Lu Xueqi and Bi Yao (20)

Lu Xueqi took on more reconnaissance and guard duties. Her movements were light, her sword radiance fierce. The azure glow of the Tian Ya Divine Sword traced graceful arcs across the bottom of Star Lake, slaying or driving away Star Beasts that tried to approach the side hall. During battle, she also began consciously trying to guide and wield the Power of Stars that permeated the surroundings. Though she could not refine and absorb it as directly as Su Han, a trace of cold starlight gradually suffused the Tian Ya Sword's radiance, further increasing its power.

During breaks from cultivation, Su Han would also leave the side hall and move about in relatively safe nearby areas, adapting to the lakebed environment and trying to wield the Power of Stars. He discovered that using the Qingyun Dao Method here, especially techniques related to water and light, received varying degrees of enhancement. Infusing the Power of Stars into sword qi produced an unusual piercing and purifying effect, one that seemed especially effective against those Star Beasts.

That day, Su Han was practicing sword techniques beside a coral thicket outside the hall when his heart suddenly stirred. He turned to look toward the center of the lake.

The silver-white pillar of light that reached from heaven to earth seemed brighter than usual. Within it, countless finer points of light could vaguely be seen flowing and converging, as though something was brewing.

At the same time, the Stone Bead in his robes began to grow warm again. Inside the side hall, the tortoise shell that had been shrouding Bi Yao emitted an even brighter deep-blue glow than before. The patterns on its surface flowed faster, and it even released a low, lingering hum, as though responding to the changes at the lake's center.

"What