Grassroots Travel: The Star Lord of Another World

Chapter 396 The real test

Gao Xingchen felt Nan Li's fingers move, as if responding to his determination. A flame of hope ignited in his heart, and he lowered his head and looked at the lover in his arms tenderly. On her pale face, her brows were slightly furrowed, as if she also felt the cruelty of reality in her dream. Gao Xingchen gently smoothed her brows and whispered: "Li'er, I will save you and the Nine Star Realm. Wait for me."

The old man seemed to be unconcerned about the emotional exchange between the two and walked straight into the depths of the fog. A faint voice came from the front: "The Heart of the Stars is not only a source of power, but also a spiritual force that symbolizes love and hope. Only when your heart is full of light can you truly control it."

Gao Xingchen was shocked. The old man's words were like a revelation, which made him understand the confusion he had been having. He only thought about power, but ignored the real power in his heart. He looked at Nan Li in his arms. This woman who had always been by his side and gave him courage and hope, wasn't she the source of the light and power in his heart?

"I understand." Gao Xingchen said firmly, with a determined light in his eyes. He held Nan Li in his arms and quickly followed the old man's steps into the depths of the fog.

The fog dissipated, and the view was suddenly clear. It was a beautiful valley with birds singing and flowers blooming, like a paradise. In the center of the valley, there was a clear lake with ripples on the lake, reflecting the blue sky.

"This is..." Gao Xingchen looked at the beautiful scenery in front of him in surprise, and for a moment he even forgot the purpose of this trip.

"This is where the Heart of the Stars is." The old man walked to the lake and looked at the calm surface of the lake. "The power of the Heart of the Stars is hidden in this lake."

"But this lake doesn't look like there's anything special about it?" Gao Xingchen asked puzzledly.

"Power is not visible to the naked eye. It is more important to feel it with your heart." The old man turned around and looked at Gao Xingchen kindly. "Child, sit cross-legged, close your eyes, and feel the power of the lake with your heart."

Gao Xingchen sat down as he was told, closed his eyes, and focused all his attention on the lake. Gradually, he felt a warm and powerful force gushing out from the lake and flowing into his body, making him feel unprecedented peace and tranquility.

"The true power of the Heart of the Stars is love and hope." The old man's voice rang in his ears, "Only when your heart is filled with love and hope can you truly harness this power."

Gao Xingchen's mind was completely immersed in the lake. He felt the warm and powerful force, the breath of Nanli, and the hope of all the creatures in the Nine Stars Realm. He understood that only by defeating the darkness in his heart could he truly become the guardian of the Heart of the Stars, save Nanli, and save the Nine Stars Realm.

After an unknown amount of time, Gao Xingchen slowly opened his eyes, with a determined light flashing in his eyes. He looked at Nan Li beside him, her face seemed to be a little rosy, and her breathing became steady. Gao Xingchen was delighted, he knew that they had found the power to defeat the darkness.

"Children, you still have a long way to go, but remember that love and hope are the power that overcomes everything." The old man's voice gradually became illusory, and his figure gradually disappeared into the air. "Remember, the power of the Heart of the Stars will always be with you..."

The sun shines through the gaps in the leaves, casting mottled spots of light on the sparkling lake. Gao Xingchen and Nan Li sit side by side by the lake, feeling the surge of star power in their bodies. Ever since they realized the true meaning of the heart of the stars under the guidance of the mysterious old man, they have begun to practice day after day.

"The power of the stars is everlasting, originating from the heart and integrated into all things..." Gao Xingchen muttered to himself, comprehending the old man's teachings over and over again. He tried to probe his consciousness into the lake to feel the warm and powerful power. The lake was like a mirror, reflecting every ripple in his heart. Every greed and every fear would cause the lake to fluctuate, hindering his connection with the power of the stars.

"Xingchen, calm down and concentrate." Nanli's voice rang in his ears, as clear as a mountain spring, washing away the distracting thoughts in his mind.

Gao Xingchen took a deep breath, tried to empty himself, and focused all his attention on connecting with the power of the stars. Gradually, he felt a cool air flow from the lake into his body, flowing through his meridians, and finally converging in his dantian. This power was so pure and powerful that it made him feel stronger and more confident than ever before.

"You did a great job." Nan Li looked at Gao Xingchen, her lips slightly raised, revealing a gratified smile. Since waking up, she has been with Gao Xingchen, watching him grow stronger, her heart filled with pride and happiness.

"Li'er, this is all thanks to you." Gao Xingchen held Nan Li's hand, his eyes full of gratitude, "Without you, I wouldn't be here today."

Nan Li shook her head gently and said softly: "We are one, your success is also my success."

In the following days, Gao Xingchen and Nan Li encountered many difficulties and challenges. Sometimes they were demons from their hearts, and sometimes they were tests from the outside world. But they always supported each other, fought side by side, and overcame one difficulty after another with the power of love and hope.

They had tempered their wills in flames, sharpened their minds in ice and snow, and felt the power of nature in strong winds. Every challenge made them understand the power of the stars more deeply and their love for each other more deeply.

As their practice deepened, Gao Xingchen and Nan Li gradually felt the power of the Heart of the Stars flowing through their bodies, and their strength was greatly improved. They could feel each other's heartbeats, share each other's strength, and even communicate with each other through their thoughts.

"Xingchen, can you feel it? The power of the Star Heart is awakening." One day, Nanli suddenly said with a strange light flashing in his eyes.

"Yeah, I feel it." Gao Xingchen nodded. He also felt that an unprecedented powerful force was awakening in their bodies.

At this moment, an old voice sounded in their ears: "Congratulations, children, you have touched the threshold of the Heart of the Stars."

Gao Xingchen and Nan Li were startled and turned around to look, only to see a mysterious old man appear behind them at some point.

"Senior, you mean..." Gao Xingchen's heart was full of expectations and questions.

The old man smiled and said, "If you want to fully master the power of the Heart of Stars, you need to pass a test. Only by passing the test can you truly become the master of the Heart of Stars and shoulder the responsibility of protecting the Nine Stars Realm." The mysterious old man's deep gaze stayed on Gao Xingchen and Nan Li for a moment, and slowly said, "The Heart of Stars contains infinite power, but it also comes with great responsibility. If you want to truly master it, you must prove that you have the will and determination to match it."

Gao Xingchen and Nan Li looked at each other, and they could see the determination in each other's eyes. They had gone through countless hardships and tests along the way, and had long since put life and death aside. Now, they were only one step away from mastering the power of the Heart of the Stars, so how could they give up so easily?

"Senior, please tell us, what is the test?" Gao Xingchen said in a firm tone, without any fear.

The mysterious old man nodded slightly, seeming to be satisfied with their attitude. "The test lies deep within the Heart of Stars, where the ancient dark power is sealed. You need to enter it and defeat the darkness before you can gain the recognition of the Heart of Stars."

"We are willing to accept the test!" Gao Xingchen and Nan Li said in unison.

"Very good." The mysterious old man waved his hand, and a space crack appeared in front of them. "This crack leads to the place of trial. Remember, once you enter it, there is no turning back. You must be mentally prepared."

Gao Xingchen and Nan Li did not hesitate at all. They held each other's hands and stepped into the space crack resolutely.

The crack closed, and everything around them disappeared, replaced by endless darkness. Gao Xingchen and Nan Li felt a strong suction pulling them down, as if dragging them into the abyss.

After an unknown amount of time, the feeling of falling finally stopped. Gao Xingchen and Nan Li opened their eyes and found themselves in a huge cave. The walls of the cave were engraved with ancient runes, emitting a faint light that illuminated a small area around them.

"Is this the place of test?" Nan Li looked around and said in a low voice.

Gao Xingchen nodded and tightened his grip on the sword. He could feel a dangerous atmosphere in the air, as if something terrible was lurking in the darkness, watching them.

"Be careful, Li'er." Gao Xingchen reminded in a low voice.

They walked forward cautiously, taking every step carefully. Deep in the cave came a series of low roars, which made people shudder.

Suddenly, a huge demon claw stretched out from the darkness and grabbed Gao Xingchen and Nanli. Gao Xingchen reacted quickly and waved his sword to block the demon claw's attack.

"Roar--"

A deafening roar echoed in the cave, and a huge monster walked out of the darkness. It was covered with black scales, shining with a metallic luster, and its scarlet eyes stared at Gao Xingchen and Nan Li, full of greed and murderous intent.

This was just the beginning of the test. Gao Xingchen and Nan Li took a deep breath and prepared themselves for the challenge.

The monster roared and swung its claws at Gao Xingchen and Nanli. Gao Xingchen did not dodge or evade. The light of the sword in his hand suddenly increased. The power of the stars turned into a dazzling sword light and chopped towards the monster's claws.

"boom!"

With a loud bang, the sword light and the devil's claw collided, causing a violent energy wave. Gao Xingchen was knocked back several steps, his palm numb, and the devil was also forced back several steps, leaving a deep sword mark on its claws.

"Xingchen, be careful!" Nanli shouted, and her figure flashed out like a ghost, the dagger in her hand turned into a cold light, attacking the monster's vitals. The monster roared continuously, waving its claws to resist Nanli's attack. For a moment, the cave was filled with flashing swords and shadows of knives, and the fierce battle was dazzling.

Gao Xingchen and Nan Li worked in perfect harmony, one attacking and one defending, firmly suppressing the monster. They had experienced countless life-and-death battles, and had already honed their extraordinary fighting skills and calmness in the face of danger. Every attack was precise and ruthless, hitting the monster's vital points directly.

As time went by, the monster gradually lost the upper hand, with wounds all over its body and its breath becoming disordered. Gao Xingchen and Nan Li seized the opportunity and launched a more fierce attack.

"Xingchen, the final blow!" Nan Li shouted, and the dagger in her hand turned into a flash of lightning, piercing straight into the monster's eyes.

Gao Xingchen understood what he meant, and the star power in his body surged wildly. The sword in his hand burst out with dazzling light, and he slashed with the sword, like a meteor streaking across the sky, with a devastating momentum, and fiercely hit the monster's head.

The monster let out a shrill scream, and its huge body fell to the ground with a bang, turning into a black mist and dissipating into the air.

Gao Xingchen and Nan Li looked at each other, and saw the exhaustion and joy in each other's eyes. They had finally defeated this powerful monster, and were one step closer to passing the test.

"It seems that you have found the true meaning of cooperation." An old voice suddenly sounded, and a mysterious old man in a gray robe appeared out of thin air in the cave. He was the one who had guided them before.

"Senior!" Gao Xingchen and Nan Li saluted quickly.

The mysterious old man nodded slightly, his eyes fell on the two of them, and said meaningfully: "Congratulations, you have defeated a powerful enemy, but the real test has just begun."

Gao Xingchen and Nan Li were shocked. Could it be that defeating the monster was not the ultimate test?

“The true test is not to defeat external enemies, but to defeat the fear and hesitation within you.” The mysterious old man’s voice echoed in the cave like a huge bell. “Only by defeating the demons within you can you truly master the power of the Heart of the Stars.”

Gao Xingchen and Nan Li looked at each other in bewilderment. They didn't understand. It was already so difficult to defeat the monster, so why did they have to overcome the fear and hesitation in their hearts? What exactly was this so-called "fear and hesitation in their hearts"?

The mysterious old man looked at the two people's puzzled expressions and showed a mysterious smile on his face: "The answer is in your hearts."

Gao Xingchen and Nan Li suddenly felt uneasy. They realized that the real test might be even more terrifying than they had imagined...