The night sky churned like ink in water.
At the heart of the ruined Celestial Formation Grounds, the broken constellation lines shimmered beneath Lin Xuan's feet. Around him, the world trembled—not from the wind, but from the overwhelming spiritual pressure of his enemies.
The Soul Binding Twins hovered silently in the air, like phantoms. Their porcelain masks reflected starlight, their robes flapping without wind. A sickly purple mist coiled around them, whispering like voices of the dead.
Lin Xuan could feel the pressure pressing on his soul, not just his body.
[Warning: Soul Suppression Field Active]
[Spiritual Defense Reduced by 30%]
But his Chaos Core pulsed defiantly, resisting the encroaching death aura.
"So… you survived Ascension, hid in the flesh of a crippled mortal, and dare walk the Chaos Path again?" the brother said, his voice echoing like a blade dragged across bone.
"Then you already know what happens next," the sister added, her hand raised.
From the mist, a whip of soul energy lashed out.
---
The Battle Begins
Lin Xuan moved—barely in time.
The whip cracked the stone where he'd stood, leaving a blackened scar. His instincts sharpened instantly. He reached into his core.
[Chaos Skill Activated: Chaotic Step – Level 1]
Effect: Teleports host short distances by disrupting surrounding space. Cooldown: 10 seconds.
He vanished in a blink—reappearing behind the sister.
Chaotic Palm! His strike hit her shoulder, sending a shockwave through her body. But instead of flinching, she laughed—her body turned to black smoke.
"Only our phantoms walk in the flesh," the brother said behind him.
Too slow—
Lin Xuan spun, but not fast enough. A chain of soul qi wrapped around his leg and yanked him backward.
BAM!
He smashed into a broken formation pillar. Blood trickled from his mouth.
---
Star-Forged Chaos Awakens
The Chaos Core flared.
So did the formation beneath him.
The starlight lines—long dormant—suddenly lit with golden light, fusing with his chaotic aura.
[Phase One Awakening: Star-Forged Chaos Body – 100%]
New Passives Unlocked: Star-Linked Flow (+20% Energy Regeneration in Battle)
Soul Barrier (Reduces soul-based damage by 40% for 10 seconds)
The chains around his soul shattered.
Lin Xuan stood slowly, his wounds sealing, his aura rising.
The stars above flickered, as if responding.
"You think I came here to hide?" he growled, eyes glowing. "No… this place was my crucible."
He raised his hand. Black and golden energy coiled into a spear-like form.
"Chaotic Star Lance."
He hurled it.
The brother raised both hands in defense—but the lance tore through his phantom form, forcing him to re-manifest, coughing up blood.
"How—!?"
Lin Xuan blurred forward.
Chaotic Palm. Chaos Fist of Ruin. Chaos Step. Chaos Palm again.
The sister screamed as he slammed her through a pillar. The ground cracked. The constellation sigils glowed brighter, feeding him.
They both rose—bloodied, shocked.
"This is impossible…" the sister gasped.
"You're still only in Qi Gathering…" the brother added.
"I walk a path no one dares," Lin Xuan said, raising both hands. "You two? You're just my warm-up."
---
The Final Blow
The Chaos Core burned like a second sun in his chest.
He poured everything into one final attack—combining starlight and chaos.
[Technique Created: Celestial Chaos Wave – Experimental Tier]
Effect: Sends a sweeping wave of starlit chaos qi. High chance of soul disruption and internal collapse.
He unleashed it.
A tidal wave of energy engulfed the twins. Their screams echoed into the void as their bodies and souls were unmade—shredded, erased, consumed by chaos.
Silence followed.
Only the stars bore witness.
---
Aftermath
Lin Xuan stood at the center of the shattered ground, breathing heavily. The formation had gone dark again. The Celestial Formation Grounds were cracked and drained—but he remained standing.
His aura had changed.
Stronger. Colder. Wilder.
[Battle Complete: Victory Achieved]
[Qi Gathering Progress: 65%]
[Soul Barrier Upgraded – Permanent Soul Resistance +10%]
---
Far Away – In the Blood Shadow Sect
An obsidian mirror cracked.
The High Elder rose, furious.
"The twins are dead."
He turned to a line of assassins kneeling below him.
"Send the Black Veil Envoy. Lin Xuan must die before he steps into Foundation Building. If he survives that threshold… not even the heavens may stop him."
---
[Next Quest Unlocked: Reach Foundation Building Before the Blood Veil Envoy Arrives]
Reward: Chaos Refinement Method – Core Evolution Path Begins
Time Remaining: 6 Days
Penalty: Certain Death