Outside Fuhai District, Jianghai City.
Figures flitted between the buildings.
Liu Wushuang led the members of the Heaven-Blasting Gang, rushing over to Fuhai District immediately.
"Elder Wushuang, are you certain this aura is from the Young Master’s breakthrough?"
Elder Li, following close behind, asked excitedly as the wind whipped through his graying sideburns. "Is he finally planning to come out of seclusion?"
"Haha, there’s absolutely no mistake!"
Liu Wushuang couldn’t suppress the smile on his face, clenching his fists in excitement.
"This aura... Who else in the world could possess it besides the Young Master?"
As he spoke, he turned his head toward the courtyard. "Truly worthy of the Young Master, to reach such a level after only five years!"
Hearing this, Elder Li also looked up at the sky.
At some point, draconic thunder had begun to dance across the sky and a Hongqiao had formed, as if setting the very heavens ablaze!
A deep and powerful aura surged out from between the high-rises.
All of Jianghai City was revitalized and rejuvenated.
Plants and trees flourished as if it were spring, and bolts of startling thunder flashed across the horizon, illuminating all of Jianghai City!
In the streets and alleys, some Star Martial Artists who were in the middle of their travels looked up, stunned, as they felt this powerful aura.
They looked up to see the sky filled with a dazzling, interwoven radiance that drowned out everyone’s hushed discussions.
"What is this?! Celestial Thunder?"
"What a terrifying aura! What Realm is this?"
"It must be the True Dragon Martial God!"
"Five years have passed. He’s finally coming back."
"Incredible. He caused a celestial phenomenon with a single hand... We’ve all reached the Innate Grandmaster Realm, but who knows what level he’s at now?"
After sensing this aura, they all stopped their Cultivation and gazed in the direction of the aura, their faces filled with longing and admiration.
Their reverence was plain to see!
A full five years had passed...
Now, the True Dragon Martial God’s return to the mortal world ignited everyone’s passion!
...
...
Meanwhile, inside a room in Fuhai District.
The last stick of Calming Incense burned down, its grayish-white embers falling to the floor.
Qin Yang’s aura was ethereal as he sat cross-legged on a prayer mat. He was as still and steady as an old monk in deep meditation, his breathing even and rhythmic.
BZZZT—
A faint hum could be heard in the room. A Star Wheel revolved around him, making it seem as if he were in the middle of a galaxy.
Brilliant Star Wheels of all sizes coiled around him, forming a small cosmos that constantly simulated the evolution of Laws, like the Great Dao governing the sun, moon, and stars.
Time trickled by.
An unknown amount of time passed.
’The Power of Stars is still not enough...’
Qin Yang murmured and slowly opened his eyes. His expression was surprisingly calm as the Star Wheels around him dissipated into the void.
He didn’t seem too affected by the breakthrough.
After five years in seclusion, he had finally touched the threshold of the Divine Venerable Realm.
He gently reached out, swiping a streak of Star Force through the space in front of him.
In an instant.
His fingertips sliced open the void!
The terrifying suction that formed instantly spread outward, as if to devour everything around it, only to be pinched shut and restored by Qin Yang’s bare hand.
His physical body was already comparable to an ordinary Divine Artifact.
But he was still a hair’s breadth away from the true Divine Venerable Realm—a tiny gap that was as wide as a chasm.
At best, he could only be considered a Half-step Divine Venerable...
’Sigh, it seems the Beast God was right after all.’
At this, Qin Yang sighed, pushed himself up from the floor, and headed upstairs. The Beast God’s words echoed in his mind.
—To break through to the Divine Venerable Realm, one must open a Celestial Gate.
Otherwise, modifying an Array’s output as he had done might increase the flow rate of Star Force, but it wasn’t a long-term solution.
This Half-step Divine Venerable was now the limit of his Realm.
’It seems unorthodox methods really are a dead end. I’ll have to find another way.’
Thinking this, Qin Yang looked up at the ceiling. His Divine Thought spread out like water, passing through layers of thick, load-bearing concrete walls to observe the black holes in the sky above.
BZZZT—
Ten black holes floated silently in the firmament.
Coronal light radiated from their edges.
A massive amount of the Power of Stars poured down like a torrential rain, nourishing all living things.
Faintly, Qin Yang could also feel wisps of red threads descending and binding to his Primordial Spirit, forming a connection.
This was one of the effects from his previous modification of the Blood Spirit Array.
’Modification? Celestial Gate?’
At this thought, inspiration suddenly struck Qin Yang, and a bold idea formed in his mind.
’Perhaps I can try to open one of the Celestial Gates?’
’As long as I can get one of them open, won’t this vexing problem be solved?’
’But the drawback is what lies behind the Celestial Gate.’
’If I force it open, I’m afraid it might attract unknown variables.’
’I can only take it one step at a time.’
Having come up with a plan, Qin Yang suppressed his delight and slowly walked toward the door, his thoughts already drifting to the Da Li Mountain Range.
’Perhaps an old friend can help me find the answer.’
...
...
Outside the courtyard,
a crowd had gathered, their chatter incessant.
Li Zixuan and the others had gathered long ago, waiting for Qin Yang to emerge from his room.
"Why hasn’t the Young Master come out of seclusion yet?"
Elder Li stroked his white beard and glanced at the people around him, unable to suppress his excitement. "He was in seclusion for a full five years this time...
I wonder what Realm he has reached now."
As he spoke, he turned to Liu Wushuang and asked cautiously,
"Elder Wushuang?
You are the strongest among us. Can you determine the Young Master’s Realm?"
"Hmm? You want me to determine it?"
Liu Wushuang was taken aback. He glanced at the Celestial Thunder above the courtyard, his brow furrowing in difficulty. He had wanted to just shake his head and refuse.
’It’s never a good thing to discuss the Young Master behind his back.’
’It’ll be troublesome if the Young Master overhears!’
But he couldn’t help it; everyone’s gaze had already focused on him, their expressions earnest and expectant.
"Fine. I will make a tentative guess, but you all must not spread it around recklessly."
Liu Wushuang sighed and stroked his chin, found an empty stone chair, and sat down. He began to speak slowly. "Above the Celestial Venerable is the Divine Venerable Realm.
But judging by the current Star Force fluctuations, it’s still relatively thin. It’s hard to say whether the Young Master has reached the Divine Venerable Realm..."
"Hard to say?"
Everyone was stunned by his words.
"Bah! With Master’s talent, he must have reached the Divine Venerable Realm by now!"
Li Qinghe disagreed and couldn’t help but retort, "He..."
Before she could finish her sentence.
BOOM!
The villa behind her suddenly erupted in golden light. A colossal, crimson-gold object floated out and soared into the sky, its magnificent scales and claws raking through the sea of clouds with majestic dignity.
"Young Master!"
"Master! Master is out!"
Everyone was overjoyed, but before they could even greet him, they saw the Golden Dragon tear through the void and speed away, quickly vanishing from their sight.
An empty echo lingered in the air, the sound reverberating around them.
"Thank you for your hard work, everyone. Please wait here for me!"
"I have something to attend to. I’ll be right back."