185: Star Core Mark and New Path

When the wind stopped, the Star Core pattern on the new leaves of the spiritual field was still rotating slightly.

Liu Shan reached out, his fingertips hovering half an inch above the new leaf.

The four-colored star patterns suddenly lit up in unison, and a subtle stream of light crawled up his arm from his fingertips, intertwining with the gray stream of light in the ring, outlining half a broken Star Core mark on the surface of his skin—the other half hidden beneath the flesh, as if waiting for something.

"It's not complete yet." Lin Qingxue's voice carried a note of inquiry. Her fingertips also rested on the new leaf, but the star patterns only flickered gently, with no stream of light emerging. "It seems that only you can trigger it."

Liu Shan withdrew his hand, looking at that half-mark.

The gray stream of light flowed slowly within the mark, bringing a blurred stream of information: The Summit of the Star Core is at the center of the Star Sea, the source of all Spiritual Veins in the realms, and the place where the Guardian has stood guard for generations.

To reach it, one must pass through seven "Realm Corridors," each corresponding to a primordial power.

"Seven corridors..." He repeated in a low voice. The Light and Darkness Power resonated with the gray stream of light, and the outline of the first corridor emerged in his consciousness—it was a crimson space burning with endless flames. At the end of the corridor, a massive bronze gate could be faintly seen, with runes similar to the light screen carved on it.

"What do we need to prepare?" Liu Zhi walked over, carrying a newly polished short blade, its star patterns flickering in the sunlight. "I'll go to the back mountain to prepare more dry rations and tan some animal skins for protective gear."

Shi Yan also nodded: "I will refine some Pulse Stabilizing Pills right now. When passing through the realms, Spiritual Vein tremors are the most dangerous."

Elder Xuan Jin let out a low hum, his massive body began to shrink, his cyan-gold scales folding layer by layer, eventually turning into a small snake as thick as an arm, winding around Liu Shan's wrist, contrasting with the ring and the Star Core mark.

"He wants to go with us." Lin Qingxue chuckled, her fingertips gently touching Elder Xuan Jin's head. The little guy flicked his tongue and rubbed his head against her fingertips.

The days of preparation passed quickly.

Liu Zhi packed the dried beast meat and wild fruits into two heavy bundles and carved star patterns all over his short blade, which were said to increase strength; Shi Yan refined a furnace of pearly white Medicinal Pills, naming them "Pulse Stabilizing Pills"; they melted upon contact with the tongue and could instantly stabilize restless Spiritual Veins; Liu Shan repeatedly deduced the Fusion of his Light and Darkness Power and the gray stream of light under the Huai Ancient Tree, gradually figuring out a new Move that could both defend and break through spatial barriers.

Lin Qingxue wove two grass baskets by the spiritual field, filling them with biye flower petals marked with star patterns—she said this was the scent of Luoxia Valley, and carrying them was like having home by their side.

On the eve of their departure, the moon over Luoxia Valley was exceptionally bright.

The four people and one snake sat on the ridge of the spiritual field, sharing the roasted rabbit meat Liu Zhi had prepared. Shi Yan rarely brought out a jar of fruit wine he had brewed himself; the liquid shimmered with a faint cyan-gold color, carrying the fresh fragrance of biye flowers.

"Come to think of it, we haven't properly seen other realms yet." Liu Zhi took a gulp of the fruit wine and wiped his mouth. "I heard some realms are entirely water, where people can breathe underwater; others float in the sky, where you have to walk on clouds."

Shi Yan smiled: "Ancient books say that when the Guardian created the realms, it was based on the principle of 'all things mutually generating.' There is water and fire, mountains and seas, so that the Star Sea can remain balanced."

Liu Shan looked at the wine cup in his hand; the liquid reflected the mark on his wrist. He suddenly remembered that other half of himself, remembered him saying "bonds are shackles," and couldn't help but smile—if this was a shackle, he was willing to be locked up.

Lin Qingxue seemed to see through his thoughts, quietly nudging his elbow, the smile in her eyes as gentle as moonlight.

The next morning, just as dawn broke, the new leaf in the center of the spiritual field suddenly erupted with blinding light.

The four-colored star patterns rotated into a vortex, and in the center of the vortex, a cyan-gold light gate slowly opened—unlike the previous Realm Gates, this light gate carried the Spiritual Vein Aura of Luoxia Valley, with familiar biye flower petals entwined around its edges.

"It's the gate to the first corridor." Liu Shan stood up and slung the grass basket containing the petals onto his back.

Elder Xuan Jin raised his head from his wrist, his golden slit pupils looking at the light gate, letting out an excited hiss.

Shi Yan and Liu Zhi also stood up, patted their bundles, their eyes filled with anticipation.

"Let's go."

Liu Shan took the lead and stepped into the light gate.

A warm stream of light enveloped his entire body; there was no sense of pressure as before, but rather, it felt like being gently held by the wind of Luoxia Valley. He could clearly feel the presence of the three people behind him, feel the restlessness of Elder Xuan Jin, and smell the fragrance of the petals in the grass basket.

The moment he passed through the light gate, the scene before his eyes changed abruptly.

There were no crimson flames as imagined, but a familiar spiritual field overgrown with biye flowers.

At the end of the spiritual field, the Huai Ancient Tree was lush and green, smoke rose from the chimney of the Pill Chamber, Liu Zhi was chasing a wild rabbit across the ridge, and Shi Yan stood before the Pill Furnace, holding a pestle in his hand, smiling and waving at him.

"Liu Shan, what are you daydreaming about? Come and help pound the medicine!" Shi Yan's voice came clearly.

Liu Shan froze in place, his heart contracting violently.

Isn't this Luoxia Valley?

He looked down at his wrist—there was no ring, no Star Core mark, only a shallow spiral scar, an old mark left by the Origin Core.

Footsteps came from behind, and Lin Qingxue walked over, wearing her familiar blue cloth skirt. There was no mark on her forehead; she just smiled and handed him a red berry: "Awake? Shi Yan said you had a Qi deviation while practicing and have been asleep for a day."

Liu Shan took the berry, his fingertips ice-cold.

This is not real.

He turned around abruptly, looking toward the direction where the light gate had disappeared; there was only flat land there, without even a trace of light.

"What's wrong?" Lin Qingxue's voice carried concern, and she reached out to touch his forehead. "Are you still not feeling well?"

Liu Shan instinctively took a step back, avoiding her hand.

Something is wrong.

It's too similar.

Thinking of... it could almost pass for the real thing.

But he remembered that Shi Yan's pestle had broken last month, and he was using a newly made one; the wild rabbit Liu Zhi was chasing had no star patterns on its tail; and the red berry Lin Qingxue handed him was missing the small familiar notch at the bottom.

"Qingxue," he took a deep breath, trying to keep his voice calm. "Do you remember the Summit of the Star Core?"

Lin Qingxue's smile froze on her face, and a trace of confusion flashed in her eyes: "Summit of the Star Core? What is that?"

Liu Shan's heart sank to the bottom.

He slowly raised his hand, gathering the Light and Darkness Power in his palm.

The familiar stream of light lit up in his palm, black and gold intertwined, carrying a cold Aura of destruction—there was no cyan-gold warmth, no Spiritual Vein resonance, only pure power that belonged to him alone.

The Huai Ancient Tree suddenly rustled.

Liu Zhi stopped, and Shi Yan also put down the pestle. Everyone's gaze was fixed on him, their eyes filled with a strange, expectant light.

"Liu Shan, what are you doing?" Shi Yan's voice became hoarse, carrying a hint of imperceptible urgency. "Put your power away, you'll hurt the spiritual field."

Liu Shan did not Move.

He looked at the familiar yet strange scene before him, looked at those expectant gazes, and suddenly understood something.

This is not Luoxia Valley.

This is the test of the first corridor—using the most familiar bonds to make him willingly stay.

The Light and Darkness Power in his palm grew stronger and stronger, the black and gold light almost devouring everything around it.

"I'm sorry," he said in a low voice, his tone pained yet exceptionally firm. "My home is not here."

The Sword of Light and Darkness condensed in his hand, carrying a resolute Aura, and he slashed fiercely at the familiar Huai Ancient Tree!

The moment the sword light fell, the scene before his eyes began to twist violently.

The spiritual field, the Huai Ancient Tree, the Pill Chamber... all the familiar images shattered like a broken mirror, revealing the true scene beneath: crimson and burning with flames.

Lin Qingxue's figure dissipated in the distortion, and the last look she gave him was filled with sadness and... relief?

Liu Shan panted heavily, standing in the crimson corridor, surrounded by roaring flames, the air filled with scorching heat.

A familiar voice came from behind: "Liu Shan, are you okay?"

He turned around abruptly and saw Lin Qingxue, Shi Yan, and Liu Zhi standing not far away, their faces full of concern. Elder Xuan Jin was wrapped around his wrist, letting out an anxious hiss at him.

"I'm fine." Liu Shan shook his head and looked at the three of them. "You..."

"We also saw illusions." Lin Qingxue walked over and held his hand, the temperature in her palm real and warm. "We saw the version where we failed to leave the stone pillar group together."

Shi Yan and Liu Zhi also nodded, clearly having all experienced similar tests.

Liu Shan breathed a sigh of relief, just about to speak, when his gaze suddenly froze on Lin Qingxue's wrist.

On her wrist, a mark had appeared at some point—the other half that perfectly fit his own half of the Star Core mark, also shimmering with four colors: silver, cyan, gold, and black.

The two marks connected in their clasped palms, emitting a crisp hum.

The flames in the crimson corridor suddenly churned violently.

The massive bronze gate in the distance slowly opened, and behind the gate, a more massive, deeper shadow was slowly opening its eyes.

In those eyes, there was no malice, only... ancient nothingness.