Chapter 531
The Activities of the Star Beast's True Form!
Chapter 531 The Activities of the Star Beast's True Form!
The old man appeared to be at least eighty or ninety years old, with a full head of silver hair and a face covered in wrinkles, but his eyes were bright and piercing, revealing a sense of wisdom and depth. He wore a simple gray robe and sat upright on a futon, exuding a faint aura of authority.
It was a kind of pressure that Rowan had never felt before, as if it came from another level of existence.
"You are Rowan?" The old man's voice was calm and loud, carrying a reassuring power.
"Junior Luo Wen greets Master Xuan Lingzi." Luo Wen bowed respectfully.
“No need for formalities,” Xuan Lingzi waved his hand. “Zhou Heng has already told me about your situation. You have been invaded by the will of an ancient star beast, which is indeed a thorny issue.”
"Master, is there any way to solve this?" Rowan asked.
“There is a way,” Xuan Lingzi nodded, “but it’s not easy. The will of the ancient star beast is extremely strong; once it sets its sights on you, it’s very difficult to get rid of it completely. However, your situation isn’t too serious yet. As long as the method is appropriate, its influence should be minimized.”
"Please enlighten me, Master."
Xuan Lingzi pondered for a moment, then said, "First, I need to understand your current condition. You said you were being disturbed by the will of the star beast; what exactly are the symptoms?"
Rowan thought for a moment and described in detail: "There are three main symptoms. First, headaches, which occur from time to time, sometimes mild, sometimes severe. Second, hallucinations; images constantly flash through my mind, all about that star beast. Third, a voice; it speaks in my consciousness, trying to tempt or threaten me."
"Which of these three symptoms is the most serious?" Xuan Lingzi asked.
“The voice,” Rowan answered without hesitation, “I can tolerate the headache and hallucinations, but that voice is extremely annoying, and its words are very seductive; if one's will isn't strong enough, it's easy to be swayed by it.”
Xuan Lingzi nodded.
“This is a classic symptom of ‘will parasitism,’” he said. “The ancient celestial beast left an ‘anchor’ in your consciousness, through which it can constantly transmit its will to you. Those headaches, hallucinations, and voices are all the work of this anchor.”
"Is there any way to remove this anchor?" Rowan asked.
“It’s difficult,” Xuan Lingzi shook his head. “This anchor is part of the Star Beast’s will and has already merged with your spirit. Trying to forcibly remove it could damage your spirit, and in severe cases, even turn you into an idiot.”
Rowan's expression changed slightly.
“But it’s not entirely hopeless,” Xuan Lingzi changed the subject. “While we can’t remove this anchor, we can ‘seal’ it. We can wrap it up and prevent it from continuing to affect you.”
"Seal? How do you seal it?"
“Use your own mental power,” Xuan Lingzi said. “You must construct a ‘cage’ deep within your consciousness and imprison that anchor inside. As long as the cage is strong enough, the anchor cannot break through, and those headaches, hallucinations, and sounds will naturally disappear.”
Rowan frowned and said, "I've tried using the Mind-Stabilizing Technique to suppress it, but the effect isn't ideal. Every time I let my guard down, it comes back."
“That’s because your method is wrong,” Xuan Lingzi said. “Suppression and sealing are two different things. Suppression is only a temporary blockage; you need to remain vigilant at all times. But sealing is a permanent isolation; once it’s complete, you don’t need to bother with it anymore.”
"Please give me detailed instructions, Master."
Xuan Lingzi nodded and began to explain in detail.
“The key to the seal lies in ‘construction’ and ‘locking,’” he said. “First, you must construct a closed space deep within your consciousness, a space strong enough to withstand the impact of the Star Beast’s will. Then, you must guide the anchor into this space, locking the exit so it can never escape.”
"Sounds easy enough?" Rowan said.
"It's easier said than done," Xuan Lingzi shook his head. "Constructing a closed space requires extremely high mental control, and locking the exit requires even more exquisite skills. Ordinary people simply can't do it, and even among stellar-level martial artists, very few can accomplish it."
"And what about me?" Rowan asked. "Can I do it?"
Xuan Lingzi was silent for a moment, then said, "Your mental strength is stronger than that of an average stellar-level martial artist, and your will is very firm, which are advantageous. However, the star beast's will is equally strong; it won't obediently be sealed by you. During the sealing process, it will definitely resist desperately, and that will be the most dangerous moment."
What happens if we fail?
"At best, it will cause mental damage that takes a long time to recover," Xuan Lingzi said. "At worst, it will cause a collapse of consciousness, turning one into a complete puppet of the star beast."
Rowan fell silent.
The price was indeed high, but he had no other choice. If he didn't seal the anchor, he would eventually be defeated by the will of the star beast. Rather than passively waiting for that day to come, he might as well take the initiative and gamble.
“I’m willing to try,” Rowan said.
Xuan Lingzi looked at him, a hint of admiration flashing in his eyes.
“Alright, now that you’re ready, I’ll begin guiding you,” he said. “First, find a quiet place and enter a deep meditative state. In that state, your consciousness will be clearer, and it will be easier to control your mental energy.”
“I can start now,” Rowan said.
He adjusted the spaceship's attitude, putting it into autopilot mode, then sat cross-legged in the cockpit, closed his eyes, and began to enter a meditative state as instructed by Xuan Lingzi.
"Relax your body," Xuan Lingzi's voice came through the communication channel, "Clear your mind, don't think about anything. Feel your breath, feel your heartbeat, let everything slow down..."
Following his instructions, Rowan gradually relaxed every muscle in his body and cleared his mind of all thoughts.
Gradually, he entered a wonderful state.
He could feel his consciousness becoming incredibly clear, as if he were in a boundless void. In this void, he could clearly see the entirety of his spirit—a vast sea of stars, with countless points of light twinkling within it, each point of light representing a memory or an emotion.
Deep within the sea of stars, there lies a pitch-black shadow.
That is the "anchor" left by the will of the Star Beast.
It lay there curled up, like a sleeping venomous snake, ready to awaken and launch an attack at any moment.
"Do you see that anchor?" Xuan Lingzi's voice echoed in his consciousness.
“I saw it,” Rowan replied.
“Very good. Now you will begin constructing the sealed cage,” Xuan Lingzi said. “Imagine your spiritual power as a malleable material; you can use it to mold any shape. Now, you will use it to construct a sealed sphere around that anchor.”
Following the instructions, Rowan began to mobilize his mental energy.
He condensed his spiritual energy into threads, weaving them together one by one to form a spherical frame around the shadow.
“Slow down, don’t rush,” Xuan Lingzi reminded him. “Every thread must be woven tightly enough, without any gaps. If there are any gaps, the star beast’s will will escape through them.”
Rowan slowed down and began weaving more carefully.
But just then, the shadow moved.
It seemed to sense Rowan's intention and began to writhe violently. A powerful mental shockwave erupted from its body and slammed into the cage Rowan was constructing.
"Watch out!" Xuan Lingzi shouted. Luo Wen reacted quickly and immediately reinforced the structure of the cage. But the shockwave was too strong, and his cage was knocked to the brink of collapse, with several wires breaking.
"Damn it!" Rowan gritted his teeth and persevered.
“Don’t panic,” Xuan Lingzi’s voice was calm. “Its resistance is expected. You must stay calm and continue weaving. As long as you don’t give up, it cannot escape.”
Luo Wen took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down.
He mended the broken threads while continuing to weave new ones. The shadow continued its assaults, but his speed gradually caught up with its destruction, and the cage slowly became whole again.
"You...think you can trap me like this?"
That familiar voice echoed in Rowan's mind, filled with anger and mockery.
“Foolish human… your strength is too weak… you are no match for me…”
"Shut up!" Rowan roared, speeding up his weaving.
The shadowy mass launched an even more ferocious attack, bolts of black lightning shooting from its body and striking every corner of the cage. Cracks began to appear in the cage, and it looked like it was about to collapse.
“Rowan, listen to me,” Xuan Lingzi’s voice suddenly turned serious, “You have to make a choice now. If you continue like this, your cage will break down sooner or later. But if you’re willing to pay a price, I can teach you a more powerful method.”
"What price?" Rowan asked.
“Use a portion of your spiritual power as a ‘lock,’” Xuan Lingzi said, “and permanently seal it within the cage. Doing so will greatly increase the cage's strength, but you will also lose a portion of your spiritual power, which cannot be recovered in the short term.”
"How much was lost?"
"About one-tenth."
Rowan acted almost without hesitation.
"I do."
“Alright,” Xuan Lingzi said, “Now, condense a portion of your spiritual energy into a physical ‘lock’ and place it at the top of the cage. Then, use this lock to secure the cage's exit, while simultaneously infusing it with your will. Remember, once you begin, you cannot stop, or all your efforts will be in vain.”
Following the instructions, Luo Wen began to concentrate his mental energy.
He could feel his spirit rapidly depleting, as if someone were drawing blood from him. But he did not back down, continuing to gather his strength until a gleaming "lock" appeared in his consciousness.
"Now, lock it!" Xuan Lingzi shouted.
Rowan pressed the lock against the cage's exit, simultaneously infusing it with his own will.
"seal up!"
With a loud bang, the exit of the cage was completely sealed off.
The shadowy mass let out an angry roar and pounded against the inner walls of the cage. But the cage was now incredibly sturdy, and its attacks had no effect whatsoever.
"No! Let me go!" the voice cried out, twisted and frantic. "You can't do this to me! I'll kill you! I'll make you wish you were dead!"
Rowan ignored it and continued to reinforce the structure of the cage.
Gradually, the voice grew fainter and fainter until it disappeared completely.
Rowan opened his eyes and found himself covered in sweat and completely exhausted.
"Success!" Xuan Lingzi's voice rang out in the communication channel, tinged with a hint of relief.
"It worked?" Rowan asked, somewhat dazed.
“Yes, you have successfully sealed the Star Beast’s will,” Xuan Lingzi said. “From now on, it can no longer affect you. Of course, this seal is not permanent; its effectiveness will gradually weaken over time. But at least for the next three to five years, you don’t need to worry about its interference.”
Luo Wen let out a long sigh of relief.
Three to five years...that should be enough. By then, the support from Virtual Universe Company should have reached Earth, and the problem of the ancient star beasts should have been completely resolved.
"Thank you for your guidance, Master." Rowan bowed respectfully.
"No need to be so polite," Xuan Lingzi smiled slightly. "You are a very promising young man. It's not easy to remain calm and make the right choice under such circumstances. Cultivate diligently, and you will surely achieve great things in the future."
"You flatter me, Master."
“There’s one more thing,” Xuan Lingzi added, “You’ve lost one-tenth of your mental energy, so you’ll experience dizziness, weakness, and difficulty concentrating in the short term. These symptoms will gradually disappear within a month or two, so don’t worry too much. However, during this time, it’s best to avoid high-intensity combat or cultivation to prevent further strain on your mental energy.”
"I see."
“Then I’ll take my leave,” Xuan Lingzi said. “If you have any further questions, you can contact me through headquarters.”
"Thank you, Master."
The communication screen disappeared, and the screen returned to a starry sky background.
The spaceship passed through the atmosphere and slowly descended into a valley on the western side of the Dragon Vein Mountains.
Rowan activated the camouflage system, and the surface of the spaceship began to change, being covered again with a layer of rock and moss textures, quickly blending into the surrounding environment.
He stepped out of the spaceship and took a deep breath of the Blue Star air.
The air was filled with the fresh scent of grass and trees, the fragrance of earth, and the unique dampness of the mountains. Compared to the dry, purified air inside the spaceship, the air here felt exceptionally comfortable.
Rowan walked out of the valley along the path and headed towards Tianqi City.
Along the way, he carefully sensed his surroundings and discovered some interesting changes.
The eerie aura in the air had noticeably diminished.
Previously, when he walked near the Netherworld Valley, he could clearly feel a suffocating aura surrounding him, caused by the leakage of energy from ancient star beasts. But now, that aura was almost imperceptible.
"Is it the effect of the seal?" Rowan wondered to himself.
He sealed the anchor that the Star Beast's will had left in his mind, which may have indirectly affected the Star Beast's own activities. After all, that anchor was part of the Star Beast's will, and its sealing would reduce the Star Beast's perception and influence over the outside world.
(End of this chapter)