Starfall Nine Heavens

A relieved smile appeared on Lu Xiuyuan's lips: "Yes, the old ways of dealing with things will eventually become ineffective. Lin Fan is a very resilient kid, and his appreciation and protection of ordinary days are precisely what many people who have been in this industry since childhood have gradually lost. When chaos is about to break out, the variables often emerge from inconspicuous places. This may just be my intuition based on experience, but I'm willing to believe it this time. He may not be that variable, but his purity and resilience are the fresh blood we need most right now."

"What I value is precisely his unpolished yet radiant spirit, which may offer us a different perspective and... a turning point."

He emphasized the word "turning point" a little too much, but then shifted the focus to things that others could see, like character and aptitude.

Shi Yue suddenly understood, his worry lessening slightly before turning into a solemn expression: "I understand. But isn't this burden... too heavy? He's only just begun to explore these things, he hasn't even truly stepped into the gates of cultivation yet, and what we'll face..."

"I know." Lu Xiuyuan's voice carried a hint of weariness and depth that Shi Yue rarely heard. "All we can do is give him a place to take root, shield him from some premature storms, and see how he grows up on his own. Ultimately, he has to walk his own path step by step."

He changed the subject, his tone becoming serious: "Compared to this, the news from the Blackwater Valley in the Northwest is even more unsettling."

"Blackwater Valley?" Shi Yue frowned. "That place is very desolate. There were hardly any households left there decades ago."

"It is precisely because it is desolate that demons have room to thrive." Lu Xiuyuan's tone turned serious. "Zhou Mo sent back news a few days ago that there is a long-dormant ley line fissure over there, which used to be quiet. But recently, the concentration and activity of the demonic energy seeping out have been slowly increasing. It feels like there are some undercurrents. There are even rumors of unrest spreading in several remote villages."

Shi Yue's tone was filled with concern: "Is the situation dangerous?"

"He went to check it out himself," Lu Xiuyuan said. "With his experience and cultivation level, he should be able to protect himself. He judged that there were no signs of a large-scale outbreak for the time being, but the feeling of impending doom was very obvious. He stayed there to keep an eye on things and also to clear the surrounding area to prevent the formation of a demon nest."

He paused, then continued, "Zhou Yi also sent a message yesterday. The Kyushu Division has also detected abnormal psionic fluctuations in the northwest, and their wording says they are paying close attention and hope to share information. Their Southwest Garrison Commander has already dispatched a special operations team to establish an outpost."

Shi Yue gave a soft snort: "That's how they always are. When they need us, the civilian forces, to provide intelligence or handle things they can't directly intervene in or are powerless to do, that's cooperation. But then they're afraid we'll slip out of their control and become a destabilizing factor. Zhou Yi is caught in the middle, so he's in a difficult position."

Zhou Yi is the designated liaison between Chenyuan Pavilion and the Kyushu Division, responsible for all official communication. As the official agency of the state responsible for unifying extraordinary forces and dealing with abnormal events, the Kyushu Division has always maintained a cautious and cooperative distance towards long-established, mysterious, and not entirely under their jurisdiction, non-governmental organizations like Chenyuan Pavilion.

"Those in positions of power should fulfill their responsibilities." Lu Xiuyuan remained calm. "The Kyushu Division coordinates the nation's power and bears the overall responsibility, so it's understandable that they're cautious. In their eyes, our long-established, semi-covert civilian organization is both an ally and a potential source of instability. With Zhou Yi mediating and maintaining this limited cooperation, it's good for both sides. At least, when it comes to dealing with obvious threats like demons, our goals are aligned."

The conversation seemed to have come to an end. The pavilion fell silent, with only the faint echoes of distant street noise remaining.

Lu Xiuyuan looked out the window at the boundless night again, his gaze seemingly piercing through the thick curtain of darkness, landing on something more distant and profound. His thoughts involuntarily drifted back to a few hours earlier, to the brief yet mind-blowing brilliance of starlight in that secret room.

"The star shines, destiny manifests..."

This old saying, passed down from the previous leader since he took over as Pavilion Master, without further explanation, now burned like a brand. Had it truly come true? The astonishing starlight, almost shattering the isolation barrier he had hastily erected, and the scroll that had appeared on its own…

Another passage from a tattered ancient scroll came to mind. The words were incomplete, but still faintly discernible: "When darkness once again spreads...light will reignite from the ordinary and insignificant..."

Light?

Lu Xiuyuan seemed to see again Lin Fan's thin yet upright back as he left. A child who had been struggling to support his family, who had just sensed his first wisp of spiritual energy under guidance, and whose eyes still held the bewilderment and determination of a young person...?

Is this the "divine mandate" that brings light in the prophecy?

But the starstone did indeed shine because of him, a once-in-thousand-years event.

A vague sense of confusion and urgency welled up in Lu Xiuyuan's heart. He carried the burden of the inheritance, yet he didn't know where this burden would ultimately lead; he saw possible signs of the prophecy, yet he didn't know how far into the future these signs meant. And beneath the seemingly calm night outside the window, the undercurrents of crisis were already clearly audible.

Is there really enough time? Can this tiny spark, just beginning to ignite, dispel the approaching, deeper darkness?

He had no answer.

"Old Lu," Shi Yue's voice interrupted his thoughts, his tone regaining its usual calm and steady, "Did Lin Fan's spiritual connection go smoothly today?"

Lu Xiuyuan regained his composure and nodded: "It went even more smoothly than I expected. It took about two hours to successfully sense the spirit and draw a wisp of spiritual energy into his body. He's focused and has a good potential."

Shi Yue smiled. "Two hours? This...this is truly remarkable! He seems to be a rough gem. How long do you think it will take him to successfully open his first spiritual meridian and truly enter the Meridian Opening Realm?"

"What's your guess?" Lu Xiuyuan asked in return.

Shi Yue thought about it seriously and said, "Even with good talent, from sensing the spirit to successfully opening the meridians, one still needs to become familiar with the circulation of spiritual energy and accumulate spiritual energy within the body. It will take at least half a month, and at most a month. Han Feng took twenty-one days, which was already considered fast."

Lu Xiuyuan gently shook his head, looked out the window in the direction Lin Fan had left, and slowly said, "I guess it might not take more than half a month."

"Not even half a month?" Shi Yue was stunned. "Isn't that a bit too optimistic? After all, he has absolutely no foundation."

"Maybe," Lu Xiuyuan said calmly without arguing. "It's just a feeling. This kid has a strong drive inside him, a drive to grasp something, to change something. Sometimes that drive is more inspiring than talent."

He continued, "Old Yue, please take good care of the shop and Lin Fan. He doesn't need to treat you specially, but don't be stingy with the experience and guidance he needs."