Chapter 171: Chapter 110: Ziwei Palace, Lord of the Celestial Stars

’My guess was right! Even without a compatible Qi Cultivation method, Star Heaven·Divine Monarch is a Celestial-Level technique all on its own!’

’What’s more, it’s mid-grade Celestial Level!’

This Cultivation Technique made Zhong Ming’s eyes shine. At the same time, he came to a realization: from now on, his physical body would likely be the strongest of his Three Treasures of Essence, Qi, and Spirit.

’What does this mean? Am I changing classes to become a Body Cultivator?’

The sentiment was as fleeting as the wind. Zhong Ming wasn’t fixated on being a Sword Cultivator, and besides, having the strongest physical body wouldn’t prevent him from walking the sword cultivator’s path.

So, he quickly turned all his attention to Star Heaven·Divine Monarch, studying its changes.

The Supreme Elder of the All Heaven Stars Sect hadn’t actually passed on much information, but as the saying goes, "True teachings can be conveyed in a single sentence, while false ones fill countless volumes." This scant bit of information was the very key that allowed Star Heaven·Divine Monarch to evolve from Earth-Level Top Grade to Celestial Level. 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

’Star Heaven·Divine Monarch requires a "source"...’

After calming his mind to contemplate for the time it takes half an incense stick to burn, Zhong Ming gradually began to understand: the first half of this Cultivation Technique was no different from the one he was currently practicing.

On every night when the stars were plentiful, one was to find a high, open, un-obscured place where the Spiritual Qi was pure. There, one would sit cross-legged and banish all distracting thoughts.

Then, using the Mental Method, one would circulate energy through their body in a grand cycle, drawing upon the Power of the Stars to cleanse themself.

During this process, the Cultivator must also meditate on the thought, "The stars enter my embrace; I turn with the stars." Only then would the body’s acupoints transform into Star Acupoints.

Even the number of acupoints shown on the Inheritance Stele was correct; the first level still only required opening thirty-six acupoints.

The difference was that the version of Star Heaven·Divine Monarch the Supreme Elder had imparted to Zhong Ming included an additional, extremely crucial element: Star Origin.

’The stars are not illusory; they possess infinite power. When a Cultivator practices Star Heaven·Divine Monarch, if they only draw upon Star Power for Body Tempering, then it is merely a superficial practice. The true Star Heaven·Divine Monarch uses the Star Constellations in the cosmos as its source, drawing upon a wisp of their Power of Origin. Then, using a special method, it shapes that Star Origin into the form of an artifact or even a Spirit Beast.’

’Starlight Artifacts and Starlight Beasts—that is the core of Star Heaven·Divine Monarch.’

Now that the missing pieces of the Cultivation Technique were filled in, Zhong Ming discovered there were quite a few sources he could draw from.

’I can draw from the Twenty-Eight Star Constellations, the Ziwei Palace, the Taiwei Palace, the Celestial Market Wall, and even the origins of the Sun and Moon.’

’Among these, the Twenty-Eight Star Constellations are divided into the Seven Stars of the Eastern Azure Dragon, the Vermilion Bird Seven Stars, the White Tiger Seven Stars of the West, and the Northern Black Tortoise Seven Stars... If I draw upon the Seven Stars of the Eastern Azure Dragon, I’ll gain greater life force and can condense a Starlight Dragon.’

’The Southern Dipper governs life, the Vermilion Bird Seven Stars are for cultivating Flame, and upon reaching Great Success, one can even undergo a nirvanic rebirth.’

’The White Tiger embodies slaughter and ferocity.’

’The Northern Black Tortoise represents defense and endurance, and it also symbolizes the Netherworld.’

’Beyond the Twenty-Eight Star Constellations, the Ziwei Palace symbolizes dominion. If I draw upon its Star Origin, the abilities I gain will be related to the mind, authority, and control.’

’The Taiwei Palace is the "Court of Judgment for the Laws of the Celestial Dao." If I draw upon its Power of Origin, I will obtain abilities related to judgment and sentencing...’

’The Celestial Market Wall is the most peculiar. It symbolizes "the mortal world’s marketplace of myriad phenomena." After condensing its Star Origin, I won’t gain attribute bonuses like Gold, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth, nor will I get powerful offensive abilities like judgment and sentencing.’

’But it is one of the Three Circles, after all, so its Star Origin can’t be weak... It governs fortune and luck. If I use the Celestial Market Wall as the source to form a Starlight Artifact or a Starlight Beast, my financial fortune will be enhanced.’

All the stars in the sky possessed great power, and by drawing upon them, Zhong Ming could infuse himself with the Power of the Stars.

Naturally, a Celestial-Level Cultivation Technique was also more difficult to practice.

Without drawing upon a Star Origin, Zhong Ming only needed to continuously scour his body with ordinary Star Power.

Granted, opening Star Acupoints still carried a certain degree of risk.

But thanks to his practice in the Dream World, Zhong Ming had already nipped that danger in the bud.

But if he chose to upgrade the Cultivation Technique, things would get complicated.

Then, in addition to gathering the Power of the Stars, he would also need to find a way to comprehend the conceptual rhyme symbolized by the Twenty-Eight Star Constellations and the Three Circles.

A Star Origin couldn’t be condensed just by wishing for it.

Zhong Ming had to comprehend the Dao Rhyme represented by a Star Constellation before he could even begin to condense it and forge it into an artifact or a Star Beast.

Furthermore, the difficulty of condensing its origin varied depending on the chosen Star Constellation.

’Among these, the Twenty-Eight Star Constellations are the easiest to condense. The Three Circles are more difficult, and the most difficult of all is the Ziwei Palace. It is the Lord of the Celestial Stars, and it symbolizes dominion over everything.’

Inside the Dream World, Zhong Ming looked up at the sky. As he watched, a brilliant Emperor Star materialized, hovering in the sky of his dream.

’Because it symbolizes dominion, emperorship, and nobility, if I want to draw on the power of the Ziwei Emperor Star, my status—or rather, my destiny—must be exceptionally "noble."’

The requirements for cultivation techniques varied widely. Some demanded that the practitioner hold a high station; some could only be practiced by a Prince or an emperor.

As for Zhong Ming, he was actually somewhat confident in his ability to cultivate the power of the Ziwei Emperor Star.

This confidence didn’t stem from relying on brute-force practice or the principle of Heaven Rewards Diligence.

What gave Zhong Ming such confidence was a simple fact: ’I have the Dream World. It may be illusory, but it is a world nonetheless, and here, I am the master.’

’Everything in this world moves according to my Heart Spirit!’

At Zhong Ming’s mere thought, everything in his Dream World began to transform.

One moment, the Sun would hang high, bathing everything in brilliant light. The next, furious gales would howl and Thunderbolts would crash. And then, at other times, darkness would envelop all...