parentshiftbook Chapter 134 Re-exploring the Falling Star Plains
Chapter 134 Re-exploring the Falling Star Plains
Five-colored light streaked across the sky, and as the light swirled, faint shadows of stars and the moon flickered, and ripples spread through the space.
In just half a day, the terrain below had transitioned from the plains and hills of Dayong to a more rugged and desolate mountain range.
"Ahead lies Falling Star Plains."
Fairy Yaoguang stood beside Qin Xiao, her moon-white dress fluttering in the wind, her black hair swaying.
Her gaze fell upon the vast, flat wasteland ahead, riddled with potholes of varying sizes, her beautiful eyes filled with a complex expression.
Several years ago, it was here that a spatial rift occurred, causing everyone to become separated and fall into the perilous Xuanming Land.
Passing by again now, though time has passed and things have changed, I can't help but feel a sense of nostalgia.
"This time, we need to be even more cautious."
Qin Xiao also slowed down his escape speed, and his Nascent Soul divine sense spread out like a tide, carefully exploring every inch of the wasteland.
After cultivating with Fairy Yaoguang, his spiritual perception became several times sharper, and his ability to detect spatial fluctuations became even more precise.
Soon, it was discovered that most of the spatial rifts in the wasteland had naturally healed or shifted.
However, some extremely unstable spatial nodes remain, like underwater reefs.
"This way."
Qin Xiao guided his escape light, skillfully avoiding several hidden points of fluctuation, and followed the edge of the wasteland, taking a safer route.
Fairy Yaoguang also used all her senses to match the location of the Starfall Mountains in her memory with the current changes in the terrain.
"The main body of the Starfall Mountain Range should be located at the northwestern end of Falling Star Plain. However, over thousands of years, the earth's veins may have changed, and the shape of the mountains may be different."
As she pointed out the direction, she explained, "The Xuanji Pavilion's mountain gate is located below the main peak of the mountain range, 'Star-Picking Cliff,' and is concealed by the Zhou Tian Star Array. Even if the array is damaged, its core restrictions should still have residual fluctuations, which I can sense."
Qin Xiao nodded and, following Yao Guang's guidance, turned the escape light to the northwest.
The deeper you go, the more magnificent the surrounding mountains become.
The mountain peaks, like giant swords piercing the sky, are bare and sparsely vegetated.
"This place has a unique geology and produces a variety of gold and stone. In ancient times, it was an important source of materials for refining weapons. It is also frequently impacted by meteorites, hence the name 'Starfall'."
Fairy Yaoguang gazed at the familiar yet unfamiliar mountains and rivers, and softly recounted, "That is why my Xuanji Pavilion chose this location, to use the earth's veins and golden energy to stabilize the mountain's foundation, and to draw upon the residual stellar power of the meteorite for cultivation."
They flew for about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.
Ahead, a particularly majestic and precipitous peak, its entire body as black as ink, came into view.
Its peak appears to have been sliced flat by a sharp blade, with a smooth cross-section, creating a sense of incongruity with its surroundings.
"Star-Picking Cliff..."
Fairy Yaoguang's voice trembled slightly, her eyes filled with reminiscence and pain, "This is it. The entrance to the mountain gate was originally hidden in a deep valley below the cliff, concealed by an array. Now..."
Today, the Star-Picking Cliff still stands silently.
However, the deep valley below the cliff was mostly filled with collapsed rocks and soil, leaving only a narrow and rugged crack, like a scar on the earth.
There was no trace of the array's spiritual light in the valley, only howling mountain winds and deathly silence.
The sect was destroyed, and the landscape changed.
Even though she was mentally prepared, seeing her sect's former territory in such a state of disrepair still caused Fairy Yaoguang unbearable pain in her heart.
Qin Xiao silently held her hand, his warm palm conveying unspoken support.
Fairy Yaoguang took a deep breath, suppressing the surging emotions in her heart, and her eyes became firm again: "Although the entrance is buried, the core restriction should be deeper underground. Your Majesty, let's go down. I can sense a faint source of energy fluctuations."
"it is good."
The light descended, and the two landed in the valley below the Star-Picking Cliff, where rocks were piled up.
Where you step, there are only sharp-edged stones and thick dust, and you can see some broken jade fragments and rusted remnants of ritual implements.
Even the skeletons half-buried in the soil, dressed in ancient styles, have long since weathered away.
Each time Fairy Yaoguang saw something, her delicate body trembled slightly, but she forced herself not to stop walking.
She closed her eyes and focused her mind, a faint moonlight illuminating her brow as she carefully sensed the fluctuations of the core restriction of the Xuanji Pavilion deep underground.
Qin Xiao cautiously observed his surroundings, using his divine sense to probe for any potential dangers.
The environment here is harsh.
But it is precisely because of this that the site has been preserved from large-scale destruction by later generations.
A moment later, Fairy Yaoguang opened her eyes and pointed to a half-buried, inconspicuous bluish-black boulder in the center of the valley: "The source of the fluctuations is about a hundred feet below. This 'mountain-suppressing stone' is one of the entrance markers. Although it has lost all its spiritual power, there should be a secret passage leading directly underground beneath it."
Qin Xiao stepped forward and used his Five Elements spiritual energy to probe.
Sure enough, at the point where the bottom of the boulder connects to the earth's veins, there were traces of a formation pointing downwards.
"Move aside."
Qin Xiao gestured for Yao Guang to step back a few steps, then pointed his fingers like a sword, five-colored spiritual light condensed at his fingertips, and a trace of silver-gray spatial power swirled around them.
They did not choose to forcefully break through the rock, as that could damage the fragile structure below.
He slowly ran his fingers along the crack where the bottom of the boulder met the ground.
The silver-gray light shimmered, and the space in the gap was "peeled" open by an invisible force, revealing an opening that could only accommodate one person, with faint spatial ripples flowing around its edges.
The cave entrance is deep and sloping downwards, with faint air currents swirling around it.
This is one of the ingenious applications of spatial power.
Doors can be opened silently in short distances and small areas.
Fairy Yaoguang's beautiful eyes lit up, once again marveling at the speed at which Qin Xiao's spatial control had improved.
"Walk."
Qin Xiao stepped into the cave first, followed closely by Fairy Yaoguang.
The passage was initially extremely narrow, allowing only a sideways turn, and steeply descended.
The lighting crystals embedded in the wall had long since dimmed and broken, with only the spiritual light gathered at Qin Xiao's fingertips illuminating the way forward.
After walking for about several dozen feet, the passage gradually became wider and flatter, and traces of artificial chiseling and polishing appeared on the four walls.
Occasionally, one can still see some blurry murals and ancient seal script inscriptions, the contents of which are mostly about the movement of stars, the enlightenment of sages, and the rituals of sects.
Although it is mottled and peeling, one can still glimpse the grandeur of Xuanji Pavilion in its heyday.
Fairy Yaoguang remained silent the whole way, her gaze sweeping over the familiar patterns and words, her fingertips gently brushing against the cold stone wall, as if touching the past.
After descending a short distance, a heavy bronze door appeared ahead.
The door was tightly closed, and its surface was decorated with intricate star maps and cloud patterns. In the center was a groove, the shape of which was exactly the same as the phoenix-shaped jade pendant of Fairy Yaoguang.
There was no protective light on the door.
But Qin Xiao could sense a silent yet immense energy hidden behind the door.
"We've arrived. This is the mountain gate."
Fairy Yaoguang took out the jade pendant and looked at Qin Xiao, "Your Majesty, shall I activate it?"
"Be careful, I will protect you."
Qin Xiao nodded, his spiritual energy contained but not released, and his divine sense locked onto the bronze door and its surrounding area.
Fairy Yaoguang pressed the jade pendant into the groove and simultaneously infused it with pure moonlight spiritual power.
"Buzz..."
A deep, trembling sound came from inside the door, and the star and cloud patterns on the bronze door lit up with a faint light.
Although it is far less dazzling than it was back then, the shared origins are undeniable.
With a soft "click," the door slowly opened a crack inward.
An aura that had been sealed away for thousands of years wafted over us.