The resonance of the golden bell slowly dissipated in the night sky of Shandora, but the phantom of the Wordless Heavenly Book floating deep in the sea of stars became increasingly solid.

The pages turned without wind, the rustling sound like the whispers of stardust; with every page turned, the coordinates on the distant star chart flickered slightly.

Bai Cheng stood atop the bell tower, her silver eyes gazing at that heavenly book.

In her palm, the earrings re-condensed from the oath of starlight transmitted a gentle warmth; they were no longer just items of inheritance, but like the tip of a pen that had developed a certain resonance with that heavenly book.

“It's waiting for us to write down the first coordinate,” Leng Ningxue's voice sounded beside her.

On the holographic star chart she pulled up, the branch coordinates spreading from the Wordless Heavenly Book intertwined like a spider web; their number and the complexity of the paths far exceeded the three options previously given by the golden bell.

“But the choice is entirely in our hands. There is no preset optimal solution, no probability analysis, only... where we want to go.”

Zi Yuan's long blade had been returned to its sheath. She walked to the edge of the platform and looked at the starry sky: “Repair the ship first. During the collision just now, the core engine of the dawn experienced a power attenuation.”

She paused and added, “Leng Ningxue calculated it.”

Blue Bird grinned: “I'm good at repairing ships! There should still be many ancient workshop spare parts left by Rego on Thunder God Island. I'll go ask Baros for them!”

“No rush,” Bai Cheng spoke softly.

Everyone looked at her.

Bai Cheng raised her hand, her fingertips lightly touching the edge of the star chart expanded by Leng Ningxue.

Her touch seemed to carry a certain guidance; the messy, intertwined coordinate lines in the star chart began to slowly sort and reorganize themselves, finally focusing on three relatively clear directions.

These three directions were not forced by the heavenly book, but were the most reasonable choices for the moment that emerged naturally based on everyone's current state, the damage to the dawn, and the repair priority of Shandora and the entire Sky Island network.

“The freedom of the story does not mean blind impulse.” Bai Cheng withdrew her hand, the trajectory of the flowing starlight in her silver eyes peaceful and clear.

“We have broken free from the experiment's script, but the journey still needs a direction. This direction should be based on our true desires and responsibilities.”

She pointed to the first focal point on the star chart.

It was a star region composed of broken mirror surfaces, with a short description appearing next to the coordinates: 【Shallow Layer of Mirror Abyss · Silent Observer's Place of Fall】.

“Mirror Pupil's repentance needs to be witnessed, as does the legacy left by Silent Observer.

Those mirror databases that haven't been completely contaminated might contain key information from the early plans of the Observer Council.”

Bai Cheng said, “More importantly, the residents of the Nest of a Thousand Mirrors are still waiting for a real answer.”

High Priestess Aurora nodded slowly: “The cracks in faith need to be mended with the truth.

Although Silent Observer has fallen, his choices affected the entire Nest.

Going there is giving history an explanation.”

The second focal point was a nebula that constantly changed its shape, labeled as: 【Emerald Sea Extension Zone · star track Anomaly Zone】.

Lu Duo's emerald eyes widened slightly: “That is... one of the ancient star paths lost during the early migration of the Spirit Race.

Legend has it that the original blueprint of life before the birth of the Emerald Sea sleeps there, but the star track network has never successfully located it.”

“Because the experimental system shielded it,” Abraham's voice came from the direction of the wheelchair.

He pushed his wheels closer, his thin fingers pointing at the nebula, “That is an important redundancy backup in the natural evolution path. To prevent the experimental group and the control group from having accidental intersections, it was hidden by early observation programs.”

He looked up, his gray eyes reflecting the star chart: “Now that the shielding is lifted, it has naturally surfaced.

There may lie original possibilities for the Spirit Race and all Sky Island life that have not been artificially interfered with.”

The third focal point was the most special.

It was not an area, but a winding path that seemed to traverse multiple dimensions. The starting point of the path was Shandora, but the end was blurred, with only a label next to it: Path ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) of Last Wishes.

“This is...” The lightning in Garel's one eye flickered, “I feel it... a certain calling from deep within Lord Rego's bloodline.

This isn't a coordinate; it's some kind of... continuation of a promise.”

Elune's light wings brushed gently: “There are ripples on the timeline. This path is not in a spatial sense; it's more like a karmic trajectory paved by some existence's lifelong obsession.

Walking upon it, one might encounter shadows of the past, or perhaps... be able to change some long-destined regrets.”

Three choices, three different directions.

There was no right or wrong, only different paths.

Everyone fell into a brief silence, not in indecision, but in feeling.

Feeling which story's beginning their hearts were more inclined toward.

Finally, it was Zi Yuan who spoke first.

“Go to the Mirror Abyss first,” she said decisively. “The ship needs repairs, but the materials don't necessarily have to come from Thunder God Island.

Silent Observer managed the Nest of a Thousand Mirrors for so long; his legacy might contain a Mirror Crystal Core more suitable for the dawn. And—”

She looked at Bai Cheng: “We promised the confused residents of the Nest of a Thousand Mirrors that we would give them an explanation. What is promised must be done first.”

Blue Bird scratched her head: “I have no objection. Anyway, I've braved the mirror maze before, I know the way!”

Leng Ningxue pulled up a structural scan simulation of the Shallow Layer of Mirror Abyss: “Feasible. The space-time in this area is relatively stable, suitable for the dawn to enter in its damaged state.

It's expected that repairs and investigations can be carried out simultaneously.”

Lu Duo and Yu Nian looked at each other and also nodded.

The exploration of the Spirit Race's ancient star path was important, but not urgent.

Garel took a deep breath, suppressing the throbbing in his heart for the Path of Last Wishes:

“Lord Rego's calling... since it has become a path, it will not disappear.

Let's first deal with what must be completed before us.”

Aurora and Elune also expressed similar views.

Bai Cheng looked at Abraham.

The old man was silent for a moment, then slowly said: “From the perspective of experimental records, Silent Observer was one of the key observation samples where early rationality deviated from emotion.

His place of fall indeed likely contains fragments of original data that were not completely recycled by the system.

These fragments might help you more clearly understand... how the Council step by step moved toward extremes.”

He paused, a trace of complex emotion flashing in his gray eyes: “Consider it... a final record for my former colleagues.”

The opinions were unified.

Bai Cheng looked up at the Wordless Heavenly Book.

As if sensing everyone's decision, the ink began to flow on its own on the blank title page of the heavenly book.

This time, what was written was no longer a general chapter title, but the specific first line of the journey record:

【First Star Spiral of the New Era · Setting Sail】

【Destination: Shallow Layer of Mirror Abyss · Silent Observer's Place of Fall】

【Reason: Fulfilling promises, clearing residual traces, and retrieving the historical truth within the broken mirrors】

【Scribe: Bai Cheng and her contracted companions】

With the emergence of these words, the corresponding coordinates on the star chart suddenly lit up, and a soft, dashed navigation line condensed from starlight extended from Shandora, pointing clearly toward the Mirror Abyss.