Chapter 276: Chapter 144: Like a Demon Lord Descending from Heaven, a True Tai Sui God in the World of Men

Everyone knew that for a sect or clan, the disciples they cultivated were, to some extent, a reflection of their strength.

This current contest for the Star Sea Secret Vault was both a trial for the younger generation of disciples and a public measure of the major sects’ power.

After this assessment, the ranking of the major sects within the alliance would be roughly established.

This, in turn, made the leaders of the smaller sects aboard the luxurious Flying Ship gaze anxiously at their disciples, terrified they might suffer a swift and early defeat in the contest.

Among them, the most nervous of all was Zong Chengze, the Sect Leader of the Seven Profound Sect.

The reason for his intense nervousness was twofold. First, Zhong Ming was now bound to Prince Qinghe’s Mansion, which guaranteed he would be targeted by many. Zong Chengze worried about his expedition into the Secret Vault.

The second reason was that at this highly anticipated moment, Zhong Ming had still not appeared.

...

’Is this what I’ve gained from my epiphany?!’

Back at the Seven Profound Sect’s encampment, Zhong Ming had reached a critical juncture. Relying on his understanding of the physical body and the threefold time dilation of his Great Dream of Thousand Years ability, he had recited the Daoist Canon thousands of times in just a single day and night.

In the process, by relying on the miraculous power of Mind Reading and his profound understanding of the physical body, he had cultivated the Daoist Canon - Celestial Derivation to the peak of the Second Realm.

After consuming the Origin Fruit, he recited the Daoist Canon once more and finally broke through, bringing the Cultivation Technique to the Minor Achievement stage of the Third Realm.

Similar to breakthroughs with other Cultivation Techniques, the moment he advanced from the Second Realm to the Third Realm, Zhong Ming’s consciousness was once again plunged into a state of epiphany.

This time, however, Zhong Ming also intentionally immersed his consciousness into the dreamscape of Great Dream of Thousand Years... He wanted to see if he could use its rules to extend the duration of his epiphany threefold.

However, Zhong Ming had no time to worry about whether he had successfully exploited this "bug."

What he was comprehending from the epiphany had already shocked him so much that his eyes flew wide and his breath caught in his throat.

Lifting his head to the sky, Zhong Ming discovered a colossal purple Demon Star suspended high above the dreamscape. Just like a Sun, it emanated a soft purple glow.

And the appearance of that Demon Star was something Zhong Ming knew all too well.

"Demon Star Tai Sui!"

’How did it appear in my epiphany?!’

The moment he saw the purple Demon Star, Zhong Ming was horrified. He thought the Demon Star Tai Sui had come to attack him.

But soon, Zhong Ming noticed something was off. This Demon Star in his dream—it had no consciousness!

PHEW... Letting out a long breath, Zhong Ming murmured, "So, this isn’t a sign of corruption. Instead, by consuming a large amount of the Demon Star’s essence, have I awakened an ability related to it?"

As he thought of this, a sharp glint appeared in Zhong Ming’s eyes.

The Demon Star Tai Sui was a taboo existence; it might be terrifying and ugly, but there was no denying that its potential for physical growth was infinite.

The term "infinite growth" was no joke.

And now, this Talent would be his!

’Like a Demon Lord descending from the heavens, truly a Tai Sui god in the mortal world—from now on, that saying won’t be a metaphor for me, but a literal description.’

’From this day forward, I suppose I’m a living, breathing Demon Star Tai Sui god walking the mortal plane.’

After this moment of heartfelt reflection, Zhong Ming turned his focus to the name of the Divine Treasure he had just awakened by advancing his Daoist Canon - Celestial Derivation to the Third Realm.