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

199: Chapter 199: Star Core as Boat and Initial Exploration of UndercurrentsTurbid, dark green seawater slapped against the withered black reefs, making a sticky, unpleasant sound. The sinister aura permeating the air mixed with a salty, fishy stench, forming a poisonous miasma potent enough to make low-level Cultivators lose their minds. The North Nether Sea, this legendary vast abyss, had now become synonymous with death and pollution.

Inside the grotto, the atmosphere was heavy. The thrilling encounter they just had made the three of them realize that the difficulty of this mission far exceeded their imagination. Charging in blindly was undoubtedly suicide, but the faint call from the pure Core of the water star key and the strange resonance it shared with the chaos star core made it impossible for them to give up.

”We must find a way to resist the long-term erosion of the evil energy.” Nangong Xuan was the first to break the silence, his gaze falling on the star Core in Su Muxue’s arms. ”A normal spiritual power shield consumes too much and is extremely easy to contaminate. Perhaps the key still lies with it.”

Su Muxue understood and carefully held the star Core in her palm. At this moment, the star Core was no longer throbbing violently, but the dark gold patterns on its surface continued to emit a faint glow, and its complex emotions toward the distant sea area were still fluctuating.

”It seems to be able to devour and transform that evil energy, but the process doesn’t seem easy, and...” Su Muxue recalled the terrifying moment when the star Core briefly changed color, her heart still fluttering with fear. ”I’m worried Moer will be affected.”

Nangong Xuan pondered, ”The risk does exist. But since the star Core can transform it, perhaps it can also form a kind of protection. We need to guide it rather than letting it react passively.” He recalled the star Core’s previously spontaneous concealment waves and interference abilities. ”The abilities it has awakened seem to be related to ’devouring’, ’transforming’, and ’mimicking’. Can we try to have it mimic a force field that can isolate or even purify the evil energy?”

This was a bold idea. Su Muxue and Zi Linger exchanged glances, both seeing the hesitation in each other’s eyes, but this was also the only seemingly feasible direction at the moment.

”I’ll try to communicate with it.” Su Muxue took a deep breath and closed her eyes, sinking her mind into her Taiyin Star Power. She slowly enveloped the star Core, not by forceful control, but with a gentle caress, conveying the intent of ’protection’ and ’isolation’, and clearly transmitting her own Perception of that evil energy.

At first, the star Core only trembled instinctively, feeding back mixed emotions. But with Su Muxue’s continuous and gentle guidance, along with the constant stimulation from the external evil energy, the dark gold patterns on its surface began to flow in an even more complex manner.

Gradually, an extremely thin, almost transparent shimmer with a hint of Chaos charm spread from the surface of the star Core, expanding like a bubble and slowly enveloping the three of them.

The moment this shimmering force field formed, the sinister aura permeating outside the grotto seemed to be pushed away by an invisible force, unable to get even an inch closer! Even the nauseating smell of decay was isolated outside!

Inside the force field, the air became fresh. Although the Spiritual Qi was still thin, it was no longer suffocating or oppressive.

”It worked!” Zi Linger exclaimed in surprise. As a Wood Spirit, she was most sensitive to vital environments and felt incredibly comfortable now.

Nangong Xuan carefully perceived this force field, a sharp light flashing in his eyes. ”It’s not just isolation; this force field seems to be ’neutralizing’ the approaching evil energy extremely slowly, transforming it into a harmless Chaos energy... Though the speed is slow, the cumulative effect will be astonishing.” This was undoubtedly a high-level application of the star Core’s devouring and transforming ability.

However, maintaining this force field seemed to take a significant toll on the star Core, as the flickering frequency of the light on its surface increased. Su Muxue could also feel a continuous, subtle ’sucking’ sensation from the star Core in her arms; it was constantly absorbing the Taiyin Star Power she funneled into it for support.

”The force field is established, but it requires you to provide constant support, Mu Xue, and its range is limited—it cannot be maintained indefinitely.” Nangong Xuan immediately spotted the key issue. ”We still need to finish this quickly.”

Next was the orientation. In the vast, polluted sea, how could they accurately find the specific location where the water star key was imprisoned and contaminated?

Nangong Xuan once again sank his mind into his Dantian, communicating with all his might with the phantom star key and the sharp metal star key. That single point of pure azure light was still faint, but its resonance with the chaos star core seemed to have become a bit clearer now that the star Core was operating at full capacity.

He tried to guide this sense of resonance out, injecting it into the star Core through his Divine Thought.

Buzz—!

The star Core vibrated slightly, and the light of the dark gold patterns on its surface flowed. Finally, the chaotic shimmering force field began to undergo a subtle change. In a specific direction ahead, the light of the field seemed to become more concentrated and slightly brighter, pointing toward the depths of the polluted sea like a blurry arrow!

”The star Core is pointing the way!” Su Muxue immediately noticed the change.

”Good!” Nangong Xuan’s spirits rose. ”With this, we have both a target and a means of protection.”

The final preparation was to deal with the potentially terrifying sea demons. A head-on clash was by no means wise.

”Stealth and interference are key,” Nangong Xuan analyzed. ”Earlier, the star Core could interfere with a Golden Core Cultivator’s spellcasting. Even if the effect is weakened against stronger sea demons, as long as it can create a momentary opening, it will be enough for us to escape. Mu Xue, you will need to fully cooperate with the star Core then, pushing its interference ability to the limit. Linger, your Life Force might have a miraculous effect against deathly evil creatures; at the critical moment, try to interfere with their Perception.”

The two women nodded solemnly.

After resting and regulating their breathing for half a day until their states were restored to their peak, the three decided to act under the cover of night. The darkness might provide them with an extra layer of concealment.

Standing at the shore and looking at the boundless, dark green ocean before them—which seemed to be breeding countless horrors—all three took a deep breath.

Su Muxue channeled her Taiyin Star Power with all her might, supporting the Chaos force field emitted by the star Core to firmly protect the three of them. Following the direction indicated by the star Core, Nangong Xuan took the lead and stepped carefully into the sea.

The moment they stepped into the polluted sea, despite the isolation of the force field, the three still felt an invisible, heavy pressure surging from all directions. The seawater was as viscous as pulp, vision was obstructed, and the range of Divine Sense was greatly compressed. They could only barely perceive countless chaotic, evil, and hungry thoughts prowling outside the force field.

With the star Core guiding the way, the three of them were like a slowly moving bubble, struggling to dive down into the dim, turbid seawater. The surroundings were terrifyingly silent, save for the extremely faint ’sizzling’ sound made when the edge of the force field neutralized the evil energy.

From time to time, small contaminated sea beasts would instinctively crash into the force field, only to be instantly neutralized and disintegrated by the power of Chaos, turning into a trace of pure energy to be absorbed by the star Core. However, such movements also frequently drew more evil gazes hidden in the darkness.

After diving for about the time it takes to burn an incense stick, the surrounding light had completely vanished, plunging them into a dark green abyss. The faint glow emitted by the star Core became the only light source, illuminating a small area around the force field, which only served to make the surrounding environment feel more eerie and profound.

Suddenly!

The arrow of light guided by the star Core began to flicker rapidly and urgently!

At the same time, an extremely intense premonition of danger stabbed into the three’s Sea of Consciousness like an ice pick!

From the depths of the darkness below, without any warning, a massive mouth filled with layers of jagged, sharp teeth suddenly swung open. Carrying a heaven-toppling turbid undercurrent, it lunged toward them to devour them! That mouth was so large it seemed capable of swallowing a small mountain! The pressure it emitted had actually reached the Mid Nascent Soul Stage!

It was another, even more terrifying sea demon! It had been lurking here for a long time, waiting for its prey to fall into the trap!

”Watch out!”

Nangong Xuan shouted. His Nirvana Sword Intent instantly rose to its peak, but he did not strike head-on. Instead, he fiercely slashed a sharp Sword Gang upward, using the recoil to attempt a rapid ascent to dodge!

Su Muxue’s face turned pale as she unhesitatingly poured more than half of her Taiyin Star Power into the star Core!

”Interfere with it!”

The chaos star core erupted with unprecedented light, and an invisible wave of powerful interference aimed at energy flow rippled out instantly, accurately striking the interior of the devouring giant mouth!

Roar—!!!

The sea demon let out a hiss of pain mixed with fury. The closing motion of its giant mouth clearly experienced a moment of rigidity and Chaos! The suction generated by the devouring also slowed down!

It was in that split second!

Nangong Xuan and the others narrowly brushed past the edge of those sharp teeth! The force field rubbed against the fangs, producing a tooth-aching screech and flickering violently, as if it were about to shatter at any moment!

However, before they could catch their breath, several pairs of huge, crimson eyes filled with evil and greed lit up simultaneously in the darkness above and to their sides!

More sea demons had been attracted by the commotion!

They were surrounded!