Chapter 308: Five-Rank Star Gathering Array

The Star River battlefield, in countless records of the present world, is a merit of human expansion and territorial conquest!

It is a medal of honor won by the present-world human race in resisting invasions from alien races of the star domains!

The Star River battlefield began as a single star river.

At this moment, Xu Jin stood on the deck, gazing down—or rather, traveling through—this star river.

The starship had already raised its starlight shield, and outside the shield, countless specks of starlight flickered.

It was said that each speck of starlight represented a star domain, a world unto itself.

These specks of starlight appeared within reach, yet were in truth immensely distant.

Visible, but untouchable.

The Star River Annals recorded that many seventh- and even eighth-rank cultivators once attempted to cross the star river with their bare bodies, chasing the starlight; some returned empty-handed after years, others never returned at all.

To enter these star domains, one must use specific points within the star river, known as Star River Passages, where direct passage is possible.

Within the star river, countless known Star River Passages exist, and even more remain unknown.

The main battle zones of the four major theaters lie precisely where the Star River Passages are most numerous; other smaller war cities are also built near these passages.

Yet the cities themselves are not built upon the star river.

The present-world human race, after conquering and subjugating star domains, completely pierced through them—literally, physically pierced—and then linked them together, forming the present-day continent of the Star River battlefield: four major theaters, four continents, giving rise to the so-called Star City spectacle.

That is the origin of the phrase "one city, one world."

The starship continuously passed through pierced star domains and emerged again, traveling onward; within just half a day, Xu Jin had witnessed countless vastly different worlds.

Among the cultivators on the starship's deck, conversations began to flow during the journey.

As for Xu Jin, he mostly played the role of an observer.

Of the three hundred-plus cultivators aboard, over half were lone cultivators; another third were family scions; fewer than a quarter belonged to the official disciples of the Four Great Powers.

Lone cultivators mostly came to the Star River battlefield to fight for their future, to carve out their destiny!

In the present world, success hinges mostly on talent, status, and family lineage.

But in the Star River battlefield, it's about battle merit, strength, and luck!

Battle merit is wealth: with enough of it, you can buy star patterns and star arts unavailable in the present world, and cultivation resources you could never even touch there.

And luck is part of strength itself.

Some lone cultivators, on their first expedition, encounter opponents two or three realms above them, dying with soul shattered—purely bad luck.

Others have excellent fortune, always stumbling upon alien races of similar or lesser strength, or stumbling upon easy gains.

But one stroke of bad luck, and it's all over.

Luck is hard to predict.

Yet one must admit: often, luck is part of strength.

Finally, it comes down to strength.

The present world is ruled by the great star temples and imperial authority, but in the Star River battlefield, the influence of these temples and emperors is relatively weak; what matters most is raw strength.

For instance, right now on this starship, Xu Jin noticed clear distinctions.

Whether a cultivator was third-, fourth-, or fifth-rank, the ticket price was identical: a starting fare of ten strands of starlight.

Yet the treatment differed drastically.

Third-rank cultivators had no rights—not even a seat; food and drink had to be bought separately; if a fourth- or fifth-rank cultivator shouted at them, they had to step aside.

Fourth-rank cultivators fared slightly better: each received a meditation cushion for sitting and cultivating, but food and drink still had to be purchased.

Xu Jin's Numinous Space always carried dried meat and clear water, yet here he did not rashly retrieve them; instead, he spent one third-rank star jade tablet to buy three days' worth of food.

Fifth-rank cultivators received free food and water, and even private resting quarters.

When Xu Jin learned that identical tickets yielded such unequal treatment, his first impulse was to protest, to demand an explanation.

But the thought vanished in an instant.

It was the lingering influence of his past-life notions of "fairness."

Even a fourth-rank cultivator at the peak of ninth layer would immediately yield the path upon seeing a fifth-rank cultivator.

One glimpse reveals the whole picture!

Even on a starship in the Star River battlefield, such inequality exists—how much worse must the true ecology of the battlefield be?

Strength reigns supreme; no civilization applies here.

Yet Xu Jin felt a certain anticipation.

This was far better than the suffocating constraints of the present world!

Over the two-and-a-half-day journey, Xu Jin played the role of a fourth-rank lone cultivator, a newcomer seeking opportunity in the Star River battlefield, mingling with his fellow travelers.

Kind souls were everywhere.

Xu Jin fully leveraged his past-life gift of sweet-talking, addressing everyone as "senior" or "big brother"; he got along well and gathered many survival tips.

For instance, the first rule for lone cultivators surviving in the Star River battlefield: join a mercenary squad or a gang.

Best to join a mercenary squad.

Highest and most stable returns, but the drawback: if danger strikes, rescue is nearly nonexistent.

Joining a gang offers the opposite: help arrives in danger, backing when trouble arises, richer information and resources—but the treasures you risk your life for, the gang takes a cut, and you might be sold out as cannon fodder at any moment.

Of course, one could also join the official military through multiple layers of screening.

Stable, but high death rate, and no freedom.

Each has pros and cons, and so on.

Yet Xu Jin listened to all these "kind souls" with only half an ear.

Xu Jin had his own goals for coming to the Star River battlefield.

First goal: cultivation!

Second goal: still cultivation!

Without strength, everything is hollow.

Previously, Xu Jin had worried about cultivation resources—but now, on this journey, he had learned the truth.

The Star River battlefield's three hard currencies: battle merit, Star-Picking Tower starlight, and star jade tablets!

Xu Jin had little Star-Picking Tower starlight, but plenty of star jade tablets.

In his Numinous Space lay ten thousand fourth-rank star jade tablets, each with natural properties, and another ten thousand. This was only a tiny fraction of what he had retained after conquering star domains and converting starlight.

He also possessed two thousand fifth-rank star jade tablets, and twelve sixth-rank star jade tablets.

In the Star River battlefield, star jade tablets were the hardest currency.

Because cultivators above fourth rank needed the Star Gathering Array to accelerate cultivation, and the energy source for these arrays was star jade tablets. Thus, Xu Jin altered his itinerary.

He planned to land first in the main city of the Da Chen Theater: Da Chen War City.

There, he intended to purchase a fifth-rank Star Gathering Array for cultivation.

The average star force density across ordinary regions of the Star River battlefield was roughly equivalent to second-rank.

"Second-rank star force density" was measured by comparison to the present world's star force density.

If the present world's ordinary star force density was one, then second-rank was two.

Third-rank star force density was not three—it was four!

Third-rank star force density was double that of second-rank.

Under normal circumstances, whether in the present world, within or beyond star domains, or even in special zones, natural star force density rarely exceeded third-rank.

Similarly, fourth-rank star force density was double that of third-rank—equivalent to eight times the present world's density!

That is precisely why the fourth-rank star force secret realm of the Da Chen Star-Picking Tower was so precious.

Most cultivators typically used third- or fourth-rank Star Gathering Arrays; those who could afford fourth-rank were already wealthy.

Because third-rank arrays drew energy from third-rank star jade tablets, fourth-rank arrays from fourth-rank star jade tablets—and the star force density of the array's location also affected consumption speed.

Previously, the Niu family of Jingzhou had gifted Xu Jin a small Star Gathering Array—a second-rank one—which he had given to his sister Jiang Er.

Now, Xu Jin suddenly decided to head first to Da Chen War City to purchase a fifth-rank Star Gathering Array!

Yes, a fifth-rank Star Gathering Array.

Fifth-rank arrays used fifth-rank star jade tablets, with star force density double that of fourth-rank arrays—equivalent to sixteen times the present world's density!

A full sixteen times the present world's.

Thus, cultivation efficiency was four times that of third-rank arrays, and double that of fourth-rank.

Yet most could not afford them—even scions of great clans could not—because they consumed fifth-rank star jade tablets.

According to what Xu Jin had inquired, sixth-rank Star Gathering Arrays existed too.

But those who could afford them were few and far between!

Only perhaps the Star Juniors of each temple could possibly use sixth-rank star jade tablets.

Because they consumed sixth-rank star jade tablets.

Xu Jin understood this well.

In the star domains he had traversed, sixth-rank star jade tablets simply did not appear in domains below fourth rank; even one or two in fourth-rank domains were treated as treasures; fifth-rank star jade tablets, even a whole faction's annual output, rarely exceeded ten pieces.

At present, Xu Jin simply could not afford them.

But the Star Juniors of each temple might well afford them.

November 19.

The Changsheng Trading House's starship landed at Da Chen War City, and Xu Jin disembarked early.

In fact, upon reaching Da Chen War City, he was not far from Xingyang War City.

Even without taking the starship, Xu Jin could fly there himself in no more than three or four hours.

The guard checking identities took Xu Jin's Star-Picking Token, verified his identity, then summoned the official on duty to activate a clearly high-grade Star-Picking Token, sending a beam of starlight directly into Xu Jin's token.

"By law, fourth-rank hermits residing in the Chen Guo War Zone must pay fifty battle merits annually; if insufficient, they may pay Star Jade Tablets at the General's Headquarters or each city's governor's office to redeem battle merits. Those exceeding one month's delay will have their Star-Picking Tokens instantly blocked, and upon detection at any city checkpoint, they will be immediately expelled," the guard said without looking up, reciting standard guidelines to Xu Jin, the newcomer.

"If your battle merits are insufficient, participating once in any city or unit's cleanup operation will count as payment."

"For personal grudges or conflicts, resolve them yourself—dueling and private combat are not forbidden!"

"But one rule: on the battlefield, against alien races, stand united!"

"Whoever dares attack fellow humans while alien races are present—once discovered, all under heaven shall rise against them!"

"Understood."

As Xu Jin reclaimed his Star-Picking Token from the starport guard, a middle-aged man immediately approached him: "Brother, the Seven-Star Guild is recruiting! Excellent benefits—fourth-rank cultivators who join immediately receive a third-rank Star-Collecting Array, plus monthly Star Jade Tablets."

"Young brother, our Qinglin Squad is also recruiting. We give a third-rank Star-Collecting Array, distribute loot according to combat contribution, and guarantee you at least one thousand third-rank Star Jade Tablets per month."

As soon as Xu Jin stepped out, five or six groups surrounded him, recruiting.

"I'm here to visit relatives."

With just those words, the recruiters dispersed.

This was the advantage of Star Boat's sweet-talking advice—the guidance of kind senior brothers.

Never join any group recruiting at the starport.

Those recruiting here are mostly units with heavy casualties; fourth-rank newcomers sent there rarely survive a year, often not even a few months.

Once you decide to join a guild or mercenary squad, you must be extremely cautious!

After the recruiters left, Xu Jin sank his thoughts into his Star-Picking Token, studying the map sent by the manager of Changsheng Trading House, then headed straight for Changsheng Trading House.

It took a little effort to purchase a fifth-rank Star-Collecting Array.

Fifth-rank Star-Collecting Arrays are not commonly stocked; stock must be ordered.

Xu Jin waited half an hour before securing it.

The price of the fifth-rank Star-Collecting Array was steep: twenty fifth-rank Star Jade Tablets.

But to Xu Jin, it was pocket change.

"Manager, does Changsheng Trading House sell thousand-year turtle shells and Crimson Sparrow feathers?" Xu Jin asked casually after obtaining the fifth-rank Star-Collecting Array.

During his campaigns in the Star Realm, Xu Jin had already gathered most of the materials needed to upgrade his fourth-rank Can-Dou Platform to fifth rank.

The upgrade required: ten thousand strands of starlight, eighty-one fifth-rank Star Jade Tablets, ten thousand jin of iron essence, one thousand jin of copper essence, ten thousand jin of silver, one thousand liang of gold, ten jin of starfall iron, ten pieces of thousand-year turtle shell, and three Crimson Sparrow feathers.

All of these—ten thousand strands of starlight, the fifty-rank Star Jade Tablets, iron essence, copper essence, silver, gold, and starfall iron—had already been collected.

The only missing items were the thousand-year turtle shells and Crimson Sparrow feathers!

Originally, Xu Jin planned to ask Ling Mao, Deputy Director of the Foreign Affairs Division of the Chen Guo Dao Academy, to help him find and purchase them after the campaign.

Ling Mao had wide connections; finding them wouldn't be hard.

But plans change faster than expectations.

Now that Xu Jin had faked his death and vanished, he could no longer contact Ling Mao.

As the Grand Master had ordered, Xu Jin's identity must remain absolutely hidden until he broke through to fifth rank.

After breaking through to fifth rank, the most dangerous period would be over.

"Esteemed guest, thousand-year turtle shells and Crimson Sparrow feathers are rare heavenly treasures, especially the latter, which is exceedingly scarce. They typically appear only at auctions. If you don't mind, leave your contact details—our shop holds monthly auctions, and we'll notify you immediately if any become available," the manager said.

"Agreed."

Xu Jin added the manager as a contact on his Star-Picking Token—the manager's surname was Liu!

Afterwards, Xu Jin wandered through the entire Chen Guo War City, ate a meal of rare delicacies, then flew out of the city toward Xingyang War City.

He glanced at Ning Yuchan from afar, then entrusted the courier with the cultivation resources he had prepared for her—his primary mission was complete. What remained was cultivation.

Just as Xu Jin arrived at Xingyang War City, far away in the Chen Guo imperial capital, Wan Yi, Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao received a starlight message from the Star River General's Headquarters summoning a meeting.

The meeting's topic: Emperor Gan'an of Chen Guo, Gao Ye, resumes his title as Emperor Lord!

(End of Chapter)