Chapter 429

"Little one, wait here and don't wander off," Ye Chen told Little Huang before disappearing in a flash. He intended to investigate whether the location was truly an ancient ruin.

Little Huang nodded obediently, crouching on the ground and curiously observing her surroundings with wide eyes. It was a canyon, enclosed by towering cliffs that stretched endlessly into the clouds. A winding, rugged path cut through the canyon, leading further into its depths.

Little Huang watched the direction Ye Chen had vanished, a hint of confusion in her gaze. She couldn't understand why he hadn't brought her along, instead leaving her to wait. Was there danger inside? A flicker of worry crossed Little Huang's mind, but trusting Ye Chen, she remained dutifully in place, waiting.

Ye Chen moved swiftly, quickly reaching the canyon's depths. He found himself in a vast underground cavern, its interior adorned with countless stalactites of bizarre and diverse shapes. In the center of this cavern stood an enormous stone tablet.

The stone tablet, towering ten zhang high, was covered in intricate, densely packed runes, emanating an ancient, boundless aura. "What is this?" Ye Chen's brows furrowed slightly. He could sense a potent energy radiating from the tablet, an energy unlike any he had encountered before.

Ye Chen approached, carefully scrutinizing the stone tablet. Its surface was etched with diverse patterns: soaring birds, prowling beasts, flowing rivers, towering mountains, and peculiar symbols. These intricate designs appeared incredibly ancient, suggesting they were relics from a primordial era.

Ye Chen's gaze settled on a specific pattern in the center of the tablet. It was a circular design, depicting a crescent moon with a star beside it. "The moon and stars?" A peculiar sensation suddenly surged within Ye Chen. He had an persistent feeling that he had seen this symbol before, yet he couldn't pinpoint where.

Ye Chen shook his head, dispelling the stray thoughts, and resumed his examination of the stone tablet. He noticed that, in addition to the patterns, there were also characters inscribed on it. These characters were entirely unfamiliar to him, unlike any script he had ever encountered. Yet, he could sense a powerful 'Dao charm' embedded within them, a spiritual essence that felt remarkably familiar. "What kind of writing is this?" Ye Chen wondered, his mind filled with questions.

Just then, a voice echoed in Ye Chen's mind. "These are ancient divine characters!" It was the voice of Little Tower, Ye Chen's companion divine artifact, which possessed a spirit capable of communicating with him.

"Ancient divine characters?" A look of astonishment flashed across Ye Chen's face. He had never imagined that the inscriptions on the tablet would be ancient divine characters. These were the scriptures used by deities in primordial times, imbued with the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth and capable of cataclysmic power. In the current era, ancient divine characters were considered lost, known by virtually no one. Ye Chen was utterly surprised to find them here.

"Little Tower, you know ancient divine characters?" Ye Chen quickly inquired. "Of course I do," Little Tower replied proudly. "I am an ancient divine artifact, born in the primordial era. Naturally, I am intimately familiar with ancient divine characters."

"Then tell me quickly, what exactly do the carvings on this stone tablet mean?" Ye Chen asked, his face alight with anticipation. He understood that any object inscribed with ancient divine characters must surely conceal an astonishing secret.

Little Tower remained silent for a moment before replying, "What is carved on this stone tablet is a cultivation technique." "A cultivation technique?" A flicker of surprise crossed Ye Chen's eyes. He hadn't anticipated that the tablet would reveal a cultivation technique, and an ancient one at that. Ancient cultivation techniques were practices used by deities in primordial times, possessing immense power far beyond any contemporary methods.

"Indeed," Little Tower confirmed. "This cultivation technique is called 'Star Transformation,' created in ancient times by a mighty expert known as the Star Emperor." "The Star Emperor?" Ye Chen felt a surge of confusion. He had never heard of such a powerful figure on the Nine Heavens Continent.

"The Star Emperor was among the most formidable experts of the primordial era," Little Tower explained. "His 'Star Transformation' is a supreme body-refining technique." "A body-refining technique?" Ye Chen was again taken aback. Body-refining techniques focus on cultivating the physical form. While exceptionally difficult to master, success grants the practitioner an immensely powerful physical body.

"That's right," Little Tower affirmed. "When 'Star Transformation' is cultivated to its peak, one can achieve physical sainthood, be reborn from a single drop of blood, and become immortal and indestructible." "Physical sainthood, rebirth from a single drop of blood, immortal and indestructible?" Ye Chen's face revealed profound shock. He couldn't believe this technique was so incredibly potent. Physical sainthood was a realm all cultivators yearned for. Once achieved, the physical body would become immortal and indestructible, allowing rebirth from even a single drop of blood, even if the soul were completely annihilated.

"However, cultivating this technique is exceptionally difficult," Little Tower cautioned. "Practicing 'Star Transformation' necessitates absorbing stellar energy to temper the physical body. Stellar energy, being one of the purest forces in existence, is incredibly rare. Moreover, one must endure the arduous tempering of this stellar energy. This process is intensely painful, and anyone lacking unwavering resolve is likely to abandon it midway."

Ye Chen's brows furrowed at the revelation. He hadn't anticipated the technique would be so challenging to cultivate. Yet, he knew that the more demanding a technique, the greater its power. And the allure of physical sainthood, rebirth from a single drop of blood, and immortality was enough to drive any cultivator to obsession. "Little Tower, can you teach me this technique?" Ye Chen promptly asked.

"Of course I can teach it to you," Little Tower declared proudly. "I am the Star Emperor's companion divine artifact, so I naturally know 'Star Transformation' inside and out." "However, before I teach you, there's something I must tell you first." Little Tower's voice suddenly grew serious. Ye Chen's heart tensed, and he immediately asked, "What is it?"

"This cultivation technique, while created by the Star Emperor, is incomplete," Little Tower stated. "Incomplete?" A hint of surprise flickered in Ye Chen's eyes. He hadn't anticipated that the technique would be unfinished.

"Indeed," Little Tower confirmed. "When the Star Emperor created this cultivation technique, he didn't complete it. Therefore, only the first three levels exist." "Only the first three levels?" Ye Chen's mind brimmed with questions. "That's correct," Little Tower replied. "'Star Transformation' has a total of nine levels, but the Star Emperor only managed to create the first three; he never developed the remaining six."

"Why is that?" Ye Chen quickly pressed. "Because while creating this technique, the Star Emperor encountered a formidable foe and was slain," Little Tower explained. "That's why the technique remained incomplete." Ye Chen was utterly stunned by this revelation. He hadn't imagined that the mighty Star Emperor could have been defeated and killed by such a powerful adversary.

"Then who was the Star Emperor's enemy?" Ye Chen promptly asked. "I do not know," Little Tower replied. "The Star Emperor's enemy was a mysterious and powerful individual, and I have never before seen the kind of power they wielded. However, I could sense that the power was profoundly evil and destructive." Upon hearing this, Ye Chen's heart tightened. Evil power, destructive power—this reminded him of the demonic aura he had encountered previously. Could it be that the Star Emperor's enemy was a powerful demon?