Chapter 158: Stellar Energy Is the True Foundation

Just as 'Ink's figure was fully enveloped by Yu Chen’s combined technique—'Silver Falcon' and 'Azure Owl' merging into the 'Stellar Rain Screen'—the scene abruptly cut to an unrelated, eerie flashback, completely detached from the moment at hand.

"Tian Dao," a voice echoed from a grassy slope at Yujin Base, "we're all studying and training together. Why do you always pull so far ahead of everyone else?"

Kalolin stood on the ground, her emerald eyes filled with quiet confusion, watching Tian Dao lounging lazily on his back, legs propped up, basking in the sun.

Tian Dao exhaled, spitting out the blade of grass from his mouth, a lazy smile curling at the corner of his lips.

"Kalolin, this has nothing to do with the Star-Eclipse Eye, you know."

"Then what does it have to do with?"

"Talent."

"???"

Seeing her still puzzled, Tian Dao leaned forward, brushing off the grass.

"Think about it—everyone, including you, barely has any energy left just trying to adapt to their own Stellar Core, right?"

Kalolin tilted her head, then nodded slowly.

Tian Dao sat up, turning to face her with a gentle grin.

"That’s the difference between us. I adapted to my Stellar Core long ago and started focusing on other things."

"Like... the refinement of Stellar Energy."

"Refinement of Stellar Energy?"

Kalolin furrowed her brows, clearly struggling to follow.

Seeing her confusion, Tian Dao offered a simple example.

"Kalolin, the Association’s official First-Rank Stellar Envoy Stellar Energy cap is 1,000 points, correct?"

She nodded. "Yeah, but Doctor said that’s just the average. The actual value varies depending on the individual and their Stellar Source—some reach 1,500 at Level 1, others barely hit 800."

"But why are you bringing this up now, Tian Dao?"

Tian Dao smiled.

"Because what I’m about to tell you is how to break that cap."

He spread his palm open.

In an instant, a swirling cobalt-blue sphere began forming in his hand—the signature Stellar Energy technique of his pre-'Vector Control' days: Azure.

As Tian Dao poured more Stellar Energy into the sphere, it expanded rapidly.

Then, with a sudden shift, he compressed it.

The sphere shrank at an alarming rate—visibly, violently—until it was reduced to the size of a single ping-pong ball.

Finished, Tian Dao turned to Kalolin and asked, "Got it?"

Kalolin nodded slowly, her emerald eyes flickering with the rapid cascade of quantum data streams—her mind calculating at lightning speed.

"Right," she murmured. "If the body is strong enough and control over Stellar Energy is precise enough, then even with the same cap, a Stellar Envoy with superior control can store far more energy within their core."

Tian Dao slowly removed his sunglasses, his gaze fixed on her.

"Kalolin," he said, voice now solemn, "if the Stellar Source is a tool, then Stellar Energy is the fuel that powers everything."

"Therefore, Stellar Energy is the true foundation of every Stellar Envoy."

As the words left his lips, the image of Tian Dao’s youthful form began to slowly merge with the blurred silhouette of 'Ink' from the current timeline.

Most of the Dimensional Audience assumed the flashback was included to emphasize the importance of Stellar Energy to a Stellar Envoy.

But they were wrong.

This was not a mere explanation.

It was a subtle, layered hint—meant to whisper a deeper truth.

That 'Ink', the Fifth Squad Captain, shared an unbreakable, invisible bond with the silver-haired boy from the past.

Yet only a few among the audience caught the truth hidden in the flicker of light and shadow.

[Gear and Brass Bridge, Entry Gate]

As the dust swirling around Tian Dao receded like a retreating tide, Yu Chen and the audience before the screen both drew in sharp breaths.

Before them, Tian Dao stood encased in a flowing, shimmering barrier—identical in appearance to the one surrounding 'Ink'.

And with that defense, he not only blocked every one of Yu Chen’s attacks, but remained untouched—completely unscathed.

"Second-in-command, you're quite interesting," Tian Dao said, calm as ever. "But you seem to rely too much on your Stellar Source."

"Because for a Stellar Envoy, Stellar Energy is the true foundation."

"Only the strength of one’s Stellar Energy is something a Stellar Envoy can truly control."

As he spoke, a monstrous surge of Stellar Energy erupted from his body—like a black tidal wave, devouring light and space.

Yu Chen’s pupils contracted in shock.

His 'Fantasy Wing' snapped open to full extension, his body becoming a streak of light, desperately fleeing the oncoming storm.

But the wave moved faster than he could imagine.

In the blink of an eye, he was swallowed whole—dragged into a bottomless abyss of pure, lightless energy.

Even as he fought desperately within the black maelstrom, his body grew heavier with every struggle.

And this was only the most basic form of Tian Dao’s power—pure, unfiltered Stellar Energy suppression.

An instinctive, fundamental technique. So simple, so natural, that every Stellar Envoy should master it effortlessly.

Yet, paradoxically, the simplest things are often the hardest to achieve.

To reach Tian Dao’s level, one would need at least twice the Stellar Energy attribute of the opponent.

Yu Chen’s own attribute was already solidly A-, not weak by any means.

So what did that say about Tian Dao’s?

The audience watched in silence as Tian Dao stepped forward, walking calmly across the abyssal black waves, his footfall steady and unhurried.

He stopped before the immobilized Yu Chen.

"You all think the Stellar Source is everything."

"But to me, it’s just a good tool."

"Most of the time, I don’t even need complex techniques. I just use raw Stellar Energy to crush my opponent—simple. Effective."

His tone was calm, almost casual.

But that calmness sent a chill through the Dimensional Audience.

Because aside from Tian Dao Siming, the silver-haired monster from Season 1 who once crushed Chen Xing—ranked No. 2 in the Stars—using nothing but pure Stellar Energy…

Only 'Ink' had ever achieved something similar.

Tian Dao’s power had been legendary in Season 1.

No one truly believed he and 'Ink' were the same.

Yet the mere ability to dominate an opponent through raw Stellar Energy alone, without any flashy tricks—just sheer, fundamental power—had etched both into the same category in the minds of the viewers.

The category of monsters.

After all, who else could master the most basic element of their power to such an extent?

Who else could win through nothing but overwhelming numerical superiority, no tricks, no flair?

Not a hero. Not a genius.

A monster.

And if The Stars had ever been a game in reality…

Players would be blessed beyond measure.

Because both Ink and Tian Dao—they were built for pure, unrelenting power.

In the eyes of the audience, Tian Dao slowly raised the Shattering Star in his hand.

Just as he had said.

No complex techniques. No dazzling displays.

Only the most basic, fundamental use of Stellar Energy.

And yet, with it, he claimed victory—something so far out of reach for others—it was now within his grasp.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end