Chapter 323: Midnight Surprise

In inner vision, within the small Yuan Spirit of the Shangxing Palace, thirty-six Divine Soul Star Cores rotated simultaneously; each rotation generated a thread of visible Divine Soul energy, absorbed by one of the Divine Soul Stars, strengthening Xu Jin's Divine Soul cultivation base.

The terrifying passive amplification effect of the Chengpo Star Patterns had fully manifested, increasing exponentially with quantity.

No matter what Xu Jin did, the forty-six Chengpo Star Patterns continuously enhanced his Divine Soul cultivation base.

Xu Jin had decided he must invest more Golden Stars into the Chengpo Star Patterns.

For passive cultivation-enhancing star patterns, the greater the investment and the earlier it begins, the greater the returns.

After inner observation, Xu Jin discovered the twenty-six newly formed Divine Soul Stars had benefited from the vast amounts of Divine Soul energy released during his breakthrough, via the Nine-Petal Golden Lotus Seed and the Star Jade Tablet, and nearly all had reached the Second Halo level.

That meant he could engrave two star patterns on each.

Since this was a passive cultivation boost, Xu Jin no longer waited.

He immediately began engraving the second star pattern onto all twenty-six new Divine Soul Stars—every one with Chengpo Star Patterns.

In the end, Xu Jin engraved two Chengpo Star Patterns onto twenty-four of the twenty-six new Divine Soul Stars, leaving the remaining two with only one Chengpo Star Pattern each.

This was for safety's sake.

What if he later acquired a Divine Soul technique requiring nine star patterns to be engraved?

Thus, the total number of Chengpo Star Patterns engraved by Xu Jin reached a terrifying seventy.

The passive increase in Divine Soul cultivation base had become visibly enhanced.

At the same time, Xu Jin began re-planning the uses of these Divine Soul Stars.

Compared to Star Force techniques, Divine Soul techniques were far fewer in number, so Xu Jin's abundance of Divine Soul Stars would almost certainly go unused.

After all, other cultivators needed only ten Divine Soul Stars to suffice.

Rather than let them sit idle and waste potential, better to engrave Chengpo Star Patterns early, so they could passively boost his Divine Soul energy sooner.

The cumulative power of daily progress was most terrifying!

Xu Jin's sixth Divine Soul Star and beyond were all blank except for the Chengpo Star Patterns already engraved.

At the same time, Xu Jin wanted to test whether he could exploit a bug: engraving a single Divine Soul Star entirely with Chengpo Star Patterns—not many, just ten or eight—and in the future, that would add nearly a hundred extra Chengpo Star Patterns, making the passive Divine Soul enhancement effect unimaginably terrifying.

Since so many star pattern slots remained empty and wasting potential, Xu Jin acted on the thought immediately and began engraving.

But before engraving, Xu Jin fully activated the four Mingji Star Patterns in the Xiaxing Palace, carefully sensing all changes within the Shangxing Palace—especially the magnitude of Divine Soul energy increase—to establish a baseline for comparison.

Now, with the four Mingji Star Patterns active, his perception had become exquisitely fine.

Soon, Xu Jin engraved the third Chengpo Star Pattern onto the sixth Divine Soul Star.

After successful engraving, Xu Jin activated the Mingji Star Patterns again, carefully sensing and recording the data.

A few dozen breaths later, he engraved the third Chengpo Star Pattern onto the seventh Divine Soul Star, sensed and recorded again, then engraved the fourth Chengpo Star Pattern onto the sixth Divine Soul Star.

He repeated this process—continuously adding new engravings, continuously recording and comparing—until he had engraved six Chengpo Star Patterns on both the sixth and seventh Divine Soul Stars.

Looking at the test data, Xu Jin shook his head: bug exploitation failed.

Not entirely failed, though.

According to the data, the passive Divine Soul energy increase from the third Chengpo Star Pattern on a single Divine Soul Star had already diminished; the fourth dropped sharply to half the effect of the first two; the fifth was only one-third; the sixth Chengpo Star Pattern added so little that the Mingji Star Patterns could barely sense it—but there was still an increase.

Currently, it appeared the maximum benefit came from engraving two Chengpo Star Patterns per Divine Soul Star; three still offered good returns; the gains from the fourth, fifth, and sixth were roughly equivalent to the increase from the third.

Seeing this data, Xu Jin instantly formulated a plan: in the future, aside from reserving a few Divine Soul Stars, every other Divine Soul Star must bear at least three Chengpo Star Patterns, and eighteen of them must bear at least five.

After all, empty slots were waste!

Current total Chengpo Star Patterns engraved: seventy-eight.

With the Shangxing Palace settled, Xu Jin immediately sought to test the effects of star pattern reinforcement.

The State Tutor had already given Xu Jin the method to reinforce star patterns.

The first star pattern to reinforce was naturally the Gao Jie Fire Source Star Pattern.

Xu Jin activated his Divine Soul willpower, manipulated Star Force, and began reinforcing and compressing the Fire Source Star Pattern.

After only half an hour of reinforcement, Xu Jin gained understanding.

In his own words, reinforcing and compressing the Fire Source Star Pattern was like continuously upgrading iron into steel—but due to the star pattern's unique nature, this process could be stacked multiple times.

Taking the Fire Source Star Pattern's halo in the Zhongxing Palace as an example, it was inherently illusory; this reinforcement was a process of transforming the illusory into the real, then refining the real into the pure.

The speed of reinforcement delighted Xu Jin even more.

According to the State Tutor, a fifth-rank cultivator who had formed a Yuan Spirit needed at least a year to use Divine Soul willpower to reinforce a star pattern from its initial layer to the second layer, doubling the related star technique's power.

For a fifth-rank cultivator who had not yet formed a Yuan Spirit, relying solely on formed Star Dips to reinforce, the time required was even slower—typically three years minimum per layer.

But as cultivation base increased, the speed would continuously improve.

Xu Jin's current six-meter-five Yuan Spirit's Tai Guang granted him Divine Soul willpower six to nearly seven times stronger than that of a newly formed Yuan Spirit cultivator.

Xu Jin estimated that with three hours of daily reinforcement, he could elevate the Fire Source Star Pattern to the second layer in just over a month and a half, doubling the power of related star techniques!

This made Xu Jin exhale deeply.

With this, he could still continue harvesting Golden Stars and Can Stars without fear of being unable to obtain them.

It would simply require more time.

This hidden concern was resolved.

Now that this concern was settled, the next step was to utilize the Golden Stars already in hand.

He currently possessed five Golden Stars and four Can Stars, which must be rapidly converted into actual power.

If not converted into power, and he died in battle, they would be utterly wasted.

In the razor-thin line between life and death, regret would come too late!

Had the Star Dome Secret Realm's contemplation time not been limited to one hour, Xu Jin would have used up most of his Golden and Can Stars immediately.

For this contemplation session's use of Golden Stars, Xu Jin already had a plan.

The first star pattern: Da Ju Star Pattern.

The latest version of the Da Ju Star Pattern in the Guodao Academy was only Sixth-Rank Lower.

The Da Ju Star Pattern was the foundational pattern for nearly all Zhongxing Palace star patterns, determining the upper limit of Star Force each Star Core could hold.

The higher the rank, the more Star Force a given Star Core could contain.

It must be upgraded.

After deduction, it would moderately enhance Xu Jin's power and combat endurance.

There was another reason: upgrading this star pattern would elevate the foundational strength of all cultivators in the Chen Guo Dao Academy.

Within the Chen Guo Dao Academy, the latest version of the Da Ju Star Pattern was Sixth-Rank Lower.

Nearly all fifth- and sixth-rank cultivators practiced this maximum version.

Fourth-rank cultivators could train at most a Fifth-Rank Da Ju Star Pattern.

If upgraded, the entire Chen Guo Dao Academy's strength might rise by an entire tier.

"Star Spirit, initiate Star Dome Secret Realm contemplation time."

After issuing the command to the Star Spirit, Xu Jin guided his mind to activate one Golden Star, then sank his awareness into the Da Ju Star Pattern.

The heavens and earth's starlight shifted; Xu Jin's perspective was instantly drawn into strange natural phenomena—great rivers, lakes and seas, and plant roots.

Especially many plants, their tiny, slender roots stored vast quantities of fluid.

Scenes unfolded like the transformation of seas into mulberry fields.

Xu Jin was already thoroughly familiar with all of this; his experience in deducing star patterns had grown richer.

While observing, he activated the Da Ju Star Pattern, repeatedly resonating and performing countless deductions.

Like a virtual model, it continuously deduced before him, failed repeatedly, yet progressed steadily.

After a long while, Xu Jin suddenly fell out of this cosmic panorama.

The high-level Dao derivation of this Golden Star ended.

This Da Ju Star Pattern had been successfully deduced to Sixth-Rank Upper, barely crossing into Seventh-Rank. This deduction directly advanced the Da Ju Star Pattern by two and a half minor ranks.

Xu Jin did not stop; he immediately activated another Golden Star and began contemplation and deduction again.

Strike while the iron is hot!

Half an hour later, contemplation ended.

Xu Jin opened his eyes, his pupils brimming with joy.

Seventh-Rank Middle!

The second Golden Star had advanced the Da Ju Star Pattern by one and a half minor ranks.

But in total, it reached Seventh-Rank Middle, elevating the Da Ju Star Pattern by four minor ranks.

Xu Jin hesitated: should he use a Can Star to continue deduction?

If he used one Can Star, this Da Ju Star Pattern would surely reach Eighth-Rank Lower; Eighth-Rank Middle was highly unlikely.

But the Star Dome Secret Realm's contemplation time was limited.

Moreover, after deducing so many star patterns, Xu Jin found the most difficult to deduce were star patterns beyond Eighth-Rank Middle, and Divine Soul star patterns.

Divine Soul energy was formless, difficult to cultivate—let alone deduce.

The deduction difficulty might be three to five times greater than other star patterns.

So Xu Jin intended to save his Can Stars for high-rank star patterns or Divine Soul star patterns.

Based on the process of deducing the Da Ju Star Pattern, Xu Jin felt he did not yet need to use a Can Star.

Then, move on to the next star pattern.

Before deducing the next star pattern, Xu Jin directly sent the Seventh-Rank Middle Da Ju Star Pattern to the Grand State Tutor, then began deducing.

The second star pattern to deduce had already been decided.

Liu Xing Star Pattern.

Currently, Xu Jin had two speed-related star patterns: Liu Xing Star Pattern and Liu Xu Star Pattern; Liu Xing emphasized speed, while Liu Xu favored body movement.

The latest version of the Starflow Pattern at the Chen Guo Dao Academy had previously been Sixth-Rank Lower, until Xu Jin deduced it to Sixth-Rank Upper.

But during actual combat, especially after breaking through to Fourth-Rank, Xu Jin found that the Sixth-Rank Upper Starflow Pattern was no longer sufficient.

In all martial arts, speed is invincible.

The importance of speed needs no elaboration.

Whether killing enemies or fleeing, it is always the primary factor.

Especially when fleeing.

It must be deduced.

In the next instant, Xu Jin's mind sank into the Sixth-Rank Upper Starflow Pattern and activated a Golden Star.

Inside the Danxia Palace of the Chen Guo Dao Academy, upon hearing the news that Xu Jin's Yuan Ling Taiguang reached two meters one, the State Tutor Cheng Yuexiao unusually shared a few cups of wine with Peng Lao.

He was truly delighted.

Only those who had forged a Yuan Ling knew what it meant for the Yuan Ling Taiguang to reach two meters one.

For instance, Mao Yan, Master Cheng Yuexiao's own teacher, had a Yuan Ling Taiguang of one meter four when he forged his Yuan Ling; after six years of arduous cultivation, it reached seven meters.

After another decade of arduous cultivation, it reached twenty meters.

Essentially, his progress was about one meter per year.

This was still because Mao Yan, at the time, was the Left Sacrificial Officer of the Chen Guo Dao Academy—high in rank and power, with no shortage of cultivation resources.

But Xu Jin, having just forged his Yuan Ling, already had a Yuan Ling Taiguang of two meters one; typically, the initial coverage range of the Yuan Ling Taiguang correlates with its later growth rate.

Perhaps after three or four years of arduous cultivation, Xu Jin's Yuan Ling Taiguang coverage would match that of his teacher after six years.

Naturally, all other aspects need no mention.

Peng Lao naturally rejoiced and drank several cups as well.

After a half-night's exertion, State Tutor Cheng Yuexiao activated Wen Meng and fell into deep sleep.

But less than half an hour later, the Zhaixing Token suddenly vibrated sharply several times.

During rest, only a handful of people's Starlight Messages would trigger a reminder—Xu Jin was one of them.

The newly fallen asleep State Tutor Cheng Yuexiao jolted upright, glanced once at the Zhaixing Token, and his expression turned once more to stunned delight.

The Great Star Gathering Pattern, Seventh-Rank Middle.

Seventh-Rank Middle!

This pattern, once disseminated, would instantly increase the Star Power reserves of Sixth-Rank, Seventh-Rank, and even Eighth-Rank cultivators by forty percent, significantly boosting combat power.

Fifth-Rank cultivators of the Dao Academy could henceforth learn the Sixth-Rank Great Star Gathering Pattern directly through merit.

Third-Rank and Fourth-Rank cultivators could be directly taught the Fourth-Rank Great Star Gathering Pattern.

In short, Xu Jin's deduction of the Great Star Gathering Pattern to Seventh-Rank Middle improved the overall strength of the Chen Guo Dao Academy by several times more than his earlier Eighth-Rank Middle Fire Source Star Pattern.

The Fire Source Star Pattern could only enhance the combat power of a portion of cultivators.

But the Great Star Gathering Pattern benefits every single cultivator in Chen Guo, from bottom to top!

"Peng Lao, Peng Lao—hurry and study and engrave the latest Seventh-Rank Middle Great Star Gathering Pattern!" State Tutor Cheng Yuexiao immediately woke Peng Lao.

Woken up, Peng Lao blinked in confusion for a few breaths before exclaiming, "Seventh-Rank Middle Great Star Gathering Pattern? Deduced by Xu Jin?"

State Tutor Cheng Yuexiao nodded vigorously.

"This—"

"This is wonderful!" Peng Lao leapt to his feet, "If this engraving succeeds, my total Star Power will increase by forty percent! My combat power may not rise by forty percent, but a twenty percent increase is possible—and my endurance in prolonged battles will be much stronger!"

And your own power, Master, will also advance greatly!

You won't have to fear confronting the Heavenly Yang Star Lord in the wilds anymore.

You might even match him evenly."

"Indeed!" State Tutor Cheng Yuexiao nodded firmly.

Right then and there, he abandoned sleep.

He didn't even want to wait.

In the dead of night, State Tutor Cheng Yuexiao sent out several Starlight Messages, summoning Kou Jing, Meng Yanhui, Gao Xuan, Ji Bang, Grand Director of the Patrol Star Guards Pei Ze, Supervising Academy Chen Liao, Chief Academician Pan Hong, Dong Zhao, and Chief Instructor Yu Da—all to his side.

He imparted the Seventh-Rank Middle Great Star Gathering Pattern to them without reservation, instructing them to begin studying and engraving immediately.

The overall strength of the Chen Guo Dao Academy could not wait!

As for the origin, he claimed only that he himself had deduced it.

Then he imposed Soul Seals on each one.

As for other disciples, they would have to wait slightly longer, receiving the higher-rank Great Star Gathering Pattern through normal channels—via the Vice Academicians, as rewards and grants.

No need for much: within three months, the Chen Guo Dao Academy's overall strength would rise dramatically.

Notably, Liu Qingzhu must certainly be granted the Seventh-Rank Middle Great Star Gathering Pattern.

But the Grand Tutor had considered everything thoroughly—he would impart it to Liu Qingzhu in private.

Otherwise, it might draw the attention of those with ulterior motives.

Instantly, all senior figures of the Dao Academy entered urgent seclusion for one to several days.

One by one, their strength began to transform and ascend.

(End of Chapter)