Returning to his Outer Sect residence, it was already past midnight.
Lin Chen's dwelling sat at the very edge of the Outer Sect—a crude wooden hut barely three zhang wide. Inside, there was nothing but a plank bed and a worn meditation cushion. This small space had been his entire world for the past ten years.
He closed the door and sat cross-legged on the cushion. No lamp was lit. Moonlight filtered through the cracks in the wooden window, drawing pale silver lines across the floor.
"First, check my condition."
Turning his consciousness inward, he gazed into his dantian.
At its center, a Chaos Star Vortex rotated slowly. Nine streams of colored light flowed endlessly around it, calm yet powerful. His cultivation was firmly stabilized at Condensation Stage Level One—at its very peak, only a step away from Level Two.
"Three days… to reach Condensation Stage Level Six."
Recalling the chapter outline in his mind, even Lin Chen felt the goal sounded absurd. Under normal circumstances, it would be nothing more than a delusion. But with the Chaos Stellar Body and the Chaos Stellar Scripture empowering him, it wasn't entirely impossible.
The key lay in two things: a place rich in spiritual energy—and resources.
Resources… were his greatest problem.
Outer Sect disciples received only three low-grade spirit stones per month, barely enough to maintain cultivation, let alone advance. As for the savings his father had left behind, the sect had taken them all ten years ago under the excuse of "temporary safekeeping."
Now, he was completely penniless.
"I need to find a way to obtain resources."
But before that, strengthening himself came first.
Zhao Hu and his men were still searching for him. If he were discovered now, the trouble would be serious.
"Cultivation comes first."
Lin Chen began circulating the first layer of the Chaos Stellar Scripture, drawing in the thin spiritual qi from the surrounding air. The effect was painfully slow—far inferior to cultivating inside the Star Source Cave.
Two hours passed. The sky outside began to brighten faintly.
His cultivation increased slightly, but Level Two was still far away.
"This won't work."
He stopped and fell into deep thought. Suddenly, he remembered the two items his father had left behind: the Basic Stellar Body Refinement Technique and the Basic Application of Star Patterns.
Taking out a jade slip and a beast-skin manual, he examined the body refinement technique first.
"Stellar Body Refinement Technique: draws stellar power to temper the physical body. Nine layers in total. The first three layers may be cultivated during the Condensation Stage."
As Lin Chen skimmed through it, his eyes lit up. This technique didn't merely strengthen the body—it also enhanced the absorption of stellar power, indirectly increasing cultivation speed.
"Perfect."
He immediately attempted to practice it.
Activating his Star Patterns, he sensed the stars in the night sky. Though dawn had arrived and the stars were no longer visible, their existence remained unchanged.
Faint threads of stellar power descended and merged into his body.
"Hiss—"
A sharp pain spread through his flesh, like countless needles piercing his muscles and bones. But once the pain subsided, Lin Chen could clearly feel his body becoming stronger—if only by a trace.
"It works."
He continued cultivating.
During the daytime, stellar power was weak, and the effect was limited—but it was still better than nothing.
At the same time, Lin Chen opened the Basic Application of Star Patterns. The book detailed various abilities unlocked by Star Patterns: storage space, stellar perception, attribute amplification, resonance sensing, and more.
"The storage space is already open—about one cubic meter."
"Stellar perception… that's essentially the Stellar Eye. I've already mastered it."
"Attribute amplification… temporarily enhances one of the nine attributes, but consumes Star Pattern energy."
"Resonance sensing… when near other Star Pattern bearers, a reaction will occur. Whether fortune or disaster—unknown."
Lin Chen focused his attention on attribute amplification.
This ability was extremely useful in combat. Choosing the appropriate attribute could allow him to suppress an enemy's weakness directly.
After several attempts, he grasped it at a basic level. The consumption, however, was indeed heavy. With his current reserves, he could only activate it three times at most.
"That's enough."
Time passed quietly.
In the blink of an eye, three days were gone.
During those three days, Lin Chen never left his hut. He devoted himself fully to cultivation—refining his body during the day, absorbing stellar power at night. With no resources to rely on, he pushed forward purely through grit and endurance.
The results were astonishing.
Late on the third night, a faint cracking sound echoed within his body.
His cultivation broke through.
Condensation Stage Level Two.
Then Level Two peak. Level Three. Level Three peak…
Breakthrough after breakthrough, unstoppable as a raging torrent.
The Chaos Stellar Body, combined with the Chaos Stellar Scripture, produced a cultivation speed far beyond that of ordinary techniques. On top of that, the strengthened physique from body refinement allowed him to withstand increasingly violent energy surges.
By early morning on the fourth day, Lin Chen opened his eyes. A sharp, brilliant light flashed within them.
Cultivation: Condensation Stage Level Six—peak.
Three days.
From Level One peak to Level Six peak—five consecutive breakthroughs.
If word spread, no one would believe it.
"The Chaos Stellar Body truly defies heaven."
Feeling the surging power within him, Lin Chen's confidence soared. Facing Zhao Hu now, even if he couldn't defeat him outright, he could at least protect himself.
But it still wasn't enough.
According to the chapter outline, there should be "sounds of searching outside the cave and a designed counterattack." That meant Zhao Hu and his group were still nearby.
"Perfect. I'll use you to test my strength."
He stood up and stretched. His joints crackled loudly. His physical strength had increased drastically—one punch now carried enough force to shatter stone.
Pushing open the wooden door, Lin Chen stepped into the moonlit night. The Outer Sect was silent; most disciples were either cultivating or resting.
Activating the Stellar Eye, he scanned his surroundings.
Within a hundred zhang in the nearby mountain forest, he quickly detected six distinct energy fluctuations.
Zhao Hu's group.
"Still searching?"
Lin Chen moved silently, like a nocturnal predator. Soon, he reached the edge of the forest and concealed himself behind a tree.
Zhao Hu and his five companions sat around a dying campfire, exhaustion written all over their faces.
"Brother Hu, we've searched for three days already. Not even a shadow. That trash might already be dead," Zhang San complained.
"Alive, I want to see him. Dead, I want the corpse," Zhao Hu said coldly. "My father gave a death order. We must uncover the secret of the Star Pattern."
"But the back mountain is huge. How are we supposed to find him?"
"Keep searching," Zhao Hu stood up. "Before dawn, we'll check the eastern cliff again. That's where he jumped—there might be clues."
They extinguished the campfire, picked up their weapons, and headed east.
Lin Chen followed at a distance, his Stellar Eye tracking their movements clearly without risk of discovery.
"The eastern cliff… that's exactly where I jumped."
His expression darkened slightly.
"If they've discovered the fissure entrance, the stele's secret might be exposed."
"I can't let them pass."
But there were six opponents. Zhao Hu was at Condensation Stage Level Six, while the other five were no weaker than Level Four.
A frontal clash would be disadvantageous.
"I'll set a trap."
Surveying the terrain, Lin Chen noted dense trees, tangled vines, and several natural pits scattered throughout the forest.
"Got it."
He circled ahead and found a narrow mountain path. Steep slopes rose on both sides, littered with loose rocks.
"I'll create chaos first."
Picking up several stones, he targeted key rocks near the top of the slope. Activating Starfall Fist: Meteor Descent, he hurled them like cannonballs.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The impact triggered a chain reaction. A torrent of rocks came crashing down onto the mountain path.
"Watch out—falling rocks!" Zhao Hu shouted.
The group scattered in panic, their formation instantly broken.
Seizing the moment, Lin Chen launched himself from the side, targeting the weakest—Zhang San.
"Meteor Descent!"
His fist carried the sharpness of the metal attribute, striking straight toward Zhang San's back. Zhang San sensed danger and turned hastily to block.
Crack!
His arm shattered. He screamed and collapsed to the ground.
"Who's there?!" Zhao Hu roared.
Lin Chen gave no reply.
Executing Star-shifting Steps, he appeared before another disciple in the blink of an eye. One punch to the abdomen—and the man crumpled, completely incapacitated.
Two enemies eliminated in an instant.
"It's you!" Zhao Hu finally recognized him, shock and fury twisting his face. "You didn't die?!"
"Thanks to you, I'm doing quite well," Lin Chen sneered.
"Seeking death!" Zhao Hu exploded in rage. Blazing Fire Palm erupted, crimson flames surging outward.
Lin Chen didn't confront it head-on. Using Star-shifting Steps, he dodged swiftly. At the same time, the Stellar Eye revealed a crucial flaw—each explosive palm strike left Zhao Hu's dantian briefly empty.
"There."
He waited.
After Zhao Hu unleashed three palms in succession, his breathing faltered slightly.
The instant old strength faded and new strength had yet to form, Lin Chen moved.
"Meteor Descent—Dual Attributes!"
Metal sharpness fused with raging fire. His fist transformed into a streak of crimson-gold light, smashing straight into Zhao Hu's chest.
Zhao Hu blocked in panic.
Boom!
A violent shockwave erupted. Zhao Hu staggered back three steps, blood spilling from the corner of his mouth.
"How… how is this possible…?" he muttered in disbelief.
Three days ago, this man was a worthless Condensation Stage Level Three trash. Now—he could wound him?
"There's nothing impossible," Lin Chen said coldly, pressing the attack. Starfall Fist came down relentlessly.
Zhao Hu barely managed to defend. His injuries worsened, and he gradually fell into a losing position.
The remaining three disciples tried to intervene, but Lin Chen's footwork was unpredictable. He slipped through their encirclement repeatedly, borrowing force and striking back—wounding another one in the process.
"Retreat!" Zhao Hu gritted his teeth and ordered.
If they continued, total annihilation was possible.
The five survivors fled in disgrace, abandoning even their injured companions.
Lin Chen didn't pursue.
His objective had been achieved—demonstrate strength and intimidate Zhao Hu. Revealing all his cards now would be unwise.
He walked up to Zhang San, who trembled and begged, "Lin—Senior Brother Lin—spare me! I was forced by Zhao Hu!"
"Relax. I won't kill you."
Lin Chen searched his body, taking several spirit stones and pills before storing them away.
"Go back and tell Zhao Hu—if he provokes me again, next time it won't be just an arm."
"Yes! Yes!" Zhang San scrambled away in terror.
Lin Chen searched the other injured disciples as well. The haul was decent—over a dozen low-grade spirit stones, several bottles of healing pills, and a fairly good short blade.
"At last… some resources."
He returned to his wooden hut.
The battle had been brief, but it fully validated his strength. At Condensation Stage Level Six peak, combined with Starfall Fist and the Stellar Eye, Zhao Hu no longer posed a real threat.
However, Zhao Hu had a backer—Deacon Zhao. Above the Condensation Stage lay the Spiritual Light Realm.
He still needed to keep a low profile.
"Time to consolidate my cultivation."
Sitting cross-legged once more, Lin Chen absorbed the newly acquired spirit stones. The Chaos Star Vortex spun faster, and his cultivation stabilized steadily.
By dawn, his realm was completely solidified at Level Six peak, only a step away from Level Seven.
Lin Chen opened his eyes and exhaled a breath of turbid air.
"This is only the beginning."
Somewhere else, Zhao Hu roared in fury:
"How can that trash possibly injure my men?!"
Lin Chen's lips curled into a cold smile.
"This… is only the beginning."
The real battle was still ahead.