Chapter 144: Lecher and the Star-Picking Token (Requesting Subscription)

“What? Xu Jin chose to become Liu Qingzhu’s disciple and joined the Flying Swallow Hall?”

Fang Shi, one of the Four Chief Instructors, received word from his senior disciple Fang Ying, and a flicker of displeasure crossed his face.

“A blind fool—ignore him.”

In truth, Fang Shi had wanted to take Xu Jin as his disciple, but as one of the Four Chief Instructors, countless high-ranking officials and noble families had tried and failed to get their descendants admitted into his hall for instruction.

He hadn’t expected that after sending a formal invitation, Xu Jin still failed to seize the opportunity—truly a blind fool!

There are only four Chief Instructors in the entire Guodao Academy.

But there are twelve Deputy Instructors, and a few are eliminated every few years.

Truly, he’s a blind fool.

Fang Ying, however, frowned slightly. “Master, if this happens, you’ll have no True Disciple this year.”

“So what? That Liu Qingzhu won’t even take her own nephew as a disciple—what good is Xu Jin joining her?” Fang Shi reasoned.

“Master, it’s true it won’t directly harm you, but you’ve already taken in many Inner Court and Core Disciples this year under academy rules. If your True Disciple slot remains empty, I fear none of this year’s junior disciples will be able to uphold your hall’s reputation.”

“Losing a little reward is minor, but losing your face is serious,” Fang Ying said.

Fang Shi’s expression darkened slightly—this impact was real.

He had assumed that, as one of the Four Chief Instructors, a single letter would make Xu Jin rush over to pay respects; then, with a mix of pressure and favors, he could break the prodigy’s arrogance and win his loyalty.

He hadn’t expected that merely delaying his response would make Xu Jin refuse outright and leave.

Too arrogant!

That’s what led to this awkward situation.

There are sixteen Instructors and Deputy Instructors, and fifteen True Disciples.

The other three Chief Instructors have already taken Yan Chen, Yuan Feiqing, and Meng Qingqiu as their disciples, and all twelve other True Disciples have already been claimed.

It’s left him, a Chief Instructor, stranded.

There are plenty of Core Disciples, but no matter how many he takes, their talent is insufficient to uphold the hall’s prestige.

This year, his reputation will suffer.

As for evaluation scores?

As one of the Four Chief Instructors, he doesn’t lack for top-tier prodigies’ evaluation scores.

Only an unparalleled genius like the current Grand Master of the State—a once-in-a-century rarity—could significantly alter his future or Dao path!

“No matter. It’s just one year. I don’t lack for face. Next year, I’ll carefully choose again,” Fang Shi said reluctantly.

Suddenly, his senior disciple Fang Ying leaned in. “Master, there is one person who actually has the strength to uphold your hall this year. In true combat ability, he might rank in the top three or four of this year’s Autumn Exam—but his status is unsuitable.”

“Oh? Who is it? What’s wrong with his status?”

“It’s Lu Kun. He was originally a top candidate for the Autumn Exam, but was eliminated in the first round due to an accident. Now he’s only an Inner Court disciple thanks to his family’s residual influence,” Fang Ying said.

“Lu Kun?”

Fang Shi pondered.

Previously, Lu family members had come with heavy gifts to court him—but he had refused.

Taking a disciple must be pure.

Accepting gifts beforehand? What kind of practice is that?

Even after taking him in, the Lu family could offer gifts later—but beforehand, he absolutely would not accept them, so he turned them down.

And earlier, Lu Kun was merely an Inner Court disciple—he hadn’t cared. But now, hearing his senior disciple speak, he felt the thrill of discovering a hidden gem.

A True Disciple ranked among the top four or three.

Could this be a pearl lost in the ocean?

Honestly, it was convenient—after all, Xu Jin refused to join him, leaving his Chief Instructor slot empty.

“So, have you contacted him?” Fang Shi asked his senior disciple.

“Master, how would I dare make decisions for you? I was still hoping to take Xu Jin as my junior. But now that this has happened, Lu Kun often travels through Wan Yi, and I’ve known him for a while,” Fang Ying said.

“Then how do you know he’ll want to join my hall?”

“Master, look at yourself!

You’re one of the Four Chief Instructors of the Great Chen Guo Academy! Two-thirds of the commanders on the Star River Battlefield graduated from your hall.

Only someone like Xu Jin is so ungrateful!

Any other person, if you so much as hinted at willingness, would arrive an hour early at the study hall to wait and kowtow to you!” Fang Ying said.

These words made Chief Instructor Fang Shi laugh, a smile spreading across his face.

“Then have him come tomorrow morning to kowtow! His Inner Court disciple status means nothing!

I give my cultivation resources to whomever I choose!

Who dares complain? I’ll slap them across the face,” Fang Shi chuckled.

“Exactly!

And with your guidance, Lu Kun will reclaim a True Disciple slot in no more than a few months,” Fang Ying grinned.

“Naturally.”

Watching his master accept Lu Kun as a disciple, Fang Ying’s heart soared—he hadn’t expected this to actually work.

A fourth-rank Star Artifact was now in his hands.

The Lu family really did spare no expense for Lu Kun.

But then again, over the years, the Lu family’s influence had declined; Lu Kun was their most outstanding talent in over a decade, so they had no choice but to invest heavily in him!

Another Chief Instructor, Pan Hong, received word from his disciple Huang Zhen that Xu Jin had officially registered with the External Affairs Hall to become Liu Qingzhu’s disciple. He chuckled lightly.

“This little brat has some spirit—he came to me earlier but didn’t think I was good enough!”

“Go tell Yuan Feiqing: Xu Jin refused me and chose Liu Qingzhu instead. Stir him up,” Pan Hong said with a smile.

Hearing this, Huang Zhen laughed. “Master, brilliant! Just those words will make Brother Yuan train like a madman. I’ll go now.”

Pan Hong waved him off, smiling as his senior disciple departed.

In another study hall, Deputy Instructor Tang Hui sighed upon hearing his senior disciple Qu Changqing’s report.

“Liu Qingzhu is shameless—she’s a Deputy Instructor, yet she personally came to recruit a student? It’s a disgrace to all of us.”

Qu Changqing, standing beside him, dared not respond.

His master could say it—but he could not.

After a long pause, Tang Hui sighed. “If I’d known, I’d have swallowed my pride too—maybe I’d have succeeded.”

“Master, this year’s outcome is sealed. Next year, I’ll be more proactive.”

“Only next year!” Tang Hui sighed deeply.

At the same time, Deputy Instructor Shen Wei slammed a book down. “After all that selection, he chose Liu Qingzhu’s faction? Am I really worse than that woman?”

His senior disciple Ma Kaishan bowed low and murmured, “Master, perhaps there are other reasons?”

“Other reasons? What other reasons could there be!” Being rejected by a disciple enraged Shen Wei.

“Maybe Xu Jin is a lecher?”

Deputy Instructor Shen Wei froze, then suddenly slapped his thigh. “I forgot that possibility! No wonder!

It’s very likely.

Xu Jin is a young man full of vigor—once he enters the Flying Swallow Hall, he’ll be lost in the sea of beauties!

Naturally, Liu Qingzhu easily won him over!

Xu Jin is truly a lecher!”

Shen Wei spoke loudly enough for the disciples guarding the study hall entrance to hear.

Then he turned to his senior disciple Ma Kaishan. “Kaishan, lust is natural!

To remain unmoved by beauty is to suppress a man’s nature!

But I don’t want you to be ruined by women later in life!

You’re just too upright!

In the future, you must visit brothels—just don’t let it interfere with your cultivation.”

At these words, Ma Kaishan’s face flushed crimson. “Master, I’m not that kind of person!”

“I know you’re not—but cultivating your heart is the point!

Understand?

It’s part of cultivation!

Otherwise, when you reach the Star River Battlefield and face alien races skilled in seduction and illusion arts, you’ll be the first to die!

Do you want me, your master, to bury my own disciple?” Shen Wei scolded.

“Disciple dares not!”

“Then find time to cultivate your heart—just keep it in balance.”

“Yes, Master, I’ll find time,” Ma Kaishan replied reluctantly.

If Xu Jin were here, he’d slap Ma Kaishan across the face.

Previously, he’d held great goodwill toward Ma Kaishan—he had a broad brow, large eyes, a bold, straightforward demeanor, a powerful name, and seemed genuinely open.

Yet in an instant, he’d been branded a lecher!

“Xu Jin, I’ve already authorized your Star-Picking Token and notified the External Affairs Hall. You may enter the third-level Star Power Secret Realm of the Great Chen Star-Picking Tower. The star power density there is three times that of the outside world—you may accumulate twelve hours of cultivation per month.

I have a total of twenty-four hours’ allocation per month; I’m giving you half.”

After teaching Xu Jin the new technique, Liu Qingzhu directly offered him cultivation benefits.

He liked her straightforward nature.

No hiding or holding back, interacting with her was incredibly easy.

“Master, this isn’t right—I’m taking half for myself? Won’t the other senior sisters complain?” Xu Jin felt uneasy upon realizing he was being given half the allocation outright.

“No problem. The inner court disciples aren’t eligible. In my Feiyan Hall, there are exactly twelve core disciples who must train in the third-tier Star Power Realm of the Stepping Star Tower—each gets one hour. The rest, I’ll make up elsewhere.”

“Besides, if you perform outstandingly, it benefits them too,” Liu Qingzhu said.

Now Xu Jin was even more uneasy. He had to admit—this Master Liu was truly throwing resources at him.

The cultivation resources he alone received were twelve times what the other senior sisters got.

“Master, I have a question—I’m curious,” Xu Jin suddenly said.

“Curious?”

Liu Qingzhu laughed. “Ask. In my Feiyan Hall, rules are few, and things are relaxed. Ask whatever you want.”

“What if I ask something wrong? Won’t you get angry?”

“Angry? Of course I’ll get angry!”

“Then what happens when you’re angry?”

“If lightly angry, your second senior sister needs a sparring partner. If heavily angry!” Liu Qingzhu glanced down at her toe, “I’ll kick you out!”

“Our Feiyan Hall is mostly girls—we don’t do face-slapping.”

“No face-slapping is good. No face-slapping is good.”

“Then ask.”

“Master, I just wanted to ask—about the training time in the third-tier Star Power Realm of the Stepping Star Tower. You, as a vice-academy head, get only two days a month. What about the other four academy heads? How much time do they get?”

“Oh? Regretting it?” Liu Qingzhu cast a sidelong glance at Xu Jin.

Xu Jin’s Star Pattern of Mingji shifted—and he felt it: killing intent!

“How could I? Master!”

“I’m not stupid!”

“You’re giving me half the allocation outright!”

“Even if the four academy heads get more, they’d never give me even ten or twenty percent!”

“I’m just genuinely curious!” Xu Jin quickly explained.

“You’re smart enough.”

“Actually, each academy head’s time allocation differs. But vice-academy heads generally get around two days, never more than three. The four academy heads are granted four days of free access by the Academy,” Liu Qingzhu said.

Would the four academy heads give him a quarter of their Stepping Star Tower third-tier time?

Almost impossible.

Judging by the attitudes of the two academy heads he’d met, it was out of the question. “Also, I recall you won first place in the recent Stepping Star Tower Ascension Challenge, earning ten rewards,” Liu Qingzhu asked.

“Yes, Master.”

“As a true disciple, you already get two free Ascension Challenge opportunities per year. That makes twelve.”

“I’ll stop saying ‘three times every two years.’ I’ll personally cover two more free Ascension Challenge opportunities per year.”

“So this year, you’ll have fourteen chances. You’ve taken the Dingshen Golden Core before, right?” Liu Qingzhu asked.

“I’ve taken one.”

“Hmm. Have you taken the Lianshen Golden Core?”

“Yes, Master. I’ve already taken it.”

“Then after this, I’ll give you a Shenpo Star Pattern. Try engraving it early. With the Dingshen Golden Core, the Lianshen Golden Core, and fourteen Ascension Challenge sessions to refine your Shenpo, you have a real chance to forge your Shenpo into a Star.”

As she spoke, Liu Qingzhu handed Xu Jin another pill vial. “Inside is one Dingshen Golden Core. Though the second one’s effect is weak, at worst it still grants two or three tenths of the enhancement of the first.”

“If you’re lucky, it’s equivalent to two or three Ascension Challenge sessions!”

“That’ll increase your chance of Shenpo forging a Star.”

Liu Qingzhu sighed. “Too bad the Lianshen Golden Core is extremely rare and tightly controlled. Hard to come by.”

“If I could get another Lianshen Golden Core, even if some efficacy is wasted, your chance of Shenpo forging a Star would skyrocket!”

“If you forge your Shenpo into a Star, your cultivation efficiency and Star Art power will both surge dramatically.”

Xu Jin took the Dingshen Golden Core vial. This time, he was genuinely moved.

This Liu Qingzhu had begun pouring resources onto him the very first day he joined.

Just one Ascension Challenge session cost ten thousand Dao Credits.

One Dingshen Golden Core cost at least two thousand Dao Credits, with heavy restrictions.

“Also, here’s a vial of Lianxing Pills—half a vial of top-grade Lianxing Pills, and a full vial of top-grade Tishen Pills. They’ll accelerate your Star Refinement and cultivation. Come to me monthly for a supply—you’ll advance quickly.”

As she spoke, Liu Qingzhu handed Xu Jin several more pill vials.

Xu Jin didn’t know what to say.

This Liu Qingzhu was truly throwing her fortune at him.

High-grade Mind-awakening Elixirs aren’t actually that expensive—a bottle of ten pills costs a hundred taels of silver per pill, totaling just a thousand taels per bottle, or one hundred Dao Merits.

The top-grade Tishen Pills weren’t too expensive—a vial of ten pills cost one hundred taels each, totaling one thousand taels, or one hundred Dao Credits.

But the Lianxing Pills were somewhat pricey.

Xu Jin had heard of them: Lianxing Pills are auxiliary cultivation pills for the Star Refinement stage, refined by skilled alchemists, with stronger effects and less potency decay when taken consecutively.

But one pill costs two Starlight or twenty Dao Credits. One vial is twenty Starlight or two hundred Dao Credits.

Top-grade Lianxing Pills? Even more expensive—one pill costs fifty Dao Credits. Ordinary disciples couldn’t afford even one.

Liu Qingzhu gave him five.

This year alone, she’d be spending thousands of Dao Credits on him.

Calculated in silver, that’s nearly three hundred thousand taels.

Only the State Academy could afford this—if it were anywhere else, Xu Jin would fear being sold off.

“Don’t worry!”

Liu Qingzhu seemed to sense his unease and suddenly smiled. “I don’t have high expectations for you. Don’t compete with the disciples of the four academy heads. Just finish first among the twelve vice-academy heads in the next assessment—that’ll be enough. I’ll stand tall!”

As she spoke, she pinched her slender waist—breathtaking. Xu Jin quickly lowered his head.

“Master, rest assured—I’ll finish first.”

“Don’t overpromise. The fastest cultivators are already at Star Refinement Stage Two, and their Star Patterns are fully engraved. You must hurry.”

“Yes, I will.”

As Xu Jin was about to take his leave, Liu Qingzhu suddenly added, “I forgot to mention—my academy hall has a Star Gathering Array. The Star Power density inside is twice that of the outside world—excellent for cultivation.”

“But many disciples use it, including inner court disciples. I can’t favor you too much. You may enter for one hour per day.”

After thanking her again, Xu Jin left, clutching a pile of pill vials.

After Xu Jin left, Liu Qingzhu stood by the window. “I’ve given you the cultivation resources. I hope you can keep pace with those noble and wealthy heirs.”

Others didn’t know, but her nephew Yan Chen—Liu Qingzhu knew well—that beyond the resources provided by the Master, his family’s support was even greater.

Known supplies: three Lianxing Pills daily, one top-grade Lianxing Pill, and two top-grade Tishen Pills.

Additionally, the Yan family had separately purchased at least three days of access to the third-tier Star Power Realm of the Stepping Star Tower.

And for the Ascension Challenge—he’d been going once a day recently.

Even without the Lianshen Golden Core, under the Yan family’s relentless push, Yan Chen might forge his Shenpo into a Star within one or two months.

No choice—great clans have deep foundations.

Especially when they encounter a genius like Yan Chen. If he grows, he’ll ensure the clan’s prosperity for a hundred years.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have broken into Star Refinement Stage Two so quickly—training both Star Palaces simultaneously.

The other true disciples—Meng Qingqiu, Yuan Feiqing, Ji Hongli, Guan Li, Fang Mingchun—all faced similar circumstances.

Liu Qingzhu had wanted to take those disciples as well—Meng Qingqiu, Yuan Feiqing, Ji Hongli, backed by powerful clans, required little investment from her, yet their cultivation would skyrocket.

But Liu Qingzhu wanted them—they didn’t want her, a vice-academy head.

Even her own nephew Yan Chen was no exception.

When Yan Chen rejected her, Liu Qingzhu had nearly exploded with rage.

Disrespected by her own kin—she couldn’t even lash out.

In the end, Liu Qingzhu chose Xu Jin!

And she’d placed a heavy bet on him.

When Xu Jin returned to his small courtyard, he immediately began studying the Pojin Chapter that Liu Qingzhu had taught him that day.

The Pojin Chapter is a Star Power circulation method for Star Refinement.

Star Refinement involves two aspects: expansion and refinement.

Expansion means further opening the Central Star Palace, then forging Star Halos to enhance cultivation.

Both techniques are simple to learn—but all require massive amounts of Star Power.

Expanding the Central Star Palace consumes vast Star Power. Forging Star Halos also consumes vast Star Power.

But Lianxing Pills don’t just contain massive Star Power.

They contain heavy, aggressive, first-priority Metal Star Power, aiding cultivators in expanding the Central Star Palace—one of the most vital cultivation resources for the Star Refinement stage.

Because of their heavy Metal Star Power, there are limits to how many can be taken.

Lianxing Pills require highly skilled alchemists to refine, so potency decay after consecutive use is only slightly over ten percent. Three pills taken consecutively still retain sixty percent efficacy.

But generally, no more than four should be taken in a short time—exceeding that damages the body, causing hidden injuries that hinder cultivation.

Xu Jin silently planned his cultivation strategy.

He placed the two Si Xuan Fuxing Pills he’d bought from the External Affairs Hall, two top-grade Tishen Pills, the Dingshen Golden Core, and two Lianxing Pills into the Star Lamp to nurture.

The Liàn Xing Dan is cultivated for oneself.

Ding Shen Jin Dan—Xu Jin was considering a testing plan.

The Si Xuan Fu Xing Dan and the Superior Qi-Shen Dan were prepared for Ning Yuchan.

Ning Yuchan had one month before leaving the Dao Academy.

Xu Jin planned to cultivate two or three bottles of Si Xuan Fu Xing Dan and one bottle of the higher-grade Yi Qi Gui Xing Dan to restore Ning Yuchan’s star power during this month.

These were the elixirs Xu Jin prepared for Ning Yuchan’s journey to the Star River Battlefield.

At critical moments, these cultivated elixirs could become Ning Yuchan’s lifesavers.

Xu Jin had asked Ning Yuchan: a single Si Xuan Fu Xing Dan could restore at most ten percent of her middle star palace’s star power; even taking two at once would only restore fifteen percent.

Even the higher-grade Yi Qi Gui Xing Dan could restore only thirty percent of Ning Yuchan’s star power per pill.

This was unavoidable—the higher the cultivation base, the rarer the elixir, and the weaker its restoration effect.

But what if they were cultivated?

With one cultivated Yi Qi Gui Xing Dan and one cultivated Si Xuan Fu Xing Dan, Ning Yuchan’s star power could be restored to over eighty percent.

What did that mean?

Originally, when Ning Yuchan’s star power was completely depleted, it would now be restored to over eighty percent.

Nearly full health revived!

It was equivalent to gaining an extra life!

During this month, Xu Jin intended to cultivate more emergency elixirs for Ning Yuchan—for instance, one bottle of two-cultivated Si Xuan Fu Xing Dan.

Only then could Xu Jin feel at ease.

After Xu Jin mastered Po Jin Zhang, Ning Yuchan returned from the Starfire Hall, where she had been studying star patterns. After the three of them—Xu Jin, Jiang Er, and Ning Yuchan—ate dinner together and returned, Xu Jin entered a silent cultivation chamber.

Instantly, he began activating Po Jin Zhang to cultivate.

Within his middle star palace, star power, guided by Po Jin Zhang, condensed into blade-like starlight around the star core, then began expanding the middle star palace through rotation.

Under the intense pressure of Xu Jin’s powerful spiritual soul, the rotation of the gathering star core reached its peak, and the expansion effect of Po Jin Zhang was multiplied!

Simultaneously, he focused his intent on the star core of the middle star palace.

Vast amounts of star power were consumed, yet equally vast quantities instantly surged into the gathering star core through Xu Jin’s flawless primordial star body, replenishing the depletion.

In just fifteen minutes, the first thread of circling starlight appeared around the gathering star core.

Xu Jin was stunned, then delighted.

His cultivation speed was impressive.

According to Liu Qingzhu, without any external aid, cultivating Po Jin Zhang to produce the first thread of starlight around the star core required at least six hours of grueling effort.

Xu Jin had spent only fifteen minutes.

Simply put, his cultivation efficiency was likely dozens of times greater.

Still, Xu Jin felt it was a bit slow.

The next instant, he swallowed a Liàn Xing Dan.

The moment the Liàn Xing Dan entered his mouth, pale golden star power surged into his middle star palace; instantly, his starlight intensified exponentially, the gathering star core was flooded with star power, and more continued pouring in relentlessly.

Xu Jin decisively pushed Po Jin Zhang and the star core to their limits.

Soon, a second thread of starlight encircling the core appeared.

Then a third. Then a fourth.

(End of Chapter)