I want to tread the heavens

After Uncle Rong left, Ling Xiao's heart was hanging in mid-air, unable to settle down.

He sat on the threshold, clutching Fa Cai, his eyes fixed on the courtyard gate, his hand tightly gripping the cold, icy meteor compass component. The morning mist thinned, and the sky brightened completely. In the distance, the sounds of servants getting up and starting their work drifted in; everything seemed normal.

Uncle Rong didn't come back.

"Fa Cai, do you think Uncle Rong can persuade Grandma Guo Yun?" Ling Xiao asked in a low voice.

Fa Cai raised its head, its amber eyes looking at him. Its ears twitched slightly. Suddenly, it stood up abruptly, sniffing hard in the southeast direction, and growling impatiently in its throat.

It's southeast—the direction of the inner courtyard!

Ling Xiao's heart skipped a beat. Almost simultaneously, the jade pendant around his neck suddenly became intensely hot, so hot that he almost cried out! Even more strangely, the part of the meteor compass in his hand also hummed and trembled slightly, the broken pointer spinning wildly, finally pointing shakily to—due east, slightly below.

It's not pointing in a horizontal direction, but rather pointing underground!

"This is..." Ling Xiao's mind flashed with Rong Shu's words—"The core of the spiritual vein is due east, and the entrance is in Guo Yun's study."

The jade pendant was getting hot, and the compass was pointing to the ground... Uncle Rong had found the entrance! Moreover, he might have encountered something that triggered something related to the jade pendant!

"Let's go!" Ling Xiao didn't hesitate any longer. He picked up Fa Cai and climbed out of the back window. He remembered that Uncle Rong had said there was a long-neglected drainage ditch on the east side of the inner courtyard that led to the bamboo grove behind the study. No one usually went there, making it the best route to sneak in.

Fa Cai seemed to fully understand his intentions, and after landing, it rushed in that direction first. It ran extremely fast, its gray figure weaving through the morning mist and shadows of the walls, and Ling Xiao barely managed to keep up with it despite all his strength.

Fifteen minutes later, they slipped into the desolate bamboo forest.

The study was located at the edge of the bamboo grove, with its doors and windows tightly shut. However, Ling Xiao could clearly feel the scorching heat emanating from the jade pendant emanating from below the study, growing stronger with each passing wave. The compass needle even pointed directly at the foundation of the study, trembling slightly.

The entrance is underground right here!

How can we get in?

Ling Xiao was frantic. He tried to push open the window, but it wouldn't budge. He considered prying open the door, but was afraid of alerting the guards. Just as he was getting anxious, Fa Cai suddenly ran to the corner of the study and frantically scratched at the floor with its claws.

The area was paved with bluestone slabs, the cracks of which were covered with moss. Ling Xiao squatted down to help, brushing away the loose soil and moss, and discovered a very fine crack on the edge of the slab—it didn't seem like a natural crack, but rather a wear mark left by frequent opening and closing.

"Is there something underneath?" Ling Xiao tried to pry it open, but the stone slab didn't budge.

Fa Cai tilted his head and thought for a moment, then suddenly ran to his feet, nudged the jade pendant around his neck with his nose, and then nudged the stone slab.

Ling Xiao was taken aback, then understood. He took off the jade pendant and tentatively pressed it against the crack in the stone slab.

hum-

The instant the jade pendant touched the stone slab, a faint silver light shone through the crack. Immediately afterwards, the entire stone slab silently slid open, revealing a dark opening, barely wide enough for one person to pass through. A cold wind, carrying the scent of earth, rushed out—direction indicated by the compass!

"Fa Cai, you really are..." Ling Xiao was both surprised and delighted, picked up Fa Cai and kissed him. The little guy wagged his tail proudly.

Ling Xiao no longer hesitated, hung the jade pendant back up, hugged Fa Cai, and crawled into the cave.

Just as his body was completely submerged, the stone slab above his head silently closed, cutting off the last ray of sunlight.

The passageway was pitch black.

Ling Xiao could only feel his way down the slippery walls, his steps uneven. The air was murky, filled with a heavy smell of mildew and earth, and occasionally, cold water droplets fell from above. Fa Cai clung to him, letting out low, warning growls from time to time, clearly uncomfortable in this place.

The only source of light was the jade pendant around her neck.

The further down he went, the brighter the jade pendant's light became, gradually transforming from a faint silver halo into a soft, silvery-white glow that could barely illuminate three feet in front of him. Ling Xiao noticed that at intervals along the passage walls, there were blurry, star-like patterns etched into them, subtly echoing the jade pendant's light.

It's the mark of the Starfall Clan! Uncle Rong was right, this secret passage is indeed related to the Starfall Clan!

After walking for about fifteen minutes, a fork in the road appeared ahead. One path continued downwards, while the other stretched horizontally, its destination unknown. Suddenly, the jade pendant's light flashed rapidly, pointing towards the horizontal path.

"Uncle Rong is going this way." Ling Xiao turned into the horizontal passage without hesitation.

This passage was even narrower, allowing only one person to pass sideways. The walls were damp and covered with slippery moss. Underfoot were uneven stone steps, many of which were cracked and loose, and one could easily slip and fall.

After walking a few dozen more steps, they could vaguely hear faint noises coming from ahead.

It's footsteps! Very light, very hurried, and quickly moving away!

"Uncle Rong!" Ling Xiao couldn't help but call out in a low voice.

The footsteps paused for a moment, then quickened, clearly indicating that the other person had heard them but did not respond, instead speeding away.

Something's not right! If Uncle Rong heard his voice, he would definitely stop and wait for him!

Ling Xiao's heart tightened, and he took off after him. Fa Cai seemed to have also sensed something was wrong, and rushed out first, his speed as fast as a gray lightning bolt.

The passage was winding and twisting, and they almost lost track of the person several times. Fortunately, thanks to their keen sense of smell and the guidance of the jade pendant, they were always able to keep up with the figure ahead. But the distance never closed—the person ahead was moving at an unbelievable speed, completely unlike the injured Uncle Rong.

"Wait! Who are you?!" Ling Xiao shouted as he chased after him, his voice echoing in the narrow passage.

The person ahead remained silent. Rounding a sharp bend, three eerie green lights suddenly appeared ahead, hovering in mid-air and flickering like will-o'-the-wisps.

Fa Cai abruptly stopped, blocking Ling Xiao's path, baring his teeth and growling. Ling Xiao also saw clearly that it wasn't will-o'-the-wisp, but three fist-sized, deathly white flying insects shaped like skulls! Their eyes glowed green, and their mouthparts opened and closed with a crisp "click-click" sound, which was particularly eerie in the deathly silent passage.

It's a "Bone-Eating Bone Fly"! A kind of demonic insect commonly found in the underground ruins of the old land, which specializes in sucking the brain marrow of living beings, and whose teeth can bite through iron armor!

"Hiss hiss hiss—"

The three boneflies flapped their wings simultaneously, transforming into three white streaks that pounced on Ling Xiao! They were so fast that only afterimages remained!

"Watch out, Fa Cai!" Ling Xiao tried to pull it back, but Fa Cai advanced instead of retreating, pouncing on the bonefly!

"Woo-hoo-hoo-!!"

An unprecedentedly sharp wolf howl erupted from Fa Cai's throat! The sound was no longer the whimper of a cub, but carried an ancient, majestic, and inviolable ferocity! The sound waves transformed into pale silver ripples, slamming hard into the three boneflies!

"Click! Click-click!"

The three boneflies were struck as if by a heavy blow. Countless fine cracks instantly appeared on their pale shells, the green light in their eyes suddenly dimmed, and they fell straight down from the sky, landing on the stone steps with a "thud, thud," twitching twice before becoming still.

The creature landed, its body swaying slightly, clearly having expended considerable energy from the previous attack. But the silver light in its eyes didn't fade; instead, it shone even brighter as it stared intently in the direction the bonefly had fallen, a low, menacing growl emanating from its throat.

Ling Xiao was stunned. He had never seen Fa Cai like this before. That wolf howl, that silver sonic wave, that power that instantly shattered the bonefly... this was something no ordinary beast could do!

"Get rich, you..."

"Don't come any closer!" A familiar, stern shout suddenly came from the darkness ahead.

It was Uncle Rong's voice! But it was hoarse and carried an undeniable weakness.

"Uncle Rong!" Ling Xiao was both surprised and delighted, and wanted to rush over, but saw a figure stagger out from around the corner—it was Yue Rong! His face was ashen, his left sleeve was soaked with blood, and dark red blood dripped from his fingertips, leaving winding trails on the ground. In his right hand, he held the broken knife, the blade now bearing several new cracks, the edge completely chipped.

"Why are you here!" Yue Rong exclaimed, both anxious and angry. "Didn't I tell you to wait at home?!"

"I...I felt the jade pendant was burning hot, and the compass was pointing this way, so..." Ling Xiao saw his miserable state, and tears welled up in her eyes again. "Uncle Rong, your injuries..."

"He won't die." Yue Rong interrupted him, his gaze falling on Fa Cai, a look of surprise flashing in his eyes. But he didn't have time to ask further questions at the moment. "Hurry! Something is chasing us!"

Before the words were finished, a dense "rustling" sound came from deep within the passage, like countless arthropods crawling on the stone wall, growing louder and closer as it approached!

There are even more bone crickets! And judging from the sound, there are at least a hundred!

"Go!" Yue Rong grabbed Ling Xiao's hand and turned to run. Fa Cai followed closely behind.

The three (wolves) were running for their lives through the narrow passage. Behind them, a rustling sound followed them closely. The passage began to slope upwards, with more and steeper stone steps. Yue Rong was seriously injured, and his speed slowed down significantly. He almost fell several times, but Ling Xiao caught him each time.

"Uncle Rong, hang in there! There's light ahead!" Ling Xiao shouted.

Ahead, at the end of the passage, a faint, silvery-blue light shone through, originating from the same source as the jade pendant's light!

Just as they were only three zhang away from the exit, a rustling sound suddenly approached from behind! Ling Xiao turned around, his soul almost leaving his body—in the passage, countless pale white bone flies surged in like a tide, their green eyes forming a river of will-o'-the-wisps, and the clicking sound of their mouthparts opening and closing was continuous, making one's scalp tingle!

"Get into the light!" Yue Rong roared, using his last bit of strength to push Ling Xiao and Fa Cai forward!

Holding Fa Cai, Ling Xiao stumbled and rushed into the silvery-blue halo. Yue Rong followed closely behind, and just as the swarm of boneflies attacked, he also stumbled in.

hum-

The halo suddenly expanded, transforming into a semi-transparent silver light curtain that blocked the entrance to the passage. The dozens of bone flies at the forefront crashed into the light curtain, instantly hissing and dissipating into wisps of black smoke. The bone flies behind screamed and retreated, gathering outside the light curtain, but dared not approach any further, only staring intently at the three people inside the light curtain with their green eyes.

It's safe now—for the time being.

Ling Xiao collapsed to the ground, panting heavily, his body drenched in cold sweat. Fa Cai lay beside him, its tongue lolling out, clearly exhausted from the burst of energy and frantic run.

Yue Rong leaned against the wall, closing his eyes to regulate his breathing, his face devoid of color. The wound on his left arm was still bleeding, but the blood flow had slowed considerably—the power of the light barrier seemed to have suppressed the spread of the demonic poison the moment he rushed into it.

Ling Xiao then had time to look around.

This was a small stone chamber, no more than three zhang in circumference. There were no doors or windows; the only entrance, the passage they had come in through, was now sealed off by a silver light barrier. In the center of the chamber stood a black stone platform about half a person's height, its surface smooth as a mirror, engraved with intricate star patterns, identical to those on the jade pendant.

The light source in the stone chamber comes directly above the stone platform—where a fist-sized, silver-blue crystal ball, with nebulae slowly rotating inside, floats. The light emanates from the crystal ball, soft, pure, and with a comforting warmth.

It was the power of the stars. Ling Xiao could feel that the jade pendant around his neck was resonating strongly with the crystal ball, and the warm energy flowed into his body through the pendant, invigorating his tired spirit.

"This is... the remains of the Starfall Clan?" Ling Xiao murmured.

"This should be the first checkpoint." Yue Rong opened his eyes, his voice still weak but much calmer. "The Star Altar is an outer outpost; this is the first gateway to the underground palace. Do you see the pattern on the stone platform?"

Ling Xiao leaned closer for a closer look. The star pattern on the stone platform wasn't static; it was slowly shifting, eventually converging into eight clear ancient seal characters—

"The Trial of Starfall: A Test of One's True Self."

"Trial?" Ling Xiao was taken aback.

"Hmm." Yue Rong nodded. "The Starfall Clan's tradition is not passed on to mediocre people or wicked individuals. To enter the underground palace, you must first pass their tests. The first test examines your 'true heart'—what is your deepest obsession, and what was your original intention in seeking the Dao?"

He looked at Ling Xiao, his gaze complex: "Xiao'er, this trial can only be passed by you alone. Place your hands on the stone platform, concentrate, and answer its questions. Remember, whatever you see or hear, you must follow your heart, without deceiving or wavering. Otherwise..."

He paused, his voice low: "At best, it will damage your mind and turn you into an idiot. At worst... you'll be devoured by the power of the stars and your soul will be scattered."

Ling Xiao's heart skipped a beat. He looked at the flowing text, then at Uncle Rong's pale face, and then at Fa Cai's tired but still concerned eyes. Suddenly, most of the fear in his heart dissipated.

"Uncle Rong, what should I do?"

"Place your hands on it, calm your mind, and wait," Yue Rong said. "The trial will begin automatically."

Ling Xiao took a deep breath and walked to the stone platform. He glanced at Uncle Rong and Fa Cai one last time, then stretched out his right hand and gently pressed it against the cold stone surface.

hum-

The stone platform suddenly lit up! Countless star patterns flew out from the surface, swirling around Ling Xiao and transforming into a dazzling galaxy! His vision blurred, and his consciousness was forcibly pulled into a completely unfamiliar space—