The spiritual spring on Star Spirit Main Peak reflected the azure eyes of Profound Water, Han Li's nascent soul. Han Li sat cross-legged, with the Magnetic Essence Griffin resting quietly beside him, its jade-green scales gleaming softly beneath the star power.
Since breaking through to the nascent soul stage, Han Li had spent ten days here consolidating his cultivation. Yet the griffin's gaze kept drifting toward the Star Gate at the Eye of Returning Ruins-beyond it lay the outside world, a place it had never set foot in despite guarding this secret realm for a thousand years.
"Senior, however fine this secret realm may be, it is still a cage." Han Li gently stroked the griffin's neck, his voice steady as a deep pool. "You have stood guard here for a thousand years, but have you ever seen the starry sky beyond Star Spirit Main Peak? That is the true breadth of heaven and earth."
The griffin gave a low growl, red light flickering in its eyes-how could it not yearn for the outside world? But a thousand years of duty had accustomed it to standing guard, and it feared dying of old age within the secret realm, failing the trust the Star Spirit Tribe Chieftain had placed in it.
Han Li took out the seven-colored imprint of the Illusory Star Escape Talisman and pressed it against the griffin's forehead. "This talisman can carry us a thousand miles in an instant. If we encounter danger, I can get you out. More importantly..." He looked toward the "Magnetic Essence Sea Eye" in the northwestern corner of the star chart. "The legacy of the Magnetic Essence Body-Tempering Technique lies there. If we go together, perhaps we can break through to the Nascent Soul Middle Stage instead of remaining trapped in this tiny