The third night had fallen since Lu Xingchen and his teacher, Mo Xuan, entered the Astral Light Forest. The stars shimmered brightly across the dark sky, scattering silver light that seemed to guide their every step. Yet, their search had yielded nothing so far.
Lu Xingchen sat leaning against the roots of a large tree, his gaze fixed restlessly on the heavens above.
"It's been three days... and still not a single suitable spirit beast," he muttered.
Mo Xuan sat nearby, eyes sharp and alert to their surroundings.
"Spirit beasts with starlight attributes are exceedingly rare," he replied calmly. "But you must be patient, Xingchen. Your first spirit ring will form the foundation for all your future techniques. It cannot be chosen lightly."
Xingchen nodded, knowing full well the truth in his teacher's words—but the frustration was hard to suppress. His martial soul, the Star-Crowned Deer, was a rare and unique soul spirit—one that resonated only with select few spirit beasts. He had already rejected many: a Mist Fox, a Thunderbird, even a Scaled Tiger. None of them harmonized with his soul.
As night deepened, they chose to explore an unexplored path—deeper into the forest's heart. Their steps led them to a hidden valley, where glowing plants blanketed the ground like a field of light. The air felt thinner yet rich in spiritual energy.
"Teacher Mo, look," Xingchen whispered, pointing to a cluster of glowing rocks near a cliff.
There stood a graceful creature. It stood around one and a half meters tall, with a lithe silver body. Its antlers shone like crystal, and faint constellation patterns shimmered across its flank.
"A Starry Constellation Deer—spirit beast of the astral sky element," Mo Xuan murmured in awe. "Extremely rare... and perfect for you."
But before they could take another step—
GRAAAHH!
A large figure lunged out from the underbrush—a Horned Stone Bear, its body thick and muscular, with hide as tough as iron. With a thunderous roar, it charged toward the deer.
Mo Xuan moved instantly.
"Xingchen, fall back!"
A swirling wind burst from his body, forming a protective vortex. Xingchen retreated quickly, but instinct pushed him forward—not away from the deer, but toward it. He activated his martial soul—not yet empowered by a spirit ring, yet still potent thanks to his innate talent.
He sprinted around the bear, using his starlight aura to create illusions. The bear's first swipe hit nothing but glowing afterimages. Xingchen seized the opening, ramming his spiritual antlers into the beast's flank.
The bear roared in pain but remained standing. It retaliated by slamming its body against the earth, shaking the ground in a mini-quake.
"It's targeting the deer!" Mo Xuan called out. "We must end this quickly!"
Xingchen rushed to the side and dashed forward again, striking the bear's neck with all his might. Mo Xuan followed up with slicing wind attacks, until the beast finally fell, unmoving.
At that moment, the silver deer stepped forward. Its eyes locked with Xingchen's... and then, its body began to glow.
Streams of starlight flowed into Lu Xingchen's body.
"Ughh…!"
His entire body trembled violently. Wild energy surged through his muscles and meridians. He dropped to his knees, drenched in sweat.
Mo Xuan remained close.
"Calm your mind! Guide the energy along your meridians!"
Xingchen closed his eyes. Within his mind, he stood beneath a vast celestial sky. Stars turned slowly in an endless expanse, and before him stood the glowing figure of the deer. As he reached out to touch it, a warm light engulfed him.
Nearly an hour passed before the energy finally stabilized. Around him, a single silver spirit ring revolved slowly.
"This is..." he gasped, breath ragged. "My first spirit ring."
New Ability: Constellation Light
"How does it feel?" Mo Xuan asked.
Xingchen drew a deep breath and opened his palm. Silver light gathered in his hand, forming a glowing spear. Constellation patterns ran along its length.
"This skill allows me to summon light from the stars and forge it into a long-range weapon. But... I can only use it twice per night. The energy cost is still too high."
Mo Xuan smiled.
"It fits your martial soul perfectly. But don't be content just yet. Try it."
They moved to a nearby clearing. Xingchen stood in the center, raising his hand toward the sky. He focused his thoughts, calling to the stars above.
Light rained down like a meteor shower, converging into a spear larger and brighter than before.
With a fluid motion, he hurled it at a giant tree.
BOOM!
The spear struck with explosive force, tearing bark and splintering the trunk. The earth trembled from the impact.
Xingchen stared at his now-empty hand, feeling the exhaustion deep within his spirit.
"Still rough," he muttered. "But I can feel it... each direction of the stars gives a different resonance. Maybe I'll be able to form arrows, shields, or entirely new techniques from other constellations later."
Mo Xuan placed a hand on his shoulder.
"That is the path of a true Soul Master—not just to fight, but to uncover your soul's true potential."
Thoughts of Future Spirit Rings
After a short rest, Xingchen sat on a large stone and began to reflect. With his first spirit ring secured, his thoughts turned to the future—his second and third rings.
"If Constellation Light is a long-range attack, what should I aim for next?" he wondered, resting his chin on his hand. "Something that enhances my physical abilities would be ideal—speed or durability—something to cover my weakness in close combat."
He imagined how a second ring might complement his current skills—perhaps a spirit beast that granted agility, or fortified his defense.
Then, he thought about the third ring. A healing or regeneration ability would be invaluable.
"If I can draw power from the stars, maybe I can also harness it to restore myself. A spirit ring that grants recovery might be the perfect safeguard in prolonged battles."
Endless possibilities danced through his mind.
But he knew time was a factor. His Star-Crowned Deer martial soul held great potential, but only if he chose his spirit rings wisely. To honor that potential meant thinking carefully about each ring's elemental synergy.
The night deepened. Xingchen leaned back again, gazing up at the stars—but this time, with a new sense of connection. Something inside him now resonated with the heavens above.
"This is only the beginning… but I feel like… the sky is my true home."
Mo Xuan gave a small smile.
"Then let the stars light your path."
And under the cool glow of the night, Lu Xingchen closed his eyes, allowing the new power to fully settle into his soul.