Chapter 478: Mastering the Power of Heaven and Earth!

Inside the Wu Quxing Hall.

Chen Mu sat motionless, his aura slowly receding like a retreating tide, revealing a newly born shoreline.

He closed his eyes and began to carefully sense the changes brought by the Tiangong Realm.

First, the body.

At the Earth Altar Realm, the body had been repeatedly tempered by true qi, earning it the reputation of bronze skin and iron bones, resistant to ordinary blades and swords.

But now, Chen Mu could clearly feel a deeper transformation occurring within his flesh and blood.

Every bone warmed slightly, as if new power were gestating within the marrow.

Every meridian had widened nearly double its former size, the walls grown tougher, capable of bearing far greater flows of true qi.

Even every pore now autonomously swallowed and exhaled the ambient energy of heaven and earth, a sensation as if his entire body were breathing.

Chen Mu clenched his fist; the air in his palm was instantly crushed into explosion, emitting a faint pop.

This was merely the power of his body alone, without invoking any true qi.

Nor was it the manifestation of the Four Cauldrons Unyielding Body.

Even so, upon first entering the Tiangong Realm, his body had begun to merge with heaven and earth, allowing even the simplest gestures to draw forth faint celestial forces.

Against a Heaven Soul Altar of the Earth Altar Realm, he could crush them with his body alone.

Chen Mu's lips curled slightly as he continued sensing.

True qi.

In his dantian, the true qi that had once been a tranquil lake now swelled into an ocean.

The quantity of true qi had increased by more than tenfold compared to the Earth Altar Realm.

More importantly, its quality had changed—each thread of true qi had grown denser, purer, faintly shimmering with a dark golden luster.

That was the sign of heaven and earth's energy beginning to merge with his own true qi.

Chen Mu focused his mind; a thread of true qi surged from his fingertip, coalescing in midair into a slender needle.

The needle was no more than an inch long, yet so dense it seemed nearly solid, its tip exhaling faint rays of light.

With a flick of his finger, the needle shot forth, silent and unseen, piercing the hall's wall ten zhang away.

The walls of the Wu Quxing Hall were forged from special material, capable of withstanding a full-force strike from a beginner Tiangong Realm cultivator.

But when Chen Mu rose and walked over to inspect it, the true qi needle had left a small hole three cun deep in the wall, its edges smooth as a mirror.

He nodded in satisfaction.

The density and penetration of his true qi had vastly surpassed that of the Earth Altar Realm.

If he faced his former self now, a single needle would shatter all defenses.

Finally, his spiritual sense.

In his mind sea, the Gate of the Life Palace had closed completely, now a faint halo guarding the outside.

Within, the spiritual miniature sat cross-legged at the center of the Life Palace, wreathed in dark golden light, resonating with the contract in the middle dantian.

Chen Mu extended his spiritual sense.

Silent and unseen, a vast spiritual force surged out of the Wu Quxing Hall, spreading in all directions.

Ten zhang, a hundred zhang, a thousand zhang…

He "saw" the white clouds outside the hall, the floating islands drifting beneath them, the scattered star halls upon those islands.

His spiritual sense continued to stretch.

One thousand five hundred zhang, two thousand zhang, two thousand five hundred zhang…

Until the chaotic void at the edge of the Star Palace appeared within his perception.

There was no light, no sound—only eternal nothingness, and occasional fragments of stars flashing through the void, their origin unknown.

Chen Mu retracted his spiritual sense, understanding dawning within him.

When he reached the Heaven Soul Altar of the Earth Altar Realm, his spiritual sense had covered at most five hundred zhang.

Now, that range had expanded more than tenfold.

Moreover, his spiritual sense was stronger, denser, and could now cling to the forces of heaven and earth, probing into previously inaccessible minute details.

Body, true qi, spiritual sense—threefold transformation.

This was the Tiangong Realm!

The Tiangong Realm consists of three stages: Fusion with Heaven, Flight Through Heaven, and Stirring Heaven.

In the Fusion with Heaven stage, the body merges with heaven and earth, true qi begins to combine with celestial forces, and one gains initial control over manipulating heaven and earth's power.

In the Flight Through Heaven stage, the body can traverse the void using celestial forces, requiring no physical exertion, true qi, or advanced lightness techniques.

True qi and celestial forces become deeply fused, enabling the summoning of greater celestial wrath.

In the Stirring Heaven stage, a single thought stirs heaven; every gesture can mobilize celestial forces across dozens of li, and a full-power strike can alter local weather, its terrifying power rivaling natural disasters.

Advancement through each stage multiplies one's strength several times over.

Chen Mu had just crossed the threshold of Fusion with Heaven—he still had a long road ahead.

He took a deep breath.

Chen Mu gathered his aura and turned toward the hall's exit.

The door opened soundlessly; the Star Palace's uniquely cold air rushed over him.

White clouds flowed beneath his feet, floating islands rose and sank in the distance, and five figures hung suspended in midair, silently watching him.

Tian Fu, Tai Yang, Di Kong, Tian Xi, Hong Luan.

Chen Mu's gaze swept briefly over them, then stepped out of the Wu Quxing Hall, as if invisible steps supported his feet in the void.

Step by step, he ascended into the air until he stood before the five Star Lords, bowing deeply with solemn clasped fists.

"Thank you, Star Lords, for guarding me."

The Tianfu Star Lord bowed in return, a soft laugh coming from beneath his mask: "Wu Qu, no need for such formalities—we are both Star Gods, protecting you is only natural. But you, in just a few years, have leapt from the Earth Altar to the Heavenly Palace; this talent of yours has truly opened our eyes."

The Taiyang Star Lord also bowed, his voice brimming with unhidden admiration.

"You've covered in a few years what others take decades to achieve, Wu Qu—your breakthrough speed has left us all behind."

"When I went from the Earth Altar to the Heavenly Palace, it took me twenty-three years."

"Twenty-three years isn't slow."

The Di Kong Star Lord added, "I took thirty-one years. Wu Qu, your pace—not just within the Star Gods, but across the entire world—is unmatched by few."

The Tianxi Star Lord and Hong Luan Star Lord also bowed in congratulations.

"I was just lucky."

Chen Mu replied humbly, straightening up, his gaze sweeping once more around the surroundings.

"Ju Men just left."

The Tianfu Star Lord said softly, "He is still recovering from serious injuries; staying out to guard you this long was already his limit. As soon as you completed your breakthrough, he returned to his palace to rest. Before leaving, he asked me to convey this to you—focus on stabilizing your realm, don't worry."

Chen Mu's heart warmed slightly; he nodded solemnly. "I have recorded Ju Men Star Lord's kindness."

The Taiyang Star Lord chuckled, "When Ju Men recommended you to the Star Gods, it was one of the wisest decisions of his life."

The Di Kong Star Lord also said, "Wu Qu, your breakthrough caused quite a stir—we were all disturbed in our respective palaces. But rest assured, the Star Palace stands apart from the outside world; no one beyond can sense the energy here. Your true realm remains hidden for now."

Chen Mu nodded.

This was precisely why he chose to break through within the "Star Palace."

A Heavenly Palace realm at twenty-two was far too astonishing; if it became known, it would draw countless eyes.

"What are your plans next?"

The Di Kong Star Lord asked casually, "Will you remain in the 'Star Palace' to stabilize your realm, or do you have other intentions?"

Chen Mu thought for a moment, then replied, "I intend to stabilize my realm here in the 'Star Palace' for a while. The Heavenly Palace realm differs from the Earth Altar realm—it takes time to harmonize with the forces of heaven and earth. Once stabilized, I'll decide based on circumstances."

"A wise choice."

The Tianfu Star Lord praised, "Rushing to act right after a breakthrough risks destabilizing your foundation. Your calmness after breaking through, without arrogance or impatience, is rare."

The Tianxi Star Lord agreed, "Wu Qu Star Lord, if you need any resources while stabilizing your realm, speak freely. I still have some pills to strengthen the spirit soul—though they can't match the ones you used, they're better than nothing."

The Hong Luan Star Lord also said, "I have some as well."

Chen Mu bowed again. "Thank you both for your kindness. Should I need anything, Wu Qu will not hesitate to trouble you."

The Taiyang Star Lord laughed heartily. "Enough then—Wu Qu has just broken through and needs time to consolidate. We won't disturb you further. Wu Qu, congratulations once more on entering the Heavenly Palace realm. Next time the Star Gods gather, you can't skip it again."

"I won't!"