Chapter Sixty-Seven: Stars Within the Claws (Part Two)

“Sir, I have not leaked a single word about the super core. That twin-born core of Yin and Yang is currently fusing, extremely violent—no one can approach it!”
Lu Han’s voice carried traces of anxiety. Disaster was imminent, and yet he had to explain himself to this old man—how vexing.
“Good. I’ll be there soon. Hold them off as best as you can.”
The old man nodded faintly, his palm brushing the air. His shadow vanished instantly, while the jade token clattered to the floor.
The great hall fell silent.
Lu Han’s face was grim, fists clenched, gazing outside with a burning will to survive. At this point, all he could hope for was that Elder Crane arrived in time.
His task now was to delay, at all costs!
Master Crane had grasped the secret of light—one stride, a light-year, traversing the shadowy cosmos swiftly. He would arrive in this star domain soon.
“Lu Han! Come out! Come out!”
A clear voice echoed across heaven and earth. Feng Shang stood at the ship’s prow, shrouded in golden light, appearing as a deity overlooking the entire Ancient Murky Star from above.
Boom. Boom. Boom!
Feng Shang’s voice was immense, infused with power, causing the void to roar.
Many star fiends here, upon seeing the golden ship emanating the aura of the Dao, grew panicked and helpless. What kind of terrifying foe had arrived?
“How could he have fought his way here? Isn’t this star system completely unknown? Is it a true powerhouse from the Ancient Origin Domain come to destroy our evil pirate crew?” one star fiend trembled.
“That’s a divine Dao vessel. Only a master of the Light Realm could forge it. Light boundless, heart infinite—a single thought could wipe us out a thousand times.”
“…”
The voices of panic multiplied, the air thick with unease.
Usually, these star fiends were domineering and ruthless, cold-blooded and merciless. Now, their faces were sallow, legs weak.
They were savage and murderous, but bullies at heart—those who had taken more lives valued their own even more.
“Master Lu Han, where is Master Lu Han?”
“Please, save us!”
Many star fiends lost their composure, chaos reigning.
“May I ask which esteemed senior has arrived?”
Lu Han bit his teeth, stepped out of the grand hall, staring nervously at the Dao ship overhead.
Was the other party from the Starsea Sacred Palace, or an outsider?
If the latter, there might be room to negotiate. If the former, he would have to do everything possible to delay, until Elder Crane’s arrival.
At the critical moment, he might even reveal the secret of the super core, to attract the attention of the great figure aboard the Dao ship.
“You are Lu Han?”

Feng Shang gazed down from high above, a faint azure gleam flashing in his eyes. “I called for you so many times before you came out—how dare you neglect me so?”
Lu Han’s heart tightened.
The leader was a youth?
Were there any other strong ones on the Dao ship?
Lu Han glanced subtly, surprised to see behind the youth a white-robed young man and three girls who looked almost identical.
Only five in their party.
Lu Han felt uneasy. Could one of these five be a master of the Light Realm?
Sensing the youth’s cold tone and the faint anger between his brows, Lu Han dared not offend him and hurriedly replied, “Honored young lord, please forgive me. I was in seclusion just now, hence the delay.”
“Oh.” Feng Shang plainly didn’t believe him.
“I hear you possess a divine shrine, and recently destroyed the core of the Flash Cloud Star Realm?”
Lu Han’s expression changed. “Honored young lord, I acted against Flash Cloud Star Realm under orders—none of it was my own doing!”
“Heh?”
Feng Shang’s lips curled. “Are you joking? No involvement at all? That’s quite the clean excuse.”
“Sir, I—”
“Enough. I have other matters. Be efficient. Bring out your shrine. I’ll shatter your Reverse Fate Spirit Core, and leave you to survive as you wish in this star system.” Feng Shang spoke calmly.
“What!”
Lu Han’s face twisted. To shatter his Reverse Fate Spirit Core, just like that?
He had suffered and struggled to reach this point. If the Reverse Fate Core shattered, all his efforts would vanish in an instant.
No, absolutely not!
A hint of madness flickered in Lu Han’s eyes.
“Honored young lord, the matter of Flash Cloud Star Realm truly has nothing to do with me. I was manipulated—everything was that lord’s doing. If you spare me, I can reveal a great secret of this star system!”
“A secret of this star system?”
Feng Shang smiled leisurely, “You mean the super core? I noticed it the moment I arrived—inside those two divine stars, the Lunar Star and the Solar Star.”
“You know?”
Lu Han stared at Feng Shang in disbelief.
How could he know so quickly?
He himself had presided over this hidden star system for centuries, only discovering the two third-realm super cores after risking exploration of the twin divine stars.
“You’re unwilling?”

Feng Shang waved his folding fan lightly, sighing, “If you commit heinous deeds without a foolproof way to erase the traces, you must be prepared to face retribution. When I conned those major factions, I always severed all threads of causality…”
“Feng Shang, don’t say any more.”
Qing’er frowned, reminding him.
Since leaving Nine Star City, Feng Shang had become so talkative, even mentioning his own past deeds—matters that should remain forever sealed.
If the divine realm learned that the elusive thief they hunted for years was actually the young lord of Nine Star City, they would unite to attack, even his grandfather would be troubled.
“Ahem, I digress.”
Feng Shang coughed softly, turning to Lu Han. “In short, hand over your shrine. I promise only to shatter your spirit core, not kill you.”
Lu Han’s face twisted.
A fire welled up inside him.
This youth, from start to finish, in both words and bearing, showed not the slightest respect, as if he regarded Lu Han as nothing but an insignificant ant!
Shatter his spirit core? So casually!
The spirit core was the foundation of cultivation. If it shattered, everything would be lost.
His gaze darkened; for a moment, rage eclipsed fear. With the Violet Azure Shrine, he could reach the peak of Reverse Fate, open the third heavenly gate, perhaps even briefly step into that wondrous realm—why shouldn’t he contend with them?
Malice surged in Lu Han’s heart, almost erupting, but he restrained himself. His sinister eyes flickered toward the white-robed young man beside Feng Shang.
In his estimation, Feng Shang and the three girls were no threat; only the silent, white-robed youth required caution—perhaps an old monster who had long entered the Light Realm.
Light Realm—did that young man possess such power?
To fight, or not to fight?
Lu Han hesitated internally.
His mind whirled, searching for any words to further delay.
Unless absolutely necessary, he truly did not want to confront the occupants of a divine Dao vessel directly.
Unfortunately, his mind was blank.
The super core’s existence was already known—no longer a lure. Before Elder Crane arrived, he could only rely on his own strength…
“Sir, you truly refuse to spare me?”
Lu Han’s expression darkened.
At that moment, a violet-azure shrine floated above his head, mist swirling, radiance flowing, with six brilliant purple gates concealing unknown secrets.