The heavy stone doors burst open.
There was none of the expected musty dust.
Instead, an incomparably crisp current of air rushed straight at them.
It was like opening a bottle of ice-cold Sprite that had been sealed away for a thousand years.
Han Yuchen took a deep breath, feeling every pore in his body open in that instant.
"What pure Power of Stars."
He sighed and stepped inside first.
Leng Yuebai followed close behind, the Star Radiance Heavenly Silk in her hand still activated as she vigilantly watched their surroundings.
The world beyond the doors was not a dark, damp cave.
It was a magnificent underground palace.
The floor beneath their feet was paved with unknown black crystals, polished bright enough to reflect people.
Every step sent faint ripples spreading out, as though they were walking across a still water surface.
Most breathtaking of all was the dome above.
There was no rock there, nor any earth.
In their place were countless luminous gemstones embedded in the ceiling.
Arranged according to some profound pattern, they simulated a vast starry sky.
Starlight streamed down, bathing the entire hall in a dreamlike glow.
"What a grand display."
Han Yuchen whistled.
This was no soul beast hunting ground. It was practically some ancient powerhouse's private planetarium.
"These gemstones..."
Leng Yuebai looked up, the skies full of stars reflected in her glasslike eyes.
For once, a trace of emotion appeared on her eternally icy face.
"They're no ordinary objects."
"Of course not."
Han Yuchen walked over to the wall and lightly brushed his fingers across its cold stone surface.
"These are Star Core Crystals. They can only be found in the remnants of supernova explosions."
"Even a piece the size of a fingernail could be traded for an entire city at an auction