Chapter 207: Contempt

Deep night, within a secret realm of the Star-Picking Tower in the Tianyang Star Hall.

Figures appeared rapidly one after another.

Any outsider who glanced would be stunned.

All gathered within this secret realm were the elite of the Tianyang Star Hall.

Each Star Lord and high-ranking official of the Star Hall were summoned to this Tianyang Secret Realm in the shortest possible time.

This was the only secret realm used for the Tianyang Star Hall's high-level meetings.

Soon, a streak of starlight descended, and the faintly visible Tianyang Star Jun took his seat at the main dais.

"Two more Golden Stars have been plucked—speak."

The Seventh Elder, in charge of intelligence affairs for the Tianyang Star Hall, stepped forward instantly and waved his hand, revealing a list.

"Your Excellency, since the incident of four Golden Stars being plucked in succession, our Hall has initiated a focused investigation and gathered intelligence on all disciples."

Currently, candidates most likely to have collected multiple Golden Stars range from the mid-stage of Third-Stage Star Refining to the peak of Fifth-Stage Gathering—altogether, we've narrowed it down to one hundred thirty-seven.

Names flickered with starlight, appearing one by one; Xu Jin was naturally among them, but over a dozen other names appeared alongside him.

Including Wang Rusong, Cui Jing, Fang Ying, Meng Qingqiu, Ji Hongli, Ye Anshi, and other prodigious disciples.

"One hundred thirty-seven? You mean to assassinate or bribe and persuade all of them?" Tianyang Star Jun asked coldly.

"That is obviously unfeasible."

"But after multiple rounds of analysis and filtering, our Hall has refined this list to seven names—these seven, based on all available intelligence, are the most likely to have plucked multiple Golden Stars."

"They are on the kill list!" The Seventh Elder waved his hand; the starlit list vanished, replaced by another.

Seven names, each glowing a glaring crimson red.

The Chen Guo Dao Academy had two names on the list: Xu Jin and Fang Ying—both Autumn Exam champions.

The Cangming Star Hall also had two: Wang Zheng and Li Chun!

Xu Zheng of the Da Chu Guo Dao Academy.

Dai An and Da Hai of the Zhen'e Star Hall.

"Can you deliver results?" Tianyang Star Hall asked.

"I will spare no effort, Your Excellency. But current intelligence indicates that the Chen Guo Dao Academy, Cangming Star Hall, and others have entered full combat readiness since the two additional Golden Stars appeared. Any operation will require waiting for an opportunity." The Seventh Elder replied.

"Listen well—all Star Halls, branches, and departments must fully cooperate with the Seventh Elder. I expect satisfactory results in the future," Tianyang Star Jun said.

"Yes, we obey your command."

In the next instant, Tianyang Star Jun dissolved into starlight and vanished; yet the Seventh Elder, Huang Kejia, rubbed his hands together eagerly—this remark from the Star Jun gave him full license to act.

A few breaths after Tianyang Star Jun departed the secret realm, he appeared directly within the Star-Ceiling Secret Realm of the main tower of the Tianyang Star Hall; the Left Guardian, Wei Hong, followed silently.

"What is it?"

Your Highness, will this provoke objections from over there?

"So what if they object? We'll deal with it when they do."

"Yes."

Though he obeyed, the Left Guardian seemed hesitant to speak; a flicker of starlight passed across Tianyang Star Jun's brow. "Speak your mind."

"Your Highness, I don't understand—these are merely a few Golden Stars. Is such a massive operation truly necessary? Our Tianyang Star Hall's millennia of accumulated power cannot be shaken by a few Golden Stars!" Wei Hong asked, baffled.

"Indeed, a few Golden Stars cannot shake us! But I fear the Canxing."

"You mean the one who plucks multiple Golden Stars might reach Canxing? But no one has ever plucked Canxing in all these years!" Wei Hong said, confused.

"Fool!"

"Just carry out my orders."

The reprimand left the Left Guardian Wei Hong with no choice but to depart, bewildered.

Similar scenes unfolded repeatedly in the Cangming Star Hall and Zhen'e Star Hall.

The Cangming Star Hall, Zhen'e Star Hall, and Da Chu Guo Dao Academy all produced similar lists.

Yet in every list, Xu Jin's name appeared—marked in blood-red.

More uniformly, after the two additional Golden Stars appeared in the Star-Picking Realm, all factions immediately raised their alert status to maximum; several national Dao Academies entered combat readiness, and Star Halls imposed temporary lockdowns, banning all entry or exit.

Especially the Cangming Star Hall, which suffered heavy losses in the previous assassination wave, recalled all disciples at once and activated the Star Hall's and each nation's main temple's protective arrays.

Even Da Chu's capital enforced martial law.

As a result, all factions intensified their operations—but their defensive measures were even stronger.

There was simply no opportunity to strike.

As for previously planted moles and spies, after the last assassination wave, every Star Hall had purged all personnel close to their key disciples.

Elite disciples across all halls had drastically heightened vigilance—no chance remained to act.

For a time, the atmosphere grew extremely tense, yet no concrete action emerged.

Instead, the private discussion groups among high-ranking officials became lively.

"Cangming Star Jun, congratulations! Congratulations on your hall producing a genius who plucked six Golden Stars in succession!" The Emperor of Da Hong was the first to speak in the group.

Grand State Councilor Cheng Yuexiao immediately followed: "To pluck six Golden Stars in succession—Canxing must be within reach. Congratulations!"

"You two are crying wolf?" Cangming Star Jun, who had ignored them until now, suddenly snapped—this was like forcing the blame onto him.

If the blame stuck, the Cangming Star Hall's losses might grow even worse.

"What do you mean 'crying wolf'? Look—who else has activated their protective Star Array? Only your Cangming Star Hall!"

"I heard Da Chu's capital has been locked down—merchants and travelers are blocked for thirty miles, and starships are now queuing in the sky for inspection!"

"That's an insane level of defense!"

"I think your Cangming Star Hall has truly unearthed something huge," Cheng Yuexiao added.

"The Cangming Star Hall's response does look like they've found something huge! I suspect they didn't just pluck Golden Stars—they plucked Canxing!" Zhen'e Star Jun said.

"Whether they plucked Canxing or not—can't you see for yourself?" Cangming Star Jun, under siege, grew frantic.

"Heh!"

Zhen'e Star Jun refused to argue, merely chuckled—but this only made Cangming Star Jun feel worse.

"Cangming, plucking Canxing doesn't warrant this! Look at what you've done—activated the Star Array, locked down Da Chu's capital! And I just learned your Cangming Star Hall has banned foreign personnel from using the Star-Picking Tower with the Da Chu Dao Academy!"

"What kind of genius are you hiding?" Tianyang Star Jun spoke up.

Cangming Star Jun was now ready to curse.

Who was the idiot who activated the Star Array, making it look as if the Golden Star prodigy was from his own hall?

But if it truly were his hall that produced such a genius, he'd be overjoyed!

Even if he admitted it, protecting the prodigy for a few years with Golden Stars would be worth it!

But now, there was no such prodigy—and yet they were framing him.

Worse, the real family that produced the six-Golden-Star genius was now among the crowd, attacking him, slandering him!

Framing him!

How despicable!

How shameless!

"What? The Cangming Star Hall and Da Chu Dao Academy have banned outsiders from using the Star-Picking Tower? That tactic wasn't even used when the Miling Ji Star Hall was destroyed twenty years ago!"

"Why use it now?"

"Could your genius really have plucked Canxing?" Cheng Yuexiao gasped.

"Cheng, stop your sneering and stirring up trouble! What do you mean 'banned outsiders'? It's just that star-transmission now requires verification and notification!" Cangming Star Jun snapped.

This frame-up was unbearable!

And he still didn't know which family produced the six-Golden-Star genius!

"Well then, let's follow your example! If your Cangming Star Hall bans use of the Star-Picking Tower, we'll ban it too—let's see who blinks first," Zhen'e Star Jun said.

"What do you mean 'follow your example'? Your own Star Tower is your business—don't drag me into it," Cangming Star Jun said. "If you all learn from them, we'll learn too!" the Emperor of Da Hong added.

"Since you're all learning from them, our Chen Guo Dao Academy will follow Cangming Star Hall's example—we'll revoke external access to our Star-Picking Tower."

"Cheng, you said 'follow your example'—"

"Then our Tianyang Star Hall will also follow Cangming Star Hall's example. Effective immediately, we revoke external access to our Star-Picking Tower," Tianyang Star Jun said.

"That's your own decision—what does it have to do with our Cangming Star Hall?"

"You're all just using my name as an excuse—"

"You—"

"—"

After cursing a few more times, Cangming Star Jun helplessly realized everyone in the group had vanished—no one spoke another word.

As if the decision had been collectively agreed upon.

"Those bastards!"

Leaving in fury, Cangming Star Jun immediately convened another meeting—he wanted to know who the fool was who caused such a commotion!

Inside the Danxia Academy, Grand State Councilor Cheng Yuexiao, having just exited the group, burst into loud laughter.

He laughed with utter delight.

He hadn't expected the Cangming Star Hall to be so perfect.

Such an extreme reaction clearly stemmed from the death of their top disciple, Yu Xingye, in the previous assassination—but who cared?

Muddying the waters was all that mattered.

October 1st, Xu Jin spent the entire day immersed in cultivation and refining Star Patterns—of course, he also spent considerable time in the Dao Academy's library.

Now, Xu Jin had turned his daily minimum two-hour study session in the Dao Academy's library into an unbreakable routine.

As for cultivation advancement, Xu Jin slightly slowed down.

Cultivation advancement mainly comes from morning and evening rituals.

He even gave up time at the Flying Swallow Academy's Star Gathering Array, just to study more from the State Dao Academy's library.

Before he deduced the star patterns, Xu Jin believed improving cultivation was the priority.

But after deducing the star patterns, Xu Jin realized these foundational knowledge were the most important.

It was laying groundwork for the future.

If he mastered all of this, his thoughts when studying and using star patterns would change, his points of consideration would change.

Xu Jin had already gained clear insight into this from studying the high-grade Fire Source Star Pattern.

After personally deducing the seventh-rank Fire Source Star Pattern, every activation and use brought new perceptions of the pattern's structure and underlying principles, combining with prior insights from deducing star patterns, accumulating new understanding.

But before he personally deduced the seventh-rank Fire Source Star Pattern, every activation focused only on its power output—how to maximize its potency.

Take the simplest example.

Cooking.

Someone who doesn't know how to cook cares about only one thing when eating: whether it tastes good, whether it suits their palate.

Under this mindset, no matter how many delicacies they eat, they'll only ever eat.

But someone who studies cooking, when eating, pays attention to flavor, heat control, unique aromas, ingredients, seasonings, color, and more.

This requires careful study; just paying attention is accumulation.

With gradual accumulation and attention, the food becomes increasingly delicious!

The same principle applies to star pattern deduction.

If this continues, even without the Golden Star's aid, Xu Jin will one day deduce star patterns himself and raise his combat ceiling.

But if he fails to learn these, fails to accumulate, he will forever rely on others for star pattern advancement.

Understanding this, Xu Jin realized the true focus of his time studying at the State Dao Academy.

It was not rapid cultivation advancement.

It was thoroughly digesting and excavating the State Dao Academy's library—the real treasure.

Only then could Xu Jin forge his own path in the future!

Of course, some say, wait until fifth or sixth rank to study these—it's not too late.

Indeed, it's not too late!

But the insights and experience accumulated from progressing from third to fourth to fifth to sixth rank are entirely lost.

Because those who cook and those who don't pay attention to different things.

Those who study star patterns and those who don't focus on different things.

Without this process, there is no such accumulation.

Suddenly, Xu Jin fully understood a saying—the most beautiful scenery is on the journey, not at the destination!

Completely understood!

On the evening of October 1, Xu Jin gripped the Star-Picking Token again, but this time entered the Star-Picking Tower's third-rank Combat Secret Realm.

It was strange.

Zuiyue Immortal had not contacted Xu Jin for four days!

Pouting?

Suddenly cutting off contact still made him miss her a little.

But Xu Jin thought about it—better to have peace; if she won't contact, he wouldn't either!

He started the challenge directly.

After seven or eight consecutive challenges, all wins, Xu Jin's rank as Qi Tian Da Sheng had successfully broken into the top thousand.

Now his cultivation had advanced to Star Refining Seventh Layer; he had reinforced multiple star patterns, especially strengthening the high-grade seventh-rank Fire Source Star Pattern, causing his combat power to surge.

Still no opponents.

Victorious all the way!

By his seventh consecutive win, Xu Jin had climbed into the top five hundred.

Suddenly, a message popped up before him.

【Challenge Rank 463: Yue Zhongying?】

Yue Zhongying?

This Yue Zhongying had defeated Xu Jin once and fled, leaving him frustrated for a long time—now that they met, how could he not challenge?

【Challenge】

The front light shimmered, and Yue Zhongying's familiar figure—whom Xu Jin had thought of for so long—appeared.

"Long time no see," Xu Jin greeted.

Yue Zhongying stared in shock. "Who are you? I don't remember you."

Xu Jin: "???"

Well, apparently this guy had zero memory of Qi Tian Da Sheng.

Xu Jin had been thinking about him for a month.

This must be what's called a genius's contempt for ordinary cultivators!

But today, things would be reversed!

The next instant, the screen vanished.

In that instant, Xu Jin moved.

Thunder Step exploded forward, appearing before Yue Zhongying; his soul wave surged—just as Yue Zhongying began to act, his surrounding starlight scattered, his face twisting in unbearable pain.

The next moment, flame light erupted.

Flame Explosion detonated!

Yue Zhongying instantly shattered into starlight.

Xu Jin: Victory!

In the third-rank Combat Secret Realm, Yue Zhongying was utterly stunned.

Was he just instantly defeated?

A few breaths later, Yue Zhongying snapped back and immediately challenged Xu Jin!

【Sorry, your challenge has been rejected by Qi Tian Da Sheng!】

Yue Zhongying: "."

(End of Chapter)