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

Lin Xuan did not stray far from the valley that had given him a new lease on life. Several miles away, he found an even more secluded cave called Eagle's Beak Cave. The cave entrance was perched on a steep cliff face, below which lay a bottomless, misty ravine, making it extremely difficult for ordinary beasts and low-level demonic beasts to reach. More importantly, the view from this place was excellent and unobstructed, making it especially convenient for gazing at the boundless starry sky at night.

He carefully arranged some natural thorns and hanging vines at the cave entrance for concealment, and after carefully sensing his surroundings to confirm that there was no powerful aura lingering there, he sat down cross-legged in this safe place. He took a deep breath, suppressed the excitement and anticipation in his heart, and completely immersed his mind in the dark silver jade slip he had obtained from the remains—"Star River Qi Refining Technique".

The profound texts and images of the cultivation method, as if possessing a life of their own, flowed and evolved once again in his sea of ​​consciousness. This time, he no longer merely swallowed them whole, but like the most patient scholar, he analyzed, understood, and deduced the profound principles of heaven and earth contained within them, word by word.

"The stars are the warp and weft of the universe, the source of energy, existing eternally and moving with constant order... Drawing star power into the body is not about forceful acquisition, but about seeking communion between heaven and man, and resonance between the stars... Condensing the star vortex in the dantian's chaos, like the beginning of the universe, is the beginning of the supreme foundation of the Dao..."

Every passage of scripture was resounding and profound, every cultivation path exquisitely refined. The more Lin Xuan read, the more astonished and enlightened he became. Compared to this orthodox, vast, and rigorously structured *Star River Qi Refining Technique*, his previous reliance on the Black Auxiliary Command to instinctively attract stellar spiritual energy was like a child wielding a heavy hammer—possessing power but lacking the proper method, crude and utterly inept. Furthermore, the rudimentary methods circulating among the lower classes in the original owner's memories were like fireflies in decaying grass, pale in comparison to this bright moon, utterly worthless.

"So, drawing upon the power of the stars isn't simply about devouring and absorbing it." Lin Xuan suddenly realized, as if the clouds had parted to reveal the sun. "It requires a unique method to guide one's own frequency to achieve a mysterious and harmonious resonance with the stars in the heavens, removing their madness and retaining their essence, in order to refine the purest and most primordial stellar essence."

He suppressed the urge to immediately switch cultivation methods, his Dao heart clear, understanding the importance of a solid foundation. He repeatedly pondered every detail of the first level of the cultivation technique, from the initial activation of spiritual energy, to how it meandered and flowed through specific meridians, how it resonated and vibrated at key acupoints, until finally returning to the dantian and condensing into a star vortex… He strived to have a thorough understanding of every step, allowing no room for error. The foundation of the Dao is the base of a towering building, determining how far one can go on the path of cultivation; there can be no room for carelessness.

Time slipped away quietly as they focused on their calculations. As the sun dipped westward and dusk settled, the last rays of light disappeared, and the deep sky began to twinkle with brilliant stars. Their cool yet radiant starlight, like a veil descending from the heavens, silently enveloped the entire mountain range.

The time has come.

Lin Xuan adjusted himself to his peak condition. He first held the fire-attribute demon core he had obtained from the Crimson Flame Tiger in his palm, circulated his cultivation technique, and absorbed the pure and abundant spiritual energy within it. Although the energy within the demon core was incompatible with the attribute of stellar spiritual power, its purity was its greatest advantage. It was enough to fully replenish the spiritual power he had consumed due to days of fighting and traveling, and even pushed his cultivation to the true peak of the second level of Qi Refining, just one step away from the third level.

Then, he held his breath and focused his mind, discarding all distracting thoughts, concentrating his attention on his dantian, and embracing the unity of primordial energy. He began, for the first time, to consciously and systematically circulate his qi through the body according to the profound and extraordinary methods of the "Star River Qi Refining Technique."

At first, the process was quite difficult, as if someone who was used to running on muddy paths was suddenly asked to walk on a thin steel wire.

He had become accustomed to the previous rough, almost instinctive way of circulating spiritual energy. The more complex, refined, and microscopically controlled cultivation path of the "Star River Qi Refining Technique" made him feel a noticeable stagnation and resistance in his meridians. The stellar spiritual energy that had been circulating freely in his body seemed to have developed an instinctive resistance to this sudden and "unfamiliar" command system, and its operation was quite unsmooth.

But how resolute was Lin Xuan's will? He knew that this was a necessary hardship to overcome in order to break with the old and establish the new. He patiently calmed his mind and, like a master micro-sculptor, used his will as a carving knife to guide, soothe, and adjust the "disobedient" spiritual energy in his meridians, forcing it to follow a new trajectory that was more in line with the ultimate principles of heaven and earth.

Gradually, as his cultivation technique improved, he experienced a wondrous change he had never felt before.

In the night sky, the countless stars were no longer just cold, distant, and irrelevant specks of light to him. Through the invisible bridge constructed by the "Star River Qi Refining Technique," he seemed to be able to vaguely touch their magnificent, ancient, and eternal life pulse, and feel their vast and pure stellar power constantly radiating into the universe.

The two black auxiliary tokens he kept close to his body seemed to awaken from their slumber, emitting a clear and continuous cool sensation. Like two sophisticated resonators, they greatly enhanced the mysterious connection between him and the starry sky, making it clearer and more stable.

More abundant and purer stellar spiritual energy, guided by both the cultivation technique and the auxiliary command, flowed into his body like rivers flowing into the sea, or like loyal subjects summoned by a king, several times more active and docile than before. This spiritual energy was no longer chaotic, but carried a unique stellar rhythm and order, flowing and surging joyfully and efficiently along the "Starlight Avenue" opened by the "Star River Qi Refining Technique".

The previously sluggish meridians quickly disappeared under the continuous cleansing and nourishment of this purer, more active, and seemingly "spiritual" stellar energy. In its place came an indescribable tingling, numbness, and comfort, as if parched land had been soaked in nectar. Some subtle meridians and hidden acupoints that had never been touched or even discovered during previous cultivation were quietly opened and connected by this gentle yet powerful energy, making the body's "network" more complete and efficient.

One great cycle, two great cycles...

Lin Xuan was completely immersed in this wonderful experience. His consciousness seemed to transcend the constraints of his physical body, rising continuously and merging with the boundless starry sky. He felt like a speck of dust, floating in this vast universe, yet also as if he were one with the universe, breathing and sharing its fate. He "saw" the birth and death of galaxies, and felt the length of time and the vastness of heaven and earth. An indescribable grand vision grew in his heart, silently cleansing and broadening his Dao heart.

Before we knew it, the long night had passed, and a soft, pale light appeared on the eastern horizon. The last wisp of cool starlight reluctantly disappeared into the gradually brightening sky.

Lin Xuan slowly opened his eyes.

A dazzling, almost tangible silver starlight flashed across his already deep black eyes, brighter and purer than ever before, as if he had captured a miniature starry sky in his gaze.

He subconsciously focused his inner gaze on his dantian.

Within his dantian, the previously thin, irregularly swirling stellar spiritual energy, as thin as cotton thread, had completely vanished. In its place was a silver vortex, formed from countless tiny, dazzling silver starlight, slowly rotating with a mysterious rhythm!

Although this vortex was still small, no bigger than a fingernail, its structure was exceptionally stable and solid, brimming with vibrant life and energy. It rotated on its own, like a miniature galaxy, naturally and continuously drawing upon the faint stellar spiritual energy from the void without deliberate guidance, slowly and steadily strengthening itself. In terms of total spiritual energy, it didn't seem to have increased much more than when it was at the peak of the second level of Qi Refining, but its degree of refinement, purity, and control over power far exceeded it by several times! If the previous spiritual energy was likened to fluffy cotton, then the spiritual energy in the vortex in its dantian now was refined steel forged through countless trials!

An unprecedented sense of solidity, weight, and power, as if he were intimately connected with the earth beneath his feet and the starry sky above, filled his limbs and penetrated his soul.

Qi Refining Level 3!

It was not a simple breakthrough in realm, but rather, through the process of switching to the supreme method of "Star River Qi Refining Technique," he used its profound mysteries to completely shatter the old barriers, rebuild his foundation, and then naturally and effortlessly entered this realm!

Moreover, Lin Xuan had a clear intuition that his Qi Refining Level 3 cultivation, which he had achieved by relying on the "Star River Qi Refining Technique," was far superior to ordinary cultivators of the same level in terms of its solid foundation, pure and powerful spiritual energy, and exquisite control over power. It was even enough to compete with those Qi Refining Level 4 cultivators who had barely managed to improve their cultivation level by relying on pills!

"So this is... the supreme foundation forged from the stars?" Lin Xuan murmured to himself, his voice trembling slightly, a tremor he himself was unaware of, stemming from the joy and awe of leaping through his life level.

He extended his right index finger, and with a slight thought, without even consciously manipulating it, a highly concentrated, restrained silver starlight instantly condensed at his fingertip. The surrounding space seemed to distort slightly due to this highly concentrated power. He felt that the power of this finger strike was probably comparable to the "Star Piercing" technique, which required him to exert all his strength to unleash, while the consumption of spiritual energy was reduced by more than 30%!

He then tried to use the "Wind Control Technique." With just a slight movement, two or three blurry afterimages seemed to appear simultaneously inside the cave, his speed and agility increasing dramatically! Clearly, his efficiency in utilizing spiritual power had improved by more than one level with the transformation of his cultivation method and the rebuilding of his Dao foundation!

"Excellent! What a magnificent 'Star River Qi Refining Technique'! Truly an unparalleled inheritance!" Lin Xuan couldn't help but exclaim in a low voice, his eyes gleaming with excitement.

This technique not only elevated his cultivation level by one level, but also fundamentally enhanced his potential, combat power, and understanding of the "Dao"! It was like paving a broad foundation for him to reach the supreme path, with unlimited potential!

His gaze was intense as he looked through the gaps in the vines at the bright, boundless sky outside the cave. His heart was filled with surging emotions, and all traces of his previous depression and confusion had vanished.

The life-or-death struggle in the Qinglan Mountains and the unexpected opportunity with the ancient cave remains were like two heavy hammers, repeatedly forging him from ordinary iron until he was completely transformed.

Zhao Gan? Qi Refining Level 3?

Now, in his eyes, that mountain that he once looked up to is nothing more than a slightly larger stumbling block.

He slowly clenched his fists, feeling the seemingly inexhaustible, boundless power emanating from the steadily rotating starry sky foundation within his dantian. A chilling killing intent and resolute determination condensed in his eyes.

It's time to leave these mountains and forests and go back to settle those karmic debts that should have been settled long ago.