Half a month later, the gates of the Tianyi Palace boomed open, and Yang Kai stepped out from within, his expression calm.
After half a month of study, he had finally unraveled the secret hidden within that stone tablet.
The Star Refining Art! It was neither a cultivation technique nor a martial art, but rather a secret art — a method that taught a warrior how to refine the Origin of a Star!
When he first grasped what it was, Yang Kai had been startled. He had never imagined that the stone tablet contained something so inconceivable.
Refining the Origin of a Star was an extraordinarily difficult feat. Only those who had reached the Void King Realm were qualified to attempt it. And once a cultivator refined the Origin of a Star, they would become the absolute sovereign of that cultivation star — they would become its Star Lord!
Yang Kai had learned of a Star Lord's power upon first entering the Star Domain. The Star Domain was vast beyond measure, boundless and infinite, yet those who could become Star Lords were still incredibly rare. The reason was twofold: becoming a Star Lord required cultivation far beyond the ordinary, and the process came with tremendous risk.
The Origin of a Star was the very essence of a cultivation star. Refining it was inevitably a venture where risk and reward walked hand in hand. Success brought unimaginable benefits, but failure meant the utter annihilation of body and soul.
Throughout the ages, who knew how many powerful cultivators had attempted to conquer a cultivation star and refine its Origin? Every one of them had been a renowned powerhouse, a genius among geniuses, a strong among the strong.
Yet those who had successfully refined a Star's Origin and become Star Lords were still as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns.
Countless prodigies had perished in the process of conquering a cultivation star.
The Heng Luo Chamber of Commerce, which Yang Kai was familiar with, was a perfect example. Across the entire organization, there were seven or eight cultivation stars under its control, and over a dozen Void King Realm experts — but only one Star Lord-level figure among them!
None of the others dared attempt to refine a Star's Origin.
After all, it was like dancing on the blade's edge. Success brought glory and the adoration of the entire Star Domain, but the slightest misstep meant eternal damnation. No Void King Realm cultivator would dare gamble their life so lightly.
No wonder Xue Yue had said the stone tablet was useless for those at the Transcendence Realm and only held value for Void King Realm cultivators. Now he understood why.
The Heng Luo Chamber of Commerce, as a major power in the Star Domain with a Star Lord-level expert presiding over it, naturally possessed methods for refining a Star's Origin. But their method, when compared to the Star Refining Art recorded in the stone tablet, was lacking by countless orders of magnitude.
The Star Refining Art could be called the most supreme secret art — the most perfect method for refining a Star's Origin.
Xue Yue had ventured to the Emperor's Court this time precisely for the Star Refining Art. The Heng Luo Chamber of Commerce's chairman, Ayo, had been stuck at the second level of the Void King Realm for years, unable to make any further progress. But if he could refine a Star's Origin, he would be able to break through to the pinnacle of the third level.
She had somehow obtained intelligence that the Emperor's Court contained an extraordinarily powerful refinement technique, which was why Xue Yue had personally led an elite force into it. Otherwise, with the Heng Luo Chamber of Commerce's immense wealth, why would Xue Yue ever risk her own life?
Yet when the Star Refining Art finally appeared, she had missed it by a narrow margin.
Yang Kai didn't recognize the three ancient characters inscribed on the stone tablet, but Xue Yue did — which was why she had been so desperate back then.
The Star Refining Art's use was still far too remote for Yang Kai. Setting aside the fact that his cultivation was insufficient, even if it were enough, he wouldn't dare rashly attempt to refine a Star's Origin without absolute certainty of success.
After studying it for a while, he simply put it away.
Exiting the Tianyi Palace, Yang Kai had only taken a few steps before he ran into several disciples of the Lingxiao Sect. Upon recognizing him, the disciples quickly bowed and greeted him: "Greetings, Sect Master!"
"Mm. Has anything happened in the Sect since I entered seclusion?" Yang Kai asked casually.
"Reporting to the Sect Master — there have been no changes since you entered secluded cultivation. The disciples have all been diligently practicing their Cultivation. The only development is that the Grand Elder has returned from the Sixth Layer."
"Oh? She's back?" Yang Kai was somewhat surprised, but after a moment's thought, it made sense. Yang Yan was still in deep slumber and wouldn't truly awaken for at least another decade or more. There was no point in the Grand Elder remaining there, so naturally she would return to the Lingxiao Sect.
After all, she had been charged by Yang Yan with providing her full support to Yang Kai. How could she do that if she stayed at the Sixth Layer? Even basic communication and meetings would be inconvenient.
"That works out well!" Yang Kai nodded slightly and then instructed: "Tell Huang Juan to bring Lin Yun'er to the Grand Elder's residence to meet me."
"Yes, sir!" Though the disciples didn't know what Yang Kai wanted with Huang Juan and Lin Yun'er, they didn't dare ask questions. They quickly acknowledged the order and departed.
Hundred Flowers Residence — the former home of Yang Yan and Ye Xiyun.
Though flowers still bloomed everywhere, each competing in beauty, the entire Hundred Flowers Residence now housed only Ye Xiyun. When Yang Kai arrived, he found her resting in the stone pavilion, apparently lost in thought, so absorbed that she hadn't even noticed his approach.
Only when Yang Kai gave a light cough did Ye Xiyun startle awake. She raised her eyes to look at him and spoke evenly: "So it is the Sect Master. Your subordinate greets the Sect Master."
As she spoke, she rose gracefully to her feet.
"No need for formalities." Yang Kai waved his hand, took a seat across from her, poured himself a cup of fragrant tea, and took a sip. After a brief silence, he asked: "How is Yang Yan?"
"She is well, my lord — no cause for concern. She will simply continue sleeping for some time yet. The Sect Master need not worry."