Chapter 312: Not Seeking Wealth

In the Fifth Battalion's main camp of the Xuanhu Army in the Da Chen theater, many soldiers were gazing toward the direction of the Second Battalion's encampment.

Before the encampment of the Second Battalion of the Fifth Regiment, nearly a thousand soldiers stood gathered, unwilling to disperse.

This was the quarters of Deputy Supervisor Ning Yuchan, who had just returned; two female personal guards, injured to different degrees, stood watch outside the hut. Soon after, two more female personal guards emerged from inside, carrying basins of blood and shredded, blood-soaked uniforms.

Zhang Fang, the battalion commander of the Fifth Battalion, hurried forward, and Yuan Jing, captain of the personal guard, exclaimed urgently, "Commander, Deputy Supervisor Ning's injuries are severe—the sixth-rank alien star force has taken root in her body. I've already used three low-grade Star-Healing talismans, but they only stabilize her condition; they cannot improve it."

Please, Commander, use a mid-grade Star-Healing talisman to save Deputy Supervisor Ning!"

Commander Zhang Fang helplessly rubbed his hands. "I want to use one too, but I've run out of mid-grade Star-Healing talismans! I've already submitted a report—higher command says they're mobilizing reserves, but it'll take time."

Upon hearing this, Yuan Jing, captain of Ning Yuchan's personal guard, grew both frantic and furious. "Commander, if not for Deputy Supervisor Ning holding off the sixth-rank alien, over half our Second Battalion soldiers would be dead! Why can't you urgently requisition even one mid-grade Star-Healing talisman?"

"The headquarters says that during the Nine-Star Tide, material consumption is enormous, and they're temporarily reallocating supplies—but it requires time," Commander Zhang Fang replied.

"But if Deputy Supervisor Ning doesn't get a mid-grade Star-Healing talisman, the alien's strange power will keep worsening her injuries—she won't last much longer! Or, could we summon a seventh-rank…" The captain's voice trailed off mid-sentence.

A seventh-rank powerhouse might save Deputy Supervisor Ning, but seventh-rank warriors are rare, exalted, and especially scarce during wartime.

They couldn't even requisition a single mid-grade Star-Healing talisman—how could they possibly summon a seventh-rank warrior?

At that moment, another weak voice spoke up: "Commander, shouldn't the headquarters have spare mid-grade Star-Healing talismans in reserve? How could they possibly be completely used up? Commander, why not go there yourself?"

The speaker was Cui Chongguang, supervisor of the Second Battalion of the Fifth Battalion.

During this battle, while guarding the Star River passage, they unexpectedly encountered a sixth-rank warrior; as a late-stage fifth-rank supervisor, he was gravely wounded in less than three breaths.

He had thought he was certain to die, but Ning Yuchan stepped forward and held off the sixth-rank alien, buying them precious time.

Eventually, they repelled the sixth-rank warrior using coordinated military formations and completed their mission—but Ning Yuchan was left critically wounded.

Her body was now infested with an extremely stubborn emerald-green star force, relentlessly destroying her tissues; even after exhausting all their low-grade Star-Healing talismans, the damage continued.

"But the headquarters says they're all used up—"

Before he could finish, Zhang Fang noticed the soldiers of the Second Battalion staring at him with changed eyes. He immediately corrected himself: "Fine, I'll go myself! A round trip will take about a day."

"I still have three low-grade Star-Healing talismans—give them to Deputy Supervisor Ning to keep her alive. Make sure she holds on."

With that, Commander Zhang Fang departed, hurrying out of the encampment with his personal guard, flying toward Yangdu War City, the headquarters of the Da Chen Xuanhu Army.

As he left, Zhang Fang wiped away a cold sweat.

Ning Yuchan had only been with the Second Battalion of the Fifth Battalion for a few months, yet she had already earned immense popularity.

He realized now: if he didn't go this time, and Ning Yuchan died because of it, the soldiers of the Second Battalion would hate him.

It could even shake the morale of the entire Fifth Battalion and destroy his authority.

So, regardless of whether it would help, he had to go.

After leaving the camp, Zhang Fang sent a star-message to the Left Secretary of the headquarters, urgently demanding a mid-grade Star-Healing talisman.

Ning Yuchan's critical injury didn't just stir uproar within the camp—it ignited a storm across the entire Xingyang War City.

The reason was simple: two bands of freelance mercenary squads were offering high prices for mid-grade Star-Healing talismans!

"Brothers! We're paying top price for mid-grade Star-Healing talismans—anyone with one, name your price! We'll sell everything we own to buy it! Or if you know anyone with access to such items, please help us connect—there'll be a heavy reward!"

Several fourth-rank freelancers shouted this in the busiest district of Xingyang War City; their leader was a fifth-rank, eighth-layer freelancer named Li Tian, captain of the Green Forest Mercenary Squad.

Another squad, the Sword Hero Mercenaries, led by their captain Hou Yunzhang—who was injured himself—was also shouting in the city, still offering exorbitant rewards for mid-grade Star-Healing talismans!

Both mercenary squads were frequently hired by the Second Battalion of the Fifth Battalion.

Now both were raising the alarm.

Thus, Zhong Wei learned of the news and informed Xu Jin.

Why did Zhong Wei inform Xu Jin? The reason was simple: over the past dozen days, Xu Jin had already used Wen Meng to subtly guide Zhong Wei multiple times.

Through dreams, Xu Jin implanted two pieces of information into Zhong Wei's mind.

First, Qi Tian Sheng was curious about Ning Yuchan and had asked Zhong Wei to keep an eye on her condition.

Second, when Zhong Wei had previously returned to the mortal realm, he had been entrusted to deliver a family letter and some personal belongings to Ning Yuchan.

Xu Jin had arranged these two details early on, intending to pass along the cultivation materials he'd prepared for Ning Yuchan, to boost her strength.

As for himself, he still needed to lie low for a while before revealing his identity to Ning Yuchan.

But the first piece of news he received was that Ning Yuchan was critically wounded.

And from current intelligence, although she had returned, she had not yet been saved.

Otherwise, these two mercenary squads wouldn't be offering such high prices for mid-grade Star-Healing talismans.

This struck Xu Jin as odd: although mid-grade Star-Healing talismans were vital strategic materials and extremely rare on the open market, they should still be available in military camps.

How could they be completely gone?

Then again, material shortages during the Nine-Star Tide were plausible.

But now, saving a life came first.

When Xu Jin had slain the formidable Flower Queen in the Fanhua Star Region, he had obtained a fourth-rank superior Wood Spirit Star Core, which contained a mid-grade Star-Healing talisman—he could activate it himself.

After thinking it over, Xu Jin decided to sneak in and save her first.

At the very least, he had to save Ning Yuchan.

Under invisibility, infiltrating the camp wasn't difficult.

But once he found Ning Yuchan's quarters, Xu Jin froze.

Too many soldiers and officers surrounded the place.

Although only two female personal guards stood guard at the door, hundreds of soldiers waited outside for news.

To treat Ning Yuchan, Xu Jin had to enter the hut and make direct contact with her.

To enter, he'd have to use Wen Meng to hypnotize the two guards, then slip inside.

But under so many eyes, if those two guards suddenly fell asleep, they'd be discovered immediately.

He couldn't infiltrate—this was a real problem.

The Mingji Star Mark could sense Ning Yuchan's aura from afar—it was extremely weak, and still weakening.

Xu Jin's brow locked tight.

Saving her was going to be difficult.

Did he really have to pose as a high-rank expert and use a mid-grade Star-Healing talisman publicly?

But publicly activating a mid-grade Star-Healing talisman might trigger unpredictable complications. Suddenly, Xu Jin remembered that during his battle in the fifth-rank Lingwu Star Region, he had slain a high-ranking expert secretly dispatched by the Tianyang Star Temple—Zhang Yucheng—and seized a mid-grade Star-Healing talisman.

He made his decision immediately.

Sell the mid-grade Star-Healing talisman!

Even if some suspicious people took notice, it might not be a bad thing.

After all, anyone carrying a mid-grade Star-Healing talisman on their person was clearly no ordinary individual.

Half a minute later, Xu Jin approached Hou Yunzhang, captain of the Sword Hero Mercenaries.

"What? Brother, you have a mid-grade Star-Healing talisman? This is amazing! This is a lifesaver! Let me see it—what's your price?" Hou Yunzhang was a towering middle-aged man, taller than Xu Jin by over a head, his back bearing a massive sword like a door panel. At Xu Jin's words, his palm-sized hand clamped down on him.

Instantly, Xu Jin felt immobilized—his hand bones ached from the crushing grip; he had to channel star force just to resist.

"Naturally gifted strength!" was Xu Jin's first thought.

Xu Jin pushed back with star force, wrenching his hand free. Hou Yunzhang finally realized his mistake and immediately apologized.

Xu Jin smiled and pulled out the mid-grade Star-Healing talisman he had seized.

Hou Yunzhang glanced at it and said, "This is a mid-grade, fourth-rank quality Star-Healing talisman—entry-level. Brother, name your price!"

Hou Yunzhang braced himself for being overcharged—even an entry-level mid-grade Star-Healing talisman was still a mid-grade Star-Healing talisman.

"Give me market price."

"Market price? Really?" Hou Yunzhang exclaimed in delight.

"Really. I know you're doing this to save a remarkable woman like Deputy Supervisor Ning—otherwise, I wouldn't have brought it out."

Hearing this, Hou Yunzhang rubbed his hands. "Brother, market price for Star-Healing talismans means adding one full rank premium, then doubling it.

A fifth-rank talisman usually sells for 1, 00 to 2, 00 strands of starlight—double that.

Four thousand strands of starlight—how's that?"

"Done!"

Xu Jin was slightly surprised by the price.

A common mid-grade Star-Healing talisman could fetch four thousand strands of starlight.

Clearly, wherever you go, things that save lives are always the most expensive!

"Wait!"

Just as the two were about to complete the transaction, a fifth-rank, ninth-layer peak freelancer stepped forward. "Brother, I'll pay five thousand strands for your fourth-rank mid-grade Star-Healing talisman!"

Instantly, Hou Yunzhang's face flushed red. "Zheng Guan! We're trying to save a life—why must you interfere now?"

"I'm buying to save a life too! What, only you get to save, and I don't?" Zheng Guan laughed. "Besides, I'm paying real gold and silver—who can stop me?"

"Brother, five thousand strands, after tax—let's finalize now!" Zheng Guan turned to Xu Jin.

"I'll match it—five thousand!" Hou Yunzhang gritted his teeth.

"Six thousand!"

Zheng Guan raised his bid again, adding, "Brother, I see you haven't joined any guild yet. Here's a deal: sell me this talisman, and I'll give you a membership slot in the Seven Kill Temple!"

The Seven Kill Temple is the largest guild on the Star River battlefield—and we have our own war city!"

Think it over."

"I'll pay seven thousand!"

Hou Yunzhang shouted his highest bid, then turned to a nearby comrade. "Go get help—say it's an emergency. Borrow me two thousand strands—I'll repay you in two months."

Hearing this, Zheng Guan smiled. "Brother, your strength is clear as day. Who you deal with, who you befriend—do I need to spell it out?"

As he spoke, Zheng Guan confidently pulled out his Star-Taking Token, ready to complete the transaction with Xu Jin.

Xu Jin smiled and shook his head. "I'm sorry, but the sole purpose of revealing this life-saving tattoo was to save Lady Ning!"

Not for gold!

Nor for any guild slot!"

With that, as Zheng Guan stared in shock, Xu Jin turned to Hou Yunzhang and grinned. "Brother Hou, still interested in four thousand strands of starlight?"

"Buy! Buy! Buy!" Hou Yunzhang was overjoyed and immediately pulled out his Star-Picking Token to complete the transaction.

Suddenly, Zheng Guan's cold voice cut through the air. "Brother, are you mocking me? You wouldn't sell for six thousand, but you're selling to him for four?"

"What's mine is mine—I'll sell it to whomever I please!"

As he spoke, Xu Jin directly pressed the Mid-Grade Star-Healing tattoo into Hou Yunzhang's hand. Hou Yunzhang promptly transferred four thousand strands of starlight—but in reality, he paid five thousand.

Because he had to pay tax to the Star-Picking Tower!

The transaction price is after tax!

"Brother, you're a real man! If you don't have a team—or if you're looking to join one—come find me. Our Sword Hero Squad will welcome you with open arms!"

"I'll definitely take you up on it—go save her now," Xu Jin replied with a bow and a smile.

Hou Yunzhang hurried off. Zheng Guan glared at Xu Jin, let out a cold snort, and quickly left.

Xu Jin didn't care, but Zhong Wei, who was with him, shrank back slightly. "Brother, if you ever leave the city and run into Zheng Guan, keep your guard up."

As Xu Jin nodded, Zhong Wei began to eye him with a different expression. "Hey, Brother Tian Sheng, your background isn't ordinary at all!"

You're carrying a Mid-Grade Star-Healing tattoo on your person? Even fifth-rank hermits rarely carry one—and sixth-rank hermits or even sixth-rank military officers might not have one! Be honest with me—are you an heir from some great clan?"

Or are you an imperial prince in disguise, here to train incognito?"

And are there elite family guardians secretly protecting you?" Zhong Wei's voice rang out loudly, loud enough for many nearby—including Zheng Guan, who had just left—to hear. Several turned to look.

Even Zheng Guan, who was walking away, paused and glanced back at Xu Jin, his expression thoughtful.

Xu Jin then realized what was happening.

Zhong Wei was protecting him—building him up.

Using a single Mid-Grade Star-Healing tattoo to elevate his status, to make Zheng Guan wary and hesitate before targeting Xu Jin.

This friend? Good. He's truly thoughtful.

But Xu Jin was being less than honest.

Because he had used Wen Meng on him.

Even Zhong Wei's kindness toward him stemmed from Wen Meng!

Half a quarter-hour later, Xu Jin made an excuse to leave and parted ways with Zhong Wei, returning to the small courtyard.

After returning to the courtyard, Xu Jin once again vanished and headed toward the Fifth Battalion of the Xuanhu Army's encampment. He slipped inside effortlessly and found Ning Yuchan's tent.

Upon arrival, he saw the female personal guard and Hou Yunzhang walking out of the tent, both looking helpless.

Xu Jin's expression changed.

Could the Mid-Grade Star-Healing tattoo be useless?

Is Ning Yuchan's injury truly this severe?"

(End of Chapter)