Chapter 261 - The Dead Star Master

陈夏最近身体有些不适.主要症状是意识突然分散,导致他茫然地凝视着太空.他的一只眼睛会变得漆黑,就像一颗死星突然出现,不断旋转.他的意识会扩展和伸展,仿佛试图超越领域的界限,到达很远的地方.每当这种情况发生时,陈霞就会扇自己一巴掌,强行将自己的意识拉回来——这是一种暴力疗法.不过,后来,陈侠不再使用这种方法,因为他发现,当他的意识分散时,他可以看到一整片昏暗的空间.随着时间的推移,这片昏暗,朦胧的空间变得更加清晰.一个荒凉的空间,枯萎的星星和尖叫的灵魂.陈霞知道这是哪里.死亡之域!他低下头,抬起沾满浓雾的双手——这些是来自死星域的死亡能量.他意识到他现在在他的外在显现体中!他的本体和外部显现之间的联系已经重新建立,允许他们之间的神识传递.陈夏稍微试验了一下,发现两人之间传递神识需要很长的时间——至少半个月.也许是因为本体与外显相相距甚远,跨越了各个领域,神识才传递了如此之久.他缓缓站起身,身躯笼罩在黑雾中,从百万灵魂的塔顶上拔地而起.这一动静,让死星域内的数百万灵魂尖叫起来;一些智力发达的体型较大的灵魂,甚至跪在了陈夏的王座前.对他们来说,吸收了大部分死星域的陈夏,就是他们独一无二的王者!陈夏动了动僵硬的手臂,漆黑的眼睛突然看向了死星域的边缘,感应到了灵气的波动.一只由黑雾构成的狭长手,无声无息地伸出死星域,在中心睁开一只眼睛,观察着周围的环境,并将图像传递给陈夏.走在最前面的是一个衣衫褴褛,沾满鲜血的绿发女子,朝着死星域冲去,她的表情惊慌失措,频频回头.在她身后三十里处,一群修炼者紧紧跟在后面,决心不落后.　　The green-haired woman gritted her teeth and muttered, "Flash."　　A slender flying sword flashed from her waist, emitting a faint purple light, instantly transporting her twenty miles ahead.　　Though not too far, it did create some distance.　　She used a skill but began coughing heavily, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth, lost in the starry sky.　　The pursuing cultivators showed no urgency, laughing and chatting.　　"I want to see how far she can run. We've chased her for two months, catching her only once, nearly letting her escape."　　"Her fleeing skills are impressive, but what good is it if all she does is flee? She'll end up in our hands eventually."　　"Right, she's about to enter the Dead Star Domain. They say the domain's master is in secluded cultivation here. I don't believe she'd dare enter."　　The cultivators laughed, speeding up, using skills to increase their speed.　　The green-haired woman, as they expected, slowed down until finally stopping outside the Dead Star Domain, cautiously watching the cultivators.　　A blue-robed cultivator mocked, "Run, why aren't you running? You're so good at it, why stop?"　　Another red-haired cultivator added, "I thought you'd really run back. What a waste of time. Why didn't you just give up earlier?"　　"Boring, you've only managed to run for two months. Now you've stopped here, ready to die?"　　Their words were full of mockery.　　The green-haired woman clenched her teeth, saying nothing, covering her bleeding left arm, slowly retreating.　　The blue-robed cultivator continued,　　"Don't retreat, or you'll enter the Dead Star Domain. Legend says there's a master here. Who cares how you die? Why choose to die by the master's hand?"　　Others laughed in agreement.　　"If you die by our hands, you can reincarnate. If by the master's, you'll never come back."　　The green-haired woman's eyes gleamed fiercely, glaring at them without showing any weakness.　　Suddenly, a dazzling blue hammer appeared, accompanied by rolling thunder, striking powerfully.　　The green-haired woman's eyes sharpened; her flying sword shot out, and with her left hand, she cast a large spell, barely blocking the hammer.　　Clang!　　The flying sword was deflected, and though she held off the attack, the residual force shook her, causing more blood to spill from her mouth, her face paler than ever.　　Before she could recover, two spells struck her again, sending her flying backward, colliding with meteorites, blood flowing uncontrollably.　　The cultivators surrounded her, laughing.　　"You're only at the mid-Mountain Moving realm. Do you really think with some treasures you can match us peak Mountain Moving cultivators?"　　Peak Mountain Moving cultivators could briefly traverse the starry sky for about half a year. Exceeding this time risked being influenced by darkness, becoming lost souls.　　Inversion Sea cultivators could truly roam the starry sky, needing only a stable Dao heart to avoid darkness influence.　　Living in the starry sky wasn't a problem for Inversion Sea cultivators if they wished.　　The Dead Star Master was somewhat like this.　　Breathing heavily, the green-haired woman took an orange-yellow pill from her storage treasure, swallowing it to heal herself.　　The surrounding cultivators tightened their circle, faces filled with killing intent, approaching her.　　They viewed her as a fish in a barrel, playing with her.　　The green-haired woman's gaze flickered over them, suddenly raising her hand, blood dripping onto her flying sword, shouting,　　"Flash!"　　Her figure stretched and vanished from the circle, reappearing twenty miles ahead.　　No matter which direction she chose, she wouldn't survive. These few would catch her and kill her.　　So she entered the Dead Star Domain!　　Even dying by the Dead Star Master's hand was better than dying by these people's hands.　　She staggered forward, surrounded by souls that emitted soft screams.　　These whispers weren't unpleasant but seemed like…greetings?　　The green-haired woman didn't have time to ponder, taking another pill, continuing deeper into the Dead Star Domain, hoping to find a way out.　　Outside the Dead Star Domain, the cultivators were stunned, not expecting her to enter.　　"What do we do, chase in or quit?"　　"There's said to be a Dead Star Master inside, along with many souls. Is it safe to enter?"　　One cultivator hesitated, thinking the Dead Star Domain held nothing good.　　The highest-ranking red-haired cultivator frowned, saying,　　"Although there's a terrifying Dead Star Master, has anyone really been killed by him? Most return safely, just rumors."　　"I feel something's off. If the Dead Star Master doesn't kill people, what's so terrifying? We won't provoke him, just kill one person. He shouldn't care."　　Still, some felt uneasy, stammering, "But…should we notify the sect and wait for Inversion Sea cultivators?"　　"Wait for what?!"The red-haired cultivator shouted.　　"Her head is worth thirty thousand spirit stones. We can split it among ourselves. If we notify an Inversion Sea cultivator, he'll take it all. Not worth it!"　　After scolding, he sighed, persuading,　　"We've chased her this far. Let's finish it. We won't provoke anything, just kill one person. Then leave immediately."　　"Those willing to enter will share the reward. Those unwilling, leave now. Cultivation is about risks and opportunities. Afraid of risks? Go home."　　The cultivators thought it over, agreeing one by one.　　They prepared, summoning protective spiritual energies and treasures, entering the Dead Star Domain.　　The Dead Star Master was a legend for nearly two thousand years.　　It was said the largest Dead Star Domain housed a great terror, the Dead Star Master, whose strength and realm were unknown.　　Some guessed Inversion Sea fifth layer, others ninth layer.　　Even some speculated Heaven Mending, but no higher than fifth heaven.　　None believed the Dead Star Master was at Heaven Mending fifth heaven, as such cultivators wouldn't stay in this desolate place.　　A Heaven Mending fifth heaven cultivator could be considered a hidden elder of a high-tier sect, even a supreme elder in top-tier sects.　　Such cultivators were influential figures in the entire starry domain. Why would they stay in such a place?　　The Dead Star Domain wasn't a normal place for humans to stay.　　Its name alone suggested otherwise.　　Thus, cultivators believed the Dead Star Master was an Inversion Sea sixth layer or higher cultivator in secluded cultivation.　　But even an Inversion Sea sixth layer cultivator was formidable, making them hesitant to enter the Dead Star Domain.　　The leading red-haired cultivator pointed upward, a bright line emerging, trailing crimson blood.　　"She went this way. Let's catch up and kill her quickly, then leave this cursed place!"　　He sensed something amiss as souls approached, emitting whispers and grayish tongues.　　Feeling uneasy, he sped up, following the blood trail.　　At the rear was a blue-robed cultivator, ordinary-looking, who had been mocking the hardest and first agreed to enter the Dead Star Domain.　　A glint flashed in his eyes, looking at the backs of his companions, seemingly coldly amused.　　What chasing, what thirty thousand spirit stones.　　Just a simple setup.　　They all must die!　　Here, killed by the Dead Star Master.　　If sects investigated, they'd blame the Dead Star Master, not him.　　Ahead, the green-haired woman struggled forward, her strength waning, consciousness fading. More souls gathered around her, whispering like singing, welcoming her.　　Finally out of strength, she sat on a small dead star, breathing heavily.　　"Ha, let's see where you run!"A cold voice came, despair filling her heart.　　The red-haired man caught up, sneering,　　"You've made us chase hard. Your thirty thousand spirit stones will help me reach Inversion Sea."　　"Li family won't forgive you,"the green-haired woman threatened.　　"Li family?"The red-haired man scoffed, "They rose because of Li Yang. Nothing special. I'll tell you, I'm killing you partly because of Li Yang."　　"A Li family can't have two prodigies. Li Yang is enough."　　He laughed coldly, gathering his final killing spell.　　Suddenly, the surrounding souls screamed violently, gathering above.　　More souls congregated, encircling the area.　　The red-haired man looked cautiously at the souls, unsure of the situation.　　Black mist suddenly appeared, covering the sky.　　All around was darkness, with souls floating and screaming.　　A dark figure stepped on the souls, black mist forming a cloak trailing behind, ascending to the highest point, like the king of a million souls, looking down calmly.　　"Leave."　　Everyone froze, then a cultivator exclaimed in shock,　　"The Dead…Dead Star Master!"