Along the way were exotic flowers and grasses, and thousand-year-old Half-Spirit Trees that swayed with alluring grace.

Countless precious Spirit Medicines were planted all over the Spirit Mountain, emitting a unique and fragrant aroma.

White deer, Red Cranes, Piyao... all sorts of Spirit Beasts roamed the mountains, like elves in a Spirit Mountain Blessed Land.

Human-head-sized, golden-colored exotic bees flew about, while crimson Spiritual Serpents as thick as water vats slithered through the mountain streams. The scene was one of perfect harmony.

Medicine Boys in black robes bustled about the mountain, coming and going. When they occasionally passed the group, their expressions were filled with reverence.

"What a vast estate! The thousand years of my Zuo Family’s savings can’t even compare to this one Spirit Mountain Blessed Land!"

Zuo Song’s face was filled with admiration as he thought to himself.

The Zuo Family was a thousand years old, managed by dozens of generations. Yet compared to the resources of Heavenly Red Peak, it seemed vastly inferior.

’It seems the only way for a family to advance is to send its disciples into a Major Sect. Unfortunately, a Major Sect like the Star Sect has a strict screening process for disciples. The Zuo Family has some elites, but they still aren’t capable enough to enter!’

The two masters, both of them magnates and Sea of Reincarnation Realm experts, were worldly and experienced. And yet, they were still endlessly amazed by the marvelous sight.

The Celestial Pool Lakefront on Heavenly Red Peak was the core area on Heavenly Red Mountain, where the Spiritual Qi was densest. True Spiritual Roots stood tall beside the Celestial Lake.

Profound Water Spirit Peach Wood trees as thick as giant umbrellas, massive ancient willows that were thousands of years old, and the exceptionally rare Spirit Medicines in the herb gardens—all of it proclaimed the prosperity of this Spirit Mountain Blessed Land.

A gentle breeze swept through. In Celestial Pool Lake, Pure Water Golden Lotuses swayed, their large green leaves rustling as their golden flowers shone brilliantly.

"What a place!" the two masters exclaimed in admiration.

Qin Shou and Qin Gang were already staring, wide-eyed and dizzy.

Any of the Spirit Flowers or Exotic Grasses on this mountain would be considered a clan-defining treasure for a family like the Qin Family of Shanghe Town.

After welcoming the two masters into the Cave Mansion and sharing a banquet with many toasts, Master Hall hesitated for a long moment before steeling himself and revealing the purpose of his visit.

"Brother Qin Feng, I’ve actually come today to ask a difficult favor."

"You’re being too polite, Master Hall. Please, speak freely."

Qin Feng glanced at the rather bashful Master Hall. He already had a good idea of why the master had come.

’This master has reached Perfection in the Three Realms of Sea of Reincarnation. The next step, just like Master Zuo Song before, is to use the Heaven Opening Secret Method to create a true Inner Heaven and Earth.’

’When Sea of Reincarnation Realm experts undergo this process, there are generally two paths. The first is to obtain the seed of the legendary Chaos World Tree and use it to cultivate an Inner Heaven and Earth.’

’The second is to forcibly create one, but that method triggers a backlash from heaven and earth.’

’There are several ways to suppress this backlash. The first is with overwhelming personal strength. Though Master Hall is powerful, his potential is exhausted. In my opinion, he doesn’t have the ability to suppress the backlash on his own.’

’The second method is to use an extremely high-quality Spiritual Root to absorb the backlash in one’s stead.’

’However, from what I know, suppressing the backlash from an Inner Heaven and Earth requires a Celestial Level Spiritual Root at the very least.’

’Only a Celestial Level Spiritual Root has the power to suppress and neutralize such a backlash.’

’Celestial Level Spiritual Roots are exceptionally rare. My own World Tree sapling is one, but this type of Spiritual Root only exists in legends. An ordinary Martial Artist couldn’t even dream of obtaining one.’

’That leaves only one of the few remaining options.’

’One of those options, which is what Zuo Song used, is to employ a powerful Array to suppress the backlash.’

’However, an Array capable of suppressing the backlash from heaven and earth is clearly beyond the capabilities of any ordinary Array.’

’An Ancient Origin Xuan Array.’

’Only an extremely rare Ancient Origin Array Map, one that contains the profound mysteries of the universe’s operation, would have such power.’

An Ancient Origin Xuan Array is exceptionally precious!

Master Hall was clearly well aware of this.

A flicker of determination crossed his eyes. After a moment, Master Hall stood up and said.

"Young Brother Qin Feng, I possess no treasure that can match the value of an Ancient Origin Xuan Array Map. The only thing I have that might be worthy is this!"

With a wave of his large sleeve, Master Hall pulled a grimy, top-shaped black stone from his personal Space and set it down before Qin Feng.

"This is...?"

Qin Feng’s gaze shifted, his eyes falling on the black stone. It was half the height of a man and looked incredibly dense. He swept his Spiritual Consciousness over it, only to find that as soon as it came within three feet of the object, it was immediately warped by a strange power.

His Spiritual Consciousness couldn’t even detect the black stone’s existence.

He could only perceive it with his naked eye.

A glint of light flashed in Qin Feng’s eyes.

’This thing... it’s just like a legendary treasure I know of.’

Master Hall glanced at the black chunk of rock, his gaze full of reluctance. A look of resolve flashed in his eyes, and after a moment, he spoke.

"This is a Meteorite Star Core. I acquired it during an adventure in my youth. It isn’t very useful to me, but it should be of some use to you, young brother!"

’Some use? It’s far more than that! With this, upgrading my Black Iron Battle Armor to a Bronze Battle Armor will be a certainty!’ Qin Feng was inwardly astounded.

The Meteorite Star Core was an Exotic Treasure formed from the final, condensed Star Essence of a star after its celestial lifespan had ended.

In the hands of an Artifact Refiner, this kind of Treasure could be used to create a High-tier Spiritual Soldier.

According to Qin Feng’s knowledge, there was a particular High-tier Spirit Sword—the Nine Nether Magnetic Demon Slayer Divine Sword—that was forged from this very type of Meteorite Star Core.

But in the hands of someone like Qin Feng, who cultivated with Star True Power, it was even more precious.

With this item to aid his practice, his Cultivation speed would increase by two or three times at a minimum.

But what truly excited Qin Feng was another reason: the item’s irreplaceable value to his Star Battle Armor.

If his Star Battle Armor could devour the essence within this Meteorite Star Core, upgrading it to a Bronze Battle Armor was a foregone conclusion.

’A Bronze Battle Armor... The boost it would give to my Cultivation of the Mixed Element Star Technique would double again. And if I could upgrade it to a Silver Battle Armor, I could even take it into the Star River!’ A strange ripple flickered in Qin Feng’s eyes.

A Meteorite Star Core was the kind of treasure you stumbled upon by chance, not something you could actively search for. In terms of value, it was in no way inferior to any Ancient Mysterious Array Map.

Of course, the benefit to his Star Battle Armor was secondary.

If Qin Feng remembered correctly, the second great phenomenon marking the arrival of the Golden Era was about to happen.

The stars would manifest, and the All Heavens and Stars would reincarnate. The fourteen Demon Gods from the All Stars Academy had achieved their status after stars entered their bodies, allowing them to fuse with ancient Star Marks. In a single leap, they became Masters of Stars. Aided by the immense Qi Fortune from the ancient stars, they soared to the heavens and achieved the status of Demon God.

That was an incredibly important opportunity!

This phenomenon of stars entering bodies was a grand feast, but the opportunity was reserved for a select few geniuses. These geniuses had an Innate affinity with the stars, which allowed them to receive their favor and blessings.

Originally, Qin Feng could only covet this opportunity from afar.

But with this Star Core, he might be able to prepare in advance, intercept a Star Mark not destined for him, forcibly fuse with it, and seize its Qi Fortune.

A strange light flickered deep within Qin Feng’s eyes, his emotions in turmoil.

Master Hall didn’t notice Qin Feng’s strange reaction. His gaze fell upon the familiar Treasure before him. He reached out, his palm caressing the dark, giant stone that had sunk three feet into the ground, his eyes full of reluctance.

"This item has been with me for nearly a hundred years. If not for its assistance back then, with my aptitude at the time, I might never have reached my current level of Cultivation!"

His voice was wistful. After a long moment, he closed his eyes.

Beside them, his eyes wide with surprise, Master Zuo Song laughed. "You old coot, you sure are tight-lipped! We’ve known each other for a hundred years, and I never once suspected you were hiding a treasure like this!"

Then, a look of sudden realization dawned on Master Zuo Song’s face. "No wonder! Back at the All Stars Academy, your aptitude was only average, you old dog! How did you manage to rank at the top of every assessment? I was so puzzled back then, I thought you were just pretending to be weak to get the drop on everyone. It turns out you had a treasure like this with you the whole time!"

Hall opened his eyes, the corner of his mouth twitching as he gave a wry smile.

He stared intently at the pensive Qin Feng and asked nervously, "Young brother, what is your decision?"

(First Chapter release, three more to follow.)