New Power

Chapter 3: New Power. After successfully defeating the Black-Robed People and destroying the stone platform, Mu Chen felt somewhat physically exhausted, but his spirits soared. During the battle, he had sensed a new breakthrough in his use of spiritual energy, as though a door to a vaster world of power were slowly opening. After returning to his clan, Mu Chen did not rush to interrogate the Black-Robed People. Instead, he found a quiet cultivation chamber. He needed time to absorb and comprehend the insights he had gained in battle, especially the sensation of spiritual energy and Star Power fusing to their utmost when he unleashed Wrath of the Starry Firmament against the stone platform. It made him feel that even more potential lay waiting to be unearthed. Inside the chamber, Mu Chen sat cross-legged, closed his eyes, and began recalling every detail of the battle. He remembered how, as he poured spiritual energy into his longsword and prepared to attack the stone platform, the Star Power within him had automatically mingled with his spiritual energy, as though answering some summons. This was no simple mixture, but a profound union, as seamless as milk blending into water. He tried to summon his spiritual energy and Star Power once more, recreating that state. At first, the two powers flowed somewhat chaotically through his meridians, and the Star Power behaved like a mischievous sprite, reluctant to obey. But Mu Chen did not lose heart. He concentrated and guided his spiritual energy into a slow flow, as though taming a herd of unruly wild horses. Under his patient guidance, the spiritual energy gradually grew docile, and the Star Power began revolving around it in a steady rhythm. Mu Chen knew that to truly master this new state of power, he had to find a stable circulation route for his spiritual energy. He constructed an imaginary circulation diagram in his mind, testing different routes and observing how the Star Power responded. After repeated attempts, he discovered that the Star Power fused most perfectly with his spiritual energy when it followed a route through the meridians throughout his body, undergoing a special compression and rotation as it passed his heart before finally converging in his dantian. During this process, a faint glow began to appear around Mu Chen's body. At first, it was weak, flickering across his skin like the dim light of fireflies on a summer night. As he continued adjusting the circulation of his spiritual energy, the glow gradually intensified, its pale white turning to brilliant silver, as though countless tiny stars had been set around his body. Suddenly, Mu Chen felt a wondrous connection forming between his soul and that radiance. His soul power spread involuntarily, intertwining with his spiritual energy and Star Power. This interweaving gave him an unprecedentedly clear perception of his surroundings. He could sense the spiritual energy flowing within the chamber's walls and even detect the fluctuations of spiritual energy from clan guards patrolling in the distance. This is... Mu Chen was startled. He realized that an entirely new spiritual technique was gradually taking shape. It not only fused spiritual energy and Star Power, but also incorporated soul power, making it a more advanced technique than the Star Transformation he had previously mastered. He remained immersed in that state, working to consolidate and refine the new spiritual technique. As time passed, his mastery grew increasingly assured. He discovered that it could take several forms. He could concentrate its power into a single point to unleash a mighty attack, as he had against the stone platform, or disperse it to form a defensive Spiritual Energy Shield. The starlight flickering across the shield could not only withstand enemy attacks, but also deliver a soul-level shock to enemies who approached. To test the new spiritual technique's might, Mu Chen went to the clan's training grounds. Standing in the center, he drew a deep breath and began unleashing it. He slowly raised both hands, tracing a circle before him. With his movements, spiritual energy, Star Power, and soul power swiftly converged. An enormous silver ring of spiritual light formed before him, stars twinkling across it as it radiated a mysterious and powerful aura. He threw a punch toward a huge testing stele in the distance, and the Star Power within the ring of spiritual light transformed into a beam that shot toward the stone. Wherever the beam passed, the air compressed violently with a piercing howl. When it struck the stele, a tremendous crash erupted, shaking the entire training grounds. Under that mighty force, a deep crack first appeared in the stele. Then, before the astonished eyes of the onlookers, it collapsed with a thunderous crash into a heap of rubble. "Wh-what spiritual technique is that? It's so powerful!" The clan disciples watching nearby stared at Mu Chen with wide eyes, their faces filled with amazement. Looking at his handiwork, Mu Chen was also filled with delighted surprise. He knew this new power would become an important weapon in his fight against the evil forces and his defense of the clan. Even after mastering the new spiritual technique's basic applications, Mu Chen was not satisfied. He began considering how to combine it with his other skills to unleash even greater might. He tried incorporating it into his sword techniques. When his spiritual energy longsword fused with the new technique's Star Power, the blade grew longer and more slender. Starlight flowed across it like a streaming river of stars, and every swing released streaks of sword energy that carried a soul-shocking effect. He also tried incorporating the new spiritual technique into his movement techniques. Whenever he used them, the Star Power around his body transformed into tiny stars that revolved around him. They not only increased his speed, but also confused nearby enemies and disrupted their souls as he moved. Through continual experimentation and practice, Mu Chen grew increasingly adept at wielding his new power. His strength increased enormously in the process, and he felt much more confident about facing those Black-Robed People now. Yet he also knew that the evil forces would not leave matters there. This had only been a small band of Black-Robed People; behind them, even stronger enemies might be plotting a greater conspiracy. No matter what, however, he would use his newfound power to protect his clan and fight the evil forces to the bitter end. He walked out of the training grounds, determination shining in his eyes, ready to face new challenges, whether they involved delving deeper into his new power or clashing with the evil forces once again.