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

196: Chapter 196: The Three Keys Break Through Barriers and the Guiding Star of the Northern UnderworldElder Jin Huang’s energy Incarnation blocked the valley entrance. Although his figure was not as solid as his true body, it still radiated a heart-palpitating Nascent Soul pressure. Especially those eyes condensed from pure Divine Thought, cold and playful, like staring at a flying insect caught in a spider web. He had clearly anticipated that Nangong Xuan might use a diversionary tactic and had secretly laid this deadly backup.

In front, an Incarnation blocked the way; behind, the true body and a large group of people were about to realize they had been deceived and return quickly!

A true desperate situation arrived in an instant!

”A mere Golden Core junior, a thing like an ant, dares to play mind games before this old man?” The Incarnation sneered, not moving immediately, seemingly enjoying the pleasure of a cat catching a mouse, or perhaps wanting to stall for time, waiting for the true body to complete the encirclement. ”Hand over the star key and kneel to beg for mercy; perhaps you can die more quickly.”

Powerful pressure surged like a tide, attempting to crush the will of the three.

Nangong Xuan’s pupils constricted, and his heart almost skipped a beat. But having experienced life and death, his will had long been tempered to be as firm as a rock, instantly suppressing all panic. His brain analyzed at an unprecedented speed.

Although this Incarnation’s aura was strong, compared to the true body’s power as vast as the sea, it was ultimately quite superficial, only about the strength of the Nascent Soul Early Stage. Lacking the support of a Physical Body, its continuous combat capability was bound to be limited. Its greatest advantage lay in containing a wisp of the true body’s Divine Thought, possessing high combat intelligence and the application of metal-attribute Laws.

Cannot get bogged down in a fight! Must break through with one blow and flee far away before the true body returns!

”Mu Xue, Linger, help me!” Nangong Xuan’s Divine Thought transmitted urgently. At the same time, the Nirvana Sword Essence in his body, which had just mostly recovered, circulated crazily without reservation! Within his Dantian, the phantom star key, the nirvana true seal fragment, and the sharp metal star key were stimulated by the powerful enemy and the master’s determination, once again erupting in a strong resonance!

Buzz—!

The three forces resonated with unprecedented intensity, and that strange Fusion power that transcended a single Law emerged again. It was no longer the weakness of the previous unconscious protection of the master, but carried Nangong Xuan’s strong will—breaking open the path ahead, slashing away the delusions!

”Nirvana as the Foundation! Void Realm as the guide! Sharp Metal as the edge! Break!”

Nangong Xuan roared, and the ancient sword in his hand let out an overburdened hum. Gray Nirvana Sword Intent, silver-white Void Realm fluctuations, and brilliant Sharp Metal radiance—three-colored brilliance forcibly intertwined and wrapped around the sword blade, causing the space around the blade to begin to distort and crack with fine black fissures!

This sword strike gathered all his current power, will, and his initial insights into the Fusion of the three keys! It was the strongest blow he could currently deliver!

Almost at the same time, Su Muxue suppressed her instinctive fear of the Nascent Soul pressure. Her hands formed seals, and the moon wheel floated above her head. The Taiyin Star Power no longer sought ice-cold sealing but turned into pure, cold moonlight veils, gently yet toughly wrapping toward that energy Incarnation. It was not an attack but an interference, slowing down its energy circulation and Divine Thought Perception! Taiyin Power inherently had a special restraining effect on Divine Souls and energy bodies!

Zi Linger also gritted her teeth, the key of living beings glowing with emerald light. She no longer tried to purify the Incarnation’s energy filled with deathly Golden Baleful Qi, but instead turned the life-filled power into countless tough green light ropes, erupting from the ground like giant vines, wrapping around the Incarnation’s legs, striving to fix its form and limit its evasion space!

The assistance of the two women was just right, winning for Nangong Xuan that crucial opportunity to strike!

”Like a mantis trying to stop a chariot!” The Jin Huang Incarnation cold-snorted. Facing this sword strike that gathered the power of three people, especially one containing three strange Laws, he finally withdrew the playfulness in his eyes, replaced by a touch of solemnity. He raised his hand and grabbed at the air, and the vast Golden Baleful Qi instantly condensed into a huge dark-gold palm. Runes flowed in the palm, carrying the momentum to crush everything, as it fiercely grabbed toward Nangong Xuan’s three-colored intertwined sword strike! This was a simplified version of his true body’s signature Divine Ability, ”Jin Huang Seizing Hand,” but its power was still terrifying!

Boom!!!

The three-colored sword rainbow and the dark-gold giant hand collided fiercely!

There was no stalemate as imagined! At the moment of contact, the sharp characteristics of the sharp metal star key first exploded, like a red-hot knife cutting through butter, instantly tearing through the outermost layer of the dark-gold palm’s defense! Immediately after, the Void Realm fluctuations of the phantom star key and the Nirvana Sword Intent crazily poured in through the cracks, disintegrating and annihilating the Golden Baleful Law structure that formed the palm from the inside out!

Chila—!

The huge dark-gold palm was actually torn apart and ground to pieces by this three-colored sword rainbow!

”What?!” For the first time, a look of shock appeared on the Jin Huang Incarnation’s face! Although this strike was not his full power, it was definitely not something a Golden Core Cultivator could withstand, let alone be broken so easily! The qualitative change after the Fusion of those three powers far exceeded his expectations!

The sword rainbow broke through the palm, and although its light dimmed by more than half, its momentum remained undiminished as it stabbed straight toward the Incarnation’s chest!

The Incarnation was shocked and angry, his figure retreating rapidly while his hands waved repeatedly, laying down thick Golden Baleful barriers one after another!

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The sword rainbow broke through seven barriers in a row, finally dissipating from exhaustion just three feet away from the Incarnation’s heart.

However, at the very moment the sword rainbow dissipated—

”Now! Star core!”

Nangong Xuan shouted! His final trump card, which he had been holding back, was activated now!

The chaos star core, which had been floating in front of Su Muxue and seemingly only providing passive energy support, suddenly erupted with a powerful suction! But its target was not the Incarnation’s energy, but—those fragments of the Golden Baleful palm that had been slashed by the sword rainbow and had not yet completely dissipated, as well as the broken barrier energy!

Hu hu hu—!

Like a whale swallowing water, countless pure metal-attribute energy fragments were forcibly pulled into the star core! The dark-gold patterns on the star core’s surface flashed crazily, swallowing and transforming them instantly!

All this happened in the blink of an eye! The Jin Huang Incarnation was shaken because his Divine Ability had been broken and was busy resisting the aftermath of the sword rainbow, so he had no time to react!

After swallowing this energy, the chaos star core shuddered violently, feeding back an incredibly pure mixed energy that carried strong nirvana and sharp characteristics, instantly injecting it into Nangong Xuan’s almost dried-up Meridians!

This energy was like the most intense stimulant, greatly lifting Nangong Xuan’s spirits!

”Again!”

Borrowing this power, he forcibly swung his sword again! This time, it was not a complex Fusion, but a mixture of the energy just swallowed and transformed—which carried the opponent’s aura but was reinforced by nirvana and Sharp Metal—along with his remaining Sword Essence, turning into a gray-gold destructive Sword Gang only about a zhang long but condensed to the extreme, slashing straight at the Incarnation!

This sword was fast! Fierce! Accurate! And unexpected!

”Bastard!” The Jin Huang Incarnation roared in shock and anger. He never expected the opponent could actually swallow his power to counterattack! In his haste, he could only condense all his remaining energy in front of him for defense!

Boom!!!

The gray-gold Sword Gang slashed fiercely against the defense the Incarnation had hurriedly set up!

A terrifying energy storm swept out, instantly clearing the mist at the valley entrance and plowing deep furrows into the ground!

Crack!

A faint sound of cracking rang out! The defensive light shield in front of the Incarnation shattered! Although the Sword Gang was exhausted again, the nirvana and Sharp Metal power it contained, like maggots on a bone, penetrated the defense and slammed heavily into the Incarnation’s energy body!

”Ugh!” The Incarnation let out a painful groan, his body instantly becoming much more transparent, and his aura plummeted sharply. He had clearly suffered significant trauma!

Opportunity!

”Go!”

Nangong Xuan had no intention of lingering. The Sword Gang wrapped around Su Muxue and Zi Linger, who were almost exhausted from their full support, and triggered all the remaining power of the Dark Bead for concealment and acceleration. He turned into an extremely faint stream of light, taking advantage of the moment when the energy storm had not dissipated, the Incarnation was injured, and sight and Divine Sense were obstructed, passing by the Incarnation at extreme speed and rushing out of the valley exit!

”Where do you think you’re going!” The Incarnation stabilized his form, trying to pursue and send a signal in shock and anger.

But at this moment, the chaos star core buzzed again, violently puffing out a wisp of mixed Death Qi produced after swallowing the energy earlier, instantly spreading like a smoke bomb, further interfering with the Incarnation’s Perception and actions!

With just that moment of delay, Nangong Xuan’s group of three had already rushed out of the valley and disappeared into the complex terrain outside.

”Ah!!! Junior! I will definitely kill you!!!”

Behind them came the Jin Huang Incarnation’s roar of unwillingness and rage, along with the even more terrifying aura of the true body rapidly rushing back!

...A moment later, deep in an underground grotto a hundred miles away from the valley.

Nangong Xuan set up a few simple isolation Restrictions and finally couldn’t hold on, spitting out a mouthful of stale blood and kneeling on one knee, his aura becoming extremely turbulent. The consecutive outbursts, especially the final forced activation of the star core’s swallowing counterattack, had almost torn his newly healed Meridians again.

Su Muxue and Zi Linger were in slightly better condition, but they were also pale. They hurriedly stepped forward to support him, feeding him Medicinal Pills and helping him regulate his breathing.

”Temporarily... safe.” Nangong Xuan panted, feeling the powerful Divine Sense (the Jin Huang true body’s frantic search) sweeping past like a storm and gradually moving away, and slowly breathed a sigh of relief. The remaining power of the Dark Bead and the Chaos characteristics of the star core, combined with the concealment of this grotto, had temporarily evaded detection.

”Brother Xuan, how are you?” Su Muxue’s beautiful eyes were full of heartache and worry.

”It’s fine... just over-exhaustion.” Nangong Xuan waved his hand and quickly performed internal inspection. Although his injuries had worsened, his Foundation was not damaged. As long as he regulated his breathing for a while, he could recover. He was more concerned about the changes in his Dantian.

After the battle just now, especially the final risky swallowing counterattack, the resonance between the three keys seemed to be even closer, and his understanding of that Fusion power had deepened. The dark-gold patterns on the surface of the chaos star core became increasingly clear, floating quietly, and the energy it fed back seemed to have taken on a touch of Sharp Metal characteristics, becoming more diverse.

He took out that Dark Bead, which had completely exhausted its power and was covered in cracks, and carefully put it away. This was the final gift from the Ancient Skeleton Senior, which had saved his life.

”Where we going next?” Zi Linger asked softly, still feeling lingering fear.

Nangong Xuan closed his eyes, his Divine Sense sinking into his Dantian to communicate with the phantom star key and the sharp metal star key.

The azure light point representing the ”water star key” and the crimson light point representing the ”fire star key” were still dim, but their directions were clearer.

The North Nether Abyss was vast and heavy, the journey was long, and the environment was unknown, but that ”water” Concept seemed to lean more toward inclusion and nourishment.

The Southern Wilderness Molten Heart was blazing and violent, and the distance was slightly closer, but the Jin Jue Sect’s power was extremely strong in the west. Going south might still be within its range of influence, and the ”fire” Concept was full of uncertainty.

After a moment of contemplation, Nangong Xuan opened his eyes, his gaze as sharp as a sword, and made a decision.

”Go to the North Nether Abyss first.”

”Why?” Su Muxue asked.

”The Northern Darkness is far away, and the Jin Jue Sect’s pursuit focus should temporarily still be in the west and south. Moreover, the nature of ’water’ is gentle, which might be more conducive to our recovery and concealment. The sharp metal star key is fierce and needs the neutralization and nourishment of water, which might accelerate its complete recovery and unlock the remaining chains.” Nangong Xuan analyzed. More importantly, in the message transmitted by the phantom star key about ”the Abyss in the Northern Darkness,” the two words ”Gui Xu” made him vaguely feel that there might be deeper secrets hidden there, possibly related to ”the dark side” or the origin of the star keys.

Hearing this, the two women nodded without any objection.

”Good, then let’s go to the North Nether Abyss!”

The three of them regulated their breathing for a bit. Once Nangong Xuan had slightly suppressed his injuries, they quietly left the grotto, headed north, and used the cover of night and terrain to travel stealthily.

In the distant sky, the morning sun was about to rise, but the road ahead was still long and fraught with danger. The Jin Jue Sect’s pursuit order had already spread, and on the way to the North Nether Abyss, who knew how many hardships and obstacles were waiting for them.

And within his Dantian, that azure light point flickered weakly but firmly, like a lighthouse in the dark, pointing the way toward hope and the unknown.