Chapter 194: The One Who Won the Rebirth Match — Lao Tian

As the undisputed crown prince of the Stellar Prodigy, Tian Dao’s official return instantly re-energized the dormant Dimensional Audience, pulling countless lurkers back into the fray.

“Congrats, Lao Tian, on winning the rebirth match!”

“Lao Tian: Kids, I totally lied—actually, I never went offline.”

“If there’s no Tian Dao, is it even Stellar Prodigy anymore?”

“Where’s Miao Miao? Why’s she still stuck in the background after Tian Dao’s back?”

Amidst the frenzied chatter in the live stream comments, the screen showed Tian Dao already clad in a set of black combat uniforms left behind in the base. His sharp, upright frame, silver-streaked hair, and pale cerulean eyes lent an unexpected elegance to the plain Ember Black Combat Suit—making it look less like standard gear and more like a high-end tactical masterpiece.

The fans in the Dimensional Audience erupted instantly.

“Of course, Tian Dao’s aesthetic is always different—like a romance lead accidentally dropped into a shonen battle anime.”

“This Supporting Character Could Live Off His Looks Alone, But He Chooses To Rely On Power Instead.”

“An absolute masterpiece of a face!”

After changing into his gear, Tian Dao followed Yun Meng as they walked toward the ruins of Yujin Base. Along the way, Yun Meng casually updated him on the changes that had unfolded outside during his six-year absence.

Though he already knew all of this from the original narrative, Tian Dao feigned ignorance and listened patiently.

She spoke of the fates of the other Stellar Prodigies after the base’s destruction: some had entered the Four Great Families—Chen Xing, Jing Ruli, Yezhen Lin, among others. Others had joined rival factions, like Liu Ma.

By the time their conversation ended, they had reached the open sea.

The salty sea wind, thick with humidity, drifted in from afar, and Tian Dao instinctively closed his eyes.

Though during his six-year “sleep,” he had trained relentlessly within the Creator’s Space—practically indistinguishable from reality—there was still an ineffable emptiness to floating in the data ocean.

But now, the warmth of the wind, the gentle rhythm of the waves… only this could make Tian Dao feel truly, irrevocably real.

Watching Tian Dao stand beside her, eyes closed, savoring the sea breeze, Yun Meng suddenly said, “Almost forgot this.”

She tapped lightly on the subspace handbag at her waist.

In an instant, a bizarrely styled long blade materialized in her palm.

The Dimensional Audience recognized it instantly.

This was the same weapon the Mysterious Masked Man had used to crush Xian Nv Zuo·Yufemia—Magic Blade · Shattering Star.

“Whoa, it’s Shattering Star! The Mysterious Masked Man is officially confirmed!”

“Doctor just handed Lao Tian the cheat code on a silver platter!”

“Still buffing him? Still buffing? Lao Tian’s already a meta-tier, how is he still the top-tier?”

Tian Dao glanced at the blade in Yun Meng’s hand, feigning curiosity as he studied it.

The semi-transparent cerulean blade pulsed with swirling energy veins. The obsidian hilt bore a cracked Tian Mu Shou Star Core—shaped like a half-open vertical pupil—its gaze mirroring Tian Dao’s own Star-Eclipse Eye, as if the two were linked by something deeper.

To help the audience grasp its power, a detailed description appeared on the screen’s right side:

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Name: Shattering Star

Blade: Forged from 999 fragments of ‘Stellar Core Fragments,’ semi-transparent cerulean in hue, its interior glowing with starlight-like energy veins. The tip occasionally fractures space with tiny rifts.

Hilt: Made of obsidian. At the junction of blade and hilt lies a broken Tian Mu Shou Star Core, shaped like an eye.

Form:

- Sheathed: Fragments tightly fused, appearing as a single blade.

- Unleashed: The fragments float in orbit around the user like a star ring.

Effect 1: Stellar Prodigy – The blade instantly disassembles into 999 independent fragments, each capable of applying Vector Control.

Effect 2: Domination – During flight, fragments can adjust trajectory in real time based on the Star-Eclipse Eye · Future Sight, even making impossible, right-angle turns defying physics.

Description: “If the future holds countless impossibilities, then cut them all away. From a thousand ashes, only one possibility remains.”

On the surface, it seemed Doctor had entrusted the weapon to Tian Dao through Yun Meng.

But in truth, it was a purchase Tian Dao had made from the Popularity Store—the system merely delivered it in a way that felt organic, natural, and narratively justified.

Just as Yun Meng handed the blade to Tian Dao, the sea beyond erupted.

A monstrous wave, dozens of meters high, surged upward.

Moments later, a creature the size of a small island burst from the depths.

Its body resembled a floating island, armored in obsidian fish scales that suppressed Stellar Energy. This was the true ruler of these waters—the Third-Rank Stellar Beast: Young Form of the Star-Devouring Whale.

"ROOOOAAARRR!"

The beast’s roar shook the air, vibrating through Kong’s very essence. Clearly, it saw Tian Dao and the others as intruders in its domain.

This particular species, which fed on obsidian, was rare—especially for its ability to suppress the powers of Stellar Envoy who relied heavily on Stellar Source energy.

Yanyu Yalong, still flailing in the water, abruptly stilled. Its movements ceased. Its eyes turned sharp, predatory.

But before it could act, Yun Meng spoke.

“Xiao Jin, no need for you this time. Let Little Tian Dao handle it.”

Hearing this, Yanyu Yalong turned to look at Tian Dao beside Yun Meng.

Though it sensed the silver-haired boy’s Stellar Energy fluctuation was only around level two, something about him sent a chill down its spine.

Despite the disparity, it felt a distinct threat.

So, after one long, wary glance at the Star-Devouring Whale, Yanyu Yalong turned and swam back toward the sheltered rear of the base ruins.

“Shall we give it a try?” Yun Meng smiled at Tian Dao, eyes fixed on the towering beast in the distance.

Tian Dao, having already studied the blade in his hands, now smirked—like he’d just remembered something delightfully absurd.

“Not sure if it’ll work… but might as well give it a shot.”

With that, he raised Shattering Star high into the air.

In an instant, a terrifying surge of Stellar Energy erupted from him.

Then, the blade began to fracture—and reassemble.

But to Yun Meng’s surprise, and the shock of the entire Dimensional Audience, Tian Dao didn’t let the fragments scatter.

Instead, he used his own Stellar Energy as a binding force—amplifying the gaps between each fragment, stretching them apart.

And then—a monstrous blade, black and blue in hue, over twenty meters long, materialized in his grip.

Holding it with one hand, Tian Dao leveled it toward the sea monster.

He smirked.

“First time doing this… don’t know if I’ve got the grip right. Hope you’ll let me have some fun.”

And with that, he brought Shattering Star down in a single, devastating slash.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end