After checking the data on the Star Compass, Liang Ji connected to his Natal Star, Dragon Soul Star, and observed the Half-Dragonfolk tribe there.
The Half-Dragonfolk tribe had been built against the mountains and beside the sea. The ocean lay to the east, while mountains bordered the west and north. Half-Dragonfolk were amphibious creatures by nature, able to climb mountains and dive into the sea.
At that moment, a new "Poison Grotto" had been established in the dense forest on a mountain west of the tribe. Venomous insects of every kind crawled inside, and poisonous fumes and miasma filled the air.
This was the Myriad Poison Grotto Dharma Land Spirit Seed Liang Ji had purchased, now formed after being refined. Of course, this "Poison Grotto" was nowhere near worthy of the name Myriad Poison. It could not even boast a hundred poisons. Still, it was just enough for the Half-Dragonfolk Retainers to cultivate the poison resistance of their Hegemonic Bodies.
At that moment, more than a dozen Half-Dragonfolk who had cultivated Hegemonic Bodies were inside the "Poison Grotto," enduring the bites of venomous insects and the torment of poisonous fumes as they trained their bodies to resist poison.
Outside the "Poison Grotto," even more Half-Dragonfolk waited in line, ready to take the place of their companions once they could no longer endure the pain and came out.
These Half-Dragonfolk Vassals carried out the Heavenly Emperor Liang Ji's orders without the slightest slack.
Liang Ji had ordered them to cultivate their Hegemonic Bodies inside the "Poison Grotto," and even the agony of insect bites and poisonous fumes did not make them hesitate.
"But I miscalculated a little." As Liang Ji studied the "Poison Grotto" Dharma Land in the forest, his thoughts turned. "Dragon Soul Star's Spirit Vein can only support one Dharma Land right now."
"The Dharma Land Spirit Seeds for the Frozen Abyss and Flame Valley can't be planted or refined at all!"
Liang Ji shifted his gaze to the Dragon Soul coiled around his Natal Star. He could see the Dharma Land Spirit Seeds for the Frozen Abyss and Flame Valley still inside its belly. Though the Dragon Soul had already refined them, they could not be planted in his Natal Star.
"I have to upgrade Dragon Soul Star's Spirit Vein. Otherwise, there are too many restrictions."
Liang Ji thought of the number of Half-Dragonfolk Vassals. Their population had hit its limit of ten thousand and could not grow further. That too was due to the Star Spirit Vein's limitations.
On top of that, the limit on the number of Dharma Lands it could support meant that upgrading the Star Spirit Vein was a must.
"To upgrade the Spirit Vein, I have to keep refining Demon Cores into it."
"Fortunately, the Demon Core I refined into my Natal Star earlier was only an ordinary Spotted Snake Demon Core."
"Based on recent market prices, a first-tier Spotted Snake Demon Core costs around three thousand Low-grade Spirit Stones."
Liang Ji took stock of his remaining Spirit Stones. After buying three Dharma Land Spirit Seeds, he had about twelve thousand Low-grade Spirit Stones left.
"That's just enough to buy four first-tier Spotted Snake Demon Cores."
"If I only need to maintain the Dharma Land at its lowest level of strength and consumption, then two more Spotted Snake Demon Cores will be enough."
The Dharma Land built on a Natal Star required the power of its Star Spirit Vein to operate. Different levels of power required different levels of Spirit Vein strength, and consumed different amounts of it.
Take the Myriad Poison Grotto Dharma Land, for example. With his Natal Star's Spirit Vein currently at first tier (1%), Liang Ji could only maintain its most basic level of consumption, which could support up to a hundred poisons. A thousand poisons required a first-tier Spirit Vein at 10% strength, while the highest level, ten thousand poisons, required a first-tier Spirit Vein at 100%.
Of course, if a cultivation Dharma Land were to advance into a cultivation Spirit Land, it would need a second-tier Spirit Vein as its foundation.
"For the first mock exam, the Hegemonic Body's basic poison resistance, ice resistance, and fire resistance should be enough!"
Liang Ji thought it over and decided to buy only two Spotted Snake Demon Cores, keeping the remaining six thousand Low-grade Spirit Stones in reserve.
After all, having no money on hand always made a person anxious.
Besides, there was little difference between a first-tier Spirit Vein at 3% strength and one at 5%. Buying two Demon Cores or four would not make much difference in the result.
To bring about a qualitative change in a cultivation Dharma Land, the Spirit Vein would have to reach at least first tier (10%).
But his remaining Spirit Stones fell far short of the cost of nine first-tier Spotted Snake Demon Cores. He would have to pursue that goal later.
With his decision made, Liang Ji turned his gaze toward the eastern side of the Half-Dragonfolk tribe, where broad stretches of flat land lay along the coast.
A group of Half-Dragonfolk had gathered there. Each held an axe in one hand and a shield in the other, repeatedly striking their shields with their battle-axes as they roared.
At the center stood two burly Half-Dragonfolk, each a head taller than the tribesmen around them.
The two towering Half-Dragonfolk were fighting a duel.
The victor would take Chi the Sixth's place, becoming the new leader of the tribe's warriors. He would inherit the name Chi and become Chi the Seventh.
Nearby, Xi the Sixth and Chi the Sixth presided over the duel as its judges.
It was plain to see that Chi the Sixth, who had once led the Half-Dragonfolk warriors in battle on the Trial Star, then returned with spoils and earned the Heavenly Emperor's reward, had grown very old.
His two-meter frame had shrunk to less than 1.9 meters. He still tried to stand tall, but his back could no longer straighten, and he now looked shorter than the tribesmen around him, most of whom were over 1.8 meters.
His scales, once hard and gleaming, had grown dull. Some had turned gray-white and begun to crack.
His hair and beard had withered white.
The sinews and bones stood out on his great hands, yet his grip on his battle-axe and shield remained firm and strong.
Since ancient times, generals were like beauties: none were meant to be seen with white hair.
Only a few days had passed in Liang Ji's world, but the warriors who had fought for him on the Trial Star had already passed away. Chi the Sixth, the last of them, had reached the end of his life.
Time, age, life and death, reincarnation—these were all part of the Great Dao. They nourished the Dao Fruit within the Natal Star and deepened the Star Lord's understanding.
Clang! Bang!
At last, in the arena surrounded by the crowd, one powerful Half-Dragonfolk used his superior strength and defense to break through his opponent's guard. He knocked him to the ground, where he could no longer rise, and claimed victory.
His own body was covered in wounds. Scales had shattered in many places, and bones and sinews had been severed. But these were undoubtedly medals of victory, and he flaunted them without restraint.
The Half-Dragonfolk watching all around grew more frenzied, pounding their shields and roaring as the atmosphere continued to build.
Liang Ji watched, his thoughts stirring.
He realized that after cultivating the Snake Barbarian Scripture and forming Hegemonic Bodies, the Half-Dragonfolk had generally become highly combative and eager to fight.
Aside from this duel to decide the leader of the warriors, Half-Dragonfolk could often be seen fighting one another around the tribe.
"Perhaps I should also buy an 'Arena' and refine it into my Natal Star."
The "Arena" was also a special kind of cultivation Dharma Land. It could be used for Vassal competitions and combat training, greatly improving their fighting ability.
But for the same reason as before, he did not have enough Spirit Stones, so he could only put the plan on the back burner for now.
In the Half-Dragonfolk tribe, with the equally aged Xi the Sixth presiding over the ceremony, Chi the Sixth handed the battle-axe and shield to the winner of the duel, passing down the mantle of the tribe's warrior leader.
The Half-Dragonfolk crowded around their newly appointed warrior leader, Chi the Seventh, cheering and celebrating.
Chi the Sixth's frame seemed to collapse in an instant. He grew even more stooped and feeble, and slowly made his way to the Hall of Heroes at the center of the tribe's graveyard.
Xi the Sixth, just as old, brought a young priest to give Chi the Sixth a blessing. Then he watched as Chi the Sixth entered the Hall of Heroes.
Not long after, the sound of an infant crying rang out through the tribe.
On the Star Compass, the number of Half-Dragonfolk dropped from 10,000 to 9,999 in an instant, then returned to 10,000 the next moment.
Death and new life formed a cycle.
The Dao Fruit within the Natal Star grew ever so slightly again.
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