Projection of the Heavens: I prove my immortality through slaughter.

The interior of Chenxi Ancient City was far more spacious than it appeared from the outside, clearly due to the use of sophisticated spatial expansion formations. The streets crisscrossed, shops lined the streets, and crowds thronged the area. The auras of cultivators from various races mingled together, creating a unique and vibrant atmosphere.

Lin Xuan didn't linger on the bustling main road. Following the simple map marked on the animal skin he had received upon entering the city, he headed straight for the inner city area. His temporary identity token was only valid for thirty days. To stay longer and acquire more resources and information, he needed to obtain formal residency permission. One way to obtain this permission was to pass the test at the "Star Tower."

The Star Tower is said to be an ancient building that existed since the founding of Chenxi Ancient City. It is jointly managed by the City Lord's Mansion and several of the largest forces. It is not only used to test cultivators' talents and cultivation levels, but is also connected to the core formation of the ancient city, possessing many mysterious functions.

After walking through several streets, a magnificent tower came into view.

The tower, nine stories high, is constructed entirely of a dark blue starstone, its surface shimmering with a soft, mercury-like glow. Countless intricate and ancient star runes are carved into its body, echoing the faintly visible stars in the sky (simulated by the city's protective array). The tower's spire is shrouded in a misty aura, exuding a vast, boundless, and majestic presence.

This is the Star Tower. In front of the tower is a very spacious white jade plaza, where many cultivators have already gathered. Some are clearly here to participate in the test, their expressions either nervous or expectant; others are there to accompany others, or simply to watch the spectacle.

At the entrance to the tower, there were dedicated cultivators responsible for registration and guidance. The one in charge of registration was an old man with a stern face, whose cultivation was at the late Foundation Establishment stage, and whose aura was deep and composed. Next to him stood a huge jade wall, on which information scrolled in real time, mostly the test taker's number, cultivation level, and test results (usually only showing "qualified" or "unqualified," and the level of residence privileges obtained).

Lin Xuan walked to the registration desk.

"Name, cultivation level, purpose of the test." The old man didn't even raise his head, his voice completely calm.

"Lin Xuan, mid-Foundation Establishment stage, has obtained residency rights," Lin Xuan replied calmly.

The old man made a note and handed him a jade token engraved with a number. "Number 17, 'B'. Go inside and follow the instructions to the corresponding testing level. Testing fee: fifty low-grade spirit stones."

Lin Xuan paid the spirit stones, accepted the jade token, and stepped into the tower.

The interior of the tower was far more spacious than it appeared from the outside. The first-floor hall was a thousand feet in diameter, with starlight twinkling on the dome, as if the starry sky had been projected directly into the space. The air was filled with pure stellar energy, invigorating the spirits. Many cultivators waited there, and according to their jade token numbers, they were guided by beams of starlight to the upper levels.

Soon, it was number seventeen's turn. A soft starlight enveloped Lin Xuan, and the next moment, he appeared in a spacious hall.

The walls of the main hall were like transparent glass, offering a clear view of the sea of ​​clouds (an effect of the array) and the distant ancient city. In the center of the hall stood a transparent crystal pillar, so large it took three people to encircle it. Inside, nebulae seemed to swirl, emanating mysterious fluctuations. Beside the pillar stood a middle-aged deacon dressed in a star-patterned robe, his cultivation also at the late Foundation Establishment stage.

"Place your hand on the spirit-testing crystal pillar and fully input your true essence; there's no need to hold back. The crystal pillar will comprehensively assess your bone age, spiritual power quality, soul strength, and affinity for stellar power, giving you a talent rating," the star-robed deacon explained routinely, his tone flat, clearly numb from repeating the same words every day.

Lin Xuan nodded and walked to the transparent crystal pillar. He didn't act immediately, but carefully observed the pillar. He could sense that the pillar was closely connected to the entire Star Tower and even the ancient city's grand formation, and its detection mechanism was quite ingenious.

He didn't want to reveal all his trump cards, especially the destructive Dao aura and the divine soul essence far surpassing others of his level. However, if he wanted to obtain high-level residential privileges and attract a certain degree of attention to facilitate subsequent actions, he also needed to demonstrate sufficient talent.

In the blink of an eye, he had already made up his mind.

He extended his right hand and slowly pressed it against the cool surface of the crystal pillar. Then, he mobilized the vast Foundation Establishment stage true essence within his dantian, pouring it into the crystal pillar like a floodgate opening! Of course, he deliberately controlled the properties of his true essence, only displaying its purity and power, concealing its destructive characteristics.

"Buzz!"

The crystal pillar trembled slightly, and a dazzling blue halo instantly lit up at its bottom. Then, this halo shot upwards at an astonishing speed!

One floor, two floors, three floors...

With almost no pause, the blue aura surged forward unstoppably, breaking through the sixth level, which represented the passing mark for the mid-stage Foundation Establishment, and heading straight for the seventh level!

The casual gaze of the star-robed deacon beside him instantly froze, a hint of surprise appearing on his face. To so easily ascend to the seventh level meant that this person's spiritual power, both in quality and quantity, far surpassed that of others at the same level!

However, this is just the beginning!

After the blue halo surged up to the seventh floor, its speed did not diminish at all, and it boldly rushed into the eighth floor! The crystal pillar shone brightly, illuminating the entire hall in a deep blue light!

"The eighth floor!" The star-robed steward couldn't help but exclaim softly, his expression turning solemn. To be able to light up the eighth floor was one in a hundred among mid-Foundation Establishment cultivators, truly a genius! Such talent was enough to obtain a Grade B superior residence permit, and would receive a certain degree of attention and preferential treatment within the city.

His gaze toward Lin Xuan now held a hint of importance.

But just when he thought this was the limit—

The blue halo paused slightly at the top of the eighth level, and then, before the star-robed deacon's eyes widened, it suddenly launched an attack on the highest ninth level!

"This...could it be..." The star-robed steward gasped for breath.

"boom!"

The blue aura, like a roaring dragon, broke through the boundary of the ninth level in one fell swoop! The entire crystal pillar erupted with an unprecedentedly intense blue light, and even faintly revealed a trace of noble purple!

All nine layers are lit! Mid-Foundation Establishment stage, nine layers of spirit-testing crystal pillars are lit! This means that the quality and foundation of his spiritual power have reached the theoretical limit of the Foundation Establishment stage, making him a perfect Dao foundation!

"Nine...nine levels! A perfect foundation!" The star-robed steward exclaimed in shock, his face filled with astonishment. Such talent might only appear once every few decades! Each one of them was destined to become a Golden Core cultivator in the future, and might even have the potential to glimpse higher realms!

He immediately realized that this was no small matter and instinctively tried to activate the communication plaque to notify the higher-ups inside the tower.

However, the changes have only just begun!

Just as all nine layers of the spirit-testing crystal pillar lit up, reaching their peak of light—

"Thump!"

A bell, seemingly from the ancient starry sky, rang out without warning from the highest point of the Star Tower! The vast and resounding sound instantly spread throughout the entire ancient city of Chenxi!

Everyone was startled by the sudden chime and looked up in the direction of the Star Tower.

Then, something even more shocking happened!

The dark blue Star Tower suddenly began to glow with dazzling starlight, starting from its base and spreading layer by layer! One layer, two layers, three layers... the speed increased, and finally, all nine layers of the tower were enveloped in brilliant starlight, like a giant pillar of light piercing through the heavens and the earth!

This is not over yet!

The swirling spiritual mist at the top of the tower was dispersed, and nine incredibly thick beams of starlight shot into the sky, directly hitting the protective array above the ancient city!

"Boom!"

The array's protective barrier responded to this, fluctuating violently. The simulated images of the sun, moon, and stars on it vanished instantly, replaced by a real projection from the endless starry sky outside! Against the dark backdrop of the starry sky, nine ancient main stars, originally scattered in different places, seemed to be drawn by an invisible force, moving along a mysterious trajectory and eventually merging into a straight line!

Nine stars aligned!

Ancient constellations illuminate the ancient city!

As if summoned by a king, countless starlight converged wildly from the depths of the starry sky and beyond the city's protective array, forming a massive, endlessly rotating vortex of starlight at the top of the tower! The boundless power of the stars poured down, and the spiritual energy concentration of the entire Chenxi Ancient City suddenly increased by 30% at this moment!

"Nine layers of the Star Tower shine! The extraordinary phenomenon of nine stars aligning!" "Heavens! Who has caused such a phenomenon?" "Legend has it that only a peerless genius with the 'favor of the stars' can trigger the alignment of nine stars!" "Look! The power of the stars is flowing back! This is a once-in-a-lifetime spectacle!"

The entire ancient city of Chenxi was in an uproar! Whether it was pedestrians on the street, shopkeepers and clerks in the shops, or old monsters who rarely left their homes, everyone was shocked by this earth-shattering phenomenon, and their eyes were all focused on the Star Tower!

Inside the tower, in the testing hall.

The Star-Robed Deacon was utterly dumbfounded, his mouth agape, standing frozen like a statue, his mind completely blank. In all his years of overseeing testing, he had never seen, or even heard of, such a sight! Nine floors lit up simultaneously was already legendary, but to trigger a nine-star alignment… this was simply mythical!

The instant the bell rang and the tower emitted light, Lin Xuan had already quietly cut off the input of true essence and withdrawn his hand from the crystal pillar. He frowned slightly, looking at the extraordinary phenomena outside, and understood. He had guessed that it might cause quite a commotion, but he hadn't expected that the Star Tower's connection to the starry sky would be so acute, directly triggering such a massive celestial phenomenon.

"It seems... a bit too much," he thought to himself, but his expression remained calm. There was no point in dwelling on it now.

"Swish!" "Swish!" "Swish!"

Several incredibly powerful auras descended upon the hall in an instant! The light dissipated, revealing three figures.

The one in the center, dressed in a purple star-patterned robe, had a gaunt face, and his eyes seemed to hold the illusion of galaxies shifting and disappearing. His aura was as deep and boundless as the sea. He was none other than a great cultivator in the late Golden Core stage! He was the tower master of the Star Tower, Zi Xinghe!

The woman on the left is a beautiful woman dressed in palace attire, possessing an elegant demeanor but radiating a cold aura. She is a mid-stage Golden Core cultivator and one of the deputy city lords of the city lord's mansion, Lady Hanyue.

The man on the right was a burly figure draped in animal skins, his eyes gleaming with a sharp light, his aura powerful and vigorous; he too was at the mid-stage of the Golden Core realm. He was an elder of the "War God Temple," one of the three major powers of the ancient city—the Mad Halberd True Man!

Three Golden Core cultivators! These usually elusive figures were all alarmed by this strange phenomenon and personally appeared!

Their gazes instantly locked onto Lin Xuan, the only person standing in the main hall. Their eyes were filled with scrutiny, shock, and a hint of barely concealed fervor.

The Purple Star River Tower Master took a step forward and came to Lin Xuan. His powerful divine sense swept over Lin Xuan like a gentle stream of water (Lin Xuan had long since concealed the Dao of Destruction and most of his divine soul power). He felt the foundation that was as solid as steel even in the mid-Foundation Establishment stage, and his eyes showed even more amazement.

"Young friend, was the strange phenomenon just now caused by you?" Zi Xinghe's voice carried a hint of barely perceptible excitement.

Facing the gazes of the three Golden Core cultivators, Lin Xuan felt immense pressure, but his Dao heart remained unbreakable, his posture upright like a pine tree. He bowed respectfully and said, "Junior Lin Xuan was just taking a test when I inadvertently triggered an unusual phenomenon, disturbing you seniors. Please forgive me."

His composure and calmness caused another flash of surprise in the eyes of the three masters. This young man not only possessed extraordinary talent, but his temperament was also remarkable!

Lady Hanyue's beautiful eyes sparkled as she softly parted her lips: "Nine stars aligned, a blessing from the heavens. Young friend Lin, your talent is unparalleled in our ancient city of Chenxi for a thousand years."

Mad Halberd Master laughed heartily, his voice booming like thunder: "Good lad! You've got guts! I like it! Interested in joining my War God Temple?"

Zi Xinghe waved his hand, suppressing his excitement, and said gently to Lin Xuan, "Young friend Lin, there's no need to panic. Your triggering of the Nine Stars Alignment is a fortunate event for our Chenxi Ancient City. According to ancient rules, whoever triggers this phenomenon can directly obtain the highest-level residential privileges, enjoy the treatment of a core disciple, and be allowed to cultivate in the Star Tower Secret Realm for three days!"

He paused, his gaze towards Lin Xuan filled with anticipation: "May I ask who your master is, young friend? Would you be willing to join my Star Tower?"

In an instant, the three masters' gazes all focused on Lin Xuan's answer.

Lin Xuan's mind raced, knowing that from this moment on, he would no longer be an unknown nobody in Chenxi Ancient City. Opportunities and troubles would inevitably follow one after another.

He took a deep breath and slowly said, "This junior... is merely a rogue cultivator."