The moment the Star Origin Spiritual Milk entered his mouth, it did not bring the violent energy impact he had imagined.
Like four warm, living stars, it melted in an instant, transforming into four streams of cool, pure energy that shimmered with dreamlike starlight.
As though it possessed intelligence, the energy naturally divided into three streams without any deliberate guidance. One sank into his limbs and bones, nourishing his body; one flowed into the vortex in his dantian, tempering his true qi; the last, most wondrous stream rose directly upward and silently merged into the depths of his Sea of Consciousness, which had been formed by his mental power.
There was not the slightest pain throughout the process, only a comfort and sublimation that seeped into his bones and nourished his soul, as though his entire level of life was quietly being cleansed and elevated.
Lin Feng immediately focused his mind. The Wind-Thunder Foundation Building Method began circulating with unprecedented efficiency, actively guiding and accelerating the absorption of this gentle yet boundlessly vast power of stellar origin.
The first thing to change was his physical body.
The starlight energy that sank into his flesh and blood was like the most precise nanoscopic repair robots, accurately seeking out every minute flaw and hidden injury in his body—the slight trauma to his internal organs from his battle with Snake Consort, the tiny cracks in his meridians caused by the pressure of forcefully breaking through his realm, and even the faint irreversible fatigue damage inflicted on his cells by wind and thunder energy when he had tempered his body in the core of the baleful wind long ago...
Nourished by this stellar origin containing the power of creation, all those hidden dangers were repaired and healed at a speed visible to the naked eye until they vanished completely, restoring him to an unprecedented state of perfect peak condition!
Then, an even deeper transformation began.
Bathed in starlight, his muscle fibers became tougher, denser, and filled with explosive force. The purple lightning patterns covering his bones seemed to be infused with vitality, becoming clearer and more intricate. They even faintly intertwined with the flowing starlight, radiating an ancient, immortal charm. His fascia became more resilient and expansive, able to withstand even more violent bursts of power. Even the marrow deep within his bones blossomed with new vitality under this baptism, greatly enhancing its blood-forming and energy-storage capabilities.
[Physical body realm breakthrough: Bronze Skin Iron Bones (Intermediate)!] [Strength: 1888 kg!] [Agility: 75 m/s!]
His pure physical strength had surged by a staggering four hundred kilograms!
His speed had also jumped by ten meters per second!
His raw bodily strength was already approaching the threshold of a Martial Master!
At the same time, the purple-black wind and thunder vortex within his dantian was undergoing an earth-shaking transformation.
The incomparably pure, upright, and peaceful power of stellar origin within the Star Origin Spiritual Milk merged perfectly with his originally unruly Wind and Thunder True Qi, like the most efficient purifier and catalyst.
The Wind and Thunder True Qi was compressed and purified to the extreme. The traces of violence and impurities originally mixed within the black Wind Fiend were thoroughly cleansed and obliterated, leaving behind only the most fundamental and pure properties of frigid Wind Fiend, which achieved an unprecedented perfect balance and fusion with the brilliant purple thunder.
The vortex's rotational speed soared, while its volume instead shrank by an entire circle. Yet the total amount and quality of energy contained within it underwent a qualitative leap, rising severalfold and more!
His meridians were like river channels broadened by the power of a galaxy, becoming wider and tougher, capable of holding an endlessly surging torrent of even more vast and majestic energy.
[Wind-Thunder Foundation Building Method proficiency greatly increased! Wind and Thunder True Qi purity +25%, total quantity +40%!] [Realm steadily rose to: Martial Artist (Late-Stage Peak)! Only one step away from the Martial Master realm!]
Finally, that cool and boundless stellar power poured into his Sea of Consciousness.
His Sea of Consciousness, which had become somewhat weary and dim after consecutive extreme battles and the high-intensity use of mental power, was like land long parched by drought receiving sweet rain. It instantly became full, abundant, and exceptionally active.
The area of the "lake" condensed from mental power expanded, while its waters became thicker and more solid, rippling with the glimmer of wisdom. More wondrous still, specks of starlight began flickering and rising and falling across the shimmering lake surface, as well as around the purple electric radiance representing the True Meaning of Thunder. They reflected each other with the lightning, making his mental power even deeper and steadier.
[Mental power breakthrough: 50! The spiritual platform grew ever clearer; perception, deduction, and willpower all received significant improvements!]
Four drops of Star Origin Spiritual Milk had actually allowed his body, true qi, and spirit to simultaneously ascend to an entirely new and enormous level, far beyond his peers!
Compared to before entering the core region, his strength had increased by far more than double! At this moment, he felt that even if he faced Snake Consort again at her peak, he would no longer need to be so battered and miserable. He even had ample confidence that he could fight her—and win!
When Lin Feng had fully absorbed it and slowly opened his eyes, they were no longer filled with simple purple lightning. Instead, they had transformed into an even deeper, more mysterious sight—his left eye seemed to contain a miniature world of thunder being born and extinguished, while his right reflected a rotating, brilliant galaxy.
He lightly clenched his fist. Before his knuckles had even exerted force, the air around him gave off faint explosive pops. It was a sign of power compressed to the extreme, yet naturally overflowing.
The vast power within him, surging like a galaxy yet as obedient as his own limbs, brought him a powerful confidence in controlling himself and looking down upon all else.
"The finals... I'm ready."
He rose abruptly. His upright figure was like an unrivaled divine weapon about to leave its sheath, and his gaze was sharp as lightning. It pierced through the chaotic, mixed energy currents of the core region, as though he had already seen the Starfall Main Arena floating in the air and gathering the attention of the entire province—the ultimate stage of the final battle!
Just then, the participant token around his wrist erupted with unprecedentedly blazing white light, completely enveloping his entire body like a miniature sun.
A spatial force far more powerful than before descended with a thunderous crash, irresistible.
[Myriad Phenomena Battlefield time has officially ended! The final rankings have been locked! Beginning teleportation of the top one hundred examinees to the finals venue—Starfall Main Arena!]
Lin Feng relaxed his body and mind, allowing the vast spatial force to envelop and teleport him.
Before his eyes was extreme white light and rapidly twisting space. A moment later, his feet felt solid ground, and the deafening roar around him came crashing down like the Milky Way pouring from the nine heavens, instantly swallowing him whole!
He was already standing in the center of a colossal circular arena beyond imagination, bathed in the light of countless simulated, lifelike stars!
Beneath his feet was a mirror-smooth floor engraved with countless ancient and intricate runes, faintly connected to the arena's energy core.
Above him was a boundless dome of stars that seemed within arm's reach, with countless stars flickering and galaxies flowing.
All around were tier upon tier of spiraling stands, packed with hundreds of thousands of fervent spectators!
Cheers, shouts, and the noise of countless instruments and energy amplifiers blended into a soundwave that seemed almost tangible, battering the minds of every genius present!
Lights, gazes, anticipation, pressure... everything was fixed like a spotlight upon the one hundred top geniuses in the center, who had fought their way out of tens of thousands of examinees through blood and slaughter!
This was the core main venue of Starfall Arena! The supreme stage for the final battle of the Jiangnan Province martial arts examination!
Lin Feng's gaze was as cold as lightning as he swiftly swept his surroundings.
Zhao Feng, Qin Wushuang, Chen Feng, Zhou Min, and other familiar and unfamiliar faces appeared one after another through teleportation. Every one of them radiated an aura stronger, more condensed, and sharper than when they had been in the Myriad Phenomena Battlefield. Clearly, during the final time limit, each had obtained their own opportunity and made full preparations for this final battle.
Zhao Feng still held that ancient longsword in his arms. His gaze was sharper than ever, yet the fierce sword intent around him had instead become much more restrained, like the calm before a storm.
Qin Wushuang remained as serene as ever. His white robes were untouched by dust, and a faint smile lingered at the corner of his mouth. He seemed to have merged with the entire starry backdrop, unfathomably deep.
Several godlike figures appeared atop the high platform. Their powerful auras inspired awe even from afar. At their head stood the Star River Martial King.
His calm gaze, which seemed capable of seeing through everything, slowly swept across the hundred geniuses below. When it passed Lin Feng, Qin Wushuang, Zhao Feng, and several others at the top of the rankings, it paused for an imperceptible instant. A trace of hidden anticipation flashed through his eyes.
"Congratulations, young geniuses." The Star River Martial King's voice was not loud, yet it clearly overwhelmed the clamor of hundreds of thousands and echoed through every corner.
"With your own strength and will, you have proven yourselves to be the undisputed proud sons and daughters among this generation of martial artists in Jiangnan Province! But remember: the path of martial arts is like rowing upstream—if you do not advance, you retreat, and there is no end! The finals before you will be the ultimate stage for displaying your potential and breaking through your own limits! It will also be the starting point toward a broader world!"
"The rules of the finals are simple and direct—arena battles! Single-elimination. Winners advance, losers leave! Fight until only one remains, and the final champion of this year's Jiangnan Province martial arts examination shall be decided!"
"Now, I announce that the finals—officially begin!"
As his decree-like words fell, the enormous rune-inscribed floor at the center of the arena let out a low, majestic hum. Ten even larger alloy arenas, enveloped by transparent yet incomparably sturdy energy barriers, slowly awakened like sleeping giant beasts and rose solemnly from beneath the ground!
At the same time, the enormous holographic screen above the arena suddenly lit up. Countless names and portraits began scrolling madly at a dazzling speed as the first round's matchups were randomly assigned!
The atmosphere throughout the arena was completely ignited at that moment, reaching the peak of boiling frenzy!
"Lin Feng! Invincible!"
"Qin Wushuang! Star Chief will win!"
"Zhao Feng! Let your sword sweep the eight directions!"
Countless spectators screamed themselves hoarse, shouting the names of the geniuses they supported. The fanatical soundwaves nearly overturned the entire arena dome.
Lin Feng calmly watched the rapidly flashing names on the screen, his expression still as an ancient well. Yet within his chest, the blazing fighting intent forged through countless battles erupted like a volcano suppressed for ten thousand years, burning fiercely!
His gaze passed through the crowd and met the gazes of Qin Wushuang and Zhao Feng in the distance once more, colliding in midair!
Invisible sparks burst between the three of them.
In each other's eyes, they all saw unhidden resolve and conviction.
There was one goal, and one goal only—
The supreme position of champion!
Before you continue