Chapter 249

There were still three days until the initiative to strike and the Great Battle of Building Tribute.

To be precise, there were still two and a half days left.

The National Dao Academy was also swift and decisive, and soon determined the candidates.

Unsurprisingly, Xu Jin was naturally on the list.

And because of Xu Jin's relationship with the Grand Master, Xu Jin knew more details.

The initiative to strike and the Battle of Building Tribute were combined; considering fairness, and also considering that when the Nine-Star Great Tide descends, all parties must maintain sufficient combat strength.

The four parties of the mortal world made a very clear regulation on the number of participants.

Each of the four parties could participate with at most nine small teams, and the upper limit for the number of people in each combat small team was five.

In this way, what was being compared was the comprehensive strength of each party.

Fifth-Tier small teams were limited to one, Fourth-Tier small teams were limited to three, and Third-Tier small teams were limited to five.

As for Sixth-Tier small teams, that is, the matter of attacking and sweeping Sixth-Tier star domains, the Star River Marshal's Mansion was extremely eager for all parties in the mortal world to send teams; after all, when the Nine-Star Great Tide comes, the pressure brought by Sixth-Tier star domains is enormous.

But all parties in the mortal world were unwilling.

The combat strength gap between Sixth-Tier and Seventh-Tier powerhouses is too large; the strongest that all parties in the mortal world could send to sweep Sixth-Tier star domains were Sixth-Tier peak experts, but within Sixth-Tier star domains, although the number of Seventh-Tier powerhouses is not large, there are a few, making it easy to suffer heavy casualties.

If they sent Sixth-Tier peak experts capable of breaking through to the Seventh Tier in, the winning rate would increase greatly, but they wouldn't be able to come back.

Therefore, in the initiative to strike battle, no Sixth-Tier powerhouses would be sent.

What surprised Xu Jin the most was that in this initiative to strike battle, besides limiting the number of people, all parties in the mortal world had no other rule restrictions.

Besides limiting the number of people and the seven-day time limit, there were no other rules.

As long as you can kill the enemy, as long as you have the ability to cheat and bring high-tier emblems in, that is your ability, and no one cares.

Only combat achievements are recognized, and the final ranking is based on points.

It is even said that your Third-Tier small team can kill their way into a Fourth-Tier star domain, as long as you are not afraid of casualties.

Or if you have the ability to let a Third-Tier small team kill their way into a Second-Tier star domain to carry out a massacre, that is also fine.

In a word, besides the number of people, time, and point rules, there are no other rules.

After the Grand Master summoned Xu Jin and told him the details, he let Xu Jin consider it himself.

He let Xu Jin submit a list of team members to him within one day, and then familiarize himself with the team members as soon as possible.

Xu Jin was naturally the captain.

So, how to form a team?

Who to invite as team members?

When Xu Jin was considering these problems, the other members of the National Dao Academy participating in the battle were all summoned by the Grand Master in batches to the Danxia Palace.

The Fourth-Tier disciples originally scheduled to participate in the Battle of Building Tribute were mainly Fourth-Tier Fifth-Layer and Sixth-Layer disciples.

This had already been determined during the Great Competition of the various palaces.

But now, all people were re-selected.

Although the Fourth-Tier Fifth-Layer and Sixth-Layer disciples had impressive combat strength, their cultivation was still lacking.

And the changed Battle of Building Tribute had very high requirements for combat strength.

Therefore, the National Dao Academy used many Fourth-Tier peak disciples.

However, disciples like Yang Miaozhen, Fang Ying, Ye Anshi, Li Jingyang, and Huang Zhen, who were the eldest disciples of each study palace, still had a portion participating.

Even if their cultivation was only Fourth-Tier Condense Star Sixth-Layer or Fifth-Layer, their combat strength was still stronger than those ordinary Fourth-Tier Condense Star peak disciples.

This is genius.

What truly made Cheng Yueshiao put in more effort was the Fifth-Tier candidates participating in the battle.

Although there were only five spots, this was the most difficult.

Not only did he have to consider strength, but also personality, character, and even stances in certain aspects, and even including factions.

When cultivation reaches the Fifth-Tier level, age also grows, and the human heart becomes more complex.

Moreover, the Fifth-Tier team is crucial.

Because the points for slaying Fifth-Tier or Sixth-Tier aliens are very high.

Even if they slay three or five more, it could significantly change the ranking and boost the points.

Especially the choice of captain, which was extremely difficult to choose.

However, the candidates were all among the twelve Vice University Rectifiers, but in the end, Cheng Yueshiao gave the Fifth-Tier captain spot to Dong Zhao, the Vice Inspector of the Supervision Academy.

Dong Zhao had Fifth-Tier peak cultivation, but had long possessed the strength to challenge across tiers.

With Dong Zhao leading the team, Cheng Yueshiao was confident that the points obtained by the Fifth-Tier team should be about the same as the other three parties.

What Cheng Yueshiao was more worried about was actually the Fourth-Tier team.

Although the Fourth-Tier had Wang Rusong, the champion of the autumn examination the year before last, and Fang Ying, the champion of last year's autumn examination, compared to the three great star palaces, they had no advantage overall; on the contrary, compared to the other three parties, they were still slightly behind overall.

Not to mention anything else, as far as Cheng Yueshiao knew, in the Fourth-Tier practice arena secret realm of the Star-Plucking Tower, only Wang Rusong barely made it into the top ten. Most of the others were within the top one hundred.

This is the gap.

So the ones who could truly score points were the Third-Tier teams.

From this point of view, Cheng Yueshiao had high hopes for Xu Jin.

With all the candidates for the battle determined, Cheng Yueshiao, according to the past rules of the National Dao Academy, gave preferential treatment to those fighting for the country.

They could choose one star pattern to ascend in tier.

But they could only ascend one star pattern by one major tier, that is, three minor tiers, limited to below the Seventh Tier.

It could be considered temporarily increasing the strength of the participating disciples.

Moreover, with two and a half days, the time was extremely tight, and it was not certain that they could fully engrave the ascended star patterns.

However, all the disciples were overjoyed.

Some ascended Third-Tier star patterns to Fourth-Tier, and more ascended Fourth-Tier star patterns to Fifth-Tier.

In normal times, wanting to directly ascend a Third-Tier star pattern to Fourth-Tier would require at least one great merit, and wanting to ascend a Fourth-Tier star pattern by one minor tier also required one great merit.

After explaining all the precautions, all the selected participants left, and only Liu Zhou Qingzhu was left behind alone.

Half a quarter of an hour later, Liu Zhou Qingzhu left the Danxia Palace and returned to the Feiyan Study Palace.

Until this moment, Liu Zhou Qingzhu had a feeling like she was in a dream.

Today's Grand Master was too good to her.

He actually passed her four star patterns in one breath.

And these four star patterns all looked like the latest versions of the National Dao Academy.

For example, the Meteor Star Pattern, this speed-type star pattern of the National Dao Academy, Liu Zhou Qingzhu learned the Fifth-Tier mid-stage, and Liu Zhou Qingzhu knew that the latest version of the National Dao Academy was Sixth-Tier low-stage.

But today, the Meteor Star Pattern the Grand Master passed to her was actually Sixth-Tier high-stage.

Sixth-Tier high-stage!

It directly crossed four minor tiers!

In normal times, this would require four great merits to exchange for.

Now, Grand Master Cheng Yueshiao actually gave it to her directly!

He gave it to her directly!

But what shocked her was still to come.

Breaking Evil!

Liu Zhou Qingzhu knew very clearly that the National Dao Academy's Breaking Evil Star Pattern was Fifth-Tier mid-stage, and what she learned was also Fifth-Tier mid-stage; this was the latest version she had exchanged for using two great merits.

But today, Grand Master Cheng Yueshiao passed her the Seventh-Tier low-stage Breaking Evil Star Pattern without a sound.

Seventh-Tier star pattern!

When she heard that the Grand Master gave her a Seventh-Tier star pattern, Liu Zhou Qingzhu suspected she had heard wrong.

The so-called "Dharma is not lightly passed"!

The National Dao Academy's teaching of Seventh-Tier star patterns is extremely rigorous.

Every cultivator who breaks through to the Sixth Tier will be directly rewarded with one Seventh-Tier star pattern, and when the cultivation reaches the Sixth-Tier peak, they will be rewarded with another Seventh-Tier star pattern, and the rest need to be exchanged for by slowly accumulating merits.

But today, the Grand Master directly passed her the Seventh-Tier low-stage Breaking Evil.

This is a soul star pattern, the secret of secrets!

Legend has it that the Spirit Chronicle Star Palace of that year only deduced the Breaking Evil Star Pattern to Sixth-Tier high-stage.

But now, the Grand Master directly gave her the Seventh-Tier low-stage Breaking Evil.

Liu Zhou Qingzhu was so happy she was almost knocked dizzy.

But this hammer of happiness was not the heaviest.

The heaviest was the Fire Lei Lei Yuanxing Pattern behind it.

The Grand Master actually directly passed her the Seventh-Tier high-stage Fire Lei Lei Yuanxing Pattern.

This made Liu Zhou Qingzhu so happy she almost fainted.

A Seventh-Tier high-stage Fire Lei Lei Yuanxing Pattern, not to mention where it came from, even Sixth-Tier peak cultivators might not be able to obtain it.

Yet she was taught it early on.

That is to say, she could spend five or even ten years slowly contemplating the Seventh-Tier high-stage Fire Lei Lei Yuanxing Pattern.

Not to mention anything else, at that time, the probability of her breaking through to the Seventh Tier would increase by at least one to two percent. But at this moment, the happiness had not ended.

Uncle Youyu Star Pattern!

Another Seventh-Tier high-stage!

Grand Master Cheng Yueshiao actually passed another Seventh-Tier high-stage star pattern to her.

Liu Zhou Qingzhu was really about to faint.

Many Sixth-Tier peak powerhouses might not be able to obtain so many Seventh-Tier high-stage star patterns.

And she, had already obtained three Seventh-Tier star patterns, two of which were Seventh-Tier high-stage.

It was really like being in a dream!

Liu Zhou Qingzhu returned to the Feiyan Study Palace in a daze.

After returning to the Feiyan Study Palace, various thoughts swirled in her mind.

At that time, she asked the Grand Master why he suddenly passed her so many star patterns.

But the Grand Master just said one sentence: this is what you deserve.

It made her confused.

Could it be that she, Liu Zhou Qingzhu, is Cheng Yueshiao's illegitimate daughter?

She had to ask her mother when she went back.

But then she thought, Liu Zhou Qingzhu rejected this idea; the age didn't match.

The Grand Master's real age is unknown, but according to the growth trajectory, it should be between forty and fifty years old, most likely in the middle.

And she, Liu Zhou Qingzhu, was also over thirty.

The age gap with the Grand Master is less than fifteen years.

It couldn't be an illegitimate daughter.

Then what is it?

Could it be that the Grand Master is coveting her... beauty!?

This possibility really exists!

On this point, Liu Zhou Qingzhu is very confident!

Beautiful, long-legged, and busty, she is the object of envy for other women wherever she goes.

But the problem is, it shouldn't be!

If the Grand Master coveted her beauty, then he should use this to manipulate her.

He should use the Seventh-Tier star pattern to tempt her.

Then the question comes: if the Grand Master used a Seventh-Tier star pattern to tempt her, would she do that?

One, she probably wouldn't.

Then two?

Three?

The key is that the Grand Master is actually quite handsome.

But the problem now is, the Grand Master gave it directly.

He gave it directly.

Liu Zhou Qingzhu was even more confused.

Could it be that he gives benefits first and then hints?

Then, he should send her a star light transmission now?

Let her go to Danxia Palace to contemplate the Dao tonight?

If this star light transmission came, would she go or not?

Suddenly, the Star-Plucking Token vibrated slightly.

This vibration made Liu Zhou Qingzhu a little afraid to look!

What if it really was the Grand Master sending a message for her to go over to contemplate the Dao?

Would she go or not?

After being nervous for a long time, Liu Zhou Qingzhu sank her mind into the Star-Plucking Token, and her pretty face sank instantly.

Hey!

It turned out that her mother knew she was going to participate in the battle and called her home for dinner tonight.

This is annoying!

Thinking left and right, Liu Zhou Qingzhu couldn't think of a reason, and didn't wait for a star light transmission.

"Hey, whatever, let's cultivate first; anyway, the star patterns are already in hand, even free-loading is fine!"

The three days were extremely limited, and she definitely couldn't learn all four star patterns.

Very quickly, Liu Zhou Qingzhu made a choice.

First, study the Uncle Youyu Star Pattern.

She had studied it before; a high-tier Uncle Youyu Star Pattern is an absolute life-saving artifact.

The tier she learned before wasn't high, but now, she must learn the Seventh-Tier high-stage Uncle Youyu Star Pattern!

At the very least, she must strengthen the engraving of the Sixth-Tier high-stage Uncle Youyu Star Pattern within three days.

If there was still time, then the Breaking Evil Star Pattern would be the first choice.

It can directly improve combat strength.

As for the others, she would have to wait until she returned from the battle.

"Hey, what a pity!

It's a pity that the Grand Master has already used the Nine-Sheng Bell to impose a seal on me, so I can't pass on a single bit of the star patterns taught today, otherwise, these four star patterns would be enough for me to brag about for a long time in front of my best friend and Song Ziye!"

Sighing, Liu Zhou Qingzhu focused her attention on researching the engraving of star patterns.

If she only engraved half of these star patterns, her cultivation would not move, but her combat strength would still soar.

If she engraved them all, in the Fifth-Tier practice arena battlefield, she would definitely have a place in the top twenty!

In the small courtyard, Xu Jin was also making preparations.

Just a moment ago, this Fourth-Tier emblem master of the Great Chen National Dao Academy had received an order from the Foreign Affairs Hall.

Within two days, produce at least twenty Third-Tier high-grade emblems, or ten Fourth-Tier emblems, and the National Dao Academy would purchase them at a premium.

If there were special circumstances, they could also explain.

Xu Jin did not refuse this order.

Now, with Xu Jin's level, producing Third-Tier and Fourth-Tier mid-to-low-grade emblems was very fast.

Five emblems in a quarter of an hour was Xu Jin's average speed.

And the restriction on the consumption of soul power that limited other emblem masters had little restriction on Xu Jin.

Firstly, Xu Jin's soul cultivation was strong enough, and secondly, Xu Jin's current Wen Meng recovery effect was even stronger.

As long as he took a short nap for two quarters of an hour, his soul power could recover by twenty percent.

So this task was not a task for Xu Jin.

What Xu Jin had to consider was just how much contribution he should make to the National Dao Academy.

After all, emblems were very popular now.

After thinking about it, Xu Jin felt it was better not to be too prominent.

Sending forty Third-Tier emblems and fifty Fourth-Tier emblems to the Foreign Affairs Hall tomorrow would be enough.

Exceeding the task.

One person equaling six or seven people.

"Jiang Er, come here."

Suddenly, Xu Jin directly transmitted a sound to Jiang Er, who was practicing the Five-Dou Killing Fist in the courtyard.

The next instant, Jiang Er came in wiping sweat.

"Brother, you are looking for me."

"Sixth-Layer of Meal of Mist, not bad."

"I just broke through this morning." Jiang Er's small face was flushed.

With Grade A talent and a very sufficient supply of various cultivation elixirs such as Awakening Spirit Pills and Star-Supplementing Pills, it took Jiang Er a month and a half from successful star-pointing to the Sixth-Layer of Meal of Mist.

This speed was quite fast in the Jinshan Dao Academy.

But in the National Dao Academy, it was just a speed in the middle to lower range.

Like the high-grade Star-Supplementing Pills, Xu Jin had never given them.

Improving cultivation too fast is not a good thing.

Star arts and star patterns are the key.

"Jiang Er, your cultivation has broken through to the Sixth-Layer of Meal of Mist, so I have two gifts for you, which can be considered a reward for you," Xu Jin laughed.

"Gifts? Reward?"

Hearing that it was a gift, Jiang Er instantly smiled until her eyes became crescents, "Brother, take it out quickly and let me see, what is it!"

(End of chapter)