Chapter 38: The Sovereign's Gaze: A Cosmic Test Awaits
After enduring the unbearable spiritual pressure of the Starfall Corridor and purifying his core, Liam had returned to his new residence, a serene, spiritually rich chamber within the Celestial Palace. His body still ached with lingering pain, his muscles weary, but his Golden Core Middle Stage now pulsed at its absolute peak, radiating a calm yet immense power. With every breath, he felt his internal energy growing denser, naturally pushing him towards the Golden Core Peak Stage.
Sael and Lyra were by his side, their eyes filled with concern and boundless admiration. Sael administered spiritual elixirs, her touch gentle, while Lyra prepared special teas that soothed his fatigued mind. Their silence was filled with worry and unwavering loyalty.
"You pushed yourself too far, Liam," Sael whispered one evening, wiping beads of sweat from his forehead. "Celestia's power... it is too immense." Her voice held a hint of fear, yet her devotion to Liam remained absolute.
Liam smiled, nodding slightly. "I had to. It is part of my destiny." He closed his eyes, sensing his Golden Core, which was now vaster and more luminous than before. The Starfall Corridor had freed his core from the final subtle impediment caused by the Nectar Drop. He was now poised for the next breakthrough.
The next few days, Liam spent in intense meditation and self-observation, consolidating his Golden Core Middle Stage. He attempted to delve deeper into the subsequent stages of the Star Emperor's Scripture, using his blue-particle eyes to read the intricate cosmic energy flows. He felt as if the entire Palace itself was a living, breathing entity, constantly imparting boundless knowledge to him.
One afternoon, as Liam was immersed in meditation in his chamber, he sensed a subtle, yet distinct spiritual presence. It was Celestia. She entered silently, her form bathed in starlight. She stood quietly with her Starlight Staff, her gaze fixed on Liam, her usual cold distance now transformed into a calm, deep curiosity.
Liam opened his eyes. He looked at Celestia, her presence still immense, but her aura now held a subtle shift, like the thawing of a frozen surface. "Celestia, you are here?" Liam asked, his voice respectful.
Celestia slowly nodded, her long, star-dusted hair flowing over her shoulders. "I have analyzed your core, mortal. After enduring the Starfall Corridor... it is purer than even my highest expectations." Her voice still resonated, but it carried a tone that hadn't been there before – a kind of curiosity, almost a strange earnestness. "How did you achieve this? Your core, it is unlike any other mortal."
Liam kept his deepest secrets guarded. "I do not know how I attained it, Guardian Celestia. It has always been within me. It is part of my destiny." He allowed his star-mark to subtly shimmer for a moment, enough for her to perceive, but not enough to reveal its full mystery.
Celestia's gaze lingered on Liam's star-mark. A fleeting memory, ancient and pained, flickered in her eyes for just a moment, then vanished. "This Mark... it is the same." Her voice held an indefinable sorrow. She approached Liam, circling him, examining him closely, as if studying a unique celestial phenomenon.
"This core... it feels like a 'Star Cosmos Core'," Celestia whispered, a hint of awe in her voice. "A core that only the great Star Emperors possessed. You are no mere mortal, Liam. You are no ordinary mortal." She stood before Liam, her Starlight Staff held firmly in her hands. Her galaxy-like eyes delved deep into Liam's, holding a strange brilliance – an unquenchable curiosity, an ancient yearning to unravel a profound mystery.
"The power within you... it resonates with the power within me," Celestia murmured, her voice carrying an unusual undertone of urgency. She raised her hand, and her fingers gently hovered in the air near Liam's cheek, as if she wanted to touch him, then slowly retracted without making contact. Her presence felt cold, yet a subtle, cosmic energy flowed within Liam, causing his Golden Core to stir. "Tell me, Liam. Who are you? Why are you worthy of this legacy?"
Liam met her gaze with unwavering resolve. He sensed the profound depth of her curiosity, and the unspoken story behind her immense power. "I follow my destiny, Celestia," Liam stated, his voice firm. "And I will protect all those I care about."
Celestia's eyes widened for a fleeting moment, a subtle thought crossing her features. She slowly lowered her hand. Her face returned to its usual calm, impassive expression, but her eyes still held a lingering gleam, a brilliance that was not there before, indicating her deep, growing interest in Liam's hidden potential.
"Your resolve is commendable, mortal," Celestia stated, her voice returning to its usual authority, but now with a new, almost eager tone. "Your next trial awaits. This is the Cosmic Illusory Labyrinth. It tests your mind, your soul, and the depths of your very being. Within it, you will face your deepest fears, your greatest doubts, and the specters of your past. For countless eons, no mortal has emerged from it. If you succeed, you will break through to the Golden Core Peak Stage, and you will gain another fragment of the Star Emperor's legacy."
She looked at Liam, her eyes holding a deep, almost personal expectation. "Are you ready, mortal?"
Liam nodded, a surge of new energy filling him. This was not merely a test; it was a crucial step in his destiny. He watched as Celestia slowly glided out of his chamber, her form dissolving into the starlight. He knew that Celestia no longer regarded him as just a mortal; she saw him as a unique entity, with a potential she herself didn't fully comprehend.
Outside, Sael and Lyra waited, their eyes filled with concern. They saw Celestia emerge from Liam's chamber, and their eyes held unspoken questions. Liam offered them a reassuring smile. He knew the next trial would be not of his power, but of his mind and soul, a trial that would confront him with his deepest truths.