Chapter 429: Star Sea Pool

Only after stepping out of the Dan Sacred Hall did Hua Changxi truly feel the magnitude of the changes brought about by the Sacred Land's resurgence.

The world outside was no longer the one she remembered.

She tapped her toes, soaring a hundred feet into the air, and looked down at the land soaked in the power of the Divine Wood.

With the Dan Sacred Hall as the center, the surrounding world had been forcibly unfolded like a scroll.

The familiar streets, markets, and crowds had turned into boundless wilderness; hills rose and fell like waves, spiritual mists surged in the deep valleys, and nascent mountain ranges spread along the horizon.

Turning her gaze westward, the former Imperial Capital no longer possessed its majestic grandeur, showing only signs of desolation and decay.

Indeed, with the successive resurgence of the Instrument Sacred Palace and the Dan Sacred Hall, driving the expansion of the southern and eastern territories, the capital had effectively been half-dismantled.

However, while the capital collapsed, new cities were spreading out.

The warmth of the Xuanyuan Prefecture's southward expansion had yet to dissipate, and the tide of eastward expansion was already foreseeable.

One capital fell, and a Xuanyuan City rose...

Hua Changxi gazed at this world in renewal, and two words suddenly popped into her mind—reincarnation.

Realms have extinction and resurgence, dynasties have rise and fall, yet they always leave traces behind, witnessing what once existed.

What about people?

What can a person leave behind?

Hua Changxi shook her head; she had truly been influenced by Gu Xing, actually starting to think about these ethereal, intangible things.

Exhaling, Hua Changxi mounted her somersault cloud and flew rapidly toward the capital. By the time she stepped onto the streets of the capital again, night had fallen.

The Star Observation Tower stood tall beneath the night sky, its structure piercing the clouds like a pillar of jade thrusting into the firmament, its eaves flowing with starlight like an inverted Milky Way.

The entire building was covered in star-glow armor with a glazed texture, its walls embedded with flowing nebular vortices, star mists steaming between them like gauze curtains.

Even though the Star Observation Tower had reappeared for some time, onlookers were still struck with awe whenever night fell.

Hua Changxi was no exception.

The current Star Observation Tower was no longer accessible to ordinary people.

Just as Hua Changxi reached the central street where the tower stood, she was intercepted by a cultivator bearing the Star Observation Tower's insignia.

"Please pass on a message; I wish to see Tower Master Yuan."

Before the cultivator could refuse, Hua Changxi added, "My name is Hua Changxi."

Upon hearing the name Hua Changxi, the cultivator's gaze flickered, and after giving her a quick look, he said, "Wait a moment," before speaking to the guard beside him and running quickly toward the Star Observation Tower.

This scene was observed entirely by Wei Zhenjie at the Heaven Department next door.

Huo Yunxiao, who had just returned to report on the situation at the Dan Sacred Hall, was also there, puzzled: "What is Hua Changxi doing at the Star Observation Tower at this hour?"

Wei Zhenjie had some guesses.

The reason the Dan Sacred Hall was able to successfully promulgate the Sacred Land Decree restricting the Domain Lords was entirely because Hua Changxi had passively contributed her merit.

The Star Observation Tower had previously absorbed Hua Changxi's merit as well; it was highly likely she was here for that reason.

Wei Zhenjie suddenly asked Huo Yunxiao, "Hua Changxi must be very angry about the Dan Sacred Hall's resurgence, right?"

Huo Yunxiao nodded, looking puzzled: "The resurgence of the Sacred Land is a good thing. The Divine Wood even bestowed upon Hua Changxi a new peak and a new domain, and used her oath to generate the Sacred Land Decree. This is such a great honor; I really don't understand why she is angry."

Wei Zhenjie glanced at his disciple without responding, but his expression was deeply emotional.

That was merit!

The merit that stimulated the further resurgence of the Dan Sacred Hall must have been accumulated when Hua Changxi opened up the Path of the Flesh and caused the Mirror of Laws to manifest.

Opening a Great Dao or manifesting the Mirror of Laws—each was incomparably difficult.

If Hua Changxi wanted to encounter another opportunity to accumulate such merit, it would likely be extremely difficult.

If it were him having his merit drained, he would feel the heartache too.

"Sigh~"

Wei Zhenjie looked regretful. Having experienced the Star Observation Tower and the Dan Sacred Hall, Hua Changxi would surely learn her lesson. It would be difficult for anyone else to "covet" the merit on her body in the future.

Merit is not easily accumulated. Other people who possess merit almost always have a lineage or someone behind them to offer guidance.

Only Hua Changxi, walking alone—she had paid the price for her lack of information.

But now, by paying the price herself, she had filled the information gap.

Watching Hua Changxi follow the Star Observation Tower personnel inside, Wei Zhenjie and Huo Yunxiao stopped paying attention.

After bidding farewell to Wei Zhenjie, Huo Yunxiao had intended to return to the Dan Sacred Hall, but upon hearing at the gate that Chu Junyi had returned from the Nine Netherworld, he turned back.

"Junyi."

Huo Yunxiao didn't even knock, walking straight into Chu Junyi's room. As he entered, he saw Chu Junyi looking at a string of Buddhist prayer beads.

Seeing it was Huo Yunxiao, Chu Junyi's tightly furrowed brows relaxed, and his expression softened significantly: "Senior Brother."

Huo Yunxiao looked at the prayer beads on his wrist: "Why are you looking at these beads again? The master of the beads has been polished until they shine by you."

Chu Junyi looked down at the prayer beads, his expression somewhat frustrated: "Before, in the Nine Netherworld, I almost erased the imprint on the beads, but now, the imprint has deepened again."

Huo Yunxiao was astonished: "Your strength has grown to such a heaven-defying level, and yet there is someone even more powerful?"

Chu Junyi didn't like to smile, but he curled his lips at Huo Yunxiao's exaggerated expression: "Master once said, there are people beyond people, heavens beyond heavens."

Huo Yunxiao took the prayer beads and rolled them: "Who do you think the owner of these beads is?"

Chu Junyi's deep gaze flickered: "I would very much like to know." With that, he took the beads back and began chatting with Huo Yunxiao about other matters.

Star Observation Tower.

As soon as Hua Changxi entered the tower, she saw Yuan Qi with a face full of smiles.

"Tower Master Yuan."

"Peak Master Hua."

After the two exchanged greetings, Hua Changxi didn't beat around the bush, going straight to the point: "I heard Tower Master Yuan is very skilled in the art of divination. Can you calculate why I have come today?"

Yuan Qi smiled: "Peak Master Hua, you flatter me. The art of divination cannot calculate everything, just like you, Peak Master Hua—I cannot calculate you."

Hua Changxi raised an eyebrow: "Is that so?" Her tone was skeptical.

Yuan Qi explained earnestly: "Those with profound cultivation and those who carry great destiny cannot be easily calculated; otherwise, one will suffer a strong backlash."

Hua Changxi was noncommittal. Looking at Yuan Qi, and too lazy to engage in verbal sparring, she stated clearly: "I am here to collect a debt. The Star Observation Tower owes me a great favor. Does Tower Master Yuan acknowledge this?"

Yuan Qi raised an eyebrow, a look of "as expected" flashing in his eyes.

He had thought the Dan Sacred Hall's resurgence was progressing too quickly; so it was because it had absorbed Hua Changxi's merit.

"I acknowledge it! If there is anything you need the Star Observation Tower to do, Peak Master Hua, please do not hesitate to speak."

Hua Changxi looked at him: "I do not need you to perform services."

Hearing this, Yuan Qi fell into deep thought, realizing Hua Changxi wanted him to take the initiative.

The Star Observation Tower had reappeared because it absorbed Hua Changxi's merit; this cause and effect could not be escaped. Since Hua Changxi had come to his door, he would repay what he could.

"Please follow me, Peak Master Hua."

Within the Star Observation Tower, Yuan Qi was almost like a god. With a wave of his sleeves and a flash of starlight, Hua Changxi had no room to refuse, and the two found themselves in a strange space.

At the four corners of the space, four giant pillars of light emerged: a Green Dragon coiling around a pillar, a Vermilion Bird spreading its wings, a White Tiger climbing a wall, and a Black Tortoise forming the base. The pressure emitted by the Four Spirits swept through every corner of the space.

As soon as she entered, Hua Changxi sensed her spiritual power being sealed.

"This is..."

Hua Changxi looked at Yuan Qi vigilantly.

Yuan Qi smiled: "This is the forbidden ground of the Star Observation Tower—the Star Sea Pool."

The Star Sea Pool was not large, like the mouth of a well.

Though it appeared to be a tiny space, it revealed an endless galaxy. The edge of the well seemed connected to the real universe, and gazing into it gave one the feeling of falling into the starry sky.

Hua Changxi felt no threat, so she relaxed, finally having the mood to explore this space.

The transparent floor flowed with starlight, and every step triggered web-like glowing patterns.

The air was filled with cool star mist, and one could smell cosmic dust with every breath. At the same time, the sound of rushing galaxies echoed in her ears.

Hua Changxi looked at Yuan Qi in confusion, not knowing why he had brought her here.

Yuan Qi pointed to the Star Sea Pool: "This Star Sea Pool connects to the stars of the Four Spirits Realm and can automatically recover and store all ownerless treasures in the realm."

"These ownerless items include powerful magical artifacts, special ancient treasures, various strange materials, and even jade slips recording ancient cultivation techniques..."

"The Star Observation Tower owes you a great karmic debt, Peak Master Hua. You may reach into the Star Sea Pool and grab once. Whether you can grab a treasure depends entirely on your luck."