Epic Of Caterpillar

Chapter 2877 - 2878: Star Shattering Cultivation

-----

Kireina was led into the deeper sections of the Library, where Manuals for the Higher Realms of Cultivation resided, beginning with Domain Integration. Frank paused in that area, silently studying the Manuals there.

Kireina continued deeper. Unlike the earlier realms with their dozens or hundreds of Methods and Manuals, the Star Shattering section held only six Cultivation Manuals, each donated long ago by powerful Cultivator Deities.

Beyond lay sections for even loftier realms, each with fewer and fewer texts. The Celestial Vessel Realm that followed Star Shattering contained only five Manuals, Ascending Nirvana just three.

What lay past that remained shrouded behind a black and red curtain—power even Susanoo had not yet grasped, nor anyone here. Yet the sectionʼs existence hinted that something awaited.

Beyond Ascending Nirvana stretched the path to true Immortality, home to the priceless and legendary Immortal Arts.

”Now choose, young goddess. What do you wish to learn?” Takemikazuchi asked.

Kireina longed to claim every method, but she knew it would be too much. She stood in thoughtful silence, extending her Heart Essence to touch each Manual and gauge its compatibility with her soul.

Of the six Star-Shattering Cultivation Manuals, only two resonated most strongly with her.

One was titled ”Seven Elemental Star Vein Refinement Mantra,” the other ”Seven Stars Battle Hegemony Body Art.”

From what she had learned, Star Shattering Realm cultivators nurtured Inner Stars within their Integrated Domain Body and Soul.

Starting with one Star, they gradually developed six more, for a total of seven. These Stars would shine brilliantly, then merge with the body, elevating the cultivatorʼs existence and ultimately transforming them into a Sacred Vessel for the Heavens.

The first method focused on linking the Stars through Veins akin to cosmic Dragon Veins. In the vast universe outside, Stars were said to connect through similar roots of primordial energy.

The second method fused the Stars directly into the body at once, reinforcing it to cosmic levels and achieving immense physical might, while treating soul cultivation as secondary.

The first felt safe but slow; the second promised rapid progress yet specialized in the physical form, potentially neglecting the soul.

”Hm, I donʼt need a Martial Art Manual right now. Can I choose these two?” Kireina asked.

”I told you to— Uh, okay,” Takemikazuchi began gruffly, but when Kireinaʼs piercing gaze met his soul, fear silenced him. He nodded reluctantly. ”But once you finish reading and absorbing the formulas, please return them to the library.”

”I will. Thank you,” Kireina replied, turning to leave.

She rejoined her maids, who had selected Body Cultivation Manuals and Martial Arts suited to their strengths: knives for Ismena, shields for Aceline.

Frank had chosen a Domain Integration Cultivation Manual called ”White Void Domain of Sword Graves” and, for his Martial Arts, ”Radiant Sunlight Emperor Lance Arts,” perfectly aligned with his Affinities and Abilities.

Back in their rooms, everyone immersed themselves in the new Manuals. Kireina read both in mere minutes but spent the next two hours rereading them meticulously, committing every detail, meaning, and formula to memory.

Afterward, she hurried back to the library and returned them, startling Takemikazuchi who stood guard. Without a word, she returned to her room to begin cultivation in earnest.

Within her Heart Essence Pillar, she maintained a list of all her Cultivation Methods, accessible at any moment.

[Thousand Soul Flame Furnace Refinement Art (Heaven Path) (Mastery: 100%)] Golden Core Realm+

[Grazing Heaven Philosophy (Heaven Path) (Mastery: 100%)] Heavenly Being Realm+

[Swift Wind Cicada Method (Earth Path) (Mastery: 100%)]

[The Four Stations Cicada Molting Method (Earth Path) (Mastery: 100%)] Four World Axis Realm

[Four Cursed Abyssal Spider Eyes Method (Earth Path) (Mastery: 100%)] Four World Axis Realm

[Abyssal Demon Queen of Demise Body (Heaven Path) (Mastery: 100%)] Domain Integration Realm

[Heavenly Celestial Sun Scarab Goddess Khepri Transformation (Earth Path) (Mastery: 100%)] Domain Integration Realm

[Seven Elemental Star Vein Refinement Mantra (Heaven Path) (Mastery: 0%)] Star Shattering Realm

[Seven Stars Battle Hegemony Body Art (Earth Path) (Mastery: 0%)] Star Shattering Realm

This marked how far she had progressed.

”The Four Axis Methods are too incompatible with the Star Shattering Realm, so I cannot reuse or improve their power for now...” she reflected. ”But the Thousand Soul Flame Furnace Refinement Art and Grazing Heaven Philosophy remain my foundations. I can use them to fuse and transform these new ones. Whatʼs more, my unique Heaven and Earth Path Methods are highly adaptable and seem easy to modify.”

Kireina carefully analyzed the formulas of each new method, refining and adapting them as she launched into her Star Shattering cultivation.

Within her Integrated Domain, she began drawing on the power of the First Star—born from her Ascension and identical to her Domain itself.

Its radiant glow surged outward, filling every corner. This was her path toward becoming a Constellation.

By aligning all Seven Stars, she knew she could ascend to Constellation status.

Constellations belonged to the Celestial Vessel Realm and beyond, placing them on par with—or perhaps above—Universal Hegemonies, even surpassing the Cosmic Beast Realm.

Channeling the Seven Elemental Star Vein Refinement Mantra, Kireina gathered her Fate power and infused it into the First Star. Each Star embodied Fate, generating an Attraction Force that let her read cosmic currents and glimpse fragments of her future.

”Incredible...”

This Star was no ordinary ball of plasma. It was a swirling mass of countless colors and spinning flows of essence, shaped like an enormous planetoid-sized star.

Using the Seven Elemental Star Vein Refinement Mantra, she absorbed and refined its essence, catching vivid glimpses of possible futures along the path that had brought her here.

Through the night, Kireina sank into profound meditation.

When she awoke, the Star had been refined halfway—far faster than she had expected.

”Once itʼs fully refined, I can begin creating my Second Star by splitting another within my Cosmic Realm... wow. Having a Cosmic Realm already, and billions of gods beneath me, has truly made cultivation so much easier,” Kireina thought, a satisfied smile touching her lips as she stepped out of her room.

While Susanoo meditated, she had little to occupy her beyond exploring the Heavenly Domain. So, while quietly practicing the Seven Elemental Star Vein Refinement Mantra, she ventured outside with her maids and Frank.

Takemikazuchi accompanied them, guiding the group through the various lands. Divine and Spiritual Fields stretched across the realm, home to roaming Divine Beasts whose bodies could serve as precious cultivation materials once hunted.

Farther out, among the many islands and continents, entire nations of cultivators and kami thrived. They sometimes waged war, fiercely competing for resources.

Susanoo, as a God of Battle and Storms, delighted in such conflicts. He encouraged their struggles and growth, even though it often led to heavy bloodshed.

Kireina wished she could bring her family to witness these marvels, but she had not come here to sightsee.

She had come to grow stronger.

-----