Chapter 225: Flaw

Xu Jin had engraved the Hundred-Change Star Pattern into his Lower Shang Xinggong several days ago and had already adjusted and solidified an appearance.

Xu Jin's original intention was to go for the greatest contrast.

If he, a man, disguised himself as a woman, who would think it was Xu Jin?

However, the disguise insights Old Qi gave Xu Jin made him change his mind.

Old Qi said that disguise is not just a change in appearance; once the appearance changes, the corresponding demeanor, behavior, and habits must all be changed, otherwise, it is very easy to reveal flaws.

Without in-depth research and imitation, Old Qi strongly advised against men disguising themselves as women, young people as old, or old people as young.

The principle of disguise is that without in-depth research, the age difference should not exceed ten years, and if there is no in-depth experience with a certain identity, it is recommended not to change to an identity with too large a gap.

Painting a tiger but ending up with a dog is the easiest way to be exposed.

Xu Jin understood these things instantly.

In the end, Xu Jin's image was that of a twenty-four or twenty-five-year-old young rogue swordsman.

It was not much different from his original identity.

Basically, he just needed to pinch his face and change his clothes.

Besides this, Qi Shanye proposed the most critical point: the back!

Many people easily overlook the back.

He suggested that Xu Jin slightly change his back when disguising, such as hunching his shoulders or collapsing them, or slightly bending his waist, or standing while touching his sword or blade, all of which could change his back.

So Xu Jin's current image was that of a twenty-four or twenty-five-year-old green-clothed swordsman, with a red headband tied separately on his forehead, which immediately gave Xu Jin a kind of flamboyant charm!

As for the cultivation aura, he did not hide it.

The aura of Refine Star ninth layer was directly revealed.

At the age of twenty-four or twenty-five, Refine Star ninth layer was very common, fitting the identity of a rogue cultivator.

And weakness is the original sin.

Third-tier Refine Star is considered weak among cultivators; if the cultivation aura were lower, it might attract some unexpected trouble.

After sneaking out of the Dao Academy, after dawn, Xu Jin went directly to the cargo station at the west gate of the city.

This was the place where Xu Jin had been assassinated before.

It wasn't for nostalgia, but because there was public transportation here.

There were four ways to go to Songzhou: the first was to rent a one-star or two-star warhorse, which took more than a day and was very tiring.

The second was to fly there himself.

The third was public transportation.

The fourth was Star-Plucking Tower teleportation.

Teleportation was directly rejected.

For one, the Star-Plucking Token's rank was not high enough to teleport through the Star-Plucking Tower, and for another, Star-Plucking Tower teleportation was highly likely to leak Xu Jin's true identity.

Xu Jin initially wanted to fly there himself; his fourth-tier star artifact had the Star-Stepping Art, and he had the Practice Arena to assist with star power, which could be replenished at any time. If things went smoothly, he would arrive in an hour and a half.

But after thinking about it, it was too eye-catching.

A young man at Refine Star ninth layer who could fly by stepping on stars.

Anyone who paid a little attention could see that Xu Jin possessed a star artifact.

Because normally, only when cultivation breaks through to the fifth tier can one fly by stepping on stars.

So he chose public transportation.

Public transportation in this world was not developed, but it existed between major cities; star boats of major merchant fleets, as long as you paid silver, could carry people. Xu Jin had inquired about this long ago.

"Songzhou City, little brother, in an hour, the Yuanfeng Merchant Fleet has a large star boat flying to Songzhou, with an estimated voyage of three hours, a one-way price of six hundred taels, and a round-trip price of one thousand taels. How would you like to buy, little brother?"

"One-way, I guess."

"Alright, one guest for Yuanfeng Number Two."

After paying the silver, a guard immediately took Xu Jin to the star boat dock, handed over the token to the star boat captain on the spot, and a steward led Xu Jin to the middle of the star boat deck.

"This young master, because we are a merchant ship, the activity area for all guests is limited to the front cabin deck. If there is any trespassing, serious offenders may encounter attacks from our offerings, so please pay attention, young master, and don't make it difficult for us."

The steward explained the precautions, then smiled and began to promote, "Young master, the journey is lonely; our star boat also has three tea and wine houses. If you are willing, you can book a cabin in advance to enter and rest."

"Tea and wine houses?" Xu Jin was a bit puzzled, hearing it for the first time.

"It's just a small single room, with tea, wine, and serving maids, requiring an additional payment of five hundred taels. The maids serving in the tea and wine house are also young ladies from the Wanyi Red Building, each with exquisite skills. As long as you are willing, young master, we guarantee you will have a good time. Of course, the flower tea fee is paid separately," the steward hurriedly leaned in and explained with a smile, the kind of smile that was very lewd.

Xu Jin reacted instantly.

Isn't this just a private room service, the kind with business included?

The so-called flower tea fee is actually the prostitution fee.

This is quite fancy.

But just two words—super expensive.

Xu Jin smiled and politely declined.

Better not be watched here the first time.

It must be said that most of those who can take a star boat are cultivators, though there are also ordinary people.

Before takeoff, about forty people came on board, with cultivation ranging from second-tier Condense Star to fourth-tier Condense Star.

During this time, many people came up to chat and make friends, all of whom were politely refused by Xu Jin.

At least half of them had carefully observed Xu Jin with their divine sense, but Xu Jin didn't care.

He had observed everyone present with his divine sense to ensure his own safety.

The journey was uneventful, and he arrived on time; when he arrived at Songzhou City, it was already noon.

For the meeting point, Xu Jin and Qi Shanye had already contacted each other.

On Song Mountain outside Songzhou City, they would contact each other when he arrived.

Because there were branches of the Heavenly Yang Shang Xinggong and the Azure Shang Xinggong in Songzhou City, Qi Shanye didn't want any accidents, so he wouldn't enter the city.

After thinking about it, Xu Jin strolled around Songzhou City, first buying three sets of clothes for his teacher Qi Shanye, buying everything from inside to outside, and also buying several jars of wine, several roasted chickens, and braised food, as well as flatbread and dried meat.

He had to prepare food.

The benefit of the Mustard Seed Hiding Mountain was reflected at this time.

Originally, if Xu Jin bought so many things, he would need a cart.

But now, in a place with no one, Xu Jin put most of them into the Sumeru space.

Especially after experiencing the food crisis in the second-tier Fire-Splendid Star Domain last time, Xu Jin deliberately bought a bit more food that could be kept today, all thrown into the Sumeru space.

It had currently been expanded to a space of three cubic meters, which could hold quite a lot.

In the afternoon, not long after Xu Jin left the city, his pace slowed down.

There really are people who aren't afraid of death!

From the moment he got off the star boat, a star power aura had been trailing Xu Jin from afar.

Xu Jin initially thought it was an accident, but from the moment he started buying various things, it had been following him.

It was a fourth-tier Condense Star fourth-layer middle-aged cultivator.

After carefully recalling, Xu Jin felt that this should be an accidental event, and his identity should not have been exposed.

Currently, Xu Jin accelerated and headed toward the depths of Song Mountain.

After leaving Songzhou City for sixty miles, the fourth-tier Condense Star fourth-layer swordsman who had been trailing Xu Jin from afar no longer hid, accelerating instantly and chasing up openly.

Seeing this, Xu Jin did not accelerate, letting this person quickly catch up to him and block his path.

"Sir, what is this?"

This middle-aged swordsman had sword-like eyebrows and a square face, looking quite kind, but if observed carefully, his facial features were slightly stiff; he should be wearing a human skin mask. A low-level disguise method.

"Brother, this is your first time traveling far alone, right?" The middle-aged swordsman looked at Xu Jin and sneered.

Xu Jin was puzzled, looking himself up and down; it seemed he hadn't revealed any flaws, and he rarely talked to people, so how did this guy see that he was traveling alone for the first time?

"What do you mean?"

"What do I mean, don't you understand yet?"

The middle-aged swordsman swung his long blade fiercely, and the thirty-to-forty-meter-long blade light made Xu Jin retreat in fright.

"Spend silver to buy a lesson! Throw everything valuable on you over here, and I'll give you some experience, and then give you a way to live, how about it?" The middle-aged swordsman sneered.

"That's fine."

After being stunned for a moment, Xu Jin directly threw his backpack out.

The middle-aged swordsman was also a bit surprised, not expecting this young man to be so obedient and listen so well.

"The one in your arms, the silver notes and gold notes in your arms."

"They are all in the bag."

"Star weapon."

With a clang, Xu Jin also threw the third-tier star weapon long sword over.

"Star-Plucking Token, apply to add me as a friend, and then transfer all the starlight to me."

Hearing this, Xu Jin was stunned, "Big brother, if you add me as a friend, aren't you afraid I'll come to your door?"

"Star-Plucking Tower, everyone uses fake names, I'm afraid of a fart!"

"Transfer or not?

If you don't transfer, I'll send you to the west right now," the swordsman urged.

"Transfer, but I only have two hundred or so wisps of starlight."

"That's also starlight."

"Alright, then what is your nickname in the Star-Plucking Tower?"

"Li Xiaodao."

"Hmm, big brother, then I'll apply now, then tell me, where did you see that I was traveling alone for the first time?" Xu Jin asked.

"This is actually very simple, because you even had to ask people where the star boat's restroom was, and after asking, you still needed someone to lead the way," the swordsman said triumphantly.

Xu Jin's face froze, his eyes lowered, "Anything else?"

"Of course there is, for example, being extra curious about the passing clouds and the scenery outside the deck; these details all reflect that you are taking a star boat for the first time. You are too green; it's obvious you are traveling far for the first time," the swordsman said.

"Alright, it really is details that determine success or failure!"

"What?"

"I said, I'm actually just taking a large flying boat for the first time."

"That's for sure, Qi Tian Da Sheng, the name you took in the Star-Plucking Tower is quite domineering..."

The next instant, the swordsman's pupils shrank sharply, and he saw Xu Jin had already pounced on him like a ghost.

He actually dared to resist!

The swordsman was furious, raised his long blade, and wanted to teach Xu Jin a lesson or even kill him.

The next instant, the swordsman's head felt intense pain, blood sprayed wildly from his eyes, ears, mouth, and nose, and the star light around his body dissipated.

Sword light flashed, and the head had already soared into the sky.

If it weren't to find out the reason, Xu Jin would have finished him off long ago.

The next instant, Xu Jin's expression suddenly became incomparably solemn.

The moment he beheaded this swordsman, the Mingji Star Pattern in his Lower Shang Xinggong suddenly spun at high speed and emitted dazzling light; two terrifying auras appeared near Xu Jin.

In the sensing of the Mingji Star Pattern, two fifth-tier peak auras appeared abruptly and approached him without warning, and the distance to him would not exceed thirty meters.

This was a very terrifying distance.

At this distance, they could launch a fatal blow to Xu Jin at any time.

Yet, Xu Jin hadn't discovered their approach, let alone seen them.

That is to say, the other party was approaching him while lurking.

Could it be an assassin expert from the Shang Xinggong?

He had been so careful, and his tracks were still exposed?

Almost in an instant, Xu Jin made a choice.

While his mind sank into the Falling Star, ready to activate the life-saving star art on the Falling Star at any time, his hands also each pinched two nourished fifth-tier emblems.

At the same instant he was preparing, Xu Jin simultaneously activated invisibility.

In an instant, he vanished on the spot.

The moment invisibility disappeared, Xu Jin quickly moved away from the original spot.

To avoid being focused by the enemy.

But after Xu Jin vanished, the enemy didn't appear in a rage, but continued to hide, but one of the auras clearly moved, likely searching.

Xu Jin dared not be careless, and also made his final decision!

Directly use the Falling Star Art to run away?

Or blast them with a few emblems before retreating?

In just a moment, Xu Jin had a decision.

Blast them first, then talk.

This Shang Xinggong assassination was truly persistent!

"Damn, can't find him! No way, Old Qi, your disciple's invisibility technique is so high-level that even I can't find him?" Suddenly, in the empty mountain wilderness, a human voice sounded out of thin air.

"Hahahaha, you kid, you're not good enough anymore."

Qi Shanye's hearty laughter rang out, "Disciple, don't be afraid, it's me."

In the mountain wilderness, Qi Shanye's figure emerged.

After seeing clearly that it was his teacher, Xu Jin frowned and looked in another direction, "Teacher?"

Afterward, Qi Shanye froze again, "Old Mo, you're not good enough, you were discovered by my disciple."

"How is that possible! Absolutely impossible, without fourth-tier Condense Star early-stage divine soul cultivation, it is absolutely impossible to discover me!" The figure of Mo Ji, carrying a long bow and magic arrows, emerged.

"Hahaha, teasing you. But you really lost my disciple's tracks just now, how about it, my disciple is quite capable, right."

While speaking, he also helped Xu Jin cover up, but the shock in Qi Shanye's eyes was indescribable.

His Mingji Star Pattern itself had the characteristic of seeing through hidden auras, the effect depending on the target's divine soul cultivation; at this time, without any hesitation, he fully activated it to sense Xu Jin's cultivation aura, only to see that his disciple's divine soul cultivation had already reached fourth-tier Condense Star!

However, he was also very clear that Xu Jin had long ago learned the Hidden Image Star Pattern, so even with his cultivation, he couldn't see Xu Jin's true cultivation.

In other words, Xu Jin's divine soul cultivation was definitely fourth-tier Condense Star.

That is to say, Magic Arrow Mo Ji's judgment was actually correct.

How is this cultivated?

Qi Shanye was truly shocked.

"Come, Tian Sheng, let me introduce you; this is the expert of our Spirit Era Shang Xinggong, Mo Ji. He helped me last time, and this time, I continued to invite him to help."

At the same instant, Qi Shanye transmitted to Xu Jin, "The fake name I made for you is Qi Qi Tian Sheng, taken from your Qi Tian Da Sheng."

"Teacher, a fake name, is this Magic Arrow Mo Ji not fully trustworthy?" Xu Jin transmitted.

"That's not it, he is fully trustworthy! But you, this disciple, are the one I treasure most right now, so I don't want to bring you even a trace of risk. Your true identity should continue to be hidden.

From now on, you are Qi Qi Tian Sheng!

As for other information, you don't say anything."

After instructing, Qi Shanye added, "It's mainly to prevent accidents! We people, hiding here and there, if we are captured alive, we will definitely be tortured, or even have our souls searched, so it's better to be careful."

"I understand."

"Let's go, let's find a place and have a good chat!" Qi Shanye said.

(End of Chapter) ===== CHAPTER 226 =====