The sea breeze grew stronger, and the remaining fragments of the barrier scattered like crystal dust. In the distance, Liu Xiaoran had already directed the Dongfang family to set up an array, surrounding the unconscious Chi Shangling in the center. He looked up at the gloomy sky, a strange unease rising in his heart—the look in the eyes of the Youjing Clan Emperor before his departure didn't seem like surrender, but rather...

Like the composure of a hunter taking a temporary retreat.

Meanwhile, inside a medical helicopter ten thousand meters above the ground, Liu Mengran tightly gripped Han Feng's bloodless hand. His breathing beneath the oxygen mask was so faint it was almost invisible, and the electrocardiogram on the monitor would occasionally fizzle into a terrifying straight line before stubbornly returning to normal.

"Hold on..." Liu Mengran whispered in Han Feng's ear, tears finally falling and dripping onto his tightly closed eyelids. "You said you would protect this world..."

Unbeknownst to her, as the tear slid down Han Feng's cheek, a faint glimmer of starlight flickered deep within his shattered meridians, like an unextinguished star in the dark universe.

---This is the dividing line---

The roar of the helicopter shattered the tranquility of the Dongfang family's secret realm. When the cabin door opened, Dongfang Lin, who had been waiting for a long time, strode forward, followed by more than a dozen clansmen holding astrolabes. The medical staff carefully lifted the stretcher down; Han Feng's face was as pale as paper, with only the faint rise and fall of his chest proving that he was still alive.

"The platform is ready," Dongfang Lin said briefly to Lin Zhengguo, his gaze sweeping over the medical team. "And this is?"

"Yu Die, a medic from the Longyuan Special Forces." Lin Zhengguo pointed to a capable-looking woman with a high ponytail. "She understands Han Feng's special physical condition."

Without exchanging pleasantries, Yu Die immediately checked Han Feng's pupils: "Heart rate 35, blood pressure 60/40, the level of energy surging within him... My God, it's a miracle he's still alive." She looked up at Dongfang Lin, "Lead the way, every second is precious."

Dongfang Lin said no more and turned to lead the group through the stone formation. The Star Platform in the secret realm was located at the highest point, with seven stone pillars surrounding a central jade platform, which was now emitting a soft starlight.

"Put it here," Dongfang Lin gestured. "The Star Platform can harmonize the power of the stars; it should help stabilize his rampaging energy."

The medical team quickly got to work. Yu Die placed the monitor against Han Feng's chest, and the screen immediately displayed a chaotic energy graph—the blue lines representing the power of the stars surged and crisscrossed violently like the surface of a stormy sea.

"Inject A-7 stabilizer, double the dosage." Yu Die gave the prescription while taking out silver needles. "Patriarch Dongfang, I need you to protect his heart meridian with your true energy."

Without a word, Dongfang Lin stepped forward, placing his palm on Han Feng's Tanzhong acupoint, and slowly channeled his pure true energy into him. On the other side, the astrologers of the Dongfang family began chanting ancient incantations around the star platform, and the runes on the stone pillars lit up one by one.

Liu Mengran, Su Wanwan, and Dongfang Wantang stood on the outer perimeter, their hands clasped tightly together. Liu Mengran's nails dug deep into her palms, yet she felt no pain; Su Wanwan bit her lower lip, her eyes fixed on the medical team's movements; Dongfang Wantang prayed softly, her voice trembling and out of tune.

Time passed slowly amidst the anxiety. As the sun set and the moon rose, more and more people gathered around the star platform, all silently watching the figure in the center whose fate remained unknown.

"Blood pressure has risen to 80/50!" a medical staff member suddenly reported.

Yu Die wiped the sweat from her brow: "Energy fluctuation amplitude reduced by 20%."

Dongfang Lin increased the volume of his incantation, and the starlight emitted from the seven stone pillars intertwined above Han Feng, slowly sinking and merging into his body. The rampaging stellar power seemed to have found a guide and began to flow rhythmically.

Ten hours later, as the first rays of dawn pierced through the clouds, Yu Die finally straightened up and removed her blood-stained gloves. Everyone held their breath.

"The external injuries have been treated; the broken ribs, internal bleeding, and concussion are no longer life-threatening." Her voice was hoarse with exhaustion. "But the energy-level damage is only beginning to stabilize. When he'll wake up..." She shook her head. "That depends on his own recovery ability."

Liu Mengran's legs went weak, but Su Wanwan caught him in time. This was much better than expected—at least, he was still alive.

"I can..." Liu Mengran was about to step forward when Yu Die stopped her.

"No." The doctor's gaze left no room for argument. "The captain needs absolute quiet right now. Any external stimulus could disrupt the energy balance." She looked around at everyone. "I know you're all worried, but please give him time."

Lin Zhengguo stepped forward to take charge: "Patriarch Dongfang, could you arrange a place for everyone to rest? I suggest that each family representative leave their contact person behind, and the rest of you go back first. We will notify you immediately if anything happens."

The crowd began to disperse, but the three girls stubbornly remained in place. Yu Die glanced at them and sighed, "You can guard the outer perimeter of the Star Platform, but you absolutely cannot step into the area around the stone pillars—especially you." She pointed at Dongfang Wantang, "Your astrologer energy will interfere with the stellar field."

The three nodded hastily and, as if granted a pardon, quickly walked to the furthest seat they were allowed to sit down. From this angle, they could see Han Feng's peaceful sleeping face through the gaps in the stone pillars.

"He'll be alright," Su Wanwan suddenly said, more like trying to convince herself, "This guy's got a tough life."

Liu Mengran nodded gently, her gaze falling on Han Feng's chest—beneath the bandages there, a faint blue light shone through, like a firefly in the darkness, flickering on and off, yet stubbornly refusing to go out.

Dongfang Wantang suddenly grabbed their hands: "Look! The light from the Star Platform..."

The runes on the stone pillars were rhythmically shifting in light and shadow, as if responding to something. Meanwhile, in a dimension unseen by the crowd, a new energy pathway was forming within Han Feng's shattered meridians—the final piece of the puzzle of inheritance, something that could only be comprehended on the brink of life and death...

At this moment, Han Feng's consciousness was in a state of nothingness.

Darkness. Boundless, silent, and cold. Han Feng hovered in the center of this void, his pupils unfocused, like a body ripped from its soul.

Who am I?

The thought vanished as soon as it surfaced, like a pebble thrown into a deep pool, leaving no ripple. He didn't know how long he had stayed there—time was meaningless in this space.

Suddenly, a point of light appeared in the distance. Smaller than a pinhead, yet dazzling in the absolute darkness. Han Feng's gaze was unfocused, but the point of light remained reflected in his empty eyes.