Chapter 2: The Destiny Stars
At this moment, in a secluded loft at the foot of the mountain surrounded by dense forest, Xu Yun's figure emerged. He silently glanced at the eight meditation cushions placed on the ground, a fleeting look of melancholy crossing his eyes. Afterward, he shook his head vigorously and walked over to one of the cushions, sitting cross-legged upon it.
At this moment, behind Xu Yun, a massive water-blue starry phantom emerged, gradually solidifying until it completely transformed into the form of its true self within the endless starry sky. Just as this phantom fully solidified, a golden-yellow beam of light suddenly descended around Xu Yun, measuring one meter in diameter and reaching sky-high, completely enveloping Xu Yun's slender figure
So it is! Xu Yun opened his eyes and let out a sigh, realizing that the sky had already darkened somewhat. It seems that he had been so immersed in the joy of exploration that time had flown by. However, this is also good, as the power of the stars at night is several hundred to a thousand times greater than during the day.
The young man in the black robe, Ye Qingchen, glanced at Xu Yun, then rose and walked to the cushion indicated by Xu Yun, sitting cross-legged. He closed his eyes tightly, as if he had nothing to say.
At this moment, in the attic where Xu Yun resides, the beams of starlight dissipate, and his body has returned to a state of tranquility, with the golden light surrounding him no longer present
At a certain moment, Xu Yun suddenly opened his eyes, and a black starry phantom appeared on his forehead. After spinning around, the black star transformed into a black book adorned with pale handprints, its deep blackness exuding an eerie fluctuation
Xu Yun's consciousness swept across the aquamarine stars in the realm of the mind, and a rare expression of warmth appeared at the corners of her mouth, as if she had found a long-lost relative. Although fifteen years had passed since her rebirth here, some things were indeed so... deeply etched... in her heart.
Countless golden star-like points swirl around the body, flowing towards the black star at the center of the forehead, forming a golden thread the thickness of a hair within the body. This thread directly ascends along the body to the point three inches above the inner ankle, known as the "San Yin Jiao" point, which is also the first acupoint recorded in the "Yin Star Communication Method"
"Every person who lives will eventually face the day of death." Ye Qingchen seemed to recall something, her lips moved slightly, and her voice was as cold as the icy depths of the underworld
Xu Yun's expression remained unchanged, seemingly indifferent to the actions of the person beside her, as she continuously spoke: "It seems that all six of them have died. Having lived together for a month, I truly feel a bit reluctant to part with them"
With a faint cracking sound, a real water-blue star exploded behind, transforming into countless mysterious fragments that entered Xu Yun's mind, and then reassembled within the mind, taking on the form of that water-blue star.
In a certain region of the endless starry sky, the universe is enveloped in a deep, ethereal blue, with countless stars resembling grains of sand along the Ganges. Strange meteors flow alongside the river of stars, revealing a celestial body entirely in shades of water blue. This water blue can only be described as the dominant hue, interspersed with various tones of gray, white, and green, yet it does not appear awkward. Instead, against the backdrop of this profound and ethereal blue universe, it presents an unparalleled beauty.
Yuan Dao Sect is located in the southernmost region of the Qianyuan Continent, within the territory of the Wu Kingdom. It is situated at the center of the vast Cangmang Mountain Range, controlling five towering peaks. Apart from the Cangmang Peak, which is the site of the awakening of the Star Essence, the other four peaks—Zihua, Jincheng, Qing, and the four cardinal peaks—stand in a surrounding formation.
Such incredible speed and formidable penetrating power. Xu Yun glanced at his still smooth fingers, feeling an inexplicable excitement in his heart. The Star Essence truly is the foundation of Star Cultivation, allowing a frail scholar like himself, who has yet to truly cultivate, to pierce through the hard ground with a single finger. If this finger were to strike someone else's head, it would indeed be a lethal blow.
Xu Yun snapped his fingers with one hand, and the black book unexpectedly flipped open with a "pa" sound, revealing a young man in a brocade robe on the left and a lightning mark on the right
For countless years, the Yuandao Sect has consistently been the most powerful sect within the martial realm, with only the Yunmen Sect being able to stand alongside it. Perhaps due to the sect's particularly unique regulations, most of its disciples are decisive and ruthless individuals, which has led to disdain from their peers in the martial world, who secretly refer to them as the Yuandao Demon Sect
The scent of my hometown! With her tightly closed eyes, Xu Yun unconsciously shed two warm tears, her gentle smile overflowing with expression. Countless images flashed through her mind: the Earth, China, the seven continents, the four oceans, a multitude of countries, diverse ethnicities, the civilizations of the ages, and everything in between.
Perhaps! Xu Yun shook her head with a light smile, and did not speak further. As her eyes closed, silence returned to the attic, with only the intermittent sounds of insects and birds from the mountains filtering in
The Star Essence, upon awakening, can transform into various forms, evolving into a myriad of extraordinary abilities. These abilities can generally be categorized into three types: the first is the Enhancement type, which enhances all things under one's control; the second is the Nature type, encompassing all visible elements in nature; and the third is the Trait type, which is a collective term for all special abilities and also the most extensive category.
After a long time, Xu Yun solemnly adjusted his robe, placing his hands flat on his knees, with no distracting thoughts in his mind. The black star formed from the star essence at his brow suddenly shone brightly, becoming somewhat deep and dark, as if it had a hint of life. It autonomously transformed into the shape of a black book, its entire body radiating a profound black light that surged like the depths of the nine hells, seemingly communicating with the fated star in the endless starry sky.
The matter of a scholar... how can it be considered theft! Xu Yun's lips curled into a wicked smile as his palm brushed over the surface of the book, and in an instant, five dark red characters appeared, flickering briefly before vanishing.
As Xu Yun's unconscious thoughts flowed, the previously solidified azure starry shadow behind him seemed no longer illusory, subtly revealing glimpses of land, rivers, and streams of people, or perhaps the ancient languages forged by a long-lost civilization.
It is better to further study the "Guiding Star Communication Method"; the foundation of such practice is of great importance and must not be mistaken.
Xu Yun slightly trembled her hand, pointing a finger towards the ground beside her. Her finger transformed into a fleeting shadow, and with a "poof," it completely penetrated the ground.
After a while, Xu Yun let out a light breath, her heart calming down. The black book transformed once again into a black star, marking her forehead, while the lightning silk garment around her body vanished without a trace
Congratulations
In the swift winds and thunderous moments, Xu Yun at this time appeared as if draped in a layer of azure light, a thin veil that, along with his flowing hair, made him resemble a deity from the heavens above.
Congratulations
Casting a sidelong glance at Ye Qingchen beside him, Xu Yun discovered that this cold and aloof young man in a black robe had also completed the final step of communicating with the stars. However, the starry phantom behind him made Xu Yun frown. Although Ye Qingchen's natal star appeared to be quite perfect, Xu Yun couldn't shake the feeling that something was missing. This sensation came swiftly and departed just as quickly, akin to a fleeting thought.
My natal star turns out to be Earth, truly an unforgettable memory. Xu Yun opened her eyes slowly, and the hazy starlight flickered and vanished.
It should be said that it is a new beginning
The cool night breeze brushed against Xu Yun's cheek, drying the tears on her face and revealing a pale yet resolute countenance. Just like the fifteen years spent in study, though ordinary, it has composed a different kind of brilliance. Persistence, resilience, and wisdom—everything that was once unattainable. Had it not been for that incident, she might have entered the royal court of the Wu Kingdom as a top scholar. Yet now, she has resolutely embarked on the path of star cultivation.
Two identical sounds emerged simultaneously; the difference being one was like a gentle breeze brushing against the face, while the other was akin to the chilling depths of the abyss, and then the attic fell silent as before
The reason we, as Star Cultivators, are able to awaken our Star Essence is that each person's Star Essence corresponds to a specific star in the boundless starry sky, known as the Fate Star. The key to cultivating through the Star Reflection Mirror lies in drawing the power of the Fate Star into the body through the Star Essence, thereby opening the meridians and storing it within.
At the foot of Ziji Peak in the Yuandao Sect, a white jade path crisscrosses in all directions. The surrounding environment resembles a peach orchard, filled with peculiar stones and strange trees, creating a stunning visual tapestry. Amidst the green mountains and clear waters, there are exquisite pavilions, with intricately carved railings and painted beams that captivate the eye endlessly
The moment this star was formed in the mind, it radiated endless golden light, dazzling like the blazing sun, instantly illuminating all the meridians and acupoints within the body, as if one were in a golden realm. The three hundred and sixty acupoints around the body thirstily absorbed the golden radiance, as if undergoing some incredible transformation.
"Ye Qingchen, congratulations on coming back alive!" Xu Yun said with a slight smile, pointing to the cushion beside him.
Xu Yun made up his mind and, without further delay, repeatedly delved into the intricacies of the Star-Connecting Technique in his mind
It was yet another new beginning. A cold voice suddenly emerged from beside Xu Yun, and then, as if it had never appeared, it fell silent once more
If someone were to witness the changes in Xu Yun's internal acupoints at this moment, they would surely exclaim in astonishment. The process of a star cultivator opening the three hundred and sixty acupoints within their body is exceptionally arduous. As each acupoint is opened one after another, the remaining acupoints become increasingly resilient, making them correspondingly more difficult to open. However, after the acupoints within Xu Yun's body absorbed the initial golden light emitted by his destined star, they surprisingly became even more resilient.
The aquamarine star seemed to sense something through the endless starry sky, emanating mystical ripples as it rotated. In an instant, it appeared as if countless profound sounds were resonating, and then a radiant light enveloped it, shooting forth a colossal beam of golden starlight that reached the heavens. In a moment, it traversed the sands of the Ganges, crossed the boundless starry sky, and journeyed through billions of worlds, arriving at the planet where Xu Yun resided. It penetrated through the stars and illuminated Xu Yun, who was seated in a meditative posture.
The Ultimate Skill of Thieves: Trait-based ability, which has no offensive or defensive functions. Its sole capability is to steal the star essence abilities of others, but it cannot steal the star essence itself, allowing the opponent to still utilize their own abilities. To successfully steal an ability, three conditions must be met: First, one must have seen the true appearance of the opponent; second, one must have witnessed the opponent's star essence ability; third, the opponent's palm must be placed on the handprint of the black book.
Just as Xu Yun had just taken his seat, another person appeared in the attic amidst the fluctuations of the air. This individual was dressed in a black robe; although he appeared to be a youth, he stood tall like a green pine. His cold and aloof eyes emitted a piercing, ethereal light, and his silvery-white hair cascaded beside his ears. His icy expression was suffocating, as if he were perpetually exuding a chilling aura.
With a light exhale, Xu Yun felt her consciousness sink into her destined star, as if her body transformed into a celestial body, immersed in the boundless universe, where she could sense the vastness and grandeur of the starry sky