Shocking the Nine Heavens With My Sword

Eighty-Nine Divine Aspects!

Only ten Divine Aspects away from the limits of a Bright Immortal!

He actually had materials for another batch of Bright King Pill in hand, except he lacked one main ingredient, Winter Star Grass, so he couldn't refine it yet. However, as long as he could refine this batch of Bright King Pills... even if only ten pills as a base, it would be enough to make him the ultimate Eighty-Nine Aspect Bright Immortal.

The key is, where to find Winter Star Grass.

Zhou Heng emerged from seclusion, only to find the Black Donkey and Little Fire still in a state of slumber, with powerful auras flowing around their bodies, and the faint glimmer of stars was visible!

This wasn't the first time he'd seen such a sight. Previously, when the Golden Dragon Empress broke through to the Star King, it was just like this!

Could these two become Star Kings?

Hiss, the Black Donkey must have given Little Fire some kind of Heavenly and Earthly Treasure, otherwise, it would be impossible for both of them to breakthrough at the same time!

Hopefully, they've been discreet enough not to cause any trouble!

Zhou Heng went to the Treasure Medicine Pavilion once more, but this time not to purchase herbs but to inquire about information on Winter Star Grass, and where such a Spiritual Medicine might be harvested.

Qiyun Mountain, Qingfeng Gorge!

This was the information given by the Treasure Medicine Pavilion. In fact, the Pavilion did purchase Spiritual Medicines, but compared to the prices they sold them for, it was no contest; anyone would call them extortionists!

But since the Academy buys herbs and offers Contribution Value in return, even if it's minimal, collectively, they are not to be ignored!

Zhou Heng went to Lingxiao Tower, the place where missions are posted. Since he was heading to Qiyun Mountain to find Winter Star Grass, why not complete a mission or two along the way to earn some Contribution Value?

After all, Contribution Value doesn't become useless upon advancing to the Stellar Realm—if anything, it becomes even more valuable.

He checked around and found only one mission related to Qiyun Mountain, which was to kill the Red Moon Bird and bring back its feathers. It was a task posted by an Array Pattern Master, as the Red Moon Bird's feathers were said to be a new type of material.

Here, not only does the Academy post missions, but students can also, as long as someone is interested in the reward. However, since Contribution Value cannot be transferred, missions posted by students typically only pay in Great River Coins, which significantly reduces their allure.

Tasks issued through Lingxiao Tower are protected by the Academy, even those privately posted by students. The reward is deducted upon mission submission and directly distributed upon completion, eliminating the risk of default.

However, private transactions aren't protected by the Academy—engage at your own risk!

The Academy is quite stringent; even accepting a mission requires payment of a certain amount of Contribution Points, roughly ten percent of the potential earnings for that mission. If the mission is completed, these Contribution Points are refunded, but if it fails, tough luck.

Because of this, many people team up to complete missions, which might lower individual gains but certainly increases the success rate.

The Academy's regulations are primarily concerned with student safety, rather than being inherently exploitative.

After Zhou Heng accepted the mission to kill the Red Moon Bird, it wasn't long before his Identity Token started to pulsate—an incoming communication request.

The Identity Token functions similarly to a Message Transmitting Stone, but only within a very limited range; things in the Bright Realm are quite sophisticated.

After some consideration, he opened the communication, certain it must be from other students who had accepted the Red Moon Bird mission—coincidence seemed unlikely otherwise.

"This Junior Brother, we already have seven people and are about to set out. Interested in joining us?" Before Zhou Heng could speak, a cheerful voice boomed in his ear.

Being new to the Bright Realm, Zhou Heng was clueless about the lay of the land—where Qiyun Mountain was, or how to navigate it.

Joining others for the journey sounded wise, and after completing the mission, he could look for Winter Star Grass or even leave mid-way as needed.

So he quickly responded, "Where are you? I'm on my way!"

"We're already at the Academy gate. If you're much later, we'll have left without you!" the other said.

Zhou Heng nodded, "I'm on my way!"

He didn't have time to inform the Black Donkey and Little Fire, but they were currently in seclusion, breaking through to the Stellar Realm. Chances were they wouldn't hear him anyway, so he let it go and hoped they wouldn't cause any trouble if they emerged before his return.

He examined his Identity Token, especially the communication feature, but discovered it only activated under special circumstances, such as when sharing a mission or in cases of emergency to call for help from Dayuan Academy personnel nearby.

The communication feature didn't have set pairings. Zhou Heng, for instance, couldn't just decide to contact Qi Yuan regarding his departure—he didn't even know how to reach him.

Never mind, better let him think he's still in seclusion.

Zhou Heng made his way to the Academy's gate, taking almost twenty minutes as the distance was considerable and he was unfamiliar with the surroundings.

As he walked, he continued attempting to contact the previous person, and upon reaching the gate, he spotted a young man waving, dressed in blue—clearly a student from the Bright Immortal Courtyard. They exchanged glances, each recognizing the other as the one they were supposed to meet.

"Oh, you're Zhou Heng!" the young man identified him. "Indeed, it's you, the one who broke the Bright Immortal Realm's Wall of Power record two months ago!"

The Identity Token, like the Message Transmitting Stone, can only facilitate communication, without revealing appearances or identity information.

Zhou Heng nodded and said, "I am Zhou Heng. May I ask how to address Senior Brother?"

The other party appeared older than him, so calling him Senior Brother was nothing out of the ordinary.

However, the other party seemed rather overwhelmed, as Zhou Heng was now a superstar in Dayuan Academy, having shattered records untouched for over three million years and proving that 4,444 Yuan Force was not the peak of the Bright Immortal!

This could completely enter the annals of the entire Bright Realm!

Now such a "big figure" like Zhou Heng calling him Senior Brother—how could he not be overwhelmed?

"My name is Liu Hu. Please, Senior Brother Zhou, take good care of me in the future!" the young man quickly said. His strength at Thirty-Seven Aspects wasn't particularly strong. "Senior Brother Zhou, please follow me. We will depart immediately!"

Though Zhou Heng called him Senior Brother, Liu Hu didn't dare to truly take that position. He still had that much sense.

The two walked side by side, and after some distance, they saw six men ahead. Standing, sitting, or squatting, it was obvious they were together, all dressed in cyan clothing.

"Senior Brother Liu—" a young man came up and said, "Who is this guy, putting on such airs, making us wait so long!"

"Don't speak nonsense; this is none other than Zhou Heng, Senior Brother Zhou!" Liu Hu quickly scolded with a serious expression.

"Zhou Heng? The one who broke the record, Zhou Heng?"

"Is that true?"

The others gathered around. After all, not everyone had seen Zhou Heng, and naturally not everyone could recognize him at a glance.

"Of course, it's true. I saw it with my own eyes; how could I be mistaken!" Liu Hu rolled his eyes at everyone and said, "Alright, alright, weren't you all clamoring to depart? Then let's hurry up!"

"Let's go! Let's go!"

Everyone chuckled. Wouldn't traveling be a perfect time to build camaraderie with such a formidable figure like Zhou Heng?

...

"Brother! Brother! Zhou Heng, that bastard, has left the academy!" Jin Huancheng burst in like the wind, calling out to a man who resembled him but was noticeably more composed and authoritative, "Brother, you must avenge me and kill that bastard!"

This Jin Huancheng was the spoiled young master Zhou Heng bumped into on his way to register. After a minor reprimand, he bore a grudge against Zhou Heng. He originally didn't know who Zhou Heng was, but after the entrance examination, Zhou Heng took to the stage as the second place winner, and Huancheng recognized him at once.

Seeing his enemy naturally made his eyes blaze!

Unfortunately, Zhou Heng had never left the academy, leaving him at a loss for action. Two months ago, when Zhou Heng broke the long-sealed record, it infuriated Jin Huancheng so much that he smashed everything in his room!

But it was all his own fault!

Being the son of a Star King, he had some minor influence, assigning his lackeys to keep a constant watch on the academy gate, just to catch Zhou Heng leaving.

Now, he finally awaited this day.

Of course, he couldn't confront Zhou Heng himself; he could only rely on his elder brother!

Jin Huanri, a disciple of the Star King Court, had advanced from the Bright Immortal Courtyard to the Star King Court over five hundred years ago and now possessed the cultivation level of sixteen stars!

Judging from the number of stars, his foundation during his time as a Bright Immortal was not solid; talented individuals should possess at least fifty Divine Aspects and thus have fifty stars upon entering the Stellar Realm!

But the threshold of the Stellar Realm stopped ninety percent of Bright Immortals, so breaking through was already a reason to offer incense and prayers of thanks!

Jin Huanri's aptitude was definitely not good; his breakthrough to Star King was due to a fortuitous encounter five hundred years ago, a secret he would tell no one.

He glanced at his brother with a hint of disdain. But this fellow was his blood brother after all; he couldn't just slap him to death, could he?

"Don't be impatient. First, find out where this kid went!"

"I already investigated. That guy took on a mission to go to Qiyun Mountain!" Jin Huancheng said.

Jin Huanri glanced at his disappointing brother with a trace of surprise in his eyes, not expecting him to be less foolish than he thought. He nodded and said, "The dignity of the Jin Family cannot be lightly insulted. I will personally kill him!"

Jin Huancheng immediately beamed with joy. With his brother's intervention, Zhou Heng was doomed!

For a Star King to kill a Bright Immortal, would it not be as easy as lifting a finger?

...

Elsewhere in the academy, Pang Shaolong lay on his bed like a corpse. Zhou Heng had broken all the bones in his body, and after two months he hadn't fully recovered. However, the benefits of having wealth and influence were clear. Although his Recruitment Token had been taken and he lost all ability to move, he still got admitted to the academy!

He said toward the doorway, "Notify my father that Zhou Heng has left the academy, heading for Qiyun Mountain!"

A shadow flickered at the doorway. (To be continued. If you like this work, please vote for it on Qidian (qidian.com), your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read on m.qidian.com.)