Chapter 154: Chapter 103: Supreme Body Forging Cultivation Technique: Star Heaven·Divine Monarch

...

Despite her regal bearing, Zhong Ming showed no reaction whatsoever. His composure made the female official and guards at Ji Qingyue’s side widen their eyes in astonishment.

The next moment, sensing something was amiss, they exchanged a glance and refrained from any further words or actions.

However, while they had sensed something was unusual, the young maid at Princess Qingyue’s side was not so perceptive.

Zhong Ming’s challenging tone immediately set the hot-tempered maid off:

"How can you be so ungrateful! The Princess was kind enough to help you, and not only are you not thankful, you dare to be so rude... You’re an ignorant, ungrateful wretch..."

"Xiaolu, hold your tongue."

After rebuking her maid, Ji Qingyue immediately turned to Zhong Ming and offered him an apology with a slight bow.

"My apologies, Zhong Ming. I have not been strict enough in her upbringing..."

The preceding exchange had made her sense that something was off as well, leading her to a certain realization.

After her apology, she gave Zhong Ming a serious answer to his question. "As a woman, the title of Prince is beyond my grasp, so it is pointless for me to contend for it. However, I will not give up on gaining influence within the new alliance. The greater one’s power, the more people one can protect. I understand this principle well."

As she spoke, Ji Qingyue’s expression was resolute, a stark contrast to her usual gentle demeanor.

But this didn’t faze Zhong Ming. He immediately pointed out the flaw in her logic.

"As I’ve said, this kind of charity will not win you the Prince’s favor."

"I know," Ji Qingyue replied, her eyes filled with hope. "But my actions will help many people. And while most of them won’t support me for various reasons, if even a tenth of them do, I can still gather a faction of my own."

"Furthermore, actions like these will attract some righteous and noble-minded individuals to my cause. Once I’ve gathered enough people, even if my father disapproves, he will have to consider my influence."

With that, she gave him a sly wink. "And don’t think I’m too benevolent, Zhong Ming. Just as you said, what I’m offering won’t cause the Commandery Prince’s Mansion any significant loss."

"Besides, I’m not handing these out to just anyone. Before I came here, I was well aware that you, Zhong Ming, once killed a disciple of the Six Extremes Demon Sect in a single blow."

...

Ji Qingyue’s words showed Zhong Ming that she was no naive saint. While she was helping the minor sects, she also had her own agenda.

But upon learning this, far from being angry, Zhong Ming actually laughed.

He didn’t mind people with a bit of cunning, especially when he was looking for a partner.

In this situation, the more clever Ji Qingyue was, the higher his chances were of obtaining the title of Child of the Morning Star and making the Seven Profound Sect a Banner Holder.

Therefore, having received his answer, Zhong Ming accepted the Jade Scroll from her and said with a smile, "Princess, you wouldn’t mind having one more ’noble-minded individual’ on your team, would you?"

"Of course not."

Zhong Ming: "Then I’ll be in your care."

And just like that, Zhong Ming—or rather, the Seven Profound Sect—had chosen Ji Qingyue as their partner.

Following him, Hong Jing also stepped forward, declaring that the Golden Armor Sect would also support Princess Qingyue.

The addition of these two sects broadened the smile on Ji Qingyue’s face, and the look she gave Zhong Ming grew more solemn.

Zhong Ming, meanwhile, took the Jade Scroll and began to browse its contents.

There weren’t many Cultivation Techniques recorded in the Jade Scroll—only three.

Zhong Ming wasn’t too surprised by this. Cultivation Techniques of the Earth-Level Top Grade, and specifically for Body Forging at that, weren’t a dime a dozen. Qingyue was merely a Commandery Princess, not a Prince or an emperor; offering three was already more than Zhong Ming had expected.

’I thought she’d only be able to offer one, leaving me with no choice at all.’

[Heaven-Shattering Dragon Elephant]

[Five Viscera Forging Essence Skill]

[Celestial Star·Divine Monarch]

These were the names of the three Cultivation Techniques. After a careful reading, Zhong Ming discovered he could practice any of them.

The first, Heaven-Shattering Dragon Elephant, would grant Zhong Ming the immense power of a dragon-elephant. Upon reaching its highest realm, one could shake the heavens and the earth with physical strength alone.

However, it was also the first one Zhong Ming rejected.

’This is a purely resource-intensive Cultivation Technique. The more suitable resources one has, the faster the cultivation. Even though I’m the absolute core of the Seven Profound Sect, forget the sect—even the entire Jade Lake City poured into it wouldn’t be enough to support my cultivation of this technique to the Master Realm.’

Shaking his head, Zhong Ming’s gaze moved past Heaven-Shattering Dragon Elephant to the second technique, Five Viscera Forging Essence Skill, and the third, Celestial Star·Divine Monarch.

He found himself torn between these two Cultivation Techniques. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

Both were profound enough to be classified as Earth-Level Top Grade.

The Five Viscera Forging Essence Skill would allow Zhong Ming to awaken his Five Viscera Divine Treasures.

If the awakened Divine Treasures were powerful enough and worked in concert, this Cultivation Technique could even rival a Celestial-Level one.

Celestial Star·Divine Monarch was no less impressive. This Cultivation Technique involved refining the acupoints in one’s body into Star Acupoints.

These Star Acupoints would contain a unique Star Power that would enhance Zhong Ming’s physique.

One hundred and eight Star Acupoints could form a grand array and, in conjunction with Magical Power, create a rudimentary projection of a Divine Monarch—a Divine Technique similar to Dharma Heaven and Earth.

If one could open all three hundred and sixty Star Acupoints, forming a Grand Circulation, it would create a complete Divine Monarch Dharma Aspect that came with its own Divine Techniques.

Reading this, Zhong Ming raised an eyebrow and turned to Ji Qingyue. "Princess, this Star Heaven·Divine Monarch Cultivation Technique... are you sure it’s only Earth-Level Top Grade?"

"It is indeed Earth-Level Top Grade." At this, Ji Qingyue sighed regretfully. "It’s incomplete. Only by cultivating both Magical Power and Body Forging simultaneously can one form a complete, flawless Divine Monarch. At that point, the Star Heaven Divine Monarch would undoubtedly possess the might of a Celestial-Level technique."