60: Chapter 60: Arriving at Falling Star Lake, Setting Up the Primordial Chaos Array, Strange Light Appears at the Bottom of the Lake

After flying for several more days, the terrain gradually rose, and mountains stretched endlessly.

Ahead, where clouds and mist swirled, a vast, misty lake appeared before his eyes.

The lake water was clear and green, shimmering with ripples, and countless islands of various sizes were scattered like stars across it. The surface was veiled year-round in milky-white mist, and the sunlight passing through refracted into hazy halos, truly giving it a dreamlike, star-falling sensation.

This place was the "Zhuixing Lake" marked on the map.

Ye Qing lowered his flight light and landed behind a hidden reef on the lakeshore.

He quietly released his Divine Sense, like threads of silk, probing into the lake and sweeping over the nearby small islands.

The Spiritual Qi in the lake was acceptable, slightly inferior to Liuyun City, but far better than the desolate mountains and wild forests along the way. There were indeed signs of Yao Beast in the water, mostly First Stage, with the occasional Second Stage lurking in the deep water, but they had low intelligence and posed little threat.

Most of the islands in the lake had dense vegetation, and many bore traces of crude Immortal Caves, clearly where Loose Cultivator had stayed briefly, but they were now abandoned and uninhabited.

"This place is indeed as the map says; the terrain is complex, there are many islands, and the mist provides cover, making it easy to hide. The Spiritual Qi is also sufficient. It is a good place for seclusion."

Ye Qing selected an island slightly west of the lake center that was relatively large, had higher terrain, was particularly densely forested, and had a weak Spiritual Vein branch running through it.

This island was far from the main shipping lanes, and the surrounding waters were dense with hidden reefs, making it difficult for ordinary boats to approach. There were ruins of an Immortal Cave opened by predecessors on the island, which had long since collapsed and were covered in vines, making them inconspicuous.

He activated his Wind Spirit Wings, skimming the surface of the lake, and flew silently toward the island.

After landing, he first used his Divine Sense to carefully scan the entire island to confirm there were no powerful Yao Beast or hidden Restrictions.

Then, in an open space in the center of the island, backed by a cliff and facing a small pond, he began to set up a new foothold.

He did not rush to open an Immortal Cave but instead set up the Formation first.

The Materials for the "Lesser Heavenly Cycle Five Elements Earth Vein Array" had already been prepared, and the main Formation core was the "earth vein array core mushroom".

Ye Qing used his Divine Sense to survey the island's Spiritual Vein direction and found the key nodes of that Spiritual Vein branch.

He drove the five core Formation bases—Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth—deep into the nodes, following the Five Elements orientation.

Finally, he placed the "earth vein array core mushroom" in the central main position, activated it with his own essence blood and magic power, and slowly lowered it into the ground, connecting it with the island's Spiritual Vein, the five Formation bases, and the surrounding Earth Qi.

Hum!

The moment the Formation was activated, the entire island trembled slightly.

Centered on the open space by the cliff, within a radius of fifty zhang, faint five-colored spiritual light rose and intertwined, forming a stable Five Elements spiritual light shield that completely obscured, distorted, and isolated the internal aura, light, and spiritual power fluctuations.

On the shield, threads of Chaos air and specks of starlight appeared; these were traces of the Hunxu Yandao Scripture and star power that Ye Qing had integrated, making the Formation's concealment effect even better and giving it a characteristic of spatial confusion.

"It is done! With this Formation as the foundation, this island will be my temporary Daoist temple. Let's call it 'Hunyuan Island', and the Formation shall be called the 'Lesser Hunyuan Five Elements Earth Vein Array'."

Ye Qing nodded with satisfaction. With this Formation guarding it, even an ordinary Foundation Establishment Late Stage Cultivator would find it difficult to easily see through, greatly increasing safety.

Only then did he set about clearing the open space and using magic power to open a simple Immortal Cave.

The Immortal Cave was not large, with one hall and one room. The hall contained a stone table and stone stools, while the room had only a stone bed and a meditation cushion. The furnishings were simple but clean and tidy.

He also excavated an Alchemy room behind the cliff of the Immortal Cave, setting up a bronze Medicine Cauldron and a ground fire conduit.

On the side of the Immortal Cave, he leveled a small piece of spiritual field and transplanted some ordinary Spiritual Plant seedlings taken from his space to deceive others.

The truly important Spiritual Plant, such as the moonlight star seed, water jade bodhi, jade marrow ganoderma, and soul soothing flower, remained cultivated on the Floating Landmass in his space.

Having set everything up, Ye Qing activated the simple protection that came with the Immortal Cave and completely sealed the entrance.

From then on, Hunyuan Island became his secret stronghold at Zhuixing Lake.

In the days that followed, life returned to a routine.

During the day, he sometimes patrolled the island to familiarize himself with the environment and observe the activity patterns of the Yao Beast.

Sometimes he would pilot a self-made flat-bottomed boat to fish in the lake, but in reality, he was using his Divine Sense to scan the lake bottom, collecting some water-attribute Spiritual Plant and Ore, or hunting low-rank water Yao Beast to take their Materials or let his space absorb them directly.

At night, he would Cultivate in the Immortal Cave, deducing the Hunxu Yandao Scripture, and studying Alchemy, Talisman-making, and Formation paths.

The Spiritual Qi of Hunyuan Island, regulated by the "Lesser Hunyuan Five Elements Earth Vein Array", became pure and peaceful, making Cultivation twice as effective with half the effort.

The space's feedback was continuous, and his Foundation Establishment Middle Stage cultivation steadily progressed toward Perfection.

One day, Ye Qing was piloting his boat on the lake as usual, casting a fishing line made primarily of iron wire vine mixed with star sand, with a special "Yao Beast bait" hanging at the end.

The bait was made from the flesh and blood of low-rank Yao Beast mixed with several fishy-smelling Spiritual Plant, which was quite attractive to water Yao Beast.

He half-closed his eyes, looking leisurely, but in reality, his Divine Sense was like mercury pouring onto the ground, quietly covering the lake surface within a hundred zhang radius and ten zhang underwater.

Suddenly, the fishing line sank imperceptibly.

It was not the tug of a fish biting the hook, but an extremely slight touch with a cold, sharp intent.

Immediately after, a sinister, bone-chilling Yao power carrying a strong, fishy smell surged up along the fishing line, rushing straight at Ye Qing's palm!

It was a Yao Beast, and its rank was not low—at least Second Stage! It even knew how to disguise itself and ambush!

Ye Qing's eyes turned cold. He did not dodge, and Chaos magic power instantly surged from his right hand holding the rod, rushing down along the fishing line!

At the same time, he pointed with his left hand toward where the fishing line entered the water.

Chirp!

A muffled roar of pain came from underwater, the fishing line suddenly tightened, and a huge force came through, as if it wanted to drag Ye Qing into the water.

Ye Qing planted his feet, remaining motionless. His right hand exerted force, and his Chaos magic power surged violently down the fishing line.

"Get up here!"

With a low shout, he flicked his wrist.

Splash!

Water exploded, and a huge black shadow was forcibly dragged from underwater and flew into the air!

It was a hideous monster fish nearly two zhang long, covered in dark blue scales, with bone spurs on its head, sharp teeth in its mouth, and four claws on its belly! Its aura was violent, reaching the Middle Stage of the Second Stage, equivalent to a Foundation Establishment Middle Stage Cultivator!

"Dark Claw Dragon Salamander? A mutated one?" Ye Qing recognized this Yao Beast. The Dark Claw Dragon Salamander had immense strength, was skilled in water-type Spell and physical combat, and was a famous ferocious creature in Zhuixing Lake.

At this moment, the Dragon Salamander was clearly enraged. While in mid-air, it opened its bloody mouth, and an extremely condensed dark blue water arrow with bone-chilling cold air shot straight at Ye Qing's face.

At the same time, the four sharp claws under its belly flashed with dark light, slashing out several fierce claw winds in mid-air, sealing Ye Qing's left and right escape routes.

Ye Qing's expression did not change. He flicked the fishing rod in his right hand, and the fishing line mixed with star sand swirled in the air like a spirit snake, instantly shredding the dark blue water arrow.

At the same time, his figure swayed slightly, and he took a Void Step, avoiding the claw winds at a critical moment. He appeared on the side of the Dragon Salamander, clenched his right fist, and with Chaos magic power surging, he punched its scale-covered waist and abdomen without any bells and whistles!

Bang!

The muffled sound was like a giant drum being beaten.

The Dragon Salamander wailed, its scales cracked, blood splattered, and its huge body was knocked flying, crashing heavily onto the lake surface, splashing water several zhang high.

Before it could sink into the water to counterattack, Ye Qing opened the fingers of his left hand and pressed them toward the lake surface.

"Five Elements Sealing Suppression!"

Beneath the lake surface, the Five Elements Spiritual Qi of metal, wood, water, fire, and earth were instantly triggered, sluggish, and solidified.

The water around the Dragon Salamander seemed to turn into a viscous gel, dragging its movements down tightly.

Seizing this opportunity, Ye Qing's figure was like lightning, walking on water, and he arrived in an instant. He pressed his right index and middle fingers together, his Chaos magic power highly compressed, and the tip of his finger glowed with a scorching white light, flowing with the phantom of stars.

Void Star Finger.

He pointed at the center of the Dragon Salamander's brow.

Fear flashed in the Dragon Salamander's eyes, and it struggled frantically, the dark blue light on its body surface flaring, trying to condense its protective Yao power.

However, the Void Star Finger ignored the layer of Yao power defense, as if passing through a thin piece of paper, and gently tapped on the scales between its brows.

Chirp.

A slight sound.

The Dragon Salamander's body stiffened, and the luster in its eyes rapidly dimmed and dissipated. A charred hole appeared at the center of its brow, with starlight flickering at the edges, rapidly spreading.

The huge Yao Beast body slowly sank into the lake, making no more sound.

The battle lasted only three breaths from start to finish.

Ye Qing stood on the waves, his breathing steady. He reached out to summon, fished the Dragon Salamander's corpse from the water, and put it into the waste area of his space.

A Second Stage Middle Stage Yao Beast—another sumptuous meal.

He was about to return to the flat-bottomed boat when his Divine Sense swept over the mud at the bottom of the lake where the Dragon Salamander had died, and he was slightly taken aback.

There, a faint light, different from ordinary water-attribute Spiritual Qi, carrying the intent of stars and sharp metal, flickered and vanished.

"Oh?"

Ye Qing's heart moved, and he dived into the water.

Arriving at the bottom of the lake, he pushed aside the muddy silt and saw, embedded in the rocks below, a few fine, fragmented crystals the size of fingernails, silvery-white throughout, with natural star patterns on the surface, emitting a faint aura of stars and metal.

"This is... Star Iron? No, it's a companion mineral of Star Iron, star pattern steel jade? Although the quality is ordinary, it does contain the power of stars and metal. No wonder this Dragon Salamander occupied this place; it must have been cultivating with this item to have that body of sturdy scales and metal-attribute sharpness."

Ye Qing dug out the few pieces of star pattern steel jade fragments, which felt slightly heavy and cold in his hand.

His internal space sent a clear, though not intense, interest in this star pattern steel jade.

"Zhuixing Lake, Zhuixing Lake... Could it be that stars really fell here, leaving behind these minerals containing star power?"

He became interested and, with the place where the Dragon Salamander died as the center, carefully scanned the nearby lake bottom with his Divine Sense.

Sure enough, in several rock crevices or under the silt, he discovered some more star pattern steel jade fragments one after another. The quantity was not large, and the quality was ordinary, but they definitely existed.

"It seems that at the bottom of this Zhuixing Lake, there might really be a micro, nearly exhausted Star Iron vein, or remnants of ancient star fragments. For me, these minerals containing star power are excellent Materials for tempering my Physical Body, strengthening the Five Elements Formation bases, and nourishing the 'Void Dao Seed' and the space."

Ye Qing collected the discovered star pattern steel jade fragments one by one. Although there were not many, they added up.

Returning to Hunyuan Island, he activated the Formation.

His consciousness sank into the space, and he sent the Dragon Salamander corpse and the star pattern steel jade fragments he had harvested today into the waste area.

The space sent back a wave of satisfaction, quickly decomposing and absorbing them.

In the feedback energy, besides the majestic life essence and Yao power, there was indeed an extra trace of the eternity of stars and the sharpness of metal, which was a gentle nourishment for Ye Qing's Physical Body and magic power.

The gray mist at the edge of the space seemed to have become a bit more solid due to the integration of this star power.

"Not bad. It seems that cultivating in seclusion at this Zhuixing Lake is not only safe and hidden, but can also collect star minerals to accelerate the growth of the space and my own Cultivation. Truly a heaven-sent treasure land."

Ye Qing was in a good mood.

Exiting the space, he walked to the window of the Immortal Cave and looked at the vast, misty lake.

Dusk gathered, the mist on the lake became thicker, and starlight sprinkled down, reflecting and shimmering with the reflections in the lake, like a dream.

"Here, there is joy; one does not think of home."

With a low chuckle, Ye Qing returned to the meditation cushion and sat down to continue his daily, unwavering Cultivation.

Inside his body, the two-hundred-zhang Cave Heaven, the Chaos air was slightly active due to the newly obtained star power. On the Floating Landmass, the water jade bodhi's green leaves stretched, the moonlight star seed had silver specks, and everything was growing, evolving, and becoming stronger in an orderly manner.

Loose Cultivator Ye Qing's life of secluded cultivation at Zhuixing Lake began leisurely, amidst calm and occasional surprises.