52: The altar in the heart of the lake opens, and a single hand shakes the demonic shadow.

Lu Qingxuan transformed into a stream of Chaos light and plunged directly into the dark and profound central area of the Fallen Star Lake.

Upon entry, the surrounding environment changed drastically. The previously perceptible Star Power became thin and chaotic, replaced by a heavy, viscous dark energy, like invisible mercury, permeating every inch of space. This energy carried intense corrosive and deathly intent; ordinary Soul Transformation Cultivators here would likely not last long before being corroded into dry bones, or even turned into servants of darkness.

The lake center was not true water, but a strange Domain composed of pure dark matter and shattered Laws. Massive, mountain-like Dark Crystals floated within, and in some places, space was distorted, forming natural traps. Occasionally, the mindless skeletal remains of Star Beasts, completely corrupted by darkness, drifted aimlessly, emitting a grating friction sound.

The Chaos Return to Ruin Dao Domain naturally circulated around Lu Qingxuan. When the surging dark energy touched the edge of the Domain, it was not directly repelled. Instead, it seemed to be drawn and controlled by a higher-level power, becoming docile, and was absorbed and transformed strand by strand by the Dao Domain, merging into the thread of Darkness Origin within him, which had already grown considerably.

He walked leisurely in this forbidden Domain, like a monarch in the darkness. His Divine Sense spread out but was severely suppressed by the dense darkness here, covering less than one percent of its range outside. However, the three bronze fragments in his possession had reached Peak resonance, emitting a scorching temperature and transmitting an incredibly clear pulling force, pointing toward the deepest part of this dark Domain.

"It seems the reception point for the 'Dark Star Project' is straight ahead." Lu Qingxuan's gaze sharpened, and his speed abruptly increased as he tore through the layers of darkness, following the fragments' guidance.

Along the way, he encountered several waves of monsters completely corrupted by darkness. There were massive Star Beasts with hideous bone spikes, and also the hollow-eyed remains of Cultivators who retained some of their Divine Abilities from life. Sensing the Aura of a living being, they charged frantically. However, before the Chaos Return to Ruin Dao Domain, the fate of these monsters, regardless of their strength, was the same—they rushed into the Domain and returned to nothingness, unable to even stir a ripple. The attributes they carried, such as deep darkness parasitism and Chaotic Will, held little value for Lu Qingxuan; the System merely gave a mechanical prompt to copy and then ignored them.

After flying for about the time it takes an incense stick to burn, the scene ahead suddenly changed.

Within the dense darkness, a relatively open area appeared. At the center of this area was an incredibly massive circular Altar! The Altar was built entirely of some kind of black stone, neither metal nor jade, and its surface was inscribed with countless extremely complex ancient runes. These runes were not static but flowed slowly, like living things, emitting a faint and eerie dark glow.

Surrounding the Altar stood nine enormous stone pillars. The top of each pillar was carved with the ferocious head of a demon monster, belonging to no known race. They gaped with massive mouths, dark within, as if roaring silently.

Right in the center of the Altar was a groove, the shape and size of which perfectly matched the outline of the three bronze fragments when fitted together.

The dense dark energy emanated outward from this Altar. The Altar itself seemed like a massive source of dark energy, or perhaps... a receiver and amplifier?

"This is the place." Lu Qingxuan landed on the edge of the Altar, his gaze sweeping over the flowing runes and the demon monster stone pillars, sensing the massive and sinister energy contained within them.

Without hesitation, he stepped onto the Altar. The moment his foot landed, the flow rate of the runes on the Altar suddenly accelerated, and two points of crimson light simultaneously lit up in the eye sockets of the nine demon monster stone pillar heads, locking onto him.

A pressure as heavy as a mountain and chillingly cold suddenly descended, attempting to repel him, or even crush him. This pressure far exceeded that of Elder Yin Gu and Venerable Yan Yang before, faintly touching the threshold of the Mid-Integration Stage!

If it were an ordinary Peak Immortal Infant, or even a true Early Integration Stage Cultivator, they would likely find it difficult to move an inch under this pressure, perhaps even suffering physical collapse.

But Lu Qingxuan merely raised an eyebrow. The Chaos Return to Ruin Dao Domain expanded slightly, neutralizing the pressure into nothingness. He walked calmly, heading straight for the groove in the center of the Altar.

The closer he got to the center, the stronger the repulsive force and the malicious gaze from the stone pillars became. The surrounding space began to twist, revealing various illusions: mountains of corpses and seas of blood, whispers of demon gods, betrayal by loved ones... all attempting to disturb his mind.

However, Lu Qingxuan's Exquisite Dao Heart was clear as a mirror, impervious to all methods. These mental attacks had no effect on him. He did not stop, finally arriving before the groove.

He took out the three bronze fragments, which were already intensely connected and buzzing non-stop. They automatically flew up and perfectly slotted into the groove.

"Click!"

A crisp mechanical sound rang out, as if activating a switch that had been dormant for ages.

The entire Altar shook violently!

Buzz—!

The three bronze fragments embedded in the groove burst forth with an unprecedented brilliant light. That light was not the color of bronze, but a deep, ancient Chaos light that seemed capable of swallowing everything! The light rapidly flowed along the runes on the Altar, instantly illuminating the entire structure!

RUMBLE!

The nine demon monster stone pillars trembled violently. The heads at the top seemed to come alive, emitting silent roars, their crimson gazes fixed firmly on the center of the Altar. The dark energy surrounding the Altar surged like boiling water, frantically converging on the Altar and being absorbed by it.

An incredibly complex, massive light formation composed of countless dark runes emerged from the surface of the Altar, slowly rotating. The center of the light formation was precisely where the three bronze fragments were located.

A power of Darkness Origin, ten times more massive and purer than before, surged into his body like a breaching river, flowing from the center of the light formation through the connection between the bronze fragments and Lu Qingxuan!

This was not an attack, but more like a form of... acknowledgment? Or perhaps, the power accumulated by the Dark Star Project's reception Altar over untold millennia had found a qualified recipient and begun its "bestowal"!

This power was too vast! It far exceeded any energy Lu Qingxuan had absorbed before! It contained not only pure Darkness Origin but also countless negative wills—chaotic, violent, and filled with the desire for destruction!

If it were an ordinary Cultivator, even a Mid-Integration Stage one, suddenly receiving such massive dark infusion, they would likely instantly lose their mind, be devoured by the Negative Will, and become a monster knowing only destruction.

But Lu Qingxuan was different!

He had already refined the Darkness Origin initially, and the chaos immortal infant was all-embracing, its Chaos power sufficient to encompass and refine all methods in the world! The Exquisite Dao Heart guarded his spiritual platform, making him impervious to all evils!

"Perfect timing!"

A sharp light burst from Lu Qingxuan's eyes. Far from being afraid, he actively circulated the Chaos Myriad Transformation Divine Art and the Chaos Return to Ruin Dao Domain, frantically devouring and refining this surging dark torrent!

His body seemed to turn into a bottomless pit. The chaos immortal infant hummed cheerfully within his Dantian, greedily absorbing this unprecedented dark nourishment. That thread of Darkness Origin grew and solidified at a visible rate, progressing from "weak" toward "complete."

Driven by this power, his Aura began to climb again! Although he was still some distance from achieving the next major Realm Breakthrough, he had taken a solid step toward the extreme limits of the Immortal Infant Realm.

However, just as he was immersed in the pleasure of increasing power, a new anomaly occurred!

The Void Realm above the Altar was violently torn open by a massive rift! Beyond the rift was not the starry sky, but a darkness even deeper, more deathly silent, and filled with an Aura of endless destruction!

An Aura ten or even a hundred times more terrifying than the pressure emanating from the Altar itself, like a sleeping Primordial Demon God awakening, spread out from behind the rift!

"Ant... how dare you steal the power of the 'Void Abyss'!"

A grand, icy Will, devoid of any emotion, exploded deep within Lu Qingxuan's Divine Soul like billions of bolts of thunder!

Immediately afterward, a gigantic hand, covered in jet-black scales, with fingernails long and curved like scimitars, and so massive it seemed capable of crushing stars, suddenly reached out from the Void Realm rift, carrying a terrifying power capable of grinding down all heavens and myriad worlds, and grabbed toward Lu Qingxuan in the center of the Altar!

The moment this massive hand appeared, the space in the entire core area of Fallen Star Lake solidified! Time seemed to stop flowing! The nine demon monster stone pillars emitted groans of unbearable strain, and the Altar's light dimmed!

This was power that surpassed the Body Integration Stage! It was at least the Tribulation Transcendence Stage, or even... higher!

A powerful being from the source of darkness, the "Void Abyss," unleashed Its wrath and annihilation across the endless Void Realm!

Facing this massive hand that seemed capable of destroying everything, Lu Qingxuan felt unprecedented pressure, and the bones throughout his body emitted faint popping sounds. Yet, instead of fear, blazing Battle Intent ignited in his eyes!

"Finally, something decent has shown up!"

He let out a long cry, advancing instead of retreating, his entire Aura soaring to its Peak! The Chaos Divine Demon Body (Elementary) operated at full capacity, his muscles flowing with a Chaos luster; the Chaos Return to Ruin Dao Domain contracted and condensed, forming an incredibly solid Chaos Light Barrier protecting his body. Simultaneously, the profound meaning of "Return to Ruin" and "Nirvana" was raised to the extreme. His right fist clenched, Chaos Immortal Power, Star Laws, Darkness Origin, Azure Emperor Longevity Power... all forces were forcibly twisted into one stream at this moment. Chaos Qi swirled above his fist, as if he held a Universe about to be created or destroyed!

He did not use any flashy Divine Abilities, only the simplest, most direct, and most overbearing punch, which he violently slammed toward the descending dark massive hand!

The punch lands, Chaos opens!

Return to Ruin intent, ten thousand methods cease!

Is it survival, or destruction?

Is it the struggle of an ant, or the rise of an Emperor?

It all hinges on this single punch!