The rising sun on the eastern horizon pierced the thin mist. Han Li stood at the bow of the Star Magnetic Warship, the blood banner crystal core in his palm giving off a faint, dark-green glow.
The smoke from quelling the sea beast uprising three days earlier had yet to disperse completely, but the Cloud-Chasing Guards' warship was already carrying him and Zi Ling toward Magnetic Essence Mountain.
The Big Dipper Star Pattern on the hull glittered in the morning light, reminding them of their destination-the heart of the Star Palace's power.
[System notification: Return to Magnetic Essence Mountain to report. Estimated arrival: six hours.]
After four hours of sailing, the outline of Magnetic Essence Mountain gradually came into view.
Unlike the chaos during the sea beast uprising three days earlier, Magnetic Essence Mountain now stood as majestic as ever, its verdant slopes gleaming with a metallic sheen beneath the morning sun.
Before Water Vortex Cave halfway up the mountain, Ling Yuling stood on a crystal platform in a blue-green skirt, his fair hands clasped behind his back. The fluctuations of Spiritual Power around him were as still and deep as an abyss, as imposing as a towering peak-even the mere leakage of his Deity Split Stage pressure kept sea beasts within a hundred li from daring to approach.
"Master!" Zi Ling was the first to disembark, the Star-Illusion Maze Formation Flag swaying lightly in her hand. Ling Yuling turned, a faint smile appearing on his cool face. "You returned sooner than I expected. The sea beast uprising has been quelled, and this trial has brought considerable gains." His gaze shifted to Han Li. "I hear you broke through to the core formation middle stage?"
Han Li bowed respectfully and gave a detailed account of the blood banner