The Northwest situation gradually stabilized. Demonic energy receded. The damaged seal, under the joint efforts of the Demon-Suppressing Nail and Situ family formation masters, received continuous reinforcement. Black Rock Fortress's repair work entered proper sequence. Alliance follow-up personnel and resources also arrived in succession. Tang Xiao Qi's heavy burden finally lightened somewhat. He did not immediately return to Alliance headquarters or Qingxu Temple but chose to remain at Black Rock Fortress. On one hand, he consolidated his Golden Core realm, slightlyfloating from intense battles and confrontation with the demonic projection. On the other hand, he handled follow-up affairs of the Northwest defense line while digesting insights from this experience.
On this particular day, he was meditating in his temporary residence's quiet room. His spiritual sense was internally guarded, guiding his Green Lotus Golden Core to slowly absorb heaven and earth spiritual energy, refining increasingly pure core power. Outside the window was the Northwest wasteland'sespeciallyhave'scarrying desolationaura'snight, sparse stars,dim yellow'smoonlight.
When his mind wasserene, attaining a state offorgetting both self and the world, the space inside the quiet room, without warning,stirred with an extremely subtle trace of,if not for his keen spiritual sense, it would be almost undetectable'sripples. This ripple was not a spiritual energy fluctuation, nor spatial transmission, but more like... a strand of fate's thread being gently plucked.
Xiao Qi abruptly opened his eyes. His pupils' green light flashed and disappeared. Hewarily looked toward the ripples'scenter with a sharp gaze.
There, nothing was there.
But the next moment, a blurry silhouetteas ifoutlined by starlight and mist together,silently took shape. The visitor was still that familiar appearance: ordinary Taoist robe, ordinary features. Only those eyes,profound as if containing the entire star sea, was thatdragon's head visible but tail unseen'sTianji Zi!
His appearance was so abrupt, not triggering anyrestriction reaction,as ifhe should have been there, perfectly integrated with this space.
"Little friend, long time no see." Tianji Zi smiled faintly. His voice was peaceful yet directly echoed in Xiao Qi's heart lake,carrying a worldly-wise'sweathered.
Xiao Qiheart trembled with awe, immediately stood, performingjunior's courtesy: "Junior greets Senior Tianji Zi. Senior's sudden arrival, may I ask for guidance?" Healways heldhavea portion ofaweand caution toward this mysterious diviner. Each time this person appeared, it seemed to foreshadow major changes or opportunities.
Tianji Zi did not directly answer but examined Xiao Qi with appreciative gaze, especially that jade-like green-glowing Golden Core at his dantian position, nodding slightly: "Just formed a Golden Core yet already endured demonic tribulation quenching. Foundation solid, Dao rhyme internalized. Additionally protected by Green Lotus Origin, excellent, excellent. Seems the Four Symbols Soul Crystals merged with you quite well."
He seemed to know everything about Xiao Qi.
"Thanks to Senior's guidance in the past." Xiao Qi responded respectfully without arrogance.
Tianji Zi dispensed with pleasantries. His expression slightly sobered. A jade talisman ancient and simple materialized in his hand, slowly floating toward Xiao Qi. That jade talisman material was neither metal nor jade,grayish white. Its surface bore no rune carvings, only some naturally forming, likenebula'ssubtle patternspath. When touched, it was warm, yetfaintly radiated an extremely ancient,almost like"Dao"'saura.
"Take good care of this." Tianji Zi's tone was plain yet carried undeniable weight. "When the 'Heavenly Dao Palace' opens, it may be useful."
"Heavenly Dao Palace?" Xiao Qi accepted the talisman. It felt slightly heavy in hand, yet his hearttrembled. He had never heard this name, but from the word "Heavenly Dao" alone one could know it was extraordinary.
"The timing has not come. More words are useless." Tianji Zi waved his hand, clearly not intending to explain. "When fate arrives, you will understand."
He paused. His gaze seemed topenetrating the quiet room'swalls, looking toward the infinitely distant star sea's depths. He left behind words like a prophecy:
"Starfall Land,Origin of the Dao."
Eight characters, each clear, yet filled withendless'smist.
Star-falling land? Was it where stars fell? Or a specific place name? Origin of the Dao? The source of the great Dao? How did this relate to the Heavenly Dao Palace?
Xiao Qi's brow tightly furrowed. He was about to ask for more details when Tianji Zi's silhouette began becoming increasingly blurry, transparent, likereflection in water dissipating with the wind.
"Senior!" Xiao Qi urgently called.
"Remember, do not show the talisman to others easily, nor rely on divination techniques to explore its origins...let nature take its course,only then see the truth..." Tianji Zi's ethereal voicefinally transmitted, then the entire silhouette dispersed in the quiet room,as ifnever appeared. Even that spatial ripple had calmed without trace.
The quiet room returned to silence. Only Xiao Qi, holding that mysterious gray-white jade talisman, stood in place, brow deeply furrowed.
Tianji Zi's each appearance accompanied important information and elusive riddles. Last time it was Four Symbols Soul Crystals and demonic entity seal. This time it was this talisman, "Heavenly Dao Palace," and the riddle of "Star-falling land, origin of the Dao."
He lowered his head looking at the talisman in his hand. His spiritual sense carefully probed inward, yetlike a stone sinking into the sea, no response, only feeling thateternalvast and hazy'saura. He knew this object was definitely no ordinary item. Tianji Zi specially delivering it must have profound meaning.
"Heavenly Dao Palace... Star-falling land... Origin of the Dao..." Xiao Qi murmured, engraving these key words firmly in his heart. He had a premonition this might relate to his future cultivation path, even to the final reckoning with the demonic entity.
However, the clues were too few, the fog too heavy. Tianji Zi as always only threw out introductions. The remaining road needed him to walk himself, explore himself.
He carefully stored the talisman with the Four Symbols jade pendant, Demon-Suppressing Nail, and other treasures. His gaze again turned to the night sky outside the window. Those sparse stars, at this moment, seemed to hide unknown secrets.
"Star-falling land... where exactly is it?" His heart was full of questions, yet also ignited strong exploration desire. Tianji Zi's reappearance and left riddles, like dropping a stone into a calm lake, again stirred the river of fate ahead. Future trajectories seemed even more puzzling, yet also more captivating.