With swift strides, Lin Hao and Ye Wan hastened toward the border of the Stellar Federation, finally reaching it before dawn broke. The sight before them left Lin Hao breathless once again: a colossal interstellar port stretched endlessly, its docks teeming with massive warships that gleamed like metallic fortresses in the dim light.
"These are all our family's warships," Ye Wan pointed to a distant flagship, her voice tinged with pride. "But now, they may no longer be under our control."
"What do you mean?" Lin Hao furrowed his brow, a growing unease gnawing at his gut.
"My uncle, Ye Tianlong, has been plotting in secret to seize control of our family," Ye Wan's tone carried both anger and resignation. "He has aligned himself with mysterious forces, aiming to take over the entire Stellar Federation. If he succeeds, chaos will engulf the world."
Lin Hao nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. He realized he had already been drawn into a larger conspiracy, one whose depths might conceal even darker secrets.
"I need to go to the Ancient Stellar Realm," Lin Hao stated firmly. "That is where my true power lies."
"The Ancient Stellar Realm?" Ye Wan's eyes widened briefly before she nodded. "It is a perilous place, but if you can harness its strength, we might still stand a chance."
As the two prepared to continue, a low, resonant voice interrupted the silence behind them.
"Miss Ye Wan, it would be wise to come with us quietly."
Lin Hao spun around, only to find a robed man standing not far off, his face cloaked in shadow and a faint smirk playing on his lips. His presence seemed to merge with the surrounding darkness, exuding an oppressive aura that left one gasping for air.
"Who are you?" Lin Hao demanded, his hand instinctively tightening around the hilt of his sword as the stellar energy within him began to stir.
"My identity is insignificant," the robed man replied casually, waving a hand dismissively. "What matters is that you have nowhere left to run."
As if in response, shadowy figures began materializing from the darkness, encircling Lin Hao and Ye Wan in a silent, menacing formation.
"These are Uncle Ye's Shadow Assassins!" Ye Wan gasped, her face paling. She grabbed Lin Hao's arm and whispered urgently, "Be cautious—their strength is formidable, and they excel in stealth."
Lin Hao nodded silently, his resolve unwavering. Drawing a deep breath, he let the stellar energy surge through his veins, his gaze locking onto the approaching figures.
"Attack!" the robed man barked, and the Shadow Assassins vanished instantly, dissolving into the darkness as if they had become one with it.
Lin Hao's pupils contracted. He could feel the air shifting around him, yet the exact positions of the assailants remained elusive. Such mastery of concealment was a near-impenetrable defense for most cultivators.
However, Lin Hao was no ordinary cultivator.
"Stellar Perception!" he bellowed, and the stellar energy within him erupted outward, forming an invisible field of awareness. Within this domain, the darkness itself no longer hindered him; the Shadow Assassins, like fireflies in the night, were rendered unmistakably visible.
"Found you!" Lin Hao's lips curled into a faint smile as he lunged toward a patch of shadow on his right, delivering a thunderous punch. The punch, infused with stellar energy, sliced through the air like a meteor, striking one of the assassins who had just reappeared.
Thud! The assailant was sent flying, his body crumpling lifelessly to the ground.
"Impossible!" the robed man exclaimed, his composure faltering as he struggled to comprehend how Lin Hao had so effortlessly dismantled the assassins' evasion techniques.
"And you!" Lin Hao continued his onslaught relentlessly. His movements blurred as he darted through the darkness, each blow suffused with the terrifying might of stellar power, felling one assassin after another.
Within moments, the Shadow Assassins lay defeated, leaving only the robed man standing amidst the ruins of his plan. His face darkened with fury.
"Who… who are you?" the robed man demanded, his voice trembling with uncertainty.
"My identity matters little," Lin Hao retorted coldly, his stellar energy coalescing once more, poised for a decisive strike. "What matters is that your schemes end here."
The robed man inhaled deeply, clearly realizing he was outmatched. Yet, a cunning glint flickered in his eyes as he sneered, "You are formidable, I'll grant you that. But this is merely the beginning. Lord Ye Tianlong anticipated your arrival. He has already set a trap within the Ancient Stellar Realm—you'll never leave alive!"
Before Lin Hao could react, the robed man's form began to warp, his body dissolving into a wisp of black smoke that dissipated into the air.
Lin Hao frowned, a nagging unease settling in his chest. He turned to Ye Wan, whose expression mirrored his own apprehension.
"Ye Tianlong has laid a trap within the Ancient Stellar Realm?" Lin Hao asked softly.
Ye Wan nodded, her voice fraught with concern. "The Ancient Stellar Realm is already fraught with danger—ancient ruins and unknown creatures abound. If Ye Tianlong has truly prepared an ambush there, our situation will be dire indeed."
Lin Hao fell silent for a moment, then looked up, his gaze resolute. "No matter what awaits us, I must go to the Ancient Stellar Realm. Only there can I gain the strength needed to face what's to come."
Ye Wan met his eyes, her face softening with admiration. "Then I will accompany you. Whatever the outcome, we will face it together—neither of us will stand alone."
Exchanging a determined glance, both felt a surge of fierce determination. They knew that what lay ahead would be a trial unlike any they had faced before, one that would test them to their very limits.
As Lin Hao and Ye Wan prepared to venture into the Ancient Stellar Realm, what perils awaited them there? What traps had Ye Tianlong set? The answers will unfold in the next chapter.