Chapter 250: Be the Yellow Bird

"Star-Picking Order!"

When Xu Jin pulled out a brand-new Star-Picking Order, Jiang Er eagerly snatched it from his hand.

"Brother, I knew you'd give me a Star-Picking Order. Many fellow disciples already have theirs—they say it's incredibly convenient for communication." Jiang Er clutched the new Star-Picking Order, reluctant to let go.

Xu Jin watched and smiled.

This thing was somewhat like a smartphone from his past life, though its entertainment functions were nowhere near as advanced—almost nonexistent.

But just the communication and practical combat training functions alone were enough to make countless others envious.

Like a pager from his past life—only capable of receiving short messages—it had still been wildly popular.

"Jiang Er, I'm giving you the Star-Picking Order first so you can easily contact me. From now on, if you have any questions, use the Star-Picking Order to reach me—or even those I've specifically designated as trustworthy."

"Second, if you need to leave the State Dao Academy, you must inform me via the Star-Picking Order. I'll arrange someone to accompany you." Xu Jin instructed.

Jiang Er nodded vigorously. She had heard the rumors swirling through the academy—the assassination attempt on Xu Jin, the crippling of Ying Ge, and the murder of the direct disciple Bu Xu—she'd been worried for a long time.

"Brother, I remember! I'll report every time I leave the State Dao Academy!"

"Good. The second purpose of giving you the Star-Picking Order is to help you rapidly improve your Star Arts within the Level-One Practice Realm. Then, you must achieve instant casting of your basic Star Arts as soon as possible." Xu Jin laid out his plan.

Xu Jin could instantly cast Star Arts because he could train inside the Star Lamp.

But most wealthy disciples with family backing trained their Star Art proficiency inside the Level-One Practice Realm.

Even if their Divine Soul cultivation was limited and they exhausted their Divine Soul power after six or seven rounds, they still used Awakening Pills—or even Stimulant Pills—to replenish and kept training relentlessly.

They trained dozens of times a day inside the Level-One Practice Realm.

They compressed what normally took three to five years to achieve into just six months to a year.

Xu Jin intended for Jiang Er to follow this same path.

Then, Xu Jin personally taught Jiang Er how to use the Level-One Practice Realm via the Star-Picking Order.

For this, he specifically found a junior sister from the Flying Swallow Academy who had just entered and activated her Star-Picking Order to train alongside Jiang Er.

As the sole senior brother of the Flying Swallow Academy, Xu Jin only had to say one word—and many junior sisters volunteered themselves!

Yes, volunteered to train with her.

This training involved entering the Level-One Practice Realm battlefield, not fighting each other, but separately practicing the Five-Star Killing Fist and Star Arts.

Very quickly, the limits were tested.

Several other junior sisters from the Flying Swallow Academy, at the sixth and seventh levels of Meal-Cloud cultivation, reached their limit after five or six rounds of practice.

But Jiang Er's limit was seven.

Clearly one more than the others.

Xu Jin guessed it was almost certainly related to her previous abduction by the Worshipers of the North Star Sect.

Suffering trauma and setbacks could also enhance Divine Soul power, but one misstep could lead to disaster.

"Brother, if seven is my limit, and I take one Awakening Pill and one Stimulant Pill as you said, I can train nearly twenty times—that's an incredibly fast cultivation speed." Jiang Er, clever and sharp, had fully grasped Xu Jin's meaning.

"It's indeed fast, but still insufficient for pure Star Art training."

"So, I've prepared a second gift for you."

"Stabilizing Gold Pill."

"It greatly enhances your Divine Soul power. Take it now."

The Three-Refined Stabilizing Gold Pill was the second gift Xu Jin had prepared for Jiang Er.

Before Jiang Er could even examine the Three-Refined Stabilizing Gold Pill closely, Xu Jin flicked it straight into her mouth. Star power brushed over her neck, and before she could react, the pill was swallowed.

"Focus your intent on the Upper Star Palace. Do nothing else!"

Xu Jin activated the Mingji Star Pattern in his Lower Star Palace and could clearly sense Jiang Er's Divine Soul power surging upward.

After one and a half hours, Jiang Er's Divine Soul power reached its peak, yet some medicinal potency remained.

Xu Jin immediately woke her and ordered her to re-enter the Level-One Practice Realm to rapidly consume her Divine Soul power.

Jiang Er's starting Divine Soul power was already high, and with the Three-Refined Stabilizing Gold Pill, Xu Jin chose not to have her engrave her Divine Soul Star Pattern—otherwise, she might have achieved a single-breath Divine Soul Star Forging.

Of course, she might also have failed due to insufficient medicinal power.

But Xu Jin didn't want Jiang Er to forge her Divine Soul Star now.

It would be too conspicuous.

Raising her Divine Soul cultivation to the absolute limit before forging was sufficient.

With full Divine Soul cultivation, challenging the Level-One Practice Realm twenty times posed no problem.

Combined with Awakening Pills and Stimulant Pills, Jiang Er should achieve instant casting of her basic Star Arts within half a year.

That would establish a solid foundation.

Still, Xu Jin carefully reiterated all the necessary precautions.

She must not boast to others, must not reveal her true limit, and so on.

Although Jiang Er had no secrets, a single pill pushing her Divine Soul cultivation to the pre-forging limit would still draw attention.

November 3rd, Xu Jin returned to Danxia Palace— he had to report his team composition to the Grand Master.

Once Xu Jin's team was finalized, the members of the other third-rank squads could be confirmed.

"Grand Master, I wish to form a team alone."

Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao looked up at Xu Jin and immediately understood his intent.

It must be said that Xu Jin's idea of forming a solo team was an extremely wise one.

Because Xu Jin's true combat power—even the Grand Master couldn't determine.

He possessed third-rank Star Refining ninth-level cultivation, yet had already mastered a high-grade Fire Source Star Pattern from the eighth rank, and additionally learned one eighth-rank and multiple seventh-rank Star Patterns.

Such a case had never occurred in the past several thousand years.

Nor had it ever been recorded in any of the major Star Palaces of the State Dao Academy.

Normally, even the greatest prodigies of the two major Star Palaces would never receive such treatment.

Even if granted eighth-rank Star Patterns, it would take years, even decades, of contemplation to comprehend seventh-rank Star Patterns.

But Xu Jin didn't just learn them—he mastered eighth-rank Star Patterns, and among them, the primal Star Patterns of the original star-bearers.

So, how strong was Xu Jin's combat power?

It was certainly beyond the peak of fourth-rank.

His only weakness was Star Power.

Under these circumstances, teaming up with others would be problematic—his teammates would become his burden, even his hindrance.

Because with them nearby, Xu Jin couldn't dare unleash his full cultivation.

If he unleashed his full power, even just a hint of those special flames would immediately identify him as the legendary prodigy who had plucked six Golden Stars.

At that point, Xu Jin's troubles would be immense.

After all, you can't guard against thieves forever.

"I understand and support your desire to form a solo team, but doing so would be too conspicuous. My suggestion: still form a team, but once you enter the relevant star domains, act alone.

Especially for the first target star domain—you only need to handle the most difficult part; leave the rest to your teammates to deal with gradually, and you can still emerge to support the second star domain."

Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao's considerations were comprehensive, and Xu Jin immediately accepted the suggestion.

With this, Xu Jin's teammates were easily determined.

First choice: former comrades-in-arms. Unfortunately, Ying Ge, though beginning to cultivate again and recovering most of his strength, was still unsuitable for battle.

For an expedition to foreign lands, Ying Ge's lack of legs meant his Star Power consumption would be a major issue.

The first teammate was naturally Ji Hongli; the second, Wang Jiugao; the third, Niu Ju; the fourth, Yin Mingzhang—all veteran teammates.

These last three had originally been arranged by their families to take other patrol duties, hoping to avoid the Nine-Star Tide.

But with the offensive campaign merging with the Lou Gong battle, the State Dao Academy needed twenty-five third-rank Star Refining disciples to participate.

Essentially, all current direct disciples must join.

As for last year's direct disciples, all had already broken through to fourth-rank Star Condensation.

Some of last year's State Dao Academy disciples remained stuck at the peak of third-rank Star Refining ninth level.

But only a portion could be selected.

This year's direct disciples all had Star Refining ninth-level cultivation, but most were single-Star Palace ninth-level.

Yet their combat power surpassed that of ordinary disciples.

So they must participate.

They were recalled—and Xu Jin conveniently teamed up with them.

They all knew about the Crimson Scale Heart Armor, so there was no need to use the Parent-Child Seal for secrecy anymore.

"Grand Master, there's another issue—I need your clear directive." Xu Jin asked.

"Speak."

"The Third-Rank Purple Wind Star Domain!"

The Third-Rank Purple Wind Star Domain has already been largely conquered. Entering again would pose little difficulty, and I wish to obtain another Thunder Feather Heart." Xu Jin clearly stated his intent.

"Theoretically, if a Star Domain Spirit is recognized as king by the Purple Wind Star Domain, a new Thunder Feather Heart will reform. So, entering the Purple Wind Star Domain again, you may obtain a Thunder Feather Heart."

"But I'm worried the Star of the Cangming Palace will also attack the Purple Wind Star Domain," Xu Jin said.

"Are you afraid they'll get there first, or that the rules forbid it?" Cheng Yuexiao smiled.

"Both."

"What is not forbidden is permitted."

Since this campaign's rules impose no restrictions beyond numbers and time, there are no further limitations! This is precisely what I must warn you about.

If you encounter disciples from other Star Palaces, be extremely cautious.

Since the rules didn't forbid attacking and killing, it was allowed.

Moreover, even if the rules did forbid attacking and killing, you must still be cautious!

Because in places where no one is watching, if you kill someone and no one finds out, it's as if it never happened—do you understand?" said Cheng Yuexiao.

"So the Imperial Preceptor means I can enter the Purple Wind Star Domain and steal?" asked Xu Jin.

"My advice is: let the mantis stalk the cicada—you be the oriole behind."

I suspect the Cangming Star Hall must have sent a small team into the third-rank Purple Wind Star Domain, but even a five-man team would find it hard to breach the third-rank domain in less than four or five days.

So my advice is: strike first into the target star domain, aim to emerge alone from it within two days, then single-handedly enter the Purple Wind Star Domain to intercept!" said Grand Preceptor Cheng Yuexiao.

"Understood."

On the afternoon of November 3, Xu Jin took Jiang Er to the Foreign Affairs Hall, where Jiang Er, using her identity, sold twenty third-rank insignias and ten fourth-rank insignias to the hall.

All proceeds were credited to Jiang Er's Star-Picking Token.

That amounted to nine thousand Dao Merits and two thousand five hundred strands of starlight—a substantial sum.

With just this, Jiang Er could buy elixirs and cultivate for a long time.

Xu Jin himself also sold an additional forty third-rank insignias and fifty fourth-rank insignias.

This greatly delighted Deputy Hall Director Ling Mao.

In recent days, all third-, fourth-, and fifth-rank insignia artisans in the Dao Academy have been working flat-out to produce insignias.

But most artisans manage only ten to fifteen successful insignias per day.

Xu Jin alone equals five or six of them.

It was like delivering charcoal in the snow.

【Dao Merits: 7, 51 points】

【Starlight: 15, 35 strands】

With this sale, the starlight Xu Jin had spent to the last strand at the Changsheng Auction House two days ago was fully restored.

The night before last, Xu Jin disguised himself as Qitian Sheng and visited the Changsheng Auction House.

His main targets were two: star cores and Dragon Turtle Soul-Forging Elixirs.

Xu Jin won three sets totaling six Dragon Turtle Soul-Forging Elixirs, each set selling for over 3, 00 strands of starlight.

Xu Jin planned to nurture these six elixirs to the third nurture stage before taking them at the right moment.

In addition, he also won three sixth-rank star cores and one set of ten fifth-rank star cores.

The haul was quite good.

The three sixth-rank star cores greatly boosted Xu Jin's sense of security.

They were equivalent to three sixth-rank insignias—crucial tools to rely on in emergencies.

Unfortunately, they still fell short of true sixth-rank insignias.

A true sixth-rank insignia, once nurtured by Xu Jin, theoretically possessed the power to obliterate sixth-rank experts.

But sixth-rank star cores could barely wound a sixth-rank expert, even with luck.

Back in his courtyard, his sister Jiang Er went to the Training Secret Realm to grind Star Arts; Xu Jin himself cultivated Star Patterns within the Star Lamp.

The sixth-rank Star Art "Void Piercing," given to him by his uncle, the Demon Arrow Mo Ji, contained five entirely new Star Patterns, each requiring Xu Jin to learn and grind one by one.

Moreover, this sixth-rank Star Art was a composite of three elemental Star Patterns: Wind, Metal, and Space—all entirely unfamiliar to Xu Jin, making learning extremely difficult.

Even with the Star Lamp for practice, he had not yet succeeded.

While practicing, Xu Jin's Mingji Star Pattern in the Lower Star Palace suddenly flashed rapidly.

A powerful star force was approaching.

By perception, it was seventh-rank.

Who could it be?

Director Peng Lao?

Just as Xu Jin was about to step out, a strand of starlight descended—Master Kou Jing, the Senior Academy Director, directly materialized in Xu Jin's courtyard.

Seeing Xu Jin, Kou Jing burst into laughter.

But before laughing, he had already summoned starlight, drawing Xu Jin into the parlor and sealing them off from outside.

"Good lad! If the Grand Preceptor hadn't told me, I'd never have known you had this talent!"

"I never guessed!"

"Your old master is deeply in your debt."

Without you, my breakthrough this time would have surely failed!"

Not to mention yesterday, when I directly learned the high-rank Fire Source Star Pattern from the Grand Preceptor!"

"You brat!"

Kou Jing rubbed his hands excitedly, his face and eyes brimming with gratitude.

Only someone who had failed to break through multiple times, stagnating for decades at the peak of sixth-rank, could truly know how hard breakthroughs were!

Only such a person could know how immense this help truly was.

Xu Jin knew this firsthand witness, Kou Jing, could never keep quiet.

Kou Jing must have felt it clearly at the time.

"I meant to come a few days ago, but after my breakthrough, I spent those days stabilizing my realm. Then, these past few days, the Grand Preceptor assigned me a task—to urgently craft a batch of fifth- and sixth-rank insignias. Only today, after completing it, did I have time." Kou Jing explained.

"Master need not explain. You've taught me so much; I've merely repaid you a fraction." Xu Jin smiled.

"Ah!"

Kou Jing sighed, "You don't realize—this 'fraction' is someone else's entire life, or even their lifetime's hope!"

Honestly, if you weren't my disciple, this favor alone would have kept me indebted to you for life!"

Calling it a rebirth would be no exaggeration!"

"Master, you overstate it."

Hearing this, Kou Jing said no more—he knew if he pressed further, his disciple would feel embarrassed.

"Our master-disciple path is still long! No more words—here are two top-grade sixth-rank insignias, named 'Great Sun.' Previously, when I crafted them, I could only achieve mid-grade sixth-rank quality."

Now, their quality is top-grade sixth-rank.

Keep them well—when the moment comes, use them without hesitation to save your life.

Don't fear wasting them!

Now that I've broken through, my speed in crafting insignias has improved.

I can easily produce two or three extra sixth-rank insignias for you each year to ensure your safety!" said Kou Jing.

"Then I'll accept them," Xu Jin said, taking them with ease and thanking him sincerely.

"Good. I came here for this one thing only—I'll be off now. Prepare well; you're fighting tomorrow!" As he turned to leave, he suddenly asked, "By the way, do you still have any fifth-rank insignias?"

Xu Jin hesitated, then nodded. "I do."

After all, he'd given all the previous ones to his uncle, and he didn't dare ask again—he'd barely managed to craft a few low-grade fifth-rank ones himself.

But just from Xu Jin's hesitation, Kou Jing understood.

"You brat, don't be so polite with your old master! Never let your own insignias run short!"

I've turned in all my fifth-rank insignias to the Dao Academy.

Wait—I'll go back now and engrave them!"

Before you leave for battle tomorrow, I'll deliver several fifth-rank insignias to you!"

With a flash of starlight, Kou Jing hurried away!

(End of Chapter)