After stabilizing his condition and successfully breaking through to the second stage of Stellar Beast Core cultivation, Ery wasted no ti.
He sent a ssage to his master.
The reply ca almost instantly.
A single command.
A summons.
Without hesitation, Ery logged into the Cosmic Palace, his consciousness drawn into that boundless realm of cosmic authority—and he stood once again within the domain of his master.
The residence of the Stellar Beast Emperor.
The supre figure remained seated upon his throne, much of his form hidden beneath drifting shadows. Under his gaze—
Ery felt small.
Yet he did not falter.
Celestial Cloud, Typhon's grandfather advanced. His green-scaled draconic form radiated calm authority, his aura steady and oppressive. Without words, the test began.
Ery imdiately unleashed his Primal Transformation, his aura surging outward with renewed strength. Compared to before, his control was noticeably refined.
He closed the distance imdiately, engaging in close combat. He pressed the offensive, chaining strikes together with increasing precision, forcing the Qilin Supre to respond.
Celestial Cloud t him calmly.
Every blow was intercepted, redirected, or neutralized with minimal effort. With a sudden retreating step, Ery took out the divine sword and unleashed his Star-Rendering Cleaves.
The first arc tore through the air, sharp and controlled, followed imdiately by a second, then a third. Celestial Cloud responded in kind.
Each cleave was t with asured counters, deflected with minimal motion. Even so, the repeated use of the technique revealed Ery's growth. His control over the blade art was far more stable, his energy usage more efficient, and his execution increasingly refined with each strike.
For a ti, he managed to maintain both offense and defense, transitioning between close combat and ranged techniques with fluidity. His movents were sharper, his reactions faster—his overall prowess had clearly advanced.
Still, Ery understood.
Celestial Cloud was holding back.
Then, just as Ery prepared to press forward once more, a voice descended from the throne.
"That is enough."
The words instantly stilled the battlefield.
The Stellar Beast Emperor had spoken.
"I was concerned about your attempt to walk a dual path," he said calmly. "But seeing your progress… I am satisfied."
The discussion that followed was precise and thorough.
This was the third ti his master had personally guided him, and Ery treated every word with the utmost seriousness.
The Stellar Beast Emperor pointed out subtle flaws in the way Ery absorbed and circulated primal energy. While his application in combat had been effective, there were inefficiencies beneath the surface. Ery listened carefully, committing each observation to mory, knowing that such guidance was invaluable.
Then, the Emperor's attention shifted.
His gaze lingered slightly.
"Your recovery… was faster than expected."
The words were calm, but carried weight.
The Emperor explained that for half-blood cultivators, recovery from a failed breakthrough was notoriously slow. The integration of cosmic energy into the physical body required ti—far more than ordinary cultivators. Even under optimal conditions, with access to the best resources and techniques, such recovery would typically take twenty years.
Yet Ery—
had done it in seven.
The implication was clear.
His dual cultivation path, once seen as risky and uncertain, had proven itself to be the correct choice.
A quiet sense of affirmation settled within Ery.
With a subtle flick of his hand, the Stellar Beast Emperor summoned two items into the air.
"You have done well. These are your rewards."
Ery was surprised.
The two items hovered silently before him.
The first imdiately drew his attention.
It was massive—nearly two ters in length. Dark. Solid.
At first glance, it resembled a blade, but upon closer inspection, Ery realized it had no edge. It was not ant to cut.
It was a ruler.
An edgeless weapon forged from dense, unknown stone, its surface matte and unadorned, yet faint currents of suppressed energy flowed within it. It carried no outward brilliance, no decorative markings—only a quiet, overwhelming presence.
It felt ancient.
Heavy.
When it drifted toward him, Ery reached out and grasped it.
The mont his hand closed around it his expression shifted. The weight was imnse, Far beyond ordinary weapons.
Even with his current physique, he was forced to channel primal energy into his arm just to lift it properly. The strain traveled through his muscles, grounding him instantly, forcing him to stabilize his stance.
This was no ordinary artifact.
Before Ery could voice his thoughts, the Stellar Beast Emperor spoke in a calm, asured tone, making its purpose clear.
"You will train with this weapon."
Ery's gaze remained fixed on it, his senses probing the dense weight and restrained power within. It was a Tier 7 artifact—low grade, yet still worth billions of spirit stones. However, its true value did not lie in its price.
It suited him.
Unlike Excalibur, which emphasized precision and refinent, this weapon demanded raw strength and unwavering control. Its imnse weight forced his body to adjust with every movent, compelling him to channel his primal energy more efficiently. It resonated naturally with his Primal Transformation. This was not a weapon ant to enhance him.
It was ant to temper him.
"The Gravestone Ruler," the Beast Emperor added.
The na lingered in Ery's mind.
A fitting na.
Ery then turned his attention to the second item.
The small stone box appeared. Carefully, he opened it, and the contents revealed themselves without resistance.
Four materials rose gently into the air.
They were crystal cores.
Each one differed in size, shape, and color—one burned with a deep crimson glow, its surface flickering like contained fla; another shimred in pale azure, cool and tranquil; the third pulsed faintly with a deep violet hue, its energy rhythmic and alive; and the last radiated a restrained golden brilliance, stable and refined. Despite their differences, all four emitted the unmistakable aura of top-grade beast cores, their energy pure, dense, and perfectly preserved.
Ery's gaze sharpened as recognition settled in.
There were exactly four of them.
The precise number he needed to complete the second stage of his Star Beast Refinent Art.
It was only then that he truly understood.
His master had been observing him far more closely than he had realized. From the heavy training weapon tailored to his primal path to the exact four cores required for his next breakthrough.
Every choice reflected careful intention.
A quiet weight settled in Ery's chest.
The expectation behind the gift, the silent guidance, felt strangely familiar.
For a brief mont, the image of his late master Xion surfaced in his mind.
The sa quiet support.
Emotion stirred within him, fleeting but undeniable. Then, as always, he steadied himself. Lowering his head slightly, he spoke with sincerity.
"Thank you, Master."
The Stellar Beast Emperor spoke again.
This ti, his voice did not travel through the air but resonated directly within Ery's mind, calm yet absolute.
"Train well… be prepared... A calamity is coming."
Ery understood imdiately.
The calamity the Beast Emperor spoke of could only be the infested scourge—the parasitic force from another realm.
His expression hardened. This was not a distant warning. It was inevitable.
After all, he had already been warned once before—by his own future self.
The Emperor's voice echoed again, steady and composed.
"Now… you may ask your question."
The supre figure before him had seen through his intentions. Stepping forward, he gathered his thoughts and spoke with respect.
"Master, I have a question regarding the Law of Origin."
What followed was brief in ti, yet profound in depth. When the exchange finally ca to an end, Ery withdrew from the Cosmic Palace, his consciousness returning to his inner domain.
Before him stood the Star Devouring Beast, A faint smile appeared on his lips. There was no hesitation in his gaze. Only anticipation.
Avan
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