Starfall Nine Heavens

Lu Xiuyuan stood up, walked to the window, and turned his back to Lin Fan.

"The situation is changing, and our strategies are adjusting accordingly. High-ranking officials in various countries have already been secretly developing various contingency plans, including large-scale evacuations, the construction of shelters... and targeted training programs—secretly training ordinary people who are naturally sensitive to spiritual energy and have the potential for awakening, in preparation for the future." He turned around, looked at Lin Fan, his gaze deep, "Your family, and millions of ordinary people like them, will be our priority in protecting."

He paused.

"Lin Fan, I am now formally extending an invitation to you on behalf of the Watchers." Lu Xiuyuan's voice was calm and solemn. "Are you willing to join us, become a member of the Watchers, and step into this world where danger and mission coexist?"

He paused.

"Of course, the choice is yours." Lu Xiuyuan's voice softened. "If you're unwilling or not prepared to face these things, don't force yourself. I understand; after all, such a thing is too far-fetched. At the same time, you can continue to stay at Chenyuan Pavilion, doing your current job as an ordinary warehouse manager. We will continue to pay you your salary and do our best to ensure your safety."

He smiled, a smile that contained no probing, no pressure, only the tolerance of an elder for a younger person.

"This isn't just polite talk. Everyone has seen how well you've done your job in the past month. Even without this position, Chenyuan Pavilion needs a hardworking and reliable young person like you."

Lin Fan's breath caught in his throat for a moment.

"But there are some things I must tell you beforehand." Lu Xiuyuan's voice turned serious. "Once you embark on this path, there's no turning back. You will face unimaginable fears, experience life-or-death battles, and may even... pay the ultimate price. Think carefully."

Every word was like a hammer, striking Lin Fan's heart again and again.

He remembered his father's silent figure after he became paralyzed. He remembered his mother's furrowed brow as she took her medicine every day. He remembered his younger sister's mischievous and adorable face. He remembered the little girl he had saved that night. He remembered the pair of dark eyes in the mirror.

He remembered his helplessness—when faced with that thing, he could do nothing but block it with his body.

What if that kind of thing appears in front of your family in the future?

Fear churned in my chest. But beneath this fear, something seemed to be breaking through the earth.

It is the power to protect. It is the desire to change the status quo. It is the spark deep within, a flame that refuses to be forever crushed by life.

Lin Fan raised his head and looked into Lu Xiuyuan's eyes.

His hands, resting on his knees, slowly clenched, his nails digging into his palms. The pain kept him awake.

"Uncle Lu." His voice was a little hoarse at first, but he quickly regained his composure, "I'm willing."

It wasn't an impulsive decision. Rather, it was a choice made by a twenty-year-old for himself and his family after seeing the darker side of the world.

Lu Xiuyuan looked at him quietly. Something seemed to light up in those gentle eyes.

After a long while, Lu Xiuyuan smiled. It wasn't the gentle smile he had before, but a genuine smile, one that seemed to have shed something.

"Welcome to the team, Lin Fan."

He stretched out his hand.

Lin Fan grasped it. That hand was warm and strong, as if it could support the whole world.

Just then, the suppressed sensation suddenly became clear and intense. Lin Fan's gaze involuntarily drifted to the side of Lu Xiuyuan's back. On the side of the bookshelf in the study, there was a metal door that was almost invisible, the same color as the wall.

An indescribable feeling emanated from behind the door. It wasn't a sound, nor a sight, but it was more direct than any summons. It was as if something behind the door, lost to him for a long time, was now slowly awakening because of his approach and promise, emitting a silent call.

"What's wrong?" Lu Xiuyuan noticed that Lin Fan was distracted.

Lin Fan's gaze remained fixed on the door. After hesitating for a moment, he decided to tell the truth: "Uncle Lu, what's behind that door...? I have a feeling something's off."

"Strange?" Lu Xiuyuan's hand paused slightly, a ripple appearing deep in his gentle eyes.

Behind that door lies the Origin Star Stone, the core of the entire Dust Fate Pavilion and the entire Watchers organization's millennia-long heritage.

"Be more specific."

"I can't quite put my finger on it," Lin Fan struggled to find the right words. "It just feels like... there's something inside. Not dangerous, more like—" He trailed off, finally managing to say, "It's calling to me?"

I felt it was absurd as soon as I said it. It's just a door, why all these complicated feelings?

The moment the words left his mouth, a fleeting, intense tremor crossed the depths of Lu Xiuyuan's pupils. But he controlled it so well that the tremor vanished in an instant, unnoticed even by Lin Fan, who was standing right next to him.

Lu Xiuyuan remained silent for a few seconds.

"Would you like to go inside and take a look?"

Lin Fan was taken aback: "Is that okay?"

Lu Xiuyuan suppressed the turmoil in his heart, maintaining his gentle and composed demeanor. He stood up, walked to the door, and ran his fingers along the ancient patterns on it.

"This contains one of the most important things in the Dust Fate Pavilion. Since you have this feeling, why don't you go in and take a look?"

He pushed open the door.

Behind the door was an even more spacious secret room, without windows, its lighting entirely provided by luminous crystals embedded in the walls, casting a soft, warm glow. Three walls were floor-to-ceiling sandalwood shelves, filled with ancient books and glass cabinets. Inside the cabinets were all sorts of strange objects: a black stone that seemed to pulsate slightly on its own, a strange plant encased in crystal, and minerals that slowly changed color.

In the center of the secret chamber stood a stone platform about half a person's height. Carved from dark gray stone, its surface was covered with densely packed runes, gleaming faintly in the dim light. At the top of the platform was a recessed section, inlaid with a crystal the size of a fist.

The crystal was dusty and grayish, with fine cracks on its surface, making it inconspicuous.

The moment Lin Fan stepped into the secret room—

hum.

A deep, resonant sound echoed directly through Lin Fan's soul.

A tiny point of light appeared at the core of that dull gray crystal. It was only the size of a grain of rice, yet it shone brightly, like a star, stubbornly shining within the cracked, gray crystal.

Immediately afterward, the jade pendant on Lin Fan's chest suddenly became extremely hot! It wasn't the gentle warmth from before, but an almost scorching heat, as if something dormant had awakened deep within the jade pendant, desperately trying to break free! An irresistible pull came from the crystal, tugging at his soul and drawing him involuntarily toward the crystal.

"As expected..." Lu Xiuyuan's voice sounded behind him, carrying a trembling, suppressed energy. This usually gentle and calm pavilion master was now clearly breathing erratically.

The light was weak, like a candle flickering in the wind. But in Lu Xiuyuan's eyes, this faint light was more dazzling than the sun.

Three thousand years have passed. Ever since the first Lord of the Watchers left behind the instruction, "When the Star Stone shines, destiny will manifest," the Watchers have passed it down from generation to generation, but this Origin Star Stone has never lit up. It has remained here, lifeless and still.