71: Breaking through the realm with a sword is perilous; cracks appear in the meridians.

The Spiritual Qi in the Vein Nurturing Chamber was still nourishing Su Qingyue's injuries, while Lin Yang and Bai Wanqing had recovered to their Peak state. Lin Yang held the Core Cabin key, feeling the aura of the chaos origin emanating from the bottom layer of the starship, his heart full of anticipation: "Senior Sister Qingyue, please rest for a little longer. Wanqing and I will go scout the Core Cabin first. If there is danger, we will immediately use the starship sensing system to notify you."

Su Qingyue nodded, tucking the ice silk into her waist: "Be careful. The Core Cabin is the most critical part of the starship, and there might be a final guardian mechanism. If you run into trouble, don't fight head-on; wait for me to come support you."

Lin Yang and Bai Wanqing followed the ship corridor toward the bottom layer of the starship. The bronze walls along the way were covered in ancient star patterns, resonating with the markings on the Core Cabin key. With every step, the surrounding Chaos Qi intensified. Bai Wanqing's ice soul pearl glowed blue as she vigilantly monitored their surroundings: "The starship sensing system hasn't detected any enemy aura. Yun Song and the others must have truly retreated."

But just then, two dark figures suddenly darted out from the corner of the corridor—it was Elder Zhou Chen and Protector Zhang! They hadn't left the starship after all, but were hiding in the shadows, preparing an ambush! The longsword in Zhou Chen's hand glowed with residual bloody Sword Qi, it was the Xuantian Sword Sect's "Azure Luan Blood Blade," aimed straight at Lin Yang's Sea of Consciousness: "Lin Yang, you ambushed me with the Star Radiance Cannon last time. Let's see what tricks you have now!"

Protector Zhang brandished the rift seal blade, its body emitting a dark purple poisonous light, slashing toward Bai Wanqing: "First, I'll kill this girl and sever your left and right arms!" Although his right arm was scorched by the Star Radiance Cannon, he still forced himself to attack, clearly intending to fight to the death.

"Be careful! This Sword Qi can devour souls!" Bai Wanqing pushed Lin Yang toward the side and back, while she activated the ice soul pearl, the blue light transforming into an Ice Shield in front of her. "Clang!" The rift seal blade struck the Ice Shield, which instantly shattered. Bai Wanqing was thrown back three steps by the residual force, and the old injury on her shoulder tore open again, staining her light blue dress with blood.

Lin Yang's eyes were bloodshot. His Chaos True Essence instantly boiled, and the silvery liquid True Qi condensed into a spear, thrusting toward Zhou Chen's Azure Luan Blood Blade. "Boom!" The Sword Qi clashed with the spear, mixing pale gold and bloody colors. Lin Yang was shaken back three steps, and waves of sharp pain came from his Dantian—the Soul Devouring energy within the Azure Luan Blood Blade spread along the spear, attempting to invade his Sea of Consciousness.

"Lin Yang, don't fight head-on! Use the Power of Devouring to absorb the Sword Qi!" Su Qingyue's voice came from a distance. She had noticed the disturbance and was rushing over. Lin Yang understood, pressing his left hand against Zhou Chen's blade. The chaos star core erupted with powerful suction, beginning to devour the energy within the Azure Luan Blood Blade. The chaos star core could devour the energy of all things and convert it for its own use.

"Madman! How dare you devour my Azure Luan Blood Blade!" Zhou Chen roared, increasing his True Essence output. Bloody Sword Qi continuously poured into Lin Yang's body. The silvery True Essence was instantly stained red. The Black Markings that had been dissolved before reappeared, rapidly spreading along his Meridians, even starting to erode the chaos star core! Lin Yang felt a tearing pain in his Meridians, as if countless fine needles were stabbing him, and his consciousness began to blur.

Seeing this, Bai Wanqing quickly pressed the ice soul pearl against Lin Yang's Dantian. Blue light flowed into his Meridians, temporarily suppressing the spread of the Black Markings: "Lin Yang, use the Sword Qi energy to achieve a Breakthrough to the Ninth Level of Innate Peak! This is the only chance, otherwise the Soul Devouring energy will backlash!" Her voice was choked with tears, her eyes full of worry, yet she remained calm, guiding Lin Yang.

Lin Yang gritted his teeth, forcing himself to remain conscious, guiding the devoured Sword Qi energy toward the barrier of the Ninth Level of Innate. With a "crack," fissures appeared in the barrier, and his silvery True Essence began to surge dramatically. Zhou Chen's face turned pale. He tried to pull back his longsword, but the arriving Su Qingyue wrapped his wrist with ice silk: "Trying to run? Too late!"

The Ice True Essence flowed along the ice silk, freezing Zhou Chen's True Essence. Lin Yang seized the opportunity to increase the intensity of the devouring, sucking in both the True Qi and Sword Qi from Zhou Chen's body. "Boom!" The barrier of the Ninth Level of Innate completely shattered. Lin Yang's aura instantly surged, reaching the Ninth Level of Innate Peak. However, the Black Markings in his Meridians became even more violent—the Spirit-Devouring Poison from the Azure Luan Blood Blade began to backlash, and subtle cracks appeared in his Meridians!

"Lin Yang! Your Meridians!" Su Qingyue was the first to realize something was wrong. Lin Yang's arms were covered in bulging veins, his face was deathly pale, and blood constantly spilled from the corner of his mouth. "Quickly enter the Vein Nurturing Formation! Only that place can neutralize the Spirit-Devouring Poison!"

Bai Wanqing also supported the staggering Lin Yang. The blue light from the ice soul pearl surged, temporarily freezing his Meridians to prevent the cracks from expanding: "Hold on! We're going straight back to the Vein Nurturing Chamber!" Zhou Chen and Protector Zhang, seeing Lin Yang's Breakthrough, were terrified and turned to flee, but Su Qingyue's ice silk wrapped around their ankles, throwing them heavily to the ground, leaving them unable to move.

Lin Yang struggled with his last shred of consciousness, supported by Bai Wanqing and Su Qingyue, as they headed toward the Vein Nurturing Chamber. The pain in his Meridians grew increasingly severe. He could clearly feel that without the suppression of the ice soul pearl and the Clear Heart Art, his Meridians would have long since ruptured. Although this Breakthrough greatly increased his strength, it also plunged him into a new crisis, and the ancient Formation in the Vein Nurturing Chamber became his only chance for survival.