CHAPTER 924: CHAPTER 900: XIMEN DONG (3/3)

Zhou Heng paused his practice of the Flame Sword Technique. He had already grasped the essence of this sword technique, capable of amplifying his power by forty times. However, the ultimate amplification of this technique should be around forty-five times.

The reason he couldn’t reach such a level wasn’t due to a lack of comprehension but because just one move alone couldn’t achieve this effect!

It requires several moves launched consecutively, harnessing power to maximize this forty-five times power amplification!

Nonetheless, a forty-times power amplification is equivalent to the Forty Stars Cultivation Technique, which undoubtedly stands supreme on Duyang Star! Fortunately, Zhou Heng possessed the Black Sword; otherwise, with this planet’s level of artifact refining, to let a weapon endure a forty-times power amplification, it would at least need to be Milky Way Realm level!

Given Zhou Heng’s current status and strength, trying to obtain a Milky Way Realm level Treasure Artifact would be a foolish dream, wouldn’t it?

"No need to burn the furnace anymore!"

The Fire Divine Furnace responded and withdrew its flames, and the piece of Flame Paper immediately reverted to its original appearance, as if it hadn’t been burnt at all. Just from this point, it was clear that the paper itself was a treasure!

Zhou Heng picked up another Cultivation Technique and began researching "Carefree Step."

This was merely a common Seven-Star Technique. Movement techniques are difficult to precisely rank like offensive techniques, but the difference in speed will always be noticeable when the same martial artist practices different techniques.

The Seven-Star Technique couldn’t increase Zhou Heng’s speed by seven times, at most three times. However, movement techniques don’t just enhance speed; their intricate and mysterious maneuvers can also aid in evading hits.

If you can’t grasp your opponent’s position, you can only use broad-range offensive moves. But in doing so, the attacking power is dispersed, naturally reducing the potency—unless you possess overwhelming power.

From initially stumbling, soon his movements became smooth and perfectly fluid, his speed increasing as he constantly shifted positions within this confined space—appearing in front one moment, then suddenly behind, as though there were countless versions of him.

"Little Fire, we ought to leave!" Zhou Heng smiled slightly; he had already mastered both the swordsmanship and movement technique, and it had only taken a single day.

For others, even merely recalling the details of "Carefree Step" within a day would be challenging, as it’s more than just a formula; it’s elevated to a level akin to runes.

Simply remembering won’t suffice; some level of insight is necessary, let alone mastering it proficiently!

——In terms of comprehension, even Huo Tian admitted to being no match for Zhou Heng, highlighting how extraordinary Zhou Heng is in this aspect!

"A monster!" the Fire Divine Furnace exclaimed repeatedly. Its predecessor was Sun Essence Gold, not only indestructible but also resistant to high temperatures. Yet in terms of intelligence, it struggled, lacking fully developed spiritual wisdom, hence falling short in comprehension.

This was what it envied most about Zhou Heng.

Little Fire jumped into Zhou Heng’s arms, the tiny creature remained quite attached to Zhou Heng, seizing every chance to act adorably, making it hard to see that it was a Heaven-Earth Divine Beast.

He exited the chamber.

"Hey, you came out so quickly?" Seeing Zhou Heng emerge, the white-haired elder couldn’t help but show a look of surprise.

Only a day and a night had passed; how could this boy have come out already? It was completely unreasonable!

"Done all!" Zhou Heng returned the "Carefree Step" and a half sheet of the paper.

"Done?" The white-haired elder was naturally skeptical, how could this be possible? Even if he were to learn a new Seven-Star Technique now, it would take more than two days to remember all the characters, let alone comprehending it.

This kid must be boasting!

The elder originally disliked Zhou Heng just a bit, but hearing him now utter such bold claims made him feel repelled. After carefully checking both techniques, he sealed them again, then summoned them into their original positions.

"Since you wish to return early, that’s your freedom, off you go!" The elder was quite dismissive of Zhou Heng.

"Yes!" Zhou Heng smiled slightly, "Carefree Step" suddenly activated, whoosh, his form gliding smoothly, despite the high speed, it exuded a sense of leisurely elegance.

Poof!

The white-haired elder immediately spat, his eyes bulged, nearly losing his breath!

He naturally recognized it as "Carefree Step," the movement technique Zhou Heng had taken yesterday to practice!

Mastered! Truly mastered!

Not merely remembered but already able to be used!

Genius? No, genius couldn’t describe it, this was a monster!

...

Outside the Scripture Pavilion, Zhou Heng couldn’t help but smile. This was his counterattack method, subtly executed, yet immensely satisfying!

Previously, he had to save up Contribution Value to exchange for Cultivation Techniques. Now that this issue was resolved, the five thousand Contribution Value left in his hands must be spent somehow, otherwise, what’s the use?

He went to the Treasure Medicine Pavilion and exchanged materials for Flying Star Pill, instantly spending the five thousand Contribution Value completely.

Flying Star Pill is a Three-Star Spiritual Medicine, the best for Stellar Kings to enhance spiritual power accumulation. Typically, three pills can allow a martial artist to fully develop a newly formed star. However, Flying Star Pill only increases spiritual power accumulation, but not the formation of new stars.

Forming stars involves the intricacies of the Starry Secret Array. Encountering the ultimate number nine results in immense repulsion forces between stars, hindering the formation of new stars.

This is not something the Flying Star Pill can solve!

In reality, the entire Stellar Realm can be divided more precisely by the sequence of nines—such as Nine Stars, Eighteen Stars, Twenty-Seven Stars, Nine Hundred Stars, Three Thousand Stars—with each nine being a threshold, and hundred, thousand, million as major thresholds.

Of course, from ancient times to now, no one has ever reached the ultimate number of ten thousand stars; the repulsive force created by 9,999 stars is simply too overwhelming!

Returning to his place, he ordered the Fire Divine Furnace to open and refine the alchemy, to produce this batch of Flying Star Pills.

The pills from the Bright Realm are rather difficult to refine. It took over twenty minutes to successfully produce the Flying Star Pills; a total of twenty-four pills were made, quite a substantial amount.

The Black Donkey had been waiting diligently by the side, and as soon as the lid was lifted, it swiftly snatched away eight pills and ran off in a flash! If Zhou Heng hadn’t been watching it closely with his eyes, this mischievous donkey would not only have taken eight pills but would likely have made off with the Fire Divine Furnace as well.

Zhou Heng was very much looking forward to Little Fire’s future performance, so he divided the remaining Flying Star Pills in half to share with Little Fire evenly.

Twenty-four Flying Star Pills meant eight pills each, fair and square.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Little Fire had no concept of what pills were. Seeing Zhou Heng give it something to eat, it naturally wagged its tail enthusiastically, rolled its tongue, and swallowed all the Flying Star Pills in one go, then stuck its tongue out at Zhou Heng, seemingly eager for more and wanting another couple of pills.

"No more!" Zhou Heng quickly waved his hand, "Go digest the medicinal power on the side, or else be careful not to overeat and burst!"

He picked up a Flying Star Pill and swallowed it.

Boom!

Immediately, spiritual power surged within him, triggered by the medicinal power, forming countless streams of starlight that sparkled inexplicably.

His first star was already fully formed, so he was now forming the second star.

It was naturally easy at the start, especially since nine is the supreme number, forming the second star posed no difficulty. With an ample supply of spiritual power, the second star quickly formed a small dot, ridiculously small compared to the large star beside it but no less radiant with its brilliant starlight.

Zhou Heng was concerned about whether this second star would be the same size as the first or of a normal standard size.

Eight Flying Star Pills were enough to prove it!

The medicinal power of the first Flying Star Pill quickly ran out, and Zhou Heng unhesitatingly swallowed the second pill, then the third, but the new star still showed no signs of being full or complete.

Could it be that the second star had to be just as massive?

Though such power would indeed be great, forming ten thousand stars would be too difficult!

The fourth pill, the fifth pill!

The second star formed!

Relaxing with a sigh, Zhou Heng, however, felt a bit melancholic.

The first star was a special case; the normal size of his stars should be about double that of an average Star King, meaning that with the same number of stars, his power would be twice that of others!

——Of course, this did not account for his first giant star, which alone topped the rest by a hundredfold!

Requiring twice the spiritual power accumulation compared to a normal Star King allowed Zhou Heng to breathe a sigh of relief but feel a little disappointed. If every one of his stars was as terrifying as the first, wouldn’t he be able to compete with the Milky Way King once he reached the Star Emperor level?

Of course, this was just a thought; requiring a hundred times the effort was not worthwhile in terms of time because, by the time he achieved "super" Star Emperor status, he might already have advanced into the Comet Realm with his current situation.

Exchanging a long time for invincibility at a lower realm is too low in value!

After refining the remaining three Flying Star Pills, his dantian was no longer a lonely giant star but, rather, one large, one medium, and one small star. Both the medium and small stars orbited the large one in an inexplicable, indescribable rhythm.

His speed was the fastest; at this moment, the Black Donkey and Little Fire were still refining the medicinal power. Zhou Heng walked into the courtyard, using his fingers as a sword, casually performing the Crimson Flame Sword Technique. Flames arose under his control, freely manipulated.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Just then, the courtyard door suddenly resounded with heavy and urgent knocks as if in a hasty rush.

What kind of etiquette!

Zhou Heng couldn’t help furrowing his brows. He walked over and opened the door, creaking as it swung open, revealing a young man of medium stature but incredibly sturdy build. Strangely enough, his two ears were covered with fur!

This was certainly not a human race, but exactly what race, he would not know unless the other party activated his bloodline to transform into the corresponding beast body!

"Are you Zhou Heng?" The other party glanced at Zhou Heng, "I find you very unpleasant; kneel before me!"

Confused, wanting someone to kneel because they found them unpleasant? What kind of logic is that?

Zhou Heng didn’t even bother to argue, intending to close the door directly.

Boom!

That young man pressed a palm against the door, preventing Zhou Heng from shutting it. He grinned and said, "Forgot to introduce myself. I’m Ximen Dong, newly ascended to the Star King Court!"

Whatever ’Dong’ you are, what’s that to me!

"Take your filthy paw away; don’t block the way!" Zhou Heng said impatiently. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, please visit Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation votes, monthly votes; your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read at m.qidian.com.)