Chapter 45: The Eclipse Shards and the Stellar Devouring Method
"Do you have any powerful techniques for me now?" Xiao Feng asked Elysia, his voice filled with anticipation.
Elysia looked at him thoughtfully. "There are indeed powerful techniques, but you're not yet strong enough to learn them."
Undeterred, Xiao Feng smiled. "That's alright! I'm sure you have something else for me."
Elysia nodded, her expression turning serious. "I have a weapon for you: the Eclipse Shards."
She revealed a set of twenty shards, each glowing with a mysterious energy. Xiao Feng stepped forward, eager to wield them. He reached out to lift one, but as he attempted to do so, he found it impossibly heavy.
"Why can't I lift it?" he asked, frustration creeping into his tone.
Elysia smiled softly. "You can't control them with physical strength. They require soul power to wield."
Realizing his mistake, Xiao Feng nodded and closed his eyes to focus his soul power. This time, as he concentrated, he managed to lift two shards into the air, but no more.
"Great start, but you need to improve your control," Elysia encouraged. "Here, drink this." She handed him a vial filled with a radiant liquid.
"What is this?" Xiao Feng asked, eyeing the vial curiously.
"It will permanently increase your soul power by five times," Elysia explained. "Drink it, and you'll be able to control more shards."
Without hesitation, Xiao Feng drank the entire vial. A warm sensation enveloped him as his soul power surged, strengthening him beyond what he had thought possible. "I can feel it!" he exclaimed, excitement bubbling within him.
"Now, try again," Elysia urged.
Xiao Feng reached out with his enhanced soul power and, this time, ten of the Eclipse Shards floated effortlessly around him. A grin spread across his face as he experimented with their movements.
With a flash of inspiration, he combined the ten shards into a unique flying device resembling a skateboard. "Let's see how this works!" he said, stepping onto it. As he activated it, the skateboard shot forward at an astonishing speed.
"Whoa!" Xiao Feng yelled, his exhilaration quickly turning into alarm as he lost control. He crashed into a nearby wall, the shards scattering around him. Dazed but unharmed, he laughed at the absurdity of it all.
Elysia watched, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "You certainly need more practice," she remarked, a hint of warmth in her voice.
Standing up and dusting himself off, Xiao Feng couldn't help but chuckle. "Guess I got a little too excited," he said.
As he regained his composure, Elysia's expression grew serious. "There's something important you need to know. Time flows differently here; one minute in the real world equals one hour here in the Astral Nexus."
Xiao Feng's eyes lit up with understanding. "So I can train here for a long time!"
Elysia shook her head. "Not quite. You can't cultivate here because there is no spiritual energy in this realm. If you leave the Heavenly Realm and go to other worlds, you won't find spiritual energy either."
"Then how do they cultivate?" Xiao Feng asked, intrigued.
"You'll need to learn to consume Astral Energy," Elysia explained. "It's used by powerful cultivators in space. Astral energy is similar to spiritual energy but is more concentrated and potent, albeit rarer."
"How do I learn to use it?" Xiao Feng pressed, eager to understand.
Elysia smiled and placed her finger gently on Xiao Feng's forehead. A surge of knowledge flooded into his mind, and he grasped the technique instantly. "This is the Stellar Devouring Method," she said. "With it, you'll be able to cultivate using Astral Energy, just like the great cultivators."
"Thank you, Elysia!" Xiao Feng said, feeling invigorated by the knowledge.
Elysia continued, "When you reach the Immortal Ascension Realm, I will give you a powerful puppet with the power comparable to the peak of Immortal Ascension Realm .
Xiao Feng's eyes widened with excitement. "A puppet? That sounds incredible!"
"It will be a significant asset in your journey," Elysia assured him. "But for now, focus on mastering the Stellar Devouring Method and your control over the Eclipse Shards."
"Understood," Xiao Feng replied, determination in his voice.
As their conversation came to an end, the shimmering world of the Astral Nexus began to dissolve around them. "It's time for you to return to your body," Elysia said, her voice gentle but firm. "Use what you've learned wisely."
Xiao Feng felt a pull, and in an instant, he found himself waking up in his bed at the Xing Family Estate. The familiar surroundings brought him back to reality, but he could still feel the lingering energy from the Astral Nexus.
"I'm back," he whispered, a smile spreading across his face. With the Eclipse Shards, the Stellar Devouring Method, and the promise of the Immortal Centurion Puppet, Xiao Feng felt ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.