62: Mid-stage Golden Core, Earth Vein Dragon Roar

Within the underground central hub, time seemed to be stretched by the ancient Primordial Beginning Qi. Lin Xuan sat cross-legged before the dark-gold stellar pipeline, his aura having reached the peak of the Early Golden Core Stage. Vast magical power surged endlessly through his Meridians, like a flood crest poised to erupt. The immortal abode pivot token floated above the Golden Core in his Dantian, its clear light cascading down. Together with the two purified core fragments, whose Qi mechanisms were intertwined, they formed a stable energy cycle, continuously drawing the remaining, relatively pure earth vein energy from this place.

Su Wanqing, Qu Feiyan, and Gongsun Yu, the Three women, were distributed around, also Cultivating diligently. Although the energy here carried a sense of decay, the residual Primordial Beginning Qi at its core greatly nourished their Foundations. Su Wanqing's lunar essence grew increasingly condensed and cool, subtly echoing the starlight emanating from the stellar pipeline; Qu Feiyan was charming yet reserved, her Qi mechanism deep, seemingly brewing something; Gongsun Yu, on the other hand, used the sparse lightning spirit light here to temper her silver rings, and her aura also steadily increased.

Lin Xuan's thoughts sank into his Golden Core, sensing the invisible barrier leading to the Mid-stage Golden Core. His accumulation was already sufficient, especially after gathering the two core fragments and deepening his connection with the immortal abode pivot token, making his Realm comprehension a natural progression. At this moment, under the continuous infusion of earth vein energy, that barrier began to tremble violently.

"Om—"

His internal Golden Core suddenly accelerated its rotation, its volume seemingly expanding by a circle, and it erupted with dazzling light! More refined, more vast magical power surged out like a broken dam, instantly breaching that obstruction and flowing through new, wider Meridian pathways!

Mid-stage Golden Core!

A Spiritual Pressure far more powerful than before naturally diffused, and although Lin Xuan quickly reined it in, that momentary might still startled the Three women who were acting as Protectors, their beautiful eyes flashing with brilliance. At this moment, Lin Xuan's aura was even deeper and more restrained. Every movement he made seemed to merge more profoundly with his surroundings, and his control over power entered a new Realm.

"Congratulations, Senior Brother Lin (Big Brother Lin), for advancing further!" The Three women congratulated him sincerely. They could feel that Lin Xuan's Breakthrough was not merely a simple increase in magical power, but also carried a deeper understanding of the power of rules, which undoubtedly added a layer of security for the team in the perilous ruins.

Lin Xuan opened his eyes, his gaze sharp and brilliant, and he smiled slightly: "The energy here is special and greatly beneficial for stabilizing one's Realm. You all should also seize the Opportunity." His gaze swept over the Three women, and he could clearly perceive that their cultivation was also making solid progress on the path of the Early Golden Core Stage, especially Su Wanqing, whose Taiyin Youying Bloodline resonated with the ancient aura of this place, making her progress the fastest.

However, just as Lin Xuan's Realm stabilized and his mind was most closely connected to the earth veins, an anomaly suddenly occurred!

Through his Golden Core, he sensed a faint but deeply pained and struggling "Dragon Roar" emanating from deep within the earth vein network beneath his feet! It wasn't an actual sound, but rather the wailing of the earth vein's will! The dark-gold stellar pipeline's light flickered violently, and the stable energy flow within it became chaotic and turbulent, as if being forcibly extracted and polluted by some external force!

"Not good! The Guixu Cult isn't just destroying nodes, they want to... pollute and seize core control of this earth vein!" Lin Xuan's expression changed abruptly, instantly realizing the true intention of that terrifying external force. Once the earth vein's core was completely polluted, not only would this ruin be doomed forever, but the four of them would also have nowhere to escape!

As if to confirm his suspicion—

"Boom!!!"

The entire underground central hub vibrated violently, as if a fierce earthquake had occurred! The huge bone and crystal support structures on the dome emitted ear-splitting cracking sounds, and countlessgravel fell like rain! The still-glowing pipelines on the surrounding walls successively exploded, their spiritual light completely extinguished! On the surface of the central stellar pipeline, dark-red, spiderweb-like corrupt patterns actually began to spread!

The backlash of the earth vein and the erosion of the Guixu Cult, working in conjunction, meant that the collapse of this space had entered a countdown!

"We can't stay here, we must leave immediately!" Lin Xuan rose to his feet, his Mid-stage Golden Core magical power surging out, forming a stable light shield that temporarily blocked the fallinggravel.

"The passage is probably unstable!" Qu Feiyan said urgently.

"Can't worry about that anymore! Follow me!" Lin Xuan made a decisive decision, his gaze sharply fixed on the direction of the passage they came from, his body surging with magical power, preparing to force a path through.

However, just as they were about to move, from the core of the crumbling stellar pipeline, a point of extremely condensed, dark-gold flowing light, containing the last pure earth vein Origin, as if sensing the homologous aura on Lin Xuan (the immortal abode pivot token and Golden Core magical power), actually broke free from the entanglement of corruption. Like a tired bird returning to its nest, it transformed into an almost imperceptible stream, instantly merged into Lin Xuan's Dantian, and integrated into his Golden Core!

Lin Xuan's whole body trembled, feeling a pure, vast, gentle, and profound energy merge into his Golden Core. Not only did it completely stabilize his newly Breakthrough Realm, but the surface of his Golden Core was also covered with a faint, dark-gold luster containing the vitality of the earth, complementing the original clear light. This was not refinement, but more like a gift and... a trust from the Origin?

There was no time to carefully savor this sudden Opportunity; the wave of destruction had already reached behind them!

"Go!"

Lin Xuan roared, sweeping the Three women, Su Wanqing, into his sleeves, transforming into a golden-greenEscape Light several times faster than before, and charging defiantly towards the continuously collapsing passage entrance. His Mid-stage Golden Core cultivation was fully displayed at this moment; wherever his fist wind passed, all obstacles ahead turned to dust!

The four narrowly rushed into the passage, speeding upwards. Behind them was the deafening roar of destruction from the final disintegration of the earth vein's core!