The cracks in the glazed dome spread like a spiderweb, shimmering with the faint light of star marrow crystals, like shattered stars in the night sky.
Lu Qingyang squatted on the eaves of the collapsed teahouse, his fingertips gently caressing the Northern Dipper pattern on a fragment of a cauldron ear. Suddenly, he felt a sharp pain in his palm—the star pattern was madly devouring the spiritual power that suppressed his Soul Devouring Curse Seal, like a greedy vampire.
“Fellow Daoist, your Heaven-Peeking Spell is truly clumsy.” He didn't turn his head, but with a flick of his arm, he flung out his copper coin sword like a flash of lightning.
The sword tassel, like a spiritual snake, quickly wrapped around the neck of the grey-robed Cultivator peeking from three zhang away. “Do the scouts of the Starry Sky Merchant Guild all like to scent their sleeves with dragon saliva incense?” A gurgling sound came from the Cultivator’s throat, as if his fate had been choked. A jade token engraved with a black flag symbol rolled out from his sleeve.
Lu Qingyang lightly flicked his toe, and the jade token flew up like a dancing butterfly. However, when he saw the blood-colored star pattern seeping from the back of the jade token, his heart sank. It was identical to the jade token used by the scout Leng Yuehan had previously killed.
He narrowed his eyes, and the Chaos Green Lotus in his Dantian trembled slightly, like a sleeping giant being awakened. Within the lotus heart, the shadow of a Soul-Devouring Insect curled deep within the jade token was reflected, like a demon hidden in the darkness, ready to choose someone to devour.
“Clang—”
The Restriction propped open by the bronze umbrella ribs suddenly rippled like a calm lake. The Xuan-robed youth of the Northern Dipper family fell from the umbrella surface like a fallen leaf, tightly clutching half a star pattern chain as if it were his entire life: “That old Pill Cultivator vomited blood in the Drunken Immortal Pavilion! He said the remnant page of the medical classic is in…”
“In the sleeve of the Starry Sky Merchant Guild’s steward?” Lu Qingyang cut him off like a gust of wind, his copper coin sword, like a venomous snake, lifted the youth’s collar. “Lend me a piece of your third grand-uncle’s compass for a moment.”
Where the sword tip passed, the fragment of the Heaven-Peeking Mirror, secretly hidden in the Elder’s inner lapel, fell like a leaf.
The youth’s face turned as red as a ripe apple, wanting to argue, when he suddenly saw a startling image reflected in the mirror fragment—within the remains of a Soul Suppressing Cauldron in a black market pawn shop, a corpse with an ice soul hairpin stuck in its forehead was curled up. The frost flower pattern on the hairpin, like the symbol of the Guanghan Palace Grand Elder, shimmered with a mysterious light in the darkness.
“This interest is a bit hot to handle…” Lu Qingyang twirled the mirror fragment, a slight, foxy smile on his face.
The green lotus roots, like Flood Dragons, suddenly plunged into the ground. The bluestone slabs within a ten-zhang radius rolled up like giant waves stirred by a strong wind, revealing the flowing star marrow dark river beneath. Among the Spirit Treasure fragments floating in the river, half a Starry Sky Merchant Guild banner, like an abandoned orphan, was wrapped in an ice crystal. Sealed within the crystal was a wisp of Su Meiniang’s tail fur.
The sound of clashing metal suddenly came from outside the teahouse ruins, deafening like thunder. Lin Pangzi, the plump Pill Cultivator, retreated while fighting, like an ant on a hot pan, holding a purple-gold Pill Furnace: “Daoist Lu! The medical classic is at the Black Dragon Pawn Shop’s…” Before he could finish speaking, three Soul-Shattering Chains pierced through the Pill Furnace like lightning. The purple fire in the furnace erupted like a volcanic explosion, burning the pursuers to charcoal.
Lu Qingyang’s figure flickered, instantly appearing beside the Pill Cultivator. His copper coin sword, like a spiritual snake, lifted the Pill Cultivator’s blood-stained collar, and he asked in a cold voice: “Lin Pangzi, you actually dared to deliberately ignite your Natal Pill Fire. Are you trying to use my Tiantian Daowen to devour the chains?”
Where the sword tip passed, the blood-colored star pattern on the Pill Cultivator’s chest shattered inch by inch like a spiderweb, and threads of poisonous blood with a medicinal fragrance seeped out. The Pill Cultivator endured the severe pain, coughing up blood foam as he laughed: “Brother Lu, your Wisdom Eye is indeed sharp. The medical classic records the Body Tempering method of the Yin and Yang Spring, which will be of great benefit to you in suppressing the Soul Devouring Curse Seal…”
Before he could finish speaking, the Pill Cultivator suddenly flung out three Soul-Burning Nails, which shot towards the dark river like meteors.
At the same time, the star marrow dark river seemed to ignite, suddenly boiling. Twelve statues of Ya Zi broke out of the water.
Each statue was several zhang tall, shimmering with mysterious light, and spewing raging karmic fire from its mouth, which was of the same origin as the Fox Fire seeping from the golden bell on Su Meiniang’s tail tip. Seeing this, Lu Qingyang’s pupils suddenly constricted, and a strong sense of crisis surged in his heart.
He didn't have time to think much. The Chaos Green Lotus in his hand suddenly contracted, forming a layer of hard bone armor that covered his body. The casting method of these statues was extremely bizarre, clearly mixed with the secret art of the Qingqiu blood sacrifice, and the power contained within them sent shivers down one's spine.
“Northern Dipper boy, lend me your umbrella for a moment!” A furious shout came. His figure flickered, and he rushed towards the bronze umbrella like a ghost.
He reached out and snatched it, and the bronze umbrella was thrown towards the dark river like an arrow leaving the bow.
The moment the umbrella’s Restriction touched the water, flames shot up into the sky, as if to ignite the entire river surface. In the raging flames, the phantom of the Starry Sky Merchant Guild’s spiritual boat appeared faintly. On the deck, the ice sculpture of the Guanghan Palace Grand Elder was slowly melting, and the ice soul hairpin stuck in its forehead seemed to have a life of its own, slowly turning towards the market.
The Xuan-robed youth suddenly let out a bloodcurdling scream. The star pattern chain in his hand, like an enraged venomous snake, fiercely wrapped around his neck. Lu Qingyang’s eyes turned cold, and he slapped the chain with a backhand. With a “crack,” the chain shattered.
However, from the broken chain, a Tiantian Daowen drilled in through the crack. This Tiantian Daowen, like a ferocious giant beast, opened its bloody maw and forcibly tore out a fragment of memory from the youth’s body.
On that fragment, a clear image of the Qingqiu Grand Elder and the Soul Devouring Sect Master conspiring in Gui Xu three hundred years ago was presented. Lu Qingyang gazed at the fragment, a flash of realization in his eyes: “So that’s how it is…”
He crushed the fragment without hesitation. The copper coin sword in his hand suddenly turned its blade and, like lightning, pierced into his palm. Blood gushed out like a spring, staining the sword body. And on the blood-stained sword body, the inverted reflection of the Yin and Yang Spring Eye, confined by the star pattern chain, actually appeared.
“Everyone, those who want to share the spoils, follow me to tear off the Starry Sky Merchant Guild’s fig leaf!” Lu Qingyang’s voice boomed like thunder in everyone’s ears. His eyes were filled with determination and resolve, as if he wanted to shatter all the injustice and evil in this world.
As his voice fell, a thrilling battle of cultivation thus began. Everyone responded, rushing towards the Starry Sky Merchant Guild with Lu Qingyang. For a time, sword light flashed and Spells roared. The entire scene was magnificent and breathtaking.
The Pill Cultivator brought out the tattered medical classic, and a Body Tempering Pill Formula floated out from between its pages; the Northern Dipper Old Man threw out fragments of a compass, piecing together half a map of the Gui Xu Sea; the youth controlled the Dragon puppet to bite the banner in the dark river, and the banner surface clearly showed the North Sea direction.
Just as everyone rushed towards the Starry Sky Merchant Guild, a huge black barrier suddenly rose, firmly protecting the guild. This barrier emitted a strange Aura. Everyone’s Spells struck it, only causing layers of ripples, but unable to break through. Lu Qingyang frowned deeply. He circulated the power of the Chaos Green Lotus, trying to find a weakness in the barrier.
At this moment, a Black Robed Man walked out from within the guild. His body exuded a powerful and evil Aura. “Do you really think you can dismantle the Starry Sky Merchant Guild with just you lot? You’re simply overestimating yourselves.” The Black Robed Man laughed loudly.
Lu Qingyang snorted coldly: “You are nothing but a lackey of the Starry Sky Merchant Guild. Today, we will definitely uncover your conspiracy.” With that, he was the first to charge at the Black Robed Man, his copper coin sword piercing with a sharp Aura. The Black Robed Man quickly dodged, waving both hands, and black Spells attacked Lu Qingyang.
Seeing this, everyone also joined the battle. For a time, both sides were engaged in a fierce confrontation. The Pill Cultivator used the power of the tattered medical classic to unleash mysterious rays of light; the Northern Dipper Old Man manipulated the compass fragments, trying to disrupt the Black Robed Man’s Formation; the youth, meanwhile, drove the Dragon puppet to launch a fierce attack on the Black Robed Man. In this fierce battle, what would the outcome be?
Lu Qingyang stepped on the green lotus and leaped into the dark river. The moment the star marrow permeated his robes, the Guanghan jade pendant in his arms suddenly reflected Leng Yuehan’s figure. She was in the Forbidden Land of Tianshuang Pavilion, swinging her sword at the snow mountain. Where the sword’s edge pointed, half a bronze coffin was revealed beneath the collapsing ice—its design identical to the coffin in the market’s Formation core. Lu Qingyang was startled and was about to examine the image in the jade pendant more closely when a huge suction force suddenly surged from beneath the dark river, pulling him deeper.
At the same time, everyone in the battle was also disturbed by a mysterious force, and their attacks were thrown into disarray. The Black Robed Man took the opportunity to cast a powerful dark Spell, forcing the Pill Cultivator and others back. Lu Qingyang struggled in the dark river, but found that the surrounding star marrow seemed to come alive, coiling around his body. Just as he was about to be dragged even deeper, he suddenly thought of the Chaos Green Lotus, and circulated his spiritual power to activate its power. The green lotus bloomed with dazzling light, dispelling the surrounding darkness and breaking free from the suction. Lu Qingyang broke out of the water and returned to everyone’s side.
At this moment, a violent tremor came from the direction of Tianshuang Pavilion, as if some powerful force had been released. Lu Qingyang looked at the jade pendant, a bad premonition in his heart. He shouted: “First break through this barrier, then go to Tianshuang Pavilion to see!” Hearing this, everyone regained their spirits and jointly attacked the black barrier. Just then, a crack appeared on the barrier…
“This game of chess is played on a grand scale…” He chuckled, allowing the dark river vortex to swallow his figure. The moment the Chaos Green Lotus bloomed, no one noticed the Northern Dipper star pattern on the cauldron ear fragment, quietly crawling towards his Nascent Soul Dao Platform.
