85: Chapter 85 Encountering Stars Deep in the Canyon, Tidal Eruption Leads to Encirclement

Following the map provided by Deacon Chen Xuan, Ye Qing navigated through the strange terrain on the outskirts of Starfall Valley, avoiding several hazardous areas marked as "frequent spatial turbulence" and "Yao Beast dens," and quietly approached the target canyon.

The canyon was situated in a gap between two mountain ranges filled with craggy rocks. Its entrance was concealed, blocked by several collapsed, massive Red-Steel Rocks; it would have been extremely difficult to discover without the map's markings.

While still several miles away from the canyon, the chaotic Star power in the air became clearly perceptible, carrying a rhythmic ebb and flow like a tide—sometimes strong, sometimes weak, sometimes slow, sometimes rapid.

"Star tide... It really erupts in this place with a pattern. No wonder it can deposit high-quality star minerals."

Ye Qing became increasingly cautious, restraining his aura as if blending into the shadows of the rocks. He quietly crept near the canyon entrance, hid behind a giant boulder, and carefully extended his Divine Sense into the valley.

The scene inside the valley was completely different from the outside.

The canyon was about a hundred zhang wide and bottomless. The cliffs on both sides were not ordinary rock, but a strange, jet-black Ore covered in natural silver star patterns—"Star-Pattern Ink Rock." This Ore was hard in texture and contained faint Star power, serving as a natural carrier for Star Dao rhymes.

The bottom of the valley was permeated with thick, pale blue "Star Mist" that flowed slowly like water ripples. Within the mist, countless tiny specks of starlight floated and flickered, emitting a heart-palpitating, pure Star power.

At this moment, the flow of the Star Mist was in a relatively gentle cycle, like the brief tranquility before a high tide.

Below the Star Mist at the bottom of the valley, Ye Qing could clearly sense scattered Ores and crystals of various sizes and shapes, each emitting varying degrees of Star fluctuations. In several places, the spiritual light was particularly intense, faintly reaching the level of "star source crystal" associated minerals.

"It seems the rumors are true; high-quality star minerals really do deposit here. However..."

His gaze did not linger on those minerals for too long. Instead, he vigilantly scanned every corner of the canyon, especially places where the Star Mist was particularly thick or where there were huge cracks and caves in the cliffs.

Places where Star tides erupted were often occupied by peculiar Star creatures or Yao Beasts that cultivated using the power of the tide. Deacon Chen Xuan's map also marked this place: "Suspected to have Third-Stage Star Beasts, proceed with caution."

His Divine Sense was restricted, unable to penetrate the Star Mist or delve deep into those cracks and caves.

"To be safe, I'll wait for the next tide to erupt and see what happens. When the Star tide erupts, the Star Beasts will often appear to absorb the essence, and that's when I can see the reality."

Ye Qing made up his mind. He found a hidden rock crevice, set up the "Lesser Heavenly Cycle Five Elements Earth Vein Array" and the "Small Heavenly Cycle Star Array," using dual concealment, and waited patiently.

Time passed bit by bit.

The flow of the Star Mist in the canyon began to accelerate slowly, and the fluctuations of Star power in the air became intense, like the low pressure before a storm.

"The tide is coming."

Ye Qing's spirit lifted. Through the gaps in the Formation, he observed with full concentration.

Another half an hour passed.

The Star Mist in the canyon suddenly surged, as if stirred by an invisible giant hand, swirling and rising crazily!

At the bottom of the valley and on the cliffs, the "Star-Pattern Ink Rocks" lit up simultaneously. Countless fine silver star-pattern rays burst forth, resonating and intertwining with the starlight specks in the Star Mist.

Rumble—!

A low rumble, as if coming from the depths of the earth, sounded, and the entire canyon began to tremble slightly.

The next moment, a more majestic, purer, and vast Star power, as if from the Nine Heavens galaxy, surged out like a bursting flood from above the canyon, deep within the cliffs, and even from cracks in the ground, merging into the surging Star Mist!

The pale blue Star Mist instantly became thick and substantial, its color turning into a deep, dark blue. Countless starlight specks exploded, were reborn, and swirled within it, forming a magnificent yet destructive star-filled painting.

The Star tide had officially erupted!

The Star essence brought by the tide was so thick it was outrageous, causing even the array Ye Qing had set up to tremble slightly, as if about to be assimilated and devoured by this power.

He quickly increased his magic power to maintain it while scanning the canyon with sharp eyes.

Sure enough, as the tide erupted, the "residents" hidden in the shadows appeared one after another.

Dozens of fist-sized, crystalline "Star-Radiance Beetles"—shaped like beetles with star patterns on their back shells—crawled out from several large rock crevices at the bottom of the valley. Most were First-Stage, with a few reaching Second-Stage. They greedily clung to the exposed star minerals, frantically feeding on the essence brought by the tide.

From several larger caves on the cliffs, over a dozen "Star-Light Falcons" with wingspans of nearly a zhang and feathers shimmering with starlight flew out. They darted and danced in the surging Star Mist, opening their beaks to swallow the Star essence while emitting clear cries. These Star-Light Falcons had stronger auras, generally at the Second-Stage, with the three leaders reaching the Second-Stage Peak.

"There are indeed Star Beasts, and quite a few, but their rank isn't high, so they don't pose much threat." Ye Qing felt a bit more at ease and continued to search.

Just when he thought this was all, a tyrannical, cold, and kingly Demonic Qi erupted from the deepest part of the canyon, from a huge dark cave formed by the inward depression of the cliff where the Star Mist was thickest!

Immediately after, a massive figure slowly "slithered" out of the cave.

It was a giant python, over twenty zhang long, its entire body covered in jet-black scales as deep as the night sky, dotted with brilliant starlight, and with a pair of crystalline jade horns on its head—a "Star-Horned Python"!

The giant python's aura was as vast as an abyss, reaching the Third-Stage Middle Stage, equivalent to a Human Race Golden Core Middle Stage Cultivator! Its cold vertical pupils swept across the canyon, and all the Star-Radiance Beetles and Star-Light Falcons trembled, bowing their heads in submission.

"A Third-Stage Middle Stage Star-Horned Python... This is the true overlord of this place. No wonder Deacon Chen Xuan's map marked 'Suspected to have Third-Stage Star Beasts.' Looking at this aura, it has likely been entrenched here for a long time, cultivating using the Star tide; its strength is not weak."

Ye Qing's gaze was solemn. A Third-Stage Middle Stage Star Beast, fighting on its home turf, able to borrow the power of the Star tide—it was not easy to deal with. However, his goal was only those high-quality star minerals, not to fight this overlord to the death.

"Wait for the tide to weaken, and when this horned python returns to its nest, I will seize the opportunity to collect the minerals. With my current strength and concealment methods, if I am careful, I should have a chance."

He set his strategy, continued to wait patiently, and carefully observed the actions of the Star-Horned Python.

The horned python ignored the low-level Star Beasts in the canyon. Its massive body coiled in the very center of the valley floor, where the Star essence was thickest. It raised its head, opened its giant mouth, and like a whale swallowing water, frantically inhaled the Star essence surging in the tide.

The starlight on its body flickered as it swallowed, and its aura was also slowly rising.

The eruption of the tide lasted for about the time it takes to burn an incense stick. After reaching its Peak, it began to slowly weaken.

The flow of the Star Mist slowed down, its color faded, and the surging Star power gradually restrained and calmed down.

When the tide weakened to less than thirty percent of its Peak, the Star-Horned Python seemed "full." It gave a satisfied low roar, scanned its territory with cold vertical pupils, and then slowly turned around and "slithered" toward the dark cave, its massive body quickly disappearing into the darkness.

The low-level Star-Radiance Beetles and Star-Light Falcons also retreated to their respective nest crevices, satisfied after their "full meal."

The canyon gradually returned to calm, with only thin Star Mist still flowing slowly, and those exposed star minerals exuding an alluring luster under the reflection of the Star Mist.

"It's time."

A flash of brilliance appeared in Ye Qing's eyes. He quietly removed the outer concealment array, keeping only part of the concealment effect of the "Small Heavenly Cycle Star Array." His figure turned into a barely perceptible phantom, merged into the thin Star Mist, and drifted toward the valley floor.

His goal was clear, aimed straight at the places where the spiritual light was strongest and where there were suspected "star source crystal" associated minerals.

His movement technique was like lightning, weaving through the craggy rocks and Star Mist, avoiding several crevices where low-level Star Beasts might be lurking.

Soon, he arrived at the first point of spiritual light.

It was a small patch of exposed rock layer, embedded with several fist-sized, silver-gray Ores with galaxy-like light halos flowing inside—"star source crystal associated minerals." Although their quality was not as good as real star source crystals, they were far superior to ordinary star pattern steel jade and were quite valuable.

Just as he was about to start mining, his ear twitched imperceptibly.

It wasn't that he heard a sound, but the "Void Dao Seed" transmitted an extremely weak, special fluctuation carrying "malice" and a "spatial mark."

An ambush! Not a Star Beast!

Alarm bells rang in Ye Qing's heart. Without hesitation, his figure retreated violently!

The moment he retreated—

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Three slender bone spurs, jet-black as ink, silent, yet emitting a cold, bone-corroding aura, shot out from the Star Mist behind where he had originally stood, nailing hard into the ground and corroding three smoking holes into the rock.

Immediately after, four figures slowly emerged from the Star Mist in different directions, forming an encirclement, faintly trapping him in the middle.

The arrivals were not of the Human Race!

On the left stood a figure nearly a zhang tall, covered from head to toe in greenish-black scales, with curved horns on its head and a face like a fierce ghost. It held a savage bone giant axe and exuded the tyrannical Demonic Qi of a Third-Stage Early Stage (Golden Core Early Stage) expert—it was clearly a "Green-Faced Ghost Ox" transformed Yao general!

On the right were two figures that looked like twin brothers, both with human heads and snake bodies—their upper bodies were human, while their lower bodies were snake tails covered in fine silver scales. They held water-parting spikes, their auras connected, both at the Peak of the Third-Stage Early Stage. They were "Silver-Scaled Water Python" transformed Yao generals.

Directly in front, from the direction the bone spikes had just been fired, the star mist dispersed to reveal a middle-aged man dressed in dark purple robes with a sinister face and eerie vertical pupils, playing with several pitch-black bone spikes in his hand. His aura was the most obscure and profound, clearly reaching the Third-Stage Middle Stage (Golden Core Middle Stage). Judging by his physical features, he appeared to be a "Shadow Demon Bat" transformed Yao general.

Four transformed Yao generals! Furthermore, they were well-trained and coordinated, clearly an elite Yao Race hunting squad!

"A Human Race Cultivator, Golden Core Early Stage? You are quite alert. Unfortunately, since you have discovered a treasure like the 'star source crystal associated Ore,' don't even think about leaving here alive." The leading Shadow Demon Bat Yao general spoke sinisterly, his voice hoarse and grating, his vertical pupils flickering with cruelty and greed.

"Big Brother, why waste words with him? Just kill him and we'll split the treasure!" The Green-Faced Ghost Ox Yao general grunted, brandishing his giant axe and kicking up a whistling, foul-smelling wind.

"This person was able to sneak in here, so he must have some tricks up his sleeve. Do not be careless. Form up, end this quickly!" the Silver-Scaled Water Python brothers said in unison, their snake tails undulating as they faintly formed a joint attack Formation.

Ye Qing's expression remained calm, but his heart was solemn.

Four transformed Yao generals—one at the Middle Stage, three at the Early Stage—and they were skilled at joint attacks. In this valley filled with star mist and complex terrain, the situation was extremely unfavorable for him. What was even more troublesome was that the commotion just now was not small; he had likely already alerted the Third-Stage Middle Stage Star-Horned Python deep within the valley.

"What a run of bad luck. I can't even mine in peace," he sighed inwardly, though his eyes instantly became cold and sharp.

Since he couldn't avoid it, he would kill!

It was the perfect opportunity to test the true power of the Hunxu Zhou Tian Star Sword Formation after reaching the Golden Core Middle Stage, and by the way... replenish the Cave Heaven World with some high-grade "nutrients."

"You want to kill me? With just you four feathered beasts and long worms?" Ye Qing curled his lips into a mocking arc, intentionally provoking them.

"You're courting death!" "Tear him apart!"

The four Yao generals were indeed enraged and attacked simultaneously!

The Green-Faced Ghost Ox Yao general roared, swinging his giant axe into a greenish-black whirlwind as he chopped down at Ye Qing's head with a force heavy enough to split mountains and crack stones.

The Silver-Scaled Water Python brothers moved like lightning, one to the left and one to the right, their water-parting spikes transforming into a sky full of silver light that sealed off Ye Qing's left and right escape routes, all while carrying toxic water vapor.

The leading Shadow Demon Bat Yao general flickered, actually merging into the shadows of the star mist and disappearing from sight, clearly preparing to launch a fatal sneak attack at the right moment.

Facing the attacks from all sides, Ye Qing did not retreat but advanced instead.

He communicated with his Dantian with a thought, and his main sword, "Hunxu," let out a clear, joyful ringing sound, breaking out of his body along with twelve light swords!

"zhou tian star formation flags, rise!"

Thirty-six star Formation Flags flew out simultaneously, instantly setting up the "Small Heavenly Cycle Star Array." Starlight filled the air, shrouding fifty zhang around him, isolating the inside from the outside while slightly interfering with the star mist and the Yao generals' perception.

"sword Formation, Starflow Hundred Turns!"

The main sword "Hunxu" radiated brilliant light, and the twelve light swords suddenly dispersed. Instead of attacking, they followed mysterious trajectories within the range covered by the Formation Flags, instantly setting up a more complex, slowly rotating "Starflow sword Domain" composed of countless pale silver Sword Qi!

Within the sword Domain, the Void Realm distorted, and the star Sword Intent surged like a tide. Those incoming axe lights, silver glimmers, and toxic water vapors were cut, worn down, and slowed by the ubiquitous pale silver Sword Qi the moment they entered the sword Domain, their power greatly reduced.

Ye Qing moved through the sword Domain like a fish in water. Using "Void Step," he traversed a mysterious path and, at the critical moment, dodged the Green-Faced Ghost Ox's frontal axe strike, appearing beside the one on the left of the Silver-Scaled Water Python brothers.

He brought his right fingers together, and with the surging Chaos Dantian energy, a point of star light compressed to the extreme condensed at his fingertips.

"Void Star Finger, Star Burst."

He pointed his finger, and the light point arrived before the others, sinking into the Silver-Scaled Water Python Yao general's temple.

The Yao general's body suddenly stiffened, a look of disbelief flashing in his eyes, and then his head exploded like a watermelon, scattering red and white matter everywhere.

With one strike, he had killed a Third-Stage Early Stage Peak Yao general!

"Second Brother!" The other Silver-Scaled Water Python Yao general's eyes split with rage as he roared and attacked fiercely with his spike.

Ye Qing flashed again, arriving behind him. He turned his left hand into a fist, Chaos star energy surging. On the fist, a miniature phantom of a star burning with Chaos star flames suddenly condensed.

"Hunxu Star-Shattering Fist, Starfall."

He threw a punch, landing solidly on the Yao general's back.

The Yao general's body shook violently, his protective Demonic Qi instantly dissipating. A bowl-sized blood hole exploded on his back, his heart was shattered, and he collapsed to the ground with a miserable howl, twitching a few times before falling silent.

The two brothers had both died in an instant.

"Bastard!!" The Green-Faced Ghost Ox Yao general was shocked and furious. He hadn't expected the opponent to be so ferocious. Roaring, the greenish-black scales on his body radiated brilliant light, and he poured his Demonic Qi frantically into the giant axe, transforming it into an even larger greenish-black axe shadow that tore through the sword Domain's Sword Qi and slashed fiercely toward Ye Qing.

"Well come."

Ye Qing did not dodge or evade, but moved his mind.

Within the sword Domain, countless pale silver Sword Qi suddenly converged, transforming into a brilliant "Star River" composed of pure Sword Qi, which rushed forward to meet the greenish-black axe shadow!

Boom!!!

The Sword Qi Star River and the greenish-black axe shadow collided violently!

Blinding light erupted, and the Sword Qi and Demonic Qi raged and annihilated each other wildly.

The stalemate lasted only a moment.

The greenish-black axe shadow shattered with a bang!

The Sword Qi Star River, its momentum undiminished, washed fiercely over the Green-Faced Ghost Ox Yao general.

"No—!"

The Yao general let out a desperate roar, his scales instantly covered in countless sword marks before completely shattering. His massive body was submerged by the Sword Qi Star River and torn into a sky full of blood mist and shredded flesh.

Another Yao general, dead.

From the moment Ye Qing struck to when he killed three Yao generals in a row, only five breaths had passed.

Within the sword Domain, blood mist filled the air and the Demonic Qi dissipated, leaving only the Shadow Demon Bat Yao general, whose location was unknown.

Ye Qing's expression remained unchanged as he withdrew his sword and stood still, his gaze sweeping calmly over every inch of the sword Domain.

"You rat hiding your head and showing your tail, aren't you going to show yourself yet?"

As his voice fell, he suddenly raised his hand and grabbed at a seemingly empty shadow somewhere in the sword Domain.

"Void Imprisonment!"

An invisible, majestic force carrying the power of spatial solidification descended suddenly.

The shadow twisted violently, and the Shadow Demon Bat Yao general's disheveled figure was forced out of his hidden state. His face was filled with horror; he hadn't expected the opponent to be able to pinpoint his location so accurately.

"You... how is this possible..." his voice was filled with terror.

"A mere breath-concealing and shadow-escaping technique, and you dare to show it off in front of me?" Ye Qing sneered, his right hand's sword finger already raised.

"It's over."

"Hunxu, slash."

The main sword "Hunxu" let out a clear sword hum, carrying the biting Killing Intent from slaying three Yao generals. It transformed into a pale silver stream of light that seemed capable of cutting the Void Realm, ignoring distance, and instantly appeared before the Shadow Demon Bat Yao general's glabella.

The Yao general's pupils shrank, and he roared, opening his mouth to spew out a condensed pitch-black sound wave while retreating rapidly in an attempt to merge into the star mist.

However, under the dual suppression of the "Void Imprisonment" and the sword Domain, his movements were slowed by more than just a notch.

Swish.

The pale silver stream of light pierced through the sound wave without obstruction and tapped gently on his glabella.

The Yao general's body stiffened suddenly, the light in his eyes fading rapidly, and a red mark at his glabella slowly spread.

The next moment, his body fell powerlessly from mid-air, his breath completely gone.

Four transformed Yao generals, all wiped out.

Ye Qing slowly exhaled a breath of turbid air, his face slightly pale. The instantaneous burst of power to kill four Yao generals of the same or higher stage in a row had consumed quite a bit of his energy.

He did not dare to delay, immediately raising his hand to draw the four Yao general corpses, Yao cores, and their Magical Artifacts (giant axe, water-parting spikes, bone spikes, etc.) into the waste area of the Cave Heaven World.

He then quickly mined and collected those few pieces of "star source crystal associated Ore."

Just as he was about to leave this place of trouble, a deafening, furious roar suddenly erupted from the direction of the dark cave deep in the valley!

Rumble—!

The entire valley shook and swayed, and the star mist rolled back frantically.

The Third-Stage Middle Stage Star-Horned Python, completely alarmed by the intense battle and the smell of blood, charged wildly out of the cave, its massive body carrying monstrous Demonic Qi and star power, its cold vertical pupils instantly locking onto Ye Qing at the bottom of the valley!

What was even worse was that, seemingly because of the Python's rampage, the star mist above the valley was churning violently, and the star tide that had originally subsided now showed faint signs of being triggered and erupting once again!

In front was the enraged Third-Stage Middle Stage overlord, and behind was the impending chaotic star tide.

Ye Qing was surrounded.