Chapter 210: Master Zhang, What a Coincidence

Ying Ge watched Xu Jin, who had bound his own hands and feet yet moved with effortless agility, his expression shifting from blank to alive.

But it was only alive—he did not move, nor did he nod.

After a few breaths, the flicker in his eyes faded back into dullness, as if he had remembered something.

Xu Jin frowned and asked coldly, "Do you still recognize me as your senior brother?"

"Yes, I do."

This time, Ying Ge spoke, and he nodded.

"Then, can you learn what I just taught you?"

"I… should be able to."

"Right now, immediately, do it again—Flying Star Step? You already know it!"

Swish!

With a flick of his hand, a whip of starlight instantly formed. "If you can't learn it, don't blame your senior brother for whipping you!"

The one advantage of mastering Star Transformation Star Patterns was this: you could make starlight become whatever you wanted.

"Senior brother, what good does learning this do?"

"I said, learn it first!"

Ying Ge hesitated—Xu Jin's whip lashed out.

This was no fake strike.

Caught off guard and without starlight protection, Ying Ge screamed in pain.

"If you recognize me as your senior brother, learn it first!" Xu Jin whipped again; Ying Ge screamed again.

Outside the door, Ying Boyan, who had heard Xu Jin had arrived, rushed over—upon hearing the screams, the old steward panicked and tried to rush in, but Ying Boyan held him back.

"Do you recognize me or not?" Xu Jin whipped again!

"I do!" Ying Ge cried out between screams.

"Then learn! When you master it, I'll stop whipping you!"

In the next instant, Ying Ge stumbled and twisted under Xu Jin's whip, skillfully using Flying Star Step.

Ying Ge had long been able to instantly activate Flying Star Step—it was the star technique he used most often.

As for triggering it from different positions, it was merely a matter of concept and familiarity.

Because his entire body had been refined by starlight, his starflow was already unobstructed.

Moreover, thanks to his family's support, Ying Ge had once consumed the Calming Golden Core Pill, and had repeatedly ascended the Heavenly Stair to temper his soul. After becoming a True Disciple, he had ascended the Heavenly Stair again and again.

After returning from the Purple Wind Star Region with Xu Jin, he received the Soul-Refining Golden Core Pill as a reward, plus the Heavenly Stair reward, and his soul cultivation instantly forged a star, reaching the late stage of Star Refining First Layer—this greatly aided his mastery of Flying Star Step.

Just over a quarter-hour later, Ying Ge had mastered the trick Xu Jin had demonstrated.

He moved freely through the room—advancing, turning, leaping.

Clearly, after learning this, Ying Ge's eyes were now filled with vitality.

No longer the previous despair and emptiness.

Disability, beyond physical loss, struck hardest through the psychological blow of being unable to care for oneself.

"Have you learned Star Transformation Star Patterns?"

"I have."

"Then learn from me."

Xu Jin said no more—he cracked his starwhip loudly, but from the side of his bound right hand, a starcord extended, flexibly curling around a cup.

Boom!

The cup shattered!

Xu Jin paused—he had overdone it.

Tried again—dropped it.

In mere breaths, every vase, cup, and graspable object in Ying Ge's room lay in pieces.

"Quick, send things in!" Ying Boyan ordered at once. "Send maids—only deliver items, then leave immediately. Say nothing."

Ying Boyan stood outside the door—Xu Jin knew he was there.

One could only say: the love of parents knows no bounds.

After shattering another dozen cups, Xu Jin could now use the starcord to lift a cup to his lips and drink.

In the next instant, Xu Jin cracked his whip and shouted at Ying Ge, "Your turn!

I took a quarter-hour—you have half an hour. Fail, and I'll whip you!"

Seeing this, Ying Ge realized Xu Jin truly cared for him; moved, he also stirred a spark of competitiveness.

"Half an hour? I won't need it!"

Xu Jin merely snorted and stood still, whip in hand, waiting.

After shattering over thirty cups, Ying Ge succeeded.

Xu Jin then devised new tricks: opening doors, closing doors, even helping with dressing—all one word: learn!

If you can't learn it, I'll whip you!

Inside the Cangming Star Hall, Zhang Zhen and Du Tingyun were conspiring via starlight transmission; they had reached consensus on the assassination mission to gain extraordinary merit.

Each side would send three fifth-rank, late-stage or peak Battle Gathering cultivators.

Yet after reaching consensus, Du Tingyun raised a very practical concern.

"What if the State Dao Academy is fishing?"

"Even if they are, with our overwhelming force, plus your and my backup, the assassins will succeed and escape—so long as Cheng Yuexiao doesn't arrive immediately." Zhang Zhen stated his judgment.

"What if?"

"But we can't just watch this opportunity slip away! The moment is fleeting!" Zhang Zhen grew anxious. "We can't sit idle out of fear of Cheng Yuexiao!"

"We certainly can't sit idle—but we can increase certainty. For instance, strike first and lure Cheng Yuexiao away." Du Tingyun said.

"Lure Cheng Yuexiao away?"

Zhang Zhen sneered. "Who's going to do the suicide mission?

Even you and I couldn't escape his pursuit alive, could we?"

"Think differently. Luring him away doesn't mean fighting him head-on. In Wan Yi, there is a force capable of easily drawing Cheng Yuexiao out." Du Tingyun said.

"You mean?"

"Yes!"

"That could work—but I fear we won't have time!"

"If you're worried about time, why are you standing around? Let's act now—who goes?" Du Tingyun asked.

"You go. In that place, your Tianyang Star Hall holds greater authority—and that person fears you more." Zhang Zhen said.

"Fine. To be safe, besides the assassins, each side should assign two additional elite backup cultivators. And you must be ready to intervene decisively at the critical moment!" Du Tingyun said.

"No problem. If you handle your side, our combined effort gives us an eighty percent chance of a flawless success." Zhang Zhen replied.

"Good. I'll act immediately!"

In the Ying residence, in Ying Ge's room, Ying Ge was sweating profusely as he tidied his chamber.

This was Xu Jin's final order to him!

In the Ying family residence, in Ying Ge's room, Ying Ge was drenched in sweat as he tidied up his chamber.

Because the starwhip hung overhead!

Fail within half an hour, and he'd be whipped.

Still, Ying Ge was a True Disciple of the State Dao Academy—after what Xu Jin had taught him, tidying a room was child's play.

Within half an hour, the room was immaculate—even the trash he and Xu Jin had made was cleared.

The only issue: he relied entirely on starlight, and had to take an elixir midway to finish.

"Senior brother, I'm done. Is it acceptable?" Ying Ge leapt back to Xu Jin's side with a burst of starlight from his hips and waist, wiping sweat as he asked.

This time, Xu Jin did not answer—he asked again, "Do you understand?"

And this time, the vitality in Ying Ge's eyes burned even brighter!

"I understand, Senior Brother! I understand—even without hands or feet, I can still live normally, I can still live with dignity, no longer needing to rely on…"

Recalling how he once needed maids to wipe his backside, Ying Ge's eyes turned red.

That feeling—he never wanted to experience it again.

Before, he felt he was useless.

A useless man who lived only because of his father.

But today, Xu Jin's training made him suddenly realize—he could still live with dignity!

"You only understand the first layer."

At Xu Jin's words, Ying Ge instantly glanced fearfully at the starwhip, fearing another strike.

But the next instant, Xu Jin dissolved the starwhip.

"But understanding the first layer is already good. Listen closely to what I say next." Xu Jin said.

"Yes! Senior Brother, I'm listening!" Ying Ge nodded firmly.

"First: your Three-Star Palace is intact—you can still cultivate and raise your cultivation base. You are still a True Disciple of the State Dao Academy. Don't waste your cultivation resources."

"I will work hard to cultivate." Ying Ge nodded firmly.

"First, your Three Star Palace is intact; you can still cultivate and raise your cultivation base. You remain a true disciple of the State Dao Academy—do not waste your cultivation resources."

"I will work hard to cultivate," Ying Ge nodded firmly.

"Second, since you can raise your cultivation base, you can also boost your combat power. You're a fine young man—you're my disciple, Xu Jin's younger brother. You must pick yourself up. I want you to reclaim everything you've lost, with your own hands, one day in the future!" said Xu Jin.

Ying Ge had just nodded eagerly, but before the nod was complete, a shadow of gloom flickered in his eyes, his expression turning bitter.

"Big Brother, I was already born with inherent deficiencies! My cultivation base can improve, but my combat ability? It's cut in half at best."

"I train hard. I must live well. I must care for my father in his old age and see him to his grave. But reclaim what I've lost…"

Outside the door, Ying Boyan had already wept uncontrollably, collapsing beneath the window, barely holding back sobs.

After so many days, his son had finally found his spirit again!

And he wants to care for him in his old age!

Inside the room, Xu Jin caught Ying Ge's meaning.

Cultivation is cultivation, but under current conditions, his combat power would be severely diminished even at the same cultivation level—he couldn't reclaim what he'd lost.

Normally, that's true.

Even Xu Jin himself, without the support of the Can Dou Platform's starlight, couldn't function as a pure spellcaster—the star energy drained too fast to sustain prolonged, high-frequency Star-Strike techniques.

But Xu Jin had come to see Ying Ge today with a plan.

When he was attacked, Ying Ge had constantly worried about Xu Jin's safety—he was a friend worth keeping.

Moreover, according to the Spring Rain Bureau and Danxia Guard's investigation into the assassination, Ying Ge had merely been dragged into it because of Xu Jin.

This made Xu Jin feel even more guilty.

That's why he'd prepared so long before coming to see Ying Ge!

"Look at what this is?" Xu Jin suddenly pulled out a handful of objects.

"Embroidery needles? Big Brother, these look like they're forged from Starfall Iron?" Ying Ge asked, puzzled.

"Mm. Watch closely."

The next instant, spiritual essence surged from Xu Jin's body—and instantly, the embroidery needles shot upward, silver light darting wildly through the entire room.

A continuous hissing filled the air!

In an instant, Ying Ge was stunned.

A stone pillar as thick as a thigh was pierced clean through by the slender needles.

The next moment, Xu Jin suddenly flung a third-rank Star Armor into the air—and in a flash of silver, the embroidery needles instantly pierced right through it!

A flicker of silver passed before his eyes, and the needles vanished, then instantly returned to Xu Jin's hand.

"How about it? Can you learn it?"

"Th-this… Big Brother, how did you do that?"

"Once you master the Object-Controlling Star Pattern, you can do it. I only inscribed it two days ago."

"I don't know how yet."

"I've already asked the Grand Master for the fourth-rank upper-tier Object-Controlling Star Pattern for you," Xu Jin said, handing Ying Ge a jade tablet.

"Big Brother!" Ying Ge's eyes welled up again.

"Also, I've asked the Grand Master for the fourth-rank upper-tier Dream-Warming Star Pattern. Once you master it, your recovery speed for star energy and spiritual essence will be drastically shortened."

"How about it? Do you have confidence now?" Xu Jin asked.

"Yes!"

"Louder!"

"YES!" Ying Ge roared.

Outside the window, Ying Boyan was crying, laughing, and wiping his tears all at once.

"How many Ding Shen Golden Elixirs have you taken before?" Xu Jin suddenly asked. "One."

"Good. Take this one," Xu Jin said, pulling out a Ding Shen Golden Elixir and handing it to Ying Ge.

Ying Ge recognized it as a Ding Shen Golden Elixir, but he hesitated. "Big Brother, the effect of taking a second Ding Shen Golden Elixir is minimal. Don't waste it."

"I asked the Grand Master. If the interval is long enough, the effect of the second dose is still quite good! Also, when your body was injured, you lost a great deal of blood—much of the residual toxins in the elixir were expelled with it."

"So your second Ding Shen Golden Elixir should work well."

Xu Jin finished speaking and chuckled, teasing, "You're being so timid—afraid I'm trying to poison you?"

"How could I think that?"

As he spoke, Ying Ge snatched the elixir and swallowed it, then immediately sat down to absorb its power.

This Ding Shen Golden Elixir was, in truth, Xu Jin's small compensation to Ying Ge.

But Xu Jin dared not be careless—he wouldn't dare mention the Blood Refinement Method in front of Ying Ge, nor would he give him a three-layer Ding Shen Golden Elixir like he had given Ning Yuchan.

The Ding Shen Golden Elixir he gave Ying Ge was only a one-layer one.

Double the potency.

After decay, its power was roughly equal to a normal Ding Shen Golden Elixir.

In terms of potency, no abnormalities would be detected.

People would only assume it was due to the long interval and excessive blood loss.

Even this one-layer elixir with double potency caused Ying Ge's spiritual essence cultivation to rise rapidly.

Perhaps Xu Jin had guessed right—the long interval and excessive blood loss truly reduced the elixir's decay.

After taking this one-layer Ding Shen Golden Elixir, Ying Ge's spiritual essence cultivation quickly surged from late Stage One of Star Refinement to early Stage Two, then to mid-Stage Two.

Before reaching late Stage Two, the elixir's power faded.

A half-stage increase in spiritual essence was still quite good.

But for now, Xu Jin could only help this much.

Three-layer Ding Shen Golden Elixirs and Liánshén Elixirs were absolutely forbidden—he'd be courting death if he gave them!

Moreover, one must first save oneself before heaven aids you!

If Ying Ge could truly rally from this, there would be countless chances to help him later!

"This really works!"

After absorbing the elixir's power, Ying Ge leapt to his feet. "I feel like the effect is almost as strong as my first time taking it!"

"Good if it helps."

"Tomorrow, return to the Dao Academy and resume your training."

"Also, use your Ascension Steps opportunities more often to hone your spiritual essence—quickly push your cultivation to the peak of Stage Two. Then you can inscribe both the Object-Controlling and Dream-Warming Star Patterns."

"Once you master this needle technique, you can commission a custom fourth-rank Star Artifact—its power would be immense."

"Used well, it's a weapon beyond mortal comprehension!" Xu Jin instructed.

"Big Brother, I'll remember!"

Not only Ying Ge remembered—outside the door, Ying Boyan remembered too.

After this incident, Ying Boyan had finally seen clearly the true faces of certain people in the family.

Before, he had never held any selfish motives.

All wealth he earned went to the clan.

Now, he realized he needed to keep some for himself.

Half a quarter-hour later, Xu Jin left Ying Ge's courtyard.

In the outer courtyard, Ying Boyan, overcome with emotion, tried to kowtow to Xu Jin in gratitude for his great kindness—but Xu Jin stopped him.

"Xu Xianzhi, your kindness cannot be repaid with words! If you ever need anything from Ying Mou, send a message—I'll give you ten out of ten, not nine."

Xu Jin merely exchanged polite words and accepted.

Friends—friendship grows stronger through mutual exchange.

Ying Boyan insisted on hosting a meal, but Xu Jin politely declined.

Come on—he'd come out today to handle major business; he'd already spent too long at Ying Ge's.

But long enough—it had to feel real!

And it would draw the hunters out.

Yet the most elite hunters often appear as prey.

That's exactly what Xu Jin had done today.

The only problem: if he dragged it out too long, he feared those few might grow impatient.

Any one of those few—he couldn't afford to offend.

Inside the Falling Star Hall of the Great Chen Imperial Palace.

Du Tingyun, the Great Chen Star Lord of the Sun Star Hall, sat sipping tea.

Due to the battle twenty years ago, the Great Chen Star Lord of the Sun Star Hall was nearly equal in status to Emperor Gan'an within the palace.

But thanks to the Grand Master's efforts over the years, times and circumstances had changed—Du Tingyun no longer dared act as arrogantly as earlier generations of Great Chen Star Lords.

He dared sit only in the lower seat, and only on a brocade cushion!

Why? Because Cheng Yuexiao was coming.

"Your Majesty, when will the Grand Master arrive? You know, I'm about to step down, and my duties are extremely pressing."

"Over the years, while serving as Great Chen Star Lord, I've been greatly favored by Your Majesty, so I wish to settle in advance the cooperation and allocation between next year's Sun Star Hall and the Great Chen National Dao Academy—especially regarding local Dao Academies!"

"I also wish to repay Your Majesty's kindness in some small way!"

"Once the new Star Lord takes over, he won't be as accommodating as I am," Du Tingyun pressed.

"I'm grateful for Star Lord Du's care—I'll urge him again," said Emperor Gan'an.

Du Tingyun smiled faintly, said no more, and let the Emperor retrieve the Star-Picking Token to send a message.

But the moment he pulled out the Star-Picking Token, Cheng Yuexiao's voice sounded from outside the hall.

"Your Majesty, your servant has arrived."

Hearing this voice, Du Tingyun's eyes flickered with a trace of delight, and without expression, he sent a message via the Zhaixing Token.

"Your servant pays homage to Your Majesty."

After bowing to Emperor Gan'an, Cheng Yuexiao turned to Du Tingyun: "Star Master Du, today you and I will sign the revised agreement on the ratio of student admissions between Chen Guo and the Heavenly Sun Star Temple's local branches, including mutual defense arrangements."

"What if the new Star Master refuses to recognize it?"

"How could that be? Once the Great Seal of the Heavenly Sun Star Temple's Chen Guo Star Master is stamped, who would dare refuse?" Du Tingyun laughed.

"Oh? Then where is the Star Master's seal? Surely you didn't forget to bring it?" Cheng Yuexiao asked with a smile, eyeing Du Tingyun.

"Of course I brought it. Come, let's first discuss the details!"

"I'll inspect the seal first before discussing anything else," Cheng Yuexiao pressed sharply.

Du Tingyun had no choice but to reveal the Star Master's seal.

"Heh, it seems Star Master Du is quite sincere! Since we're both busy, shall we finish this quickly?" Cheng Yuexiao said.

"This—"

"Let's start with this: your Heavenly Sun Star Temple's prefectural branches used to be capped at one hundred students annually. Since you wish to repay His Majesty, this year reduce it—how about sixty?"

"Reduce it that much? Impossible!"

"Eighty! Otherwise there's no point in talking—I'm busy. I'll take my leave!" Cheng Yuexiao made as if to rise.

"Fine! Eighty it is!"

"Then, Star Master Du, please stamp this clause first."

In the newly formed jade tablet, Cheng Yuexiao stamped his own seal first, then passed it to Du Tingyun.

Du Tingyun stared at Cheng Yuexiao, reluctant to stamp—but Cheng Yuexiao watched him like a tiger, clearly ready to leave if he didn't.

In that instant, Du Tingyun hardened his heart.

Let it be reduced!

If I can achieve a great feat, what does it matter if the Star Temple admits a few fewer students?

He immediately stamped the seal.

"Good, Star Master Du, you're decisive. Let's move to the next clause: the number of students each province's branch may admit."

At the same moment, Xu Jin left the Ying residence. Ying Boyan watched him long after, until Xu Jin vanished at the end of the alley, then returned inside.

The Ying residence stood in Wan Yi, one of the better upper wards.

Wan Yi as a whole consisted of the outer city, the imperial palace, the royal city, and the most numerous wards.

Between each ward stood ward walls; after leaving the Ying residence a kilometer away, Xu Jin turned into a broad ward road.

With night fallen, the road held almost no pedestrians.

Suddenly, with no warning, the Mingji Star Pattern on Xu Jin's Lower Star Palace flared violently.

As it flashed, Xu Jin sensed six intense bursts of star energy rapidly approaching from nearby!

The next instant, the sky suddenly brightened.

A star artifact resembling a net shot into the heavens.

It covered a thousand meters in every direction around Xu Jin.

It was meant to prevent Xu Jin's escape.

At the same moment, six fifth-rank experts burst forth from different directions and charged toward Xu Jin.

Of the six, four were fifth-rank Joudou peak, one was fifth-rank Joudou eighth level, and one was ninth level.

The moment they appeared, four additional fifth-rank Joudou auras manifested from all around—but they did not attack, seemingly on guard duty!

"Looks like I'm still a tempting bait—so many have taken the hook!"

Watching the six fifth-rank assassins emerge, Xu Jin sighed, then sank his thoughts into the Luanyingzui and gripped two fifth-rank star seals in his hands.

Though prepared, he dared not be careless—he had to stay alert.

His life was his own.

The next instant, Peng Zongguan, his hair and beard snow-white, plummeted from high above—and with a single kick, crushed the fifth-rank star artifact sealing the space.

With a flick of his fingers, three streaks of green light shot toward three fifth-rank Joudou peak experts.

Upon contact, the green light transformed into a net.

"Seventh-rank!"

The assassins who sensed the aura screamed instantly.

Two of the fifth-rank peak experts dodged immediately, refusing to take the hit.

One escaped cleanly; the other, half a step too slow, had half his body sliced to shreds by the green net.

The one who stubbornly stood his ground was instantly cut into countless bloody fragments.

Xu Jin stared, dumbfounded, muttering, "Holy shit!"

Was this the same Peng Zongguan—white-haired, benevolent-faced—who just acted so brutally?

Though three were blocked, the other three assassins still charged toward Xu Jin.

Upon hearing the cry of "seventh-rank," they were filled with despair.

They'd come to kill a mere third-rank Star Refining cultivator—and the enemy had sent a seventh-rank expert!

This assassination was now certain death.

Escape was impossible.

But if they succeeded, they'd earn great merit—the Star Temple's tradition granted generous care and special treatment to the families of fallen warriors.

They had no choice but to fight to the death.

But as the three reached a hundred meters from Xu Jin and raised their weapons, brilliant golden and crimson light flared simultaneously—everyone's vision went blind.

Xu Jin involuntarily shut his eyes.

Yet within his Mingji Star Pattern's perception, a familiar star energy signature appeared.

It was Meng Yanhui, Left Sacrificial Officer.

A sixth-rank peak expert.

The moment Meng Yanhui appeared, he first halted the assassins, then three golden beams shot forth like golden dragons, striking the heads of the three fifth-rank assassins.

He instantly killed two.

The third barely blocked it, but was blasted backward, spitting blood.

One more strike—he'd just risen—and the golden beam shattered his skull.

Meanwhile, Peng Zongguan had already slain the other two assassins.

Far away, the four who had been positioned to assist the six assassins' retreat, the moment they saw the seventh-rank expert appear, turned and fled without hesitation.

Whips lashed the sky; fire shadows rose.

To the east stood Liu Qingzhu; to the west stood Shen Wei!

Both Vice Academic Directors struck simultaneously, instantly blocking the four escapees.

The next instant, Meng Yanhui and Peng Zongguan arrived—and in two breaths, slaughtered all four.

Especially Peng Zongguan, as a seventh-rank expert, swept his hand and obliterated the assassins.

The next instant, Peng Zongguan vanished, reappearing a thousand meters high in the sky, staring at Zhang Zhen, the Great Chen Star Master of the Pale Star Temple, whose face was deathly pale—and sneered.

"Star Master Zhang, what a coincidence!"

(End of Chapter)