637: Lu Xueqi and Biyao (20)

Lu Xueqi took on more of the scouting and sentry duties. Her movement was light and agile, and her sword light was sharp. The azure glow of the tianya divine sword traced elegant arcs across the bottom of the Star Lake, slaying or driving away any Star Beasts that attempted to approach the side hall area. During battle, she also began to consciously try to guide and utilize the Star Power that was omnipresent in the environment. Although she could not directly refine and absorb it like Su Han, a hint of cold starlight gradually began to appear within the tianya sword light, further increasing its power.

During breaks in his Cultivation, Su Han would also step out of the side hall to move around the relatively safe nearby areas, adapting to the lake bottom environment and attempting to use Star Power. He discovered that performing Qingyun Dao Techniques here, especially those related to water and light, saw varying degrees of power amplification. Furthermore, integrating Star Power into his Sword Qi produced a peculiar penetrating and purifying effect, which seemed exceptionally effective against those Star Beasts.

One day, while Su Han was practicing sword incantations beside a patch of coral outside the hall, his heart suddenly stirred, and he turned his head to look toward the center of the lake.

He saw that the silver-white pillar of light, which reached from the heavens to the earth, seemed to shine even more brilliantly than usual. Inside the pillar, countless finer points of light could be vaguely seen flowing and converging, as if something was brewing.

At the same time, the Stone Bead in his bosom grew slightly warm again. Inside the side hall, the tortoise shell that had been enveloping Bi Yao also emitted a deep blue light brighter than ever before. The patterns on its surface accelerated their flow, and it even let out a low, long hum, as if responding to the changes in the lake's center.

“This is...” Su Han's heart tightened, and he quickly returned to the side hall.

Elder Mu had also stopped his Artifact Refining and stood in the hall, looking toward the center of the lake with a solemn expression. Lu Xueqi had also sensed the anomaly and swept back from outside the hall.

“A Star Power Tide,” Elder Mu said in a heavy voice. “The Star Source Power at the lake's center is undergoing periodic fluctuations, much like the rising and falling of tides. Judging by these signs, I'm afraid we will soon welcome a 'high tide.' When that happens, the Star Power will become more active, and possibly more... violent. This is an opportunity for us to approach the lake's center. When the Star Power is active, perhaps certain paths or Restrictions will reveal themselves, but it is also a great danger. One moment of carelessness and you could be assimilated or torn apart by the surging Star Power.”

He looked at Su Han: “The Magical Artifact I am refining still lacks the final step of tempering. Originally it would have taken two or three more days, but now it seems time might not be enough. The Star Power Tide is coming; we must act ahead of schedule. Moreover, during the tide, those Star Beasts might become even more active or even undergo mutations.”

Su Han did not hesitate: “In that case, we will prepare to set out. Elder, when will the Magical Artifact be ready for use?”

Elder Mu calculated for a moment: “At most another half-day will be needed to complete the preliminary tempering. Although it won't be in its optimal state, it should be usable.” He took out three items.

One was a palm-sized, dark blue token made of neither metal nor wood, its surface dotted with starlight forming a simple star pattern. “This is the ‘star fixing token.’ It can temporarily stabilize the flow of Star Power within a small range around you and resist Star Power pressure, but each use lasts at most one hour and requires Spirit Stones or one's own spiritual power to activate.”

The second was a gauze garment as thin as a cicada's wing, shimmering with silver light like flowing water. “This is the ‘starlight gauze robe,’ refined from Starlight Grass mixed with lake silk. When worn, it can to some extent refract and deflect violent Star Power impacts, and it also provides decent protection against physical and spiritual attacks.”

Finally, there was a bead the size of a longan fruit, constantly emitting a soft starlight. “This is the ‘star-guiding pearl.’ It can briefly attract and converge surrounding Star Power to form a Star Power shield, but it will also make you a focal point for Star Power, easily attracting the attention of Star Beasts. It must be used with caution.”

Elder Mu gave the star fixing token and the starlight gauze robe to Su Han, while keeping the star-guiding pearl for himself. “You take the star fixing token and the gauze robe to use when we approach the lake's center. I will control the star-guiding pearl; it might come in handy at a critical moment. Xue Qi, your sword incantations are sharp and your movement is fast; you will be responsible for clearing the path and dealing with Star Beasts. Here are several ‘Star-Fall Talismans.’ Their power is decent and can serve as backup.” He handed Lu Xueqi several Talismans shimmering with dangerous starlight.

Lu Xueqi silently took them and nodded.

Su Han put away the token and the gauze robe. They felt ice-cold to the touch, yet possessed a sense of affinity as if connected to his Bloodline, clearly due to the integration of local astral spiritual materials.

“What about Bi Yao?” Su Han looked at the green-clad woman who was still unconscious. Taking her into a dangerous place while she was unconscious was clearly unwise, but leaving her here alone was even more worrying.

Elder Mu had already considered this: “I will set up a ‘Lesser Heavenly Star Formation’ here, using this tortoise shell fragment as the Formation eye to draw in Star Power and form a protection. This Formation’s defensive power is not weak, and with the tortoise shell anchoring it, ordinary Star Beasts will find it difficult to break through. I will leave behind several Talismans and a sensing artifact. Once the Formation is under strong attack, we will know immediately and can return to help as quickly as possible. Moreover, Miss Bi Yao’s aura is connected to the tortoise shell; staying within the Formation might actually be safer for her.”

Su Han thought about it; for now, this seemed to be the only relatively secure method. He walked to Bi Yao's side, leaned down, and whispered in her ear: “Bi Yao, wait for me to return. This time, I will definitely find a way to save you.”

As if she had heard his words, Bi Yao's fingertip moved almost imperceptibly.

Su Han took a deep breath, stood up straight, and his gaze became sharp and determined once more.

Elder Mu began to set up the Formation. Using the tortoise shell as the center, he carved complex Formation patterns on the floor of the side hall, arranging the collected Ores and water plants containing Star Power according to specific positions, and finally struck in several hand seals. The Formation patterns lit up one by one, connecting with the deep blue light of the tortoise shell, eventually forming a semi-circular light shield that enveloped Bi Yao and the tortoise shell. Starlight flowed over the light shield, emitting a stable and resilient aura.

Elder Mu then took out several small Formation Flags and planted them in various places around the side hall to form a warning System. He handed a Jade Pendant to Su Han: “If the Formation is attacked beyond its limits, this Jade Pendant will heat up to warn you.”

After completing all this, Elder Mu's face turned slightly pale, clearly having exhausted quite a bit of energy. He swallowed a Medicinal Pill and meditated for a moment before saying: “There is no time to lose, let's set out. The precursors of the Star Power Tide will last for a while, but it's hard to predict exactly when the peak of the 'high tide' will arrive. We must hurry.”

Su Han took one last look at the sleeping Bi Yao inside the light shield, turned, and took the lead out of the side hall.

Lu Xueqi followed silently, her tianya sword already quietly unsheathed by half an inch, its azure sword light flowing in the lake water.

Elder Mu walked last, holding the star-guiding pearl in his hand, its light reflecting off his gray beard and solemn eyes.

The three of them left the side hall and walked across the water toward the center of the lake, toward that eternally shining silver-white pillar of light.

The closer they got to the lake's center, the more clear and transparent the surrounding water became, and the light grew brighter. Countless tiny, glowing plankton drifted in the water like the dust of stars. Huge coral reefs of various shapes and underwater mountain ranges gradually increased, most of them covered in thick, shimmering moss or fungi. Many ruined buildings were hidden within these terrains, most of them more complete and grander than those on the periphery, carved with even more complex patterns of stars and aquatic tribes.

But beneath the tranquility, danger lurked everywhere. (End of Chapter)