Chapter 30: To Fight Even in Death

No.

Xu Jin sank his mind into the Star Lantern and tried several times, discovering that no star pattern could be inscribed within it.

The main reason was that the tiny figure inside the Star Lantern, carrying Xu Jin’s consciousness, seemed entirely composed of starlight.

When inscribing a star pattern, no actual engraving is needed—just trace a correct star loop, then guide star force through it a few times, and the pattern is instantly inscribed.

Very simple.

There’s no bodily obstruction or effort involved.

But this didn’t prevent Xu Jin from finding a clever method within the Star Lantern.

Or rather, an effortful method.

First, inscribing star patterns inside the Star Lantern consumes minimal soul force.

Just now, when Xu Jin inscribed the star pattern on his chest, his head already began to ache; forcing further inscription caused star force fluctuations to grow larger, making it impossible to proceed.

But inside the Star Lantern, though his head still throbbed faintly, he could still proceed.

Moreover, inscribing inside the Star Lantern consumes no star force.

This should save Xu Jin a great deal of soul force and star force, thereby saving him time.

Furthermore, inscribing star patterns inside the Star Lantern, though it cannot be reflected on the physical body, allows him to rapidly improve his inscription proficiency with minimal cost.

After all, inscribing on the physical body consumes soul force and star force each time, limiting the number of attempts possible in a single day.

But inside the Star Lantern, Xu Jin can repeat tracing star loops almost without cost.

Once thoroughly proficient, he can complete the inscribing of the Minor Star Cluster pattern in the shortest possible time.

Realizing this, Xu Jin withdrew his mind from the Can-Dou Platform and fell straight into sleep.

Under current circumstances, aside from the Awakening Pill, which can slightly restore soul force, the best way to recover soul force is still sleep.

In the afternoon was Miscellaneous Affairs class.

The Dao Academy required new disciples to complete their Miscellaneous Affairs training and assessment within seven days; after that, they must fully participate in Miscellaneous Affairs duties.

Xu Jin chose the Miscellaneous Affairs of Herbal Inquiry, and Qian Xiaohu followed him in choosing Herbal Inquiry.

The afternoon Herbal Inquiry class was still taught by the familiar Mr. Gan.

Xu Jin noticed that over half of the new disciples had chosen Herbal Inquiry.

Since Ocean Probe hadn’t started yet, and Beast Taming required Star Casting first, among the remaining four options—Combat, Tracking, Forging, and Herbal Inquiry—Herbal Inquiry was the most popular, so this wasn’t surprising.

It was said that among this year’s new disciples, only two had chosen Forging.

In truth, from a long-term perspective, these two who chose Forging were the truly clever ones.

Fewer people choose it, so they receive more cultivation and attention; their chances of future achievement are greater.

But Xu Jin chose it for the silver.

Herbal Inquiry offers more side income, depending entirely on luck; right now, Xu Jin was focused solely on money.

He not only wanted the rewards, but also wanted to earn silver.

Mr. Gan’s Herbal Inquiry class was very simple—he pulled out two small booklets he had previously taught to the disciples: one called the Herbal Canon, recording twelve hundred herbs; the other called the Wansing Records of Marvels, recording one hundred thirty star-infused marvels.

“I’ve lectured on these two books once every four days during the past three months of Star Pointing, and made you memorize them. I assume you all have a foundation. The next requirement is simple.

Memorize!

Memorize these two books thoroughly.”

“In four days, I’ll test you. Those who pass will each receive one Awakening Pill. In seven days, I’ll test again; those who pass will again receive one Awakening Pill.

Those who fail will, per academy rules, have their monthly stipend halved until they pass.”

Mr. Gan reclined lazily in his chair as he spoke these words.

But the disciples who had chosen Herbal Inquiry groaned in unison.

The reward of one Awakening Pill was secondary; the real pain was that those who failed would have their stipend halved indefinitely—this was agonizing and terrifying.

Xu Jin didn’t care.

These two books combined were only about fifty thousand characters—child’s play.

Compared to the volume of knowledge he’d memorized in high school back in his past life, it was negligible, and far easier than politics.

Moreover, Xu Jin had already read these two booklets dozens of times in the past three months and remembered most of them.

This requirement posed no difficulty for Xu Jin—he could focus solely on cultivation.

Inside the Tianhe Gang branch hall.

“Boss, I have no objection to you sending me to Danxia County. But my nephew just died, and I haven’t found his killer yet to avenge him—can you give me a few days?” After hearing the boss’s urgent assignment, Deng Longshu panicked.

Tianhe Gang’s boss, Zhou Ji, glanced at him with icy eyes. “Have I been too lenient with you these past two years?”

Deng Longshu stiffened, but still pressed on. “Boss, our Deng family has only one male heir in three generations.”

“Say another word, and your Deng family will be holding another funeral immediately.” Zhou Ji coldly replied.

In an instant, Deng Longshu drew a sharp breath—this was the first time in years the boss had shown such a tone.

He wasn’t foolish—he dared not speak another word. “Then, Boss, shall I have Jiang Sheng lead a few to investigate first, while I carry out the mission?”

“Fine.”

“Boss, one more issue—Danxia County isn’t our territory. What if we accidentally stir up a major trouble?”

“Handle it yourself.”

As he spoke, Zhou Ji clapped Deng Longshu on the shoulder. “Precisely because it’s difficult, I’m sending you seasoned members. Longshu, you know our Tianhe Gang has connections above, right?”

Deng Longshu nodded—he not only knew, he suspected those above might even be from the Tianyang Branch Academy.

What was the Tianyang Branch Academy?

It was a subordinate branch of the Tianyang Star Temple, established in Yanzhou.

One of the three surviving Star Temples in the world.

Even Chen Guo, which governed four provinces and eighteen counties, had to look up to these three Star Temples.

Otherwise, why would he devote himself so faithfully to a gang?

“Good.

Let me tell you plainly—if you fail this mission, my life is over!

If you make me fail, you understand what I mean?” Zhou Ji fixed Deng Longshu with a piercing stare.

Now Deng Longshu was truly alarmed—he finally understood why the usually mild-mannered boss had adopted this tone. He immediately accepted the order, found Jiang Sheng, gave instructions, then led several trusted subordinates straight toward Danxia County.

At night, the Jinshan Dao Academy was filled with disciples cultivating.

Each found a patch of open ground, practicing still or moving arts in diligent effort.

But all were this year’s new disciples—none of last year’s or the year before’s were visible.

After Hai Shi, disciples began leaving the academy one after another.

In the Eastern City, the Juncheng Commandant’s residence, Lu Xianbing returned home and immediately went to the quiet chamber in the back courtyard, where his second uncle, Lu Feng, awaited him.

After bowing to his second uncle, Lu Xianbing said nothing, sat down, and drew out the Minor Star Cluster pattern from memory.

After a few breaths of study, Lu Feng said, “It’s changed significantly from what I learned—the main trunk and branches have both altered. The Guo Dao Academy has indeed been continuously improving and optimizing the Star Cluster patterns. Not engraving it for you earlier was correct.”

“Xianbing, your father is the Commandant and is currently on assignment outside. Let me assist you. Calm your mind, remain inwardly still, and don’t resist.” Suddenly, Lu Feng pressed his palm against the star pattern on Lu Xianbing’s chest; starlight flickered in his palm.

Suddenly, Lu Xianbing said, “Second Uncle, isn’t this cheating?”

“Cheating?”

Lu Feng sneered. “Is taking pills cheating? Is having a master guide you cheating?”

“Xianbing, don’t be so rigid.”

“If it’s not forbidden by law, it’s permissible.”

“Our Lu family has spent four generations’ effort to elevate your father to the position of Commandant of a prefecture, and to raise his cultivation to the Fifth Star of Condensation.”

“If you were forced to start from zero like those others, what good would our elders’ efforts do?”

“Isn’t the purpose of our ancestors’ hard work to give the next generation a higher starting point and reach greater heights?”

“This rigid thinking must be abandoned.”

Lu Xianbing nodded. “Second Uncle, I’ve learned my lesson.”

“If you, in this generation, can break through to the Gathering Dip, our Lu family will have the momentum to become a true lineage.” Lu Feng said.

Lu Xianbing silently nodded. The cultivation path—Meal of Dawn, Star Casting, Star Refining, Condensation, Gathering Dip—was already familiar to him.

Condensation Nine Stars, Gathering Dip Achieved—this was the cultivation goal his father had set for him.

“Calm your mind, inwardly guard your spirit, and use your soul force to drive star force, strengthening the traces I’ve inscribed.”

“Aim to successfully inscribe the Minor Star Cluster pattern within ten days, and the Major Star Cluster pattern within thirty days.”

“You must obtain the Calming Golden Pill.”

“This pill is allocated by the Guo Dao Academy through the Yanzhou Dao Academy—it’s a quota even your father cannot obtain.”

As he spoke, Lu Feng handed Lu Xianbing a vial. “Awakening Pill. It restores some soul force—three times the effect of an Awakening Pill. If you feel mentally drained, take one.”

Lu Xianbing accepted it, thanked him, then closed his eyes, relaxed his entire body, and allowed Lu Feng’s star force to enter him, carving the pattern on his chest.

At the same time, Luo Geng arrived at his uncle Luo Kexing’s residence; Luo Kexing had already prepared and was waiting for him.

“Geng’er, give your all now—aim to be the first to successfully inscribe the Major Star Cluster pattern.” Luo Kexing said.

“The Calming Golden Pill will greatly aid your Star Casting.”

“Thank you, Second Uncle.”

“Here are two vials of Awakening Pills and five Awakening Boosters. Both restore soul force—use as needed. The Awakening Boosters are about three times as potent as Awakening Pills, but taking multiple in succession has no effect.”

Luo Geng looked deeply grateful—he knew the value of what his second uncle had given him; one Awakening Booster sold for thirty taels of silver.

Grateful as he was, he also felt uneasy.

“Uncle Er, I’m scared.”

Luo Kexing frowned. “Scared of what?”

“Uncle Er, what if I don’t get first place? After all, I took sixty-two days to ignite my star—far behind people like Yue Daqi and the others.”

Slap!

The palm struck Luo Geng’s cheek; half his face swelled instantly.

“How can you be worse than Xu Jin?”

“Do you really think the number of days to ignite your star is everything?”

“The star-ignition days are merely the Star Hall and State Academy’s reluctant compromise—because only the star-ignition days are fair, and outsiders can’t interfere.”

“Now, with star-tattooing, there are too many ways for external forces to intervene.”

“Understand?” Luo Kexing said.

Luo Geng nodded dazedly, making Luo Kexing sigh inwardly.

“On the path of cultivation, one step behind means falling further behind.”

“You must fight for it!”

“Getting first place is the goal—but even if you don’t get it, you still must fight for it!”

“Even if you die, you must fight—that’s what matters most, understand?” Luo Kexing said.

Luo Geng nodded, half-understanding, yet the pressure in his heart lessened significantly.

Then, Luo Kexing’s hand rested on Luo Geng’s chest, and starlight surged in.

At the same time, Zhou Du, Ren Xiaoxiang, Yu Guan, and Song Ye each received similar aid at home or at relatives’ homes.

But most Academy disciples were still fumbling in solitude within their own rooms—those who could rely on outsiders were few.

After completing evening rituals, Xu Jin stared at the starlight now covering his forearms, overjoyed.

In at most two or three days, he could break through to Meal of Mist, Second Layer.

That would mean, in his own estimation, he had gained sufficient self-defense power.

This was even after conserving his cultivation.

After all, he needed to reserve some spirit power for star-tattooing.

For Xu Jin, who lacked silver, the reward for star-tattooing was still very tempting.

After taking a Soul-awakening Pill, Xu Jin locked his door, sat cross-legged on the bed, and prepared to sink his mind into the Can Dou Platform’s Star Lamp, perfecting the Minor Star Pattern within it before directly tattooing it on his chest.

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

“Your ability to calm your mind is impressive. You did something so huge—aren’t you afraid they’ll find you, the killer?”

In an instant, Xu Jin’s eyes snapped open, his expression filled with horror!

(End of Chapter)