In the night, floating skulls let down their tongues, forming loops in the air, trying to catch Chen Shi. These loops were hard to see in the darkness, and if one wasn't careful, they could end up with their head caught, lifted, and hanged in mid-air.
Chen Shi, using the power of the Armored Horse Talisman, sprinted along the road, leaving the floating skulls far behind. The talisman made his steps light and fast, his sleeves fluttering in the moonlight, giving him an elegant and carefree appearance.
However, Chen Shi's face was growing paler, his heartbeat quickening as if something was pressing on his chest. "Not now, don't let it happen now!" he thought anxiously. Walking in the night was already dangerous, and if he fell ill now, it could be fatal.
Pain began to radiate from his heart. Chen Shi knew that if he overexerted himself, he would fall ill. It had happened before, like when he committed the crime at the Li family camp or when he encountered the Iron Brush Elder and Zhao Ming. Now, after the massacre at Boxwood Village, the illness was coming on faster and stronger.
In the past, the attacks came in his sleep, with sudden heart pain that left him gasping for air. But now, he was awake and could feel a ghostly hand squeezing his heart tighter and tighter, making it beat faster.
His vision blurred, the road under the moonlight seemed to float and twist, making him sway and spin. Blood filled his mouth, warm blood trickled from his nose, and blood seeped from his eyes and ears.
"I don't want to die here! I want to go home and see Grandpa! If I must die, let it be at home!" Chen Shi gasped, trying to focus on the road ahead, which was becoming increasingly unclear.
He recited, "Heavenly born, only the gods are revered. Chaos and evil abound, the true gods unseen, only ghosts disrupt humanity! Observe the way of heaven, follow its path..." He activated the Three Lights True Qi Technique, trying to suppress the ghostly hand on his heart. The stars of the Big Dipper appeared around him, changing with his movements.
Staggering forward, strange creatures in the woods noticed his distress and began to chase him. The floating skulls, eager to hang people and dance with their bodies in the air, were the first to pursue him.
On the ground, dozens of small figures crawled rapidly towards Chen Shi, chattering happily. They climbed trees but were stuck there until their long necks, like snakes, rescued them.
Tiny figures on little yellow horses, only a few inches tall, raced after him, shooting arrows. Fortunately, the talisman on Chen Shi's leg kept him ahead of them, but his condition was worsening, and it was only a matter of time before they caught up.
Chen Shi stumbled, the world spinning, unable to suppress the green ghost hand. "Am I really going to die here?" he thought as the road twisted, and suddenly, red shoes appeared everywhere, blocking his path.
These shoes were embroidered with pink flowers and peonies, bright and vivid. Spirits began to disturb his mind, making his senses even more confused.
His heart ached more, and he wobbled, unable to avoid the shoes, when suddenly they vanished, and the road returned to normal. The sound of hooves approached, and a carriage drawn by four horses appeared, its lantern driving away all evil spirits.
"Whoa—" The driver halted the horses, and the carriage stopped before Chen Shi. Inside sat a noble young man, calm and composed despite the dangers of the countryside at night. It was Prince Xiao, whom Chen Shi had met once before.
"Long time no see, Chen Shi," Prince Xiao said, sitting in the carriage, his face gentle as jade. He observed Chen Shi's stumbling steps and the starlight around him. "Your cultivation method is incomplete, a flawed technique. The Big Dipper Refinement hasn't reached its essence, no wonder you're in such a predicament."
Chen Shi tried to stand straight and greet him but couldn't steady himself. He wanted to speak but was in too much pain to breathe.
Prince Xiao, with a demeanor like a celestial being, continued, "You gather starlight into the shape of the Big Dipper, but only refine your hair and blood, not your organs and marrow. The stars refine body, essence, and spirit. You haven't grasped this, hence your suffering."
His words entered Chen Shi's mind, and though in pain, his mind was clearer than ever. "Please guide me, senior!" he rasped.
Prince Xiao instructed, "Look at the star at your feet, the Purple Star, called Tian Shu. Observe its internal structure."
Chen Shi focused, ignoring the pain, and saw the intricate structure within the Tian Shu star. It was wrapped in a "大" character, with other symbols below.
"The other six stars also have their structures," Prince Xiao said.
Chen Shi steadied his mind, observing the other stars, and saw their complex talisman structures, something he hadn't noticed before.
"The Big Dipper stars—Tian Shu, Tian Xuan, Tian Ji, Tian Quan, Yu Heng, Kai Yang, and Yao Guang—each have unique talisman structures," Prince Xiao explained. "Different talismans hold different refinement methods. Step on Tian Shu and activate its talisman."
Chen Shi, enduring the pain, stepped onto the Tian Shu star, focusing his remaining will to activate the talisman. Suddenly, the starlight burst, flooding his body, flowing through his bones, and easing the pain.
As the Tian Shu star's energy depleted, it transformed into the Yao Guang star talisman. The other star talismans rotated and changed, like a formation, each affecting the others.
"Step on Tian Shu again," Prince Xiao instructed.
Chen Shi followed, stepping onto the transforming Tian Xuan star, which became Tian Shu as his foot landed. The starlight surged, refining his bones and easing the ghostly grip on his heart.
Seeing hope, Chen Shi moved quickly, stepping onto the Tian Ji star as it transformed, leaving a trail like a dragon's shadow.
His fourth step was faster, and the fifth step took him onto a tree trunk, walking as if on flat ground.
Chen Shi's steps grew faster, his excitement rising, and the heart pain diminishing. The Big Dipper steps taught him an incredible footwork technique, and the Tian Shu refinement strengthened his bones and purified his marrow.
"Now, switch to Tian Xuan!" Prince Xiao's voice guided him.
Without hesitation, Chen Shi stepped onto the Tian Xuan star, its talisman bursting, sending starlight into his heart. His heartbeat sent the energy through his body, loosening the ghostly grip.
Following the Tian Xuan star, the Big Dipper formation changed, cleansing his blood and strengthening his heart.
Tian Shu refined bones, Tian Xuan refined blood. Prince Xiao guided him through each refinement, and Chen Shi quickly learned the Big Dipper's secrets.
Tian Quan refined muscles, Yu Heng refined skin. Chen Shi didn't know what Kai Yang and Yao Guang refined, but he felt his true qi circulating and his spirit clearing.
"Open Yang refines true qi, Yao Guang refines spirit," Prince Xiao explained. "The Big Dipper refines bones, heart, blood, muscles, skin, true qi, and spirit. Your technique is remarkable."
Chen Shi stopped, his qi and blood surging, the heart pain gone, both surprised and delighted. Prince Xiao's guidance was crucial, saving his life and sparing him from dangerous trial and error.
"Don't get distracted, now return the fire to the source, refining it into your dantian," Prince Xiao advised. "Finish your practice by focusing your mind and spirit."
Chen Shi followed, directing his qi and blood into his dantian, but it dissipated, leaving him disappointed.
Prince Xiao noticed and thought for a moment. "The Big Dipper refines your body, but you can't retain true qi. Yet, your progress in other areas is rapid. Strange, didn't Master Chen teach you this?"
—Thanks to the Lord of the World for the reward!