168: The star core recognizes its master, and the celestial spirit begins to appear.

"Xian'er... wait for me!"

Hope, like a tidal wave, swept through Li Ao's mind, dispelling all fatigue and pain. He was no longer passively absorbing energy; instead, he focused his entire mind on the faint yet resilient Soul fluctuation deep within the core of the Eye of Destruction!

He could feel that Xiao Yi Xian's true spirit was enveloped by extremely pure Nirvana Origin, existing in a peculiar state between life and death. The ignited Calamity Poison Body and Nirvana Origin had not completely destroyed her; instead, under the influence of some incredible rule, they had reached a fragile balance with the destructive power of this world, protecting her last shred of spiritual consciousness, and even... slowly absorbing the surrounding destructive energy, undergoing a transformation from death to rebirth!

However, this balance was extremely fragile, and any external interference could break it, leading to her true Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering!

"I must bring her out of that core!" Li Ao was anxious, but he dared not act rashly. Although the Eye of Destruction had dimmed due to the black iron (nirvana star core) Devour, the power contained within its core was still terrifying, far beyond what he could forcibly break through.

Just as he was at a loss, the nirvana star core floating in front of him, seemingly sensing his anxiety and that homologous Soul fluctuation (Xiao Yi Xian's Soul had a trace of Nirvana Origin Fusion), suddenly trembled slightly!

A soft and pure gray-white light, like a mother's tentacle, extended from the nirvana star core, ignoring the rampant destructive energy, gently probing into the deep core of the Eye of Destruction, precisely coiling around the fragile Soul belonging to Xiao Yi Xian.

The Eye of Destruction seemed to want to stop it, but facing the absolute suppression of the nirvana star core, as if in terms of rank, its remaining power merely fluctuated slightly before falling silent, as if acquiescing to everything.

The gray-white light slowly retracted, carefully enveloping Xiao Yi Xian's extremely weak true spirit, slowly bringing her out of the destructive core, and finally, Fusion into the nirvana star core!

The moment Xiao Yi Xian's true spirit Fusion into the nirvana star core, another change occurred!

The nirvana star core erupted with unprecedented brilliant light! The profound patterns on its surface flowed ceaselessly as if alive, and a vast, ancient Nirvana Profound Truth, seemingly originating from the beginning of the Universe, descended with a roar, engulfing the entire Flame Abyss!

Li Ao felt an unprecedentedly close connection between his Soul and this nirvana star core! It was as if it was no longer an external object, but had become a part of his body, his Soul, and his Origin!

Master recognition!

At this moment of rescuing Xiao Yi Xian's true spirit, this mysterious nirvana star core finally truly recognized Li Ao and completed the Soul binding with him!

A massive stream of information surged into Li Ao's Sea of Consciousness. It was about the deeper Profound Truth of "Nirvana," fragmented pieces about the Origin of this nirvana star core, and even... a supreme Cultivation Technique Legacy named "Nirvana Heavenly Scripture"!

At the same time, with the nirvana star core's master recognition, its speed of devouring the destructive Origin of this Flame Abyss suddenly increased tenfold, a hundredfold! The entire Flame Vortex visibly shrank and dimmed! The huge Eye of Destruction let out a silent sigh full of unwillingness and relief, finally completely collapsing and transforming into the purest Origin energy, which was swallowed by the nirvana star core like a whale!

Having lost its core, the entire Flame Abyss began to vibrate violently, and the space became extremely unstable, as if it could collapse at any moment!

"Oh no! This place is about to collapse!" Zi Yan and Medusa on the periphery changed their expressions. They could feel the destructive Origin that supported the heavens and earth rapidly dissipating.

However, Li Ao, at the center of the vortex, had no time for other concerns. His entire mind was immersed within the nirvana star core. There, Xiao Yi Xian's extremely weak true spirit was being nourished by the purest Nirvana Origin. Her Soul, which had undergone the Fusion of the Calamity Poison Body and Nirvana Power, was like a perfect cradle, slowly but steadily recovering and condensing!

Although a complete recovery was still a long way off, at least, the foundation was preserved, and hope was seen!

"Xian'er, rest well. I will find a way to make you fully recover." Li Ao gently soothed the faint consciousness within the nirvana star core with his Soul voice, and then withdrew most of his mind.

He opened his eyes, and gray-white light flowed within them. His Qi, due to the nirvana star core's master recognition and the devouring of a large amount of Origin, had already stabilized at Peak Five-Star Dou Zun, even faintly touching the threshold of Six-Star! More importantly, his understanding of the Dao of Nirvana had reached a whole new height.

With a thought, the nirvana star core transformed into a streak of light and re-entered his glabella, disappearing from sight. From then on, this supreme treasure, which concerned one of the ultimate Profound Truths of the Universe, would coexist with him.

"Let's go!"

Li Ao no longer lingered. With a flash of his figure, he appeared beside the anxiously waiting Zi Yan and Medusa.

"Are you alright?" "Did you succeed?" The two women spoke almost simultaneously.

Li Ao nodded, an irrepressible smile of relief on his face: "Xian'er's true spirit is preserved and is being nourished within my nirvana star core. This place is not suitable for long stays, let's go quickly!"

The three no longer hesitated. Zi Yan once again opened a protective barrier, and they quickly fled in the direction they had come from.

Behind them, the entire Flame Abyss began to collapse over a large area. Space shattered, and destructive energy raged and annihilated uncontrollably. This forbidden land, which had existed for countless years, was heading towards its final end due to the departure and master recognition of the nirvana star core.

When the three barely managed to rush out of the spatial barrier and return to the relatively stable outer reaches of the Endless Fire Territory, the distorted spatial entrance behind them boomed shut, then completely disappeared, as if it had never existed. Only the lingering heat and destructive Qi in the air proved the thrilling events that had just transpired.

"Finally... it's over." Medusa looked at the calm Void Realm, letting out a soft sigh of relief, and her purple eyes looked at Li Ao with inquiry.

Li Ao understood her meaning and briefly informed them about the rescue of Xiao Yi Xian's true spirit and the master recognition of the nirvana star core, only concealing core Legacies such as the "Nirvana Heavenly Scripture."

Zi Yan clicked her tongue in amazement: "nirvana star core? Goodness, your luck is too Heaven-Defying! You actually obtained such a legendary item and it even recognized you as its master! It seems this saint didn't misjudge you!"

She patted Li Ao's shoulder and said in an old-fashioned tone, "Cultivate well. If you become a Dou Di in the future, don't forget to look out for this saint!"

Li Ao chuckled and said solemnly, "If Your Majesty had not given your full assistance this time, I would have perished many times over. This kindness, Li Ao will never forget."

"Good to know!" Zi Yan proudly raised her small chin.

With the biggest worry in his heart resolved, Li Ao felt much lighter. Although the road ahead was still long, at least hope was in his hands. He looked towards the direction of the Central Plains, his eyes once again becoming sharp.

"Hun Clan... it's time to settle the score!"

Now his strength had greatly increased, the nirvana star core had recognized him as its master, and he had the Dragon Emperor as an Alliance. The Alliance forces had also initially taken shape. It was time to take the initiative and demand repayment for the blood debts from the Hun Clan!

"Let's go, back to the Ancient World! I'm sure the Clan Chief and the others are already getting impatient." Zi Yan tore through space and created a passage.

The three stepped into the spatial passage and disappeared into this gradually calming fire territory.

And not long after they left, several figures shrouded in thick black mist quietly appeared at the original entrance of the Flame Abyss.

The leader, whose Qi was as cold as a nether spring, was none other than Soul Mie Sheng, one of the Hun Clan Four Demon Saints! He sensed the lingering Nirvana Qi and the completely vanished abyss entrance, his face terribly gloomy.

"The Qi of the nirvana star core... was actually taken away by someone... Who was it?!" His eyes blazed with murderous intent, "Investigate! this saint demands a thorough investigation! And Lei Gang, the Ancient Clan, the Void Ancient Dragon... all who obstruct the Hun Clan's great plan must be... eliminated!"

A chilling killing intent spread out.

The storm, far from subsiding, became even more turbulent because of Li Ao's journey to the abyss! The final decisive battle was already approaching!