Chapter 532 - 501: Ziwei Star Star Monarch

Chapter 532: Chapter 501: Ziwei Star Star Monarch

"After the previous Qisha Star Monarch’s death, his Dao Heart Oath was voided, so there’s no harm in revealing his identity to you... You should know him. It was Xiang Ji of the Life-Killing Sword Sect."

Po Jun Star Monarch hesitated for a moment under Bai Zichen’s curious gaze before speaking.

’So it was him...’

Of course, Bai Zichen recognized him. He had even personally witnessed Xiang Ji sacrifice his body to his sword, ultimately creating the Tier Five Life-Killing Demon Sword.

’Considering Xiang Ji’s background and the nature of cultivators from the Life-Killing Sword Sect, it’s not surprising he became a member of the Star Palace.’

Of the nine remaining Star God Masks, Bai Zichen immediately skipped the one belonging to the Qisha Star Monarch, which Po Jun Star Monarch had pointed out.

’The previous owner died not too long ago. Whatever the reason, that gives the mask a low score in my book.’

’Since there’s not much difference between them anyway, I should naturally pick a Star God Mask that looks good and feels right.’

Browsing as he went, Bai Zichen walked up the steps to the deepest part of the palace. His gaze fell upon a Star God Statue placed in the most prominent position at the very top.

It exuded a vast and mighty aura, at once lofty and ethereal, supremely real yet ineffably noble.

As he reached out and gently touched it, a purple light swirled, and a weightless mask appeared in his hand.

It was as thin as a cicada’s wing and as warm and smooth as fine jade, yet its material was surprisingly elastic.

The mask was covered in brightly colored, garish patterns. As he held it, a stream of information flowed into his mind.

Great Arhat Celestial Palace, Ziwei Star Palace. Honored in the heights of the North Pole, enthroned above the Midheaven.

Ruler of all heavens, of great compassion and great vows. The Great Saint of great mercy, the Master of Ten Thousand Stars, the Infinite Primordial Emperor.

Midheaven Purple Star, Emperor of the North Pole!

A flood of information surged into his Sea of Consciousness, informing Bai Zichen which Star Lord he had chosen. The grand titles made it clear that this Star God held an incredibly high status.

"You have a good eye. You chose the palace that holds the central, leading position among the Fourteen Star Palaces. He is said to be the leader of all the Star Gods... From now on, I shall have to call you the Ziwei Star Monarch."

A flicker of surprise crossed Po Jun Star Monarch’s eyes, but he quickly recovered, bowing to congratulate him on selecting his Star God Mask.

"When I entered the Secret Realm, I notified the other four Star Lords. In three days, we will all make time to gather in the Star Palace for your first meeting as a member... Normally, new members must be approved by a vote. However, I brought up your case with the other Star Lords several years ago, and they all approved of someone like you joining. We’re all hoping someone can finally open the Core Secret Realm and witness the greatest legacy of the Taibai Sword Sect."

"Oh, and remember, from this moment on, you are the Ziwei Star Monarch within the Star Palace. No other identity exists. Your robes will generate automatically when you don the mask, so there’s no need to prepare anything special. However, when you fight, it’s best to use methods distinct from your true identity. You should also have a backup set of Magical Treasures. Otherwise, it will be easy for someone to trace your techniques back to you and uncover your real identity."

"Understood. I’ll be careful."

Bai Zichen placed the mask on his face. A cool, clarifying sensation washed over him from head to toe. When he looked down, he was already wearing the Daoist Robe of the Ziwei Star Lord.

Standing there, he looked exactly like a living, breathing god statue.

Standing shoulder to shoulder with Po Jun Star Monarch, his aura was far more noble. It was obvious at a glance that he was a being of high station.

He secretly assessed the change. Unlike the Celestial Illusion Bracelet, this mask didn’t actually alter his physical body.

Instead, any cultivator whose Cultivation was not at least one Tier higher than the wearer’s would be completely unable to see through the mask to the Star Lord beneath.

Po Jun Star Monarch’s advice was sound, but it would be difficult for Bai Zichen to follow.

After his battle with Xiang Banshan, his three Tier Four Flying Swords were likely known to all. He was no longer an obscure figure in the Central Domain.

Reports analyzing him would soon cover the desks of every High-Tier Cultivator in the Central Domain.

If he used any of those Flying Swords, it would be tantamount to exposing his identity. At that point, whether the mask could block Divine Sense would be irrelevant.

Unable to use his Tier Four Flying Swords or several of his other trump cards, his combat strength was knocked down from its peak.

He could only be considered one of the best among cultivators of his level. If he tried to challenge a Great True Monarch again, the Mask of the Ziwei Star Monarch would likely be returned to the Star Palace before long.

"So, what exactly are the requirements to enter the Core Secret Realm? Why have generations of the Star Palace’s Nascent Soul Sword Cultivators failed for so many years?"

Just because he had the Supreme Qingwei Sword Box didn’t mean Bai Zichen had lost interest in the Cave Profound Godslaying Sword Scripture.

If he also trained in that Basic Cultivation Technique of the Taibai Sword Sect, he could not only activate the Star River Sword Array with ease, but would even have enough power left over to control two more Flying Swords.

Besides, the quintessence of the Taibai Sword Sect’s legacy offered many other benefits beyond the Cave Profound Godslaying Sword Scripture.

For example, there were cultivation insights regarding Sword Light Division, and the even more advanced One Sword Births Ten Thousand Techniques.

The collected scriptures on this topic from all the other Sword Cultivation Sects in the Cultivation Realm likely wouldn’t even amount to a tenth of what the Taibai Sword Sect possessed.

"The Star Palace’s predecessors have already fulfilled all the other conditions over the generations. We’re only missing two things... A Tier Five Flying Sword to act as the key, and a cultivator at the Sword Light Splitting Realm to power the process. With those, we can open the passage to the Core Secret Realm."

Po Jun Star Monarch’s spirits lifted as he spoke, his voice tinged with excitement.

"I already have a lead on a Tier Five Flying Sword. When the time comes, all the Star Monarchs will mobilize. We can even use our real identities as cover to assist, giving us a good chance of success. As for Sword Light Division, we’ll be counting on you, Ziwei Star Monarch. I will give you the Taibai Sword Pill shortly, and hopefully, you will be able to reach the Sword Light Splitting Realm soon."

’I can’t believe the Star Palace even has a lead on a Tier Five Flying Sword...’

Bai Zichen kept the fact that he possessed the Abi Heavenly Prison Demon Sword to himself. Revealing it would also mean revealing that he had defeated Blood God True Monarch.

Considering he had just defeated Xiang Banshan, adding another glorious victory to his name wouldn’t be that shocking.

His main concern was that if the news spread, the Star Constellation Sea might eventually connect the dots to the truth behind Ao Zhe’s death, which would attract the attention of that Divinity Transformation Elder Dragon.

Besides, there was no benefit in revealing the Abi Heavenly Prison Demon Sword at the moment. It was better to wait and see.

He was also curious about the Tier Five Flying Sword Po Jun Star Monarch had mentioned and wanted to see it for himself.

After all, there were very few Tier Five Flying Swords in the entire Cultivation Realm. Even including those that had only appeared fleetingly and whose current existence was uncertain, the total number wouldn’t exceed ten.

"Once we have a solid lead, I will inform every Star Lord to coordinate their actions."

Po Jun Star Monarch didn’t give a direct answer, but his tone didn’t sound like he was making empty boasts.

"Also, the Star Palace’s three Cultivation Techniques have already been transcribed onto Jade Scrolls... Of course, if you’d rather obtain the original versions, you can sit and meditate before the appropriate statues. The technique should appear in your mind within three to five days. You must meditate and seek enlightenment before the statues of the Deity of the Sun, the Deity of the Moon, and the Heavenly Star Monarch, respectively. As for the method to enter and exit the Secret Realm, you can learn it by reciting the invocation three times before the Star God Statue corresponding to your mask. The method will appear in your mind and will correspond with the Magic Formulas you obtain after completing the mask’s Refinement."

"Feel free to meditate here. I will come for you when the other members have arrived."

Bai Zichen watched Po Jun Star Monarch leave the great hall. He stared at the doors with an unsettled expression for a long time before finally sitting down in front of the Ziwei Divine Statue.

’I can’t shake the feeling that there’s more to these Star God Masks than meets the eye. The records on the Taibai Sword Sect contain no information about any Star Lords... Could it be that the Taibai Sword Sect cultivators who found this Secret Realm never appeared in the Cultivation Realm under the guise of Star Monarchs?’

Bai Zichen reached up and touched the mask on his face. It was neither cold nor warm, seemingly made of neither metal, nor jade, nor wood. He could even feel his own skin directly through it.

’As long as I can obtain a Divinity Transformation Technique, that’s all that matters. Still, the legacy might have hidden dangers. I’ll have to be extremely careful when I cultivate it.’

Midheaven Purple Star, Emperor of the North Pole!

After he recited the invocation three times, a beam of azure light descended from the statue, and the Magic Formulas for entering and exiting the Secret Realm appeared directly in his Sea of Consciousness.

The formulas didn’t seem complicated, and after studying them, he immediately wanted to put them to the test.

However, he quickly realized that since he hadn’t truly completed the mask’s Refinement, he was still unable to enter and exit the Trial Secret Realm on his own.

He then walked over to the statue of the Deity of the Sun. After paying his respects, he sat down cross-legged and, following Po Jun Star Monarch’s instructions, began to meditate.

Two days later, a complete and lengthy cultivation technique appeared in Bai Zichen’s mind.

It was called the Sun God-Calling Celestial Book, a technique that could be cultivated all the way to the Early-Stage Divinity Transformation!

’’A Fire Element Technique, and it goes up to the Early-Stage of Divinity Transformation!’’

As Bai Zichen reviewed the contents, his heart soared. A great weight had been lifted from his shoulders.

It was the perfect Cultivation Technique for him—it was as if it had been tailor-made.