The youths were stunned when they saw Zhaang Ye’s trajectory. They realized that without a moment’s hesitation, he was heading straight for the enormous star at the center of the True Hall!

"Does Zhaang Ye want to pluck the biggest star? Isn’t he overestimating himself?"

"Yeah, that Central Star is immense. The Cultivation Technique carved on it must be even better than a Top-grade Cultivation Method. But a technique like that isn’t easy to get. Zhaang Ye might have placed first in the test, but his strength isn’t necessarily greater than mine. It’s absolutely impossible for him to claim that star!"

"The trajectory of that Central Star is exceptionally profound. Even Situ Houtu didn’t dare to try for it. The fact that Zhaang Ye dares to make a move is just pure arrogance!"

Jiang Ailiang, who had never liked Zhaang Ye, wore a mocking sneer when he saw him go after the Central Star. "Hmph, just you wait. Zhaang Ye will definitely come back empty-handed and have to settle for grabbing a random star."

As Situ Houtu watched Zhaang Ye head straight for the largest star, a look of shock flashed in his eyes. He thought, ’Zhaang Ye is actually going for that giant star! Does he really have the confidence to pluck the Central Star? If he actually succeeds, his Computation Power and Comprehension will be far superior to mine!’

Even the Hall Masters were slightly moved when they saw Zhaang Ye take action. The Great Hall Master chuckled. "This largest Star Luo Stone was left behind by the very first Hall Master of the True Hall. Thousands of years have passed, and all the other Star Luo Stones have been claimed at one time or another. Only this largest one has remained, never taken by anyone. Even I don’t know what Cultivation Technique is carved upon it. I hope this little fellow, Zhaang Ye, can give me a pleasant surprise and let me see what kind of technique it is."

The Second Hall Master wasn’t as optimistic about Zhaang Ye’s chances. He smiled faintly and said, "His spirit is commendable, but claiming this Central Star is no easy task."

The Third Hall Master nodded slightly, agreeing with the Second Hall Master’s assessment. The Central Star was the core of the entire Array and had been orbiting the center of the True Hall for thousands of years. Over these millennia, countless geniuses had tried to claim it, but it had always remained securely in place, a testament to the profound mystery of its trajectory. For a star like this, Zhaang Ye’s chances of success were undoubtedly slim...

The Central Star orbited at a height of ninety-nine zhang. Without a unique Body Technique, reaching such a height was simply impossible.

However, Zhaang Ye possessed the Power-Borrowing Technique. While the distance was great, it wasn’t enough to trouble him. SWISH! SWISH! SWISH! With a few light sounds, Zhaang Ye’s sleeves swept out like the wind. His body instantly borrowed power and rose, arriving over ninety zhang in the air. Before everyone’s eyes, he suddenly took a step!

With just a single step, Zhaang Ye appeared before the Central Star, one hand reaching out to grab it.

The star, which had always been in the center of the True Hall, seemed to move sluggishly, like a well-fed fatty. But the moment Zhaang Ye’s hand reached out, it reacted instantly. With a faint flash, it appeared more than ten zhang away.

Seeing Zhaang Ye miss, a look of schadenfreude appeared in the eyes of the youths. Zhaang Ye was now a hundred zhang in the air. Even with the Power-Borrowing Technique, he couldn’t stay there for long. If he couldn’t seize the star on his first attempt, his momentum would falter, and it would become even harder to succeed.

Situ Houtu’s expression, however, turned grave. Others might have thought that was the extent of Zhaang Ye’s ability, but having crossed paths with him before, Situ Houtu knew his true strength was far greater.

Just then, a slight smile touched Zhaang Ye’s lips, a hundred zhang in the air. He suddenly took two more steps.

Those two steps were executed with absolute perfection. Before he stepped, there was only empty air beneath his feet. But as he stepped down, two stars instantly appeared right under his soles, and he landed squarely on them!

"Ah!"

Seeing Zhaang Ye take those two steps, all the youths were dumbfounded. It was clear that he had calculated the trajectories of the stars before stepping. And he had calculated two of them!

In other words, Zhaang Ye’s Computation Power and Comprehension were far more formidable than Situ Houtu’s!

’What terrifying Computation Power and Comprehension!’ Situ Houtu couldn’t help but feel a wave of shock. He had always prided himself on his superior calculation and comprehension, but just now, he had racked his brains merely to calculate the trajectory of a single star. He never imagined that Zhaang Ye could so easily calculate the trajectories of two. This was frightening to the extreme!

Witnessing this display, even the Second Hall Master was moved. He looked at the Fourth Hall Master and said with a wry smile, "Old Four, you’ve really taken on a fine disciple! Situ Houtu is a genius seen only once every five hundred years, and he only managed to calculate the trajectory of a single star. I never thought your disciple would be able to calculate the trajectories of two. His Computation Power and Comprehension are truly impressive."

The Fourth Hall Master was also somewhat surprised by Zhaang Ye’s performance. He chuckled and said, "Although he can calculate the trajectories of two stars, this Central Star isn’t so easy to pluck. Let’s hope Zhaang Ye has the strength, the Comprehension, and the good fortune for it."

The three Hall Masters all nodded slightly. To claim this Central Star, one needed not only formidable strength and profound Comprehension, but also immense good fortune. All three conditions were indispensable.

For thousands of years, countless geniuses had come to the True Hall to pluck the stars. Among them, there was no shortage of people with strength greater than Zhaang Ye’s, nor was there a lack of those with superior Comprehension. But because none of them possessed strength, Comprehension, and good fortune all at the same time, they were never able to claim the Central Star.

Zhaang Ye had good Comprehension and considerable strength; all that remained to be seen was whether he had the good fortune.

Before the watchful eyes of the crowd, Zhaang Ye’s body suddenly shot forward more than ten zhang, once again heading toward the Central Star.

The Central Star was like a cunning fox. The moment Zhaang Ye moved, it reacted again, instantly appearing behind him.

As if he knew the Central Star would appear behind him, Zhaang Ye abruptly turned around. He took a small step, once again landing on another star, and continued his pursuit of the Central Star.

Man and star chased each other relentlessly, a hundred zhang high in the True Hall. Though Zhaang Ye was suspended in the air, every step he took was guaranteed to land on a star. Such precision, backed by terrifying Computation Power, made Situ Houtu’s face change drastically. As for Jiang Ailiang and the other youths, they had long since clamped their mouths shut, their eyes flashing with utter shock.

SWOOSH SWOOSH SWOOSH SWOOSH SWOOSH—

Zhaang Ye’s figure moved faster and faster. Although the Central Star’s trajectory was incredibly profound, Zhaang Ye seemed to have seen through it completely. With every move, he closed the distance. Less than half an hour passed, and Zhaang Ye was getting closer and closer to the Central Star—only a little over one zhang away!

SWOOSH!

Zhaang Ye once again executed a profound Footwork Technique. He made a grasping motion with his hand, and a powerful Devouring Power manifested. Under the influence of Zhaang Ye’s Devouring Power, the Central Star’s movement faltered for a split second.

In that brief moment of hesitation, Zhaang Ye laughed heartily. His body shot across the one-zhang gap, and his five fingers shot out like five Flood Dragons, instantly locking down the surrounding space and seizing the Central Star!

"Excellent!" Seeing Zhaang Ye forcibly pluck the star that no one had been able to claim for thousands of years, and with such an overwhelmingly dominant display, a look of delight appeared in the Fourth Hall Master’s eyes. He couldn’t help but cry out his approval. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to come to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote with Recommendation Tickets and monthly passes. Your support is my greatest motivation.)