A Mu, clutching the key, jumped into the passage. As the lake water rose above his chest, the illusion reappeared—he stood by the lava spring in the Flamelight Cave, flame crystal clusters shattered on the ground, and sparks spewed from the lava spring. A Yan anxiously shouted, "Quick, grab the Scale-Powder Crystal Pouch!" But the pouch in his hand fell to the ground. " A Mu! Don't stand there!" A Ya's voice came from outside the passage. A Mu snapped back to reality, the blue light of the key surged, and the illusion vanished instantly. He saw a crystal platform shimmering on the lakebed ahead, with a fragment rippled with water embedded in it—" Water-Ripple Crystal Fragments."
He reached out and removed the fragment. The moment the crystal touched the key, it emitted a soft blue light, merging with the key's glow. "Come quickly! There's movement over at the Memory Tree!" A Shi's voice rang out. The group returned to the shore and saw that the Memory Tree on the opposite bank was emitting an unusual green light, its branches entwined with a faint mist, as if resisting approach.
The Icefield Wolf suddenly growled towards the Memory Tree, its golden form gleaming faintly, as if sensing the energy within the tree. "It can help us!" A Mu followed the Icefield Wolf toward the Memory Tree. As soon as they approached the trunk, the tree's shadow swayed— A Ya saw that her symbiotic diagram was completely messed up, the lines tangled together; A Mu saw that the seal on the Mother Crystal Core core of the Permafrost Icefield had cracked, and the red light of the Backlash Layer was spreading out.
"Follow the Water-Ripple Truth-Guiding Method Draw a Totem!" A Jing shouted. A Ya immediately drew a water pattern on the tree trunk with her finger. A Mu placed the key on the totem, and the blue light of the key intertwined with the green light of the tree, gradually dissipating the illusion. A crack opened on the tree trunk, revealing a fragment glowing with wood spirit—" Wood-Spirit Crystal Fragments," the last fragment of the Child Crystal Core.
When the Wood-Spirit Crystal Fragments merges with the Key and the Water-Ripple Crystal Fragments, the seven Child Crystal Core fragments ( Star Core Fragments, Forest Heart Crystal Fragments, Molten Fire Crystal Fragments, Moonheart Crystal Fragments Marshheart Crystal Fragments, Water-Ripple Crystal Fragments, and Wood-Spirit Crystal Fragments ) surround the Origin Key, forming a complete Big Dipper-shaped halo. The halo is reflected on the Mirrorwater Lake, revealing the detailed route of the sealing of the Mother Crystal Core of the Permafrost Icefield: "On the night of the full moon, the seven fragments must be embedded into the seal according to the Big Dipper positions, using the Key as a guide, and all members' energy must be synchronized to complete the anchoring."
Looking at the halo, A Jing smiled and said, "The elders said that the one who can reunite the fragments is the one who truly understands 'protection.'" She handed A Ya a water-patterned totem pendant, "This can help you distinguish reality from illusion; it will be useful when you go to the Ice Plains."
On the return journey, the setting sun dyed the lake surface golden red, and the light from the seven fragments reflected on everyone's faces. The Icefield Wolf carried a leaf from the Memory Tree in its mouth, the leaf tinged with pale green, like a souvenir left by Mirrorwater Lake. Holding the collected fragments and the key, A Mu suddenly understood: the illusion of "failed protection" he had seen earlier was not meant to discourage them, but to let them know that no one can achieve perfect protection, but as long as they carry these regrets and are still willing to try again next time, that is true protection.
As night deepened, A Mu placed the "Fragment Records" of Mirrorwater Lake into the Guardian Bookshelf. The title page of the record depicted a Big Dipper diagram with seven fragments surrounding the key, next to which was a rubbing of a water ripple totem given by A Jing, with the inscription "Guardianship is moving forward despite regrets." The twenty-two records on the shelf, from "Restoring Life" to "Fragment Reunion," each recorded the growth and deepening of the boys' understanding. Moonlight shone through the gaps in the tent onto the records, reflecting the faint light of the seven fragments and the water ripple totem, as if telling a story: true guardianship is not about pursuing perfection without regrets, but about accepting imperfections and still firmly moving towards the next stage of the journey.
The story of " The Qilin of Falling Maple " has now gathered all the key items, carrying seven fragments of the Child Crystal Core core, the Origin Key, and the blessings of the guardians of various races, and is heading towards its final anchorage in the Permafrost Icefield. There are no thrilling battles, only the dispelling of illusions, the acceptance of obsessions, and the trust in companions—these seemingly soft forces, like ripples on Mirrorwater Lake, are gentle yet firm, gradually weaving a "net of unity" leading to the final protection, awaiting the moment when the Child Crystal Core and the Mother Crystal Core reunite on the night of the full moon.