Chapter 191: Ning Yuchan Breakthrough

In the side hall of Feiyan Academy, though Manager Peng had left and Zheng Xie had been carried away, Liu Qingzhu's chest still heaved violently.

Clearly, she had been provoked beyond measure today.

Unmarried and already aging!

She had been struck right at the deadliest of her weak points.

Liu Qingzhu even felt a hint of resentment—she had held back just now.

She should have broken Zheng Xie's thigh without mercy to vent her anger.

Can't kill him? Can't even cripple him?

She couldn't strike Master Peng, but she could take it out on Zheng Xie.

She felt like she was about to explode with rage!

It was all Zheng Xie's fault.

Suddenly, Liu Qingzhu spotted Xu Jin.

The student she had once adored now filled her with mild disgust.

No matter how you cut it, the anger she felt today originated from Xu Jin.

Suddenly, Liu Qingzhu, her chest still heaving, stared coldly at Xu Jin and asked, "Jin'er, has my teacher truly grown old?"

Liu Qingzhu had already decided: she would vent her fury on Xu Jin, personally guiding his combat skills.

Otherwise, this bitterness would never leave her—she'd truly burst from rage!

Upon hearing the question, Xu Jin instantly felt as if blades and axes were pressing against his body.

This was a death question!

In his past life, gay men were tested on this question constantly, and most failed.

He never expected to be tested on it again.

Instantly, countless possible answers flashed through Xu Jin's mind, but he discarded ninety-nine percent.

All unsuitable!

In his past life, women were heavily influenced by explosive information—only rare, brilliant replies could make them ecstatic.

But in this world, it's different.

Compared to women from his past life, Teacher Liu was like a kindergarten girl in certain ways.

"Your age is indeed a bit older,"

The moment Xu Jin spoke, Liu Qingzhu's eyebrows shot up, and starlight shimmered around her.

Liu Qingzhu was ready to strike—this student had been spoiled too much; he needed proper guidance.

"I feel you're at least five years older than Senior Sister Yang Miaozhen," Xu Jin said seriously, counting on his fingers with his head bowed.

At these words, Liu Qingzhu's tense, beautiful face instantly relaxed; her killing intent vanished, replaced by an uncontrollable smile.

Yang Miaozhen, the senior disciple of Feiyan Academy, was only twenty this year.

So she—

Xu Jin continued counting on his fingers, "I feel you're only six or seven years older than Jiang Yuan, that little girl."

At this, Liu Qingzhu was overjoyed, her face beaming.

Jiang Yuan—that little girl—she knew well; she had successfully awakened her star at sixteen and was only nineteen now.

After finishing her finger-counting, Xu Jin looked up. "I feel your age is just this much."

At this, Liu Qingzhu was grinning so wide she couldn't close her mouth; the rage that had nearly burst her moments ago had vanished completely.

"Yes, my teacher is just this old."

Beaming, Liu Qingzhu pulled out two fourth-rank talismans and handed them to Xu Jin. "These are talismans I made using my most skilled star art—Star-Whip Mountain—but the power is only fourth-rank mid-grade."

You survived a series of assassinations today, and your talismans were heavily consumed. Take these two to replenish your supply—they can repel fourth-rank mid-to-late-stage experts. If you encounter a fifth-rank expert—"

Here, Liu Qingzhu suddenly paused.

If he met a fifth-rank expert, the Star-Whip Mountain talismans she gave him—only fourth-rank—would be useless.

Her disciple was so outstanding, so obedient—he couldn't afford any mishaps.

After thinking, she gritted her teeth and pulled from her bosom a talisman still warm from her body. "This is the fifth-rank mid-grade talisman, Sand-Scorch Gold. Its power is immense—keep it for your survival!"

Even against a fifth-rank mid-to-late-stage Judou expert, it can repel an attack—and even cause serious injury—giving you a chance to escape.

Keep it safe. Use it wisely when the moment comes. Don't be stingy, but don't waste it either."

Xu Jin secretly rejoiced and thanked Liu Qingzhu again.

A fifth-rank mid-grade talisman, if nurtured, could certainly slay a fifth-rank expert.

He had just used one fifth-rank Qinglan talisman, and now he was replenished.

Xu Jin felt the Sand-Scorch Gold talisman was pure bonus—extra reward for answering the death question well.

Watching Xu Jin leave, Liu Qingzhu still felt a pang of regret.

The fifth-rank mid-grade talisman, Sand-Scorch Gold, had been given to her by her family when she hadn't yet broken into the fifth rank—it was her last-resort survival talisman.

Now, though she had reached the peak of fifth-rank Judou, in actual combat, a fifth-rank mid-grade talisman, if used well, still possessed tremendous power and could still save her life.

As for sixth-rank talismans?

She had heard of them, but never seen one.

Xu Jin returned to his courtyard and gradually received more related information, but it was all scattered.

Though he kept reviewing, he still couldn't find a clear thread.

Suddenly, his Star-Picking Token trembled slightly—someone requested to add him as a friend.

Xu Jin glanced.

Guan Yiqing?

Guan Yiqing, the Spring Rain Bureau agent who sold him intelligence in Jinshan City—the same Guan Yiqing who had accompanied Zheng Xie just now?

After thinking, Xu Jin approved.

Just adding a friend.

【Your Excellency Xu, I apologize—I was merely following orders and had no idea Commander Zheng would ask that way.】

Came to apologize?

Unlikely—he didn't need to.

But Xu Jin still exchanged polite words.

【I've realized Your Excellency Xu is truly my benefactor. After the Worship of the Star God incident in Jinshan City, I was promoted to Deputy Guard Commander due to merit. I never expected to meet you again so soon after arriving—and the case is tied to the Worship of the Star God.】

【Your Excellency Xu, would you like to know the case details and investigation progress?】 Guan Yiqing sent another message.

【Yes.】

【Your Excellency Xu, bulk price, old-friend discount: three thousand taels, or three hundred Dao Merits.】

Xu Jin stared in shock.

He had turned intelligence trading into Wan Yi.

【No thanks.】

Xu Jin rejected without hesitation.

The assassination must be investigated.

But the main force behind the investigation wouldn't be Xu Jin—it would be the Dao Academy's power, since the victim was a Dao Academy disciple.

Why was Xu Jin in a hurry?

Xu Jin understood his own value within the Dao Academy—its progress and final outcome would certainly be reported to him.

If he wanted details, all he had to do was ask—he'd get them.

It was just a few days' delay.

Why waste money on this?

Right now, Xu Jin should focus on cultivation and rapidly improve his abilities.

【Hahaha, Your Excellency Xu, I was joking! We both come from Jinshan County—we're fellow townsfolk. We should support each other in the future. No, I'll need Your Excellency Xu's protection. These bits of intelligence? Naturally free. I'll privately send you the latest updates too.】

Reading this message, Xu Jin couldn't help but sneer—Guan Yiqing was as smooth and full-bodied as his appearance.

Soon, Guan Yiqing sent Xu Jin a long string of intelligence.

Xu Jin read it carefully and frowned.

First, the third wave of assassinations: Star Temple experts, piecing together facial features from skull fragments and combining them with residual star energy and soul traces, had largely confirmed the identity.

Chang Yikun, a fifth-rank Judou sixth-layer expert of the Cangming Star Temple.

Investigation showed Chang Yikun had vanished for over half a day; the Cangming Star Temple claimed he was on official business.

The corpse was too fragmented—the identity was deduced through layers of circumstantial evidence, not proof.

But Guan Yiqing analyzed: even if evidence proved Chang Yikun of the Cangming Star Temple was the assassin, it would be useless.

Similar incidents had happened before—the Cangming Star Temple merely issued a dismissal notice and did nothing further.

They had dismissed him a month ago—what could you do?

Everyone knew what was going on, but nothing could be done.

Only because of the Grand Master's efforts these past years has Chen Guo's strength grown, making them willing to offer explanations.

Fifteen years ago, when a similar incident occurred, Chen Guo's official documents couldn't even enter the gates of the Tianyang or Cangming Star Temples.

Second, the second wave of assassinations.

The Spring Rain Bureau's tracking experts confirmed the event: at the scene, they detected the aura of another fourth-rank expert. The corpses Xu Jin and Ying Ge described as part of the second wave were likely taken away by this hidden expert.

And because he didn't attack, merely passed by, his aura was extremely faint—tracking lasted only a few steps before it vanished.

The only clue was that the last known location of this fourth-rank powerhouse's aura was at the city gate.

He most likely entered the city.

But the most bizarre thing was the first wave of assassinations.

The first wave had the greatest scale, the largest number of attackers, and the clearest target—Baidou Divine Sect!

In other prefectures and states, Baidou Divine Sect was like a rat crossing the street; because of their numbers, even a single trace could lead to a whole chain of arrests.

But in Wan Yi, it was the opposite.

The clues traced from the assassins' identities and auras vanished completely by the time the Spring Rain Office and Danxia Guard arrived.

Either they disappeared, or they were silenced.

Their actions were faster and more professional than even the Spring Rain Office.

All direct clues related to the first wave of assassins have vanished.

A few indirect clues remain under investigation, but nothing has been found yet.

This report left Xu Jin deeply frustrated. Forget the Cangming Star Palace assassinations.

But the first two waves—right here in the imperial capital, Wan Yi, beneath the Son of Heaven's very feet—Baidou Divine Sect dared launch such large-scale assassinations, and then erased every single trail afterward.

It gave Xu Jin an indescribable sense of absurdity.

Is Baidou Divine Sect really this powerful?

After thanking Xie Yiqing, Xu Jin began pondering another question.

The Cangming Star Palace assassinations were clearly either revenge or because of the four Golden Stars.

Then what was Baidou Divine Sect's motive?

Could it be that the Wan Yi branch of Baidou Divine Sect was avenging the Jinshan Branch?

And even if it were revenge, why not target Headmaster Dong Zhao?

Why target him, Xu Jin?

Xu Jin pondered for half an hour but found no reason for the assassinations targeting him.

Or was it to kill Ying Ge?

Assassinations with no discernible motive were truly the most terrifying!

After reviewing everything for a long time, he still got nowhere, leaving him with a pounding headache.

Xu Jin gave up on reviewing.

Cultivate!

He still needed to cultivate.

No matter what schemes or tricks they played, a fist of iron was terrifying!

Just like today's Spring Rain Office Commander Zheng Xie—no matter how fiercely he struggled, Master Peng would crush him with a single slap!

Xu Jin was cultivating, but assassinations in the real world continued.

Across the real world, bloodshed was escalating, and the situation had spiraled into mass brawls.

Worse still, by nightfall, reports came of several incidents where Blood God Sect and Baidou Divine Sect took advantage of the chaos.

In Da Hong, Da Chu, and Da Chen, Blood God Sect seized the opportunity to kill disciples of state and prefecture Dao Academies and Star Palaces, stirring up trouble.

Baidou Divine Sect also launched retaliatory attacks.

Suddenly, it felt as if war had erupted everywhere.

"Tap-tap-tap."

A knock came at the door outside the meditation chamber. Xu Jin rose quickly to greet her—it was Ning Yuchan.

"Sister Yuchan, why aren't you asleep? Are you worried about me? Don't worry—I'm perfectly fine now." Xu Jin smiled as he saw her.

"You've grown quickly—you can now survive even against a fifth-rank Judou cultivator, even if it's thanks to your rune's power. I have little left to worry about," Ning Yuchan said.

"Then?"

Suddenly, Ning Yuchan smiled at Xu Jin, her vast star force surging, and behind her, a swirling constellation faintly emerged.

Xu Jin was first stunned, then overjoyed.

She had broken through.

Ning Yuchan, who had been stuck for so long at the peak of fourth-rank Ningxing Ninth Layer, had broken through!

Fifth-rank Judou First Layer.

"Sister Yuchan, when did you break through?"

"This morning. It was thanks to you—if you hadn't helped me forge my soul-star and pushed my soul-force straight to Lianxing Fourth Layer, I might never have broken into Judou!"

She sighed, "Only now, at the moment of my breakthrough, did I fully understand why 'without forging a star, one cannot become a Judou.' The higher one climbs in fifth-rank, the more vital soul-force becomes."

Hearing this, Xu Jin slapped his forehead—he realized Ning Yuchan had already broken through when they met in the afternoon.

But he'd been preoccupied with the assassinations, and she was his closest person—he hadn't noticed.

It wasn't until she came here specifically to tell him that he found out.

Then suddenly, Xu Jin's mind stirred.

Given Ning Yuchan's nature, even if he hadn't noticed her breakthrough, she wouldn't have come here specifically to tell him.

"Xu Jin, I came here today to say goodbye."

"Goodbye?"

Xu Jin instantly remembered—Ning Yuchan had been ordered to the Star River Battlefield, but before going, she was required to train secretly at the Da Chen State Dao Academy for a month. Now, the month was up.

"Yes. According to military orders, I must report to the Da Chen Army headquarters at the Star River Battlefield by September 25th."

"I've calculated the journey—I'll leave tomorrow morning, and if all goes well, I'll arrive on the 24th, leaving a full day's buffer."

"So I must leave tomorrow. When Jiang Er's Star Pointing results come out, tell me as soon as possible."

"Also, Jiang Er is a girl—you should pay her more attention."

"You'd better stay indoors, or disguise yourself, or at least inform your Master or even Headmaster Dong Zhao—your safety is paramount! Once your cultivation reaches Ningxing, you'll be much safer."

"Besides—"

Ning Yuchan listed her instructions one by one. In his past life, such advice would have annoyed Xu Jin.

But now, he couldn't get enough of it.

"When you get to the Star River Battlefield, keep in touch with me—report your condition every three days," Xu Jin said.

"Report? Every three days? Dream on. Why should I report to you?" Ning Yuchan glared at Xu Jin.

"If you don't report, I'll go out every day," Xu Jin retorted stubbornly.

Ning Yuchan lowered her head, staring at her toes, then finally said, "Fine. I'll report. But you must be careful too—and three days is too often."

"Why too often?"

"Star communication on the Star River Battlefield can't use Dao Merit—it must use Star Tower starlight."

"Ah, only Star Tower starlight? That's expensive."

Seeing Xu Jin's surprise, Ning Yuchan smiled. "Exactly. Three days? That expense—I wouldn't mind, but you'd be heartbroken."

"How about this—no more than every ten days. I'll report every ten days."

"I don't mind the cost—I don't mind at all to stay in touch with you!"

"Five days!"

"Five days is my bottom line!" Xu Jin said.

"Fine!" Ning Yuchan agreed immediately.

Suddenly, Xu Jin began pulling things out—bottle after bottle of pills, chart after chart of runes.

Seeing this, Ning Yuchan hurriedly said, "No need—I've already prepared my own pills, and I've got a few life-saving runes—enough!"

"Can what I prepared compare to what you prepared?" Xu Jin countered.

"They're all pills—what's the difference?"

"You forgot about that?"

At these words, Ning Yuchan's eyes widened in shock. "No way?"

"You mean all of these are—?"

"Of course!"

"How much energy did you pour into blood-refining all of these?" Ning Yuchan whispered, lowering her voice.

"It's not an exaggeration to say I bled my soul dry!"

Xu Jin hadn't expected that his joke would leave Ning Yuchan speechless—she stood frozen, unable to speak.

Ning Yuchan, who had taken Xu Jin's specially refined Lianshen Golden Pill, understood better than anyone the value of the bottles and runes he laid out.

In value, they were worth more than ten times their original price.

Some were priceless on the battlefield.

Especially the eight low-rank Star Healing Runes.

According to Xu Jin, his blood-refined ones doubled their effect.

That meant they were equivalent to mid-rank Star Healing Runes.

Mid-rank Star Healing Runes were rare—priceless even if you had money.

On the Star River Battlefield, they were equivalent to a life.

And Xu Jin gave her eight of them!

"These things, I—"

After a long silence, Ning Yuchan finally struggled to speak.

"You're not going to say you can't accept it?" Xu Jin glared at Ning Yuchan, his expression as if he'd fight to the death if she refused. "I've prepared all this for you so long."

Suddenly, Ning Yuchan's vision blurred. Just days ago, Xu Jin had taken all her badges from her, and she'd assumed he was keeping them for his own survival.

She hadn't expected—

"These things—all of them—I've forged for you as your lifelines! Yuchan-jie, I have one demand: you must fulfill it!" Xu Jin said.

"Say it."

"I've blood-refined every one—elixirs and badges alike—their power doubled. So I gave them to you, and you must use them all on yourself. Unless your life is at stake, you must not use them on anyone else!" Xu Jin said.

"Mm, I remember."

Ning Yuchan nodded firmly, looking at Xu Jin, lips parting then closing. "But—"

"But what?"

Long silence. Then Ning Yuchan stepped forward and embraced Xu Jin—just a light hug. He caught a hint of fragrance, barely felt the warmth of her body, when she pulled away like a startled rabbit, her cheeks flushed crimson.

"Wait for me when I return from the Star River Battlefield."

With those words, Ning Yuchan fled as if escaping.

(End of Chapter)