639: Lu Xueqi and Biyao (22)

These Star Beasts were larger, their star-light spots denser and brighter, and in their eyes, besides madness, there seemed to be a hint of... vigilance?

They circled the edge of the light water, as if guarding something.

"We cannot go any further. The concentration of Star Power and the pressure ahead will increase sharply. Rushing in unprepared would lead to certain doom," Elder Mu said in a deep voice.

"Moreover, the Star Beasts here are even more formidable. I sense that the auras of a few among them are already approaching the Golden Core level."

Su Han stared at the expanse of light water and the vague outlines of buildings deep within it, a powerful urge surging in his heart.

The tortoise shell in his embrace was slightly warm, resonating intensely with that core area.

Bi Yao's pale face flashed in his mind.

"Elder, how is the path deduction coming along? From here, how can we safely reach the core altar?" Su Han asked.

Elder Mu took out a Jade Slip, which contained the path he deduced based on the broken star map and the layout of the Ancient Water Tribe ruins.

"According to the records, the Ancient Water Tribe did not travel in a straight line to the core altar for sacrifice; instead, they needed to follow a specific 'Star Road.'

The Star Road is not fixed but changes with the ebb and flow of the Star Power tide and the movement of the celestial stars.

The timing of our arrival coincides with the eve of the Star Power tide, which is when the Star Road is relatively stable.

According to my deduction, from the northeast direction of this spot, the three meteoric iron pillars arranged in a triangle should be the entrance to a Star Road.

Following the Star Road, we can avoid the most violent Star Power turbulence and approach the core relatively safely."

Su Han and Lu Xueqi looked in the direction Elder Mu indicated.

Indeed, on the northeast side of the light water's edge, there stood three strange pillars, over ten zhang tall, pitch black, and covered in holes, arranged in a triangle.

They stood out starkly against the surrounding luminous coral jade, emitting a heavy, ancient aura.

"Those seem to be extraterrestrial meteoric iron, specially moved here by the Water Tribe to serve as markers for the Star Road," Elder Mu explained.

"However, near the entrance of the Star Road, there must be powerful Star Beasts guarding it, and the situation inside the Star Road is unknown; ancient Restrictions or traps might exist."

Su Han nodded without hesitation: "Since there is a path, we have to try it. Elder, Senior Sister, let's regulate our breathing for a moment, and then we will venture into this Star Road!"

The three found a hidden coral reef and regulated their breathing, adjusting their condition to the best.

Su Han put on his starlight gauze robe and gripped the star fixing token in his palm, ready to activate it at any moment.

Lu Xueqi silently polished the tianya sword; its blade reflected her cold and stunning face, her gaze calm yet resolute.

Elder Mu continuously poured spiritual power into the star-guiding pearl, making its light gentler and more stable.

A moment later, Su Han opened his eyes, a sharp glint flashing within them: "Let's go!"

The three shot out from behind the coral reef like arrows leaving a bowstring, rushing straight toward the three meteoric iron pillars!

Their appearance immediately alerted the Star Beasts patrolling the edge of the light water.

Several Star Beasts, comparable in size to calves and possessing formidable auras, emitted silent roars (sound could not propagate well in such a dense Star Power field), their eyes flashing fiercely, transforming into streaks of brilliant starlight trajectories as they pounced!

The leading one had a single horn on its forehead, its Star Power converged, and its aura had reached the Early Stage of the Golden Core level!

"Quickly finish them! Don't get entangled!" Elder Mu shouted low.

The star-guiding pearl in his hand burst with light, and a gentle ripple of Star Power spread out, enveloping the charging Star Beasts.

The Star Beasts' speed instantly lagged, as if they had plunged into a swamp.

"Slash!"

Lu Xueqi merged with her sword, the tianya sword erupting with an unprecedented azure brilliance.

A thread of sword energy, condensed to the extreme, silently sliced through the lake water, instantly sweeping past the neck of that horned Star Beast.

Hiss—!

The pouncing motion of the horned Star Beast abruptly froze, the fierce light in its eyes solidified, and in the next moment, its massive head separated from its body, disintegrating into a sky full of starlight, leaving behind only a walnut-sized, brilliantly shining star core.

Su Han also attacked simultaneously; the star seed in his Dantian vibrated, fusing the absorbed Star Power with his own spiritual power, and he unleashed a "Seven Stars Sword Style."

Seven sharp Sword Qi, tinged with blue and silver, shot out in the shape of the Big Dipper, precisely striking the vital points of the other Star Beasts.

The Star Power contained within the Sword Qi was of the same origin as the Star Beasts' but purer and more tyrannical, instantly shattering their defenses and slaughtering them.

The tacit cooperation between the two, coupled with Elder Mu's assistance, instantly cleared the powerful Star Beasts blocking their path.

The three did not stop, pushing their movement techniques to the extreme; with just a few leaps, they rushed between the three meteoric iron pillars.

Upon entering the range of the pillars, the surrounding scene instantly changed.

The oppressive feeling of surging Star Power had not disappeared, but the sense of direction became blurred.

The three pillars seemed to come alive; the holes on their surfaces flowed with trickling starlight, like liquid, interweaving and flowing between the pillars, outlining an illusory road paved with starlight, winding forward towards the depths of the light water.

"This is the Star Road! Follow closely!" Elder Mu commanded low, stepping onto the starlight road first.

Su Han and Lu Xueqi followed closely behind.

The moment they stepped onto the Star Road, Su Han felt as if the surrounding space-time had undergone some kind of distortion.

On both sides was the thick, undilutable silver-white light water, surging mightily and emitting a destructive aura, but the Star Road beneath their feet was exceptionally stable and peaceful, separating them from the violent Star Power.

The Star Road was not straight but constantly winding and turning, as if following some profound trajectory.

The Star Road was not completely empty.

Occasionally, they could see blurry phantom images of starlight, seemingly imprints left by the Ancient Water Tribe walking and sacrificing along this path.

Sometimes, they could even hear faint, ancient chanting sounds, solemn and respectful.

However, danger had not receded.

From the light mist on both sides of the Star Road, massive tentacles and sharp claws condensed from starlight would occasionally probe out, attempting to drag the uninvited guests on the road into the light water.

Simultaneously, above the Star Road, there also floated strange runes or traps composed of pure Star Power, emitting a dangerous aura.

"Be careful of both sides! Watch out for the star patterns above your heads!" Elder Mu constantly reminded, his hand seals changing.

The light of the star-guiding pearl enveloped the three, while he simultaneously sent out streaks of spiritual light to interfere with the probing starlight tentacles or temporarily stabilize the dangerous star patterns above.

Lu Xueqi's Sword Qi swept horizontally, severing any tentacles that slipped through and got close.

Su Han was responsible for checking for omissions and supplementing defenses, while remaining vigilant about what lay ahead.

The Star Road was winding and long, seemingly without end.

The three traveled swiftly, not daring to slacken in the slightest.

The surrounding starlight grew brighter, and the pressure increased, even on the Star Road, they could feel their breathing becoming somewhat difficult.

The starlight gauze robe emitted a soft glow, helping Su Han resist the penetrating pressure.

The star fixing token had also been activated long ago, forming a stable force field around him.

After walking for an unknown amount of time, the Star Road ahead seemed to reach its end, and a massive gate of light composed of starlight appeared before them.

Beyond the gate of light, the scene suddenly opened up; the suffocatingly dense light water seemed much thinner, and an incomparably vast and magnificent complex of buildings appeared before their eyes.

It was a palace group suspended directly beneath the central light pillar of the lake!

The palaces were entirely constructed from a gentle white jade, inlaid with countless gems that refracted the light of the star source above, exquisitely beautiful, like celestial palaces.

At the center of the palace group was the tallest and grandest altar, exactly as seen in the murals.

The altar towered high, suspended above, seemingly meant to enshrine something, but it was now completely empty.

And around the altar, in the squares, corridors, and on the rooftops of the palace group, stood, roamed, and floated countless Star Beasts, densely packed!

Among them were powerful existences comparable in size to small mountains, with auras reaching the Middle Stage or even Late Stage of the Golden Core!

They lay dormant quietly, as if asleep, or perhaps standing guard.

And at the very center of the altar, at the core position where the light pillar descended, a sphere of light about three zhang in diameter, condensed purely from starlight, was slowly rotating and pulsating, emitting a vast, ancient, and sacred pressure—this was the core of Falling Star Lake—the star source!

Su Han and the other two stood before the gate of light at the end of the Star Road, holding their breath.

Finally, they had reached the core. (End of Chapter)