Chapter 14555 Star Marrow Pool

The cave door opened by itself without wind, and a weathered yet gentle voice came from within, like the whisper of an elder, carrying an undeniable power: "Never thought that in the vast sea of stars and the passage of time, I would meet the grandson of my benefactor here."

The voice paused for a moment, then spoke again: "Come in."

Ling Xiao took a deep breath and stepped into the cave. The cave was not dark, but illuminated by the luminous pearls and starlight embedded in the walls, making it bright and soft.

In the center of the inner room, a figure sat upright behind a jade table. A curtain of starlight-woven gauze hung in front of the table, obscuring the figure's true appearance. One could only vaguely sense an aura as vast as heaven and earth, inspiring awe.

Ling Xiao did not rashly release his divine sense to investigate... This was the most basic respect for a strong person. He cupped his hands in greeting and asked in a deep voice, "What exactly do you mean by 'benefactor' that you just mentioned, senior? I am quite confused."

The powerful figure behind the gauze curtain chuckled softly, his voice tinged with a hint of satisfaction: "You didn't know? That old fellow Hong Qi never mentioned his connection with me to you?"

“This junior has indeed never heard of it.” Ling Xiao frowned slightly. “What should I know?”

The powerful figure remained silent for a moment, his voice now carrying a hint of etherealness, as if from the distant past: "It's alright. The opportunity hasn't arrived yet, so there's no point in saying more. When your cultivation is sufficient, or when you encounter a specific opportunity, you will understand everything. There are some past events that I shouldn't tell you."

Ling Xiao was speechless for a moment, full of questions but unable to ask them.

The powerful figure seemed unwilling to dwell on the matter any longer, and changed the subject: "Since he is a descendant of our benefactor, how can we let you return empty-handed? Dashan, take him to the 'Star Marrow Pool'."

The figure formed from the divine mountain beside the hall was clearly taken aback, seemingly quite surprised by the decision, but dared not ask any further questions, and respectfully replied, "Yes, Master." Then he turned to Ling Xiao and made a "please" gesture: "Your Excellency, please follow me."

Ling Xiao glanced at the figure behind the gauze curtain, suppressed the many questions in his heart, and followed the figure that the divine mountain had conjured.

After his figure completely disappeared into the depths of the cave, a barely audible chuckle echoed within the hall, carrying a sense of relief and anticipation: "My old friend Hong Qi, I have not failed you. You placed high hopes on this child; I hope that in the future he will truly live up to your wishes and carve out his own path..."

……

Ling Xiao followed the human figure that the sacred mountain had conjured and arrived at the very core of the sacred mountain... a natural grotto entwined with countless crystal-clear spiritual roots.

In the center of the grotto is a pool about several meters square. The pool is not an ordinary spring, but flows with a rich, tangible emerald-colored liquid, like melting stars, rippling with layers of waves, radiating a magnificent vitality and the power of the stars' origin that makes people feel comfortable in their souls.

Star Essence!

It was an entire pool of Star Essence!

Ling Xiao's breathing quickened slightly, his eyes filled with shock and ecstasy... Star Essence is the essence of stars condensed at the beginning of the world, even more precious than Kangguo Divine Liquid. It can not only temper the body and nourish the soul, but also help martial artists comprehend the laws of stars. It is an unparalleled treasure for breaking through realms.

For an ordinary martial artist, obtaining even a trace of it would be an incredible stroke of luck, but here, it was an entire pool!

"Go down," the figure that the divine mountain had conjured said in a calm tone.

"Go down?" Ling Xiao's eyes lit up, and he asked tentatively, "Senior, this entire pool of Star Essence... is all mine to use?"

The figure materialized from the divine mountain seemed to twitch its stone-like face, its tone tinged with helplessness: "I'm sending you into the pool to temper your body and soul, to solidify your foundation and comprehend the laws with the power of the Star Origin Marrow, not for you to take it away at will. This Star Origin Marrow is formed from the very essence of the divine mountain, taking countless ages to condense into a single pool; how can I allow you to squander it?"

It turns out there was a misunderstanding.

Ling Xiao smiled awkwardly, scratched his head, and said no more... Being able to enter the pool for tempering was already an incredible opportunity; how could he dare to ask for more?

He leaped into the pool.

Warm and smooth!

This was the most direct feeling. The pure and vast power of the stellar origin was like countless warm hands, flowing into his body through every pore of his body, flowing along his meridians, nourishing every inch of flesh and blood, every bone, and even seeping into the depths of his soul.

An indescribable sense of comfort swept over his entire body, almost making him sigh out loud. The fatigue from days of traveling and cultivating vanished instantly, and even the mysterious power within his body became active, resonating with and merging with the power of the Star Origin Essence.

……

Shenshan returned to his cave, his stone body exuding a sense of suppressed gloom. He asked in a muffled voice, "Master... just what is the background of that Lingxiao brat? He's just the grandson of an old friend, yet you were willing to give him the entire pool of star marrow?"

A gentle laugh came from behind the gauze curtain, like a spring breeze brushing against ancient stones: "You only need to remember that his grandfather was my benefactor and your second parent. If it weren't for Senior Hong Qi using an unparalleled treasure to reverse the laws of life and death and save me from the brink of collapse, and to retrieve your remnant spirit from the aftershocks of the shattered realm, there would be no Kangguo Divine Mountain today."

"That Senior Hong Qi... is very strong?" Shenshan's voice was filled with barely suppressed curiosity. Having lived for countless ages, it had never heard its master praise anyone so highly.

The voice behind the gauze curtain suddenly burst into hearty laughter, tinged with a hint of reminiscence and awe: "Your question has put me in a rather difficult position."

"Why?"

"Actually, I don't know just how powerful my benefactor is," the voice said slowly. "I only know that back then, with a casual wave of his hand, he pulled me out of the chaotic death zone, where I had completely lost my life force, and then used his natal treasure to repair your spiritual core. Tell me, wouldn't you say that's powerful?"

The divine mountain froze on the spot, its stone jaw nearly falling off, its eyes filled with unbelievable shock... Its master was the spirit of the innate divine mountain, already surpassing the ordinary realm of breaking through. The existence that could easily reverse its life and death and repair its spiritual core was probably already at the legendary level of the Heavenly Dao!

"Give him all of that pool of Star Essence." The voice behind the gauze curtain was calm, yet carried an undeniable determination. "That stuff is useless to me, and it's a burden to you as well. This act of kindness might one day give you a chance to transcend this world. Let him take it all; there's no need to be stingy."

Shenshan composed himself and bowed respectfully: "I will obey my master's orders!"

……

As the stars turned and day and night alternated, three days passed quietly in the tranquil nourishment of the Source Essence Pool.

That morning, a dazzling starlight suddenly burst forth from the pool. Ling Xiao abruptly opened his eyes, his gaze flashing like a sword drawn from its sheath.

He looked inward at himself, and a huge wave surged in his heart... The Star Essence permeated his limbs and bones like a fine nectar, his bones glowed with a lustrous starlight, his meridians widened several times, and became as tough as innate spiritual veins. His physical body had completely broken through the shackles of the "Star River Realm" and steadily stepped into the "Silent Emperor Realm" level!
Even more surprisingly, an unprecedented innate vitality is born deep within the body, as if nurturing a small world. Ordinary injuries are no problem, but even shattered internal organs or broken limbs can be regenerated and repaired at a visible speed under the nourishment of this vital energy, making it virtually indestructible!
My physical strength and recovery ability are now vastly different from before.