The black stone tower stood in solitary grandeur atop the mountain, overgrown with weeds that bore witness to the passage of time. At the topmost level of the tower, the scene remained unchanged for a thousand years: a young man lay motionless on a stone platform, engulfed in a violet-brown flame, which burned fiercely and exuded a burgeoning aura of vitality. Beside the platform, Little Healer Immortal gazed at the young man within the flames, her gaze transfixed for a long while before she let out a deep, melancholic sigh.
“A whole year… will you not wake up?” she whispered to herself. It had been a year since Xiao Yan was first brought here. During that time, the Falling Star Pavilion had quietly risen to formidable strength, but Xiao Yan, the one everyone most cared about, had yet to awaken from his healing coma. Initially, Pharmacist Elder and others believed it was due to the severity of his injuries. However, after Xiao Yan remained comatose for nearly half a year, they abandoned this idea. They could sense that all of Xiao Yan’s internal wounds were now healed, and he was even in better condition than during his peak. But why, despite these improvements, was Xiao Yan still unconscious? Even Pharmacist Elder could not fathom the reason.
Despite their impatience, they refrained from impulsively trying to forcibly rouse Xiao Yan from his coma. As they waited helplessly, a year slipped away like sand through their fingers.
“Ah…” In the stone tower, Little Healer Immortal gazed at the statue-like figure, a hint of sadness flitting across her eyes. She shook her head slightly and murmured, “Even for Xuner and Cai Lin’s child, you cannot sleep forever.”
Her words, however, did not produce the desired effect. Disappointed, she turned to leave, only to freeze as Xiao Yan’s fingers suddenly twitched slightly. Her sharp eyes could not have missed such a subtle movement!
At a nearby martial arts training ground, many Falling Star Pavilion disciples gathered daily for their practice. At the center, a green-clad beauty stood with her back turned, her sternly beautiful face giving her an imposing air that set her apart from her former self.
Muye Qing Luan scanned the area and, seeing no slacking off, nodded slightly before turning her gaze toward the back mountain, where the black stone tower could be clearly seen. Gazing at the tower, she fell into a daze. The memory of Xiao Yan’s confrontation with a Five-Star Dou Zun, during which he severed the opponent’s arm, still left her awestruck. Yet, such a magnificent victory came at a terribly high cost—so high that most people would find it unbearable.
“The back mountain has been sealed off for a year. Senior Sister, do you know when it will be reopened?” At the sound of a soft voice behind her, Muye Qing Luan snapped out of her reverie and turned to see a group of young disciples, each with a notable reputation among the Falling Star Pavilion members.
She smiled and shook her head, saying, “Even Teacher doesn’t know.”
“I heard that inside the stone tower, there is a senior named Xiao Yan who is in cultivation. He is said to be the Pavilion Master’s direct disciple…” one of the female disciples mused curiously.
“But he has been cultivating for far too long, over a year, without any sign of activity. Could it be…?”
“That’s enough. Do not discuss this matter any further,” Muye Qing Luan frowned.
Seeing her displeased, the others immediately silenced themselves, aware of her authority and status within the pavilion.
“Many elders in the pavilion are on important business. Do not take advantage of their absence to slack off. If you fail the annual exam, you will have a hard time,” she chastised them.
“Of course, Senior Sister. By the way, I’ve heard that in the Southern Domain of Central State, there seems to be an ancient relic emerging in the Ten Thousand Great Mountains. Could the elders’ departure be related to this?” a clever-looking young man inquired curiously.
“Yes, it is related. This ancient relic is extraordinary. Any capable force in Central State would want to claim it. However, the Ten Thousand Great Mountains fall within the Territory of Beasts, where the demon beasts rule. They would never willingly share such a relic. A fierce battle is inevitable,” she explained.
“This ancient relic… if anyone can get a Heavenly Stage Dou Technique, imagine the possibilities.”
“Heavenly Stage? I’ve never seen such a technique in my life.”
“Don’t daydream. Such treasures are like hot potatoes. If you don’t have the strength, not only will you lose the treasure, but you’ll also bring trouble upon yourself,” Muye Qing Luan retorted, rolling her eyes.
The others chuckled, and after a few more idle remarks, they were about to begin their cultivation when the entire mountain suddenly trembled. They staggered and nearly fell.
“What happened? What’s going on?” The sudden vibration caused a commotion. All the cultivators rose to their feet, whispering anxiously.
Muye Qing Luan, surprised by the turn of events, shouted, “Be quiet! With the Pavilion Master and the elders guarding, what could go wrong?”
The chaos gradually subsided as her words made sense. The Falling Star Pavilion was well-protected, even if the mountain were to crumble.
Another violent shake jolted the mountain. The now-calm crowd quickly identified the source of the disturbance—the stone tower on the back mountain.
“It’s coming from there…” Muye Qing Luan’s heart raced as she realized the stone tower, dormant for a year, was finally stirring.
Whoosh!
The vibrations drew the attention of many powerful figures within the pavilion. Silhouettes darted out from various directions, hovering mid-air, their gazes fixed on the back mountain. A sense of something terrifying, akin to a sleeping dragon, slowly awakening, pervaded the air.
“Shh!”
Two elderly figures appeared in the sky, their eyes locked on the stone tower. Upon sensing the overwhelming aura, they couldn’t conceal their excitement.
“That aura… it’s Xiao Yan! Has he finally awakened?!”
As the entirety of the pavilion buzzed with the sudden commotion, strange changes began to occur within the stone tower.
Inside the stone tower, Little Healer Immortal watched in amazement as a vast astral force emanated from Xiao Yan, who lay on the stone platform. She could sense a familiar presence gradually awakening.
“Finally awakening…”
Overwhelmed with joy, Little Healer Immortal felt a flicker of hope. There was finally some movement!
As her elation grew, the violet-brown flame enveloping Xiao Yan suddenly expanded, filling the entire stone tower. Hesitating, she swiftly exited, knowing that the powerful Three Lotus Heart Flame could harm even her if exposed too long.
As she left, the violet-brown flame burst from the tower, forming a massive, hundred-foot-long dragon. Its coiled body shrouded the tower, and its immense aura made many feel weak-kneed.
With a thunderous roar, the dragon formed, and a pillar of starlight, nearly a hundred feet wide, pierced through the sky, striking the dragon’s body. The vast astral force illuminated the dragon, causing it to emit a brilliant light. A mighty aura spread like a tide…
The blinding light forced many to close their eyes. When they opened them again, they saw a slender figure emerging from the dragon’s forehead, radiating the majestic aura.
“Such an aura… a Dou Zun…?” Muye Qing Luan stared in shock, her voice trembling as she spoke.
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