Chapter 155: Mysterious Invitation (Request Subscription)

On September 2, the fifth day after learning the mid-grade Fire Source Star Pattern, Xu Jin arrived early again at the Flying Swallow Academy Hall.

According to Teacher Liu Qingzhu's understanding of Xu Jin's cultivation speed, Xu Jin's current cultivation base should be Peak Foundation Star Level Two.

But in reality, Xu Jin had broken through to Peak Foundation Star Level Two in the Middle Star Palace in just two and a half days, and had already successfully inscribed the Rain Curtain Star Pattern.

And the Lower Star Palace would reach Peak Foundation Star Level Two tonight.

Tomorrow, he would enter Foundation Star Level Three.

Xu Jin had come to seek out Teacher Liu Qingzhu to learn new star patterns.

At the Flying Swallow Academy Hall, Xu Jin received unquestionably special treatment.

The total number of core and inner-disciple students at the Flying Swallow Academy Hall exceeded one hundred fifty; though teaching assistants helped, at least a dozen students came every morning to ask various questions.

Although Xu Jin arrived early, the senior and junior sisters who lived directly inside the academy hall arrived even earlier.

Xu Jin obediently joined the queue.

Just as he stood at the very end of the line, shadow and whirlwind arrived simultaneously; Second Sister Tang Chuo walked over and growled, "Younger brother, you're the only true disciple—why are you queuing? Just walk right in."

Before she finished speaking, Second Sister Tang Chuo reached out to pull Xu Jin; instinctively, he resisted, and suddenly, immense force surged forth.

Xu Jin's entire body lifted into the air as if riding clouds and mist.

In the instant Xu Jin was about to crash into the hall door, starlight exploded over a dozen times along his waist, dissipating Second Sister's overwhelming force.

Xu Jin stared at Second Sister Tang Chuo in shock; she, with her short beard, sheepishly rubbed the back of her head. "Younger brother, sorry—I used too much force."

The surrounding sisters and junior sisters snickered; then Jiang Yuan, the sleepyhead, said, "Big Brother's skills are still the best! Last time, Fifth Sister was pulled by Tang Sister and broke a bone!"

Tang Chuo shot her a glare, but Jiang Yuan merely yawned, utterly unfazed.

This junior sister Jiang Yuan was quite interesting—she was a core disciple from last year; in Xu Jin's spiritual perception, she clearly had a Condense Star cultivation base, yet her aura only revealed Foundation Star level.

But Second Sister Tang Chuo's divine strength was truly terrifying.

At close range in Foundation Star level, that divine strength alone could crush opponents.

"Hmm, Peak Foundation Star Level Two already—your progress is decent," Liu Qingzhu praised Xu Jin upon seeing him. "Any cultivation difficulties? Are the star patterns still sufficient?"

"Teacher, my Middle Star Palace has reached Peak Foundation Star Level Two, and my Lower Star Palace has reached Peak Foundation Star Level One. So I'd like to learn one or two new star patterns—or new star arts—in advance."

Xu Jin was subtly showing off his cultivation speed, slightly accelerating it—he'd been holding back and it was becoming uncomfortable.

After all, he had ten thousand merit points and a thousand strands of starlight from the Court's rewards; faster progress was perfectly normal.

"You've certainly inscribed the mid-grade Fire Source Star Pattern—have you also inscribed your speed-based star pattern?" Liu Qingzhu asked.

"The Willow Down Star Pattern is nearly inscribed."

Hearing this, Liu Qingzhu was surprised. "Your star pattern inscription is fast indeed—five days to inscribe two patterns? Most cultivators consider it quick to inscribe just one in four or five days."

"Precisely because star pattern inscription is so difficult, I wish to learn early, study and comprehend them in advance, so that once my cultivation breaks through, I can inscribe them quickly and enhance my power," Xu Jin said.

"Hmm, then what star pattern do you wish to learn this time?" Liu Qingzhu asked.

"I'd appreciate your guidance, Teacher, but during my challenge in the God-Slaying Battlefield, I noticed a problem," Xu Jin said.

"What problem?"

"I realized my offensive methods are still too limited—my only ways to kill are Star Arrows, Star Rings, and Star Cords count as one. Is there any new star art I can learn?" Xu Jin asked.

"Of course there are new star arts, but the most powerful ones are mostly composite star arts," Liu Qingzhu mused, then added,

"In fire-based star arts, the basic Star Burst art greatly enhances the power of fire star arts, and the low-grade Star Rain Art is the foundation for mid- to late-stage high-power star arts.

I can teach you both. You may practice them diligently without hindering your cultivation progress, striving to achieve half-instant casting—only half-instant casting can form real combat power.

Especially Star Burst.

But Star Rain Art—even half-instant casting is extremely difficult!

Many cultivators train for over a decade and still cannot achieve instant casting; don't rush during your practice," Liu Qingzhu said.

"Thank you, Teacher."

"Once you master Star Rain Art, do not display it before others until after Foundation Star Level Nine. According to the Dao Academy's teaching rules, I'm already exceeding the curriculum by teaching you this," Liu Qingzhu chuckled.

"As for star patterns, if you wish to diversify your offense, you must learn the Star Transformation Star Pattern; Flame Bloom Star Pattern and Blazing Inferno Star Pattern are fire-specific star patterns that greatly enhance the power of Star Burst Art.

Power increases by over fifty percent, though star energy consumption also rises—but that's no issue for you.

The only drawback is that when Blazing Inferno is stacked with Star Burst, the star art's launch speed slows."

"To fix this drawback, you must pair it with Spiral Star Pattern—but then your star pattern slots will be insufficient. This brings us to star pattern combinations.

Which of these star patterns do you wish to learn?" Liu Qingzhu asked.

"What do you recommend, Teacher?"

"Learn Blazing Inferno, Spiral, and Star Transformation—even if not as a full set, their power is still strong. Once you reach Condense Star, you can combine them fully. Start with Blazing Inferno and Spiral."

"Blazing Inferno is a mid-grade four-star pattern. For Spiral Star Pattern, the highest in the academy is lower-grade six, but currently I can only teach you upper-grade four. Grades five and six require top-tier examination results, merit points, or Dao merit to exchange for."

"Teacher, teach me Star Transformation too—I want to study it. My cultivation progress hasn't lagged behind," Xu Jin smiled.

"You!"

Liu Qingzhu pointed at Xu Jin and scolded playfully, "Fine, I'll teach you—but don't go blabbing about it! No Dao Academy disciple learns this way.

In half a month, you've learned six star patterns.

If this got out, the Grand Master would scold me for wasting resources!

The Dao must not be lightly transmitted!"

"You're the best teacher, Teacher Liu—you care for your disciples and teach them well," Xu Jin flattered boldly, making Liu Qingzhu laugh again.

"Stop flattering me. Get your ranking up in the God-Slaying Battlefield, and I'll find you some extra perks," Liu Qingzhu chuckled.

A few minutes later, Xu Jin left with five jade tablets in hand.

They were: Star Burst Art, Star Rain Art, upper-grade four Spiral Star Pattern, mid-grade four Blazing Inferno Star Pattern, and lower-grade four Star Transformation Star Pattern.

Star Transformation Star Pattern is essentially a subclass of Fire Transformation Star Pattern.

Xu Jin had previously encountered Fire Transformation Star Pattern on the Fire Spirit Star Core he offered; he had already experienced it.

Its main function is to make attacks endlessly variable in form.

For example, a fire arrow can become a fireball, fire blade, fire sword, fire spear—then you can directly manifest various star-powered weapons in your hand.

Ning Yuchan's previous blade wheel and star-powered giant hammer were both effects of Star Transformation Star Pattern.

Many powerful star arts require Star Transformation Star Pattern to function.

Xu Jin wanted to understand it, and also wanted to have a record with Teacher Liu Qingzhu.

If in the future he used the Fire Spirit Star Core he offered to cast fire transformation star arts, he'd have Teacher Liu Qingzhu's backing.

After leaving Liu Qingzhu, Xu Jin went directly to the Third-Grade Star Power Secret Realm.

Today's usage would exhaust his time in the Third-Grade Star Power Secret Realm.

As for purchasing extra time, Xu Jin wasn't in a hurry—he had no shortage of Dao merit.

After exiting the Third-Grade Star Power Secret Realm, he didn't return to his small courtyard immediately; instead, he entered the main tower of the Great Chen Star-Picking Tower and casually climbed the side staircase.

This was the entrance to the Ascending Heaven Staircase of the Great Chen Star-Picking Tower's current manifestation.

As the staircase turned, Xu Jin stepped into the familiar entrance of the Ascending Heaven Staircase.

Then, step by step, he ascended.

This was Xu Jin's fifth time on the Ascending Heaven Staircase.

Including the opportunities granted as a true disciple, those gifted by his teacher, and the reward from his previous Autumn Exam victory, Xu Jin had fourteen chances to ascend the staircase.

Since August 29, Xu Jin had come daily to ascend the staircase once, honing his spiritual soul and enhancing its power.

On the Heavenly Staircase, Xu Jin stepped forward and quickly reached the two-hundredth step.

But reaching the two-hundredth step still imposed no pressure on Xu Jin.

He continued ascending, soon reaching the two-hundred-sixtieth step.

As Teacher Liu Qingzhu had said, every ten steps on the Ascending Heaven Staircase was a threshold; generally, only after one's spiritual soul had forged a star could one ascend beyond the two-hundredth step.

Beyond the two-hundredth step, each additional step increased the pressure on the spiritual soul, producing clear honing effects.

Every ten steps represented a minor realm of the spiritual soul's star.

Typically, a Foundation Star Level One spiritual soul star could reach the two-hundred-tenth step; those with strong will could climb one or two more.

But climbing one or two extra steps was the limit. After Xu Jin reached the two-hundred-fiftieth step, immense pressure slammed into him.

His nerves tightened; each step felt as if he carried a mountain on his back.

Ten minutes later, Xu Jin reached the two-hundred-seventy-third step, struggling painfully toward the next.

Xu Jin's current spiritual soul star was Foundation Star Level Seven, early stage—two-hundred-seventy-three steps was theoretically his limit.

But one minute later, he stepped onto the two-hundred-seventy-fourth step.

Xu Jin did not stop.

He continued upward.

The next instant, countless blades and arrows seemed to slash at his spiritual soul; sweat poured down his body, the pressure threatening to crush him flat.

Fifteen minutes later, bent over, he bore the crushing pressure and stepped onto the two-hundred-seventy-fifth step.

He pressed on toward the next.

At this point, the terrifying pressure twisted around Xu Jin like a grinding stone.

It filled him with unbearable agony.

A thousand thoughts screamed in his mind to quit.

"Honing—must push to the absolute limit."

Xu Jin held on, crawling up the two-hundred-seventy-sixth step like a serpent.

The next instant, his head felt as if ground by countless millstones; he nearly fainted from pain.

Five breaths later, the Mingji Star Pattern flared brilliantly; Xu Jin's vision darkened. Just before losing consciousness, he silently thought, "Leave," and instantly vanished from the Ascending Heaven Staircase, reappearing inside the main tower of the Star-Picking Tower.

Xu Jin was drenched as if pulled from water, utterly exhausted.

After returning to the small courtyard, Xu Jin used the Dreaming Star Pattern to guide his energy and collapsed into sleep.

An hour later, Xu Jin awoke, radiant and refreshed, smiling as he watched the additional circling starlight on his Soul Star and the thicker halo surrounding it.

Though the Ascending Stairs were excruciating, each attempt brought clear positive feedback and tangible gains.

According to his master, reaching the limit each time, just ten ascents would elevate his Soul Star's cultivation by one level.

Judging by his progress, Xu Jin felt he might need only eight ascents, not ten.

This likely stemmed from his ability to push each attempt to the absolute extreme.

This was another marvel of the Mingji Star Pattern.

Otherwise, Xu Jin would never dare such a thing—fainting on the Ascending Stairs could damage the Soul Star.

In the National Dao Academy, cases of Soul Star injury from accidents on the Ascending Stairs, requiring two or three months to recover, were common.

Thanks to the Mingji Star Pattern's warning, Xu Jin could reach the extreme.

"Young Master, a letter has arrived." As Xu Jin woke, the maid and steward Qing Fan handed him a letter.

"Who sent it?" Xu Jin asked, puzzled.

"Young Master, a servant delivered it. He said you'd know upon opening it," Qing Fan replied.

"Esteemed Marquis Xu, I am hosting a banquet tonight at Zhaoxing Tower. I humbly request your esteemed presence—it concerns your future. Please, do come."

The message was brief, with no signature.

Xu Jin stared at the letter, sneered, and instantly shattered it with star energy.

Only a fool would accept an invitation with no signature.

And it claims to concern my future!

The best future for Xu Jin is diligent cultivation.

Yet this letter still put him on high alert.

He gave Jiang Er specific instructions: stay within the National Dao Academy; if she needed anything purchased, leave it to Qing Fan.

That evening, Xu Jin's Lower Star Palace cultivation reached Star Refining Second Level.

In just fifteen minutes, Xu Jin inscribed the Willow Fluff Star Pattern on the fourth level.

After inscribing it, he immediately tested it.

The agility of his movement surpassed his imagination.

All the benefits of his previous Flying Star Step—explosive bursts across his entire body—were fully realized in the Willow Fluff Star Pattern.

Crucially, his movement became as light as willow fluff, swaying like willow branches in the wind, utterly elusive.

And supremely flexible.

Previously, to achieve the same elusive maneuvers, Xu Jin had to trigger the Flying Star Step seven or eight times, consuming vast star energy and moving slowly.

Now, with the Willow Fluff Star Pattern, what once required seven or eight Flying Star Step bursts could be done in a single motion.

Simultaneously, Xu Jin's speed increased by thirty percent.

A single leap of the Flying Star Step now reached over one hundred and fifty meters.

Extremely fast.

Both his Lower and Middle Star Palaces had reached the peak of Star Refining Second Level; tomorrow, he would break into Star Refining Third Level. To earn more Dao Merit, he naturally chose to challenge the God-Slaying Battlefield first.

Undeniably, his increased speed greatly enhanced his combat power, and the Rain Curtain Star Pattern significantly boosted his defense.

The defensive power of his star techniques surged by two and a half times.

After re-challenging the Eightieth Level of the God-Slaying Battlefield, where he had previously failed, he found it far easier.

In speed, he now matched the alien prodigy of Star Refining Eighth Level.

The other four alien elites at Star Refining Eighth Level were left far behind by Xu Jin.

With his swift flight, Xu Jin quickly secured a one-on-one chance against the Star Refining Eighth Level alien prodigy.

Explosive annihilation!

What followed was simple.

He successfully passed Level Eighty!

Earned 70 Dao Merit as reward.

As Xu Jin had predicted, the base Dao Merit reward should start from cultivation level, adding one point for every ten levels surpassed.

Having cleared Level Eighty, he faced no pressure before Level Eighty-Seven.

Pushing forward without pause, Xu Jin reached Level Eighty-Nine, then challenged Level Ninety.

Level Ninety was as difficult as before; Xu Jin fled desperately for dozens of breaths, finally enduring it thanks to the Rain Curtain Star Pattern's overwhelming defense, and killed the Star Refining Ninth Level alien prodigy.

But at the moment of victory, Xu Jin ceased his attack.

A few breaths later, he dissolved into starlight.

Xu Jin's progress in the God-Slaying Battlefield halted at Level Eighty-Nine—still ranked first.

He led the second place by a vast margin.

The current second place was Meng Qingqiu, ranked at Level Seventy-Six.

Xu Jin felt he didn't need those extra ten Dao Merit; he'd hold back slightly.

Based on the current pattern, if he cleared Level Ninety, he could likely push through to around Level Ninety-Four.

He had yet to encounter any enemies of the Condensing Star realm.

He could only speculate.

So he'd hold back a little, play it safe.

After exiting the God-Slaying Battlefield, Xu Jin continued challenging the Star-Picking Secret Realm.

Compared to when he was at Star Refining First Level, the two new star patterns had greatly enhanced his overall strength.

Xu Jin easily plucked two bronze stars and two silver stars.

But when attempting to pluck a gold star, he was instantly slain again!

Before the Condensing Star Second Level guardian and inner demon of the gold star, Xu Jin still had no means of resistance.

At that same moment, before the small pavilion of Grand Preceptor Cheng Yuexiao, the white-bearded Chief Steward Peng appeared once more.

(End of Chapter)