Translator: CinderTL
"Nearly a hundred strands?"
Jiang Ye shook his head with a smile. "A bit more than that."
"A bit more? You mean over a hundred?" Star Envoy Liu asked with a smile.
"Almost ten thousand strands," Jiang Ye replied.
"What?!"
Zhang Jianwu and Star Envoy Liu's expressions froze as they stared at him in disbelief.
Refined nearly ten thousand strands? Does this kid even know what he's saying?
Even with Nascent Aptitude, it's unlikely to refine nearly ten thousand strands of stellar energy in just seven days!
Star Envoy Liu quickly realized his mistake and chuckled.
Jiang Ye had likely confused "refining" with "absorbing."
Absorbing over ten thousand strands in seven days wouldn't be unusual.
However, Primitive Aptitude makes one less sensitive to stellar energy, making refining it time-consuming and inefficient.
In seven days, he might not even refine fifty strands.
Still, Jiang Ye had remained immersed in the Purification Pool, enveloped in concentrated stellar energy. Perhaps he had refined over a hundred strands, or even two hundred.
"Activate your stellar energy and show me your level of life's shackles transformation," Star Envoy Liu said, his curiosity piqued.
"Alright."
Without hesitation, Jiang Ye immediately began circulating his cultivation technique.
Buzz~ A wisp of stellar energy emerged from Jiang Ye's Guanyuan Acupoint, circulating through his meridians.
Instantly, a powerful aura erupted from within him.
This was the first extraordinary ability gained from absorbing stellar energy: the Martial Dao Aura!
Through this aura, one could directly perceive the level of his life's transformation.
"Hmm!?"
Jiang Ye's concealment had been fine, but this revelation immediately startled Star Envoy Liu and Zhang Jianwu.
"Your life's transformation... it's surged this much?" Star Envoy Liu finally showed surprise, his expression incredulous.
Reaching the first breakthrough from Perfection required numerous cosmic temperings.
Even the Star Martial Advancement Method demanded at least six such temperings.
This was because breaking free from life's shackles was a prolonged process, with each cosmic tempering only yielding a small increment of progress.
But Jiang Ye's progress wasn't just a small increment—it was a massive leap!
"Indeed!" Zhang Jianwu nodded with a smile. "Jiang Ye, you've already completed a quarter of the path to your first breakthrough."
"Incredible," Star Envoy Liu marveled. "It seems the benefits you gained from these seven days far surpass those of others."
"Thank you for your trouble, Star Envoy Liu," Jiang Ye said with a smile, bowing respectfully once more.
They had waited here for seven days, all for him alone. Without this, he would never have been able to refine nearly ten thousand strands of stellar energy, nor would he have made such remarkable progress.
This favor deserved to be repaid.
Liu Beimu waved his hand and smiled. "Jiang Ye, you're well-suited to become a Star Practitioner. I have high hopes for you."
"Star Practitioner? You have high hopes for me?" Jiang Ye blinked in surprise.
From Wang Zi'ang's earlier explanation, he already knew that Star Practitioners held a prestigious position and status throughout the Blue Star Federation.
For Star Envoy Liu to express such confidence in him was truly astonishing.
Zhang Jianwu chuckled beside them. "Jiang Ye, don't underestimate yourself. Enduring seven days in the Purification Pool—even the once-in-a-century Dao Bone Aptitude from Ancheng might not match your resilience."
"Dao Bone Aptitude?" Jiang Ye nodded.
When it came to innate talent, he still fell far short of those prodigies.
But in terms of Martial Dao Will? He had undoubtedly surpassed many.
The second level of the Martial Dao Heavenly Ladder was itself a test of Martial Dao Will, albeit through a more brutal method.
"A tenacious Martial Dao Will is a prerequisite for becoming a Star Practitioner," Liu Beimu explained with a smile. "And you, Jiang Ye, possess precisely that quality."
Jiang Ye's heart stirred, and he asked curiously, "Star Envoy Liu, is being a Star Practitioner really that dangerous?"
Liu Beimu paused, seemingly surprised by Jiang Ye's knowledge of the profession. He nodded.
"Being a Star Practitioner is indeed a perilous occupation," he confirmed.
"Not only must they face the Shadow Calamity alone, but the process of harvesting Cosmic Stellar Energy is fraught with life-threatening risks."
"There are regions where humans simply cannot tread," Liu Beimu said with a sigh. "Often, one must endure immense suffering to obtain precious Primordial Stellar Energy."
Jiang Ye listened intently.
"But with such great danger comes equally great opportunity," Liu Beimu continued.
"Star Practitioners rank highest in average income among all professions in the Federation."
"Jiang Ye," Liu Beimu said, looking directly at him, "your background means you'll need vast resources to rise through the ranks."
"The Star Practitioner profession doesn't care about your origins. It offers the chance to earn tremendous wealth, making it a perfect fit for you."
Jiang Ye fell silent.
It was true. His family background couldn't compare to those of Zhao Qingli, Wang Zi'ang, and others.
To advance quickly, he needed money—lots of it!
Take his current situation, for example.
Jiang Ye's total score across the four martial dao disciplines was only 520 points. With just one semester remaining, reaching the required 900 points seemed an insurmountable challenge.
If only I could afford Martial Dao Dietary Supplements like Zhao Qingli, who spends 100,000 to 200,000 credits each month, he thought, I wouldn't be so worried!
With this in mind, Jiang Ye immediately asked, "Star Envoy Liu, what are the requirements to become a Star Practitioner?"
Liu Beimu replied, "You're still far from becoming a Star Practitioner. After all, to venture into space, you need to reach at least the Third Breakthrough."
"However, you could try applying for the Reserve Star Practitioner program," Liu Beimu added with a smile.
"Reserve Star Practitioner?" Jiang Ye looked at him, puzzled.
Liu Beimu nodded. "Martial artists below the Second Breakthrough can apply for the Reserve Star Practitioner program through the Federal Unified Examination Bureau."
"By becoming a Reserve Star Practitioner, you not only avoid the dangers of space but also receive a monthly stipend ranging from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of credits."
"Tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands?!" Jiang Ye's breath caught in his throat.
He had never imagined such wealth.
Hundreds of thousands of credits—that was more than his adoptive parents earned in over a decade!
Liu Beimu continued, "However, the requirements for the Reserve Star Practitioner program are also quite stringent."
"In addition to the basic assessment, you must also hunt a sufficient number of Shadow Clan members in the real world. This part will depend entirely on your luck."
Jiang Ye pondered this.
Hunting Shadow Clan members in the real world? He'd need to reach at least the first breakthrough first.
And even then, it would depend on whether he could actually encounter any Shadow Clan members.
Shadow Calamities were no longer rare; they occurred almost daily.
Ancheng had remained untouched by these calamities, giving the illusion of peaceful times.
But if forced to choose between the Shadow Calamity and becoming a Reserve Star Practitioner, Jiang Ye would rather forgo the latter than see Ancheng suffer a Shadow Calamity.
Liu Beimu then explained more about the Star Profession.
As dusk approached, Zhang Jianwu said, "Jiang Ye, it's getting dark. You should hurry back."
"Alright," Jiang Ye nodded, feeling he had learned enough about the Star Profession for now.
After bidding farewell to Liu Beimu and Zhang Jianwu, he quickly left the area.
Once Jiang Ye was gone, Zhang Jianwu turned to Liu Beimu, his expression doubtful. "Star Envoy Liu, do you really believe he has what it takes to become a Star Practitioner?"
"From what I understand, Star Practitioners require specific innate talents."
As a profession so highly valued by the Federation, innate talent was naturally a mandatory requirement.
As a low-grade aptitude, Primitive should have made it impossible for him to become one of them.
Liu Beimu shook his head slightly and smiled. "I never imagined he would actually become a Star Practitioner."
"Even as a Reserve Star Practitioner, his chances of success are vanishingly small."
"My words earlier were merely to plant a seed in his heart—a goal to strive for, driving him to constant effort."
"Perhaps one day, he might grow into a towering tree."
"Though the odds are astronomically slim."
Liu Beimu shook his head with a sigh.
A strong Martial Dao Will? That alone isn't enough to compensate for his innate disadvantages. Not nearly enough.
Taoyang Community, Building 12, Apartment 606.
After returning home, Jiang Ye immediately retreated to his room.
He took a deep breath.
"Hah~!"
Jiang Ye lowered into a slight crouch, palms pressed against his abdomen, focusing on the power within his body.
Since emerging from the Purification Pool, he hadn't had a moment to fully assess the changes within him.
But he knew this cosmic tempering had brought about a profound transformation.
The very act of stellar energy entering the body served as a form of tempering.
Moreover, the subsequent refining process required the stellar energy to penetrate deep into his bone marrow and permeate every inch of his skeletal structure.
This cosmic tempering process pushed his physical body to its human limits, ultimately breaking through those shackles!
Jiang Ye's 100% refinement this time resulted in an astonishingly powerful enhancement.
"My body?" Jiang Ye murmured, silently sensing his physical state, his heart swelling with joy. "Just as Director Zhang said."
"This cosmic tempering has elevated me significantly. My physical strength has undergone a tremendous transformation!"
If the human body's limits had a progress bar, Jiang Ye estimated he had already reached one-quarter, perhaps even one-third, of the way there.
"Most importantly, it's the inherent benefits of the stellar energy itself," Jiang Ye thought, closing his eyes.
He silently circulated the Star Martial Advancement Method.
Within his Guanyuan Acupoint, a wisp of stellar energy moved at his will, following the cultivation path from the Guanyuan Acupoint to his arm.
Whoosh!
A faint silver glow flickered across the skin of Jiang Ye's arm.
In an instant...
Jiang Ye felt a molten heat surging through his body, as if magma had been injected into his veins.
A primal, destructive force was brewing within him, demanding release.
He planted his feet firmly on the ground, the scalding energy surging from his tailbone to the back of his neck, his arms drawing back like a taut bow.
"Hah!"
With a sudden roar, he unleashed a punch.
An imperceptible silver halo erupted outward like a shockwave.
Boom!
The wall a meter away trembled violently, emitting a deafening crash.
Crack! A hairline fracture appeared on the wall's surface.
This single punch had left a shallow fist-shaped indentation on the wall a meter away!
"Huh?"
Jiang Ye stared in disbelief.
He never imagined his punch could pack such destructive power.
A meter away, he had nearly cracked his own wall!
"Brother!"
Jiang Ting rushed in, grabbing Jiang Ye's hand. "It's an earthquake! We need to get downstairs now!"
Ancheng lay on the edge of a seismic zone, experiencing minor tremors every three to five years.
While major earthquakes were rare, small tremors were a constant occurrence.
Jiang Ye coughed and reassured her, "It's alright, I was just practicing my martial arts."
Li Anping walked in and stared in disbelief at the fist-shaped dent in the wall. "You child! Practice your martial arts, but don't tear down the house!"
Jiang Ye wore a helpless expression.
He hadn't realized he'd become so strong!
If a casual punch could cause this much damage, how devastating would a full-power strike be?
(End of the Chapter)
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