Chapter 30: Fight Even If You Die

No.

Xu Jin's mind sank into the Star Lamp, and he tried several times, only to find that he couldn't imprint Star patterns inside the Star Lamp.

The main reason is that the little person in the Star Lamp who performs martial arts, who carries Xu Jin's consciousness, seems to be purely composed of starlight.

When imprinting Star patterns, there is no need to imprint; one only needs to outline a correct Star pattern loop, and then control the Star Power to pass through it several times, and the Star pattern is directly imprinted.

Very simple.

There is absolutely no obstruction or difficulty from the physical body.

But this does not prevent Xu Jin from finding a shortcut in the Star Lamp.

Or rather, a method of effort.

First, imprinting Star patterns in the Star Lamp consumes extremely little power of the spirit and soul.

Just now, when Xu Jin was imprinting the Star pattern on his chest, his head had already started to ache; if he continued to imprint forcibly, the Star Power fluctuations would become larger and larger, making it impossible to proceed.

But in the Star Lamp, although his head still ached faintly, he could still proceed.

Moreover, imprinting Star patterns in the Star Lamp does not consume Star Power.

This should be able to save Xu Jin a large amount of spirit and soul power and Star Power, thereby saving Xu Jin's time.

Furthermore, imprinting Star patterns in the Star Lamp, although it cannot be reflected on the physical body, can use extremely small consumption to quickly improve Xu Jin's proficiency in imprinting.

After all, imprinting Star patterns on the physical body consumes spirit and soul power and Star Power each time, and the number of times one can attempt to imprint in a day is limited.

But in the Star Lamp, one can let Xu Jin constantly repeat the outline of the Star pattern loop with almost no consumption.

Once he is thoroughly proficient, he can complete the imprinting of the Small Gather Star pattern in the shortest possible time.

Thinking this through, Xu Jin's mind left the Arena Platform, and he lay down and went to sleep.

Under current circumstances, besides the Spirit-Awakening Pill being able to restore a small amount of spirit and soul power, the best way to restore spirit and soul power is still sleeping.

The afternoon is the miscellaneous duties class.

The Dao Academy stipulates that newly admitted disciples must complete the learning and assessment of miscellaneous duties within seven days; after seven days, they must fully participate in the miscellaneous duties.

The miscellaneous duty Xu Jin chose was Medicine Inquiry, and Qian Xiaohu also followed Xu Jin in choosing Medicine Inquiry.

The afternoon Medicine Inquiry class was still taught by the old acquaintance, Mr. Gan.

Xu Jin found that more than half of the newly admitted disciples chose Medicine Inquiry for their miscellaneous duties.

Sea Exploration hadn't started classes, Beast Taming required Star Forging before it could be chosen, and among the remaining four items—Killing, Tracking, Forging, and Medicine Inquiry—it was no surprise that most chose Medicine Inquiry.

It is said that this time, among the new disciples, only two chose Forging.

Actually, from a long-term perspective, these two who chose Forging are the truly smart ones.

With fewer people choosing it, they receive more cultivation and attention, and the possibility of achieving something in the future is greater.

Xu Jin, however, was doing it for the silver.

Medicine Inquiry has more extra income, it just depends on luck; currently, Xu Jin looks at everything in terms of money.

Not only does he want to get the reward, but he also wants to earn silver.

Mr. Gan's Medicine Inquiry class was very simple; he took out two small booklets he had lectured to the disciples before, one called "Pharmacopoeia," recording 1,200 types of drugs, and one called "Record of Ten Thousand Star Curiosities," recording 130 types of Star-cultivating curiosities.

"These two books, in the three months before Star Pointing, I lectured on them once every four days, and I also let you memorize them; I believe you all have a foundation. The next requirement is very simple."

"Memorize!"

"Memorize these two books thoroughly."

"Four days later, I will test you once; those who pass will each be rewarded with one Spirit-Awakening Pill. Seven days later, I will test you again; those who pass will still be rewarded with one Spirit-Awakening Pill."

"And those who do not pass, according to the academy's regulations, their monthly stipend will be halved until they pass the examination."

Mr. Gan lay half-reclined on his lounge chair, saying these words very leisurely.

But the group of disciples who chose Medicine Inquiry for their miscellaneous duties wailed.

The reward of one Spirit-Awakening Pill is secondary; the key is that those who don't pass have their monthly stipend halved, and if they don't pass, it keeps being halved, which is very painful and terrifying.

Xu Jin, however, didn't care.

These two books, totaling forty or fifty thousand characters, are a small matter.

Compared to the amount of knowledge he had to memorize for various subjects in high school in his previous life, there is no comparison; it's easier to memorize than politics.

Moreover, in the three months before this, Xu Jin had already read these two small booklets dozens of times and remembered them almost perfectly.

This requirement had no difficulty for Xu Jin; he could focus on cultivation.

Inside the Tianhe Gang hall.

"Gang Leader, I have no opinion about you sending me to Danxia Prefecture. But my own nephew just died, and I haven't found the killer to take revenge; can you allow me a few days?" After listening to the emergency mission assigned by the Gang Leader, Deng Longshu became anxious.

Tianhe Gang Leader Zhou Ji glanced at him, his eyes cold, "Have I been too good to you these past two years?"

Deng Longshu was awestruck, but still argued strongly, "Gang Leader, our Deng family has only had one male in three generations..."

"If you nag again, your Deng family will be holding a funeral again immediately." Zhou Ji said coldly.

In an instant, Deng Longshu gasped; it had been several years, and the Gang Leader had never expressed such an attitude.

He wasn't stupid, so he naturally didn't dare to say anything more, "Then Gang Leader, can I arrange for Jiang Sheng to take a few people to investigate first, while I go handle the errand?"

"You can."

"Gang Leader, there is another problem. Danxia Prefecture is not our territory after all. If we accidentally cause big trouble?"

"Handle it yourself."

While speaking, Zhou Ji patted Deng Longshu on the shoulder, "It is precisely because it is difficult that I sent you backbone members out. Longshu, you should know that our Tianhe Gang has people above us, right?"

Deng Longshu nodded; he not only knew, but even knew that the people above might be from the Tianyang Branch.

What kind of place is the Tianyang Branch?

It is a branch under the Yanzhou Branch established by the Tianyang Star Palace.

One of the three major Star Palaces existing in the world.

Even the Chen Kingdom, which governs four prefectures and eighteen counties, has to look up to one of the three major Star Palaces.

Otherwise, how could he so loyally sell his life for a gang?

"Just know it.

Let me tell you this, if this matter isn't handled well, I'll be finished for the rest of my life!

If you guys make me finished, then I can... understand?" Zhou Ji stared at Deng Longshu and said.

This time, Deng Longshu was truly awestruck; he already understood why the usually amiable Gang Leader had this attitude today. He immediately took the order, found Jiang Sheng, gave some instructions, and led a few capable subordinates straight to Danxia Prefecture.

At night, in the Jin Shan Dao Academy, there were figures of disciples cultivating everywhere.

Each found an open space, either practicing static or dynamic skills, all in bitter cultivation.

However, they were all disciples who had just entered this year; disciples who entered last year or the year before were nowhere to be seen.

After the Hai hour, disciples constantly left the Dao Academy.

East City, Jin Shan Prefecture Prefecture Lieutenant's Mansion. After Lu Xianbing returned to the mansion, he immediately went to the quiet room in the backyard, where his Great-Uncle Lu Feng was waiting for him.

Seeing his Great-Uncle, Lu Xianbing bowed and didn't say much, sitting down directly, and then drew the Small Gather Star pattern from his memory for his Great-Uncle.

After Lu Feng looked at it for a few breaths, "Compared to what I learned back then, the changes are great; both the main trunk and the branches have changed. The National Dao Academy is indeed constantly improving and optimizing the Gather Star pattern; not helping you imprint it in advance is correct."

"Xianbing, your father is the Prefecture Lieutenant and is currently performing a mission outside, so let me help you with a hand. Calm your heart and guard internally; do not have any resistance." Lu Feng suddenly pressed one hand on the Star pattern on Lu Xianbing's chest, starlight flickering on his palm.

Suddenly, Lu Xianbing said, "Great-Uncle, does this count as cheating?"

"Cheating?"

Lu Feng sneered, "Then does taking elixirs count as cheating? Does having a famous teacher's guidance count as cheating?

Bing'er, don't be too pedantic.

What is not prohibited by law can be done.

It took four generations of effort from the Lu family to send your father to the high position of a Prefecture Lieutenant, and it also took effort to stack your father's cultivation base to the Condense Star Fifth Seat realm.

If I let you start from zero like those people, then what is the use of the efforts of our elders?

Isn't the effort of the older generation just to let the next generation have a higher starting point and reach a higher height?

This pedantic thought cannot be held anymore."

Lu Xianbing nodded, "Great-Uncle, this child has been taught."

"Gather Battle; if your generation can break through the cultivation base to Gather Battle, then my Lu family will have the momentum to become a noble family." Lu Feng said.

Lu Xianbing nodded silently; Meal of Mist, Star Forging, Refine Star, Condense Star, Gather Battle—this cultivation path was already well-known to Lu Xianbing.

Condense Star Nine Seats, Gather Battle to become True; this was the cultivation goal his father set for him.

"Calm your heart and guard internally; use the power of the spirit and soul to urge Star Power, follow the traces I help you imprint, and constantly strengthen it.

Strive to imprint the Small Gather Star pattern successfully within ten days, and imprint the Great Gather Star pattern successfully within thirty days.

You must get that Settling Spirit Golden Pill.

This elixir is a quota allocated by the National Dao Academy through the Yanzhou Dao Academy; even your father cannot get it."

While speaking, Lu Feng handed Lu Xianbing a bottle of elixirs, "Spirit-Lifting Pill, can restore a certain amount of spirit and soul power; the effect is three times that of the Spirit-Awakening Pill. If you feel mentally exhausted, you can take one."

Lu Xianbing took it, thanked him, and closed his eyes, relaxing his whole body, letting Lu Feng's Star Power enter his body to outline and carve on his chest.

At the same time, Luo Geng also arrived at the residence of his uncle Luo Kexing. Luo Kexing had already prepared and was waiting for Luo Geng.

"Geng'er, you must go all out recently and strive to be the first to imprint the Great Gather Star pattern successfully.

The Settling Spirit Golden Pill is very helpful for your Star Forging." Luo Kexing said.

"Thank you, Second Uncle."

"These are two bottles of Spirit-Awakening Pills, and five Spirit-Lifting Pills, all of which have the effect of restoring spirit and soul power. Use them as you see fit. The effect of the Spirit-Lifting Pill is about three times that of the Spirit-Awakening Pill, but taking them continuously is ineffective."

Luo Geng was full of gratitude; he knew the value of the things his second uncle sent out. One Spirit-Lifting Pill sells for thirty taels of silver.

Besides gratitude, he was even more apprehensive.

"Second Uncle, I'm a bit afraid."

Luo Kexing frowned, "Afraid of what?"

"Second Uncle, what if I don't get this first place? After all, I only performed Star Pointing after sixty-two days, which is far worse than Yue Daqi and the others."

Slap!

A slap landed on Luo Geng's cheek, and half of his cheek swelled up on the spot.

"How come you are not even as good as that Xu Jin?"

"Do you really think the number of days of Star Pointing is everything?"

"The number of days of Star Pointing is just a helpless choice of the Star Palace and the National Dao Academy, because only the number of days of Star Pointing is the fairest, and outsiders cannot intervene."

"Like the current imprinting of Star patterns, there are too many means for external forces to intervene."

"Understand?" Luo Kexing said.

Luo Geng nodded confusedly, which made Luo Kexing sigh secretly.

"On the path of cultivation, one step slow means every step slow."

"Must fight!"

"Getting first place is the goal; it's possible not to get it. But you must fight!"

"Fight even if you die; this is the most important thing, understand?" Luo Kexing said.

Luo Geng nodded as if he understood, but the pressure in his heart was greatly reduced.

Subsequently, Luo Kexing's hand also rested on Luo Geng's chest, and starlight surged in.

At the same time, Zhou Du, Ren Xiaoxiang, Yu Guan, and Song Ye all received similar help at home or at the homes of relatives.

But most Dao Academy disciples were still exploring and practicing quietly in their own rooms; being able to rely on people outside was, after all, a minority.

After finishing his evening lessons, Xu Jin looked at the starlight that had already covered his forearm and was overjoyed.

At most two or three more days, he would be able to break through to the Meal of Mist Second Layer.

And he would reach the level of having a certain degree of self-protection in Xu Jin's self-cognition.

This was still under the condition of being conservative in cultivation.

After all, he had to leave a portion of spirit and soul power to imprint Star patterns.

For Xu Jin, who lacks silver, the reward for imprinting Star patterns is still very tempting.

After taking a Spirit-Awakening Pill, Xu Jin bolted the door and sat cross-legged on the bed, preparing to sink his mind into the Star Lamp on the Arena Platform, wait until he perfectly imprinted the Small Gather Star pattern in the Star Lamp, and then directly imprint it on his chest.

But just as Xu Jin closed his eyes, suddenly, a voice drifted into Xu Jin's ears.

"Your ability to calm your heart is not bad; you did such a big thing, and you're not afraid at all that they will find you, the killer?"

In an instant, Xu Jin's eyes, which had just closed, suddenly opened, his expression horrified!

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 31 =====