The star map hung in the Southern Sea's night sky for three days without fading, its silver light woven like threads, like veins of light drawn by a celestial artisan. It was not still but slowly revolved, its seven principal stars corresponding to seven ancient lamps. Beams stretched downward like roots, finally converging on an unknown point deep within the earth's veins—the "Ruin Abyss Riftplain," on the border between the Western Wastes and the Northern Border, a forbidden zone where, legend said, the earth had fractured and light and darkness mingled.
"This is no ordinary star map," said Yunqi, the Light Language envoy, as she approached leaning on her light staff. She gazed up at the sky, her voice trembling slightly. "This is the 'Light Language Star Guide'—the navigation map the first Lamp Guarders used to mark the 'Heart Flame Source Core.' They once said that when the Light Language civilization returned, the star map would reveal itself and guide the way home."
Xiaoman gazed at the shifting patterns of light overhead, and an inexplicable summons welled up within him. It was neither a sound nor an image, but a profound sense of "knowing"—as though his heartbeat had fallen into rhythm with something deep within the earth's veins.
"We must go," he said, his tone calm yet unshakable. "The 'heart' of the Light Language civilization lies hidden there."
Seven Light Speaker apprentices stood behind him, the seven ancient lamps in their hands trembling faintly, their wicks brightening and dimming in unison as though answering the call beneath the earth. They could already sense one another's thoughts through their heart flames. Without a word, they had reached an accord.
—Set forth, and follow the star map's guidance.
The journey was perilous. The Ruin Abyss Riftplain was forbidden ground in the Nine