After parting ways with the group, Jiang Yuan didn't idle around. He headed to the functional area of the Eternal Life Sect, completed all twenty rounds of sect tasks for the day, then ran the "Martial Siege Battlefield" in the celestial realm ten more times, leveling up to 130.
Post-ascension, each battlefield run yielded 100 Taiji Golden Pills. Jiang Yuan had been so focused on tasks and boosting his stats earlier that he'd neglected these highly rewarding battlefield missions, which now left him feeling a bit regretful.
Having finished all that, Jiang Yuan felt that today was definitely the most grind-heavy day since he'd ascended to the celestial realm!
Unconsciously, time slipped to 6:50 PM, with ten minutes left until their agreed meeting time. Jiang Yuan arrived early at the "Stellar Challenge Overseer" NPC in Flowing Cloud City to wait for his teammates.
Ten minutes later, Wen Ding Cang Sheng, Hamster Pudding, Ding Ye, and Chuang Shi Xiao Yun arrived as promised, gathering with Jiang Yuan in Flowing Cloud City.
In just a few hours, they had cleared all cultivation-related tasks in the game, boosting their levels. Wen Ding Cang Sheng surpassed Jiang Yuan at 131, Hamster Pudding reached 129, while Ding Ye and Chuang Shi Xiao Yun lagged slightly at 127 and 126 respectively.
Once everyone was assembled, Jiang Yuan immediately activated team mode, inviting them all into his party, then conversed with the NPC "Stellar Challenge Overseer" to learn the rules of this event.
The event was simple: starting at 7:30 PM, the "Myriad Realms" officials would spawn four constellations—Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, and Black Tortoise—in the east, south, west, and north of the celestial realm. Each constellation consisted of seven bosses.
The Black Tortoise constellation required a level of 120 to participate, the Vermilion Bird needed 130, while the White Tiger and Azure Dragon were out of reach for Jiang Yuan's group for now, demanding levels 140 and 150 respectively.
The event lasted until 11:30 PM. After completing any round of the stellar challenge, players could turn in the task to the "Stellar Challenge Overseer" and immediately accept another, meaning they could repeatedly take on tasks from start to finish.
Jiang Yuan checked: the seven bosses of the Black Tortoise constellation were named Dou Mu Xie, Niu Jin Niu, Nv Tu Fu, Xu Ri Shu, Wei Yue Yan, Shi Huo Zhu, and Bi Shui Yu. Their elemental attributes were: Dou Mu Xie—Wood; Niu Jin Niu—Metal; Nv Tu Fu—Earth; Xu Ri Shu—Fire; Wei Yue Yan—Fire; Shi Huo Zhu—Fire; Bi Shui Yu—Water.
Additionally, the NPC "Stellar Challenge Overseer" mentioned that defeating each boss would grant the player a token representing that boss. Collecting all seven tokens and handing them in would earn the task reward.
The only headache for Jiang Yuan and his team was that the event only outlined a general area, without giving specific coordinates for each boss, forcing players to search carefully within the approximate range.
However, the "Myriad Realms" officials were quite considerate: each constellation spawned five sets of bosses at once. If one was discovered by others first, players could immediately turn around to find another.
As time passed, more and more players gathered around the "Stellar Challenge Overseer" NPC, forming teams of five and waiting for the event to start.
Soon, game time hit 7:30 PM. Team leaders surged forward, initiating conversations with the NPC to accept tasks.
Since Hamster Pudding, Ding Ye, and Chuang Shi Xiao Yun hadn't reached level 130, Jiang Yuan chose the "Black Tortoise Constellation" challenge to accommodate them. After accepting, Jiang Yuan glanced at the dialogue box—over a hundred teams had taken on the same task!
With many players and limited resources, tonight's competition was bound to be fierce, possibly even leading to PvP conflicts over mobs!
"Everyone, buy some avatars to carry. Tonight's event might involve fighting, so don't let your gear drop."
Seeing the intense competition for the Black Tortoise, Jiang Yuan quickly warned in the team channel.
"Got it! I love a good fight!"
Ding Ye replied excitedly, immediately opening the trading hall to buy a set of avatars and a big red potion.
"Big red" referred to a health potion called "Taiji Mysterious Pill" listed in the trading hall, restoring a total of 100 million HP with no cooldown, but costing a steep 25 Dragon Kingdom coins each!
"You all should buy some big reds and big blues too. 25 coins each is a steal, or you'll be at a disadvantage in fights if you can't recover HP and mana!"
After finishing, Ding Ye reminded the team.
"Ding Ye's suggestion is solid. Everyone buy some. With over five hundred people fighting for thirty-five bosses, tonight's brawl is unavoidable!"
Jiang Yuan, after buying his avatars, found Ding Ye's advice sound and spent 50 Dragon Kingdom coins on a big red and a big blue, then said in the team channel.
"OK, I'm set!"
"Done!"
"I'm all good too!"
Soon, the other three replied. Jiang Yuan summoned his Frost Wolf mount, activated team follow mode, and led the way toward the Flying Celestial Maiden in Flowing Cloud City.
The Black Tortoise constellation was located near the "Jade Void Palace" in the northern part of the celestial realm map, spanning hundreds of miles with a fairly large coverage area.
Jiang Yuan's team followed him as they teleported to the Jade Void Palace, looking up to see a dense crowd ahead—all teams that had accepted the "Black Tortoise Constellation" task.
"The first boss to find is called Dou Mu Xie. Let's split into three groups: me and Pudding as one, Ding Ye and Xiao Yun as another, and Brother Cang Sheng solo. Spread out and search. Whoever finds it, remember to post the coordinates in the team channel immediately!"
Jiang Yuan mounted his steed and quickly devised a strategy.
"Alright! One more thing: if you run into PvP, don't be a hero. Post the coordinates and run. We'll back you up in time!"
Wen Ding Cang Sheng, about to set off on his mount, suddenly thought of something, turned back, and added.
"Got it!"
"Roger!"
After Wen Ding Cang Sheng spoke, Jiang Yuan and Ding Ye's group immediately responded in the team channel.
"Brothers, charge!"
Jiang Yuan shouted, leading Hamster Pudding straight in one direction!
The fiercely competitive stellar challenge had begun!