Chapter 179: Of Great Importance

Gold Star!

Seeing this prompt, Xu Jin felt delighted.

He had been brutally killed by the Gold Star-level demon multiple times; now, he had finally turned the tables.

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

【Xu Jin: Holds eight Copper Stars, eight Silver Stars, one Gold Star】

【Gold Star: Allows one High-Grade Dao Expansion】

【Proceed with Dao Expansion?】

Xu Jin decisively chose No.

He knew nothing yet; jumping into a Dao Expansion now would likely waste it.

From the data displayed in the Star-Picking Realm, Gold Stars were extremely rare—over the years, only four hundred had been accumulated.

At least, that was what Xu Jin could see on the surface.

Ten breaths later, Xu Jin completed his debrief of the battle with the demon and deduced the second combat insight from the Star-Picking Realm.

The first combat insight was Soul Attack.

Soul Attack was extremely effective in the Star-Picking Realm; the guardian's Soul cultivation base was fixed, while the demon's Soul cultivation base matched the user's—but only in level.

It could only replicate cultivation level; the specific Soul Star Patterns were likely unreplicable.

Xu Jin had seen the demon use the Shatter-Devil Attack multiple times, and its power was always extraordinary.

The Calm Mind Star Pattern used to defend against Soul Attacks would certainly be replicated too.

But its rank was probably low.

The Calm Mind Star Pattern Xu Jin had learned was the secret transmission of the Spirit Star Hall, ranked Sixth-Middle.

If the demon possessed a Sixth-Middle Calm Mind Star Pattern, and its Soul cultivation matched Xu Jin's, then Xu Jin's Sixth-Low Shatter-Devil Arrow would not have affected it at all.

To defeat the demon in the future, he must strengthen his Soul power further.

The second combat insight was Star Art.

The demon could not use any Star Art Xu Jin had never displayed in the Star-Picking Tower's realms.

In the future, if Xu Jin could acquire other high-quality Star Cores, offer them, and obtain new Star Arts, he might exploit a bug to reduce the difficulty of defeating a Gold Star-level demon and earn more Gold Stars.

After reviewing everything, Xu Jin also summarized another lesson: Speed!

In battle with the demon, one must move fast and end it as quickly as possible.

Xu Jin felt the demon was like a program—or even an AI—from his past life: limited intelligence, but never made mistakes; the longer the battle lasted, the more proficiently the demon used his own skills and performed better.

But Xu Jin was human; under various influences, he could not maintain a flawless state like an intelligent AI.

The longer the battle, the more likely he was to make a mistake.

Thus, a new technique for challenging the Brilliant Star emerged.

First, kill the demon—and kill it within an extremely short time!

Only then could he gain the chance to obtain a Brilliant Star.

【Challenge】

In the next instant, the light and shadow shifted, and a swordsman radiating Fourth-Stage Fourth-Refinement Condensation Star cultivation appeared before Xu Jin.

This was the Gold Star-level guardian.

He had challenged it several times before; compared to the demon, the Gold Star-level guardian's combat power was constant.

It was not as troublesome as the demon.

His specific tactics were already set.

He still needed speed.

Because the Gold Star-level guardian's Fourth-Refinement Condensation Star attacks were too powerful for Xu Jin to withstand more than a few hits.

Once locked in direct combat, Xu Jin, whose cultivation was a full major realm lower, would inevitably lose.

This made Xu Jin even more eager to obtain Thunder Star Patterns.

The screen vanished.

Xu Jin stuck to his established strategy.

At the moment combat began, he flared his Thunder Wings to their limit and activated Thunder Burst Step to its maximum—his speed reached its peak in an instant.

Like a phantom, he appeared before the Gold Star-level guardian and unleashed the Shatter-Devil Arrow.

He unleashed the Flame Explosion.

In the same instant, the Gold Star-level guardian counterattacked; swordlight surged like a river of stars, slicing toward Xu Jin.

Xu Jin did not choose to block; he chose to press forward.

His body rose like a willow fluff; the swordlight clung to him like a parasite.

Xu Jin unleashed consecutive Flame Explosions!

The second and third Flame Explosions followed in rapid succession.

The swordlight struck Xu Jin.

He retracted his Thunder Wings—naturally forming a protective shield.

The Thunder Wings shattered like rippling light; before the swordlight reached his body, the Gold Star-level guardian exploded—just as the swordlight struck Xu Jin's Starfire Shield, his Thunder Light poured out like a torrent, smashing the swordlight.

Before his full-body Starfire Shield shattered, the swordlight was destroyed.

【Congratulations! You have successfully challenged the Gold Star-level guardian and earned one Gold Star】

The light and shadow shifted again; Xu Jin breathed lightly, staring at the new message that appeared, lost in thought.

【Challenge to obtain Brilliant Star: Fight both Gold Star-level demon and Gold Star-level guardian simultaneously?】

Xu Jin did not immediately accept, but he did not leave either.

He had to attempt it once.

Whether he succeeded or not, it would provide valuable experience for future challenges.

Many people spent their entire lives without ever gaining the qualification to challenge for a Brilliant Star.

After so long in the Star-Picking Realm, this was Xu Jin's first time earning this opportunity.

He had to try.

But his tactics must be planned in advance!

Inside the Danxia Hall, Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao was buried in official duties when, silently, Peng Zongguan, his white-haired attendant, appeared from behind the hall.

"My Lord, our Chen Guo has gained two new Silver Stars in the Star-Picking Realm," said Peng Zongguan.

Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao looked up and smiled, "Again, Xu Jin?"

"My Lord, I visited Xu Jin's courtyard and saw him in his meditation chamber—he has entered the Star-Picking Tower. Judging from previous patterns, it must be him," said Peng Zongguan. "But this time, Xu Jin's rank in the Soul-Slaying Arena has not changed."

"Perhaps he first challenged the Star-Picking Realm."

Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao rose with a smile, holding the Star-Picking Token, "Let me check. If it's him, the boy should have accumulated eight Silver Stars by now."

"Two more Silver Stars, and he can perform one Dao Expansion."

Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao instantly teleported into the Star-Picking Realm using the Star-Picking Token.

He first scanned the Silver Stars.

His expression softened with satisfaction.

This year, the Star-Picking Realm had gained 426 new Silver Stars; Chen Guo contributed 52.

This ratio was not high.

But a month ago, the total new Silver Stars for the year were 392, with Chen Guo contributing only 39.

In just one month, the world added 34 new Silver Stars—but Chen Guo alone added 13.

That accounted for one-third of the total increase.

Looking at the full year, Chen Guo's performance was mediocre; but based on this month's data, Chen Guo's Silver Star gains were dazzling.

Among the seven powers—the three nations, the three Star Halls—Chen Guo accounted for one-third of the new Silver Stars. This data spoke volumes.

If this trend continued for one or two years, Chen Guo might truly have a chance to turn the tide.

The Dao Expansion opportunities from the Star-Picking Tower were vastly more efficient than personal cultivation or insight.

In the next instant, Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao scanned the Star-Picking Realm's leaderboard, memorizing all data for future comparison—when suddenly, his gaze shifted, and his eyes widened in shock!

In the next instant, the Grand Master again glanced at the Star-Picking Secret Realm's ranking list, casually committing all the data to memory for future comparison, when suddenly his gaze shifted and his eyes widened in shock!

The Gold Star data had changed!

The total increased by one: 498!

The number of new Gold Stars this year rose from one to two!

This "new this year" referred not to Chen Guo alone, but to the world's total!

Gold Stars were entirely different!

Ten Silver Stars granted a common Dao Expansion; one Gold Star granted a High-Grade Dao Expansion. Each High-Grade Dao Expansion could propel any sect or individual to a massive leap in power.

Since he took charge of the Chen Guo Dao Academy two decades ago, every major power surge or forced concession from the two Star Halls had involved a Gold Star.

Over the past twenty years, Cheng Yuexiao had obtained three Gold Stars.

Each had propelled the Chen Guo Dao Academy's strength upward three times.

That was how they reached their current position.

But who had obtained this new Gold Star?

In an instant, Cheng Yuexiao considered countless possibilities—and the pressure surged like a mountain.

In an instant, Cheng Yuexiao thought of many possibilities, and the pressure became overwhelming.

No one understood better than Cheng Yuexiao how difficult it was to earn a Gold Star.

And if another Gold Star appeared, it was most likely the same supreme genius who had previously earned one—earning it again.

Beside him, the chief steward Peng Tiesheng noticed the Lord's usually calm expression shifting repeatedly, and instantly sensed something was wrong.

He immediately turned his gaze to the Star-Picking Secret Realm.

After just one glance, the chief steward's face changed too.

The number of Gold Stars had increased by one.

The implications behind this were too great—no wonder the Lord looked like this.

It instantly drowned out the joy of Chen Dachen's earlier gain of two Silver Stars.

Even twenty or thirty Silver Stars couldn't match a single Gold Star.

Perhaps fifty Silver Stars, or five ordinary Expansion Dao opportunities, could barely equal one Gao Jie Expansion Dao opportunity.

"Peng Lao, could this new Gold Star be from Lin Xun of Tianyang Star Hall?" Cheng Yuexiao sighed.

"Possible."

Chief Steward Peng nodded. "Three years ago, the Gold Star added was said to have been claimed by Lin Xun of Tianyang Star Hall. A year ago, Lin Xun's cultivation had already reached Ningxing Ninth Layer peak, and since then he's been refining himself, enhancing his combat power."

"This Gold Star is very likely his."

After speaking, Chief Steward Peng added, "Li Chun of Cangming Star Hall is also a strong candidate! Two years ago, Li Chun achieved eighteen consecutive Silver Stars. Now his Star Technique system is fully established, his combat methods are systematic—he has a very high chance of earning a Gold Star!"

"Besides them, Xu Zheng of Da Chu and Wu Yuandao of Da Hong are also possible—they're both supreme geniuses who once claimed over ten Silver Stars."

"Of course, new supreme geniuses may also emerge."

"But known Gold Star recipients typically earned theirs at Ningxing Ninth Layer peak—or at Ningxing Sixth Layer or higher, once their combat system was fully formed."

"If we widen our search, we can target candidates within these cultivation ranges and screen them one by one!" Chief Steward Peng said.

"Does our Chen Guo have no chance at all of earning a Gold Star?" Cheng Yuexiao sighed.

For this, Chief Steward Peng didn't avoid the truth—he spoke directly: "Cui Jing has already gathered his Stars. His chance of earning a Silver Star is already slim, let alone a Gold Star."

"Wang Rusong's current cultivation is Ningxing Seventh Layer—he might have a chance."

"But based on his past performance, the odds are extremely slim."

"His few Silver Stars were all hard-won."

Here, Chief Steward Peng shifted tone abruptly: "Lord, don't worry—within a year or two, Xu Jin has an extremely high chance of earning one or two Gold Stars!"

"I've observed—if those eight new Silver Stars were claimed by Xu Jin, his rate of acquisition is astonishingly fast."

"About ten breaths."

"That speed indicates he claims Silver Stars with ease."

"Then his chance of earning a Gold Star in the future is very high."

"That's true."

Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao nodded—it was precisely why he placed such high hopes on Xu Jin and granted him every top-tier reward.

Even in his own prime, his fastest Silver Star acquisition had taken a full fifteen breaths.

"This Gold Star had better not be claimed by Tianyang Star Hall."

"Tianyang Star Hall already earned one Gold Star this year—if they claim two, the current balance will be shaken again."

Before Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao finished speaking, Chief Steward Peng's eyes suddenly widened, his white eyebrows trembling violently.

"L-Lord! Another one!"

"Another Gold Star!"

"What?"

Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao gripped the Star-Picking Token again and stared into the Star-Picking Secret Realm.

When he saw clearly, his fingers trembled slightly.

Three!

Three new Gold Stars added this year.

This was outright lethal.

In the past, a Gold Star appeared on average every three to five years—sometimes none for a full decade.

But this year—no, within a single day, within just fifteen breaths—two new Gold Stars appeared.

What kind of prodigy was this!

It made Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao's heart tremble!

Two Gold Stars falling to the same sect could disrupt the current balance.

If both went to Tianyang Star Hall, Cangming Star Hall would be the first to lose its composure.

But Chen Guo's Dao Academy wouldn't fare much better.

Soon, they'd feel the pressure from Tianyang Star Hall!

If these two new Gold Stars truly both went to Tianyang Star Hall, all the advantages he'd wrested from them over the past twenty years might be lost in just a few years!

"Ah…"

Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao let out a rare, long sigh.

Suddenly, he felt utterly drained.

Twenty years of exhausting effort—and now it felt like all had been erased in an instant!

Anyone in his place would feel the same.

Seeing the Lord's distress, Chief Steward Peng knew better than anyone the hardships the Lord had endured over the years.

The pressure was crushing.

Not only immense external pressure—but immense internal pressure too.

But thankfully, things had gradually improved.

Yet these two sudden Gold Stars, though not catastrophic for Chen Guo, struck a devastating blow to Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao's morale.

After thinking, Chief Steward Peng offered comfort.

"Lord, don't be so disheartened—in one or two years, I'm certain Xu Jin will earn one or two Gold Stars. Even if Tianyang Star Hall claims three this year, we won't fear them!"

"Perhaps it could even help forge an alliance with Cangming Star Hall."

That possibility did exist.

Suddenly, a thought flashed through Cheng Yuexiao's mind—he turned to Chief Steward Peng: "Peng Lao, could these two Gold Stars have been claimed by Xu Jin?"

"After all, he's inside the Star-Picking Tower right now."

After thinking, Chief Steward Peng nodded. "There's indeed a possibility! If those eight Silver Stars were claimed by Xu Jin, then logically, challenging for Gold Stars in quick succession is entirely feasible!"

"But then again, Xu Jin is only Lianxing Fourth Layer."

"In all known records, the lowest cultivation level of any Gold Star recipient has been Lianxing Seventh Layer."

"Lianxing Fourth Layer…"

"Records are made by people! I myself hold the record for the lowest cultivation level to ever earn a Gold Star as a Ningxing cultivator!" Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao said.

"True—but how many in this world can compare to you, Lord?"

"Xu Jin absolutely counts as one!"

"I took fifteen breaths for my Silver Star—he took only ten." Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao said.

Hearing this, Chief Steward Peng murmured bitterly, "Lord, we still don't even know if Xu Jin claimed those Silver Stars."

In the next instant, Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao leapt to his feet: "This is too critical—we can't wait any longer. I must go find Xu Jin myself and ask him face to face."

"That's acceptable—I'll accompany you, Lord!" Chief Steward Peng said.

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

"No!"

"We cannot go together!"

"If Xu Jin truly earned the Gold Stars, our presence would endanger him!"

"I'll go in secret. You, old man, conceal yourself above Xu Jin's residence and observe all directions. This news and our actions must not leak a single word!" Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao said.

"Exactly right!"

In the next instant, the Grand Master and Chief Steward vanished simultaneously.

(End of Chapter)