Chapter 205: Prologue

After obtaining the Sumeru Star Pattern and the Object-Controlling Star Pattern from Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao, Xu Jin did not leave immediately but resumed conversation with him, as many issues still needed clarification.

In his past life, whether in school or the workplace, Xu Jin learned one crucial lesson—communication is vital.

Many problems become far easier to handle if addressed through timely and early communication, rather than waiting until they escalate.

Yet, time and again, failures arise precisely because communication was neglected.

"Grand Master, I want to know: for my next Golden Star's high-level derivation, which direction should I pursue? Continue focusing on the High-Level Fire Source Star Pattern, or switch to another?" This was Xu Jin's first question now.

If he continued focusing, it would be fine; but if he switched directions, he needed to prepare early.

"Theoretically, continuing is certainly better. But a Golden Star's high-level derivation isn't infallible.

Currently, the State Dao Academy can no longer assist you further along the High-Level Fire Source path. Yet if you directly use another Golden Star to derive the High-Level Fire Source, failure is highly likely.

Even if you succeed, the gains will be relatively small.

My personal advice is: reserve one future Golden Star for the High-Level Fire Source Star Pattern—but only for the future. For now, you need at least half a year to a full year to fully master the characteristics of your current High-Level Fire Source Star Pattern below the seventh rank.

If you gain insights or revelations during its use, then applying your Golden Star's high-level derivation later will yield twice the results with half the effort.

After all, the most critical aspect of using and deriving seventh-rank Star Patterns is connecting with Heaven and Earth.

Even the insights and thoughts you had during your high-level derivation that you didn't use can still be studied and derived on your own—you've already experienced them once.

Perhaps, without using a Golden Star, you can still advance your seventh-rank High-Level Fire Source Star Pattern further." Cheng Yuexiao said.

With these words, Xu Jin's mind cleared instantly.

Many future directions became clear.

Indeed, many insights from the recent high-level derivation weren't used—but that didn't mean they'd be useless later.

"As for the direction of your next Golden Star's high-level derivation, it depends on your personal cultivation path. My suggestion: don't rush. Once you've decided, prepared thoroughly, then proceed with the high-level derivation." Cheng Yuexiao said.

Xu Jin nodded, then asked, "Grand Master, I'm actually wondering: which direction should I use my next Golden Star in to enhance your own strength?"

Cheng Yuexiao was startled, then laughed. "Enhance my strength? Why would you think that?"

"You're my greatest pillar right now. The stronger you are, the safer I feel."

Xu Jin spoke plainly, and Grand Master Cheng laughed heartily.

That Xu Jin considered this point already satisfied him deeply.

So far, every aspect of Xu Jin had pleased him—his personality, gratitude, loyalty, vision, and ability to perceive underlying truths.

As Xu Jin himself said, at this stage, he was deeply bound to the Chen State Dao Academy, especially to Cheng Yuexiao.

The marks and labels were etched deeply.

If Xu Jin suffered, Grand Master Cheng might not; but if Grand Master Cheng suffered, Xu Jin would certainly be harmed.

"My primary Star Forces are Metal, Wind, and Earth. But now, I can also cultivate Fire. With the support of a seventh-rank below High-Level Star Pattern, it becomes a lethal technique. As for the three Star Forces I cultivate, if you wish to learn even one or two, you must first break through to the Fourth Rank—Ningxing Realm.

At this stage, if you want to directly enhance my combat power using your Golden Star's high-level derivation, there are three options.

First: the Spiral Star Pattern. If you can derive it to the seventh rank, my combat power can increase by at least ten percent.

Second: the Swimming Fish Star Pattern. This pattern has extremely strong defensive power and is effective against group combat. If derived to seventh rank or higher, my combat power can also increase by ten percent or more."

Here, Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao paused for several breaths. "Third option: one of the Soul Star Patterns—Poison-Dispelling, Dream-Warming, or Mind-Stillness. But deriving Soul Star Patterns is extremely difficult. Even with a Golden Star's high-level derivation, without relevant experience or foundation, failure is highly probable."

"Pity—if the Lingji Star Hall still existed…" Cheng Yuexiao cut himself off mid-sentence.

As Xu Jin took notes, he suddenly asked, "Grand Master, Poison-Dispelling is a Soul-attack Star Pattern—deriving it enhances Soul-attack power, I understand. But based on what I know of Dream-Warming's current effects, I don't see how it actually boosts combat power."

"That's an excellent question."

Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao smiled. "Poison-Dispelling is a classic offensive Soul Star Pattern—every Star Hall and the State Dao Academy has it, differing only in derivation progress. It's said that before the Lingji Star Hall was sealed, they had derived it to upper sixth rank, but never pushed it to seventh.

The fundamental reason? Its power is too singular.

Think of it like hitting you with a hammer. Deriving it simply upgrades the hammer, strengthens it further, to increase the damage.

But what if you miss?

The higher your cultivation, the more sensitive your Soul perception becomes—the chance of dodging becomes very high.

If you miss, it's useless.

I suspect that's why the Lingji Star Hall never pushed it to seventh rank.

Dream-Warming was a Soul Star Pattern innovated by my teacher in collaboration with experts from the Lingji Star Hall.

Unfortunately, a sudden upheaval occurred back then, and it was never derived to seventh rank.

According to my teacher's notes, if Dream-Warming were derived to seventh rank, it would undergo a qualitative leap—its power might surpass Poison-Dispelling and be far more reliable.

Unfortunately, in my early years, to boost the State Dao Academy's strength, I used all my Golden Stars on other matters.

Later, I exchanged Silver Stars for ordinary derivations, and I've pushed it hard since, but Soul Star Patterns are extraordinarily complex and difficult. So far, I've only derived it to upper fifth rank.

When combined with Poison-Dispelling, its power increases slightly.

But it's still far from the potential my teacher described.

So, if you can obtain another Golden Star, consider Dream-Warming!

This is my unique Star Pattern. Including you and me, only five people in the world know it.

If derived to seventh rank, it might yield astonishing results." Cheng Yuexiao said.

Here, Cheng Yuexiao sighed. "Since we've come this far, I'll stop holding back—don't accuse me of being stingy. I'll give you the latest versions of all these Star Patterns the State Dao Academy possesses.

You now understand the method. Once you've thought it through, you can derive them yourself with your Golden Star.

If you achieve good results, remember to share a copy with me.

But one thing: if you derive Soul Star Patterns, prepare at least two Golden Stars—otherwise, failure is highly likely."

As he spoke, Grand Master Cheng handed Xu Jin five jade tablets, then flicked his fingertip—the Nine Sheng Bells appeared.

"I can give you the patterns, but the prohibition against external transmission must still be applied."

Xu Jin nodded.

In the next instant, Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao lightly struck the Nine Sheng Bells, and a beam of starlight descended into Xu Jin's Upper Star Palace.

Back at the small courtyard, Xu Jin began inventorying today's gains.

The seventh-rank middle High-Level Fire Source Star Pattern, of course, needed no mention.

The main gains were the Star Patterns Grand Master Cheng had given him.

Probably because Xu Jin had so readily surrendered the seventh-rank below High-Level Fire Source Star Pattern, Grand Master Cheng returned the favor by giving him so many latest versions at once.

This made Xu Jin feel slightly guilty.

Grand Master Cheng had been so open with him, yet he had held something back.

Xu Jin had already decided: once he completed and perfected the seventh-rank middle High-Level Fire Source Star Pattern, he would give it to Grand Master Cheng later—making up for this gesture.

First, he examined the Sumeru Star Pattern Grand Master Cheng had given him.

Sumeru Star Pattern: fourth-rank middle.

This was Xu Jin's first encounter with a space-type Star Pattern—extremely complex, more than twice as intricate as other Star Patterns, naturally difficult to learn.

But for Xu Jin, the difficulty wasn't too great.

Next was the Object-Controlling Star Pattern Grand Master Cheng had given him—likely the State Dao Academy's latest version, only fourth-rank upper. This one could be kept.

Because the Object-Controlling Star Pattern Xu Jin received from his teacher Qi Shanye was fifth-rank upper—a full rank higher—naturally, he'd use his teacher's.

Still, he must acknowledge Grand Master Cheng's goodwill.

When leaving, Grand Master Cheng had given Xu Jin five jade tablets, each recording one Star Pattern.

The five Star Patterns were: Spiral Star Pattern, Swimming Fish Star Pattern, Poison-Dispelling Star Pattern, Mind-Stillness Star Pattern, and Dream-Warming Star Pattern.

The Spiral Star Pattern Grand Master Cheng gave Xu Jin was sixth-rank middle—the State Dao Academy's latest and highest version. Xu Jin had previously learned the fourth-rank upper.

Xu Jin's Spiral Star Pattern could now be strengthened; after enhancement, he estimated his Star Art's offensive power would increase by one to two percent.

Xu Jin had previously learned the Swimming Fish Star Pattern at fifth-rank middle due to a reward; now Grand Master Cheng gave him sixth-rank below.

It was likely also the State Dao Academy's latest version.

As for Poison-Dispelling and Mind-Stillness Star Patterns, Xu Jin glanced at them and set them aside.

The State Dao Academy's versions of Poison-Dispelling and Mind-Stillness were fourth-rank middle and fourth-rank upper respectively.

Far inferior to what Xu Jin learned from his teacher Qi Shanye—sixth-rank below and sixth-rank middle, both extremely high ranks.

Dream-Warming Star Pattern was one Xu Jin had learned from Grand Master Cheng while at Jinshan Dao Academy, but back then, Grand Master Cheng had taught him the fourth-rank lower version.

Clearly, he had held back.

But that was normal.

One couldn't directly transmit the highest-level Star Patterns all at once.

Often, giving the highest-level patterns outright could harm students—they were too complex to learn.

Thus, the State Dao Academy taught its disciples Star Patterns gradually, from low to high.

Once cultivation advanced, better, enhanced patterns were transmitted.

The Dream-Warming Star Pattern Grand Master Cheng gave Xu Jin now was fifth-rank upper.

It was clearly the latest and highest version.

As Xu Jin pondered, he suddenly recalled Grand Master Cheng's earlier remark: combining Dream-Warming with Poison-Dispelling enhanced their power.

Once he engraved them, he'd need to study and test this carefully.

As for whether to use a Golden Star to derive Soul Star Patterns, Xu Jin already had an idea.

This matter still required consultation with his teacher Qi Shanye before deciding.

After all, Master Qi was the expert in this field.

Also, Grand Master Cheng said the Lingji Star Hall had previously derived Poison-Dispelling to upper sixth rank, while Xu Jin had learned the sixth-rank below version.

Did Master Qi never obtain the latest version of Poison-Dispelling?

That possibility was very high.

Looking at the pile of star-pattern jade tablets before him, Xu Jin knew he had a busy few days ahead.

He needed to grind the star patterns thoroughly.

Xu Jin first focused on the star patterns he had already learned.

Compared to the unlearned patterns, reinforcing those he already knew was still fast and posed little difficulty.

On the morning of September 30, Xu Jin successfully replaced the Level-4 Spiral Star Pattern in his Central Star Palace with the Level-6 Spiral Star Pattern.

After testing it, the enhancement in star-art power was clearly evident—the strike speed and destructive force of his star arts had increased by at least twenty percent.

On the afternoon of September 30, Xu Jin strengthened the Level-4 Warm Dream Star Pattern in his Upper Star Palace to Level-5 Upper Warm Dream Star Pattern.

After testing it, he felt the power increase was not very noticeable, but the speed of restoring his soul energy had clearly improved.

As for the combined effect of the Break Evil and Warm Dream star patterns, Xu Jin planned to test it when challenging the Golden Star.

It would serve as a secret weapon.

After all, the Grand Master had said the power would increase—it certainly would.

On the evening of September 30, Xu Jin successfully upgraded the Level-5 Mid-level Swimming Starfish Pattern in his Lower Star Palace to Level-6 Lower.

Because the upgraded version differed only slightly from the original, Xu Jin completed it within one or two hours.

Also, right after evening practice ended on September 30, Xu Jin's Lower Star Palace cultivation reached the peak of Star Refining Sixth Reckoning.

This was because, over these days, Xu Jin had devoted his cultivation solely to morning and evening practices, using all other time to grind star patterns and study various manuals, slightly slowing his cultivation pace.

Otherwise, his Lower Star Palace cultivation would have reached Sixth Reckoning peak a day earlier.

Now that his cultivation had reached this level, he must break through to Star Refining Seventh Reckoning tomorrow.

And all star patterns had been fully strengthened.

It was time to challenge the Golden Star!

But it would not be merely the Golden Star!

Xu Jin's goal this time was the Brilliant Star.

Many star arts and star patterns, Xu Jin had never revealed, had held back—even dared not test them—precisely to save them for the Brilliant Star!

Xu Jin wanted to see if he could break the Brilliant Star's zero-breakthrough record in the Star Picking Secret Realm.

At the same time, he was eager to know: if someone else were to snatch two Golden Stars in succession, or even claimed the Brilliant Star, what would the various factions—especially the Three Star Palaces—do?

And in anticipation of such possible reactions, Xu Jin had already devised another plan.

And he had been preparing for this plan all along.

After all, to come without returning is impolite!

Today's star picking was merely the prelude.

In the next instant, Xu Jin took a deep breath, removed his Level-4 Star Artifact, and entered the Star Picking Secret Realm directly.

【Challenge: Golden Star-Level Heart Demon】

【Challenge】

(End of Chapter)