Chapter Nine: The Naming of the Starry Sky Tower

“His achievements surpass all others in the Realm of Cultivation, his name rises to the Tower Among the Stars. How could one look up to such lofty heights? All one can do is offer a respectful bow to his noble virtue.”

“The Ninefold Venerable is renowned across a thousand domains, the only cosmic-level Star Alchemist in existence. Even those who rule over the starry seas must show him respect,” the little grass sighed, filled with longing.

The world of Star Alchemists was an unattainable summit.

To master the Nine Stars was to stand at the very pinnacle; countless noble houses of the Immortal Realm and lords of cultivation vied to win his favor, their flattery as abundant as the spiritual flora in the Sea of Flowers.

The lively young maiden smiled faintly.

Even one as proud as Listening Wind could harbor such genuine reverence for someone—it seemed that this venerable master truly enjoyed unrivaled fame throughout the Spiritual Energy Universe.

Having poured out her devotion as a fan, the little grass maiden blushed shyly, her voice hesitant and dreamy: “If only these words could reach the Venerable, perhaps he would be willing to bestow upon me a strand of starlit spiritual essence.”

“Naughty thing.”

With a gentle reproach, the spirited girl pinched a leaf of the little grass, then, as if struck by a thought, her starlit, luminous eyes gazed wistfully at the sky above.

She gently stroked Listening Wind Grass, a trace of yearning and subtle sorrow in her voice: “It’s a pity, Listening Wind. Since you remain with me here in the Pure Land, these words are for my ears alone. Otherwise, perhaps the old master truly would have granted you a starlit treasure…”

Seeing her young mistress’s expression, the little grass instantly understood.

Her mistress was named Nine Dreams.

Her birth was of great significance; the Divine Aunts all cherished her above all else. For her safety, she was not allowed to leave the Pure Land before her first blossoming.

For nine years, it had only been the little grass keeping her company, easing her loneliness.

Come to think of it, as beautiful as the Pure Land was, how could nine years not become monotonous? Surely, her young mistress had long yearned for the world outside, though she would not speak of it.

The little grass, proud to call herself a divine herb, laughed and said, “Mistress, that’s simple! Once you blossom, your Divine Aunts will surely let us travel the Spiritual Energy Universe. Our first stop will be Nine Star City—then you can tell the Venerable yourself!”

Her words voiced their hopes for the future, and the maiden’s previously dim gaze grew bright and clear; looking at the adorable grass in her arms, she nodded emphatically.

…

Far from the Pure Land, in a range of mountains, Wind Echo strode briskly through the sea of flowers, the little Lily bobbing helplessly from his ear.

“Rooted among those clouds is the Celestial Cloudroot Elder. With it there, winds and rain can rise over ten thousand miles at any moment,” Lily grumbled, pressed into service as a reluctant guide.

“Excellent—a rare spirit plant, worthy of being brought back to Star City.”

Wind Echo’s eyes gleamed, his tone arrogant, drawing an exasperated glare from Lily at his ear.

“You’ll burst from your own pride.”

Since realizing this wretched youth was armed with countless unfathomable tricks, far beyond her ability to resist, Lily had resolved to strike back in spirit and with her gaze, if nowhere else.

Though Lily knew it was useless.

With a thunderous sound, Wind Echo raised his hand toward the vast, pure-white cloud spanning a hundred miles, his fingers closing gently. A mysterious force instantly swept forth to envelop it.

In the distance, the Celestial Cloudroot drifted serenely, resembling a mass of soft, glassy water, shrouded in mist, refracting the light.

Despite its name, it was in truth a flower, with nearly transparent petals, leaves, and stalks—only the roots bore a faint hue, making them distinguishable.

It thrived on spiritual energy; to grow so large meant it had absorbed vast reserves. In battle, even a single rootlet exploding would unleash devastating power.

To Wind Echo, the spirit plant had no desire to respond, even when a flower sprite sent a mental message ahead, warning it that a youth wielding a Phantom Token was harvesting wantonly.

But at this moment, the Celestial Cloudroot could not remain calm—anxiety and terror filled it.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

A dreadful pressure swept in from all sides. It was as if an invisible demonic hand clutched at it, banishing all thought of resistance.

“Collect!”

Wind Echo drew a breath and called out, his sleeve snapping in the wind; the air vibrated, and a faint golden radiance flashed in the direction of the drifting cloudroot.

In the blink of an eye, the hundred-mile-wide Celestial Cloudroot vanished completely from this space.

Lily could not help but mutter to herself.

All along, the youth had not once failed. Sometimes he used a wondrous blue gleam, other times nothing could be seen—just a gesture, and each mighty elder of the flower sea was subdued without protest.

And not a trace remained of the countless spirit plants he had gathered—where he kept them, no one knew, not even a shadow left behind.

Only she, poor Lily, was left in plain sight, dangling mournfully from his ear.

“Thirty-two.”

Wind Echo’s tally meant he had now collected his thirty-second high-grade special spirit plant from the sea of flowers.

Grandfather had said, with the Phantom Token granted by the Flower Sea Divine Lord Brahma Bamboo, even taking a hundred and eighty spirit plants posed no problem—he was far from full.

“Once I return to Star City and release these spirit plants, won’t those swaggering old men, always boasting and comparing at the Star Tower, be utterly dumbfounded?”

A smile slowly spread across Wind Echo’s face.

High-grade spirit plants were exceedingly rare. The divine lands of the Flower Sea, uniquely blessed, could nurture them in abundance—elsewhere in the Spiritual Energy Universe, such wonders were seldom seen.

The Star City Star Alchemists, those old men, poured their hearts and souls into cultivation, vanishing behind closed doors for years, their greatest passion devoted to nurturing spirit plants, sparing no precious star-forged energies.

From time to time, they would gather at the Star Tower, boasting to each other about the prowess of their plants.

Yet after all their painstaking efforts, how could they compare to his sweeping harvest from the Flower Sea?

Wind Echo left the mountain range, well satisfied, searching for his next target.

At last, the many cautious flower sprites spying from afar let out a sigh of relief. The youth now seemed interested only in high-grade spirit plants. Aside from collecting the Celestial Cloudroot, he had not harmed the others.

Still, in the direction he was heading, more spirit plants would surely fall victim—word had to be sent quickly.

In the two hours that followed, Wind Echo pressed on tirelessly, scouring the land with breathtaking speed. Yet curiously, rare high-grade spirit plants began to vanish from sight altogether.

“Doesn’t your Flower Sea always boast of its abundance of spirit plants? I’ve barely taken a handful—how are there none left?” Wind Echo inquired of the little creature dangling from his ear.

“How should I know?” Lily pouted, though inwardly she was triumphant.

Our flower sprites really know how to stick together—an early warning, and this wicked youth can’t trouble our elders any longer.

Wind Echo cast a meaningful glance at Lily. She looked innocent enough, but he could clearly see the hint of smugness in her eyes.

“So, a game of hide and seek…”

A faint smile touched the youth’s lips.

With a snap of his fingers, ripples of shadow burst forth from his form.

Lily’s mind spun dizzily; in that instant, day turned to ashen night, and the world before her eyes became a swirling phantasmagoria.

All of heaven and earth was veiled in silken mist.

In her bewilderment, she heard the youth’s leisurely voice: “Well? Those cunning spirit plants outside can no longer see us—go on, see for yourself.”

Invisible?

Lily was puzzled, listening for the whispers of the flower sprites.