The Legend of the Princess' Counterattack

Chapter 854: Falling Star Canyon: Natural Treasures

The sky was as dark as ink, and countless stars swirled above Yun Yao's head. Though the turmoil in the Canglan Secret Realm had subsided, the corpse poison within Chu Mochen's body had intensified, eroding his meridians like a tarsal ulcer. Yun Yao gently stroked his pale face, and the cool touch of her fingertips sent a shiver through her heart. At this moment, only the "Lunar Star Marrow" guided by the system could cure his stubborn illness.

"The Falling Star Canyon, a legendary place where stars fell, hides treasures capable of bringing the dead back to life." The system's voice echoed in Yun Yao's mind. "But the canyon is filled with ancient star arrays, and every step is a test of life and death."

Yun Yao took a deep breath, entrusted Chu Mochen to the guardian spirit beast of the secret realm, and resolutely embarked on the journey to the Falling Star Canyon. The moment she stepped into the canyon, a vast and ancient aura washed over her, as if she were at the center of the universe. The cliffs on both sides of the canyon were engraved with strange star maps, each pattern shimmering with mysterious light, as if telling a story from ancient times.

"Is this... the Twenty-Eight Mansions?" Yun Yao gazed at the star map on the rock wall, a sense of familiarity welling up in her heart. As a fan of modern astronomy, she was all too familiar with these constellations. However, the star map before her was different from the Twenty-Eight Mansions she remembered. The position of each star was subtly shifted, as if distorted by some mysterious force.

She walked along the canyon, the gravel beneath her feet making a crisp sound. Suddenly, a brilliant starlight descended from the sky, condensing into a curtain of light before her. A puzzle emerged on the curtain: "When the handle of the Big Dipper points east, spring arrives everywhere; when it points south, summer arrives everywhere. Question: Which direction is the handle of the Big Dipper pointing at this time?"

Yun Yao frowned slightly, the patterns of the twenty-eight mansions rapidly forming in her mind. She looked up at the sky, observing the positions of the stars, and suddenly a thought struck her: "No, the stars here move differently than on Earth. Conventional methods won't explain this."

She closed her eyes, combining modern astronomical knowledge with the astrological theories of the cultivation world, and constructed a completely new star map in her mind. After a moment, she opened her eyes, a confident smile playing on her lips. "So, that's how it is. The twenty-eight mansions here are based on their positions at the beginning of chaos. The direction of the dipper's handle doesn't represent the seasons, but rather the cycle of the heavens."

She extended her finger, tracing a complex path across the curtain of light. The curtain suddenly glowed brightly, then slowly dissipated, revealing a passage leading deep into the canyon. Within the passage, the light of the stars intertwined into a dazzling galaxy, breathtakingly beautiful.

Yun Yao continued along the galaxy, her heart growing increasingly wary. Passing the first checkpoint so easily made her feel uneasy. Sure enough, when she reached the end of the passage, a vast star array appeared before her. In the center, a crystal emitting a faint blue light hovered in the air. It was her target on this voyage—the Taiyin Star Essence.

However, around the star array, countless stars transformed into sharp swords, suspended in the air, emitting a sharp aura. If Yun Yao made the slightest movement, these star swords would instantly launch an attack.

"This is the 'Meteoric Sword Formation'. Each star sword contains the power of the stars and is infinitely powerful," the system reminded. "Only by deciphering the operating rules of the star formation can we obtain the Taiyin Star Essence."

Yun Yao carefully observed the star array and discovered that the position of each star sword corresponded to the star map on the rock wall. She once again applied modern astronomical knowledge to try to analyze the patterns of the star array. However, no matter how she calculated, she could not find a solution.

Just as she was in dire straits, a flash of inspiration struck her. She remembered the "Heavenly Path Retracing" function unlocked by the system during her battle with Liu Yan'er in the Canglan Secret Realm. She concentrated and activated the skill. In an instant, time seemed to stand still, and she saw the trajectory of the star array and the attack sequence of each star sword.

"So that's how it is!" A hint of excitement flashed in Yun Yao's eyes. "The operation of the star array is not fixed, but constantly changes according to the state of mind and cultivation of the person observing the array." She took a deep breath, adjusted her state of mind, and merged her breath with the star array.

As she moved, the star swords in the star array began to slowly shift, clearing a path for her. Yun Yao cautiously entered the star array, approaching the Taiyin Star Essence. However, just as she was about to touch the crystal, the sky suddenly became overcast, and a massive bolt of lightning descended from the sky, heading straight for her.

"A star-falling thunderstorm!" the system exclaimed. "I never thought that taking the treasure would trigger a thunderstorm. The origin of this lunar marrow is probably even more shocking than we imagined."

Yun Yao didn't have time to think, and immediately circulated her Qi to cast a defensive barrier around her. However, the power of the thunder tribulation far exceeded her imagination. The first bolt of lightning shattered her barrier, and the powerful force knocked her away.

She fell heavily to the ground, a trace of blood oozing from the corner of her mouth. But she didn't give up. Instead, fighting spirit ignited in her eyes. She stood up and summoned her life-defining magical weapon, the Void Spirit Jade. The Void Spirit Jade emitted a soft light, counteracting the power of the thunder tribulation.

In her struggle against the thunderstorm, Yun Yao's body underwent a miraculous transformation. Her meridians grew stronger under the thunder's tempering, and the zhenqi in her dantian became increasingly condensed. Golden lines appeared on her skin, like the paths of stars.

"This is... the Astral Combat Body!" the system exclaimed in astonishment. "Legend has it that only cultivators blessed by the power of the stars can awaken this physique. Possessing the Astral Combat Body not only grants immunity to most attacks from the star's power, but also allows one to draw upon it to enhance their own strength."

Yun Yao felt the surging power within her, her heart filled with joy. However, her joy was short-lived. The second lightning strike of the tribulation struck, even more powerful than the first. The light of the Void Jade dimmed under the impact of the thunder, and Yun Yao's defensive barrier began to crumble.

Just when she thought she could no longer withstand the thunder, a strange voice suddenly rang out in her mind: "Use the stars as your guide, your heart as your sword, and cut through the illusions to see the truth."

Yun Yao's heart stirred, and she suddenly realized something. She closed her eyes and sank her consciousness into the sea of ​​consciousness. Within her sea of ​​consciousness, she condensed a sword composed of the power of the stars. When she opened her eyes, she was holding a star sword that radiated a brilliant light in her hand.

She raised the Star Sword and slashed at the thunder. The Star Sword and the thunder collided, erupting in a dazzling light. However, surprisingly, the power of the thunder was absorbed by the Star Sword and transformed into Yun Yao's power.

"This is..." Yun Yao looked at the Star Sword in her hand in surprise, "It turns out that the thunder tribulation is not just a test, but also an opportunity."

She gripped the Star Sword tightly, proactively facing the third bolt of lightning. As she battled the thunder tribulations, her strength grew, and her control over the power of the stars became increasingly proficient. By the time the final bolt of lightning descended, she had successfully absorbed it, fully awakening her astral combat body.

After the thunderstorm, the Starfall Canyon returned to peace. Yun Yao walked over to the Taiyin Star Marrow and gently removed it. As the Taiyin Star Marrow entered her hand, a cool energy flowed through her meridians and throughout her body, making her feel extremely comfortable.

However, just as she was about to leave the canyon, a sudden vibration came from the depths. A mysterious light shone from the depths, attracting her attention. Yun Yao's heart moved, and she walked towards the direction of the light.

Passing through a narrow passage, she arrived at a mysterious space. In its center stood a dilapidated stone tablet, engraved with the same oracle bone script found in her modern world. Yun Yao approached the tablet and carefully deciphered the words. When she saw the signature, "Su Yao (Xu Ling)," her heartbeat suddenly accelerated.

"Is this... my name?" Yun Yao stared at the stone tablet in shock, countless questions welling up in her mind. At this moment, the system finally broke the silence: "You were originally the 'Restorer of Heavenly Dao' chosen by the head of the Heavenly Dao Pavilion. Before you traveled through time, Su Yao was just a fragment of your soul. This stone tablet is the mark left by your past life."

Yun Yao felt her head buzz, and for a moment, she found it difficult to accept this fact. However, before she could recover from her shock, a golden letter suddenly fell from the sky. It read: "Ethereal Envoy Yun Yao, Tiandao Pavilion invites you to 'return to your position.'"

Looking at the letter in her hand, Yun Yao's eyes gradually grew determined. She knew that the mystery of her identity had just been revealed, and that more challenges and truths awaited her ahead. She put away the Taiyin Xingsui and turned to leave the canyon. At this moment, she had only one thought in her mind: no matter how many difficulties and obstacles lay ahead, she would find the truth and protect the one she loved.

Beyond the Falling Star Canyon, a greater conspiracy is quietly brewing. The forces of the Heavenly Dao Pavilion have begun to take action, their target being the Taiyin Star Essence in Yun Yao's possession and the secrets she holds within. A new storm is about to sweep across the entire cultivation world.