The vast imperial might slowly receded like the tide, but the sense of awe that originated from the depths of one's soul still lingered. Lin Yuan was lifted up by a gentle yet irresistible force and stood before the wide-open gate of the Transmission Hall, which seemed to lead to the depths of the starry sky.
Inside the door, instead of the imagined splendor or rows of bookshelves, there was... an endless starry sky!
Beneath their feet was a transparent, crystal-like floor, reflecting the glittering galaxy flowing slowly overhead. Countless intricate silver Dao patterns intertwined and flickered in the void beneath their feet and around them, seemingly alive, radiating an indescribable aura of mystery. Starry phantoms, some bright, some dim, floated around them, slowly rotating, each seemingly corresponding to a powerful cultivation technique. The entire space was tranquil, vast, and profound, filled with an ineffable, ancient Daoist charm.
Lin Yuan took a deep breath, trying to suppress the shock and tension in his heart. He gripped the jade slip containing the formula for the "Star Gathering Spirit Pill" and the small jade bottle containing the finished pill tightly in his hand, and stepped inside. Elder Gu Chen's silent shout of "Go for it, Peak Master!" seemed to still echo behind him.
Each step he took on the transparent floor created a faint ripple of starlight. Silence reigned all around, broken only by the slightly rapid beating of his heart and the sound of his footsteps echoing in the empty star palace. The illusory stars seemed to possess a life of their own, casting a faint, almost imperceptible "gaze" upon him as he passed.
After an unknown amount of time, seemingly traversing the distance of several galaxies, the starlight ahead suddenly brightened. A colossal, slowly rotating, azure phantom appeared at the edge of their vision. On the star's surface, countless even more intricate and profound Dao patterns coiled and flowed like living vines, radiating a terrifying pressure that suppressed eternity. At the core of that phantom star, a blurry figure sat cross-legged.
The figure seemed to be formed from the purest starlight, its face indistinct, only the vague outline of an old man discernible. He sat cross-legged, seemingly one with this star palace, existing since time immemorial. Merely seeing this silhouette, Lin Yuan felt his soul tremble; his Qi Refining Realm cultivation was insignificant before such a being, less than dust. This was an Emperor Realm Ancestor! The pillar of the Heavenly Evolution Sect!
"Disciple Lin Yuan greets Ancestor!" Lin Yuan dared not be negligent and quickly bowed, his voice trembling slightly.
"Hmm..." An aged, peaceful voice, yet seemingly containing endless years and the mysteries of the starry sky, resounded directly in Lin Yuan's sea of consciousness, like a flowing river of stars, "Little brat... Qi Refining Realm? Interesting."
The voice didn't deliberately exert any pressure, yet it made Lin Yuan feel as if everything about him had been seen through instantly, leaving him nowhere to hide.
"That 'Star Gathering Spirit Pill'...was it you who made it?" The old ancestor's voice carried a hint of inquiry.
"Reporting to the Ancestor, it is indeed your disciple... well, I have made some progress in the Starry Sky Pill Dao." Lin Yuan quickly raised the jade slip and jade bottle in his hand, trying his best to make his voice sound respectful yet confident.
"A chance discovery?" The old ancestor's voice seemed to carry a faint smile, like twinkling stars. "Drawing upon the celestial power of the universe as fire, ignoring impurities, extracting the essence, returning to simplicity... this cannot be summarized by the word 'chance discovery.' This method... though seemingly crude, subtly aligns with the true meaning of 'the Way of Nature,' pointing directly to the origin. Little one, where did you learn your 'Starry Alchemy'?"
Here it comes! The interrogation of origins! Lin Yuan's heart skipped a beat, but he already had a prepared answer in mind: "Reporting to Ancestor, this disciple has no lineage. This method... was something I came up with while gazing at the starry sky in the desolate Starfall Peak. I was inspired and combined it with some fragments of scrolls left by my master. I just rambled on and on... I hope Ancestor will forgive my foolishness." He said this half-truthfully, shifting the blame to "gazing at the starry sky" and "the legacy of my master," while also making a self-deprecating joke to make it seem more authentic.
"Looking up at the stars... fiddling around..." The ancestor's voice paused for a moment, as if he were savoring those two words. Then, a soft laugh, seemingly containing the boundless starry sky, echoed in the Star Palace. "Haha... What a fine 'looking up at the stars, fiddling around'! Good! Very good! The great way is simple, returning to one's true nature! How many alchemists have spent their entire lives trapped in the confines of their alchemy furnaces, obsessed with the slightest detail of the fire, forgetting that this vast starry sky is itself the greatest 'furnace of the Dao'! Your 'fiddling around' has paved a new path!"
The ancestor's affirmation put Lin Yuan at ease, but he was also secretly amazed. This ancestor was indeed unfathomable, seeing through the core essence of the Starry Sky Pill Dao at a glance—borrowing the power of heaven and earth!
"This disciple is terrified," Lin Yuan quickly replied modestly.
"No need for modesty." The patriarch's voice returned to calm. "You offer this elixir formula, seeking only the authority to comprehend the 'Zhou Tian Xing Chen Jue'? Or for your little girl disciple?"
"Exactly!" Lin Yuan's spirits lifted, and he immediately seized the opportunity. "My first disciple, Feng Qinghuang, has a shattered Dao foundation, a fragmented soul, and moreover... moreover, she is entangled by the 'Seal of Annihilation' that the Ancestor spoke of! Last night, in order to suppress the Soul-Eating Poison, she forcibly used star power, aggravating her old injuries, and is on the verge of death! Only the 'Zhou Tian Xing Chen Jue', which is in harmony with the Heavenly Dao and has the ability to repair the Dao foundation, can save her! I beg the Ancestor to grant me the right to comprehend it! I am willing to swear a great oath to my heart demons, and never reveal a single bit of the technique!" He took the opportunity to point out Feng Qinghuang's critical condition and the "Seal of Annihilation," adding weight to the argument.
A brief silence fell over the Star Palace, broken only by the hum of the stars in motion. The Dao patterns flowing on the enormous, azure star phantom seemed to have accelerated slightly.
"The foundation of her Dao is shattered... her divine soul is incomplete... the seal of annihilation..." The ancestor's voice carried a hint of solemnity and... an indescribable complexity, "This little girl... her fate is full of twists and turns, the entanglements of cause and effect are so deep that even I am taken aback. That seal of annihilation... it involves ancient taboos and is tainted with misfortune. Ordinary methods are difficult to break it."
Lin Yuan's heart was in his throat.
"However..." The ancestor changed the subject, "The 'Zhou Tian Xing Chen Jue' draws upon the purest and most pristine celestial power, containing the vitality of creation. It is indeed a supreme method for repairing one's foundation and nourishing one's soul. If she can comprehend the profound meaning of 'Star Source Reshaping' within it, and combine it with sufficiently pure celestial source power, there might be a glimmer of hope, or even... the opportunity to obliterate a trace of the power of that Annihilation Seal."
A glimmer of hope! A glimmer of hope shone in Lin Yuan's eyes!
"I can grant you the power to comprehend it," the ancestor's voice was like heavenly music, "but there is a price to pay."
"Please give your instructions, Ancestor! I will gladly die for you!" Lin Yuan said without hesitation.
"Firstly," the patriarch said slowly, "Feng Qinghuang's injuries are unique, and the Annihilation Seal is no trivial matter. Her comprehension of the *Zhou Tian Xing Chen Jue* requires her to do so in the Star Palace's 'Star Source Pool,' under my personal protection, drawing upon the purest Star Source power to infuse her body. This process is extremely dangerous; the slightest mistake could result in death! Does she dare?"
Star Source Pool? The Emperor Ancestor personally protecting it? Lin Yuan's heart skipped a beat. This was definitely an incredible opportunity! But it was also incredibly dangerous! He couldn't make the decision for Feng Qinghuang.
"This disciple accepts on behalf of my disciple! She... she certainly dares!" Lin Yuan said through gritted teeth. With Feng Qinghuang's temperament, she would dare to brave mountains of knives and seas of fire for revenge and recovery!
"Secondly," the patriarch's voice carried a hint of amusement, "since you have created the Starry Sky Pill Path, this path has boundless potential. I want you to use the power of the stars to refine a batch of pills for me in this Star Palace while Feng Qinghuang is comprehending it."
"Alchemy?" Lin Yuan was taken aback, then patted his chest and assured, "Don't worry, Ancestor! As long as the materials are sufficient, this disciple will do his utmost! May I ask what kind of pill Ancestor wishes to refine?" He thought to himself that with the system's pill-refining techniques, as long as it wasn't an outrageous elixir, he should be able to give it a try.
"He Dan?" The patriarch's voice carried a hint of enigmatic laughter. "I don't want to become a pill. I want you to use the power of the stars to refine 'Chaos'."
"What?! Refine...refine Chaos?!" Lin Yuan was instantly dumbfounded, his eyes almost popping out of their sockets! Chaos? That thing can be refined?! What kind of interstellar joke is this!
"Don't panic." The patriarch's voice carried a hint of mockery. "I'm not asking you to create something out of thin air. I will give you a wisp of 'Chaotic Origin Qi' as a catalyst. What you need to do is use the methods of Star Pill Dao to draw upon the celestial power of the universe and try to 'sort' and 'soothe' this wisp of Chaotic Origin Qi, so that it will show the rudimentary form of 'Stellar Core Nurturing Spirit.' This is... a crucial step in verifying your Star Pill Dao's ability to 'create.' If you succeed, it will be of immense benefit to both your alchemy and me. If you fail... it doesn't matter."
Organizing the chaotic primordial energy? The nascent form of a spirit within a star core? Lin Yuan was completely confused, but the words "it's alright" brought him a slight sense of relief. It sounded like… a highly difficult experiment?
"Disciple...is willing to give it his all!" Lin Yuan agreed, forcing a smile. For the "Zhou Tian Xing Chen Jue" (a martial arts technique), for Feng Qinghuang, he had braved mountains of knives and seas of fire; what was refining "Chaos"? At worst...he'd just have to dig out the wok again?
"Good." The patriarch's voice seemed quite satisfied. "Thirdly, everything here, including the cause of Feng Qinghuang's injuries, the Annihilation Seal, and even my transaction with you, must not be revealed to anyone. Otherwise..."
A chilling sensation swept through Lin Yuan's soul, making him shiver.
"Disciple understands! I will keep my mouth shut!" Lin Yuan quickly assured him.
"Hmm." The ancestor's voice returned to calm. "In that case, the deal is done. You may leave now. Someone will guide Feng Qinghuang into the Star Origin Pool later. As for you..." A beam of starlight shot out from the azure star, transforming into a palm-sized token, neither gold nor jade, engraved with intricate star trails, which floated in front of Lin Yuan.
"This is the 'Star Evolution Token.' With this token, you can freely enter and exit the outer area of the Star Palace to study the preliminary foundational chapters of the 'Zhou Tian Xing Chen Jue'—the [Star Guiding Chapter] and the [Star Building Chapter]. Once the Phoenix enters the pool, you will come here with this token to begin your... 'Alchemy.'"
"Thank you, Ancestor!" Lin Yuan suppressed his excitement and respectfully accepted the token. The token felt warm and smooth to the touch, carrying a vast aura of star power.
"Go." The ancestor's voice gradually faded away, and the huge, azure star phantom slowly disappeared into the deeper starlight.
Lin Yuan bowed again, holding the warm Star Token, and turned to leave the vast star palace along the way he came.
As he stepped back through the heavy stone gates of the Transmission Hall, the blinding sunlight made him squint. Elder Gu Chen rushed forward like a cat on hot bricks, grabbing him tightly: "Peak Master! How did it go?! Did the Ancestor agree?!"
Looking at Gu Chen's anxious and expectant face, and feeling the power emanating from the token in his hand, Lin Yuan smiled with relief and raised the Star Evolution Token: "I haven't failed you! It's done!"
"That's wonderful!!" Gu Chen was so excited he almost jumped up, tears streaming down his face. "I knew it! I knew you could do it, Peak Master! You're invincible in the Starry Sky Pill Dao!"
Wu Zhen, standing guard to the side, was ashen-faced, his eyes fixed on the token in Lin Yuan's hand with a sinister glint. His pupils constricted sharply when he saw the star trails flowing across the token! A Star Evolution Token! The Ancestor had actually bestowed a Star Evolution Token! This meant the Ancestor's level of importance placed on this matter far exceeded his expectations! Any lingering thoughts he harbored about the Zhao family were instantly extinguished. This Lin Yuan… he couldn't touch him, at least not for the time being!
"Elder Wu," Lin Yuan turned to Wu Zhen, whose face was grim, a seemingly benevolent smile on his face, and waved the jade slip copy in his hand (he had prepared it beforehand), "Please expedite the transfer of the 'Nine-Leaf Heart-Clearing Lotus' and 'Earth Vein Purple Ganoderma' needed for the antidote to the Spirit-Eroding Powder from the sect's treasury to Starfall Peak. The disciples are still waiting to be saved. The Ancestor... is very concerned about this matter."
Lin Yuan deliberately emphasized the words "ancestor".
Wu Zhen's face twitched violently, and he squeezed out two words through gritted teeth: "...Just you wait!"
"Then thank you very much, Elder Wu!" Lin Yuan smiled brightly, ignoring Wu Zhen, and called to Gu Chen, "Let's go! Old Gu, back to the peak! Prepare to welcome our chief disciple into the Star Origin Pool!"
The two transformed into streaks of light and headed straight for Starfall Peak.
However, Lin Yuan did not notice that after he left, in a shadowy spot near the Hall of Transmission, a figure with concealed aura crushed a communication jade talisman and stared venomously at the direction of Starfall Peak.
The news reached Zhao Hao's ears instantly.
"The Star Evolution Token?! The Star Source Pool?! The Emperor Ancestor personally protecting them?!" Zhao Hao crushed the jade cup in his hand into dust, his handsome face twisted in extreme jealousy and rage. "Why?! Lin Yuan, a mere Qi Refining Realm waste! Feng Qinghuang, a lowly woman of unknown origin! Why do they receive such favor from the Emperor Ancestor?!"
"No! Absolutely not! The Star Origin Pool... that's a place even I'm not qualified to set foot in! If Feng Qinghuang really repaired her Dao foundation and broke the seal inside... what would that be like?!" Zhao Hao's eyes flashed with a crazed killing intent. "Lin Yuan! You forced me to this! Since the Emperor Ancestor is protecting you, if open methods don't work... then we'll use covert methods! The opening of the Star Origin Pool will inevitably attract vast amounts of stellar power... this commotion will be enough to cover up many things!"
He whirled around, growling at a serpentine figure in the shadows, "Notify the 'Shadow Eclipse'! The plan is on track! Target—Star Source Pool! I want Phoenix... to stay inside forever!"