Chapter 216: Preparing for Rain Before It Falls

After the Grand National Master left, Xu Jin, feeling slightly ashamed, had already made up his mind.

Or at the very least, he must harvest one more Brilliant Star.

Currently, he had fourteen Copper Stars, four Silver Stars, seven Gold Stars, and two Brilliant Stars.

Xu Jin had concealed one Brilliant Star from the Grand National Master; that Brilliant Star was reserved for the Divine Soul Star Pattern.

He would harvest one more Brilliant Star to repay the Grand National Master's teaching grace.

Afterwards, Xu Jin carefully examined the Nine-Leaf Golden Lotus Seed the Grand National Master had given him.

The Nine-Leaf Golden Lotus Seed was pale gold, the size of a jujube, covered in countless starlike patterns of varying depths; when his mind sank into it, he immediately felt as if a fish had returned to water—extremely comfortable.

According to the Grand National Master, the Nine-Leaf Golden Lotus Seed enhanced Divine Soul power threefold compared to a Spirit-Refining Golden Core.

Yet Xu Jin's Triple-Variant Spirit-Refining Golden Core had six times the potency of an ordinary Spirit-Refining Golden Core.

In other words, the Nine-Leaf Golden Lotus Seed's efficacy was only half that of the Triple-Variant Spirit-Refining Golden Core.

But even half the effect was still an ultimate treasure for enhancing Divine Soul power for anyone.

The question now was: could this be cultivated?

If it could be cultivated, then the effect—

At this thought, Xu Jin's heart leapt.

A few breaths later, Xu Jin directly placed the Nine-Leaf Golden Lotus Seed into the Star Lamp to begin cultivating it.

Whether it worked or not, he'd try first.

If it didn't work, he could still consume it; if it did, all the better.

At least, Xu Jin had never seen the Star Lamp damage any elixir.

Just leave it there.

At the same time, Xu Jin removed all the elixirs long-cultivated inside the Star Lamp.

The one cultivated the longest was a high-grade Star-Refining Elixir, already cultivated for over forty-two days.

Yet there was still no sign of Quadruple-Variant energy.

It still bore only Triple-Variant starlight.

When he sank his mind into it, the sensation was identical to that of any other Triple-Variant high-grade Star-Refining Elixir.

In other words, the upper limit for cultivating elixirs on the Fourth-Rank Can-Dou Platform remained at Triple-Variant.

It had not increased with the platform's upgrade.

Even if it had, exceeding the forty-two-day cultivation limit offered little practical value.

Whether future upgrades would change this remained unknown.

But now, Xu Jin had stopped trying.

All elixirs had a hard limit of Triple-Variant.

After organizing the Star Lamp, Xu Jin discovered that all nineteen Dragon-Turtle Soul-Forging Elixirs he had previously acquired had reached Triple-Variant, five of which were reserved for Ning Yuchan.

But today, Xu Jin had gained six more.

With a thought, he removed the cultivated Dragon-Turtle Soul-Forging Elixirs and placed the six new ones inside for cultivation.

The Spirit-Stabilizing Golden Core and Spirit-Refining Golden Core he had prepared for his sister had also been fully cultivated.

After this organization, Xu Jin realized the Star Lamp on the Can-Dou Platform had suddenly become quite empty.

A Fourth-Rank Can-Dou Platform's Star Lamp could cultivate four elixirs simultaneously—now there were sixteen empty slots.

The Nine-Leaf Golden Lotus Seed and six Dragon-Turtle Soul-Forging Elixirs occupied seven slots; six Star-Refining Elixirs were consumed daily and required daily cultivation, occupying six more slots—but three slots remained empty.

These three slots must not be wasted.

He must prepare in advance.

What elixir should he cultivate?

Should he cultivate several Double- or Triple-Variant high-grade Star-Refining Elixirs to accelerate his cultivation progress?

After thinking it over, Xu Jin rejected the idea.

One reason was to remain slightly low-key; another was that his current cultivation progress was already quite fast—he estimated his cultivation base would reach the peak of Star-Refining Ninth Layer in about half a month.

Thus, Triple-Variant high-grade Star-Refining Elixirs were useless to him now.

Suddenly, Xu Jin thought of Fourth-Rank.

Since he would reach the peak of Star-Refining Ninth Layer in half a month, he needed to prepare early the elixirs for Fourth-Rank Condensing Star cultivation.

Once he broke through to Fourth-Rank Condensing Star, he would no longer draw so much attention.

Moreover, at Fourth-Rank, many experts focused primarily on the Middle Star Palace; even the top geniuses of the Star Hall would set aside their Lower Star Palace cultivation.

This was what Old Qi had told Xu Jin.

At that time, Xu Jin could advance both Star Palaces simultaneously.

He would need to visit the External Affairs Hall later to purchase some Fourth-Rank Condensing Star elixirs in advance.

Since the Dragon-Turtle Soul-Forging Elixirs were now fully cultivated, Xu Jin, having just finished morning practice, prepared to consume one or two to test their effects.

To see how effective the Triple-Variant Dragon-Turtle Soul-Forging Elixirs were.

According to his teacher Liu Qingzhu, different individuals experienced nearly identical effects from Dragon-Turtle Soul-Forging Elixirs.

For those at Third-Rank Star-Refining, four Dragon-Turtle Soul-Forging Elixirs could elevate Divine Soul cultivation by one level.

This was far superior to the Heaven-Ascension Trial's effect on refining the Divine Soul.

Most Divine Soul Star cultivators, depending on willpower, required eight to twelve Heaven-Ascension Trials to advance one layer.

And each Heaven-Ascension Trial cost ten thousand Dao Credits.

Hence, Dragon-Turtle Soul-Forging Elixirs were priced at fifteen thousand Dao Credits per pill on the market—but no one sold them; they typically appeared at auctions.

Selling a single pill for twenty thousand Dao Credits was perfectly normal.

In short, the six Dragon-Turtle Soul-Forging Elixirs gifted by the Grand National Master were an extraordinarily generous present.

In the next instant, Xu Jin swallowed one Triple-Variant Dragon-Turtle Soul-Forging Elixir, eager to know how much it would enhance his Divine Soul cultivation.

Especially now that his Divine Soul cultivation had already broken through to Fourth-Rank.

The moment it entered his mouth, a clear qi in the shape of a dragon-turtle surged upward into his Upper Star Palace; as his two Divine Soul Stars in the Upper Star Palace spun rapidly, the clear qi was swiftly absorbed, and his Divine Soul Stars began growing rapidly.

After fifteen minutes, the elixir's effect was fully absorbed; Xu Jin felt his Divine Soul power had increased significantly, but his cultivation advancement was minimal.

He remained at mid-stage of Fourth-Rank Condensing Star First Layer.

But Xu Jin felt that with one more pill, his Divine Soul cultivation could break from mid-stage to late-stage of Fourth-Rank Condensing Star First Layer.

At this rate, three to four more pills would allow him to break through to Fourth-Rank Condensing Star Second Layer.

Once his Divine Soul cultivation reached Fourth-Rank Condensing Star Second Layer, his Divine Soul power would surge again, and his Upper Star Palace would gain a third Divine Soul Star.

Xu Jin estimated that it would take seven to eight Triple-Variant Dragon-Turtle Soul-Forging Elixirs to advance his Fourth-Rank Divine Soul cultivation by one layer.

If he used ordinary Dragon-Turtle Soul-Forging Elixirs, he would need at least forty-two, and possibly over fifty, to achieve the same advancement.

At twenty thousand Dao Credits per pill, that would cost a million Dao Credits.

This was truly burning money!

After being stunned, Xu Jin stored the remaining Triple-Variant Dragon-Turtle Soul-Forging Elixirs; given their exorbitant price and scarcity, not a single bit of efficacy could be wasted.

One pill in the morning, one in the evening—this was optimal.

Xu Jin estimated that, barring mishaps, after consuming this batch of Triple-Variant Dragon-Turtle Soul-Forging Elixirs, his Divine Soul cultivation would smoothly break through to Fourth-Rank Condensing Star Third Layer, possibly even Fourth Layer.

With Divine Soul cultivation advancing like this, acquiring a few more Gold Stars in the future should pose little difficulty.

But Brilliant Stars were another matter.

During most of the day, Xu Jin still went to the National Dao Academy's library, focusing intently on analyzing and deconstructing Star Patterns.

After the afternoon Shen Hour, Xu Jin returned once again to the External Affairs Hall—he had urgent business.

To avoid waiting in line and to facilitate his errand, Xu Jin had informed Deputy Hall Director Ling Mao in advance.

This deputy director had grown increasingly fond of Xu Jin; before Xu Jin arrived, he had already been waiting there.

After welcoming him into the inner hall and exchanging pleasantries, Xu Jin got straight to the point.

"Deputy Director Ling, I've come to purchase three high-grade Yin-Clearing Spirit Elixirs to restore Divine Soul cultivation. I humbly ask for your assistance." Xu Jin smiled.

Having been in the National Dao Academy for so long, Xu Jin was well familiar with many rules.

Normally, the Academy would not sell elixirs above a disciple's current cultivation level.

First, the Academy sold elixirs to disciples at internal prices with guaranteed quality; reselling them outside yielded roughly a twenty percent profit, so the Academy permitted Dao Credits only for cultivation elixirs.

Because Dao Credits could be exchanged for silver, but silver could not be exchanged for Dao Credits.

"This is against Academy regulations, Master Xu. Your current cultivation level hasn't reached the threshold—it's difficult to accommodate." Ling Mao said.

"I mainly intend to gift them to friends—it's just courtesy, mutual exchange. I beg you, Deputy Director Ling, to make an exception." Xu Jin had already prepared his excuse.

"That's acceptable, but the quantity must be limited."

"One bottle of high-grade Yin-Clearing Spirit Elixir, one bottle of regular Yin-Clearing Spirit Elixir."

This quantity was within the deputy director's authority.

But when it came time to pay, Xu Jin winced.

The Yin-Clearing Spirit Elixir was far more expensive than he'd imagined.

One regular Yin-Clearing Spirit Elixir cost 150 Dao Credits; the high-grade version cost 500 Dao Credits per pill—more than triple the price.

At checkout, Xu Jin paid 6, 00 Dao Credits.

And this was only enough for five days of his future cultivation after breaking through to Fourth-Rank.

【Dao Credits: 21, 34】

"Deputy Director Ling, I have another favor to ask." After finishing, Xu Jin added.

"Lord Xu, please speak." Ling Mao was delighted; now, he feared not that Xu Jin would trouble him, but that Xu Jin would not trouble him at all.

The more Xu Jin sought him out, the greater his own future gains would be.

"It's like this: I've just learned the Object-Commanding Star Pattern and wish to use it as a standard offensive technique. I personally favor swords. Do you have any sword-shaped star artifacts that can change size at will and be refined?" Xu Jin asked.

Hearing this, Ling Mao fell momentarily lost in thought. After a few breaths, he sighed. "Twenty years ago, such items were plentiful. Many cultivators practiced sword-commanding, especially disciples of the Spirit Chronicle Star Hall. Even more so among those who traded with them."

"But after the Spirit Chronicle Star Hall fell, fewer used them. Master smiths cast fewer, because they fetched poor prices. Still, finding one shouldn't be hard—especially at the Star River Battlefield loot auctions, where one appears every few months."

"I'll keep an eye out for you. But if you plan to bid, Lord Xu, prepare your Star Tower starlight well in advance."

"At auctions, only starlight is accepted—rarely silver or Dao merits."

"Then I thank you, Master Ling. How much starlight should I prepare?" Xu Jin asked.

For a fourth-rank star artifact, two thousand threads of starlight is the starting bid; the final price usually hovers around three thousand. For popular ones, four or five thousand threads are common; even supreme-grade ones exceed six thousand.

"As for fifth-rank star artifacts, bids start at ten thousand starlight threads. Final prices are unpredictable. If you're preparing, more is always better," Ling Mao said.

Xu Jin's thoughts shifted. He glanced at his Star Tower starlight count—and froze.

【Starlight: 395 threads】

This amount was pitiful.

Even the lowest final price of three thousand threads was far beyond reach.

If he exchanged all his Dao merits for starlight and scraped together every bit, he might barely reach three thousand threads.

But Xu Jin, a man of modern thinking, knew he needed financing.

Finance first, grow rapidly, earn more income, then repay debts quickly.

Yet honestly, Xu Jin needed a sustainable way to earn starlight.

If things continued like this, relying solely on the Dao Academy's meager Dao merits, he wouldn't even be able to sustain his own rapid cultivation after breaking into the fourth rank!

"Master Ling, I entrust this matter to you. Also, I wish to purchase fifty second-rank star-jade tablets and fifty third-rank star-jade tablets."

Over this period, Xu Jin had practiced the Star Pivot Star Pattern and Connecting Star Pattern for engraving seals until he mastered them perfectly within the Star Lamp.

So he decided to practice by crafting seals.

Slowly honing this skill could become a steady income stream.

It could also serve as a life-saving tactic.

After nurturing, a third-rank seal could unleash fourth-rank power.

After nurturing, a fourth-rank seal could unleash fifth-rank power.

If he had a hundred fourth-rank seals, he could crush even a fifth-rank peak cultivator by sheer volume.

He might even stall a sixth-rank cultivator.

Wealth and survival, both secured!

"So Lord Xu intends to pursue seal engraving?" Ling Mao smiled.

"Indeed. It's a way to earn income to support future cultivation," Xu Jin said.

"That's a sound path. But why not attend Master Kou's lectures? Master Kou will provide you free second-rank star-jade tablets for practice once you learn the basics of seal engraving."

"If your engravings are good, he rewards you."

"Even if they're poor, he'll personally correct you on the spot."

"With a master like Master Kou guiding you—even just a few words—your gains would be immense," Ling Mao said.

"There's such a thing?" Xu Jin was stunned.

Ling Mao chuckled. "Mainly because you're too proactive. Most new disciples only learn this after three months. But the Dao Academy places no restrictions on talented disciples!"

He glanced at the water clock. "Lord Xu, if you go now, you'll make it. Master Kou holds public lectures every even-numbered day, for one hour in the afternoon, in his study hall."

"Thank you!"

Saying this, Xu Jin hurried toward Master Kou Jing's study hall.

Among the many academicians and vice-academicians of the Chen Guo Dao Academy, many excelled in seal engraving.

Seal engraving was a means to increase both income and strength.

Even Ning Yuchan could do it.

But the most exceptional master in the entire Chen Guo Dao Academy was unquestionably Master Kou Jing.

Master Kou was the only one in the Dao Academy to have repeatedly engraved fifth-rank supreme-grade and sixth-rank seals.

Thus, Kou Jing had continuously held public lectures on seal engraving.

Most of Master Kou's disciples primarily studied seal engraving.

When Xu Jin arrived, the lecture had not yet begun. Many disciples were still arriving in a steady stream.

The hall guards checked each disciple's identity token and let them in without delay.

But when they checked Xu Jin's token, they gave him a second glance.

"Huh? Big Brother, you're here too?"

No sooner had Xu Jin found a corner seat than he met an acquaintance: Wang Jiugao.

Within moments, Ji Hongli joined him.

A few breaths later, a fragrant breeze passed—and then abruptly turned back. "Big Brother, you're here to learn seal engraving too?" It was Meng Qingqiu.

Meng Qingqiu had been taken as a disciple by Kou Jing this year, and her primary focus was naturally seal engraving.

"I came to learn. More skills mean more strength," Xu Jin said.

Soon, Xu Jin noticed the entire study hall was packed. Many latecomers had been assigned seats outside—hundreds in total.

Clearly, many disciples studied seal engraving.

Soon, starlight descended, and Kou Jing appeared, clad in a green robe, with a short goatee.

Without preamble, he began the lecture.

With a flick of his finger, a single thread of starlight expanded into a vast star-screen before them. Simultaneously, Kou Jing's deep, bell-like voice filled every ear.

"As usual, today I'll cover two seals: the second-rank basic seal, Star Shield, and the third-rank seal, Star Fireburst. Those who've mastered second-rank seals, remain patient—this will connect with what follows. As for newcomers, focus on the first part."

With that, Kou Jing launched into an endless stream of instruction.

As he spoke, he demonstrated on the star-screen using Star Pivot and Connecting Star Patterns.

"I recommend you engrave star arts that can be cast instantly. That yields the highest success rate and best quality. If you haven't achieved instant casting yet, lock onto a direction and strive to reach it as soon as possible."

"For seal engraving, master just a few patterns first."

"Observe: the Star Pivot Star Pattern transforms the entire star-jade tablet into a vessel capable of carrying star-art patterns. So the first step is to fully engrave the Star Pivot Pattern into the tablet—but ensure it fills the entire surface."

"The Connecting Star Pattern is the key to activating, linking, and channeling the star-art patterns, the Star Pivot Pattern, and the star-jade tablet's internal star force."

"But the Connecting Star Pattern isn't merely a simple connection—it must be tailored. At the star-edge trigger points, the patterns must be thick and extremely stable. Leave the star-force channel as wide as possible to enable rapid star-force mobilization."

However, connecting star patterns is not simply linking them; you must treat them differently—where the star edge is drawn, the pattern must be thick and extremely stable, and the star force channel should be as wide as possible to enable rapid mobilization of star force.

"Only then can you reduce output time and enhance the seal's power!"

"For example, here—"

As he spoke, Kou Jing demonstrated on the star-screen.

Xu Jin watched, suddenly enlightened.

Previously, through self-study, he had only understood these concepts superficially. He had planned to slowly figure things out on his own.

Yet Kou Jing's lecture instantly clarified every detail he had painstakingly studied.

Kou Jing spoke for two full quarters of an hour.

Xu Jin listened, utterly entranced.

When he finished, Kou Jing suddenly said, "As usual, those with Divine Soul Star Forging, raise your hands."

Xu Jin, puzzled, raised his hand. Instantly, envious glances swept the hall.

Of the hundreds of disciples present, only half raised their hands—and most were last year's recruits, either third-rank Star Refining late-stage or fourth-rank Star Condensing early-stage.

The next instant, Kou Jing waved his hand. Hundreds of glowing points flew toward the disciples. In Xu Jin's hand landed three second-rank star-jade tablets.

"Then let's conduct an on-the-spot engraving test!"

"Success with one tablet qualifies you. Success with all three earns a reward. If you fail three times consecutively—and fail more than three times in my class—I personally advise you to find another path. Don't come back to my class."

Successfully completing one block qualifies you; if you succeed with all three, you get a reward! But if you fail all three consecutively, and fail more than three of my classes in a row, I personally suggest you find another path—don't come to my class anymore.

"Begin. I'll keep records," Kou Jing said.

(End of Chapter)

(End of chapter)