第44章 "Seal of the Heavens, Unleashed!"

**Chapter 44: Celestial Fusion (Part 16)**

Chen Beixuan's fingers made contact with the ancient pedestal, and the air around him seemed to shudder in response. The weight of the Universal Seal's energy pulsed through his body, making his skin tingle and his heart race. He felt the power of the Nine Stellar Body Technique coursing through his veins, urging him to continue the fusion.

"No...way...I'm not going to stop now!" Chen Beixuan gritted his teeth, his eyes blazing with determination.

As he continued to channel the energy, the pedestal began to glow with an intense, pulsing light. The air around him grew thick with anticipation, and the trees in the distance seemed to lean in, as if drawn to the spectacle.

Suddenly, a loud crack echoed through the clearing, and the pedestal shattered into a thousand pieces. The energy released was so intense that it created a miniature shockwave, sending Chen Beixuan stumbling back.

But he didn't falter. With a fierce cry, he launched himself at the scattered pieces of the pedestal, his eyes locked onto the glowing, crystalline fragments.

"You can't stop me!" Chen Beixuan roared, his fists clenched as he began to gather the fragments.

The sound of shattering rock and crackling energy filled the air, and the trees creaked and groaned under the strain. Suddenly, the fragments began to glow with an intense, white light.

Chen Beixuan's eyes widened as he felt the power of the Nine Stellar Body Technique surging through him. The fragments began to merge, forming a single, pulsing core that seemed to radiate an aura of limitless potential.

"I did it...I actually did it!" Chen Beixuan gasped, his voice hoarse from the exertion.

But his triumph was short-lived. A figure emerged from the trees, her eyes blazing with a fierce, golden light.

"You may have unlocked the Universal Seal," she spat, her voice dripping with venom, "but you'll never be able to control it. Not while I'm still alive."

Chen Beixuan's eyes narrowed as he recognized the figure. It was his former fiancée, Mu Qing, the one who had betrayed him and left him for dead.

"So, you're still trying to stab me in the back, Mu Qing?" Chen Beixuan sneered, his voice low and deadly.

"I'll never let you get the better of me, Chen Beixuan," Mu Qing snarled, her eyes flashing with hatred. "You may have unlocked the Universal Seal, but I'll make sure you never get to use it."

And with that, she launched herself at Chen Beixuan, her movements lightning-fast and deadly.

Chen Beixuan smiled grimly, his eyes blazing with determination. He knew that this was only the beginning of his journey, and that he would have to face countless challenges and enemies before he could finally unlock the secrets of the Nine Stellar Body Technique.

But he was ready. For Chen Beixuan, there was no turning back. He would stop at nothing to achieve his goal, no matter the cost.

To be continued...