Chapter 28: The Inheritance No One Wanted

At night, Jinshan County City had lost its usual brilliance of lights.

Since the Great Search for Demons began, the number of pedestrians on the streets at night had dwindled day by day.

Until yesterday, a murder occurred within the county city, and today the docks reported yet another major case; every household shut their doors, extinguished their lamps, and vanished from sight.

Merchants and families who had endured turmoil had simply taken their entire households down to cellars or hidden rooms.

A blue streak of light shot up from the Tianhe Gang’s headquarters and soon landed silently at the entrance of the Tianyang Branch Academy.

The Tianyang Branch Academy was one of the three remaining Dao Academies in Jinshan County City.

It originated from the Tianyang Star Hall and fell under the jurisdiction of the Tianyang Star Hall’s Yanzhou Branch Hall.

In terms of power and influence, it was far stronger than the Jinshan Dao Academy.

Zhou Ji, the leader of the Tianhe Gang, came directly to the residence of Zhou Qingzhu, the head of the Tianyang Branch Academy, and was soon invited inside.

“Have you confirmed it?” Zhou Qingzhu, clad in a gray-blue long robe, stood by the window, while Zhou Ji, leader of the Tianhe Gang, bowed slightly and offered three oiled paper bags.

“Head, we’ve largely confirmed it.

It was definitely him who acted; we can be certain he’s still hiding somewhere within the county city.

Qian Qi and the Third Young Master of the Zhao family were both killed by the same person.

The star force signatures of these two victims were identical, and the rumors that they were demons impersonating others were deliberately leaked by me, as you instructed.

But Deng Hu, the victim, had a very weak star force signature and showed signs of defecation—he seemed to have deliberately dirtied himself to mask his aura,” Zhou Ji said.

“If someone is concealing his trail, you wouldn’t be able to detect it at all.

Deng Hu’s case was not his doing—leave it to your subordinates to handle.” Head Zhou Qingzhu of the Tianyang Branch Academy said.

“Head, should we continue?”

“Of course, continue!” Zhou Qingzhu’s robe fluttered in the mountain breeze, his voice devoid of emotion. “Not only continue, but expand.”

“Deploy all your elite. Not only must traces of demons appear in every county of Jinshan, but also in neighboring Wuchang County and Danxia County—everywhere must show signs of demonic activity.

But remember this one point:

The demonic activity within Jinshan County City must not cease, and must be as vile as possible—rape, looting, murder—all these atrocities must be pinned on this demon. But from today on, do not exceed one or two incidents per day.” Zhou Qingzhu instructed.

“Head, sending men to other counties may lead to heavy losses.”

“Shall I replace you with someone else?”

One sentence from Zhou Qingzhu drenched Zhou Ji’s forehead in cold sweat; he immediately bowed deeply. “Rest assured, Cousin, I can handle it.”

“If your vision is limited to your Tianhe Gang’s tiny patch of land, then your position ends here.” Zhou Qingzhu pressed further.

“I understand. I’ll arrange it immediately.”

Zhou Qingzhu waved silently; Zhou Ji retreated quietly and left.

At the same moment, inside the residence of Tian Duzhu, the supervisor of the Jinshan Dao Academy, Tian Zhang, who had been seated in meditation, suddenly opened his eyes and spoke to the empty window.

“You haven’t left yet?”

A figure in green robes, Qi Shanye, slowly materialized outside the window. “Someone says your eldest son murdered the entire Liu family of the Liu Blacksmith Shop to seize both their wealth and their daughter, then married the eldest daughter?”

“My son took a concubine, but her surname is Sun, not Liu, and she comes from a scholarly family,” Tian Zhang said.

“That’s why I came to warn you—if I hadn’t, your son would already be dead.” Qi Shanye leapt through the window and sat down.

“Are you bored? Do you want to die? You’ve stirred up such chaos in Jinshan County and still haven’t fled—do you truly not fear death?” Tian Zhang said coldly.

“If even one of these incidents was caused by me, I’ll give you part of the Lingji Star Hall’s legacy. How about it?” Qi Shanye said.

“No!”

Tian Zhang refused cleanly. “Your legacy has been branded as demonic—anyone who touches it dies. How could I dare?”

“Hehehe, you don’t know whether it’s demonic or not?”

“Even if I did, what difference does it make? Haven’t your Star Hall been nearly wiped out already?”

Qi Shanye fell silent. “Really not interested?

It’s something your descendants can practice—eventually, you could establish your own sect.”

“Do you want me to suffer another clan-eradication disaster?” Tian Zhang sneered.

“Star patterns inward, star arts outward—just practice the star patterns!”

Tian Zhang fell silent for several breaths, leaving Qi Shanye even more silent.

“A legacy everyone fights for—and yet no one will take it,” Qi Shanye sighed. “Can you help me find a successor?”

“I can’t find one. And I don’t want to doom anyone,” Tian Zhang refused again. “Then help me get a position within your academy.”

Tian Zhang frowned. “Don’t drag me down?”

“When have I ever harmed you? Of the three times we’ve interacted, which one wasn’t me saving you?” Qi Shanye said.

“Fine,” Tian Zhang reluctantly agreed.

On June 21, the first lesson for newly admitted Dao Academy students, Xu Jin learned another piece of news.

The head of the inner academy was Head Zhou Dongzhao; the head of the middle academy was Vice-Head Feng Shu, the man Xu Jin had offended; the head of the outer academy was Supervisor Cao Chun.

Fortunately, it was said these three heads merely held nominal titles—daily management was handled by instructors and trainers.

The overall head of all three academies was Ning Yuchan, an old acquaintance, and Xu Jin felt reassured.

At the precise hour of Si, nine in the morning, after morning exercises, Xu Jin and the other new students arrived at the Grand Training Hall as required for their first lesson.

The gatekeeper said today’s lesson would teach a new technique, and no one was permitted to be absent or late.

Upon arrival, Xu Jin saw not only Qian Xiaohu, Luo Geng, and Liu Ji from the outer academy, but also Yue Daqi, Ren Xiaoxiang, and Lu Xianbing, who had been assigned to the inner academy.

Seeing these people, Xu Jin felt relieved.

If these students were all gathered in the Grand Training Hall, it meant that although the academy had divided into inner, middle, and outer academies, the division was primarily about privileges—not differences in technique instruction, at least not yet.

Otherwise, with inner academy students receiving four times the monthly stipend and cultivation resources of middle academy students, any further disparity in techniques would widen the gap until it became irrecoverable.

Even so, these disparities in cultivation resources were not easily bridged.

Yesterday, Xu Jin learned from Lu Xianbing that inner academy students received twenty taels of silver monthly, eight Xingshen Pills, and one low-grade Buxing Pill.

Buxing Pills were true elixirs infused with star force; the Xuebu Pills, Guben Pills, and Xingshen Pills Xu Jin had taken before were merely ordinary herbal concoctions.

Each pill cost twenty taels of silver in the elixir room and rapidly restored star force.

Middle academy students received ten taels of silver monthly and two Xingshen Pills—vastly inferior treatment.

It was said that differences between inner, middle, and outer academy students extended to administrative duties: inner academy students had fewer duties and more cultivation time, while outer academy students had more duties.

“Greetings again, everyone,” came the sound of a silver cane striking the ground; a pale green light appeared, and Ning Yuchan materialized before them.

“From today, you are all disciples of the Great Chen Jinshan Dao Academy. From today, you truly embark on the path of cultivation—and will undertake the most important step after successfully igniting your star.” As she spoke, Ning Yuchan sat on a chair, placing her silver cane aside, her legs crossed beneath her robe. Her noble beauty, the gentle breeze stirring her hem, left many youths spellbound.

“Do you remember how you began your cultivation path?”

“Star patterns!”

“Only after a cultivator of the Star Refining Realm imprinted a star pattern on you could you use the Xiacang Method and Yinhu Method to draw star force into your body.”

“The true name of the pattern imprinted on you is the Gathering Star Pattern. Our Jinshan Dao Academy’s Gathering Star Pattern has three tiers: Simple Gathering Star Pattern, Minor Gathering Star Pattern, and Great Gathering Star Pattern.

The Simple Gathering Star Pattern is the one your Star Refining instructor imprinted on you before you ignited your star.

The difference among them is simple: their rates of drawing and storing star force differ by multiples.” As she spoke, Ning Yuchan placed three jade tablets, each the size of a matchbox, on the table.

“These contain records of the Minor and Great Gathering Star Patterns. Starting from the inner academy, three students at a time will come forward to activate star force and observe and memorize the patterns—each session lasts one hundred breaths. If you fail to memorize them, you may return the next day to view them again.

But each session is strictly limited to one hundred breaths—exceeding that risks excessive depletion of your spirit.”

As she spoke, Yue Daqi, Ren Xiaoxiang, and Lu Xianbing stepped forward, each taking a jade tablet to observe.

Ning Yuchan added, “If anyone else has questions, ask now.”

“Instructor Ning, why weren’t we imprinted with the Great Gathering Star Pattern before we ignited our stars?” a youth asked.

“Star patterns are internal; star arts are external.

Every person naturally resists and rejects star force carrying another’s aura.

That’s why we can only imprint the simplified Gathering Star Pattern—and even then, you must draw star force into your body repeatedly to solidify it into your own pattern. As far as I know, no one can directly imprint Minor or Great Gathering Star Patterns onto another.” Ning Yuchan replied.

“Instructor, what exactly is the difference between the Minor and Great Gathering Star Patterns?”

“This is the newly refined Gathering Star Pattern by National Master Cheng Da of the Imperial Dao Academy, with enhanced power. Assuming the Simple Gathering Star Pattern’s rate of absorbing and storing star force is one, then the Minor Gathering Star Pattern is two, and the Great Gathering Star Pattern is three.

Moreover, the Great Gathering Star Pattern is the foundation for Star Casting.

Only after successfully inscribing the Great Gathering Star Pattern within yourself can you hope to cast your star.”

Here, Ning Yuchan suddenly added, “Since we’ve reached this point, I will announce a new academy reward policy.”

Hearing the word “reward,” all the youths leaned forward eagerly.

(End of Chapter)