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

The moment the power of the star core touched the bones, an even more intense pain shot through them! It felt as if countless tiny stars were exploding, grinding, and reorganizing inside the bones! The bone marrow seemed to be boiling, and the bones emitted a faint "creaking" sound as if they were about to collapse under the weight. Fine cracks, like those on porcelain, began to appear on the surface, but in the next moment they were soaked, repaired, and strengthened by even purer star power.

Sweat instantly soaked through Qin Yuan's clothes. Veins bulged on his forehead, and his body trembled slightly from the intense pain, yet he maintained his cultivation posture, his mind as steadfast as a rock. The Nine-Turn Nascent Soul sat cross-legged in his Purple Mansion, emanating a power that guarded everything, helping him maintain a clear mind.

Time slowly passed amidst extreme pain.

As the day passed, Qin Yuan's bones were completely enveloped by the seven-colored star power, as if he were immersed in a starlight furnace. Cracks appeared and were repaired, and he was repeatedly tempered. The color of his bones began to change from the original jade white to a light silver color with starlight inside.

The next day, the tempering process entered the deep water zone. Stellar energy began to penetrate the bone marrow and spread towards the joints and ligaments. The sensation of tingling and stinging that penetrated deep into the bone marrow was even more unbearable than simple bone tempering. Qin Yuan's face was sometimes as red as blood, and sometimes as pale as paper, and his breathing was also unstable.

But he could clearly feel that his strength was slowly but steadily increasing, the density and strength of his bones were increasing at an astonishing rate, and even the smallest trabeculae were undergoing a transformation.

On the third day, the seven-colored star power began to recede and settle, completely fusing with his muscles and bones. A series of popping sounds, like beans being fried, emanated from Qin Yuan's body; it was the final reorganization and strengthening of his muscles and bones. Beneath his skin, it was no longer just the faint glow of star power emanating from the membrane; a soft, pale silver luster began to emanate from the deeper layers of his bones, though it was obscured by the membrane and not very noticeable.

The primordial power of the star core within the Xuanming Boundary-Breaking Cone has been completely exhausted. The cone has utterly lost its luster, turning a dull gray, like ordinary iron.

[The Star Core Essence Refining is Complete.]

[Progress of the second level of "Undying Body of the Universe," 'Starry Bones': 65%]

[Due to the extremely high quality of the energy, the tempering effect exceeded expectations, significantly enhancing the strength, resilience, affinity for stellar energy, and load-bearing capacity of the muscles and bones.]

[Estimated strength increase: 300%. Estimated bone strength: Capable of withstanding a full-force attack from a typical peak-stage Nascent Soul magic weapon without damage.]

[Energy Points Consumed: 3000. Remaining Energy Points: 14550.]

Qin Yuan slowly opened his eyes, his gaze seemingly swirling with starlight, fleeting and ephemeral. He exhaled a long breath, the aura subtly carrying the light of wind, thunder, and stardust.

He stretched his body, his joints cracking and popping as if they contained explosive power. He clenched his fist, using only his physical strength, without employing any spiritual energy, and the air exploded in his palm! He felt that he could now, with just this body, go toe-to-toe with a cultivator in the late Nascent Soul stage!

"65%... It's a pity that the Star Core Essence is still too little, not enough to directly complete the second level." Qin Yuan was slightly disappointed, but quickly came to terms with it. Such a significant improvement was already an unexpected delight. The remaining progress could be made up for through subsequent accumulation or by finding other Star Treasures.

He looked inward and discovered that deep within his bones and muscles, the pale silver light was not still, but was slowly absorbing the faint starlight energy floating in the air. Although the efficiency was very low, it was continuous. This was undoubtedly a sign of the initial success of the "Starry Bone and Muscle Technique".

"It's time to go out. The Lesser Universe has been open for nearly ten days, and we can't stay in seclusion forever." Qin Yuan got up, removed the array at the cave entrance, and walked out.

The sunlight outside (the three alternate suns of the Lesser Universe Realm) was perfect, and a mountain breeze carried the fragrance of grass and trees. Qin Yuan determined his direction and decided to stop deliberately searching for fixed resource points. Instead, he headed towards the core area of ​​the Lesser Universe Realm, which was roughly the direction marked in the intelligence report as "suspected to be the appearance of ancient relics or special secret realms."

That place is bound to be a mix of opportunities and risks, and also the place where geniuses from all sects gather and clash most fiercely. He needs more battles and resources to solidify his foundation, find an opportunity to break through to the Void Refinement stage, and accumulate experience for the subsequent cultivation of the "Undying Body of the Universe Stars".

As he continued his journey, Qin Yuan no longer tried to keep a low profile. He went all out, and with his peak Nascent Soul cultivation combined with his partially completed Star Bone and Tendons, he traveled at an extremely fast speed, like a streak of azure lightning flashing across the mountains and rivers.

Along the way, he also encountered some disciples from other sects, either alone or in small groups. Some sensed his powerful aura from afar and avoided him; others tried to approach him to chat or exchange information; still others, lacking discernment, saw him alone and with an ordinary aura, and harbored malicious intentions. Naturally, they were all easily dealt with by Qin Yuan, some having their storage bags stolen, others having their cultivation crippled. Within the Small Universe Realm, the law of the jungle was even more blatantly evident.

He also collected some precious medicinal herbs he encountered along the way and killed several powerful demonic beasts that blocked his path, reaping a rich harvest.

That day, Qin Yuan passed through an area called "Flame Demon Valley." The area was teeming with fire, extremely hot, and home to many fire-attribute spiritual creatures. It was also said to contain the ruins of ancient fire cultivator caves. He intended to pass through quickly, but then he heard sounds of fierce fighting and shouts coming from the depths of the valley. One of the voices, a clear, cold female voice, sounded somewhat familiar to him.

Qin Yuan hesitated for a moment, then concealed his presence and quietly approached.

Deep within the Flame Demon Valley, beside a crimson lava lake, two opposing forces are locked in a standoff.

On one side were four disciples dressed in the robes of the Xuantian Sect. The leader was a handsome young man in purple robes with an air of arrogance between his brows. He was a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator and one of the leaders of the Xuantian Sect who had entered the Lesser Universe Realm this time. He was a lightning-type genius named Lei Hao. Behind him were three people, two men and one woman, whose cultivation levels ranged from the early to the middle stage of the Nascent Soul realm.

On the other side were three women. The one in the center was tall and slender, with an exquisitely beautiful yet icy face, dressed in a pale purple dress, surrounded by a faint mist – this was Yun Qingyao! Her aura was currently at the early stage of the Nascent Soul realm, clearly indicating a breakthrough after entering the Lesser Universe Realm. The two women to her left and right were disciples of Tianyin Valley, their cultivation at the peak of the Nascent Soul stage; their faces were pale, indicating they had suffered minor injuries.

On the ground lay the corpses of two Tianyin Valley disciples and one Xuantian Sect disciple, the air thick with the stench of blood and burnt flesh.

"Yun Qingyao, a wise man submits to circumstances." Lei Hao held a long spear crackling with purple lightning, its tip pointed at Yun Qingyao. His tone was undeniably forceful. "This 'Nine-Leaf Fire Lotus' was first discovered by my Xuantian Sect, and we have already repelled the fire python guarding it. Your Tianyin Valley ambushed us halfway, attempting to steal it, and even killed my junior brother. How do you intend to explain this?"