Chapter 574: The National Treasure

"Next month... counting the days, there are still about twenty days left."

"Traveling from the Star Palace via the teleportation array to near Zhongzhou, then sneaking into the Dragon Court—there's plenty of time."

"The urgent task is to quickly become familiar with and master the newly acquired power, especially the use of the 'Duan Tianhe Sword Domain,' and better integrate the power of 'Jian Ming Tian Yan' into one's own martial cultivation system."

Chen Mu set his plan.

With a thought, the "Duan Tianhe Sword Armor" reappeared, hovering before him.

Chen Mu did not don it immediately, but instead used his spiritual sense to carefully scan and sense the structure, runes, and energy connections of each component.

"The helmet primarily enhances spiritual defense and perception; the breastplate governs physical protection and the flow of qi and true essence; the arm guards increase attack speed and burst power; the leg guards and battle boots enhance mobility and lower-body strength... Five pieces as one, with the core located at the breastplate—that is the power nexus and the manifestation of the Dao's rhythm of the entire armor set."

Chen Mu, like the most precise craftsman, analyzed this ancient armor passed down from the "Duan Tianhe Sword Sovereign."

"The resonance with Tian Zong Yun Jian is achieved through the guard and the breastplate's totem; 'Jian Ming Tian Yan' activates it all."

Chen Mu attempted to activate a single component without fully donning the armor.

Focusing his intent on the helmet, his spiritual perception instantly expanded and sharpened several-fold; even the subtle flow of starlight within the hall became clearly discernible.

Focusing his intent on the arm guards, the meridians of his right arm swelled faintly, the speed of his true essence circulation increased; with a casual punch, he left a white trail in the air that lingered long without dissipating, requiring little force.

"Indeed exquisite. But this armor imposes a heavy burden on true essence and spiritual energy; maintaining the full set for long periods—even with my Tiangong realm cultivation—cannot be sustained for long, especially during intense combat."

After testing for a moment, Chen Mu had a clear understanding.

"It must be reserved as a final trump card, worn only at the critical moment."

He put away the armor and drew out the "Tian Zong Yun Jian," holding it in his hand.

Crimson-gold "Jian Ming Tian Yan" surged from his palm, winding around the blade.

The qi of man, sword, and flame merged; that sense of bloodline connection, as if the sword were an extension of his own limb, returned once more.

Chen Mu casually practiced several moves of the "Zi Xiao Jing Tian Jian"; where the sword light passed, crimson-gold thunderfire surged, its power far exceeding what he could achieve with sword intent alone.

Moreover, each sword technique naturally carried a faint, restrained yet immense momentum of the "Duan Tianhe Sword Domain," as if the very direction of the blade summoned a rolling phantom river, suppressing all before it.

"Use 'Zi Xiao Jing Tian Jian' as the main offensive, 'Da Luo Fan Tian Shou' for control and defense, the Four Seasons Martial Domain to handle complex environments and special opponents, and reserve the 'Duan Tianhe Sword Domain' as the decisive final strike..."

In Chen Mu's mind, a new combat system rapidly took shape.

Various martial arts, realms of intent, and external powers, under the unifying governance of the "Da Luo Wu Jing," began to fuse and complement each other, forming a unique and astonishingly powerful fighting style all his own.

For the next two days, Chen Mu immersed himself in the Wu Quxing Palace, becoming thoroughly familiar with and harmonizing his new powers.

Sometimes he practiced sword techniques, delving deeper into the fusion of "Jian Ming Tian Yan" with sword intent.

Sometimes he sat in still meditation, attempting to compare and draw inspiration from the immense momentum of the "Duan Tianhe Sword Domain" against the birth-and-death cycles of his own Four Seasons Martial Domain, hoping to spur its growth.

Sometimes he deduced the new transformations and power increases the "Da Luo Fan Tian Shou" might achieve with the addition of seven levels of heavenly sword intent and exotic fire.

By the evening of the third day, Chen Mu concluded a round of cultivation, his state adjusted to peak condition.

He changed into his star robe, donned his mask, and through thought, connected with the "Star Token," his figure vanishing from the hall.

The Grand Star Hall, stars eternal.

When Chen Mu entered the hall, he found over a dozen figures gathered near the central announcement area.

In addition to the five Star Lords he had previously met—Tai Yang, Tai Yin, Po Jun, Di Kong, and Tian Xi—there were now seven or eight more Star Gods with equally obscure and powerful auras.

Qi Sha Star, Tian Liang Star, Tian Tong Star...

The Star Gods maintained a certain distance from one another, speaking in hushed tones.

Chen Mu stepped forward and greeted Tai Yang Star, Tai Yin Star, and a few others.

All the Star Gods gathered here were of the Tiangong realm.

Precisely at Zi Shi, not a moment early or late.

In the center of the hall, the void suddenly twisted; a figure slowly stepped forth from the heart of the vortex.

This figure wore a star robe of profound purple; the mask covering his face was not pure white, but purple-gold.

Zi Wei Star!

The nominal supreme leader of the Star Gods, and one of the most mysterious and powerful among them.

His cultivation had long entered the Wan Xiang realm, unfathomably deep.

Zi Wei Star's gaze slowly swept over every Star God in the hall.

"My fellow Star Lords."

Zi Wei Star spoke, his voice calm, "I have summoned you here for a matter you have surely heard of. The Beast God harbors treacherous ambitions, seeking to invade the Zhou Dragon Court and plunge the world into chaos. This we, the Star Gods, will not tolerate."

He paused, then continued.

"After extensive investigation, we have preliminarily confirmed that the Beast God's target this time is the 'Shanhe She Ji Ding,' enshrined deep within the Dragon Court's Forbidden Palace, in the 'Feng Tian Hall'!"

"The Shanhe She Ji Ding?!"

Several suppressed gasps echoed through the hall.

Chen Mu's heart also jolted.

The Shanhe She Ji Ding was a national treasure forged by the founding emperor of Zhou, gathering the finest artisans of the realm, channeling the collective will of the people, and fusing the essence of the land's veins.

Legend says it is tied to the nation's fortune, possessing supreme abilities to stabilize destiny, harmonize yin and yang, and repel external evils—it is one of the symbols of Zhou's very foundation.

The Beast God dares to lay hands on it?

"Indeed."

Zi Wei Star's tone turned cold, "Somehow, the Beast God has learned that the 'Shanhe She Ji Ding' is currently experiencing a brief weakness, as a trace of its 'Ding Qi' leaks due to shifting celestial energies, and intends to exploit this moment to corrupt, steal, or even destroy the Ding!"

"If he succeeds, the nation's fortune will tremble, chaos will erupt across the land, and hundreds of millions of commoners will be plunged into fire and water."

"This is not merely an imperial matter—it concerns the fate of all living beings, the survival of our Dao lineage!"

The hall fell silent, save for the echoing voice of Zi Wei Star, heavy with pressure.

"On the seventh day of next month, at midnight, the 'Ding Qi' will leak most intensely—that is when the Beast God will strike. His plan is meticulous; collusion within and without is likely. At that time, a cataclysmic storm will erupt within the Dragon Court."

The Purple Micro Star Lord's gaze flashed like lightning: "Our mission is to infiltrate the Dragon Court before the Beast God acts, uncover his specific operational plan, identify the infiltrators and internal collaborators, and sabotage them at the right moment while protecting the Mountain-River Sheji Cauldron."

"If the mission becomes unfeasible, you must still transmit the intelligence promptly and inflict maximum damage on the Beast God's active forces."

"This mission will be personally overseen by me."

The Purple Micro Star Lord spoke slowly: "Fourteen Star Gods will participate. Besides myself, the Star Lord of Heavenly Mechanism will handle intelligence analysis and support; the Twelve Star Lords—Sun, Moon, Breaker, Wu Qu, Seven Kill, Heavenly Beam, Heavenly Same, Heavenly Mansion, Earth Void, Heavenly Joy, Mars, and Bell Star—will handle infiltration, reconnaissance, and combat."

"Specific groupings and mission assignments will be distributed to you all by Heavenly Mechanism shortly."

The named Star Gods, including Chen Mu, solemnly responded: "Yes!"