In Zhu Xian, people start to rise from plundering entries

He walked into the hall, waved his hand to set up a simple soundproof barrier, and then spoke: "Xueqi and I explored the deeper aquatic ruins. In a relatively well-preserved secondary sacrificial hall, we found more murals and stone tablets, as well as some broken jade slips. Piecing them together, we have a clearer understanding of the ancient aquatic tribe and this Falling Star Lake."

"The ancient aquatic race calls themselves the 'Starry Sky Remnants.' They come from a homeland long lost in the sea of ​​stars—the edge of the 'Returning Ruins Starry Sea.' Note that the 'Returning Ruins' here is not the same concept as the 'Returning Ruins' power you mentioned earlier, which is found on Biyao. The 'Returning Ruins' near the aquatic race's homeland refers to a special celestial body in the sea of ​​stars, like a vortex that devours all light and matter, but what they worship is the eternally shining 'Starry Sky' opposite the 'Returning Ruins.'"

"They traveled through the universe on an ancient magical artifact called a 'star raft' that could traverse the sea of ​​stars, and eventually crashed—or rather, followed some kind of guidance—to this world and discovered the Fallen Star Lake. They believed that this was the will of the stars, the guidance of the spirits of their ancestors, leading them to find a new home here."

"The star source in the heart of the lake is called the 'Eye of the Starry Sky' by them. They believe it is the passage connecting to their homeland, the Starry Sky, and the source of the universe's vitality. They established a sacred place here to worship the star source. At the same time, they also enshrined the sacred object they brought from their homeland—the complete 'Zhou Tian Star Armor'—on the edge of the star source. Using the Star Armor as a medium, they communicated with the Starry Sky, drew power, and protected their people."

Elder Mu paused, his expression becoming even more serious: "But that's where the problem lies. According to the murals and fragments of jade slips, the complete Zhou Tian Star Armor is not simply a sacrificial ritual object or a defensive treasure. It is a... key."

"The key?" Su Han frowned.

“Indeed. A key to unlocking a certain place or a certain state.” Elder Mu said in a deep voice, “The mural vaguely shows that at a certain moment, when the stars of the heavens move to a specific position, using the complete Heavenly Star Armor as a guide, the ‘Gate of Stars’ can be opened, and one can obtain the blessings of the stars, or… return to one’s homeland. But there is also a warning: the power of the Star Armor is vast. If one’s intentions are not pure or one is not well prepared, forcibly opening it may bring unpredictable disasters.”

"Later, it seemed that a division arose within the Water Tribe. One group of people longed to return to the Starry Sky and advocated focusing all their efforts on researching the Star Armor to find a way home. The other group was content with the status quo, believing that this place was already their new home and they should not take any more risks. The conflict intensified and eventually... a conflict broke out."

"The details of the conflict are lost to history, but the result was the destruction of the sacred site, the shattering of the Zhou Tian Star Armor, and the scattering of fragments. The aquatic race was also severely weakened as a result, and due to the loss of the deep connection between the Star Armor and the Star Source, they gradually declined and eventually disappeared into history. The ruins we are in are just one of the auxiliary buildings on the periphery of the sacred site back then. The true core altar is located below the pillar of light in the center of the lake."

Su Han took a deep breath: "So, what lies beneath the center of the lake might be the true core of the ancient aquatic tribe's sacred land, and also the place where Zhou Tianxingjia was worshipped back then?"

“Very likely.” Elder Mu nodded. “Moreover, we also found a fragmented star map and some records of the sacrificial route in the secondary hall. Although incomplete, combined with the sensations from the tortoise shell fragments, we might be able to deduce a method to safely approach the core area of ​​the lake.”

"What's the trouble?" Su Han asked.

Elder Mu and Lu Xueqi exchanged a glance, and Lu Xueqi's clear, cold voice rang out: "Deep within the ruins, there are living creatures."

Su Han's eyes narrowed: "Living creatures? Ancient aquatic creatures still exist?"

“Inhuman,” Lu Xueqi shook her head. “They have bizarre shapes, neither fish nor beast, their bodies covered in starlight spots, allowing them to blend into the lake and starlight. They are incredibly fast, and their attacks are imbued with stellar power, making them quite troublesome. My master and I encountered several. Defeating them wasn't difficult, but they seem endless. Moreover, the closer we get to the center of the lake, the stronger their aura and the greater their numbers. We suspect they are mutated lake creatures tainted by the power of star origin over a long period, or perhaps descendants of guardian beasts cultivated by the aquatic tribe, now out of control and entrenched deep within the ruins, especially along the path leading to the center of the lake.” Elder Mu added, “The individual strength of these star beasts is roughly equivalent to a mid-to-late Foundation Establishment cultivator, but they travel in groups and can use the environment to conceal themselves and launch sneak attacks, making them quite troublesome. Most importantly, we cannot make too much noise, lest we trigger unpredictable changes or alert powerful beings that may exist deeper within.”

Su Han understood. Approaching the center of the lake meant not only facing the pressure of the stellar energy itself, but also clearing out the star beasts blocking their path, making the task even more difficult.

"Furthermore," Elder Mu flipped his hand, revealing several pieces of ore of different colors, shimmering with a faint light, and a few water plants emitting a cool starlight, "these are materials that Xueqi and I collected in the ruins. 'Star Pattern Copper,' 'Sinking Star Iron,' 'Lake Heart Jade,' and this 'Starlight Grass,' are all spiritual materials that have been imbued with the power of the stars for many years. They are excellent materials for refining magical artifacts that can withstand the pressure of star power. Give me some time, and I should be able to refine a few things."

Su Han cupped his hands in thanks: "Thank you for your trouble, Elder."

Elder Mu waved his hand: "It's my duty. Su Han, how's your cultivation going? Have you adapted to the star power here?"

Su Han recounted how he had successfully refined a wisp of stellar power and formed a stellar power seed in his dantian.

Elder Mu's eyes lit up: "Good! You've condensed a star seed so quickly; your talent and comprehension are truly extraordinary. With this star seed, your chances of getting closer to the center of the lake have increased. In the next few days, continue to consolidate your strength and try to guide more star power, making sure your body is fully adapted. Xueqi and I will continue to explore, figure out the activity patterns of the star beasts, and refine the path. At the same time, I will also begin to refine magical artifacts."

The plan was set.

Over the next few days, the three of them split up and acted separately.

Su Han spent most of his time in the side hall, cultivating while taking care of Bi Yao. As his absorption and refinement of the power of the stars deepened, the star seed in his dantian gradually grew, from the size of a pinhead to the size of a grain of rice, and the silvery light it emitted became brighter. His spiritual power also took on traces of the characteristics of the stars, becoming more condensed, resilient, and even carrying a hint of eternal stillness.

Biyao's condition was basically stable. Under the continuous nourishment of star power supplied by the tortoise shell, the erosion of the power of the Void was firmly suppressed, and there were even faint signs that it was being neutralized and worn away by the star power, although the process was extremely slow. This gave Su Han hope.

Elder Mu was extremely busy. He first set up a small refining array in the side hall, using the few star-energy materials as the main components, supplemented by some materials he had brought with him, and began refining. The refining process seemed difficult; the star power contained in those materials was quite domineering, incompatible with ordinary refining methods. Elder Mu failed several times before gradually figuring out the tricks, and strange humming and starlight occasionally came from the refining furnace. (End of this chapter)