47: The ambush at Falling Star Gorge, the spirit-sealing array traps them.

The morning mist was like cotton soaked in ice water, heavily shrouding the woods behind Star Moon Sect's mountain and the cliff face. Wet, cold vapor dripped from the withered vines hanging on the cliffs, making even the bluestone slabs underfoot slick and damp. Lin Yang clutched the Jade Token engraved with "Secret Realm Access," his fingertips still retaining the warmth of Su Qingyue before she left. According to their agreement, Su Qingyue was supposed to escort him to the Five Elements Spirit Pool, but she was suddenly called away by the Sect Master due to an unexpected "Spiritual Vein Anomaly" in the Inner Sect.

Before leaving, the ice silk on Su Qingyue’s cuff still held the white frost overflowing from the Spiritual Vein. She gripped his wrist and repeatedly urged, "Luoxing Gorge is the mandatory route to the Spirit Pool. Recently, outside Sect Disciples have infiltrated the area. That gorge is too narrow to turn around in. If you see the stones glowing, immediately crush the communication talisman!"

Her voice still echoed in his ears as Lin Yang stepped into the shadows of Luoxing Gorge. The cliffs on both sides pierced the sky, blocking the morning light until only scattered fragments remained. The wind passing through the gorge entrance carried a mournful sound, making his footsteps exceptionally clear, as if they were knocking against some unseen trap.

Just as he reached the middle section of the gorge, he suddenly realized something was wrong—fine gray patterns were seeping out of the cracks in the bluestone slabs beneath his feet, coiling around his ankles like newly awakened snakes.

— It was Formation runes!

"Too late!"

A cold shout came from the cliff top. A phantom of a blue-gray Daoist robe suddenly broke through the morning mist, and Elder Wu's Horsetail Whisk swept three gray arcs in mid-air, "nailing" them into the four corners of the gorge floor. "Boom!" Four spiked stone pillars shot out from the ground. The "Spirit Sealing Runes" carved all over the pillars instantly lit up, and a pale gray light barrier descended like a dome, sealing the entire gorge tightly.

Lin Yang was about to activate his Chaos True Essence when the chaos star core in his Dantian suddenly "stalled"—it felt wrapped in cold wax, spinning haltingly, and even the True Essence he could previously mobilize easily turned into sludge blocking his Meridians.

"This is the Xuantian Sword Sect's 'Spirit Sealing Array,' specifically designed to counter your Chaos True Essence." Elder Wu stood at the Formation Core, the gray threads on his Horsetail Whisk moving without wind, his eyes filled with undisguised greed. "I brought people here three days ago to set up defenses, just waiting for you to walk into the trap. Your chaos star core can devour True Essence and evolve Martial Skills; it is an ancient Chaos Supreme Treasure. If you hand it over obediently today, this old man might let you keep a whole corpse. If you dare resist, this Luoxing Gorge will be your burial ground!"

Lin Yang's heart sank. He finally understood the root cause of this ambush: it wasn't just Ling Feihong's personal vendetta, but the Xuantian Sword Sect fearing that if Lin Yang entered the Five Elements Spirit Pool and used the Five Elements Origin to Breakthrough to a higher Realm, stealing the chaos star core afterward would become impossibly difficult.

Out of the corner of his eye, he glimpsed a sword shadow flashing behind the withered vines. Ling Feihong walked out, gripping the Star Splitting Sword. The blade shone with cold light, reflecting his twisted face: "When you stole my Spatial Core and copied my sword moves in the Qingmeng Secret Realm, did you ever consider this day? I practiced this move, 'Star Shatter,' for three months, just to use it to kill you here!"

Five Sword Sect Disciples followed him out of the shadows, their longswords drawn simultaneously. Sword Qi wove into a dense net inside the Spirit Sealing Array, slowly closing in on Lin Yang. The leading Disciple, his eyebrows bristling, brought his blade down with a metallic sharpness. The wind stung Lin Yang's cheek: "How dare a Utility Disciple use a Chaos Supreme Treasure? Today, I'll show you just how sharp the Sword Sect's swords are!"

Lin Yang sharply dropped his shoulder, condensing gray-gold True Essence into a thin shield in front of him. Although weakened by the Formation's suppression, it still contained the power of absorption. With a "bang," the blade struck the shield. The Disciple felt a suction force crawl up the spine of his sword. The hand holding the sword suddenly trembled, knuckles turning white.

Lin Yang seized the chance, sweeping his left foot across and kicking the outside of the Disciple's knee. With a crisp "crack," the Disciple screamed and fell to his knees, his longsword flying from his grasp, embedding itself in the cliff face and vibrating loudly.

However, the remaining four Disciples immediately surrounded him, their sword moves cooperating seamlessly: one attacked his feet, one chopped at his shoulder, and two aimed for his throat. Sword Qi wrapped in gray mist blocked all of Lin Yang's retreat paths.

Ling Feihong seized the opportunity to unleash his killing move. Pale purple Sword Qi rose from the Star Splitting Sword, wrapping around Lin Yang’s chest like a small snake: "Die!" The Sword Qi grazed Lin Yang's lapel. The Dark-colored Tight-fitting Suit instantly ripped open, and his flesh burned with searing pain.

Elder Wu, standing at the Formation Core, sneered and waved his Horsetail Whisk again: "Spirit Sealing Needles!" Fine gray needles suddenly descended from the top of the Formation. The tip of each needle was wrapped in pale gray Qi, like cold rain driven by the wind, embedding themselves into the ground past Lin Yang's ear, splashing tiny stone fragments. "For every one that hits you, your True Essence will become sluggish by one point. Let's see how long you can last!"

Lin Yang stepped back over the rubble, his back pressing against the icy stone pillar. The chaos star core in his Dantian suddenly grew slightly warm—it was the Protective Aura Origin he had previously devoured from Zhao Kun! Although that trace of pale golden Protective Aura carried the aura of the Misty Immortal Palace, it was genuine Gang Qi Realm energy, perhaps capable of smashing through the Formation's suppression. Gritting his teeth, he began to condense that trace of Protective Aura on his fingertips. Gray-gold True Essence wrapped in a faint golden glow, flickering with weak sparks in his palm.