Chapter 118: The Star Lord and Lao Qi
On the Steps to Heaven, seeing Xu Jin step onto the 195th step, Meng Qingqiu seemed spurred on.
Gathering his remaining strength, he rolled up and rose.
But before he could stand straight, he collapsed again.
Yet in the next instant, Meng Qingqiu struggled fiercely to climb upward.
It took Meng Qingqiu three full breaths to reach the 195th step.
After climbing onto the 195th step, Meng Qingqiu painfully turned his head to look at Xu Jin—only to find Xu Jin’s figure gone.
Looking up again, he saw Xu Jin seated cross-legged on the 196th step, looking down at him.
In that instant, Xu Jin in Meng Qingqiu’s eyes became a peak, a mountain, a sea!
In the next instant, feeling his limits reached, Meng Qingqiu swiftly activated the Star-Picking Token and whispered “Leave,” instantly dissolving into starlight and vanishing.
If he didn’t leave now, his spirit would be damaged by this terrifying pressure.
Within the Autumn Exam’s Secret Realm, another wave of murmurs erupted.
With Yan Chen and Meng Qingqiu both departing, Xu Jin had already secured first place in the fourth trial.
As for Ji Hongli and Yuan Feiqing, though still holding on, it was clear they had no strength left to climb another step.
Xu Jin of Jinshan Dao Academy had actually taken first place in the fourth trial.
The senior officials of the Chen Guo Dao Academy on the Observation Platform were all stunned.
Even Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao couldn’t help glancing at Dong Zhao.
Dong Zhao himself looked equally astonished—he clearly hadn’t anticipated Xu Jin’s spirit talent was so strong.
Yet this could now explain why Xu Jin, a disciple from a county dao academy, had outperformed so many prodigies to claim first place in the second and third trials.
With powerful spirit force, the base potency of star arts would also be greatly enhanced.
Everything now made sense.
Lu Chenfeng, head of the Yanzhou State Dao Academy, also turned to look at Dong Zhao.
Seeing Dong Zhao’s stunned expression, Lu Chenfeng began to wonder—had he truly made a mistake this time?
Now it seemed Dong Zhao might no longer threaten his position, for Dong Zhao was about to earn two Jia-shang evaluations.
With two Jia-shang evaluations, plus his prior great merits, Dong Zhao had a strong chance of leaping three ranks and returning to the National Dao Academy.
But Lu Chenfeng’s original calculation was that if Dong Zhao earned one more Jia-zhong evaluation after two great merits and one exceptional merit, he would leap two ranks.
Where would Dong Zhao’s two-rank leap land him?
He would almost certainly leap to Lu Chenfeng’s own position as head of the Yanzhou State Dao Academy.
Because Lu Chenfeng had already been reprimanded twice; if Dong Zhao performed brilliantly while his own evaluation scores were poor, by National Dao Academy convention, Lu Chenfeng would be demoted one rank, and Dong Zhao would leap two ranks to take his place.
Under this calculation, Lu Chenfeng planned to target Jinshan Dao Academy.
His twelve county dao academies—losing just one, Jinshan Dao Academy—would have zero impact on his evaluation.
But the outcome would be completely different.
His own evaluation score would remain unchanged, but Dong Zhao’s evaluation would be Yi—or even Bing—while other academy heads could rise at most one rank, posing no threat to Lu Chenfeng’s position.
Then he would remain head of the Yanzhou State Dao Academy, and Dong Zhao would rise at most one rank to become his deputy.
This was Lu Chenfeng’s perfect plan.
Unfortunately, man’s plans are no match for heaven’s.
All his calculations ended in nothing.
Who could have foreseen Dong Zhao’s counterstrike would be so sharp and merciless?
He directly ordered Xu Jin to slaughter without restraint, destroying Yanzhou’s entire exam performance and plunging Lu Chenfeng into utter despair.
Now it was clear: his scheme had failed. He would be demoted and removed from office, while Dong Zhao might achieve a triple leap back to the National Dao Academy!
“It’s all Dong Zhao and Xu Jin’s fault!” Lu Chenfeng seethed inwardly.
In the Chen Guo Dao Academy’s spectator zone, Lu Kun felt his chest tighten with murderous rage.
What the hell was going on!
Forget the second and third trials—how could Xu Jin possibly take first in the fourth?
For a moment, Lu Kun even suspected the Steps to Heaven had been rigged.
Otherwise, how could Xu Jin have won first?
Damn it!
Lu Kun had never felt this miserable, this crushed—not since childhood.
On the Observation Platform, the senior officials of the Chen Guo Dao Academy watched Xu Jin seated on the 196th step, all eager to see his next move, wondering where his true limit lay.
But long moments passed, and he made no move.
"Grand Master, everyone, I feel Xu Jin might be holding back," said Right Sacrificial Officer Song Bing suddenly. "I saw him climb the 196th step quite easily—shouldn't we test him further?"
Dong Zhao, hearing this, pondered, then said, “Holding back? Unlikely. I feel Xu Jin’s limit is about here.”
“Test him further?”
Supervisor Chen Liao suddenly laughed. “Ah, Right Sacrificial Officer, are you planning another trial? Why not offer a precious star pattern as a prize? Put up a reward—maybe the boy will push two or three more steps?”
Upon hearing this, Right Sacrificial Officer Song Bing snorted and fell silent.
He’d already lost a Rain-Curtain Star Pattern—the very foundation of his clan—to Dong Zhao’s layered traps. That was trouble enough.
He wasn’t foolish enough to offer another.
What if the boy actually succeeded?
Wouldn’t that mean arming the enemy?
Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao also watched Xu Jin. Honestly, Xu Jin’s performance looked difficult—but compared to others whose every pore exuded agony, it was nothing.
Meng Qingqiu, for instance, had crawled up his final step.
Perhaps Xu Jin was truly hiding something?
Or perhaps he was merely half a step from his limit?
Just as Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao was puzzled, Xu Jin’s form on the 196th step dissolved into specks of starlight and vanished.
Had he reached his limit?
Everyone was surprised.
Xu Jin reappeared in Jinshan Dao Academy’s spectator zone—and was immediately greeted by his junior disciples’ congratulations. But what he saw was Ning Yuchan’s smile, blooming like a flower.
Though veiled, her beautiful almond eyes were crinkled into crescent moons.
That smile made Xu Jin happy.
“Did I help her enough?” Xu Jin wondered.
As for his own departure from the Steps to Heaven—shattering into starlight—he had chosen to leave.
With Yan Chen and Meng Qingqiu having given up, Yuan Feiqing and Ji Hongli on the lower steps also collapsed, dissolving into starlight.
Xu Jin looked down thirty steps—no one remained.
Even at the 100th step, no one was left holding on.
Below the 100th step, only a dozen disciples still clung to single steps, struggling to determine final rankings.
Only then did Xu Jin choose to leave.
His first place was absolutely secure.
The Spirit-Refining Golden Core should now be his.
As for his limit?
Ridiculous—Xu Jin’s spirit force had not only formed a Star, but refined it to the Fourth Level. The 196th step could never be his limit.
Absolutely not.
If not for the crowd watching, Xu Jin could have ascended one step per second, pushing another twenty or thirty steps.
Because when Xu Jin stood on the 196th step, the pressure felt identical to standing on the first.
Though the pressure increased exponentially,
it affected Xu Jin not at all.
Like a strongman who lifts a thousand jin, lifting a hundred or three hundred jin felt equally easy.
Xu Jin felt that if he truly let loose, he could push thirty or forty steps without issue.
But pushing thirty or forty steps would surely bring him immense trouble!
So after securing first place, Xu Jin withdrew immediately. At that moment, he deliberately observed the Observation Platform—still no senior figures from the Two Star Palaces appeared.
Half a watch later, the final disciple’s form on the Steps to Heaven shattered into starlight, and Chief Instructor Yu Da’s voice rang out.
“The fourth trial of the Autumn Exam—Star-Picking—is concluded. Per regulations, the top ten disciples will be granted Core Disciple status.”
In the sky, the starlight waterfall of rankings now displayed its final order.
【#1, Xu Jin, 196th Step】
【#2, Meng Qingqiu, 195th Step】
【#3, Yan Chen, 194th Step】
【#4, Yuan Feiqing, 193rd Step】
【#5, Ji Hongli, 189th Step】
【#76, Wang Weisheng, 98th Step】
【#77, Miao Long, 98th Step】
【#259, Lu Xianbing, 78th Step】
In this fourth trial, the Chen Guo Dao Academy held seven of the top ten spots; Yanyi, Songzhou, and Yanzhou each held one.
But the autumn examination results of the Chen Guo Dao Academy once again broke the record.
For the first time, the fourth stage of the autumn exam did not sweep the top five; for the first time, it did not sweep the top three; for the first time, it lost first place.
Vice Academician Liu Qingzhu bowed her head, lying flat, leaving only her large feng and long hair visible on the table.
What a humiliating disaster!
The sky’s ranking list lasted twenty breaths before vanishing; a starlight message also appeared before Xu Jin.
【Xu Jin; you have secured first place in the Star-Picking contest of the autumn exam’s fourth stage. You will receive one Shen Shen Golden Core and ten opportunities for the Ascension Stair trial. Related rewards may be claimed at the External Affairs Hall upon your arrival at the Chen Guo Dao Academy, presenting your Star-Picking Token.】
Upon receiving this starlight message, Xu Jin exhaled in relief.
He now had the Shen Shen Golden Core.
According to Ning Yuchan, the efficacy of the Shen Shen Golden Core was likely two or three times that of the Ding Shen Golden Core.
Later, after nurturing it further, its potency could double again before he consumed it.
Xu Jin was currently at the Fourth Layer of Star Refinement—how high would he rise?
Fifth Layer? Or Sixth Layer?
Xu Jin was eagerly anticipating it!
“All disciples, rest for fifteen minutes. Prepare for the fifth stage of the autumn exam,” announced Chief Instructor Yu Da.
Hearing this, Xu Jin sat cross-legged with Wang Weisheng and others, exchanging words.
Oddly enough, though the Ascension Stair had been excruciating, after finishing, none of them felt drained—instead, their Divine Soul energy had actually improved.
As they chatted, Xu Jin kept glancing at the Observation Platform.
Qi’s instructions were firmly etched in his mind.
On the Observation Platform, Left Sacrificial Officer Meng Yanhui turned to Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao. “Grand Master, the emissaries from the Two Star Palaces are waiting in the Reception Hall. When shall we let them in?”
“Since they’ve come, let them watch,” sighed Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao. “Every year, it’s the same routine.”
“What about the selection?”
Meng Yanhui instinctively glanced at his granddaughter Meng Qingqiu, then at Xu Jin beneath the Jin Shan Dao Academy banner. “Should we make some arrangements? Send the top few away?”
Especially Xu Jin—his Divine Soul talent is unprecedented in decades!”
“Master Meng, do you think it would help?”
Cheng Yuexiao glanced around, his expression calm.
A bitter smile touched Meng Yanhui’s lips. So many eyes were watching—this would be useless anyway.
Besides, even if they barred observation, it wouldn’t matter.
Over ten thousand disciples were competing; even those admitted to the inner trials numbered eight hundred.
The Two Star Palaces could easily learn the details and lure away any one of them.
As long as they had proof, they could out-debate us—our court’s backbone is too weak.
Just thinking of how several supremely gifted talents were snatched away by the Two Star Palaces every year made Left Sacrificial Officer Meng Yanhui feel as if a knife had been plunged into his heart.
These were elite disciples painstakingly cultivated by Chen Guo’s Dao Academy, nurtured with endless resources—only to be snatched away by the Two Star Palaces. Who wouldn’t ache?
“Then we follow last year’s plan?” Meng Yanhui asked.
“No,” said Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao. “Follow the plan from two years ago! I feel this year still holds opportunity.”
“Agreed.”
In the next instant, Left Sacrificial Officer Meng Yanhui activated the Star-Picking Token and issued the order.
Ten breaths later, starlight flickered, and several tables and chairs appeared on the Observation Platform, their surfaces glowing with starlight-formed names.
Simultaneously, starlight flashed repeatedly—each flash brought forth a new figure onto the platform.
The first to appear was Du Tingyun, Grand Star Lord of the Tianyang Star Palace in Chen Guo. Upon his arrival, everyone from the Chen Guo Dao Academy—except Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao, including the Left and Right Sacrificial Officers, Academicians, Vice-Academicians, and all Academy Heads—rose to greet him.
“Grand Master Cheng, long time no see,” Star Lord Du Tingyun bowed respectfully to Cheng Yuexiao.
“Sit.”
Cheng Yuexiao nodded, gesturing to the seat beside him.
Then, seven more figures appeared in sequence: the directors of the Tianyang Star Palace’s six divisions across Chen Guo’s territories, plus the Wanyi branch. They first paid respects to Cheng Yuexiao before greeting the Chen Guo Dao Academy’s senior officials.
Hu Xuechuan, director of the Tianyang Star Palace’s Yanzhou branch, was among them.
Next, another group appeared—led by Zhang Zhen, Grand Star Lord of the Cangming Star Palace in Chen Guo. Upon arrival, he immediately bowed to Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao before acknowledging the others.
“Sit.”
Cheng Yuexiao similarly seated Zhang Zhen to his right.
No sooner had he sat down than Star Lord Du Tingyun of the Tianyang Star Palace cut straight to the point: “May I ask, Grand Master, what are the terms for this year’s selection quotas?”
This drew a flicker of displeasure in Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao’s eyes.
Arrogant!
“I heard that last month, a Star Leader from the Tianyang Star Palace went missing in the Star River Battlefield. Is this true?” Left Sacrificial Officer Meng Yanhui suddenly asked.
Du Tingyun glanced at Meng Yanhui and laughed. “Master Meng, your sources are well-informed. One Star Leader did go missing—but two others from my Tianyang Star Palace successfully established new cities.”
Hearing this, Cangming Star Palace’s Grand Star Lord Zhang Zhen chuckled. “Now that you’ve finally left that place, why dwell on it? Haven’t you had enough? This is rare peace.”
“As for selection quotas, I assume Grand Master has already made arrangements.”
“We merely need to observe the top talents of Chen Guo this year, see if any catch our eye, then discuss with Grand Master.”
This was far more courteous—far more palatable than Du Tingyun’s blunt demand.
Du Tingyun snorted but did not oppose Zhang Zhen’s words.
Hearing this, Left Sacrificial Officer Meng Yanhui said, “The plan is already set: the Yi-character size scheme, unchanged from before. There are seven quotas total. You two must agree among yourselves, then inform us.”
“Then we proceed with the Yi-character size scheme.”
“The Yi-character size scheme? It seems Chen Guo has great confidence this year!” Du Tingyun sneered.
Left Sacrificial Officer Meng Yanhui bowed slightly, saying nothing more.
After his sneer, Du Tingyun directly sent a starlight whisper to Zhang Zhen of the Cangming Star Palace, discussing quota division.
Seven quotas between two parties—hard to split.
If not settled beforehand, they might brawl over a particularly impressive disciple.
Better to settle now, then leave fate and talent to decide.
At the same moment, Xu Jin, watching the dozen new figures on the Observation Platform, quietly asked Chief Instructor Ning Yuchan, “Teacher, who are these people?”
“These? Old tradition. The Star Lords and branch directors of the Tianyang and Cangming Star Palaces come every year to observe,” Ning Yuchan replied absently, as if lost in thought.
In the next instant, having confirmed his answer, Xu Jin sank his thoughts into the Star-Picking Token and sent a starlight message to Qi.
“Teacher, the observers from the Tianyang and Cangming Star Palaces have arrived—I’ve seen Hu Xuechuan! Teacher, what are you planning? Be careful.”
"Master, the observers from the Tianyang and Cangming Star Palaces have arrived—I’ve already spotted Hu Xuechuan! Master, what are you planning to do? Be careful for your safety."
Qi’s reply came as only two words in starlight.
This only deepened Xu Jin’s worry—what exactly was Qi planning?
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