Chapter 292: Preparedness Prevents Disaster

Only the one-armed Ying Ge flew in.

Unusually agile.

He landed before Xu Jin's door, planting his single sword on the ground, then stood upright before Xu Jin as naturally and calmly as any ordinary man.

Xu Jin stepped forward; the two men embraced tightly without a word, Xu Jin pounding Ying Ge's back hard, while the latter's eyes had already grown damp.

Ying Ge knew well that he was now vastly different from the man he had been a month ago.

And Xu Jin was the architect of it all.

"Come in and sit!"

Xu Jin did not pull him inside; he stepped back and strode into the room to sit, while Ying Ge executed a graceful spin and settled firmly onto the chair, his bearing even more ethereal and composed than when Xu Jin had first demonstrated the technique.

"Your cultivation hasn't slipped at all lately," Xu Jin said, having sensed Ying Ge's cultivation base: Star Refining Ninth Layer.

He must have been training relentlessly since regaining his composure.

After nodding, Ying Ge exclaimed excitedly, "Senior Brother, I've used my Sword-riding Art to break into the top thousand within the Third-Class Combat Realm!"

"Top thousand?"

This time, it was Xu Jin's turn to be stunned.

Xu Jin, as a firsthand participant, knew better than anyone how difficult the Third-Class Combat Realm was.

Even before his injury, Ying Ge would have struggled to break into the top two thousand.

Had he not been injured, and had his Middle and Lower Star Palaces both reached Star Refining Ninth Layer with proper refinement, he might have cracked the top two thousand.

But now—

"What level has your Lower Star Palace reached?" Xu Jin asked.

"Senior Brother, my Middle Star Palace is at the peak of Star Refining Ninth Layer, and my Lower Star Palace is at Star Refining Fifth Layer," Ying Ge replied respectfully.

This surprised Xu Jin even more.

"How did you manage this? I've entered the Third-Class Combat Realm myself—I'd expect your current cultivation to place you only within the top ten thousand," Xu Jin said, puzzled.

"Perhaps my Sword-riding Art is just peculiar, Senior Brother—watch."

In the next instant, a two-inch-long blade of light shot violently from Ying Ge's body, shimmering golden and moving with blinding speed.

The blade danced through the air, formidable—but to Xu Jin, it was merely impressive.

But then, another blade of light emerged silently from Ying Ge's body, instantly swirling around, startling Xu Jin.

This blade was truly peculiar.

Yet in the very moment Xu Jin began to praise it, the newly risen blade split cleanly into two, forming three blades total, spinning and thrusting like dragons rising from water, ferociously intense.

Watching this, Xu Jin began to understand.

This blade technique was indeed peculiar.

And overall, the three blades displayed two entirely distinct sword postures.

Ying Ge was splitting his focus!

In an instant, Xu Jin recalled a legendary martial art from his past-life wuxia novels: Left-Right Mutual Combat.

Ying Ge's blade technique was very much like that.

"Using two sword postures like this is truly strange—how did you accomplish it?" Xu Jin asked, astonished.

"I owe it all to Senior Brother!"

Ying Ge bowed again. "After my limbs were crippled, I had no distractions, no social obligations—day and night, I did nothing but cultivate, and I figured this out myself.

Originally, Sword-riding Art consumed immense soul energy.

But the Dream-Warming Star Pattern you taught me allows me to recover soul energy rapidly.

I train until exhausted, then sleep; I wake and train again.

With nothing else to do, I tried practicing two sword postures simultaneously—and somehow, I succeeded.

I'm currently attempting three, but haven't mastered them yet!

But given time, I believe I will."

This left Xu Jin marveling.

It was truly another kind of fortune.

Such a technique, resembling Left-Right Mutual Combat, required both innate talent and relentless, focused practice.

The old Ying Ge—a wealthy young master with constant social engagements and warm, fragrant company every night—could never have achieved this.

Now, with single-minded devotion, he had.

If it were Xu Jin himself, he could never have done it.

Not in his current state, at least.

"Senior Brother, my father, because of my transformation, has separated from our clan's main line. Leveraging his old connections, he's opened several trade routes—but he specifically established a trading house in Jinshan City, placing trusted men to watch over Uncle and monitor his condition.

Senior Brother, should you ever need anything, just give the order—it will be done in moments. Here are the contact details for those personnel; you may command them directly. Also, a fifth-layer expert stands ready.

I couldn't arrange this earlier without permission.

If you wish, you may order this man to secretly protect Uncle."

As he spoke, Ying Ge handed Xu Jin a jade tablet.

Upon hearing this, Xu Jin first thanked him.

This was thoughtful of Ying Ge.

Xu Jin had long worried about his father's safety and condition—relying solely on the Jinshan Dao Academy's care was insufficient.

The Jinshan Dao Academy personnel could only offer oversight on major matters.

In daily life, they had no spare time.

Now, Ying Ge had filled this gap, quietly accomplishing a major task for him.

After a moment's thought, Xu Jin suddenly said, "Has your father's new trading house encountered any difficulties?"

"Trade always has difficulties, but most can be resolved," Ying Ge smiled.

"If any trouble arises, come directly to me—I might be able to help."

As he spoke, Xu Jin suddenly froze, remembering the plan he had previously agreed upon with the Grand Preceptor.

If that plan proceeded, he'd likely be powerless to intervene.

Suddenly, Xu Jin said, "Then do this: invite your father to come tomorrow—I'll introduce him to Master Peng, the Chief Steward. If any problem proves unsolvable, Master Peng will assist."

Ying Ge's face lit up with sudden joy.

This—this was direct access to the heavens!

Who didn't know Master Peng's status?

Ordinary people struggled to even speak to him.

Yet Senior Brother offered direct introduction!

"Senior Brother, I—" Ying Ge was at a loss for words of gratitude.

"We're brothers—no need for such formalities."

As he spoke, Xu Jin pulled out a fourth-layer Wanxue Spirit Pill and handed it to Ying Ge.

"Take this pill, return home, and refine it. It should help you break through the bottleneck of Star Refining Ninth Layer and directly ascend to Fourth Layer Star Condensation. Once you reach Fourth Layer Star Condensation, your cultivation speed will accelerate further," Xu Jin said.

Ying Ge froze, immediately refusing!

"Senior Brother, this is too precious—I—"

"Enough nonsense—take it, raise your cultivation first. There'll be plenty of chances for you to repay me later. What, don't want to help me?" Xu Jin scolded.

"How could I ever!"

Ying Ge had no choice but to accept.

Normally, at his cultivation level, one would need to wait half a year to a year to earn a breakthrough opportunity from the National Dao Academy.

Now, Xu Jin had granted him immediate breakthrough.

Far ahead of his peers—let alone the massive advantage of accelerated cultivation speed after reaching Fourth Layer!

And a fourth-layer cultivator at nineteen!

What shock this would cause within his family!

Among his clan's cultivators, many in their thirties and forties remained stuck in Star Refining—yet he, at nineteen, had broken into Fourth Layer!

The benefits would cascade.

Especially for a scion of such a great family!

And then there was Master Peng's connection—

As for words of gratitude, Ying Ge uttered not another syllable.

Such a debt could only be repaid through actions in the future.

After seeing Ying Ge off, Xu Jin fell into thought.

The plan the Grand Preceptor had agreed upon with him would be enacted during the Nine-Star Tide.

Once implemented, many actions Xu Jin wished to take would become inconvenient.

Though the Grand Preceptor would surely support him, Xu Jin always preferred to walk with two legs.

Ying Ge was Xu Jin's second leg.

Preparedness prevents disaster.

In Vice Dean Song Bing's Hall of Sacrifice, Song Bing summoned Deputy Dean Han Qing, inquired after his well-being, then asked for details regarding combat within the Star Domains.

Deputy Dean Han Qing had once been Song Bing's disciple, so their relationship was naturally different.

The moment he asked, Han Qing replied in alarm, "Master, regarding details of combat within the Star Domains, the Grand Preceptor has issued a strict gag order and imposed a restriction using the Nine Sheng Bronze Bells—I simply cannot answer."

Song Bing froze.

No wonder he couldn't get a single detail about operations within the star domain—it was all sealed.

Dual safeguards: the gag order and the Nine Sheng Bells' prohibition.

Under these circumstances, even if Han Qing were his disciple, he couldn't speak.

He could only give up, waving Han Qing away.

Watching Han Qing leave, Song Bing frowned deeply—had Cheng Yuexiao's suspicion of him reached this level?

At the same moment, Fang Xuezheng in the Academy Hall also frowned tightly.

His disciple Fang Ying had not returned.

He had asked several people, but received no definitive answers; the Grand Master merely told him: Fang Ying was still alive, on a secret mission, and would return in a month.

But this only deepened Fang Shinan's confusion.

When he inquired of others, not a single clue emerged.

It was said that all those privy to the details of this star domain battle had been issued gag orders and sealed by the Nine Sheng Bells.

Fang Shinan could understand all this.

But according to Fang Shinan's knowledge, Kou Jing and Pan Hong had both been involved in the matter; among the Four Academy Heads, Gao Xuan's imperial lineage naturally placed him apart.

Yet now, his own treatment was identical to Gao Xuan's.

Suddenly, Fang Shinan felt he had been marginalized within the State Academy!

This was not a good sign!

Kou Jing had broken through, yet he was being sidelined!

Fang Shinan began to reflect: when had he started being marginalized?

In his reflection and review, Fang Shinan discovered a critical turning point: Xu Jin!

In the main hall of the Tianyang Star Hall, Wang Kan, the Grand Elder dispatched to the Cangming Star Hall and Zhen'e Star Hall, returned to report. Though the mission succeeded, his expression was not joyful—indeed, it was tinged with helplessness.

"What did Cangming say?" the Tianyang Star Lord asked Wang Kan.

"Your Excellency, the Cangming Star Lord said that if the Tianyang Star Hall invades Chen Guo, he will follow suit," Wang Kan replied.

The Tianyang Star Lord's face brightened at first, then froze. "Follow suit? What does that mean? Does he intend to wait until we've invaded, then send troops merely to cheer? Didn't he discuss any concrete details with you?"

"No," Wang Kan said helplessly.

The Tianyang Star Lord's expression darkened.

Cangming's attitude, though not outright opposition, was dismissive—that was the message.

He would follow suit only after Tianyang had invaded.

Tianyang Star Hall was not foolish; they wouldn't let Cangming reap the rewards of their bloodshed.

In other words, Cangming's true stance was refusal!

How could this be?

Cangming had never been like this before.

"And what of the Zhen'e Star Lord? What did he say?"

"The Zhen'e Star Lord outright refused, saying this year's tribute burden is heavy and they have no capacity for distant campaigns. 【135】 But if the Tianyang Star Hall would assume one and a half percent of their tribute for the next three years, he might reconsider," Wang Kan said.

If the Tianyang Star Hall is willing to help them with one and a half percent of their tribute for the next three years, I might consider it," Wang Kan said.

The Tianyang Star Lord's brow furrowed again.

Suddenly, he felt utterly alone.

This feeling made him deeply uneasy.

"Then set this matter aside for now. Keep close watch on Chen Guo's movements—especially Xu Jin's movements!"

According to intelligence from Xumi Palace's Zong Yan, this Xu Jin has immense potential!

He has just broken through to the fourth rank, yet already returned safely from the fifth-rank star domain—how powerful will he be when he reaches fifth or even sixth rank?

Too bad he isn't a disciple of the Tianyang Star Hall!" sighed the Tianyang Star Lord.

"Your Excellency, shall I begin deployment now?"

"Deploy. This time, we must succeed!"

"Yes, Your Excellency! I accept the order!"

In the main hall of the Cangming Star Hall, the Cangming Star Lord chatted idly with Grand Elder Sun Xianzu.

"It seems Tianyang intends to use this opportunity to completely annihilate Chen Guo. In the past, I focused only on suppressing Chen Guo and never paid attention to Tianyang's intentions. 【148】 If Chen Guo is truly destroyed, we may become the most vulnerable."

If Great Chen is truly destroyed, the most dangerous party might well be us.

As he spoke, the Cangming Star Lord fixed his gaze on Grand Elder Sun Xianzu. "Grand Elder, do you understand?"

Sun Xianzu paused, then nodded. "Your Excellency, I understand. Our future strategy for Cangming will slowly but firmly shift toward allying with Chen Guo and Zhen'e Star Hall to weaken Tianyang Star Hall."

Hearing this, the Cangming Star Lord nodded in satisfaction—this Grand Elder was still very useful.

"Remember, the pace must be slow, the transition gradual, and balance among all parties maintained.

Especially with Chen Guo: ally, yes, but when necessary, suppress; when necessary, weaken—do not allow them to grow unchecked!

Keep an eye on their Xu Jin. During the Nine-Star Tide, if he is dispatched outside, strike when the opportunity arises," said the Cangming Star Lord.

"I understand."

November 12.

In less than half a day, Xu Jin had fully comprehended the fourth-rank Lei Yuanxing Pattern, completed its refinement within the Star Lamp, and successfully engraved it onto the third star core of the Central Star Palace.

With the Lei Yuanxing Pattern, Xu Jin's thunder-based star arts surged in power.

Yet comparatively, the Lei Yuanxing Pattern remained the weakest among his primary star arts.

The Earth Source Pattern and Fire Source Pattern were both eighth-rank.

Thus, refining the Lei Yuanxing Pattern was essential.

In the afternoon, Xu Jin reentered the Star Dome Secret Realm. Though his time for comprehension had expired, this did not prevent him from refining and deducing star patterns within the realm.

At least here, it was quiet and safe—no one disturbed him.

【Would you like to consume ten silver stars to initiate a standard Dao Evolution?】

Within the Plucking Star Secret Realm, Xu Jin had once again accumulated ten silver stars—perfect for refining low-rank star patterns.

【Initiate】

In the next instant, Xu Jin's mind sank into the fourth-rank Lei Yuanxing Pattern, while simultaneously activating the mid-rank Lei Yi Heart, beginning his own deduction and comprehension of this pattern.

(End of Chapter)