688: Chapter 688 Lu Xueqi and Biyao (67)

The pressure of the Peak Star Realm was actually this terrifying!

Su Han gritted his teeth, frantically circulating his Star Power to resist, but it was like a mantis trying to stop a chariot; he could not move an inch. The gap between their Realms was too large; this was not something that sword techniques or willpower could compensate for.

"How about it? It is still not too late to change your mind." Netherworld Master walked closer slowly, his tone leisurely.

A look of determination flashed in Su Han's eyes. He would rather die in battle than submit.

Just as he was preparing to burn his essence blood for a desperate final struggle, the moon god pendant in his robes suddenly lit up with a soft white light, forming a protective barrier around him. The Netherworld Master's pressure was blocked outside the barrier, and Su Han immediately felt relieved.

"Oh? The moon god pendant?" Netherworld Master raised an eyebrow. "That girl Yue Hua is indeed deeply devoted to you. Unfortunately, this moon god pendant can block at most three of my strikes. What then?"

He slowly raised his hand, black light condensing at his fingertips.

Su Han's mind raced, searching for a way to escape. Fighting head-on was definitely out of the question; he could only win through wit. But the difference in strength was too great; any scheme seemed pale in the Face of absolute power.

At that moment, a long whistle suddenly came from the horizon.

"Netherworld Master, you have quite the nerve to dare attack a Disciple of my Ziyang Sect in Qingyun City!"

A streak of purple light broke through the air and landed in the courtyard, transforming into the figure of Venerable Ziyang. His beard and hair were flared out as he glared at Netherworld Master.

"Old Daoist Ziyang?" Netherworld Master frowned, then sneered. "What, you want to protect him?"

"Su Han is a Disciple of my Ziyang Sect, so this old man naturally must protect him." Venerable Ziyang took a step forward, shielding Su Han. "As for you, the grand Vice Sect Master of the Heart-Corroding Sword Sect, to actually attack a Junior—aren't you afraid of being ridiculed by the world?"

"Ridiculed?" Netherworld Master laughed loudly. "History is written by the victors; it has been so since ancient times. As long as I obtain the whereabouts of the tianya sword and Yu Heng, who will care about the process?"

"You!" Venerable Ziyang was furious, purple Qi surging around him as his Aura rose steadily.

"Peak Star Realm?" A hint of surprise flashed in Netherworld Master's eyes. "I didn't expect you old fellow to have achieved a Breakthrough as well. However, having just broken through, how many moves can you block from me?"

The Auras of the two collided, the air emitting explosive booms as the walls and ground of the small courtyard began to crack. If not for the protection of the Formation, the entire residence would likely have been reduced to ruins.

Inside the moon god pendant's barrier, Su Han still felt suffocated. The confrontation between two Peak Star Realm powerhouses—the mere aftershocks were enough to shake a Star Palace Realm to death.

"Netherworld Master, private fighting is strictly forbidden during the Hundred Sects Grand Assembly. Do you wish to violate the rules of the assembly?" Venerable Ziyang said sharply.

"Rules?" Netherworld Master scoffed. "Rules are made for the weak. This seat intends to take him away today; what can you do?"

"Then let this old man experience just how much weight you, the Vice Sect Master of the Heart-Corroding Sword Sect, truly carry!"

Venerable Ziyang waved his large sleeve, striking out with a purple palm print that carried the faint sound of thunder within the wind of the palm. Netherworld Master neither dodged nor avoided it, pointing a finger out as a black light, like a venomous snake's tongue, collided with the palm print.

"Boom—"

The giant sound shook the heavens, and waves of air surged. Venerable Ziyang retreated three steps, while Netherworld Master remained motionless.

The difference in their levels was immediately apparent.

"Ziyang, you are not my match." Netherworld Master shook his head. "Withdraw now, and this seat can act as if nothing happened."

Venerable Ziyang's Face turned ashen. Although he had reached the Peak Star Realm, the time was still short and his Foundation was unstable; he was indeed not a match for an old powerhouse like Netherworld Master.

But he could not stand by and watch his Sect's Disciple be taken away.

Just as Venerable Ziyang gritted his teeth, prepared to risk his life, another voice came through.

"Netherworld Master, what grand display of power."

The voice was not loud, yet it carried a sharp edge, as if it could pierce the sky. Before the voice faded, a green sword light descended from the heavens, landing in the courtyard and transforming into a middle-aged man in green robes.

This person carried a long sword on his back and had a cold, stern Face; sword light flowed as his eyes opened and closed. As soon as he appeared, the air in the entire courtyard seemed to freeze.

"Heavenly Sword Sect Revered Master, Ye Gucheng?" Netherworld Master's expression changed slightly.

"It is indeed I, Ye." Ye Gucheng said indifferently. "Netherworld Master, is your Heart-Corroding Sword Sect planning to openly violate the rules of the Hundred Sects Grand Assembly?"

Netherworld Master's eyes flickered. He did not fear a single Venerable Ziyang, but with the Heavenly Sword Sect Revered Master added, victory or defeat would be hard to say. Moreover, this was Qingyun City; if things truly escalated, the Heart-Corroding Sword Sect would not have the moral high ground.

"Sect Master Ye must be joking. This seat only came to catch up with young friend Su; there was no ill intent." Netherworld Master suddenly smiled, his Killing Intent completely vanishing.

"Does catching up require the use of force?" Ye Gucheng was expressionless.

"My hands were momentarily itchy, so I merely exchanged a few moves with Fellow Daoist Ziyang." Netherworld Master's Face did not change as he looked at Venerable Ziyang. "Fellow Daoist, wouldn't you say so?"

Venerable Ziyang gave a cold snort and did not respond.

"Since Sect Master Ye has intervened, this seat will give the Heavenly Sword Sect Face today." Netherworld Master took a deep look at Su Han. "Young friend Su, we shall meet again."

With that, his figure flickered and dissipated like black smoke.

Once Netherworld Master left, the pressure in the courtyard vanished. Su Han breathed a sigh of relief, deactivated the moon god pendant's barrier, and bowed to Venerable Ziyang and Ye Gucheng.

"Many thanks, Revered Master. Many thanks, Sect Master Ye."

"No need for such formalities." Ye Gucheng waved his hand, his gaze falling on Su Han with a hint of admiration. "You are Su Han? Not bad. You have courage and insight, and you possess Sword Heart Clarity. No wonder Ling Xiao was full of praise for you."

"Sect Master Ye overpraises me," Su Han said modestly.

"I know a thing or two about your grievances with the Heart-Corroding Sword Sect." Ye Gucheng pondered. "During the Hundred Sects Grand Assembly, they won't dare to act openly, but after the assembly ends, they will surely strike. Do you have a plan?"

Su Han gave a bitter smile and shook his head. "I'll take it one step at a time."

"If you have nowhere to go, you can come to my Heavenly Sword Sect." Ye Gucheng said. "While my Heavenly Sword Sect does not fear the Heart-Corroding Sword Sect, I cannot say we can fully protect your safety. However, within the Sect, they would never dare to act recklessly."

Su Han was moved. He and Ye Gucheng were strangers, yet the other was willing to offend the Heart-Corroding Sword Sect for him; this friendship was truly rare.

"Thank you for your kindness, Sect Master Ye, but I have my own path to walk." Su Han politely declined. He carried the entrustment of Senior Sister Yu Heng and had to go to the Middle Domain to find a cure; he could not stay in the Eastern Domain for long.

Ye Gucheng did not force him, nodding. "In that case, be extra careful. Take this Sword Talisman. If you encounter danger, crush it; it can block a full-strength strike from the Star Realm, and I will also sense it."

He handed over a green jade talisman engraved with a small sword.

"This is too precious..." Su Han hesitated.

"Take it." Venerable Ziyang sighed. "Sect Master Ye's kind intentions should not be wasted."

Only then did Su Han accept it and thank him again.

"Alright, rest well. There are still matches tomorrow." After Ye Gucheng finished speaking, he transformed into a sword light and departed.

Venerable Ziyang gave Su Han a few more instructions before also returning to his residence.

Silence returned to the courtyard as if the danger from just now had never happened. But Su Han knew this was merely the calm before the storm. Netherworld Master would never let things go, and after the Hundred Sects Grand Assembly would be the true crisis.

"Strength... I need even greater strength!"

Su Han clenched his fists, a raging fire burning in his eyes.

He returned to his room, sat cross-legged, took out all his Star Stones, and began to absorb them frantically. Star Power flowed like a river into the sea, surging into his Star Sea and constantly battering that invisible barrier.

The transition from the Star Sea Realm to the Star Palace Realm was a qualitative change. One needed to condense the Star Sea into a Star Palace and open the Dantian to accommodate more Star Power. This step was extremely difficult; countless Cultivators were stuck here, unable to break through for their entire lives.

Su Han's mind sank into his Star Sea, guiding the Star Power to constantly compress and condense. In the center of the Star Sea, a blurry outline of a palace slowly emerged—it was the embryonic form of the Star Palace.

Time passed bit by bit, and Star Stones turned into powder one by one. Cold sweat broke out on Su Han's forehead, and his body trembled slightly. Condensing a Star Palace placed an immense drain on the mind; a single mistake could lead to total failure, or even the collapse of the Star Sea and the loss of his cultivation.

But he did not retreat. The pale Face of Senior Sister Yu Heng appeared in his mind, along with the cold eyes of Netherworld Master and the hardships and dangers he had faced along the way.

"I cannot fall... I absolutely cannot!"

Su Han gritted his teeth and injected the last sliver of Star Power into the Star Palace prototype. The hazy palace gradually became clear—bricks, tiles, beams, and pillars appeared one by one. When the final tile condensed into shape, the entire Star Palace shook violently, bursting forth with brilliant light.

The Star Palace was complete! (End of Chapter)