The Wizard of Truth: Starting with Analyzing All Things

A biting mountain wind swept into the valley, ruffling Rowe's sweat-dampened brow and bringing a sliver of clarity. In the distance, the towering mushroom cloud of mixed energy slowly dissipated, signifying the utter destruction of the starship wreckage. The relief of surviving the catastrophe was replaced by immense exhaustion and a sense of urgency. Rowe forced himself to check on Barton and Lina; both were mainly suffering from exhaustion and minor bruises, but after taking the medicine prepared by Lilith, they were fine.

"We must return immediately!" Without hesitation, Luo Wei knew the commotion. The explosion of the wreckage would attract unwanted attention. More importantly, the newly integrated crystal fragment in his palm was slightly warm, resonating weakly and continuously with the Key of Star Language. The fragmented coordinates in his mind flickered like shattered glass, attempting to piece themselves together but failing to form a coherent structure. This feeling was unsettling, as if countless needles were gently piercing his soul. Moreover, the Star Core's warning about the "Tracking Mark of the Abyss's Will" hung like a Damocles' sword over his head.

He tried again to contact the star core via the stellar emblem to confirm the return coordinates. Fortunately, as the debris exploded, spatial interference lessened, and the weak connection with the "Stargazer" stabilized again.

[Connection restored. Location successful. Initiating short-range guidance.] The star core's response relieved the three of them.

A soft white light flashed, and after a dizzying spin, the three crashed heavily onto the familiar ground of the "Stargazer" eco-pod. Lilith and Annie, who had been waiting there, immediately rushed forward. Seeing the three looking disheveled but unharmed, their hearts finally settled. Instructor Verna also appeared instantly beside the teleportation array. Her face was even paler than before, and her breathing was somewhat uneven, clearly indicating that the previous long-range starlight attack had taken a heavy toll.

"What happened? What caused the explosion?" Lilith asked anxiously as she quickly checked the three of them for their injuries. Annie obediently handed them warm energy supplements.

Lowe took a deep breath, suppressing the confusion in his mind and the exhaustion in his body, and recounted the discoveries within the wreckage in the most concise language—the out-of-control guards, the contaminated stellar core resonator, the truth revealed by the observer's log, the awakening of the fragments of the Abyss's will, and the final escape from the explosion. When Verna heard "Observer Sequence," "Ambush," "Stellar Core Resonator," and "Abyss Mark," her eyes became extremely solemn, and Lilith and Annie also gasped.

"You've brought back crucial information, but you've also gotten yourself into a huge mess." Verna's voice was tinged with weariness. She looked at Rowe with sharp eyes. "The fragment in your palm, and the fluctuations in your soul... you're nearing your breaking point."

Luo Wei nodded, not hiding anything: "Yes, mentor. In the energy storm, my Star Rune Core seems to have been tempered, and it feels like... it's just missing a trigger. But the coordinate information in this fragment is very chaotic, and..." He raised his hand, revealing the tiny starlight fragment in his palm, "It seems to be continuously attracting something, or... being attracted by something."

Verna extended a finger, its tip shimmering with pure starlight, and gently touched the fragment. The fragment instantly lit up, projecting a clearer, yet still incomplete, star map, while simultaneously emitting a faint, directional resonance.

Verna closed her eyes and sensed for a moment, then slowly opened them, a complex light flashing in them: "This fragment... is a core remnant of the 'Star Core Resonator,' containing extremely strong spatial beacon characteristics. The coordinates it records do not point to a specific location, but to a dynamic astral coordinate, a... moving 'target.'"

"A moving target?" Everyone was surprised.

"According to the logs, the final task of the 'Observer Sequence' is to monitor and transmit information," Verna pondered. "This resonator is likely used to lock onto a specific information source or moving vehicle. It records the target's last known trajectory and characteristic frequencies. The fragment is damaged, and the information is incomplete, but combined with its own resonant properties... it might be able to sense the target's presence within a certain distance."

She looked at Luo Wei, her tone serious: "As for the mark in your soul... it's the 'predatory mark' of the Abyss's will. It's very faint, like a firefly in the dark, barely noticeable in the vast world. But if you approach a powerful Abyss being, or... if you actively activate a high-level power related to the Abyss, this mark will shine as brightly as a lighthouse. Conversely, it can also be somewhat obscured and interfered with by the pure stellar power emanating from this fragment, which is associated with the observer."

The pros and cons are both obvious. The mark is a hidden danger, but the fragments might become a key, or even a layer of disguise.

"The most urgent task is to promote Luo Wei," Verna declared definitively. "Only by becoming a formal Star Speaker can you better control the power of the key and the fragment, have enough mental strength to suppress that mark, and truly begin to decipher those coordinate information."

She turned to Lilith: "Lilith, cooperate with me. Use the starship's medical units and energy pools to prepare the highest concentration of 'Stellar Essence' and 'Soul Soothing Agent' to prepare for the ascension ceremony."

She then looked at Elder Anderson (who had already arrived upon hearing the news) and Barton: "Anderson, you are experienced and will be responsible for guarding the perimeter of the starship during the ceremony, especially preventing uninvited guests that may be attracted by fluctuations in the imprint or debris. Barton, you will guard the entrance to the eccentric chamber; no one may disturb it without permission."

Finally, she said to Lina and Anne, "Lina, your natural intuition is the most acute. You are responsible for monitoring the subtle changes in Lowe's vital signs and soul fluctuations, and alerting us immediately to any abnormalities. Anne, you will assist Lilith and maintain the stability of the energy field in the ecosphere."

The orders were clear, and everyone performed their duties. The team, like a sophisticated instrument, quickly sprang into action.

For the next three days, Rowe entered a state of deep meditation, refining his stellar energy and adjusting his soul frequency under Verna's guidance, elevating his state to its peak. Lilith worked tirelessly, utilizing the starship's advanced facilities to successfully extract several radiant potions imbued with the vibrant life force of the stars. Lina monitored Rowe's condition day and night, while Annie meticulously maintained the stability of the energy flow.

The promotion ceremony takes place at midnight on the third day, when the stellar energy is at its most active.

In the center of the eco-pod, beside the energy pool, Rowe sat cross-legged. Verna stood before him, her expression solemn. Around them, Lilith, Anderson, and others stood guard at a distance, their expressions tense.

"The advancement of a Star Speaker is different from the energy accumulation of an Elemental Wizard, and also different from the contract construction of a Lawful Speaker." Verna's voice was ethereal and distant, as if she were conversing with the stars. "It is an understanding of the rules of the stars, a resonance with the origin of the astral plane. You need to guide the star power and inscribe your unique 'Destiny Star Rune' at the core of your soul. This rune will be the source of your future power and the bridge for you to communicate with the stars."

She pointed her fingertip at the energy pool, and the rich star essence within transformed into a pillar of light, enveloping Luo Wei. At the same time, she flicked a "Star Essence" potion into Luo Wei's mouth.

A surge of immense energy flooded his body, and Luo Wei immediately guided it toward the nascent core of the star runes deep within his soul. A violent sense of expansion washed over him, as if his soul were being torn apart. He focused his mind, recalling all his insights related to the stars: the awe of first encountering starlight, the joy of deciphering the runes, the ease with which he manipulated stellar power, and... the vastness and desolation of the starry sea.

"Sensing the stars, find the one that resonates most with your frequency!" Verna's voice was like a guiding light.

Luo Wei's consciousness seemed to detach from his body, ascending into the endless starry sky guided by the Key of Star Language. Thousands of stars twinkled, each radiating a unique energy. He emptied his mind, letting his consciousness drift. After an unknown amount of time, a star that wasn't dazzling, yet exuded a calm, steadfast energy, carrying a hint of protectiveness, caught his attention. Was it Polaris? No, it was another star, named "The Watcher's Star" in this world's star map.

that's it!

Luo Wei concentrated all his thoughts, guiding the surging star power within him to establish a connection with the "Watcher Star" in the distant starry sky! A vast and ancient stellar will slowly descended, resonating with the runic core deep within his soul!

Om-!

The core of the runes in his soul erupted with brilliant light, beginning to rotate and transform on its own, absorbing the will of the stars and pure stellar power, slowly condensing into a complex and profound rune—a pattern resembling a shield and an eye, surrounded by orbital star rings! This was his natal star rune—"The Eye of the Watcher"! Symbolizing insight, protection, and guidance.

The moment his natal star symbol took shape, the stellar power within Luo Wei underwent a qualitative change! It became more condensed and agile, and its resonance with the stars increased several times over! His spiritual power surged like a tidal wave, his perception range expanded more than tenfold, and his understanding of the rules of the stars reached a completely new level!

Official Star Speaker (Ring 1)! Promotion successful!

A powerful aura emanated from Luo Wei, even causing the energy flow within the eco-pod to change. The guardians all showed expressions of joy.

However, just as the joy of this success was beginning to rise—

"Huh?!" Verna's expression suddenly changed, and she looked sharply at Rowe's palm.

The crystal fragment activated itself the instant Luo Wei completed his ascension and experienced a qualitative change in his star power! It erupted with light several times stronger than before, the incomplete star map it projected became clearer, and the directional resonance fluctuations suddenly intensified, pointing directly in a specific direction! At the same time, the extremely faint information flow related to the "observer sequence" contained within the fragment also became more active!

What's even more unsettling is that the "Abyss Mark" deep within Luo Wei's soul, which had been suppressed, seems to have stirred slightly due to the sudden increase in his main strength!

"Oh no!" Lina exclaimed almost simultaneously, "Brother Luo Wei's soul fluctuations have shown a very subtle... leak! It seems... it seems like something has sensed it!"

Verna acted decisively, forming hand seals. Vast stellar energy transformed into chains, forcefully suppressing the restless fragments and the aura emanating from Luo Wei's body. The light gradually subsided, and the fragments returned to calm, but that brief disturbance had sent a chill down everyone's spines.

Luo Wei opened his eyes, his gaze shimmering with starlight, his aura profound and deep. He had successfully advanced, his strength undergoing a dramatic transformation. But he also clearly sensed that the fragment in his palm and the mark on his soul had become a part of him, both an opportunity and a tremendous hidden danger.

"I'm afraid we don't have much time to fully digest the gains from this advancement." Verna looked at Rowe, her tone heavy. "The anomaly in the fragment indicates that the 'target' it sensed may be approaching or in some active phase. And your mark, though faint, may have already attracted the attention of some being due to the fluctuations during your advancement."

She pointed to the star map trajectory that was becoming slightly clearer in the fragment projection: "We must figure out what these coordinates point to as soon as possible. Whether it's a blessing or a curse, we have to face it."

Luo Wei felt the surging power within him and clenched his fist. The advancement brought power, but also heavier responsibilities and more pressing crises. The repair of the starship, the collection of resources, the situation on the continent, the threat from the abyss, and this sudden mystery of the coordinates... a thousand and one things weighed on his shoulders.

But his eyes were firm, showing no fear. It was the power of the Star Speaker that gave him the confidence to face everything.

"Mentor," Luo Wei began, his voice steady and powerful, "let's focus first on thoroughly analyzing the information in the fragments to determine their coordinates and the nature of the target. At the same time, accelerate the starship's repair progress, especially the defense systems. We need to be prepared as quickly as possible, no matter what we face next."

The brief respite is over, and a new storm seems to be brewing in the direction indicated by the coordinates. This time, they will take the initiative.