Feng Qinghuang's cold, clear light disappeared into the horizon, leaving Lin Yuan alone in a corner of the empty square, enduring the scrutiny of countless gazes. Pity, mockery, disbelief, and blatant schadenfreude, like countless invisible needles, pricked him, making him feel extremely uncomfortable.
"Ha, see? Even his apprentice doesn't take him seriously."
"You've brought this upon yourself! Did you really think that by taking in a prodigy, you could rise to the top overnight?"
"Just wait, within three days, Feng Qinghuang will definitely switch to another peak, and Lin Yuan will become the biggest joke in the sect!"
Whispers, like maggots, burrowed into Lin Yuan's ears. He took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the frustration and annoyance of being ignored. Now was not the time to care about these things! The system! His only reliance had finally activated!
He ignored the stares, turned, and walked heavily but resolutely toward Starfall Peak. Each step felt like treading on mud; his Qi Refining Realm cultivation seemed so insignificant in the vast Heavenly Evolution Sect. Yet, in his eyes burned a flame of hope.
Meteorite Peak.
As its name suggests, the peak stands isolated on the edge of the sect, its spiritual energy shockingly thin, far less radiant than other spiritual peaks. As far as the eye can see, jagged rocks abound, vegetation is sparse, and there is only a simple cave dwelling built of rough black stone, and a small, similarly cracked stone platform in front of it. The night wind howls past, carrying a biting chill and loneliness, as if even starlight is reluctant to linger here.
Lin Yuan stood on the stone platform, looking around at the desolate landscape, his heart filled with mixed emotions. This was his training ground, a corner forgotten by the sect. Inside the cave, there was only a simple stone bed and table, and in the corner were several dusty storage bags—the "rich" legacy left by his master.
He couldn't wait to sit cross-legged and immerse himself in his thoughts.
"Buzz!"
A deep and vast screen of light, seemingly containing endless stars, unfolded in his consciousness—the interface of the [Myriad Paths Apprenticeship System]. Simple, yet full of profound mystery.
Host: Lin Yuan
Realm: Qi Induction Realm (Early Stage)
First Disciple: Feng Qinghuang (Reincarnation of Emperor Qingtian)
Status: Dao foundation shattered (severe), soul incomplete (severe), cultivation sealed (partial)
Intimacy: -10 (Extremely Distant)
Current task: Guide the first disciple 'Feng Qinghuang' to successfully enter the Tribulation Transcending Stage (0/1)
Task Reward: Cultivation level raised to the peak of the Transformation Realm, [Starry Sky Body Tempering Technique]
Seeing Feng Qinghuang's shocking condition description and the glaring "-10" intimacy level, Lin Yuan gasped. Her Dao foundation shattered! Her soul incomplete! This was far more serious than he had imagined! No wonder she was looking for the "Zhou Tian Xing Chen Jue"! This intimacy level… indeed, in her eyes, he was just a worthless figurehead.
His gaze was immediately drawn to the rewards in the system space:
[Insightful Eye](Beginner): Allows preliminary insight into the target's basic information, status, and some causal relationships (effect weakened against higher realms or special beings).
[Star Spirit Guiding Array](Peak Master Level) x1: Can draw upon the power of the stars in the heavens, greatly increasing the concentration of spiritual energy and the Dao of the stars in a designated area. Requires a specific star stone as the base for its setup.
[Star Origin Pill]x10: Contains the pure power of the star origin, which can nourish the soul, stabilize the foundation of the Dao, accelerate the introduction of Qi into the body and the cultivation of star-type techniques (has a slight auxiliary effect on repairing the foundation of the Dao and the soul).
[Enlightenment Star Radiance]x1 hour: After use, it can make the specified target enter a deep enlightenment state for a short period of time, greatly improving the efficiency of comprehending the laws of the stars.
"Great stuff! These are lifesavers!" Lin Yuan was overjoyed, especially when he saw the [Star Spirit Guiding Array] and the [Star Origin Pill]! These were practically tailor-made for Feng Qinghuang! They were also his key to completing the mission!
He immediately retrieved the array plate of the [Star Spirit Guiding Array] and the nine matching star stones that shimmered with a faint light. The array plate was neither gold nor jade, and it was cool to the touch, with intricate and mysterious star trail patterns engraved on it.
"Now!" Lin Yuan's eyes narrowed, and following the method instilled by the system, he mobilized the meager Qi-Inducing Realm spiritual power within his body and painstakingly injected it into the core of the array plate.
Buzz—!
The array plate emitted a deep hum and rose into the air. Nine star stones, as if drawn by a force, shot out automatically and precisely embedded themselves into ancient grooves on the stone slab that had existed for a long time and were almost worn smooth by the years. These grooves seemed to be marks left by Starfall Peak itself.
The moment the nine star stones were embedded!
Boom—!
The entire Starfall Peak seemed to tremble slightly! The once desolate and lifeless mountain suddenly exuded an indescribable ancient aura. Deep within the cave, an extremely faint, almost imperceptible starlight seemed to flash and disappear.
Immediately following, a visible, pale silver light shield spread out from the array plate, instantly covering the entire stone platform area. Countless miniature star-like phantoms slowly rotated and faded within the shield. In an instant, the concentration of spiritual energy within the stone platform area began to rise at an unbelievable speed! Although far from reaching the levels of other main peaks, it was a world of difference compared to the previous desolation! Furthermore, a pure and ancient stellar Daoist aura permeated the air, bringing tranquility to the mind.
"It's done!" Lin Yuan's face was pale. That attack had almost drained his meager spiritual energy at the Qi Refining Realm, but looking at the stone platform before him, shrouded in spiritual energy and shimmering with starlight, he felt a great sense of accomplishment. This was the first thing he, as the peak master, had done for his disciple (and for himself)!
Just then, a stream of cool moonlight silently descended onto the edge of the stone platform; it was none other than Feng Qinghuang, who had returned.
She clearly sensed the dramatic change in the spiritual energy and Daoist aura on the stone platform, a barely perceptible hint of surprise flashing in her clear, cold eyes. She glanced at the suspended array plate and the starstone embedded in the groove, her gaze finally settling on Lin Yuan, who was panting heavily and clearly exhausted.
"You did this?" Her voice remained emotionless, but the aloofness seemed to have faded slightly, replaced by scrutiny. The quality and effect of this spirit-guiding array were far beyond what a Qi Refining Realm waste could have set up. Could it be… that his master had left some backup plan? Or was he simply hiding his true abilities? This thought flashed through her mind only briefly before being dismissed. She had witnessed too much in her previous life; the "mortal" aura emanating from Lin Yuan couldn't be faked.
Lin Yuan caught his breath, tried to stand up straight, and forced a composed expression that a "master" should have (though it was very forced): "Well, this is the [Star Spirit Guiding Array], which can gather star power and spiritual energy, and should be of some help to your cultivation." He didn't mention the system, only attributing it to "the legacy of his master".
Feng Qinghuang did not respond, but slowly walked into the array's range. In an instant, pure stellar spiritual energy and Daoist charm enveloped her like warm spring water, bringing a subtle sense of comfort to her previously dormant and parched meridians. Although this nourishment was insignificant compared to her shattered Dao foundation and fragmented soul, it was a feeling she hadn't experienced in a long time.
She closed her eyes, took a deep breath of the starlight-scented air, and when she opened them again, her eyes held an indescribable complexity. She looked at Lin Yuan, her tone still calm, but less indifferent than before: "This place is still a safe haven."
Lin Yuan felt relieved; there was hope! He immediately struck while the iron was hot, flipping his hand to reveal a warm, smooth jade bottle in his palm. Inside the bottle were ten pills, each the size of a longan, a deep blue in color, with what appeared to be swirling galaxies within, radiating an alluring glow and pure energy fluctuations.
"This is the [Star Origin Pill]," Lin Yuan said, handing the jade bottle to Feng Qinghuang, trying to make his tone sound natural. "It contains the power of the star origin, which is slightly beneficial for stabilizing one's foundation and nourishing one's soul. Since you have just entered Starfall, this pill... can be considered a gift from your master to you."
Feng Qinghuang's gaze fell on the jade bottle, and her pupils suddenly contracted!
Star Origin Pill!
In her past life, she was an empress, so naturally she knew her stuff! This pill was no ordinary item! The stellar origin power it contained was incredibly pure, perfectly suited to her damaged foundation and incomplete soul! Although ten pills couldn't cure her problem, they would definitely provide significant relief and nourishment! Its value far exceeded her expectations!
She looked up abruptly, facing her master, who was at the Qi Refining Realm, for the first time in a truly meaningful way. With her all-seeing eyes, Lin Yuan's condition was crystal clear—his spiritual energy was exhausted, his body was weak, and his eyes held a hint of tension and anticipation, but no deception or scheming.
Was he serious? Was he really going to give him such a precious elixir? Where did he get it? Could his master's legacy be so abundant? Or…?
Countless questions churned in Feng Qinghuang's mind. She gazed intently at Lin Yuan, as if trying to see through his ordinary appearance. On the stone platform, the light of the Star-Guiding Spirit Array flowed silently, reflecting the subtle atmosphere between the two.
Finally, Feng Qinghuang reached out her slender hand and accepted the warm jade bottle. The energy fluctuations from the pill emanating from her fingertips stirred a ripple in her icy heart.
"Thank you... Master." She said softly, her voice still cold, but no longer as devoid of warmth as before. The word "Master" seemed to carry a very faint weight, one that even she herself was unaware of.
A huge weight lifted from Lin Yuan's heart, and the first genuine smile since his transmigration appeared on his face. Although the intimacy level was still negative, this first step had finally been taken! The bait of repairing his Dao foundation had been successfully thrown out!
However, just as this master-disciple relationship was making a subtle progress—
"boom!"
A powerful, domineering, and hostile beam of light, carrying the pressure of a peak Breaking Illusion Realm expert, brutally tore through the thin spiritual energy barrier surrounding Starfall Peak, crashing down onto the edge of the stone platform like a meteorite!
As the light faded, a young man dressed in the robes of an elite inner disciple, his face arrogant, appeared. His gaze, sharp as lightning, first greedily swept over the swirling star-guiding array on the stone platform and the jade bottle in Feng Qinghuang's hand, before finally settling on Lin Yuan. A smile of undisguised mockery and contempt curled at the corner of his lips:
"Oh, isn't this our 'famous' Peak Master Lin? You've struck gold in this desolate wilderness? Junior Sister Feng is exceptionally talented; how could a piece of trash like you dare to covet her? If you know what's good for you, immediately sever your master-disciple relationship, offer this spirit-guiding array and pills to Senior Brother Zhao (Zhao Hao, the Yunzhou Zhao family's heir who was rejected when he tried to flirt with her), and then obediently get out of Starfall Peak! Otherwise..." The young man's spiritual energy surged, and his threat was self-evident.
The chilling killing intent instantly dispelled the slight warmth that had just risen on the stone platform.
Lin Yuan's heart sank. Trouble had come so quickly! And the visitors were hostile! He looked at Feng Qinghuang and saw that her beautiful face was covered with frost, her eyes were as cold as ancient ice, and the ancient majesty of an empress was slowly reviving around her.