The black-robed cultivator, whose spiritual foundation was shaken to its roots by the impact of the Divine Furnace, gasped harshly, pain and humiliation burning on his blood-stained face.

  He, a peak Consciousness Transformation cultivator, had been struck down twice in mere seconds by an unethical assault—first by the Law of Wind manifested as a grip, and second by a Soul Artifact thrown like a stone.

  "You!" he roared, his voice hoarse from internal injuries. The remaining Law of Thunder in his body flickered, unable to consolidate itself. He stared at the Thunder Core now clutched in Zhi Xuan's hand. "Brat... you are dead! You do not know who you stole from!"

  Zhi Xuan ignored the threat, placing the valuable Thunder Core into his storage bag. He wasted no time in conversation—he had used most of his essence for the two brutal throws of the Divine Furnace, and every breath felt costly.

  "Feng Yi, Fei Sheng," Zhi Xuan said, his voice low and filled with cold urgency. "Seven Star Boat, now! Increase altitude to maximum!"

  "Kill him! He must be killed! He knows our faces!" Feng Yi hissed, her Phoenix Fire aura spinning uncontrollably due to a mixture of shock and combat adrenaline. She raised her spiritual sword, ready to strike.

  "No time!" Zhi Xuan roared, pulling Feng Yi roughly back onto the deck. "He is severely injured. He will seek reinforcements. We have drawn too much attention!"

  Fei Sheng, who was back in full control, did not argue. He had witnessed Zhi Xuan's deadly efficiency. He knew that the peak Consciousness Transformation cultivator—who was now slumped in the rock crevice—would become a greater problem if left alive, but Zhi Xuan was right; they were now a magnet for danger.

  "Raise the Seven Star Boat!" Fei Sheng yelled, channeling the Law of Wind into the flying Artifact.

  WHUSSHH!

  The Seven Star Boat shot off again, turning sharply upwards, penetrating the layer of volcanic ash clouds. It left the dead Raven Thunder Azure King and the shaken, gasping black-robed cultivator, who watched them flee with his Beast Core.

  "That cultivator will not last long," Zhi Xuan said, his breath coming in sharp gasps. "Other Consciousness Transformation Beasts will take care of him; now we must quickly find the star token to leave this Secret Realm."

  Zhi Xuan, now resting on his knees, channeled his essence to recall the Heavenly Trifold Reincarnation Cauldron. The furnace shrunk to the size of a jade-gold bead and hovered in the air, radiating a stable Law of Four Seasons aura. He had used too much essence. He felt his Sea of Consciousness throbbing with the same exhaustion as after Ruo Xianxue's intervention, but this time, he had control.

  Fei Sheng, controlling the flight, tilted the Seven Star Boat sharply, taking it to an extreme altitude, away from the peak of the Crimson Star Volcano. His Law of Wind acted as a filter, dampening the turbulent Law of Thunder and Fire waves below.

  "You are right, Brother Zhi Xuan," Fei Sheng replied, his tone full of cold seriousness. "That cultivator is from the Heaven Thunder Sect. They are notoriously cruel and extremely protective of their spoils. If he survives, he will hunt us all the way to the Thousand Heavens Sect. But he is too weak to track us now. And yes, we must get out of here."

  "The Star Token must be around the natural formation left by the Sect," Zhi Xuan calmly muttered, trying to stand even though his face was still pale, his eyes displaying cold serenity. "As soon as we find it, we will immediately leave."

  But moments after Zhi Xuan finished saying that, the Crimson Star Volcano erupted with a shockwave that spread toward the three of them, making them simultaneously vomit blood. The shockwave did not come from a spiritual explosion, but from pure and dense Law. The Crimson Star Volcano, the source of the spiritual vein, suddenly spewed out concentrated spiritual essence.

  BOOOOM!

  The tremor released surpassed sound; it was a deadly resonance in the spiritual foundation. Fei Sheng, Feng Yi, and Zhi Xuan, already exhausted, felt their essence circulation brutally disrupted. They staggered on the deck of the Seven Star Boat, coughing up mouthfuls of hot, bitter spiritual blood.

  "Damn it! What was that?" Feng Yi roared, her enveloping Phoenix Fire flickering as if struck by a storm. She clutched her chest, trying to calm her essence.

  Zhi Xuan gasped, the stabbing pain he felt surpassing the exhaustion of the Soul Artifact throw. The spiritual blood he vomited contained Black Jade essence residue, a sign that the Law impact had reached the core of his Sea of Consciousness.

  "That... was not an explosion," Zhi Xuan hissed, wiping blood from the corner of his mouth. His sapphire eyes radiated a glint that pierced the chaos. He looked down, toward the peak of the Crimson Star Volcano, which now radiated a blood-red light. "That is a Spiritual Vein Eruption; quickly, we must find the Star Token!"

  He wasted no time on recovery. Ignoring the spiritual blood soaking his robe, Zhi Xuan immediately channeled his depleted essence into the Seven Star Boat.

  He also mentally urged the Heavenly Trifold Reincarnation Cauldron to radiate the Law of Spring aura, lending stability to control the flying Artifact.

  The boat responded, its starlight flickering, forced to shoot off at frantic speed, yet controlled, toward the natural formation he suspected.

  "A Spiritual Vein Eruption... this is both a blessing and a curse!" Fei Sheng exclaimed, struggling to calm his turbulent Law of Wind. His pale face radiated a combination of fear and the excitement of a Daoist witnessing an extremely rare natural phenomenon. "This Eruption will discard limitless pure spiritual essence into the air! But... this Law shockwave will tear Consciousness Transformation cultivators apart!"

  "We no longer need that essence," Zhi Xuan replied flatly, his eyes fixed forward. "We already have the Thunder Core, and I have obtained what I needed. Now, what matters is survival."

  Feng Yi, who had put her spiritual sword back into its sheath, held the Fire Core she had acquired. She nodded seriously, her warrior instincts now prioritizing safety. They had gained more than they hoped for; survival was now the main objective.

  Fei Sheng immediately focused his divine sense, his Law of Wind spreading farther and faster. Aided by Zhi Xuan lending stability from the Divine Furnace, Fei Sheng found an anomaly.

  "Towards twelve o'clock! There is an unnatural fluctuation! That must be the natural formation!" Fei Sheng shouted, pointing toward a high plateau shrouded in cold mist that contrasted with the volcanic heat.

  The Seven Star Boat shot toward the indicated direction. As they approached, the mist became denser, and Zhi Xuan felt a unique spiritual fluctuation—it was not the Law of nature, but the trace of Rune Law left by the Thousand Heavens Sect.

  They arrived at a stone plateau shrouded in mist, far from the Spiritual Vein Eruption. In the middle of the plateau, a weathered stone gate stood tall. The gate was carved with intricate star symbols and ancient Heaven Seal Runes. It was the Natural Formation Gate, the only way out of the Falling Star Secret Realm.

  This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

  Under the gate, stood a Five Element cultivator wearing a Thousand Heavens Sect robe. The cultivator held a flickering silver-colored Star Jade Token. The Token was the key to activating the gate.

  "You are the last," the cultivator looked up and stared at the three cultivators on the Seven Star Boat, their appearances battered and filled with exhaustion. "Hurry, I will not wait for the last time."

  Zhi Xuan jumped from the Seven Star Boat, landing on the cold stone plateau with a calm movement, even though he felt every muscle protesting. Fei Sheng and Feng Yi followed him, their turbulent spiritual aura immediately subsided under the influence of the stable Thousand Heavens Sect Rune Law.

  The Five Element cultivator standing at the Natural Formation Gate radiated a calm and majestic aura, a sharp contrast to the chaos they had just experienced. He saw the spiritual blood stains on Zhi Xuan's robe and the visible exhaustion in the eyes of the three, but he only let out a patient sigh.

  "All cultivators have exited this Secret Realm," the sect-robed cultivator said. "Leaving only the greedy cultivators who intended to stay."

  The other cultivators, whether failed or successful, had left this Secret Realm before Zhi Xuan and the others arrived, indicating that the remaining cultivators there were deviant cultivators who were not aiming to become disciples of the Thousand Heavens Sect, but rather to seek fortune in the Secret Realm.

  "If it were not for Elder Yan Shen," the sect-robed cultivator continued, staring calmly at Zhi Xuan. "Forget it, enter the formation immediately, you are the last before the Secret Realm closes."

  Zhi Xuan, without wasting time on questions, stepped forward, his will fully focused on the exit. He bowed low, a formality he rarely performed, but done with absolute seriousness to the Five Element cultivator who had a stable aura.

  "Thank you for the Elder's help," Zhi Xuan said, his voice calm, hiding the storm of essence chaos in his body. He felt the cultivator's gaze fixed on him, a gaze that contained no contempt, but deep curiosity.

  The Five Element cultivator sighed again, his calm eyes scrutinizing Zhi Xuan. "Young man, the energy in your body is chaotic, yet your control... surpasses your realm. You have seen things that a Blood Transformation should not have seen." He did not ask about the injured Thunder cultivator, or about the Raven Thunder Core he had just obtained, as if those mundane things were unimportant.

  "Enter," he said, his tone now containing a cold layer of warning. "The Falling Star Secret Realm closes in three mortal days. The Spiritual Vein Eruption has begun the closing process. Be careful with the Path you carve. Every power comes with a price to pay."

  Zhi Xuan nodded, understanding that the warning was not about the battle he had just experienced, but about the Law of the Ancient Devil he borrowed. He did not reply, as every word would only sink him deeper.

  Fei Sheng and Feng Yi stepped forward. Fei Sheng bowed elegantly. "Thank you, Senior. We owe you a debt of gratitude for this safety." Feng Yi merely nodded briefly, her arrogance slightly eroded by gratitude, but still maintaining the dignity of the Fire Phoenix Sect.

  The Five Element cultivator raised the Star Jade Token. The runes on the stone gate immediately lit up with a stable silver light. The Natural Formation Gate spun, emitting a gentle Law of Space, ready to teleport them.

  "Hurry," he hissed.

  The trio stepped through the gate. As they passed through, Zhi Xuan felt a cold tremor in his Sea of Consciousness, as if the Ancient Devil Monument clicked with satisfaction. He had escaped danger, and he had secured the highly valuable Raven Azure King Thunder Core.

  "Mei Hua, Xiao Die. I am back," Zhi Xuan muttered before the bright silvery light devoured him and the teleportation formation pulled his consciousness.

  The silver light of the Natural Formation Gate devoured Zhi Xuan, Fei Sheng, and Feng Yi, spinning the gentle Law of Space, pulling their consciousness away from the turbulent Crimson Star Volcano. Their entire bodies felt strongly pulled, as if delicate threads stretched their souls across thousands of li of space.

  When the sensation of dislocation subsided, the trio landed with a muffled thump on a wide plain. The air here felt drier, colder, and filled with spiritual essence that was not as thick as in the Secret Realm, but much more stable and majestic. They had returned to Cloud Sky Mountain, Green Cloud City.

  "Big Brother Zhi Xuan!" The voice was Mei Hua's, the little girl running toward him at a nimble speed. On her shoulder, Xiao Die, the Heavenly Moth, radiated soft rainbow colors, as if cheering along.

  "Big Brother Zhi Xuan is back!" Mei Hua exclaimed again, her voice filled with pure joy that contrasted with the chaos Zhi Xuan had just left.

  Mei Hua lunged toward Zhi Xuan, but she stopped right at his knees. Her innocent laughter vanished, replaced by cold concern. She stared at Zhi Xuan's robe, which was wet with spiritual blood, and the small monkey statue in her tiny hand trembled softly.

  "Big Brother is hurt!" Mei Hua whispered, her small, wrinkled fingers hesitant to touch Zhi Xuan's wet robe. "The blood tastes bitter and cold. Was Big Brother naughty again?"

  Zhi Xuan clenched his jaw. In the face of such pure innocence, he could not maintain the cold serenity he had just projected. He knelt down, ignoring the stabbing pain in his meridians, and extended his cold right hand to touch Mei Hua's cheek.

  "Big Brother was not naughty, Mei Hua," Zhi Xuan replied, his voice hoarse yet gentle. "Big Brother just met a very fierce wild dog. But the dog has run away, and Big Brother brought a gift."

  Zhi Xuan smiled faintly, then shifted his gaze to Xiao Die who was floating and moved to Zhi Xuan's shoulder. Zhi Xuan touched the heavenly moth's head delicately.

  "Xiao Die, I succeeded!" Zhi Xuan said with a hint of joy, his struggle felt heavy without the heavenly moth who had accompanied him all this time. "Thank you for looking after Mei Hua these past three days."

  Mei Hua, whose innocent gaze seemed capable of penetrating the layers of exhaustion and lies Zhi Xuan tried to hide, nodded slowly. In her hand, the small monkey statue no longer trembled, as if she believed the gentle lie. She held Lulu out towards Zhi Xuan.

  "Lulu ate fire flower candy. Lulu says, Big Brother must get better quickly. Here, Big Brother must hold Lulu's hand, so Big Brother can be strong again," Mei Hua whispered, pressing the cloth doll into Zhi Xuan's cold right hand. Her innocent action, unintentionally, touched the core of Zhi Xuan's exhaustion—the need for pure serenity.

  Zhi Xuan took Lulu. It felt soft and slightly sticky from the fire flower candy residue. In contrast to the brutality and blood he had just left at the Crimson Star Volcano, this touch was a pure anchor to the mortal world. He held Mei Hua's small hand, feeling a gentle warmth flowing from the girl, a warmth that contained no spiritual essence, but had the power to calm the soul.

  He allowed Mei Hua to lead him, guiding him away from the Natural Formation Gate which had dimmed its light. Behind him, Fei Sheng and Feng Yi stood stiffly, as if they had just returned from an ancient battlefield, processing their return to the mortal world.

  "Tell me, what did Mei Hua do with Xiao Die while Big Brother was away?" Zhi Xuan asked, his voice now calm again, shedding the sharpness of a hunter he had just used.

  Mei Hua pursed her lips, her big, innocent eyes blinking, trying to remember. On his shoulder, Xiao Die, the Heavenly Moth, gently flapped its small rainbow wings, as if offering support.

  "We—we just sat with the disciple-aunts, Big Brother Zhi Xuan!" Mei Hua exclaimed happily, the small monkey statue in her hand gently shaken, she pointed toward the registration desk where Zhi Xuan had left Mei Hua three days ago with Xiao Die. "The little moth took very good care of me!"

  Mei Hua giggled lightly, her cloud silk dress shimmering beautifully. "Even that grandfather also took care of me!" Mei Hua exclaimed again, her lively laughter soothing Zhi Xuan's strained nerves. She pointed towards the white jade stage, where an elder in a gray robe, whose aura was as gentle as autumn mist—Yan Shen.

  Yan Shen, who had looked like a statue on the stage all this time, now moved his long, thin hand. He did not speak, but his spiritual aura spread, creating a wave of soothing calm around the landing area. The wave subtly cleaned the remnants of spiritual blood and volcanic dust from the robes of Zhi Xuan, Fei Sheng, and Feng Yi.

  Fei Sheng and Feng Yi immediately stood tall, surprised by the Elder's subtle yet absolute intervention. They bowed respectfully.

  "We pay our respects to Grand Elder Yan Shen," Fei Sheng said, his voice filled with genuine gratitude. His turbulent Law of Wind aura from the teleportation immediately became stable under the influence of Yan Shen's calm aura.

  Yan Shen nodded slowly, his eyes not leaving Zhi Xuan, who was still kneeling, holding Mei Hua's hand and the small monkey doll.

  "Three short days, yet equivalent to thirty years of cultivation outside," Yan Shen said, his voice calm, echoing the Law of Nature, not just words. "The Falling Star Secret Realm has closed. Those who have exited have chosen their Path."

  He stepped off the white jade stage, his movement as if stepping on clouds. The aura of autumn mist around him now moved toward Zhi Xuan.

  "You returned battered," Yan Shen continued, now standing before Zhi Xuan. "Your Dao is worthy, your talent is deserving, and you fulfill your own path, you are a Dragon who flies alone."

  Zhi Xuan clenched his jaw, his blue eyes radiating a glint that pierced Yan Shen's thin mist. He held onto Mei Hua's small hand, allowing that pure warmth to calm the storm of Devil Law in his Sea of Consciousness.

  Grand Elder Yan Shen's warning, as gentle as silk yet as strong as a mountain, was not about mundane greed, but about the Dao he had taken—the Great Path carved by the Ancient Devil.

  "Every power comes with a price to pay," Zhi Xuan repeated mentally, recalling the brutal essence depletion when using the Divine Furnace as a slingshot.

  He released Mei Hua's hand, standing with a movement that was slowly becoming controlled again. The exhaustion he felt did not disappear, but his serenity returned, supported by the realization that he had succeeded.