The Star Official's words made Su Yan's heart tighten. The Star Pavilion higher-ups wanted to cooperate with him? This undoubtedly meant his previous performance had earned recognition, but it also foreshadowed that he was about to be drawn into a deeper vortex.
Keeping his expression unchanged, he respectfully replied, "I am honored by the Pavilion's regard, but what sort of cooperation do you have in mind? This junior's strength is limited; I fear I may not be equal to such an important task."
The Star Official smiled faintly, seemingly seeing through Su Yan's caution. "No need to be so modest. You independently completed the investigation into the Star Vein anomaly and precisely recorded the properties of three entirely different anomalous energies. Such insight and strength already surpass those of ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators. Elder Star Yan wishes to meet you personally. He will explain the specifics to you. Please follow me."
Star Yan? An elder of the Star Pavilion? Thoughts raced through Su Yan's mind. Knowing he could no longer refuse, he nodded. "In that case, this junior will respectfully comply."
Following the Star Official across the rainbow bridge behind Star Constellation Hall, he arrived before a white jade pavilion floating amid the nebulae. The plaque above its entrance bore the words "Star Gazing Zhai," its vigorous strokes containing Dao Rhyme.
Entering the hall, he saw an elderly man with white hair and beard, dressed in a simple star-patterned Daoist robe and wearing a kindly expression. The man stood with his hands behind his back before a massive, dynamic Star Map formed of starlight. His aura was completely restrained, as though he had merged with the surrounding starry sky. He was Star Yan, one of the Star Pavilion's elders.
"Elder, Su Yan has arrived." The Star Official bowed respectfully before withdrawing.
Star Yan slowly turned, his gaze settling on Su Yan like gentle starlight, yet it seemed capable of seeing through the heart. He nodded slightly. "You must be Su Yan. Your natural talent is indeed extraordinary, and your soul is unusual. More importantly, you possess Star Affinity and carry a beacon."
"A beacon?" Su Yan's heart stirred. He knew the other man meant his Compass.
"There's no need to be nervous." Star Yan seemed to see his guard, smiling kindly. "That Compass of yours is an Order Beacon born in response to fate. It does not conflict with the Star Pavilion's purpose of pursuing the Great Dao of the stars and maintaining the balance of heaven and earth. I invited you here because I have a matter to entrust to you—and an opportunity to offer you."
"Please enlighten me, Elder."
Star Yan pointed to the dynamic Star Map behind him. Apart from the usual stars and Anomaly Markers, a new dark-red point of light was slowly appearing in a blurred region near the border between Northern Continent of Jizhou and the Eastern Sea. The energy fluctuation it emitted was extremely similar to the Guixu Erosion Su Yan had recorded, but its scale and intensity far exceeded the Star Vein beneath Flowing Sands River.
"This place is called Falling Star Lake. It was formed when an extraterrestrial star fell there in ancient times. The lakebed contains abundant stellar essence and unusual minerals, making it a land of treasures. However, the Pavilion recently detected a sharp increase in the Aura of Guixu within the lake, which has already affected the surrounding regions. Many cultivators who went there seeking treasure never returned. We suspect that a newly formed—or soon-to-stabilize—Guixu Rift may be developing there."
A Guixu Rift! Su Yan's pupils contracted. So it really was this thing!
"Elder, do you want me to investigate Falling Star Lake?" Su Yan asked. Falling Star Lake was located in a high-level area, where monsters were generally above level 30, perhaps with even stronger beings present. With his level 21 strength, going there would be no different from courting death.
Star Yan shook his head. "I am not asking you to investigate the rift directly. Such a dangerous place is not somewhere a cultivator below the Golden Core realm should enter lightly. I wish to commission you to collect a special material called Purifying Star Dew from the outer region of Falling Star Lake."
With a wave of his hand, starlight condensed into the phantom of a leaf. It was translucent silver-white, with what seemed like a Flow of Stars coursing through its veins. "This is a leaf of the Dust-Cleansing Star Orchid. It grows only where the Power of Stars and pure water vapor converge. Because Falling Star Lake was affected by the fallen star, the area around its shores happens to meet those conditions. But now that it has been polluted by the Aura of Guixu, the orchids easily mutate. The Purifying Star Dew they condense also contains a trace of purifying power, making it exceptionally effective for suppressing the Aura of Guixu and refining certain pills or magical artifacts."
"Your task is to collect three drops of Purifying Star Dew." Star Yan's expression turned solemn. "First, it will provide the Pavilion with materials for studying Guixu and refining items capable of breaking obstacles. Second, for you, coming into contact with and collecting it will itself temper your mind and spiritual power, while also allowing you to observe the leading edge of Guixu Erosion. Of course, the mission is dangerous. The choice is yours. As for compensation, aside from Pavilion Contribution Points, you may draw the introductory volume of the Star Refining Body Art in advance. This art uses stellar power to temper the body and should benefit a Mount Fangcun disciple like you who focuses on spells."
[Hidden Mission Triggered: Star Yan's Commission] [Mission Requirements: Travel to the outer region of Falling Star Lake and collect three drops of Purifying Star Dew.] [Mission Rewards: 500 Star Pavilion Contribution Points, introductory volume of the Star Refining Body Art (available for early withdrawal), Star Yan's favor.] [Warning: Falling Star Lake is highly dangerous (Levels 30–40). The Aura of Guixu is dense, and powerful contaminated creatures may be encountered.]
Early access to the reward! The Star Refining Body Art! Su Yan was tempted. He knew full well that his physical body was relatively weak, and this body-tempering cultivation method was exactly what he urgently needed. Moreover, collecting Purifying Star Dew would not only help the Star Pavilion, but also give him a more direct understanding of Guixu's power, preparing him for potentially stronger enemies in the future.
Risk and opportunity went hand in hand.
"This junior is willing to give it a try." After pondering for a moment, Su Yan solemnly accepted the mission.
"Good." Star Yan nodded in satisfaction. With a flick of his sleeve, a jade slip and a talisman glowing with starlight flew before Su Yan. "This is the introductory volume of the Star Refining Body Art, as well as a Minor Heavenly Star Escape Talisman. It can help you instantly flee a hundred li in a crisis, but use it carefully. It can only be activated once per month."
[Minor Heavenly Star Escape Talisman] (Special Item) Description: A life-saving talisman containing the power of the Circumference Star Dou Evasion Technique. After activation, it randomly teleports the user up to a hundred li away. Cooldown: 30 natural days.
"Thank you, Elder!" Su Yan accepted the jade slip and talisman, feeling much more confident.
After leaving Star Gazing Zhai, Su Yan did not set out immediately. He first returned to his small courtyard in Chang'an and studied the introductory volume of the Star Refining Body Art. The cultivation method was not complicated. It primarily guided the Power of Stars to wash over the body, open specific acupoints, and initially strengthen the muscles, bones, flesh, and skin. When he attempted to cultivate it, he found that it complemented the Star Qi Drawing Art. The process was somewhat painful, but the effects were obvious, and he could clearly feel his body growing subtly stronger.
Next, he spent nearly all his savings and part of his contribution points purchasing large quantities of high-grade pills and talismans from the Star Pavilion and Chang'an. In particular, he bought Calm Heart Pills and Evil Warding Talismans to resist mental erosion and negative conditions. He also checked Little Big Dipper's equipment once more, ensuring it was in optimal condition.
Several days later, fully prepared, Su Yan embarked on his journey to Falling Star Lake.
Falling Star Lake lay at the southeastern edge of Northern Continent of Jizhou, bordering the Eastern Sea. The closer he came, the denser the moist vapor and faint salty stench in the air became. Yet at the same time, a heart-chilling sense of "nothingness," as though it could devour all light and hope, became increasingly distinct.
When he finally reached the outer region of Falling Star Lake, the sight before him made him suck in a sharp breath.
It was an enormous lake whose waters were an eerie dark blue. The surface was as calm as stagnant water, without the slightest ripple. The forests and vegetation around it had withered, covered in a layer of grayish-white fungi that seemed to have had all life force drained from them. The sky was perpetually gray and murky, sunlight struggling to penetrate it. Only at the center of the lake could he vaguely see a slowly rotating vortex emitting a dark-red glow, like an eye leading into the abyss—that was the embryonic form of the Guixu Rift!
The powerful Aura of Guixu blanketed the entire lake region like an invisible domain. The moment Su Yan stepped into the outer area, he felt a heavy pressure descend upon his heart. Even the circulation of his spiritual power became somewhat sluggish, while countless faint whispers seemed to echo in his ears, tempting him to abandon resistance and sink into nothingness.
He immediately circulated the Star Qi Drawing Art and the Star Refining Body Art. Cool starlight flowed through his body, barely dispelling some of the discomfort. Little Big Dipper also let out a low growl, the star spots on its body flickering as it resisted the erosion.
"I have to find the Dust-Cleansing Star Orchids quickly." Su Yan did not dare linger. Following the clues Star Yan had given him, he searched along the lakeshore for special places where stellar power and water vapor converged.
The Compass suffered intense interference here. Its needle swayed erratically, and the Star Map had become blurred. He could only rely on his instinctive perception of Energy Fluctuations and his observations of the environment.
Along the way, he encountered several groups of monsters completely contaminated by the Aura of Guixu. [Corrupted Water Elemental] (Level 32, attacks inflicted corrosion and slowing), [Void Walker] (Level 34, elusive and skilled at mental attacks), [Devouring Moss] (Level 30, lurked on the ground before suddenly launching binding attacks)... Every one of them was extremely troublesome.
Su Yan had no choice but to remain fully alert. He alternated between Wood Escape and Starlight Bodyguard, using Armor Shattering Talismans together with Little Big Dipper for explosive damage as they fought and advanced. The journey was fraught with danger. Little Big Dipper's physical damage played a crucial role here, especially against elemental creatures like Corrupted Water Elementals. The physical penetration granted by Star Sharp Potions was remarkably effective.
At last, in a narrow area backed against a rock wall, where an underground spring seeped out and faint starlight leaked through cracks in the rocks overhead, Su Yan discovered several plants growing tenaciously.
They were silver-white throughout, their leaves like starbursts and their slender stems tough and resilient. They stood stubbornly amid the deathly stillness and gray decay. They were Dust-Cleansing Star Orchids! Yet their leaves were also stained with ominous dark-gray specks. The dew gathered at their tips—Purifying Star Dew—had taken on a muddled grayish-white sheen rather than a pure silver-white color.
"They've been contaminated... but there really is a trace of purifying power struggling within." Su Yan could sense the confrontation between the two forces inside the dew.
He carefully took out a specially made jade bottle and began collecting it. The process had to be gentle; he could not damage the orchids, nor could he allow the dew to fall prematurely or its energy to dissipate.
Just as he collected the second drop and prepared to take the third, an abrupt change occurred!
From the shadows beside the rock wall, a shapeless mass of darkness composed entirely of dense Aura of Guixu—[Guixu Shadow] (Level 36, Elite Boss)—silently lunged at him! It seemed to have been lurking there all along, guarding these mutated orchids—or perhaps waiting to draw upon that faint purifying power in the orchids to "temper" itself?
"Watch out!" Su Yan had remained vigilant the whole time. Starlight Bodyguard instantly enveloped both himself and Little Big Dipper, while he used Wood Escape to retreat rapidly!
The Guixu Shadow missed, unleashing a soundless roar. Its twisted body abruptly expanded into a huge curtain of darkness that swept down over Su Yan. Its powerful pulling force seemed ready to devour him along with the very light around him!
In an instant, the crisis descended!
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