On the stone table in the Stargazing Pavilion, Han Li unfolded Zi Ling's third challenge letter. The handwriting was more hurried than in the previous two, and the Star-Moon Hairpin drawn at the bottom was crooked, seemingly sketched in haste with a finger dipped in ink. "Three days from now, at the Star-Shift Platform. The Star-Illusion Maze Formation is ready. It combines Star Power, illusions, and a maze formation into one. Your method of 'breaking formations with formations and pills together' may not be enough!"
Han Li brushed his fingertips over the ink at the end of the letter, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly. After returning from Dream Cloud Marsh, he had spent three days in seclusion, combining the Pill-Fiendish Qi Joint Expulsion Technique with the fragmentary Two Principles Array-Pill Art to create the Twofold Formation-Pill Induction—using formations as yang to draw in Star Power and pills as yin to transform illusions. It was precisely the weapon he needed against the Star-Illusion Maze Formation. Now he took a Stellar Force Pill and Ice-Fire Spirit-Restoring Pills from his Storage Bag. Medicinal fragrance mingled with the faint glow of Star Power; clearly, he had prepared thoroughly for the match.
Three days later, at the Star-Shift Platform.
Zi Ling was already standing at the center of the platform. Subtle star-and-moon patterns were embroidered on her silver-white combat attire, and light flowed through the Star-Moon Hairpin in her hair. The Formation Flags in her hands, however, had been replaced by seven glass flags embedded with illusory star sand—the very flags of the Star-Illusion Maze Formation. Seeing Han Li arrive, she laughed sweetly. "Fellow Daoist Li, this formation doesn't just shift Star Power. It also contains Thousand-Faced Illusions. Don't let your own shadow lead you astray."
Before her words had faded, she waved