Nine Star Hegemon Body Arts

Long Chen had not taken a medicinal pill in a very long time. Now, he discovered that his body was violently rejecting this pill.

“Is it because I didn’t awaken a new pill formula this time?” he muttered. “Have I lost the ability to advance using pills?”

This discovery shocked Long Chen.

He immediately tested several other pills. Healing and recovery pills were absorbed without issue, but the moment he attempted to consume any cultivation-related pill, it was expelled from his stomach.

“I didn’t even realize my body had changed this much after reaching the Sovereign Lord realm...” Long Chen muttered, stunned.

He formed hand seals and entered a meditative state. That was when he noticed something even more unsettling—the soul-nourishing effect of the Seven Treasure Colored Glass Tree no longer affected him. It no longer enhanced his comprehension.

What had gone wrong? Could he no longer cultivate with the assistance of external forces?

Long Chen grew worried and stared at the Seven Treasure Colored Glass Tree blankly.

Its leaves swayed in the air. The air of the Dao swirled around them as if it were trying to tell him something.

“Seems like I’ll need to rely on myself from now on,” Long Chen said softly.

In the past, he had depended on pills to raise his realm and on the Seven Treasure Colored Glass Tree to boost his comprehension. Now that he stood at an exceedingly high level, his body was instinctively rejecting such supportive abilities.

Long Chen suddenly smiled.

If a person’s leg was wounded, they needed a crutch to walk. But once the leg healed, would they still cling to the crutch?

Long Chen looked up and gazed at the starry river flowing high above. Perhaps starting today, he would also stand using only his own strength.

A feeling of freedom welled up inside him. It was as if invisible shackles he had never noticed before were gone.

In that case, I might as well relax now!

The first thing Long Chen did was jump onto one of the Seven Treasure Colored Glass Tree’s leaves. This giant leaf became his bed.

Resting his hands behind his head, he closed his eyes and hummed quietly. It felt as though all burdens had fallen away. Every worry faded.

Long Chen didn’t even know how long he had slept for. It was an exceptionally beautiful sleep, but a startled cry woke him up.

Long Chen slid off and realized that everyone was awake. They all had horrified expressions.

“You were all killed?” asked Long Chen.

Seeing Long Chen’s curious expression, Xue Ying hastily explained, “Lord Long Chen, I-I tried to stop Miss Yingying, but she still opened the gate to the seventh level.”

However, Xue Ying kept her head down, not daring to look him in the eye.

Long Chen immediately pieced things together.

It seemed that he had been asleep for several days. With their combined strength, they had reached the seventh level.

Long Chen had told Xue Ying not to go to the seventh level, but that only sparked her curiosity.

Xue Ying had indeed warned Qu Yingying, but that only made her more curious. The more she was told she couldn’t go, the more determined she became.

After that, Xue Ying hadn’t stopped Qu Yingying with full force. The latter slipped through and opened the gate.

When the gate opened, all she saw was utter darkness. Within that darkness burned a pair of smoldering eyes.

A gravestone fell, and a ripple of death killed everyone other than Xue Ying.

Although Xue Ying managed to resist that ripple of death, she was cut down an instant later by an invisible blade. She never even saw where it came from.

Xue Ying was too ashamed to even look at Long Chen. In truth, she had gotten overconfident. She believed that with her own strength, combined with Qu Yingying’s support abilities, she could easily ensure Qu Yingying’s safety.

However, in front of that terrifying existence, she was crushed like an ant.

Qu Yingying eventually recovered from her shock at this sudden death and turned to Long Chen.

She asked, “My good little brother, did you kill the thing behind the seventh gate?”

Although Qu Yingying had grown much stronger, she was still terrified of the feeling of dying.

Fortunately, the impact was still within what she could endure. It didn’t leave an underlying scar.

Xue Ying also looked at Long Chen, and all the nine star disciples perked their ears.

“That is the clone of a terrifying being I killed. A strand of his discarnate soul was absorbed into the Seven Treasure Space through the clone. I don’t know how, but his will remains. He has created his own space within the Seven Treasure Space. That’s why I told you not to enter the seventh level.”

He paused briefly.

“But this isn’t entirely bad. At least, now you won’t grow overconfident again.”

That light scolding instantly made Xue Ying feel remorseful. She could tell that Long Chen was slightly angry.

Long Chen had instructed them not to go to the seventh level for their own good. If anything had truly happened to Que Yingying, Xue Ying would never have been able to forgive herself—even with ten thousand deaths.

“Wow, little brother, I suddenly find that you’re getting more handsome by the day!” Qu Yingying exclaimed, holding Long Chen’s hand with a smile.

“Hmph, you need to learn how to change topics more subtly.”

Long Chen shivered.

This foolish elder sister was clearly afraid of being scolded and had resorted to the most clumsy flattery imaginable.

“Hehe, so you saw through me,” Qu Yingying giggled. “But really, you do feel different from before. I just can’t say how.”

Long Chen hid his shock.

Qu Yingying’s Primal Chaos Astral Body made her senses extraordinarily keen. Did she actually notice that he had shed those invisible shackles?

“Big sister, how was the combat in the Seven Treasure Space?” asked Long Chen.

“It was amazing!” Qu Yingying exclaimed. “They’re way better than those pigs in the Starry River Palace!”

Realizing that she was also from the Starry River Palace, Qu Yingying hesitated, feeling like her description was a bit off.

However, she recovered quickly and added, “When I fight with these brothers and sisters, I can feel a subtle connection with every single one of them, as if our hearts are connected! Those fellows from the Starry River Palace are like donkeys in comparison, donkeys who don’t even know how stupid they are. I really love everyone here. I’ve decided that I’m going to stick with them wherever they go!”

Fighting alongside the nine star disciples of the nine heavens made her feel as though their spirits were one. For the first time, she felt she had found where she belonged.

It was also the first time she had met so many people willing to risk their lives to protect her.

That awakened something in return.

For the first time in her life, she understood the desire to risk her own life for others.

Long Chen nodded.

“There are seven days left until the devil slaying battle,” he said. “When it comes, it will be drenched in blood. In these seven days, I’ll turn all of you into true experts.”

A cold glint flashed through his eyes.

Li Wanci, I hope you don’t disappoint me!