103: Deep within the ancient realm, the secret reflection of the starry lake.

After leaving the place of Breakthrough, Lin Fan's group traveled rapidly toward Dragon Fall Cliff for two full days.

The terrain deep in the Ancient Domain became increasingly complex and treacherous. Towering ancient trees were gradually replaced by jagged rocks, and the Power of the Stars permeating the air grew denser, even forming a pale silver mist visible to the naked eye. Occasionally, strange star plants could be seen, their leaves shimmering with starlight and their fruits containing pure Star Power.

During these two days, Lin Fan also became initially familiar with the power of the Condensing Essence Realm.

The changes brought by the Breakthrough were comprehensive. The most direct was the qualitative change in his true essence; star true essence was far more pure and condensed than ordinary spirit energy. Whether performing Martial Skills or activating secret arts, their power increased several-fold. The newly acquired talent, "Body of the Stars," had a significant effect in an environment like the Ancient Domain. Lin Fan could clearly feel the surrounding Power of the Stars continuously seeping into his body, slowly and steadily strengthening his Physical Body and Soul. Although the increase was not large, it was persistent and required no deliberate cultivation.

Lin Fan also tried the first layer of the "Star Shifting Technique," "Star Treading Step," several times along the way. This secret art consumed a massive amount of true essence; with his current cultivation, a single full-strength execution would consume nearly thirty percent of his true essence, but the effect was also astonishing—instantly crossing a distance of thirty zhang like a flash of starlight, ignoring terrain obstacles in between. It was truly a divine skill for surprise attacks and life-saving.

They encountered several waves of Yao Beast attacks on the way, which were easily handled by Lin Fan. With his cultivation at the first layer of the Condensing Essence Realm, combined with the Eternal Indestructible Body, True Dragon Body Refining Art, and unyielding sword, his strength already far exceeded the ordinary Condensing Origin Third Layer. Common first-order Yao Beasts could not last three moves under his sword, and even Early Stage second-order Yao Beasts could be killed within ten moves.

The awe and trust of the group grew day by day.

At noon on the third day, the group crossed a steep ridge, and the scene before them suddenly opened up.

Ahead was a massive basin, and in the center of the basin, a lake lay quietly. The lake water was not the usual blue or green, but the color of the deep starry sky. The lake surface reflected the stars in the sky, and the boundary between water and sky was almost indistinguishable. In the center of the lake, a small island was faintly visible.

"Is this Starfall Lake?" Clear Snow murmured, gazing at the beautiful scenery before her.

Lin Fan nodded, a hint of complexity flashing in his eyes. According to the Second Elder and the mysterious Jade Slip, this was not only the place where his father attained the Dao back then, but it also hid things left behind by his father.

"The map shows that crossing Starfall Lake and going thirty li further east is Dragon Fall Cliff," Lin Hao spread out a simple map. "However, Starfall Lake is quite large; going around it would take at least another half a day."

"We'll cross the lake directly," Lin Fan made a decision. "But be careful, there might be danger in this lake."

He remembered the Second Elder's warning: Starfall Lake is one of the areas in the Ancient Domain with the densest Power of the Stars, and such places often breed powerful existences.

The group came to the lakeshore. At close range, the lake water was even more mysterious. The surface was calm and without ripples, yet it was bottomless, as if connected to another starry world. The dense Power of the Stars almost condensed into substance, and one could feel their cultivation slowly growing with every breath.

"It seems this lake water can be directly absorbed!" a disciple said in surprise. He tried to scoop up a handful of lake water; the pale silver water flowed in his palm, and strands of Star Power seeped into his body.

"Don't be reckless!" Lin Fan shouted, but it was already too late.

The disciple's expression suddenly changed drastically. The lake water in his hand became scalding hot, and his entire arm was instantly covered with a layer of silver crystals!

"Ah! My arm can't move!"

Lin Fan flashed forward and struck the disciple's shoulder with his palm. Star true essence poured in, forcibly pushing back the abnormal Star Power invading his body. The silver crystals slowly receded, but the disciple's arm was already numb and could not be used for a short time.

"The water of Starfall Lake is composed of highly concentrated Power of the Stars mixed with some unknown substance," Lin Fan said solemnly. "Touching it rashly will lead to erosion by the overbearing Star Power. Everyone, pay attention, do not touch the lake water!"

The group retreated one after another, still feeling lingering fear.

Lin Fan carefully observed the lake surface. Although the water was dangerous, the Power of the Stars contained within was indeed incredibly pure. If there were a way to safely absorb it, it would be of great benefit to cultivating the Circulating Heaven Star Formula.

"Brother Lin Fan, look over there," Clear Snow pointed to the island in the center of the lake.

The island was not large, only about a hundred zhang across, and a strange tree grew on it. The tree was no more than three zhang tall, its entire body crystal clear like jade, with pale silver branches and leaves. Hanging from the tree were a dozen fist-sized star source fruits shimmering with starlight.

"star source fruit!" Lin Hao blurted out. "That's a legendary second-order spirit fruit! Just one is enough to help a Condensing Essence Realm Cultivator increase their cultivation by one layer!"

Everyone's breathing quickened. The value of a star source fruit was no less than that of star marrow, and it was gentler and easier to absorb.

But the problem was how to get across?

Starfall Lake was several li wide. The lake water couldn't be touched, and flying through the air was not something those in the Condensing Essence Realm could do. Swimming across was even more like seeking death.

Lin Fan pondered for a moment and suddenly thought of the "Star Shifting Technique."

Star Treading Step could teleport a short distance, but at most thirty zhang each time, while the lake was hundreds of zhang wide with no place to land in between... "Maybe I can do it this way," A flash of inspiration hit Lin Fan.

He walked to the lakeshore, picked up a stone, and threw it toward the lake surface with all his strength.

The stone skipped seven times across the lake surface before sinking into the water.

"There's a way." Lin Fan looked at the group. "I need some thin stone slabs or wooden boards."

Although the group was puzzled, they quickly gathered them nearby. Soon, a dozen stone slabs, each a palm thick and the size of a tabletop, were brought over.

Lin Fan picked up a stone slab, estimated its weight and buoyancy, and then walked to the lakeshore.

He took a deep breath, circulated his star true essence, and threw a stone slab with all his might!

The stone slab spun as it flew toward the lake surface. At the moment it was about to hit the water, Lin Fan moved.

Star Treading Step!

His figure flashed, and he appeared in the air thirty zhang away, landing exactly on the stone slab that was about to hit the water! Using it as a point of leverage, the stone slab sank, while Lin Fan threw the second stone slab and performed the Star Treading Step a second time!

And so it cycled.

Throwing the stone, teleporting, leveraging, and throwing another stone... Under the shocked gazes of the crowd, Lin Fan was like an Immortal walking on stars, drawing a graceful arc across the lake surface. In a few leaps, he had reached the island in the center of the lake!

"What kind of movement technique is this?!" Lin Waner was dumbfounded.

"It's almost like the air-flight of a legendary Divine Power Realm Cultivator!" Lin Hao murmured.

Lin Fan landed on the island, panting slightly. Executing the Star Treading Step five times in a row had consumed nearly seventy percent of his true essence, but he had finally succeeded.

He looked at the Star Source Tree.

The fruit on the tree emitted an alluring starlight, and the rich fragrance of the fruit was intoxicating. But Lin Fan did not pick them rashly; instead, he first observed carefully.

On the ground around the tree, some faint marks were carved. He crouched down, brushed away the dust, and revealed the patterns beneath. It was a simple Formation composed of nine star symbols, with a palm-shaped groove in the center.

"Is this a Bloodline Verification Formation?" Lin Fan recognized the purpose of this Formation. Only someone with a specific Bloodline who placed their hand on the groove would deactivate the protection.

He hesitated for a moment, then pressed his right hand into the groove.

The blood and Qi of the Eternal Indestructible Body surged slightly.

The Formation did not react.

Lin Fan frowned, thought for a moment, and then had a sudden realization. He circulated the Circulating Heaven Star Formula and injected a strand of star true essence into his palm.

This time, the Formation reacted!

The nine star symbols lit up one by one, emitting a soft silver light. When the last symbol lit up, the entire Star Source Tree shook slightly, and its canopy lowered as if paying its respects to Lin Fan.

At the same time, an illusory figure slowly condensed beside the tree.

It was a handsome middle-aged man wearing a green robe, whose features were sixty to seventy percent similar to Lin Fan's. He stood with his hands behind his back, looking at the starry sky, with an unshakeable melancholy and determination in his eyes.

"Father..." Lin Fan's heart jolted. Although he had never seen him, the resonance in his Bloodline told him that this was a spiritual imprint left by his father, Lin Fans Father.

The illusory figure spoke slowly, his voice seeming to come from a distant time and space: "Later-comer, if you can activate this Formation, you must be of my Lin Bloodline and have cultivated the Dao of the stars."

"I planted this Star Source Tree three hundred years ago, nourishing it with my own star true essence and essence blood, and today it has finally matured. There are twelve star source fruits on the tree, which can help you solidify your Foundation and Breakthrough your Realm."

"But what I want to tell you is not about this."

The illusory figure turned, his gaze seemingly penetrating time and space to fall on Lin Fan: "Our Lin Family is no ordinary Human Race. Flowing in our Bloodline is a part of the Star God Clan's Legacy. In ancient times, the Star God Clan governed the stars of the heavens and awed the myriad worlds. Later, due to a great catastrophe, the kin withered and the Legacy was scattered."

"Our Lin Family is a branch of the Star God Clan's descendants. This matter is the Family's highest secret, known only to successive Clan Chiefs and Divine Sons."

Waves of shock rose in Lin Fan's heart. Descendants of the Star God Clan? No wonder the Lin Family was so attuned to the Power of the Stars, and no wonder the Family's Cultivation Techniques were mostly related to the stars!

The illusory figure continued:

"When I traveled here back then, I discovered an ancient Star God Clan ruin hidden at the bottom of Starfall Lake. Within the ruins, a portion of the Legacy remains, but it also suppresses a great terror."

"I spent ten years comprehending in the ruins and obtained the Incomplete Manual of the Circulating Heaven Star Formula, but I also disturbed the suppressed entity. To avoid bringing disaster to the Family, I used my own cultivation to reinforce the Seal and left in a hurry."

"Later you were born, and a celestial phenomenon occurred, attracting the prying eyes of the 'Dark Moon Divine Cult.' To protect you, your mother and I fought a desperate battle with powerful enemies until our strength was finally exhausted." His voice trembled slightly at this point.

"Child, if you are hearing these words, it means I am no longer in this world. Do not be sad, and do not seek revenge—at least, until you have sufficient strength, do not attempt to investigate the Dark Moon Divine Cult."

"The ruins at the bottom of Starfall Lake are the first gift I leave for you. The entrance to the ruins is at the very center of the lake bottom, and it must be activated simultaneously with the Star God Clan Bloodline and the true essence of the Circulating Heaven Star Formula."

"The ruins contain a portion of the Star God Clan's Legacy, as well as some things I left behind. But remember, do not go deep into the lowest level of the ruins! The thing suppressed there is not something you can touch now!"

"Strive to become stronger. Once you step into the Divine Power Realm, you can go to the deepest part of the Family's ancestral hall, where there are clues to the next part of the Star God Clan's Legacy."

"Finally, remember: The stars are Immortal, and my Dao is eternal."

As the voice faded, the illusory figure slowly dissipated, turning into specks of starlight that merged into the Star Source Tree.

Lin Fan stood in place, speechless for a long time.

The amount of information was too much.

Descendant of the Star God Clan, the true origin of the Family, the ruins left by his father, the threat of the Dark Moon Divine Cult... After a long time, he took a deep breath, and his gaze became firm once more.

No matter what the road ahead was like, he had to keep going.

He picked the twelve star source fruits and carefully put them into his sumeru ring. This kind of spirit fruit could not be kept for long; it was best to consume them as soon as possible.

Then, he looked at the calm lake surface.

The ruins at the lake bottom, the first gift left by his father. But now was not the time to explore. There were both Legacy and danger in the ruins, so he needed to be fully prepared. Moreover, the group was still waiting on the other side; he couldn't act alone.

"I'll come back to explore after returning from Dragon Fall Cliff," Lin Fan decided.

He performed the Star Treading Step again, using the pre-placed stone slabs to return to the other side.

Seeing Lin Fan return safely, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. And when Lin Fan took out the star source fruits and said that each person could have one, everyone was stunned.

"Brother Lin Fan, this is too precious..." Lin Shan's voice trembled. A single star source fruit was worth at least several thousand Spirit Stones, enough to bankrupt a small Family.

"Since we are companions, we should share the blessings," Lin Fan said calmly. "However, the energy of the star source fruit is immense; it's best to consume and refine it in a safe place. Let's leave Starfall Lake first and find a hidden place to rest."

Everyone was incredibly excited, and their loyalty to Lin Fan reached its peak.

Just as they were about to leave, Lin Fan suddenly felt something and abruptly turned his head to look at the lake surface.

In the direction of the island in the center of the lake, at the location of the Star Source Tree, the space flickered slightly.

Immediately after, a weak, malicious aura flashed and vanished.

Although it was extremely brief, Lin Fan's Sword Heart Illumination talent caught that sliver of fluctuation.

"The thing suppressed in the ruins at the lake bottom doesn't seem to be staying quiet," Lin Fan's expression was grave.

He did not stay any longer and led the group quickly away from the area of Starfall Lake.

Not long after they left, three shadows appeared silently by the lakeshore.

They were the three killers from the Shadow Clan.

"That aura just now was a star-attributed treasure." The leading of the Black-robed figures looked toward the center of the lake. "And, there was also a disgusting, ancient, and powerful aura."

"Big brother, that kid just went to the island in the center of the lake; he must have obtained some benefits. Should we pursue?"

"No." The leader shook his head. "Our target is Lin Fan. The movement technique he showed just now is very strange; it's not suitable to strike in an open area. Continue to follow him, and when we reach a treacherous place like Dragon Fall Cliff, we'll find an opportunity."

The three figures flickered and merged back into the shadows.

The sun set, dyeing Starfall Lake a golden red.

Beneath the calm lake surface, undercurrents were surging.