Chapter 67: The Battle for the Star Core, a Deadly Feud

A temporary alliance with Shi Yue of the Houtu Sect allowed Ye Li and his companions to navigate the perilous Star Palace relatively smoothly. Leveraging their respective strengths, they avoided several deadly ancient array traps, eliminated several waves of formidable ruins guards, and harvested a treasure trove of rare star gold and broken ancient treasures, solidifying their relationship through their collaboration. Shi Yue's honesty and mastery of array formations earned Ye Li's trust, while Ye Li's demonstrated strength and fairness convinced the Houtu Sect disciples.

As they continued deeper, the surrounding scene became increasingly bizarre. The dilapidated palace was gradually replaced by a glittering, blue crystal-like structure. The star power in the air was so dense that it was almost insoluble, even condensing into tiny specks of starlight that drifted through the air. A faint pressure, as if coming from the depths of the starry sky, enveloped everyone's heart.

"I'm afraid we're nearing the core area of ​​the Star Palace." Shi Yue's expression was solemn as he carefully examined the increasingly complex and complete star runes on the wall. "The power contained in these runes is extremely terrifying. Everyone must be careful. Follow my steps closely and do not touch anything suspicious."

Everyone was on high alert. Sun Xiaohou's exploration became even more cautious, while Lin Feng's machine bees surveyed almost every inch of the space ahead several times.

Passing through a long corridor of blue crystal, the view suddenly opened up. They emerged at the base of an unimaginably vast spherical space. The "sky" within this space wasn't a physical object, but a slowly rotating, miniature version of a brilliant starry sky. Countless stars flickered, emanating an aura of vastness and immensity. In the center of the space, a blue crystal, roughly the size of a house, pulsated constantly, emitting endless light and heat. From this crystal emanated the ultimate pure stellar power!

"A star core! It's the very core of this meteorite ruin, the condensed essence of the stars!" Shi Yue exclaimed, his eyes filled with shock and greed. A treasure like this would drive any cultivator mad! Refining even a tiny bit of it would bring unparalleled benefits to their cultivation and foundation!

However, this star core wasn't ownerless. Beneath it, lurked a massive beast—a giant python formed entirely from pure star power! Its body was azure blue, its scales distinct, and its eyes like two blazing stars. The pressure it exuded was at the peak of a fourth-tier demonic beast, equivalent to a human cultivator at the peak of the Spiritual Palace Realm!

Besides this terrifying giant star python, they were not the only ones in the spherical space. Almost at the same time as Ye Li and the others arrived, there were movements from several other directions.

Yan Lie of the Red Flame Sect, Lei Ying of the Wind and Thunder Pavilion, Leng Yun and Gao Sheng of the Mysterious Cloud Sect, each with their own team, rushed in almost one after another! Obviously, they all found the way to the core area.

Four teams, plus the alliance between Ye Li and Hou Tu Zong, five forces, gathered in the star core space!

Everyone's attention was immediately drawn to the massive star core and the guardian python, causing their breathing to become heavy. But then, a wary scrutiny and confrontation ensued. There was only one star core, and the guardian beast was incredibly powerful. Everyone wanted to obtain it, but no one dared to act first and become the target of public criticism.

"Humph, I didn't expect a bunch of you scum could get here." Yan Lie was the first to break the silence, his eyes sweeping over Ye Li and Shi Yue's team with disdain. "However, this star core is not something you can get your hands on. Get out of here if you know what's good for you!"

Gao Sheng also spoke sinisterly: "Ye Li, you are lucky to be mixed up with the Houtu Sect. However, this is not the place for you to be clever."

Although Lei Ying and Leng Yun remained silent, the pressure of the Spiritual Realm emanating from them made their stance clear. In the face of such a treasure, the so-called camaraderie of fellow disciples paled in comparison.

Ye Li's face remained expressionless, but she was calculating rapidly in her mind. The situation was extremely unfavorable. On their side, on the surface, there were only two people at the late/peak stage of Condensation Vein, she and Shi Yue. Facing four people at the Spiritual Mansion Realm, the gap in strength was enormous. A forced victory was impossible.

Shi Yue secretly sent a message to Ye Li: "Junior Sister Ye, the situation is stronger than us. Why don't we retreat temporarily and wait for an opportunity to strike? This giant star python is not easy to deal with. They may not be able to succeed easily."

Ye Li shook her head slightly and replied in a voice transmission, "Giving in will only make them more unscrupulous. The power of the star core is vital to me and cannot be given up. Look at that giant python. Although its aura is strong, it doesn't seem to be very intelligent. Moreover... its energy core doesn't seem to be completely integrated with the star core. Perhaps there is a gap that can be exploited."

Just when the five forces were in a stalemate and wary of each other, the giant star python seemed to be angered by these intruders, and let out a silent roar (which shook the space), and swung its huge body violently, carrying a destructive star light beam, sweeping towards everyone indiscriminately!

"careful!"

Everyone's faces changed drastically, and they all used their own magical powers to dodge or defend.

Yan Lie roared, his entire body ablaze with flames, transforming into a giant flaming shield! Lei Ying's twin swords summoned wind and thunder, forming a protective sword aura! Leng Yun's sword energy soared into the sky, slashing towards the beam of light! Gao Sheng also fully activated the Zhan Kuangfeng technique to withstand the onslaught!

Ye Li and Shi Yue didn't dare to neglect their actions. Shi Yue instantly cast a thick, ochre-colored light shield, protecting the eight of them. Ye Li swung his Mysterious Ice Sword, its frigid energy colliding with the starlight pillar with a hissing sound, barely negating some of the force.

Rumble!

The giant python's attack was terrifyingly powerful! Aside from the four Spiritual Mansion Realm cultivators who barely withstood it, the other disciples' blood and qi surged, and some with lower cultivation levels even suffered minor injuries.

Amidst the chaos, Gao Sheng, who had been glaring at Ye Li, a glint of utter viciousness flashed in his eyes! He took advantage of the moment when everyone's attention was drawn to the giant python and Ye Li had just withstood a blow, her old strength exhausted and new strength yet to return. He gritted his teeth and pulled out a dark red talisman from his bosom, emitting an ominous aura—the "Soul-Devouring Blood Curse Talisman"!

This was an extremely vicious, one-time talisman, drawing its energy from the caster's own essence and blood. It could disregard most physical and energy defenses and directly attack the opponent's soul! Once struck, the soul would feel like being devoured by a thousand ants, causing unbearable pain, damaging the very foundation, and potentially even annihilating the soul! Gao Sheng clearly hated Ye Li to the core, willing to sacrifice his essence and blood, along with such a precious talisman, to completely destroy her!

"Ye Li! Die!" Gao Sheng grinned and activated the talisman! A thin, almost invisible line of blood, like a venomous snake, penetrated the chaotic energy fluctuations and silently shot towards the back of Ye Li's head!

This sneak attack was viciously timed, with a tricky angle, and was fast and fierce!

"Master, be careful!" Lin Feng was the first to discover it, his eyes were bloodshot, but it was too late to rescue!

Shi Yue also noticed it, but the distance was a little far and he couldn't rescue in time!

Xia Zhihe, Sun Xiaohou and Zhao Xiaoyi were even more horrified!

It seemed that the vicious blood curse was about to penetrate Ye Li’s sea of ​​consciousness!

At the critical moment!

Ye Li's highly alert spiritual sense, as well as the extraordinary sensitivity of the fragments of the Samsara Mirror to attacks on the soul, allowed her to capture that cold murderous intent at the last moment!

She wanted to dodge, but her body was still in a state of temporary stiffness after enduring the giant python's attack! She wanted to defend herself, but ordinary spiritual power shields were no match for this kind of spell that directly attacked the soul!

On the brink of life and death, a flash of madness and determination flashed in Ye Li's eyes! Instead of retreating, she twisted her body and poured all the spiritual power she had just gathered into the "Ice Soul Sealing Heaven Finger". She pointed it not at the blood curse, but at a Zhan Kuangfeng disciple next to Gao Sheng who was trying his best to resist the giant python's second attack!

That disciple was none other than Goldman Sachs’ trusted follower, Shi Feng’s cousin, named Shi Yue (same name, different people). He was at the middle stage of Condensing Veins, and he always followed Goldman Sachs’ lead!

Ye Li's finger was not meant to kill the enemy, but to divert the trouble away!

She channeled the trace of blood essence that Gao Sheng had applied to the Soul-Devouring Blood Talisman through her profound finger power, skillfully mimicking and amplifying it, instantly attaching it to the unfortunate Zhan Kuang Peak disciple, Shi Yue! At the same time, protected by the clear light of the Samsara Mirror fragment, she strained her own soul to simulate the disciple's soul fluctuations!

The exquisite control and grasp of timing involved are truly amazing!

In a flash, the blood line formed by the Soul Devouring Blood Curse seemed to be pulled by something at the moment it was about to hit Ye Li. It paused slightly, then strangely turned a corner and shot towards the back of Shi Yue, the disciple of Zhan Kuang Peak, at an even faster speed!

"What?!" The hideous smile on Goldman's face froze instantly, turning into extreme horror and disbelief!

The disciple was completely unprepared and was trying his best to fight against the aftermath of the Star Python. Suddenly, he felt a chill on his back and a cold and evil force instantly invaded his sea of ​​consciousness!

"ah--!!!"

A shrill, inhuman scream resounded throughout the room! The disciple clutched his head, black blood oozing from all seven orifices. His body convulsed violently, his eyes filled with endless pain and fear, his spirit withering and dissipating at a visible speed!

In just two or three breaths, a cultivator in the middle stage of the Condensation Vein Stage, in full view of everyone, lost his soul and turned into a hollow shell, falling straight down!

quiet!

Deathly silence!

Even the giant star python seemed to be stunned by the sudden change and the shrill screams, and its attack paused for a moment.

Everyone was stunned by this scene!

Gao Sheng was like being struck by lightning, his face pale and his whole body trembling. He pointed at Ye Li, his lips trembling, but he couldn't say a word! He could never have imagined that the killer move he had carefully prepared would actually kill his own confidant!

Ye Li's face was also a little pale. The "Li Dai Tao Jiang" attack just now had greatly consumed her spiritual power. She looked at Gao Sheng coldly, her voice as cold as ice: "Gao Sheng, you want to kill me? This is the price!"

"Ye Li!" Gao Sheng finally recovered from his shock and fear, letting out a heartbreaking roar. His eyes instantly turned blood red, filled with overwhelming hatred and murderous intent! "How dare you kill my disciple Zhan Kuangfeng! I, Gao Sheng, will fight you to the death! Zhan Kuangfeng and I will fight to the death!"

He was like a madman, ready to rush towards Ye Li regardless of everything!

"Enough!" Leng Yun shouted coldly, his sword energy surging, blocking the way in front of Gao Sheng. "Gao Sheng, you attacked first, you deserve it! Now that we are facing a powerful enemy, do you want to start a civil war?"

Yan Lie and Lei Ying also watched coldly, enjoying the infighting within the Xuanyun Sect.

Shi Yue (Hou Tu Sect) also approached Ye Li with his disciples, made his position clear, and said in a deep voice: "Senior Brother Gao, the public is watching, and the right and wrong will be judged by the public. If you insist on having your own way, our Hou Tu Sect will not sit idly by!"

Gao Sheng looked at Leng Yun, who stood in front of him, then at Ye Li and Shi Yue, who shared a common hatred for the enemy. He then felt the malicious gazes of Yan Lie and Lei Ying, as well as the terrifying giant star python beside him. Finally, a trace of rationality returned. He knew that if he took action now, he would definitely suffer.

But his hatred for Ye Li was deep in his bones! The revenge for killing his confidant, coupled with all the previous grudges, this was already a mortal feud that would never end!

"Okay! Okay! Ye Li! Just wait for me! The day you leave these ruins will be your death! I, Gao Sheng, swear here that I will kill you!" Gao Sheng gritted his teeth, almost breaking them, glared at Ye Li with resentment, picked up the body of the disciple, and retreated to the side with Zhan Kuangfeng's men, no longer participating in the fight for the star core, but his blood-red eyes were always fixed on Ye Li.

After this incident, the atmosphere in the field became even more bizarre. Ye Li, Gao Sheng, and Zhan Kuangfeng had completely torn their faces apart, forging an irreconcilable feud.

The battle for the star core was thus cast in an even thicker shadow of bloodshed. Ye Li knew that the real crisis might have just begun. But her eyes remained cold and resolute. Since the feud had been forged, she would fight back, whether it came or not!

Her gaze once again turned to the star core that emanated endless temptation. Neither the giant beast before her nor the powerful enemies around her could make her retreat.