Chapter 183: Chapter 115: Beast of the Morning Star: Candlelight Dragon (Sword)

For example, with the complete version of *Star Heaven·Divine Monarch*, you must comprehend the profound mysteries of the Source of the Stars you channel in order to condense a Beast of the Morning Star and have it advance.

If you fail to comprehend them, you will remain stuck at a certain realm indefinitely.

But evidently, Zhong Ming was an exception.

’Comprehend Dao Rhyme? Tell that to my Heaven Rewards Diligence.’

Having already brought his First Realm Initiation progress to perfection, he only needed to complete one more full cultivation session to trigger an Enlightenment. Then, during that Enlightenment, he could comprehend the Dao Rhyme and advance his Cultivation Technique.

Right now, Zhong Ming was struggling with what to choose as his origin: a Beast of the Morning Star or a Morning Star Artifact.

’I have too many options. If I forge an artifact, a Treasure Mirror, a bell, a Melting Furnace, or the Great Sun Divine Sword are all possibilities.’

’As for beasts, there are two choices as well: the Golden Crow and the Candle Dragon...’

Having too many choices only made him more conflicted. In the end, he made his decision—stop thinking!

’I’ll just trigger the Enlightenment and let my instincts choose what’s most suitable for me.’

As soon as the thought formed, Zhong Ming immediately began a complete cultivation session of *Star Heaven·Divine Monarch*.

BOOM!

The moment his cultivation was complete, Zhong Ming felt as if a sun had exploded in his mind.

The violent explosion flooded his senses with endless light and heat.

And as he entered Enlightenment, the left eye of the Candlelight Vortex Dragon within his Dao Fruit suddenly flared with brilliant light.

The next moment, the dragon soared out from the Dao Fruit, coiling upon itself to form the image of a sun.

At that moment, Zhong Ming understood instantly. The most suitable choice for him was a beast, a Divine Beast—the Morning Star·Candlelight Dragon.

Having absorbed the Sun Origin and integrated the mysteries of *Star Heaven·Divine Monarch*, the growth of Zhong Ming’s Dao Fruit skyrocketed.

[During your Enlightenment, you comprehended a wisp of the Sun’s intent and merged it into the Morning Star·Candlelight Dragon. Your Dao Fruit progress +0.7%]

[During your Enlightenment, you comprehended a wisp of the Sun’s intent and merged it into the Morning Star·Candlelight Dragon. Your Dao Fruit progress +1.3%]

[During your Enlightenment, you comprehended a wisp of the Sun’s intent and merged it into the Morning Star·Candlelight Dragon. Your Dao Fruit progress +1.7%]

[You...]

In a very short time, the progress of Zhong Ming’s Morning Star·Candlelight Dragon reached 29%.

Naturally, it wasn’t just the progress of Zhong Ming’s Morning Star·Candlelight Dragon that increased; its power advanced as well.

Perhaps it was because, in addition to Solar Power, Zhong Ming also had a profound understanding of water. The transformation of water into clouds and mist is closely related to the Sun, which meant the ability he comprehended was related to this as well.

[Your Dao Fruit, Morning Star·Candlelight Dragon, has reached 20% progress. You have comprehended the Changing Weather of the Four Seasons—by absorbing the Sun’s light and heat, you can make your surroundings drizzly and overcast, brilliantly sunny, or blanketed in frost.]

’Its gaze creates day, its slumber brings night. Its breath ushers in winter, its sigh summons summer... It’s gaining more and more of the Candle Dragon’s majesty.’

’By the way, if 20% gives me control over the seasons, what will I get when the Dao Fruit’s progress reaches 30%? The power to create day with a glance and night with a blink?’

Just as his thoughts were running wild, the progress of the Morning Star·Candlelight Dragon did indeed reach 30%.

However, for Zhong Ming, who was deep in Enlightenment, inspiration was bubbling up endlessly.

At that moment, a new thought struck him.

’All things can become a sword. Grass and trees can be a sword, mountains can be a sword, even a Thunderbolt can be a sword... so why can’t the Candle Dragon become a sword!’

The instant that thought arose, the form of the Dragon Beast at the center of his Sea of Consciousness began to change.

SHIIING!

A few breaths later, the Candle Dragon beast had transformed into a Great Sun Divine Sword, radiating an endless, brilliant light.

Just as its form solidified, Zhong Ming’s advancement came to an end.

With that, Zhong Ming’s *Star Heaven·Divine Monarch* reached the Second Realm, and the artifact he had forged through instinct was both a dragon and a sword.

’...So you can do that?’

The result was unexpected, but it was a good thing, so Zhong Ming didn’t dwell on it.

Now that his advancement was complete, Zhong Ming’s *Star Heaven·Divine Monarch* status became:

[*Star Heaven·Divine Monarch*, Second Realm Insight (1/108,000). Traits: ①Starlight Body Forging (External, 34% complete), ②Armor of the Stars, ③Morning Star·Candlelight Dragon (Sword)]

At the same time, his Dao Fruit also changed.

[Dao Fruit: Candlelight Dragon (Sword) (32%)]

’I’m at 32%. Just another 68%, and I can advance to the Dao Foundation. Plus, my physical body is still getting stronger. Since the Dao Fruit is the culmination of all my cultivation, it means that as my body grows, the Dao Fruit’s progress will skyrocket as well.’

’When my physical body achieves a Physical Body Breakthrough, it should jump to at least 66%...’

This increase in cultivation was undoubtedly a great thing for Zhong Ming. Because it all occurred within his Heart Soul, outsiders couldn’t sense a thing.

However, with his entire Heart Spirit focused on his advancement, Zhong Ming was completely oblivious to the fact that Ji Qingyue had stopped walking. She had arrived outside the Star-Picking Sect’s garrison.

And just as expected, at the entrance to the Star-Picking Sect’s garrison, she saw the people sent by her various brothers.

Their arrival filled the air with the tense atmosphere of powerful rivals gathering, fraught with undercurrents.

...

Unlike the Seven Profound Sect, which was holed up in a small city and had been severely weakened, the Star-Picking Sect couldn’t be considered a Prefecture City’s Major Sect, but it did have the qualifications to vie for that status.

Furthermore, since they cultivated the Power of the Stars, they were perfectly suited to operate within the Star Treasure Vault. This led to them receiving a great many invitations.

Prince Qinghe’s Mansion’s eldest son, Ji Chengping; the third son, Ji Qinghui; as well as Ji Qingyue and Ji Qingkang had all sent representatives.

Ji Chengping had sent an old steward.

Ji Qingkang’s subordinates were two women. If Zhong Ming had been conscious of his surroundings, he would have found the aura and manner of these two women to be somewhat familiar.