89: The Star Core Secret Palace: A Place of Enchanting Healing

Passing through the brilliant blue halo, the anticipated attack did not come. The view suddenly opened up, revealing a secret palace completely different from the dilapidated scene outside.

The palace's dome was high and vast, inlaid with countless twinkling star gems, forming a magnificent star map of the cosmos. Soft and bright starlight spilled down, illuminating the entire hall in minute detail. In the center of the grand hall, instead of the expected mechanisms or treasures, there was a clear pool about a zhang in circumference. The pool water was not ordinary water; it was a deep, dark blue, as if countless tiny star lights were rising and falling, flowing within it, emitting extremely pure Power of Stars and a soul-soothing aura that calmed the mind.

"This is... Star Marrow Spiritual Liquid?" Wangshu's clear, cold voice carried a hint of imperceptible surprise. "Legend has it that at the core of Starfall Pavilion, there is a spring eye formed by the convergence of cosmic Star Power and earth Spiritual Veins. It can nourish the Divine Soul, purify magical power, and has miraculous effects on repairing hidden injuries and stabilizing one's Foundation. It seems the rumors are true."

Everyone's gaze was instantly drawn to the pool of Star Marrow Spiritual Liquid. Especially Qu Feiyan, who could clearly feel the strong pull of the power in the pool water on her old Divine Soul injuries.

However, everyone's attention was quickly drawn to what was in the center of the pool. Suspended there was an irregular, multi-faceted crystal, about the size of a fist, entirely dark gold in color. Within it, a miniature starry sky seemed to be sealed, slowly rotating and emitting fluctuations far more ancient and core than the surrounding starlight.

"star core fragment!" Lin Xuan's pupils constricted slightly, and the immortal abode pivot token in his palm gave a clear tremor, its target precisely this item!

But at the same time, he also felt an invisible pressure permeating this secret palace, originating from that star core fragment and also from the entire hall's Star Formation. This pressure was not aggressive, but like a swamp, it made the circulation of magical power sluggish and restricted movement.

"There's a Formation here that restricts flight and suppresses magical power." Su Wanqing frowned slightly, trying to mobilize her Taiyin Power, and indeed felt it was several times more difficult than outside.

"It seems it won't be easy to get that star core fragment." Qu Feiyan licked her red lips, her gaze fixed on the star core, then she glanced at the pool of Star Marrow Spiritual Liquid, clearly wanting both.

Just then, another anomaly occurred!

The suspended star core fragment suddenly burst into brilliant light, and a dark golden halo rapidly expanded outwards from its center! Where the halo passed, space seemed to solidify, and the invisible pressure instantly surged!

"Be careful!" Lin Xuan cried out, feeling his whole body sink as if bearing a mountain, his magical power circulation almost halting. Su Wanqing, Qu Feiyan, and Gongsun Yu were also affected, their expressions changing slightly, their movements becoming sluggish.

Even more troublesome, the halo seemed to have activated the Star Marrow Spiritual Liquid; the pool water churned like it was boiling, and strands of Star Power, like chains, reached out from it, wrapping around Qu Feiyan and Lin Xuan, who were closest!

Qu Feiyan's injuries had just healed, and her Divine Soul was unstable. Entangled by these Star Power chains, which contained both soul-soothing and binding power, she let out a muffled groan. The hidden danger of her Nine Revolutions Charming Soul Art was triggered, her Divine Soul felt a sharp pain, and her delicate body swayed, almost collapsing.

Lin Xuan was closest to her. Seeing this, he didn't hesitate. Enduring the immense pressure, he stepped forward abruptly, reached out to embrace Qu Feiyan's soft waist, and pulled her into his arms. At the same time, several Star Power chains also wrapped around his arms and body.

"Junior Brother Lin!" Su Wanqing's icy eyes narrowed. She instinctively wanted to step forward but was forced to defend herself with her sword by the suddenly intensified pressure and other Star Power chains, unable to get close.

Gongsun Yu was so suppressed she could barely move, her small face filled with anxiety.

Wangshu stood at the entrance, moonlight flowing around her body, resisting the pressure and chains. She watched Lin Xuan and Qu Feiyan, tightly embraced and entangled by the Star Power chains, her clear, cold eyes flickering slightly. She did not immediately offer assistance, seemingly observing something.

"Mm..." Qu Feiyan lay in Lin Xuan's arms. The restraint of the Star Power chains and the stinging pain in her Divine Soul made her delicate brows furrow, and fine beads of sweat appeared on her forehead. But an even stronger sensation was the warmth and solidity of Lin Xuan's embrace. The vast, fiery Qi and blood in his body, along with a trace of the Power of the chapter of the blazing sun, transmitted through their touching bodies, miraculously alleviated the cold, stinging pain in her Divine Soul, and even calmed her restless charming bones somewhat.

She raised her hazy, seductive eyes, looking at Lin Xuan's distinct profile, so close to her, feeling the taut muscles as he stabilized their bodies. An indescribable sense of security and a strange emotion surged in her heart. Not only did she not struggle, but she instinctively snuggled deeper into his embrace, her soft, full chest pressing tightly against his. Her breath, like orchids, carried a hint of painful moan: "Little Brother Lin... it's so uncomfortable..."

With the soft, fragrant beauty in his arms, especially Qu Feiyan's mature and alluring body pressing against him without any gap, and the warm, fragrant scent entering his nostrils, Lin Xuan's heart also wavered. But he immediately composed himself and exclaimed, "Focus! Guide my magical power to jointly resist these chains!"

He tried to circulate his Golden Core magical power, but found it extremely difficult. The Star Power chains not only bound his body but also eroded his magical power. His mind raced, recalling what Wangshu had said: this Star Marrow Spiritual Liquid had the effect of calming and nourishing the soul. Perhaps... "Senior Sister Su, Junior Sister Gongsun, try your best to protect yourselves. I'll try to break this!" Lin Xuan shouted to Su Wanqing and Gongsun Yu, then said to Qu Feiyan in his arms in a deep voice, "Trust me, relax your mind, we're going into the spiritual liquid pool!"

Without waiting for Qu Feiyan's response, Lin Xuan embraced her and, enduring the immense pressure and the increasingly tight Star Power chains on his body, slowly and with great difficulty moved towards the pool of Star Marrow Spiritual Liquid.

Every step was incredibly heavy. Su Wanqing watched Lin Xuan carrying Qu Feiyan towards the spiritual pool, seeing their intimate posture. A complex and unreadable emotion flashed in her icy eyes—worry, vexation, and a hint of bitterness she wouldn't admit to herself. She bit her lower lip, fully circulating her Taiyin Power to cut off the chains attacking her.

Finally, Lin Xuan stepped into the Star Marrow Spiritual Pool with Qu Feiyan in his arms.

"Plop!"

The pool water was slightly cool, instantly submerging them both. The peculiar Star Marrow Spiritual Liquid enveloped their entire bodies, and the pure Power of Stars and soul-soothing aura were like countless gentle hands, beginning to soothe their magical power, which had been eroded by the chains, and their restless minds. The Star Power chains wrapped around them, upon contact with the spiritual liquid, visibly dimmed and their binding force greatly reduced.

But the crisis was not entirely over. The star core fragment continued to emit pressure and halos, and the chains remained.

In the pool, Lin Xuan and Qu Feiyan embraced tightly, almost nose to nose. The pool water soaked their thin clothes, outlining Qu Feiyan's breathtaking curves. Her drenched red dress clung to her skin, making her even more alluring. Lin Xuan could clearly feel the softness and warmth of her body, and the slight, trembling palpitation transmitted through her clothes.

Qu Feiyan looked up, her seductive eyes like silk. In the misty water vapor, her face had less of its usual charm and more of a fragile authenticity. The nourishment of the pool water and the masculine aura emanating from Lin Xuan quickly alleviated the stinging pain in her Divine Soul. An unprecedented sense of comfort spread, even causing her to involuntarily let out a satisfied sigh.

"Circulate your Cultivation Technique and absorb the spiritual liquid. I'll help you dissolve the chains!" Lin Xuan suppressed the amorous thoughts in his heart, placed his hands on Qu Feiyan's smooth back, and slowly channeled pure magical power mixed with a trace of blazing sun power into her body, guiding the power of the Star Marrow Spiritual Liquid to jointly impact the Star Power chains.

This time, with the assistance of the spiritual liquid, the magical power flowed much more smoothly. Their magical powers intertwined in their close contact; Lin Xuan's masculine heat and Qu Feiyan's feminine charm, neutralized by the Star Marrow Spiritual Liquid, surprisingly produced a wondrous resonance and harmony. Not only were the Star Power chains rapidly dissolving, but Qu Feiyan even felt that the hidden dangers of her Cultivation Technique were greatly smoothed out at this moment.

She looked at the man's focused and resolute eyes before her, feeling the gently guided power within her body. A heart that had long been frozen, having drifted in the Demonic Path, felt as if a scorching hot iron had been thrown into it; the ice shattered, and boiling magma surged forth. She suddenly extended her jade arms, wrapped them around Lin Xuan's neck, buried her head on his shoulder, and whispered in a trembling, choked voice that only they could hear, "Lin Xuan... thank you..."

This time, it was no longer the calculating "Little Brother Lin," but a direct address of his name, containing too many inexpressible emotions.

Lin Xuan's body stiffened slightly, feeling the rare vulnerability and reliance of the woman in his arms. The softest part of his heart was touched. He tightened his arms, holding her even closer, and whispered, "It's alright."

The pool water rippled, starlight flowed, and the two, tightly embraced amidst the spiritual liquid intertwined with crisis and intimacy, subtly crossed a certain boundary in their relationship.

By the pool, Su Wanqing cut off the last chain. Watching the two embracing in the pool, the emotions in her icy eyes surged, finally turning into a silent melancholy. She quietly turned around and began to meditate. Gongsun Yu also broke free, looked at the pool, then at Senior Sister Su, feeling at a loss.

Wangshu still stood silently, her gaze beneath the white veil profound, her thoughts inscrutable to anyone.

The light from the star core fragment also seemed to gradually soften as the chains dissolved.