Volume 1, Chapter 173 – Flowing-Light Lotus Platform

With a thought, she sent her divine sense into the system space and began selecting suitable artifact-refining materials.

The first thing that appeared before her mind’s eye was a small clump of earth radiating a warm, lustrous glow: Nine Heavens Xirang.

It was the very material she had used to shape A-Yao’s immortal body. Nothing could have been more suitable. It would ensure the artifact was connected to A-Yao’s bloodline and responded as readily as her own limbs.

Next came a fist-sized stone glittering with golden light: Primordial Unity Stone.

Then came a handful of strange, sand-fine grains sparkling with pinpricks of starlight: Star Sand.

Last was a small bottle of liquid suffused with hazy moonlight so dense it seemed almost tangible: Moonlight Essence.

“Nine Heavens Xirang as the foundation, Primordial Unity Stone as the frame, Star Sand as ornamentation, and Moonlight Essence as the finishing touch…”

Every one of these materials was exceedingly rare. If any of them appeared in the outside world, it would be enough to spark a bloody struggle.

With the materials selected, Gu Han closed her eyes and focused. In her mind, she repeatedly sketched, refined, and perfected the design of the Flowing-Light Lotus Platform.

At last, a model took shape in her mind, retaining the playful outline of the original while incorporating her own ingenious ideas.

“Let’s begin.”

Gu Han opened her eyes, her gaze clear and resolute.

She waved a hand. The void at the center of the main hall warped slightly, and a cauldron formed from Dao fire quietly emerged.

Dao Resonance circulated within the cauldron. The temperature was high enough to smelt divine metal, yet Gu Han controlled it with such precision that not a trace of heat escaped.

The first material she placed inside was the clump of Nine Heavens Xirang.

The earthen-yellow mass of light fell into the Dao fire and seemed to awaken, releasing an even warmer, more substantial aura.

It slowly stretched and took shape, gradually forming a perfectly natural lotus-platform base the size of a palm.

The instant the base took shape, rings of profound patterns appeared upon it of their own accord.

Next came the Primordial Unity Stone.

As the glittering golden stone was tempered by the Dao fire, its outer shell peeled away to reveal the deeper, more mysterious substance within.

Under Gu Han’s exquisite control, it transformed into countless fine streams of golden energy that slowly seeped into the lotus-platform base.

The base shuddered slightly, and a tiny space seemed to open within it.

The third step was the Star Sand.

Gu Han wrapped the tiny grains in spiritual power and scattered them evenly across the lotus platform.

The instant the Star Sand touched the platform, the grains flew home like returning stars, embedding themselves precisely into every node of its patterns and becoming points of brilliant starlight.

A magnificent illusion of a flowing river of stars immediately appeared above the lotus platform, breathtakingly beautiful.

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Last came the Moonlight Essence.

Guided by Gu Han’s fingertip, the crystalline liquid transformed into countless hair-fine threads that spread across the entire lotus platform.

Wherever the moonlight passed, the lotus platform’s radiance softened and its surface grew warmer and smoother, as though it had taken on the rhythm of a living breath.

“Condense!”

Gu Han gave a low shout. Her fingertips traced profound runes through the air one after another, sending them into the lotus platform.

“Hummm…”

The lotus platform trembled gently and released a clear, melodious chime.

Four colors blended perfectly across its surface, flowing without end.

The lotus platform had nine petals, each naturally engraved with a different Dao pattern, all of them extraordinarily profound.

Its rank had reached earth-rank supreme-grade!

With its unique materials and perfect compatibility with A-Yao, it could even advance to heaven rank in the future as A-Yao grew and continued nurturing it.

“Finally, it’s done.”

Satisfaction flickered in Gu Han’s eyes as she dispersed the Dao fire with a wave of her hand.

The newly created Flowing-Light Lotus Platform hovered quietly above her palm, its radiance flowing and its Dao Resonance entirely natural.

She inspected it carefully. Only after confirming that it had no flaws whatsoever did she put it away with care.

“It’s time to call A-Yao over.”

The corners of Gu Han’s lips curved upward. A gentle voice transmission carried by divine sense flew toward Yaochi.

“A-Yao, come see Master.”

Beside Yaochi, A-Yao was crouched on the bank with her chin propped in her little hands, watching the spirit fish chase one another through the water.

When she heard Gu Han’s voice transmission, her large eyes lit up. She sprang to her feet and skipped toward the main hall.

“Master Mama! A-Yao is here!”

Her bright, cheerful voice drew closer, and her tiny figure dashed into the main hall like a gust of wind.

“Slow down.”

Gu Han watched her bound in, her eyes brimming with tenderness.

A-Yao ran up to Gu Han, tilted her little face upward, and asked curiously,

“Did Master Mama call A-Yao here because something happened?”

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Gu Han gently brushed her fingertips over the top of A-Yao’s head and said softly,

“Master made a little gift for you.”

“A gift?”

A-Yao’s eyes instantly grew round with anticipation.

“Is it a tasty spirit fruit?”

Amused, Gu Han shook her head.

“No. It’s something A-Yao used to like very much.”

“Something A-Yao used to like?”

A-Yao tilted her little head and tried hard to remember.

Gu Han stopped keeping her in suspense. She turned her palm upward, and light flashed.

The exquisite, brilliantly radiant Flowing-Light Lotus Platform appeared in her hand.

It slowly rotated, four-colored light flowing across it. It was as beautiful as an immortal treasure drawn from a dream.

A-Yao’s gaze was instantly transfixed.

Her little mouth fell slightly open as she stared unblinkingly at the rotating lotus platform. Confusion first filled her eyes, only to be replaced by ever-brightening delight.

“This… This is…”

A-Yao’s voice trembled slightly. She reached out a small hand but did not dare touch it, as though afraid she might shatter the beautiful dream.

“It’s the lotus platform that spins and lights up!”

She remembered!

A year ago, Master had bought her a lotus-platform toy that spun when powered by spiritual energy and glowed at night.

It was the first toy she had received after emerging from the stone. She had treasured it so much that she even kept it beside her pillow while she slept.

Later, after she encountered so many wondrous artifacts, she carefully stored that crude little lotus-platform toy in her Hundred Treasures Pouch and only occasionally took it out to look at it.

But the one before her now…

It was a hundred times more beautiful than the old lotus platform!

She did not even need to pour spiritual energy into it. It could spin and glow all by itself.

The light even flowed, like stars, like the moon, like… like Master’s pleasant, reassuring scent!

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“Do you like it?”

As Gu Han watched the undisguised delight and excitement in A-Yao’s eyes, warmth filled her heart.

“Yes! A-Yao loves it!”

A-Yao nodded vigorously, an incomparably radiant smile blossoming across her little face.

“Master Mama, is this really for A-Yao?”

“Of course.”

Gu Han gently placed the lotus platform in A-Yao’s small hands.

The instant it touched A-Yao’s palm, it seemed to sense both her pure aura and the energy within her that shared its origin.

Its radiance brightened, and it spun more merrily, conveying a clear sense of affection and joy.

“It… It feels like it knows A-Yao!”

A-Yao cried out in delight. She carefully cradled the lotus platform in both hands as though holding the most precious treasure in the world.

“It’s also called the Flowing-Light Lotus Platform. It’s an artifact that Master refined especially for you.”

Gu Han explained gently,

“It isn’t merely pretty. It can also protect A-Yao and help A-Yao cultivate. In the future, wherever A-Yao wants to go, it can carry you through the air.”

“Really? It can do all that?”

A-Yao’s eyes shone as she looked from the lotus platform to Gu Han, her gaze full of adoration.

“Master Mama is amazing!”

“Come, A-Yao,”

Gu Han guided her.

“Try separating out a wisp of your divine sense and gently touching the center of the lotus platform with it.”

A-Yao obediently closed her eyes, her long eyelashes trembling slightly.

A wisp of pure, flawless divine sense cautiously emerged from between her brows and reached toward the point of chaos light at the center of the lotus platform.

The instant her divine sense made contact…

“Hummm!”

The lotus platform erupted with radiance, four colors enveloping A-Yao’s tiny figure.

A-Yao felt a warm, vast, yet incomparably familiar power surge from the lotus platform into her body.

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It coursed merrily through her meridians before finally settling in her dantian, where it merged perfectly with her Dao foundation.

At the same time, all the information about the lotus platform entered her mind.

How to control its flight, how to activate its defensive barrier, how to attack with it, and even how to change its size or conceal its radiance with a thought…

Everything was clearly imprinted in her mind.

A feeling of perfect harmony and bloodline connection welled up within her.

The lotus platform seemed to have become an extension of her own body.

Its radiance gradually receded.

A-Yao opened her eyes and willed it to move.

The lotus platform in her palm instantly transformed into a streak of light and disappeared between her brows.

An extremely delicate lotus mark remained on her smooth forehead, lending her an added touch of sanctity and lively grace.

With another thought, the lotus platform appeared beneath her feet and instantly expanded until it was about a meter across, steadily lifting her into the air.

“I’m flying! A-Yao is flying!”

Standing atop the lotus platform, A-Yao was both startled and delighted. She steered it in circles around the main hall, her little face flushed with excitement.

Gu Han watched her with a smile and gently reminded her,

“A-Yao, this lotus platform will be an important artifact for protecting your path in the future.”

“You must nurture it every day with your own spiritual power until it develops intelligence. Do you understand?”

“Mm-hmm! A-Yao will remember!”

A-Yao nodded vigorously and guided the lotus platform back to Gu Han. Then she jumped down.

The lotus platform shrank at once, transforming into a streak of light that coiled around her wrist to form a delicate bracelet.

She threw herself into Gu Han’s arms and nuzzled her affectionately.

“Thank you, Master Mama! A-Yao loves Master Mama most of all!”

Gu Han gently embraced her and stroked the top of her head, her eyes brimming with tenderness and hope.

“Our A-Yao deserves the very best.”