Xun Guilan arrived and solved Yan Chuan’s doubts.
Mountain and Sea Realm!
The sudden spread of martial arts across the world by the Great Yan Court indeed had an extraordinary inside story, and the Martial Arts Academy indeed hides a tremendous secret.
If all this were to be leaked, it would shake the world, yet the court has tightly sealed it with the ’Star Gate Iron Law’—
Those who enter cannot speak!
Those who haven’t entered do not know!
Inside and outside the Star Gate.
Inside and outside the walls.
This information gap formed, completely isolated.
At least, over nearly ten years of inquiries, Yan Chuan had not been able to find any information about the ’Star Gate’ or the ’Mountain and Sea Realm’, showing how strict the ’Iron Law’ was!
Another guess could be made from another angle—
"The number of ’Star Stones’ seems to be few?"
If there were many ’Star Stones’, everyone could bypass the ’Star Gate’ and avoid the ’Iron Law’, and news about the ’Mountain and Sea Realm’ would naturally be hard to seal.
Xun Guilan nodded: "The Star Stone is mysterious and elusive, similar to stars falling from the sky, or the condensing of sunlight, moonlight, and starlight, visible everywhere, yet incredibly hard to find. The two pieces I have with Rulan were accidentally picked up during an outing in the wild. It is said that some have obtained ’Star Stones’ within the Mountain and Sea Realm. Counting these two pieces, there are only four pieces that I know of, for sure."
Star Stones are rare!
Even less shown outside!
Possessing a ’Star Stone’ allows one to freely enter and exit the ’Mountain and Sea Realm’, bypassing the ’Star Gate’ and unbound by the ’Iron Law’.
Naturally, it is kept secret.
Those who have it, most do not flaunt it.
Like Xun Guilan, no one knew she possessed ’Star Stones’, and even two pieces.
This thing, the size of an egg, is easy to hide.
Star Stones are precious.
Everyone conceals them.
But Xun Guilan told Yan Chuan and even gave one to him. Such trust is rare.
Yan Chuan realized this, looking at Xun Guilan: "’Star Stones’ are priceless, yet Heroine Xun trusts me that much?"
Xun Guilan rarely smiled, she solemnly said: "Before I came, I made inquiries about Master Yan in Guangling City. When Guangling Academy rose, the city’s martial arts halls fell into decline, the Iron Wire Martial Arts Hall fared worse day by day, apprentices, instructors, and even Master Cheng’s two children abandoned their father and the hall to join Guangling Academy. Only Master Yan remained steadfast, unwavering. With loyalty and righteousness, compassion and filial piety, such character, Guilan can trust!"
Some said Yan Chuan was stubborn and outdated.
Some said he was foolishly loyal and clumsy.
Others said he defied trends, going against progress, decayed and ignorant.
Yet even those who had fallen out with the martial arts hall, former apprentices, and disciples, none spoke ill of Yan Chuan.
The more like Yan Chuan’s qualities, the more others trust, the more they dare bond with, the more they wish to associate.
A person’s name, a tree’s shadow.
Xun Guilan decided to give the treasure because of Yan Chuan’s reputation.
"Thanks to Heroine Xun for the trust."
"Forgive Yan for any previous concealment; this ’Star Stone’, by chance, I also obtained one. Previously, without understanding its origins, I dared not use it."
"Today, thanks to the heroine, I learned of the ’Star Stone’s’ wonders."
"That’s already a great favor."
"This piece of ’Star Stone’, Heroine Xun should take back."
Although one wouldn’t mind having more ’Star Stones’, Yan Chuan, even with one, could acquire another for someone beside him, like Master Cheng Fengxiao.
Yet, as the saying goes: ’A gentleman loves wealth, and takes it by proper means’!
Xun Guilan, with chivalry and righteousness, pursued a culprit for five years just to avenge a friend, and at this moment was generous enough to offer a great treasure.
How could Yan Chuan deceive others?
"I appreciate the sentiment."
"Star Stone returned."
On Xun Guilan’s face appeared a hint of surprise, "Master Yan also has a Star Stone?"
Soon nodding, her expression showing great praise: "People with virtue are bound to have blessings. Master Yan now has a surprise weapon, later has the Star Stone, his rise is inevitable, it was Guilan who underestimated."
In front of heavy treasures.
Yet can restrain oneself.
Xun Guilan’s assessment of Yan Chuan rose another level; she still pressed the ’Star Stone’ into his hand: "This is a thank-you gift from Rulan through me, Master Yan please accept it, even if you don’t use it yourself, what about Master Cheng?"
Knowing the ’Star Stone’s’ marvelous use, he indeed wanted one for Master Cheng as well, and the one before him was hard to refuse.
He looked at Xun Guilan: "Can one ’Star Stone’ only be used by one person?"
"Qi-blood recognizes the master, replaced upon death." Xun Guilan nodded, then added: "No need to mention the star stone again. If Master Yan doesn’t accept it, Guilan will throw it out after stepping out."
This woman, truly fierce!
Yan Chuan chuckled helplessly, no longer refusing.
Upon seeing Yan Chuan accept the ’Star Stone’, Xun Guilan finally showed a hint of a smile, she then asked him: "Master Yan, would you be willing to join the ’Nine Righteous People’ to safeguard justice in the world together?"
Xun Guilan came quickly and left quickly.
Yan Chuan kept the ’Star Stone’, along with the ’Three Volumes of Mystical Treasures, Alien Beasts, and Geography of the Mountain and Sea’, given by Xun Guilan, but politely refused Xun Guilan’s request, not joining the ’Nine Righteous People’.
"Acting chivalrously when inspired."
"There’s no need to join some organization, unnecessarily adding an extra layer of constraint."
Compared to joining an organization established by others and following rules set by others, Yan Chuan was more inclined to act on his own.
After bidding farewell to Xun Guilan.
Yan Chuan went out to retrieve the ’Star Stone’ he got from Du Hanfeng in July, adding it to the one left by Xun Guilan, having two Star Stones in hand instantly.
Yan Chuan stored the one from Xun Guilan, taking Du Hanfeng’s Star Stone, keeping it close, and then started practicing the ’Five Forms Eight Techniques Fist’.
Boxing started, qi-blood surged, while it continuously roamed and concentrated within his body, a trace inevitably diffused and scattered.
This qi-blood should have been dispersed, wasted.
But at this moment, the ’Star Stone’ absorbed it all.
Within the Star Stone, the imprint that originally belonged to Du Hanfeng had already dissipated with his death, turning back into a ’Blank Star Stone’.
The ’active qi-blood’ belonging to Yan Chuan diffused out and was absorbed, gathered inside, gradually forming a new imprint—
Yan Chuan’s eyes lit up, sensing the Star Stone outside his body, yet able to perceive it as his own qi-blood, various miraculous uses vaguely conveyed, not clear, seemingly misleading.
According to Xun Guilan, the amazing uses of the ’Star Stone’ require experiencing with one’s heart, as the ’qi-blood imprint’ belonging to Yan Chuan deepens, his understanding and utilization of the ’Star Stone’ will deepen as well.
However, Xun Guilan had the ’Star Stone’ for over five years, and until now, she had only explored the ability to summon the ’Mountain and Sea Gate’, allowing free passage between the ’Great Yan’ and the ’Mountain and Sea Realm’.
Already extremely powerful.
At this moment, Yan Chuan didn’t need to explore; he followed Xun Guilan’s taught method, with ’Star Stone’ connecting to ’Qi-blood imprint’, wandering amidst the starry sky.
No knowing how much time passed—
Yan Chuan suddenly felt his body become heavy, collapsing to the ground.
The Ten Tigers ranked last!
Fell like a dog eating dirt!