immediately arose!

Lin Xuan stood in the center of the Star Gazing Platform, his spiritual power surging like a tide around him, vastly different from his previous Foundation Establishment Stage. The Dragon-eye-sized Golden Core slowly spun within his Dantian, each rotation inhaling and exhaling massive amounts of pure spiritual power, connecting the inner and outer worlds. Light gold, moonlight white, and pink halos circulated on his body surface—these were the lingering traces of the Nine Revolutions Golden Body Art, Taiyin Power, and Mortal World Charm Essence, adding a sense of mystery and power.

With a thought, without needing to deliberately activate it, his Golden Core Stage Divine Sense spread out like mercury, instantly covering several miles, clearly "seeing" the distribution of Devilish Qi, the Restriction nodes around the Star Gazing Platform, and even the weak points in the flow of Devilish Qi within the Silver Armored Skeleton's body!

"This is the power of the Golden Core..." Lin Xuan felt an unprecedented sense of strength within him. Although the suffocating impact of the demon source will was still powerful, it could no longer easily shake his mind.

His gaze was like lightning, locking onto the Silver Armored Skeleton that was still struggling and roaring under the starlight. At this moment, the Devilish Qi surrounding the Silver Armored Skeleton was constantly dissipating under the light of purification. Its aura had already fallen to the False Core level, and its movements had become incredibly slow.

"Ashes to ashes, dust to dust. Rest in peace."

Lin Xuan pointed his fingers like a sword. He did not use the frost silence immortal sword, but purely used the spiritual power of the Early Golden Core Stage, mixed with a trace of the Purifying Power of Stars he had drawn in, and pointed into the air!

A golden finger-light, condensed and solid, wrapped in fragmented starlight, seemed to pierce through space, instantly appearing before the Silver Armored Skeleton's forehead!

"Pfft!"

The finger-light easily pierced through the hard frontal bone, accurately shattering the fiercely pulsing scarlet Soul Fire within!

The Silver Armored Skeleton's rushing motion suddenly froze. Immediately afterward, the bones that made up its body scattered onto the ground with a clatter. The broken silver armor also lost all its luster, becoming no different from ordinary mortal iron. The Devilish Qi wrapped around it quickly evaporated and dissipated under the light of the stars.

The might of a single finger instantly killed a half-step Golden Core Demonic Creature!

The Three women, Su Wanqing, Qu Feiyan, and Gongsun Yu, watched this scene, their beautiful eyes filled with dazzling light. Especially Su Wanqing and Qu Feiyan, who had personally participated in Lin Xuan's Breakthrough, felt even more complex emotions upon seeing him truly display the strength of the Golden Core Stage—there was relief, shock, and an indescribable yearning for greater power and... a sense of dependence.

"Maintain the Formation and purify the Devilish Qi. I will deal with it!" Lin Xuan told the Three women, and his figure flickered, shooting towards the edge of the Star Gazing Platform like a golden bolt of lightning. In his Divine Sense perception, the demon source will deep within the Immortal Palace was becoming more violent due to the continuous effect of the purifying power. It was gathering a stronger force, preparing to launch a new round of impact, possibly even forcefully attacking the Seal!

He had to take the initiative to attack and at least disperse this gathered force!

Lin Xuan hovered at the edge of the Star Gazing Platform, facing the boundless darkness deep within the Immortal Palace. He held his hands in front of his chest, his inner Golden Core frantically revolving, and massive spiritual power surged out, creating a strong resonance with the Circumference of Heaven Stars Grand Formation!

"Starlight as the guide, purification endures! Condense!"

He let out a low shout, drawing the starlight descending from the sky, rapidly condensing and compressing it in front of him! Countless fine rays of starlight converged, finally forming a massive light sword, about three zhang long, composed entirely of pure Power of Stars! The light sword was incredibly solid, its blade flowing with vast purifying aura. Wherever its light shone, the Devilish Qi melted like spring snow!

This was precisely the Divine Ability he had temporarily created by combining his Golden Core cultivation, the Immortal Mansion's authority, and the Star Constellation Grand Formation—the Sword of Starlight Purification!

At the same time, deep within the Immortal Palace, the terrifying demon source will also condensed to its extreme. A thick, pillar-like black Demonic Light, condensed almost into substance, tore through the Void Realm, carrying a terrifying aura that sought to annihilate everything, and fiercely blasted towards the Star Gazing Platform!

Wherever the Demonic Light passed, space rippled, and the remaining scenery of the Immortal Palace shattered and disintegrated!

"Slash!"

Lin Xuan's gaze was sharp as an eagle. He suddenly swung his arms forward! The massive Star Constellation light sword let out a clear sword cry, like the Milky Way descending from the Nine Heavens, carrying Righteous Qi and the will to purify all things. It met the world-destroying black Demonic Light head-on, without evasion!

"Rumble—!!!"

Light and darkness, purification and erosion—two forces of extreme opposition fiercely collided above the Immortal Palace! An explosion much more violent than any before erupted! The blinding light instantly swallowed everything. The violent energy shockwave spread like a tsunami in all directions, clearing a large area of Devilish Qi around the Star Gazing Platform, and even shaking the broken buildings into dust!

Su Wanqing and the Three women fully maintained the Star Constellation Grand Formation, barely managing to stabilize themselves amidst the terrifying impact, their pretty faces filled with shock. Was this the clash of Golden Core levels? The power was truly horrifying!

As the light gradually dissipated, the black Demonic Light pillar was gone, and the Star Constellation light sword Lin Xuan had condensed also became dim and illusory, finally breaking apart into countless light spots. This head-on collision was actually a draw!

However, Lin Xuan clearly sensed that after delivering this strike, the aura of the demon source will deep within the Immortal Palace was distinctly weakened, and the power it had gathered to impact the Seal was also dispersed. It seemed to realize that this newly promoted Golden Core Cultivator combined with the Star Constellation Grand Formation was not someone to provoke. After letting out a silent roar filled with unwillingness and malice, the terrifying will retreated like a tide, shrinking back into the deepest part of the Immortal Palace, no longer actively attacking.

The surrounding Devilish Qi, having lost the active guidance of the source will, remained dense, but its speed of erosion noticeably slowed down, becoming much more peaceful.

The crisis was temporarily averted.

Lin Xuan slowly descended, his face slightly pale. The Sword of Starlight Purification strike just now had almost drained most of his spiritual power; his mastery of Golden Core Stage power was not yet proficient. But his eyes were still bright, carrying the look of victory.

"We succeeded! We are safe for now!" Gongsun Yu cheered joyfully.

Su Wanqing walked up to Lin Xuan, handing him a bottle of Medicinal Pills to restore spiritual power. Her cool eyes held a trace of imperceptible tenderness: "Are you alright?"

Qu Feiyan also walked over gracefully, her flirtatious eyes sweeping over him, and she chuckled sweetly: "Junior Martial Brother is truly magnificent. That sword strike just now made this elder sister's heart flutter." The teasing implication in her words remained, but compared to before, there seemed to be a few more hints of genuine admiration.

Lin Xuan took the Medicinal Pill, feeling his spiritual power rapidly recovering. He smiled at the two women: "It was just luck. It's thanks to you all for helping me Break through and maintaining the Formation."

His gaze swept over the Immortal Palace, which had temporarily regained calm but was still shrouded in Devilish Qi. He knew clearly that this was only temporary peace. The demonic source was not eliminated, and the hidden danger remained. Moreover, after the recent explosion, the remaining Restrictions of the Immortal Palace seemed to have been damaged further. He wondered if that backup "void passage" was still stable.

"We should first reinforce the Formation, and then quickly go check the situation at the void passage." Lin Xuan made his decision. They had to find a way to leave quickly; they could not stay here for long.

Through this battle, Lin Xuan truly established his core position among the four. His Golden Core Stage cultivation gave him the confidence and strength to control the situation. Meanwhile, Su Wanqing's devoted assistance and Qu Feiyan's flirtatious entanglement became increasingly subtle and complex amidst this life-and-death crisis and power elevation.