If thereâs any unexpected damage to the meridians, healing pills are indispensable. Also, we should prepare some elixirs that can temporarily boost strength to help resolve crises.
These elixirs usually cause some harm to the body; however, since theyâre used to save lives, thereâs no need for too much concern.
As for what elixirs are needed, Han Yan quickly made up her mind. However, given her current strength at the Sword Master Realm, both the pills needed to consolidate her meridians and foundation building, as well as the ones for healing, are not cheap. Elixirs that temporarily boost strength are even harder to find, so sheâd need Che Xiang to keep an eye out for them.
Fortunately, the Third Elder just generously donated tens of millions, so Han Yan didnât have to worry about money.
"By the way, donât forget my elixir," Star Illusion Thousand Machine reminded Han Yan without the slightest formality.
"All medicines have some toxicity, so why are you taking them when youâre perfectly fine?" Han Yan advised earnestly.
Itâs not that sheâs being stingy; itâs just that this guy has too good an appetite. The last time the Nanyan Commerce bought pills, Han Yan discreetly prepared dozens of Small Qi Transformation Pills for himâhis only requirement for pills is to replenish and tonify.
When swordsmen take elixirs, thereâs a certain methodology involved. Relying solely on elixirs to increase strength is harmful and even severe cases could damage oneâs foundations. Considering Han Yanâs current cultivation, those dozens of Small Qi Transformation Pills should last her two to three months.
Unexpectedly, Star Illusion Thousand Machine munched on them as if they were beans, crunching them clean in no time. Indeed, as each pill instantaneously vanished from the chain pendant, a crisp sound echoed in Han Yanâs mind, both tooth-achingly sharp and heart-wrenching.
Pills bought with millions of silver taels were chewed clean in less than seven and a half minutes, and at the end, he nonchalantly remarked, "A bit too few, and the Dan Power is lacking."
At that moment, Han Yan felt on the verge of collapse: at this rate of consumption, even if she were as wealthy as a nation, sheâd end up begging.
"Do you not realize how much primordial energy it cost me to open the seal on the Star Plate? And do you really think you alone can break through this space and absorb the Nine Heavens Star Power? Even if you forced it open with brute strength, could you withstand the torrential Star Power?" Star Illusion Thousand Machine habitually rolled his eyes, speaking with irritation.
"Alright, fine, Iâll buy, buy, buy for you," Han Yan gritted her teeth and said.
This mysterious star space, independent of the Holy Court Continent and the Nine Heavens Void, yet connected to both, was so miraculous that even Han Yan found it bewildering. Itâs certain that Star Illusion Thousand Machine expended considerable primordial energy to open the seal and activate this space. Han Yan couldnât very well treat him poorly.
Moreover, he was right about needing to create a breach in the spatial barrier to absorb the Nine Heavens Star Power. With Han Yanâs current strength, itâs quite difficult to achieve. Even if she forced it open, she wouldnât be able to manage it at will, and any misstep could cause a catastrophe.
Ultimately, she still needed Star Illusion Thousand Machineâs help.
To have the horse run, you must feed it grass. Han Yan wasnât stingy with silver taels, just a bit worried about how long the tens of millions would last.
"By the way, why didnât you open this space before?" Han Yan, not predisposed to worrying unnecessarily, soon set aside financial concerns and curiously asked Star Illusion Thousand Machine.
Thinking back to the piles of packages whenever she went out, Han Yan felt somewhat vexed. Had she known about this space within the Mysterious Star Plate earlier, she wouldnât have needed so much hassle.
"Previously, I couldnât open it even if I wanted to. Itâs a feature that came with the star plate upgrading. Without the upgrade, the seal wouldnât have appeared, so how could I open it?" Star Illusion Thousand Machine replied.
"Are you saying the star plate has upgraded!" Han Yan said in surprise and delight.
"Just look at your heart meridian and then at the star plate, and youâll know," Star Illusion Thousand Machine replied.
Focusing her inner vision, Han Yan discovered that within her heart meridian, the vast starry sky had extended several folds more. A more expansive and complete star map now appeared in her mind.
Being shocked beyond measure, she noted that as the star map expanded, the original star chart seemed much smaller, clearly delineating a pattern.
A towering giant sword, cold as frost, ancient and vast, imposing the skies, seemed to cut through the starry sky and time and space.
Han Yanâs body trembled; the sword was so familiar! Last time, when she had defeated the templeâs strongman, ascended to the Sword Master Realm, and the starlight had gathered into an ancient sacred giant sword guarding her back.
Isnât that longsword identical to the one formed by the star phase now!
Something suddenly flashed deep within Han Yanâs heart. Just as she tried to grasp it, it disappeared.
What was this feeling?
Han Yan was utterly confused.
Taking a closer look at the star plate now fitted into her amulet, she saw that the star sea within had undergone the same changes.
Han Yan had a vague sense that besides the miraculous space, the star plate now felt even more vast and boundless, as if it contained some mysterious power waiting to be explored.
And as the star plate upgraded, changes also occurred in her heart meridian, while the ancient giant sword outlined in starlight instilled a sense of indestructibility.
"Whatâs happening?" Han Yan couldnât help but ask.
"I donât know either. The secrets contained in this star plate have already surpassed my understanding. What I can confirm is that, with this sword, your heart meridian will be a hundred times stronger," Star Illusion Thousand Machine asserted.
Han Yanâs heart stirred. For the average swordsman, the Qi Sea Dantian is their greatest vulnerability, but for the Mu Familyâs disciples, the heart meridian is their critical weakness.
Yet, with such an indomitable giant sword in her heart meridian, her defenses would significantly increase, no longer serving as a fatal weakness.
"So why did the star plate upgrade so suddenly?" While pleased, Han Yan inquired with a bit of confusion.
"No way it upgraded out of nowhere. Have you forgotten about the star plate obtained earlier?" Star Illusion Thousand Machine inquired with a grin.
He was clearly referring to the star plate that Han Yan had acquired from Shen Moce.
Han Yan took a moment, retrieved the star plate.
On the surface, the star plate hadnât changed, but focusing her inner vision, Han Yan was surprised to find that something significant was missing from its interior, just like her longsword seasoned with the Heavenly Heart Technique.
"If Iâm not mistaken, this so-called Star Mechanism Plate was refined from the missing components of your star plate," Star Illusion Thousand Machine speculated.
(How many people actually read this on the first day of the lunar new year?)