137: The True Explanation of Reverse Stars and the Enraged Old Monster

Inside the secret passage leading to the Scripture Pavilion.

Violent tremors caused dust to fall from the ceiling of the passage, as if the entire world were shaking.

Even through the thick Restrictions and hundreds of feet of geological layers, the earth-shattering explosion from the Pill Cauldron Hall still made Ling Yunxiao and Li Feiyu's eardrums ache and their blood boil.

"Ruthless... too ruthless..."

Ling Yunxiao leaned against the wall, his pale face showing a sickly flush. "Old Man Han, those were three Nascent Soul Stage Cultivators! Can that explosion kill them?"

"Kill them? You underestimate Nascent Soul Cultivators too much."

Zhou Wannian (Old Man Han) didn't stop, his expression as calm as ten-thousand-year-old ice.

He held the Heavenly Secret Dao Disk in his hand, watching the three blood-red light spots on it that, although dimmed significantly, were still stubbornly burning.

"With Nascent Soul Soul Emergence and teleportation, plus their Lifebound Treasures for protection, killing them isn't that easy. That explosion will at most wound their physical bodies and damage their Magic Treasures. Most importantly..."

The corners of Zhou Wannian's mouth curled into a sinister arc.

"It makes them lose their reason."

"A calm Nascent Soul Old Monster is impossible to deal with. But an enraged, wounded, and desperate one will show flaws."

"Go! Don't look back!"

"While they're cursing in the ruins, we'll go take the real Legacy."

...One incense stick later.

At the end of the passage.

Pushing open a heavy Star Stone secret door, the view ahead suddenly opened up.

Unlike the heat and madness of the Pill Cauldron Hall, this was a quiet space that was almost holy.

[Scripture Pavilion].

This was not a traditional pavilion, but a massive, inverted pyramid-shaped building suspended in mid-air.

Countless Jade Slips emitting soft white light were like swimming fish, slowly moving in the air according to some mysterious trajectory, forming a brilliant "Book River."

In the center of the hall stood a ten-zhang-tall black stone tablet—[True Explanation of the Reverse Star].

"Is this... the foundation of the number one ancient Sect?"

Li Feiyu looked up at the vast sea of Jade Slips, his hand trembling so much he could barely hold his blade.

If any single Jade Slip here were to leak out, it would likely stir up a storm of blood in the Chaotic Star Sea.

"Don't grab blindly."

Zhou Wannian gave a low shout, stopping Ling Yunxiao's attempt to reach for a Jade Slip.

"These Jade Slips all have Divine Sense Restrictions. If you try to read them without enough cultivation, you'll be turned into an idiot by the massive flow of information in an instant."

He walked up to the black stone tablet.

The tablet's surface was smooth as a mirror, reflecting Zhou Wannian's aged face.

"I dare to ask the Heavenly Secret."

Zhou Wannian chanted silently in his heart, pressing one hand against the stone tablet.

"Where is the control center? What is the connection between my Zhou family's Cloud Seal Heavenly Scripture and this place?"

Buzz—

The stone tablet vibrated.

A gentle starlight shot out from the tablet, instantly enveloping Zhou Wannian's entire body.

In the next moment, the Cloud Seal Heavenly Scripture technique within Zhou Wannian's body actually began to operate automatically, and golden Cloud Seal runes emerged from his body, reflecting the starlight on the tablet.

[Identity verification passed.]

[Core technique detected: Cloud Seal Heavenly Scripture (Reverse Star Strategy: Formation Chapter).]

[Permission Level: Deacon Disciple (Foundation Establishment Stage limit).]

[Access allowed: First to third floors of the library. Permission granted: Activate defense Formations.]

A mechanical and ancient voice echoed in Zhou Wannian's mind.

"As expected!"

A sharp light flashed in Zhou Wannian's eyes.

His guess was correct! The Zhou family ancestor was a member of the Reverse Star Alliance back then, and held a high status—at least an elite who mastered the core Formation inheritance!

The Cloud Seal Heavenly Scripture wasn't some miscellaneous technique at all; it was the "operation manual" used by the Reverse Star Alliance to control the Formations of this Immortal Palace!

"Now, we can consider ourselves back at home."

Zhou Wannian laughed loudly, his hands moving like a wheel as he struck several hand seals into the stone tablet.

"Open!"

Rumble.

The "Book River" in the air suddenly parted.

Three streams of light flew toward the three of them respectively.

"Ling Yunxiao, catch!"

Zhou Wannian reached out and guided a Jade Slip emitting purple Sword Qi into Ling Yunxiao's hand.

"This is the 'Great Luo Star Sword Art.' Although it's only a fragment, it's enough for you to Cultivate to the Nascent Soul Stage. You have a Gold Spiritual Root; this sword art can draw Star Power to temper the sword, making it a hundred times stronger than your family's junk."

"Thank you, Old Man Han!" Ling Yunxiao knelt and bowed in excitement.

"Li Feiyu!"

A blood-red Jade Slip flew toward Li Feiyu.

"The 'Seven Kills Overlord Body Art.' A secret technique of ancient Body Cultivators. Since you've taken the Body Refining path, this thing can help you condense that Killing Intent into substance. Coupled with Iron Pillar, you'll be the strongest meat shield."

Li Feiyu grabbed the Jade Slip, his eyes full of fanaticism. "I will follow the Lord to the death!"

Finally.

Zhou Wannian looked at a golden Jade Slip floating in front of him.

It wasn't a Cultivation Technique.

It was a map.

[Reverse Star Immortal Palace: General Structure Map].

Zhou Wannian probed it with his Divine Sense and was immediately shaken.

"So that's how it is..."

"This Reverse Star Immortal Palace isn't a palace at all."

"It's a... ship."

"A Starry Sky Warship that was prepared back then to cross the void and achieve Ascension to the Spirit Realm!"

However, this warship suffered a great disaster on the eve of its completion. Its core power furnace (the current Reverse Star Pagoda) was damaged, causing it to fall into this Small World.

"What a grand undertaking."

Zhou Wannian took a deep breath, suppressing the shock in his heart.

He couldn't fly this ship away, at least not before reaching the Soul Transformation Stage.

But with this map and the authority of a Deacon Disciple...

He could play a good game of "hide and seek" with those three Nascent Soul Old Monsters in this massive labyrinth... Meanwhile.

The ruins of the Pill Cauldron Hall.

This place had already turned into a massive magma lake.

"Arghhhhh!!!!"

A piercingly shrill roar echoed from within the magma.

Splash!

A battered figure shot up into the sky.

It was the Great Elder of the Sixth Hall.

At this moment, he was in a wretched state. The golden robe that symbolized his status had been burned to ashes, revealing the charred inner armor beneath. His meticulously groomed white hair was half-scorched, and his face was a bloody mess.

Worst of all was his Lifebound Treasure, the "mountain severing ruler." To withstand the devastating explosion just now, it had snapped into two pieces, its spirituality greatly diminished.

"Old Man Han..."

"This old man will eat your flesh! Drink your blood!!!"

Following closely.

Two other figures also burst out from the magma.

The Red-Haired Ancestor had lost an arm, his face as pale as golden paper.

The other Nascent Soul Cultivator appeared fine on the outside, but was bleeding from all seven orifices, clearly having his Divine Soul shaken and injured.

"We were too careless."

The Red-Haired Ancestor gritted his teeth, his eyes filled with venom. "This trap was too insidious! It actually triggered the Earth Lung Fire! That old thing is definitely a Formation Grandmaster!"

"I don't care who he is!"

The Great Elder's eyes were bloodshot, like a malevolent ghost ready to devour someone. "He's only at the Foundation Establishment Stage! That strike just now must have been his limit!"

"Search!"

"He must have gone to the Scripture Pavilion in the back!"

"I will extract his soul and refine his spirit, lighting him up as a sky lantern for ten thousand years!!!"

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Three violent streaks of light, carrying a sky-piercing Killing Intent, whistled toward the Scripture Pavilion...

Inside the Scripture Pavilion.

Zhou Wannian watched the three blood-red light spots rapidly approaching on the Heavenly Secret Dao Disk, his face calm.

"They're coming quite fast."

He put away the general map and looked at the two people who were still comprehending their techniques.

"Stop practicing, the guests have arrived."

"Old Man Han, shall we fight them to the death?" Ling Yunxiao held his newly acquired sword art, eager to try.

"Fight my foot."

Zhou Wannian slapped him awake. "Those are Nascent Souls! Even if they're half-dead, they only need a finger to crush us."

"Then what do we do?"

"Run."

Zhou Wannian pointed to a teleportation Formation behind the stone tablet.

"The Scripture Pavilion is just a transfer station."

"According to the general map, the core area of this Immortal Palace—the [Reverse Star Pagoda]—has its own independent defense system."

"As long as we enter the pagoda and use my authority to activate the 'Starlight Restriction Array,' we can lock them outside."

"And..."

A strange light flashed in Zhou Wannian's eyes.

"The first floor of the Reverse Star Pagoda imprisons countless high-level Yao Beasts and Devil Cultivators captured by the Reverse Star Alliance back then, used as trial targets."

"Although tens of thousands of years have passed and most of them are dead."

"There are always a few tough ones..."

"Let's lure these three old monsters in and give those starving Seniors... a little snack."

"Go!"

Zhou Wannian was the first to step into the teleportation Formation.

"Next stop: The Colosseum."

Buzz—

The white light lit up.

Just as the three of them were teleported away.

Boom!

The doors of the Scripture Pavilion were violently smashed open.

The Great Elder rushed in with a ferocious expression, just in time to see Zhou Wannian's silhouette disappearing into the teleportation Formation, along with a raised middle finger.

"You brat, how dare you!!!"

The Great Elder was so angry he spat out a mouthful of blood.

"Chase! Chase them into that teleportation Formation!"

"Even if it's Hell, this old man will drag you out!"

The three Nascent Soul Old Monsters, who were already seeing red, didn't think twice and dove straight into the teleportation Formation that hadn't yet closed.

Little did they know.

The other side of the teleportation Formation.

Was not a treasury, but a true... Shura Hell.