Chapter 159: Star Palace, Mountain Lord, Thirty-Six Star Chart

"Yuan Bo, how do we use this?"

"Just give it to him to drink?"

Previously, the long dragon would directly swallow this kind of green liquid, but now he is already on the brink of death and cannot drink at all.

"Pouring it on the body also works." Old Ape spoke.

Fang Xu's hand flashed with light as he once again took out a wine jar and handed it to Old Ape, saying: "Yuan Bo, help me."

Old Ape took the wine jar and was instantly stunned!

This green liquid is far better than the blue one he used before, and Fang Xu actually took out two jars?

Seeing that the long dragon was about to fail at this moment, Old Ape had no time to ask more questions and directly poured the green liquid from the jar carefully onto the long dragon's body.

After the two of them busied themselves, the long dragon's body, which had originally lost all its scales and was bloody and mangled, was now coated all over with the green liquid.

Most importantly, the damaged purification pool contained many residues, and due to the pool's damage, much energy had already leaked out.

Seeing this, Old Ape could no longer sit still.

Seeing that the long dragon should not wake up in a short time, Fang Xu immediately took out four wine jars from his Qiankun bag and handed them to Old Ape, saying: "Yuan Bo, these are for you—enough?"

Otherwise, so much of this green liquid might attract who knows how many sea beasts and sea demons.

"If legs grow out, will the long dragon be able to transform into a dragon?" Fang Xu exclaimed happily upon seeing this.

After these energies surged in, they quickly repaired his meridians, which had withered due to depleted qi and blood.

When he had nothing to do, he also took two sips of this green heavenly and earthly energy.

He just couldn't take it out.

Looking at the four meat buns bulging on the long dragon's belly, Old Ape spoke.

The next moment, a stream of extremely pure vital energy surged into his body!

Subsequently, under the gaze of Fang Xu and Old Ape, the dragon horns on his head quickly grew longer.

Everything seemed to be developing in a good direction.

Half an hour later, the long dragon's body was completely covered with new scales.

Fortunately, that terrifying fluctuation killed all the sea beasts in the surrounding sea area.

At this moment, the long dragon's dragon claws on his belly still had not grown out, but his scales all over his body became increasingly bright, emitting a faint light, looking like metal.

He suddenly discovered that the liquid produced by this so-called purification pool was actually almost the same as the primordial energy gushing out from the stone gate world in his aperture space!

This stuff, I seem to have even more of.

On Old Ape's side, the original senile aura on his body had completely disappeared, and his fur all over his body once again emitted fluorescence.

"Enough! Enough!"

Time passed day by day.

Fang Xu thought for a moment and said: "Not much, just over ten jars—if it's not enough, I still have more here."

Old Ape's heart was trembling!

After verifying it again, he immediately lost interest in this green liquid and decided to leave it all for Old Ape to use.

Moreover, Fang Xu noticed that the hair on Old Ape's body surface was continuously decreasing, and that ape face was also undergoing some subtle changes.

After the long dragon's body was coated with the green liquid, the bleeding stopped at a visible speed.

The long dragon woke up first.

Now, whenever Fang Xu makes a move, it's still four jars, still of a higher grade than the one he used before.

Calculating it, there's probably not even half a jar of pure heavenly and earthly energy.

Fang Xu just sat quietly by the beach, guarding the long dragon and Old Ape.

Fang Xu nodded and pointed to the remaining jar of green liquid in Old Ape's hand, saying: "Can you still drink it?"

In the blink of an eye, a month passed.

Old Ape, somewhat excited, picked up the wine jar in front of him and then carefully took a sip.

The purification pool that Jiang Feng took him to—this heavenly and earthly energy in the pool, when added together, doesn't even amount to one jar.

Moreover, a large amount of the green liquid was absorbed by his body, and in just a quarter of an hour, the long dragon's body grew new tender scales, which, after growing out, increased in size and then hardened at a visible speed.

Old Ape nodded and said: "To transform from a flood dragon into a dragon, it can be called a great demon."

"About to grow legs..."

"Fang Xiazi, just how much did you prepare?"

One inch, two inches, three inches, then branching...

After swallowing a mouthful, Fang Xu's expression became somewhat strange.

The huge body suddenly leapt into the air, roamed in the sky for a moment, then he dove headfirst into the sea, afterwards swimming happily for a few laps before coming to Fang Xu's side, excitedly saying:

"I didn't die!?"

As Old Ape drank mouthful after mouthful, his meridians throughout his body were completely repaired, followed by replenishing his qi and blood and purifying his bloodline.

At this moment, Old Ape and the long dragon had both entered some kind of evolutionary state, both falling into sleep.

The long dragon curiously approached, smelled the green liquid in the jar, and his single eye instantly widened!

"So much!?"

Fang Xu smiled faintly and said: "After you were injured, I and Yuan Bo have already applied two jars of this on your body."

Upon hearing this, the long dragon was stunned!

Afterwards, under Fang Xu's astonished gaze, he hurriedly extended his tail to his nose to sniff.

Seeing this, Fang Xu laughed and cried at the same time: "Don't be so embarrassing."

The long dragon embarrassedly shook his tail, then looked at the wine jar and said: "Is this Yuan Bo's?"

"If you want to drink, just drink it—I still have more here."

This time he collected a total of thirteen vats of green liquid, gave two vats to the Long Dragon, the old ape drank three vats, counting this vat in front of him, he still has eight vats, enough to use.

Upon hearing this, the Long Dragon directly swallowed the wine jar in one gulp.

After a long while—

He spoke somewhat disappointedly: "It's useless, this thing seems to have no effect on me anymore."

Fang Xu asked curiously: "Can't transform into a dragon?"

The Long Dragon sighed: "Transforming into a dragon isn't that easy, it's an evolution of life level."

"Fang Xu, I need to return to the deep sea."

"Need to find a safe place to properly seclude myself, I estimate I won't be able to come out to accompany you for this period."

Fang Xu nodded: "Go, I look forward to the day you can transform into a dragon."

The Long Dragon looked back at Fang Xu with some reluctance, then slowly sank into the seabed.

The old ape woke up on the seventh day after the Long Dragon left.

After waking up, the old ape's body hair had completely disappeared, and his ape face at this time also became more similar to a human's.

Now, even if he walks on the street, ordinary commoners would only regard him as an old man with somewhat strange appearance.

Fang Xu took out a few clothes from his Qiankun bag and let the old ape put them on, then he chuckled: "Uncle Yuan, how do you feel now?"

The old ape did not answer directly, but only said lightly: "Now facing Lü Shengren and Tuoba Xiong, I shouldn't need to use a second move."

After hearing this, Fang Xu showed surprise on his face: "Then how do you compare to Jiang Feng and Elder Jiang?"

The old ape pondered for a moment and said: "Four-six split, I six, he four."

At that purification pool before, he had personally witnessed Jiang Feng's methods, so he had a rough guess in mind.

"Young Fang, I am now considered half-step to great demon realm; if I can break through to great demon, I should be able to successfully complete full transformation."

"And after becoming a great demon, my lifespan will also increase considerably."

With his body returning to its peak, the old ape exuded strong confidence; at this moment, he suddenly felt hopeful about life again.

"Uncle Yuan, I still have..."

"No need." The old ape chuckled: "Each level of the purification pool corresponds to a certain realm; for someone like me, comparable to half-step Human Elemental Martial Realm afterward, the green purification pool is of little use to me."

"Keep those in your hands for now; when you have time, return to Blue Mountain and give some to the little ones in the clan."

Fang Xu nodded; the energy of this purification pool is useless to me, but later I can give some to Chu Mu, Yun Wan, and others.

"Uncle Yuan, let's go back."

We've already delayed here for over a month; it's time to return.

When Fang Xu and the old ape returned to the Fushan Kingdom Ascension Immortal Assembly, Gong Wanrong was teaching Ningxiang cultivation.

Seeing the old ape, Gong Wanrong suddenly froze!

Not long ago, the old ape was still a person with exhausted qi and blood, resembling an elderly person on the verge of death.

How long has it been since then?

Now, the old ape shows no trace of declining vigor; his whole body is filled with a terrifying aura that makes one's heart tremble, Gong Wanrong even suspects the old ape has already taken that step!

"Senior Yuan, what is this..."

"I obtained some fortune." The old ape spoke.

Gong Wanrong also dared not ask further.

Being able to cause such a transformation in the old ape must be a tremendous fortune; I am not yet close enough with Fang Xu to ask too much, which would be inappropriate.

"Elder Gong, this visit has disturbed you; I, the junior, should also take my leave."

"Leaving?" Gong Wanrong was somewhat puzzled, then understood: having obtained the fortune, they should indeed leave.

"Fang Xu, I wish to discuss a matter with you." Looking at Ningxiang before him, Gong Wanrong said: "I wish to let Ningxiang cultivate by my side, and perhaps later take her as..."

"Senior Gong, Ningxiang only wishes to follow the young master."

Before Gong Wanrong finished speaking, Ningxiang interrupted with an apologetic face.

"Ningxiang, you..."

Fang Xu was about to advise her to stay, after all, Gong Wanrong is the head of the Fushan Kingdom Ascension Immortal Assembly branch, with status comparable to Jiang Feng.

In cultivation, she is also a Martial Sovereign Seventh Realm; if she could later become her disciple, it would also be Ningxiang's fortune.

"Young master, you don't want Ningxiang anymore?" Interrupting Fang Xu's words, Ningxiang looked at him with tearful eyes.

Fang Xu somewhat helplessly: "I never said I don't want you..."

"Then young master, just don't advise Ningxiang to stay; Ningxiang only wishes to stay by the young master's side."

She is not an ambitious person; otherwise, she would definitely not give up such an opportunity.

Becoming a disciple of the Ascension Immortal Assembly branch head, at least in Fushan Kingdom, her status would be highly honored.

But everyone's pursuits differ; for Ningxiang, although her time with Fang Xu hasn't been long, it has made her feel very comfortable.

In name they are master and servant, but Fang Xu has never regarded her as a servant.

"Forget it, forget it."

"You being like this, I feel like I am a villain who forcibly breaks up mandarin ducks with a rod." Gong Wanrong laughed and waved her hand, then looked at Fang Xu and said: "Ningxiang's talent is not bad, you must not bury her."

Fang Xu nodded, after bidding farewell to Gong Wanrong, he then took the old ape and Ningxiang and left the Fushan Kingdom.

The sea beasts and sea monsters between Fushan Kingdom and Yu Kingdom were all slaughtered by that terrifying fluctuation; this sea area has once again returned to calm.

On the large ship, Fang Xu secretly had a suspicion in his heart.

The reason the Immortal Inscription Stone Boat intermittently releases some green liquid is to attract sea beasts and sea monsters in the sea to linger near it.

That terrifying fluctuation is also very likely emitted by the Immortal Inscription Stone Boat.

Only in this way can it explain why Long Dragon and all sea beasts' souls deep down are so afraid of the Immortal Inscription Stone Boat.

Even further, Fang Xu has another suspicion: the artificial purification pool inside the Immortal Inscription Stone Boat relies on slaughtering sea beasts and sea monsters, and through formation conversion, generates those green liquids.

The owner of the Immortal Carved Stone Boat should be the one who used this method to refine the green liquid for his own use.

Thinking of this, Fang Xu couldn't help but feel his heart tremble slightly.

In the eyes of the strong, all living things seem to be nothing more than nourishment, and some aren't even worthy of being called that.

The great ship sailed on the sea for seven days and finally arrived at Canghai City.

Unlike when he left, this time returning here, Fang Xu's mood was very relaxed.

The old ape's problem has been resolved; next, I should focus on my cultivation.

Canghai City, Qi Yuan Tavern.

Fang Xu, the old ape, and Ningxiang came here, preparing to have a good meal, and then return to Zhongzhou.

As soon as the three entered, Fang Xu noticed a short-statured man drinking alone in the corner of the tavern.

It's him!

Upon seeing the man's appearance clearly, Fang Xu was somewhat startled.

The man's peripheral vision also caught sight of Fang Xu, and he too wore a look of surprise.

"Fang Xu, how come you're here?"

This person is none other than Li Xun, who left Zhongzhou.

After Li Cangyu reclaimed the Heavenly Pivot Jade Pendant, Li Xun directly left the Zhongzhou Imperial City, preparing to seek a glimmer of life on his own.

After many twists and turns, he arrived at Canghai City, preparing to set sail and try his luck, never expecting to meet Fang Xu here.

"Why has the Young Master come to Canghai City?" Fang Xu said with clasped hands.

Although Li Xun gave him some trouble in Fenglin Town, overall, he is still worth associating with.

Now there is no conflict between the two, and they can even sit down to eat and drink as friends.

"Please have a seat."

"Who are these two?"

Fang Xu introduced: "Old Ape, Ningxiang."

"So it's Senior Ape." Li Xun looked at the old ape, his expression respectful, and quickly rose to salute.

He had heard of the old ape's battle at Huayang Mountain, where he single-handedly fought Lü Shengren and Tuoba Xiong.

At this moment, seeing the old ape, Li Xun suddenly realized that the aura on the old ape was as deep as an abyss and vast as the sea!

He had only felt this sensation before on his grandfather, Li Cangyu.

The old ape slightly nodded and then sat down directly beside Fang Xu.

"Ningxiang greets the Young Master."

Ningxiang did not take a seat; she always positioned herself as Fang Xu's maid.

After the two sat down, Li Xun called the waiter again and ordered some more food and drink.

"What brings the Young Master to Canghai City?" Fang Xu asked curiously.

"Young Master?" Li Xun gave a bitter smile, drank the wine in his cup, and looked at Fang Xu, saying: "I am no longer the Young Master."

Seeing Fang Xu's confusion, Li Xun spoke: "Back in Fenglin Town, I was ambushed by Wu and suffered a strange curse."

"Tai Bu Liang had no choice but to use the fortune of Yu State to help me resist it."

"But now..."

Li Xun shook his head: "Now, I have been abandoned."

Upon hearing this, Fang Xu wore a strange expression!

He sank his consciousness into his own sea of awareness and suddenly discovered that Li Xun's life value, shown after his name, had only 20% left!

Know that since Li Xun entered the friend list, his life value has always been stable.

For so long, it has fluctuated between 60% and 75%.

Fang Xu originally thought Li Xun had a tough life, but now it seems that before, it was probably the fortune of Yu State protecting him.

To protect one life with the fortune of an entire state—no wonder Li Xun could endure so long.

Know that among his peers in the friend list, at this moment, the grass on their graves is who knows how high.

"Young Master, what are your plans next?" Fang Xu asked.

With life value down to only 20%, Li Xun should not be able to hold on much longer.

"What plans could there be?" Li Xun poured himself a full cup, then poured for the old ape and Fang Xu, and raised his cup, saying: "I don't want to die; I can only seek that sliver of hope for life on my own."

"Fang Xu, I offended you many times before in Fenglin Town."

"Actually, speaking honestly, I really wanted to be friends with you."

After draining the cup, Li Xun gave a bitter smile and shook his head, saying: "But now, you are a disciple of the Enforcement Hall of the Ascension Immortal Association, while I..."

"... a discarded pawn, a person awaiting death..."

"Before in the imperial palace, my brothers and sisters all looked down on me and mocked me."

"The children of those ministers in court, although they outwardly greeted me respectfully as 'Young Master,' behind my back they also called me a little dwarf."

"I had no friends..."

Seeing his desolate appearance, Fang Xu felt somewhat uneasy in his heart.

But he could do nothing; the system had no option to delete friends, so he could only watch Li Xun slowly wait for death like this.

At this moment, he felt somewhat unwilling to bear it in his heart.

"Young Master..."

"Call me Li Xun."

"I've grown tired of the title 'Young Master'..." Li Xun interrupted Fang Xu's words, smiling and saying: "Like a friend, just call my name directly."

Fang Xu was stunned for a moment.

He suddenly noticed that in the friend list deep in his sea of consciousness, the green health bar beneath Li Xun's name—whose purpose he didn't know—had twitched, jumping straight from 55% to 80%!

At the same time, the red health bar above, which had only 20% left, actually increased by 1%!

What is going on?

Fang Xu was somewhat dazed.

"What, you don't want to be friends with me?" Seeing Fang Xu hesitating to speak, Li Xun said somewhat disappointedly.

Fang Xu came to his senses and quickly raised his cup, saying: "How could that be?"

Li Xun saw this, a flash of joy crossing his eyes, raised his cup and clinked it with Fang Xu's, then tilted his head back to drink the wine, and solemnly looked at Fang Xu and said: "Fang Xu, thank you."

Fang Xu laughed: "Thank me for what?"

Li Xun waved his hand and laughed: "You don't understand..."

"Forget it, I'm leaving."

He slowly stood up, took out a golden bean from his bosom and threw it on the table, saying: "This time going to sea, if I'm lucky enough not to die, I will definitely come to the Ascendant Assembly to find you for a drink."

"If I die... then you treat me."

Li Xun left, his short figure disappearing at the tavern entrance, appearing quite carefree.

Fang Xu's mood was somewhat complicated, and he also lost interest in continuing to drink, so he directly set off with Old Yuan and Ning Xiang back to Zhongzhou.

……

Ascendant Assembly, Hall of Enforcement.

Ten days had passed since returning from the sea voyage.

Old Yuan returned to his cottage at the mountain foot and immediately entered seclusion.

He is now in the half-step great demon state, and just like humans, to take that step, he must first shape his soul.

Fang Xu returned to his quarters in the Hall of Enforcement and began seclusion.

On this day, after waking from seclusion, he directly came to the Ascendant Platform.

After realizing the importance of the soul, Fang Xu also began to focus on comprehensive development, and every so often he would come to the Ascendant Platform to temper his soul.

As soon as he arrived at the Ascendant Platform, he saw a familiar figure.

Dressed in white, holding a long sword, with black hair casually tied behind the head.

Fang Xu walked over slowly.

Perhaps due to a mutual feeling, the figure in front slowly turned around.

"Fang Xu?" A hint of surprise appeared in Yun Wan's eyes, followed by an extremely complex expression.

There was a flash of joy and longing, and also some faint sorrow...

"I came to find you, but it was never the right time—you were either in seclusion or out on a mission." Fang Xu spoke.

Yun Wan nodded slightly: "Fang Xu, thank you."

Fang Xu sighed, feeling somewhat apologetic: "The Yun family affair... I also bear responsibility."

It was he who gave the Yun family the idea to move to the Mu Yun Grassland, which ultimately led to the Yun family being labeled as traitors by the imperial family, Yun Tianming died in battle, Yun Qing's whereabouts are unknown, and Yun Jin is still imprisoned by the crown prince.

Yun Wan shook her head: "This is not your fault; the Yun family had no foothold left in Yu State, and this was bound to happen sooner or later."

If the Yun family had continued to stay in Huangzhou instead of migrating to the Mu Yun Grassland, perhaps they could have lingered a bit longer.

But in the end, they could not escape being devoured and annexed.

"I heard from General Sha that Yun Qing fled to Ti Lan Mountain." Fang Xu thought for a moment and spoke.

Upon hearing this, Yun Wan's body trembled slightly, then she looked at Fang Xu with some suspicion and asked: "Is my brother still alive?"

Fang Xu nodded.

In Yun Wan's sorrowful expression, a hint of joy appeared as she murmured: "The old traitor Yu Emperor dispatched Zhao Wuji's four great generals to besiege Huangzhou City; my father died at the hands of the Blood Floating Tower."

"I thought Yun Qing..."

The Blood Floating Tower is the strongest among the four great generals; on that day of the great battle, Yun Wan personally heard the Blood Floating Tower order that no direct descendant of the Yun family would be spared, and as the root of the Yun family, Yun Qing—she thought the imperial family would certainly not leave him alive.

"After a while I should go back to Ti Lan Mountain to look for him."

Seeing Yun Wan's sorrowful appearance, Fang Xu felt some pity.

Once, when they were in Fenglin Town, Yun Wan bore the air of a heavenly favored daughter.

At that time, she single-handedly wiped out the Zhang family of Fenglin Town, forcing Zhang Hongliang's father, Zhang Hong, to offer all his family property and then kneel before so many people, begging for death.

How long has it been since then? The once noble Yun family princess of Huangzhou has become a person with a destroyed family, homeless and without reliance.

"You have already reached the great completion of the Martial Master realm?"

Feeling Yun Wan's aura, Fang Xu spoke.

Yun Wan nodded: "My master told me not to rush into breaking through to Martial Venerable, saying I can come to the Ascendant Platform to properly temper my soul."

Saying this, Yun Wan frowned slightly: "But now I only want to quickly increase my cultivation, then take revenge for my father and the tragically slain clansmen!"

Seeing the hatred flash in Yun Wan's eyes, Fang Xu for a moment didn't know how to persuade, so he could only lower his voice and say: "Envoy Yanwu let you temper your soul, naturally she has her intentions."

"For a martial artist, the soul is very important; you will understand later."

Chu Ren Di did not allow him to reveal that tempering the soul is the key to breaking through Martial Venerable, so he could only hint to Yun Wan.

"Really?" Yun Wan said doubtfully.

Fang Xu nodded, looking at the distant departing team, and said: "Come on, we're almost there."

The two followed the team and soon arrived before the Ascendant Platform.

"The restrictions of the Ascendant Platform directly target the soul, extremely dangerous; if you go back up, do not act recklessly."

"Stay on whichever layer you can persist to; if the soul is injured, it is very difficult to heal."

After giving Yun Wan these two reminders, Fang Xu directly walked toward the Ascendant Platform.

As someone who once reached the eighth layer as an abnormal existence, the first few layers of the Ascendant Platform are no longer challenging for him.

Soon, Fang Xu passed through the many disciples of the Ascendant Immortal Assembly and arrived at the seventh level.

"Quick, look, it's Senior Brother Fang!"

"He's come to challenge the Immortal Ascension Platform again!"

"Senior Brother Fang won't be attempting the ninth level this time, will he?"

"The ninth level? How could that possibly be?!"

……

Actually, within the Ascendant Immortal Assembly, the vast majority of disciples who come to challenge the Immortal Ascension Platform do so for the contribution points of each level.

Only a very few, during a single tempering, realize they can use the platform's restrictions to temper their souls, treating it as a rare cultivation resource.

So, seeing Fang Xu return to the Immortal Ascension Platform, those disciples instinctively assumed he was here to challenge the ninth level for contribution points.

Ignoring their chatter, Fang Xu strode straight to the eighth level and then sat down cross-legged.

The pressure of the eighth level was just about right for him at present.

After sitting cross-legged, Fang Xu began to temper his soul.

Deep in his sea of consciousness, his soul's strength at this point was already not inferior to that of some ninth-level Martial Sovereign powerhouses.

But to reach a breakthrough to Martial Sovereign and attain the Martial Warrior Realm, there was still some gap.

But Fang Xu was not in a hurry; he was currently only at the peak of the second level of Martial Master, not even a Martial Sovereign, and considering the Martial Warrior Realm was still too distant.

The reason he spent time tempering his soul was because, during this period of cultivation, Fang Xu discovered that after his epiphany at sea, the Dragon Roaming Star Chart he had initially failed to comprehend reappeared in his sea of consciousness as his soul grew stronger.

Fang Xu guessed that if his soul were strong enough, he should be able to fully replicate the complete Dragon Roaming Star Chart.

Having the Casting Cauldron Star Chart and the Battle Heaven Star Chart of the Demon Ape, Fang Xu had already made up his mind: even if his cultivation breakthrough was slower, he would absolutely not settle, and must construct all his star charts within the Martial Master Realm as special star charts.

Only in this way could he advance further on the martial path.

While using the pressure of the Immortal Ascension Platform to temper his soul, Fang Xu also contemplated the somewhat blurry Dragon Roaming Star Chart in his sea of consciousness.

As days passed, the people on the Immortal Ascension Platform changed batch after batch, yet Fang Xu remained seated on the eighth level.

During this period, some inner-door disciples who had reached the Martial Sovereign Realm also came to the eighth level, but Fang Xu remained like a stone statue sitting in the corner of the eighth level, utterly still.

Until the maple leaves turned red and then slowly drifted down, a heavy snow transformed Mount Huayang into an icy world, and only then did Fang Xu on the eighth level of the Immortal Ascension Platform slowly awaken.

The instant his eyes opened, a five-clawed golden dragon flashed in his gaze; Fang Xu slowly rose, shook off the snowflakes on his body, and slowly descended from the Immortal Ascension Platform.

In the Hall of Law Enforcement, Chu Ren Di looked at Fang Xu and frowned: "You sat on the Immortal Ascension Platform for several months this time—what did you gain?"

He was warning Fang Xu not to neglect soul cultivation, but he hadn't expected Fang Xu to actually sit on the eighth level of the Immortal Ascension Platform for several months.

During that time, Chu Ren Di even specially ran over to check, thinking Fang Xu had gone mad and attempted the ninth level again.

Fang Xu smiled and bowed slightly: "I comprehended a few small things."

Chu Ren Di didn't press further and directly said: "Come with me, Master, I'll show you something."

Fang Xu nodded and followed Chu Ren Di to the secluded residence of Jiang Feng on the rear mountain.

The disciples guarding outside the bamboo grove saw it was Chu Ren Di and did not block him, letting him pass directly.

Fang Xu followed behind, and the two arrived outside the bamboo hut.

"Senior Brother Jiang, I'd like to borrow a key to the Star Palace."

Inside the bamboo hut, Jiang Feng said nothing; his response to Chu Ren Di was a strange token.

Chu Ren Di caught the flying token, took Fang Xu, and went around the bamboo hut to continue toward the rear mountain.

Fang Xu, somewhat curious, asked: "Master, where are we going?"

Chu Ren Di said calmly: "The Ascendant Immortal Assembly of Yu State has three major cultivation resources—do you know which three?"

Fang Xu thought and said: "The Cliffside Earth Palace, the Immortal Ascension Platform, and the Myriad Laws Stone Tower?"

Chu Ren Di shook his head: "Although the Myriad Laws Stone Tower is not bad, it cannot compare to the Cliffside Earth Palace and the Immortal Ascension Platform."

"This third cultivation resource is called the Star Palace, and in terms of importance, the Star Palace even surpasses the Cliffside Earth Palace."

Star Palace?

Fang Xu looked up at the end of the winding staircase ahead, somewhat curious: "Master, what is the Star Palace for?"

Chu Ren Di walked and explained: "As everyone knows, a martial artist breaking from Martial Wanderer to Martial Master must construct a star chart within their body."

"Nine apertures form a chart, but the differences between star charts are actually quite great."

"Ordinary martial artists constructing star charts in their bodies often merely use the Divine Bridge to connect the nine opened apertures, forming the simplest star chart."

"Compared to some special star charts, this kind of star chart has a huge gap."

Chu Ren Di said, slowly raising his hand, and instantly a blood-streaked, mottled chopping knife appeared in his palm!

Observing closely, Fang Xu could feel that the blood-streaked, mottled chopping knife emitted a chilling killing intent!

"This is my ninth star chart, the Prison of Punishment."

"With this star chart, I can let my killing intent almost condense into substance..." As he spoke, he suddenly swung his hand!

The next moment!

A ferocious phantom clad in armor, wielding a giant horse-slashing blade, lunged straight forward!

The phantom's speed was extreme, directly passing through a large tree beside the stone steps, yet it did not harm the tree in the slightest.

Fang Xu was puzzling over the use of Chu Ren Di's move when he suddenly discovered that the once lush tree was withering at a visible speed.

The leaves on the entire tree gradually withered; in just a few breaths, it became a dead tree.

Seeing this, Fang Xu's pupils contracted slightly!

How could this attack method be so strange?

Seeing his shocked expression, Chu Ren Di smiled and said: "A martial artist's attack methods are not limited to physical harm; at my level, some special martial artists can directly attack the enemy's soul."

"This is the marvelous use of special star charts."

Master and disciple continued along the stone steps toward the mountain peak.

The Star Palace is a treasure bestowed upon the Yu Kingdom Ascension Assembly by the Immortal Island; now, within the Star Palace are stored thirty-six star charts, and if you can comprehend any one of them, your strength will increase considerably.

Hearing Chu Ren Di's words, Fang Xu's expression turned somewhat strange.

He had guessed that the special star chart must be very powerful, so since breaking through to Martial Master, he had not rushed to break through again, waiting for himself to comprehend a new star chart.

Chu Ren Di did not know that, although the star chart seemed priceless, Fang Xu already had three of them.

The first Casting Tripod Star Chart made his attacks full of the tripod's weight, each strike possessing the force of ten thousand jun.

The second Demon Ape Battling Heaven Star Chart, combined with the Divine Ability Demon Ape Three Transformations, gave him a deeper understanding in divine abilities.

The Divine Dragon Roaming the Stars Star Chart was just perfected by him upon reaching the Immortal Platform; he has not yet broken through to the third level of Martial Master, so he does not know the specific effect.

"We have arrived."

Following Chu Ren Di to a mountain cave, Fang Xu surveyed the surroundings.

Though called the Star Palace, it seemed nothing extraordinary, just a remote mountain cave with no one guarding it.

As this thought arose, he heard his master bow slightly before the cave: "Disciple Chu Ren Di, I beg the Mountain Lord to open the Star Palace."

Mountain Lord?

Fang Xu froze for a moment, his eyes fixed tightly on the stone door before him.

The next moment, the stone door slowly rose, and from within the cave came a strange voice: "Three hundred thousand contribution points."

Chu Ren Di made no attempt to bargain, immediately producing his identity token.

Whoosh!

From within the cave came a suction force that directly pulled his identity token inside, then flung it back out.

"Take out the key."

Chu Ren Di hurriedly produced the token-like object given to him by Jiang Feng.

After the cave's suction pulled the token inside, the entire mountain cave suddenly echoed with a booming sound.

"Alright, let that little brat in, time limit ten days."

Hearing this, Chu Ren Di glanced at Fang Xu behind him and said: "Go in, remember my words."

"Thirty-six star charts, choose one and then seize the time to comprehend it; do not easily change your target."

"Ten days' time, if you can comprehend one star chart, you will have gained."

Fang Xu frowned: "Master, three hundred thousand contribution points..."

Chu Ren Di smiled faintly: "Master currently has little use for contribution points in the short term; do not worry about these, hurry in."

Fang Xu nodded, said nothing more, and walked straight into the mountain cave.

In the pitch-black mountain cave where one cannot see five fingers ahead, Fang Xu looked left and right, wanting to see what the Mountain Lord, whom even his master greatly revered, looked like.

"Kid, don't look around, just keep walking straight ahead in the cave."

The Mountain Lord's strange voice suddenly echoed from all directions in the darkness, startling Fang Xu into a shiver; he quickly withdrew his gaze and continued forward.

After walking about several hundred meters, a bright light suddenly appeared before him.

The next moment, what appeared before him was a huge dome!

The entire dome resembled an endless starry sky, stars scattered densely; looking up, Fang Xu could not help but feel somewhat awed.

Had he not known he was now inside a mountain cave, he would have thought he was walking beneath the starry sky at midnight.

The starry sky within the Star Palace was crafted in some unknown way, showing not a trace of artificial workmanship.

After quietly observing for a moment, Fang Xu dared not waste time, quickly sitting cross-legged on the ground to begin comprehension.

This was an opportunity Chu Ren Di had spent three hundred thousand contribution points to obtain for him; if he could not comprehend a star chart, how could he repay his master's effort?

After sitting cross-legged on the ground, Fang Xu's consciousness gradually blurred, and then he found himself in a universe filled with brilliant starlight.

This feeling reminded him of his past experience on the endless sea.

Compared to the starry sky he had seen on the endless sea, this starry sky was utterly different.

On the endless sea, the star charts visible to the naked eye numbered in the tens of thousands, densely packed for him to choose from at will.

But now this starry sky had only thirty-six star charts distributed around.

Thirty, Fang Xu slowly turned his gaze toward the surrounding star charts.

After some selection, he suddenly saw the Prison Star Chart possessed by his master Chu Ren Di!

Amidst the twinkling stars, a huge execution blade stained with blood spanned the starry sky, looking extremely eerie and terrifying.

However, after merely glancing at it a few times, Fang Xu lost interest in the Prison Star Chart.

The reason: after some observation, he suddenly discovered that the thirty-six star charts within the Star Palace seemed to be divided into three levels according to brightness.

The brightest twelve, the medium twelve, and the dimmest twelve.

Chu Ren Di's Prison Star Chart was exactly one of the medium twelve star charts.

The brightness of this star chart bore no comparison to the three star charts he already mastered.

Having automatically ignored the dim and medium star charts, Fang Xu's gaze turned to the brightest twelve.

First to catch his eye was a chart of the Heaven-Reaching Giant Sword, countless stars encompassed within, forming a great sword that reaches heaven!

From this star chart, Fang Xu could feel an extremely terrifying splitting sensation; this sharp splitting feeling made him think that once he mastered this chart, each sword swing could unleash the power to cleave space.

Unfortunately, he does not use swords.

Skipping this star chart, he turned his gaze to the second.

It was a giant turtle roaming in the starry sky!

Numerous stars formed the turtle's shell and four feet; the whole giant turtle looked extremely heavy and steady.

Seeing this, Fang Xu hesitated for a moment, but ultimately decided to first look at the others.

The third star chart was a cluster of strange fire emitting black with a purple tinge!

All the stars forming the star chart were flickering within the burning of this fire, looking extremely eerie.

More importantly, Fang Xu felt a throbbing from deep within his soul on this cluster of flames!

This cluster of flames seemed extremely terrifying, capable of burning the divine soul!

Fang Xu was overjoyed in his heart, and immediately decided not to look at the ones behind, choosing this flame star map instead!

His gaze fixed intently on the flickering flames in the void, countless stars reflected into his sea of consciousness.

The key points in constructing a star map are only nine; to find the most crucial points among countless stars is actually very difficult.

This kind of insight requires martial artists to see through complex appearances and perceive the essence of things.

The flames in his sea of consciousness kept being magnified, Fang Xu continuously contemplated them, completely unaware that at this moment, a faint red glow had already lit up his chest.

That was once the imprint left after the Divine Extension Canon merged into himself.

As the red glow flickered, Fang Xu's body began to gradually warm up; within him, the Yan Ling True Solution started operating automatically, and in the aperture space, the primordial energy emanating from the Stone Door World, after being transformed by the Yan Ling True Solution, actually turned into clusters of flames wandering through his meridians.

The flames accumulated more and more; finally, a cluster of scarlet flames suddenly emerged in Fang Xu's sea of consciousness, and the instant this cluster of flames appeared, the purple-black flame phantom before his eyes suddenly became bright.

The countless stars that had formed the flame star map suddenly melted, one by one forming and disappearing into the flames.

Gradually, when the countless stars were reduced to only nine, the black flames disappeared, leaving only nine stars emitting radiance, imprinted in Fang Xu's sea of consciousness.

At this moment, he also knew the name of this star map.

Divine Yi!

Fang Xu slowly opened his eyes; the surroundings were still endless darkness, and he did not know how much time he had spent comprehending the Divine Yi star map this time.

"Little brat, your talent is not bad, you still have four days."

In the darkness, the voice of the Mountain Lord sounded.

Fang Xu was stunned for a moment, then closed his eyes again.

There were still four days left; he could not afford to waste them. Even if he could not fully comprehend a star map, he could, like when he comprehended the Dragon Roaming Star Map, imprint a rough outline of a star map in his sea of consciousness, and then, relying on his powerful divine soul, contemplate it bit by bit.

Perhaps only he could do this.

After all, in the Martial Master realm, no one has yet been able to temper their divine soul to such a degree as to be able to imprint an entire uncomprehended star map in their sea of consciousness.

Consciousness sank once again into that wonderful state, and Fang Xu began selecting the next star map.

Heaven-Piercing Sword Bamboo!

When his gaze fell upon the seventh star map, Fang Xu discovered a Heaven-Piercing Sword Bamboo!

The huge and verdant sword bamboo stood silently in the starry sky, each bamboo leaf encompassing countless stars!

Jiang Feng's divine ability is the Heaven-Piercing Sword Bamboo; Fang Xu estimated that Jiang Feng should also have comprehended this star map.

However, he was not very interested in this kind of star map, and immediately skipped the seventh star map to continue looking.

Eighth, ninth...

When his gaze fell upon the eleventh star map, the entire person was instantly stunned!

Kui Ox!

A huge Kui Ox appeared in the endless starry sky!

Dense stars constructed one leg of the Kui Ox; compared to it, the stars on the ox's body seemed relatively few.

Fang Xu observed for a moment, then immediately decided to choose this star map.

Possessing the secret art Kui Ox Strength, he felt that comprehending this star map would enhance him more and be easier.

Gazing intently at the Kui Ox star map, everything was as he had expected; possessing the secret art Kui Ox Strength, equivalent to having already understood this ancient divine beast once, comprehending the Kui Ox star map this time would achieve twice the result with half the effort.

Vast amounts of stars were eliminated one by one by him, and soon several key targets were locked.

Through repeated attempts, just as Fang Xu felt he was about to comprehend this star map, a voice suddenly sounded in his sea of consciousness.

"Kid, time's up."

The stars across the sky dissipated, and Fang Xu was forced to awaken from his contemplation.

"Mountain Lord, disciple was just a little short of comprehending the star map, you just..."

Fang Xu couldn't help but complain, but the Mountain Lord in the darkness chuckled: "Kid, now you understand how hard cultivation is?"

"If you want to continue contemplating, next time save up enough contribution points, directly book a month, or even two months, this lord will absolutely not disturb you."

"Alright, go out."

As soon as the words fell, Fang Xu felt a gentle force pushing his body out of the cave.

At the cave entrance, Chu Ren Di saw Fang Xu being pushed out, and slowly opened his mouth: "How was it?"

Fang Xu clasped his hands: "I comprehended one."

"Top grade?" Chu Ren Di asked.

Fang Xu nodded.

Chu Ren Di smiled: "Worth it."

"Let's go."

Master and disciple slowly walked down the mountain.

On the way, Fang Xu pondered for a moment and then spoke: "Master, there is something the disciple does not understand."

Chu Ren Di's steps paused slightly: "Speak."

Fang Xu said: "Special star maps require opening specific apertures; after comprehending a star map, how should one open the specific apertures according to the star map?"

He is currently only a Martial Master Second Level, having already mastered four and a half special star maps; logically, his realm should be able to rise to Martial Master Fifth Level.

But precisely because he refuses to settle, his realm has never risen.

"Opening specific apertures actually has no particularly good method." Chu Ren Di pondered for a moment and continued: "Generally, after mastering a special star map, the body will subconsciously guide you to open the apertures needed for the star map."

"This is also why, since ancient times, no martial artist has been able to make all nine star maps in their body become special star maps."

"Like me and Elder Jiang, our bodies' nine star maps are only five special ones."

Upon hearing this, Fang Xu felt somewhat disappointed.

He thought Chu Ren Di would have some good solution to this problem.

It seemed that he still needed to find a way to increase his own strength, then forcibly blast open those unopened apertures with the extremely terrifying primordial energy of the Stone Gate World.

Primordial energy!?

Thinking of this, Fang Xu suddenly remembered that there were still seven jars of purified pool heavenly and earthly energy in his Qiankun bag!

Since the primordial energy after the Stone Gate World and the heavenly and earthly energy in the purified pool are of the same level of energy.

Then can I use the heavenly and earthly energy in my Qiankun bag to forcibly open the apertures?

After some thought, Fang Xu felt this method should be feasible.

He immediately prepared to try it when he returned later.

After coming down from the mountain and bidding farewell to Chu Ren Di, Fang Xu directly returned to his residence, eagerly taking out all the wine jars.

Seven wine jars were placed before him; Fang Xu sat cross-legged on the bed, picked up one jar, and began drinking by tilting his head back.

Consciousness controlled these energies as they surged along the constructed divine bridge toward an unopened aperture!

That aperture immediately flickered with a faint light, and as vast amounts of energy poured in, Fang Xu could clearly feel that his guess was correct!

Pop!

One jar of green liquid's energy was exhausted, and the fifth aperture of the Divine Dragon Roaming Star Chart was successfully blasted open!

Since the idea was correct, Fang Xu no longer felt reluctant to consume these green liquids and directly began the forced breakthrough.

Another four jars of green liquid were exhausted by him; within his body, the nine apertures constituting the Divine Dragon Roaming Star Chart were successfully lit up!

Roar!

The star chart was successfully constructed, and Fang Xu faintly heard a loud dragon roar within his body!

The next moment, countless miscellaneous information appeared out of nowhere in his sea of consciousness.

After digesting all this miscellaneous information, Fang Xu's eyes suddenly flashed with joy.

Secret art!

It is definitely a secret art, not a secret method!

At the moment the Divine Dragon Roaming Star Chart was constructed, he suddenly obtained a secret art named 《Dragon Roaming》!

Without rushing to try the effect of the 《Dragon Roaming》 secret art, Fang Xu looked at the two remaining jars of green liquid before him, hesitated for a long time, and ultimately chose not to use them.

Constructing the Shen Yi Star Chart, he had seven apertures not yet opened; even if he used these two jars, it would be like a drop in the bucket, so he decided to temporarily set them aside.

After putting the two wine jars back into his Qiankun bag, Fang Xu got off the bed and walked slowly toward the Law Enforcement Hall.

"Fang Xu, you've come just in time; I was just about to send someone to find you." As soon as he stepped through the gate of the Law Enforcement Hall, Chu Ren Di walked over and spoke.

"Is there a mission?" Fang Xu asked curiously.

He had joined the Law Enforcement Hall for some time, but had never undertaken any mission.

This was originally because his cultivation was relatively low, and the Law Enforcement Hall's missions were relatively dangerous, so Chu Ren Di had not assigned him many.

"There is an promotion mission for the outer disciples; I want you to give it a try."

Monitoring whether outer disciples receive external assistance during promotion and safeguarding their lives at critical moments is one of the routine tasks of Law Enforcement Hall disciples.

Normally, these tasks are carried out by Law Enforcement Hall disciples who have reached the Martial Venerable level.

But this time, Chu Ren Di had Fang Xu give it a try.

Fang Xu nodded: "Where is the mission location?"

Chu Ren Di took out a scroll and handed it to him, saying: "Take a look first."

Fang Xu took the scroll, opened it, glanced at it, and said with a somewhat strange expression: "Liangzhou in the Northern Frontier?"

Chu Ren Di nodded and said: "The forces in Liangzhou are complex and intertwined; the Law Enforcement Hall has received definite intelligence that a group of desert bandits attacked the medicine-gathering team of Baicao Hall recently; this promotion mission is to have this disciple named Shen Nan eliminate these bandits and retrieve the seized medicinal herbs."

Fang Xu felt some doubt, but thinking that this mission must have been specially evaluated and would not exceed the capabilities of outer disciples by too much, he simply did not ask further.

"Disciple understands."

Chu Ren Di thought for a moment and then added: "Remember one thing: Law Enforcement Hall disciples in principle do not interfere with the missions of mission-assigned disciples; once you intervene, it means her mission has failed."

"If you encounter something you cannot overcome, you only need to save her life."

Fang Xu nodded again: "Master, rest assured."

"Alright, you may go ahead to the Liangzhou Ascension Immortal Assembly outpost; that disciple will depart the day after tomorrow, and you will meet at the outpost then."

Fang Xu clasped his hands, took a Yun-steed from the stables outside the mountain gate, and directly headed toward Liangzhou City.

(End of chapter)