148: A journey to stardom begins, a subtle fragrance wafts through the air.

At dawn, Ziyun Valley was enveloped in a thin mist of farewell. Lin Xuan and his four companions were ready to depart. After half a month of training and preparation, the team's Aura was distinctly different. Su Wanqing was as cool and clear as the moon, her frost silence sword hidden within her body, her Aura growing deeper; Qu Feiyan remained enchanting, but a hint of sharpness now flickered in her eyes; Gongsun Yu was full of Origin Qi, her thunder urgency sword humming at her waist; and Yun Shang wore the flowing cloud star gauze robe, its starlight dots adding a few touches of ethereal grace.

Lin Xuan's gaze swept over everyone, finally resting on Su Wanqing. Their eyes met, a silent warmth flowing between them, needing no words. He waved his hand: “Let’s go!”

The cloud piercing shuttle transformed into a streak of light, carrying the five individuals skyward, piercing through the Qinglan Sect's mountain-protecting array, and speeding towards the vast and boundless Northern Ice Plains.

The shuttle's interior was spacious, equipped with quiet rooms. Lin Xuan spent most of his time in the main cabin controlling the shuttle, while simultaneously focusing on deciphering the damaged star path compass, trying to find more clues. Su Wanqing usually sat quietly beside him, either nurturing frost silence or closing her eyes to comprehend the Taiyin. Occasionally, she would raise her eyes to look at Lin Xuan's profile, and a faint, gentle light would ripple in her icy gaze.

This unspoken understanding, naturally, did not escape Qu Feiyan's eyes.

This day, Lin Xuan was concentrating on deducing a few blurry star coordinates on the compass, his brows slightly furrowed. Suddenly, a pair of soft arms wrapped around his neck from behind. A rich, sweet fragrance wafted into his nostrils, and a warm, moist breath brushed his ear: “Junior Martial Brother~ What are you looking at so intently? Let big sister take a peek?”

Qu Feiyan practically pressed her entire body against Lin Xuan's back, her breath like orchids, her charm intoxicating.

Lin Xuan's body stiffened slightly. Before he could speak, a cool cough came from beside them.

Su Wanqing had opened her eyes at some point. Her icy gaze lightly swept over Qu Feiyan's arms wrapped around Lin Xuan's neck. Although she didn't speak, the temperature in the entire cabin seemed to drop a few degrees.

Qu Feiyan, however, seemed completely oblivious. Instead, she hugged Lin Xuan even tighter, provocatively looking at Su Wanqing and giggling: “Junior Sister Su, Cultivation is so boring. Why don't we study this compass together? Maybe we can even find a shortcut to the Hall of All Stars.”

Gongsun Yu, who was wiping her thunder urgency sword not far away, pouted slightly at the sight and mumbled: “Senior Sister Qu is at it again…”

The newly joined Yun Shang, on the other hand, blushed furiously and lowered her head, not daring to speak. Yet, in her heart, she was incredibly curious about the complex and subtle relationships between her Senior Sisters and Senior Brother Lin.

Lin Xuan felt the astonishing softness behind him and the invisible pressure from Su Wanqing, and his head began to ache. He gently patted Qu Feiyan's hand, his tone a bit helpless: “Senior Sister, stop messing around, I’m at a crucial point in my calculations.”

Qu Feiyan snorted, then reluctantly let go, but still sat close to Lin Xuan, her jade finger tracing circles on his palm, her eyes like silk: “Then Junior Brother must figure it out quickly, big sister is still waiting to go to Starfall Valley to watch the stars~”

Su Wanqing withdrew her gaze and closed her eyes again, but the Taiyin Qi swirling around her seemed even colder.

“Ding! Emotional fluctuations detected in multiple investment targets. Mild jealousy can stimulate healthy competition and Cultivation motivation. Please handle appropriately, maintaining the harem… team harmony.”

The System's prompt made Lin Xuan's mouth twitch slightly.

He composed himself and refocused his attention on the compass. As his magic power and Divine Sense continued to pour in, several light spots in the center of the damaged compass flickered slightly, seemingly resonating with certain stars in the distant starry sky.

“It's reacting!” Lin Xuan's spirit lifted. “According to this direction, after we reach Starfall Valley, we might be able to try exploring the area where the ‘Yaoguang’ star position is located.”

“Yaoguang star position?” Yun Shang looked up at the words, a hint of surprise in her eyes. “Senior Brother Lin, according to ancient records, the Yaoguang Star governs ‘Po Jun,’ symbolizing change and conquest. The areas covered by its Star Power are often more violent and prone to powerful star beasts and residual killing formations from ancient battlefields, making them very dangerous.”

“Danger often coexists with Opportunity.” Lin Xuan said in a deep voice, “The ‘Hall of All Stars’ mentioned by the Moon God's remnant thought is definitely not an ordinary place. Its entrance or clues are most likely hidden in the most dangerous places.”

Su Wanqing also opened her eyes again at this moment, looking at the flickering Yaoguang star point on the compass, and said coolly: “I agree with Lin Xuan's judgment.”

Qu Feiyan pouted when she saw Su Wanqing agree, but said nothing more, secretly deciding that she must perform well in Starfall Valley and not let Su Wanqing monopolize the glory.

Several days later, the cloud piercing shuttle finally arrived deep within the Northern Ice Plains. The sight before them was astonishing: a huge valley, seemingly created by falling stars, appeared before their eyes. The valley entrance was rugged with strange rocks, and within, clouds and mist swirled, vaguely revealing shimmering multi-colored glows. A chaotic and majestic Power of Stars spread outwards like a tide, causing the surrounding space to subtly distort.

Starfall Valley, they had arrived!

And at this moment, a large number of Cultivators had already gathered outside the valley. There were indigenous ice plain tribes from the Northern Region, Elders and Disciples from various Sects, and many fierce-looking Loose Cultivators. Figures flickered, and the light of Magic Treasures gleamed, clearly all here for the impending Star Power tide and the Opportunities that might arise within it.

Lin Xuan put away the cloud piercing shuttle, and the five descended, blending into the crowd. Their Auras were restrained, but Su Wanqing's cool transcendence, Qu Feiyan's enchanting charm, Gongsun Yu's lively cuteness, and Yun Shang's starlit elegance still attracted many gazes. And when some Divine Sense swept over them, discovering that among them were three Late Golden Core Stage Cultivators, one Mid-stage Golden Core Cultivator, and one whose depth could not be seen through (Lin Xuan), the covetousness in those gazes quickly turned to apprehension.

“It seems this time in Starfall Valley won't be peaceful.” Lin Xuan narrowed his eyes, sensing the undercurrents in the surrounding atmosphere.

Just then, a slightly frivolous voice came from nearby:

“Oh? Isn't this Fairy Su of the Qinglan Sect? Several years unseen, your grace surpasses the past!”

A young man, dressed in luxurious brocade robes, holding a folding fan, with a handsome face but a hint of effeminacy, walked over surrounded by a group of guards. His gaze was burning as he stared at Su Wanqing, completely ignoring Lin Xuan and the others beside her.

Su Wanqing frowned slightly, a flash of disgust in her icy eyes, and said coldly: “Ling Tianyu, I have no friendship with you.”

Ling Tianyu? Lin Xuan's gaze sharpened, remembering that this person was the Young Lord of “Heavenly Frost City,” a first-rate power in the Northern Region, rumored to have long coveted Su Wanqing.

Ling Tianyu, publicly rejected by Su Wanqing, felt a bit embarrassed but maintained his composure, smiling: “Fairy Su, why be so distant? Starfall Valley is fraught with danger, why not journey with us? We can look out for each other.” As he spoke, his gaze swept over Lin Xuan with a hint of disdain, “It's much safer than following some unknown cats and dogs.”

Before he finished speaking, Qu Feiyan let out a charming giggle, her voice filled with indescribable allure and mockery: “Oh my, where did this peacock come from, trying to spread its feathers before they're even fully grown? Look out for each other? With these crooked melons and cracked dates around you, I doubt they could even withstand one whip from me~”

Gongsun Yu also glared angrily at Ling Tianyu, her hand already on her thunder urgency sword.

Yun Shang instinctively shrank behind Lin Xuan.

Lin Xuan stepped forward, shielding Su Wanqing behind him, looking calmly at Ling Tianyu, his tone indifferent: “Her safety is my responsibility, no need for Your Excellency to trouble yourself.”

Ling Tianyu's face darkened, his folding fan snapped shut with a “pa,” and a cold light flickered in his eyes: “What are you? You dare to...”

Before he could finish, a subtle yet immense Aura, like a towering mountain, suddenly emanated from Lin Xuan. Though it was fleeting, it caused Ling Tianyu and the guards behind him to change color simultaneously, feeling a suffocating pressure!

Ling Tianyu's remaining words caught in his throat, his face alternating between green and white. He hadn't expected this seemingly ordinary young man to possess such unfathomable strength!

“Let's go.” Lin Xuan no longer paid him any attention, leading the four women directly towards the valley entrance.

Ling Tianyu watched their retreating figures, especially the sight of Su Wanqing and Lin Xuan walking side by side, a hint of venom flashing in his eyes. He whispered to his nearby guard: “Once inside, keep a close eye on them! Find an Opportunity, I want that brat to know the consequences of offending this Young Lord!”

The entrance to Starfall Valley was like the gaping maw of a giant beast, swallowing the continuous stream of Cultivators. Lin Xuan and his four companions followed the crowd into the valley, immediately feeling a drastic change in their surroundings, as if they had entered another stellar world.

New challenges, new Opportunities, and enemies lurking in the shadows awaited them.