At the first light of dawn, Su Yan had already left Chang'an and set out for Outside Great Tang. After reaching Foundation Establishment, he felt as light as a swallow, his spiritual power flowed more smoothly, and his travel speed had increased considerably. Little Big Dipper followed at his side in high spirits, full of anticipation for the new day—especially after Su Yan told it they were looking for something that could make its claws sharper.
Outside Great Tang bordered the national territory, but its landscape was far more desolate and primitive, with treacherous mountains and dense forests. The official roads had long fallen into disrepair, and more often than not, travelers had to make their way along trails frequented by wild beasts. The monsters here were generally between levels 18 and 25, making them suitable opponents for the newly Foundation Established Su Yan.
According to the records in Introduction to Star Beast Cultivation and information he had gathered from Star Pavilion, "Sharp Gold Stone" was usually found in places rich in metal-element spiritual energy and mineral veins. The area around Black Wind Mountain to the southwest of Outside Great Tang had many abandoned mines and exposed metal veins, making it a likely location.
Su Yan did not head straight for Black Wind Mountain. Instead, he traveled while clearing several small Anomaly Nodes marked on the Compass near his route. Most of these nodes merely caused minor distortions in the earth qi, spawning ordinary monsters with increased aggression. With Little Big Dipper as his main physical damage dealer, clearing them was not difficult. He also used the opportunity to familiarize himself with the power he had gained after Foundation Establishment, as well as the use of his new skills, [Wood Escape] and [Armor Shattering Talisman].
[Wood Escape] truly deserved its reputation as a life-saving skill. Although it consumed a tremendous amount of mana, it was remarkably effective for evading monster encirclements or crossing terrain obstacles. [Armor Shattering Talisman] also worked increasingly well with Little Big Dipper. More often than not, the instant the talisman flashed, Little Big Dipper's claws and fangs would tear much larger wounds into a monster's body.
"Buddy, looks like we need to give you a new nickname. How about 'Armor Shattering Killer'?" Su Yan joked as he watched Little Big Dipper once again tear apart a level 25 [Skeleton General] under the effects of [Armor Shattering Talisman]. Little Big Dipper smugly swished its tail and nudged several dropped copper coins with its nose, as if saying, "The loot is mine."
They traveled and stopped along the way, steadily gaining experience while also obtaining a small amount of Star Iron and scattered materials. Several days later, Su Yan arrived in the region of Black Wind Mountain.
Black Wind Mountain lived up to its name. Its slopes were dark and barren, with sparse vegetation and dry mountain winds carrying grit all year round, stinging against the face. The air was filled with a faint metallic tang and the smell of sulfur. At the foot of the mountain stood several long-abandoned mine entrances, black as the mouths of giant beasts.
Su Yan unfolded the Compass and simultaneously circulated the Star Qi Drawing Art, sensing the metal-element energy fluctuation in the surroundings. The Compass's "Star Power Resonance" also had a faint reaction to materials like Sharp Gold Stone, which contained a specific metallic-mineral aura.
He chose a mine that appeared relatively large, with many abandoned mine carts and tools scattered around its entrance. The interior was dark and damp, illuminated only by moss that gave off a faint phosphorescent glow. The air was mixed with the smells of mold, dust, and a stronger metallic scent.
The mine's internal passages twisted and interwove like a maze. [Cave Rat]s (level 20, numerous, low attack) and [Rock Golem]s (level 22, high physical defense, slow movement) occasionally emerged to harass him. Su Yan could not be bothered to fight them. Most of the time, he used [Wood Escape] to bypass them directly, or immobilized them with [Immobilization Talisman]s and let Little Big Dipper deal with them quickly.
He focused on the Compass's guidance as he moved through the web-like mine tunnels. Occasionally, he found scattered refined iron ore or tin ore, but none of it was the Sharp Gold Stone he needed.
After going deeper into the mine for about half an hour, the Compass needle finally made a noticeable turn, pointing toward the depths of a side passage. At the same time, Su Yan sensed that the metallic-mineral aura ahead had become especially sharp and active.
He approached cautiously. At the end of the passage was a relatively spacious mining chamber. Embedded in its rock walls were crystals that glimmered with a pale golden light, their edges sharply defined and cold to the touch. They were [Sharp Gold Stone]!
However, the chamber was far from empty. Three [Enhanced Rock Golem]s (level 25, elite), noticeably larger than ordinary ones and covered in dark golden metal shells with red light flickering at their joints, guarded the mineral vein. They seemed to have been drawn here by the dense sharp-gold aura and had made their nest in the chamber.
"Three level 25 elites... This is going to be troublesome." Su Yan hid around the corner of the passage and observed the situation. A direct fight was definitely out of the question. Even with Little Big Dipper and [Armor Shattering Talisman], facing three tough elite monsters at once gave them little chance of victory.
His gaze swept across the mining chamber. He noticed several loose Jushi near the ceiling, while the ground was scattered with sharp fragments of stone.
"Got it..." An idea came to Su Yan. He first set several [Immobilization Talisman] traps at the entrance of the passage, then ordered Little Big Dipper, "Buddy, same old plan. Go lure one over. Don't get too close, and lead them to that area with more rubble."
Understanding immediately, Little Big Dipper slipped silently into the mining chamber like a purple phantom and spat a burst of provocatively charged [Star Fire] at the nearest Enhanced Rock Golem.
"Roar!" The Rock Golem that had been scorched by Star Fire was instantly enraged and lumbered after it with heavy steps. The other two were also alerted, though their reactions were slower.
Relying on its exceptional speed, Little Big Dipper nimbly led it toward the area Su Yan had indicated. The moment the first golem stepped into the rubble-strewn zone, Su Yan seized the opportunity. A [Soul Chasing Talisman] flew out—not at the golem, but at a precariously balanced Jushi on the ceiling of the mining chamber!
"Rumble!"
The Jushi crashed down. Though it failed to strike the golem directly, it sent a barrage of sharp fragments flying like shrapnel, dealing considerable damage and briefly staggering the creature.
"Now! Shatter its armor! Little Big Dipper, go!"
The yellow light of [Armor Shattering Talisman] struck the staggered golem with perfect accuracy. Little Big Dipper pounced like an arrow loosed from a bow, its claws and fangs gleaming coldly as it unleashed a furious barrage against the weakened joints! -255! -301! The effects of [Advanced Poison] quickly spread as well.
The other two golems charged over at this point, but Su Yan's prepared [Immobilization Talisman] traps triggered one after another. Though they could only hold the golems for a brief moment, it was enough for Little Big Dipper to finish the kill, restore itself to full condition through Life Steal, and rapidly retreat.
Using the same method, taking advantage of the terrain and control effects, Su Yan and Little Big Dipper worked together in perfect coordination. After some time, they finally defeated all three Enhanced Rock Golems one by one.
"Done!" Su Yan let out a breath and wiped the sweat from his brow. Though the strategy had worked, maintaining such intense concentration had consumed quite a bit of mana. He quickly sat down to Meditate and Regulate Breath, while Little Big Dipper lay nearby, licking the claws that had been scraped by rocks during the battle.
Only after finishing their rest did Su Yan begin gathering [Sharp Gold Stone]. He carefully pried the golden crystals from the rock wall, obtaining five high-quality pieces of Sharp Gold Stone in total—enough to last him for a while.
With his objective achieved, Su Yan was preparing to leave when his eyes inadvertently swept over a rock wall deep within the mining chamber. The Compass seemed to tremble slightly, pointing in that direction.
"Hm? There's something else?" Curious, he walked over. The rock wall appeared unremarkable, but when he placed his palm against it and carefully sensed it with his spiritual power, he detected an extremely hidden abnormal fluctuation connected to the Earth Vein. This fluctuation... was somewhat similar to the "Seed of the End" he had encountered before, yet deeper and more... deeply rooted, as though it had already partially fused with the Earth Vein of this land.
"This wasn't planted recently... This is... a 'root' that has been growing for some time?" Su Yan was startled. Could the End Times Cult's activity here have begun earlier than he had imagined? Beneath the mineral veins of Black Wind Mountain, was there also an undiscovered and even greater source of anomaly?
He tried using the Compass for [Source Tracing], but the information it returned this time was extremely vague and chaotic. He could only sense a patch of profound darkness and distortion, as though something was lurking and writhing deep underground.
"This isn't a place to stay long." Su Yan decisively gave up on investigating further. With his current strength, rashly disturbing whatever unknown existence might be beneath the earth would be no different from suicide.
He memorized the location and the characteristics of the abnormal fluctuation, deciding to investigate again once he was strong enough or had found more clues.
Carrying the Sharp Gold Stone he had obtained and new doubts in his mind, Su Yan quickly left the Black Wind Mountain mine. On the road back to Chang'an, he kept thinking about the Earth Vein anomaly. If the End Times Cult was not merely "planting seeds" on the surface, but had long extended its reach deep into the Earth Vein, then the situation was even more dire. It meant their scheme might be greater and their foundation deeper than he had imagined.
"I have to improve my strength and repair the Compass as quickly as possible. Only then can I see more of the truth." Su Yan clenched his fist, feeling the burden on his shoulders grow heavier.
After returning to the small courtyard in Chang'an, Su Yan immediately followed the method from Introduction to Star Beast Cultivation. He ground [Starlight Sand] and [Sharp Gold Stone] into fine golden powder, then mixed it with the [Dawn Star Dew] he had collected to make a thick potion shimmering with starlight.
"Come on, buddy. Try out your new equipment." Su Yan called to Little Big Dipper.
Little Big Dipper curiously came over and sniffed the potion. It seemed to sense the beneficial power contained within, then obediently extended its claws and fangs.
Su Yan carefully applied the potion to the tips of Little Big Dipper's claws and its fangs. The potion rapidly seeped in, and a faint, nearly imperceptible golden sheen appeared over its claws and teeth, giving off a subtly sharper aura.
[System: Your summoned beast 'Little Big Dipper' has used 'Star Sharp Potion'. Physical Attack permanently +15. Physical Penetration slightly increased.]
"Not bad!" Su Yan looked at Little Big Dipper's status panel with satisfaction. An increase of 15 attack power was quite significant at this stage, and physical penetration was an even rarer attribute.
Little Big Dipper excitedly waved its claws through the air several times, producing faint tearing sounds. It was clearly very satisfied with its "new weapons."
After finishing Little Big Dipper's enhancement, Su Yan took out the Star Iron he had obtained and began guiding the Compass to absorb it. As another piece of Star Iron turned into pure star power and merged into it, the Compass's repair progress rose to 42%.
Feeling the Compass's increasingly clear guidance and the more detailed Star Map unfolding in his mind, Su Yan knew that he could not stop moving forward. The world's dark side was continuously emerging, and he had to grow stronger faster if he wanted to preserve even a sliver of hope amid the approaching storm and glimpse the final truth.
Next, should he continue accumulating resources and contribution through Star Pavilion missions, or explore other places that might contain Star Iron or clues? He needed to plan carefully.
Before you continue