Celestial Ripple Array!

In the dead of night, the moon hung lazily like a silent sentinel, casting pale silver light over the landscape.

Su Xiaobai moved with calculated stealth, his figure a shadow slipping through the dense forest underbrush.

He was certain he had left unnoticed, the rhythmic sound of the nearby waterfall drowning out any trace of his movements.

Yet, just as he began climbing toward the source of the waterfall, a soft voice broke the tranquility.

"Hm? What are you doing?"

His eyes narrowed in irritation.

An unwelcome presence had followed him—Ling Er, the princess who seemed to embody both curiosity and mischief.

She had caught him in her net, and now her voice echoed through the night air, pulling at his patience.

Su Xiaobai let out a low grunt but didn't stop climbing.

He had hoped to slip away unnoticed, to conduct his task in peace, but she had tagged along, unseen until now.

As he reached the top, the rush of the waterfall became a soft hum beneath him, the perfect spot to begin his work.

Without a word, he began forming a small pond, pulling streams of water into the shallow crater he had just dug—a massive ten-meter-wide circle, perfect for the 'Stellar Ripple Array'.

The soft gurgle of water filled the air, mingling with the occasional rustle of leaves in the night breeze.

Ling Er, settling on a nearby rock, watched him with a childlike wonder, her head tilted in curiosity.

She had no idea what Su Xiaobai was doing, but there was something oddly satisfying in watching him wrestle with the formation, his brow furrowed in deep concentration.

Her idle questions soon began. "What's that you're doing?"

"It's the Celestial Ripple Array," Su Xiaobai answered, his tone casual as he continued working. The pond now reflected the stars above, perfectly still, as if the heavens themselves were waiting for what would come next.

Ling Er blinked, her interest piqued. "An array? You're a formation master?"

A sneer crossed Su Xiaobai's face. He wasn't about to waste time explaining himself to someone who had followed him out of sheer boredom. 'A formation master? I've learned some tricks, but the real expert was that bastard Ning Gufan.' His words carried a hint of bitterness. 'If I didn't make use of his knowledge, I'd be the fool.'

He pressed on, ignoring Ling Er's prying eyes. His goal tonight was far more important—he was preparing to advance his Starslayer God Arts to the next stage.

He would form the 'Starry Veins', infusing his body with celestial energy — giving his veins regenerative capabilities!

It was all part of his plan: to appear crippled after intense battles, only to regenerate in secret, catching enemies off guard.

The very idea made his lips curl into a smirk.

But deep down, there was a doubt — Su Xiaobai knew his veins were rare, unique.

Would they even regenerate with celestial energy?

Regardless, Stary Veins were a contingency plan; he wasn't about to test its ability here.

Ling Er, unbothered by his indifference, hopped to her feet, her light steps approaching him. "What are you trying to find?" she asked, her tone curious but playful.

"??"

Su Xiaobai looked up, only to find her face uncomfortably close, her bright eyes blinking in innocence as she examined the rocks he had gathered.

He grimaced, suspecting for a moment that she was deliberately trying to get under his skin.

She had that delicate face, the fragrance of wildflowers swirling around her, like the scent of a freshly ripened peach.

For a brief moment, something stirred within him—a seed of lust threatening to bloom in the depths of his mind.

'Seriously?' Su Xiaobai shook his head, frustrated at his own weakness.

Clearing his throat, he answered her question, "I'm gathering rocks for the formation. I need six specific stones: a clear crystal that reflects the first light of dawn, a pitch-black stone that absorbs all light, a feather-like stone that almost floats, a dense rock that symbolizes the earth's core, a cracked stone representing the passage of time, and a hollow stone that echoes when tapped."

Ling Er blinked, looking genuinely thoughtful for a moment. "So many? What do you plan to do with them?"

Su Xiaobai sighed, rubbing his temple before explaining. "Each stone represents a direction in the array. The crystal for light, in the south. The shadow stone for the north. The light stone for wind in the east, the heavy stone for the earth in the west, the cracked stone for time in the southeast, and the hollow stone for void in the southwest. Once the formation is complete, it will draw the energy of the meteor shower into it."

"Oh, that sounds… interesting," Ling Er muttered, her interest already waning.

The specifics of his plan didn't concern her as much as the process itself—she was here out of sheer boredom.

But now that he had piqued her curiosity, she knelt beside him, pushing him gently aside to search for the stones herself.

Su Xiaobai raised an eyebrow in surprise.

She's actually helping?

He didn't protest, though, letting her roam around as they both continued to search.

As they worked, he took the opportunity to ask her a few casual questions.

He wasn't sure if Ling Er was just too naïve or if the information she shared was already common knowledge, but either way, she answered without hesitation.

"Little Princess, are you sure it's alright for you to be out here alone with me?" Su Xiaobai finally asked, breaking the silence with an evil grin.

Ling Er's cheeks reddened slightly, but she glanced at him with feigned indifference. "What's the problem? I was bored, and I saw you sneaking off. So I followed. What could possibly happen?"

"What if I kill you and escape?" Su Xiaobai shot back, raising an eyebrow.

Ling Er paused, considering it for a second, then shrugged. "Then I would die."

Su Xiaobai blinked in disbelief.

This casual reply didn't match the sheltered little princess he had known.

People really do change according to mood and circumstance.

"My Royal Father has plenty of princes and princesses," Ling Er continued, her voice soft but matter-of-fact. "It's the ones with the ability of the 'Ancient Sealing Gate' who are truly important."

"You can't use it?" Su Xiaobai asked, suddenly suspicious.

Ling Er shook her head. "Not yet. It's something you're usually born with, fully awakened."

"Ah…" Su Xiaobai finally understood.

No wonder her guards weren't as strong as they should be.

She wasn't the true heir to that power.

But if that's the case, why was Wei Jun, who could use the Ancient Sealing Gate, so unprotected?

Was it to harden him?

Strengthen his resolve?

Instead, it seemed to have the opposite effect. Wei Jun was fragile, weak, almost delicate like a noblewoman.

Su Xiaobai shook his head, dismissing the royal family's odd choices.

He had more important things to worry about.

Suddenly, Ling Er's voice pulled him from his thoughts. "Here, I found them."

She approached, placing three stones before him—almost perfect matches for the ones he sought. Su Xiaobai glanced at her, impressed despite himself.

He had only managed to find two—the cracked stone and the hollow stone. Now, with her contribution, they only lacked the crystal stone.

Noticing this, Ling Er smiled slightly and unfastened the bracelet on her wrist, revealing a string of crystal-clear pearls. "Would this work?"

Su Xiaobai's eyes widened. Why hadn't he noticed it before? Nodding, he took a pearl from her bracelet, completing the set of stones needed for the array.

Ling Er wandered back to her rock, her legs swinging idly as she watched him with less annoyance than before.

For once, Su Xiaobai found her presence strangely… tolerable.