The Falling Star Garden’s Chilling Secret

“Are you coming with us… is this considered surveillance?” Su Hanxing asked, his brow furrowed slightly and his tone sharp.

“It is not surveillance, fellow Daoist; please do not misunderstand me.” Hearing Su Hanxing’s retort, Xue Zhao waved his hands repeatedly, quickly denying the accusation. “Recently, a major incident occurred within Hongshan City. Due to this, the viewing area for the extraterrestrial meteorite has been temporarily closed. If both fellow Daoists wish to see it, you may only do so accompanied by a disciple of my Starfall Sect.”

With a sigh, Xue Zhao retrieved a crimson token from his storage artifact and offered it to Chi Qiu and Su Hanxing for inspection. Su Hanxing took the token, observing the five large characters “Hongshan City Lord’s Manor” etched upon it. Beneath them, a smaller inscription read, “This token grants entry to the Falling Star Garden.”

The Falling Star Garden was, in fact, the site where the extraterrestrial meteorite had landed.

“I see. Fellow Daoist Xue, might you be able to disclose the significant event that has occurred in Hongshan City? If it’s inconvenient to share, then please disregard my question.” Su Hanxing’s expression softened slightly after examining the token. He returned it to Xue Zhao, then inquired with a hint of curiosity.

“This matter… it’s not convenient to inform fellow Daoist.” Xue Zhao accepted the token, his face betraying a look of difficulty.

“Hehehe… no matter. Please, fellow Daoist, lead us to the Falling Star Garden to investigate further.” Su Hanxing’s response was, naturally, within expectations. He chuckled softly, then gestured for them to proceed.

“Excellent. Fellow Daoists, please follow me.” Xue Zhao promptly nodded, then stepped forward, heading towards the heart of the inner city.

The trio ambled along for approximately half an hour, eventually arriving before a colossal scenic garden situated at the very center of Hongshan City. The garden was perfectly square, spanning thousands of chi in both length and width. Its perimeter was encircled by crimson iron walls, towering over a hundred zhang high. These iron walls were intricately etched with array patterns, clearly part of an incredibly complex containment formation.

Furthermore, every three zhang outside the garden, a soldier clad in crimson iron armor stood sentinel, spear in hand. Their faces were devoid of expression, and true qi emanated from their bodies, lending them an exceptionally formidable presence.

“Is this the Falling Star Garden?” Chi Qiu murmured, observing the crimson-armored soldiers lined up along the iron wall, stretching into the distance. She nodded with keen interest before continuing. “These warriors are undeniably formidable; the quality of their crimson armor must be quite exceptional.”

“These are the soldiers guarding the Falling Star Garden. Please follow me, both of you; with the token, they won’t trouble us.” Xue Zhao, upon hearing Chi Qiu, realized that though she was a female cultivator, she showed no fear of such a display. He immediately held her in higher regard.

He then retrieved the token from his robes and handed it to the crimson-armored soldier standing before the Falling Star Garden’s main gate. The soldier accepted the token, scrutinized it carefully, then nodded faintly before returning it to Xue Zhao.

“You may only visit for one hour; no delays are permitted.” The soldier’s voice was deep and placid. Filtered through his crimson iron face mask, it gained a metallic timbre, making it exceptionally oppressive.

“Rest assured, my lord.” Xue Zhao retrieved the token, placed it back into his storage artifact, then patted his chest in earnest assurance. Upon hearing the guarantee, the crimson-armored soldier gave an almost imperceptible nod. He then stepped back, and with a resounding clang of metal, the gate within the crimson iron wall swung open.

“Both fellow Daoists, please enter.” Xue Zhao turned to face Chi Qiu and Su Hanxing, extending a hand in invitation. The two nodded in assent, stepping together into the embrace of the crimson iron wall.

Beyond the iron wall lay the pristine white Falling Star Garden, where numerous spiritual plants grew in verdant abundance. A delicate, elegant fragrance wafted from within. Chi Qiu and Su Hanxing inhaled deeply, instantly feeling invigorated, their spirits considerably lifted.

“These spiritual plants were all sown by the City Lord thousands of years ago to suppress the spiritual energy erosion emanating from the extraterrestrial meteorite.” Seeing that Chi Qiu and Su Hanxing were captivated by the garden’s abundant spiritual flora, Xue Zhao offered a light smile and explained.

“The placement and varieties of these spiritual plants… must involve profound knowledge.” Su Hanxing stroked his chin, surveying their surroundings. Even with his extensive experience, many spiritual plants remained unfamiliar to him.

“Naturally. The City Lord once instructed us not to disturb any of the spiritual plants within. Please, both of you, observe.” Xue Zhao nodded with a smile, then pointed towards the fence bordering the spiritual plants. Faint fluctuations of true qi subtly emanated from within it.

“To spend a thousand years planting spiritual flora to resist spiritual energy erosion… only a powerhouse of the Hongshan City Lord’s caliber could manage such a feat.” Upon hearing Xue Zhao’s words, Chi Qiu felt a slight tremor of surprise in her heart.

The trio ventured deeper into the Falling Star Garden. Before long, Chi Qiu and Su Hanxing detected a chilling, bone-piercing spiritual energy beginning to coalesce within the earth. This particular spiritual energy felt utterly unlike any heavenly and earthly spiritual energy Chi Qiu had ever encountered.

All the spiritual energy she had previously encountered, be it the intensely scorching solar spiritual qi or the frigid lunar spiritual qi, flowed in perfect harmony with the Grand Dao of heaven and earth. Yet, the strange, icy spiritual energy beneath her feet flowed without any discernible pattern, at times wildly surging, at others gently drifting, making it utterly inscrutable.

“I had assumed the spiritual energy contained within the extraterrestrial meteorite would be intensely scorching and violent. I never imagined it would be so chillingly cold.” Su Hanxing gazed down at the ground, taking a few light steps before exclaiming with a hint of surprise.

“Fellow Daoist Su’s strength is truly remarkable,” Xue Zhao remarked with a smile. “Even from this relatively short distance, you can perceive the spiritual energy emanating through the great array. Your discerning senses for true qi are truly enviable.”

“Indeed, the spiritual energy emanating from this extraterrestrial meteorite is exceptionally cold. Although it has been attenuated by the grand array and layers of spiritual plants, it remains unbearable for cultivators below the God Concealing stage.” As he spoke, Xue Zhao pointed forward and added, “Beyond the next gate ahead, you will finally behold the extraterrestrial meteorite.”

Chi Qiu and Su Hanxing both nodded. The trio soon arrived before the second great gate. Its walls were newly constructed, and a formidable host of guards stood before it, emanating an astonishing aura.

“There are so many guards in this Falling Star Garden?” Chi Qiu’s lips barely moved, a wisp of true qi enveloping her words as she transmitted them directly to Su Hanxing’s ear.

“By all accounts, this shouldn’t be the case,” Su Hanxing transmitted back, giving a barely perceptible nod. “It seems the major incident in Hongshan City, as mentioned by Xue Zhao, is likely connected to this extraterrestrial meteorite.”

Subsequently, Xue Zhao retrieved his token once more and presented it to the guards at the gate. Before long, he successfully led Chi Qiu and Su Hanxing into the innermost layer of the Falling Star Garden.

“This is the extraterrestrial meteorite. Both fellow Daoists may observe it freely here, but remember, you only have one hour, or the guards will expel you.” After ushering them through the second gate, Xue Zhao first bowed respectfully, then withdrew, leaving them to their own observations.

After Xue Zhao departed, Chi Qiu turned, her gaze sweeping across their surroundings. Groups of guards patrolled the small garden, which spanned less than a hundred zhang in area. Aside from these sentinels, several cultivators were gathered in small groups at the center of the garden. They stood encircling a reddish-black meteorite, roughly several zhang in size.

It was, indeed, the extraterrestrial meteorite.