I gain ten years' worth of cultivation every day, and even geniuses will only see my doorstep!

"I will modify the Xuanming Boundary-Breaking Cone and seal one-tenth of the star core's origin." He made the decision.

[Command received. Begin analyzing the structure of the 'Mysterious Netherworld Breaking Cone'...]

[Consumes 1000 energy points.]

[A modification plan has been generated. The host needs to use spiritual power to temporarily create a miniature sealed space inside the cone and guide the power of the star core's origin into it.]

[Warning: The modification and guidance process may cause slight fluctuations in the star's core origin; a swift resolution is required.]

Without further hesitation, Qin Yuan immediately followed the system's instructions, mobilizing his spiritual power to begin modifying the still-vibrating Boundary-Breaking Cone in his hand. At the same time, he carefully separated a wisp of pure spiritual power, imbued with the aura of the "Undying Body of the Universe Stars," and, like a tentacle, slowly probed towards the core of the star.

The stellar core seemed to sense the aura of the same origin, fluctuating slightly without showing strong rejection.

With a firm resolve, Qin Yuan controlled the wisp of spiritual power, drawing out a thin, yet extremely pure and refined, seven-colored star power from the outer edge of the star core's origin, like unraveling a cocoon, and slowly guiding it toward the boundary-breaking cone that was being modified.

The process was slow and cautious. Outside, the sounds of a fierce battle between Young Master Youquan and the Silver-Winged Star Dragon could be faintly heard. Further away, other powerful auras seemed to be approaching Meteor Lake, clearly attracted by the commotion here.

Qin Yuan was completely focused and undistracted. After about half an incense stick's time, the seven-colored star power was finally successfully guided and injected into the newly opened micro-space inside the Boundary-Breaking Cone. The cone trembled instantly, the dark light on its surface faded, and a layer of hazy seven-colored starlight appeared, making it mysterious and magnificent.

[Sealing successful. Obtained 'One-tenth of the Star Core Origin (Sealed)'.]

[Warning: The seal is unstable. A suitable environment must be found within seven days to refine it, or it must be transferred to a better container.]

Success! Qin Yuan was overjoyed and put away the modified Boundary-Breaking Cone without hesitation. He didn't greedily touch the remaining star core essence, as that would not only be extremely risky but would also completely disrupt the balance of this place, leading to unpredictable consequences.

He took one last look at the magnificent stellar core, then his figure blurred as he rushed towards another direction of the nebula (not the direction he came from)!

"boom!"

He smashed through a relatively weak energy barrier on the outer edge of the nebula with brute force and rushed out. Outside was the other side of Meteor Lake.

Looking back, in the center of the lake, Young Master Youquan and the Silver-Winged Star Dragon were still locked in fierce combat, though both were heavily wounded and their auras were much weaker than before. Young Master Youquan had clearly also noticed the fluctuations within the nebula, knowing that someone had tampered with the core of the star, which enraged him so much that he vomited blood. His attacks became even more frenzied, yet also more chaotic.

Qin Yuan didn't linger, transforming into an inconspicuous streak of light and swiftly departing from the Meteor Lake area. His main objective—a substitute for Star Essence (a higher-grade Star Core Origin)—was now in his hands. Although it was only one-tenth, its quality far surpassed ordinary Star Essence. Next, he needed to find a safe place to attempt refining it and break through to the second level of the "Undying Body of the Universe Stars."

Shortly after he left, several powerful beams of light arrived at Meteor Lake. Among them were sword cultivators from the Myriad Swords Pavilion, thunder magic cultivators from the Profound Heaven Sect, and even people from the Green Wood Sect and Heavenly Sound Valley. Seeing the fierce battle in the center of the lake and the anomalies in the nebula region, everyone was filled with doubt and uncertainty. Then, each with their own thoughts, a new chaos and struggle seemed to be about to unfold.

The instigator, Qin Yuan, had already fled far away to find a secluded place for cultivation.

The Lesser Universe Realm is vast and boundless. After leaving Meteor Lake, Qin Yuan did not rush to seek other opportunities. His top priority was to refine the sealed star core essence and break through the second level of the "Undying Body of the Universe Stars" - "Star Bone".

He found a cave partially concealed by a natural formation deep in a remote mountain range. Vines hung down at the entrance, and the cave was dry and clean. A tributary of an underground spiritual vein flowed through it, and although the spiritual energy was not as concentrated as that of Meteor Lake, it was still sufficient.

Qin Yuan set up several layers of warning and concealment formations at the entrance of the cave, all taught by Li Zhen. Although they were not top-notch, they were sufficient to deal with ordinary cultivators and demonic beasts. He sat cross-legged in the deepest part of the cave, adjusted his breathing, and waited until his mind was completely calm before taking out the modified Xuanming Boundary-Breaking Cone, which shimmered with a hazy seven-colored starlight.

The cone felt slightly heavy in my hand, its cool temperature tinged with a hint of heat, and the primordial power of the star core sealed within pulsated faintly, as if it were alive. One day of the seven-day deadline had already passed.

"System, begin refining the star core essence to assist in the cultivation of the second level of the 'Undying Body of the Universe'," Qin Yuan silently recited in his mind.

[Command received. Begin assisted refining guidance.]

[The host has been detected to have met the basic requirements for the second level of the "Undying Body of the Universe" technique, namely, "Stellar Bones and Muscles".]

[Refining Plan: Using the spiritual power of the Nine Revolutions Profound Origin Technique as a guide, protect the heart meridian and dantian; using the first level of the Perfected Body of the Universe Stars as a foundation, actively draw upon the power of the star core's origin to temper the body's muscles and bones; the system will simultaneously consume energy points, providing the optimal energy channeling path and tempering rhythm assistance.]

[Estimated energy consumption: 3000. Estimated time: 3 days. Begin?]

"start!"

Without further hesitation, Qin Yuan, following the system's instructions, first activated the Nine Revolutions Profound Origin Technique to its fullest extent. The pure and abundant nine-colored spiritual energy acted like a sturdy dam, protecting his nascent soul and vital heart meridian. Then, he activated the Universe Starry Sky Undying Body technique, fully unleashing the perfect power of the first layer, the "Starry Skin Membrane." Beneath his skin, faint starlight flowed, like fireflies in the night sky.

He grasped both ends of the Xuanming Boundary-Breaking Cone with both hands, channeling spiritual energy into it, and carefully opened the temporary seal inside the cone.

"Buzz—!"

A pure, powerful, seven-colored stellar energy, seemingly containing the power of the birth and destruction of stars, surged out of the cone like a burst dam, and rushed into Qin Yuan's meridians through his hands!

"Hmm!"

Even though he was prepared, Qin Yuan couldn't help but groan. This power was too strong! It far exceeded the power of ordinary stars by a hundred or a thousand times! It carried the vastness, coldness, and rage of stars, as well as a trace of innate will. Wherever it passed, his meridians felt like they were being torn apart!

If his meridians had not been repeatedly tempered by the Nine Revolutions Profound Origin Technique and the Nine Revolutions Nascent Soul, making them exceptionally resilient, and if they had not been aided by system energy points for guidance, the first wave of impact would probably have been enough to damage his meridians.

Qin Yuan gritted his teeth, enduring the excruciating pain, and fully activated the second level of the "Undying Body of the Universe Stars" technique, guiding the violent power of the star core's origin along a specific route to flush through his bones, joints, and ligaments!

The second level of body refinement, "Starry Bone and Tendon," involves using special energy to thoroughly cleanse and refine the bones and connecting tissues throughout the body, causing them to undergo a fundamental transformation. They become harder than refined gold and more resilient than dragon tendons, and can spontaneously absorb and release the power of stars, possessing incredible strength and endurance.