Zhao Changhe’s consciousness within the sword began to waver.0

Igniting the conceptual stars was far more than a mere outburst of sword qi. The sword qi itself was merely the outward expression, the ignition key. The essence lay in pouring one’s spirit and sword intent into the sword blank to resonate with the astral foundations within it and locate the corresponding stars to light them. The mental exertion required was nothing short of staggering.0

The more significant the stars—such as the four idols—the greater the strain of forging that connection. When the moment arrived that all four idols were illuminated, Zhao Changhe teetered on the brink of collapse.0

But just the four idols was not enough. What of the myriad lesser stars? Their sheer number was staggering, and he was already nearing exhaustion.0

With such meager power, did he truly dare to claim the mantle of emperor?0

Beyond the forge, Zhao Changhe’s physical eyes turned bloodshot, a sign that he was pushing his power to the very limits. The underground chamber flared with brilliance, a galaxy brought to life, violent power surging in every direction,...0