Chapter 249: Gift

Three days remain before the preemptive strike against Lougong.

More precisely, two and a half days remain.

The Guodao Academy also acted swiftly, quickly finalizing its selections.

Unsurprisingly, Xu Jin was among them.

Given his relationship with the Grand Master, Xu Jin learned even more details.

The preemptive strike against Lougong had been merged into one campaign; fairness was considered, as well as the need for all sides to maintain sufficient combat readiness during the Nine-Star Tide.

The four realms imposed a strictly defined limit on the number of combatants.

Each of the four sides could send at most nine squads, with each squad capped at five members.

This meant the competition would test each side's overall strength.

One squad of fifth-rank, three squads of fourth-rank, and five squads of third-rank were permitted.

As for sixth-rank squads—tasked with clearing sixth-rank star zones—the Star River Marshal's Office strongly urged the realms to send teams, since the pressure from sixth-rank star zones during the Nine-Star Tide was immense.

But none of the realms were willing.

The combat power gap between sixth- and seventh-rank warriors was too great; the strongest the realms could send to clear sixth-rank zones were sixth-rank peak warriors, yet within sixth-rank zones, though few, there were still several seventh-rank warriors, making heavy casualties likely.

If they sent sixth-rank peak warriors capable of breaking into seventh-rank, victory rates would rise sharply—but they would never return.

Thus, no sixth-rank warriors would be sent in the preemptive strike.

What surprised Xu Jin most was that, beyond the manpower limits, the preemptive strike imposed no other rules.

Aside from the manpower cap and the seven-day time limit, there were no other restrictions.

As long as you could kill enemies, and as long as you had the skill to smuggle in higher-rank emblems, that was your business—no one would interfere.

Only combat records mattered; final rankings would be determined by points.

Even if your third-rank squad pushed into a fourth-rank star zone, it was allowed—as long as you weren't afraid of casualties.

Or if you had the skill to have your third-rank squad slaughter enemies in a second-rank star zone, that was fine too.

In short, aside from manpower limits, time limits, and point rules, there were no other rules.

After briefing Xu Jin on all the details, the Grand Master dismissed him to consider matters on his own.

He instructed Xu Jin to submit a team roster within one day and quickly familiarize himself with his teammates.

Xu Jin would naturally be the captain.

So how should he form the team?

Who should he invite as teammates?

While Xu Jin pondered these questions, all other Guodao Academy combatants were summoned in batches to Danxia Palace by the Grand Master.

Previously, the fourth-rank disciples selected for the Lougong campaign were mainly those at fourth-rank fifth and sixth levels.

These selections had already been made during the Grand Hall Competitions.

But now, all selections were being redone.

Although fourth-rank fifth and sixth-level disciples had considerable combat power, their cultivation base was still lacking.

The revised Lougong campaign demanded extremely high combat power.

Thus, the Guodao Academy deployed many fourth-rank peak disciples.

Still, some of the senior disciples from each academic hall—Yang Miao, Fang Ying, Ye Anshi, Li Jingyang, Huang Zhen—remained on the roster.

Even if their cultivation was only fourth-rank Ningxing fifth or sixth level, their combat power still surpassed that of ordinary fourth-rank Ningxing peak disciples.

That was what it meant to be a genius.

What truly troubled Cheng Yuexiao was selecting the fifth-rank combatants.

Though only five slots were available, this was the hardest part.

It required weighing not just strength, but also personality, temperament, even certain political stances—and factional affiliations.

At the fifth-rank level, warriors grew older, and their hearts grew more complex.

Moreover, the fifth-rank squad was crucial.

Because killing fifth- or sixth-rank aliens yielded extremely high points.

Even killing three or five more could drastically alter rankings and boost point totals.

Especially the squad leader—choosing one was extremely difficult.

Yet all candidates were among the twelve vice-deans; ultimately, Cheng Yuexiao appointed Dong Zhao, deputy director of the Inspection Bureau, as fifth-rank squad leader.

Dong Zhao was fifth-rank peak and had long possessed the ability to challenge higher ranks.

With Dong Zhao leading, Cheng Yuexiao was confident the fifth-rank squad would earn points comparable to the other three sides.

Cheng Yuexiao's real concern, however, remained the fourth-rank squad.

Although Wang Rusong, last year's autumn exam champion, and Fang Ying, this year's autumn exam champion, were present, overall the academy held no advantage over the Three Star Halls; in fact, it lagged slightly behind the other three sides.

For instance, according to Cheng Yuexiao's knowledge, among the fourth-rank training realms of the Zhaixing Tower, only Wang Rusong barely cracked the top ten; most others ranked within the top hundred.

That was the gap.

Thus, the real point-scoring potential lay in the third-rank squads.

From this perspective, Cheng Yuexiao placed great hope on Xu Jin.

After all combatants were selected, Cheng Yuexiao, following Guodao Academy tradition, granted privileges to those serving the state.

They could choose one star emblem to upgrade.

But they could upgrade only one emblem by one major rank—that is, three minor ranks—and only up to seventh-rank.

This was meant to temporarily boost the combatants' strength.

Moreover, with only two and a half days remaining, time was extremely tight; not everyone could fully engrave and strengthen their upgraded emblems.

Yet all disciples were overjoyed.

Many upgraded third-rank emblems to fourth-rank; most upgraded fourth-rank emblems to fifth-rank.

Normally, upgrading a third-rank emblem directly to fourth-rank required at least one great merit; upgrading a fourth-rank emblem by even one minor rank also required one great merit.

After all instructions were given, all selected combatants departed—except Liu Qingzhu, who was kept behind.

Half an hour later, Liu Qingzhu left Danxia Palace and returned to Feiyan Academic Hall.

Even now, Liu Qingzhu felt as if she were dreaming.

Today, the Grand Master had treated her exceptionally well.

He had transmitted four star emblems to her all at once.

And all four emblems appeared to be the Guodao Academy's latest versions.

For example, the Shooting Star Emblem—the speed-type emblem the Guodao Academy taught—Liu Qingzhu had learned the fifth-rank middle version; she knew the latest version was sixth-rank lower.

But today, the Grand Master gave her the sixth-rank upper version of the Shooting Star Emblem.

Sixth-rank upper!

He had skipped four minor ranks at once!

Normally, this would require four great merits to obtain.

Yet today, Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao gave it to her directly!

Gave it to her directly!

But the shock was not over.

Shatter Demon!

Liu Qingzhu knew well that the Guodao Academy's Shatter Demon Emblem was fifth-rank middle; she had learned that version, and it had cost her two great merits to obtain the latest edition.

But today, Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao silently transmitted to her the seventh-rank lower Shatter Demon Emblem.

A seventh-rank emblem!

When she heard the Grand Master had given her a seventh-rank lower emblem, she thought she had misheard.

The principle: "Laws are not lightly transmitted!"

The Guodao Academy was extremely strict about transmitting seventh-rank emblems.

Each cultivator received one seventh-rank emblem upon breaking into sixth-rank, another upon reaching sixth-rank peak; the rest had to be earned gradually through accumulated merits.

Yet today, the Grand Master had directly given her the seventh-rank lower Shatter Demon Emblem.

This was a Divine Soul emblem—the most secret of secrets!

Legend held that even the ancient Lingji Star Hall had only advanced the Shatter Demon Emblem to sixth-rank upper.

Yet now, the Grand Master had given her seventh-rank lower Shatter Demon.

Liu Qingzhu was so overwhelmed with joy she nearly fainted.

But this joyous blow was not the heaviest.

The heaviest came next: the Fire Source Emblem.

The Grand Master had directly transmitted to her the seventh-rank upper high-grade Fire Source Emblem.

This made Liu Qingzhu so ecstatic she nearly passed out.

A seventh-rank upper high-grade Fire Source Emblem—never mind how he obtained it, even sixth-rank peak cultivators might not acquire one.

Yet she had been taught it early.

That meant she could spend five or even ten years slowly comprehending the seventh-rank upper high-grade Fire Source Emblem.

Without even elaborating, when the time came, her probability of breaking into seventh-rank would increase by at least one to two tenths. But joy was not yet over.

Fish Swimming Emblem!

Another seventh-rank upper!

Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao had transmitted yet another seventh-rank upper emblem to her.

Liu Qingzhu was nearly fainting.

Many peak sixth-rank experts might not acquire so many seventh-rank star patterns.

Yet she already had three seventh-rank star patterns, two of them upper-tier.

It felt like a dream!

Liu Qingzhu returned to the Flying Swallow Academy in a daze.

After returning to the Flying Swallow Academy, her mind was flooded with thoughts.

She had asked the Grand Master why he suddenly bestowed so many star patterns upon her.

But the Grand Master had simply said one phrase, over and over: it was her due.

It left her utterly confused.

Could she, Liu Qingzhu, be Cheng Yuexiao's illegitimate daughter?

She needed to ask her mother.

But then she dismissed the idea—age didn't match.

The Grand Master's true age was unknown, but based on her growth trajectory, she was likely between forty and fifty, probably in the middle.

And Liu Qingzhu herself was already over thirty.

The age gap between them was less than fifteen years.

It couldn't be that.

Then what?

Could the Grand Master be after her beauty!?

That possibility actually existed!

On this point, Liu Qingzhu was extremely confident!

Beautiful, long-legged, and well-endowed—she was the envy of every woman she met.

But it shouldn't be that!

If the Grand Master wanted her beauty, she should've been manipulated, coerced.

She should've been lured with seventh-rank star patterns.

So here's the question: if the Grand Master used seventh-rank star patterns to tempt her, would she…?

One? Probably not.

Two?

Three?

The key was, the Grand Master was quite handsome too.

But now, the Grand Master had just given them to her—directly.

Just handed them over.

Liu Qingzhu was even more baffled.

Was this a prelude—giving benefits first, then hinting?

Then shouldn't she receive a Starlight Message now?

To summon her to Danxia Palace for meditation tonight?

If such a Starlight Message came, should she go—or not?

Suddenly, the Star-Picking Token trembled slightly.

That tremor made Liu Qingzhu hesitate to look.

What if it was the Grand Master summoning her to meditate?

Should she go—or not?

After tensing for a long while, Liu Qingzhu sank her mind into the Star-Picking Token—and her pretty face instantly darkened.

Phew!

It was just her mother reminding her she'd be fighting soon, and calling her home for dinner.

What a scare!

Left and right, Liu Qingzhu couldn't figure out the reason, nor did any Starlight Message arrive.

"Ah, forget it—I'll just start cultivating first. The star patterns are already mine; I might as well take them for free!"

Three days was extremely limited; she couldn't possibly master all four star patterns.

Quickly, Liu Qingzhu made her choices.

First, study the Swimming Fish Star Pattern.

She had studied it before—high-tier Swimming Fish Star Patterns were absolute lifesavers.

Previously acquired versions were low-tier; now, with upper-tier seventh-rank Swimming Fish Star Patterns, she must master them!

At the very least, she must reinforce the upper-tier sixth-rank Swimming Fish Star Pattern within three days.

If time remained, the Breaking Evil Star Pattern was her top priority.

It directly boosted combat power.

The rest could wait until after the battle.

"Ah, what a pity!

The Grand Master already sealed me with the Nine Sheng Bell—I can't reveal even a single detail about today's star patterns. Otherwise, just these four would let me brag for ages to my best friend and Song Ziye!"

With a sigh, Liu Qingzhu focused entirely on studying the star pattern engraving.

If she engraved only half of these star patterns, her cultivation base wouldn't rise, but her combat power would surge.

If she engraved them all, she would surely claim a top-twenty spot in the Fifth-Rank Training Arena!

In the small courtyard, Xu Jin was also preparing.

Just now, he, a fourth-rank Pattern Master of the Chen Guo Dao Academy, had received an order from the External Affairs Hall.

Within two days, he must produce at least twenty upper-tier third-rank patterns, or ten fourth-rank patterns—the Dao Academy would pay a premium.

Special circumstances could be explained.

Xu Jin did not refuse the order.

At his current level, producing third- and lower-to-mid-tier fourth-rank patterns was extremely fast.

Five per quarter-hour was his average speed.

The restriction on spiritual soul exhaustion that limited other Pattern Masters barely affected him.

First, his spiritual soul cultivation was strong enough; second, his Dream-Warming recovery effect had improved.

After a two-quarter-hour nap, his spiritual soul energy recovered by twenty percent.

So this task wasn't a burden for Xu Jin.

All he needed to consider was how much contribution he should make to the Dao Academy.

After all, patterns were in high demand right now.

After thinking it over, Xu Jin decided not to draw too much attention.

He'd deliver forty third-rank patterns and fifty fourth-rank patterns to the External Affairs Hall tomorrow—that would be enough.

Exceeding the quota.

One man equaling six or seven others.

"Jiang Er, come here."

Suddenly, Xu Jin sent a voice message to Jiang Er, who was practicing the Five Stars Killing Fist within the courtyard.

In the next instant, Jiang Er entered, wiping sweat from her brow.

"Brother, you called me?"

"You've reached Meal of Mist Stage Six—good."

"I just broke through this morning," Jiang Er said, her cheeks flushed.

With her Class-A talent and abundant cultivation elixirs like Awakening Spirit Pills and Star-Replenishing Pills, Jiang Er reached Meal of Mist Stage Six in just one and a half months after achieving Star Pointing.

This pace was fast for Jin Shan Dao Academy.

But in the Dao Academy, it was only average to slightly below average.

Xu Jin had never given her top-tier Star-Replenishing Pills.

Rapid cultivation advancement wasn't beneficial.

Star arts and star patterns were what mattered.

"Jiang Er, since your cultivation has reached Meal of Mist Stage Six, I have two gifts for you—consider them rewards." Xu Jin smiled.

"Gifts? Rewards?"

Hearing "gifts," Jiang Er's eyes instantly crinkled into crescents. "Brother, hurry up and show me what they are!"

(End of Chapter)