NOVEL WEB Chapter 789: Heavenly Star Sand Essence! (Part 2)
"Luo Chen, are you alright?" Qing Shuang struggled to get up and asked with concern.
Luo Chen shook his head. Although he felt some pain, he was otherwise fine.
"I'm okay, Qing Shuang." Luo Chen replied, as he stood up and dusted off the dirt from his body.
He looked resolutely at the Stone Gate, his heart filled with curiosity and caution.
Qing Shuang also stood up. She held Luo Chen's hand tightly, and together, they walked towards the Stone Gate.
As they approached, the runes on the Stone Gate seemed to respond to their arrival, emitting a more dazzling light.
"There must be some secret hidden behind this Stone Gate," Qing Shuang whispered.
Luo Chen nodded. He carefully studied the runes on the Stone Gate, trying to decipher their meaning.
After a while, he spoke slowly, "These runes seem to be sealing some sort of power. It seems we need to proceed with caution."
They cautiously passed through the Stone Gate, discovering a vast cavern inside.
In the center of the cavern, there was a huge circular stone platform, upon which rested an ancient stone box.
The stone box was also covered with runes, corresponding to those on the Stone Gate.
"Could this stone box be the source of the Heavenly Star Sand?" Qing Shuang speculated.
Luo Chen did not answer; he stepped forward and closely observed the stone box.
He found that the lid of the stone box was not completely sealed and appeared as though it could be opened.
He took a deep breath, and then slowly pushed open the lid of the stone box.
As the lid opened, a gentle light emanated from the stone box, illuminating the entire cavern.
In the light, tiny grains of sand slowly rose, rotating around the stone box as if they were alive.
"This... this is the essence of the Heavenly Star Sand!" Qing Shuang exclaimed.
Luo Chen nodded. He took out a special container from his chest and carefully collected the sand grains.
The sand grains were purer than the Heavenly Star Sand they had found before, containing powerful energy.
"With these, our Formation setup will be more perfect," Luo Chen said.
Qing Shuang was also very excited. She knew what the essence of these Heavenly Star Sands meant to them.
They put away the container, preparing to leave the cavern.
However, just as they turned around, the ground of the cavern suddenly began to shake, and the stone box on the stone platform trembled along with it.
Luo Chen and Qing Shuang quickly retreated, cautiously watching their surroundings.
"Be careful, Qing Shuang," Luo Chen reminded once more.
Suddenly, a brilliant light burst out from the stone box, illuminating the entire cavern like daylight.
In the light, a blurred figure gradually became visible.
"What is that..." Qing Shuang exclaimed in surprise.
The figure slowly became clear. It was an elderly man, dressed in a simple long robe, with a kind face.
The old man slowly opened his eyes, his gaze as penetrating as a torch, sweeping over Luo Chen and Qing Shuang.
"Young ones, why have you intruded into this place?" The old man's voice was deep and powerful.
Luo Chen and Qing Shuang exchanged a glance, and then Luo Chen stepped forward respectfully and replied, "We have come in search of the Heavenly Star Sand and mean no offense."
The old man nodded, his gaze softening, "The Heavenly Star Sand is a treasure of the heavens and earth, obtainable only by those destined. Your arrival here shows that you have a connection with it."
Hearing this, Qing Shuang was overjoyed, knowing this meant they could take away the essence of the Heavenly Star Sand.
The old man continued, "But as you have seen, the Heavenly Star Sand is not without a master. I am the Guardian of this place, entrusted with watching over these treasures. If you wish to take them, you must pass my test."
Luo Chen and Qing Shuang shared a smile, knowing this was a rare opportunity and a test of their strength.
"Please, Guardian, instruct us," Luo Chen said resolutely.
The old man smiled slightly and took out two items from his sleeve, handing them to Luo Chen and Qing Shuang.
It was a pair of Jade Pendants, carved with intricate runes.
"These are two Jade Pendants, each containing different powers. You need to cooperate and decipher the runes on the pendants to pass the test," the old man explained.
Luo Chen and Qing Shuang took the Jade Pendants and began to study them carefully.
They found that the runes on the pendants seemed to require the collaboration of both to decode.
"Let's begin," Qing Shuang said.
Luo Chen nodded. They began attempting to match the runes on the Jade Pendants piece by piece.
After much effort, they finally found the correct combination.
With the final piece of the rune coming together, the Jade Pendants emitted a gentle light that enveloped Luo Chen and Qing Shuang.
When the light faded, they found themselves back at the entrance of Tianxing Valley.
"Congratulations, you have passed the test." The old man's voice echoed in their ears.
Luo Chen and Qing Shuang turned around and discovered that the old man had disappeared, leaving only the pair of Jade Pendants quietly lying in their hands.
"We did it!" Qing Shuang said excitedly.
Luo Chen smiled and nodded, knowing this experience was significant for them.
Not only did they obtain the essence of the Heavenly Star Sand, but they also passed the Guardian's test, gaining valuable experience.
"Let's go back, Qing Shuang," Luo Chen said.
Qing Shuang nodded, and the two of them, carrying the essence of the Heavenly Star Sand and the Jade Pendants, headed towards the valley where they previously came from.
This time, they had a bountiful harvest.
They not only gathered a large amount of refining materials but also collected a substantial amount of essence of the Heavenly Star Sand for their Formation setup.
These items would last them for a while.
Luo Chen and Qing Shuang retraced their steps back, filled with a sense of achievement.
They knew that this adventure not only provided precious materials but also advanced them further on their Immortal Cultivation path.
"Luo Chen, how do you think we should use this essence of the Heavenly Star Sand?" Qing Shuang asked curiously.
Luo Chen pondered for a moment, then replied, "These essences contain powerful energy. We can use them to enhance the quality of Magic Artifacts, or to set up higher-level Formations, though we'll need to research how to utilize them most effectively first."
Qing Shuang nodded, knowing that Luo Chen had a profound understanding in this field and trusting he would make the best decision.
After returning to the town, they didn't rush to leave but decided to stay a few more days at the inn to better study these newly acquired materials and knowledge.
In the inn's room, Luo Chen and Qing Shuang began carefully studying the pair of Jade Pendants.
The runes on the pendants were complex and mysterious, seeming to contain some form of powerful energy.
"Luo Chen, look at this rune. It seems related to the Formation we saw on the parchment," Qing Shuang pointed to a spot on the Jade Pendant.
Luo Chen leaned in and indeed noticed that the runes on the pendant bore a striking resemblance to the Formation on the parchment.
"This could mean that the runes on the Jade Pendants are somehow linked to that lost Formation," Luo Chen mused thoughtfully.
A glimmer of excitement flashed in Qing Shuang's eyes: "Then, could we possibly perfect that Formation by studying these runes?"
Luo Chen nodded: "That's a great idea. We can try to understand the runes on the pendants first, then combine them with the Formation on the parchment."
In the following days, Luo Chen and Qing Shuang hardly left their room, fully immersing themselves in the study of the Jade Pendants and the parchment.
They kept trying and failing, but each failure brought them a deeper understanding of these mysterious runes.
Finally, one late night, Luo Chen and Qing Shuang both exclaimed at the same time.
"Qing Shuang, I understand it now!" Luo Chen said excitedly.
Qing Shuang nodded with excitement: "I found the key too!"
They discovered that the runes on the Jade Pendants were indeed a part of the Formation on the parchment, and a critical one at that.
By combining the runes on the Jade Pendants with the Formation on the parchment, they could set up an unprecedentedly powerful Formation.
"Once this Formation is successfully set up, our defensive capabilities will reach a new level," Luo Chen said excitedly.