Chapter 107: Special Training and the Autumn Examination Begin (Seeking Subscriptions)

The three-essence elixirs have appeared.

Looking at the three elixirs within the Star Lamp, wreathed in three layers of light halos, Xu Jin was overjoyed.

Xu Jin did not rush to use them, but instead carefully recalled and calculated.

Nurturing an elixir to the first essence—that is, nurturing one layer of light halo—requires a full day. Nurturing a first-essence elixir to the second essence requires three days.

Further nurturing a second-essence elixir to the third essence requires a full nine days.

In other words, from the moment an elixir is obtained until it is nurtured to the third essence, it takes a total of thirteen days.

At this rate, that Spirit-Settling Golden Core will also be ready soon.

The Spirit-Settling Golden Core, which had been nurtured in the Star Lamp since he obtained it, already had two layers of light halos.

Xu Jin's current question is: is the third essence the limit for nurturing elixirs?

Continuing to test it should provide the answer.

Xu Jin placed the other two third-essence elixirs back into the Star Lamp to be nurtured, then swallowed the remaining third-essence elixir, simultaneously operating the Alchemy Chapter at top speed.

In an instant, the vigorous medicinal power exploded directly within Xu Jin's body; in the blink of an eye, it had spread to every corner of his body.

Xu Jin felt that every pore was permeated with medicinal power.

As Xu Jin drove his Star Power to operate the Alchemy Chapter, the Star Power carried the medicinal power, constantly surging and penetrating deeper into every corner of his body.

Under the permeation of the vigorous medicinal power, some corners that were previously unreachable were also swept through by Xu Jin's Star Power.

Not only that, Xu Jin felt a numb, itchy sensation inside his bones, as if insects and ants were biting him, making him wish he could jump up on the spot and give himself a few hammer blows.

Gradually, this numb, itchy sensation traveled from deep within his bones to the surface of his skin, and then he suddenly felt relaxed.

From head to toe, this sensation repeated constantly, continuously refining Xu Jin, refining him a full three times.

Half an hour later, the numb, itchy sensation had completely disappeared, but the medicinal power was still echoing in his body. Xu Jin did not stop, but continued to operate the Alchemy Chapter.

This medicinal power must not be wasted.

When Xu Jin opened his eyes again, he saw Qi Shanye standing right across from him. The look in his eyes as he gazed at Xu Jin held an inexplicable fanaticism—a look that even made Xu Jin feel a bit afraid.

Once Xu Jin finished his cultivation, Qi Shanye impatiently pinched a bit of the white, grease-like substance that had seeped out of Xu Jin's skin at his neck and began rubbing it excitedly.

"Eight times!"

"Eight times of marrow-cleansing and hair-cutting.

Eight times already.

Perhaps there really is hope of hitting nine times of marrow-cleansing and hair-cutting.

Nine times of marrow-cleansing and hair-cutting—let alone your Chen Guo Dao Academy, even in our Lingji Star Palace, it is said that only that legendary Founder of the Palace ever achieved it, but that is just hearsay; whether it was truly achieved is unclear," Qi Shanye sighed repeatedly.

Xu Jin found that the changes from eight times of marrow-cleansing and hair-cutting were about the same as seven times: his Star Power had increased by another ten percent, the speed of his Star Power circulation had accelerated slightly, and there were no other changes.

Star Arrow shooting range: twenty-one feet, seven meters!

There was one other change: the layer of grease-like substance that seeped out of Xu Jin's skin no longer had a foul odor.

If it had been like the previous few times, Xu Jin would have run out to take a bath by now.

Speaking of which, the stuff expelled during the first three marrow-cleansings was truly foul; even Xu Jin himself couldn't stand it.

"Teacher, judging by what you said, does nine times of marrow-cleansing and hair-cutting have special effects?" Xu Jin asked.

"Of course."

"Nine times of marrow-cleansing and hair-cutting is also known as the Innate Star Body, or the Leakless Body, the Unhindered Body, and also the Star's Favor. Major Star Palaces and major national Dao Academies have different names for the physical body after nine times of marrow-cleansing and hair-cutting.

But without exception, they all point to its manifold wonders.

If the Flawless Body only allows you to achieve twice the result with half the effort in cultivation and speeds up the recovery of Star Power, then the Star's Favor from nine times of marrow-cleansing and hair-cutting is completely different. It is said that the further one progresses, the deeper one's cultivation, the more infinite its wonders," Qi Shanye said.

"Then, in all these years, has anyone achieved nine times of marrow-cleansing and hair-cutting?" Xu Jin asked.

"No, there has been no such news in the current world.

But who knows?

Just like you—let alone nine times of marrow-cleansing and hair-cutting, even your current eight times must be kept under wraps. You cannot tell anyone who asks.

The other parties are the same.

If a subordinate disciple truly achieved nine times of marrow-cleansing and hair-cutting, they would absolutely not announce it to the outside world, lest they die young.

However, even if there were any, they would be very, very few."

While speaking, Qi Shanye paced anxiously on the spot, slapping himself from time to time, which Xu Jin found extremely strange.

"Teacher, what is this?"

"I remembered something. It was over a dozen years ago; I went to the Star Palace's Star-Picking Tower to look through some secret files and occasionally saw a record regarding nine times of marrow-cleansing and hair-cutting.

But at the time, I only glanced at it and didn't look closely.

Because even top-tier geniuses can only achieve six times of marrow-cleansing and hair-cutting; seven times is already a luxury, let alone nine.

So I felt it was useless. There was nothing to look at for useless things.

But recalling it now, it seems the record above for nine times of marrow-cleansing and hair-cutting required some special method to be achieved. I actually can't remember it now.

It's all my fault!" Qi Shanye slapped himself again, his frustration so great he wished he could beat himself to death.

It also requires a special method?

This caught Xu Jin by surprise.

Xu Jin had originally thought that nine times of marrow-cleansing and hair-cutting could be achieved using elixirs.

According to Xu Jin's deduction, he still had five superior-grade Mortal-Shedding Pills, and in a few days, they could all be turned into three-essence ones.

Based on the powerful medicinal effect of the three-essence superior-grade Mortal-Shedding Pill he had just consumed, it was possible to achieve nine times of marrow-cleansing and hair-cutting.

But if a special method was required, then it was hard to say.

Perhaps it was very difficult to achieve nine times of marrow-cleansing and hair-cutting.

A few breaths later, Xu Jin stopped thinking about it. He wasn't anxious and simply threw it to the back of his mind.

He had already achieved eight times of marrow-cleansing and hair-cutting; this progress had already surpassed ninety-nine percent of the geniuses in this world, so what was there to be anxious about?

He still had five superior-grade Mortal-Shedding Pills in his hand; he would just do his best when the time came.

How can everything in life be perfect?

"By the way, when is your Autumn Examination?" Qi Shanye asked suddenly.

"August 4th."

Qi Shanye nodded and said nothing more.

"Six times achieved?"

This was Ning Yuchan's first reaction after seeing Xu Jin, followed by a few breaths of stunned silence, her face full of surprise.

"Just achieved this morning!" Xu Jin said.

"That's great. This way, your chances of breaking into the top ten of the Autumn Examination are at least fifty percent or more," Ning Yuchan said while carefully observing Xu Jin, even more brazenly using her Star Power to sense Xu Jin's state.

Ning Yuchan always felt that Xu Jin looked particularly transparent and clean.

There was an indescribable sense of clarity from the inside out, especially his pair of eyes, which were flashing with light.

Ning Yuchan had seen many Flawless Bodies, but none were as attractive as Xu Jin's.

"It might be because he just achieved the Flawless Body," Ning Yuchan explained to herself.

Seeing that Ning Yuchan had even used her Star Power and still couldn't sense his depth, Xu Jin finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Before coming, Xu Jin had specifically consulted Qi Shanye on this question.

Qi Shanye told Xu Jin to rest assured; as long as Xu Jin maintained his Hidden-Store Star Pattern to a certain degree, most fifth-tier Gather-Battle Realm experts wouldn't be able to see through Xu Jin's hidden cultivation.

Even if Dong Zhao were face-to-face, as long as he didn't let Dong Zhao's Star Power enter his body to check unscrupulously, the probability of being discovered wasn't high.

Usually, as long as the Divine Soul doesn't cooperate, anyone's Star Power entering the body is an invasion and will be met with fierce resistance from the Star Power.

The probability of discovery isn't high.

What Xu Jin needed to be careful of were sixth-tier experts.

But currently, given Xu Jin's status, the probability of encountering a sixth-tier expert was pitifully small.

"You should have fought in the first-tier Practice Arena Secret Realm, right?" After the surprise, Ning Yuchan asked.

"I have; basically, I have to fight until it's full every day."

"Hmm, that's the fastest way to practice actual combat. So, what rank have you reached?" Ning Yuchan asked.

Xu Jin hesitated.

Logically, he shouldn't lie to Ning Yuchan.

But if he said directly that he had taken first place in the first-tier Practice Arena Secret Realm, his identity would be exposed, a lot of information would be exposed, and one could even deduce many unreasonable points.

Including the fact that when he added Ning Yuchan and Lu Xianbing as friends in the Star-Picking Tower previously, Xu Jin used the identity of the Chen Guo Dao Academy.

To be honest, the Star-Picking Tower did quite well in this regard.

One identity is used when walking in public areas, while the real identity appears in various Star Palaces and Dao Academies.

And these two identities are unified.

But when Xu Jin sent a Starlight Transmission to Ning Yuchan, the suffix was Jin Shan Dao Academy Xu Jin.

When sending a Starlight Transmission to Fairy Zuiyue, it was Qi Tian Da Sheng.

In this regard, it feels even better than the internet of his previous life.

After hesitating for a moment, Xu Jin said, "Just barely squeezed into the top one thousand."

"What, within the top one thousand?"

Ning Yuchan stood up in surprise. "I have been overestimating you, thinking that with the actual combat ability you've shown, you should be able to break into the top five thousand, but I didn't expect you to have broken into the top one thousand.

That's right.

At that time, you didn't even have Meal of Mist, Sixth Layer.

Now you are already at the peak of Meal of Mist, Seventh Layer."

Speaking of this, Ning Yuchan suddenly said seriously, "Xu Jin, there is one thing I must tell you, but you must keep a level head and view it normally."

"Teacher, please speak."

"Xu Jin, regarding your talent assessment, the Dao Academy assessed it as C-Upper.

I personally feel, and even the Academy Head feels, that this might be wrong.

Your true talent assessment was very likely masked by the heart disease you had at the time.

I feel your true talent assessment should be A-Upper.

However, this point has already been reported to the National Dao Academy and cannot be changed!

In the future, although it is said that as your cultivation becomes stronger, the influence of the Star-Pointing Days—that is, the talent assessment—on you will become smaller and smaller.

However, in front of some old seniors who are more observant of rules and laws, there might be an influence.

In this regard, I hope you won't complain about the Academy Head.

The Academy Head being able to raise your talent assessment from C-Lower to C-Upper was already his maximum authority," Ning Yuchan explained.

"Teacher, how could I!

I will only be grateful to you.

To be honest, if the Star-Dotting hadn't successfully cured my congenital heart condition, whether I could even be alive today would be unknown.

What's more, my cultivation base is now advancing by leaps and bounds; even if my talent evaluation has a slight impact on me in the future, how much could it really affect me?" Xu Jin said confidently.

"If you can think this way, that is for the best.

This rule of determining talent based on the number of Star-Dotting days is not only for our Chen Guo, but is also the most fair talent assessment method unanimously recognized by all major Star Palaces and countries," Ning Yuchan said.

"Master, I understand." Xu Jin truly understood.

This was just like the college entrance examination in his previous life; perhaps there were unfair aspects for certain individuals, but it was fair for the majority of people.

"Good, since that is the case, then the special training officially begins."

"Special training?" Xu Jin was stunned.

"We cannot interfere with the actual combat in the Practice Arena Secret Realm. And among the other disciples of the Dao Academy, there is no one left who can serve as your opponent.

Therefore, in the few days before the Autumn Exam, I will take half an hour every day to conduct special actual combat training for you.

To improve your actual combat ability.

Besides that, your main opponents at that time will be the true transmission disciples of the Chen Guo Dao Academy. Most of them have inscribed a special star pattern in their lower star palaces.

These few days, I will demonstrate these special star patterns to you one by one, so you won't be caught off guard when you face them!" Ning Yuchan said.

"Special star patterns? Master, does our Chen Guo Dao Academy have many special star patterns?" Xu Jin asked.

"There are quite a few special star patterns, but there is only one that is unique. With your performance, you will have a great chance to learn it when you enter the Chen Guo Dao Academy in the future," Ning Yuchan said.

"Get ready!"

The next instant, Ning Yuchan tied her long hair back tightly, and her gaze became incomparably sharp in an instant.

"I will control my cultivation base at the peak of the Meal of Mist, Seventh Layer, and then let you familiarize yourself with the attack methods of some special star patterns, as well as let you adapt to the attack methods of more star weapons," Ning Yuchan said.

"Today, you will first familiarize yourself with the Spiral Star Pattern!"

"The Spiral Star Pattern is unique to all major national Dao Academies and major Star Palaces, only the tier is different. As the name suggests, it is to make the star power blast out in a spiral shape to increase attack power.

Like my Blade Wheel, it has the blessing of the Spiral Star Pattern.

Star arts blessed with the Spiral Star Pattern have stronger lethality and are better at attacking strongholds and breaking armor!"

The next instant, a Star Arrow blasted wildly toward Xu Jin.

Xu Jin hurriedly condensed two star shields and a star light cover to receive it.

But what was frightening was that this Spiral Star Arrow of Ning Yuchan's actually penetrated Xu Jin's two star shields very easily.

Frightened, Xu Jin instantly exploded with the Flying Star Step and flashed to the side.

"The star art I unleashed that was blessed with the Spiral Star Pattern should be much stronger than that of a new learner, but even for a new learner, a star art with the blessing of the Spiral Star Pattern has astonishing lethality."

"Again!"

For five consecutive days, Xu Jin was receiving special care from Ning Yuchan.

For various different star patterns with special functions, even if Ning Yuchan couldn't use them herself, she would forcibly imitate them to some extent using star power.

Including tactics for dealing with various different star weapons in actual combat.

It could be seen that Ning Yuchan's actual combat experience was extremely rich, and it was all the way of slaughter.

This made Xu Jin very curious; in terms of age, Ning Yuchan was only a twenty-three-year-old young lady, so where did she practice this fierce and ferocious art of slaughter?

Anyway, even if Ning Yuchan suppressed her own cultivation base to the peak of the Meal of Mist, Seventh Layer to fight Xu Jin, Xu Jin never once gained the upper hand.

This was not a crushing of strength.

It was a crushing of technique and a crushing of experience.

Even Xu Jin's most proud kite-ring tactic could be easily broken by Ning Yuchan, which also made Xu Jin repeatedly improve his tactics.

Only the Star Arrow barrage tactic that Xu Jin had recently ground out could make Ning Yuchan handle it with slight difficulty.

Recently, Xu Jin had been grinding this tactic at the Star Lamp for seven or eight consecutive days, and he had also achieved huge results.

Previously, he could control at most three star ropes with one hand; now, he could easily control five.

Then, with a wave of one hand, his five fingers could continuously flick out five Star Arrows.

With both hands' ten fingers moving like playing a zither, he could unleash ten Star Arrows in an instant.

In one second, he could unleash more than twenty Star Arrows.

Except for the extremely fast consumption of star power, there were no other shortcomings.

Even Ning Yuchan was exceptionally surprised when she saw it for the first time.

She even thought this was Xu Jin's unique talent.

But in reality, this was a capability Xu Jin had ground out after grinding over a million times at the Star Lamp.

In these five days, Xu Jin had consumed a total of three Superior Tui Fan Dan of three-essence grade.

There was an effect, but there was no sign of achieving the nine-time marrow cleansing.

Each time, the medicinal power boiled within Xu Jin's body, and the cultivation was also very effective.

But there was just no such physical sensation of marrow cleansing as before.

Xu Jin originally wanted to use up the last two three-essence Superior Tui Fan Dan in one breath to see if he could make a push.

But Old Qi stopped Xu Jin.

"Don't be in a hurry first. If nine marrow cleansings could be piled up by eating Superior Tui Fan Dan, then the major Star Palaces and major national Dao Academies, which are not short of Superior Tui Fan Dan, would have long had flawless bodies everywhere, and seven marrow cleansings would be as common as dogs.

I can be certain that one must use special methods in coordination to possibly achieve nine marrow cleansings.

Don't be in a hurry first, let me think of a way again.

If I still haven't found a method before you forge your star.

Then before you forge your star, use a few more Superior Tui Fan Dan to make a push," Qi Shanye instructed.

Xu Jin nodded and agreed to this matter.

It is worth mentioning that Xu Jin confirmed one thing: three-essence is the upper limit of these elixirs obtained at present.

Yesterday, Xu Jin consumed a Superior Tui Fan Dan that had reached three-essence and had been additionally nourished for five days; its medicinal effect was the same as a Superior Tui Fan Dan that had just been nourished to three-essence.

As for the Star-Plucking Tower, there had been no opponents in the last few days, and no one challenged Xu Jin, because the second place was occupied by the Zuiyue Xianzi, and those who challenged were all challenging the Zuiyue Xianzi.

Except for entering the Star-Plucking Tower every day for his routine to accompany the Zuiyue Xianzi in a few fights, Xu Jin had no interest in the Star-Plucking Tower anymore.

It's a bit lonely.

No way, who told Xu Jin to be invincible in the first-tier Practice Arena Secret Realm of the Star-Plucking Tower.

It's just that this invincibility is a bit like it was picked up.

"Xu Jin, for the Autumn Exam you start tomorrow, just proceed normally, exert your strength normally, and don't hide too much.

A genius still needs to show some edge.

Even if you expose some unreasonable strength, others will attribute it to your talent.

Only when you reveal powerful talent can you obtain more cultivation resources and status in the national Dao Academy," Qi Shanye instructed.

Xu Jin, however, heard something wrong, "Master, what do you mean by giving these instructions?"

"I have something to leave for a few days. I have a Star-Plucking Token; these few days, if there is anything, contact me through the Star-Plucking Token," Qi Shanye said.

Qi Shanye having a Star-Plucking Token did not surprise Xu Jin at all.

After all, the public area of the Star-Plucking Token is not limited by identity.

"Qi Tian Da Sheng, you brat, you actually dare to use that.

You are worthy of being a young person."

Subsequently, Xu Jin also learned Qi Shanye's Star Lord title within the Star-Plucking Tower.

It was not some domineering title, nor was it some elegant and detached title, much less some title of a lonely wanderer in the world, but a title that was simple to the extreme and extremely surprising to Xu Jin.

【Fu Li Tong Zi】

Perhaps because he couldn't stand being looked at by Xu Jin's surprised eyes, Qi Shanye explained, "My original Star-Plucking Token was destroyed long ago when the Lingji Star Palace was breached and forced to lock the palace; this is a Star-Plucking Token I managed to get by racking my brains later.

Occasionally using it to contact is also quite convenient."

Xu Jin understood.

This was Qi Shanye's new account.

But naming a new account might represent some kind of sentiment of Qi Shanye's.

Instead of like in his youth, when naming a Star Lord title, it was usually quite wild or even middle-schooler-like.

For example, "Bu Guo Er Er".

"Then I will leave tonight, pay attention to my messages," Qi Shanye said.

"Master, take care."

"Rest assured! I am more careful about safety now than at any time in the past," Qi Shanye laughed, and in the laughter, Qi Shanye completely disappeared.

On August 4th at 7:15 AM, Xu Jin arrived early at the Practice Hall of the Jin Shan Dao Academy; today was the day of the Autumn Exam.

Not only the fellow disciples qualified to participate in the Autumn Exam, but even other fellow disciples had all gathered at the Practice Hall.

With Xu Jin's arrival, shouts of "Senior Brother" rang out one after another, all sounds of greeting.

Even Wang Weisheng bowed to Xu Jin and called him Senior Brother.

Although he was unconvinced in his heart, he had been defeated that day after all.

And defeated openly and honestly.

In the last half month, Wang Weisheng had not been idle either, practicing hard every day, especially in the Star-Plucking Tower, where he had spent more than half of his accumulated family fortune just to practice star arts hard, feeling that he had improved quite a bit.

Wang Weisheng prepared to find back the face he lost on Xu Jin at the Autumn Exam.

As long as his Autumn Exam ranking surpassed Xu Jin's, he could find back any face.

Before long, the four power giants of the Dao Academy arrived at the Practice Hall one after another.

"You all know about the Autumn Exam; it concerns your own future, your future Dao path, and also the honor of the Dao Academy. I hope you will go all out and achieve good results.

This Autumn Exam will be conducted entirely within the Star-Plucking Tower.

At that time, any disciple with a Star-Plucking Token can enter the relevant secret realm within the Chen Guo Dao Academy in the Star-Plucking Tower to watch the battle!" Academy Head Dong Zhao said.

All the disciples responded with a roar.

The next instant, Academy Head Dong Zhao suddenly said again, "Disciples whose cultivation base has not reached the Meal of Mist, Sixth Layer, who do not have a Star-Plucking Token, or who do not want to watch the battle, can leave now; I am going to seal the Practice Hall."

As soon as these words were spoken, many disciples showed looks of helplessness.

Watching the battle, who wouldn't want to!

It's a pity that the minimum requirement for watching the battle is the Meal of Mist, Sixth Layer.

If you haven't reached the Meal of Mist, Sixth Layer, even if you exchange for a Star-Plucking Token from the External Affairs Hall, you can't use it.

They could only leave helplessly.

Those who left were basically the Outer Court disciples from this year's spring Star-Dotting season and a small number of Middle Court disciples.

Most of the Middle Court disciples had already reached the Meal of Mist, Sixth Layer.

They had all received the news beforehand and had tried every possible way to get a Star-Plucking Token.

"Is there anyone else leaving?" Academy Head Dong Zhao spoke again, and seeing no one else, the star weapon Locking Star Ring, which Xu Jin had seen during the great battle on Qianye Island, instantly flew out from Academy Head Dong Zhao's bosom.

In an instant, it hovered above the Practice Hall, shooting out thousands of rays of star light, covering the entire Practice Hall.

"Everyone enter, in the Star-Plucking Tower, within the Chen Guo Dao Academy, the first light gate on the left, the Autumn Exam Secret Realm."

Following Dong Zhao's prompt, Xu Jin held the Star-Plucking Token in his hand, stepped into the Star-Plucking Tower, then entered the Chen Guo Dao Academy, and gently pushed the first light gate on the left; in an instant, information appeared.

【Xu Jin, you have entered the Chen Guo Dao Academy Autumn Exam Secret Realm, identity is being verified】

【Identity: Autumn Exam Trialist】

(End of chapter)