Chapter 10: The Starfire Annihilation Array

The three of them had indeed considered turning back and leaving the labyrinth, but to their dismay, even though they clearly walked in the direction they had come from, they inexplicably found themselves only sinking deeper and deeper. Now, no matter how they tried to retrace their steps, they could no longer find the original path. Before entering the labyrinth, they had anticipated such a predicament and so had left numerous marks along the way, but when they actually tried to find their way back, none of those markers could be found. All they could do was curse the creator of this cavernous abode under their breath, but cursing was, of course, futile. Left with no alternative, the three steeled themselves and pressed forward, only to arrive at a spot where the path forked in two, causing Karosius and Hammon to erupt into a heated argument, each insisting his own choice was correct.

"Minelle, which way should we go?" After arguing for some time without resolution, both Karosius and Hammon turned to Minelle, who stood to the side. Minelle’s heart sank. Seeing the dispute now drawn to herself, she couldn’t help but feel irritated. "Enough! Both of you, stop arguing," Minelle shouted, her voice booming. Karosius and Hammon immediately fell silent, their faces darkening. In their experience, Minelle had never dared speak to them in such a manner, for of the three, her strength was the weakest. Noting their unfriendly expressions, Minelle’s heart gave a jolt—she realized she had overstepped. Yet the words had been spoken, and she would not take them back. After all, she was a force to be reckoned with in her own right. Though not as powerful as the two old monsters Karosius and Hammon, and usually more tactful in her speech, she had never truly bowed her head to them.

Bracing herself, she continued, "What I mean is, it’s better for us to split up. The labyrinth is vast, and if we keep traveling together, we’ll only run into disputes every time we reach a fork in the road. If we separate, not only do we increase our chances of finding the way out, but we also avoid any further conflict that could damage our friendship. Don’t you agree?"

"Heh, Minelle is right. Damaging our friendship would be a shame; we should each go our own way," Karosius replied, readily agreeing. Of course, his easy assent had nothing to do with friendship—their so-called camaraderie was as flimsy as a pile of sand. The real reason was that he too saw how this deadlock was only wasting time, and perhaps splitting up was indeed a clever solution. Hammon, seeing both Karosius and Minelle in agreement, felt uneasy—he sensed some danger in this course of action—but with the two already decided, his own objections were futile. Sullen, he nodded in reluctant agreement. Thus, after a brief exchange, these three old monsters parted ways, each taking a separate path through the maze.

Elsewhere, Zhang Xiao gazed solemnly at a nearby pavilion. According to the map, if he could get past the formation before him, he would reach the final treasure chamber. On his journey here, he had encountered over a dozen formations, each more formidable than the last. Some were outright killing arrays, nearly ending his life in an instant; had it not been for the Five-Colored Cloud Banner—a supreme protective artifact—he might never have made it this far. Now, facing what was surely the final and most powerful formation, Zhang Xiao was in no rush to charge ahead. Instead, he sat cross-legged and began to restore his spiritual energy, determined to bring himself to peak condition.

While he rested in meditation, a sudden explosion echoed from the distance. Zhang Xiao’s brows lifted, and he glanced back, a cold smile on his lips. "So those three old monsters have finally made it out. Let them have a proper taste of these formation’s might."

Zhang Xiao was well aware of the formidable power of the formations here. If not for the map in his possession, which guided him along the safest route, he would not have made it even after three days of perilous navigation and several close brushes with death. Those old monsters, however formidable, had no such map; they were wandering blindly, and at any moment could stumble into one of the deadliest arrays, from which there would be no escape.

Having thought this, Zhang Xiao paid them no further mind, focusing on restoring his spiritual power. Three days passed in a flash. At last, Zhang Xiao opened his eyes from meditation, his aura surging—he was back at his best. With a flip of his palm, the Five-Colored Cloud Banner appeared in his hand, enveloping him in its protection. Zhang Xiao stepped forward into the formation. Instantly, the world changed. He was surrounded by utter darkness, with only pinpricks of starlight beginning to glimmer in the void. Taking out a jade pendant, he infused it with his spiritual sense, searching the map for a formation matching this one. Before long, he found its name and the method to break it.

Yet Zhang Xiao’s face did not brighten; instead, it grew grave. The array was called the Starlight Annihilation Formation. Its power scaled with the strength of the one who entered— the stronger the intruder, the fiercer the onslaught. Conversely, those with lesser power faced a weaker array. There was only one way to break it: endure. Unlike the other formations, this one could not autonomously draw in spiritual energy from its surroundings; it relied solely on the energy stored within, and would collapse once depleted. The map repeatedly cautioned that this was an ancient and extraordinary array, requiring exceptional care. Clearly, it was far from simple.

Just then, a streak of silver light shot toward Zhang Xiao from behind, impossibly swift and completely bypassing his spiritual perception. Were it not for the Five-Colored Cloud Banner unfurling behind him at that instant to intercept the attack, he would have been struck. Zhang Xiao’s face paled in shock; though he did not know the exact power of the silver light, he had no wish to test it directly. Even as he recovered from his alarm, more and more silver streaks hurtled toward him. This time, he barely dodged two before being engulfed by the next wave. The Five-Colored Cloud Banner in his hand suddenly expanded, forming a protective circle around him. The silver lights battered the banner, warping its shape, but since the banner was inherently supple, it withstood the barrage and only drew tighter around Zhang Xiao.

Barely had he caught his breath when yet another wave of silver light rained down, hammering the banner without pause. Zhang Xiao’s expression changed—just a few breaths had already drained nearly a tenth of his spiritual energy. Unlike the Buddha’s Golden Wheel, the Five-Colored Cloud Banner, being a defensive treasure, usually consumed little energy except under heavy assault. Now, under the relentless attacks, his reserves were rapidly dwindling. Zhang Xiao could only hope the array’s stored energy would soon run out. But his prayers went unanswered—the silver lights only increased in number. After enduring for a full hour, Zhang Xiao was nearly spent.

Fortunately, he managed to pour Buddhist power into the banner, drawing from his doppelganger as well. His Buddhist energy was far more abundant than his spiritual power, yet even so, it lasted only three hours before even that began to fail. On the verge of exhaustion, Zhang Xiao produced a bottle of elixirs—Life-Restoring Pills. He had painstakingly refined twelve: one each for Zhao Xiaofang and Ni Weilan, one each for Xia Cheng and Xia Tan, three he had taken himself, leaving five in the bottle. Just one pill could fully restore the energy of a master at the Golden Core stage—a rare and precious treasure. Even during the great Nine Sects Competition, Zhang Xiao had not been willing to use them, but now, he could not afford to hesitate.

He poured out a pill and swallowed it. Instantly, a vast surge of spiritual energy and Buddhist power refilled him, restoring him to full strength in the space of a single breath. With his energy replenished, the Five-Colored Cloud Banner surged anew, fending off the encroaching silver lights.

"Damn it, these formations are infuriating! Damn these arrays, damn those Easterners, damn it all!" Hammon cursed as he fought, scattering the countless wraiths swarming him. Yet the wraiths, heedless of peril, continued their relentless assault. Hammon’s sword danced, sending ribbons of fiery battle energy that obliterated the spirits on contact.

Hammon was both fortunate and unfortunate. After choosing his route, he soon exited the labyrinth and stumbled upon a palace filled with treasures—a sight that delighted him. Especially when he spotted a massive chunk of Star Iron nearby; such metal was exceedingly rare. A piece the size of a fist could forge a divine artifact, and the slab before him was as large as a millstone. Eagerly, Hammon rushed forward, but the scene instantly changed—the array surrounding the Star Iron activated, trapping him within. Had Zhang Xiao been in his place, he would never have touched the Star Iron, knowing well that the finer the treasure, the deadlier the formation guarding it. This was why, despite breaking through over ten arrays, most of the treasures Zhang Xiao obtained were only of mediocre quality; he dared not risk his life for more. Hammon, however, had fallen victim to his own greed and now found himself unable to escape.

Meanwhile, Zhang Xiao, his face ashen, swallowed another Life-Restoring Pill. Nearly seven hours had passed, yet the array showed no sign of weakening. This was his third pill. Seeing only two left in the bottle, Zhang Xiao’s heart hardened and he gritted his teeth. "Damn it, I’ll risk everything!"

Note: In this chapter, the “divine artifact” Hammon refers to is what is elsewhere called a magic treasure—the terms differ between East and West. Readers, please don’t be confused. Additionally, the author once again humbly asks for your support and collection.