Outside the Burning Bone Forest, the wind howled. Xiao Chen and Chu Yuan were surrounded by the black-armored puppets. In a life-or-death struggle, the two fought fiercely. However, despite the immense power of Chu Yuan's Blood Sun Blade Art and the sharpness of Xiao Chen's Star Soul Sword, they could not break free from the invisible encirclement.
"Damn it! How many of these puppets are there?!" Chu Yuan roared, his blade flashing like a torrent, but the black-armored puppets did not retreat. Instead, they repeatedly repaired their broken bodies, growing stronger with each passing moment.
Xiao Chen's expression was grim as his gaze fixed on a figure in the distance—Mo Wuyang.
This new Holy Son of the Palace of Eternal Night not only possessed terrifying combat strength but was also backed by a power that could not be ignored. Xiao Chen's intuition told him that this battle was part of an even grander conspiracy.
"Mo Wuyang." Xiao Chen murmured the name under his breath, his eyes cold. This man was not just an heir to the Palace of Eternal Night; he was also one of the key figures in the massacre of Xiao Chen's sect years ago, possibly even the mastermind behind it.
Mo Wuyang wore a faint smile, as though he controlled everything before him with ease. He slowly approached, his steps as smooth as flowing water, calm and unfazed. With each step he took, the surrounding black-armored puppets became increasingly silent, as though waiting for his command.
"You don't need to resist any longer, Xiao Chen," Mo Wuyang said gently, his voice carrying an unassailable authority. "The identity you bear now is not that of the 'Young Master of the Xiao Clan,' but that of the 'Star Soul Body.' That is a fate you cannot escape."
A sharp light flashed in Xiao Chen's eyes, and he sneered, "Fate? If you can control fate, why bring these puppets to trap me?"
"Because you do not understand the connection between you and the Palace of Eternal Night," Mo Wuyang waved his hand lightly, and the black-armored puppets automatically retreated, as though following some strange, tacit command. "Your father, Xiao Chen, was once one of the most important sacrifices of the Palace of Eternal Night."
"Shut up!" Xiao Chen clenched the hilt of his sword, the light of the Star Soul Sword flaring brighter. "What are you saying?"
"Don't you understand?" Mo Wuyang's eyes flickered with a complex emotion. "Xiao Chen sacrificed himself to the Palace of Eternal Night to unlock the Star Soul power. Your mother... she was also involved in all of this. The vengeance you seek is nothing but a pawn's game left by your parents."
"You…" Xiao Chen's fury flared. "How dare you insult my parents? Do you believe I won't kill you?"
"You cannot kill me." Mo Wuyang sneered, pointing to a shadow ahead. With a whispered word, a seal that had been suppressed for a thousand years was broken.
"Long Night Star Soul, awaken!"
Before the words had even finished, a black-gold light appeared in the sky, and a gigantic Star Soul figure slowly materialized from the void. This was a god-like existence, radiating a world-destroying power—an evil and destructive version of the Star Soul that resembled Xiao Chen's own.
"Your father's Star Soul body has been completely unlocked. As for you…" Mo Wuyang's voice grew cold, "You were merely born to bring about this moment. You live for revenge, but this vengeance will lead to an even greater disaster."
Xiao Chen's eyes turned bloodshot, his Nine Nether Star Soul seemingly resonating with the black-gold Star Soul. The two forces clashed violently, as if there was some deep connection between them.
"I don't believe you!" Xiao Chen roared, gripping the Star Soul Sword with both hands. A brilliant silver light enveloped the blade, its sword energy condensing as it shot toward Mo Wuyang.
"The Star Soul Lock…" Mo Wuyang whispered, as though issuing a command.
In an instant, the black-gold Star Soul moved. Its palm descended like a mountain, easily blocking Xiao Chen's blade. Xiao Chen's sword energy collided with an indestructible barrier, shattering instantly, the starlight dissipating.
"You cannot defeat it." Mo Wuyang stepped forward. "The connection between you and the Star Soul is destined to drag you into the abyss, and I am the guide to that abyss."
Seeing this, Chu Yuan's eyes flashed with determination. He rushed forward and swung the Blood Sun Blade at the black-gold Star Soul.
"Don't act recklessly!" Xiao Chen shouted, but it was too late.
Chu Yuan's blade collided with the Star Soul body, releasing a shockwave of unimaginable force. However, the black-gold Star Soul only trembled slightly, sending Chu Yuan flying, crashing to the ground with blood oozing from the corner of his mouth. He was clearly gravely injured.
"Foolish," Mo Wuyang shook his head, disdain clear in his eyes. "You people can never understand the true meaning of power."
At this moment, a firm light suddenly appeared in Xiao Chen's eyes. "I admit, my Star Soul body comes from my parents' sacrifice, but I am not the puppet you think I am!"
He tightened his grip on the Star Soul Sword. The energy within him subtly shifted—his Star Soul power grew wild, as though boundless energy was accumulating, about to break free from its seal.
"You do not understand." Mo Wuyang's voice remained cold. "The Star Soul power within you will eventually devour your life."
"I don't care." Xiao Chen shouted, his sword raised high. The blade blazed with dazzling light as he swung it down like a shooting star.
"Breaking the Heavens with One Sword!"
The sword energy surged like a dragon, sweeping across all directions. The black-gold Star Soul seemed to sense the threat, letting out a furious roar as it extended its giant palm to block Xiao Chen's sword strike.
However, Xiao Chen's sword strike did not falter. Instead, it grew even more powerful. The Star Soul's power was broken, and the sword energy tore through the void, shattering the barrier around the black-gold Star Soul with overwhelming force!
"Star Soul... Broken!"
BOOM!
A thunderous explosion rang out, shaking the entire Burning Bone Forest. Dust flew everywhere, and the wind howled fiercely.
Mo Wuyang's face changed drastically as he stared at Xiao Chen, his eyes wide in disbelief. This strike had shattered what he had always considered invincible—the Star Soul.
But Xiao Chen also felt the intense backlash. His Star Soul energy was rapidly depleting, his face turning pale and his breath weak.
"You…" Mo Wuyang roared, his Star Soul power surging once more. "You actually..."
A cold light flashed in Xiao Chen's eyes. "You were wrong. My Star Soul is meant to break fate, not be bound by it!"
At that moment, Xiao Chen's sword light flared again, like a falling star descending from the heavens, filled with an unshakable resolve, aimed straight at Mo Wuyang.