Chapter 24: The Unlimited Stellar Energy Technique — [Hei Cang]

Boom!

In a solitary training chamber of the Yujin Organization, Tian Dao casually tossed a black orb into the air. It slammed into a specially designed, self-repairing superalloy test pillar located several meters away.

The moment the golf-ball-sized black sphere made contact with the pillar, a piercing, screeching sound erupted—like the agonized roar of a colossal beast. The sound shattered the silence of the room.

Yet the pillar, engineered to withstand attacks from a Level 2 Stellar Envoy, now bore a five-meter-wide, spiderweb-like indentation. Worse still, the high-speed spinning black orb continued to rotate at terrifying velocity after impact, tearing at the pillar’s surface like a drill made of starlight.

Zzzzzt—

The intense friction generated extreme heat, causing the center of the crater to melt into a glowing red pool of molten iron. Steam hissed from the edges, streaked with dazzling sparks that flared like miniature lightning.

When the smoke cleared and the sparks faded, a perfect conical pit—five meters wide and three meters deep—stood starkly at the pillar’s core.

“So… my maximum spin speed is still capped at ten times?” Tian Dao stared at the devastation, forming a rough estimate of the technique’s power.

But rather than rely solely on his own judgment, he turned to Kalolin for objective analysis.

“Kalolin, did you record the stellar energy data from that last strike?”

Kalolin looked up from her tactical tablet, her cat-like tail curling around the device. Emerald irises shimmered with cascading data streams.

“Stellar energy reading: 1,900. Impact force equivalent to a Level 2 beginner.”

She paused, tilting her head slightly. “But your energy efficiency is only 95%—which means this is nearly your current physical limit.”

Tian Dao frowned. “So, even with the Vector Control source, I can’t push beyond this?”

Kalolin nodded. “Tian Dao, I’d suggest pausing here. That remaining 5% efficiency gain isn’t worth the effort. The return on investment is too low.”

“Only 1,900?” Tian Dao’s expression darkened. “That’s barely above the 1,000 threshold—the official benchmark for distinguishing Level 1 from Level 2 Stellar Envoys set by the Stellar Envoy Association.”

But stellar energy values were just one metric. Most Envoys could amplify their techniques far beyond their base stats, depending on their Stellar Source and the technique used. So while the number was useful for comparison, it didn’t fully reflect a true Envoy’s power.

From a base standpoint, Tian Dao had already reached 200 Stellar Energy Value after acquiring Vector Control—officially qualifying him as a Level 1 Stellar Envoy.

But that was nowhere near enough.

Because his future opponents wouldn’t be just one or two Level 1 Envoys.

They’d be a group of Level 1s—plus a seasoned Level 2.

Even though Tian Dao had pushed Stellar Energy Technique: Cang to its current peak, refining it into a new hybrid form: Hei Cang, he still felt it wasn’t enough.

He needed Hei Cang to reach at least 8,000 Stellar Energy Value to have over an 80% chance of pulling off his plan.

Otherwise, he’d end up like a laughingstock—kicked aside like a stray dog on the street.

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[Stellar Energy Technique · Hei Cang]

Effect: Utilizes the Star-Eclipse Eye to achieve hyper-precise observation and control over stellar energy flow, combined with Vector Control to drastically increase rotational speed of the stellar energy sphere. Significantly amplifies the power of the energy ball.

Current Maximum Spin: 10x

Hei Cang was Tian Dao’s breakthrough technique, born from the fusion of his original Cang and the newly acquired Vector Control source.

The principle was simple—similar to the Rasengan from his past life. The user gathers stellar energy in their palm, compressing it while forcing it to swirl in chaotic, unpredictable directions until it forms a stable, attributeless energy sphere.

Before obtaining Vector Control, Tian Dao could only achieve a maximum spin of three times.

Now, with Vector Control, he could push it to ten times.

But that was only his limit.

Theoretically? Hei Cang had no upper bound.

The faster the spin, the more energy compressed—leading to exponentially greater power. In theory, the technique could evolve into something resembling a miniature black hole.

So when he said Hei Cang had no limit, he wasn’t exaggerating. The science behind it was solid.

The catch? The technique was nearly impossible for others to replicate.

Without the Star-Eclipse Eye, no one could perceive the intricate flow of stellar energy well enough to manipulate it with such precision. Even if they knew the theory, they couldn’t execute it.

Thus, Hei Cang was, in essence, Tian Dao’s exclusive, open-source signature technique.

But no matter how limitless its potential, his current body couldn’t push past tenfold rotation.

To break through that ceiling, he’d need either:

1. A significant increase in his base Stellar Energy Value.

2. Further development of the Vector Control source.

And neither was easy.

Tian Dao glanced at his character sheet.

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Name: Tian Dao Siming (Yujin Organization · Stellar Prodigy)

Age: 12

Stellar Source: Vector Control (10%)

Stellar Core: Star-Eclipse Eye (Compatibility: 100%)

Stellar Energy Value: 200

Attributes: Strength S, Agility S, Spirit S, Constitution S

Skills: Stellar Energy Control (Master), Flash Step (Master), Stellar Beast Knowledge Encyclopedia (Expert)…

Current Popularity Points: 150,000

Loaned Popularity Points: 1,000,000 (Maxed Out)

A quiet sigh escaped him.

Three days… and only a slight increase in SEV?

If this pace continues, I won’t reach 900 SEV—Level 1’s upper limit—within six months.

That guy from the Four Great Families isn’t some ordinary Level 2 Envoy. If I can’t hit 900+, I won’t even be able to scratch him, let alone take him down.

No choice. I need to accelerate my Popularity Point gain—fast. I need that special item for stellar cultivation.

Otherwise, I won’t be able to stage a single dazzling moment of glory. I’ll be lucky if I don’t end up a joke.

But… the next five to eight episodes of The Prequel of the Stars: Embers are all mundane, everyday stuff.

No major arcs. No explosive moments to boost my popularity.

Unless I can create some original, off-script content…

But where the hell do I get that from?

Just then, the training room door creaked open.

Chen Xing stepped in first, followed closely by Chen Kong.

Seeing the two siblings, Tian Dao—previously at a loss—suddenly lit up.

“Oh, what a coincidence!”

Just when I was about to hit my head against the wall… someone shows up with a pillow.

You two really are my lucky stars!

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end