In Zhu Xian, people start to rise from plundering entries

At the edge of that silvery-white "water of light," even more star beasts swam. These star beasts were larger, with denser and brighter starlight spots on their bodies, and their eyes, besides being frenzied, seemed to also hold a hint of... vigilance? They patrolled the edge of the water of light, as if guarding something.

"We can't go any further. The concentration and pressure of star energy ahead will increase dramatically. Entering without preparation would be extremely dangerous," Elder Mu said in a deep voice. "Moreover, the star beasts here are much stronger. I can sense that the aura of several of them is close to the Golden Core level."

Su Han stared at the shimmering water and the blurry outlines of buildings deep within it, a powerful impulse welling up within him. The tortoise shell in his arms was slightly warm, resonating strongly with the core area. Bi Yao's pale face appeared in his mind.

"Elder, how is the path deduction going? How can we safely reach the core altar from here?" Su Han asked.

Elder Mu took out a jade slip containing a path he had deduced based on a fragmented star map and the layout of the aquatic ruins. “According to records, the ancient aquatic tribes did not travel in a straight line to the core altar for sacrifices; they had to follow a specific ‘star path.’ This star path was not fixed but changed with the rise and fall of stellar tides and the movement of the stars. We arrived just before the stellar tide, a period when the star path is relatively stable. Based on my deduction, the entrance to one of these star paths should be at the three meteorite pillars arranged in a triangular pattern to the northeast. Following this star path will allow us to avoid the most violent stellar turbulence and approach the core relatively safely.”

Following Elder Mu's direction, Su Han and Lu Xueqi saw three strange stone pillars, each over ten feet tall, pitch black, and riddled with holes, standing in a triangular formation on the northeast side of the Guangshui River. They stood out starkly from the surrounding glowing coral and jade, exuding a heavy and ancient aura.

“That seems to be extraterrestrial meteorite iron, which was specially moved here by the aquatic race as a marker for the star path,” Elder Mu said. “However, there must be powerful star beasts guarding the entrance to the star path, and the situation inside the star path is unknown. There may be ancient restrictions or traps.”

Su Han nodded without hesitation: "Since there's a path, we should give it a try. Elder, Senior Sister, let's rest for a moment, and then we'll venture into this star path!"

After finding a secluded coral reef, the three of them adjusted their breathing to their peak condition. Su Han put on the Starry Gauze Robe, holding the Star-Fixing Token in her palm, ready to activate it at any moment. Lu Xueqi silently wiped the Tianya Sword, its blade reflecting her cool and beautiful face, her eyes calm and resolute. Elder Mu continuously poured spiritual power into the Star-Guiding Pearl, making its light increasingly soft and stable.

A moment later, Su Han opened his eyes, a glint of light flashing in them: "Let's go!"

Like arrows released from a bow, the three of them suddenly shot out from behind the coral reef and headed straight for the three meteorite pillars!
Their appearance immediately startled the star beasts patrolling the edge of the luminous water. Several star beasts, each the size of a calf and possessing formidable auras, let out silent howls (the sound was difficult to carry in such a dense star energy field), their eyes flashing with ferocity, transforming into streaks of dazzling starlight as they charged forward! The leader among them had a single horn on its forehead, gathering starlight, and its aura had clearly reached the early stage of the Golden Core realm!

"Quickly finish this! Don't get entangled!" Elder Mu shouted, his Star-Guiding Pearl shining brightly, a gentle ripple of star power spreading out and enveloping the charging star beast. The star beast's speed instantly faltered, as if it had sunk into a quagmire.

"cut!"

Lu Xueqi became one with her sword, and the Tianya Sword erupted with an unprecedented azure light. A sword thread, condensed to the extreme, silently sliced ​​across the lake water and instantly grazed the neck of the unicorn beast.

laugh--!
The unicorn's attack suddenly froze, its fierce light in its eyes solidified, and the next moment, its enormous head separated from its body, disintegrating into a sky full of starlight, leaving only a walnut-sized, dazzling star core.

Su Han also made his move at the same time. His dantian star seed trembled, fusing the absorbed star power with his own spiritual power, and unleashed a "Seven Star Sword Style". Seven sharp sword energies, blue and silver, shot out in the shape of the Big Dipper, accurately hitting the vital points of the other star beasts. The star power contained in the sword energy was of the same origin as that of the star beasts, but was purer and more domineering, instantly disintegrating their defenses and killing them.

With their seamless teamwork and Elder Mu's assistance, the powerful star beasts blocking their path were instantly eliminated. Without pausing, the three of them pushed their movement techniques to the limit, and in a few leaps, they rushed between the three meteorite iron pillars.

Upon entering the area of ​​the stone pillars, the surrounding scenery instantly changed. The oppressive feeling of surging starlight had not disappeared, but the sense of direction became blurred. The three stone pillars seemed to come alive, with flowing starlight from the holes on their surfaces, like liquid, weaving and flowing between the pillars, outlining a winding, illusory path paved with starlight leading to the depths of the light and water.

"This is the Star Road! Follow me!" Elder Mu shouted, taking the lead on the Star Road.

Su Han and Lu Xueqi followed closely behind.

The moment Su Han stepped onto the star path, he felt as if the surrounding spacetime had been distorted. On both sides, there was an intense, almost impenetrable, silvery-white light, surging and radiating a destructive aura, but the star path beneath his feet was unusually stable and peaceful, separating them from the raging stellar power. The star path was not straight, but constantly winding and turning, as if following some mysterious trajectory.

The path of stars is not empty. Occasionally, one can see some blurry starlight phantoms, as if they were marks left by the ancient aquatic tribes as they walked and performed sacrifices along this path. Occasionally, one can also hear faint ancient chants, solemn and dignified.

But the danger was far from over. From the light mist on both sides of the star path, enormous tentacles and claws formed from condensed starlight would occasionally reach out, attempting to drag any uninvited guests into the luminous water. At the same time, above the star path, some strange runes or traps made of pure star power floated, exuding a dangerous aura.

"Watch your sides! Beware of the star patterns above your head!" Elder Mu kept reminding them, his hand seals changing as the light of the Star-Guiding Pearl enveloped the three of them. At the same time, he unleashed beams of spiritual light to interfere with the protruding starlight tentacles or temporarily freeze the dangerous star patterns above their heads.

Lu Xueqi's sword energy swept across the area, severing any tentacles that managed to get close. Su Han, on the other hand, was responsible for checking for any remaining gaps while keeping a watchful eye on what lay ahead.

The star path was winding and long, seemingly without end. The three traveled swiftly, daring not to slacken in the slightest. The surrounding starlight grew brighter and brighter, and the pressure increased accordingly; even on the star path, they could feel difficulty breathing. The starlight-covered robe emitted a soft glow, helping Su Han resist the penetrating pressure. The Star-Fixing Decree had also been activated, forming a stable force field around him.

After walking for an unknown amount of time, the star path ahead seemed to have come to an end, and a huge portal made of starlight appeared before them. Beyond the portal, the scenery suddenly opened up, and the suffocatingly dense light seemed to have thinned out considerably, revealing an incredibly vast and magnificent complex of buildings before their eyes.

It was a palace complex suspended directly beneath the pillar of light in the center of the lake! The palaces were constructed entirely of a warm, white jade, inlaid with countless gemstones, reflecting the starlight from above—a breathtaking spectacle, like a celestial palace. At the center of the complex stood the tallest and most magnificent altar, exactly as depicted in the murals. The altar soared high, suspended in mid-air, as if it should have once held some offerings, but now it was completely empty.

Around the altar, and on the plazas, corridors, and rooftops of the palace complex, countless star beasts stood, roamed, and hovered! Among them were powerful beings as large as small mountains, whose auras had reached the mid- or late-stage of the Golden Core realm! They lay quietly dormant, as if asleep, or as if guarding.

At the very center of the altar, at the core of where the pillar of light fell, a ball of light, about three zhang in diameter and made entirely of starlight, was slowly rotating and pulsating, radiating a vast, ancient, and sacred pressure. This was the core of the Fallen Star Lake—the Star Source!
Su Han and the other two stood before the portal at the end of the star path, holding their breath.

Finally, we reached the core. (End of Chapter)