Chapter 46: Two Methods

In the secret chamber.

Han Li looked at Mo Guang gradually vanishing into his own shadow, gave a bitter laugh, and stopped dwelling on the matter of the Nascent Soul seal.

He raised his head and, through the large hole above, gazed at the night sky thick with stars.

After a while, he stood up and walked to the position of the sixth star, Alkaid, of the Big Dipper Spirit Gathering Array. He sat down cross-legged again, formed a hand seal, and cast several spells in succession, instantly activating the entire formation.

After a brief moment of breath regulation, Han Li slowly closed his eyes and remained motionless.

However, about half an hour later, when he began to activate the sixth layer of the Small Dipper Stellar Essence Art, an unexpected incident occurred.

For some unknown reason, the stellar force drawn down from the starry sky this time was several times greater than before, and within a few breaths, it formed six enormous pillars of starlight.

From a distance, it seemed as if six hazy pillars of light hung down from the night sky above the cave dwelling, with surging waves of stellar power spreading outward, presenting an imposing sight.

Han Li was startled at the sight.

When he had cultivated the first five layers, there had also been some unusual phenomena, but nothing as spectacular as this. He hadn't thought much of it, since in the Spirit Realm, there were many techniques that relied on stellar power for cultivation, and it was normal for such cultivation to cause some celestial phenomena.

But with such a startling celestial phenomenon as today's, it would be hard not to attract attention.

He shook his head, not too concerned, and continued to focus on his cultivation.

…

Above a certain cave dwelling, a burly man stood in the void, gazing into the distance at the six enormous pillars of light descending from the sky, with a surprised and solemn expression.

The next moment, black light swirled around him, and his entire form transformed into a blurry shadow that shot forth, soon landing silently near Han Li's cave dwelling.

The closer he got, the more he could feel the overwhelming stellar power contained within the pillars, spreading outward like tidal waves.

After a moment's hesitation, he decided to risk casting a spell to investigate.

"Luo Jun, wait." A voice suddenly sounded without warning in Luo Jun's ear.

Then, before he knew it, a man in a Confucian robe appeared before him.

It was the peak master of Chuyun Peak, Nangong Changshan.

"Peak Master."

Luo Jun was slightly startled, then, as the black light around him fluctuated, he slowly revealed his form and was about to say something.

But Nangong Changshan waved his hand to interrupt him and said:

"Say nothing. Follow me."

Then, without waiting for Luo Jun's reply, he radiated a brilliant white spiritual light and transformed into a white rainbow, shooting toward the peak's summit.

Luo Jun opened his mouth as if to say something, but seeing that Nangong Changshan had already gone far, he could only turn into a black light and follow.

A moment later, inside the hall at the peak's summit.

As soon as Luo Jun landed, seeing Nangong Changshan walking with his hands behind his back toward the depths of the hall, he hurried forward a few steps and said to his back:

"Peak Master, the phenomenon caused by Han Li suggests that the technique he is cultivating is certainly no ordinary one. This person's background is somewhat suspicious. If we do not investigate thoroughly and the sect holds us accountable, how will we explain?"

"The Supreme Grand Elder sent a message telling us not to interfere with this matter," said Nangong Peak Master without stopping, speaking thus.

"The Grand Elder! Why would he…" Luo Jun was stunned, showing a shocked expression, but then asked with some confusion.

"The Grand Elder has his reasons for his actions. We simply follow orders," Nangong Peak Master suddenly stopped and turned around to say.

"Since it is the Supreme Grand Elder's command, I understand," Luo Jun nodded upon hearing this.

"Also, issue an order that no one is to approach Han Li's cave dwelling, let alone disturb him!" Nangong Peak Master then instructed.

"Yes!" Luo Jun accepted the order and walked out of the hall.

"Han Li… who exactly are you, to have attracted such attention from the Supreme Grand Elder, who is always in seclusion and never concerns himself with sect affairs…" Nangong Peak Master muttered to himself, gradually sinking into thought.

…

The celestial phenomenon above Han Li's cave dwelling did not last long. After about an hour, the six pillars of starlight dispersed and vanished.

Yet, despite such a commotion, not a single person from the entire sect came, as if no one had noticed.

Inside the cave dwelling, Han Li remained seated cross-legged, his eyes already open, but he did not move for a long time, his expression somewhat heavy.

The sixth layer of the Small Dipper Stellar Essence Art was far more difficult than he had imagined. Not only was it much more obscure than the fifth layer, but most importantly, the demand for stellar power had suddenly increased several times over.

With his current spiritual sense, he could actually handle it.

However, using a large amount of spiritual sense consumed more mana. Previously, he could barely sustain his cultivation by taking Yunhe Grass, but now, even if he continuously used the small green bottle to accelerate the growth of spirit herbs, he could not guarantee uninterrupted cultivation.

At this rate, mastering the sixth layer would take at least ten years.

At this thought, Han Li couldn't help but frown.

He needed to return to the Immortal Realm as soon as possible. Ten years was too long; he couldn't wait.

That said, if he could master the sixth layer of the Small Dipper Stellar Essence Art within ten years, that speed would already be astonishing. If the distant Cold Flame Ancestor in the Immortal Realm learned of it, he would probably be shocked speechless.

Han Li stroked his chin, but then his expression changed as he suddenly thought of something.

Then he closed his eyes and recalled the典籍资料 he had looked up earlier.

After a moment, he raised an eyebrow and opened his eyes, a faint smile appearing at the corner of his mouth.

The Cold Flame Sect was indeed one of the three great sects of the Spirit Realm. From the典籍资料 he had obtained in the inner sect's藏经阁, he had actually found two methods.

The first method was related to another great sect of equal fame to the Cold Flame Sect, the Jingyuan Temple.

Among the many inheritances of Jingyuan Temple, there were quite a few techniques that relied on stellar power for cultivation. It was said that its founding patriarch was proficient in stellar techniques.

Within the temple, there was a "Star-Gathering Platform" built with countless precious materials, inscribed with an ancient stellar formation.

This formation was personally arranged by the temple's immortal patriarch back then, far beyond the Big Dipper Spirit Gathering Array that Han Li had set up on his own.

With the aid of this great formation, it was said that one could easily draw down stellar power several times greater than usual, renowned throughout the Spirit Realm.

However, the Jingyuan Temple placed great importance on this platform. Even within the sect, only the most core disciples and elders could use it; outsiders couldn't even catch a glimpse.

As for the second method, it was recorded on a certain jade slip, detailing the refinement of a special magic treasure called the "Star Moon Mirror."

The Star Moon Mirror was not a powerful offensive spiritual treasure but merely an auxiliary treasure. With very little mana, it could draw down a large amount of stellar power.

The refinement method for this mirror was obtained by a Cold Flame Sect elder at the Combined Movement stage tens of thousands of years ago, by chance from a secret realm.

Since the sect had few stellar techniques and refining this treasure required a great deal of precious materials, nearly ten times that of ordinary treasures, this jade slip, though valuable, had been ignored until now.

The most crucial point was that the main material for refining this treasure was a special ore called "Yin Chen Stone," which was extremely rare and considered a fundamental resource by the Heavenly Ghost Sect.

It was said that when cultivating the final layers of the Heavenly Ghost Sect's foundational technique, the "Heavenly Ghost Great Art," one had to consume large amounts of Yin Chen Stone.

As for the few known Yin Chen Stone veins in the Spirit Realm, they were all controlled by the Heavenly Ghost Sect.

In short, whether it was the Star-Gathering Platform or the Star Moon Mirror, obtaining either would be no easy task.

But after a brief deliberation, Han Li immediately stood up and left the cave dwelling.