188: Chapter 188 Closed-door Absorption, Breaking Through Two Levels
On the outer orbit of the Hegemon Body Ancestral Star, the [Heavenly Court - First Generation] quietly docked beside Anchor Platform No. 47.
Its silver-white hull reflected a matte finish under the ancestral star's dark gold energy turbulence—an extremely restrained look, as if all sharpness had been worn away by time. The four photon cannons on the bow were in standby mode, with faint blue-white fluorescence pulsing slowly at a frequency of 1.7 seconds per cycle—this was the alert mode set by Chen Hao; any unidentified flying object attempting to approach would be locked onto within 0.3 seconds.
Inside the ship, Level 3, Cultivation Room.
[Cultivation Room - Heavenly Court - First Generation Custom Version]
[Area: 17 square meters]
[Gravity: Adjustable (Current setting: 127 times the ancestral star standard)]
[Spiritual Qi concentration: Eternal Star Domain standard x 300% (Spirit Gathering Array at full power)]
[Time flow: Normal]
[Current user: Lin Ye]
[Secluded cultivation start time: Era Calendar 1972, Day 347, 11:47:23]
[Estimated end time: 7 days later]
———
Lin Ye sat cross-legged in the center of the cultivation room.
Around him, 17 High-Grade Spirit Stones were arranged in a specific formation, creating a simple Spirit Gathering Array. Those Spirit Stones were being consumed at a rate visible to the naked eye—each stone, which could originally be used for 47 hours, had its lifespan shortened to less than 7 hours under the dual pressure of 127 times gravity and 300% Spiritual Qi concentration.
But he did not care.
In his hand, he held that drop of [True Dragon Essence Blood].
The golden liquid rotated slowly in his palm, and with every rotation, it emitted a visible circle of pale golden ripples. When the ripples touched his skin, they raised a fine layer of goosebumps—this was the Physical Body's primitive reaction to the Dragon Clan Origin.
[True Dragon Essence Blood - Current status]
[Temperature: 47 ℃]
[Activity: 97%]
[Affinity with host: Detecting...]
[Detection result: 73% (Good)]
[Suggested absorption method: Oral consumption]
[Estimated absorption time: 72 hours]
[Estimated effects:]
[1. Qi-blood limit +50%]
[2. Physical Body strength +30%]
[3. Strength +25%]
[4. Unlock passive skill "Dragon Scale Body Protection" (Probability 17%)]
[5. Unlock passive skill "Dragon Might Resistance" (Resistance +70%)]
[6. Awakening probability 30%: "Dragon Blood Resonance" (Cooldown 7 days)]
———
Lin Ye looked at the line "Qi-blood limit +50%".
3 seconds.
He put the Essence Blood into his mouth.
———
1st second.
The moment the Essence Blood entered his throat, he felt his esophagus being pierced by a scorching flame.
That was not temperature.
It was "power".
The Origin power left behind by the Dragon Clan ancestor was spreading wildly within his body.
Every blood vessel.
Every nerve.
Every bone.
Every inch of muscle.
All were being—reshaped—by that golden power.
———
2nd second.
Faint golden patterns began to appear on the surface of his skin.
Those patterns started from his heart and spread along the blood vessels toward his limbs.
With every inch they spread, he felt his Physical Body strength increase by a fraction.
[Physical Body strength: 100% -> 103% -> 107% -> 112%]
———
3rd second.
The golden patterns reached his fingertips.
His ten fingers lit up at the same instant.
Not light.
It was "Dragon Scales".
[Dragon Scale Body Protection - Awakening in progress]
[Awakening progress: 0%... 17%... 31%... 47%...]
———
4th second.
Awakening progress 47%.
Fine, translucent golden scale phantoms began to appear on his fingertips.
Those phantoms only existed for 0.1 seconds.
Then they dissipated.
[Awakening failed]
[Dragon Scale Body Protection - Not unlocked]
[Next Awakening probability: 17% (Permanent)]
———
Lin Ye did not care.
He knew the probability of Awakening all abilities at once was too low.
He still had 72 hours.
———
5th second.
The golden power began to impact his bones.
[Bone strengthening - Started]
[Current bone density: 100%]
[Dragon Clan Essence Blood bonus: +10%...+20%...+30%...]
———
His bones emitted a slight creaking sound under the 127 times gravity.
That was the bone trabeculae rebuilding.
The old bones were cracked open.
New bones grew within the cracks.
Every growth was denser and harder than before.
———
10th second.
Bone strengthening completed.
[Bone density: 100% -> 130%]
[Physical resistance: +15%]
[Impact tolerance: +25%]
———
17th second.
The golden power began to impact his Meridians.
[Meridian strengthening - Started]
[Current Meridian capacity: 100%]
[Dragon Clan Essence Blood bonus: +10%...+20%...+30%...]
———
Under the scouring of the Chaos Divine Power, his Meridians were stretched open inch by inch by that golden power.
Not tearing.
It was "capacity expansion".
The river channel, which could originally only hold a stream, was widened into a great river.
———
31st second.
Meridian strengthening completed.
[Meridian capacity: 100% -> 140%]
[Chaos Divine Power recovery speed: +40%]
[Skill casting speed: +20%]
———
47th second.
The golden power began to impact his heart.
[Heart strengthening - Started]
[Current heart pump efficiency: 100%]
[Dragon Clan Essence Blood bonus: +10%...+20%...+30%...]
———
His heartbeat began to accelerate.
47 beats/minute -> 77 beats/minute -> 107 beats/minute -> 147 beats/minute.
Every heartbeat felt like a thunderclap exploding in his chest.
The speed at which blood surged through his blood vessels was 3 times faster than before.
———
77th second.
Heart strengthening completed.
[Heart pump efficiency: 100% -> 170%]
[Qi-blood recovery speed: +70%]
[Stamina: +50%]
———
107th second.
The golden power began to impact his Dantian.
[Dantian strengthening - Started]
[Current Dantian capacity: 100%]
[Dragon Clan Essence Blood bonus: +10%...+20%...+30%...]
———
The Dantian is the foundation of a Cultivator.
Any act of impacting the Dantian could potentially lead to a cultivation regression.
But that golden power did not destroy.
It was "expanding".
The Dantian Qi Sea, which was originally only the size of a fist, was stretched inch by inch to the size of a bowl.
———
147th second.
Dantian strengthening completed.
[Dantian capacity: 100% -> 200%]
[Chaos Divine Power limit: +100%]
[Skill power: +30%]
———
Lin Ye opened his eyes.
His pupils—originally pure gray Chaos pupils—now had a faint circle of golden patterns at the edges.
That was the eternal mark left after the Dragon Clan Essence Blood fused with him.
[True Dragon Essence Blood - Absorption progress: 17%]
[Remaining time: approx. 71 hours]
———
He did not stop.
He took out that [Ancient Star Road Mark - Complete] from his bosom.
It was a crystal card that was transparent throughout, with countless fine golden threads of light flowing inside.
It floated in his palm.
No temperature.
No weight.
Only one thing—a sense of existence that transcended time and space.
[Ancient Star Road Mark - Complete]
[Type: Special status / Permanent buff]
[Effect:]
[1. Cultivation speed +200%]
[2. Law affinity +50%]
[3. Within the range of the Ancient Star Road, all attributes +30%]
[4. Initial reputation with Ancient Star Road guardian units +3 Ranks]
[5. Can view partial information of the next level in advance]
[Current status: Not activated]
[Activation method: Press against the center of the eyebrows]
———
Lin Ye pressed it against the center of his eyebrows.
———
148th second.
His consciousness was dragged into a Void Realm.
That was not any space he had ever seen.
No up or down.
No distance.
No time.
Only one road.
An—Ancient Star Road—that extended from the depths of the Void Realm and extended into the depths of the Void Realm.
[Ancient Star Road - Manifestation of Will]
[Welcome, Champion]
———
A voice rang out in the depths of his consciousness.
That voice had no gender, no age, no emotion.
Only "existence".
———
"You have obtained the Ancient Star Road Mark - Complete."
"This is the 17th person to obtain this mark in ten thousand years."
"Among the previous 16, 7 eventually walked to the end of the Ancient Star Road."
"5 perished on the way."
"4—chose to stay."
———
Lin Ye did not speak.
He just looked at that road.
---
'You will obtain the following permissions:'
'1. Cultivation speed +200% (Already in effect)'
'2. Law affinity +50% (Already in effect)'
'3. Ability to view partial information about the next stage in advance'
---
An image unfolded in his consciousness.
[Ancient Star Road · Fourth Stage · Void Temple]
[Stage Type: Law Trial]
[Recommended Level: 70-80]
[Core Challenge: Persist for 17 minutes in the 'Void Domain']
[Void Domain Effect: Perform an 'Existence Judgment' every 3 seconds; failure results in being forcibly teleported out of the stage]
[Clear Reward: Void Realm Law Fragment x1]
[Hidden Reward: ??? (Requires completing specific conditions)]
---
Lin Ye memorized that information.
Then his consciousness was pushed back to reality.
---
The 149th second.
He opened his eyes.
[Ancient Star Road Mark · Complete · Activated]
[Cultivation speed +200% in effect]
[Law affinity +50% in effect]
---
He felt the surrounding Spiritual Qi suddenly become 'intimate'.
The Spiritual Qi that previously required active absorption now automatically gathered into his body.
The amount flowing in every second was three times what it was before.
[Cultivation Efficiency: 100% → 300% (Ancient Star Road Mark 200% + Spirit Gathering Array 100%)]
---
He closed his eyes.
He continued to absorb the True Dragon Essence Blood.
---
Day 1.
[True Dragon Essence Blood absorption progress: 47%]
[Level: 65 → 66]
[Qi and Blood limit: +50% → Completion 17%]
---
Day 2.
[Absorption progress: 63%]
[Level: 66 → 67]
[Qi and Blood limit completion: 31%]
---
Day 3.
[Absorption progress: 78%]
[Level: 67 → 68]
[Qi and Blood limit completion: 47%]
---
Day 4.
[Absorption progress: 89%]
[Level: 68 → 69]
[Qi and Blood limit completion: 63%]
---
Day 5.
[Absorption progress: 97%]
[Level: 69 → 69 (97%)]
[Qi and Blood limit completion: 78%]
---
Day 6.
[Absorption progress: 100%]
[Level: 69 → 70]
[Qi and Blood limit completion: 100%]
---
Day 7.
[System Prompt: Congratulations on completing your closed-door cultivation]
[Closed-door duration: 7 days 0 hours 17 minutes]
[Absorption results:]
[1. True Dragon Essence Blood · Fully absorbed]
[2. Ancient Star Road Mark · Fully activated]
[3. Level increase: 65 → 70]
[4. Qi and Blood limit: +50%]
[5. Physical Body strength: +30%]
[6. Strength: +25%]
[7. Passive skill unlocked: Dragon Might Resistance +70%]
[8. Active skill unlocked: Dragon Blood Resonance (Cooldown 7 days) — 30% chance to trigger, can summon Ancient Dragon Soul to assist in battle]
[9. Chaos Divine Power limit: +100% (Dantian expansion)]
[10. Chaos Divine Power recovery speed: +40%]
---
Lin Ye opened his eyes.
His pupils—those once pure gray Chaos pupils—now had a ring of extremely faint golden patterns slowly circulating at the edges.
His skin—the surface exhibited an extremely weak, almost imperceptible pale golden luster.
His breathing—every inhalation and exhalation caused a slight vibration in the surrounding air under 127 times gravity.
He stood up.
[Lin Ye · Current Status (Exited closed-door cultivation)]
[Level: 70 (Four Extremities Peak)]
[Qi and Blood: 100% × 1.5 = 150% (Actual value: approx. 70,500 points)]
[Divine Power: 100% × 2.0 = 200% (Actual value: approx. 94,000 points)]
[Attack Power: 9,700 × 1.3 (Dragon Clan Essence Blood) × 1.3 (Level increase) = 16,400]
[Defense: 8,300 × 1.3 × 1.3 = 14,000]
[Movement Speed: 100% × 1.2 (Level increase) = 120%]
[Reaction Speed: 100% × 1.2 = 120%]
[Combat Power Evaluation: approx. 170,000-190,000]
[Can battle level: 75 ordinary player]
---
He looked at the line 'Can battle level 75 ordinary player'.
3 seconds.
He clenched his right fist.
[Maximum impact of a single punch: 1,700 kg → 2,700 kg (Dragon Clan Essence Blood + Level increase)]
---
He unclenched his fist.
He walked toward the door of the cultivation room.
---
The moment the hatch opened, he saw 9 people standing in the corridor.
Su Qingyue.
Shi Potian.
Chen Hao.
Zhou Tieshan.
Chu Yunxi.
Zhao Wuji.
Qin Ruoxue.
Yun Qianxue.
Lu Xinghe.
---
They watched him.
7 days.
He was level 65 when he went in, and level 70 when he came out.
His temperament had changed.
It wasn't that he was stronger.
It was 'more stable'.
That kind of stability was unique to a Physical Body tempered by Dragon Clan Essence Blood—unmoving like a mountain.
---
Shi Potian was the first to speak.
His left fist—that left fist which permanently lost 5% of his maximum HP—was raised to his chest.
'Level 70,' he said.
'6 levels higher than me.'
---
Lin Ye looked at him.
3 seconds.
He reached out.
He gripped that fist.
'Dragon Blood Lingzhi,' Lin Ye said.
'In the 3rd layer of the Dragon Clan Treasure Vault.'
'Let's go get it together.'
---
Shi Potian did not speak.
But in his eyes, there was light.
---
Su Qingyue walked to Lin Ye's side.
Her left hand gripped his hand.
3 seconds.
She let go.
'Level 70,' she said.
'Four Extremities Peak.'
'It's time to prepare for the Dragon Transformation Breakthrough.'
---
Lin Ye nodded.
---
Qin Ruoxue stepped forward.
She held a new intelligence crystal in her hand.
[Dragon Transformation Secret Realm · Breakthrough Conditions]
[1. Level ≥ 70 (Already met)]
[2. Physical Body strength ≥ 200,000 points (Current: approx. 180,000)]
[3. Must receive Dragon Qi baptism in the 'Dragon Vein Land']
[4. Must defeat a Dragon Clan creature above level 70 and take its Dragon Pearl]
[5. Must consume 'Dragon Transformation Pill' (Can be refined)]
[Current options:]
[1. Dragon Clan Treasure Vault 1st Layer: Has Dragon Qi pool, can complete condition 3]
[2. Dragon Clan Treasure Vault 2nd Layer: Has level 70 Dragon Clan guards, can complete condition 4]
[3. Return to Big Dipper Star Field to refine Dragon Transformation Pill — but Materials must be purchased from Eternal Star Domain]
---
Lin Ye looked at the line 'Dragon Clan Treasure Vault 1st Layer'.
3 seconds.
He smiled.
The smile was very light, very faint.
'Perfect,' he said.
'Dragon Clan Treasure Vault.'
'We'll fight our way up layer by layer.'
---
He turned around.
He walked toward the bow of the ship.
Behind him, 9 people.
They took a step at the same time.
---
1st step.
2nd step.
3rd step.
---
17th step.
He stood in the center of the command cabin.
On the holographic star map, the direction of the Dragon Clan Main Star was flashing.
[Dragon Clan Main Star · Coordinates]
[Distance: 47 light-years]
[Estimated voyage: 3 days (Starship cruising)]
[Current starship status: Energy core 100%, weapon System standby, crew 10]
---
Lin Ye looked at that coordinate.
3 seconds.
He spoke.
'Chen Hao.'
'Present.'
'Target—Dragon Clan Main Star.'
'Advance at full speed.'
---
Chen Hao pressed his hands on the control sphere.
[Engine starting]
[Speed: 0.5 light-years/day → 1.0 light-years/day (Overload mode)]
[Estimated arrival time: 47 hours later]
---
The bow of the [Heavenly Court - First Generation] lit up with four photon cannons simultaneously.
It was not an attack.
It was a 'farewell'.
To the Hegemon Body Ancestral Star.
To the Prodigy Arena.
To those 17 seconds, 19 seconds, 7.3 seconds, 62 seconds, 5.3 seconds, 7.7 seconds, 19 seconds, 3 seconds, 17.7 seconds under 127 times gravity—to all the battles.
---
Lin Ye stood in the center of the command cabin.
He watched that golden star on the holographic star map getting closer and closer.
Dragon Clan Main Star.
Dragon Clan Treasure Vault.
mysterious yellow qi.
Dragon Blood Lingzhi.
Dragon Transformation Breakthrough.
---
[Chapter 188 · End]
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