Deep Sea Starship Apocalypse

The shrieks of the mutated monsters outside the hall were forcefully blocked by the ancient barrier of the Lingyao Holy Court. Their mournful roars crashed against the invisible light wall, turning into muffled hums, like knocks from the depths of the underworld, each one heavier than the last, making one's soul tremble. The Blood Cocoon of Ten Thousand Evils pulsated slowly in the center of heaven and earth, each rise and fall causing the entire collapsing world to tremble. The foul air surged like a tsunami, wave after wave, and the black and red evil mist churned and surged, almost obscuring the entire sky. Even in the Lingyao Holy Court, an ancient supreme remnant, the edges of the holy power barrier personally set up by Emperor Lingyao began to show fine black lines, spreading slowly like a spider web, as if it would be completely soaked, corroded, and shattered at any moment by the evil power that could devour everything and dissolve all things.

The scene inside the hall was quite different.

Although the dome had largely collapsed, revealing the somber, lead-gray sky outside, the remaining beams and pillars were all carved from meteorite jade. Even after countless years of erosion and the collapse of the laws of heaven and earth, they still radiated a warm and luxurious pale golden light, with the lingering charm of ancient stellar power flowing between their patterns. The floor was paved with a single piece of warm white jade, and even though it was full of cracks and scattered with pebbles, it could not conceal its former extravagant scale. The murals on the four walls were painted with powdered divine gold and blood jade, depicting the magnificent scene of Emperor Lingyao riding the stars and treading the moon, ruling over the pure radiance, and suppressing all evil. His flowing robes exuded nobility and majesty, forming an extreme contrast with the hellish human world outside the palace, where rotting flesh was everywhere, corpses rained down, and evil spirits roamed freely. The air is filled with wisps of clear and lingering sandalwood incense, made from ancient starwood burned for thousands of years. Its fragrance is elegant and noble, cleansing the mind and isolating the soul from all the stench, stench, and foulness of the outside world, making it the only pure and noble sanctuary in this world of the end times.

Yu Moyan led Jiang Duyue step by step toward the white jade platform in the center of the main hall.

The stone platform, carved from Nine Heavens Mystic Jade, was pure white and smooth as jade. Its surface was engraved with celestial orbit patterns, inlaid with tiny star-marrow diamonds. Even in its ruined state, it still shone with dazzling brilliance, exuding an overwhelming sense of grandeur. Above the platform, a palm-sized golden jade tablet floated silently. Forged from star-core gold crystal, its surface was engraved with intricate ancient star patterns, each corresponding to a celestial star. Its light was restrained yet exuded an imposing aura; it was none other than the core carrier of Emperor Lingyao's legacy—the Lingyao Star Tablet.

Having fought their way through the battlefield, their clothes were stained with putrid scum, their sleeves with pus and blood, their skin was corroded by the rain of corpses, and their bodies were injured by evil claws. The two were already exhausted and on the verge of death.

Within Yu Moyan's dantian, the star core dimmed slightly. The once ceaseless, surging star essence was nearly exhausted, with only a faint trace of star power slowly circulating through his meridians. His physical body was covered with dense, dark red burn marks left by the bone rain. The foul air seeped into his muscles, leaving patches of dark spots. His bones still retained the chilling aura of evil spirits, and every movement brought excruciating, dull pain. Having slain countless mutated monsters along the way, his soul was already exhausted from the endless screams, stench, and blood. His sea of ​​consciousness churned with impure thoughts and malevolent energy. Had it not been for his unwavering will, he would have already collapsed.

Jiang Duyue's situation was equally dire. The star core within his dantian was also dim, his star essence completely depleted. His elegant robes were stained and mottled with putrid filth and pus. The wound on his shoulder, torn by the claws of the rotting wolf, still throbbed with pain. The foul air seeped into his body through the wound, clashing with his star essence and causing sharp pains in his meridians. His usually aloof face bore an undisguised weariness, yet even so, when his gaze fell upon the magnificent Lingyao Star Certificate, there was not a trace of retreat in his eyes, only a resolute determination to fight for survival in a desperate situation.

The world is about to collapse, and the Evil Lord will be born. The ultimate Evil Lord of the Eight Extremes lies dormant in the Blood Cocoon of Ten Thousand Evils, and his emergence is only a matter of time.

All things in the world are prey, and all living beings in heaven and earth are food; they have long since run out of options.

Only by seizing Ling Yao's inheritance, wielding the sacred power of the star realm, and using the star core to activate the ancient star power, can one find a glimmer of hope to resist all evil and survive in this decaying and crumbling world.

Yu Moyan took a deep breath, suppressing the turbid energy surging in his chest, feeling the faint pulsation of the star core in his dantian, and slowly stretched out his hand.

His fingertips, pale from the depletion of star essence and the weakness of his body, gently landed on the Lingyao Star Tablet.

The moment the fingertip touched the star tablet, an unimaginable, immense pressure suddenly erupted.

This oppressive force was neither the cold, violent evil of the mortal realm nor the chaotic, restless power of ordinary spiritual energy. Rather, it originated from the celestial might of the ancient star realm, the power that governs the celestial bodies and cleanses the world of all evil. It was gentle yet irresistible, noble yet sharp as a knife. It traveled against the flow of energy along the meridians at the fingertips, heading straight for the dantian's star core. The previously weakly pulsating star core suddenly trembled, as if summoned by supreme stellar power. The stellar might then exploded from the star core, surging into the limbs and bones, cleansing the withered meridians, and finally crashing into the depths of the two people's consciousness like a celestial sea overflowing its banks, unstoppable.

The Lingyao Star Tablet, which had been dimly lit, suddenly burst into a blazing light, its golden radiance dazzling yet not blinding, exuding nobility and solemnity, and overflowing with star power.

Golden light pierced the dimness of the hall, illuminating every broken corner. The broken star-shaped jade beams and pillars, the warm white jade floor engraved with star patterns, and the murals painted with divine gold and blood jade all emerged under the golden light, revealing the supreme magnificence deep within the ages. The murals on the hall walls lit up simultaneously, the star patterns flowing and the divine radiance surging. The phantom of Emperor Lingyao seemed to step out of the murals, standing above the hall, surrounded by a star halo, exuding majesty and solemnity. The entire Lingyao Sacred Court was filled with an aura of solemnity and nobility, making even the air feel heavy and sacred.

The next instant, a silent and wordless flow of information, piercing the depths of the soul, surged like a celestial river, simultaneously imprinting itself on the souls and star cores of Yu Moyan and Jiang Duyue.

That was the divine edict left by Emperor Lingyao in the Star Register, each word like a star blade, each sentence like purgatory, carrying an unquestionable majesty:

"I am Ling Yao, who governs the stars in the heavens, upholds the Pure Yao Heavenly Dao, suppresses evil in all realms, and safeguards the order of heaven and earth."

Those who inherit my Dao must possess a pure and abundant stellar core, a rich stellar essence, a resilient spirit, an impeccable Dao heart, and the willingness to sacrifice their lives for righteousness.

To inherit the mantle of Emperor Qingyao and wield the supreme holy power of the star realm, one must endure nine hellish trials and overcome nine life-or-death obstacles.

The first stage, Body Refinement: Burning Stars and Cleansing Impurities, involves using starfire to burn bones and cleanse marrow, removing all filth, toxins, and evil from the physical body.

The second stage of refining the spirit and shattering illusions involves using star power to shatter illusions and break through the illusions, while guarding the divine platform and condensing divine thoughts.

The Three Trials of Soul Refining: Extracting and Forging the Soul, using starlight to extract and forge the soul, cleansing away the turbidity, resentment, and hidden wounds of the soul;

Four trials to refine the mind and sever attachments: use inner demons to cut off all falsehoods and firmly guard the Dao heart without wavering.

Five trials to refine emotions, severing all attachments to joy and sorrow, separation and reunion, and enduring the pain of eternal loneliness;

The Six Trials of Refining the Dao: Defying the Law and Bearing Punishment, defying the laws that cause the collapse of heaven and earth, and enduring the punishment of being struck down by heaven and earth;

The Seven Tribulations of Refining the Body: The body is devoured by all evil spirits, drawing all evil spirits from heaven and earth into the body, and suffering the pain of countless tribulations.

Eight Trials to Refine Fate: Shattering the Star Chart to Change Life, shattering one's own destiny star chart, and using the star core to bear the punishment of the Nine Heavens;

Nine Gates Refine Heaven and Earth: Suppress the Realm with Your Body. Use your body as the foundation of Heaven and Earth, and your soul to suppress evil spirits from all realms. One wrong step, and you will be condemned to eternal damnation, your body and soul destroyed.

Nine passes, each more difficult than the last; each more dangerous than the last; each more perilous than the last. There is no turning back halfway, no room for luck.

One defeat at the first level shatters all meridians, shatters the star core, and renders one a cripple with no hope of cultivation ever again;

After failing the three trials, his Dao foundation collapsed, his soul was damaged, his star essence was dissipated, and he became a walking corpse.

Defeated at the sixth level, his soul was scattered and his star core was annihilated, he was not reincarnated, and not a trace of his soul remained.

Those who recklessly attempt to breach the nine gates will be annihilated, their bodies and souls destroyed. Their spirit and star core will be simultaneously shredded by stellar power and all evil, leaving no chance of resurrection, not even a trace of their former selves remaining in the world.

The divine oracle is branded onto the soul and the star core; every word is piercing to the heart, every sentence is deadly.

Yu Moyan's body trembled violently, his face turned ashen, and the star core in his dantian trembled violently, almost shattering.

He had initially thought the inheritance trial was merely a contest of star power and a challenge within a star array, something he and Jiang Duyue, with their star core aptitude, could contend with. However, he never imagined that Emperor Lingyao's inheritance would be a purgatory of torture, using the body as a furnace, the star core as charcoal, the divine soul as fuel, and the Dao heart as a sword. The nine trials did not involve external objects, nor did they slay evil spirits or fight demons; they only targeted the cultivator's most fundamental physical body, divine sense, soul, Dao heart, emotions, star path, and destiny, delving deeper and deeper, step by step, until the person was driven to the brink of annihilation, their star core shattered.

For the first time, Jiang Duyue's usually cold and aloof face showed obvious shock, and a ripple appeared in her usually calm and unwavering eyes.

Throughout his cultivation journey, he had faced countless perilous situations, traversed treacherous lands and passes, and slain countless evil spirits and demons, yet he had never heard of such a cruel and resolute method of inheritance. This was not a gift of chance, but a sacrifice that gambled with one's life, star core, soul, and Dao heart; it was betting everything one had on a one-in-a-million, nine-out-of-ten chance of survival.

"Nine trials...each one is a death trap."

Yu Moyan's voice was dry and hoarse, and the remaining star essence in his body was trembling slightly. A weak throbbing pain came from the star core in his dantian. "At this moment, we have depleted more than half of our star essence, the star core is dim, our physical body is being corroded by foul energy, and our soul is exhausted. If we force our way through the trials now, we may not even be able to survive the first three trials. If we are not careful, our star core will shatter and our soul will be destroyed."

Jiang Duyue closed her eyes, feeling the faint pulsation of the star core in her dantian and the increasingly intense pressure of the evil power outside the hall. After a moment, she opened her eyes again, her eyes filled with a resolute determination like a cold pool, without the slightest hesitation or retreat.

"The cocoon of ten thousand evils pulsates more rapidly; the ultimate evil lord's emergence is imminent." His voice was cold, yet carried an undeniable firmness. The remaining stellar power within his star core surged slightly. "If we don't charge in now, once the evil lord is born, the entire world will become a hunting ground. No matter how strong our star cores are, we will be devoured by the evil, without even the right to struggle. Charge in, and there is still a glimmer of hope; don't charge in, and there is only death, no other choice."

Before he could finish speaking...

The light from the Lingyao Star Tablet surged once more, golden starlight engulfing the entire hall, giving the two no further time to hesitate, discuss, or recuperate.

A vast, cold, noble, and irresistible aura of the Radiant Star Force suddenly enveloped Yu Moyan and Jiang Duyue as if it were a tangible entity.

The two were instantly immobilized, as if bound by countless star chains, as if nailed to the void. They couldn't even circulate a trace of star essence to protect their star core and resist star power, and could only passively endure all the trials of purgatory that followed.

There was no buffer, no warning, no preparation.

The first challenge, Body Refinement and Star Purification, descends fiercely.

In an instant, the two of them simultaneously felt a flame igniting from the depths of their bones and the very source of their star core.

This is not ordinary fire, nor spiritual fire, nor evil fire, but the Pure Radiance Burning Star Fire unique to Emperor Lingyao. It is taken from the core of the Zhou Tian Blazing Star and only burns away the impurities, filth, evil invasion, hidden injuries, corpse poison, and traces of erosion from the bone rain. It does not damage the foundation of the star core, but it causes excruciating pain.

The piercing, dark red burn marks left on the skin by the bone-chilling rain of bones, the dark black marks formed by the filth seeping into the flesh, the wounds torn by the claws of the mutated monsters, the stagnant blood and filth accumulated in the meridians from the battles, and even the deathly cold energy deep within the body tainted by the laws of the collapse of heaven and earth, were all locked in by the Burning Starfire and frantically burned, peeled off, and removed like a bone-deep carbuncle.

pain!

Extreme pain!

It wasn't a stinging pain on the surface of the skin, but a heart-wrenching, excruciating pain that seemed to explode outwards from the depths of the bones and the edge of the star's core.

It felt as if countless red-hot star needles were simultaneously piercing every meridian, every inch of muscle, every grain of blood, and every channel through which star energy flowed. The meridians were scorched, twisted, and expanded by the starlight, then forcibly torn apart, melted, and reshaped. Each reshaping was accompanied by a frenzied collision of star power and foul energy, causing the body to spasm with pain. The bones emitted extremely fine cracking sounds, not from breaking, but from the bone marrow being boiled, tempered, and purified little by little by the starlight. The foul toxins in the blood and bones were forcibly expelled, turning into wisps of blackish-red turbid energy. The turbid energy was instantly burned away by the starlight upon leaving the body, but each wisp of turbid energy brought excruciating pain, as if scraping bone, cutting flesh, or tearing out tendons and marrow.

Yu Moyan trembled violently, his jaw clenched, and blood seeped from his gums, slowly sliding down the corner of his lips.

He could clearly feel his meridians shattering inch by inch within the starlight, only to be forcibly reconnected by stellar power. This cycle of breaking and rebuilding repeated itself, the pain so intense it blurred his consciousness. His bones glowed red-hot from the starlight, as if they would turn to ashes at any moment. Every inch of his body groaned and trembled; sweat that had just seeped from his pores was instantly evaporated by the starlight, leaving only layers of pale, peeling, cracked, and bleeding skin. He desperately tried to circulate his stellar energy to resist, but the Qingyao stellar power firmly suppressed his stellar core. All resistance was futile; he could only endure the extreme pain of having his bones burned and his tendons and meridians scorched. Muffled groans, suppressed to the extreme, kept escaping from his throat, but he bit them back tightly, refusing to utter any more sounds of weakness. His dantian stellar core contracted tightly, desperately guarding the last vestige of his stellar energy foundation.

Jiang Duyue's situation was equally dire, even more so.

His usually aloof face was now completely devoid of color, as pale as paper. Cold sweat streamed down his forehead, dripping from his chin and instantly evaporating on the warm white jade floor, leaving not a trace of moisture. His robes fluttered wildly from the heat surging from his body and the lingering power of the starfire. The remaining stellar energy around him surged chaotically, clashing violently with the clear starfire. Each impact doubled the pain in his meridians, and even his dantian star core throbbed with agonizing pain. His fingertips clenched tightly, his knuckles turning almost transparent white. His whole body trembled uncontrollably, yet his back remained straight as a spear. Even as the pain blurred his vision, he refused to bend even an inch, using unparalleled willpower to withstand the searing pain of the starfire, protecting his star core from being damaged by the simultaneous impact of the foul energy and the starfire.

This test not only strengthens the physical body but also pushes the limits of endurance.

In ancient times, countless geniuses with pure star cores stopped here, collapsing in the excruciating pain of burning stars and cleansing impurities. Their physical bodies were burned to ashes by the starfire, their star cores shattered, and not even a trace of their souls remained.

Time is stretched out infinitely in extreme pain.

A single breath feels like a hundred years, a moment like a thousand eons, and an instant like ten thousand lifetimes.

Every second felt like torture in purgatory, every breath was excruciatingly painful, and every pulsation of the star core caused excruciating pain throughout the body's meridians.

After an unknown amount of time, when the last trace of foul air, the last hidden injury, and the last wisp of corpse poison in the body were cleansed by the starlight, the meridians were reshaped by the starlight and became more resilient, the bones and blood were purified and became purer, and the strength of the physical body increased several times over, enough to withstand even stronger starlight in the future, the burning sensation suddenly eased, and the burning starlight slowly faded away.

First stage, Body Refinement and Star Purification, passed.

Before the two could even catch their breath, and before the intense pain in their bodies had subsided, the burning pain of the starlight still lingered in their meridians, and the star core was still trembling slightly.

The second stage, Refining the Spirit and Shattering Illusions to Condense Consciousness, followed immediately without any pause.

His mind exploded with a roar.

This trial does not burn the physical body or damage the meridians; it only destroys the spirit and shatters illusions.

The power of the clear star rushed directly into the depths of the two people's sea of ​​consciousness, stirring their divine thoughts and churning their memories. It forcibly brought out all the deepest fears, regrets, delusions, killing karma, battlefield bloodshed, and scenes of the tragic deaths of living beings in their hearts, transforming them into the most real, terrifying, and bloody illusions, which ran rampant in their sea of ​​consciousness, gnawing at their divine altar and tearing their divine thoughts apart.

Yu Moyan's sea of ​​consciousness was instantly engulfed by boundless darkness and bloodshed.

The scene of the sinking Meteorite Sanctuary reappeared, more horrific and despairing than reality itself. The sanctuary's faint light was completely extinguished, its last trace of warmth devoured by the rain of corpses and filth. Countless familiar figures struggled, howled, and writhed in the putrid filth, swarmed by mutated monsters like putrid worms, bone-cracked blood lice, and sinewy rotten wolves, devouring, tearing, and melting them into pools of pus, blood, and broken bones. He wanted to channel his star energy to save them, to unleash the power of his star core, but found himself stiff and unable to move, forced to watch helplessly as everything unfolded, as countless lives were lost, as all life was annihilated. Even more terrifying, the illusion continued to twist, overlap, and cycle, the scenes of horrific death playing out repeatedly, each more bloody, more desperate, and more utterly devastating than the last. The divine sense was being torn apart, gnawed, and cut by these images. The sea of ​​consciousness was as if it were being repeatedly cut by countless star blades. The intense pain penetrated deep into the soul, as if it would completely collapse in the next second, turning into an ignorant and unconscious person with a disintegrated star core.

"It's not real...it's all an illusion...don't fall into it..."

He roared in his heart, desperately guarding the core of the divine platform in his sea of ​​consciousness with his remaining will, preventing his divine sense from completely dissipating.

However, the power of the illusion was too terrifying and too real, constantly eroding his divine sense, disintegrating his will, and amplifying his despair, pushing him to the brink of collapse time and time again, almost causing him to completely succumb and give up resistance.

Jiang Duyue's illusionary sea of ​​consciousness is another kind of extreme cruelty and torment.

He was thrown into an endless abyss of star realm void by the power of the Qingyao Star.

There was no light, no sound, no wind, no living beings, no stars, no passage of time, and no spatial boundaries.

Only eternal solitude, coldness, nothingness, and annihilation.

His divine sense was stripped, torn apart, and scattered bit by bit by the stellar power, as if it were about to disappear forever into this void, leaving not a trace. His steadfast commitment on the path of cultivation, the stellar path in his heart, the figures of those around him, and his belief in protecting heaven and earth—all were swallowed up by nothingness, leaving not a trace. Loneliness, like the most terrifying poison, slowly eroded, corroded, and destroyed his divine sense, giving rise to a desperate thought: "To simply vanish, for the stellar core to shatter, would be a liberation." Once this thought took root, his divine sense would completely dissipate, and without the pull of his divine sense, the stellar core would inevitably collapse, never to be able to coalesce again.

Jiang Duyue used the remaining star power within the star core to firmly lock the divine core, gritting her teeth and persevering in endless loneliness and nothingness, refusing to give up the last shred of consciousness.

His sea of ​​consciousness was in excruciating pain, his divine sense was on the verge of dissipation, and his star core was throbbing with pain. Yet, he remained steadfast and unwavering in his composure, guarding the divine platform and refusing to let the illusion break his will.

After an unknown amount of time, when the two finally relied on their iron will to crush all the illusions, falsehoods, and distracting thoughts in their sea of ​​consciousness, and reassembled their scattered divine thoughts, making their divine platform as stable as ever, the oppressive power of the star force in the second trial suddenly dissipated.

The second stage, Refining the Spirit and Shattering Illusions to Condense Consciousness, is passed.

The pain in his mind had not yet subsided, his sea of ​​consciousness remained murky, his spirit remained weak, and his soul was still on the verge of collapse.

The third stage, Soul Refining and Soul Extraction, descended without pause.

This challenge is more terrifying, more dangerous, and more excruciating than the previous two.

The power of the Qingyao Star Force directly transformed into countless fine star threads, forcibly extracting half of the two souls from their physical bodies and suspending them in the void of the main hall, where they were repeatedly burned, hammered, tempered, and cleansed by the Qingyao Star Flame.

The soul is formless and intangible, existing in relation to the star core and the physical body. However, once it is extracted, the pain is hundreds, thousands, or even tens of thousands of times more intense than that of the physical body. The pain of every strand of the soul will directly affect the star core, causing it to collapse.

The dark, murky marks left by the corrupting influence on the soul, the violent and malevolent aura tainted by slaying demons along the way, the lingering fear and resentment left at the brink of death, and the hidden wounds to the soul caused by the collapse of heaven and earth—all were locked onto by the starlight, forcibly stripped away, burned, and purified. Every strand of soul scorched by the starlight brought excruciating pain akin to being slowly sliced, torn, and ripped apart. The soul seemed to be torn apart, crushed, and melted inch by inch, only to be forcibly glued together, reshaped, and condensed by the starlight's power, repeatedly pulled, repeatedly shattered, and repeatedly tempered without the slightest respite.

Yu Moyan felt excruciating pain coursing through his soul, which he could no longer suppress. A low, suppressed gasp escaped his throat, and blood spilled from the corner of his mouth again, dripping onto the warm white jade ground and blooming into tiny red plum blossoms.

He could clearly feel his soul gradually becoming purer and more resilient, yet also increasingly fragile and precarious. A slight misstep could cause his soul threads to sever completely, and once his soul core was damaged, his star core would lose its soul's pull and shatter—a wound that would be irreparable. He could only desperately lock onto Jiang Duyue's soul aura, using the bond between them and the resonance of stellar power to stabilize his soul and prevent its complete dissipation, thus protecting the connection between his soul core and star core.

Jiang Duyue's soul was ice-cold, and her soul threads trembled incessantly, almost being melted by the starlight.

He used the power of his star core to form a thin shield of star energy on the surface of his soul, but this shield was no match for the Radiant Star Flame. It was burned through and torn apart time and time again, exposing his soul directly to the star flame and subjecting him to excruciating burning pain. He closed his eyes tightly, unleashing the last remaining power within his soul core to desperately guard the depths of his soul, preventing his soul from being scattered and dissolved by the star flame. The intense pain made even thinking difficult; only the most instinctive will to persevere remained: to protect his soul, to protect his star core, and to protect the last glimmer of hope.

Inside the hall, golden light raged wildly, star power surged, murals flickered, the light of the Lingyao Star Tablet shone brightly and dimly, and the entire Lingyao Holy Court trembled slightly, as if it could not withstand the power of this soul-refining process.

This trial refines the foundation of the soul and concerns the safety of the star core. The slightest mistake will result in a damaged soul, impaired intelligence, and the collapse of the star core.

When the soul is refined to become crystal clear, free from impurities, its soul power is condensed, and it resonates more closely with the star core, the oppressive power of the star force in the third level slowly dissipates.

The third stage, Soul Refining and Soul Extraction, is passed.

Having passed through three trials, his body, spirit, and soul were all subjected to the torment of purgatory. His star essence was completely exhausted, and the star core's luster dimmed to the extreme, almost going out.

Both of them were already on the verge of their limits. Their bodies were trembling uncontrollably, their minds were drowsy and they were about to fall apart. Their souls were swaying and about to dissipate, and their star cores were throbbing with pain. They could collapse at any moment, or their star cores could shatter at any moment.

But the fourth trial, Refining the Heart and Severing Obsessions, had already arrived, giving them no chance to catch their breath.

This trial will not burn the body, harm the spirit, or shatter the soul; it will only destroy the heart, sever the Dao heart, and cut off obsessions.

The power of the Clear Star strikes directly at the most vulnerable part of the Dao Heart, amplifying obsessions, weaknesses, fears, and attachments. Using inner demons as knives and despair as blades, it shatters the Dao Heart and destroys the foundation of the Star Dao.

In an instant, the most terrifying and desperate scene of his life appeared in Yu Moyan's Dao heart.

Jiang Duyue was devoured by the endless filth surging from the Blood Cocoon of Ten Thousand Evils. Corpse clung to his body, bone rain corroded his bones, and countless mutated monsters swarmed him, tearing, melting him apart, until only a pool of pus and broken bones remained, not even a trace of his soul or star essence. Heaven and earth collapsed, the dome shattered, all things perished, and the Blood Cocoon of Ten Thousand Evils exploded, releasing eight ultimate evil lords stepping out of the evil mist. The entire world became their hunting ground, a scene of utter devastation, widespread suffering, shattered star cores, and fallen stars. He himself, however, was depleted of star essence, his star core dimmed, all power gone. He could only stand there, watching helplessly as everything unfolded, as those around him died tragically, as heaven and earth crumbled, powerless to reverse the tragedy, lacking even the strength to commit suicide.

Despair, guilt, pain, helplessness, and regret overwhelmed his Dao heart like a tidal wave, eroding his foundation in the Star Dao.

The Dao Heart shook violently, and the Star Core trembled accordingly, almost shattering directly.

Once the Dao Heart is shattered and the Star Dao is destroyed, the Star Core will lose its support and collapse directly, rendering all cultivation useless and turning the person into a cripple.

"It's not real...it's a demon in my heart...it's all an illusion...it can't be trusted..."

Yu Moyan let out a low roar, his star core surging against his heart meridian. He used the dual pain of his physical body and star core to forcibly awaken his Dao heart and stabilize his shaky foundation of the star Dao.

He clung desperately to the last shred of faith in his heart, repeatedly telling himself that it was all an illusion, a demon within his own mind, and that only by upholding his Dao heart and protecting the star core could he break free. But the power of the demon within his mind was too terrifying, too fierce, constantly pulling him into the abyss of despair, making him want to give up resistance several times, letting his Dao heart crumble and the star core annihilate.

Jiang Duyue's inner demons are even more ruthless, more vengeful, and more deadly.

He lived a life of aloofness and solitude, detached from worldly affairs, indifferent to fame and fortune, and refusing to pursue unorthodox paths. He only adhered to the Way of the Stars. His only weakness, his only obsession, and his only concern was Yu Moyan, who accompanied him and fought alongside him.

In the illusion, Yu Moyan detonated her own star core to protect him, perishing together with the thousands of evil spirits that rushed towards her. Her soul was scattered and her body and spirit were destroyed, leaving only the last faint words, "Live on, seize the inheritance, and suppress all evil," echoing between heaven and earth.

Loneliness, regret, pain, and self-blame instantly overwhelmed his Dao heart and shattered the Star Dao defense line.

His cultivation of the Star Path, his adherence to the righteousness, his goals for moving forward, and his belief in survival all collapsed at this moment. His star core trembled violently, his star essence went berserk and chaotic, and his Dao heart was on the verge of collapse, almost shattering completely.

"Illusions...are all illusions...do not be moved...do not let your mind be disturbed..."

Jiang Duyue's voice trembled slightly, but she still used her supreme composure to freeze her heart, suppressing the inner demons and illusions, guarding the last line of defense of her Dao heart, and the last bit of foundation of her star core, refusing to let obsession and regret destroy her Dao heart and star path.

The two stood side by side, relying on each other, protecting each other with their will, using the resonance of the star core as a shield, and using trust as a bond. They struggled to survive the extreme test of breaking their hearts and severing their obsessions. Every moment felt like walking on the edge of hell, and every moment faced the desperate situation of their Dao hearts collapsing and their star cores being annihilated.

Finally, when the Dao Heart was stabilized again, the inner demons were completely eradicated, the illusions were shattered, and the star core resumed its steady pulsation, the Qingyao Star Power of the fourth level slowly faded away and ceased to exert its pressure.

The fourth stage, "Refining the Mind and Severing Attachments," is passed.

The moment they passed the four trials, all the Qingyao Star Power that had been applied to the two of them suddenly receded and flowed back into the Lingyao Star Register.

The starlight faded, returning to its original gentle, restrained, noble, and solemn appearance, no longer forcibly forcing its way through, as if leaving the two with a chance to breathe and recuperate.

At this moment, Yu Moyan and Jiang Duyue could no longer hold on and completely collapsed.

Completely exhausted, Yu Moyan staggered and collapsed to his knees, his knees slamming heavily onto the cold, warm white jade floor with a dull thud that sent a tremor through the entire hall. He gripped the stone platform carved from the Nine Heavens Profound Jade with one hand, veins bulging in his palm, his star core power nearly depleted, making even supporting himself difficult. His other hand pressed tightly against his chest, the lingering starfire in his meridians washing over him like waves of pain. His soul was utterly weak, his mind drowsy and lethargic, his star essence nearly depleted, his dantian star core pulsating weakly, each breath a tearing agony. His face was ashen, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, his clothes soaked and stained with cold sweat, blood, and lingering foul odors. He was so weak that even lifting his head and turning his neck were incredibly difficult; his star core seemed on the verge of succumbing to its extreme weakness.

Jiang Duyue swayed, unable to maintain her aloof and upright posture any longer, and fell backward, finally sliding slowly onto the warm white jade ground with her back against the broken star meteorite pillar.

His cold, aloof eyes were tightly closed, his long eyelashes trembled slightly, his lips were bloodless, and his breathing was weak and rapid. The stellar energy within his star core was completely depleted, his soul was on the verge of collapse, and the lingering tremors of his Dao heart left by the Heart Refining Tribulation persisted. Every part of his body was in excruciating pain, and even opening his eyes and moving his eyeballs felt utterly exhausting. His robes were already stained with dust, bloodstains, and filth. His former elegant and noble demeanor remained, but it could not conceal the weakness, pain, and exhaustion that had seeped into his very bones. His star core dimmed slightly, almost losing its luster.

He had only passed four of the nine trials of purgatory.

Following this are five more trials: Refining Emotions, Refining the Dao, Refining Tribulation, Refining Fate, and Refining Heaven and Earth. Each trial is more dangerous and terrifying than the last, and each one brings one closer to the point of complete annihilation of body and soul and the collapse of the star core.

Given their current state of utter exhaustion, with their bodies, spirits, and minds all severely damaged, their star essence depleted, and their star cores dimmed, let alone the fifth level, even if they forced themselves to endure for just half a moment longer, or withstood just a little more pressure from the star power, their foundations would collapse, their star cores would shatter, and their souls would be scattered, leaving them with no chance to rest or recover.

Outside the hall, the roars of the mutated monsters grew increasingly violent and shrill, and the throbbing of the Myriad Evil Blood Cocoon became more and more rapid and heavy. The foul air in the world was almost completely soaking, corroding, and shattering the ancient star power barrier of the Lingyao Holy Court.

Time is running out.

The ultimate evil master could emerge from his cocoon at any moment.

But they couldn't hold on any longer.

The star core wailed, the star essence was depleted, the physical body was severely injured, the soul was adrift, and the Dao heart was exhausted, unable to withstand the next level of purgatory torture.

Yu Moyan struggled to lift his head, his vision blurred and unfocused as he looked at Jiang Duyue, who was leaning against the meteorite pillar not far away. His throat bobbed, his Adam's apple rising and falling, his voice hoarse and dry to the extreme. Every word was filled with excruciating pain, exhaustion, and the throbbing pain of a weakened star core, broken and incredibly difficult to utter:

"First... first rest... recover your star essence... nourish your star core... then try again..."

Jiang Duyue slowly opened his eyes, his gaze still sharp as a blade, but bloodshot, his exhaustion and pain almost overflowing. The faint pulsation of his star core aggravated the throbbing pain in his meridians. He nodded slightly, the movement so light it was almost imperceptible, his voice so weak it was barely audible, carrying an extreme sense of weakness:

"good……"

As soon as the word was uttered, the two of them closed their eyes simultaneously.

Unable to hold on any longer, it entered a period of deep recuperation.

The clear, sandalwood incense flowed slowly within the hall, like gentle golden ripples, softly enveloping the two men's broken bodies and weakened souls. With its faint yet pure ancient star power, it gently nourished their meridians, bodies, minds, and souls, slowly replenishing their dim star cores and depleting star essence.

The Lingyao Star Tablet floated silently above the Nine Heavens Profound Jade Platform, its golden light restrained, noble and solemn, silent and speechless, like an ancient witness watching over the two cultivators who risked their lives to inherit the legacy in the final world.

The Nine Trials of Purgatory have only just begun.

The end times are coming, and a great calamity is imminent.

Eight ultimate evil lords lie dormant, waiting to emerge.

This brief respite, this precious and pristine land, is the only luxury in this decaying, bloody, and desperate world.