Chapter 107: Gathering of Heroes

Star Fall Lake, located three thousand miles outside the northern suburbs of the Imperial Capital, is a vast, enormous lake resembling an inland sea. Legend has it that in the ancient era, a star fell here, smashing out a giant crater and gathering water veins to form this lake. The lake water is deep and dark, shrouded year-round in a thin mist of starlight; the aquatic life within also contains faint traces of stellar power, making it quite miraculous.

When Lin Xuan, Huangfu Hao, and their group arrived at the shores of Star Fall Lake, the place was no longer its usual tranquil self.

Around the lake shore, all sorts of cultivators had already gathered, numbering no fewer than several hundred. Their cultivation bases varied in strength, but the lowest among them were at the Golden Core realm. They were clearly divided into several camps, maintaining a wary distance from one another.

The most eye-catching area was on the east side of the lake. A group of cultivators dressed in white robes embroidered with star and moon Dao patterns—not many in number, only a dozen or so—each possessed an ethereal and profound aura. The leader was an elderly man with a rustic face holding a star compass; the spiritual power fluctuations radiating from his body had reached the early stage of Soul Transformation! They were indeed people from the Star Palace!

On the west side of the lake were a group of rogue cultivators and members of small factions with varied attire but mostly cold and sharp auras. Among them were many desperate outlaws who frequented the Dark Hall or the Ghost Market, their eyes scanning the center of the lake with greed, clearly hoping to fish in troubled waters.

On the open ground to the south of the lake stood several magnificent tents with flags fluttering, bearing the insignias of Imperial Capital noble families such as the Zhao family and the Wang family. The middle-aged Elder leading the Zhao family's team had a cultivation base at the peak of the late Nascent Soul stage, and his gaze toward Lin Xuan was filled with undisguised resentment and killing intent.

In addition, neutral sects such as the Heavenly Mystery Academy, the Divine Armament Pavilion, and the Medicine King Valley had also sent people to observe, scattered among the crowd.

The arrival of Lin Xuan and his group instantly attracted the attention of everyone present.

The Azure Phoenix soared through the air, looking exceptionally magnificent. Lin Xuan, in his simple green robes, stood with a profound and deep aura; though he stood calmly, he naturally became the focus. Feng Xi, who had shrunk in size on his shoulder, drew countless covetous and wary gazes.

"Lin Xuan! He really came!"

"And the Third Imperial Prince, Huangfu Hao! The Imperial family has also intervened!"

"That person from the Star Palace is 'Elder Xing Yan'; it is said he holds a revered position in the Star Palace. Even he has come out in person!"

"Now we're in for a good show!"

Discussions surged like a tide.

Huangfu Hao’s expression was grave as he whispered, "Brother Lin, the situation is more complex than anticipated. The Star Palace has brought a Soul Transformation expert, the Zhao family is eyeing us like tigers, and there are likely experts hidden among those rogue cultivators."

"It is fine." Lin Xuan’s gaze swept calmly across the scene, lingering slightly on the Soul Transformation elder from the Star Palace. The other party seemed to sense it, casting a murky gaze over. Their eyes met and parted instantly; the elder’s expression was as still as an ancient well, yet it carried a depth that seemed to perceive everything.

Lin Xuan could feel that the pure and vast stellar power on the other party far exceeded his own, but precisely because it was pure, it lacked a trace of chaotic inclusiveness and change.

"Observe the changes quietly and wait for the opportunity," Lin Xuan said to Huangfu Hao. He then found a relatively secluded high ground by the lake, sat cross-legged, and closed his eyes to rest, as if all the surrounding disturbances had nothing to do with him. Feng Xi landed on a giant rock beside him, watching the surroundings vigilantly.

Seeing this, Huangfu Hao also ordered his secret guards to set up a perimeter and wait patiently.

Time passed slowly in a strange and tense atmosphere.

The anomalies at the center of the lake became increasingly frequent. At times, a thick pillar of starlight could be seen shooting up from the bottom of the lake, dispelling the mist and illuminating half the sky; at other times, dull rumblings could be heard from the lake floor, as if something ancient were awakening. The stellar power in the air became increasingly active and dense.

Everyone knew that the moment for the Star Observation Platform to appear was drawing near.

During this time, it was not without conflict. Several waves of rogue cultivators who relied on their own strength could not hold back and attempted to force their way into the center of the lake to investigate. As a result, they were either swallowed by powerful water beasts containing stellar power that suddenly surged from the lake, or they were struck by starlight casually flicked by the Star Palace cultivators, leaving them severely injured and fleeing in a sorry state. With absolute strength, the Star Palace temporarily maintained "order" in the central area, also demonstrating their determination to secure the Star Observation Platform.

The Zhao family also attempted to approach the area where Lin Xuan was located to provoke him, but after feeling the trace of cold killing intent inadvertently leaked by Lin Xuan and the unfriendly gaze of Feng Xi, they ultimately did not dare to make a move.

The sun set and the moon rose; the night passed without incident.

When the dawn of the second day was approaching, before the first ray of light had pierced the clouds, a sudden change occurred!

"Hum——!!!"

A low and vast humming sound, as if coming from the primordial era, erupted from the deepest part of Star Fall Lake, instantly spreading across the wilderness!

The water of the entire Star Fall Lake began to rotate slowly, centered on a point in the middle of the lake, forming a massive whirlpool! From within the whirlpool, endless starlight erupted, dyeing the sky a magnificent silver-blue!

Immediately following, under the gaze of countless shocked eyes, a huge, circular platform constructed entirely of a certain dark blue crystal, bathed in brilliant starlight, slowly rose from the whirlpool in the center of the lake!

The platform was over a thousand feet in diameter, its edges engraved with countless complex and profound stellar runes. In the center stood dozens of stellar stone pillars reaching a hundred feet in height. At the tops of the pillars, miniature projections of stars floated and orbited slowly, forming a miniaturized Great Array of the Heavens!

The ancient, vast, and boundless Dao rhyme of the stars swept out like a tide!

The Star Observation Platform had appeared!

The moment the Star Observation Platform completely left the water surface and hovered stably in the air—

"Whoosh!" "Whoosh!" "Whoosh!"

Several figures turned into streaks of light almost simultaneously, rushing impatiently toward the starlight staircase leading to the Star Observation Platform!

They were those rogue cultivators and small-faction members who had been holding back for so long!

However, just as they approached the range of the staircase—

"Hmph! Ants dare to covet the Holy Land?"

In the Star Palace camp, the leading Soul Transformation elder, Elder Xing Yan, let out a cold snort. He did not even stand up, merely flicking his sleeve lightly.

A streak of starlight, condensed into substance like a reversed Milky Way, instantly swept across those figures!

"Puff... ah!"

The screams came to an abrupt end!

Those few cultivators, who were at least at the early Nascent Soul stage, along with their protective magic treasures, were instantly annihilated like dust under that streak of starlight, leaving not even a trace behind!

The might of a Soul Transformation expert was truly terrifying!

The entire scene fell into instant silence! All restless thoughts were forcibly suppressed by this cold and ruthless strike!

Elder Xing Yan slowly stood up, his gaze sweeping across the crowd, his voice flat yet carrying supreme majesty: "The Star Observation Platform is the Holy Land of the stellar orthodoxy. Those not favored by the stars may not enter lightly. All idlers, disperse!"

Overbearing! Undisguisedly overbearing!

He wanted to clear the field and monopolize the Star Observation Platform!

The people from the Zhao family, Wang family, and other noble families had ugly expressions but dared not speak out against him. The rogue cultivators were even more terrified into silence.

Just then, a calm voice rang out, breaking the oppressive silence.

"Oh? As far as Lin knows, this Star Observation Platform does not seem to be the private property of the Star Palace, does it?"

Everyone looked toward the source of the voice and saw that Lin Xuan, who had been resting with his eyes closed, had stood up at some point, his gaze meeting Elder Xing Yan’s across the air with indifference.

He took a step forward, arriving at the lake shore, facing the starlight staircase from afar.

"The ancient Observer Xing Yuan left behind a legacy: only the true inheritor of Chaos can hold the Star Meteor Token and restart the observation capability. I wonder by what authority the Star Palace sets these rules of entry?"

As his voice fell, Lin Xuan flipped his palm, and the Star Meteor Token (Star Iron) obtained from the Star Burial Valley ruins appeared in his hand. The token seemed to be drawn by the Star Observation Platform, trembling slightly and emitting stellar radiance of the same origin as the platform!

At the same time, with a thought, the three-inch-tall Chaos Star Dharma Idol appeared faintly behind him. Although small, it exuded a vast Dao rhyme that surpassed the ordinary Dao of stars!

For the first time, a clear ripple appeared on Elder Xing Yan’s ancient, still face, and a flash of shock and intense killing intent crossed his eyes!

"Inheritor of Chaos... Star Meteor Token! It really is in your hands!"

The crowd was in an uproar!

Inheritor of Chaos! Star Meteor Token!

Combined, these two phrases contained an immense amount of information!

Everyone understood that the ownership of this Star Observation Platform today would likely not be decided by the Star Palace alone!

A dragon-and-tiger battle surrounding the entrance to the Star Observation Platform was about to erupt!

Lin Xuan stood holding the token, facing the Soul Transformation pressure without a hint of fear.

"This platform, Lin will definitely enter today!"