3: Chapter 3 Strange Phenomenon Soaring into the Star Sea
In reality, the task issued by the system would be nothing short of a fantasy for any normal human being in the star sea.
The Qi and Blood Warrior realm is the true starting point of the martial path. Though foundational, it is of paramount importance.
During the first Three-day Golden Eruption Period, it is strictly forbidden to ingest any elixirs or treasures that directly enhance qi and blood. The purpose is to excavate the warrior's own most pure potential.
At most, one could be like Ning Yuan, utilizing the external environment and some auxiliary rare treasures to improve cultivation efficiency. But in essence, it ultimately still relies on oneself.
Looking at the vast base of countless trillions of humans across the starry sky, those who can push their cultivation to the limit of the Primary Qi and Blood Warrior realm within the Three-day Golden Eruption Period are already undisputed galaxy-level geniuses.
Those who can reach the Intermediate Qi and Blood Warrior realm are rarely seen even across dozens of galaxies.
As for reaching the Intermediate limit, that is even rarer, truly one in a million, enough to be crowned with the title 'Star Domain-level Genius'.
And Ning Yuan, relying on his unique, heaven-defying conditions, originally aimed to assault the Advanced Qi and Blood Warrior realm.
But now, the situation was completely different.
Ning Yuan felt that not only reaching the limit of an Advanced Warrior in the general sense, but even surpassing that limit would not be difficult for him.
The top-tier aptitude, the most perverse cultivation art, plus a hundredfold cultivation boost that, while idiotic in its presentation, delivered outstanding effects.
If he couldn't soar with this, then he might as well be a pig.
He took a deep breath, suppressing the surging excitement in his heart, his eyes igniting with unprecedented anticipation.
'Charge!'
The thought arose, wind and thunder stirred!
In that instant, the so-called 'Hundredfold Aptitude Bonus' descended with a thunderous force!
Ning Yuan felt as if his soul had been thrown into a super furnace. His thinking speed, perception of energy, and comprehension of the cultivation art skyrocketed exponentially at this moment!
The Star Martial Bone within his body seemed to receive unprecedented, intense stimulation and erupted completely!
Boom——!
A radiance of starlight, so brilliant it defied description, violently burst from his body. Its intensity instantly pierced through the heavily restricted cave abode, forming a pillar of light that shot straight into the heavens!
Even Ning Yuan himself was startled.
This intense?
Immediately, he focused his mind, throwing himself wholeheartedly into cultivation.
The Dragon Elephant Suppressing Heaven Art, operating at full capacity!
Within the cave abode, the countless profound arrays, sensing their master's state, hummed in unison, channeling the pure cosmic energy from the outside world, repeatedly cleansing Ning Yuan's fleshly body.
Although this method couldn't directly absorb energy into the body, it had subtle, long-term benefits. However, its cost-effectiveness was abysmally low. The resources consumed every second were enough to make a Martial Emperor's heart bleed.
Around him, treasures like Cloud Whale Incense, Soul-Nourishing Wood, and Mind-Calming Pearls simultaneously bloomed with light, creating the ultimate cultivation environment.
Within Ning Yuan's body, his qi and blood roared and surged like a great river. Faintly, the roars of dragons and trumpeting of elephants could be heard!
The core of the Dragon Elephant Suppressing Heaven Art is to condense 'Dragon Elephant Particles' within the qi and blood.
Each Dragon Elephant Particle contains the combined strength of one dragon and one elephant, representing ten thousand jin of immense force!
Before the first complete circulation cycle of the art was even finished, Ning Yuan's qi and blood had already begun to condense frantically. The embryonic form of the first Dragon Elephant Particle was instantly formed!
Primary Qi and Blood Warrior, broken through in an instant!
And according to the art's records, once the first Dragon Elephant Particle is fully condensed and takes shape, granting ten thousand jin of force, it signifies stepping into the Intermediate Qi and Blood Warrior realm!
'Holy shit, awesome!'
Ning Yuan couldn't help but swear aloud.
How long had it been? He was about to break through to Intermediate already?
This cultivation speed was simply outrageous!
The fervor in his heart was completely ignited. At this moment, he had no other distracting thoughts.
Only one thought remained.
Cultivate!
Cultivate with reckless abandon!
...
Meanwhile, at the summit of Thunder God Mountain.
Before the Celestial Waterfall, four people and one beast appeared somewhat restless.
Ning Dashan paced back and forth like a caged animal, his hands clasped behind his back, muttering under his breath.
This was his son's first official cultivation session in his life. As a father, he was both nervous and expectant, hoping his son would soar to the heavens.
'You damn brat, settle down!'
Ning Jianghe suddenly smacked Ning Dashan on the back of the head.
'Pacing around like that is making me dizzy!'
Ning Dashan took the hit, not daring to retaliate, only grumbling internally.
'You're the one craning your neck, staring eagerly towards the cave abode yourself.'
As this thought arose, he met his father's warning glare and quickly ducked, adopting a defensive crouch with his head covered.
'Both of you, settle down!' Bai Xiuning's willow-like eyebrows shot up. 'Stop making a racket here. Don't disturb my precious grandson.'
Hua Qingyue smiled gently, holding her mother-in-law's arm and said softly, 'Mom, don't worry. Yuaner possesses peerless talent. This cultivation session will surely go smoothly.'
'Woof! Woof!' The Heaven Swallowing Beast at their feet chimed in with two barks.
Only then did Bai Xiuning's expression soften slightly, lovingly stroking the Heaven Swallowing Beast's head.
Ning Dashan watched with a look of disdain. A Heaven Swallowing Beast, famous on the Cosmic Exotic Beast Ranking, actually barking like a dog—utterly shameless.
Back in the day, this creature didn't sound like this.
But there was no choice. His son just liked hearing that tone.
Just as the Heaven Swallowing Beast's barks faded.
Boom!
The cave abode beneath the Celestial Waterfall erupted with intense, unexpected commotion.
Everyone looked over simultaneously, and the next second, their pupils constricted sharply!
They saw a peerlessly dazzling pillar of starlight, with an overwhelmingly domineering force, break through the cave abode's restrictions and shoot up from the ground!
The light pillar pierced the clouds, enveloping the entire cave abode.
The ever-flowing Starfall Celestial Waterfall seemed to be forcibly halted and suspended before this light pillar!
Above the divine mountain, the billions of violent thunderbolts, as if encountering their sovereign, now retreated and gave way!
For a moment, thousands of phenomena manifested, auspicious energy permeating the air.
The billions of living beings residing on Thunder God Mountain, regardless of cultivation level, all looked up simultaneously towards the summit.
Their eyes were filled with awe and shock.
In their understanding, such earth-shattering, heaven-shaking phenomena could only be triggered by the Martial Sage Lord who presided here.
Ning Jianghe and the others were now wide-eyed, their faces written with utter bewilderment.
'What... what the hell is this?' Ning Dashan was the first to exclaim, his voice brimming with suppressed shock.
Divine light swirled in his eyes as he tried to see through the essence of the starlight pillar.
However, the moment his gaze touched it, an indescribable, sharp pain shot through him. Two streams of bloody tears uncontrollably trickled down!
'Don't look!' Ning Jianghe's face was unprecedentedly grave as he shouted sharply.
Bai Xiuning's heart leaped into her throat. She nervously grabbed her husband's arm.
'Old man, has something happened to Yuaner?'
Ning Jianghe took a deep breath, trying to calm his turbulent emotions, but his voice trembled uncontrollably, mixed with boundless joy.
'Don't worry, my lady. It's a good thing! A heaven-sent good fortune!'
His gaze burned as he stared at the light pillar, enunciating each word, 'If I'm not mistaken, Yuaner... I'm afraid he is not merely a Star Martial Bone at all!'
These words shocked everyone present.
Ning Jianghe continued to explain, 'Back when we compiled the Federation's foundational true arts based on ancient texts, we saw sporadic records. Certain divine physiques, surpassing the Saint-grade, can trigger celestial phenomena during their first cultivation session, undergoing a second awakening! Yuaner's current situation might be exactly that!'
Ning Dashan trembled with excitement.
'Father, do you mean... Yuaner's physique surpasses Saint Bone?'
The myriad races of the star sea have long had classifications for innate physiques.
Saint-grade, Emperor-grade, Sovereign-grade... a strict hierarchy.
Those possessing an Emperor-grade Martial Bone can, as long as they don't perish prematurely, almost certainly and effortlessly reach the Martial Emperor realm.
But to defy fate and break through to Martial Sage is a difficulty comparable to scaling the heavens.
And now, Ning Yuan's physique was suspected to surpass Saint-grade!
Ning Jianghe's eyes were firm, his tone resolute.
'At least a Peak Saint Bone, perhaps even... higher!'
He suddenly threw his head back and let out a long laugh, the sound filled with endless ecstasy and pride.
'My grandson is destined to become the strongest among all races!'
His laughter rumbled like thunder, shaking the entire divine mountain, causing ripples to form in the void itself.
The faces of Ning Dashan and the other two also shone with relief and excitement.
Suddenly.
Ning Jianghe's laughter cut off abruptly, his expression changing.
'Not good!'
He sharply looked up. The starlight pillar had already broken free from the confines of Thunder God Mountain, shooting like a divine sword straight into the boundless depths of the starry sky!
In that instant, within the Xuanhuang Star Domain, billions upon billions of stars trembled in unison, casting down brilliant rays of light as if paying homage to a newly born sovereign!
Not only that, this terrifying fluctuation was spreading at an unimaginable speed throughout the entire Xuanhuang Star Domain, and even towards the more distant star sea!
Ning Dashan felt a scalp-numbing sensation.
His son's talent was just too exaggerated, wasn't it?
A mere quasi-warrior undergoing his first cultivation session had actually stirred the phenomena of an entire star domain?