Chapter 36: The Obsidian Dragon Stele

Ouyang Changfeng had never imagined that his disciple would prove to be so extraordinary.

An astonishing intuition—mastering over a hundred martial techniques in just two days. Within several days, he formed the embryonic sword energy, and now, having just learned sword forms, the sword energy had already taken full shape. In half a month, his cultivation had advanced twenty-five tiers in succession. Any one of these feats would mark a true genius, yet Qingxi possessed them all.

In Ouyang Changfeng’s eyes, genius was no longer a fitting description. Even Qiu Yingying, renowned as a “prodigy,” could not compare to Qingxi’s stunning performance.

Ouyang Changfeng found himself at a loss as to how to teach further.

On the training grounds, Qingxi practiced his sword alone.

Often, though no one guided him, the system acted as the best teacher.

In a single day, he became highly proficient in the sword techniques; a casual swing could send out sword energy as thin as a cicada’s wing, slicing through massive boulders as easily as a heated blade melts through lard.

Night fell.

Silvery moonlight, lucid as water, spilled across the land, draping everything in a veil of misty gauze.

Qingxi sat atop a green stone beneath a pine, curiously studying the broken stone tablet he had transferred into the system space.

After the system’s scan and analysis, detailed information surfaced in his mind.

Name: Profound Dragon Stele (Fragmented)
Type: Meteorite from Beyond the Heavens
Note: A broken stele that descended from a world beyond the heavens, palm-sized, comprising only one-tenth of the complete stele. Its entirety is composed of the extremely hard Profound Dragon Stone and contains a trace amount of starlight energy (can be absorbed and transformed). If the stele is reassembled, it can be restored into a King-tier weapon.

“That’s all the information?”

Qingxi scratched his head. “Little Assistant, what’s the use of this broken stele?”

“The Profound Dragon Stele is made of a unique, incredibly tough material. It’s extremely difficult to smelt. For now, you can only absorb the starlight energy within to strengthen your body.” As the assistant spoke, it had already begun converting the starlight energy from the broken stele.

Visibly, a silver grain the size of a sesame seed appeared in Qingxi’s palm, exuding a pure, sacred aura.

With a glance, Qingxi immediately understood the properties of this starlight energy.

Name: Starlight Energy
Type: Power of Nature
Note: Can be used to enhance the host’s physique. With sufficient starlight energy absorbed, one can begin forging a “Starlight Body.”

“What a precious treasure—let’s absorb it.”

A smile curled at Qingxi’s lips as the starlight energy merged from his palm into his body, spreading like ink in water, diffusing instantly throughout every limb and bone.

A feeling of utter serenity and pleasure swept over him.

Clenching his fist, Qingxi found that his strength had increased by thirty catties, equivalent to the effect of a cultivator raising their rank by one tier.

“It’s a shame there’s so little starlight energy. If I could find the remaining pieces of the Profound Dragon Stele, my physical constitution would certainly be greatly enhanced.”

Qingxi was left wanting more.

“There appears to be another fragment of the Profound Dragon Stele at the location of a three-star mission listed on the Lingyuan Sect’s mission board,” the assistant reported after its analysis.

“Is that so?” Qingxi’s interest was piqued at once.

The assistant continued, “The mission location is in the midstream of the Western Sand River. It’s rumored that silver starlight appears there at night. After matching the aura of the Profound Dragon Stele, I discovered another identical presence in that direction.”

Realization dawned on Qingxi. “So, it’s very likely that another fragment of the Profound Dragon Stele exists at the site of that three-star mission… By the way, what’s the mission?”

“Information has been sent. Please check for yourself,” the assistant replied haughtily, sending a message. Qingxi hurriedly opened the interface.

Mission: Seek the Water Spirit Pearl (Three-star)
Location: Midstream of the Western Sand River, Land of Diffused Starlight
Reward: One Water Spirit Pearl earns 150 points, no upper limit. Note: The mission area is inhabited by high-grade aquatic beasts of human-rank. Danger is considerable. It is not recommended for disciples with cultivation below the thirtieth tier to undertake.

“This mission isn’t bad. Human-rank high-grade aquatic beasts have strength equivalent to the thirtieth tier of cultivation. With my current strength, I can barely give it a try, and I might find another stele fragment while I’m at it.” Rubbing his chin, Qingxi made his decision.

But the assistant immediately threw cold water on his enthusiasm: “Host, this is courting death. The beasts in the mission area excel at underwater combat, while your power wanes once you enter the water. Unless you’re at the pinnacle of Qi Refinement, it’ll be very difficult to cope.”

“That…”

Qingxi’s expression froze.

Yet, the thought of assembling the stele and restoring a King-tier weapon filled him with renewed fervor.

He did not know how powerful a King-tier weapon was in the cultivation world, but with his extensive reading, he could easily infer that such a weapon was anything but ordinary.

“If you wish to complete the mission and find the stele fragment while beset by aquatic beasts, it’s not impossible,” the assistant, sharing his thoughts, remarked as it sensed his determination.

“What’s your solution?” Qingxi’s eyes narrowed with suspicion, as if guarding against a thief. “Don’t tell me you want me to sacrifice more of my elemental essence? I warn you, my essence is nearly depleted—I can’t let you squander it anymore!”

“Nonsense! What are you thinking? Am I the sort who only ever covets your elemental essence?” retorted the system assistant, indignant as a pouting girl.

Qingxi squinted. “Of course not… After all, you’re not even a person! Still, I’m curious about your method.”

“…”

After a brief silence, the assistant explained, “Li Xingyao’s storage ring, though the lowest-grade spatial treasure in the cultivation world, still contains a fair amount of spatial energy. If you can absorb and refine it all, you’ll gain a trace of spatial power. With that, dealing with a mere high-grade aquatic beast of human-rank should be child’s play.”

“You can even convert spatial energy?” Qingxi’s eyes widened.

In his understanding, spatial power was mysterious and powerful—something he thought attainable only at a far higher realm. He’d never expected to possess it so soon.

Excitement began to well within him.

With a touch of pride, the assistant declared, “I’ve told you, I’m the strongest support system! Refining a trace of spatial power is the simplest thing.”

“Excellent, I can hardly wait!”

“Impatient, aren’t you!”

And so, man and system resumed their banter.

But both knew it was time to get down to business, and soon turned to the task at hand.

Qingxi placed Li Xingyao’s storage bracelet in his palm; the system’s power began to flow. Wisps of pale white vapor drifted from the bracelet, slowly entering Qingxi’s body through his hand.

During the process, Qingxi felt remarkably calm.

“To think I’m absorbing spatial power, and not a single phenomenon appears?” he mused with regret. If only his whole body could glow—now that would be fun.

The assistant was exasperated. “Do you think you’re some kind of divine body? You expect natural phenomena at birth? This trace of spatial power isn’t even one ten-thousandth of a true spatial body!”