Chapter 294: Accepting Everything

Before the Battle of Lou Gong, Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao had discussed this matter with Xu Jin. As long as Xu Jin participated in the war, his brilliance could not be concealed, and the matter of plucking six Gold Stars in a row could not be kept secret.

Even if a gag order were issued, it could only be kept secret temporarily.

Therefore, what to do in the future had to be planned early and arranged early, so that he could be more composed.

At that time, Cheng Yuexiao gave Xu Jin three directions, letting Xu Jin make a choice early from these three directions. Whichever one he chose, he would fully support him, ensuring Xu Jin's safety and smooth growth.

The three directions were: Golden Cicada Sheds its Shell, Bitter Cultivation in Seclusion, and Heart Tempering in a Foreign Domain.

Bitter Cultivation in Seclusion was the simplest: for the next three to five years, Xu Jin would only cultivate bitterly within the Chen Guo National Dao Academy, not taking half a step away from the Chen Guo National Dao Academy, with the Seventh-tier peak powerhouse Peng Lao constantly by his side, until Xu Jin's cultivation broke through to the Fifth-tier mid stage.

Once Xu Jin's cultivation broke through to the Fifth-tier mid stage, with the potential Xu Jin currently displayed and the star patterns he had learned, even facing a Sixth-tier late stage powerhouse, he would have the power to protect himself.

Combined with Star Artifacts and emblems, even if he encountered a Seventh-tier powerhouse, he would likely be able to escape with his life.

In about three to five years, Xu Jin could act freely.

The advantage of Bitter Cultivation in Seclusion was that it was simple, and Xu Jin could obtain a high position within Chen Guo; the disadvantage was that he would need to cultivate bitterly for three to five years like sitting in prison, which was very lonely.

Heart Tempering in a Foreign Domain was another path the Grand Master had arranged for Xu Jin.

Currently, among the Domain Lords stationed in the Fifth-tier Star Domains in the Star River Battlefield, four were from Chen Guo.

Cheng Yuexiao would choose one or two Fifth-tier Star Domains and send Xu Jin to train and grow under those Domain Lords; of course, it could also be three or four.

This was relatively more interesting, and the harvest might be a bit greater.

According to Xu Jin's performance in the Fifth-tier Spirit Martial Star Domain, with the cooperation of the stationed Domain Lords, it was possible to completely conquer a certain Fifth-tier Star Domain, or kill the king of a certain Fifth-tier Star Domain, reducing the pressure on the stationed Domain Lords.

Similarly, Xu Jin would need to grow to the Fifth-tier mid stage or even the Fifth-tier Ninth Layer peak before coming out.

During this period, Xu Jin would also need to keep it secret, not telling anyone his whereabouts, and also guarding against possible assassinations.

Compared to Bitter Cultivation in Seclusion, the danger was a bit greater, but it was not so boring, and the harvest could potentially be greater.

Golden Cicada Sheds its Shell was the boldest and most radical plan Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao had prepared for Xu Jin.

Let Xu Jin fake his death and escape.

Then change his identity. Last time when he killed Hu Zhen, Xu Jin's fake identity, Qi Qi Tian Sheng, had already been made so real by Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao that it couldn't be any realer.

At that time, Xu Jin would train and cultivate in the Star River Battlefield under the identity of Qi Qi Tian Sheng.

As for returning to the Chen Guo National Dao Academy under the identity of Qi Qi Tian Sheng, that wouldn't work.

There were too many acquaintances; it was too easy to be exposed.

This plan had the greatest risk and the greatest difficulty to execute, but once executed successfully, the safety would become extremely high.

But the drawbacks were also great.

That was, for a short time, at least three to five years, Xu Jin would have to make a complete cut from the social relationships of his previous identity.

He could not contact other friends and relatives.

Friends and relatives would even have to bear the blow of Xu Jin's death.

Including the status brought by the massive merit Xu Jin had obtained in this Battle of Lou Gong, all would have to be sealed.

This period could also be three to five years.

Why was the time for all three plans three to five years?

Because in three to five years, Xu Jin's cultivation could be raised to about the Fifth-tier mid stage, giving him a certain power to protect himself.

At the same time, three to five years could also allow the Chen Guo National Dao Academy to completely absorb the results of this Battle of Lou Gong, and also completely transform the various high-tier star patterns Xu Jin had obtained through Dao Derivation into strength.

The strength of the Chen Guo National Dao Academy will surge.

By then, even if Xu Jin restored his identity and returned, and all parties questioned him, so what?

If they weren't convinced, fight!

Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao had explained the three plans to Xu Jin very clearly, and each had its pros and cons.

The first one Xu Jin excluded was Bitter Cultivation in Seclusion.

If it were bitter cultivation for a year or half a year, Xu Jin had no opinion; he could still sit through that much time.

But to cultivate in seclusion for three to five years like sitting in prison was a bit uncomfortable.

The most critical point was that Xu Jin had discovered during this period that bitter cultivation in place might be the least efficient way of cultivation.

It was like earning a fixed salary.

Getting rich by relying on a dead salary?

Impossible!

As the saying goes, a horse doesn't get fat without night grass, and a person doesn't get rich without windfall!

Since he started cultivating, if Xu Jin had only stayed in the National Dao Academy and cultivated bitterly, where would he have gotten so many harvests?

Not to mention anything else, he wouldn't even dare to think about so many Wills of Heaven and Earth Stars.

So he directly rejected it.

With Golden Cicada Sheds its Shell and Heart Tempering in a Foreign Domain left to choose from, Xu Jin considered it for a few days and decided to choose Heart Tempering in a Foreign Domain.

The reason he didn't choose Golden Cicada Sheds its Shell was only one: it was too divisive!

Once he chose this path, for three to five years, Xu Jin could only live with a new identity, and he had to completely cut ties with his previous friends and relatives, no longer contacting them.

Others were all fine.

But his old man, Jiang Er, and Ning Yuchan—these three, Xu Jin couldn't bear to cut ties with the most.

Especially letting his old man and Jiang Er bear the news of his death, letting his old man experience the white-haired sending off the black-haired—even if he would return alive after a few years, thinking of that scene, Xu Jin himself felt his scalp tingle; he couldn't take it.

So, Xu Jin chose Heart Tempering in a Foreign Domain.

He could grow freely, had the possibility of conquering a Fifth-tier Star Domain, and could even experience foreign customs.

Previously, Xu Jin had entered so many Star Domains, but they were all too hurried.

This time, Xu Jin intended to experience it properly.

"Heart Tempering in a Foreign Domain."

Learning of Xu Jin's choice, the Grand Master nodded.

"Then prepare early. After the Nine Star Tidal Surge ends, I will secretly send you to a certain Fifth-tier Star Domain.

At that time, only I will know where you are.

I will regularly send people to communicate and exchange with you, and transfer cultivation resources to you to help you grow faster," Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao said.

After speaking, Cheng Yuexiao asked again, "What about this Nine Star Tidal Surge? Do you have any thoughts? Do you want to participate in the war?"

"Grand Master, if possible, I want to contribute to Chen Guo. I heard that every Nine Star Tidal Surge results in heavy casualties," Xu Jin said.

"Yes, ordinary people basically have no power to fight back when facing the foreign races killing their way out from those Star Domains. There are still too few experts at the Fourth-tier, especially above the Fifth-tier, who can station in one area," Cheng Yuexiao sighed.

"Grand Master, why don't I disguise myself, change my identity, and go station in a certain place? My current combat power, combined with emblems, can handle anything below the Fifth-tier Ninth Layer," Xu Jin said.

Cheng Yuexiao shook his head, "That is too risky. Better safe than sorry!

Moreover, changing your identity is useless. During the Nine Star Tidal Surge, the disciples of the National Dao Academy help each other, and communication is frequent; everyone has to reveal their identity and frequently use the Star-Plucking Token to contact each other.

How about this: you act as an emergency member.

You stay within the National Dao Academy, and when the time comes, wherever support is needed, I will send you there.

You participate in the war by teleporting through the Star-Plucking Tower; the shorter you stay in one place, the smaller the safety problem.

What do you think?"

"That works." Being able to contribute to Chen Guo during the Nine Star Tidal Surge was Xu Jin's wish and also his responsibility!

"Grand Master, this is the Eighth-tier mid grade Earth Lei Lei Yuanxing Pattern I just deduced. This is the Seventh-tier mid grade Lei Lei Yuanxing Pattern." Xu Jin gave away all his harvests from these two days.

Cheng Yuexiao was very happy, but he was not surprised by the Eighth-tier mid grade Earth Lei Lei Yuanxing Pattern.

This was expected.

Ever since Cheng Yuexiao knew that Xu Jin had successfully enlightened the Seventh-tier low grade Earth Lei Lei Yuanxing Pattern, he had been looking forward to this day, just not expecting it so soon.

The Eighth-tier mid grade Earth Lei Lei Yuanxing Pattern represented that the Sixth-tier powerhouses of the Chen Guo National Dao Academy had one more direction with a high probability of breakthrough.

Perhaps he could add a few more Seventh-tier powerhouses.

The existing Seventh-tier and Eighth-tier powerhouses, including him, Cheng Yuexiao, could also increase their strength again.

But what surprised Cheng Yuexiao was the Lei Lei Yuanxing Pattern.

What he gave Xu Jin was only a Fourth-tier mid grade Lei Yuan.

"So fast?"

Xu Jin nodded, "I just happened to have ten Silver Stars, and I also used two Gold Stars," Xu Jin said.

Ten Silver Stars and two Gold Stars to deduce the Lei Yuan to the Seventh-tier mid grade was considered not bad, but it was also extravagant enough.

This was the role of the Gold Star.

As long as there were about two Gold Stars, one could quickly deduce a star pattern to above the Seventh-tier.

Thereby causing the power of a star pattern to undergo a qualitative change.

This was also the reason why all parties paid great attention to Gold Stars.

Cheng Yuexiao originally wanted to ask about the situation of the Gold Stars and Radiant Stars in Xu Jin's hand, but the words reached his lips and he didn't ask.

Don't ask.

There should still be Gold Stars or Radiant Stars, but Cheng Yuexiao decided not to interfere with how Xu Jin used the rest.

Xu Jin had already returned enough to the Chen Guo National Dao Academy.

Eighth-tier mid grade Fire Source, Eighth-tier mid grade Earth Source.

Not to mention anything else, just these two were already worth more than the price.

As for the rest, whatever Xu Jin was willing to give, he would give; he wouldn't bother anymore.

"Xu Jin, originally I was going to impose a seal on you to prevent leakage! But in view of your contribution and dedication, from today on, the star patterns you have learned will no longer have any restrictions from the Chen Guo National Dao Academy. You can teach them to whoever you want; this is the right you deserve!"

While speaking, before Xu Jin could say anything, the Nine-Sheng Bell rang continuously, but Cheng Yuexiao had already lifted the seal on Xu Jin.

As the Bright Era Star Pattern operated, Xu Jin vaguely felt that something seemed to have dissipated within his body.

But he couldn't sense anything more specific.

Since the Grand Master had said so, Xu Jin didn't decline.

Xu Jin already understood a bit of the Grand Master's meaning.

The general idea was that Xu Jin could cultivate his own confidants or team during the Heart Tempering in a Foreign Domain period.

That was why he completely lifted this seal.

"Grand Master, I have a few questions I would like to ask."

"What questions?"

"Grand Master, I am currently a Copper-level holder of the Star-Plucking Tower. What is your authority? Or rather, how was your holder authority raised?" This was the thing Xu Jin most wanted to know right now.

The Grand Master had four hours of enlightenment time in the Star Dome Secret Realm every month, while Xu Jin only had one hour; it was too insufficient.

"I am a Silver-level holder. Why, do you want to raise your Star-Plucking Tower holder authority?" Cheng Yuexiao laughed.

"The enlightenment time in the Star Dome Secret Realm is not enough," Xu Jin said honestly.

"If it's according to my experience in raising rank, I'm afraid it won't work in the short term," Cheng Yuexiao said.

"How so?"

"I also obtained the Copper-level holder authority after challenging and obtaining a Radiant Star! But my Silver-level holder authority came because of this Grand Master identity," Cheng Yuexiao said.

"Grand Master identity?" This made Xu Jin even more puzzled.

"I hold 40% of the authority of the main building of the Chen Guo Star-Plucking Tower. After I obtained this 40% authority, the Star Spirit said that my Copper-level holder authority was raised to Silver-level holder authority, and it has never changed since then." After speaking, Cheng Yuexiao suddenly looked at Xu Jin with a smile, which made Xu Jin feel a bit strange.

A few breaths later, Xu Jin suddenly understood.

The Grand Master meant that if Xu Jin wanted to follow his path and raise his Copper-level holder authority to Silver-level, he would have to wait until he succeeded him as Grand Master in the future, so it wouldn't work in the short term.

"No, Grand Master, I didn't mean that," Xu Jin hurriedly explained.

Cheng Yuexiao laughed, "No need for that. I might as well say it clearly: if your cultivation can break through to the Eighth-tier or Seventh-tier peak, this Grand Master position will be given directly to you. By then, I can also be carefree for a few years."

While speaking, a look of longing actually rose in Cheng Yuexiao's eyes.

"By the way, Grand Master, you hold 40% of the authority of our Chen Guo Star-Plucking Tower main building. Who holds the remaining 60%?" Xu Jin asked.

The authority of the Star-Plucking Tower main building was very important; Xu Jin had already learned this, which was why he asked.

"The Left and Right Libationers each hold 5%; the old consultant in the Imperial Palace holds 10%; His Majesty holds 20%; the Great Commandant of the Chen Guo Star-Patrol Guard, Pei Ze, holds 10%; and the Chen Guo Marshal in the Star River Battlefield, Mao, holds 10%."

Hearing this, Xu Jin was thoughtful.

This power structure was quite complex.

But those who could hold the authority of the Star-Plucking Tower main building were all the true power-holders of Chen Guo, and this structure was quite complex.

Just the Imperial Palace side held 30%.

It really was...

"I will explain these things to you slowly in the future! Now, you should hurry up and improve your cultivation.

The Nine Star Tidal Surge will come in at most six hours; be prepared to receive orders to fight at any time," Cheng Yuexiao said.

"Yes."

After Xu Jin received the order and saluted, he left. Before he even stepped out the door, Cheng Yuexiao's voice sounded again, "Since you chose Heart Tempering in a Foreign Domain, some arrangements can be set in motion. If someone looks for you tonight, just accept everything; don't decline, and don't think too much. They all owe you, and it's the kind that can't be paid back once or twice.

Don't ask too much; you go back first, I have to get busy."

These words made Xu Jin very puzzled.

Who owed him?

It seemed like no one owed him.

Puzzled as he was, since the Grand Master said he had to get busy, he wouldn't ask for now.

Talk about it when he got back.

See who exactly owed him.

Returning to his small courtyard, Xu Jin had just sat down and was chatting with Jiang Er when suddenly Qing Fan came to report that Dean Director Ji Bang of the Wanyi Dao Academy was visiting.

Xu Jin was stunned.

Was this the person the Grand Master said owed him?

Director Ji Bang?

Dean Director Ji Bang of the Wanyi Dao Academy—when did he owe him?

In doubt, Xu Jin hurriedly walked out to welcome him.

This old gentleman had to be welcomed personally.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 295 =====