CHAPTER 574: CHAPTER 356: THE NINTH STAR

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In this haze-like state, Yan Xiaobao didn’t notice how the day began or ended. He didn’t realize that he hadn’t left his chair. He had become the bridge between the lives of two people.

Completely absorbed in writing, Yan Xiaobao wasn’t aware of how his body was absorbing the essence of heaven and earth. Only after setting down his pen could he feel his strength increasing. The growth was so significant that even Yan Xiaobao was astonished and taken aback.

Previously, he had reached the Ninth Star or Duke Level; however, this time his cultivation base soared to the heavens once again. It rose all the way to the pinnacle of the Ninth Star, bringing him dangerously close to breaking into the ranks of Kings. His eyes sparkled with excitement, and his body brimmed with immense power. Compared to before, his mood had vastly improved.

Just as Yan Xiaobao noticed his strength increasing, he completed the final Chapter of "War Art." Although he tried to re-enter his previous haze-like state, he found it to be impossible. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t voluntarily slip into the state he had just been in. After an entire hour of effort, the young man finally gave up with a sigh.

Day after day, Yan Xiaobao had been preoccupied with building the bridge between two worlds. This wasn’t a natural memory or recollection of the past. Instead, it was him returning to that moment, and the bridge evidently brought great benefits to the young man.

Although Yan Xiaobao knew that moving from the Ninth Star Duke to the First Star King Level was only separated by one single star, that single star demanded relentless effort and countless days of cultivation.

Rising from the chair he had been sitting in for several days, Yan Xiaobao stretched out his arms, trying to coax his aching body into motion, and let out a yawn. Noticing he hadn’t been summoned yet, Yan Xiaobao stood in the room hesitating for some time. At one point, he felt an urge to head to the training grounds and test his newfound strength in the battles that were constantly taking place.

Having reached the Ninth Star, Yan Xiaobao was now at the late Duke stage. With his recent advancements, as Yan Xiaobao changed, he ought to now be a late-stage King, which filled him with excitement. Previously, he had been an early-stage King, and even back then, he possessed the ability to defeat any King he faced. Would the transformed Yan Xiaobao now have the power to defeat an Emperor?

This thought crossed Yan Xiaobao’s mind, and the young man mocked himself with a derisive laugh. *What are Emperor-ranking experts?* They were so close to the pinnacle, surpassed only by Saints and Gods. While King-ranking experts were formidable, it was rare for an early-stage King to defeat a higher-ranked King, though it was still significantly more likely than a late-stage King defeating an Emperor. The difference was like day and night, as vast as heaven and earth. A King simply couldn’t defeat an Emperor.

Although Yan Xiaobao couldn’t stand against an Emperor, his strength as a King was unparalleled. Moreover, even in human form, Yan Xiaobao was capable of defeating most King-level beasts. Their Fog Energy was formidable, capable of standing against Wu Wei; however, Yan Xiaobao possessed King-ranking Fog Energy even in his human form. To him, his beastly essence was now as prominent as his humanity.

Walking to the window, Yan Xiaobao looked out and saw the training grounds packed with people. Every arena was occupied, and guards from various places were battling one another. Before deciding to leave his room, Yan Xiaobao shook his head several times, realizing how much he needed training.

Yan Xiaobao had never truly trained his body before; however, ever since he entered the Capital and encountered Wan Qiao, his focus shifted to physical training. Now, with the large number of foreign guards surrounding him, he no longer engaged in physical training, which left Yan Xiaobao increasingly restless. His body brimming with energy needed to be spent, but he lacked confidence in his abilities compared to those guards, making it impossible to utilize it.

Now, the situation had changed. As he headed toward the training grounds, Yan Xiaobao left his room with resolute steps. Today, he wore black training attire: a short cloak, a pair of trousers, and small leather boots on his feet.

Arriving at the training grounds, Yan Xiaobao glanced around in astonishment. It looked like a sea of humanity. Everyone was vying for space, their elbows well-practiced to make room for themselves. Some magical beasts, winged and transformed, flew in the sky. Not only was the ground crowded, but the air above was also filled with beasts trying to catch a glimpse of battles, participate in fights, or simply escape the human beasts.

Until Yan Xiaobao appeared. The young man, not wearing any of the guards’ uniforms, stood out conspicuously in his black attire, but he paid no attention to the many cultivators. The surrounding cultivators appeared cautious toward the young man.

Surveying his surroundings, Yan Xiaobao headed toward an arena where he noticed a King-level expert had just been defeated. As he approached, the others slowly drew back, allowing the white-haired young man to move freely.

Yan Xiaobao made no effort to conceal his cultivation level, which caused great confusion among the other guards. His aura was distinctly that of a human Duke, but his energy signature clearly belonged to a magical beast—not just one magical beast, but the aura of two combined.