“Just who is that?”
You’s heart was filled with unprecedented curiosity and confusion. He tried to widen his eyes as much as possible, straining to capture every detail of the graceful blue figure standing behind Starlight.
However, that figure seemed to possess a mysterious power. Whenever You focused his attention, it became even more blurred and illusory, as unreachable as a reflection in the water.
In You’s long life of several thousand years, he had traveled to almost every corner of the continent and witnessed countless experts and miracles. Even so, he had never heard of any powerhouse who could master and wield the Power of Fate.
“I’ve done my best. I’ll have to trouble you with the rest... Oh, and remember to keep this a secret for me!”
As a thousand thoughts raced through You’s mind, a strange yet ethereal voice suddenly echoed in his head.
He then realized that the graceful blue figure behind Starlight had truly noticed his gaze and was gently turning around. But when he tried to capture the figure’s outline again, he found it remained as blurry and mysterious as ever.
Following that, the blue light began to gradually dissipate. The Night God's power, guided by the Power of Fate, actually flowed back into Starlight’s chest and began to slowly transition through his body into Lian.
In stark contrast to its initial wild and untamed nature, the Night God's power was now like a well-behaved child, appearing exceptionally docile.
Starlight, at the center of the vortex, felt the warm and powerful energy within him and was filled with wonder. He could clearly feel this power repairing his damaged body, soothing the pain and scars beneath every inch of his skin.
At the same time, he vaguely sensed that this power was creating a wondrous resonance within Lian’s body. The boundary between the two became blurred, as if their lives had become closely intertwined.
Noah, meanwhile, observed everything quietly from the side. He let out a barely audible “Huh?” before quickly returning to silence.
As the power within the pool shifted quietly, the originally tense and fierce atmosphere gradually faded.
Everyone present, including You, stopped their actions in unison. They looked at each other, their eyes filled with disbelief and shock.
Even without the Saint Rank experts supplying energy to the pool, the turmoil had completely subsided.
Moen and the Xia Duo sisters, standing in the water, stared blankly at Starlight and Lian, who were both radiating a strange light.
That light was so soft and mysterious that it seemed to penetrate the human heart, making one involuntarily intoxicated. The purest power of blessing in the world was slowly descending upon Starlight and Lian, as if a god were personally crowning them.
Amidst this powerful blessing, Lian undoubtedly became the most dazzling presence. She fully accepted the gifts of the entire ritual, her whole body bathed in silver radiance, as if she had become the darling of the world.
Her body floated lightly in the center of the pool. The silver light was like a flowing river of stars, encircling her and making her look like a descending goddess.
Starlight’s unexpected involvement also caused a subtle change in the power of the blessing.
He was similarly blessed by this power, and a wondrous resonance seemed to form between him and Lian. Their auras intertwined, and the threads of fate had already bound them tightly together.
When the power of the blessing tried to spread to the surroundings to include Moen, Xia Duo, and Po Kong, it encountered unexpected resistance.
A pale green light emerged from the bodies of Moen and Xia Duo. They seemed to hold reservations toward this external blessing, pushing it away in a gentle yet firm manner.
The scene occurring with the unconscious Po Kong was even more direct. A flash of golden light erupted from his body like a sharp blade, severing the silver power that tried to approach him midway.
At that moment, Lian’s petite body suddenly jolted as if breaking free from some invisible shackle. She slowly rose from the bottom of the water, the silver radiance swirling around her and making her look as fresh and refined as a lotus emerging from the water.
As Lian’s graceful body slowly floated upward, the clear water in the pool, which had been almost overflowing, began to recede rapidly at a pace visible to the naked eye.
This strange sight left everyone present stunned. They widened their eyes, trying to find any possible explanation. But everything seemed to exceed their understanding, and they could only watch as the pool gradually became dry.
When Lian finally opened her clear, water-like eyes, the entire space seemed to be enveloped by an invisible force, and even time seemed to freeze for a moment.
A mysterious light flickered in her eyes. They became like You’s, as if she could perceive the essence of all things in the world. However, with a careful comparison, one would find that the energy contained in Lian’s pupils was far purer than You’s.
Floating in mid-air, Lian’s gaze swept over everyone present, her eyes filled with gentleness. She lightly raised her hand, seeming to want to touch everything around her, yet she stopped at the last moment.
After undergoing this unprecedented ritual, Lian had exhausted the last trace of her strength.
The brilliant silver light in her eyes gradually faded, replaced by deep fatigue. Her graceful body trembled slightly in the air before she fell down powerlessly.
At that moment, Starlight, standing directly below, reacted quickly and caught Lian’s falling body, carefully holding her in his arms.
Seeing this, the others also crowded around. Moen and Xia Duo urgently asked about Lian’s condition, wanting to do something for her.
Starlight looked down at the girl in his arms. Her face was pale and weary, but a faint smile hung on the corner of her mouth.
“I... succeeded! Quick... praise me!” Lian’s voice was soft, yet it was filled with strength and confidence.
“Yes, you succeeded. You did great!” Starlight smiled and replied softly.
Just as Starlight was about to say some encouraging words to her, the words at the tip of his tongue were interrupted by a sudden turn of events.
You, along with his companions, had arrived at the dry bottom of the pool at some point. Starlight turned his gaze toward You, only to find that the elder’s face no longer held its usual kindness and composure, replaced instead by unprecedented seriousness and gravity.
“We’ll talk later. We must leave quickly...”
Before You could finish his sentence, a sudden and violent tremor cut him off.
The formation beneath their feet—the mysterious pattern that had been calm and still just moments ago—now seemed as if it had been injected with life. It began to twist and vibrate frantically, like a long-dormant volcano about to erupt instantly.
Starlight’s expression immediately turned grave. He held Lian tightly and looked at the ground beneath his feet with a wary gaze. He could feel that the powerful energy contained in this tremor was enough to threaten their lives.
“Quick! Get out of here!” You shouted, his voice carrying an unquestionable firmness.
With a wave of You’s withered palm, a powerful force emerged from him once again. That silver giant hand, which had previously disappeared, reappeared out of thin air. Like a massive flying carpet, it steadily lifted everyone and sped toward the top of the hollow at an incredible speed.
At the same time, the formation beneath them emitted a deafening sound of cracking, like the crumbling of an ancient seal, seemingly foretelling the awakening of some terrifying power.
The formation shattered with a roar, its fragments scattering. A heart-palpitating aura quietly permeated from the cracks in the ground, as if some extremely horrific existence was about to break free from its shackles and burst forth.
Faced with this sudden crisis, Ryan, standing to the side, did not hesitate for a moment. He quickly condensed all his power, his hands forming a complex hand seal as he let out a low shout.
“Ice Tide!”
Following his voice, the mana of a Saint Archmage erupted without reservation within the hollow. In the space below, which had been empty, it was suddenly filled with a sheet of white, solid ice.
That ice contained endless cold and power, as if it could freeze all things in the world, blocking the terrifying aura from below.
Rate on N.U.
