Chapter 326: The Truth of the Star Devourer

Chapter 326: The Truth of the Star Devourer

When leaving the constellationspendant Hall, Luo En could still feel the faint resonance of the Time Crystals echoing in his mind.

The night had grown deep, and the towering spires of the Central Lands stood like dormant beasts beneath the moonlight. Mana light bands flowed between the buildings, pulsing with an occasional sinister rhythm, as if the city itself were the circulatory system of some vast, living organism.

He strode quickly past several familiar streets, noticing how the "Vitality-infused" streetlights—adorned with vine-like tendrils—gently swept dust from their glass covers. Scenes that would be considered miracles elsewhere had long since become mundane in the Central Lands, their wonder dulled by ubiquity.

Ai Lan was organizing experimentrecords in the living room, her emerald vines swaying gently beneath the Mana Crystal Lamp.

"Master, you look fatigued", the tree spirit keenness observed, detecting the subtle transformation in his mood.

"Prepare some An Shen Tea and help me set up a soundproof barrier", Luo En ordered briefly. "I need to conduct an important communication."

Ai Lan nodded without further questions. As his assistant, she had long grown accustomed to her master’s occasional enigmatic behavior.

Ten minutes later, Luo En sealed away the "Eye of Time." He then sat alone in his study—protected by the soundproof barrier—holding a familiar Ternary Communication Crystal.

After a brief wait, Madame Ellen’s face appeared in the projection.

But this time, her expression sent a jolt through Luo En’s chest.

It was no longer the composed calm he had come to expect, but rather a profound weariness laced with a complex mix of resignation. The Old woman’s eyes carried new wrinkles, as if she had aged several years in just a few hours.

"It seems my student has encountered some... complicated circumstances."

Madame Ellen’s tone was unnaturally calm, yet Luo En could see deep concern in her gaze. "Cassandra has moved far faster than I anticipated. Let me guess—she publicly bestowed some extraordinary honor upon you today?"

"You already know?" Luo En raised an eyebrow, surprised.

"My channels of information extend further than you might imagine." Madame Ellen shook her head with a bitter smile, tinged with self-reproach. "I know Cassandra’s methods all too well. She’s always preferred using this seemingly generous approach to... collect valuable talents."

Her tone grew serious. "Tell me everything—no detail is too small."

Luo En recounted the day’s events in full: the Conquest Manifesto, the personal appointment, the public commendation, and the private dinner invitation.

Madame Ellen listened in silence, nodding occasionally, though her expression grew increasingly grave.

"The temporary Deputy Director of the New Star Plan..."

She repeated the title thoughtfully.

"What you should fear most isn’t the position itself, but why she chose you."

"I assumed it was due to my innate talent and abilities..."

"Innate talent?" Madame Ellen shook her head. "Luo En, in this world, innate talent has never been the sole determinant of fate. Cassandra chose you because you fulfill three critical needs of hers."

She raised three fingers.

"First, you are a primordial mage. This means your Boon Purity is exceptionally high, making you uniquely valuable to her research.

Second, you lack a strong familial background, which makes you easier to control and shape.

But third, and most importantly..."

Here, Madame Ellen paused so long that Luo En briefly wondered if the communication device had malfunctioned.

"You share a common origin with her meditation technique."

The air seemed to freeze.

Luo En could hear his own heartbeat, its rhythmic pounding stark against the silence.

Madame Ellen appeared to summon her remaining strength before continuing.

"Luo En, I’m about to reveal the truth of The Murmuring of the Star Devourer—a secret that most Full Mages are unaware of."

The mana lamp in the room began flickering, and even the soundproof barrier emitted a faint hum under invisible pressure.

"You know why this cultivation method is called the ‘True Path,’ don’t you? It isn’t because it allows practitioners to maintain their true selves. It’s because..."

Her voice dropped to an almost inaudible whisper.

"It forces cultivators to eventually become the true incarnation of an Imagined Existence."

Luo En’s expression remained outwardly calm. This wasn’t feigned composure, but rather the result of reason suppressing emotion. Maintaining objective analysis during critical revelations had always been his habit.

He asked quietly, "Are you saying..."

"The Murmuring of the Star Devourer is particularly insidious—it functions like a trap."

Madame Ellen’s eyes betrayed deep fear.

"Every mage who has reached the pinnacle using this technique is ultimately replaced by the Devourer’s true will. Their physical body remains. Their memories persist. Even their personality undergoes minimal transformation. But the core of their soul... is no longer their own."

"Seventeen mages in history have achieved Full Mage status through this meditation technique. Most disappeared mysteriously shortly after reaching their peak. The few exceptions include the ‘Eye of Observation,’ but that’s because it was inherently an Exotic Existence."

A queasy sensation churned in Luo En’s stomach. "Then what about Cassandra, the Tower Lord..."

"Cassandra hasn’t reached that critical threshold yet—but she’s close."

Madame Ellen’s voice trembled—not from fear, but from the release of long-buried secrets.

"Uther Mentor should have told you she’s already undergoing subtle changes. Her thought patterns are increasingly aligning with the Devourer’s essence—endless greed and conquest."

She fixed Luo En with a piercing gaze.

"The Cassandra you encountered today may still have retained rationality and humanity, but did you sense some... unusual aura about her?"

Luo En recalled their encounter. Indeed, he had felt an uneasy energy fluctuation emanating from Cassandra—something far deeper than an ordinary oppressive aura.

"But..."

"According to ancient records, there have been successful cases. If two mages cultivating The Murmuring of the Star Devourer establish some form of resonance, it might create a balancing effect."

Luo En understood instantly. "So you chose to teach me this meditation technique precisely for this reason..."

"Yes", Madame Ellen admitted without hesitation. "I hoped you could serve as a safeguard against Cassandra’s potential loss of control. Of course, it also serves as protection for you. If she were the only practitioner, the Devourer’s attention would focus entirely on her. But with two cultivators..."

"The risk would be dispersed", Luo En finished coolly, though complex emotions churned within.

So he had been a pawn from the very beginning.

"I know this is terribly unfair to you", Madame Ellen’s voice carried deep guilt. "No young man should bear such a burden. But I had no other choice at the time. And from another perspective, this also grants you unprecedented opportunities."

"What opportunities?"

"If the theory holds, the balancing relationship between you two will make maintaining rationality easier for both parties. Additionally, you may even share certain powers and insights with each other. Once this connection is established, it would be incredibly powerful."

Luo En rapidly analyzed the implications of this information in his mind.

If Madame Ellen spoke the truth, then Cassandra’s sudden interest in him became perfectly understandable.

"There’s one final detail you must understand: In the mage world, knowledge lineage isn’t merely about transmitting information—it forms a profound soul connection."

"This connection is known as ‘Boon Shackles,’ a bond far stronger than any contract."

A nostalgic tone entered her voice.

"You know, when I decided to retire, Cassandra was the only senior official who supported my decision."

This revelation surprised Luo En.

"Everyone else believed my departure was a loss to the School. Only she understood my choice."

“Cassandra even proactively proposed enhancing my retirement benefits, ensuring I could continue pursuing research in a comfortable environment. That mobile Herbal Medicine Shop you saw was actually her private gift to me.”

“Cassandra is the wisest person I’ve ever met—unequivocally.”

The old woman’s voice carried unhidden reverence:

“She never does anything without purpose. Every action serves a larger objective.

Those she deems valuable receive extraordinary generosity;

those who obstruct her path face merciless consequences.”

Luo En began piecing together the logic: “So you’re saying…”

“She’s handling you with calculated precision,” Madame Ellen continued.

“On one hand, she’s weaving influence through various Boons;

on the other, she’s testing whether you can break free from these bindings.”

“If you ultimately become her vassal,” her eyes glinted shrewdly, “that proves your worth peaks at mere utility.

But if you maintain independence while accepting her Boons—and even surpass her expectations…”

Madame Ellen’s gaze sharpened: “Then she’ll truly value you, perhaps even shift her stance. After all, true genius deserves equality.”

The intricate balance gave Luo En a headache: “So what should I do now?”

“Be yourself,” Madame Ellen surprised him with simplicity.

“Accept her Boons without becoming their prisoner. Learn her knowledge but preserve your judgment. Show your value without revealing all your Ace in the Hole.”

She paused: “Disciple bonds are both chains and shields.

Cassandra can’t deliver fatal harm without shattering your delicate equilibrium.

But conversely, you’ll find resisting her influence increasingly difficult.”

“This is a marathon of endurance.

If her influence accumulates faster than your strength grows, you’ll be fully assimilated.

But if you achieve breakthrough at the critical moment…”

Though she left the rest unspoken, the implication was clear.

“Your objective must be growing beyond her capacity to contain before she fully digests your potential.”

“Uther Mentor’s existence grants you crucial time. His disciple bond with Cassandra restrains her excessive moves.”

She admitted grudgingly: “But only three or four decades at most. You must reach Dusk Sun Rank’s peak and condense the Phantom Husk Prototype within this window.”

Luo En mentally calculated timelines. At his current pace, this seemed nearly impossible.

“Of course, you possess advantages ordinary mages lack,” Madame Ellen seemed to read his concerns.

“Your Primordial Mage heritage, exceptional learning ability, and those… unique innate talents. Use these well, and time isn’t entirely against you.”

She lowered her voice: “My advice—avoid direct teachings from Cassandra for coming years.

Accept her resources and technical materials, but never allow personal knowledge transmission. Each direct transfer deepens the Boon Shackles’ grip.”

Luo En nodded understanding: “Then tonight’s dinner…”

“Go,” Madame Ellen softened. “Refusal would be more dangerous. Remember—maintain distance. Avoid excessive warmth or gratitude.”

“Cassandra is wise. She’ll understand your caution. Paradoxically, measured wariness might earn her greater respect.”

As the communication ended, Madame Ellen displayed an unfamiliar expression—relieved yet proud, as if unburdening long-suppressed truths.

“Luo En, I know this weight feels crushing.”

Her mentor’s voice carried both gravity and vulnerability:

“But you must understand—in this world, knowledge and power always demand payment.

Every Boon has a cost. Every choice consequences. You must learn to survive and thrive within these complexities.”

Luo En gazed at his guide, finally seeing her true self—not the infallible authority, but a mortal struggling in a cruel world.

“I will,” he replied simply, neither accusing nor grateful, just calmly accepting. “Thank you for your honesty.”

“Wait,” Madame Ellen suddenly called as he prepared to end the transmission:

“Tonight’s time was limited. Some deeper truths about the Boon Rules remain unexplored.”

Her eyes gleamed with resolve: “After your banquet, if possible, I’d like to reconnect.

Then, I’ll formally apologize and reveal… the deeper secrets even the Boon Rules conceal.”

Surprised, Luo En nodded: “I’ll contact you after the banquet.”

Madame Ellen’s final gaze burned into him: “Remember—maintain reason and judgment. That’s your greatest weapon in this maddening world.”

After the communication ended, Luo En sat in his study long in thought.

The mana lamp’s glow stabilized, yet the air remained heavy with unspoken burdens.

“So indeed, all gifts carry hidden prices…”

He murmured to himself, not with anger or despair, but a detached contemplation.

Perhaps when Madame Ellen first taught him The Murmuring of the Star Devourer, she’d already received something from Cassandra in return…

……

At 7:30 PM, a luxurious floating carriage descended before Luo En’s residence.

Its design was exquisite—crafted from shifting Living Metal that shimmered like auroras.

The driver, a middle-aged man in formal uniform, possessed a crystalline left eye and a fully mechanical right arm. He bowed respectfully upon seeing Luo En.

“Archmage, Tower Lord awaits you in the Starlit Courtyard.”

Nodding, Luo En boarded the vehicle whose origins clearly transcended the ordinary.

The interior space defied exterior dimensions, enhanced by spatial expansion techniques. Seats molded from adaptive living materials offered unparalleled comfort.

As the carriage glided over Central Lands’ night sky, the city below sparkled like diamonds on black velvet.

Half an hour later, they arrived at the Starlit Courtyard atop Sky City’s highest peak.

The courtyard felt like a slice of stellar heavens—countless light points swirling into three-dimensional star maps. Exotic plants from other realms emitted melodies or shifted hues with observers’ emotions.

“Welcome to the Starlit Courtyard,” a familiar voice greeted as Luo En entered.

Turning, he found an elderly steward in a dark uniform. The man’s semi-transparent hands revealed intricate mana circuits beneath the skin.

“I am Sebastian, steward here. Tower Lord awaits in the dining hall.”

Guided through a corridor lined with glowing carpets, Luo En entered the dining hall where four chairs encircled the table—a deliberately intimate gathering.

Cassandra greeted him differently than her daytime persona—a flowing lavender silk gown replaced her authoritative robes, her loose black hair and softened purple gaze exuding approachable warmth.

“Luo En, welcome to my home,” she rose to meet him. “Please, no formalities tonight.”

Eve sat at one side, her pale blue dress unusually subdued. She nodded with relief as he entered.

Uther’s Phantom Husk projection materialized in the fourth chair as Luo En arrived.

“Our guests are complete,” Cassandra smiled warmly. “Let us begin this pleasant dinner.”

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end