Cloudtop Plateau's morning mist still shrouds the air as Team Rebellion's hovercar skims 3,000 meters above sea level. Below lie endless floating archipelagos, each island pulsing deep blue—Starmoon Meteorite rocks activated by spiritual energy, etched with the same spirals as spiritual cores, shimmering through the fog like diamonds scattered across the sky.
"Welcome to the Starfall Archipelago," says the elder at the helm, a silver-masked plateau pattern user, his spiritual core embedded in a forehead bone ornament, white patterns on its surface matching the snow-capped mountains. "This was once the 'Stargazing Platform' of ancient pattern users, a place to converse directly with spiritual veins."
Xiaotao presses her face to the window, Starmoon bracelet glowing blue: "I sense... so many patterns singing, like ocean waves."
"That's Starfall Resonance," the elder's voice echoes ethereal. "Three hundred years ago, pattern users here communicated with heaven and earth using Stellar Orbit Spiritual Patterns, but over-extracting vein energy caused the archipelagos to sink—now they float on residual spiritual power."
As he speaks, the hovercar jolts violently. Among the floating islands, a lyre-shaped isle begins collapsing, debris raining down. Lin Ye's core trembles—he senses ancient Stellar Orbit Spiritual Patterns awakening, weaving a silver-blue light net between the islands.
"Stop!" Ajiu's Shadow Raven bursts from her hair, talons gripping the roof. "Something's ahead!"
They disembark to find a silver-cloaked figure standing at the collapsing island's center, starlight in their hair, wrist core pulsing with Starmoon rocks, spirals identical to Lin Ye's Rebellion core.
"The Stellar Orbit User!" Sakura's Patterns pinken. "The starry guardian sealed five hundred years ago—their core manipulates stellar orbits, but went berserk from overuse."
The Stellar Orbit User raises a hand, Starmoon fragments hurtling like arrows. Lin Ye meets them with a flaming fist, Burning Heaven Flames sliding off like water on ice.
"This is Stellar Orbit Patterns' nature," the elder's bone ornament warms, silver light from his core merging with the mist. "They consume all attacks, converting them to stellar energy."
Ajiu's Ravens dive, wings whipping up debris, but the User blocks them with a stellar barrier. Xiaotao's bracelet blazes, blue energy forming a net that stellar energy corrodes instantly.
"Need purification!" Lin Ye recalls Isabella's memories. "Stellar Orbit Patterns aren't enemies—they're unbalanced guardians!"
He relaxes his fist, letting fragments coil around his wrist. Burning Heaven Flames course under his skin, spreading through the fragments—not burning, but like spring melting snow, stripping away their rage.
"Team Rebellion, coordinate!" he yells. "Xiaotao, stabilize stellar energy with Starmoon; Ajiu, sever negative links with Shadows; Sakura, awaken their consciousness with Sakura!"
Xiaotao's bracelet glows blue, Starmoon energy forming a stable light cocoon. Ajiu's Ravens become a dark purple mist, shredding twisted pattern links. Sakura's Patterns bloom into cherry trees, pink petals revealing human contours on the Stellar Orbit User's silver face.
"You... Why... not destroy me?" their voice trembles.
Lin Ye's core flies out, clashing with theirs. Golden flames wrap pink Sakura, blue Starmoon, and purple Shadow energy, surging into the stellar core like a dragon. Starmoon fragments peel away, revealing pale skin—five-hundred-year-old pattern users, cores shattered, consciousnesses finally freed from their stellar shells.
"Finally... free..." the lead user murmurs, fingers dissolving into stardust, merging into the archipelago's mist. "Stellar Orbit Patterns... should have been... communicators..."
When the last User dissolves, the floating islands regain their soft glow. Lin Ye's wrist core warms, silver-blue patterns like Starmoon rocks appearing—marks of Stellar Orbit Pattern resonance.
"So this is..." Sakura's eyes redden. "Stellar Orbit Patterns' mission is to guard heaven-earth dialogue."
The elder takes a crystal case from the car, containing a starlight seed: "This is the Stellar Orbit Spiritual Pattern crystal. Five hundred years ago, guardians used it to repair the archipelagos. Now, it returns to true guardians."
Holding the seed, Lin Ye senses its energy resonate with his core. Starmoon fragments bow to him, glowgrass at the islands' edges blooming brilliantly in celebration.
"Where to next?" Ajiu kicks a Starmoon rock, her Raven preening.
"Mariana Trench," the elder points to roiling clouds in the distance. "Legends of Abyss Spiritual Patterns—luminous creatures at 10,000 meters might answer your questions about pattern origins."
Xiaotao leaps excitedly, bracelet glowing blue: "I heard users there talk to whales and even command coral growth!"
"I'll pack pressure gear!" Ajiu pats her bag. "Deep-sea pressure is intense."
Sakura smiles, Sakura Patterns blooming as tiny lights. "I'll light the way with cherry blossoms."
Lin Ye gazes at his Rebellion core, sensing global pattern vibrations—like countless heartbeats resonating in clouds. He touches the core, murmuring: "Pattern meaning lies not in temples or deserts."
"Then where?" Xiaotao tilts her head.
Lin Ye looks to the floating archipelagos, where starlight pierces clouds, patterns dance on rocks, and mist whispers ancient tales.
"Wherever life connects."
The hovercar roars to life, wheels crushing floating Starmoon rocks, leaving trails of silver light. Team Rebellion's patterns shine in the sun, weaving with starfall blue and snow-white into a new totem—a star trail unfurling toward Cloudtop Plateau's horizon.