Chapter Fifty: What Is the Art of Proliferation

“What is happening here?”

The young man carried himself with the air of a scholar—his features as refined as sculpted jade, clean and handsome, his every gesture marked by a clear and noble grace that spoke of superb upbringing.

He watched as the Star Token soared into the air, radiating brilliant colors. His expression was puzzled, but not startled.

The white horse, on the other hand, stood with its mouth agape in disbelief.

On the surface of the Star Token, the intricate lines seemed to come alive, releasing a soft blue mist that shimmered with dreamy splendor, like ghostly blue flames trailing a long tail.

Towering high above was Nine Star City, its spires piercing the heavens. The entire fortress was forged from jet-black divine iron, which gleamed with a metallic sheen. At this moment, dark light flickered across its surface, formation patterns emerged and vanished, stirring the spiritual energy, and a tremendous force surged downward, resonating with the token, emitting an aura of enthusiastic welcome.

“That’s... the Nine Star Token!”

A cultivator cried out in astonishment, frozen in place. When Nine Star City was first constructed, a flamboyant master of formations had been invited to engrave the complex patterns, deliberately incorporating subtle variations. If someone arrived bearing the Nine Star Token, the divine patterns would resonate and a wondrous spectacle would appear.

Such tokens of welcome were common among the great powers of the Spiritual Energy Universe, serving as symbols of identity.

But this was Nine Star City—the domain of the Nine Sovereigns. Only the Nine Sovereigns themselves, or the young master born with the golden key in his mouth, could bestow such a token.

The last time this happened, it was said that the Saint of the Star Sea had been granted one.

This young man, dignified and handsome, leading a white horse, appeared unfamiliar and far too young—who could he possibly be?

The news spread like wildfire.

Before long, several distinguished figures from the Celestial Garden and Immortal Palace heard and were greatly alarmed. Brilliant rainbows streaked across the sky, and ornate, fragrant carriages arrived in quick succession.

“Which esteemed guest has come bearing the Nine Star Token?” A woman in a black dress, her skin delicate and radiant, her features exquisite, stood forth. At the center of her brow shone an intricate purple cloud sigil.

Radiant light swirled around her feet. With each step, a frosty aura spread out, and purple lotuses bloomed—fresh and elegant, their fragrance filling the air. Each step left a lotus in its wake, creating a scene of extraordinary supernatural beauty.

Those around were astonished—the noble lady herself had arrived.

Her name was Ziyun Banxia, eldest daughter of the esteemed Ziyun Clan of the Spiritual Energy Universe. Gifted with exceptional talent and keen insight, she was greatly favored by the Ziyun Divine Lord.

The white horse was thoroughly bewildered.

More and more people gathered, their voices a rising tide, the crowd swelling until it surrounded the young man and his horse. From afar, more rainbows could be seen flashing through the sky—exotic cosmic beasts pulling exquisite star-chariots wreathed in immortal radiance, all displaying remarkable presence.

The white horse swallowed hard.

So many people.

“Senior Nine Mad did not deceive me after all. But... how am I supposed to ascend this divine wall?”

---

The young man’s composure was impeccable. Even as the crowd gazed at him with envy and awe, he remained unruffled, his gaze fixed in confusion upon the towering wall of stars before him.

Without a vast spiritual sense, one could not even perceive the wall’s end.

This divine city stood in the starry firmament, drawing in spiritual energy for millions of years, and in truth, it had transformed into a supreme artifact. The wall was inscribed with complex and mysterious runes, so sturdily forged that even a Divine Lord would struggle to destroy it.

“Come on up.”

A voice drifted down, listless and drunken, tinged with age and punctuated by faint snores. It sounded oddly dreamlike.

The crowd looked around, bewildered—who could be on the city wall?

As the voice sounded, the Star Token trembled, scattering silver light as it fell into the young man’s hand. At that moment, the colossal wall lit up with formation patterns, and a crystalline white staircase descended from the heavens.

Leading his white horse, the young man began to climb.

Atop the wall of Nine Star City, all was silent.

No one was ever permitted to ascend here, nor was spiritual sense allowed to probe this place. It had always been shrouded in mystery for the city’s cultivators.

The space was vast and open, with sweeping views in every direction.

Standing atop the wall, one could take in the entire divine city: countless shops and marketplaces, treasure pavilions shining with heavenly light, and celestial palaces suspended in the firmament—all lay within sight.

The white horse looked about in wonder; never had it imagined that it would one day become the honored guest of the most famous divine city in the Spiritual Energy Universe.

Just days ago, the old man in plain green robes they met—so unremarkable at first glance—had turned out not to be a swindler but a hidden powerhouse!

“Hrrrk... hrrrk...”

Following the heavy snoring, they saw a slovenly old man, his clothes tattered and stained black from untold years. He sprawled carelessly on the ground in deep sleep, a golden gourd resting by his side.

Suddenly, the old man jerked awake, wiping the drool from his chin.

He looked about in confusion, scratched the sole of his itchy foot, then, undisturbed, raised the gourd and took a swig of wine. He asked,

“Who are you? How did you come by the Nine Star Token?”

The young man released the reins, bowed respectfully, and replied in a gentle, courteous tone, “Honored senior, I hail from the Eastern Free Cultivation Domain, the Wangchuan Star System of Ancient Victory Star Realm...”

“Stop. Make it simple—I can’t remember all that,” the old man interrupted, goosebumps rising at the young man’s soft, delicate speech, which sent shivers down his spine.

“Yes, senior.” The young man’s voice was gentle. “This token was entrusted to me a few days ago by Senior Nine Mad.”

“Nine Mad?”

The old man counted on his fingers, and suddenly his eyes shone with a piercing light. In surprise, he said, “So you’re that person’s fifth incarnation... Tsk, lately all the fortunes I’ve calculated have turned out to be unexpected variables.”

“What is your name?”

---

“I... have no name,” the young man replied, a hint of hesitation in his voice. After a moment’s pause, he added somewhat wistfully, “When I awoke, I was already of age. Perhaps I had a name once, but somewhere along the way, I forgot it.”

“No name?” The old man smiled with a deeper meaning. “Everyone in the world has a name. If you can’t recall the old one, choose a new one.”

“I think I’ll remain nameless,” the young man replied with a wry smile.

The old man crossed his legs, not pressing the issue. Leisurely, he said, “Well then, you’ve come to take on a disciple, haven’t you? That boy has high standards—he won’t settle for the ordinary. So I must test you. If you’re not up to it, you’ll have to turn back.”

“I am but a humble student,” the young man said modestly, shaking his head. “Yet I ask that you instruct me, senior.”

“The Way gives birth to three thousand paths, all should be flawless, yet the Cosmic Way has flaws—why is that?” The old man, reeking of wine and his nose ruddy, folded his arms across his chest, his careless eyes drifting over the young man.

“In the universe of nonaction, all is pure; with flaws, the Celestial Mechanism is set right,” the young man answered softly after a brief reflection.

“Oh?” The old man was instantly intrigued. He straightened, staring at the youth as if seeing him anew. “You practice the Art of Derivation?”

“I do not know what the Art of Derivation is,” the young man said, momentarily taken aback, then sought instruction.

“Haha, interesting! You practice it, yet do not know its name. Let me test you.”

With a laugh, the old man flicked a finger, and a clear, crystalline droplet of water appeared at his fingertip—radiant and transparent, brimming with immense divine power.

Bang!

The droplet spun through the air, slowly shooting toward the young man, carrying an indescribable profundity as it pressed down upon him.