The Limit of Stars (Seeking Support)

Liang Ji checked the data on the 'Star Catalog' and then connected to his Natal Star, the 'Dragon Soul Star', to observe the Half-Dragonfolk tribes within.

The Half-Dragonfolk tribes were built against the mountains and by the sea. The eastern side of the tribe faced the ocean, while the west and north sides relied on the mountains. Half-Dragonfolk were amphibious creatures, capable of living in mountains and seas.

At this moment, within a mountain peak's dense forest to the west of the tribe, a new 'Poison Grotto' had been constructed. All sorts of poisonous insects roamed within, and poisonous gas and miasma filled the air.

This was the 'Myriad Poison Grotto' Spirit Seed that Liang Ji had purchased, formed after refining it. Of course, at this moment, the 'Poison Grotto' could hardly be called 'myriad poison'; it didn't even reach a hundred poisons. However, it was barely enough for the Half-Dragonfolk retainers to cultivate their body-hardening poison resistance.

Currently, over a dozen Half-Dragonfolk who had cultivated body-hardening were enduring the torment of poisonous insects biting and poisonous gas corroding them within the 'Poison Grotto', practicing their body-hardening poison resistance.

Outside the 'Poison Grotto', even more Half-Dragonfolk were lined up and waiting, ready to take over once their companions inside could no longer bear it and came out.

These Half-Dragonfolk retainers carried out Heavenly Emperor Liang Ji's orders without any discount.

Liang Ji had ordered them to enter the 'Poison Grotto' to cultivate body-hardening, and even with the pain of poisonous insects biting and poisonous gas corroding them, these Half-Dragonfolk did not hesitate.

"However, there was some miscalculation," Liang Ji thought as he looked at the 'Poison Grotto' spiritual land in the mountains. "The current Spirit Vein strength of the Dragon Soul Star can only support one spiritual land."

"The spiritual land seeds for the 'Frozen Abyss' and 'Flame Valley' cannot be planted or refined at all!"

Liang Ji's gaze shifted to the Dragon Soul entwined around his Natal Star. He could see that the spiritual land seeds for the 'Frozen Abyss' and 'Flame Valley' were still within the Dragon Soul's belly. Although they had been refined by the Dragon Soul, they could not be planted into the Natal Star.

"I must improve the Spirit Veins of the 'Dragon Soul Star', otherwise there are too many restrictions."

Liang Ji thought of the limitation on the number of retainers, the Half-Dragonfolk, which could only reach a maximum of ten thousand and could not grow further. This was also restricted by the Star's Spirit Veins.

Coupled with the current limitation on the number of spiritual lands that could be supported, the Star's Spirit Veins had to be improved.

"To improve the Spirit Veins, I must continue to refine Demon Cores."

"Fortunately, the Demon Cores I refined into my Natal Star earlier were just the most common Spotted Snake Demon Cores."

"According to recent market prices, a first-tier Spotted Snake Demon Core costs around three thousand Low-grade Spirit Stones."

Liang Ji then reviewed the remaining Spirit Stones he had. After purchasing three 'spiritual land' seeds, he had about twelve thousand Low-grade Spirit Stones left.

"That's barely enough to buy four first-tier Spotted Snake Demon Cores."

"If I only want to maintain the minimum level of strength and consumption for the 'spiritual lands', then buying two more Spotted Snake Demon Cores would be enough."

On the Natal Star, the constructed 'spiritual lands' also required the power of the Star's Spirit Veins to operate. Different strengths required different Spirit Vein strengths and had different consumptions.

Take the 'Myriad Poison Grotto' spiritual land, for example. With Liang Ji's current Natal Star Spirit Vein strength of Tier 1 (1%), it could only maintain the most basic consumption, reaching the level of a hundred poisons. The thousand poisons level would require at least Tier 1 (10%) Spirit Vein strength, and the highest level of ten thousand poisons would require Tier 1 (100%) strength.

Of course, to upgrade a cultivation spiritual land into a cultivation spiritual ground, a Tier 2 Spirit Vein foundation would be needed.

"For the initial exam, the lowest level of poison resistance, ice resistance, and fire resistance from body-hardening should be sufficient!"

Liang Ji pondered and decided to buy only two Spotted Snake Demon Cores, keeping six thousand Low-grade Spirit Stones in reserve.

After all, being without money always made one feel uneasy.

Moreover, the difference between Tier 1 (3%) and Tier 1 (5%) Spirit Veins was limited, and the effect of buying two Demon Cores versus four would not be significantly different.

To achieve the qualitative change effect of cultivating spiritual lands, one would need to reach at least Tier 1 (10%) Spirit Veins.

However, the gap between his current Spirit Stones and the amount needed to buy nine first-tier Spotted Snake Demon Cores was too large; he could only plan for that later.

With his decision made, Liang Ji's gaze turned towards the east of the Half-Dragonfolk tribe, where a large area of flat land lay by the sea.

At this moment, a group of Half-Dragonfolk were gathered there, holding axes in one hand and shields in the other. They were continuously striking their shields with their battle axes, making clanging sounds, and shouting.

In the center of the group were two tall and sturdy Half-Dragonfolk, clearly a head taller than their peers.

These two imposing Half-Dragonfolk were engaged in a duel.

The victor would take the place of Chi the Sixth and become the new leader of the warrior group within the tribe, inheriting the name Chi and becoming Chi the Seventh.

Beside them, Xi the Sixth and Chi the Sixth presided over the duel as referees.

It was evident that Chi the Sixth, who had once led the Half-Dragonfolk warriors to battle on the trial star and returned with spoils, earning the Heavenly Emperor's reward, was now very old.

His height of two meters had shrunk to less than 1.9 meters. His efforts to straighten his back were no longer enough, making him appear shorter than his peers, who were generally over 1.8 meters tall.

His scales, once lustrous and hard, were now dull and lifeless, even showing signs of graying, cracking.

His hair and beard had all turned withered and white.

His large hands, with prominent bones and tendons, still held his battle axe and shield with firmness and strength.

From ancient times, generals were like beauties, not allowed to show their white hair in this world.

While only a few days had passed for Liang Ji in reality, on his Natal Star, the warriors who had fought for him on the trial star had already withered. Only Chi the Sixth remained, and he too was nearing his end.

Time, aging, life, death, reincarnation – these were all great paths, nourishing the Dao Fruit within the Natal Star and increasing the Star Lord's comprehension.

Clang! Bang!

Finally, in the arena surrounded by the crowd, a mighty Half-Dragonfolk, relying on greater strength and defense, broke through his opponent's guard and knocked him to the ground, unable to rise again, thus achieving victory.

Although his body was covered in wounds, with multiple scales shattered and bones broken, these were undoubtedly the badges of victory, which he displayed with abandon.

The surrounding Half-Dragonfolk's shield-banging and shouting grew even more fervent, the atmosphere rising.

Liang Ji watched with a flicker of thought.

He discovered that after cultivating the 'Snake Barbarian Scripture' and achieving body-hardening, these Half-Dragonfolk were generally very warlike and combative.

Besides this duel to decide the position of the warrior leader, it was common to see Half-Dragonfolk dueling each other around the tribe at other times.

"Perhaps I should also buy an 'Arena' and refine it into my Natal Star."

The 'Arena' was also a special cultivation ground, capable of being used for Retainer competitions and combat training, greatly enhancing the Retainers' combat prowess.

However, for the same reason, there weren't enough Spirit Stones, so this plan could only be postponed for now.

Within the Half-Dragonfolk tribe, under the equally aged Xi the Sixth's presiding over the ceremony, Chi the Sixth handed over the battle axe and shield in his hands to the victor of the duel, symbolizing the succession of the tribal warrior leader.

Then, a group of Half-Dragonfolk from the tribe surrounded the newly born warrior leader, Chi the Seventh, cheering and celebrating continuously.

Chi the Sixth's figure seemed to collapse in an instant, becoming increasingly stooped and weak, as he slowly walked to the 'Hall of Heroes' in the center of the tribal graveyard.

The equally aged Xi the Sixth, accompanied by a young priest, offered a blessing to Chi the Sixth, and then watched him enter the Hall of Heroes.

Not long after, the sound of a baby's cry echoed through the tribe.

On the 'Star Chart', the number of Half-Dragonfolk instantly dropped from 10,000 to 9,999, only to recover to 10,000 the next moment.

Death and rebirth were a cycle.

The Dao Fruit within the Natal Star grew slightly again.

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