Chapter 112
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Chapter 112: Frozen Star Map
Dozens of stars suddenly materialized in the air, forming a star map.
Ye Yun counted carefully – forty-nine stars comprised this map, arranged in seven clusters that formed distinct patterns. The seven star maps emitted a gentle glow, pulsing rhythmically between dimness and brightness.
Ye Yun furrowed his brows as the surrounding stone walls crept inward. At this rate, they’d converge before long. If he couldn’t decipher the star map and unlock the ascending staircase in time, the crushing walls would flatten him.
The seven star maps flickered with starlight sequentially, each cluster illuminating for roughly one breath interval from first to last.
"How to solve these?" Ye Yun muttered, mind whirring. "Activate them completely? Stop the flickering? Or something else entirely?"
Time pressed urgently against him. Given sufficient hours, even with limited knowledge of spatial arrays, he’d eventually trial-and-error his way through. Unlike soul-trapping illusionary formations, these star maps permitted safe experimentation.
Without hesitation, Ye Yun extended his finger, spiritual power coalescing at its tip. He tapped the first star map.
Instantly, the cluster blazed with radiant light that intensified with sustained spiritual infusion. Yet when Ye Yun withdrew his power, the map instantly reverted to its dim, flickering state.
He rapidly tapped all seven maps like loosed arrows. Each flared brightly under spiritual power before fading again.
"Useless," he growled. Spiritual energy yielded no lasting effect. What else?
Memory flashed – earlier doors required multiple elemental energies. Could these maps demand similar?
No time for doubt. Thunder crackled in his palm as lightning element gathered. He pressed the electrified hand against the first star map.
A deep thunderclap resonated. Seven starlight points transformed into lightning bolts that lanced forward, punching seven needle-fine holes through the advancing stone wall. Ye Yun gaped. Previously, his attacks couldn’t even scratch this ultra-hard stone at his current cultivation level. Yet starmap lightning pierced it effortlessly.
Heart pounding, Ye Yun withdrew his hand. The first star map remained brightly lit, thunder still rumbling within it.
Encouraged, he channeled lightning energy into the second map. Nothing happened. Switching tactics, fire element engulfed his palm.
WHOOSH! Blazing light erupted as he touched the second cluster. Heat exploded tenfold, nearly singing his hair. Flames persisted after he withdrew, the star map now resembling fire-engulfed constellations.
The third map loomed. Ye Yun glanced at the walls now two zhang away. Ice element surged in his palm, coldness billowing like tidal waves before contact.
CRACK! The third cluster froze instantaneously, its blue starlight trapped like slender needles in ice crystals. Unlike its predecessors, this map’s chilling aura intensified after release, spreading to quench the second map’s flames in frost before invading the first.
Thunder silenced mid-roar. Purple lightning patterns hung frozen across the first star map, preserved like crystalline spiderwebs.
The top three star maps were unexpectedly Ice Sealed, completely catching Ye Yun off guard.
The icy essence didn’t spread further, separated from the fourth star map by an invisible chasm.
Ye Yun couldn’t consider the fourth star map – he only had three types of elemental energy.
Frowning at the frozen star maps ahead, Ye Yun watched stone walls creep closer, now barely one zhang from his body. Half zhang more and they’d crush the spiral staircase.
Ye Yun inhaled sharply and punched the central point between three Ice Sealed star maps.
Boom!
Rebounding energy struck his chest, slamming him against stone. Pale-faced from internal injuries, Ye Yun’s lips curled in a faint smile instead of despair.
Cracks had appeared where he’d struck. The star maps weren’t invincible – sustained attacks might break through.
Ye Yun lunged like lightning, fist crashing into the same spot.
Crack!
The fracture widened.
Enhanced backlash threw him against the wall, blood spraying from his mouth. Without pause, he sprang up, crimson staining his chin, charging the frozen star maps again.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Three brutal punches. After third impact, Ye Yun remained slumped against stone. Walls now loomed mere inches from the staircase.
Ye Yun produced a greenwood bottle with his left hand, downing two drops of Elder Seven’s spiritual wine remnants. Cool liquid became blazing spiritual energy within him. Years of soul refinement made him ignore the searing pain.
Madness overtook him. Fists rained on the cracking star map.
Boom!
Ninth punch shattered the Ice Sealed formation. A cramped passage appeared through seven star map restrictions. Bleeding but triumphant, Ye Yun squeezed through onto the staircase.
Solid steps beneath his feet felt unreal. Three elemental energies had breached defenses meant for group efforts. Without ice element’s freezing effect, thunder and fire alone would’ve failed.
This victory required all three elements. Any missing component would’ve strengthened the star maps’ defenses beyond his breaking point, even with spiritual wine.
The grinding stone walls reached the staircase. Ye Yun staggered upward, each step agony. Ten gasping breaths later, he glimpsed faint light above.
As his foot touched the new floor, stairs crumbled beneath him. Cold sweat drenched his back – half-breath slower would’ve meant becoming wall paste.
In Hualun Hall’s upper level, Ye Yun surveyed milky mist obscuring shadowy forms. He waited, healing. Spiritual power flowed through him, mending wounds.
After one hour, his eyes snapped open with renewed vigor. Fingers brushing Thunder Sound Metamorphosis ring, Ye Yun stepped into the white fog.
