Lin Xia's expression was as grave as iron as he carefully picked up the pre-prepared piece of Phantom Star Glazed Crystal from the side of the workbench.
This was a priceless treasure he and Larvitar had obtained after surviving great peril in the core region of the Silent Desolate Mountain Range. Its size and shape had even been meticulously cut to closely match the gemstone set in the crown.
He slowly brought the shimmering crystal toward the true gem mounted on the crown.
At first glance, under the dim light, the two "stones" were almost indistinguishable. Both had a deep, dark-blue base, both contained countless faint, starlike glimmers.
However, when Lin Xia concentrated his spiritual power to its absolute peak and used a soul tool lens to examine them inch by inch, the subtle differences emerged like hidden reefs beneath calm waters, cold and unmistakable.
Within the real gemstone, the light points were not evenly distributed. Instead, they flowed along a profound, almost heavenly order, forming an ever-changing river of stars that felt naturally born and alive.
In contrast, the light within the Phantom Star Glazed Crystal, while also flowing, was looser and more chaotic. It lacked that deep cosmic rhythm, more like a forcibly imitated star map frozen in place.
This was a fatal gap.
The true gem's energy was like a dormant stellar core vast, pure, and ancient, carrying an overwhelming majesty and a deep spatial resonance.
Every pulse of its energy seemed to echo directly within Lin Xia's soul.
The Phantom Star Glazed Crystal, however, while still extremely pure and powerful, was clearly a tier lower in its "starlight power." It leaned more toward a fusion of earth and star energy, carrying the weight and sedimentation of a mineral vein. It lacked the boundless purity of true stellar origin.
As for the crucial spatial attribute, it was so faint in the imitation that it was almost imperceptible.
Lin Xia's heart sank to the bottom.
Phantom Star Glazed Crystal was already a top-tier soul tool material. It could amplify soul power and stabilize spatial structures.
But the gemstone on the Star Radiance Crown served a far more profound function, it connected to the stars of the heavens, guided starlight to temper the body, and might even be tied to secret spatial techniques of the Star Luo Imperial Family.
Their core purposes were not even on the same level.
Using Phantom Star Glazed Crystal as a replacement would be like trying to pass off a finely made butcher's cleaver as a legendary divine sword. It might fool someone at a glance, but the moment Emperor Dai Tianxing infused soul power or activated its secret techniques, the forgery would be exposed instantly.
Lin Xia slowly set down the crystal, his fingertips cold. He stared at the true gemstone on the crown, his brows tightly furrowed into a deep "川" shape.
Only the faint hum of the soul lamps filled the workshop, along with his restrained breathing.
The air felt like it had solidified into sticky resin, trapping him in a suffocating mire of despair.
"It won't work at all…"
His voice was dry, as if scraped over sandpaper.
"The shape can be forged to ninety percent similarity, but the essence of its power the ability to connect to the stars. Phantom Star Glazed Crystal can't replicate even a fraction of it!"
Lin Xia slammed his fist against the edge of the workbench with a dull thud, rattling the carving tools.
"Damn it! Unless I can find another 'Stellar Core Tear'! But that thing is basically a legend! The one Dai Tianxing has is probably the only one in existence! Where am I supposed to find another one? And I don't even have time!"
In his mind, images began flashing Dai Tianxing's furious face, the cold blades of Star Luo Imperial experts, Zhu Zhan cutting ties without hesitation. even Zhu Zhuqing's newly ignited flame in her eyes being extinguished by disaster.
Just as Lin Xia's thoughts spiraled toward despair, already drafting extreme contingency plans like fleeing the continent, hiding in mineral veins like a mining rat, or enduring in secrecy until he became invincible.
"Larvitar?"
A confused, concerned chirp broke the dead silence.
At the edge of the workbench, Larvitar, who had been happily crunching on a piece of Phantom Star Glazed Crystal like a snack, had noticed the overwhelming tension and cold pressure radiating from its trainer.
It dropped the half-eaten "snack" and hopped over to Lin Xia's hand, gently nudging it with its small head covered in dark red rocky armor. Its crimson eyes were full of worry.
Feeling the warmth of the little one's touch, Lin Xia looked down, meeting Larvitar's pure gaze. A bitter warmth rose in his heart.
He forced out a smile, about to pat its head and say "I'm fine."
But the next moment.
Everything happened faster than his mind could process.
Larvitar's curious eyes shifted toward the tray where the dangerously alluring Star Radiance gemstone lay.
To a creature that fed on minerals and energy, the purest stellar origin power and ancient spatial resonance were irresistible—like a full banquet placed before a starving beast.
Without the slightest hesitation.
Not even giving Lin Xia a tenth of a second to react.
The little one opened its mouth, and in a flash.
"Whoosh!"
Lin Xia only saw a blur.
The Star Radiance gemstone containing the supreme authority of the Star Luo Imperial Family and serving as the cornerstone of his entire mission was gone.
Swallowed in a single bite.
Time froze.
Lin Xia's forced smile instantly petrified. His pupils expanded to their limit, veins of shock spreading across his eyes.
It was as if a hammer had struck the back of his head. His entire body stiffened. All his blood rushed upward and then froze into ice.
"…E-eaten?"
Lin Xia's voice distorted beyond recognition, squeezed out from the depths of his throat like a broken bellows, trembling with disbelief.
His mind went completely blank, buzzing violently, as if ten thousand bees had exploded inside his skull at the same time.
It was over!
All over!
He had calculated everything, yet he had completely overlooked this little ancestor's instinctive, uncontrollable urge to devour top-tier minerals!
This was not some ordinary stone, this was the lifeblood of the Star Luo Emperor!
A royal inheritance treasure capable of shaking the entire empire!
And it had been swallowed by Larvitar like a candy ball?!
"Spit it out! Spit it out now! Larvitar!"
Lin Xia's voice suddenly shot up into a breaking cry, filled with unprecedented panic and despair.
He practically lunged forward, grabbing Larvitar's round body covered in dark red magma-like armor, shaking it desperately as if trying to invert it upside down.
"You greedy little idiot! You can't eat that! If you do, we're all going to lose our heads! No worse our bodies will be torn apart, our souls shattered! Hurry! Vomit it out! Please!"
Lin Xia was so frantic he was speaking incoherently, even trying helplessly to pry open Larvitar's tightly shut mouth with his fingers.
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