25: Chapter 25 Star Dagger Completed

The Stone Door of the Stone Chamber closed silently behind them, and the Formation’s flowing light covered it once again.

Lin Muchen and Shen Yueru climbed back to the Ore cave above through the narrow passage dug by the Iron-toothed Ants.

"Finally out," Shen Yueru patted the dust off her body, "It was stifling down there."

Lin Muchen didn't reply; he pulled the deep blue star dagger directly from his robes.

Under the dim light of the Ore cave, the specks of starlight on the blade seemed to come alive, flowing slowly.

"It's done?" Shen Yueru leaned in to look, "It looks quite intimidating, but I don't know how it performs."

"We'll know once we try it," Lin Muchen said, walking over to a pile of excavated waste Ore by the side of the cave.

He didn't use any Spiritual Qi, simply making a casual swipe at a head-sized piece of waste Ore.

"Sshhh—"

The sound was so faint it was almost inaudible.

The rock split neatly into two halves from the middle, the cut surface as smooth as a mirror.

Shen Yueru’s eyes widened: "That sharp?"

"Not finished yet." Lin Muchen said to the System in his mind, "System, assist with a test to see if it can trigger that bit of Star Power."

[Command received.]

[Guiding Host's Spiritual Qi to resonate with the star dagger...]

[Resonance established.]

[Suggestion: Try injecting a trace amount of Spiritual Qi into the Core Formation Nodes of the dagger.]

Lin Muchen followed the instructions, injecting a thread of Spiritual Qi into an inconspicuous depression on the handle of the star dagger.

"Buzz—"

The starlight on the blade suddenly brightened for an instant, and an extremely thin, almost invisible silver halo emerged around the deep blue blade.

Lin Muchen felt the dagger in his hand become slightly lighter, as if it had established a faint connection with the surrounding air.

He swung at another piece of waste Ore again.

This time, before the tip of the dagger even touched the stone, the silver halo swept across first.

"Puff."

A shallow mark was carved into the surface of the stone; the edges of the mark weren't ordinary cracks but showed a subtle charred blackness, as if scorched by starlight.

"Star Power!" Shen Yueru cried out in surprise, "Though it's very weak, this is definitely a trace of Star Power!"

"Junior Brother Lin, this dagger... it's already touched the threshold of a Magical Artifact! No, it's stronger than many standard-issue Magical Artifacts!"

Lin Muchen withdrew his Spiritual Qi, and the starlight and silver halo on the dagger slowly dissipated.

He weighed the star dagger in his hand, now having a good idea of its capabilities.

"The sharpness is no problem; cutting ordinary iron is like cutting tofu."

"Although that bit of Star Power can only be used to leave a scorched mark for now, it might be of great use later." He looked at Shen Yueru, "Thanks to the star iron left by Senior Senior, the quality is indeed top-notch."

[Testing complete.]

[star dagger (Elementary) Evaluation: Physical sharpness has reached the limit of Mortal Iron, carries trace Star Power characteristics, can deal additional weak damage to Yin-evil and Filthy targets.]

[Notice: Current star iron refining progress: 40% to 45%.]

[Continuing refinement; it is estimated to take about seven days to fully absorb the remaining star iron and the Star Power elements dissipating from the Ore Vein.]

[New Suggestion: The Host can attempt to actively guide the Star Power feedback from the Origin Star to integrate into his own Spiritual Qi Cycle; it may have a miraculous effect on breaking through to the Fifth Layer of Qi Refining Stage.]

"The System suggested I try using Star Power to assist my cultivation," Lin Muchen said to Shen Yueru.

Shen Yueru thought for a moment: "Star Power... I remember it being mentioned in ancient texts as a very high-level power, usually only accessible in the legendary Mortal Realm Universe."

"You can already trigger a trace of it now, even if it's through an external object, it's still quite ridiculous. Give it a try; what if it works?"

"I was thinking the same thing." Lin Muchen glanced into the depths of the Ore cave, "The Ore Vein mining is being watched by the Stone Puppet and Iron-toothed Ants, so there won't be any trouble for now."

"I plan to go into seclusion for a few days to push for the Fifth Layer of Qi Refining Stage."

"Secluding here?" Shen Yueru looked around, "That works. This Ore cave is basically our territory now, quieter than the Zayiyi side."

"I'll keep watch for you, and while I'm at it, I'll study those protective Formations in Senior Senior's Jade Slip to add a few more locks to this place."

"I'll have to trouble Senior Sister Shen then." Lin Muchen didn't stand on ceremony.

"Why be polite with me?" Shen Yueru waved her hand, "Hurry up and make your Breakthrough. Once your strength increases, we'll feel more secure when we go to explore those Secret Realm Coordinates later. I'll go set things up at the cave entrance and won't disturb you."

Shen Yueru walked toward the cave entrance carrying the Jade Slip.

Lin Muchen found a relatively flat and dry spot in the depths of the Ore cave and sat down cross-legged.

He first placed the star dagger by his side, then sank his consciousness into his Dantian.

The Origin Star was rotating slowly, noticeably brighter than before. Faint silver light could be seen flowing on the planet's surface; that was the power being emitted by the star iron being absorbed and refined.

[Origin Star Status: Stable ecology, Spiritual Qi concentration (Low), Star Power enrichment (Extremely trace, steadily rising).]

[Feedback Channel ready.]

[Do you wish to begin guiding Star Power?]

"Begin," Lin Muchen said in his mind.

[Guidance initiated.]

[points -20 (Maintaining guidance channel).]

[Current points balance: 430.]

A cool stream of energy, carrying a sensation of starlight, separated from the surface of the Origin Star and slowly flowed into his limbs and bones along Lin Muchen's Spiritual Qi channel.

This feeling was completely different from absorbing ordinary Spiritual Qi.

Spiritual Qi was warm, making one feel fulfilled after merging into the Meridians.

But this Star Power was cool; wherever it passed, the Meridians and flesh felt a slight, numbing sensation of being tempered.

Lin Muchen followed the path of the Basic Breathing Technique, guiding this Spiritual Qi mixed with trace Star Power to circulate within his body.

One Cycle, two Cycles...

Time lost its meaning during cultivation.

The Ore cave was so quiet that only the occasional faint sounds of Shen Yueru tinkering with Formations in the distance and the heavy footsteps of the Stone Puppet "Wu Tu" on patrol could be heard.

Lin Muchen was fully immersed in his cultivation.

He felt that although the amount of Star Power was extremely small, its quality was incredibly high.

They were like the finest sandpaper, polishing the inner walls of his Meridians bit by bit, making the flow of Spiritual Qi smoother.

The Bottleneck that had been stuck at the Peak of the Fourth Layer of Qi Refining Stage and felt somewhat sluggish actually began to loosen under the washing of this cool power.

[Notice: Star Power Fusion cultivation efficiency increased by approximately 15%.]

[Physical Body strength is slightly increasing.]

[Estimated time required to Breakthrough to the Fifth Layer of Qi Refining Stage reduced by about 30%.]

It's working!

Lin Muchen's spirits lifted, and he focused even more on running his Cultivation Technique.

Time passed bit by bit.

As the Origin Star continuously absorbed the star iron and the Star Power elements dissipating from the Ore Vein, the silver light on its surface became more and more apparent, and the entire planet seemed to be covered in a faint starlight.

This change was directly fed back to Lin Muchen.

Extremely faint specks of light, also carrying starlight, began to flicker around his body like fireflies on a summer night, appearing and disappearing.

With every breath, what he inhaled was no longer just the ordinary Spiritual Qi in the cave; it was as if he captured traces of that same cool aura, integrating it into the Cycle.

Shen Yueru, who was sitting at the cave entrance, finished setting up a simple Warning Formation and looked back.

She saw Lin Muchen sitting in the darkness, surrounded by those faint specks of starlight, and was stunned for a moment.

"He's already... triggered external Star Power? Even if it's so weak it's negligible..." Shen Yueru muttered softly, "Junior Brother Lin, your cultivation style is looking less and less like someone in the Qi Refinement Stage."

She shook her head and continued looking down to study the protective Formations in the Jade Slip.

In the depths of the Ore cave, the Spiritual Qi within Lin Muchen's body flowed faster and faster.

Within his Meridians, the cool Star Power had already initially fused with his own Spiritual Qi, forming a pale silver, more condensed power.

"Boom—"

It was as if some barrier had been smashed through.

Lin Muchen's body shuddered slightly, and the specks of starlight around him suddenly brightened for an instant before all being withdrawn into his body.

He opened his eyes and let out a long breath.

Within that breath, there were actually tiny, almost imperceptible glints of starlight.

The Fifth Layer of Qi Refining Stage was complete.

Moreover, he could clearly feel that his Spiritual Qi had undergone a subtle change; it was more condensed than before, and more sharp.

Just like the star dagger by his side.

[Congratulations to the Host for breaking through to the Fifth Layer of Qi Refining Stage (1/9).]

[Origin Star Spiritual Qi concentration slightly increased.]

[Star Power Fusion cultivation path initially opened.]

[Physical Body strength +0.3.]

[points +200 (Realm Breakthrough reward).]

[Current points balance: 630.]

Lin Muchen picked up the star dagger by his side.

This time, he didn't even need to deliberately guide it; with just a thought, a thread of pale silver Spiritual Qi naturally flowed into the dagger.

"Buzz—"

The star dagger let out a joyful hum, starlight flowing across the blade, and that silver halo was at least twice as prominent as before.

He looked at the hard rock wall of the cave.

The rock wall was covered in his scratches.