Calling Meteor Showers!

The night sky stretched endlessly above them, a vast sea of stars, twinkling like celestial eyes.

The stillness of the scene was broken only by the gentle murmur of the nearby waterfall, but the true heart of the night's energy was about to be unlocked.

Su Xiaobai stood before his carefully dug pond, the smooth surface of the water reflecting the heavens like a mirror.

Ling Er, her elbows resting on her knees, cradled her face in her hands, eyes wide with idle curiosity.

Her legs swung slightly as she watched Su Xiaobai move around the formation site, a playful smile tugging at her lips.

Su Xiaobai moved with purpose, though he couldn't help but cast occasional glances at the little princess who sat watching him like a cat observing a bird.

His fingers brushed over the stones he had arranged into the six-pointed star.

Each stone hummed with latent energy, positioned in perfect harmony with the universal forces they represented.

Yet this was no ordinary array—this was the Stellar Ripple Array, a technique that didn't forcefully draw power but gently stirred the heavens themselves.

"The array works by creating ripples in the fabric of the sky," Su Xiaobai began, his voice calm and measured, even though Ling Er hadn't asked him to explain. "Think of the stars like the surface of a calm lake. You don't throw rocks to disturb it... instead, you let a drop fall, and the ripples reach far beyond what you'd expect."

Ling Er nodded absentmindedly, her interest in his words half-genuine, half-feigned, though she seemed content to listen as he continued.

Her eyes followed his movements, the smooth, flowing precision of his hands as he connected the stones with thin lines of chalk dust, each line shimmering slightly in the moonlight.

"The stones serve as anchors, connecting the celestial forces above with the world below," Su Xiaobai continued, crouching down to trace his fingers along the 'Ripple Lines', which snaked from the stones toward the pond at the center. "But they're not just symbols. When activated, they create resonance—vibrations that travel through the heavens and back."

Ling Er blinked, her elbows sinking deeper into her thighs as she leaned closer, watching him form the intricate lines. The lines seemed to pulse softly under his touch, as though they were more alive than mere chalk dust.

"Ripples in the sky?" she echoed softly, a hint of wonder creeping into her tone.

Su Xiaobai didn't look up, but a smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth. "Yes. When the energy flows through these lines," he gestured to the thin lines connecting the stones, "it sends vibrations, like waves in water, which disturb the flow of star energy. That disturbance is what draws down the meteor shower."

The surface of the pond remained utterly still, its reflective surface like polished glass, but there was an growing tension in the air.

The more Su Xiaobai worked, the more the atmosphere around them seemed to tighten, as if the very heavens were waiting for his next move.

Su Xiaobai stood and took a deep breath, feeling the subtle pull of the stars above as his Qi flowed out, merging with the array. "The pond reflects the stars," he said, stepping to the water's edge, "and that reflection is what ties the sky to the earth. It's like looking into the soul of the heavens."

Ling Er's eyes widened, her gaze flicking between the pond and the stars, her lips parting slightly.

She had never seen someone manipulate cosmic energy with such ease, though she pretended her interest was nothing more than mild curiosity.

In truth, something deep inside her stirred as she watched him work.

Su Xiaobai's fingers hovered over the still water, and with a whisper of energy, the surface began to ripple.

The delicate waves expanded outward, touching the edges of the pond before bouncing back toward the center.

The ripples moved with a hypnotic grace, as though the pond itself was communicating with the sky above.

"You see that?" Su Xiaobai murmured, his voice low and focused. "That's the first wave... it's starting to align."

Ling Er nodded again, now completely absorbed by the sight. She leaned in even closer, her face resting above her hands as her elbows dug into her thighs, eyes locked onto the pond.

The ripples, though small, seemed to stretch far beyond the water, into the very air around them, as though unseen strings were being pulled in the cosmos.

Su Xiaobai began the Resonance Chant, his voice steady, each syllable rolling off his tongue like the drop of water that starts a wave.

The words vibrated in the air, and with each phrase, the ripples in the pond grew stronger. The Ripple Lines connecting the stones began to glow faintly, responding to the energy in his voice, their hum rising with each verse.

The stones themselves seemed to come alive, their surfaces glowing as they absorbed the resonance of the chant.

"Once the stones absorb enough energy, they send it skyward, pulling the meteors down," Su Xiaobai said softly, though his focus remained on the array. "It's not about force... it's about harmony."

Above them, the sky began to shift. The stars twinkled brighter, as if drawn into the disturbance caused by the array. The first subtle streak of a meteor flashed across the sky, faint but undeniable.

Ling Er gasped, her eyes widening as she witnessed the meteor's descent. "It's... it's really working."

Su Xiaobai didn't respond, too engrossed in the final stages of the array.

The pond now mirrored the sky perfectly, the stars above shimmering in the water below. With a final, powerful exhale, he completed the chant, and the Celestial Ripple Array hummed with life, the ripples in the pond syncing perfectly with the waves in the sky.

The meteors began to fall in earnest now, each one pulled by the invisible strings of the array, streaking through the night sky like fiery dragons.

Ling Er could only watch in silent awe as the heavens responded to Su Xiaobai's delicate manipulation.

"So beautiful…" she whispered, her words carried on the soft breeze as her eyes stayed locked on the shimmering pond.

The stars reflected on its surface, casting light that seemed to pulse with the rhythm of the falling meteors.

It was as if the heavens were floating above them, shedding their tears of light, and Ling Er couldn't help but feel a strange melancholy settle in her chest.

Su Xiaobai, standing a few feet away, let out a low chuckle, but there was a trace of something heavier beneath it, a weight even he couldn't shake off. "It'll take a while before it's ready for me to use," he said, the usual cockiness in his tone softened just a bit by the stillness of the night.

His eyes shifted to her, taking in the way her face glowed in the celestial light, almost too serene for someone so constantly playful. "Till then, little princess," he added with a crooked grin, "you should calm down."

Without thinking, he moved toward her, his fingers twitching in reflex.

Before he knew what he was doing, his hand reached out and grasped her face.

The soft skin of her cheeks pressed under his fingers, and without much effort, he gave it a firm squeeze.

"..."

Ling Er blinked, her curiosity evaporating like mist under a harsh sun.

Her stunned expression was priceless, the wide eyes and parted lips.

For a moment, she didn't move, didn't even breathe.