640: Lu Xueqi and Biyao (23)

The halo of the Star Road beneath their feet gradually faded.

The scene before them was no longer obstructed.

The complex of white jade palaces suspended beneath the pillar of light was magnificent to the point of suffocation.

The pillar of star source light descended from an endless height,

directly pouring onto the central altar of the palace complex.

The sphere of light rotated slowly,

like the beating heart of a star.

Every pulse caused the surrounding space to tremble slightly.

Vast Star Power transformed into visible ripples,

spreading out in circles.

"The 'Star Hub Hall' of the Ancient Water Tribe..."

Elder Mu's voice carried an irrepressible excitement and awe.

"I never expected... it would truly see the light of day again."

Su Han's gaze swept past the dense multitude of Star Beasts,

locking firmly onto the central altar.

The tortoise shell in his embrace was now burning hot like fire.

A call originating from the depths of his Bloodline

came from the direction of the altar.

Lu Xueqi gripped the tianya sword tightly.

Her cold eyes swept across the entire area.

"The number of Star Beasts is too great."

"Most of them are dormant."

"But the few near the altar..."

Her voice paused.

"...are very strong."

Indeed.

On the jade plaza surrounding the altar,

three Star Beasts of differing forms lay prostrate.

One resembled a Giant Lion,

its mane entirely condensed from flickering starlight.

Its aura was as solid as a mountain.

It was clearly at the Late Golden Core Stage.

Another was shaped like a Black Tortoise,

stars arrayed upon its shell.

Within its slowly opening and closing eyes, it seemed as if galaxies were born and extinguished.

It was also at the Late Golden Core Stage.

The last one was actually humanoid.

It stood about two zhang tall,

its entire body composed of brilliant silver-white light points.

Its face was indistinct,

only the positions of its eyes were two deep stellar vortexes.

It stood quietly before the altar steps,

like the most loyal guard.

Its aura... had surpassed the Golden Core,

faintly touching the threshold of Nascent Soul.

"Star Power manifestation... Star Spirit Guards!"

Elder Mu gasped.

"These are elemental beings spontaneously nurtured over eons due to the extreme concentration of star source power!"

"They already possess rudimentary intelligence."

"Their strength is comparable to a False Infant!"

Su Han's heart sank.

One False Infant,

two Late Golden Core Stage beasts,

plus thousands of Star Beasts of varying strengths scattered across the plaza, corridors, and rooftops.

Forcing their way in meant certain death.

"The Star Power tide..."

Elder Mu suddenly looked up,

gazing at the giant pillar of light connecting to the lake above.

The light from the pillar was visibly flickering and intensifying at a noticeable frequency.

"It's about to erupt."

"When the tide erupts,"

"all the Star Beasts will become active, inhaling and exhaling Star Power."

"That is when they are most alert, and also most ferocious."

"We must before that time..."

He looked towards Su Han.

Su Han understood his meaning.

"We must reach the altar before then,"

"to find a way to save Bi Yao."

"Or..."

"at least figure out the connection between this tortoise shell and the altar."

He touched the scorching tortoise shell in his embrace.

"Elder, Senior Sister,"

"I have a method that might be worth a try."

Lu Xueqi and Elder Mu looked at him.

Su Han slowly said:

"This tortoise shell resonates with the altar."

"I can sense that deep within the altar, something is calling to it."

"Although there are many Star Beasts, they don't seem to harbor great hostility towards pure Star Power."

He circulated the star seed in his Dantian.

A wisp of pure, gentle Star Power flowed out of his body,

coiling around his fingertips.

"I wear the starlight gauze robe and hold the star fixing token."

"If I fully conceal my aura and simulate Star Power fluctuations similar to the Star Beasts..."

"Perhaps I can deceive the outer Star Beasts,"

"and sneak close to the altar."

"No!"

Lu Xueqi flatly refused.

"It is too dangerous."

"How sharp are the senses of those three guards?"

"How could such a crude simulation fool them?"

"Once discovered..."

The consequences would be unimaginable.

Su Han looked at the unquestionable worry in her eyes,

and felt a warmth in his heart.

"Senior Sister, I am not reckless."

"Watch this."

With a thought, his star seed accelerated its rotation.

The light of the starlight gauze robe on his body flowed,

gradually aligning with the Star Power fluctuations permeating the surrounding environment.

Like a drop of water

about to merge into the ocean.

This was not merely simulation,

it was assimilation.

Possessing a star seed, he was inherently a body compatible with Star Power.

Under the rich Star Power environment here,

he was like a fish in water.

Coupled with the ancient fluctuations constantly emitted by the tortoise shell, which shared the same origin as the altar,

it actually caused his entire 'sense of existence'

to rapidly fade on the level of Star Power perception.

If one did not look directly with their eyes,

they would almost mistake him for a slightly denser mist of Star Power.

Elder Mu's eyes shone with wonder.

"What a miraculous technique for concealing aura!"

"No, this is no longer just concealing aura..."

"This is merging into the Star Power!"

Lu Xueqi's gaze flickered,

but she still shook her head.

"It's not enough."

"Those three guards, especially that Humanoid Star Spirit,"

"are absolutely not easy to deal with."

Su Han looked at Elder Mu.

"Elder, you once said that the sacrifices of the Ancient Water Tribe followed the Star Road."

"Then, around this altar, is there also a similar 'safe path' for the sacrificers to walk?"

"Or perhaps..."

"some kind of ritualistic passage?"

Elder Mu pondered upon hearing this,

then suddenly clapped his hands.

"That makes sense!"

"Ancient sacrifices highly value ritual!"

"When a priest ascends the altar, there must be an exclusive path for walking, strictly forbidding stepping elsewhere!"

"This shows reverence for the star source, and also avoids triggering certain defensive Restrictions!"

He hurriedly took out the Jade Slip containing the path deduction.

He sank his Divine Sense into it,

searching rapidly.

A moment later,

a sharp glint flashed in his eyes.

"I found it!"

"According to the fragmented map, in front of the main hall of the Star Hub Hall, there is a 'Star Brilliance Corridor'."

"It starts from the 'Guiding Star Stele' at the edge of the plaza outside the hall,"

"and leads directly to the first step of the altar."

"The corridor is constructed with a special Star Pattern Formation."

"Walking upon it can avoid external forces in the hall and demonstrate a sincere heart."

"If this corridor still exists..."

"it might be a relatively safe passage!"

The three immediately looked intently.

In front of the palace complex,

at the edge of the vast white jade plaza,

several tall steles indeed stood erect.

However, after the passage of time, most were already broken.

Only one was relatively well-preserved.

Its stele body was carved with ancient star charts,

faint light subtly flowing within.

And in front of that stele,

a faint silver pattern, almost completely merged with the white jade ground,

extended straight inward,

passing between the dormant or wandering Star Beasts on the plaza,

like a forgotten boundary line,

leading directly to the base of the altar.

"That's it!"

Elder Mu whispered.

"The Star Brilliance Corridor!"

"Although the pattern is dim, the Foundation of the Formation is not completely destroyed."

"Standing on this corridor,"

"as long as one does not actively attack or leak a strong foreign aura,"

"there is a high probability of not triggering the Star Beasts' active attack!"

"This is the 'Path of Etiquette' left by the Ancient Water Tribe!"

A flame of hope ignited in the eyes of the three.

"No time to delay,"

Su Han said solemnly.

"I will sneak in along this corridor."

"Elder, Senior Sister, you wait here to provide support."

"If anything changes..."

"Don't worry about me, immediately retreat the way you came!"

"No!"

Lu Xueqi objected again.

Her voice was cold, yet decisive. (End of Chapter)