Chapter 179: Matter of Great Importance

Gold Star!

Looking at this prompt, Xu Jin was also overjoyed.

He had been abused by the Gold Star-level Heart Demon several times, and now, he had finally counter-killed it.

With a thought, Xu Jin focused his attention on the Gold Star.

【Xu Jin: Holds 8 Copper Stars, 8 Silver Stars, 1 Gold Star】

【Gold Star: Can perform one high-tier Dao Deduction】

【Do you wish to perform Dao Deduction?】

Xu Jin decisively chose No.

He didn't know anything right now; if he jumped in to perform Dao Deduction, the possibility of wasting it was very high.

Judging from the data displayed by the Star-Plucking Secret Realm, Gold Stars were very precious; for so many years, only 400-plus had been accumulated.

At least that was what Xu Jin saw on the surface.

Ten breaths later, after Xu Jin finished reviewing the battle with the Heart Demon, the second combat tip for the Star-Plucking Secret Realm was derived.

The first combat tip was divine soul attack.

Divine soul attack had a very large effect in the Star-Plucking Secret Realm; the gatekeeper's divine soul cultivation was fixed, while the Heart Demon's divine soul cultivation was the same as the main body, but it was only the same.

It could only copy the cultivation, but the specific divine soul star patterns should be impossible to copy.

Xu Jin had seen the Soul-Breaking attacks cast by the Heart Demon several times, and the power was very unusual.

The Suppressing Intent Star Pattern that defended against divine soul attacks must also be known.

But the rank shouldn't be high.

The Suppressing Intent Star Pattern Xu Jin learned was the secret transmission of the Lingji Star Palace, with a rank as high as sixth-tier middle-grade.

If the Heart Demon knew the sixth-tier middle-grade Suppressing Intent Star Pattern while having the same divine soul cultivation as Xu Jin, then Xu Jin's sixth-tier lower-grade Soul-Breaking arrow just now wouldn't have caused an impact on the Heart Demon.

To defeat the Heart Demon, he would still have to strengthen his divine soul power a lot in the future.

The second combat tip was star techniques.

The Heart Demon wouldn't know the star techniques that Xu Jin hadn't displayed in the secret realms related to the Star-Plucking Building.

In the future, if Xu Jin could acquire other high-quality Star Cores and obtain new star techniques after offering them, perhaps he could exploit a small bug to reduce the difficulty of defeating the Gold Star-level Heart Demon and obtain a few more Gold Stars.

After reviewing the whole thing, Xu Jin summarized another experience: fast!

The battle with the Heart Demon had to be fast, and it had to be ended in the fastest time.

Xu Jin felt that the Heart Demon was a bit like a program or even an AI from his previous life, with limited intelligence, but it would never make mistakes; the longer the time, the more smoothly the Heart Demon would use all of Xu Jin's abilities, and the better it would perform.

And Xu Jin was a human, and under various influences, he couldn't maintain a state of never making mistakes like an intelligent AI.

The longer the time, the easier it was to make mistakes.

Then the technique for challenging the Bright Star in the future also came out.

He had to kill the Heart Demon first, and he had to kill the Heart Demon in an extremely short time!

Only then would there be a possibility of obtaining a Bright Star.

【Challenge】

The next instant, the light and shadow in front of him changed, and a swordsman with a fourth-tier, fourth-layer Condense Star Realm cultivation appeared in front of Xu Jin.

This was the Gold Star-level gatekeeper.

Having challenged him several times before, relatively speaking, the combat power of the Gold Star-level gatekeeper was constant.

It wasn't as troublesome as the Heart Demon.

The specific strategy was also set.

He still had to be fast.

Because Xu Jin couldn't withstand a few attacks from the fourth-tier, fourth-layer Condense Star Realm Gold Star-level gatekeeper.

Once he fell into a confrontation, Xu Jin, whose cultivation was a full major realm lower, would definitely lose!

This made Xu Jin's thoughts on lightning-type star patterns even more urgent.

The light curtain disappeared.

Xu Jin still had the established strategy.

The moment the battle started, the Lightning Wings vibrated, and at the same time, he pushed the Lightning Explosion Step to the limit, and Xu Jin's speed also reached the limit at this instant.

Like a phantom, the moment he appeared in front of the Gold Star-level gatekeeper, the Soul-Breaking arrow was blasted out.

Flame Explosion was blasted out.

Just for an instant, the Gold Star-level gatekeeper's counterattack also began, and the sword light twisted toward Xu Jin like a star river.

Xu Jin didn't choose to take it head-on, but chose to continue the attack.

His figure flew up like willow catkins, and the sword light slashed toward Xu Jin like a maggot attached to a bone.

Xu Jin's Flame Explosion blasted continuously!

The second and third Flame Explosions blasted over continuously.

The sword light also slashed onto Xu Jin.

The Lightning Wings retracted, acting as natural protective wings.

The Lightning Wings shattered like rippling light; before the sword light reached his body, the Gold Star-level gatekeeper was blasted to pieces, and while the sword light blasted onto Xu Jin's Zhou Xinghuo Shield, the lightning that had been freed spiraled and blasted toward the sword light.

Before the Zhou Xinghuo Shield protecting his whole body shattered, the sword light was blasted to pieces.

【Congratulations on successfully challenging the Gold Star-level gatekeeper, obtaining one Gold Star】

The light and shadow in front of him changed, and Xu Jin breathed slightly, looking at the other message that appeared in front of him, and began to think.

【Do you wish to challenge to obtain a Bright Star: simultaneously face the Gold Star-level Heart Demon and the Gold Star-level gatekeeper?】

Xu Jin didn't challenge immediately, but he didn't leave either.

He had to challenge once.

Regardless of whether he could succeed or not, he could also accumulate experience for future challenges.

Many people, throughout their entire lives, couldn't even obtain the qualification to challenge to obtain a Bright Star.

Having challenged the Star-Plucking Secret Realm for so long, this was also the first time Xu Jin had obtained this qualification.

He had to try.

But the strategy had to be planned in advance!

Inside the Danxia Palace, Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao was at his desk handling official business, when suddenly, the silver-haired and silver-bearded Peng Zongguan appeared silently from behind the hall.

"Palace Master, in the Star-Plucking Secret Realm, our Great Chen has added two more Silver Stars," Peng Zongguan said.

Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao looked up and smiled, "Is it Xu Jin again?"

"Palace Master, I went to Xu Jin's small courtyard and took a look; he is in the quiet room and has the possibility of entering the Star-Plucking Building. Judging from the previous few times, it should be him.

However, this time, Xu Jin's ranking in the Killing God Battlefield hasn't changed," Peng Zongguan said.

"Perhaps he went to challenge the Star-Plucking Secret Realm first."

Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao stood up with a smile and took out the Star-Plucking Token, "I'll take a look; if it really is him, this kid should have accumulated eight Silver Stars.

With two more Silver Stars, he will be able to perform Dao Deduction once."

Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao arrived in the Star-Plucking Secret Realm in an instant through the Star-Plucking Token.

He first swept a glance at the Silver Stars.

His expression was somewhat gratified.

426 Silver Stars had been added this year, and Great Chen accounted for 52 of them.

This proportion was not high.

But the quantity a month ago was: 392 Silver Stars added this year in the Star-Plucking Secret Realm, and Great Chen had added 39 Silver Stars.

In just one month, the present world had added a total of 34 Silver Stars, but Great Chen had directly exploded by 13.

It directly accounted for one-third of the added quantity.

Looking at the whole year, Great Chen's performance wasn't great, but if looking at the data for this month, the number of Silver Stars added by Great Chen was very dazzling.

Among the seven forces—the three countries and one clan of the present world plus the three great Star Palaces—Great Chen accounted for one-third of the added Silver Stars; this data was enough to explain everything.

If this trend could continue for a year or two, Great Chen might really have the possibility of turning the tables.

The Dao Deduction opportunity of the Star-Plucking Building, this was far, far more efficient than self-deduction and comprehension.

The next instant, the Grand Master swept another glance at the leaderboard of the Star-Plucking Secret Realm, casually memorizing all the data in his heart for the next comparison, when suddenly, his gaze shifted, and his eyes widened fiercely!

Gold Star!

The data for Gold Stars had changed!

The total number had increased by one, to 498!

And the Gold Stars added this year had changed from one to two!

This "added this year" didn't just refer to Great Chen, but the total quantity of the present world!

Gold Stars were completely different!

The Dao Deduction opportunity obtained from ten Silver Stars was only an ordinary Dao Deduction opportunity, while the one obtained from a Gold Star was a high-tier Dao Deduction opportunity. It could be said that every high-tier Dao Deduction opportunity would cause the strength of all parties or the owner to improve by leaps and bounds.

In the twenty years since he took over the Great Chen National Dao Academy, every leap in strength or forcing the two great Star Palaces to retreat actually had the shadow of a Gold Star.

In these twenty years, Cheng Yuexiao had obtained a total of three Gold Stars.

Which also caused the strength of the Great Chen National Dao Academy to leap forward three times.

Only then did they have the current situation.

Then who could have obtained this Gold Star?

In an instant, Cheng Yuexiao thought of many possibilities, and in an instant, he was under immense pressure.

Cheng Yuexiao knew best how difficult it was to obtain a Gold Star.

And this Gold Star added now was most likely obtained again by that top genius who had previously obtained a Gold Star.

Beside him, the old manager Peng Tiesheng saw the Palace Master, who was usually light and airy, have his expression change repeatedly, and immediately realized that something was wrong.

He immediately looked at the Star-Plucking Secret Realm.

After just one glance, Peng Zongguan's expression also changed.

The number of Gold Stars had increased by one.

The significance behind this was too great; no wonder the Palace Master would be like this.

In an instant, the joy of Great Chen adding two Silver Stars earlier was washed away.

Not to mention two Silver Stars, even twenty or thirty Silver Stars couldn't compare to one Gold Star.

Perhaps fifty Silver Stars, five ordinary Dao Deduction opportunities, could compare to one high-tier Dao Deduction opportunity.

"Peng Zongguan, another Gold Star has been added; could it be Lin Xun of the Tianyang Star Palace?" Cheng Yuexiao said with a bitter smile.

"It's possible."

Old Peng Zongguan nodded, "That Gold Star added three years ago was said to be obtained by Lin Xun of the Tianyang Star Palace; a year ago, Lin Xun's cultivation had already reached the peak of the ninth-layer Condense Star Realm, and he had been polishing himself and improving his combat power.

This Gold Star is extremely likely to have been plucked by him."

After finishing, Old Peng Zongguan added, "Li Chun of the Cangming Star Palace is also extremely likely! Two years ago, Li Chun had a battle record of continuously obtaining eighteen Silver Stars, and now his star technique system has been completely built, and his combat has become systematic; the possibility of obtaining a Gold Star is also extremely large!"

"Besides this, Xu Zheng of Great Chu and Wu Yuandao of Great Hong are all possible; they are all top geniuses who have plucked more than ten Silver Stars.

Of course, there is no lack of new top geniuses appearing.

But the known Gold Star winners were about at the peak of the ninth-layer Refine Star Realm, or had obtained them when their combat power was systematic above the sixth-layer Condense Star Realm.

If we want to expand the search circle, we can target candidates within these cultivation ranges and screen them one by one!" Old Peng Zongguan said.

"Does Great Chen have no possibility of obtaining a Gold Star?" Cheng Yuexiao said with a bitter smile.

Regarding this, Old Peng Zongguan didn't avoid it, but said directly, "Cui Jing has already reached Gather Battle, so the possibility of plucking Silver Stars is already relatively small, let alone plucking a Gold Star.

Wang Rusong's current cultivation is at the seventh seat of Condense Star, so it is possible.

But according to his past strength performance, the hope is very slim.

His few Silver Stars were all plucked very arduously."

Speaking of this, Peng Zongguan changed the subject and suddenly said, "Palace Master doesn't need to worry; in another year or two, the possibility of Xu Jin plucking a Gold Star is extremely large!

I have observed that if the eight Silver Stars added are plucked by Xu Jin, then the speed at which he obtains Silver Stars is very fast.

About ten breaths.

This speed shows that he plucks Silver Stars very easily.

Then the possibility of him plucking a Gold Star in the future is very large."

"That is true."

Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao nodded; this was also the fundamental reason why he had high hopes for Xu Jin and gave him various top rewards.

Even he, when he plucked Silver Stars, the fastest time he used was a full fifteen breaths.

"This Gold Star, it's best if it wasn't obtained by the Tianyang Star Palace.

The Tianyang Star Palace has already obtained one Gold Star this year; if they obtain two more Gold Stars, then the present world will have waves again..."

Before Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao could finish speaking, Old Peng Zongguan's eyes suddenly widened, and even his white eyebrows trembled chaotically.

"Palace... Palace Master, another one!

Another Gold Star!"

"What?"

Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao held the Star-Plucking Token again and looked at the Star-Plucking Secret Realm.

When he saw clearly, even his fingers trembled a few times.

Three!

Three Gold Stars added this year.

This was simply fatal.

In the past, one Gold Star would appear every three to five years, and sometimes, there would be no Gold Star for ten years.

But this year—no, within one day, within a short quarter of an hour, two Gold Stars were added.

What kind of monster was this!

It made Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao's heart start to tremble!

If two Gold Stars fell into the same family, it would be enough to affect the current balance.

If they all appeared in the Tianyang Star Palace, then the first one to be unable to sit still would probably be the Cangming Star Palace.

But the Great Chen National Dao Academy wouldn't be much better off.

It wouldn't be long before they could feel the pressure from the Tianyang Star Palace!

If these two newly added Gold Stars really all fell into the Tianyang Star Palace, then the benefits he had fought for from the Tianyang Star Palace over these twenty years would probably all be spat out in a few years' time!

"Sigh..."

Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao let out a rare long sigh.

Suddenly, he felt a bit tired in his heart.

After racking his brains for twenty years, he suddenly had a feeling of everything becoming empty in one morning!

It wouldn't be comfortable for anyone!

Looking at the Palace Master's uncomfortable appearance, Old Peng Zongguan was the one who knew best the various hardships the Palace Master had suffered over these years.

Immense pressure!

Not only was there immense external pressure, but there was also immense internal pressure!

But fortunately, things were getting better step by step.

But these two abruptly appearing Gold Stars, although they wouldn't bring a devastating disaster to Great Chen, were very influential to Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao's spirit!

After thinking about it, Old Peng Zongguan began to comfort him.

"Palace Master doesn't need to be like this; within a year or two, I observe that Xu Jin will definitely pluck one or two Gold Stars, and by then, even if the Tianyang Star Palace obtains three Gold Stars this year, there will be nothing to fear!

Perhaps, it could even facilitate an alliance between us and the Cangming Star Palace."

Such a possibility did exist.

Suddenly, a thought popped into Cheng Yuexiao's mind, and he turned to look at Old Peng Zongguan, "Peng Zongguan, is there a possibility that these two Gold Stars were plucked by Xu Jin?

After all, he is in the Star-Plucking Building right now?"

After thinking about it, Old Peng Zongguan nodded, "There is indeed such a possibility! If these two Silver Stars were plucked by Xu Jin, then calculating by time, challenging the Gold Star in one go, there really is such a possibility!

But having said that, Xu Jin is only at the fourth-layer Refine Star Realm after all.

In known records, the lower limit of cultivation for those who obtain a Gold Star is the seventh-layer Refine Star Realm.

Fourth-layer Refine Star Realm..."

"Records are also created by people! I even created the record of the lowest cultivation Condense Star Realm plucking a Gold Star!" Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao said.

"That is true, but, how many people in this world can compare to you, Palace Master?"

"Xu Jin definitely counts as one!

I used fifteen breaths to pluck a Silver Star, but he only used ten breaths," Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao said.

Hearing this, Peng Zongguan said with a bitter smile in a low voice, "Palace Master, whether the Silver Stars were plucked by him is not yet certain."

The next instant, Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao stood up fiercely, "This matter is of great importance; we cannot sit and wait any longer. I must personally go find Xu Jin and ask him face-to-face."

"That is also fine; then I will accompany the Palace Master!" Peng Zongguan said.

Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao, who had just nodded in agreement, suddenly shook his head vigorously.

"No!"

"You and I cannot go together!"

"If it really was Xu Jin who plucked the Gold Stars, then our actions would be harming him!"

"I will go over in stealth, and you will hide in the sky above Xu Jin's residence and observe from all directions. This time, the news and our actions cannot be leaked in any way!" Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao said.

"That is exactly what should be done!"

The next instant, the Grand Master and Peng Zongguan disappeared simultaneously.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 180 =====