Chapter 104: Old Qi

Pain!

The first sensation Xu Jin felt upon waking was pain.

It felt as if every part of his body, inside and out, had been crushed by a stone roller.

His first thought was to curse.

He wanted to curse Master Dong Zhao.

Is this what he meant by “a little pain”?

Although the Ten Thousand Ants Drilling Heart warning had sounded, Xu Jin had been misled by Master Dong Zhao’s words.

A little pain—couldn’t he handle that?

Xu Jin reasoned: he wasn’t particularly tough, but ordinary hardship was still bearable.

But this—

“Awake?”

Ning Yuchan’s voice came to him; Xu Jin turned his head and saw her seated on a bamboo chair, having changed into a light green long dress—when had she done that?

Only then did Xu Jin realize he was lying on Ning Yuchan’s bed, inside her room.

A faint, pleasant fragrance lingered at his nostrils, similar to the scent he’d noticed when close to Ning Yuchan before.

Yet under the spontaneous operation of his Star-Scenting Rune, he detected another faint, fresh floral scent emanating from her body.

Changed clothes, new floral scent, hair let down.

In an instant, Xu Jin deduced the truth—Ning Yuchan had bathed.

“Teacher—”

“Now begin visualizing the Great Star Cluster Rune to rapidly restore your Star Force. After a few circuits, you’ll be fine,” Ning Yuchan said.

Xu Jin followed her instructions; once his Star Force was fully restored, he practiced the Five Stars Killing Fist several times as she advised. As the Star Force surged through his body, all his aches vanished.

In their place arose an endless sense of clarity, of lightness.

“How do you feel?”

Xu Jin closed his eyes and internally surveyed himself for a long while before speaking.

“My Star Force has increased by ten percent. Its circulation speed inside my body is faster, and my breathing feels longer and deeper,” Xu Jin said.

“What about your Spirit Force?” Ning Yuchan asked.

He had already checked his Spirit Force just now, but he didn’t answer because he didn’t know how to respond.

Xu Jin’s Spirit Force had indeed grown.

Previously, his Spirit Star was around the mid-stage of Star Refinement Third Layer; the fourth-layer halo had been faint and only half-formed. Now, most of the halo had appeared.

Once this fourth-layer halo fully solidified, it would mean Xu Jin’s Spirit Star had broken through to the Fourth Layer.

“It has increased too, but I can’t measure the exact amount. I’ll see the improvement clearly during tonight’s Combat Realm challenge,” Xu Jin said.

“How many times can you challenge the Combat Realm now, fully restored?” Ning Yuchan asked.

“Five times.”

After thinking, Xu Jin gave this number—Lu Xianbing had the same number, so it was likely close.

Yue Daqi could do six times, probably because he’d already received a Star Force Infusion from a trainer or head instructor.

“Hmm, tonight you should manage six Combat Realm challenges. After a few days, when you do it again, you’ll reach seven. At that point, after taking the Spirit-Stabilizing Golden Pill, you’ll be able to challenge the Combat Realm at least eight times, and no more than nine.”

“That way, your combat ability will improve faster,” Ning Yuchan said.

Hearing this, Xu Jin recalled that in the First-Level Combat Realm, someone had boasted he could only challenge eight times a day.

Was his cultivation treatment then similar to Xu Jin’s?

A senior helping with Star Force Infusion, plus the Spirit-Stabilizing Golden Pill?

Was he, Xu Jin, receiving the treatment of a top-tier genius?

“Teacher, what do you mean by ‘do it again’?” Suddenly, Xu Jin caught the key phrase in her words—and fear surged through him.

“What else could ‘again’ mean? In a few days, you’ll need another Star Force Infusion?”

“Ah?”

Instantly, cold sweat broke out on Xu Jin’s skin.

He hadn’t even experienced it again—just imagining it made him fearful.

“You’re afraid?” Ning Yuchan looked at him, a hint of mockery in her tone.

Before Xu Jin could admit he was indeed a little afraid, she added, “I was just a weak woman back then, and I endured it. What are you afraid of? One more time, and it’s over.”

Xu Jin: “...”

Besides, Ning Yuchan was a weak woman? Xu Jin didn’t believe it for a second.

“These next few days, you can directly take the Transcendence Pill. If you feel it’s ineffective, switch to the Superior Transcendence Pill. At your pace, you should complete your fifth Star Force Infusion within two or three days—then come find me again.”

“When we give you another Star Force Infusion, take the Superior Transcendence Pill again—you should forge the Pure Body,” Ning Yuchan said.

At the mention of this, Xu Jin immediately asked, “Teacher, were the Superior Transcendence Pills you gave me before from your personal supply?”

“What, you want two more?”

Ning Yuchan narrowed her eyes, “I covered the cost for you earlier—I just didn’t expect you to seize the top spot in the Inner Court so quickly.”

“Thank you, Teacher,” Xu Jin said solemnly.

His solemn thanks left Ning Yuchan momentarily speechless; after a long pause, she said, “Use the Superior Transcendence Pills freely. If you haven’t forged the Pure Body by the time you finish them, I’ll give you more.”

“Before forging your Star, you must achieve the Pure Body.”

Half a quarter-hour later, Xu Jin left.

Ning Yuchan stared at the human-shaped sweat stain on her bedsheet, sniffed slightly, and wore an expression of distaste.

What a teacher she was.

She’d have to wash the sheets!

When Xu Jin returned home, he suddenly noticed Qi Shanye walking openly in the courtyard, chatting with his father, while his sister Jiang Er respectfully served tea and stood nervously nearby.

Exposed?

Unlikely.

How could Qi Shanye’s abilities possibly be revealed before his father and sister?

“Look, my son’s back. Come, come, Jin’er, meet your new tutor—his scholarship is immense. From now on, he’ll live with us and teach Jiang Er reading and writing. You should also consult Master Tian often—he’s deeply learned,” Father Xu Dajiang introduced.

Private tutor?

Xu Jin began to understand.

This was a legitimate identity, openly adopted.

As Qi Shanye approached, his gaze sharpened slightly—he’d clearly noticed Xu Jin’s transformation.

“Dad, since I’m cultivating, how about this: from now on, I, Master Tian, and Jiang Er will live in the back courtyard. You stay in the front. Jiang Er can come to the back courtyard for lessons during the day—it’s more convenient.”

Xu Jin had originally planned to have Jiang Er and his father live in the back courtyard, but the front courtyard now had two servants and a cook—too inconvenient for Qi Shanye to appear frequently.

“Good, good, convenient is best,” Xu Dajiang agreed immediately.

Xu Jin and Qi Shanye exchanged a knowing smile. From today on, Qi Shanye could appear openly in the Xu household.

Qi Shanye had also made minor changes to his appearance: a new hairstyle, shaved beard, wore a scholar’s hat, held a folding fan, and donned a fresh blue long robe—quite the refined scholar’s air.

Half an hour later, Xu Jin learned the full story.

Qi Shanye had overheard Xu Dajiang searching for a female tutor to teach Jiang Er reading and writing.

But good female tutors were hard to find.

Mainly because they were too expensive.

A good female tutor demanded ten taels of silver per month, plus a personal maid, with strict requirements for meals, clothing, and more—costing at least two hundred taels a year.

So Qi Shanye created the identity of an elderly scholar, charging only three taels per month, with meals provided.

Xu Dajiang gladly hired him.

Xu Jin was speechless—luckily it was his teacher they’d hired; if it had been someone with ulterior motives, things could’ve gone badly.

“Dong Zhao and Ning Yuchan both performed Star Force Infusion on you?” Qi Shanye now understood why Xu Jin had completed his fourth Star Force Infusion.

“Not bad. Dong Zhao’s cultivation is lower than mine—his solo infusion would be weaker than mine. But combined with Ning Yuchan’s, the effect surpasses what I could achieve alone.”

“In that case, you will definitely forge the Pure Body,” Qi Shanye said.

“Teacher, does higher cultivation of the person performing Star Force Infusion mean better results?” Xu Jin asked.

“Not entirely. Star Force above the Seventh Layer isn’t suitable for this. But a Fifth Layer expert’s infusion is definitely stronger than a Third or Fourth Layer’s.” Here, Qi Shanye glanced at Xu Jin and sighed, “You’re lucky, kid.”

“You not only met me, but also Ning Yuchan—and now the Jinshan Dao Academy treats you well too.”

Then Xu Jin mentioned Master Dong Zhao’s requirement.

“Top ten in Class A?”

“Then you’ll have to work hard.”

“From what I know of Chen Guo, if Dong Zhao can’t escape Jinshan Dao Academy this time, he’ll find it even harder to return to the national academy center. His cultivation path will become far more difficult—and may even be cut short.”

“You’d better achieve it.”

“If Dong Zhao escapes because of you, it’ll greatly benefit your future,” Qi Shanye said.

Hearing this, Xu Jin nodded.

In the Combat Arena, beneath the Star Lamp.

Xu Jin took out a well-nurtured First-Vessel Superior Transcendence Pill and placed the Spirit-Stabilizing Golden Pill inside.

Since he wasn’t in a hurry to consume the Spirit-Stabilizing Golden Pill, he’d nurture it properly first.

The Spirit-Stabilizing Golden Pill was a one-time-use elixir.

First, it is extremely rare.

Second, each person experiences the greatest effect only upon first ingestion; the second time, the effect becomes negligible.

So Xu Jin wanted to cultivate it further, to see if he could cultivate it to a second or even third level of cultivation.

Then he would ingest it again and observe how the effect improved.

At night, Xu Jin still took two First-Level Tuifan Pills.

It still had an effect.

But it had not yet achieved the purification of marrow and cleansing of hair.

To achieve purification of marrow and cleansing of hair, he estimated he would need two to four more attempts.

After cultivation, Xu Jin entered the Star-Picking Tower again.

As soon as he entered, Zuiyue Immortal’s starlight message arrived, saying she was waiting for him.

Shortly after, Xu Jin received a second starlight message, from “Not Much,” who also said she had arrived and was waiting.

Another wealthy one!

Xu Jin himself would never send a starlight message—he would challenge directly.

If you accept the challenge, you’re there; if not, you’re not.

Sending a starlight message isn’t just wasting starlight?

Then Xu Jin challenged Zuiyue Immortal first.

Take money, do the job.

As a sparring partner, Xu Jin was still very diligent.

He fought three matches in a row and won all three.

But each battle lasted a long time.

Xu Jin did not deliberately unleash his killing techniques to instantly slay Zuiyue Immortal.

Instead, he was refining and adjusting his own tactics and body movements.

The kite-loop tactic grew increasingly perfect, increasingly terrifying.

Zuiyue Immortal fought with even greater enthusiasm, except for the moment when Xu Jin crushed her—she was furious.

“Asshole! For days now, you’ve been slaughtering me every day—can’t you let me win once?!” In a certain palace, Zuiyue Immortal, having exited the Star-Picking Tower, threw another pillow.

After finishing with Zuiyue Immortal, Xu Jin began challenging the third-ranked First-Level Combat Realm practitioner, “Not Much.”

After fighting for several days, the two had grown quite familiar.

“Come again for more punishment?” Not Much stood with spear in hand.

“Aren’t you the same?”

“Hah, then come!”

Three minutes later, Xu Jin won.

Then Not Much instantly challenged the next match; as soon as she entered the combat realm, she exclaimed in surprise, “Your cultivation has risen significantly? Your star techniques are almost matching mine in power?”

“Of course. My cultivation hasn’t even reached the peak of Meal-the-Mist Seventh Layer—I’m still rapidly advancing. What about you? In Meal-the-Mist, you’ve hit your ceiling, haven’t you?

Get ready to be crushed!”

Xu Jin still remembered that on their first battle, he needed two Star Arrows to break through Not Much’s single Star Shield.

The gap in star power was enormous.

But after Xu Jin completed his fourth purification of marrow and cleansing of hair—especially after achieving it twice within a single day—his cultivation rose dramatically.

Now, three Star Arrows could shatter Not Much’s two Star Shields, and with slight additional pressure, his progress was immense.

Xu Jin estimated that once he achieved the Pure Body, his star techniques would match Not Much’s power.

“E’er, why do you remain stuck at third place? Why not challenge second—or even first?” As they fought their fourth match, Xu Jin suddenly stopped and voiced his curiosity.

“You mean that freak Yue Zhongying?”

“Freak?”

“Yes—not just strong, but a freak.” Not Much sighed helplessly. “The first-ranked, Tread-the-River-of-Stars—I’ve never had a chance to challenge him; they say he’s incredibly powerful.

And the second-ranked, Yue Zhongying, she’s accepted my challenge six times.

I lost all six!”

“You lost all six?” Xu Jin was stunned. “Then maybe I should challenge her one day?”

“Hmph, don’t even think about it. You want to steal my third spot? Dream on,” Not Much sneered.

“It’ll be soon!”

Today, Not Much wanted to dedicate all eight of her challenge attempts to Xu Jin, but Xu Jin only had seven.

Seven battles: three wins, four losses!

But in the final match, Xu Jin lost—yet Not Much retained his third place in the Combat Realm, and Xu Jin remained fourth.

“It’ll be soon. Your position will be mine.”

With those words, today’s Combat Realm challenges ended.

But the moment Xu Jin returned to the Combat Realm, he noticed something different.

On the First-Level Combat Realm leaderboard, Xu Jin had become third place; Not Much’s position had shifted to his.

This surprised Xu Jin greatly—how could this happen?

Zuiyue Immortal was ranked fourth.

The second-ranked had become Not Much.

Suddenly, Xu Jin realized something.

The next instant, a stream of information flashed before him.

(End of Chapter)