Chapter 554 229: City of the Sage (Part 2)

The leader among the welcoming group was a woman, with a serene face now showing a look of importance: "Mr. Qin, your accommodation has been arranged."

"However, you've just arrived at the Crystal Branch Star, and it's the best time to receive the [Crystal's Gift]."

"Please follow me."

She gestured invitingly.

Qin Jin nodded, "Thank you."

The woman stayed beside Qin Jin, with others following behind, proceeding along the path.

The landing site of the Xingzhou Ship was rather private, being one of the Crystal Sect's sites. Along the way, other figures in sect robes could be seen glancing at Qin Jin, all giving him serious attention.

It seemed the people here were well-prepared for his arrival, and their attitude was extremely formal.

Even...

When interacting with him, the woman responsible for his reception always referred to him as "you" in formal terms.

Qin Jin was not surprised.

Because, on the surface, this was an arrangement by the academy, involving planetary anomalies and participation within the Crystal Sect.

But his identity, in this involvement with the Star God Secret Teachings, would naturally not be hidden.

Star God's Chosen One!

Even a newly emerged Star God enjoys an extraordinary status within the Federation, let alone being on the same ranks as other Star Gods, naturally forming the same faction. Most Star Gods have no intention of establishing secret teachings, making the identity of Star God's Chosen One particularly prominent as the only representative of divine spirits within the Federation.

Now, his arrival here was akin to a Supreme Divine Envoy from other secret teachings visiting, and no one would dare to be negligent.

They continued onward.

In front of a palace entirely made of crystal, the group stopped.

In front of the palace, someone was solemnly waiting. It was an elder, wearing plain sect clothes, with wrinkles on his face. Upon seeing Qin Jin, he smiled kindly: "Welcome, esteemed guest from the outer star system."

"Please follow me."

The ground was paved with fractured crystal slabs, faintly reflecting the silhouettes of those walking above. Qin Jin followed behind the elder, walking slowly, and as they reached the palace's forefront, the palace doors opened by themselves.

Everything inside came into view.

At the center of the palace was the ground's special arrangement of crystal stone, forming a pattern resembling a crystal mountain. Above the crystal slabs were runes inscribed with extraordinary means, shimmering beautifully.

And at the forefront of the palace, a high platform stood. Atop the platform were threads made of unknown materials, woven together, appearing chaotic at a glance but orderly upon closer inspection, seemingly conforming to some rule, extremely peculiar.

Upon prolonged observation, a pressure would arise from one's surroundings, similar to the rule pressure encountered after returning from the Desolate Star, yet fundamentally different.

This was indeed a divine hall of the Crystal Sect!

Following behind the elder, the two entered the divine hall, as the doors behind them closed automatically.

"Mr. Qin."

The elder turned around, the smile undiminished: "My master has long heard of the birth of Your Excellency the Observer's event."

"However, to visit impulsively would go against my master's intention, so, Mr. Qin, when you return, please convey that my master eagerly anticipates having deeper communication with Your Excellency the Observer in the future."

"I will certainly convey it."

Qin Jin responded earnestly.

Divine spirits have their temperaments too; the Star God's name of this Crystal Branch Star sounded serious, yet was truly a "social master." Among the information provided by Candle Kite, the Evolutionary Scholar's research participation was just one aspect. There were even rumors that this Star God Lord would truly experience different lives within the Starfire Federation at intervals.

Upon hearing this, the elder's smile broadened: "Everything was ready before your arrival."

"Mr. Qin, please quiet your mind and concentrate."

He gestured invitingly.

Qin Jin let out a long breath.

The preparation referred to was naturally related to the planetary anomaly.

The presence of the Star God Secret Teachings on the Crystal Branch Star meant they were also responsible for managing parts of the planetary anomaly. What he was about to partake in was precisely one of those anomalies, most suitable for him at this time.

The highest degree of the [Crystal's Gift]

Including his homeland, this would be the third Gaia planetary anomaly he would encounter.

Under the elder's attention, Qin Jin walked towards the center of the divine hall, stepping onto the Extraordinary Array, and turning back to nod at the elder.

The elder's expression grew serious.

He raised his arms, palms overlapped, three fingers together in the front, two fingers apart at the back, forming a peculiar gesture, uttering unclear whispers, causing exceedingly special extraordinary power to surge around, lifting his robe.

Qin Jin watched this scene seriously.

Among the Federation's four evolutionary paths, Esoteric Buddhism was the most mysterious. He had fought with Cultists but had never seen True God Cultists in action until now.

Amid the whispering, before the elder, a Book of Illusion resembling crystal-polished thin slices materialized, rapidly flipping pages with intricate patterns and texts inscribed on each page, those were [Divine Texts]!

Divine Texts interpreted by oneself.

The route of the Esoteric Practitioner was based on divine spirits. If Spiritualists needed more comprehensive talents, then Esoteric Practitioners required [Compatibility] with the divine spirits themselves.

The higher the [Compatibility], the easier it was to interpret and understand divine whispers, gaining divine attention more effortlessly.

The [Crystal Book] was very thick, showing that the elder's identity was not simple, stopping abruptly at the middle, the Divine Texts above floated upwards, embedding themselves in mid-air.

It was as if a mechanism was triggered. Beneath Qin Jin, the Extraordinary Runes lit up, rising from below, and the evolving runes formed into crystal stones. Each crystal was identical in size and shape, approximately the length of a palm, but the runes on their surfaces were entirely different.

Qin Jin stood at the center, watching the formation of each crystal stone.

In the blink of an eye, over a thousand crystal stones had formed, still increasing.

In the next instant, the formed crystal stones were motionless for a few breaths, before collectively converging towards the center, approaching Qin Jin.

It seemed that these crystal stones intended to seal him!

And in an instant, the divine hall's center no longer showed any trace of Qin Jin, replaced by a perfect crystal without any cracks, resembling an upright crystal coffin.

Simultaneously.

Wrapped in crystal, completely enveloped, Qin Jin was unhindered, breathing smoothly, even his entire body was able to move freely.

Under the influence of proximity, he clearly perceived that his mind was becoming increasingly sensitive.

Then...

The true effect of the planetary anomaly activated.

In an instant, from the outside in, Qin Jin felt a burning sensation, his Primordial Power interacting with the crystal sealing him, as if infused with a burning characteristic, undergoing tempering through continuous burning.

Within the Desolate Star, he had fully opened the connection between Primordial Power and Spiritual Power, now, with a thought, Spiritual Power merged, undergoing tempering together.

In the tempering process, Qin Jin evolved his own Technique, body like a furnace, increasing the firepower, while... the tempered Spiritual Power returned to the Spirit Ruins, consolidating the Grotto Heaven, gradually forming a perfect cycle.

This was just the beginning.

The initial tempering continued, and over time, in Qin Jin's perception, the crystal enveloping him began to develop. Although he remained in the divine hall, everything within his Spiritual Perception rapidly changed, and in the blink of an eye, he appeared in a vast, empty place.

Nothing was in sight, only the sound of water came from beneath.

Peering down, he found himself standing on a lake surface, its water remarkably special, clear as a mirror, reflecting his image vividly.

[Mirror Lake].

Simultaneously, on the mental level, crystals with questions inscribed on them appeared, awaiting his response.

The questions were inconsequential, not involving any secrets.

The Martial Abyss had long cataloged this place as a station on the Martial Saint Map, naturally having an understanding of the [Crystal's Gift]. Qin Jin, too, had gathered relevant information through Candle Kite, and now responded calmly to each question on the spiritual level.

For each answer given, a crystal would fall into the lake.

Inquiring the heart, reflecting in the mirror.

Throughout this process, the crystal sealing Qin Jin seemed to be learning about him, and kept undergoing changes.