Chapter 182: Chapter 115: Beast of the Morning Star: Candlelight Dragon (Sword)

Zhong Ming could understand why Ji Qingyue wanted to recruit others to her cause.

The more geniuses and powerhouses she had under her command, the more say she would have in the family. Even if her influence reached a certain peak, ascending to the position of Prince would still be difficult for her. However, becoming a princess with immense influence was certainly possible.

And as she had said, with the help of more powerhouses, they would face fewer troubles when exploring the Star Moon Treasure Vault in the future.

Zhong Ming agreed with this point.

However, rather than wasting time and energy recruiting others, Zhong Ming was more interested in improving himself.

’This is a world where ultimate power rests with the individual. As long as I’m strong enough, I can take on the entire world by myself!’

With such a philosophy, Zhong Ming naturally didn’t want to go. He was far more eager to seize every moment to advance his cultivation.

Thus, in response to Ji Qingyue’s proposal, Zhong Ming’s tone remained as arrogant as ever.

"Recruit others? Why waste the energy? I’ve told you before—I alone am enough to elevate you to a high position!"

"Besides, are those weaklings even worthy of my personal attention? Even if they are to be invited, they should be the ones coming to seek an audience with me!"

"..."

Zhong Ming’s consistently wild and untamable attitude left Ji Qingyue feeling utterly helpless.

Instead of arguing, she clasped her hands together and pleaded with him sincerely, "Mister Zhong Ming, I’m sorry to trouble you. But if I want to have some influence in the new alliance, I must recruit more people."

"...I understand."

’Ji Qingyue’s help has been immense: the *Star Heaven·Divine Monarch* Cultivation Technique, a massive supply of Red Flame Golden Pattern Pills, the free use of a High-grade Earth-level Treasure, and now she’s even searching for a Magical Power Manual for me.’

With so much help, Zhong Ming couldn’t remain indifferent in the face of her plea.

And so, Zhong Ming followed Ji Qingyue toward the Star-Picking Sect’s base.

As they walked, Ji Qingyue briefed Zhong Ming on Zhuo Feng to ensure the recruitment would go as smoothly as possible.

"The Star-Picking Sect also cultivates by borrowing the Power of the Stars. They draw upon the Star Power of the Big Dipper. Since the Big Dipper governs death, their Star Power is exceptionally potent... The sect also has a Secret Profound Meaning called the Star-Picking Hand. It allows its practitioners to focus their body’s entire strength into a single point, making their attacks incomparably powerful..."

"The person we’re hoping to recruit is Zhuo Feng, the current head disciple of the Star-Picking Sect. He can condense Star Power into flying daggers and launch them using the Star-picking Technique. Relying on this art, he once killed a late-stage Qi Cultivation Evil Cultivator while he himself was only at the mid-stage..."

Ji Qingyue explained in great detail, but Zhong Ming was barely listening.

The walk didn’t hinder Zhong Ming’s cultivation in the slightest.

His eyes were vacant, his gait unsteady, and his entire person radiated a languid air, as if he were sleepwalking.

His zoned-out state left Ji Qingyue at a loss for words.

Seeing Zhong Ming in this state, she began to lose hope for the success of their recruitment mission.

Her followers frowned deeply at Zhong Ming’s disrespectful behavior.

However, Zhong Ming possessed the greatest Talent in Ji Qingyue’s camp, and geniuses were afforded certain privileges. This meant everyone else could only endure it.

And so, the sleepwalking Zhong Ming was led onward by Ji Qingyue.

As for Zhong Ming, he wasn’t acting this way intentionally.

He only appeared to be ’sleepwalking’; in reality, he was seizing every available moment to enhance his cultivation and power.

While he appeared languid and unfocused on the outside, within Zhong Ming’s body, the Candlelight Heart Eye was like a miniature Sun, radiating light and heat that continuously scoured his physique.

At the same time, thirty-six points of light flickered across the surface of his body like stars in the night sky—a sight completely concealed by the light-bending properties of his Longxi Magical Robe.

Otherwise, Ji Qingyue and her followers would have been horrified to discover that in a single night, Zhong Ming had already opened all thirty-six acupoints for the first layer of *Star Heaven·Divine Monarch*.

Of course, this didn’t mean Zhong Ming had completed his cultivation of the first layer of *Star Heaven·Divine Monarch*.

[Star Heaven·Divine Monarch, First Realm Initiation (13600/13600), Traits: ①Starlight Body Forging (External Progress: 33%), ②Armor of the Stars, ③Morning Star Artifact/Beast (Gestating)]

Strengthening the physical body takes time. Even with a massive supply of Red Flame Golden Pattern Pills, the Candlelight Heart Eye, the As Clear as Daylight ability, the Dao Rhyme - Flow of Water, and the Great Dream of Thousand Years allowing him to rehearse the process over a hundred times in advance—not to mention the aid of the Zhenyuan Stele—Zhong Ming had still only managed to advance his Body Forging progress to 33% in a single night.

’Alright, that’s already incredibly fast. It might even be the fastest in the entire Prince Qinghe’s Mansion. If Ji Qingkang and Ji Qinghui were to find out, their attitude toward me would be completely different.’

But that wasn’t what Zhong Ming was focused on right now.

What he was wrestling with was how to advance his Cultivation Technique, and whether he should forge a Morning Star Artifact or a Beast of the Morning Star.

—Body Forging progress and the Cultivation Method Realm weren’t tightly coupled.

It was true that a Body Cultivator’s physique would eventually hit a ceiling, unable to improve further without a breakthrough in their Cultivation Method Realm.

The reverse, however, was not true. Individuals with exceptional comprehension could advance their cultivation technique’s progress far beyond their Body Forging realm.

Of course, very few people could manage this. Powerful Cultivation Techniques in particular required the comprehension of profound Dao Rhymes to advance one’s realm, making progress even more difficult.

Most of the time, even for geniuses, their physical cultivation would be sufficient, but their Cultivation Method Realm would lag far behind, preventing a breakthrough.