Chapter 341: Silver-Level Authority

"Little Fish, let's cultivate here for a day or two to lie low. Also, I suggest you first catch up your Lower Star Palace cultivation, then use any spare time to challenge the Golden Star in the Star-Picking Realm."

"Whether you can obtain the Golden Star is secondary."

"But challenging the Golden Star will continuously hone and elevate your combat skills!"

"Senior Qi, I've challenged before! During the middle to late stages of Star Refining, I nearly succeeded every time—but after my cultivation broke through to the Fourth Stage, the Golden Star guardians grew increasingly powerful."

"No problem. First follow my advice: raise your Lower Star Palace cultivation, then fully comprehend the star patterns I previously taught you. Perhaps you'll have a chance to obtain the Golden Star."

"I understand."

Xu Jin realized that the number of Golden Stars and Brilliant Stars he had obtained was ultimately limited, meaning the star patterns he could deduce would also be limited.

He suddenly thought of cultivating someone to challenge the Star-Picking Realm.

Wouldn't that allow him to farm Golden Stars?

Come to think of it, this possibility was quite real.

Especially since the Dragon-Turtle Soul-Forge Elixir he had refined in the Combat Platform could rapidly boost a cultivator's soul cultivation and greatly enhance combat power.

Unfortunately, Ji Hongli's cultivation had already reached Fourth Stage, Third Layer—and after Fourth Stage, Third Layer, each subsequent layer increased the strength of the Golden Star heart demons and guardians nearly twofold.

If Ji Hongli was lucky, she might obtain three or four Golden Stars at most in the future.

Brilliant Stars? Impossible.

But Xu Jin thought of another method: cultivate someone he could completely trust, deliberately suppress their cultivation level, boost their soul cultivation, then begin challenging the Star-Picking Realm from Fourth Stage, First Layer—there would still be a good chance of obtaining Golden Stars, even Brilliant Stars.

But such a genius couldn't be created merely by dumping resources; every aspect had to reach the level of a top-tier prodigy.

Otherwise, pouring resources would be useless.

And absolute trust was essential.

After much thought, Xu Jin now considered Jiang Er.

He would visit Jiang Er in the Fifth Stage Hua Stone Star Domain soon, see if Jiang Er possessed such talent—if so, he could try resource investment.

Calculating the time, Jiang Er was nearly ready to forge their Star.

A few breaths later, Xu Jin gathered his thoughts, activated his intent, and entered the Star-Picking Realm directly.

Before heading to the Spring Thunder Star Domain, Xu Jin had only obtained Golden Stars and Brilliant Stars for Fourth Stage, Fourth Layer. Now his Middle Star Palace cultivation had reached Fourth Stage, Fifth Layer, and his Lower Star Palace cultivation was at Fourth Stage, Fifth Layer, Early Stage—it was time to claim the Golden Star for Fourth Stage, Fifth Layer.

Bronze Stars and Silver Stars posed no challenge; battles ended the moment they began.

【Challenge Golden Star Heart Demon.】

Amidst shifting starlight, Xu Jin appeared in the realm. As the light barrier vanished, he immediately clashed with the Golden Star Heart Demon.

Yet Xu Jin did not use his soul star arts.

Instead, he fought the Golden Star Heart Demon using other star arts.

The current Golden Star Heart Demon possessed cultivation of Fifth Stage, Fifth Layer.

It replicated only the types of Xu Jin's star patterns, not their ranks.

For instance, Xu Jin had used the dazzling violet heavenly fire from his Eighth Stage Fire Source, but the heart demon had never used it.

Yet it remained extremely powerful.

Even stronger than many Sixth Stage cultivators Xu Jin had encountered.

The full-force strikes of a Sixth Stage, Late Layer cultivator could be absorbed by Xu Jin's Fish-Screen Golden Bell two or three times; this Golden Star Heart Demon's full-force attacks could only be absorbed twice—three strikes would break through.

The third strike would require the Flower-Transplant Star Art to evade!

This was an ultra-powerful free sparring partner.

In the midst of battle, Xu Jin continuously tested his star art combat techniques.

He attempted to compress the Great Sun Star Art.

This was a new discovery of his.

Xu Jin realized that the Sixth Stage Great Sun Star Art was powerful, but felt wasteful.

It exploded terrifying fire star force over a broad area.

It was essentially a ranged star art.

Yet the caster could still control and adjust the explosion's radius.

Xu Jin had an idea.

What if he could concentrate the Great Sun Star Art into a single point of explosion? How many times would its power increase?

Normally, the Great Sun's blazing light had a primary damage radius of three meters and a radiation radius of ten meters!

Theoretically, halving the radius would multiply the power exponentially.

Xu Jin began testing compression and control of the Great Sun Star Art in combat.

He had already achieved minor results: using soul force to forcibly shrink the art's damage radius, confining its power to a tighter space to enhance lethality.

It was effective.

But it consumed immense soul force.

More critically, although compressing and gathering the star force with soul intent took only a fleeting instant—a mere delay—it was crucial in combat!

In his relentless battle with the Golden Star Heart Demon, Xu Jin continuously experimented, adjusted, and explored every possible variation.

On several occasions, his modifications even affected the Great Sun Star Pattern.

But it was only a fleeting insight—he couldn't grasp the key.

After fifteen minutes, Xu Jin activated Triple Flow Flash and successfully claimed a Golden Star!

Flow Flash was now Xu Jin's ultimate technique.

But Flow Flash had a flaw: due to its extreme speed, it could only move in a straight line and required a short distance to accelerate.

Thus, when slaying Feng Yi, Xu Jin had first retreated, then instantly returned.

In combat, Xu Jin constantly confronted problems, thought deeply, solved them, and improved his combat power.

【Challenge Golden Star Guardian.】

The threat posed by the Golden Star Guardian was significantly weaker than that of the Golden Star Heart Demon.

But the Golden Star Guardian employed varied star arts, resembling an entirely new opponent—so Xu Jin now always fought the Golden Star Guardian.

First, to hone himself.

Second, to understand the Golden Star Guardian—so no surprises would arise when challenging Brilliant Stars!

After fifteen minutes, Xu Jin slew the Golden Star Guardian and obtained a Golden Star.

Although the Golden Star Guardian's strength had doubled since before, Xu Jin's combat power had surged dramatically after forging his Yuan Spirit.

Especially now, his Yuan Spirit's Tai Guang radiated in a straight line over eight meters.

Xu Jin still didn't know how this level compared to others.

But it was certainly impressive.

Xu Jin's number of Golden Stars increased from three to five.

【Challenge Brilliant Star.】

When challenging the Brilliant Star, Xu Jin remained cautious.

He did not hastily use his soul star art to obliterate one opponent; instead, under the combined assault of the Fifth Stage, Fifth Layer Golden Star Heart Demon and Guardian, he pushed his limits relentlessly.

After a hundred breaths, Xu Jin's Fish-Screen Starlight was shattered by the Golden Star Heart Demon's blow; just as he used the Flower-Transplant Star Art to deflect the fatal strike, the Guardian's terrifying blade-light slashed down, while the heart demon closed in from behind.

Helpless, he activated his soul star art.

First, the Divine Tiger's Roar, then Dream-Stunning!

He gained a brief respite, then slew the Golden Star Guardian.

Half a quarter-hour later, he successfully slew the Golden Star Heart Demon.

【Black Monkey Xu Jin, congratulations—you have successfully challenged the Brilliant Star and obtained one Brilliant Star.】

Starlight appeared; Xu Jin's Brilliant Star count increased from three to four.

But at that very instant, another starlight prompt flashed before his eyes, leaving him stunned.

【Black Monkey Xu Jin, Esteemed Bronze-Level Authority Holder, you have accumulated nine Brilliant Stars. Per the rules, you are granted the Silver-Level Authority of the Star-Picking Tower. Do you accept?】

This sudden starlight prompt left Xu Jin frozen.

He had asked the Grand Master, asked the Star Spirit, and pondered endlessly himself—how to obtain the Silver-Level Authority.

According to the Grand Master's experience, Xu Jin would only gain the Silver-Level Authority after inheriting the Grand Master's position and obtaining authority over the main tower of the Great Chen Star-Picking Tower. But Xu Jin never imagined such a path existed.

Accumulate nine Brilliant Stars.

The Grand Master didn't know this.

That meant, in the history of Great Chen—or even the Lingji Star Palace—no one had ever ascended to higher authority through this route.

Otherwise, it would have been recorded!

Although the Grand Master was not of the Lingji Star Palace, due to his unique status, he knew most of its secrets.

Accept!

Must accept.

【Accept】

【Congratulations, Black Monkey Xu Jin. From this moment, you have become the Silver-Level Authority Holder of the Star-Picking Tower. You will gain the following authorities.】

【One: You may freely awaken the Star-Picking Tower's Star Spirit, receive its assistance on certain matters, and impose limited restrictions upon it.】

【Two: You may freely manage your own information.】

【Three: All internal Star-Picking Tower transactions, including taxes, are reduced by ten percent.】

【Four: As a Silver-Level Authority Holder, you may enter your designated Star-Picking Tower Star-Dome Realm to meditate once per month without any aura lock, for a duration of four hours.】

【Five: As a Silver-Level Authority Holder, you may receive the Star-Picking Tower's protection twice per year: even under aura lock, you may forcibly enter the Star-Picking Tower's Star-Dome Realm, provided your Star-Picking Token detects the presence of a Star-Picking Tower within its range.】

Six: After becoming a Silver-Level Custodian, you may obtain certain informational support under suitable conditions, but you must pay a corresponding price.

Seven: After becoming a Silver-Level Custodian, any Star Tower-related prohibitions issued by Custodians with lower authority than you are invalid against you.

Eight: After becoming a Silver-Level Custodian, you gain the right to purchase or integrate a Star Tower branch into your network.

Nine: After becoming a Silver-Level Custodian, your Star Talisman will be upgraded, and its communication range will double from its original base.

Ten: Other privileges of Silver-Level Custodians, explore them yourself.

Ten streaks of starlight flashed consecutively before Xu Jin, leaving him both startled and delighted.

The first few were familiar, but each of the later ones was an extremely valuable power.

Especially Xu Jin's favorite privilege—the Star Dome's Dao-contemplation time—directly increased from one hour to four hours, matching the Grand Master's.

Also, two Star Dome protections.

And the ninth privilege was especially cost-effective: doubling the communication range. If Xu Jin upgraded his Star Talisman to three-star or even four-star, then doubled again, the range would be vast—extremely useful in the future.

The eighth privilege also stirred Xu Jin deeply—did it mean his existing Star Tower branch could be reconnected and reintegrated into the network?

What puzzled Xu Jin most was the seventh: prohibitions issued by Custodians with lower authority than him were invalid?

In Xu Jin's understanding, it meant that if a Copper-Level Custodian had blocked the Star Tower, it would not affect him!

If this were true, what would happen when his Star Talisman authority rose to Gold Level?

How many Gold-Level Custodians could there be in this world?

"Star Spirit, Star Spirit, how many Gold-Level Custodians are there?" Xu Jin immediately called out.

"My lord, I cannot answer that question. Gold-Level Custodians have forbidden me from revealing their information," the Star Spirit said.

Xu Jin paused, then suddenly laughed, pulling out a jade tablet pre-recorded with three chapters of Journey to the West and tossing it to the Star Spirit.

"You answered well. Here's your reward."

The Star Spirit chuckled and accepted it on the spot.

Gold-Level Custodians had forbidden the Star Spirit from revealing their information.

That meant there were Gold-Level Custodians within the Star Tower.

But how many exactly—the Star Spirit could not say.

Xu Jin guessed there were probably few.

After all, Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao was only a Silver-Level Custodian.

The most likely candidates were the Star Juniors of the Three Star Palaces.

Possibly all three Star Juniors were Gold-Level Custodians, or perhaps only one or two.

"Star Spirit, do you know how to become a Gold-Level Custodian?" Xu Jin asked.

"I know."

"Tell me quickly!"

Xu Jin had only asked casually, just in passing.

Previously, when he asked about upgrading to Silver-Level authority, the Star Spirit had refused to answer.

But now, for Gold-Level, it could speak.

Was this another benefit of becoming a Silver-Level Custodian?

"To gain control authority over the main Star Tower may elevate your authority to Gold-Level," the Star Spirit said.

"Or acquire the Custodian authority held by others—Copper, Silver, or Gold—to upgrade your own."

Upon hearing this, Xu Jin was instantly stunned, realizing a terrifying possibility.

In an instant, thick malice surged toward him.

"Star Spirit, how does one acquire another person's Custodian authority?" Xu Jin asked, unwilling to give up.

"My lord, it's simple: make them willingly surrender it—or kill them to take it."

Of course!

The Star Spirit's answer sent another shock through Xu Jin.

The upgrade rules were indeed brutally malicious.

Xu Jin instantly thought of the destruction of the Lingji Star Palace.

Could it have been connected to this?

At least one of the reasons.

"Star Spirit, can other Custodians detect me?" This was Xu Jin's most pressing concern.

The Grand Master held Silver-Level authority; the Star Palaces' Star Juniors likely all started at Silver-Level.

Would they hunt him down because of this rule?

"They will detect the emergence of a new Silver-Level Custodian! But they cannot directly obtain your information—they will nonetheless go to great lengths to find new Silver-Level Custodians and strike when the opportunity arises!"

"My lord, this is my warning to you," the Star Spirit said.

"Why only hunt new Silver-Level Custodians?"

"Because the success rate is highest when hunting new Silver-Level Custodians! The probability of killing any other known Custodian is extremely low," the Star Spirit said.

Xu Jin was stunned.

In short, the Star Spirit was saying he, Xu Jin, was weak—low in power.

Only when one's power was great would no one dare target them, even if their identity was known.

"Can I order you to keep my information secret?"

"Of course—that is your authority!"

Moments later, Xu Jin entered the Star Dome's Secret Realm.

Gaining the Silver-Level authority of the Star Tower was both opportunity and risk.

But regardless, enhancing one's own strength was the best choice!

Use every month's four hours of Secret Realm contemplation time!

(End of Chapter)