654: Lu Xueqi and Biyao (33)

Su Han felt an irresistible chill rush toward him. The next instant, the ice-blue stream of light submerged into his glabella and vanished!

“Su Han!”

The Sect Master and several Elders instantly surrounded him, their expressions filled with shock and uncertainty.

Su Han stood rooted to the spot, eyes tightly closed, his body trembling slightly. On his glabella, an ice-blue sword-shaped mark slowly appeared, emitting a faint cold glow. He could feel that the tianya sword... no, the Senior Sister's spiritual essence, was currently residing in his Sea of Consciousness!

“This... what in the world happened?” an Elder exclaimed.

The Sect Master gravely examined Su Han's condition. After a long moment, he let out a deep sigh, his expression incredibly complicated: “Tianya... she actually chose to use Su Han's Sea of Consciousness as a nurturing ground and Su Han's body as a scabbard, temporarily residing within him. She didn't reject reshaping her Dao Body; instead... she chose a path that is far more difficult, yet also far more intimate—Sword Spirit Symbiosis!”

“Sword Spirit Symbiosis?!” Everyone was astonished.

Sword Spirit Symbiosis is an extremely rare and perilous state. The sword spirit no longer exists independently but shares life and Soul with the host. They prosper together and suffer together. This relationship is hundreds of times closer than that between an ordinary Sword Master and their sword spirit!

“No wonder she was so compatible with Su Han's aura...” The Sect Master looked at the tightly shut eyes of Su Han and muttered, “Tianya... what exactly are you planning, girl? Could it be that you intend to...”

Just then, Su Han slowly opened his eyes. Deep within his pupils, a flash of ice-blue color flickered, and his entire demeanor, building upon his original tenacity, gained an indescribable cold aloofness and sharp edge.

“Su Han, how do you feel?” the Sect Master immediately asked.

Su Han sensed the sleeping spiritual essence in his Sea of Consciousness that was intimately connected to him. With a complex expression, he slowly replied, “Sect Master, Senior Sister... she is sleeping in my Sea of Consciousness. But I can feel that she is very stable. She said... this is good.”

Hearing this, the Sect Master fell silent for a long time, finally letting out a long sigh: “Forget it. Perhaps this is Tianya's own choice, and her Opportunity. Su Han, from today onward, your destiny is intertwined with Tianya's. You must adapt to this state quickly and raise your own strength, otherwise, once Tianya's spiritual essence fully revives, the burden on you will be immense.”

“This Disciple understands.” Su Han nodded solemnly. He could feel that although the spiritual essence in his Sea of Consciousness was sleeping, it was constantly absorbing his Mental Energy and Star Power for nourishment. This was a sweet burden, and even more so, a heavy responsibility.

“Since Tianya has chosen this path, the Sect will fully support it.” The Sect Master's expression grew serious as he stated sternly, “Su Han, effective immediately, you will temporarily reside on Tianya Peak. The Sect's Scripture Pavilion is fully open to you. Feel free to choose and practice all Ice-element Cultivation Techniques and Star Arts! You need to increase your strength quickly, reaching at least the Star Wheel Realm to initially withstand the pressure of Tianya's spiritual essence fully reviving!”

“Yes! This Disciple will certainly spare no effort, living up to the Sect's high expectations and the trust of Senior Sister!” Su Han replied in a deep voice, his eyes blazing with fighting spirit.

“Mhm, go.” The Sect Master waved his hand.

Su Han bowed once more to the Sect Master and the Elders, then turned and left the Spirit Nurturing Pool. As he walked down Tianya Peak step by step, feeling the spiritual essence in his Sea of Consciousness that shared life and death with him, his heart was filled with complex emotions.

Senior Sister, rest assured and sleep. From now on, my Su Han's sword is your sword. My Su Han's path is the path we share!

The day I condense my Star Wheel will be the time we fight side by side again!

...Time flew by. In the blink of an eye, half a year had passed since the tianya sword spirit achieved symbiosis with Su Han.

During these six months, Su Han barely left his dwelling, dedicating himself to arduous cultivation on Tianya Peak. With the Sect's full allocation of resources, coupled with the incredible Realm of understanding he reached regarding Ice-element Star Power after achieving symbiosis with the tianya sword spirit, his cultivation advanced by leaps and bounds.

On this day, in a secluded valley behind Tianya Peak.

Su Han sat cross-legged on a massive piece of Profound Ice, his eyes tightly closed, faint ice-blue mist emanating from his body. His aura had already reached the Peak of the Star Seed Realm. The star seed in his Dantian was full and smooth, radiating brilliant light, showing faint signs of condensing into a wheel.

“Hoo...”

Su Han slowly exhaled a breath of turbid Qi, which shot out like a sword, leaving a deep ice mark on the rock in front of him. He opened his eyes; deep within them, ice-blue light flowed, profound and icy.

“Six months of arduous cultivation, and I've finally reached this step.” Su Han murmured to himself, feeling the surging Star Power within him and the increasingly clear spiritual fluctuation in his Sea of Consciousness that seemed ready to awaken at any moment. “Senior Sister, today, I will attempt to condense the Star Wheel!”

The Star Wheel Realm is a crucial watershed on the path of Star Cultivation. Condensing the Star Wheel means the Star Power transforms from intangible to tangible, from a point to a surface, forming a self-operating, endlessly circulating energy core, resulting in a qualitative leap in strength.

Su Han no longer hesitated. He sank his mind into his Dantian and began fully circulating the Azure Cloud Art, while simultaneously mobilizing the wisp of Origin Cold Qi emitted by the tianya sword spirit in his Sea of Consciousness, integrating it into his Star Power.

“Buzz!”

The star seed inside the Dantian vibrated violently, its light growing brighter, resembling a miniature star. As a massive amount of Star Power poured in, the star seed slowly began to deform, its edges gradually extending, transforming into the shape of a ring.

The process of condensing the Star Wheel is extremely perilous. A slight mistake could lead to the star seed shattering and the complete destruction of one's cultivation. Su Han held his breath and concentrated, carefully guiding the formation of the Star Wheel by perfectly integrating his own will with his Star Power.

Time passed minute by minute. Fine beads of sweat seeped from Su Han's forehead, and his body trembled slightly; he was clearly under immense pressure. But just at the final moment before the Star Wheel was about to form, a sudden change occurred!

In the Sea of Consciousness, the long-dormant tianya sword spirit seemed to sense that Su Han was at a critical Breakthrough point, and its spiritual fluctuation suddenly intensified! An extremely pure, yet incomparably domineering, Intensely Cold Sword Qi surged uncontrollably from Su Han's Sea of Consciousness, instantly pouring into his Dantian!

“Oh no!” Su Han was greatly alarmed. This Sword Qi was too domineering; if it rushed into the not-yet-fully-formed Star Wheel, it was highly likely to destroy it instantly!

In this moment of crisis, inspiration struck Su Han. He did not forcibly suppress the Sword Qi; instead, with a thought, he guided this Origin Sword Qi belonging to Tianya to fuse with his own Star Power, constructing the Star Wheel together!

“Since I cannot resist it, then let us fuse! Using my foundation, I shall bear Senior Sister's sword! Condense!”

Su Han let out a low shout, his will like iron! Under his guidance, the domineering Sword Qi truly blended seamlessly with the Star Power, transforming into Profound Ice-blue patterns that were inscribed onto the forming Star Wheel!

“Ooom—!”

A clear, resonant hum sounded from within Su Han's Dantian, like a divine sword being unsheathed! The originally brilliant star seed completely vanished, replaced by a slowly rotating, perfect wheel carved from Ice Crystal! Inscribed upon the wheel were intricate and beautiful ice-blue patterns, radiating incomparable sharpness and icy coldness!

The Star Wheel is complete! (End of Chapter)