A group of alchemists surrounded you, looking you up and down, jotting things down in their books with brushes.

You felt their gazes were a bit strange.

You couldn't help but tighten your clothes a little.

"Esteemed seniors, I... perform arts, not sell my body."

Shen Yufeng, standing nearby, couldn't hold it in anymore and burst out laughing with a snort.

Shen Linfeng smiled and said.

"Shen Yi, don't be nervous. The masters just need a few drops of your blood, along with some hair, skin flakes, excrement, and the like. Please cooperate."

"Elder Shen, aren't you here to help me break through my realm? My innate talent is poor; I get stuck every time I try to break through a major realm and need external intervention."

"I know, we'll discuss that matter later. For now, just cooperate."

Collecting these things wasn't troublesome, and you quickly provided them.

These alchemists acted as if they had obtained a supreme treasure, holding the bag containing your excrement, slapped an Ascent Talisman on it, and flew away.

You: "..."

Shen Linfeng said, "Shen Yi, if your innate talent were a bit higher, it wouldn't be difficult for the Shen Family to help you break through. But with Low-Grade Bone Structure, the amount of resources required to break through from the Golden Body Realm to the Spirit Sea Realm is beyond your imagination..."

You raised an eyebrow. "It's just a matter of expending resources, but it's not impossible, is that what you mean?"

"There is indeed a method: the Three Heavens Method."

Seeing your confused expression, Shen Linfeng gave a brief explanation.

"Heaven-Grade Formation Art, Heaven-Grade Alchemy, Heaven-Grade Art of Talismans. Using the best resources of these three paths and the most top-tier Formation Masters, alchemists, and talisman masters to catalyze for you, there is hope for a breakthrough."

"Then what are we waiting for? You surely don't want your future Mirror Wielder to be only at the Golden Body Realm, right?"

Shen Linfeng let out a bitter laugh.

"The Shen Family's resources aren't blown in by the wind. Besides, you haven't completed the competition yet; you are not the Mirror Wielder."

Shen Linfeng discussed terms with you.

The consumption of the Three Heavens Method was too immense; your extra resource quota for the second round was far from enough.

If you were willing to temporarily shelve the resources for the second stage and, after you advance to the third stage, combine the extra resources from both stages, Shen Linfeng could try to plead your case to the Moon Lineage elders.

This elder Shen Linfeng is only a Star Lineage elder, not a family-level Moon Lineage elder.

"Elder Linfeng, I won't let you down."

The next day.

"You've mastered the basics of the Internal Technique?"

"Yes."

Shen Linfeng wore an expression as if he had seen a ghost.

"Perhaps it's because I'm too eager to break through. This drive transformed into comprehension, so I succeeded in one night."

You were talking nonsense.

Shen Linfeng was also at a loss.

"Alright then, I'll try with the Moon Lineage, but I'm not sure if I can persuade the Moon Lineage elders. Don't get your hopes up too high..."

Seeing Shen Linfeng's face turn ashen as he slapped on an Ascent Talisman and flew away, Shen Yufeng doubled over laughing again.

You asked, puzzled, "Is it that funny?"

Shen Yufeng pointed at Shen Linfeng, "He's my grandfather!"

That indeed was quite funny.

Not long after.

Shen Linfeng returned, bringing back another group of people.

These people all looked quite serious, each with profound gazes. Among them was the Moon Lineage elder, Shen Wanquan, also a member of the Shen clan's Elder Council.

After understanding the situation, Shen Wanquan pondered for a moment and finally said.

"Helping someone with Low-Grade Bone Structure break through to the Spirit Sea Realm requires immense expenditure. If you ultimately fail to become the Mirror Wielder, you will still have to return to the surface. The Shen Family's investment would then be wasted, not worthwhile."

As he spoke, Shen Wanquan looked at Shen Linfeng.

"Linfeng, I have personally made this trip. I believe Shen Yi will understand that you have done your best."

Shen Linfeng bowed in thanks.

Shen Wanquan could have simply refused directly. Making this trip was just to give Shen Linfeng some face.

Just as Shen Wanquan was about to leave, you spoke up clearly.

"Is it true that as long as I become the Mirror Wielder, the Shen Family is willing to invest resources in me?"

Shen Wanquan glanced at you sideways.

"Of course. The Mirror Wielder is the most important position in our Shen Family. Even if it requires mobilizing the strength of the entire clan, we would help you improve."

"Good! Then let me end this competition! I have already passed the second stage's Internal Technique test. Please, Elder, bring out the third stage's Heart Art!"

"According to the rules, you must wait for the second stage competition to end before you can receive the Heart Art."

Shen Wanquan didn't give you a chance to argue further and flew away directly.

Shen Linfeng walked over and said with a hint of apology.

"You'd better exchange for some other resources..."

You were determined not to waste anything.

You listed a bunch of martial arts resources.

Since your realm was stuck, you didn't want things that accelerated cultivation or boosted cultivation base. Instead, you opted for things that enhanced combat power.

Such as more Spirit Artifacts, Talismans, formations, and even the Shen Family's star-shattering gunpowder used to blow up celestial bodies.

The Shen Family was judged by the entry to be full of villains; there must be a reason. A scandal will erupt sooner or later.

You wanted these things to prepare for your eventual escape.

When the time comes, escape if possible; if not, then take a few down with you, and avoid the pitfalls in the next simulation.

Shen Linfeng looked at the items you requested, his brow deeply furrowed.

"Shen Yi, just who are you planning to fight?"

"Elder, don't misunderstand. I just want these for self-defense. The surface is not like the Starry Domains; dangers abound down there. If I fail to become the Mirror Wielder in the future and return to the surface, I'll need these."

Perhaps because he felt he couldn't help you with the realm breakthrough, Shen Linfeng agreed to all the things you requested.

The Shen Family of the Starry Domains, such a colossal entity, wasn't about to fear a mere Golden Body Realm cultivator causing trouble.

The twenty-ninth year, age forty-seven.

The second round of competition ended, and the third round began.

As a reward for advancing, you received another Heaven-Grade Martial Art, "Stellar River Divine Art."

As soon as you mastered the basics of this art, you exclaimed, "Awesome!"

Condensing dust and rocks, controlling gravity, triggering earthquakes, summoning stars... 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

This truly was a divine art!

The third round of competition was about who could first master the basics of the Earth-Grade Heart Art "Stellar Heart Forging Mystic Art."

In the first two rounds, you took your time to milk more cultivation resources.

Now that your realm was stuck, there was no point wasting time.

On the second day after the third round was announced, you found Shen Yufeng.

"I've mastered the basics of the Heart Art."

The melon seeds in Shen Yufeng's mouth nearly fell out.

"Are you kidding me?"

"I'm not kidding. Ask the elder to come and test me."

Seeing you didn't seem to be joking, Shen Yufeng's eyes gradually widened.

"Are you even human? Is your comprehension talent heaven-defying??"

"Hurry and report to the elder! I'm in a hurry to break through!"

Right now, you just wanted to break through to the Spirit Sea Realm as fast as possible.

As long as you break through, however long you live in this simulation afterward is pure profit, breaking even!