Chapter 2174: Star Rinsing Muslin and Experiments

After Shang Xia ventured deeper into the void beyond the edge of the Chaotic Sea of Stars, the strange and distorted environment of that region prevented him from forming an effective connection with the Dipper Star Formation. As a result, he could no longer draw upon its essence to refine and replenish his inner qi.

Yet, when Shang Xia withdrew temporarily from the Star River, a sudden, hollow sense of loss swept through him.

Almost instinctively, he sank his spiritual perception into his dantian, only to find that aside from his Big Dipper Star Origin, the seven auxiliary stars that once circled around it had all dimmed.

Of course, that did not mean that the inner qi stored within them had vanished or become unusable. It was just that compared to the smooth, effortless control he once had, the inner qi within them now felt more like the reserve energy sealed within the Crimson Soul Tablet, silent and sluggish. The various secret arts once derived from their connection to the Dipper Star Formation couldn’t be used, or required far greater effort to activate.

At once, Shang Xia understood. The Dipper Star Formation he had arranged had all been displaced or destroyed. Without them forming the proper constellation pattern, he could no longer draw upon their power.

Although his own cultivation was not significantly affected, especially since the Crimson Soul Tablet still held ample reserves of origin qi to support him, many of his versatile methods for combat and adaptation had now been severely weakened.

Had this been earlier, even with all his preparation, Shang Xia would have felt some sort of helplessness. But what had just occurred within the Star River gave rise to new thoughts, ideas he could not wait to test.

After leaving the Star River, Shang Xia did not immediately return to the Chaotic Sea of Stars. Instead, he lingered in that turbulent void for roughly an hour before reopening a spatial tunnel and stepping back into the Star River.

The river remained turbulent, still unsettled from the recent upheaval. When Shang Xia reappeared, the violent currents nearly swept him away.

Fortunately, during his earlier process of refining the Starlight Yarn, his cultivation had undergone a major breakthrough. He could now use his inner qi to partially refine the anomalous powers of space and time within the Star River, using them for himself. That ability allowed him to stabilize himself amidst the chaos.

Instinctively, Shang Xia lifted his gaze to the nearest star shining in the Star River.

The star looked different from the one he had seemingly stirred before, the one whose eruption had caused the last cosmic upheaval.

Each time Shang Xia entered the Star River from beyond the barrier, the position varied slightly, though never by much. The Star River was a strange realm, holding billions of stars, but distorted by space and time. Even when one seemed close by, what appeared in the eye was often only a blazing sphere, and a small change in angle could reveal a completely different celestial body.

“So if that’s the case, then my previous plan may...” Shang Xia shook his head and let out a quiet laugh. He had been thinking too far ahead. The most important thing was to finish refining the Starlight Yarn.

He knew time was precious. Once the Star River calmed completely, Sage Star Thief might return, for the man knew that his Starlight Yarn had not yet transformed into its final form. It was inevitable he would come back.

Thus, Shang Xia decided to take the risk and continue the process while the Star River was still in turmoil.

Fortunately, refining the Starlight Yarn required only immersion in the river, it demanded no special preparation.

Even so, he had to be careful not to get caught by the currents.

The Starlight Yarn, having already undergone six rounds of purification, was quickly cast into the river for the seventh. Though the turbulence made it harder than before, it was nothing Shang Xia could not handle.

The seventh washing was soon complete. Shang Xia checked the depletion of his Yuan Qi and the reserves within the Crimson Soul Tablet, then calmly waited for his energy to recover to about seventy to eighty percent before beginning the eighth wash.

When he cast the Starlight Yarn into the Star River for the eighth time, a surge of current from below suddenly swept over it, dragging both the silk and Shang Xia along the river’s surface for a long distance before he finally broke free.

Fortunately, the Starlight Yarn was of extraordinary resilience and suffered no damage from the powerful current.

Soon, the eighth round of refinement was complete, but Shang Xia had only 30 to 40 percent of his inner qi remaining.

After confirming that the Crimson Soul Tablet still held sufficient reserves, he did not immediately draw from it. Instead, he chose to increase the intensity of his refinement of the essence of the Star River, hoping to recover his inner qi while deepening his control over the powers of space and time.

It was not something that could be achieved quickly. Previously, he had only managed to refine a small portion of that power. To increase efficiency would require long adaptation and practice.

Yet refining the essence of the Star River was only part of his plan. His other goal was to use them to reestablish a connection with the stars within the Star River.

He attempted this gradual approach rather than unleashing his martial intent again. The former method could be pursued progressively and safely, whereas the latter consumed vast energy, risked triggering another cosmic outburst, and would force him to repeatedly enter and exit the Star River at great cost.

As time passed, his inner qi recovered poorly, rising from 30 percent to less than half, because the refinement of the Star River’s essence was slow and constant resistance against its current still consumed his strength.

Nevertheless, amidst that process, he finally succeeded in making contact with the nearest star in his sight.

Though the contact was fleeting and shallow, it shook him to the core. His vitality drained violently, and even after he severed the link, he lost two or three years of lifespan in that instant. Yet the connection, no matter how brief, was real.

That meant it was possible. And if it was possible, then with enough trials, adjustments, and refinement, he could achieve it fully. He could once again rebuild the Dipper Star Formation!

Yes, ever since he had accidentally triggered the eruption by unleashing Star Shifting Constellation Transformation, the idea had already formed in his mind.

And when he later returned to the deep void and discovered that the Dipper Star Formations he had arranged in the Chaotic Sea of Stars were gone, he resolved to rebuild it within the Star River.

After his successful experiment, confirming that the plan was viable, Shang Xia calmed his excitement. He immediately began drawing upon the reserves within the Crimson Soul Tablet to hasten his inner qi recovery. Then, with a flick of his wrist, he cast the Starlight Yarn once more into the river, for its ninth and final refinement.

He failed to notice that by that point, the Star River had grown completely still.

While he focused on the final refinement, a faint gleam of color appeared far off in the distance, rapidly approaching.

By the time Shang Xia sensed danger, the Eternal Golden Boat had already emerged fully into view.

From the prow, Sage Star Thief laughed aloud across the void. “Young friend, we meet again! It seems the heavens itself will that you lead me into the Chaotic Sea of Stars. But alas, this time there will be no convenient eruption to save you!”

Yet despite the sudden reappearance of his foe, Shang Xia, after an instant of surprise, he quickly regained his composure. Even as the Eternal Golden Boat closed in with overwhelming force, he calmly finished the final refinement of the Starlight Yarn and under Sage Star Thief’s watchful gaze, collected the now fully transformed treasure.

Seeing Shang Xia’s unhurried movements, Sage Star Thief, though confident of victory, did not dare press too hard. Smiling smugly, he chuckled, “Well then? Do you still wish to fight this old man again?”

When Shang Xia began his final refinement, he had barely recovered half his inner qi.

Afterward, though he used the reserves in the Crimson Soul Tablet to replenish himself, the refinement process had again drained his energy, leaving only 20 percent.

Sage Star Thief did not know Shang Xia’s exact condition, but he was certain the young man’s inner qi had been consumed by the recent effort. After their previous battle, he believed he had already discerned Shang Xia’s tricks. This time, success seemed guaranteed.

𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

But as Shang Xia gathered his treasure and slowly raised his head, he met the old man’s gaze with a faint smile. “Do you truly think that the eruption was just an accident?”