Chapter 37: The Starfall Corridor: A Test of Essence
The moment Liam, Sael, and Lyra stepped through the ethereal entrance of the Celestial Palace of the Azure Sky, the world around them shifted, becoming a breathtaking panorama of cosmic grandeur. Gone were the jagged rock formations and swirling nebulae of the Veil of Stars. Here, space itself seemed to have been sculpted by divine hands. Vast halls stretched into impossible distances, their walls appearing to be crafted from solidified starlight, shimmering with all the colors of the cosmos. Celestial bodies, like miniature planets and luminous nebulae, floated effortlessly within the palace chambers, casting a soft, otherworldly glow. The air was not merely dense with spiritual energy; it thrummed with a primordial cosmic essence, purer and more potent than even the Stellar Core in the Sanctum.
Celestia, her starlight staff humming faintly, glided ahead, her movements as fluid and silent as the cosmic currents themselves. She cast a fleeting glance back at Liam and his companions, a subtle disdain still lingering in her gaze. "This is the Celestial Palace of the Azure Sky," her voice resonated, a cold melody that echoed through the vastness. "A realm beyond mortal comprehension, forged by the ancient Star Emperors themselves. Every atom here is imbued with cosmic truth. Do not touch anything unless instructed. And do not fall behind."
Sael and Lyra gasped in silent awe. Sael, a Golden Core Middle Stage expert, felt her own spiritual energy tremble before the sheer immensity of the palace's aura. Lyra, with her unique spiritual perception, could see the intricate cosmic formations woven into every surface, pulsating with a living energy. The vastness of the palace made them feel incredibly small, almost insignificant.
Liam's Golden Core hummed violently, his star-mark flaring with an unprecedented intensity. The pure cosmic essence of the palace resonated deeply with his unique core, causing his Star Emperor's Scripture to instinctively churn within his mind. He felt as if every principle he had learned so far was being rapidly expanded upon, giving him fleeting glimpses of higher cosmic truths. His Golden Core, which had struggled with expansion, now felt a subtle, undeniable pull towards growth, as if the very air here nourished it.
Celestia led them through what seemed like an endless succession of cosmic chambers, each more breathtaking than the last. One hall glowed with the light of a thousand miniature suns, while another was a boundless void, filled with swirling galaxies that moved with a hypnotic grace. Liam realized that the entire palace was a single, colossal formation, a living testament to the Star Emperor's ultimate power.
Finally, they arrived at a colossal corridor that stretched into an infinite starry expanse. The floor beneath them was made of transparent cosmic dust, through which they could see swirling nebulae far below. From the walls, hundreds of ethereal pillars of light, made of condensed starlight, radiated an immense pressure.
"This is the Starfall Corridor," Celestia announced, her voice echoing with a chilling finality. "The first trial within the Palace. It tests the purity and resilience of one's spiritual essence. Each pillar emits a 'Starfall Pressure,' a cosmic resonance designed to shatter impure cores and weak wills. Only those whose spiritual foundation is as pure as starlight can endure its full length." Her gaze fixed on Liam, a clear challenge in her eyes. "You claim a pure core, mortal. Let us see if it truly is worthy."
Liam felt the pressure immediately. It wasn't a physical force, but a direct assault on his spiritual sea, trying to unravel his Golden Core. It was similar to Celestia's initial suppression, but far more pervasive, coming from all directions, from every pillar. Sael and Lyra instinctively flinched, their bodies trembling under the sheer weight of the cosmic resonance.
"Stay close, Liam!" Sael yelled, her Golden Core Middle Stage flaring, creating a protective barrier of spiritual energy around herself and Lyra. But the Starfall Pressure seeped through, making her spiritual sea churn violently. Her face paled as she felt her core being gently, yet relentlessly, assaulted.
Lyra, though terrified, focused her unique perception. She could see the subtle vibrations of the Starfall Pressure, how it sought out impurities in spiritual essence. Her own Foundation Establishment Middle Stage cultivation struggled, but her spirit, refined by the Azure Star Ore, held firm.
Liam, however, met the pressure head-on. His Golden Core, forged from cosmic energy and recently expanded by the Azure Star Ore, resonated powerfully with the Starfall Pressure. It wasn't just resisting; it was absorbing. He felt a profound, yet painful, cleansing sensation. The Starfall Pressure, instead of shattering his core, was purifying it further, compressing his cosmic energy, pushing it towards a higher state. The pain was immense, like his core was being squeezed by an invisible cosmic hand, but it was also exhilarating, promising unprecedented growth.
He activated his star-mark perception. The blue particles in his eyes whirled frantically, analyzing the Starfall Pressure. He realized that the pillars were not just emitting pressure; they were also transmitting a complex spiritual formation, a method of refining one's core through cosmic resonance. This was a test, but also a lesson.
Celestia watched Liam with unblinking galaxy-eyes. She saw his Golden Core Middle Stage core not only withstand her Starfall Pressure but actually purify itself. No mortal cultivator should be capable of this. Her cold disdain began to chip away, replaced by an expression of pure, profound astonishment. 'He is truly an anomaly,' she thought. 'His core... it's as if it's made of the same essence as this Palace itself.' Her interest in him was rapidly transforming into a deep, consuming fascination.
Liam took a step forward, then another, walking into the heart of the Starfall Corridor. Each step was a battle. His body trembled, blood trickled from his nose, and his spiritual sea roared in protest, but his will was unyielding. He walked with a purpose, absorbing the Starfall Pressure, letting it cleanse and refine his core. Sael and Lyra followed closely, their faces etched with worry, but their eyes shining with awe at Liam's impossible resilience.
The corridor stretched for what felt like an eternity. Hundreds of pillars, each emitting a crushing pressure, battered Liam's spiritual essence. But with every step, his Golden Core grew purer, denser, more powerful. The subtle 'stickiness' he had felt from the Nectar Drop seemed to be completely purged, cleansed by the sheer cosmic purity of the Starfall Pressure.
Finally, after hours of agonizing endurance, Liam reached the end of the Starfall Corridor. He stood at the threshold of the next chamber, his body utterly exhausted, his Golden Core pulsating with a vibrant, new power. He had not only endured the trial; he had used it to further refine his core, pushing his Golden Core Middle Stage to its absolute peak. He was now on the very verge of breaking through to the Golden Core Realm, Peak Stage. The Stellar Core's pure essence and the Spirit Anchor Stone had provided the foundation, but the Starfall Corridor had provided the ultimate refinement.
Sael and Lyra rushed to him, their faces filled with profound relief. "Liam! You did it!" Sael exclaimed, her voice filled with admiration, helping him steady himself.
Celestia appeared beside them, her starlight staff resting lightly in her hand. Her cold eyes now held a warmth Liam had not seen before, a profound curiosity mixed with something akin to respect, even a hint of wonder. "Remarkable," she whispered, her voice losing its previous detachment. "You truly are... unique, Inheritor. No mortal has ever endured the Starfall Corridor, let alone refined their core through it. You are far more than you appear."
She then looked at Liam, her gaze intense, searching. "Perhaps... your destiny is far grander than I had initially perceived. This Palace holds the true path to the Star Emperor's legacy. But it also holds dangers that even a Dao Lord must tread carefully. Are you ready, Liam, to face the true trials? The trials that will forge you into the ultimate Star Emperor, or break you entirely?" Her words were a chilling promise of the immense challenges that lay ahead, beckoning him towards a destiny written in the stars.