In the grand hall of the Vortex Tide Sanctuary, beneath the radiant coral dome where water ripples gently, reflecting the pearlescent walls inlaid with mother-of-pearl, casting a dreamlike glow. Fa solemnly took out the mysterious key she had acquired at the auction in Abyss Crystal City from her bosom. The key was ancient and enigmatic, its body covered in winding patterns seemingly etched by the passage of time, with a milky-white stone embedded at the end, emitting a warm and persistent faint light, like the softest star in the night sky. She presented the key with both hands to Queen Fishluna, seated on her crystalline throne, and asked respectfully, "Your Majesty, have you ever seen such a key? It seems to hold an extraordinary origin."
Queen Fishluna gracefully accepted the key, placing it in her palm. Her slender fingers gently traced the deep patterns, her gaze focused intently for a long while. Finally, she lifted her head, her eyes carrying a hint of regret, and shook her head: "I'm sorry, I have never seen such a unique key, nor have I heard of any related legends or records in the ancient texts passed down by our sea clan." She shifted her tone, revealing a glimmer of hope: "However, Yuyuer's master might know something. He is the eldest and most learned sage among our sea clan, with a long life that has accumulated boundless knowledge, having witnessed the vicissitudes of time."
Kayla, standing nearby, felt a stir in her heart upon hearing this and immediately stepped forward, eagerly asking: "Your Majesty, do you know the exact location of the 'Starfall Land'? We have been searching for this place."
Queen Fishluna fell into contemplation, her fingertip lightly tapping the armrest of the throne, producing subtle crisp sounds. After a moment, she slowly said: "Starfall Land... this name is full of mystery. It is not marked on the official maps of the sea clan; its existence is more like an ethereal legend. But I once again suggest you seek out Yuyuer's master; he might hold unknown clues. After all, his life spans thousands of years."
Upon hearing this, Fa felt a strong surge of anticipation and determination in her heart. She turned to Yuyuer, who was eager and ready, and said gently yet firmly: "Yuyuer, in that case, please lead the way and take us to meet your master."
Yuyuer was so excited he nearly jumped up, his eyes sparkling like pearls: "Great! Let's set off right now! However, my master resides in the 'Abyssal Secret Realm' at the end of the deep sea. From here, even at full speed, it will take a full three days. That place is extremely hidden, and there may be some challenges along the way. But don't worry, with me here, we can turn any danger into safety!" He patted his chest, full of confidence.
Queen Fishluna, hearing her son's words, couldn't hide a flicker of worry in her eyes, but her strength as both queen and mother quickly restored her composure. She waved her hand, signaling the guards outside the hall to immediately prepare ample supplies for the journey. She gazed at Yuyuer and earnestly instructed: "Yuyuer, remember, whether exploring the unknown or pursuing dreams, your safety is always the top priority. Protect yourself well, and protect your trusted friends."
Yuyuer put away his playful expression and nodded solemnly: "I understand, Mother. I will!"
A Warm Farewell
At the moment of departure, before the magnificent coral gates of the Vortex Tide Sanctuary, a crowd gathered to see them off. Queen Fishluna stood at the center, with Yuyuer's six siblings—all present: the steady Yuyue, the gentle Yuyao, the lively Yuling, the clever Yuqiao, the dreamy Yumeng, and the young but pretending-to-be-mature Yuhan. Behind them were many high-ranking ministers of the sea clan.
"Big brother," second brother Yuyue spoke first, his voice steady, "The outside world is vast and boundless, full of wonders, but beyond the deep sea lurk unknown risks. Be cautious in all things."
Third sister Yuyao spoke softly, her eyes full of reluctance: "Remember to use the messaging conch to contact us often and share your experiences. We'll all miss you."
Following that, Yuling, Yuqiao, Yumeng, and Yuhan crowded forward, each offering words of advice, filled with deep familial affection and concern. The younger siblings' eyes shimmered with crystalline tears.
Queen Fishluna slowly stepped forward, opening her arms and gently embracing Yuyuer. In this moment, she was no longer the majestic queen, but a loving mother. She whispered softly in Yuyuer's ear: "Yuyuer, remember Mother's words: No matter where you go, the Vortex Tide Sanctuary will always be your home. Protect yourself well, and within the three-year period, you must return safely."
Yuyuer hugged his mother tightly, his voice firm and emotional: "I will, Mother! I will become even stronger, and I won't disappoint your expectations. I'll make you proud!"
Fa, Kayla, Arya, and TISK stood quietly aside, feeling this genuine and warm family bond. Arya softly sighed to Fa: "Yuyuer's family is so wonderful, so understanding and supportive of his pursuit of dreams."
Fa's face showed a gentle smile as she nodded in response: "Yes, the support and blessings of family are the warmest light in a traveler's heart, and the strongest backing."
The Start of the Deep Sea Journey
Bidding farewell to their seeing-off relatives and friends, Fa and her group followed Yuyuer, diving into deeper, more mysterious ocean realms, heading toward the legendary Abyssal Secret Realm. To ensure everyone could move freely in the deep sea, Yuyuer cast exquisite magic. He held his staff embedded with a deep blue sapphire, lightly tapping five key acupoints on each person's body in turn. Immediately, five layers of crystal-clear, flowing bubbles with a soft glow emerged like living entities, tightly enveloping each person. These bubbles seemed as thin as cicada wings yet incredibly resilient, perfectly isolating the seawater's pressure and cold, even faintly conveying a fresh sea breeze with a salty scent, ensuring smooth breathing.
Then, Yuyuer waved his staff, chanting a melodious ancient incantation. The sapphire at the staff's tip bloomed with a soft and bright aqua-blue radiance, from which a ribbon-like stream of light flowed out, like a nimble water snake, gently wrapping around everyone's waist, forming an invisible bond that tightly connected the entire team, ensuring no one would fall behind in areas of low visibility or turbulent currents.
Day One: Encounter in the Seaweed Forest
As they continued to descend, the surrounding environment began to change dramatically. The familiar azure around the Vortex Tide Sanctuary gradually gave way to increasingly dense ink-black hues. Light seemed to be swallowed by an invisible giant mouth, and the surroundings quickly plunged into near-absolute darkness, with only the blue sapphire at the tip of Yuyuer's staff emitting a steady ghostly blue light, like a lighthouse in the dark night, barely illuminating about twenty meters ahead. The light swayed gently with the water waves, casting mottled shadows on everyone's faces, creating a mysterious and hazy atmosphere.
After an unknown period, a majestic and spectacular sight abruptly intruded into the darkness—a boundless giant seaweed forest. These deep-sea plants were like miracles of nature, their stems as thick as ancient trees, towering tens of meters high, stretching straight upward as if to pierce the deep sea's curtain. The wide and flexible leaves swayed silently with the slow and powerful deep-sea undercurrents, elegant and eerie, filling the entire forest with a serene and mysterious aura.
Just as everyone was immersed in this unprecedented wonder, a sudden scorching breath shattered the surrounding chill. A colossal deep-sea lobster burst out from the dense seaweed cluster! Its body length exceeded three meters, covered in red-brown armor flickering with metallic sheen, and most astonishingly, the ends of its eight flexible and powerful legs burned with ghostly blue flames, extraordinarily dazzling and illogical in this pitch-black deep sea. It waved a pair of sturdy pincers comparable to steel giant shears, emitting a teeth-gritting metallic friction sound, its eyes flashing with vigilant and dangerous red light, slowly approaching this group of uninvited guests.
Faced with this sudden threat, Yuyuer remained unusually calm. He signaled everyone to stay composed, then took a small, exquisite conch whistle from his staff, brought it to his lips, and blew gently. The sound from the whistle was not a piercing screech but a low, melodious wave with a peculiar rhythm, rippling through the water in subtle, barely visible waves.
A miracle happened! The originally aggressive flame lobster froze in place, the fierce red light in its eyes quickly fading, replaced by a gentle and curious demeanor. It cautiously approached Yuyuer, using its massive pincers to extremely gently touch Yuyuer's arm, as if engaging in some friendly exchange. Then, it turned and burrowed back into the seaweed, returning moments later dragging a beautifully shaped coral emitting a soft pearly glow, placing it gently before Yuyuer, like presenting a precious gift to an honored guest.
"Everyone, no need to panic," Yuyuer turned to his companions with a smile, while patting the lobster's hard shell reassuringly, "It actually has no malice; it's just rarely seen outsiders and feels curious. Most creatures in the deep sea are not as ferocious as legends say. As long as you don't show hostility and try to communicate in a way they understand, you can often sense their hidden goodwill."
This scene left everyone in awe. TISK, the experienced warrior, couldn't help but murmur in admiration: "Truly unbelievable ability, Yuyuer. You're like the child of the ocean."
Day Two: The Dark Abyss and Ancient Friendship
Entering the second day of the journey, the environment became even more profound and unpredictable. This was an absolute darkness realm where not even faint phosphorescence could reach, the thick ink almost tangible, enveloping everything. The light from Yuyuer's staff seemed so insignificant here, its halo constantly nibbled by the darkness, barely illuminating a limited area underfoot. The boundless silence and oppressive sense of the unknown made everyone instinctively huddle closer, nerves taut, vigilantly sensing any subtle movements around.
Suddenly, a strong and abrupt water flow fluctuation came from the darkness ahead, accompanied by low-pressure changes, clearly indicating an extremely large creature approaching rapidly. Then, a massive silhouette gradually emerged at the edge of the staff's light—a deep-sea giant octopus the size of a small mountain! Its enormous body was like a moving hill, with eight thick tentacles covered in bowl-sized suckers, waving flexibly and powerfully in the water like giant pythons, each swing stirring turbulent undercurrents and vortices, generating powerful suction that seemed to draw everything into its grasp.
Faced with such a colossal being, even seasoned warriors couldn't help but feel a chill. However, Yuyuer's eyes once again flashed with a familiar joy. He quickly gestured for everyone to hold steady and not act rashly, then swam forward himself toward the giant octopus. At a few meters' distance, he stopped, his hands rapidly and fluidly changing a series of complex gestures before his chest, while emitting a string of low, rhythmic sounds from his throat, sounding like ancient sea beast language, or the heartbeat and breath of the deep sea itself.
A shocking scene unfolded again. The giant octopus, originally full of wariness and probing, visibly relaxed its movements, its waving tentacles becoming gentle, its wheel-sized eyes fixed on Yuyuer, as if recognizing something. Moments later, it let out a low and prolonged call, the sound carrying a hint of warmth as if reuniting after a long separation.
"Long time no see, old friend." Yuyuer said with a smile, his tone like addressing a close companion. He even boldly moved forward, reaching out to gently pat the giant octopus's nearest tentacle. Not only did the giant octopus not resist, but it docilely lowered its tentacle, allowing Yuyuer to stroke it, then slowly moved aside, clearing a wide and calm passage for the group.
"My goodness!" TISK's eyes widened, almost unable to believe what he saw, "Yuyuer, you... you're actually friends with this behemoth?"
Yuyuer swam back to the group, explaining casually: "When I was young and full of curiosity, I often explored this deepest sea area alone. The first time I met it, I was scared too, but I found it seemed very lonely. Later, every time I came, I would bring some large fish it liked as 'gifts.' Over time, we became familiar. You see, even such a huge creature can form cross-species friendships with patience and sincerity."
Arya looked at Yuyuer, her eyes full of admiration and emotion: "You possess not just magic, but a heart that resonates with all things in the ocean. You're like the ocean's personally appointed peace envoy."
Day Three: Arrival at the Abyssal Secret Realm
After two days filled with wonders and challenges, on the third day, under Yuyuer's guidance, the group finally reached their destination—the entrance to the Abyssal Secret Realm. It was hidden on the cliff of a bottomless submarine canyon, the opening densely covered by countless cascading giant ink-black seaweeds like waterfalls and clusters of colorful, variously shaped corals. Without a knowledgeable guide, it would be impossible to discover.
Yuyuer skillfully parted the layered seaweed curtains, leading everyone into the cave. The interior opened up dramatically, starkly different from the imagined narrow and gloomy space. This was a spacious cavern filled with a sacred aura, with a high vaulted ceiling. The walls were covered with countless fluorescent seaweeds emitting a soft blue light, like natural wall lamps, illuminating the entire cave brightly, the light warm and non-glaring. The ground was fine white sea sand like powder, dotted with oddly shaped shells and coral fragments shimmering with iridescent luster, as if laying a luxurious carpet.
At the very center of the cave, on an unusually smooth, jade-like giant coral stone, lay a massive ancient sea turtle. Its shell diameter exceeded two meters, deep brown in color, covered with ancient and mysterious golden runes that flickered faintly with the turtle's long breaths, interweaving with the blue fluorescence on the cave walls, full of profound mystery. The turtle's neck was layered with wrinkles, marks left by endless ages, its eyes half-open, revealing a deep, vicissitude-filled gaze full of worldly wisdom.
Yuyuer immediately restrained all his casual demeanor, swimming forward with utmost respect, bowing in the sea clan's highest courtesy, his voice solemn and clear: "Master, your unworthy disciple Yuyuer, following your summons, has brought several esteemed guests from afar to pay respects."
The sea turtle slowly opened its eyes, its gaze first landing warmly on Yuyuer with a slight nod, then turning to Fa and her group. When its sight swept over Fa's distinctive right eye, a indescribable gleam suddenly appeared, as if seeing a long-awaited destiny. Its voice was low, slow, yet carrying a grandeur and majesty that spanned millennia, resonating directly in everyone's minds: "You are the human girl bearing the power of the 'Star Eye,' aren't you? This old one is named Lantis, once known to the world as the 'Raging Tide Shell Emperor,' and one of the five Star Inheritors you seek. The long wait has finally brought the one guided by fate."
Riddles and Trials
Fa's heart pounded fiercely upon hearing the words "Star Inheritors," a flood of questions and expectations surging within. She suppressed her inner excitement and quickly took out the cherished mysterious key from her close keeping, presenting it with both hands before Lantis. The key, under the cave walls' blue fluorescence, flowed with an even more mysterious silver sheen. "Mr. Lantis, this key was obtained by chance in Abyss Crystal City. We are puzzled about its origin and purpose; please guide us."
Lantis extended his foreclaw covered in ancient patterns, moving slowly but steadily to take the key. His fingertips contained some magic, gently rubbing every fine etch on the key, his gaze becoming increasingly profound, as if reading a sealed ancient history through it. After a long silence, he finally lifted his head, his eyes piercing: "This item is the key to opening a hidden entrance southwest of Sarto Island, the gathering place of the reptilian people—the 'Shadow Abyss Gate.' Behind that door connects to a forgotten ancient ruin, where buried secrets may relate to major upheavals from the ancient era."
As soon as his words fell, Kayla eagerly stepped forward, her eyes burning with urgency and desire: "Senior Lantis, where exactly is the 'Starfall Land'? We must find it!" Her voice trembled slightly with excitement.
Lantis's brows furrowed slightly, his tone becoming exceptionally grave: "Starfall Land... that is the core area where the Heart of Stars initially shattered, located at the eastern edge of the continent. But I must solemnly warn you: That place is now a deathly forbidden zone thoroughly eroded by a powerful curse. Deadly toxic mists shroud the entire region year-round, inhabited by countless ferocious mutated beasts of various attributes born from the star energy anomalies. With your current strength, venturing there rashly is tantamount to seeking death. This old one strongly advises you to first gain the recognition of us five Star Inheritors, obtain the corresponding inheritances and powers, and make full preparations before considering going there. Only then might there be a sliver of hope."
Fa nodded thoughtfully after hearing this. She understood this was the sage's advice, but her sense of mission made her eager to prove her team's strength and determination. She recalled the power inherited from Saladin, the Sage of Sand, and decided to demonstrate it. She stepped forward, gripping her magical short blade tightly, focusing her mind, and chanting the ancient incantation taught by Saladin. In an instant, the cave floor trembled slightly, a thick earth energy gathered, and a sturdy, thick wall condensed from pure sand rose rumbling from the ground, standing firmly in the cave's center, showcasing her mastery over earth magic.
Lantis watched this scene quietly, the corners of his mouth curling up in a meaningful smile: "Heh, that old lizard Saladin has good eyesight, actually passing his earth magic to you. However, little girl, the dormant potential within you is far vaster than what you've shown now." His words carried appreciation and a hint of challenge: "Very well, since you have the heart to proceed, this old one will give you an opportunity. If you can unite and pass my trial, I will teach you water magic and hand over the Star Fragment to you." As he finished, surging water elements erupted around him, the cave's temperature dropping sharply, water droplets condensing in mid-air, forming shimmering cold water blades.
Fa and her group exchanged firm glances; there was no fear in their eyes, only blazing determination. They knew this would be an extraordinarily difficult trial, but for the Star Fragment, to uncover the world's secrets, and to save this world on the brink of crisis, they must give their all, even if endless dangers lay ahead, they would not retreat a single step.