62: Nighttime raid on the secret vault, undercurrents surge once more.

After seeing off Xia Qingyue, Lin Fan did not return directly to his residence. He went alone to a quiet cliffside on the Family's back mountain, found a flat bluestone, and sat down cross-legged. The night wind was biting, making his robes rustle loudly, but his mind was immersed in the clash of that sword strike from earlier.

Xia Qingyue's Imperial Sword Qi, sharp, pure, and carrying a magnificent momentum, had given him significant inspiration. The Eternal Indestructible Body focused on defense and strength, and the star pagoda contained the Dao of Star Suppression, but he still lacked offensive techniques, especially the kind of extremely sharp "point-breaking" Dao.

"That finger move fused the Eternal Indestructible Body's Origin with the Star dao rhyme. Although it blocked the sword light, it relied more on the inherent 'heaviness' and 'toughness' to withstand it rather than breaking the move through skill." Lin Fan closed his eyes to look within, his fingertips still feeling a lingering stinging sensation from the Sword Qi's invasion. "If she had used her full strength, or if the sword move had changed even slightly, I might not have been able to receive it so easily."

With a slight thought, the star pagoda within his Dantian began to rotate slowly, shedding wisps of starlight that fused with the golden blood of the Eternal Indestructible Body. His consciousness sank into the first floor of the pagoda, which was a hazy starry dreamscape where countless star trajectories were born and evolved.

"The Dao of the Stars is vast and majestic, it's not just about suppression..." Lin Fan's consciousness chased those trajectories, trying to capture a deeper rhythm. The Star Concept he had instinctively triggered during the clash with Xia Qingyue's sword strike revealed many mysteries upon careful reflection.

Time passed quietly during his Cultivation.

After an unknown amount of time, Lin Fan suddenly opened his eyes, a flash of golden light and starlight passing through them. He raised his right hand, and a speck of starlight condensed at his fingertip. Though it was not as pure and sharp as Xia Qingyue's sword light, it possessed a heavy piercing power and a sense of profound change.

"The Star Finger can be considered to have a basic form now." Lin Fan dispersed the starlight from his fingertip and nodded slightly. This night's insights had finally allowed him to take the first step in using the Power of the Stars for offense.

He stood up and looked toward the depths of the ancestral land, where the Star Pavilion, the Family secret vault shrouded in layers of Formations, was located.

At the ceremony, he had received a reward to enter the second floor of the Star Pavilion and choose any one Cultivation Technique or treasure. Now that the night was deep and quiet, it was the perfect time to claim his reward. More importantly, the Star Pavilion stored records and secrets collected by the Lin Family over ten thousand years, and he might find some clues regarding "outside forces" or Grand Elder Great Elder's unusual movements.

With his mind made up, Lin Fan's figure flickered, blending into the night like a wisp of green smoke as he sped toward the Star Pavilion.

The Star Pavilion was located in the core area of the ancestral land. It was a seven-story tower built entirely from rare Star Ironwood, which flowed with a faint silver glow even in the dark, echoing the stars in the sky. Around the pavilion, there were no fewer than twenty sentries and hidden posts, along with layers of Formations and Restrictions; ordinary Family members could not get close at all.

Lin Fan presented the Clan Chief's hand order and the reward token, and after passing three rigorous inspections, he was finally able to enter the first floor of the pavilion.

The first floor was spacious and filled with tall wooden shelves, where various basic Cultivation Techniques, Martial Skills, miscellaneous records, as well as some common Medicinal Pills and Materials were categorized and placed. This area was open to all core disciples.

The person in charge of guarding was a grey-robed old man with white hair and an obscure aura. Lin Fan recognized him as the Third Elder, Lin You, who had been in retirement for many years; he was of a very high generation and his cultivation was unfathomable.

"Junior Lin Fan greets the Third Elder."

Lin You lifted his eyelids, his cloudy old eyes scanning Lin Fan briefly before he nodded slightly. "It's you, kid. I've heard about what happened at the ceremony. Not bad, you have both courage and strategy, even more of a troublemaker than your father was back then."

Lin Fan gave a bashful smile.

"The reward is one choice from the second floor." Lin You pointed slowly toward the stairs leading to the second floor. "You know the rules: only one hour, no damaging, no copying. Once you've chosen, come to me to register. Go on."

"Thank you, Elder." Lin Fan stepped onto the stairs. The stairs were carved from a single piece of Warm Jade, and stepping on them sent a cool Qi through the soles of his feet, calming his mind. There was a faint membrane of light at the top of the stairs; Lin Fan pressed the reward token against it, and the membrane rippled, allowing him to pass.

The second floor of the Star Pavilion was much smaller than the first, with only eight red sandalwood shelves. Each shelf held only a dozen or so items, but every single one emitted an extraordinary aura, either with inner spiritual light or an ancient air.

"The Lin Family's ten-thousand-year accumulation is indeed deep," Lin Fan praised inwardly as his gaze swept across the room.

On the shelves were Jade Slips, ancient books, broken turtle shells, Spiritual Plants sealed in cold jade boxes, and oddly shaped weapons and Magic Treasures. Each item had a short descriptive label beneath it.

"Nine Heavens Star Guidance" — a fragment of an ancient secret method for drawing stars into the body. The cultivation conditions are harsh and easily lead to Star Power riots; choose with caution.

"Great Destruction Sword Art" — an Earth Rank High Grade sword technique. Requires the comprehension of Destruction Sword Intent. The killing intent is too heavy; those with weak Heart-Nature should not approach.

"Ten-Thousand-Year Star Iron" — a top-tier supplementary material for refining a Lifebound Treasure, the size of a fist.

"Phantom Star Butterfly Larvae" (three pairs) — fed on Star Flower nectar. Once mature, they can set up small illusion Formations to assist in Cultivating the Divine Soul.

It was a dazzling array of treasures that were difficult to find in the outside world.

Lin Fan did not rush to choose, but instead activated his Delusion-Breaking Divine Pupils to observe carefully. Golden light flowed in his eyes, and the strength of the Spiritual Qi surrounding the items, the stability of their internal structures, and even the lingering aura of the passing years faintly emerged.

He first excluded those Cultivation Techniques that required specific conditions or had obvious side effects. The legacies of the Eternal Indestructible Body and the star pagoda were already profound enough; biting off more than he could chew was unwise. As for Magic Treasure Materials, he had the star pagoda growing as his Lifebound Treasure, so he didn't need them for now.

His gaze finally landed on an inconspicuous grey-brown wooden box in the corner. The box was ordinary, and the label had only four words: "Initial Deciphering of Boundary Runes."

Under the Delusion-Breaking Divine Pupils, this wooden box appeared mundane, but its surface was wrapped in extremely fine, almost dissipating strange patterns. Those patterns gave him a feeling that actually resonated faintly with some of the natural Dao runes on the surface of the star pagoda! Moreover, the aura of years remaining on the box was far older than the other items on the shelves!

Lin Fan stepped forward and gently opened the wooden box.

Inside was not a Jade Slip or a book, but a palm-sized, dark silver flake that was neither metal nor jade. It was as thin as a cicada's wing and cool to the touch. The flake was covered with dense, hair-thin silver runes. Those runes were not static but were slowly flowing and changing as if they were living things.

When Lin Fan's gaze fell upon those runes, his consciousness became slightly dazed, as if he were being sucked into a strange world composed of countless lines that were constantly being born and destroyed.

"This is—" Lin Fan's heart jolted, and he hurriedly withdrew his gaze, but waves had already been stirred in his heart.

What was recorded on this flake was definitely no ordinary Cultivation Technique or knowledge! Those flowing runes contained the mysteries of space and even higher-level "boundaries"! They seemed to share the same Origin but a different direction as the star pagoda's Dao of star space, which focused on suppression and carrying.

"This item was obtained by an ancestor during his early travels. It is suspected to record some kind of ancient space secret runes, but no one has been able to decipher its meaning or activate it, so it was placed on the second floor."

Lin Fan turned around and found that the Third Elder, Lin You, had appeared silently at the top of the stairs at some point and was quietly watching him.

"Third Elder."

"You seem interested in this item?" Lin You walked over, glanced at the flake, and shook his head. "I also studied it when I was young. These runes are incredibly profound, yet they cannot trigger even a shred of Spiritual Qi, nor can they be read with Divine Sense. It has been here for nearly a thousand years, and you are the third person to pick it up."

"Who were the first two?" Lin Fan asked curiously.

"One was your great-grandfather, and the other is the current Clan Chief, who is also your father," Lin You said calmly. "They both studied it briefly and eventually gave up. This item may be extraordinary, but if it cannot be deciphered, it is just a useless piece. Are you sure you want to choose it? You only have one chance."

Lin Fan was silent for a moment, his fingers stroking the cool flake. The feedback from the Delusion-Breaking Divine Pupils and the faint resonance from the star pagoda all told him that this item was definitely not simple. Moreover, the words "Boundary Runes" made him think of the Six Realms' boundaries, space travel, and even the "Myriad Realms" mentioned by the System!

"I choose this."

Lin You gave him a deep look and did not try to persuade him further. "As you wish. Go register."

By the time he walked out of the Star Pavilion holding the wooden box containing the "Initial Deciphering of Boundary Runes" flake, it was nearly dawn.

Lin Fan did not return to his residence but instead headed to Zhantian Hall, where his father, Clan Leader, handled daily Family affairs. There were some things he needed to discuss with his father.

Zhantian Hall was brightly lit. Clan Leader had clearly also stayed up all night and was at his desk reviewing Jade Slips. Seeing Lin Fan enter, he put down his brush and rubbed his brow.

"Father." Lin Fan bowed and briefly reported meeting Xia Qingyue tonight, the sword test at the Star Gazing Platform, and his choice of the "Initial Deciphering of Boundary Runes." Naturally, he omitted the details of his comprehension of the Star Finger.

Clan Leader listened quietly and then mused, "Xia Qingyue personally delivered the invitation and tested your sword skills. It seems the Great Xia Dynasty attaches great importance to this Prodigy Assembly and also holds expectations for you. This is both pressure and opportunity."

"I understand," Lin Fan nodded, then changed the subject. "Father, regarding the Grand Elder's collusion with outside forces, Xia Qingyue specifically warned me before she left, saying that his connections might be deeper than we imagine. Have there been any abnormalities in the Family recently?"

Clan Leader's eyes narrowed slightly. He stood up and walked to the window, looking toward the brightening horizon.

"Do you know what happened on the night Fourth Elder was crippled and thrown into the Black Prison?" Clan Leader's voice was low.

Lin Fan's heart tightened. "Please enlighten me, Father."

"Someone tried to break into the prison." Clan Leader turned around, a cold light flickering in his eyes. "Three men in black, all with cultivation at the Middle Stage Divine Power Realm or above. Their techniques were eerie and not of our Lin Family's style, nor were they common legacies of the Human Realm. Their target was clear, pointing directly to the third floor of the Black Prison where Fourth Elder was held."

"What was the result?"

"They were 'personally' driven back by the Grand Elder." A cold sneer curled at the corner of Clan Leader's mouth. "That old fellow Great Elder 'happened' to be 'patrolling' nearby at the critical moment, 'battled fiercely' with those three for dozens of rounds, 'heavily injured' one of them, and forced them to retreat. Now, many people in the Family are still praising him for his dedication to duty even after sacrificing Family for the greater good, thwarting the plot of external forces to rescue his rebellious son."

Lin Fan frowned. "A bitter meat plan? Or an unsuccessful attempt at silencing them, taking the opportunity to clear his own suspicion?"

"Perhaps a bit of both." Clan Leader walked back to his desk. "When those three retreated, their movement techniques were bizarre, blending into the shadows. Even I failed to track their exact whereabouts. Such methods are definitely not something an ordinary force could possess."

The atmosphere in the hall became heavy.

"Father, with the Prodigy Assembly approaching, if I leave the ancestral land..." Lin Fan was somewhat worried.

"You just go." Clan Leader waved his hand, his tone decisive. "I can still keep things under control within the Family. Great Elder is scheming and calculating; after this prison break incident, he will surely be more cautious in the short term, perhaps even going into hiding. It is actually safer for you to go out and venture. Besides..."

He looked at Lin Fan with a deep gaze. "A true eagle must eventually leave the nest to experience the wind and rain and strike at the vast sky. The future burden of the Lin Family will ultimately fall on your shoulders. This Prodigy Assembly is the first sky where you will spread your wings."

A warm current surged in Lin Fan's heart, and he said solemnly, "I will not fail your expectations, Father."

"Go and prepare well. For these three days, you can go to the Family's Star Cleansing Pool to Cultivate, stabilize your cultivation, and comprehend the new item you've obtained." Clan Leader waved him off. "In three days, set off for the Great Xia Imperial Capital."

"Yes!" When Lin Fan stepped out of Zhantian Hall, the east was already showing the first light of dawn.

He gripped the wooden box in his hand, feeling the strange rhythm coming from the flake, and thought of the mysterious prison breakers his father mentioned, as well as Xia Qingyue's warning.

The mountain rain is about to come, and the wind already fills the building.

But at this moment, there was no fear in his eyes, only an increasingly fierce light.

"Prodigy Assembly, outside forces..." Lin Fan whispered to himself, his steps firm as he walked toward the Star Cleansing Pool. "No matter how the dark undercurrents surge, I shall shatter them with a punch and cut them down with a sword!"

The early morning light cast his shadow long. Meanwhile, in another secluded courtyard within the ancestral land.

Grand Elder Great Elder sat alone in a secret room, his face as dark as water. Before him lay a black jade pendant with a fine crack.

"Useless!" he cursed in a low voice, though it was unclear if he was cursing his subordinates who failed the prison break or Fourth Elder, who had become a discarded pawn.

In the shadows of the secret room, a blurred voice spoke eerily, "The Lin boy is more troublesome than expected. The Lord is very dissatisfied."

Great Elder's eyes twitched, and he gritted his teeth. "Tell the Lord that the plan remains unchanged. The Prodigy Assembly will be his burial ground! At that time, not only him, but even Clan Leader and that item will be offered up to the Lord!"

An ambiguous low laugh came from the shadows, which then slowly dissipated.

Great Elder stared at the cracked black jade, his eyes churning with bone-deep resentment and madness.

"Lin Fan... I'll let you be arrogant for a few more days." Inside the secret room, the killing intent was like ice.