Chapter 980 - 511: Shadowy Dark Realm (2)

Chapter 980: Chapter 511: Shadowy Dark Realm (2)

Thinking of this, Li Mu took a deep breath, his gaze gradually firming as he made up his mind.

"Senior, this junior has run into some trouble and is now trapped in a predicament. With no other choice, I can only disturb your secluded cultivation and beg for your guidance." Li Mu spoke respectfully toward the Soul Realm Pearl, releasing a gentle Divine Thought as he tried to establish contact with Master Qingyang’s remnant Divine Soul.

After a moment, a faint fluctuation of Soul Power came from within the Soul Realm Pearl, and Qingyangzi’s voice slowly sounded in Li Mu’s mind, carrying a hint of age-worn calm and detachment: "Oh? Little friend, what difficulty have you encountered?"

Li Mu hurriedly described his current plight in detail, including the abnormal distribution of stars, the pervasive Nine Nether Qi, and the failure of the compass’s Positioning, informing him that they were in a Lost Course Status.

After listening to Li Mu’s detailed account, Master Qingyang fell silent, as if recalling something.

"Senior, do you recognize this Star Realm?" Seeing no answer for a long time, Li Mu couldn’t help but press.

"This old man needs to see it with my own eyes before I can be certain." Qingyangzi transmitted, his voice slightly weak.

Pausing for a moment, Qingyangzi continued, "Little friend, just act according to my words. First, find a place that is relatively safe and where the Nine Nether Qi is thinner. Lend me the use of your Physical Body so I can sense the outside world and determine the origin of this Star Realm."

Hearing this, Li Mu frowned, some misgivings stirring in his heart.

Qingyangzi was an Integration Powerhouse; his remnant Divine Soul was no trivial thing. If he lent out his Physical Body and the other party seized him, that would be disastrous.

However, that thought only flashed through Li Mu’s mind before he dismissed it. His current Cultivation was mid-stage Refining Void, and with his Cultivation of the Star Nebula Visualization Method, his Divine Soul had already condensed into a star; his Divine Soul was in no way inferior to the other.

Moreover, with Xiaobai, that Tier Seven Gu Emperor, guarding him at all times, he was not without protection. Besides, Li Mu had interacted with Qingyangzi for some time and had a general grasp of his disposition; he was certain the man would not resort to such despicable acts.

"No problem, Senior. I’ll first go and look for a region where the Nine Nether Qi is thin!"

After pondering for a moment, Li Mu happily transmitted this to Qingyangzi. The next instant, his figure flickered as he exited the Painting Realm Treasure Mansion.

Li Mu appeared atop the Nine Nether Whale’s head. Looking at Xiaobai, who was fully focused on controlling the Nine Nether Whale, he smiled slightly, then immediately spread out his Divine Sense to examine the surrounding Star Realm.

The Nine Nether Whale’s enormous body slowly cruised through the undercurrents of the Star Realm. Standing on its back, Li Mu swept his gaze around.

In this Star Realm, the stars were sparse and the starlight dim, shrouded in thick Nine Nether Qi. The unchanging pitch-black starry sky appeared especially eerie and suffocating. Li Mu drew in a deep breath, forcing down the unease in his heart as he began searching for a suitable place.

After a careful investigation, Li Mu finally discovered, in a patch of seemingly calmer Void, a region where the Nine Nether Qi was relatively thin. Though there were few stars there, the Star Power seemed purer, lacking that intense corrosive feel.

Li Mu was quietly delighted and immediately ordered Xiaobai to guide the Nine Nether Whale toward that Star Realm.

Upon hearing the order, Xiaobai promptly manipulated the Nine Nether Whale’s massive body to sway slightly, adjusting its heading and slowly swimming toward the Star Realm Li Mu had pointed out.

Time seemed to freeze for a moment. After making some calculations, Li Mu estimated that about seven months had passed before the Nine Nether Whale finally arrived at that region where the Nine Nether Qi was thin.

Li Mu sent out a set of Array Tokens to block the influence of the Power of the Nine Netherworld, and also instructed Xiaobai to Guard his Divine Soul.

Once everything was ready, Li Mu took out the Soul Realm Pearl from the Nine Treasures Spirit Pearl.

"Senior, I’m prepared." Li Mu transmitted his Divine Thought toward the Soul Realm Pearl in his hand, once again establishing contact with Qingyangzi’s remnant soul.

Qingyangzi’s voice sounded in Li Mu’s mind, with a trace of anticipation: "Good, little friend. Now, relax your mind and let me take over your body."

Li Mu took a deep breath and, following Qingyangzi’s instructions, slowly relaxed his Control over his body.

In an instant, a warm yet powerful current of Soul Power surged out from the Soul Realm Pearl and merged into his body. Li Mu immediately felt a chill, and his Divine Soul instinctively shrank back, temporarily yielding the authority over his Physical Body, allowing Qingyangzi’s remnant soul to smoothly take over.

Borrowing Li Mu’s body, Qingyangzi spent a brief moment adjusting, then employed an Eye Technique to scrutinize this Star Realm.

At the same time, Qingyangzi released an even more exquisite Soul Power perception, capturing information about this region. As his sensing went deeper, his brows gradually smoothed, as if he had discovered something.

Before long, Qingyangzi reluctantly withdrew from Li Mu’s body, his remnant soul returning to the Soul Realm Pearl.

Li Mu couldn’t help letting out a breath, regaining Control of his body.

"Senior, how is it? Do you know which Star Realm we’re in?" Li Mu impatiently transmitted his question to Qingyangzi.

Qingyangzi’s transmission reached Li Mu, his voice sounding in Li Mu’s Sea of Consciousness with steady certainty: "Little friend, I have more or less figured it out. The Star Realm we are currently in should lie on the edge of the Nine Nether Forbidden Land, called the ’Shadowy Dark Realm.’ It sits at the junction between the Nine Nether Realm and the normal external Star Realms, an extremely special and dangerous zone. Here, Nine Nether Qi permeates everything, full of unknowns and variables. This place is one of the most mysterious and perilous regions in the whole starry cosmos; even Integration Cultivators rarely dare to tread here lightly."

"Shadowy Dark Realm?" Hearing this, Li Mu’s heart gave a jolt. He had never expected to have blundered into such a deadly place.

"Yes, the Shadowy Dark Realm. In this region the Star Paths are chaotic, and countless spatial rifts and sinister illusions lie hidden. A single misstep and one may lose oneself within, perhaps never to leave again. Moreover, some ancient beings dwell here—either aberrant creatures eroded by Nine Nether Qi, or Evil Spirits that fled from the Netherworld. Their strength is formidable and extremely hard to deal with." Qingyangzi continued explaining.

After listening, Li Mu’s brows knit even tighter. In this forbidden land, he was without question a very insignificant existence. But since he had already stepped in, there was no road back; he could only search for a way out.

"Senior, since you recognize this Star Realm, is there any method to escape?" Li Mu asked respectfully by Divine Thought.

Qingyangzi pondered for a moment, then explained, "There is a way, but it is extremely difficult. One must find a place known as the ’Gate of the Netherworld.’ This route is the only passage connecting the Netherworld Realm to the outer world, but its location is exceedingly well hidden, and traps and illusions abound around it. To locate this gate, one must first find a planet known as the Dark Spirit Star to fix the star position."

"Dark Spirit Star?"

Li Mu’s spirits lifted, a glimmer of hope flashing in his eyes as he asked, concerned, "Senior, how do we search for this Dark Spirit Star?"

"In the Shadowy Dark Realm, this star is like a faint, gloomy lighthouse—unobtrusive, yet by virtue of its unique magnetic field and Energy Fluctuation, it is the key to Positioning the Gate of the Netherworld."

Qingyangzi slowly transmitted, "The Dark Spirit Star is special because it was once a point where Nine Nether Qi and Foreign Spiritual Power converged. After being washed by countless ages, it formed a unique landscape. Because its entire body is pitch-black, it was named the Dark Spirit Star. This star is a planet nearly invisible within the Shadowy Dark Realm; its surface is cloaked in a peculiar force field that can absorb and distort light, making it hard to detect using ordinary means of observation. Finding this planet is no easy task; it is easily concealed by the surrounding mystical illusions. To discover it, one may very well need exceptional luck."

"This... Senior, doesn’t that mean we’re going to be trapped in this Star Realm?" Li Mu asked in utter disappointment, scarcely able to believe it.

Qingyangzi chuckled. "Do not be anxious, little friend. The laws of star positions are often Constant. Though it’s not easy to locate this star, it’s not impossible. I may not be able to directly calculate its precise coordinates, but based on the fragmentary astronomy I still retain and my understanding of star positions, I can teach you how to deduce a roughly accurate range for the Dark Spirit Star to facilitate your search."

"That’s excellent. I beg Senior to guide me." Li Mu’s spirit lifted again as he requested instruction.

Qingyangzi did not begrudge his teachings and immediately began to carefully instruct Li Mu on how to use Astrology, calendrical astronomy, and his own Soul Power perception to deduce the approximate position of the Dark Spirit Star.