110: Star Core Realm and Metamorphosis

Over the next few months, the trio led by Liu Qingtian formed the infamous "Calamity Star Combination" on the outskirts of the Meteorite Slope. Wherever they went, disaster either struck from the heavens (meteorites, Star Power storms) or they inevitably got dragged into inexplicable conflicts. They stole mines from others and were chased by stronger individuals; they discovered the remains of ancient Cultivators, obtained sporadic Legacies and treasures, and narrowly escaped death countless times.

Liu Qingtian's cultivation level rapidly improved in this high-pressure environment. The Bottleneck of the Kāishān Realm Mid-stage Peak loosened during repeated life-and-death battles, and finally, after surviving a counter-attack against three Peak of Kaishan Realm Cultivators who had ambushed him, he successfully achieved a Breakthrough to the Late-stage Kai Shan Realm! His Demon Willow Physical Body became more condensed and taller, his willow branches displayed a faint metallic sheen, and the spiritual ripple vortex expanded several times, greatly increasing the efficiency of absorbing and converting the Power of the Stars.

The Wither and Flourish Poison Dao became increasingly proficient, and after incorporating several unique Star Poisons from the Meteorite Slope, its power surpassed the past. Frequent use of Star Dome Shadow Escape greatly increased its range and flexibility. The Eye of Delusion Breaking was now able to see through more of the essence of energy and the flaws in Cultivation Technique operation.

One day, following a fragmented Ancient Map, they found a sealed valley suspected to have formed after the core of an ancient star fell—the Star Core Secret Realm. The valley entrance was enveloped by a powerful natural Restriction, and the Power of the Stars within was chaotic to the extreme.

"This Restriction... it won't be easy to break," Wang Gou observed the distorted Light Barrier at the entrance. Fu Yisheng habitually shrank back, sensing great danger inside.

Liu Qingtian's eyes, however, were blazing. Under the Eye of Delusion Breaking, he could see the extremely pure Star Origin deep within the Restriction! "I must go in!" This place might hold the key for him to achieve a Breakthrough to the Golden Body Realm!

He instructed Wang Gou and Fu Yisheng to wait outside as backup, then took a deep breath and adjusted his state to optimal. Instead of forcefully attacking the Restriction, he activated the Primordial Ancient Wood Visualization Diagram, simulating his own aura to resemble the purest Power of the Stars, while simultaneously activating the myriad manifestations star disk fragment within his willow leaf grotto-heaven!

The star disk fragment vibrated slightly, emitting a trace of ancient and noble Star Dao Rhyme. A marvelous thing occurred: the violent Restriction Light Barrier, upon contact with this Dao Rhyme, actively split open a fissure just wide enough for one person to pass, like melting ice and snow!

Liu Qingtian did not hesitate and flashed inside!

Inside the Secret Realm, instead of the expected Immortal Qi, there was a desolate, apocalyptic scene. The sky was shattered, like a broken mirror, reflecting distorted starlight. The earth was cracked and covered with bottomless ravines. The air was filled with pure but extremely violent Star Radiation; ordinary Kaishan Realm Cultivators would find their Physical Bodies disintegrating after staying for only a moment. In the center, there was a gigantic Star Core, only half remaining, yet still emitting heart-palpitating fluctuations, with dark-golden, lava-like material flowing across its surface.

"Such pure Star Origin! But... also so dangerous!" Liu Qingtian's tree soul trembled, feeling both excited and wary. The concentration of the Power of the Stars here far exceeded the outside world, but its nature was extremely violent; absorbing it directly would be no different from courting disaster.

He cautiously approached the Star Core, operating the Eye of Delusion Breaking at full capacity to analyze the energy flow. He found that the space around the Star Core was extremely unstable, with subtle Spatial Rifts appearing and annihilating themselves from time to time. At the bottom of the Star Core, a small patch of strange plants grew—they were entirely silver-white, with leaves resembling star fragments, emitting gentle Star Power, seemingly absorbing and transforming the violent Origin.

"Star Glow Grass!" Liu Qingtian recognized it as a rare Body Tempering Spirit Medicine that could stabilize the Foundation and strengthen the Star Affinity of the Physical Body and Divine Soul.

Just as he prepared to harvest it, a sudden change occurred!

"Buzz!"

The Star Core suddenly shook, and a figure entirely condensed from violent Power of the Stars burst out from its core! It had no fixed form, appearing like a distorted Light Mass, radiating a terrifying pressure comparable to the Initial Stage Golden Body Realm! This was a Spirit of Nature born over the Star Core's long existence, or perhaps, a collective entity of Star Resentment!

"Intruder... die!" A vague Mental Fluctuation swept over him, carrying endless violence.

The Light Mass instantly transformed into countless destructive starlight Rays, covering all of Liu Qingtian's possible evasion routes!

Liu Qingtian's pupils contracted, daring not to hold anything back! The Wither and Flourish Domain instantly expanded to its maximum, and the Qi of Life and Death formed a massive vortex, attempting to grind down the starlight. Simultaneously, Star Dome Shadow Escape was activated, causing his figure to flash wildly within the limited space.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

The starlight Rays bombarded the Wither and Flourish Domain, erupting in dazzling light. The Domain shook violently, developing cracks after only a few breaths! The attack power of this Spirit of Nature was far beyond that of an ordinary Initial Stage Golden Body Realm Cultivator!

A willow branch was grazed by a ray and instantly vaporized! Liu Qingtian groaned, feeling unprecedented pressure. He tried to point out with the Wither and Flourish Finger, but the deathly stillness of 'Wither' had a severely reduced effect on an energy body, while the vitality of 'Flourish' seemed to replenish the opponent's energy instead.

"I must find the core!" The Eye of Delusion Breaking locked firmly onto the interior of the Light Mass, finally discovering a constantly flashing Light Spot where the purest Star Power was condensed!

Just then, the Spirit of Nature changed shape again, transforming into a massive Net of starlight that enveloped Liu Qingtian. The threads of the net contained the power of confinement and Annihilation!

There was no avoiding it!

At the critical moment of life and death, a hint of madness flashed in Liu Qingtian's eyes. He stopped dodging and instead charged directly toward the Net of starlight! Simultaneously, he made a daring move—he maximized the suction power of the spiritual ripple vortex, ceasing filtration and forcibly swallowing the most violent Star Origin from the surroundings, even drawing in the power emanating from the Star Core itself!

"Pfft!" Like drinking poison to quench thirst, the violent energy instantly surged into his body, threatening to tear his Meridians apart, and his tree soul felt as if it were being ignited! But at the same time, his aura surged wildly, temporarily boosting him to a Critical Point close to the Golden Body Realm!

"Return to Void!"

Burning this borrowed power, he pointed a finger directly at the core of the Net of starlight—the flashing Light Spot!

Extreme darkness and deathly stillness spread, colliding with the dazzling Net of starlight! There was no loud explosion, only a mutual Annihilation at the Law level! The Net of starlight melted away at a visible speed, but the core Light Spot of the Spirit of Nature also dimmed considerably!

"Now!"

Liu Qingtian endured the pain of his body nearing collapse, sending thousands of willow branches, like sharp swords, stabbing toward the dimmed Light Spot! Every willow branch contained the Wither and Flourish Poison Dao and the True Meaning of Nirvana!

"Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle..."

The Light Spot was pierced by countless willow branches, emitting a sharp shriek before finally shattering with a bang, dissipating into pure Star Energy. The massive starlight Spirit collapsed along with it.

Liu Qingtian fell from mid-air, crashing heavily onto the ground. His Demon Body was covered in cracks, and his aura was extremely weak, as the backlash from forcibly swallowing the violent Star Power began to take effect. But he dared not faint. He struggled to crawl to the patch of Star Glow Grass, laboriously harvested a few stalks, and stuffed them into his mouth to chew.

The gentle and pure medicinal power dissolved, nourishing his damaged Demon Body and tree soul like a sweet spring, barely stabilizing his injuries.

He recuperated in the Secret Realm for a full month. During this time, he carefully guided the relatively gentle Power of the Stars within the Secret Realm to heal his wounds, and using the medicinal effects of the Star Glow Grass, he began attempting to refine the residual violent Star Power, as well as the various poisons and Heterogeneous Energy he had previously swallowed.

The Primordial Ancient Wood Visualization Diagram and the Silent Origin Spirit Transformation Secret Chapter were operated to their maximum. He seemed to transform into the Chaos Ancient Wood, his roots plunging into the sea of violent energy, undergoing countless tribulations to temper himself. At this moment, he gained a deeper understanding of the Cycle of Life and Death, Wither and Flourish—that ultimate destruction ('Wither') and plunder (swallowing) might also be necessary to nurture new life ('Flourish') and growth.

When he finally refined all the Heterogeneous Energy within his body and fully recovered from his injuries, his cultivation was solidly stabilized at the Peak of Kaishan Realm! His Demon Willow Physical Body became even tougher, his willow branches displayed a dark golden color, and starlight faintly flowed across them. Within the Wither and Flourish Domain, besides the Qi of Life and Death, there was an added characteristic of swallowing and assimilation. His control over the Power of the Stars also reached a new height.

"It's time to leave." Liu Qingtian looked at the remaining half of the Star Core, knowing he couldn't move it yet, but the gains from this Secret Realm trip were already immense.

When he walked out of the Secret Realm fissure, Wang Gou and Fu Yisheng, who were waiting outside, were both startled. The current Liu Qingtian had a restrained yet profound aura, and when his eyes opened and closed, there were faint visualizations of the Creation and Destruction of Stars—he was completely different from a few months ago.

"Good heavens, Old Liu, what kind of Great Nourishment Pill did you eat in there?" Wang Gou exclaimed in wonder. Fu Yisheng, meanwhile, felt that Liu Qingtian's 'Luck' seemed heavier, making him better able to withstand his bad Luck, and he couldn't help but feel relieved.

Liu Qingtian didn't say much, only stating plainly, "Let's go, we continue deeper into the Meteorite Slope."

He knew that the Peak of Kaishan Realm was still not enough on this land. The Golden Body Realm was the true threshold. And the road ahead was destined to be even more arduous.