Chapter 449: Power of the Stars

Ye Liuyun, hearing Jing Wudi say that, knew that something good was definitely waiting for him.

So he didn't ask further and followed Jing Wudi toward the back mountain.

At the foot of the back mountain there was an ordinary Cave. After Jing Wudi led Ye Liuyun inside, he activated several mechanisms before they could reach the deeper part of the Cave.

Inside was a great hall, with a stone platform in the center, on which lay an elderly man with graying hair.

The first person Ye Liuyun thought of was the sect leader of the Iron Eagle Sect. Since such a secret place is still within the Iron Eagle Sect, only the sect leader could likely enjoy this protection.

Jing Wudi walked to the old man's side and called softly, "Big brother!"

Ye Liuyun didn't know the situation and could only stand aside and wait. His Golden Pupil examined the old man and found that the old man had sealed his entire True Essence. His true strength was probably at the level of Tian Gang Eight or Nine Ranks.

The old man slowly opened his eyes, was helped to his feet by Jing Wudi, and sat on the stone platform.

"Liuyun, come forward to meet our sect leader!"

Jing Wudi summoned the dazed Ye Liuyun.

Ye Liuyun hurried forward and paid his respects to the old man. "Ye Liuyun of the Qingcheng Branch, requesting an audience with the sect leader."

"Is this the little fellow you mentioned to me?"

The old man nodded at Ye Liuyun, then turned to ask Jing Wudi. Though he only glanced, Ye Liuyun noticed that the old man's eyes flashed with a sharp light, which was extremely mismatched with his physical condition.

"Yes, big brother, this little fellow is not simple…"

"Hehe, I absolutely trust your judgment."

Saying that, he produced an energy crystal sphere. The sphere emitted a blue glow, and just the aura of its energy made Ye Liuyun's heart race.

"Consider this my welcome gift! Inside this sphere is sealed the Primordial Power of a star." The old man smiled and reached to hand it to Ye Liuyun.

However, he seemed completely weak now. Ye Liuyun stepped forward and took the sphere.

He hadn't expected that the sphere contained the power of a star. What a tremendous energy that must be!

"Thank you, sect leader." Ye Liuyun secured the sphere and thanked the old man again.

The old man waved his hand lightly, then produced a piece of jade and handed it to Ye Liuyun.

"This is a space stone; I've kept it on me, but haven't fully comprehended it. I see some spatial power in your movement, so I'll give it to you. How much you can grasp depends on your own fate."

"Thank you for your generosity, sect leader. Is there any task the sect leader wishes to assign to a subordinate?" As soon as he took the jade, he felt it was very similar to a Wukong Stone.

Ye Liuyun also knew that there is no such thing as a free lunch; having taken someone else's benefit, he ought to repay something.

"Hahaha!" the old man laughed at the words. "This kid's mind works fast. Do you know why I'm staying here?"

Without hesitation, Ye Liuyun replied, "You were probably injured before, the wound reached your core. Though the injury has healed, it severely drains your Primordial Power, shortening your lifespan, so you now rely on the Turtle Breathing Method to survive. You likely need some life essence or similar to restore your lifespan."

"Exactly!" After Ye Liuyun finished speaking, the old man and Jing Wudi both nodded.

"Liuyun, this isn't really a demand of yours. After you take part in the Cangyun Grand Competition, you'll have a chance to enter the Inheritance Land. If that chance arises, remember to bring back some life energy or the like."

Jing Wudi instructed Ye Liuyun.

"Sect leader, vice sect leader, rest assured, as soon as I encounter them, I will definitely bring those things back." Ye Liuyun replied immediately.

This isn't really a condition at all; it's just something he can do casually.

Even just that star's Primordial Power crystal sphere, Ye Liuyun felt its value was already immeasurably great.

"You all go out; in my current state I can't hold on much longer and can't stay with you!" the old man said, then slowly lay down, sealing his breath.

Jing Wudi also led Ye Liuyun out slowly.

After exiting, he looked at Ye Liuyun and smiled, "Your realm is too low, so I asked big brother to give you a hand! Work hard! Aim to break through to the Tian Gang Third Rank before the competition; only then will there be any hope."

"Is the Tian Gang Third Rank only a sliver of hope?" Ye Liuyun thought to himself but didn't say it aloud.

He simply said, "Vice sect leader, rest assured, I will do my best!"

Jing Wudi nodded and said to Ye Liuyun, "Prepare yourself. This summons is just an internal pre‑selection. I'm also gauging the situation to arrange personnel. Don't be nervous; just do your best."

"Yes!" Ye Liuyun replied and went to find Piao Yun to arrange lodging.

As for the news that he had already broken through to the Tian Gang Second Rank, he hadn't had time to tell Jing Wudi.

After settling in, he immediately began studying the energy crystal sphere and the jade stone the sect leader gave him.

Inside the crystal sphere was energy he could absorb directly, and its content was richer than any energy source he had obtained before.

"It seems that with this star power, breaking through one or two realms should be no problem."

As for that jade, Ye Liuyun only felt it resembled a Wukong Stone, but upon careful contemplation he couldn't discern anything else.

So he accessed the Xuan Kong Shi, letting its spirit vessel take a look.

The spirit vessel of the Xuan Kong Shi, upon seeing, exclaimed excitedly, "This person, this is a genuine space stone! An extremely rare treasure. The space it contains is comparable to a star."

Ye Liuyun looked at the stone, not even the size of a palm, and asked, "This tiny thing holds such vast space. But how exactly should it be used?"

"There are two most efficient uses. One is to refine it into internal space, allowing you to store anything inside; over time it could even give birth to a real planet. That planet will later become your Primordial Power, which you can call upon in battle. The other is to refine it while you cultivate spatial power; as you train, you melt it away. It greatly aids your domain's spatial power, but once exhausted, it's gone."

The Xuan Kong Shi spirit vessel explained cautiously.

"How long will this space stone sustain my cultivation? To what extent can it boost my spatial power?"

After thinking it over, Ye Liuyun still leaned toward enhancing his own strength.