A cold glint flashed in Han Feng's eyes: "That woman is Mu Xiaoxiao."
"Exactly." Dongfang Lin nodded. "Shangguan Ce even tried to persuade us to let this generation's Star Soul Lord... that is, you, not collect the three Star Mirrors."
"Why?" Han Feng leaned forward. "What impact will collecting all the Star Mirror pieces have on you?"
Dongfang Lin's beard moved without wind: "Because only by collecting all three Star Mirrors can one obtain the complete inheritance information of the previous Star Lord." He stared intently at Han Feng, "Including... how to leave Blue Star and travel to a place beyond the realm where spiritual energy is more abundant."
These words struck Han Feng like a bolt of lightning. The forces behind Mu Xiaoxiao, the gene serum, the suddenly appearing hidden family... all the clues began to connect.
"She's trying to stop me from collecting the Star Mirror," Han Feng sneered. "Because once I obtain the complete inheritance, I can easily crush her plans."
Dongfang Lin removed the barrier, and the chirping of insects outside returned: "Not bad. And the Shangguan family..." He hesitated, as if he wanted to say something but then stopped.
Han Feng understood: "So you've already sided with Mu Xiaoxiao?"
"It's not confirmed yet," Dongfang Lin shook his head. "But the Dongfang family's spies have reported that Shangguan Ce has been frequently entering and leaving the Xiling Forbidden Zone recently, where unusual fluctuations in spiritual energy have been observed."
Xiling... Han Feng silently memorized the place name. It seems that besides collecting star records, he will have to find some time to explore that place.
"One last question." Han Feng looked directly into the old man's eyes. "Now that they know my identity, can the Shangguan family remain indifferent?"
Dongfang Lin suddenly smiled, his wrinkles smoothing out: "This is why I was so eager to see you." He then handed the Star Compendium to Han Feng.
"The Star Mirror of the Dongfang family should be returned to its rightful owner," Dongfang Lin said calmly, as if it had nothing to do with him. The Star Mirror's surface immediately shimmered with a star-like halo.
The stellar power within Han Feng suddenly surged, resonating strongly with the Star Mirror. He resisted the urge to reach out and touch it: "What are you doing...?"
"It was left behind by the previous Star Lord," Dongfang Lin said, pushing the Star Mirror towards Han Feng. "Rather than letting it fall into the hands of villains, it's better to hand it over to the rightful Star Soul Lord."
The Star Mirror on the stone table emitted a soft starlight, its surface shimmering with a galaxy-like halo that echoed the surging stellar power within Han Feng's body. His fingertips trembled slightly, every inch of his skin seeming to yearn to touch that mysterious artifact.
"It was originally left behind by the previous Star Lord," Dongfang Lin's aged voice seemed to come from a great distance. "Rather than letting the Star Mirror fall into the hands of villains, it's better to hand it over to the rightful Star Soul Lord."
Han Feng took a deep breath and was about to reach out when a clear, cold female voice, like an icy spring, suddenly came from outside the pavilion:
"Grandpa, you wanted to see me?"
The sound seemed to possess a certain magic, silencing the cicadas in the courtyard for a moment. Han Feng and Dongfang Lin turned their heads simultaneously, only to see a young woman in a light purple dress standing three steps away from the pavilion. The morning light filtered through the bamboo leaves, casting dappled shadows on her, yet it could not conceal her innate ethereal beauty.
A loving expression appeared on Dongfang Lin's wrinkled face: "Wantang, you've come at the right time." He turned to Han Feng, "Young friend Han, this is my granddaughter, Dongfang Wantang."
Han Feng was momentarily stunned. If Liu Mengran was a gentle and graceful orchid, and Su Wanwan a lively and unrestrained flame, then the woman before him was like the unmelting snow atop a high mountain—her features were so exquisite they seemed unreal, her skin as translucent as the finest white porcelain, and her eyes were clear yet unfathomable. Most striking was the pale blue star-shaped mark on her forehead, which flickered slightly with her breath.
"Hello, Miss Dongfang." Han Feng snapped out of his daze and hurriedly stood up to greet her.
Dongfang Wantang merely nodded slightly, her gaze lingering on his face for less than a second before shifting away, and walked straight to sit down beside Dongfang Lin. As she approached, a clear, pine-like fragrance wafted over, and the stellar power within Han Feng suddenly became more active.
"Wantang is the only successor in the Dongfang family in the past hundred years to have comprehended 'astrology'," Dongfang Lin said, gently stroking his granddaughter's hair, his eyes filled with pride. "I want her to stay by your side."
"What?!" Han Feng nearly knocked over his teacup. "Why?"
Dongfang Wantang remained expressionless, her slender fingers gently smoothing the wrinkles in her cuffs, as if she had anticipated this decision.
Dongfang Lin sighed: "The Shangguan family's attitude is ambiguous, while Wan Tang is proficient in astrology and can help you find other star mirrors." The old man stared intently at Han Feng, "More importantly, the stellar power within her resonates with you in a special way."
Han Feng instinctively wanted to refuse—he already had Liu Mengran and Su Wanwan at home, why bring back another young lady from an ancient martial arts family? Just imagining that scene made his scalp tingle.
"Senior Dongfang, my family already has..."
"Ancient martial arts families don't care about these things," Dongfang Lin interrupted with a smile, as if reading his mind. "The Lord of the Stars has always had multiple Star Consorts by his side; this has been the custom since ancient times."
Han Feng's ears burned, and he stole a glance at Dongfang Wantang. The ice beauty remained expressionless, but a suspicious blush appeared on the tips of her ears.
"Furthermore," Dongfang Lin suddenly lowered his voice, "Wan Tang's presence is beneficial to both of your cultivation. Haven't you noticed that since her appearance, the stellar power within you has become much more active?"
Han Feng's heart skipped a beat. Indeed, from the moment Dongfang Wantang stepped into the pavilion, the energy in his meridians rippled like the surface of a lake touched by a spring breeze. Even more strangely, the light of the Star Mirror grew brighter as she approached.
"I need time to think about it," Han Feng replied cautiously.
"Take the Star Mirror first," Dongfang Lin pushed the treasure in front of him. "As for Wantang..." the old man smiled meaningfully, "Let her decide for herself."
Dongfang Wantang finally raised her eyes and looked directly at Han Feng for the first time. Her eyes were astonishingly clear, and it seemed as if stars were flowing in the depths of her pupils.
"Um, Miss Dongfang." Han Feng was interrupted before he could speak.
"From now on, just call me Wan Tang. I'll come to Kyoto to find you in three days." Her voice remained cool, yet carried an unwavering firmness. "Please let me know your decision then."
Just as Han Feng was about to say something, his fingertips accidentally touched the Star Mirror. In an instant, a dazzling starlight burst forth from the point of contact, enveloping the entire pavilion in brilliant starlight.
Han Feng felt a vast, ocean-like power surge into his body through his arm, flowing ceaselessly through his meridians. His consciousness was drawn into a strange space, where countless stars swirled around him, and the seven brightest stars formed a pattern he knew all too well—the Big Dipper.
"Star trails..." he murmured to himself, looking at the scene before him.
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