The Star Poison Mountain Range, a sprawling expanse of undulating black peaks, derives its somber hue from a thick, black mist that envelops it, rendering the entire mountain range reminiscent of a colossal black serpent coiled ominously.
Adjacent to the Star Poison Mountain Range stands a towering edifice known as the Star Tower, a stronghold established by the Divine Star Sect within this treacherous territory.
Whoosh!
Suddenly, a figure descended rapidly from the sky.
Ye Tian made his way directly toward the Star Tower, encountering no one along the path. It was only upon entering the tower that he spotted an elderly man seated in meditation.
"A newcomer!"
The elder seemed to sense his presence, opening his tightly shut eyes and directing his gaze at Ye Tian as he entered.
"Hmm? Sixth level of Martial Spirit?" The elder's brow furrowed as he muttered under his breath, "What is that fool Zhang Zhengyi up to? Sending a mere child of the sixth level here—does he want to court death?"
"Elder Xingchen!" Ye Tian respectfully bowed.
Elder Xingchen, a silver-robed elder of the Divine Star Sect, was a figure of considerable strength, undoubtedly ranking among the top five. He had long resided in the Star Tower, safeguarding the disciples within the Star Poison Mountain Range.
This mountain range was a unique locale, and to prevent mutual destruction, the Divine Star Sect and the Hundred Poisons Sect had reached an agreement: only disciples of the Martial Spirit level were permitted entry, while those at the Martial Sovereign level and above were strictly prohibited.
To further avert any deceitful schemes, both sects had stationed a Martial Monarch outside as guardians. Elder Xingchen was one such guardian.
"To send a sixth-level Martial Spirit to the Star Poison Mountain Range, it seems you've offended that scoundrel Zhang Zhengyi. Go back to the Divine Star Sect. If he gives you trouble, tell him I ordered your return," Elder Xingchen waved his hand dismissively.
Ye Tian felt a surge of gratitude upon hearing this; it appeared that not all within the Divine Star Sect were as despicable as Zhang Zhengyi. "Thank you, Elder. However, I actually wish to venture into the Star Poison Mountain Range," he replied earnestly.
"Hmm?" Elder Xingchen regarded Ye Tian with newfound interest.
Ye Tian immediately sensed a tremendous pressure bearing down upon him. Yet, recalling his intention to showcase his strength during the upcoming inner sect competition, he decided not to conceal his power. He directly manifested the second layer of the Nine Revolutions Battle Body, a radiant golden light erupting from his form, dazzling like a blazing sun.
"What is this…?"
Elder Xingchen's expression shifted as he beheld Ye Tian, now enveloped in golden energy.
At this moment, Ye Tian exuded a formidable aura; while he could not yet match Elder Xingchen, he had certainly improved significantly.
Elder Xingchen looked at Ye Tian in astonishment, exclaiming, "You have actually cultivated the Nine Revolutions Battle Body to the second layer? Such talent! Why have I not heard of you before? Quickly, tell me your name!"
"Reporting to you, Elder, I joined the Divine Star Sect just a year ago; this is my first visit to the Star Poison Mountain Range," Ye Tian replied respectfully, retracting the Nine Revolutions Battle Body.
"A year ago?"
Elder Xingchen's eyes widened in disbelief. "In just one year, you have reached the sixth level of Martial Spirit? And you've mastered the second layer of the Nine Revolutions Battle Body? With such talent, why hasn't the Grand Elder taken you as a disciple? Even if he hasn't, the Sect Master would surely have claimed you. How could they allow you to come to the Star Poison Mountain Range?"
"Well… I am not certain!" Ye Tian replied with a wry smile, genuinely puzzled as to why no elder had taken him under their wing, given his evident talent.
"Could those old fools have lost their senses?"
Elder Xingchen murmured to himself.
Ye Tian rolled his eyes, refraining from responding; he dared not provoke the "old fools" Elder Xingchen referred to.
"Very well, if they will not accept you, then you shall be my disciple," Elder Xingchen suddenly turned to Ye Tian, pointing to a nearby mat. "Kneel and bow your head; from this day forth, I shall be your master."
"Uh?" Ye Tian was taken aback.
"What?" Elder Xingchen glared, his voice rising in anger. "Do you look down upon me? I am a seventh-level Martial Monarch, surely worthy to be your master! Do you not realize how many wish to become my disciple? Are you not satisfied?"
"Disciple is not dissatisfied…" Ye Tian hastily clarified.
"Then hurry up and bow!" Elder Xingchen interrupted.
"Uh… very well, Master, please accept my three bows…" Ye Tian, feeling helpless, complied. He was not averse to Elder Xingchen; rather, the rapidity of the situation left him momentarily stunned.
However, on the flip side, having Elder Xingchen as a mentor would certainly deter many from provoking him within the Divine Star Sect.
After respectfully bowing three times…
"Hahaha! From this moment forth, you are my second disciple. You have an elder brother, but he is a true disciple and has left the Great Yan Kingdom to undergo training."
"Elder brother!" Ye Tian silently noted this.
"Disciple, I see that both of your weapons are blades; you must be inclined toward the path of swordsmanship," Elder Xingchen continued.
Ye Tian's expression tightened; two weapons? It seemed he could not hide anything from Elder Xingchen, though the elder likely mistook the quality of the Xuan Iron Battle Blade for an ordinary spiritual weapon.
"However, I am not a practitioner of blades…" Elder Xingchen suddenly appeared somewhat awkward, as typically, masters would take on disciples from the same school of thought. Otherwise, how could a sword-wielding master teach a blade-wielding disciple? It would be like mixing apples and oranges.
"Nevertheless, I believe you will excel in the path of the blade on your own. While I cannot teach you in that regard, feel free to ask me for guidance in other areas," Elder Xingchen said, looking at Ye Tian.
Upon hearing this, Ye Tian was not shy about requesting, "Master, as you can see, I have perfected the second layer of the Nine Revolutions Battle Body. However, I lack martial techniques suitable for body refinement, leaving me unable to fully utilize my strength."
"Mm, well said; your combat awareness is commendable!" Elder Xingchen remarked, a glimmer of appreciation in his eyes, before tossing Ye Tian a book. "This martial technique is called the Super Star Hand, a creation of mine. When perfected, it allows one to unleash eighteen Star Hands in a single strike—an upgraded version of the ordinary Star Hand."
"Super Star Hand!"
Ye Tian's eyes lit up, and as he examined the book, astonishment washed over his face. Much of the content aligned with his previous research.
Long before this, Ye Tian had already cultivated the Star Hand to perfection, capable of unleashing three Star Hands simultaneously. His research had been directed toward developing the Super Star Hand.
Clearly, Elder Xingchen had traversed this path before him and created the Super Star Hand, saving Ye Tian considerable effort.
"With this martial technique, combined with my Ten Meridians Blood Pill and the Nine Revolutions Battle Body, my combat prowess will soar!"
Ye Tian's spirits soared.
"Disciple, do not rejoice too soon; to cultivate the Super Star Hand, you must first master the ordinary Star Hand to perfection," Elder Xingchen cautioned, observing Ye Tian's exuberance.
"Rest assured, Master; I have long perfected the Star Hand," Ye Tian replied with a grin.
"What!"
Elder Xingchen's expression reflected disbelief. "Did you not just join the Divine Star Sect a year ago?"
It was hard to fathom that Ye Tian had achieved such mastery over the Star Hand in just one year.
"Master, look!" Ye Tian smiled slightly, choosing not to elaborate further. He directly demonstrated the Star Hand, conjuring three enormous True Essence hands that surged toward the hall's exit.
Boom! The sound echoed, shaking the very ground.
Elder Xingchen's eyes widened in shock.
This was no mere perfection; Ye Tian's display transcended the boundaries of mastery. Given time, he could likely create his own version of the Super Star Hand without Elder Xingchen's guidance.
"Goodness! Such talent is simply monstrous; have the Grand Elders truly lost their sight, neglecting such a remarkable disciple?" Elder Xingchen muttered to himself, increasingly perplexed.
However, the prospect of having such a genius as his disciple filled Elder Xingchen with delight, prompting him to exclaim, "Indeed! With your understanding, you will soon master the Super Star Hand. It appears this martial technique is inherently suited to you."
Ye Tian nodded; in truth, having glimpsed the Super Star Hand earlier, he had already grasped much of its essence, given his solid foundation.
"With the Super Star Hand, your combat abilities should see a significant enhancement. However, the most suitable martial techniques for the Nine Revolutions Battle Body are still those based on fist techniques. Wait for me; I will visit some old friends soon and see if I can procure a powerful fist technique for you," Elder Xingchen announced.
"Thank you, Master!" Ye Tian replied, elated.
"Very well, with such power, I no longer worry about your safety in the Star Poison Mountain Range. Remember, give the disciples of the Hundred Poisons Sect a thorough thrashing. Recently, a genius named Yi Xuehan emerged from their ranks, taking the lives of many of our Divine Star Sect disciples, which has brought me great shame. As my disciple, you must help restore my honor," Elder Xingchen said, his eyes gleaming with cold determination.
"Yi Xuehan!"
Ye Tian was secretly astonished but nodded resolutely, declaring, "Rest assured, Master; should I encounter any disciples of the Hundred Poisons Sect, I will strike them down—one by one."
"Mm, good. But do exercise caution; the disciples of the Hundred Poisons Sect are cunning. Be particularly wary of their poisons," Elder Xingchen advised.
"I understand, Master!" Ye Tian nodded, then bowed respectfully before departing from the Star Tower.
The endless black mountains loomed like a voracious beast, and as Ye Tian departed from the Star Tower, he soared through the air towards this ominous range.
Before long, he found himself enveloped in the thick, black mist.
"Ah! My Nine Revolutions Battle Body grants me immunity to these toxic mists!" Ye Tian exclaimed in astonishment.
Within the Star Poison Mountain Range, disciples of the Divine Star Sect often found themselves at a disadvantage when encountering those of the Hundred Poisons Sect. This was primarily due to the need for the Divine Star disciples to divert their attention to fend off the ubiquitous toxic mists, resulting in a depletion of their strength before any confrontation even commenced.
Conversely, these toxic mists provided only advantages to the disciples of the Hundred Poisons Sect, enhancing their prowess without any detriment.
In this delicate balance of gain and loss, the disciples of the Hundred Poisons Sect naturally held the upper hand.
However, at this moment, Ye Tian realized that these toxic mists posed no threat to him. After cultivating the Nine Revolutions Battle Body, his physique had become extraordinarily resilient; such levels of toxicity could not erode his body.
Witnessing this remarkable outcome, a gleam of determination sparkled in Ye Tian's eyes, bolstering his confidence for the upcoming trials in the Star Poison Mountain Range.