Chapter 102: Safe Distance and First Defeat (Requesting Monthly Votes)

[Is the composite star technique to be solidified?]

Xu Jin’s mind sank into the Jade Tablet of the Candou Platform, and instantly, a line of information appeared on it.

Instantly, Xu Jin understood the meaning of that line of information.

The star technique he had just composed could also be solidified.

After solidification, it could be cast instantly.

Xu Jin’s heart leapt in an instant—this was incredibly valuable.

To activate the Stealth Composite Star Technique, one must sequentially trigger the Chengpo Star Pattern, Guicang Star Pattern, Nixiang Star Pattern, and Star Mist; the first time he used it, it took six seconds, the second time three seconds.

Xu Jin estimated this activation time could be further shortened.

After prolonged practice, the activation time should be reducible to one second or even less.

But once solidified, it becomes instant.

As soon as the thought arises, it fires.

Though one second is short, it is vastly different from instant casting upon thought.

Within one second, you could cast it ten times.

That’s a tenfold difference.

For ordinary star techniques, diligent practice might achieve instant casting.

But for composite star techniques, no matter how hard you train, you can at best achieve pseudo-instant casting.

Because no matter how skilled you become, the sequence of triggering three star patterns remains mandatory; even with extreme training, you might achieve two to three pseudo-instant casts per second.

But once solidified onto the Star Lamp, it becomes true instant casting—thought to action.

Ten times per second, effortlessly.

The Stealth Composite Technique is already impressive, but if it were an offensive star technique, it would be extraordinary.

In fact, since Xu Jin had brought his star techniques to Perfection, he had already experienced the difference between self-cast instant and solidified instant casting.

For self-cast instant, like Star Arrow, Xu Jin’s limit was four Star Arrows per second.

Though called instant, it was still pseudo-instant—Xu Jin still needed to channel star force and so on, a process merely compressed to near-zero duration.

But a star technique solidified onto the Star Lamp is truly instant—thought to action.

Xu Jin need not perform any other action; as soon as he thinks it, the solidified technique on the Star Lamp draws star force and activates.

With the solidified Star Arrow on the Star Lamp, Xu Jin could fire eight, even over ten times per second.

Since discovering this, Xu Jin had replaced the solidified technique on Star Lamp Three with Star Arrow.

At critical moments, releasing ten Star Arrow strikes within one second—anyone would be stunned.

If attack power is insufficient, compensate with frequency.

Ten attacks per second is nearly matching the rate of an M16.

In the next instant, Xu Jin’s mind shifted, replacing the solidified Star Arrow on Star Lamp Three with this composite technique.

In four days, when the solidification time for Star Lamp One comes due, he would replace the solidified Star Mist on Star Lamp One with Star Arrow.

As for Star Mist, Xu Jin planned to hold it in his Star Lamps for another one or two days to achieve Perfection-level instant casting.

But if the Stealth Composite Technique could become instantaneous after solidification, its value in critical moments would be immense.

[Star Lamp Three: Solidified Technique, Composite Technique One]

The Jade Tablet merely labeled it as “Composite Technique One.”

After thinking, Xu Jin subtly shifted his mind, and the information on the Jade Tablet changed again.

[Star Lamp Three: Solidified Technique, Invisibility]

Xu Jin had named this technique himself—this was another method he had recently discovered regarding the Candou Platform: certain things, including Star Weapons, could be named by the user.

In the next instant, Xu Jin’s mind shifted, and he vanished from the spot.

Invisibility achieved.

Xu Jin began testing various possibilities and soon discovered several limitations.

While invisible, he could not activate any other star technique—doing so would break the invisibility.

Walking, jogging, sprinting, even swift dashes did not affect invisibility, as long as no star force was used.

But movement-induced environmental changes might attract others’ attention.

Star force consumption was not excessive.

This invisibility technique primarily drained Divine Soul energy; Xu Jin’s Divine Soul energy was now very strong.

After simple testing, his current strength could sustain invisibility for at least half an hour; with one replenishment of star force, his Divine Soul energy could sustain invisibility for over an hour.

With invisibility now possible, Xu Jin’s youthful impulsiveness surged.

He activated invisibility and began wandering freely through the Dao Academy.

Qian Xiaohu was still training hard—good, good.

Qiao Ruonan was washing up; from behind, her figure was still curvaceous, long hair cascading—though that was all he could see; Xu Jin quickly slipped away.

Lu Xianbing was not there—he lived at home.

Ren Xiaoxiang was training hard; Yue Daqi was still practicing star techniques; Luo Geng was training Flying Star Step.

Yu Guan, this guy, had already fallen asleep—still not working hard enough.

From within the room of Yu Xianghua, now the Fifth Senior Brother but formerly the Third, where did that female voice come from?

As Xu Jin passed outside Yu Xianghua’s courtyard, he heard a woman’s cry.

With a slight leap, Xu Jin scaled the wall and entered; through the window, two shadows were violently colliding.

At first Xu Jin didn’t comprehend it, but once he clearly heard the heavy panting, he froze.

Shit.

Are women allowed to stay overnight in the Dao Academy?

Or does the Fifth Senior Brother, Yu Xianghua, have a lover among the junior sisters here?

This life is pretty sweet.

Xu Jin glanced once, dared not listen further, and hurried away.

With his youthful vigor, he feared hearing too much would keep him awake at night.

The Academy rules didn’t seem to prohibit this—only required registration for bringing relatives to stay overnight.

After strolling around, Xu Jin, still invisible, arrived outside the courtyard of the current Second Senior Brother, Wang Weisheng; the gate was open, and Xu Jin slipped in silently.

Inside the room, three men were drinking together.

They were likely consoling Wang Weisheng—after dominating the rankings for half a year and serving as Senior Brother for half a year, he was about to leave the Academy with that record intact, only to be dethroned; anyone would be shaken.

“Senior Brother, don’t take it to heart—it was just a sparring match, not real combat.”

“Exactly, Senior Brother. Monthly exams only allow standard equipment—you can’t use your own Star Weapons. But in real combat, Star Weapons are a vital part of strength. Over the past half year, you’ve assembled a full set of Star Weapons, even acquired one second-rank piece.”

“If it were real combat, I’d say Xu Jin wouldn’t last ten rounds against you,” added another.

Inside, Wang Weisheng drank his gloomy wine; honestly, today’s defeat hit him hard.

He could accept losing to Zhang Han.

But being defeated by Xu Jin—a mere eighty-three-day Star Pointing cultivator—and so cleanly—it was deeply frustrating.

Yet he had to admit: Xu Jin’s displayed combat power was undeniable.

Even after witnessing Xu Jin’s astonishing movement, he’d considered many ways to interrupt it—but if they fought again, Wang Weisheng still had no guaranteed victory.

But his two junior brothers had struck right at his heart.

Yes—he hadn’t dominated the rankings for half a year for nothing.

Star Weapons were a vital component of personal strength.

He hadn’t just assembled a full set—he’d even acquired one second-rank Star Weapon.

In real combat, a life-or-death duel with Xu Jin, Wang Weisheng felt his chances of victory were extremely high.

Seventy percent—at least seventy percent!

If Xu Jin let his guard down, a single burst from his Star Weapons could instantly kill him.

Thinking this, Wang Weisheng’s mental block eased slightly; he lifted his wine bowl. “That’s true—if we ever get a real combat chance, I’ll test his mettle. Come, drink!”

Hearing this, the invisible Xu Jin quietly slipped away.

Hearing this, Xu Jin, who had been using his invisibility technique, slipped away silently.

Xu Jin shook his head.

If it were real combat, Wang Weisheng would lose even worse than today.

In unrestricted, unobserved life-or-death combat,

Soon after, Xu Jin, still invisible, wandered into the compound where the instructors and headmasters lived.

Xu Jin cautiously approached the instructors’ courtyards, testing the limits of his invisibility.

In the courtyard, Master Gan of the Elixir Hall was reading under the moonlight, relaxed; a servant girl knelt before him, washing his feet.

In the elixir room, Master Gan was reading by moonlight in the courtyard, looking utterly at ease, while a serving girl knelt before him, washing his feet.

Xu Jin crept closer, even approaching the courtyard gate and entering within ten meters of Master Gan—still no alert.

Finally, Xu Jin boldly climbed onto the wall, slowly circling, nearing to within five meters—Master Gan remained completely unaware.

Xu Jin then withdrew, not daring to test further.

If he got caught, it would be hard to explain—better to establish a preliminary safe distance. Peak of the Ninth Level of Star Refinement—five meters remained the safe distance.

Soon after, Xu Jin arrived at the courtyard of Zheng, the Instructor of the Forging Hall.

Soon, Xu Jin arrived at the courtyard of Instructor Zheng of the Forge Hall.

Alright, Xu Jin admitted he’d come to the wrong place—Zheng’s nighttime routine was utterly dull.

By day he hammered iron; by night he pounded stakes.

Xu Jin had already reached the window’s edge, yet Zheng remained oblivious.

Clearly, this activity greatly lowered Zheng’s alertness, especially since he was a Fourth-Rank Star Condensation cultivator.

After circling around, Xu Jin arrived at Ning Yuchan’s door.

As far as Xu Jin knew, Ning Yuchan’s cultivation base ranked third or fourth in the entire Dao Academy.

The top cultivator at Jinshan Dao Academy was naturally the Headmaster Dong Zhao, at least a Fifth-Rank; the second was likely the newly promoted Superintendent Cao Chun, a Fifth-Rank expert; as for third, it was unclear.

It could be any one of the three: Supervisor Tian Zhang, Deputy Headmaster Feng Shu, or Chief Instructor Ning Yuchan—all likely Ninth-Rank Star Condensation cultivators, with Ning Yuchan possibly stronger in combat, though who had the higher cultivation base remained uncertain.

So when Xu Jin reached Ning Yuchan’s small courtyard gate, he moved with extreme caution.

Slowly approaching.

Ten meters from Ning Yuchan’s courtyard gate, Xu Jin estimated the distance to Ning Yuchan inside at roughly twenty meters.

Fifteen meters—no movement. Twelve meters—still no movement.

Ten meters—Xu Jin reached the courtyard gate, which was slightly ajar, just wide enough for a person to slip through sideways.

Seeing no activity inside, Xu Jin prepared to vanish and slip into Ning Yuchan’s courtyard, testing the safe distance, and just to see what Ning Yuchan was doing at this late hour.

Just as Xu Jin was about to slip through, Ning Yuchan’s door suddenly swung open. Half her body emerged—long hair loose, clad only in a pale moon-white undergarment—her almond eyes scanning the surroundings with suspicion.

In that instant, Xu Jin’s heart froze.

He immediately activated the Gui Cang Star Pattern to full power.

After a wary glance, Ning Yuchan closed the door and resumed washing up.

Watching Ning Yuchan return inside, Xu Jin slowly retreated from the courtyard gate, and once at a distance, gradually quickened his pace.

After vanishing, the safe distance from a Ninth-Rank Star Condensation cultivator should be over ten meters.

That was Xu Jin’s conclusion.

It seemed he’d have to work harder if he wanted to see what Ning Yuchan did at night.

At the same time, Xu Jin planned to ask Old Qi.

Didn’t Old Qi say that only when one reaches the Gathering Stars Realm can one possibly detect hidden spiritual essence?

Then why had Ning Yuchan sensed him from so far away, when she was only a Ninth-Rank Star Condensation cultivator?

Terrifying.

In the Star-Picking Tower, First-Star Combat Arena.

Upon entering, Xu Jin received a starlight message from the Immortal of Drunken Moon, challenging him to a duel.

She was truly extravagant—just one message cost a hundred taels of silver.

Xu Jin didn’t reply, but he proactively sent a challenge request.

You take their hand, you owe them; you eat their food, you’re bound to them.

He’d received two hundred strands of starlight from her, even if he’d kept only one hundred forty—he still had some sense of obligation.

He might as well consider himself a premium sparring partner.

He’d done three rounds.

Xu Jin used the opportunity to refine his kite-and-circle combat tactic, then mercilessly crushed the Immortal of Drunken Moon, winning three straight matches.

Xu Jin realized that compared to Lu Xianbing, the Immortal of Drunken Moon was far more durable.

When training with Lu Xianbing in the Combat Arena, Xu Jin had to be careful not to accidentally shatter the porcelain doll and end the match prematurely.

Xu Jin’s spiritual essence was now strong, and his match limits were generous—but Lu Xianbing’s match count was severely restricted.

The Immortal of Drunken Moon, however, was extremely tough.

She’d been repeatedly struck at vital points and killed before—she’d trained herself to endure it.

When sparring with the Immortal of Drunken Moon, Xu Jin could unleash his full strength without restraint.

Her practical combat skills improved rapidly, especially under Xu Jin’s unrestrained attacks.

Her only goal: win.

Who cared if certain areas were off-limits? Who cared if attacking certain spots was unseemly or cheap?

Anything that won was fair.

Under these conditions, the Immortal of Drunken Moon’s practical combat ability soared.

“Same time tomorrow—I’m challenging the rankings,” the Immortal of Drunken Moon sent another starlight message after the three matches, making Xu Jin curse inwardly at her extravagance.

This forced him to spend another strand of starlight.

He’d already sent her starlight—he had to reply.

Xu Jin remained ranked eighth; no one challenged him. But when he challenged seventh, a message suddenly appeared.

【Seventh-ranked First-Star Combat Arena cultivator Qingfeng has not appeared for three consecutive days—declared defeated.】

【Star Lord Qi Tian Da Sheng, congratulations—you have claimed seventh place in the First-Star Combat Arena. Maintain it.】

Without a fight, Xu Jin won—and continued challenging.

Sixth, fifth, fourth—three straight wins, but each match grew harder than the last.

In his match against the fourth-ranked, Xu Jin nearly exhausted his star power.

He barely won by relying on his footwork alone.

The difficulty stemmed largely from self-imposed restrictions.

He entered the Combat Arena to sharpen his practical skills, not to show off or brutally slaughter opponents.

So during Combat Arena training, Xu Jin set himself several limits.

He would not use his spiritual essence to amplify the power of star techniques.

Otherwise, he could have instantly killed the fourth-ranked opponent just now.

He would not activate the protective star patterns provided by the star spirits he had offered.

Only then could he maximize his practical combat improvement.

Those methods were for life-or-death battles.

Don’t use them—or if you do, kill!

【Challenge】

Glancing at the Combat Arena rankings, Xu Jin directly challenged the third-ranked: Bu Guo Er Er.

To Xu Jin’s surprise, the third-ranked was already inside the Combat Arena.

It seemed many prodigies had the habit of entering the Combat Arena late at night to hone their skills.

Anyone who rose to third place among millions in the First-Star Combat Arena was undoubtedly an elite genius.

And now Xu Jin was challenging that genius.

【Battlefield: Desert】

As light and shadow shifted, Xu Jin appeared on a vast, golden desert battlefield. Another figure materialized thirty meters away—Bu Guo Er Er.

“Qi Tian Da Sheng, you’ve climbed fast. Which sect are you from?” Bu Guo Er Er was an extremely tall man, likely over 1.9 meters, but his face was obscured by shimmering light, indistinct.

Xu Jin smiled but said nothing—revealing his identity would be foolish.

This guy wasn’t a good person.

“I’ve only just started climbing the ranks—came to learn.”

“Good! I’ve held the top spot for over three months—finally someone dares challenge me!”

Bu Guo Er Er let out a loud laugh and instantly blurred forward, lunging at Xu Jin.

Fast—extremely fast!

Xu Jin shot forward like lightning, firing star arrows from afar, and when close, unleashed star rings.

In an instant, they exchanged over a dozen blows.

Xu Jin now understood: this opponent’s star power was far more potent than his own.

Because Xu Jin needed two star arrows to break his star shield.

Yet the man could shatter Xu Jin’s shield with a single casual strike—had Xu Jin not continuously layered star shields and star veils, he would have lost already.

After a dozen seconds of combat, Xu Jin suddenly noticed four egg-sized orbs of starlight hovering around Bu Guo Er Er’s front and back.

These four orbs of starlight flickered back and forth, drawn by Bu Guo Er Er’s star energy.

Something’s wrong!

In that same instant, Bu Guo Er Er sneered. A fifth orb of starlight appeared at the tip of his spear, then he whipped it—five orbs of starlight shot toward Xu Jin like lightning.

Xu Jin barely managed to stack two star shields and a star veil before the five orbs struck simultaneously.

Then they exploded.

In an instant, Xu Jin was obliterated!

【Qi Tian Da Sheng: Defeated】

(End of Chapter)