Within the boundless darkness, a glimmer of starlight appeared.
It illuminated the universe within and beyond, weaving together billions of radiant threads of light. Embedded within these were layer upon layer of breathtaking Consciousness Star‑Maps, converging to evoke the vast, mysterious grandeur of a star river.
"My Mindscape."
Andrew Han murmured softly, sensing it in detail.
His Mindscape was a realm of darkness, centered around a crystalline, translucent Soul Crystal‑Diamond. Four thousand Consciousness Star‑Maps floated nearby, rising and falling like a sea of shifting stars. Brilliant chains of light linked the star‑maps, ultimately manifesting the Fifth‑Order Creation Light in the form of conscious radiance.
It resembled an ancient throne within a grand hall.
If one could gaze from afar, even the mere sight of it would be enough to awe an ordinary Starlight‑tier cultivator.
"It truly is unique—unparalleled."
"But right now, the most important thing is to quickly uncover what the Soul Crystal‑Diamond really is." Andrew Han gazed thoughtfully at the multifaceted crystal diamond, its solemn rotation seeming to stir the Mindscape itself.
He did not understand the Inspiration Crystal‑Diamond.
Nor did he understand the Consciousness Crystal‑Diamond.
Let alone the Soul Crystal‑Diamond as it existed now—this was truly beyond Andrew Han’s knowledge.
"Let’s try first."
With a steady mind and calm composure, Andrew Han silently activated the Soul Crystal‑Diamond, accelerating the process of generating new star‑maps and instantly illuminating the darkness within.
"I can sense that the Soul Crystal‑Diamond is the core of the Mindscape—absolutely vital." Andrew Han tried to urge the Soul Crystal‑Diamond to rise: "If the star‑maps can move and leave the Mindscape, there’s no reason the Soul Crystal‑Diamond shouldn’t be able to move too!"
"Unfortunately, moving the Soul Crystal‑Diamond is extremely difficult."
"I’ve tried many times before, but this Soul Crystal‑Diamond has never budged, as if it’s rooted in the very center of my Mindscape... Never mind, I’ll try once more today."
For some reason, Andrew Han had a strange premonition!
It was as if, by some hidden intuition, the moment the Soul Crystal‑Diamond left the Mindscape would be the moment the truth was revealed. Before Andrew Han could ponder further, the Soul Crystal‑Diamond began to vibrate violently!
It was like a planet ascending to become a star!
The light of a firefly instantly transformed into the light of a full moon!
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
Countless Consciousness Star‑Maps shook in unison, highlighting the majesty of the Soul Crystal‑Diamond’s emergence. Even the boundless darkness was partly dispelled, and the Mindscape grew eerily silent, as if time, space, causality, and mind itself had all lost their meaning... Gold‑red star‑maps spread their radiance in layers upon layers, illuminating a world both real and illusory, lifting up the solitary glass‑like crystal diamond.
Even the bustling night sky could not compare to this moment.
Even the rising sun and setting moon paled before this scene.
"Rise!"
Andrew Han clenched his teeth and shut his eyes tightly. Immersed within his Mindscape, he touched his brow with his fingertip, further strengthening his control over this inner realm.
The star‑maps trembled, surging with wild energy, like a rampaging dragon about to break free from its cage!
Light swirled, starlight erupted, and the Mindscape itself twisted and transformed!
In the next instant, an indescribable roar crashed into his consciousness—dreamlike and ethereal, flashes of sensation like light and dew flickered through his soul. Ninefold heavens, countless stars, a limitless cosmic expanse.
Boom!
The thunderous sound echoed in his ears, penetrating his very soul!
A vast, surging wave of sensation grew ever fiercer, like a single stone stirring up ten thousand waves. Chaos and shock filled every direction as the Mindscape underwent a world‑shaking transformation... Everything froze, everything stilled; the world was empty, all the star‑maps vanished, and only the Soul Crystal‑Diamond spun ceaselessly.
It was as if something infinitely close was still impossibly distant, beyond his reach.
Like a dream or a bubble—touch it, and it shatters.
"No, that's not right!"
"The number of star‑maps has changed!"
Andrew Han was stunned, almost holding his breath. Focusing his entire mind as if opening his eyes to observe the Mindscape, he immediately noticed: the Soul Crystal‑Diamond’s subtle movement had led to the birth of ten new gold‑red star‑maps!
In other words—
The number of Consciousness Nodes had increased by ten compared to before.