Chapter 5: Under the Starlit Silence
Morning arrived, and dew still clung to the leaves in the back garden of Suotuo Junior Academy. In a quiet corner of the garden, Lu Xingchen sat cross-legged, syncing his breath with the rhythm of the world. Sunlight had just begun to kiss the earth, yet Xingchen's small body was already wrapped in a soft, shimmering aura radiating from within.
It had been several weeks since his journey into the spirit forest with the Headmaster. His first spirit ring—earned in battle against a wild Starlight Deer—had fully merged with him. Its healing properties were strong, enhancing his body far beyond the norm for a child his age. But Xingchen didn't train just to become stronger. His goal went deeper than that.
He wanted to understand.
His martial soul, the Crowned Starlight Deer, was a unique existence. It was connected to the night, to the starry sky, to a light that could be felt but not seen. So his training wasn't just about muscles or spirit power, but about building a connection—between himself and the cosmos.
Today, he tried something new.
Calmly, he activated his martial soul. A glowing crystal horn emerged from his forehead, releasing a gentle radiance like moonlight. Xingchen controlled his breathing, guiding energy through his body in a rhythm he created himself—a pattern like swirling starlight.
"At night, my power strengthens… But I mustn't waste the day," he murmured.
His hands danced in the air, forming a pattern. Energy gathered at his fingertips, forming a small silver arrow that shone softly.
"Starlight Arrow…"
He launched it toward a tree trunk. It left only a faint scratch. But he knew—this was a promising start.
For the next hour, he tested different variations: angles, energy concentration, even blending his spirit ring's healing properties into the projectile. By accident, he discovered something surprising—the Starlight Arrow could actually heal an ally if it struck them.
"A healing attack? That's… unusual," he muttered in awe.
By late afternoon, Xingchen moved to an indoor training hall. There, he opened his small notebook—filled with sketches and notes for his developing techniques. On one page, he had written:
"If the night strengthens me, then I need a technique that mimics the night."
The room was dark, lit only by a small blue crystal in the corner. Xingchen tried drawing energy from the shadows, creating a spirit mist to form an illusion barrier.
But the mist was unstable. It flickered and vanished almost immediately.
"Maybe I need to adjust the spirit ring's flow into fixed energy points… something like a formation," he theorized.
Placing a hand on his horn, he attempted to make it the focal point. He gathered spirit energy there, then released it in a soft burst toward the ground.
Nightlight Burst—it wasn't perfected, but it stirred the air and light in a way that could disorient opponents in darkness. It had potential as an area-of-effect technique for confusion and crowd control.
Unbeknownst to him, a teacher—Instructor Yao—was watching from behind a glass wall.
"Interesting…" he whispered.
The next morning, Instructor Yao summoned him to the training office.
"You've been developing new techniques, Lu Xingchen?" he asked curiously.
"Still experimenting, Teacher."
Instructor Yao flipped through Xingchen's notebook, scanning several pages. "Do you realize your technique blends healing and attack in one movement?"
Xingchen slowly shook his head.
"That's a dual-type technique. Very rare, especially for someone your age. If you develop this properly, you could become the backbone of any team—a supporter and attacker in one."
Xingchen remained quiet. He hadn't thought his small steps would be recognized as something so promising by a teacher.
That afternoon, while resting in the garden, a boy named Zhan Wu approached.
"You train morning and night. Aren't you tired?" he asked, puzzled.
"A little. But my body recovers quickly, so I can keep going," Xingchen replied while gazing at the sky.
Zhan Wu sat beside him. "Teacher says your martial soul is rare. Can it really heal?"
"Yes, but within limits."
"Awesome… I'm jealous," he muttered softly.
Xingchen gave a faint smile. He knew many students saw him as someone special. But to him, all of this was simply a tool—a path toward understanding and freedom.
Night fell.
This was Xingchen's favorite time. He stepped out of the dorm, sat at the center of the open field, and looked up at the sky. As stars emerged one by one, he felt his body connect to the universe.
He sat cross-legged, controlling his breath, forming a meditation stance based on the constellations he memorized. Breath by breath, the spirit energy within him flowed more smoothly. Before long, he noticed his spirit power was recovering 10% faster than during the day.
He named this process: Stellar Resonance.
By syncing his spirit rhythm with the pulse of the night sky, he created a channel of starlight energy that helped him recover with higher efficiency.
In that quiet, a thought came to him about his second spirit ring.
"I need protection… A power that can withstand attacks, not just heal."
He imagined a Sky Turtle with a glowing shell that could form light shields. Or a floating Sky Jellyfish emitting protective waves. Or a Night Lion with a radiant mane that could reflect damage.
All of these matched his soul—silent, steady, yet radiant.
And for his third spirit ring?
He sought true offense. He envisioned a Celestial Serpent that sprayed starlight poison, a Silent Scorpion that struck unseen, and a Star Fox that created illusions to deceive enemies. If these could be fused with his speed, he would have a unique, versatile fighting style.
A few nights later, he began crafting a new technique. Channeling energy beneath his feet, he tried to blend his aura with the surroundings. The result surprised him.
His body faded—not fully invisible, but blurred enough to confuse vision for two seconds.
He named it: Silent Night Step.
Though imperfect, it held potential as a surprise opener or escape technique.
One night in the cafeteria, a few students whispered as they watched him.
"That's the kid who can heal himself," murmured a girl named Lian.
"He's weird. Always sits alone and talks to the stars," another student added.
Xingchen heard them all, but said nothing. He knew the path he walked was quiet and filled with stares. But he had chosen it.
The following night, after a long session of training, he opened his notebook and wrote:
"I'm not strong yet. But I'm walking. Every flicker of light I create today is a step toward a greater light tomorrow. I don't want to be a hero. I just don't want to lose my way again. If the stars are my path, then I will follow them— even in darkness."
He closed the notebook and looked at the sky.
And for the first time… he felt the stars looking back at him.