The River of Stars Turns Across the Heavens

Night had deepened, and all was silent.

Everyone sat around the crude dining table, staring at the dishes overflowing with dazzling radiance. It all felt somewhat unreal.

Chen Fusheng had never seen ninety-nine percent of these dishes. The only exception was the Purple Spirit Bamboo Shoots. He recognized them because Xuan Yuanchang had once brought out the same ingredient in the kitchen of the Flood Dragon Ship.

But that bamboo shoot had been only as thick as a thumb, and they had even pilfered quite a bit of monster-beast meat to stew it with. Yet this whole plateful of bamboo shoots shimmering with purple Divine Radiance? There had to be more than ten pounds!

Chen Fusheng was genuinely stunned. How many star stones would this cost? It was hard to estimate. It probably belonged to the category of items not for sale—or perhaps it was a top-grade ingredient reserved as tribute for the core members of the Heavenly Star Palace.

Old Han picked up a piece to sample. His face was full of delight as he chewed slowly, savoring every bite. The flavor was still top-tier, though compared with the past, something seemed to be missing. Even so, it was enough to satisfy his appetite completely.

Chen Fusheng picked up a piece of Golden Mushroom. Its incomparably fresh and delicious flavor slowly spread through him. Golden light radiated from his body, and his flesh seemed to be soaking in Jade Nectar. The very foundation of his life received effective nourishment.

He was shaken. Given the current state of his Physical Roots, this piece of Golden Mushroom could still continue strengthening the roots of his body. It was truly terrifying.

After he waited for a spoonful of Jade Marrow Soup, his body radiated the luster of fine jade. His organs seemed to have turned to jade, and his physique grew as solid as a mountain.

Every ingredient had a different effect, especially the Volcanic Wonder Lotus. It contained the Two Energies, which circulated through the body and nourished the vitality of all living things.

Chen Fusheng's mouth was fragrant, but he kept suppressing his own condition, making the essence hide deep within his shell. The Golden Crow Duck Soup, however, nearly exposed his vital signs.

The Golden Crow was an ancient spirit bird with the bloodline of the Golden Crow Tribe. The soup wrapped around his heart, and its medicinal power urged his Life Essence Blood to erupt!

The Phoenix Blood Chicken was even more extraordinary. It replenished qi and blood, strengthened the Root Bone, and contained vast amounts of primordial energy. Chen Fusheng did not dare eat it, because he knew he could not keep himself under control.

Lei San's transformation continued to be astonishing. With every breath, muffled thunder rolled out of his body, while lightning marks surfaced across his skin, setting off his burly physique like that of a thunder god of war.

Chen Fusheng was moved and delighted. Was this the Innate Thunder Body?

Han Yu Rou chewed slowly and daintily like a lady, yet she was also startled by the spectacle Lei San presented. No wonder Old Han regarded him so highly. In the future, the outstanding talents of the Abyss Realm would surely have a place for him!

Han Yu Rou found this big, foolish fellow increasingly pleasing to the eye. But when she noticed Chen Fusheng, she snorted coldly inwardly. Although the color radiating from his body was intense, his vital signs were still weak.

"What a waste." Han Yu Rou held a grudge fiercely. These supreme supplements had miraculous effects even on those in the Fourth Realm, and an ordinary Star Master would lose all the medicinal power after eating them!

She was also puzzled. Why was Lei San stronger, yet Huang Tiancheng had not taken him in as his grandson?

Chen Fusheng was dragging his feet, storing the Life Essence Blood in his qi sea. He planned to find an opportunity to go out, digest it, and then return to keep eating.

"No wonder everyone wants to become a powerhouse. This is simply supreme enjoyment."

Chen Fusheng glanced at Old Han. The old man took only one bite of each dish, closing his eyes and silently savoring it before moving his chopsticks again after a long while.

In truth, at his level of cultivation, these ingredients were naturally meaningless as nourishment. He was merely enjoying the impact on his taste buds.

"I say, Old Zheng."

After Old Han finished tasting the Multi-Treasure Turtle, he said casually, "It's been ten years since we parted, and your temples have gone gray too. It's time you started thinking about the children."

Han Yu Rou set down her bowl and chopsticks with some difficulty. As she gazed at the table laden with dishes, she could not help feeling tense, because the conversation that followed would affect the rest of her life!

Han Yu Rou prided herself on possessing peerless talent, enough to stand on equal footing with a Dao Star Master. Yet she knew that in this world there were even more terrifying prodigies of the ages—the Saint Star Masters!

Figures like that were saints descending into the mortal world. They were the true pinnacle!

Lei San had already fallen into a drowsy sleep. Chen Fusheng also looked toward Huang Tiancheng. Had the two of them truly not met for ten years, or had Old Han spent ten years searching for him?

"Since we parted at the Cold Abyss, you've aged quite a bit too."

Huang Tiancheng said calmly, "Ever since the Ancient Era came to an end, cultivators from every road have swarmed in and dug deeply into the Zhou Dynasty's treasures. To this day, no one has ever seen the whole picture."

Chen Fusheng did not know how powerful the ancient overlord who ruled the Zhou Dynasty had been, but he had heard of the Cold Abyss. Even a Transcendent Star Master could freeze to death there. It was a place of savage evil, yet it buried the most glorious superpower in history.

The formation of the Cold Abyss was also connected to the ancient war. In the end, the Zhou Dynasty was destroyed and a Saint Star fell, while the Cold Abyss that buried the dynasty became a Treasure Land for treasure hunters.

Old Han fell silent. There were quite a few forces in the Abyss Realm equal to the Heavenly Sun Star Palace. Their respective goals were the Zhou Dynasty's treasures and the cultivators of the Forbidden Path!

He was merely interested in the treasures, and Huang Tiancheng was the same. Otherwise, he would not have suffered the torment of the Cold Abyss Poison while opening a sealed treasure vault back then.

And it had not been only the two of them. A group of powerhouses had also met bitter ends along the way. After that incident, it had triggered the struggles among the various Heavenly Star Manors.

What they fought over was naturally the Supreme Treasure Land in its opened state.

Although Huang Tiancheng had been gravely wounded, he had obtained a heaven-shaking treasure back then—one that pointed toward the Zhou Dynasty's strongest treasure region. That was also the main reason Old Han had sought him out.

"You didn't come here solely for the key, did you?" Old Huang asked.

"Was Devouring Moon destroyed?" Old Han asked.

"Even if it hadn't been destroyed, do you think I could give it to you?" Huang Tiancheng shook his head. It was an ancestral treasure that had accompanied him throughout his life.

"That's only natural. I don't want Devouring Moon either. But you should know how important the latent value of its Star Skill is to my Heavenly Sun Star Palace."

Old Han replied, "Some matters truly should be settled. You can name whatever conditions you have."

"I mentioned it before: trade the Heavenly Sun Star Skill for the Devouring Moon Star Skill." Huang Tiancheng gave a mocking laugh. It was a completely equal exchange, but the other side would never agree.

"Now it's even more impossible."

Old Han flatly refused. "The Heavenly Sun Star Skill is the secret art never passed beyond the Heavenly Sun Star Palace. Who would dare transmit it privately? It also involves the inheritance of the Dao Yang Furnace."

"Of course, taking a step back, even if I gave it to you, the difficulty of cultivating the Heavenly Sun Star Skill is so great that the chances of mastering it are exceedingly low."

Cultivating a Star Skill required a specific inheritance scroll, and such scrolls were almost always single-use. If one failed, the loss would be enough to make one bleed from the heart.

"Of course."

Old Han changed tack. "If Lei San joins my sect, I promise I can teach it to him!"

The Heavenly Sun Star Palace naturally had its core lineage. Even Successor Disciples from outside clans were forbidden from touching the Heavenly Sun Star Skill. After all, it concerned the very foundation on which they stood.

But if Devouring Moon were taken away and Lei San allowed to come into contact with this inheritance, Old Han was still confident he could manage it.

"Very well."

Huang Tiancheng glanced at Chen Fusheng and said, "My grandson has some talent. I hope he can join the Heavenly Star Manor and receive generous terms and treatment."

Old Han frowned. This request was not difficult for him. Chen Fusheng could take the back door if he wanted, but Old Han was worried that it would bring trouble upon him.

The internal struggles of the Heavenly Star Manor were even more brutal than outsiders imagined. No matter how voluntary or generous the treatment, hidden dangers to one's life still existed.

Chen Fusheng did not understand why Huang Tiancheng wanted him to go to the Heavenly Star Manor. Wouldn't that be like trying to survive beneath a tiger's rump?

"I'll give him the status of a Core Disciple!"

Old Han still made the promise. This status and treatment was second only to Han Yu Rou's Successor Disciple position!

Chen Fusheng was startled. A Core Disciple stood even higher than Xuan Yuanchang's position and could receive the true inheritance of the Heavenly Star Manor. It seemed Old Han's identity was even more astonishing than he had imagined.

"The Supreme Treasure Land of the Abyss Realm is about to open, isn't it? You should have some keys in your hands, right?"

At those words, Old Han gave a bitter smile. "You want Chen Fusheng to go to the Supreme Treasure Land? Do you know how dangerous it is? Do you understand the hidden risks of the keys?"

"If you don't tell, and I don't tell, who will know?"

Huang Tiancheng smiled. "Compared with the Golden Key, my conditions are nothing. Besides, you've obtained an Innate Thunder Body. You old fellow's luck is truly good."

The corners of Old Han's mouth lifted as he held back a laugh, but when he looked toward Chen Fusheng, his brow furrowed.

Had Huang Tiancheng failed to understand what he meant? Chen Fusheng could cultivate in the Heavenly Star Manor for several years and become a Star Lord under his protection. Wasn't that a road straight to the heavens?

Even without this exchange, for the sake of an old friend, he would not refuse to help. Even if Chen Fusheng failed to become a Star Lord, he could still live a life of wealth and honor.

As for fighting in the Treasure Land, the danger was simply too great. Without absolute strength, how could he establish a foothold?

Old Han had wanted to persuade him, but when he saw Huang Tiancheng lower his head to eat, clearly signaling that the conversation was over, he could only sigh faintly.

"I agree to all of this. As for the matter of the treasure keys, I'll need several days to consult with others."

After saying that, he slowly rose to his feet. Chen Fusheng followed suit. Han Yu Rou's bright eyes reluctantly peeled away from the dining table. Pressing her red lips together, she stood and stealthily took a piece of Jade Cake before following Old Han away.

Chen Fusheng saw them to the door, then returned.

Chen Fusheng had a bellyful of questions he wanted to ask, but Huang Tiancheng went to the kitchen, moved aside a water vat, and led him to the land of the fire vein.

"Grandfather, there's actually a fire-element spirit vein beneath here!"

Chen Fusheng was startled. The underground tunnel was blazing red, filled with a violent aura that left his mouth dry and his tongue parched.

And this was while the fire vein was still dormant. He glanced at the opening cut into it and saw endless lava and raging flames in the distance.

Chen Fusheng was also speechless. The upper echelons of the Star Gazing Manor had actually failed to discover that there was a spirit vein here?

"Some people like to eavesdrop. It's safe for us to talk here." Huang Tiancheng gave an aged smile.

"Grandfather, what exactly are the treasure keys? And why do I have to go to the Heavenly Star Manor?"

"During the journey to the Black River, you saw their reactions. Either you stop cultivating now, or you risk life and death to charge upward!"

"So which path will you choose?" Huang Tiancheng asked with utmost seriousness.

Chen Fusheng answered without hesitation, "The road is beneath my feet. How could I possibly retreat?"

Boom!

Chen Fusheng no longer suppressed his vital signs. Dazzling, mottled radiance burst from him. As his body absorbed the medicinal power of the ingredients, casting off the old and taking in the new, his vitality climbed a great deal by sheer force.

In an instant, his life seemed to take on an otherworldly, saintly aura. Life Essence Blood surged from his pores, already showing signs of churning like billowing wolf-smoke!

"The river of stars turns across the heavens; the curtains hang low over the human world."

Huang Tiancheng raised his head and gazed at the figure immersed in mottled radiance. He seemed to stand within the profound starry sky, with countless stars circling and shining around him, as if a battle robe woven from the Milky Way covered his body.

He was stirred and shaken. In only a few short months, an ordinary mortal had transformed and forged a physique of unmatched potential. A strange man—truly a great man beyond compare!