632: Lu Xueqi and Biyao (15)

“We’ve arrived.”

Elder Mu stopped and said.

Before them was a side hall half-embedded in the mountain rock.

Although a corner of the dome had collapsed,

the main structure was still largely intact.

The heavy stone door was ajar,

covered with luminous moss.

Elder Mu stepped forward,

placing his palm on the ancient patterns of the stone door.

With a slight exertion of force,

the stone door emitted a dull sound,

slowly opening inward.

A stale, dusty air surged out,

mixed with a faint scent of starlight.

The hall was quite spacious.

The ground was paved with large stone slabs,

with soft, star-like low-lying plants growing in the crevices,

providing a faint glow.

At the very back was a damaged stone platform,

which seemed to have been an altar.

On either side were several thick stone pillars,

supporting the still-standing roof of the hall.

Through the collapsed opening in the dome,

one could see the dark blue, starlight-flowing lake above,

and the huge silver-white pillar of light connecting top and bottom.

The sight was magnificent and peculiar.

“It's safe here,”

Elder Mu said, looking around.

“The residual Holy Land aura can interfere with divination and tracking.

The Star Mist Barrier is a natural maze and barrier.

We’ll rest here first.”

Su Han nodded,

his gaze quickly sweeping through the hall.

He carried Bi Yao,

walking to a relatively dry corner covered with thick fluorescent moss.

He carefully laid her down.

Lu Xueqi silently stepped forward,

taking out soft fabric from her Magical Artifact.

She placed it beneath Bi Yao.

She looked at Bi Yao’s pale face,

her brows slightly furrowed.

Su Han once again checked Bi Yao’s pulse.

It was still weak,

but seemed to have stopped worsening.

The chilling Death Qi from the Gui Xu Force that enveloped her,

in this environment filled with the vitality of Star Power,

seemed to be slightly suppressed.

The tortoise shell was still faintly warm.

Su Han took it out from his embrace.

At this moment, the tortoise shell’s

surface glowed with more distinct dark blue patterns.

The flickering rhythm

seemed to subtly align with the flow of the pillar of light in the center of the lake outside the hall.

Elder Mu walked over,

his gaze falling on the tortoise shell.

“This tortoise shell…”

he mused.

“May I examine it closely?”

Su Han hesitated slightly,

then handed the tortoise shell over.

Elder Mu received it with both hands,

his expression becoming extremely solemn.

He did not immediately inject spiritual power to investigate,

but instead carefully examined the ancient patterns.

His fingertips gently brushed over the surface of the tortoise shell,

feeling every engraving.

After a moment,

he took a deep breath.

“Indeed…”

“This is no ordinary tortoise shell.”

“Its material is like jade yet not jade, like bone yet not bone.”

“The patterns on it are also not Acquired carvings,”

“but naturally formed, containing traces of the Great Dao.”

“If this old man is not mistaken…”

He looked up,

complex light flickering in his eyes.

“This item is very likely of the same origin as this Falling Star Lake.”

“Or rather, it is related to the fallen ‘Star Core’.”

Su Han’s heart trembled.

“Elder, why do you say that?”

Elder Mu pointed to several key pattern nodes on the tortoise shell.

“Look here.”

“And here.”

“The direction and connection of these patterns”

“are extremely similar to the ‘Star Orbit Runes’ recorded in some ancient Incomplete Manuals.”

“And Star Orbit Runes…”

“are said to be the mapping of the rules of stellar operation in the material world.”

“They usually only appear in the core of extraterrestrial meteorites,”

“or on divine objects born with the Luck of the stars.”

“The aura of this tortoise shell”

“and the Star Power in this lake water”

“have produced a clear resonance.”

“This is by no means a coincidence.”

He paused,

and continued.

“More importantly,”

“its reaction to the young lady in your arms.”

“Gui Xu Force devours all things, ending everything,”

“it is the ultimate ‘death’ and ‘annihilation’.”

“While Star Power, especially this kind of vital Star Origin Light,”

“represents ‘life’ and ‘continuation’.”

“In terms of attributes, there is a subtle mutual suppression.”

“This tortoise shell spontaneously protecting its master”

“is likely due to it sensing that power of the same origin is being eroded by ‘death and stillness’,”

“thus manifesting unusual phenomena.”

Su Han’s heart surged as he listened.

He looked at Bi Yao,

then at the faintly glowing tortoise shell.

“Then… can this tortoise shell help Bi Yao heal?”

Elder Mu slowly shook his head.

“Hard to say.”

“This item is mysterious and unfathomable.”

“This old man can only discern a superficial understanding.”

“It might temporarily stabilize Miss Bi Yao’s condition,”

“slowing the erosion of the Gui Xu Force.”

“But to completely remove that power…”

“is probably beyond the tortoise shell itself.”

“However…”

He changed the subject.

“Since this item has such a deep connection with Falling Star Lake,”

“and we are currently in this place,”

“perhaps we can utilize the power of the environment”

“to try and further activate the tortoise shell’s power,”

“and even…”

“explore its true mysteries,”

“thereby finding a method of cure.”

Hope ignited in Su Han’s eyes.

“How should we proceed?”

Elder Mu pondered for a moment.

“First, we need a clearer understanding of the tortoise shell’s state.”

“This old man needs to set up a simple Star Gathering Formation”

“to gather some of the Star Power from the lake water”

“and try to guide it to contact the tortoise shell.”

“We will observe its changes.”

“However, this process requires extreme caution.”

“We must not rush it,”

“otherwise, it might trigger unpredictable reactions.”

Su Han nodded.

“Thank you, Elder.”

Elder Mu said no more.

He began to move around the hall.

He chose a spot

where the starlight shining through the dome’s opening was most concentrated.

He took out several faintly glowing peculiar stones from his Magic Treasure,

and also some jade tablets inscribed with runes.

He began to arrange them methodically.

Lu Xueqi stood quietly beside Bi Yao,

but her gaze occasionally fell on Su Han.

She saw the focused and solemn expression on his face,

and his tightly clenched fists.

She could feel the anxiety in his heart,

and his determination to spare no effort.

This stirred complex emotions within her.

There was worry,

admiration,

and a hint of inexplicable stirring.

Su Han seemed to notice her gaze

and turned his head.

Their eyes met.

Su Han nodded slightly,

his eyes filled with firm trust.

Lu Xueqi’s heart warmed.

She also nodded gently,

then averted her gaze,

continuing to vigilantly sense her surroundings.

Although it seemed peaceful here,

in these unfamiliar ancient ruins,

maintaining vigilance was always necessary.

Soon,

Elder Mu’s Formation was complete.

Several peculiar stones and jade tablets were placed in specific orientations,

forming a simple spell Formation about three feet in diameter.

The moment the Formation was completed,

the scattered starlight particles in the air

seemed to be drawn by an invisible force,

and began to slowly converge towards the center of the Formation,

making the light in that area

even softer and brighter.

“It’s ready,”

Elder Mu said to Su Han.

“Place the tortoise shell in the eye of the Formation.”

Su Han complied,

carefully placing the palm-sized, warm tortoise shell

gently in the center of the Formation.

The moment the tortoise shell touched the ground,

the dark blue patterns on its surface. (End of Chapter)