159: Chapter 159 Abyss Anomalies, Preparations for Upgrade

The dark red pillar of light above the Burial Dragon Abyss lasted for a full half-day before slowly dissipating.

But the blood-red color in the sky did not fade; instead, it condensed into a layer of eerie dark red clouds, shrouding the surrounding hundreds of miles.

Lightning flashed through the cloud layer from time to time, but it was not the common silver-white, but rather... dark red Spirit Devouring Demon Thunder.

Wherever the Spirit Devouring Demon Thunder struck, vegetation withered, rocks corroded, and even the Spiritual Veins were polluted.

"This is the 'Spirit Devouring Demon Thunder'."

At the top of the Star Observation Tower, Heavenly Craftsman gazed at the distant dark red clouds with a solemn expression:

"The Spirit Devouring Clan is forcibly tearing open the Seal's fissures, ushering the Devilish Qi from the Void Realm to descend. Every time the demon thunder strikes, the Seal weakens by another point."

He turned to look at Lin Yue: "Sect Master Lin, at this rate, the Seal probably... won't last more than seven months."

Seven months.

Lin Yue was silent for a moment before slowly saying, "Senior Tiangong, what is the fastest the Zhou Tian Xing Dou Great Array can be completed?"

"If all the Materials are ready and we put in our full effort, it will take four months at the earliest."

Heavenly Craftsman sighed, "But now that the Spirit Devouring Clan has acted ahead of schedule, the difficulty of setting up the Formation has greatly increased. The outskirts of the Burial Dragon Abyss have already been polluted by Devilish Qi, and even a Formation Master could have their mind corroded if they get too close."

"And..."

He paused: "During the process of setting up the Formation, the beings within the Seal will inevitably be disturbed. They are very likely to interfere, or even... break the Seal prematurely."

"Then we will defend while setting up the Formation."

Decisiveness flashed in Lin Yue's eyes. "The Star Guard have already rushed to the outskirts to set up defenses, and the War Department will follow shortly. I will personally oversee the front line to buy time for Senior to set up the Formation."

"Sect Master Lin..."

Heavenly Craftsman hesitated but eventually nodded. "Very well. This old man will speed up the progress, but at least three months are needed. During these three months, there must be no interference whatsoever."

Inside the Council Hall, Lin Cang, Lin Hu, Star Radiance, True Person Qingluan, True Person Xuan Jian... all the high-level members were gathered.

"Everyone, the situation is clear."

Lin Yue's voice was calm, yet it carried an unquestionable authority. "Seven months—this is our final deadline."

"In these seven months, we must accomplish three things."

"First, hold the outskirts of the Burial Dragon Abyss to buy three months for Senior Tiangong to set up the Formation."

"Second, after the Zhou Tian Xing Dou Great Array is completed, use the power of the array to suppress the Seal for at least five years—this is the bottom line."

"Third, during this period, the Luoxia Sect must produce at least three Nascent Souls, the number of Golden Cores must exceed one hundred, and the Foundation Establishment Peak Disciples must reach five hundred."

"Only by achieving these three points will we be qualified... to face the army of the Spirit Devouring Clan."

The hall fell into a dead silence.

Seven months, three Nascent Souls, one hundred Golden Cores, five hundred Foundation Establishment Peaks... these goals sounded like a fantasy.

"I know it's difficult."

Lin Yue looked around at everyone. "But no matter how difficult it is, it must be done."

"Because if we don't, we die."

"Not just the Luoxia Sect, but the entire Southern Territory, and even the whole Human Race... could perish."

He paused: "Therefore, starting today, the Luoxia Sect enters a 'wartime state'."

"All resources will be prioritized for the front line and Cultivation."

"All Disciples will have their leaves canceled and must put their full effort into increasing their strength."

"All Elders will take turns overseeing the front line to ensure the defensive line remains stable."

"As for me..."

He looked toward the Burial Dragon Abyss. "I will personally enter the 'Secret Realm' for one month of seclusion. During this month, if there are any changes in the outside world, Lin Cang will take charge, assisted by Senior Tiangong, Fellow Daoist Star Radiance, and True Person Qingluan."

"In one month, when I emerge, I want to see... the front line established and the Sect's strength greatly increased."

"Can it be done?"

"It can!"

Everyone responded in unison.

Though the goals were daunting, no one backed down.

Because they knew that in this battle, there was no way out.

That same day, the Luoxia Sect was fully mobilized.

The City Protecting Great Formation was opened at full power, and the nine-layered Star Barrier remained active day and night.

All shops and workshops shifted to wartime production, putting all their effort into refining Medicinal Pills, Magical Artifacts, and Talismans.

The three thousand Cultivators of the War Department were fully armed and established a defensive line a hundred miles from the outskirts of the Burial Dragon Abyss.

The forty-three Golden Cores of the Star Guard were divided into three shifts, with each shift guarding a direction, ready to respond to any emergencies at any time.

Reinforcements from the Qinglan Sect and the Seven Star Alliance also arrived successively within three days—

Mo Chen personally led two Nascent Soul Elders and thirty Golden Cores south;

The Seven Star Alliance sent an additional two Nascent Souls and fifty Golden Cores.

Combined with the Luoxia Sect's own forces, a massive power of five Nascent Souls, over one hundred and twenty Golden Cores, and nearly four thousand Foundation Establishment Cultivators had gathered on the outskirts of the Burial Dragon Abyss.

Such a lineup was enough to sweep through the Southern Territory.

But facing the increasingly strong evil qi from deep within the Burial Dragon Abyss, everyone knew in their hearts—this was far from enough.

Inside the Grotto-heaven.

Lin Yue sat cross-legged under the World Tree, with three items floating before him.

A fist-sized silver crystal core—the Star Origin refined from the Evil Seed Core.

A bottle of pale gold liquid—the "Dragon Soul Essence" precipitated over a thousand years from the dragon soul spirit spring.

And a... beating golden heart.

That was the "Heart of the Spiritual Vein" occasionally birthed from the Spiritual Vein newly created by the Grotto-heaven, containing pure Earth Origin.

"Master, these three Origins correspond to the Stars, the Dragon Soul, and the Earth respectively."

Haotian manifested a phantom image, his tone solemn: "If forcibly fused, although they can greatly increase your cultivation in a short time, the risk is enormous. The three Origins have different attributes; once out of control, it could lead to the collapse of the Nascent Soul."

"What is the success rate?"

"According to the deductions, fifty percent."

"Fifty percent..."

Lin Yue looked at the three treasures before him, a flash of determination in his eyes.

A fifty percent probability was a huge gamble for ordinary Cultivators.

But for him... it was enough.

"Let's begin."

He closed his eyes, and the star dragon nascent soul left his body.

The Nascent Soul's left hand held the Star Origin crystal core, its right hand grasped the Dragon Soul Essence, and that Heart of the Spiritual Vein slowly sank into the Nascent Soul's Dantian.

Three Origins, refined simultaneously!

BOOM—!

The Grotto-heaven trembled violently.

The leaves of the World Tree swayed frantically, the water in the time pool boiled, and the seven major Mineral Veins hummed in unison.

The powers of the three Origins crashed, intertwined, and fused within Lin Yue's body.

The vastness of the Stars, the dominance of the Dragon Soul, and the heaviness of the Earth... any one of them was enough to make a Nascent Soul Cultivator's body explode, yet they were now being forcibly gathered into one body.

Lin Yue's face instantly turned as pale as paper, and blood began to seep from his seven orifices.

His Meridians were rupturing, his bones were groaning, and even his Divine Soul trembled violently under the impact of the three Origins.

But he gritted his teeth, and the star dragon nascent soul operated at full power, forcibly suppressing, harmonizing, and fusing the energies.

One day, two days, three days... there was no sun or moon in the Grotto-heaven, only the radiance of the three Origins flashing alternately.

When the seventh day arrived—

Buzz!

A clear dragon roar sounded from within Lin Yue's body.

On the surface of the star dragon nascent soul, in addition to the original star and dragon patterns, another layer appeared... earthy yellow mountain patterns.

The three Origins had finally achieved initial Fusion!

And Lin Yue's cultivation also soared at this moment.

Early, middle, and late phases of the Mid Nascent Soul Stage... finally, it stopped at the Mid Nascent Soul Peak!

He was only a step away from the Late Nascent Soul Stage!

"It's done..."

Lin Yue opened his eyes, and triple phantoms of a starry river, a dragon shadow, and a mountain rotated in his eyes before finally returning to calm.

He felt the surging power within his body.

The Fusion of the three Origins brought not only an increase in cultivation but also a deeper understanding of the Laws of heaven and earth.

Now he could clearly perceive every inch of the expansion speed of the Seal's fissures in the direction of the Burial Dragon Abyss, and every trace of the evil qi's infiltration path.

He could even vaguely sense the... location of that dark shadow deep within the fissure.

"Congratulations, Master."

Haotian's voice carried a hint of exhaustion: "But the price of forced Fusion is not small. Within three years, you cannot attempt another Breakthrough; you must spend time completely stabilizing your Foundation, otherwise there will be no hope for Soul Transformation in the future."

"Three years... that's enough."

Lin Yue stood up: "As long as we get through these seven months, as for three years, I'll have plenty of time."

He looked outside the Grotto-heaven. "How many days have passed outside?"

"Seven days. In the direction of the Burial Dragon Abyss, a total of three demon thunders broke out during these seven days, and the range of evil qi pollution expanded by thirty miles. The Star Guard clashed with Demonic Creatures seven times, with three severely injured and twelve lightly injured; no one died."

"What were the battle results?"

"Eighty-seven Demonic Creatures were killed, including three Golden Core level ones, and the rest were all Foundation Establishment level."

Lin Yue's brow furrowed slightly.

Eighty-seven Demonic Creatures, and only three were Golden Core level?

This proportion wasn't right.

"Are those Demonic Creatures... very weak?"

"Yes. According to the information sent back from the front line, those Demonic Creatures have low intelligence and only attack by instinct; their combat strength is far inferior to Cultivators of the same rank. But their numbers are vast and seemingly endless."

Lin Yue understood.

These were cannon fodder.

The Spirit Devouring Clan was using the lowest-level Demonic Creatures to consume their strength while simultaneously polluting the environment to prepare for a large-scale descent.

"Tell the front line to change tactics. Golden Core Cultivators should not act lightly; use the Foundation Establishment War Department as the main force, cooperating with Formations and Magical Artifacts to clear out the Demonic Creatures."

"Preserve our strength for the real battle."

"Yes."

"Additionally..."

Coldness flashed in Lin Yue's eyes. "Notify Lin Cang to activate the 'Demon Hunting Order'."

"For every Foundation Establishment Demonic Creature killed, a Disciple will be rewarded one hundred Contribution Points. For every Golden Core Demonic Creature killed, the reward is one thousand Contribution Points."

"Contribution Points can be exchanged for any resource, including... the subsequent chapters of the Star Lord Inheritance."

"Within three months, I want all Foundation Establishment Peak Disciples to break through to the Golden Core stage!"

"Yes!"

As soon as the Demon Hunting Order was issued, the entire Sect was in an uproar.

The temptation of Contribution Points was already enormous, and now being able to exchange them for the subsequent chapters of the Star Lord Inheritance made all the Disciples' eyes turn red with desire.

In just three short days, the outskirts of the Burial Dragon Abyss became a Shura Field.

Countless Luoxia Sect Disciples formed small teams to hunt Demonic Creatures under the protection of Formations.

The War Department Cultivators were responsible for the frontal clearing, while the Star Guard oversaw from the rear, ready to support at any time.

And Lin Yue emerged from seclusion on the eighth day.

He did not go to the front line but instead came to... Heavenly Craftsman's Formation site.

Three hundred miles from the outskirts of the Burial Dragon Abyss was a flat valley.

At this moment, thirty-six Starfall Iron Pillars, each ten zhang high, had been erected in the valley, with every pillar carved with complex Formation runes.

Heavenly Craftsman was busy moving between the pillars with Little Star and dozens of other Formation Masters.

"Sect Master Lin."

Seeing Lin Yue's arrival, Heavenly Craftsman stopped his work. "You've emerged from seclusion? Your aura... has improved quite a bit again."

"I was lucky to have a Breakthrough."

Lin Yue nodded and looked at those Starfall Iron Pillars. "Senior, how is the progress of the Great Array?"

"Faster than expected."

A rare smile appeared on Heavenly Craftsman's face.

He pointed to Little Star. "This girl has been a huge help. Her understanding of star Formations far exceeds that of ordinary people; she can derive the results of many tedious calculations with just a glance. With her help, the speed of setting up the Formation has increased by thirty percent."

Little Star lowered her head, feeling a bit embarrassed.

A flash of gratification appeared in Lin Yue's eyes.

This girl certainly hadn't disappointed him.

"Senior, I want to ask you something."

Lin Yue said seriously, "Once the Zhou Tian Xing Dou Great Array is completed, can it... be used in reverse?"

"Used in reverse?"

Heavenly Craftsman was startled.

"Yes."

Lin Yue looked toward the depths of the Burial Dragon Abyss. "The purpose of the Great Array is to suppress the Seal and prevent the Spirit Devouring Clan from breaking it. But if one day the Seal completely collapses and we can no longer hold it..."

He paused: "Can the Great Array be reversed to completely Seal the entire Burial Dragon Abyss, or even... banish it to the depths of the Void Realm?"

Heavenly Craftsman's expression changed suddenly.

"Sect Master Lin, do you know what this means?"

"I know."

Lin Yue said calmly, "It means all existences within the Burial Dragon Abyss, including the Spirit Devouring Clan army that may not have descended yet, will be banished to the Void, never to return for eternity."

"It also means... the Southern Territory will forever lose the Burial Dragon Abyss, its largest Spiritual Vein."

"But compared to the descent of the Spirit Devouring Clan and the resulting suffering of all living beings, the loss of one Spiritual Vein... is acceptable."

Heavenly Craftsman remained silent for a long time.

Eventually, he slowly nodded. "Theoretically, it's possible. But it would require modifying thirty percent of the Formation bases and adding three core runes: 'Void Anchoring', 'Dimensional Cutting', and 'Eternal Banishment'."

"And..."

He looked at Lin Yue: "Reversing the Great Array requires at least three Nascent Soul Stage Cultivators working together, or... one Nascent Soul Stage Cultivator burning their Origin and sacrificing themselves."

Lin Yue's eyes narrowed.

Three Soul Transformation Cultivators, or one Soul Transformation sacrifice.

The price was too high.

"Is there no other way?"

"There is."

Heavenly Craftsman paused. "If there were a treasure containing 'Space Origin' to serve as the formation eye, then only one Nascent Soul Peak, cooperating with the power of the Great Array, could also complete the banishment."

A Space Origin treasure... Lin Yue's heart stirred.

After the Grotto-heaven reached Level 11, among the World Tree's abilities to analyze rules, there seemed to be one for "Space".

Although it was only a prototype, if he used the Grotto-heaven's Origin as a guide and the World Tree as a medium, perhaps... "I understand."

He didn't say more, only nodded. "Please leave room for modifications in your design, Senior. As for the space treasure... I will find a way."

Heavenly Craftsman gave him a deep look. "Very well."

He didn't ask further.

Everyone has their own secrets; for some things, it's better not to know.

The one-month period was drawing to a close.

The defensive line on the outskirts of the Burial Dragon Abyss was now impregnable, and the progress of clearing out Demonic Creatures far exceeded expectations.

Within the Luoxia Sect, the first batch of Disciples who responded to the "Demon Hunting Order" had begun to return to exchange for their rewards.

The most dazzling among them was a person named Lin Mo.

A member of the Lin family's direct line, twenty-five years old, and at the Golden Core Peak.

During this month, he had personally led a team to hunt over three hundred Demonic Creatures, including two Golden Core level and countless Foundation Establishment level ones.

When he returned, he was covered in blood, but his eyes were as sharp as swords.

And the reward he exchanged for was the fourth layer of the "Star Lord Inheritance: Golden Core Chapter"—a secret technique that leads directly to the Nascent Soul stage!

"Sect Master, Lin Mo requests an audience."

Outside the Council Hall, Lin Mo bowed respectfully.

"Come in."

Lin Yue looked at this young junior, a flash of praise in his eyes.

"This Disciple has already exchanged for the fourth layer of the Golden Core Chapter and will surely break through to the Middle Golden Core Stage within three days."

Lin Mo's voice was firm. "This Disciple requests to join the vanguard of the Star Guard to slay demons and devils for the Sect!"

"Granted."

Lin Yue nodded. "But remember, your life is not just your own; it also belongs to the Lin family and the Sect."

"Risk your life when it's time to do so, and retreat when it's time to retreat. Only by preserving your useful self can you kill more Demonic Creatures."

"This Disciple... will keep that in mind!"

Lin Mo kowtowed deeply, then turned and left.

Looking at his departing back, a complex expression flashed in Lin Yue's eyes.

The Lin family's current generation was finally beginning to rise.

Lin Mo, Lin Qing, Little Star... and even more young Disciples were all growing rapidly.

As long as they were given time, they would surely become the pillars of the Sect in the future.

But would the Spirit Devouring Clan... give them that time?

Lin Yue looked outside the hall.

In the distance, within the dark red clouds, another demon thunder struck down.

This time, a massive shadow was vaguely visible within the thunderlight.

It was as if something on the other side of the Seal was watching this world.

"What should come will eventually come."

Lin Yue clenched his fists.

"Then let it come."

"Let's see if your fangs are sharper, or if my Luoxia Sect's blades... are keener!"