Chapter 180: Learning the Divine Artifact (Combined 9k-word Bonus Chapter)

Inside the Star-Picking Realm, Xu Jin had just entered the Canxing Challenge!

A Golden-Star guardian and a Golden-Star inner demon, one in front and one behind, both fixed their gaze on Xu Jin, each separated by a curtain of light.

Xu Jin noticed that behind the Golden-Star inner demon, Lei Yi also appeared.

Indeed!

Any star technique used within the Star-Picking Realm, the inner demon learns.

The next instant, the light curtain vanished.

Following his pre-planned tactic, Xu Jin exploded with Lei Guang beneath his feet, flared his Lei Yi, and surged toward the Golden-Star inner demon at once.

According to Xu Jin's strategy, if he could instantly kill the Golden-Star inner demon in the shortest time, victory was possible.

To Xu Jin's shock, the moment he moved, the Golden-Star inner demon moved too.

But it retreated.

With a single flap of its Lei Yi, it vanished hundreds of meters away in an instant, leaving Xu Jin's lunge empty.

At the same moment, Lei Shi rained down upon Xu Jin like a storm.

Simultaneously, the Golden-Star guardian struck from behind Xu Jin, its swordlight coiling like a dragon.

Xu Jin was immediately trapped.

He barely parried each attack with extreme difficulty.

Three breaths later, Xu Jin barely wounded the Golden-Star guardian, only to be shattered by the torrent of falling Lei Shi.

Canxing Challenge failed!

Xu Jin felt frustrated.

It didn't seem too hard, yet he was slain—this inner demon was too cunning.

Thinking this, Xu Jin decided to try the challenge again.

Since the inner demon was so crafty, he'd change tactics: eliminate the Golden-Star guardian first, then kill the Golden-Star inner demon.

Just as he was about to challenge again, Mingji Star Palace beneath his star palace suddenly blazed with light, issuing a warning.

A powerful energy fluctuation was approaching.

Xu Jin instantly exited the Star-Picking Realm and saw a beam of starlight descend directly into the courtyard.

Yet strangely, Jiang Er and Qing Fan, who were washing and drying clothes in the courtyard, saw nothing of this starlight.

The starlight took the shape of a hazy human figure and walked straight toward Xu Jin's quiet chamber.

The Mingji Star Pattern glowed brighter and brighter; the starlight-formed figure gradually became clearer.

Was it the Grand Master?

As Xu Jin was startled, the voice of Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao echoed inside his ear: "Xu Jin, it's me—don't make a sound."

As Xu Jin nodded, the starlight leapt through the crack of his chamber window, spread out, and enveloped the entire room; only then did Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao materialize.

This left Xu Jin utterly bewildered.

What was Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao doing?

This was inside the State Dao Academy!

As the Supreme Grand Master of the State Dao Academy, what could possibly have happened that forced him to conceal his presence so thoroughly?

"Xu Jin, there's something I need to ask you—you must answer truthfully," Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao sat down before Xu Jin.

"Yes, Grand Master, please ask."

"Were you just inside the Star-Picking Realm?" Cheng Yuexiao asked.

At the same moment, Xu Jin's Mingji Star Pattern sensed Cheng Yuexiao's emotional shift—he was tense!

"Yes."

Xu Jin saw that upon receiving this confirmation, Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao's fingertip twitched slightly, as if exhaling a breath he'd been holding.

"Did you just obtain two Silver Stars?"

"Yes! I didn't just get two Silver Stars—I got two Golden Stars too!"

"What?!"

Even the composed Grand Master was stunned by Xu Jin's blunt declaration: "You truly obtained two Golden Stars?" His eyes locked onto Xu Jin with unblinking intensity.

In that instant, Xu Jin's Mingji Star Pattern even sensed Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao holding his breath!

"Truly!

The system prompted me with a Gao Jie Yan Dao opportunity."

At these words, the Grand Master's initial joy instantly turned to alarm; his expression shifted to terror: "You haven't started yet, have you?"

"No, no!

I'm not stupid!

I refused!"

"Phew!"

Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao exhaled deeply, fists clenched, his face betraying barely contained excitement.

His heart surged with elation at that very moment.

He nearly laughed aloud to the heavens.

After twenty years of exhausting effort, heaven had finally granted him hope again.

But restrained by the presence of his disciple, Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao suppressed this wild joy—yet his lips couldn't help curling upward.

But Cheng Yuexiao didn't know that his entire inner turmoil had been sensed almost entirely by Xu Jin's Mingji Star Pattern.

Grand Master is happy!

Very excited!

Ecstatic!

Wants to laugh!

But daresn't laugh!

Does the Grand Master have such rich inner monologue?

Xu Jin felt, through the Mingji Star Pattern, a different Grand Master.

Xu Jin didn't know that above the small courtyard, Peng Zongguan, hidden among the clouds, had nearly fallen from the sky upon receiving Cheng Yuexiao's starlight message.

He could only excitedly rub his hands alone in the clouds!

Golden Stars!

Two Golden Stars in a row!

Under these circumstances, all talk of heavenly favor for Chen Guo was meaningless!

Two Golden Stars are real!

Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao paced around Xu Jin's room for a long while before slowly speaking: "Xu Jin, do you know what these two Golden Stars signify?"

"It says it's a Gao Jie Yan Dao opportunity, but I still don't know what a Gao Jie Yan Dao opportunity is," Xu Jin said.

"Let me put it this way: take the six-tier Mid-tier Fire Source Star Pattern I just transmitted to you. If you use a Gao Jie Yan Dao opportunity, you might push it beyond six-tier into seven-tier!"

"Seven-tier is a Gao Jie Star Pattern!"

"Gao Jie Star Patterns are the true foundation of any faction," said Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao.

"Then what's the use of the ordinary Yan Dao opportunity from ten Silver Stars?" Xu Jin asked.

"Ordinary Yan Dao can only push Star Patterns up to the upper limit of six-tier."

Then Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao added: "Of course, the Yan Dao opportunities from the Star-Picking Tower serve more than this—many Gao Jie Star Techniques were also discovered through Yan Dao."

Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao explained the matter of Yan Dao opportunities and Star Pattern evolution to Xu Jin for a full two quarters of an hour before Xu Jin fully understood.

In the current age, Star Patterns are mostly Mid-tier; Gao Jie Star Patterns are exceedingly rare.

For example, the Tianyang Star Palace knows of only seven Gao Jie Star Patterns.

Within Chen Guo's State Dao Academy, there are only four Gao Jie Star Patterns.

Gao Jie Star Patterns possess immense power, touching upon fragments of Dao principles.

Typically, many six-tier and seven-tier experts spend years—even decades—of arduous effort and still fail to push a Star Pattern beyond seven-tier.

But the Gao Jie Yan Dao opportunity granted by Golden Stars from the Star-Picking Realm might push a Star Pattern beyond seven-tier.

Its value cannot be described in words.

Extremely, extremely precious!

"Xu Jin, for a Gao Jie Yan Dao opportunity, you should best use a six-tier upper-tier Star Pattern, and at the very least, a six-tier mid-tier one!"

"If you wish, I can provide guidance and supply you with six-tier mid-tier or even six-tier upper-tier Star Patterns for your Gao Jie Yan Dao."

"All of this is free."

"But any Gao Jie Star Pattern you evolve must be engraved and submitted to the State Dao Academy, to be preserved as one of its foundational treasures and transmitted to select disciples."

"Of course, you face no restrictions on teaching or using the Gao Jie Star Pattern you evolve."

"But whenever you teach it to anyone, you must report it to the Dao Academy, and the recipient must accept the sealing of the Jiusheng Bianzhong."

Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao didn't beat around the bush—he spoke directly and plainly to Xu Jin.

"Of course I accept! Such a great opportunity—I'd be a fool to refuse!"

"Good, good, good!"

Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao said "good" three times in succession: "As compensation, for every Golden Star you use, the State Dao Academy will grant you one six-tier Star Pattern."

"Moreover, when your cultivation reaches the point where you can learn seven-tier Star Patterns or Gao Jie Star Techniques, you may directly choose any one seven-tier Star Pattern or Gao Jie Star Technique from the Academy's collection."

"No need to meet any of the usual strict conditions."

The Grand National Master spoke these words very directly, and Xu Jin liked such straightforward people.

No unnecessary roundaboutness—how nice!

"By the way, once your cultivation base breaks through, do you have any chance of securing one or two Golden Stars?" Grand National Master Cheng Yuexiao asked cautiously.

"Once I break through to Star Refinement Fifth Layer, I should at least get one Golden Star, right?" Xu Jin hesitated.

Grand National Master Cheng Yuexiao clenched his fist tightly, too excited to speak.

"Keep it secret!"

"This matter is of utmost importance! You must not mention anything about Golden Stars to anyone—even Silver Stars, try to mention as little as possible, understood?"

"If this leaks, unless I guard you personally, your safety cannot be guaranteed!" said Grand National Master Cheng Yuexiao.

"Is it that serious?" Xu Jin was stunned.

"Let me put it this way: if you secure one or two more Golden Stars, and everything goes smoothly, within a few years, the two Star Palaces' selection of the best among us will become history!" said Cheng Yuexiao.

"That powerful?"

"Of course!"

"I understand!"

After pacing a few more steps in place, Grand National Master Cheng Yuexiao suddenly pulled out five emblems and handed them to Xu Jin.

There were five in total!

As the Mingji Star Emblems activated, Xu Jin immediately sensed their ranks.

Four of them were Fifth-Rank Superior Emblems.

"These two are Fifth-Rank Superior Emblems: Qinglan. If used properly by a cultivator below the late stage of Fifth-Rank Gathering Stars, they can instantly obliterate an opponent. Even a cultivator at late Fifth-Rank Gathering Stars or early Sixth-Rank Cloud Tower can withstand one or two strikes."

"These two are Fifth-Rank Superior Emblems: Shanxi. They are defensive, with power comparable to Qinglan."

"All of these are for your survival!"

"The last one is called the Small Dip Turning Star Emblems. Keep it safe—do not use it unless absolutely desperate," said Cheng Yuexiao.

Looking at the five emblems, Xu Jin felt a flicker of excitement—he now had survival treasures, but he needed to understand their functions.

"Grand National Master, this Small Dip Turning Star Emblem is a spatial teleportation device, right? How many miles can it move me?" Xu Jin felt he had guessed most of its function.

"It doesn't teleport you! If you activate it, it teleports me!"

"Within a thousand li, I can appear beside you in an instant," said Grand National Master Cheng Yuexiao.

Xu Jin was stunned.

So it wasn't teleportation—it was a summoning.

But that was still incredibly powerful.

This Small Dip Turning Star Emblem was essentially a supreme summoning technique—directly calling the Grand National Master to your side. This was an absolute survival trump card!

Seeing Xu Jin's excited expression, the Grand National Master added again, "Remember, you must not use this Small Dip Turning Star Emblem unless you're in absolute desperation—because right now, it's a peerless artifact."

"Once you use it, it's gone."

"Huh?"

Xu Jin was stunned. "Grand National Master, can't you craft another one?"

"No."

Hearing that, Xu Jin realized he had to be extremely careful—not to waste it frivolously.

"Also, regarding your usage of Silver Stars and Golden Stars, I've already made preliminary arrangements, prioritizing enhancing your combat power."

"Once you've?" Grand National Master Cheng Yuexiao asked.

"Shouldn't be a problem."

"Then, when the time comes, exchange ten Silver Stars for one ordinary Star Pattern Deduction opportunity, then deduce a mid-tier Fire Star Pattern. After one ordinary deduction, use a high-tier deduction!"

"Star Patterns you deduce yourself have no rank restrictions—you can use them directly!"

"At that point, your combat power will surge again," said Grand National Master Cheng Yuexiao.

Hearing this, Xu Jin's heart stirred, and he quickly asked, "Grand National Master, what rank must others reach to learn high-tier Star Patterns above Seventh Rank?"

"The minimum requirement is Fifth-Rank Gathering Stars to even have a chance to learn Seventh-Rank Star Patterns—but they are extremely difficult to master. Usually, only those at peak Fifth-Rank or Sixth-Rank Cloud Tower can successfully comprehend and inscribe a Seventh-Rank Star Pattern."

"The nature of Seventh-Rank Star Patterns—you'll understand once you deduce one yourself. A thousand cultivators, a thousand variations!"

"Low- and mid-tier Star Patterns only require learning and copying, but high-tier Star Patterns require comprehension!"

Today, the Grand National Master was unusually excited and talkative.

Before leaving, he gave Xu Jin one more task.

The Grand National Master required Xu Jin to spend one hour daily in the National Dao Academy's library studying Fire Star Pattern Deduction Manuscripts.

That way, when Xu Jin used his Deduction opportunities, he would achieve twice the results with half the effort!

Access rights had already been granted to Xu Jin.

After giving a few more instructions, Grand National Master Cheng Yuexiao glanced back at Xu Jin once more, then dissolved into starlight and vanished silently. In the courtyard, Jiang Er and Qing Fan remained utterly unaware.

Above the clouds in the sky, Grand National Master Cheng Yuexiao had just met with Director Peng and was already rubbing his hands together in excitement.

The next instant, Cheng Yuexiao and Director Peng returned to Danxia Academy. The moment the starlight rose, Grand National Master Cheng Yuexiao burst into loud laughter.

"Heaven has not forsaken me!"

"Heaven has not forsaken me!"

Even Director Peng's face lit up with joy, his wrinkles spreading like blooming pear blossoms.

"Director Peng, do you still have any Sixth-Rank Emblems in the treasury?" Cheng Yuexiao suddenly asked.

"It's been many years since we had any."

"What about the Master's private collection?" Cheng Yuexiao asked again.

Hearing this, Director Peng chuckled bitterly. "Don't you remember? The only one you used yourself seventeen years ago when you were in danger."

Cheng Yuexiao slapped his forehead. "Then can we buy one on the market? Or at an auction?"

"I must get Xu Jin a Sixth-Rank Emblem."

Director Peng shook his head. "No Sixth-Rank Emblems have ever been sold on the market! One Sixth-Rank Emblem equals a full-power strike from a Sixth-Rank expert—these are treasured relics kept in reserve."

"No one ever brings them out for sale!"

Here, Director Peng added, "If I recall correctly, the imperial palace should still have two or three."

"Then forget it."

Grand National Master Cheng Yuexiao shook his head. "Even the Emperor and Crown Prince don't have enough! Those things are as vital as their lives—they won't give them up!"

"Forget it, Director Peng. Prepare one thousand Fifth-Rank Star Jade Tablets and fifty Sixth-Rank Star Jade Tablets for me."

"I'll find time to try making a few myself."

"Master, this will consume a tremendous amount of time."

"Even one hour a day won't delay anything important! Try it!"

"If we succeed!"

"Then in the future, every top genius of our Chen Guo Dao Academy will have at least one Fifth- or Sixth-Rank Emblem!" said Grand National Master Cheng Yuexiao.

No sooner had he finished speaking than the Star-Picking Token in his hand began vibrating repeatedly.

Grand National Master looked and suddenly laughed. "Look, trouble's coming—I need to put on a good show!"

As one of the world's supreme few, each possessed a Star-Picking Token with Fourth- or Fifth-Rank—or higher—access rights. Thus, the world's top decision-makers had a private chat group within the Star-Picking Tower.

But only the most elite were allowed to join, and usually no one spoke.

Yet today, this long-silent group suddenly came alive.

"Star Lord Tianyang, congratulations! Your Tianyang Star Palace has claimed two Golden Stars in a row—shouldn't you show some generosity?" The speaker was Zhen'e Star Lord, one of the three surviving Star Lords from the Zhen'e Star Palace.

Seeing this, Cheng Yuexiao immediately posted a message.

"Star Lord Tianyang, congratulations! Your Tianyang Star Palace has claimed two Golden Stars in a row—shouldn't you show some generosity?"

Two messages in quick succession brought the dead group back to life.

Instantly, wave after wave of congratulatory messages followed.

The Da Chu Dao Academy, the Da Hong Emperor, and finally Star Lord Cangming all offered their congratulations.

One after another, the praises finally forced Star Lord Tianyang to respond.

"I checked—it wasn't us who claimed those two Golden Stars." "Stingy!"

Cheng Yuexiao was the first to reply. "Star Lord Tianyang, if you're too stingy to toss around a bit of starlight, you don't have to be this miserly! Two Golden Stars—besides your Tianyang Star Palace, who else has the strength?"

I checked—these two golden stars aren't from our Star Hall. "Stingy!"

Cheng Yuexiao spoke first: "Star Lord Tianyang, if you're too miserly to spare a bit of starlight to play with, don't be so stingy!"

Two golden stars—aside from your Star Hall of Tianyang, who else has the strength to possess them?

A barrage of replies left the newly surfaced Star Lord Tianyang bewildered. After a long pause, he coldly replied, "Cheng, stop stirring up trouble! I said it wasn't us—it wasn't us!"

"If my Tianyang Star Palace had claimed two Golden Stars, plus the one before, we'd have three this year!"

"Then I'll invade Chen Guo in six months and empty your national treasury for everyone's amusement!"

"Welcome! I'll personally come to greet Star Lord Tianyang when you arrive!" Cheng Yuexiao smiled warmly.

"Too bad I didn't get them—if I had, I'd have seriously considered it!"

"Cheng, you've become more and more deserving of a beating over the years!"

Welcome!

At that time, I will certainly come in person to welcome Lord Tianyang!

Too bad I don't have it, otherwise I really would have considered it!

Cheng, over the years you've become increasingly deserving of a beating!

"Star Lord Tianyang, your mouth has gotten even fouler!"

"Huh? Not from Star Palace Tianyang? Then who? Could it be Star Palace Cangming?"

"Star Lord Cangming, you're the best at pretending! Your Star Palace has already claimed two Golden Stars—still sitting here watching the show?"

"Exactly! Exactly!"

You pretend in front of the young ones, but among us, can you stop pretending?" Cheng Yuexiao seized the chance to add another jab as attention shifted toward Star Palace Cangming.

"Cangming's the best at pretending—that's true!"

His disciples really did claim two Golden Stars—he'd never admit it, even if beaten to death!" The Star Lord Tianyang, just moments ago bombarded by the crowd, now spoke up.

A group of the world's top-tier beings erupted into verbal warfare.

Star Lord Cangming: "???"

After a long silence, just as everyone assumed it was Star Palace Cangming's disciple who claimed the two Golden Stars, Star Lord Cangming suddenly said, "If my Star Palace's disciple claimed two Golden Stars, the Emperor of Da Chu could be replaced tomorrow!"

Grand Master of Da Chu: "."

"Then whose is it? Star Lord Zhen'e, you were the first to jump up—surely you're not trying to cover up your own involvement?" Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao suddenly spoke again, instantly making Star Lord Zhen'e leap to his feet.

For a time, this elite group's conversation ballooned into hundreds of messages.

If Xu Jin saw this, he'd surely laugh—everyone's just spamming a group chat.

Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao was burning a damn good pot!

The verbal brawl in the group lasted half an hour and yielded no results.

In the past, whenever someone claimed a Golden Star—no matter whose—it would immediately jump forward to claim credit.

It was an honor!

And a sign of strength!

But this time, with two Golden Stars added in succession, no one claimed them!

The reason was simple.

The value of two Golden Stars was at least triple that of one, with immense strategic weight.

Simultaneously, two Golden Stars appearing in quick succession meant the one who claimed them was extraordinarily powerful—and likely to claim more.

If they claimed even one or two more, accumulating three or four Golden Stars would be terrifying in strategic terms!

Whoever revealed or admitted it would instantly become the target of joint suppression by all other factions!

Joking aside, look at how many Golden Stars each side had gathered over the past two decades.

Da Chu and Da Hong each gained one in the past twenty years.

In the past two decades, Star Palace Tianyang gained two, Star Palace Cangming gained two, and the Da Chen State Dao Academy gained three.

This is still an era brimming with geniuses.

Look back a hundred years.

Da Hong, over the past century, had gained only three Golden Stars total.

The terrifying value of two Golden Stars added in mere half a minute—with potential for one or two more—goes without saying.

No one claiming them was perfectly normal.

But behind the silence, Da Chu, Da Hong, Star Palace Tianyang, Star Palace Cangming, and Star Palace Zhen'e immediately convened their highest-level intelligence meetings.

All overt and covert resources were mobilized.

Searching for every clue, compiling intelligence, analyzing shifts among factions—to uncover which power had claimed the two new Golden Stars!

Da Chen held similar meetings, no less frequent.

After the verbal battle ended, Luo Bing, Grand Director of the Chunyu Bureau, gathered his intelligence chiefs. Then, the Imperial Court's Grand Supervisor Chu, who answered only to the palace, was summoned, along with military representatives.

When Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao appeared, he revealed that one faction had claimed two Golden Stars in rapid succession.

He issued orders.

Use every means possible—spend any cost—to find out which elite genius from which faction had claimed both Golden Stars!

The operation was massive.

He knew how to play the full role—the Grand Master understood theater well.

Xu Jin knew nothing of this. Because he had claimed two Golden Stars in succession, every intelligence department in the mortal world was now operating at full speed.

On the very first day, several spies were exposed in the Star Palaces and Dao Academies due to overly bold actions.

Even within the Da Chen State Dao Academy, two suspicious individuals were discovered.

Then, under Director Peng's command, the Danxia Guard traced the leads and unearthed seven more.

That night, heads rolled within the Da Chen State Dao Academy.

Behind those seven spies lay connections to hundreds more.

Suddenly, the air within the Da Chen State Dao Academy was thick with bloodlust.

Unsurprisingly, the three Star Palaces, Da Chu and Da Hong, were the same.

Da Hong, in particular, slaughtered so many that thousands lost their heads in a single night.

Xu Jin knew nothing of this.

At the time these events unfolded, Xu Jin was lamenting his failed attempt to conquer Canxing again!

This time, Xu Jin learned from his previous failure.

He did not prioritize attacking the Golden Core heart demon; instead, he targeted the Golden Core guardian first.

In his last battle, the Golden Core heart demon had fled far away to create distance.

If it did the same this time, Xu Jin might have claimed Canxing.

But Xu Jin had underestimated the heart demon!

As Xu Jin charged the Golden Core guardian, the Golden Core heart demon did not retreat—it struck directly from behind Xu Jin.

Thunder surged down. Even though Xu Jin used surprise to eliminate the Golden Core guardian in one blow,

he was still caught and slain by the Golden Core heart demon!

Challenge failed!

But Xu Jin now understood why.

His Level Four Star Refinement defense was far too weak compared to Level Four Star Condensation offense.

It was all one-shot bursts—nothing could hold.

If he could just fix this problem, he might stand a chance to win and claim Canxing!

But Xu Jin did not obtain Canxing tonight.

Had he obtained it,

it would have been a historic breakthrough!

Wouldn't every head of every Star Palace and faction go mad?

Every intelligence agency would spare no cost to find this person.

Even without proof—just suspicion would be enough to authorize an assassination.

It would erupt into the most extreme bloodshed imaginable!

On the morning of September 16, Xu Jin broke through to Star Refinement Level Five.

But Xu Jin visibly became busier.

After morning cultivation, Xu Jin immediately entered the Star Lamp and began grinding Star Patterns.

In the afternoon, Xu Jin arrived at the Da Chen State Dao Academy's library.

Holding the Star Picking Token, he ascended floor by floor.

Originally, as a True Disciple, Xu Jin's access was limited to the third floor.

But with the Grand Master's authorization, he ascended straight to the sixth floor.

The sixth floor held the cultivation insights and Star Pattern/Star Art derivations of Da Chen's past masters.

Xu Jin randomly picked up one book. One page suddenly caught his eye.

"Most people derive Star Arts within existing frameworks—that's the fundamental reason Star Art derivation fails or cannot produce high-level Star Arts!"

Existing frameworks cannot yield high-level Star Arts.

One must break free from existing frameworks, freely combining and pairing elements, to possibly derive high-level Star Arts.

Traditional pairings—Wind and Thunder, Thunder and Fire, Fire and Wood, Metal and Water, Metal and Fire, Earth and Wood—all can derive mid-level Star Arts. But why are high-level Star Arts so rarely derived under these frameworks?"

This content left Xu Jin half-understanding, yet strangely fascinating.

But the manuscript's margins contained dozens of annotations by past masters.

"Alright, this combination ruined one of my Stars—future disciples, remember: this combo is useless."

"This Star Pattern combination is mutually destructive—its power weakens over time. Remember."

Each annotation made Xu Jin laugh at first, but soon he couldn't laugh anymore.

One simple note meant a Star had been ruined. Some had ruined multiple Stars.

The cost was enormous.

After flipping through randomly for a while, Xu Jin followed the Grand Master's catalog and began studying from the most basic manual.

"Elementary Fire Source Star Pattern Analysis"

At first, Xu Jin found it dreadfully dull.

Like studying math in his past life.

But then—suddenly—a flash of insight struck him.

This Elementary Fire Source Star Pattern Analysis was, in fact, a step-by-step dissection of the elementary Fire Source Star Pattern, followed by its reconstruction, analyzing the function of every main trunk and branch.

Originally, Xu Jin had been dozing off.

Because the patterns of beginner Fire Source Star Marks were far more tedious than mathematical formulas.

Could such a simple winding line truly align with the ultimate principles of heaven and earth?

Wasn't that just bragging?

But after Xu Jin found the key, he realized—it wasn't!

After sketching a single winding line and injecting Star Power, he truly could stir a trace of Fire Star Power.

Normally, no one would do this!

Because such casual sketching leaves traces inside the Star Core, requiring later removal.

Only a few obsessive researchers deliberately set aside a Star Core for study; everyone else just looked.

But Xu Jin could.

Xu Jin could use the Star Lamp for demonstrations.

To aid learning.

These utterly boring patterns became easy to learn once applied in practice.

Like theory class versus lab class.

The former only energizes top students, but the latter energizes even the worst ones—even if they still don't get it!

After using the Star Lamp to study, all the dry theories in these notebooks became lab sessions.

From "learn and fail instantly" to "learn and succeed instantly!"

In one hour, Xu Jin had finished two-thirds of *Beginner Fire Source Star Mark Analysis*—not just finished, but mastered, understood, and memorized it.

Before, Xu Jin merely copied beginner Fire Source Star Marks; now, he controlled them!

He could sketch them directly from thin air using a Jade Tablet!

A learning miracle!

This was Xu Jin's discovery of another new function of the Star Lamp—a learning miracle!

With this Star Lamp from the Can Dou Platform as his learning miracle, Xu Jin no longer saw the thousands of senior notebooks in the Guo Dao Academy's sixth-floor library—he saw a treasure vault!

This was undoubtedly the Guo Dao Academy's greatest wealth!

But most people found it impossibly hard to gain this wealth.

Even spending a lifetime might not let them master half.

But Xu Jin, with his learning miracle, could.

It was just a matter of doing the experiments himself.

It was unbelievably fast!

The most direct result of mastering two-thirds of *Beginner Fire Source Star Mark Analysis* was that, back in his quiet chamber that night, Xu Jin's speed in engraving Star Marks skyrocketed.

Xu Jin was currently engraving the mid-tier Sixth-Rank Fire Source Star Mark.

This Sixth-Rank Star Mark was extremely complex.

Even with the Star Lamp, Xu Jin estimated he'd need two full days of intense effort to engrave it.

Especially in his current state—cultivating while studying while engraving—he guessed it would take three or four days to fully complete the engraving of the mid-tier Sixth-Rank Fire Source Star Mark.

But after studying *Beginner Fire Source Star Mark Analysis*, understanding the principles and the variations in the Star Mark patterns, engraving became incredibly fast.

In just one day, he managed to engrave it successfully—though haltingly.

At this pace, by tomorrow night at the latest, Xu Jin could replace the mid-tier Fourth-Rank Fire Source Star Mark on his Middle Star Palace.

At that point, his strength would rise noticeably.

Outside the courtyard gate, Ning Yuchan's footsteps returned.

Counting the days, Ning Yuchan's departure from the Guo Dao Academy was near.

In three or four days, she'd likely leave.

Thinking it over, Xu Jin stepped out to greet her—there was one final thing he needed to prepare for her.

"Sister Yuchan, do you still have any life-saving Star Marks? I've used up all the ones you gave me before—give me a few more." Xu Jin grinned as he approached.

"Used them all?" Ning Yuchan asked.

"Yes! In the Purple Wind Star Region, if not for your life-saving Star Marks, I'd have died!"

"This time, give me more!" Xu Jin said.

Hearing this, Ning Yuchan had already pulled out five Third-Rank Spin Blade Star Marks; upon hearing his words, she pulled out three more and handed them all to him at once.

"These are all handmade by me—use them sparingly! I need three or four Third-Rank Star Jade Tablets just to make one!"

"But when your life's on the line, use them without hesitation!" Ning Yuchan instructed.

Xu Jin took them, glanced over them, then stared at Ning Yuchan. "Not enough. Give me more."

His tone was blunt; even Jiang Er glanced at him, ready to scold him.

But she held her tongue.

After a moment, Ning Yuchan pulled out a Fourth-Rank Star Mark. "This one was given to me by the Headmaster. You face more dangers now—keep it."

"The rank's good, but the quantity's too low, Sister Yuchan!"

"Give me more!"

"Give me all the Star Marks you have!" Xu Jin said.

"Brother, that's too much!"

Now even Jiang Er couldn't stay silent.

But Ning Yuchan shot Jiang Er a glare. "Your brother must be facing something serious!" As she spoke, she pulled out three more Spin Blade Star Marks and handed them to Xu Jin. "That's all I have—no more."

"No more?"

"No more."

"Sister Yuchan, what about you?" Xu Jin grinned.

"I still have time. Before I leave, I can make four or five more Spin Blade Star Marks—that'll be enough."

"Then I'll give you two more, and keep three for myself." Ning Yuchan smiled.

Hearing this, Xu Jin sighed inwardly.

Ning Yuchan truly cared for him.

Before, she helped him; now, she fulfilled his unreasonable demands without reservation!

It really was… kind of lovely.

"Alright, make them quickly—give them all to me when you're done."

"Brother!" Jiang Er snapped, furious.

But Xu Jin turned and walked away, whispering a message to Ning Yuchan as he left.

"Remember that Spirit-Refining Golden Core with completely different medicinal properties?"

"I'll use a secret method to consecrate these Star Marks—they'll gain much greater power!"

"Then your safety on the Star River Battlefield will increase dramatically!"

Hearing this, Ning Yuchan's eyes widened in shock—then lit up with joy.

Jiang Er, however, was hopping mad. "Brother, you can't do this! Sister Yuchan leaves for the Star River Battlefield in four days! You're taking all her life-saving Star Marks—what will she use if she's in danger?"

As she spoke, Jiang Er jumped up and down, nearly in tears.

Xu Jin ignored her. Ning Yuchan, however, embraced Jiang Er and led her inside. "Don't worry, Jiang Er—I'm fine."

"Sister Yuchan!"

"You won't even scold him? You're defending him!" Jiang Er was furious. "You're letting him take advantage of you—why don't you resist? Why don't you say no?"

"No need. I like it."

Jiang Er froze.

Ning Yuchan's answer left her utterly stunned.

(End of Chapter)

(End of chapter)