Xu Wuyi opened the first thread.

The poster’s handle was "Northern Cold Blade," and judging by the suffix, they were a member of Black Stone Academy.

The post described in detail how to transform Ice Cold True Intention into the more advanced "Frost Domain" after cultivating Ice Soul Skills to the Martial Master Stage, and it listed twelve potential difficulties one might encounter during the conversion.

Xu Wuyi read it carefully.

Although he didn’t practice Ice Martial Arts, the principles of Martial Arts were universal.

A "Domain" was a High Tier application of a Mental Realm, essentially the fine control of Heaven and Earth Energy.

Studying the Domain transformations of other Attributes would be a valuable reference for his future fusion of the "Mountain" and "Scorching" Domains.

There were already over twenty replies under the thread, with many Red Star members participating in the discussion.

"The key to transforming Ice Soul into Frost lies in the balance between ’condensation’ and ’dispersion.’ If the Ice Soul is too condensed, the Domain becomes rigid. If it’s too dispersed, it lacks power..."

"I suggest referencing the Heart Method circulation route in the third volume of the Beiming Cold Record. Even though the Cultivation Techniques are different, the principles are the same..."

"The deployment speed of a Domain is crucial in actual combat. I once faced an opponent who cultivated Ice Soul Skills, but their Domain deployment was too slow, and I interrupted it before it could fully form..."

After reading all the replies, Xu Wuyi felt a flicker of insight.

He was about to close the thread when he suddenly noticed a new reply.

The replier’s handle was "Sharp Gold," and their suffix indicated they were a graduate of the Starry Sky Martial Arts Academy.

"Speaking of Domain deployment speed, I’m reminded of someone. You’ve heard of Xu Wuyi from Star Martial, right? While still in the Martial Master Stage, he had already begun fusing two types of True Intention. Although he hasn’t formed a complete Domain yet, the suppressive force of his Mental Realm already has the early makings of one."

"I challenged him in the Nine Stars Stele. His Mental Realm deployment is astonishingly fast; it’s practically instantaneous. Very few opponents at the same level could interrupt him before his Mental Realm fully unfolds."

"Same here. The new blood these days is terrifyingly strong. If I were below Level 35, I definitely wouldn’t be his match."

Xu Wuyi was slightly taken aback.

He hadn’t expected to see a discussion about himself here.

He was even more surprised that so many people in Red Star had secretly gone to the Nine Stars Stele to challenge his Illusion.

New replies quickly appeared below.

"Xu Wuyi? Is that the rookie who left his mark on the Nine Stars Stele?"

"I heard he defeated Hong Nianyi’s Illusion. Is that for real?"

"It’s true. Fu Yun was the one who went to get him. This junior is something else!"

"Something else is an understatement. A few of us old-timers even went back to watch this year’s sophomore tournament at Star Martial. He took down nine in a row—all instant kills."

"Nine in a row? All the Martial Artists in his year were insta-killed?"

"The gap is just too wide..."

Reading through the discussion, Xu Wuyi had a strange feeling.

He closed the thread and opened another one titled "Recent Combat Situation Summary for the Seventh Defense Zone of the Star Realm Battlefield."

This was his main reason for visiting Red Star today.

As his strength grew, Xu Wuyi had started to consciously seek out higher-level information.

The Star Realm Battlefield was the frontline where humanity clashed with the Alien Races. The situation there directly concerned the safety of the entire Federation.

It also concerned the path he would take in the future.

The post was long, detailing the changes in the combat situation in the Seventh Defense Zone over the last three months: the frequency of Star Beast tides, the types of newly emerged Alien Races, the distribution of pressure on the defensive line, the casualties and achievements of various exploration teams...

Xu Wuyi read every word, his brow gradually furrowing.

The situation was not optimistic.

According to the report, the frequency of Star Beast tides encountered in the Seventh Defense Zone over the past three months had increased by forty percent compared to the same period last year.

Several newly emerged Alien Race types possessed even stranger abilities and were highly adaptable to conventional tactics.

What was more troublesome was the small-scale phenomenon of "rift infiltration" occurring behind the defensive line.

A small number of high-level Star Beasts had bypassed the main defensive line and appeared directly in the heartland of human-controlled territory.

Although they were quickly eliminated, this meant that the Star Beasts might have mastered new spatial traversal technology, or... there were unknown vulnerabilities in humanity’s defensive line.

’Looks like I have to speed up my cultivation,’ Xu Wuyi thought.

At this rate, it wouldn’t be long before the pressure from the Star Realm Battlefield reached the rear.

When that time came, all Martial Artists would have to be prepared to go to the front lines.

He needed to be strong enough to survive on such a battlefield.

...

「February 5th, New Year’s Eve.」

The night sky over Yuntai City was dotted with sporadic virtual fireworks, and the streets were lined with holographic projections of red lanterns.

Even through the Energy Shield, one could feel the festive and bustling atmosphere.

In contrast, Star Martial University was quieter than usual.

Some students had already left campus to return home. Those who remained either had homes in distant Alien Districts, making the journey too long, or were like Xu Wuyi, completely dedicating their Heart and Spirit to cultivation with no time for distractions.

Villa #7, Hidden Dragon Garden, in the underground Cultivation Room.

The faint blue halo of the Earth Fire Marrow Lamp cast a long shadow from the figure seated cross-legged in the center of the room.

Xu Wuyi slowly opened his eyes.

A stream of golden-red light seemed to flash within his eyes before vanishing into the depths of his pupils.

He let out a long, turbid breath. The stream of air was focused, not dispersing, forming a pale white arrow that shot out three meters before slowly dissipating.

"Level 34.8..."

Feeling the Qi and Blood in his body, which surged like a great river yet was as dense as mercury, Xu Wuyi silently calculated his progress.

’A little faster than expected.’

The effects of the "Dragon Blood Body Refining Potion" and the "Concentrated Spirit Crystal Soul" were indeed remarkable. Coupled with the dual refinement of the "Hundred Refinements Melting Furnace" and "Heart Fire Refining Spirit," his cultivation speed far surpassed others at the same level, provided he had sufficient resources.

But the cost was also obvious.

Xu Wuyi checked his account balance.

[Points: 1172]

His resources were being consumed faster than he had imagined. Even after factoring in his earnings from the tournament, he now had just over a thousand points left.

’Still, it’s worth it.’

He stood up and stretched his slightly stiff limbs.

His joints let out soft popping sounds, and as his Qi and Blood circulated, a sense of full and powerful vitality spread through his entire body.

It wasn’t just an increase in his Life Energy Level.

Within his sea of consciousness, the small vortex formed by the fusion of his "Mountain" and "Scorching" True Intentions had stabilized and was even faintly showing signs of expanding.

His Spiritual Strength had reached Level 36.9, almost touching the threshold of Level 37.

In battles during the Martial Master Stage, this kind of advantage on the spiritual level would provide a crushing superiority.

"It’s about time."

Xu Wuyi walked out of the Cultivation Room and into the living room.

Outside the window, virtual fireworks bloomed in the night sky, forming the words "Happy New Year" before quickly fading away.

Only then did he remember that today was New Year’s Eve.

A light screen automatically turned on, and Anna’s soft voice sounded, "Student Xu Wuyi, your parents sent a communication request three minutes ago. Would you like to call them back?"

"Connect it."

Xu Wuyi’s spirits lifted, and he quickly sat down on the sofa.