Chapter 18: Star Ring

Wait a moment.

Below the training platform, a group of teenagers cleared a space; Luo Geng assumed his stance, ready to begin, when Vice Principal Feng Shu suddenly spoke, drawing everyone’s gaze toward him.

What trouble is he stirring up now?

“The ground here is too low, making visibility poor. To ensure your instructors can see clearly, please come up onto the platform to demonstrate,” said Vice Principal Feng Shu.

Upon hearing this, Principal Dong Zhao smiled faintly—everyone understood Feng Shu’s hidden motive.

He feared favoritism toward Xu Jin.

If the demonstration took place on the platform, everyone could observe every detail clearly, making bias impossible.

After all, this contest between Luo Geng and Xu Jin had subtly become a battle of prestige between Dong Zhao and Vice Principal Feng Shu.

If Xu Jin wins, Feng Shu’s prestige suffers.

If Xu Jin loses, it proves Feng Shu was right all along—his prestige not only recovers but may even improve.

But does Dong Zhao even care?

Not at all!

Everything hinges on the skill displayed by Luo Geng and Xu Jin.

So, if they wish to perform on the platform, so be it.

Dong Zhao rose to his feet; Cao Chun and Tian Zhang followed suit, while other flag masters and instructors stepped back to clear space for the demonstration.

In the next instant, Luo Geng leapt onto the platform, glancing first at his uncle Luo Kexing, the flag master of the Starpatrol Corps, who returned his gaze with unwavering confidence.

Luo Geng had received unreserved, expert instruction from his uncle.

At this moment, Feng Shu felt great confidence in Luo Geng.

He was well aware of the close relationship between Luo Geng and Luo Kexing.

Crack!

As Luo Geng launched the first move of the Five Stars Killing Fist, a sharp sonic boom echoed—the punch radiated fierce, lethal force.

Luo Geng’s technique already carried a hint of the true essence of the Killing Fist.

The Five Stars Killing Fist: killing is its true essence.

Each movement produced a piercing, lethal sound; as the first technique, “East Harmonizes Yin-Yang,” concluded, a flash of light appeared—a star shield materialized on his right shoulder.

Feng Shu, Luo Kexing, Cao Chun, Principal Dong Zhao, and all the instructors nodded approvingly—his technique was solid and grounded.

The second technique, “West Rises Ten Thousand Stones,” was equally impressive; as the third sub-move ended, a sharp whistle pierced the air, and a streak of starlight enveloped Luo Geng’s right shoulder.

“Starlight!”

“That’s starlight!”

The teenagers below erupted in astonishment—even Chief Instructor Ning Yuchan looked surprised.

Among this year’s Star-Seeking youths, 80% could summon a star shield, but fewer than 40% could produce starlight.

Luo Geng had hidden his strength well.

Seeing this, Feng Shu was overjoyed.

When Luo Geng summoned starlight, Feng Shu knew his placement in the Middle Courtyard was assured.

Hearing the crowd’s exclamations, Luo Geng wore a smug smile, savoring the moment, and intensified his next strikes.

However, in the final three moves of the Five Stars Killing Fist, Luo Geng’s performance was ordinary—he failed to summon any star techniques.

But even just the first two moves producing star techniques were astonishing enough.

Soon, Luo Geng concluded his demonstration, withdrew his fists, and stepped aside.

“Xu Jin, your turn!” said Ning Yuchan.

Feng Shu had wanted to suggest Xu Jin stop now to avoid humiliation, but since Ning Yuchan had spoken, he remained silent.

Yet Feng Shu was surprised.

Because the Xu Jin stepping onto the platform showed not the slightest sign of nervousness.

“Principal, Vice Principal, Chief Supervisor, Chief Inspector, all instructors and teachers,” Xu Jin bowed respectfully after mounting the platform, then assumed his fighting stance.

Xu Jin’s first move of the Five Stars Killing Fist was unremarkable.

As the saying goes: a master reveals his skill with the first move.

Compared to Luo Geng’s powerful technique, Xu Jin’s, developed through self-study alone, lacked the same ferocity.

The basic star technique, the star shield, appearing at the end of the first move, was expected.

But Principal Dong Zhao noticed something: Xu Jin’s star shield was far smoother than Luo Geng’s, with not the slightest hesitation or stiffness.

Still, this alone couldn’t determine the outcome.

We must wait to see Xu Jin’s next moves.

“Starlight!”

“Xu Jin summoned starlight too!”

As Xu Jin finished his second move, the crowd below erupted again in shock—no one expected Xu Jin to produce starlight as well.

Luo Geng’s face paled; he instinctively glanced at Vice Principal Feng Shu and his uncle Luo Kexing.

Feng Shu’s expression remained impassive, unchanged.

So what? Another starlight? What’s the big deal?

Overall, Luo Geng’s mastery of the Five Stars Killing Fist still clearly surpassed Xu Jin’s.

Even Principal Dong Zhao couldn’t overturn this.

But Xu Jin’s Five Stars Killing Fist didn’t stop—he shifted into the third move, “South Sweeps the Six Directions.”

Below, Yue Daqi, this year’s top Star-Seeker, had been idly counting his fingers when suddenly his expression froze, his eyes widening in shock.

“Star ring?” “Is that the basic star technique—Star Ring?”

As Xu Jin completed the third move, a dense ring of starlight suddenly rippled outward from his torso, spreading like waves—breathtakingly beautiful.

“Star ring? How is this possible!” exclaimed Luo Kexing, Luo Geng’s uncle, his eyes wide.

Even Chief Instructor Ning Yuchan looked utterly astonished.

The Five Stars Killing Fist is considered basic because each move corresponds to a fundamental star technique.

The first two moves—star shield and starlight—are relatively easy to master.

But the third move’s star ring? Its difficulty exceeds the combined complexity of star shield and starlight by more than double.

Didn’t Yue Daqi, this year’s top Star-Seeker, take twenty days to summon a star ring?

How long has Xu Jin trained?

Including this morning, only eight days?

Feng Shu’s eyes were filled with shock—but even more with anger and fury.

The face he was about to reclaim had just been thrown back onto the ground.

Principal Dong Zhao’s smile, however, grew broader and broader.

A delightful surprise.

Chief Supervisor Cao Chun and Chief Inspector Tian Zhang remained expressionless.

As for Luo Geng—he was utterly stunned.

He had trained secretly to conceal starlight under his uncle’s guidance, thinking he’d prepared thoroughly.

And now Xu Jin? Not only concealed starlight—he concealed a star ring too! How much deeper can this go?

At this point, the outcome was obvious.

Even if Luo Geng held a slight edge in the true essence of the Five Stars Killing Fist, Xu Jin’s additional star technique was an overwhelming advantage.

Yet Principal Dong Zhao, Chief Instructor Ning Yuchan, all the instructors, and Chief Inspector Tian Zhang all fixed their gazes intently on Xu Jin’s next moves.

The fourth move of the Five Stars Killing Fist, “North Shoots the Wolf Star,” if mastered, can produce another basic star technique—Star Arrow.

The difficulty of Star Arrow exceeds even that of the Star Ring.

If Xu Jin could summon it, his talent in star technique comprehension wouldn’t just be exceptional—he’d be a prodigy beyond measure.

The fourth move, “North Shoots the Wolf Star,” was completed—no Star Arrow appeared.

Chief Inspector Tian Zhang and Chief Supervisor Cao Chun both flickered with complex, resigned expressions.

Talents are rare; prodigies are rarer still.

But keeping a talent within our grasp, rather than letting them be claimed by the Star Temple, is infinitely harder.

The Star Temple is not to be trifled with.

Principal Dong Zhao, watching Xu Jin’s fourth move, seemed lost in thought—his gaze sharpened as he anticipated the fifth.

On the platform, Xu Jin had not summoned any star technique in his fourth move—how could he possibly do so in the fifth?

Yet when the demonstration ended, the crowd below erupted in cheers and thunderous applause.

Only Luo Geng stood pale and defeated.

The Middle Courtyard spot was no longer his to claim.

Xu Jin withdrew his fists, stood calmly, face unwavering, breath steady, radiating quiet confidence.

In truth, had his cultivation level and physical conditioning permitted, Xu Jin could have summoned star techniques in both the fourth and fifth moves.

Inside the Star Lamp, Xu Jin had already summoned star techniques in both the fourth and fifth moves.

Four hours of daily practice inside the Star Lamp were no empty boast.

[Stage One: Canopy Platform]

[Platform Master: Xu Jin]

[Graced by the Stars: One daily bow grants a strand of starlight]

【Star Lamp: Fixed the basic Star Shield technique; can be replaced after one day.】

【Suitable for Cultivation: Zero】

【Star Techniques: Basic Star Shield (Fixed), Basic Star Radiance, Basic Star Ring, Basic Star Arrow, Basic Star Light Veil】

【Can Be Upgraded】

His thoughts flickered to the Can Dou Platform, where the jade tablet now bore five star techniques.

“Headmaster, Deputy Headmaster, Supervisor, Duzhu, Lei Geng and Xu Jin have completed their martial demonstration—what is the final verdict, please instruct,” Ning Yuchan asked.

The moment Ning Yuchan spoke, Deputy Headmaster Feng Shu’s face darkened, and he turned away.

Ning Yuchan was helpless; this was not her intent to embarrass the Deputy Headmaster—she held only the authority to preside, not to decide.

“Everyone understands clearly; no need for me to say more. Announce it,” Headmaster Dong Zhao said.

“Yes.”

“After the martial demonstration, the final candidate to join the Middle Court this Star-Pointing Season is Xu Jin. Do any of you have objections?”

“I have an objection!”

No sooner had Ning Yuchan finished speaking than a voice rang out from beneath the demonstration platform; everyone turned in shock.

After all this, who could still object?

(End of Chapter)