Chapter 25

The sky was filled with stars, radiating boundless light, containing countless energies, and emitting subtle, almost imperceptible, mysterious fluctuations.

Was this what was called fate?

Chen Changsheng's divine consciousness drifted upwards, passing by countless stars. Compared to the vast emptiness around him and the immense energy contained within those stars, his divine consciousness was so tiny, like a feather in a gale or a drop of water about to dry up in the desert, seemingly about to be torn apart or evaporated into nothingness at any moment. But strangely, neither the stars nor the immense energy harmed his divine consciousness.

To the left of his divine consciousness appeared a red star, its surface fiercely burning, spewing out terrifying flames. He didn't know how far away the star was, but from the nearly solidified shape of the flames, he could tell it was very distant. Yet, this star seemed so close in his divine consciousness, indicating that it was incredibly massive, almost filling the space his consciousness could perceive.

The burning red star spewed endless energy into the void, giving a terrifying feeling, as if one would be incinerated into the purest energy if they got any closer. Yet, it also evoked a desire to merge with it.

Chen Changsheng felt uneasy, not out of fear, because he was certain that nothing in the sea of stars could harm a human's divine consciousness. This unease came more from his aversion to the star's form and aura; in other words, he simply didn't like it.

So his divine consciousness

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continued to drift upwards, passing over a cloud-like mass that seemed to be made of stardust. Then, a blue star came into view. This star appeared particularly cold and aloof, its surface seemingly covered with a thin layer of frost, giving a strong impression of rejecting any approach. His divine consciousness floated there for a moment before continuing to drift further away.

A cultivator's divine consciousness has natural limitations when it leaves the body, which gradually increase with the growth of their cultivation. However, only when one first lights their destiny star is there no constraint in the upward spatial range, which remains an unsolved mystery.

Chen Changsheng's divine consciousness continued to drift upwards, encountering various stars and landscapes. He also passed by several particularly silent stars. Whenever his divine consciousness tried to approach, it would be pushed away by an invisible force, leading him to realize that these were likely other people's destiny stars.

The deeper he went into the starry sky, the more stars he encountered, and the more strange and unconventional stars appeared. These stars floated quietly in the void, continuously radiating starlight. Some seemed to have sprouted countless spiral arms, like children's toys; others had starlight condensed into bright wings, like some mystical birds; and still others exuded a majestic aura, like fierce beasts.

For an entire night, his divine consciousness drifted in the sea of stars, slowly feeling and experiencing many indescribable emotions. These emotions were related to the stars but more so to himself. The absolute freedom of being detached from the physical body itself was one of the driving forces of cultivation.

Cultivators' divine consciousnesses often drift through the night sky and into the depths of the star sea, a common occurrence in the human world, especially in the capital, where many people try to light their destiny stars every night. Thus, no one noticed Chen Changsheng's divine consciousness.

Suddenly, at a certain moment, his divine consciousness saw an extremely bright light, different from the light of the stars, more intense and substantial. He felt an impulse to see it more clearly but also vaguely remembered something, realizing it was time to return.

He opened his eyes and found himself still sitting cross-legged in the library of the National Teaching Academy. His divine consciousness had drifted for a long time to reach the depths of the star sea, but the return was instantaneous. Glancing out the window, he saw the sky gradually turning white; it was dawn.

...

...

For the first time in fourteen years, Chen Changsheng's routine was disrupted. During the day, he caught up on sleep, and in the evening, he returned to the library to continue his journey through the star sea. On his second attempt, his divine consciousness was more experienced and familiar with the star sea. He didn't stop to observe the initial landscapes but drifted directly deeper, eager to see how far he could go.

As dawn approached, the sudden bright light woke him again.

On the third night, he repeated the process, and by the fourth and fifth nights, his divine consciousness traveled further each night, allowing him to see more stars. However, he still had no intention of stopping.

The path of cultivation was long and arduous, and he believed it was always better to try to go as far as possible.

On the sixth night, his divine consciousness reached a place he had never been before. He didn't know that very few people's divine consciousnesses could reach such a distance. This was partly due to the strength of the divine consciousness and partly because the star sea they had passed through was already a significant temptation for cultivators, and few could resist the urge to light their destiny stars and immediately begin the bone-washing process. In this sense, his ability to resist temptation was indeed strong.

—This was because he understood better than anyone what the true temptations of life were.

But he soon confirmed that few divine consciousnesses had come here before, as his consciousness drifted for a long time without encountering any stars already lit by others, unlike the previous five nights.

Everything was new here, the space and the stars. They awaited his selection.

Chen Changsheng's divine consciousness still didn't stop, as he felt he could go even further and see more.

On the seventh night, his divine consciousness finally encountered an obstacle, or rather, a wall. It was an intangible, transparent wall with no sense of existence, but

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he knew the wall was there, and he hesitated for the first time.

What was on the other side of this intangible wall?

He didn't know that this wall was a crystalline barrier dividing space, nor did he know that only the most powerful beings, like the Golden Dragon, could pass through it freely. However, he guessed that it would be very difficult to cross.

But he still wanted to try.

If this was a southern wall, he had already reached the base, and he had to touch it to be satisfied.

He wanted to try, so he did, without any hope. However, to his surprise, his divine consciousness passed through the wall effortlessly.

On the other side was still a star sea.

But compared to the star sea he had passed through, his divine consciousness felt more familiar here, as if he had returned home.

His divine consciousness continued to drift upwards, becoming increasingly faint. Even in a state of no mind and no form, he knew that the connection between his divine consciousness and his physical body was weakening, and it might be severed at any moment.

The light gradually dimmed, and the number of stars decreased.

Chen Changsheng felt that he could go no further.

In the distance, there was another star sea, like a thousand lights.

He looked at it, feeling a bit regretful, but he knew it was time to make a choice.

His divine consciousness scanned the surroundings, searching for his own star.

Choosing a destiny star is a challenge for every cultivator because of the vast number of options and the lack of a fixed rule. You could choose based on the color of a star or pick one randomly with your eyes closed.

Chen Changsheng didn't face this problem because when he decided to choose, the star appeared before him. He immediately liked it and decided to make it his own.

It was a small red star, much smaller than the first one he saw, with no terrifying burning flames. All the light and energy seemed to be contained deep within.

The red star was perfectly round, with a particularly smooth surface, resembling a small apple.

It was cute, beautiful, and inviting, making one want to take a bite.

Chen Changsheng thought this, and his divine consciousness drifted over.

...

...

In the library of the National Teaching Academy, a gentle night breeze blew, and the frogs outside had long stopped croaking, leaving a peaceful silence.

Chen Changsheng sat cross-legged on the clean floor, his expression calm.

Suddenly, he opened his mouth and then closed it, as if taking a bite of something.

A faint sound could be heard from his throat, as if he was swallowing.

Suddenly, he broke out in a sweat, instantly soaking the floor beneath him.

In the distant starry sky, a red star suddenly brightened.

He opened his eyes and looked into the depths of the starry sky.

He couldn't see the star, but he could feel it.

Because it was his star.

...

...

As the great scholar Tungus of the Demon Clan said, no one could see the thread.

So when Chen Changsheng successfully lit his destiny star, there were no unusual phenomena in the National Teaching Academy, and no sacred light column appeared in the night sky of the capital. The continent remained as peaceful and calm as usual.

Moreover, his star was too far away, and even though it had brightened for a moment, it couldn't be seen. Yes, the star was too far, even the priests at the observatory in the western suburbs of the capital didn't notice it.

But someone did see it.

Because the Empress was observing the stars that night.

It was a fortunate coincidence.

As long as the weather was suitable, the Empress would watch the stars on the Gannu Terrace every night.

It had rained a little that night, so she came out a bit later.

She just happened to see the process of the star being lit.

But even she didn't know who had lit the star.

Was the person in the capital or in the south?

Could it be in the Snowy Elder City?

The Empress looked into the depths of the night sky, her dark brows slowly arching, her voice devoid of emotion.

"Interesting."

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