Chapter 170: Chapter 109: Star Heaven·Divine Monarch, Grade Ascension

Zhong Ming closed his eyes and focused his mind. An idea had formed, and he continued to immerse himself in comprehending *Star Heaven·Divine Monarch*.

While he was cultivating, the outside world watched as he fell into a strange, silent state the moment his palm touched the Inheritance Stele. This left everyone looking at each other in confusion.

They couldn’t quite figure out what was happening to Zhong Ming.

Even those who had previously been pessimistic about his chances didn’t dare to jump to conclusions in the face of such an unusual situation.

...

This abnormality initially rendered the Starry Courtyard so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Everyone was watching Zhong Ming, waiting for his next move.

Under their watchful eyes, one minute passed, then two, then three, then five... Finally, someone could no longer hold back and began to whisper:

"What’s going on with Zhong Ming? How did he go completely silent just by touching the Inheritance Stele?"

"Did he fail to comprehend anything?"

"But even if he failed, he shouldn’t be acting like this, right?"

Many people came to the Starry Courtyard. Some succeeded in their comprehension and were ecstatic.

Some couldn’t understand anything at all and left with faces full of dejection.

Others tried to force their comprehension and ended up injuring their Divine Soul.

But no matter the outcome, there was always some reaction from them.

Only Zhong Ming remained completely still. His strange state left the crowd bewildered and confused.

Given the special circumstances, it was inevitable that people began to speculate about Zhong Ming’s behavior as they waited.

After a long while of guessing, a Cultivator suddenly sensed something. With a strange look, he said, "Wait, doesn’t it look like... Zhong Ming has fallen asleep?"

...

As soon as he said this, everyone shook their heads. Even those who had bet against Zhong Ming and hoped for him to lose couldn’t help but defend him. "Wan, that’s just ridiculous. Zhong Ming still has a bet with Princess Qinglian and all of us."

"No matter how foolish or arrogant he is, there’s no way he’d fall asleep at a time like this... right?"

Toward the end, the voice of the person defending Zhong Ming trailed off.

This was mainly because as Zhong Ming’s comprehension of the Cultivation Technique deepened, his consciousness became completely focused on the Dream World, leaving him with no energy to spare for anything else.

This also caused his physical body in the real world to start swaying.

THUD!

At a certain moment, Zhong Ming’s body slumped to one side, and he collapsed directly onto the ground. The sound of steady breathing could be heard coming from his mouth and nose.

"Huh?"

...

This scene left everyone stunned and utterly speechless.

"He really fell asleep?"

"Seriously? How can he be so nonchalant? This is about eighty thousand Spirit Stones!"

The current situation was too absurd, and the consequences were too severe.

This caused even the ever-elegant and gentle Ji Qingyue to snap at Zhong Ming under her breath, "Zhong Ming, how can you be sleeping at a time like this!"

As she spoke, she wanted to step forward and wake him up.

However, just as she took a step, she remembered what Zhong Ming had told her before he touched the stele—"Catch me in a bit."

’Support... Young Master Zhong Ming foresaw this. So, this is his way of comprehending the Cultivation Technique?’

Although she found the idea of comprehending a Cultivation Technique in one’s sleep rather strange, considering Zhong Ming had asked for her help, Ji Qingyue decided against waking him. Instead, she gestured for the others to guard him.

Her actions made those who had bet against Zhong Ming frown.

Ji Qinglian took a step forward, a mocking curve playing on her lips as she said to Ji Qingyue, "Still haven’t given up, sister?"

"It is you who are too impatient, sister. There is still plenty of time before the deadline," Ji Qingyue replied coolly.

Considering it wasn’t evening yet, even if Zhong Ming were woken up, he could still continue his comprehension. This made Ji Qinglian hold her tongue.

However, after this incident, the people behind her all breathed a collective sigh of relief.

"Phew, he actually fell asleep."

"Haha, does he really think he can beat us by daydreaming?"

"If I’d known, I would have bet more!"

Zhong Ming, sleeping soundly, led some people to believe they had already won.

Of course, Zhong Ming was oblivious to the commotion in the outside world.

At this moment, all his energy was focused on *Star Heaven·Divine Monarch*.

Comprehending, understanding, synchronizing, recalling, experimenting... within the Dream World, he was tinkering with it freely.

During this process, the projection of Zhong Ming’s physical body collapsed again and again.

But the destruction of these projections also allowed Zhong Ming to accumulate a great deal of experience.

Just like that, after another four hours, Zhong Ming’s progress with the *Star Heaven·Divine Monarch* Cultivation Technique reached First Realm Initiation (7200/7200) points.

’Finally, it’s complete.’

After a light sigh of relief, Zhong Ming did not break through immediately.

Within the Dream World, Zhong Ming closed his eyes and rested for the time it takes an incense stick to burn, fully restoring his spirit. Only then did he open his eyes and merge himself with the illusory silhouette of the Divine Monarch in the dream.

BUZZ...

The comprehension from ’Immersion’ and the activation of ’Mind Reading’ gave Zhong Ming a new understanding of this Cultivation Technique.

This was displayed on the status panel as:

[You have experienced the mysteries of Star Heaven·Divine Monarch through Immersion. Your Cultivation Technique progress +13]

[You have advanced. You are now at the Second Realm of Insight... A Star Heaven·Divine Monarch characteristic is gestating...]

Just like before, Zhong Ming experienced a minor epiphany upon advancing.

Normally, he would consolidate the mysteries he had previously grasped during this epiphany and gain a new characteristic from it.

But this time was different.

At the same time as his epiphany, Zhong Ming suddenly ignited his Heart Soul, turning it into the Flame.

Then, using the Inheritance Stele as a medium and the Flame as fuel, he activated the ability of the Eternal Flame!

BOOM...

The moment this ability was activated, Zhong Ming’s consciousness went blank.

The next second, Zhong Ming felt his Heart Soul merge with the Inheritance Stele and the characters inscribed upon it.

At that moment, it was as if he had become every single stroke on the stele.

SPLASH...

Before he could savor the mystery, an illusory river suddenly materialized before his eyes.

And Zhong Ming felt himself "regressing" as the illusory river appeared!

This process was not easy. Falling into the water and moving against the current caused the river to constantly wash over Zhong Ming’s Heart Soul.

This made Zhong Ming’s heart skip a beat.

’Damn it, I forgot about that! The Power of Time cannot be trifled with. Touching it recklessly will result in a backlash!’

The only thing Zhong Ming was thankful for at this moment was that he had not come alone—his Heart Soul was completely retracted within the Inheritance Stele, allowing the stele to bear the full force of the river of time’s assault.

And Zhong Ming had predicted correctly. The stele did indeed possess Dao Rhyme and a Time Imprint, which allowed it to endure for a long time within the river of time.

Of course, this was also related to the fact that Zhong Ming was merely looking back at the stele’s past experiences, not actually throwing the stele back into ancient times.

It was as if he were an astrologer casting a prophecy to see a possible future; there would be a backlash, a price to pay.

But as long as he didn’t overdo it or shout about what he saw, the price was within an acceptable range.

However, if he wanted to change the future, that was a different story entirely.

Many prophets and astrologers found that the more they tried to change the future, the more miserable their own situations became. This was the backlash of the Power of Time.

...

In the river of time, even doing nothing, Zhong Ming gained many insights. While accepting these insights, he did his best to look upstream.

He was trying to estimate if he could still achieve his goal.

After just three breaths, Zhong Ming shook his head, preparing to give up on this attempt. The backlash he suffered from merely looking back at past history was indeed minimal.

But no matter how small, it was still not something a Zhong Ming at the Qi Cultivation Stage could withstand.

This experience served as a wake-up call for Zhong Ming and made him come to a decision:

’A Golden Core Daoist isn’t nearly enough. I’ll need the strength of at least a Nascent Soul Master to activate Eternal Flame and gaze back into antiquity...’

’What a pity...’

Regretfully giving up, Zhong Ming had already stopped burning his Heart Soul.

However, just as everything was about to cease, Zhong Ming suddenly felt the Inheritance Stele, which recorded *Star Heaven·Divine Monarch*, begin to resonate with something upstream in the river of time.

Immediately after, a gaze like a star crossed ten thousand years of time, landing on the stele, and also on the Zhong Ming "inside" the stele.

The gaze held infinite majesty, and also a hint of a sigh.

"Another... failure..."

After the sigh, the gaze did not dissipate immediately. A message followed the gaze into Zhong Ming’s mind:

"To be able to touch the Power of Time at the Qi Cultivation Stage, you are quite impressive. Now, in my capacity as a Supreme Elder of the All Heaven Stars Sect, I bestow upon you the title of Child of the Morning Star... I hope you will cultivate well in the future..."

Along with these words came a message that was not too long.

PHEW...

After transmitting these things, Zhong Ming clearly sensed that the Supreme Elder’s aura had suddenly dropped, like a candle flame in the wind.

Evidently, by exerting his influence across the river of time, he had suffered a backlash from the Power of Time.

’Even an expert of this caliber can’t escape the backlash...’

Although he didn’t know how strong that Supreme Elder was, to be able to directly observe the future and send a message across time and space, such a being was undoubtedly powerful beyond measure.

But even so, he couldn’t withstand the backlash from the Power of Time and his aura had clearly weakened. This made Zhong Ming even more hesitant to recklessly tamper with the Power of Time.

’With my feeble cultivation, the slightest fluctuation in the Power of Time could annihilate me... I can’t be so reckless in the future.’

After the heart-pounding fear subsided, Zhong Ming cupped his fists and bowed respectfully toward the elder.

"...This disciple obeys."

After all, the Supreme Elder had given him something good.

In particular, after inspecting it, Zhong Ming discovered that although the information wasn’t extensive, when combined with *Star Heaven·Divine Monarch*, it was like the finishing touch on a painting, causing a qualitative leap in the technique’s grade.

Having received such a boon, Zhong Ming naturally paid his respects with sincerity.

At the same time, grateful for this favor, he also made a decision.

’When I’m powerful enough in the future, I’ll take a few disciples and pass down the cultivation techniques and the name of the All Heaven Stars Sect.’

BUZZ...

As Zhong Ming thought this, he suddenly felt something stir within him.

[Inherit the Flame of your predecessors and pass it to those who come after, letting the Flame of human civilization burn eternally... You have understood the True Intent of the Eternal Flame. Your Reading progress +800 points]

’...So much. What is this, karma? Good deeds are rewarded?’

The huge surge in his Reading progress was a pleasant surprise for Zhong Ming, but right now, he was more concerned with *Star Heaven·Divine Monarch*.

He eagerly opened his status panel and looked. Soon, a message appeared before his eyes, bringing a joyful smile to his face.

"Hahaha... I did it!"

[You have completed the profundities of Star Heaven·Divine Monarch. Star Heaven·Divine Monarch has been upgraded. Its current grade is—Celestial Level, Mid-Grade!]