635: Lu Xueqi and Biyao (18)

Elder Mu did not make any definitive promises.

"But the premise is that the tortoise shell can withstand and transform the Power of Gui Xu."

"And, we must find a way to truly stimulate its power."

"Perhaps even... complete it."

Su Han stood up.

He walked to the breach in the side hall.

He looked toward the center of the lake.

There stood a silver-white pillar of light connecting heaven and earth.

It was eternal, serene, and majestic.

"Elder."

Su Han's voice sounded distant amidst the starlight.

"I want to go to the center of the lake and see."

Elder Mu did not seem surprised.

He only let out a sigh.

"I know I cannot talk you out of it."

"But the lake's center is by no means a safe place."

"That pillar of light may look gentle."

"In reality, the Star Source Power it contains is overwhelmingly vast."

"Approaching it carelessly might result in being assimilated or torn apart by the violent Star Power."

"Even the ancient Aquatic Tribe's sacrifices required specific rituals and paths."

"We know nothing about any of that."

Su Han turned around.

His gaze was firm.

"I have to try."

"Since the tortoise shell shares the same Origin as that place."

"Perhaps it will guide the way."

"Moreover..."

He looked at Bi Yao, who was still unconscious.

"We don't have much time left."

"The power of the tortoise shell can only delay things temporarily."

"Bi Yao cannot afford to wait."

Elder Mu remained silent for a long while.

Finally, he nodded.

"Very well."

"But this matter must be planned carefully."

"We need more preparation."

"First, we must further explore the ruins."

"Find more information regarding the Aquatic Tribe's sacrifices and the path to the lake's center."

"Second, I need to refine a few items for you."

"Temporary Magical Artifacts that can slightly resist the pressure of the Star Source Power."

"Finally..."

He looked at Su Han.

"Your cultivation still needs to be consolidated."

"It would be best for you to Cultivate here for a while longer."

"Try your best to adapt to the environment of Star Power."

"This will help you in approaching the center of the lake."

Su Han knew these were words of experienced caution.

Although his heart was burning with anxiety.

He also understood that haste makes waste.

"I will follow your arrangements, Elder."

Elder Mu nodded in satisfaction.

"There's no time to lose."

"I will first head deeper into the ruins to investigate further."

"Xue Qi."

"You come with me."

"This place is shrouded by the Star Power of the tortoise shell; it is safe for now."

"Su Han, stay here and look after Miss Bi Yao."

"At the same time, try to circulate your Cultivation Technique."

"See if you can actively draw in and absorb the Star Power from the lake water."

"This may be vital for you to approach the center of the lake."

"Yes."

Su Han and Lu Xueqi responded in unison.

Elder Mu took Lu Xueqi and left the side hall.

Their figures soon disappeared into the hazy starlight of the ruins and lake water.

Su Han returned to Bi Yao's side.

He sat down cross-legged.

He held her slightly cool hand.

He whispered softly.

"Bi Yao, wait for me."

"I will definitely save you."

Following Elder Mu's words, Su Han focused on his Cultivation in the side hall.

He sat cross-legged by Bi Yao's side, the faint blue light emitted by the tortoise shell swirling around him like flowing water. The Star Power in the lake water was several times denser than outside; with every breath, he could feel fine starlight seeping into his body through his nose, mouth, and pores, circulating through his Meridians and finally returning to his Dantian.

The Qingyun Sect's Taiji Profound Clarity Dao was an orthodox technique of the mysterious gates, upright and peaceful, welcoming all Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi. While this Star Power was different in nature from ordinary Spiritual Qi, it was more pure and ancient, as if it contained the Origin aura from the dawn of the Universe.

Su Han guided the Star Power entering his body, circulating it through the cycles of his Cultivation Technique. At first, it was somewhat sluggish, as the Star Power seemed 'disobedient,' crashing through his Meridians and bringing bursts of stinging pain. However, he remained calm and patient, using his own Spiritual Qi to wrap, nourish, and assimilate it, taming it bit by bit.

Time passed quietly during his Cultivation.

After an unknown amount of time, Su Han felt a tiny silver-white speck of light appear at the center of the Spiritual Qi vortex in his Dantian. Though the speck was small, it was exceptionally solid, suspended quietly and rotating slowly on its own, emitting an aura of the same Origin as the pillar of light at the lake's center.

It was done.

Su Han felt a surge of joy. This meant his body had begun to adapt to and preliminarily accept the Star Power, which was crucial for approaching the center of the lake.

He opened his eyes. The light in the side hall remained the same, but Su Han could sense that the brightness of the lake's central light pillar had completed another cycle. Elder Mu and Lu Xueqi had not yet returned.

He looked at Bi Yao. The girl in green was still unconscious, but her complexion seemed slightly better, and her breathing was a bit stronger. The blue thread of light connecting to her heart appeared a little brighter than before, and the patterns flowing on the surface of the tortoise shell seemed to have come alive, slowly writhing like the movement of stars.

Su Han gently held Bi Yao's hand and whispered, "Do you feel better? Just wait a little longer, it will be soon."

As if hearing his voice, Bi Yao's long eyelashes trembled slightly, but she did not wake up after all.

Right then, Su Han felt something in his robes grow slightly warm.

With a thought, he reached into his robes and pulled out a Mysterious Stone Bead that had been dormant since he obtained it, showing no special traits other than being incredibly hard.

At this moment, the greyish stone bead was actually emitting an extremely faint, almost imperceptible hazy glow. The color of the glow was strange, neither like gold nor jade; looking closely, there seemed to be countless tiny points of starlight flickering within, faintly creating a subtle resonance with the tortoise shell and the central pillar of light!

"This is..." Su Han looked at the stone bead in his hand in surprise.

This stone bead was something he had accidentally acquired during an adventure years ago; aside from its unknown material and indestructible nature, he never knew its use. Unexpectedly, here at the bottom of Falling Star Lake, under the influence of the tortoise shell and the star source, it actually reacted!

He tried to inject a sliver of Spiritual Qi into the stone bead, but it did not react. He then tried to guide a strand of the Star Power he had just refined toward it. This time, the glow on the bead's surface brightened slightly, but it quickly dimmed again with no further movement.

Su Han fell into thought. It seemed this stone bead was indeed related to Star Power, but it might require specific conditions or a more massive amount of Star Power to be activated.

He put the stone bead away again. This might be another unexpected clue.

After another half-day, the water outside the hall rippled slightly as two figures entered; it was Elder Mu and Lu Xueqi.

Elder Mu's face showed fatigue, but his eyes were bright with spirit, clearly having gained something. Lu Xueqi remained as cold and elegant as ever, though her fair cheeks held a hint more gravity.

"Elder, Senior Sister, did things go smoothly?" Su Han rose to greet them.

Elder Mu nodded, then shook his head. "There were gains, but also troubles."