They had once believed the abilities of Spirit Guardians stemmed from their bloodlines and were one of a kind.

But now, the Martial Artists had taught them a harsh lesson.

Their abilities, or their so-called Talent, were not unique. Ordinary people could master them too, as long as they found the right path, and they wouldn’t necessarily be inferior.

They had merely been blessed by their ancestors, giving them a better starting point than ordinary people. In a sense, they were no different from the scions of wealthy families who inherit vast fortunes.

They were not celestials, nor were they gods. Just like the countless other beings in the world, they were simply ordinary people.

"Perhaps we should gain a deeper understanding of the Martial Arts Realm, and of the Martial Dao."

Mu Xingyuan said softly.

"Exactly. I had the same thought. I’ve heard that Donghua has established a Martial Arts University and that it will be formally inaugurated soon. I want to enroll and gain an in-depth understanding."

Hong Miao said slowly, his gaze fixed on Zhou Yuanjue’s figure.

Zhou Yuanjue had completely won their respect, kindling an unprecedented interest in the Martial Dao.

While Hong Miao and the others discussed the matter, Zhou Yuanjue continued with his attempt.

Bolts of lightning rained down without pause, the terrifying arcs of electricity spreading out like serpents and inspiring dread.

They could feel the light at his Middle Cavity acupoint growing ever more brilliant. After one final bolt of lightning struck, it was completely ignited, its transformation complete.

The first of the Southern Dipper Six Stars was lit!

Then, everyone watched as the star at Zhou Yuanjue’s Middle Cavity acupoint, at the very moment of its ignition, transformed into a vortex and began to generate a powerful gravitational pull.

The Southern Dipper Starlight shining down from the sky seemed drawn in as if by a black hole, continuously devoured by this Star Point. The acupoint itself was dyed a dazzling, silvery-white.

At the same time, the number of silvery-white star-feathers on Zhou Yuanjue’s Starlight Phoenix Dharma Aspect also seemed to increase slightly.

’So that’s why he’s lighting the acupoints...’

Hong Miao and the others finally understood Zhou Yuanjue’s intention.

Zhou Yuanjue didn’t stop. He pulled the Silver Needle from his Middle Cavity acupoint and plunged it into the acupoint that corresponded to the second star.

He also took a compressed food bar from his pouch, swallowed it in one gulp, and rapidly digested it to replenish the immense stamina he had expended on healing his injuries.

The lightning serpents danced wildly, their roar unending.

This was destined to be a long night.

...

...

In the latter half of the night, the moon began its descent toward the horizon. Over the past several hours, Zhou Yuanjue hadn’t fought the Thunder Tribulation continuously. He was still unable to maintain the Yin-Yang Life and Death State with his self-imposed limits released for long without sustaining injury.

Therefore, when the state’s duration ended, he would rest for one to two hours to recover. During this process, the acupoints in his body were being ignited one by one.

The onlookers could clearly sense that with every ignited acupoint, the silver star-fire on Zhou Yuanjue’s Mind Dharma Form grew a little stronger. His physical attributes also seemed to be continuously strengthened and influenced in the process.

Most noticeably, they could sense his body’s vitality had become even more terrifying. Before, it took him nearly two seconds to recover from an injury caused by a lightning strike, but now, that recovery time had been reduced by almost one-fifth.

With the acupoints lit and the Southern Dipper Starlight entering his body, the powerful Life Magnetic Field would inevitably have a subtle, transformative effect on Zhou Yuanjue’s body at a microscopic level.

For example, the speed and activity of his cell division, and his body’s regenerative abilities.

In a sense, as long as these acupoints continued to absorb the Southern Dipper Starlight, Zhou Yuanjue’s natural Recovery Ability would be drastically improved, even without him actively using the Southern Dipper Star Fire.

’This guy was already like an unbeatable monster, and now he seems to be walking further and further down the path to becoming truly Immortal...’

Having experienced that power firsthand, Hong Miao’s face twitched. They all knew this wasn’t the end. So far, Zhou Yuanjue had only lit five acupoints. Corresponding to the Southern Dipper Six Stars, there was still one left unlit.

This represented an imperfection. Once that final acupoint was lit, the ability was bound to undergo a qualitative leap.

And now, under the tempering of the Thunder Tribulation, the sixth and final star’s corresponding acupoint within Zhou Yuanjue’s body was flickering nonstop, gradually undergoing a transformation.

The onlookers watched in anticipation. ’What will happen once all six acupoints are opened?’

BOOM!!!

As the final bolt of lightning struck, Zhou Yuanjue’s last acupoint completed its tempering. It began to exert a powerful pull, drawing the Southern Dipper Starlight into it until it was, at last, completely ignited by the silver star-fire.

Six acupoints, corresponding to the six stars in the sky.

Faintly, the twinkling of the Starlight within these six acupoints fell into perfect sync with the Southern Dipper Six Stars in the sky, creating a resonance.

A faintly visible silver thread actually appeared, connecting the six stars in the order of their alignment.

"A Qi Vein?!"

Ge Honglin’s pupils contracted sharply, but then he realized something was off. It seemed to be a special link between the six acupoints, not a fully formed Qi Vein.

With the six acupoints linked, the observers vaguely perceived a peculiar mark forming on Zhou Yuanjue’s chest.

SHRIEK!!

The Starlight Phoenix Dharma Aspect cried out to the heavens again. At the very instant the mark formed, it underwent a change.

Its silvery-white and red feathers were now in almost equal measure, and silver star-fire enveloped the entire Dharma Aspect. Most strikingly, the red, crown-like crest on the Immortal Bird’s head had turned a dazzling silvery-white. On the front of this crown, six distinct Star Points were visible, their arrangement identical to that of the Southern Dipper Six Stars.

A look of amazement flashed in everyone’s eyes as they beheld the dreamlike Dharma Aspect. They were even more curious, however, about the specific effects of that new mark.

’My body’s Recovery Ability has increased dramatically.’

’The duration of Yin-Yang Life and Death has also been extended significantly.’

’My physical endurance is stronger, thanks to the changes in my cellular magnetic field.’

’The Natural Magnetic Field I can control is more powerful.’

’I also seem to have gained a degree of Repair Power over my body’s own magnetic field.’

’The magnetic field stored in the six acupoints is enough to sustain the Southern Dipper Star Fire for about an hour during the day. What’s more, it seems I can focus all of this accumulated energy and unleash it in a single, explosive instant.’

’That kind of maneuver... it could produce some unimaginable effects...’

Zhou Yuanjue fell silent for a moment. Then, to the absolute disbelief of the onlookers, he abruptly plunged a finger into his own heart.

But that wasn’t all. Zhou Yuanjue’s entire body then convulsed violently.

CRACK!! 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

The bones throughout his body rang out with a series of shattering cracks, his all-important spine—previously so difficult to heal—included.

Everyone stared, stunned, watching as Zhou Yuanjue’s body slowly collapsed. His immense magnetic field and powerful aura dispersed as he fell limply to the ground.

"Vital signs... vital signs..."

Yang Lina stared numbly at the data on her instruments, her mind a complete blank.

At that moment, the testing equipment showed Zhou Yuanjue’s vital signs plummeting, rapidly and irreversibly, until they disappeared completely.

The man who, just a moment before, had been battling the very heavens like a Divine Spirit.

Was now dead.