In Zhu Xian, people start to rise from plundering entries

Visibility gradually blurred, as if an invisible mist was spreading through the water.

A strange pressure descended.

Su Han felt that the tortoise shell in his arms seemed to be slightly warm.

He looked down.

On the surface of the tortoise shell, the ancient patterns that were originally dull are now emitting an extremely faint, almost invisible, pale blue glow.

The halo flickered like breathing.

It seemed as if it resonated with its surroundings in some way.

Ahead, Elder Mu's submarine also slowed down.

"Watch out, we're approaching the 'Star Fog Barrier'."

"This is the outermost natural barrier of Falling Star Lake, which can distort perception and confuse direction."

"Stay close to me and don't stray from the course, or we might be lost forever in this foggy sea."

Su Han's spirits lifted, and he focused on maneuvering the submarine, closely following the faint blue halo ahead.

The purple "mist" around them grew thicker and thicker.

In the end, visibility was less than three zhang (approximately 10 meters).

Only the submarine's own light shield illuminated a small area.

All around, there was a surging, hazy purple.

There was silence.

Even the sound of flowing water seemed to be swallowed up by the thick fog.

A sense of isolation and loneliness arises spontaneously.

Su Han even began to wonder if they were still moving, or if they had long since fallen into an eternal illusion.

In this unsettling silence, they traveled for about half an hour.

Sudden.

The thick purple fog ahead suddenly dispersed without warning.

It was like lifting a curtain.

A breathtakingly magnificent sight, beyond words, unfolded before their eyes.

It was a vast, boundless lake suspended in the deep sea.

The lake water is not the usual blue or green.

Instead, it was a deep, dark blue that seemed to encompass the entire starry sky.

Countless tiny points of light floated and shimmered in the lake water, like the reflections of billions of stars.

At the very center of the lake, an enormous, soft, silvery-white beam of light descended from an unknown height and plunged straight into the heart of the lake.

Within the pillar of light, faint wisps of shimmering light could be seen, slowly rotating and flowing as if they were alive.

Where the beam of light fell into the center of the lake, the water formed a slowly rotating vortex.

Within the vortex, the starlight is most concentrated and the brilliance is most dazzling, as if that were the core of the entire lake, or even the entire starry sky.

All around the lake is the deep, ordinary ocean.

A clear yet gentle dividing line separates this starlit lake from the surrounding sea.

It was as if an invisible barrier was protecting this sacred and tranquil realm.

"This...is this Falling Star Lake?"

Su Han stared blankly at the strange sight before him, muttering to himself.

Even with his experience and temperament, he was deeply moved by the unimaginable beauty and mystery.

Elder Mu's voice came through, carrying a hint of emotion and reverence.

"Indeed, this is Falling Star Lake."

"Legend has it that in ancient times, a star fell from the sky and pierced through the sea abyss. Its core remained intact and became the eternal source of light in the heart of this lake."

"Fragments and dust of stars merge into the lake water, transforming into endless starlight."

"The power of the stars altered the laws here, forming this secret realm independent of the outside world." "It is precisely because of this that the secrets of heaven here can be disrupted, preventing any exploration."

The two submarines slowly entered the Lake of Starlight.

As Su Han crossed that invisible dividing line, he felt a gentle yet immense power wash over his entire body.

It felt as if a layer of dust had been washed away, leaving my mind and spirit refreshed.

Even Biyao's breathing in his arms seemed to have calmed down a bit.

The submersible entered the lake.

The surrounding seawater was instantly enveloped by countless tiny starlight.

The points of light were not dazzling, but shimmered gently, like fireflies on a summer night, or like a distant galaxy.

The submarine glided across the water, leaving trails like fireflies that slowly faded away after a long time.

Elder Mu steered the submersible toward a spot on the edge of the lake.

There, near the lake shore, the outlines of some buildings are faintly visible.

As the distance closed, Su Han could see more clearly.

It was an ancient complex of buildings built on the lake shore, and some of which even extended into the lake.

The style is simple and grand, mostly built of white boulders covered with various luminous mosses and aquatic plants, giving it a weathered and mysterious appearance.

At the center of the complex appears to be a partially collapsed temple.

The temple's style is extremely ancient, completely different from any modern architectural style, and full of a wild and sacred atmosphere.

Most of the buildings have been eroded by time and are severely damaged, hidden among the dense underwater jungle and corals.

But you can still see its former scale and solemnity.

"This place was once a sacred site for the ancient Shui people to worship 'Xingyuan'."

Elder Mu explained as he steered the submarine toward a stone dock extending into the lake.

"The aquatic creatures have long since disappeared from the river of history, but the protective power remaining in this sacred land has not been completely erased even after thousands of years."

"We'll stay here for now. Miss Biyao needs to rest, and we also need time to figure out many things."

The submarine gently docked at the moss-covered pier.

The light shield dissipated.

Fresh air, carrying a faint scent of starlight, filled the room.

In this hidden underwater realm, there seemed to be breathable air, and it didn't feel stuffy at all.

Su Han carried Bi Yao as they stepped onto the ancient stone steps.

Lu Xueqi and Elder Mu also came ashore one after another.

Elder Mu waved his hand and put the two submarines away.

He looked around, his expression a mix of wariness and reminiscence.

"Many years ago, I came to this place once by chance."

"At that time, it was to find a kind of deep-sea star algae that had long been extinct, to heal the wounds of an old friend."

"I never expected to come back in this way today."

“Let’s go. I know a relatively intact side hall that can serve as a temporary place to stay.”

He led the way through the collapsed columns and ruins.

The surroundings were silent, except for the faint sound of starlight flowing in the lake and their footsteps on the wet, slippery stone slabs.

The air was filled with a faint, ancient scent, like a mixture of sandalwood and moisture.

Occasionally, small fish emitting a faint glow swim past the puddles at your feet.

This slumbering sanctuary, bathed in the glow of stars and the lake, appears tranquil and mysterious, temporarily isolated from the disturbances and dangers of the outside world.

But Su Han knew that this peace was only temporary.

The tortoise shell in my arms was still slightly warm.

It was as if reminding him that the shadow from "Return to the Void" had never truly left. (End of Chapter)