86: Chapter 86 The Fighting Python Borrows the Tide to Narrowly Win Against the Star-Devouring Core

Ahead, the enraged Star-Horned Python rushed over, carrying monstrous Demonic Qi; behind, the chaotic star tides might erupt again at any moment.

In the canyon, star mist swirled wildly, and the earth shook.

Ye Qing's pupils constricted; he instantly assessed the situation.

To clash head-on with a Middle Stage Tier 3 python that had home-field advantage and could trigger star tides was definitely not wise, especially since he was not at his Peak.

Flee? The canyon terrain was narrow, the python's speed was astonishing, and the star tides blocked the way; he might not be able to escape unscathed.

In a flash, a flash of determination crossed Ye Qing's eyes.

Do not flee, do not fight head-on.

Borrow force to strike, divert the disaster!

He did not retreat but advanced, meeting the massive python charging wildly. He took a sudden step forward, his right hand gripping the void, and threw a punch into the python's wide-open maw, which was spitting out fishy wind and starlight!

"Hunxu Star-Shattering Fist, Star Collapse!"

A fist imprint the size of a grinding stone, burning with Chaos star flames, left his hand. It did not attack the python's hard skull or body but accurately smashed deep into its maw, exploding at the throat!

Boom!

The python's forward momentum stalled abruptly, and it let out a painful and enraged hiss. Starlight splattered from its mouth; it was clearly hit hard by this punch. Although not fatal, it completely enraged it.

This was exactly the effect Ye Qing wanted.

His figure did not stop; utilizing the recoil of the punch, he executed "Void Step." His trajectory was strange, and he instantly shifted dozens of zhang laterally, appearing under a steep cliff on one side of the canyon.

At the same time, he communicated with his Dantian with his mind. The thirty-six "zhou tian star formation flags" flared with light, rapidly shrinking the defensive range and setting up the strongest star light barrier within ten zhang of him.

The main sword "Hunxu" and the twelve light swords did not attack the python but transformed into thirteen pale silver streams of light, like agile fish, instantly diving into the edge of the star mist vortex above his head, which was spinning crazily due to the python's rampage and where terrifying energy was gathering!

"sword Formation, Induce Tide!"

Ye Qing whispered, using the Hunxu Zhou Tian Star Sword Formation as a guide to forcibly communicate, interfere with, and slightly guide the star tide energy that was about to lose control and erupt!

This was not an attack; this was playing with fire!

One slight mistake, and he would burn himself, torn apart by the violent star tides.

But Ye Qing's understanding of star power was no longer what it used to be, and he had the keen intuition for energy flow brought by the "Void Dao Seed." The sword Formation's guidance was extremely delicate and cautious, like dropping a drop of cold water into a boiling wok, instantly breaking the already precarious balance of the star mist vortex!

Rumble—!!!

An even more violent and furious star tide than before was triggered early and in a more chaotic manner!

Endless dark blue star light, like a volcano suppressed for ten thousand years, erupted from the star mist vortex, the depths of the cliffs, and the cracks in the ground! It turned into a destructive torrent of star energy, pouring, washing, and tearing indiscriminately toward the entire canyon!

The first to bear the brunt was the Star-Horned Python that had just been enraged and was about to pounce on Ye Qing!

In the python's cold vertical pupils, horror and fear appeared for the first time.

It had intended to trigger the tide to assist in the attack, but it definitely did not want to face this kind of premature, completely out-of-control destructive tide! This was equivalent to putting itself in a desperate situation!

"Roar—!!"

It let out a shrill hiss, its massive body instantly coiling into a ball. On its pitch-black scales, those brilliant starlights lit up crazily, forming a thick layer of star barrier, attempting to resist the tide's impact.

However, the power of the uncontrolled star tide was far beyond the ordinary, and it erupted from above its head, instantly submerging the python along with its barrier!

Within the dark blue star torrent, the python's painful struggles and roars could be heard. Its star barrier flickered, and cracks quickly appeared.

Ye Qing was not having an easy time either.

Although the cliff bottom where he was located was only slightly affected, he was still swept by the edge of the violent tide. The light barrier set up by the "Small Heavenly Cycle Star Array" shook violently, emitting groans of being unable to bear the burden, and tiny cracks began to appear on the Formation Flags.

He muffled a groan, blood spilling from the corner of his mouth. He frantically drove his Dantian energy to maintain the Formation, while at the same time pushing the effect of the "void concealment pill" to the extreme, lowering his sense of presence to the lowest, and attempting to use the power of "Void Step" and the "Void Dao Seed" to guide, offload, or even assimilate a portion of the chaotic star power crashing in.

This process was extremely dangerous, like dancing on the tip of a knife.

The Cave Heaven World within his body sensed the terrifying star tide outside and vibrated violently. The star core shone brightly, actively emitting a vast, inclusive star Dao rhythm, helping Ye Qing stabilize his mind and absorb and transform the relatively "gentle" star energy that invaded his body.

Time seemed to become extremely long.

The out-of-control star tide raged for about ten breaths before finally beginning to slowly weaken and subside.

When the last dark blue torrent passed, the canyon was a mess.

The star mist had thinned a lot, revealing the valley floor that had been ravaged beyond recognition. Countless strange rocks turned into powder, deep gullies were plowed into the ground, and those exposed star minerals were mostly gone or completely shattered.

Under the cliff where Ye Qing was located, rubble piled up. The "Small Heavenly Cycle Star Array" he had set up was already broken, the thirty-six Formation Flags were dim in spiritual light, and they were heavily damaged, needing time to recuperate and repair. He himself had surging blood and qi, his internal organs were shaken, his clothes were broken, and he was quite disheveled, but fortunately, he was not fundamentally injured.

He could not care about regulating his breath, and his eyes were cast toward the center of the canyon for the first time.

There, the massive body of the Star-Horned Python lay limply on the ground. The layer of star barrier on its body had long since shattered and disappeared, and the pitch-black scales were shattered and peeled off in large swaths, revealing charred and curled flesh underneath. In many places, it was deep enough to see bone, and dark blue blood flowed all over the ground. Its Aura was withered to the extreme; it was clearly severely injured.

But it was not dead; the vitality of a Middle Stage Tier 3 Yao Beast was extremely tenacious. Its cold vertical pupils were still staring fixedly at Ye Qing, full of endless resentment and madness, struggling to lift its head, as if it still wanted to make a final struggle.

"Pity, you have no chance."

Ye Qing wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, his eyes cold. Strike while it is sick, take its life!

He forcefully raised a breath of Dantian energy, his figure flickered, and he was already in front of the python's head.

The python hissed sharply, using its last bit of strength to open its mouth and spit out a dim star breath mixed with blood foam, while its head slammed into Ye Qing.

"Dying struggle."

Ye Qing did not dodge or avoid, raising his right hand, pointing his fingers like a sword.

Inside his Dantian, the main sword "Hunxu" sensed its master's killing intent, emitting a clear, resonant hum, carrying the sharp Sword Intent that had just guided the tide and was stained with a trace of the destructive star Dao rhythm, breaking out of his body and falling into Ye Qing's hand.

With the sword in hand, Ye Qing's entire Aura changed abruptly.

No longer restrained, no longer hidden.

A vast, sharp, terrifying Sword Intent that seemed to be able to cut through the galaxy and shatter the Void Realm rose into the sky!

"Hunxu Zhou Tian, One sword... Galaxy Severed!"

He gripped the sword with both hands and slashed down simply at the python's head that was crashing over and that dim breath.

No flashy Moves, no complex changes.

Only the purest, most condensed — slashing and extinguishing sword, containing his understanding of stars, the Void Realm, Chaos, and even the trace of the destructive tide true meaning he had just realized!

The pale silver sword light extended from the tip of the sword, initially only three feet, but in the blink of an eye, it soared to ten zhang, one hundred zhang! It seemed to have truly turned into a brilliant galaxy spanning the Void Realm!

Wherever the galaxy passed, the space left clear black cracks that lingered for a long time.

The dim breath spat out by the python vanished silently like foam.

The python's hideous head touched the galaxy sword light gently.

Chi.

Like a hot knife cutting through congealed butter.

The huge head, along with a section of the neck, was smoothly divided into two. The cut was as smooth as a mirror, with star flames burning quietly, preventing any vitality from recovering.

The last gleam in the python's eyes completely solidified and dissipated, its massive body twitched violently a few times, and it fell to the ground with a boom, making no more sound.

Middle Stage Tier 3, the overlord of the outskirts of Starfall Valley, the Star-Horned Python, killed.

Ye Qing stood holding the sword, panting slightly, his face even paler. This sword had almost drained his remaining Dantian energy and essence, but the effect satisfied him. The "One sword Galaxy Severed" of the Hunxu Zhou Tian Star Sword Formation was far more powerful than expected.

He did not dare to delay, immediately taking out a Medicinal Pill to take, and pouring down a large mouthful of "earth vein stone milk" to recover quickly.

At the same time, he raised his hand and summoned, first taking the python's corpse, Yao core, that pair of crystal jade horns, as well as a large amount of precious scales and essence blood into the waste area of the Cave Heaven World.

He also retrieved the "zhou tian star formation flags" that were scattered around and not yet completely damaged. These Formation Flags had special Materials, and although damaged, they could still be repaired by bringing them back to the Cave Heaven to recuperate.

Then, he quickly scanned the messy canyon.

Most of the star minerals had been destroyed in the tide, but there were still a few pieces of extremely high quality or deeply buried minerals remaining, especially near the cave where the python was entrenched; perhaps there were still good things.

He endured the fatigue and injuries and first came to the python's cave.

The cave was deep, exuding rich star power and the fishy smell of the python. The interior was quite spacious, and the cave walls were embedded with some high-quality "Star-Patterned Ink Rock" and associated star minerals.

In the deepest part of the cave, in the center of the python's nest (a pile of soft, unknown beast skins and star-shining minerals), Ye Qing discovered two things.

One was three fist-sized crystals, crystal clear throughout, with liquid galaxies seemingly rotating slowly inside, exuding the Aura of majestic star source essence — these were exactly the "star source crystal" he had been searching for! Although not large in size, the quality was extremely high!

The second was an egg the size of a human head, round throughout, dark gold in color, covered with natural star Dao patterns on the surface, exuding an ancient and heavy Aura... an egg?

"This is... the Star-Horned Python's egg? No, the Aura is not right, it is more ancient and noble... Could it be the egg of some higher-level star beast that this python was guarding here? Or is it a strange object conceived by the star essence of this place?"

Ye Qing carefully put away the star source crystal and carefully examined the dark golden beast egg. The vitality in the egg was majestic, with faint rhythms; it was clearly a living thing, and its essence was very high, far exceeding the python. Bringing it back to the Cave Heaven to hatch and cultivate might yield a powerful star beast pet, or it could be used for Alchemy or Artifact Refining; its value was immeasurable.

He carefully put the beast egg into the Cave Heaven, placing it specifically next to the star core, to be nourished by pure star power.

After doing this, he searched the canyon again, picking up the remaining valuable mineral fragments until he confirmed there were no omissions. Only then did he dare not stay, dragging his injured body, and quickly left this place of right and wrong.

After escaping hundreds of miles in one breath, finding a hidden cave, and setting up heavy Restrictions, Ye Qing finally relaxed completely and sat cross-legged to regulate his breath.

First, deal with the spoils.

His mind sank into the Cave Heaven.

The six-thousand-zhang Cave Heaven World, due to the large amount of new "nutrients," sent out a joyous palpitation again.

The corpse, Yao core, and Materials of the Middle Stage Tier 3 Star-Horned Python were worth far more than all previous ones. The majestic life essence and star essence contained in its flesh and blood, and the star beast Origin and a trace of "tide" true meaning contained in its Yao core, had huge benefits for the growth and rule perfection of the Cave Heaven World.

The corpses, Yao cores, and Materials of the four transformed Yao generals were also a good supplement, especially containing Yao power and Origin of different attributes.

As soon as the three star source crystals entered the Cave Heaven, they were actively pulled by the star core, circling and rotating, releasing pure star source essence, continuously nourishing and strengthening the star core itself and the entire star system of the Cave Heaven. The "starry sky" of the Cave Heaven World thus became clearer and more stable, and the trajectory of the stars faintly added a hint of the rhythm of the "tide."

That dark golden beast egg floated quietly beside the star core, absorbing pure star power and Cave Heaven Origin, the Dao patterns on the eggshell flickering slightly, and its vitality becoming more and more vigorous.

The Cave Heaven World digested these high-quality "nutrients," and the Chaos gray mist at the edge surged and expanded again, with the area steadily moving toward seven thousand zhang. The earth became thicker, and the outlines of the newly born small "mountains" and "streams" became clearer. The rules, vitality, and foundation of the entire world were improving and perfecting at a speed visible to the naked eye.

The fed-back "Power of the Primordial World" also became more vast and pure due to this massive, high-quality supplement, and the star, life, tide, and Yao spirit Dao rhythms contained within it also became richer.

Ye Qing guided this power to repair his internal injuries, nourish the damaged Formation Flags and Meridians, and replenish the consumed Dantian energy.

His Middle Stage Golden Core cultivation, driven by this power, quickly consolidated and moved firmly toward the Late Golden Core Stage. Especially his insight into the power of "star tides," due to experiencing, guiding, and even integrating into the Sword Intent when finally killing the python, had made great progress. The chapters on "motion," "stillness," "birth," and "extinction" of stars in the Hunxu Yandao Scripture were more perfect.

Three days later.

The injuries were fully recovered, the cultivation was improved, and the Formation Flags also recovered most of their spiritual light under the nourishment of the Cave Heaven.

Ye Qing slowly opened his eyes, the light in his pupils contained within, and his Aura was more condensed.

"Although dangerous, the harvest is huge. Not only did I get the star source crystal and the mysterious beast egg, but my strength, my insight into the Dao of stars, and even the Cave Heaven World have been significantly improved. This trip to the outskirts of Starfall Valley was worth it."

He looked at the dim sky outside the cave, his eyes deep.

"However, making such a big commotion has probably already attracted the attention of the depths of Starfall Valley, and even the several major forces and the Yao Race. This place is not suitable for staying long. I need to leave as soon as possible, find a safe place, go into seclusion to digest what I have gained this time, and charge toward the Late Golden Core Stage."

"The ancient teleportation array ruins... I have already obtained part of the star source crystal, so I am not in a hurry for now. Wait until I advance to the Late Golden Core Stage, or even the Nascent Soul Stage, and then go into that truly muddy water to plan calmly."

Steady development is always the top priority.

He stood up, removed the Restrictions, and his figure turned into a faint, imperceptible escape light, leaving this area silently, galloping away in the direction far away from Dragonfall Abyss and Starfall Valley.

Inside his body, the nearly seven-thousand-zhang Cave Heaven, earth veins like dragons, star seas tides born, and the newly obtained beast egg floated quietly, continuously feeding back the vast and pure Power of the Primordial World.

The trip to Starfall Valley by the Golden Core Cultivator Ye Qing, amidst life-and-death dangers and huge gains, came to a temporary end. A new seclusion and Breakthrough were about to begin.