Transmigrating Into a Fantasy World: Signing in During Pregnancy, Reaching the Summit with My Childhood Sweetheart

97: Chapter 97: Reversed Earth Veins and Mysteries of the Remnant PeopleLeaving the tragic and heroic site at the Core of the Valley of Fallen Stars, the three of them rapidly returned along the Ancient Star Remains Path they had come from. Thanks to the power that burst forth at the end from Ling Xu Sword Venerable’s remnant soul, the residual stellar Restrictions within the ancient path seemed to have been completely activated. Those skeletons corroded by miasma no longer revived, and pure Starlight illuminated the way forward, dispelling some of the cold and deathly stillness of the underground.

However, whether it was Nangong Xuan’s newly obtained nirvana sword seed or Lin Mo’s evolved Star Core, both clearly perceived that the terrifying pressure from the abyss below had not disappeared; it was merely being forcibly suppressed by the temporary eruption of the stellar Core. It was like the dead silence before a storm, oppressively heart-palpitating.

Ten days! They only had ten days!

Passing through the Ancient Star Remains Path and returning to the cave covered in murals, the three of them tacitly did not stop. Su Muxue took one last look at those ancient carvings recording grievances and warnings, deeply engraving the name ”Valley of Fallen Stars” into her heart.

Following the northwest direction indicated by Ling Xu Sword Venerable, they left the cave and stepped once more into that desolate and deathly silent canyon.

Behind them at the canyon entrance, the mess left by that self-detonation remained, and the aura of the three Dark Flame City Emissaries had long since completely dissipated, assimilated by the thick aura of withered desolation in this place. But everyone knew that more hunters were inevitably on their way.

”We cannot travel along the surface; the target is too large and easily detected,” Nangong Xuan said in a deep voice. After absorbing the nirvana sword seed, his aura was more condensed. Although his strength had not fully recovered, his eyes were as sharp as an eagle’s, and his Perception of danger far exceeded what it was before. ”The ’falling star monument’ mentioned by the Sword Venerable Old Ancestor is three thousand li away. We must use underground paths to avoid pursuit as much as possible.”

His gaze swept over the jagged rocks and bottomless fissures in the surroundings, finally settling on an inconspicuous rock crevice to the northwest that emitted a faint heat. ”There are faint traces of Earth Fire flowing here; perhaps it leads to a deeper branch of the leylines. The leylines are chaotic and can interfere with Divine Sense probes, making it the best choice for concealing our tracks.”

Su Muxue and Lin Mo had no objections. Lin Mo’s Nirvana Perception also confirmed that an active but chaotic energy channel indeed existed behind that rock crevice.

Nangong Xuan was the first to transform into a bolt of thunder and vanish into the rock crevice, with Su Muxue following closely behind while holding Lin Mo.

The rock crevice was extremely narrow at first, with a scorching air current rushing at them. But after traveling downward in a winding path for several hundred feet, the view suddenly opened up, revealing a surging and roaring river of molten Earth Fire emitting a dark red glow!

The scorching heat waves distorted the air. The river was not pure lava but was mixed with a large amount of pure yet extremely violent Earth Fire Elemental Power, as well as scattered Star Remains and minerals washed down by the current. On both sides of the river were rock walls baked pitch-black, and from time to time, huge scorching bubbles rose from the riverbed and burst, splashing fire rain across the sky.

The environment here was extremely harsh, and Cultivators below the Golden Core stage would likely find it difficult to stand for long. However, just as Nangong Xuan had expected, the violent Earth Fire Elemental Power perfectly masked their presence.

”Following the direction of the river, it’s roughly northwest,” Lin Mo’s thought transmitted. His Star Core actually felt a hint of comfort here, as its Annihilation Power quietly absorbed the intent of ”Ending” from that violent energy, converting it for his own use.

The three of them immediately sped upstream along the surging Molten Earth Fire River.

There was no sun or moon underground, and it was unknown how much time had passed. Perhaps it was one day, or perhaps two.

The journey was not all smooth sailing. They encountered Fire-Fiend Spirit Monsters dwelling in the lava, met sudden lava fountains, and were even once caught in a chaotic Geomagnetic Storm. However, with the coordination of Nangong Xuan’s gradually recovering Thunder Sword Intent, Su Muxue’s increasingly exquisite Taiyin Stellar Power, and Lin Mo’s Nirvana Perception that could see through energy flows, they all passed through without peril.

Nangong Xuan’s understanding and Fusion with the nirvana sword seed continued to deepen. With every move, his thunder light contained a hint of Nirvana True Intent that could erase everything, its power even greater than before. Under the pressure of the extreme environment, Su Muxue’s control over Taiyin Power also became increasingly refined, even allowing her to draw upon the power of scattered Earth Fire stellar fragments to integrate into her sword techniques.

Lin Mo’s Star Core was like a silent black hole, constantly devouring all available chaotic, ending, and violent energy around it, silently accumulating power as the dark patterns on its surface became deeper and more profound.

On this day, a deafening roar suddenly came from ahead of the Molten Earth Fire River. The terrain rose sharply, and the river became increasingly turbulent and violent.

”There’s a leyline fault ahead, a massive waterfall!” Nangong Xuan shouted after focusing his Perception. ”Be careful, the energy below the waterfall is chaotic, and there may be unknown dangers!”

The three increased their vigilance, struggling to climb against the growing impact and scorching heat waves.

Finally, they burst out from the surface of the lava river, and the sight before them was shocking.

It was an incredibly vast underground cavity where an enormous lava waterfall, like a crimson Dragon, crashed down from an invisible ceiling, kicking up waves of fire that reached the sky in the abyss below. The roaring sound was so loud it made their Divine Souls tremble.

And on the rock walls surrounding this cavity, countless massive crystal clusters emitting various colored glows were actually embedded! These crystals were not naturally formed; ancient runes were carved upon them, appearing to absorb the massive energy generated by the waterfall’s impact and converting it into relatively stable light and heat, illuminating this giant cavern.

Even more surprising was that on the rock walls, aided by the radiance of those crystals, one could see traces of carved platforms, corridors, and even houses! Although most were now broken and abandoned, covered in the dust of ages, one could still see that this was once a sizable underground settlement!

”People lived here?” Su Muxue asked in surprise, her Divine Thought carefully scanning the abandoned houses. ”Looking at the style, do they also seem to be Star Remnants?”

Nangong Xuan’s expression was grave as his gaze scanned the surroundings like lightning. ”It doesn’t look like it was abandoned; it looks more like... an emergency evacuation. Look at those tools and items; although they are placed messily, they haven’t naturally decayed. It looks as though they weren’t taken in the hurry.”

Lin Mo’s ball of light flickered slightly, and his intent came through with a hint of caution: ”...There are faint... Remnants of life signatures... very hidden... and... more than one... be careful.”

Before his voice could fade, a sudden change occurred!

Swish! Swish! Swish!

Several silent arrows composed of shadows shot out like venomous snakes from a hidden corridor above, aiming straight for the trio’s vitals! These shadow arrows were not physical entities, yet they emitted a cold power capable of corroding the Divine Soul, perfectly blending into the shifting light and shadows around them, making them extremely difficult to detect!

An ambush!

Nangong Xuan reacted extremely quickly, giving a cold snort. He didn’t even draw his sword, but merely let the Nirvana Sword Intent around his body ripple slightly.

Those few shadow arrows shot toward him, but as they approached within three feet of his body, they were like snow meeting the sun, silently dissolving and vanishing into nothingness! They didn’t even trigger a single ripple!

”Hiding rats, get out here!” Nangong Xuan barked, pointing his fingers like a sword. A Sword Qi fused with the intent of thunder and nirvana shot upward, accurately striking that hidden corridor!

Boom!

The rocks at the corridor entrance exploded, and amidst the flying debris, three small figures tumbled out in a sorry state, landing on a larger platform below.

These were three teenagers wearing simple leather armor, their faces filled with vigilance and dread. They looked young, and even the one with the highest cultivation was only at the Middle Stage of Foundation Establishment. In their hands, they held strange short bows crafted from black crystal, which were clearly what had fired the shadow arrows just now.

At this moment, they were looking in terror at Nangong Xuan, who was suspended in mid-air with thunder light and nirvana intertwined around him, as if they were looking at an invincible god or demon.

”Who are you? Why did you ambush us?” Su Muxue landed on the platform, her voice cold but not immediately attacking. She sensed from these teenagers not the pure evil of Dark Flame City, but a kind of self-protection born of extreme tension. Moreover, the power flowing within them, though weak and somewhat mutated, was undoubtedly based on Stellar Power!

The slightly older youth leading them suppressed his fear and shielded the other two behind him, shouting with forced bravado, ”You... you are lackeys of Dark Flame City! Don’t even think about taking us back!”

”Dark Flame City?” Nangong Xuan frowned, withdrawing some of his pressure. ”Which part of us looks like those things that are neither human nor ghost?”

The youth was stunned and carefully looked at the three of them. Nangong Xuan’s Sword Qi was noble and upright, Su Muxue’s aura was cold and pure, and even Lin Mo’s ball of light emitted a deep and profound meaning, indeed completely different from the cold and filthy aura of Dark Flame City.

”You... really aren’t?” The youth’s tone wavered, but he remained highly vigilant. ”Then who are you? How did you come up from below the ’Flame-Howl Waterfall’? That is a Forbidden Ground, connected to the terrifying ’Demon Pit’!”

Su Muxue and Nangong Xuan exchanged a glance, understanding dawned on them. The ”Demon Pit” the youth spoke of was likely the source of miasma at the Core of the Valley of Fallen Stars. These children might be the descendants of the Star Remnants who luckily survived?

”We are not from Dark Flame City; we come from the surface,” Su Muxue said, trying to make her tone as gentle as possible. ”We are passing through here to reach the ’falling star monument’ to the northwest.”

”The falling star monument?!” The three teenagers cried out in unison, their faces showing expressions of disbelief. ”You are going to the ’sacred stele’? Impossible! That place was long ago sealed off by the ’bone-eroding black wind’ and the claws of Dark Flame City! No one can get close!”

”sacred stele?” Nangong Xuan caught the term. ”You know of that place? Can you tell us how to get there?”

The youth’s eyes shifted, and after struggling for a moment, he said in a low voice, ”If... if you really aren’t from Dark Flame City... perhaps... perhaps the Elder would be willing to see you...”

”Elder? You still have clansmen alive?” Su Muxue felt a surge of joy.

The youth nodded, then shook his head, his face showing a complex expression of sadness and fear. ”Not many... our ’Crystal Cluster Remnant Tribe’ have only one small settlement left, and we’ve been constantly evading the hunts of Dark Flame City... Follow me, but don’t try any tricks, or... or we will start the ancestral Restrictions even if it means our deaths!”

As he spoke, he took out a strange crystal emitting a faint Starlight and shone it against a certain part of the rock wall.

Hum... On the rock wall, a seemingly ordinary giant crystal cluster slowly moved aside, revealing a hidden passage wide enough for only one person to pass, extending inward.

The three teenagers gave them a wary look and were the first to slip into the passage.

Su Muxue and the others pondered for a moment before following them in. These descendants of the Remnants might be the key to reaching the falling star monument.

The passage inside wound upward and was carved very roughly, but at intervals, rune crystals that could emit light and heat were embedded in the walls to provide illumination and energy.

After walking for about the time it takes to burn an incense stick, faint voices and light came from ahead.

Exiting the passage, they saw an underground cave that was not very large but was managed in an orderly fashion. Several large crystals were embedded in the ceiling of the cave, simulating the light of the sun, moon, and stars. Below were some simple but sturdy stone houses, small mushroom farms had been cultivated, and there was even an underground stream that had been diverted.

About dozens of people lived here, including men, women, the young, and the old. Every one of them looked malnourished and was dressed in rags, but most of their eyes held a kind of stubborn vitality. Seeing strangers enter, they immediately huddled together in tension, picking up various simple weapons and staring warily at the trio.

A white-haired old man, leaning on a Starwood Cane, slowly walked out from the crowd supported by the three original teenagers. His aura was weak, and his Lifespan was clearly near its end, but his cloudy eyes flickered with the light of wisdom.

He carefully observed Nangong Xuan and the others, lingering for a long time especially on Nangong Xuan’s thunderous aura that contained Nirvana Sword Intent and on Lin Mo’s ball of light. An expression of excitement, disbelief, and a deeply hidden trace of awe gradually surfaced on his aged face.

He pushed away the teenagers supporting him and, trembling, actually performed an ancient Star Palace etiquette toward the three of them, particularly in Lin Mo’s direction, slowly bowing his body:

”The ancient stars guide the lost travelers... This old man is the Acting Elder of the Crystal Cluster Remnant Tribe, Xing Jue. I welcome the arrival of the ’star core emissary’ and the... venerable one who carries the ’Silent Thunder’.”