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--- Chapter 507 ---
"What do you think, Cosmo? Do you think my plan is feasible?" Han Yuan asked, casually manipulating the Sky Poison Pearl to refine a cluster of rare medicinal herbs into glowing pearl-like pills.
Cosmo, who had just woken up from a few months of hibernation, listened attentively to Han Yuan's plan to evolve both Mu Xi's Shining Sun Martial Soul and her contracted Fire Raging Lion into high-rank stellar forms.
The Cosmos Eye Lord pondered deeply before offering its assessment. "It is entirely feasible, Star Prince. If anyone else attempted to execute such a process, the chance of success wouldn't even reach one percent."
"However, with your unique spirit and physique, you can freely connect with the Domain of Vast Stars. Under your direct guidance, the success rate exceeds one hundred percent."
"As for how far the Shining Sun and the Fire Raging Lion can evolve during the baptism... that depends entirely on how much stellar essence their bodies can actually absorb and retain."
"There is also the matter of heart-nature and willpower. After all, the stars will never bestow their true authority upon someone unworthy of their power."
"Are there different tiers to the Baptism of Stars?" Han Yuan paused his pill refining slightly. "I thought it was simply a matter of purifying stellar attributes."
He couldn't help but recall Xu Xiaoyan from this era. Her Martial Soul had originally been the Ice Starwheel Staff, a spirit carrying both ice and star attributes, which later purified into the absolute-control Star Staff without its 'night' restrictions.
Cosmo clarified calmly, "In essence, the Baptism of Stars is the process of washing a living entity with pure, refined stellar energy until their vessel is completely saturated."
"Because you possess the Myriad Miracle Star Body, your vessel can continuously refine and contain an infinite reservoir of stellar energy without limit. But ordinary mortals are constrained by their innate capacity."
"Their post-baptism physique generally falls into distinct tiers: from Third-Rate, Second-Rate, and First-Rate Star Bodies, up to a Pure Star Body—which achieves a one-hundred-percent harmony with starlight."
"Beyond that lies the Heavenly Star Body, boasting a two-hundred-percent resonance..."
Cosmo chuckled softly, its tone echoing with reverence. "Though, even a Heavenly Star Body pales in comparison to your unique physique, Star Prince."
"Pure Star Body... Heavenly Star Body, huh?" Han Yuan tilted his head, gazing at his palm as he wondered whether using the Sky Poison Pearl alongside the baptism could elevate Mu Xi's physique enough to achieve that level of qualification.
Alpha had once executed a similar process for Han Yue. Her body was not only thoroughly purified, but her trash Rock Spirit also underwent a rapid, qualitative evolution into Moon Spirit, granting her a qualification that paved the way for her to receive the Moon Goddess's Inheritance.
Han Yuan refused to believe he couldn't replicate, or even surpass, that result for Mu Xi, especially with the much more advanced resources and knowledge currently at his disposal.
Then again, as Cosmo pointed out, the outcome still depended heavily on Mu Xi's own endurance and her Spirit Soul's resilience.
As Han Yuan finalized the batch of pills, his spirit guidance communicator buzzed on the nearby desk.
He picked it up and accepted the call. Mu Chen's voice came through the speaker. "Xiao Yuan... I've located the most suitable Star Observation Platform, and it happens to be right here inside Heaven Dou City."
"Share the coordinates and background with me, Uncle Mu," Han Yuan replied calmly.
"Alright! Let me know if the place meets your conditions." After sharing the location data, Mu Chen ended the call to handle his remaining preparations for the plan.
"What do you think, Brother Xu?" Han Yuan asked into the quiet room.
A second later, Han Yuan's communicator chimed again, though this time Xu Deming's voice appeared through the line. "Tianxing Academy, a first-rate institution located within Heaven Dou City."
"Rather than a traditional Spirit Master Academy, it is far more famous for its advanced astrological and technological research. At its center stands a massive observation facility used by students to study deep-space constellations."
"They called it the Heavenly Star Observation Platform."
"For our initial regional trial of the DND Realm initiation... it's acceptable."
"A small-scale deployment is good," Han Yuan agreed, nodding. "We can test the waters before going global."
"Between Heaven Dou City and its surrounding satellite settlements, there should be plenty of youths under sixteen who meet the criteria to enter the DND Realm for the first time."
"Becoming the first batch of players in a dream-like Virtual World..."
"Though to keep everything under control, we need to layer our defensive arrays carefully. We can't let Tang Hao catch wind of the abnormality."
"I understand... I will filter the future 'seeds' once more, and keep watch for Tang Hao's probing," Xu Deming replied smoothly. "Keep up the good work, Brother Han."
Han Yuan opened his mouth to press him about the mysterious 'special connection' Xu Deming had mysteriously mentioned months ago, but before he could even utter a word—click.
Xu Deming had already ended the call.
Every single time.
Han Yuan let out an annoyed, helpless sigh, shaking his head. "Frankly speaking... that guy's habit of hanging up mid-sentence is getting really annoying."
"Whatever... the preparations on my end are almost complete."
A few days later, Han Yuan and Mu Xi were being driven by Mu Ye to Tianxing Academy, located in a quiet mountain range near the northern border of the city.
Unfortunately, Zhen Hua couldn't go because he had a meeting to attend with an important figure.
"Have you eaten the pills I gave you a few days ago?" asked Han Yuan, turning a page of the book resting on his lap.
Mu Xi nodded energetically. "Mhm, I finished the last one this morning! Those pills are amazing, Xiao Yuan! Not only do I feel super energized, but my mind and body feel completely clear and overflowing with strength."
"And my spirit energy broke through today as well!"
"I'm Rank 23 now!"
Han Yuan offered a faint, approving smile. "That's good. Your spirit energy foundation is fully saturated."
"We're here!" Mu Ye announced, pulling the Spirit Guidance vehicle into the private parking area of Tianxing Academy. "Alright, kids, out you get."
"Your Grandpa Han and Uncle Chen are probably waiting inside with the Academy Dean."
"Let's go, Sister Mu Xi." Han Yuan held Mu Xi's hand firmly as he pushed open the car door.
Mu Xi looked down at their intertwined hands, a bright, cheerful smile lighting up her face. "Mhm!"
The three of them strolled into Tianxing Academy.
While it wasn't a sprawling megastructure compared to combat-focused institutions, it still spanned several hectares of mountain land, a necessity for researching celestial phenomena without light pollution.
They made their way into the central facility and took the elevator directly to the top level of the Heavenly Star Observation Platform, where the view of the sky was the clearest.
Upon stepping out, they spotted Han Tianyi and Mu Chen conversing with a middle-aged woman wearing a nebula-white robe overlaid with a deep purple coat. Her long hair was silver-white, and though her face carried the subtle maturity of age, her gaze held the vastness of the night sky.
Han Yuan couldn't help but narrow his silver eyes. Despite possessing the immense lifespan of a Super Douluo, the Dean of the Tianxing Academy had chosen not to retain a youthful appearance.
'Interesting...' Han Yuan thought, sensing an exceptionally dense stellar aura radiating from her.
This was Xing Lan, the Dean of Tianxing Academy. a Level 96 Super Douluo titled Nebula Douluo. Her Martial Soul was the Nebula Ring, a powerful auxiliary spirit capable of warping spatial and stellar energy around her.
As Xing Lan turned and caught sight of Han Yuan, her heart skipped a beat.
The silver-haired boy walking toward them didn't just look 'human' in her vision. And Instead, stepping onto the observation platform, he appeared like a divine child born directly from starlight itself, naturally bending the surrounding stellar energy toward his presence.
"It seems... you weren't lying when you said your grandson was unique, Illusory Brain Excellency..." Xing Lan murmured, letting out a long breath.
Han Tianyi smiled warmly, bowing his head slightly. "Of course."
"My grandson is extraordinary... and he just might hold the exact key your Tianxing Academy has been searching for all these years."
Xing Lan stared at Han Yuan, a serene yet extremely hopeful light filling her eyes. "I... truly hope so."