The realization that his pursuit of immortality might be rooted in a centuries-old jest had transformed Li Wei's understanding of the Dao, yet it had not dimmed his fervor. The hidden valley, with its shimmering pool, ancient tree, and glowing blossoms, pulsed with an energy that seemed to affirm the warmth in his dantian—a warmth he still believed was his nascent Golden Core, nurturing a fledgling Nascent Soul. Azure Dragon, his scruffy spirit beast, remained a loyal companion, curled by the stone altar as Li Wei pored over the scroll, its worn bamboo slats a testament to his unyielding journey. The scroll's latest passage unveiled a new challenge: "The Celestial Compass, where the cultivator aligns their qi with the stars to chart the path to eternity."
In the cultivation novels Li Wei had devoured in Beijing, celestial compasses were mystical artifacts or spiritual techniques that guided cultivators through cosmic realms, aligning their qi with the heavens' rhythms. The scroll's description was more poetic but equally compelling: "Seek the stars' guidance, let qi resonate with their light, and the path shall unfold. Beware, for the heavens test the heart's purity." Li Wei, tempered by lightning, betrayal, and moments of clarity, felt a surge of excitement. His Starstone, with its spiral carvings and faint warmth, seemed the perfect vessel for this trial. Could it be the Celestial Compass, a tool to align his spirit with the cosmos? His body, ravaged by hunger, fever, and the lingering effects of his alchemical mishaps, protested, but the valley's mystical aura and the scroll's promise fueled his determination.
Li Wei prepared with the reverence of a navigator charting uncharted seas. He reinforced his altar with smooth stones from the pool's edge, carving star-like patterns inspired by the Starstone to channel the valley's qi. He placed the scroll, jade slip, Starstone, and stolen booklet at the altar's center, surrounding them with the ancient tree's glowing blossoms, their light pulsing like miniature constellations. Azure Dragon watched, head tilted, as Li Wei fasted, sipping only the valley's crystal-clear water, which he believed carried spiritual essence. The scroll instructed a meditative trance under the stars, so he waited for a clear night, when the valley's sky was a tapestry of infinite light, to begin.
As midnight approached, the valley cloaked in starlight, Li Wei sat beneath the ancient tree, the Starstone cradled in his hands. The scroll's incantations flowed from his lips, their rhythmic tones blending with the valley's whispers, which seemed to hum with celestial energy. He focused on his dantian, visualizing his Golden Core as a radiant star, its light reaching out to connect with the heavens. The Starstone warmed under his touch, its spirals seeming to glow brighter, as if responding to his qi. The scroll urged him to "align with the stars," so he gazed upward, letting his mind drift toward the constellations, imagining his Nascent Soul soaring among them.
Hours passed, his body trembling from the strain, his feverish haze intensifying. The warmth in his dantian surged, pulsing in rhythm with the stars' twinkling light. In his trance, the valley faded, replaced by a cosmic expanse—a sea of stars where a glowing compass floated, its needle spinning wildly before pointing to a distant peak on Mount Tai. A voice, soft yet commanding, echoed: "Is your heart true to the Dao?" Li Wei's Nascent Soul, a faint, radiant figure, followed the compass's direction, soaring toward the peak. The sensation was exhilarating, as if he were charting the path to immortality itself, but his body, frail and overtaxed, rebelled. A wave of dizziness shattered the trance, and he awoke gasping, sprawled by the altar, Azure Dragon whining and nudging his face.
The Starstone felt warmer, as if infused with celestial energy, and the warmth in his dantian pulsed stronger, clearer, as if aligned with the stars. Had he truly glimpsed the Celestial Compass, or was it another vision born of fever and longing? The scroll promised guidance but warned of tests, and Li Wei chose to believe he'd passed. He scribbled in his notebook, hands trembling: "Celestial Compass found. Stars guide the Dao, qi aligns. Body falters, spirit soars." The valley's whispers seemed to approve, the ancient tree's blossoms glowing brighter, their light reflecting in the pool like a starlit map.
Determined to follow the vision, Li Wei resolved to hike to the distant peak, believing it held the next step of his path. With Azure Dragon limping at his side, he trekked through Mount Tai's rugged slopes, his body aching but his spirit driven. After hours of climbing, he reached a rocky outcrop, where a weathered stone bore faint, star-like carvings—natural, perhaps, but to Li Wei, a confirmation of the compass's guidance. He knelt, pressing the Starstone to the carvings, and felt a surge of warmth, as if the heavens acknowledged his effort. He carved the patterns into his notebook, noting: "Peak reached. Celestial stone found. Dao charts the way."
During the next video call with the Order of the Jade Dawn, Li Wei shared the experience, holding up the Starstone and describing the cosmic compass and the peak's carvings. Zhang Wei, eyes wide, called it a "divine navigation," urging him to brew an elixir with the valley's herbs to enhance the alignment. Liu Mei, her serene face lit by moonlight, praised his vision but warned: "The stars guide, but the body must endure." Chen Xiu and Zhao Feng, awed, debated the carvings' meaning, their tensions simmering but softened by Li Wei's passion. He hid his worsening fever and the pain in his joints, fearing their concern might shake their faith.
As dawn broke, Li Wei sat by the altar, the Starstone warm in his hands, Azure Dragon snoring softly. The scroll promised that the Celestial Compass would chart the path to eternity, but also warned of greater trials. The valley's whispers chanted softly, their murmurs blending with the morning breeze. With his sect's support and the scroll's guidance, Li Wei felt ready to follow the stars, his Golden Core and Nascent Soul pulsing as beacons of his unyielding pursuit of immortality, one celestial step at a time.