Chapter 37: Cultivation Effect?

【First-Grade Can Dou Platform】

【Platform Master: Xu Jin】

【Gained Star’s Favor: Bow once daily to receive a strand of starlight】

【Star Lamp: Solidifies the basic star technique Star Glow; may be replaced after five days.】

【Suitable for Cultivation: Star-Replenishing Pill, Spirit-Reviving Pill】

【Star Techniques: Basic Star Shield, Basic Star Glow, Basic Star Ring, Basic Star Arrow, Basic Star Veil】

【Can Be Upgraded】

The list of “Suitable for Cultivation” has changed.

Previously, it was empty.

Now two items have been added: Star-Replenishing Pill and Spirit-Reviving Pill.

Xu Jin did not rush to test the cultivation effect; instead, he pondered why the Spirit-awakening Pill, Blood-Replenishing Pill, and Foundation-Strengthening Pill he had previously obtained were not on the list of suitable items.

Yet today’s Star-Replenishing Pill and Spirit-Reviving Pill were included.

What was the change?

If he could clarify this question, he could deduce the fundamental rule governing suitable items.

Xu Jin laid out the Spirit-awakening Pill, Blood-Replenishing Pill, Foundation-Strengthening Pill, Star-Replenishing Pill, and Spirit-Reviving Pill in a row before him, observing closely.

Their appearance—probably no difference; all were round.

The only discernible difference now must be one thing: star force.

As Ning Yuchan and Master Gan had explained, the Spirit-awakening Pill, Blood-Replenishing Pill, and Foundation-Strengthening Pill were made from various herbs using the most ordinary methods, extracting only medicinal potency.

But the Star-Replenishing Pill and Spirit-Reviving Pill, though made from common herbs, were crafted by Star Alchemists using special techniques to infuse and amplify their potency with star force, imbuing them with true star essence—genuine Star Pills.

Thus, the first rule for suitable items was established: only pills or objects infused with star force could be cultivated.

Then what was the cultivation effect?

Which pill should he test?

Xu Jin quickly made his choice.

Of the two pills, only one Spirit-Reviving Pill remained; though the green-robed man had already given him two before, the sample size was too small.

But he had six Star-Replenishing Pills—all in his possession—with ample samples for study.

He would use the Star-Replenishing Pill.

The next instant, Xu Jin’s mind settled on the jade tablet, focusing on the Star-Replenishing Pill listed as suitable for cultivation.

In an instant, the Star-Replenishing Pill clenched in his palm vanished.

Huh?

Where did it go?

Soon, Xu Jin located the vanished Star-Replenishing Pill.

On the Can Dou Platform.

The pill appeared beneath the only lit Star Lamp on the platform, now enveloped in the dim starlight emitted by the lamp.

Is this cultivation?

As Xu Jin wondered, he also realized this likely required time.

But how long exactly would it take to complete cultivation?

Observation was needed.

Xu Jin guessed it would likely take days.

He would observe again at the same time tomorrow.

The afternoon remained grueling training—no surprise.

During afternoon sparring, Xu Jin could now match Yu Guan, a Qi Condensation Fourth Layer cultivator, blow for blow, and could flexibly channel star force into combat.

Even without using star techniques, he held a significant advantage over ordinary people.

During sparring with Yu Guan, both began experimenting with integrating star techniques to enhance defense or offense.

An unexpected event occurred near the end of the afternoon training.

All were ordered to take up standard long knives and proceed to the slaughterhouse at the very back of the Dao Academy, where hundreds of pigs and sheep were kept.

The requirement was simple: each person must personally kill one pig or sheep.

It had to be a complete kill.

Seeing this, Xu Jin understood: they might truly be sent to the battlefield.

This was to expose these newly admitted Dao Academy disciples to blood for the first time.

Even if it was only animal blood, witnessing such a bloody scene would greatly reduce their shock response when encountering real combat later.

Like when Xu Jin killed his first ruffian—his heart raced, he gasped for breath, sweat poured like water, his limbs trembled uncontrollably.

It lasted for dozens of seconds.

If another ruffian had charged him then, he would have been dead.

For Xu Jin, who had killed before, killing a pig was simple.

One slash severed the pig’s head—clean and swift.

Others, like Yue Daqi, Ren Xiaoxiang, Lu Xianbing, Luo Geng, and Yu Guan—especially those with higher cultivation—found it easy due to their strong bursts of power.

But those with weak courage or low cultivation faced a true slaughterhouse scene.

A bleeding pig shrieked in agony, its neck stuck with a knife, darting wildly through the yard; in the chaos, it even chased after a boy. The scene—

Xu Jin guessed this sight would become a nightmare some would never speak of again.

Some vomited; others soiled their pants!

No one laughed.

In a slaughterhouse where blood flowed over ankles, pigs severed in half still screamed, no one could laugh.

Xu Jin wondered: if he had endured this scene earlier, would his shock response when killing those ruffians have been milder?

Xu Jin was still thinking: would the Dao Academy really use condemned prisoners to make them see blood?

They did!

Xu Jin’s guess came true the next day, June 25th afternoon.

But before this confirmation, Xu Jin had already noticed a change in the cultivation on the Can Dou Platform.

After lunch, during his rest, Xu Jin immediately sank his mind into the Can Dou Platform to observe the Star-Replenishing Pill.

It had been exactly one full day since he placed the pill inside yesterday noon.

Beneath the only lit Star Lamp on the platform, the Star-Replenishing Pill lay still; Xu Jin focused his mind, and the pill cultivated for one day appeared in his hand.

He took the other five Star-Replenishing Pills and carefully compared the changes.

At first glance, there seemed to be no difference.

But after close inspection, Xu Jin noticed the cultivated pill bore a faint star halo.

This halo was visible only upon careful observation.

This was the change after cultivation.

But only in appearance.

The pill’s actual effects remained unknown.

The midday time was too tight for testing.

Xu Jin had already planned: tonight, he would consume one regular Star-Replenishing Pill and one cultivated one, then compare the effects.

The afternoon training at the Martial Hall continued as before.

Three days of training, coupled with yesterday’s slaughterhouse ordeal, had transformed most of the youths—their combat ability rose sharply, no longer flustered in crisis.

The youths assumed today’s training would end here; after yesterday’s slaughterhouse horror, many believed it had reached its peak.

But just before training concluded, a personal guard of Tian Zhang arrived with twenty-four men—all dressed in prison garb.

Soon after, servants brought in vast quantities of wine and meat, forcing the prisoners to eat and drink their fill, then each was handed a long knife.

“Among these youths, kill one—your death sentence becomes exile. Kill two—you are released on the spot!”

Instantly, the eyes of the twenty-four prisoners changed.

Each grew wild, bloodthirsty.

As if in an instant, the youths clad in leather armor had become lambs.

Their eyes, like wolves, scanned the youths—searching for exposed vital points, assessing strength and weakness, selecting targets.

The youths, hearing Overseer Tian Zhang’s words, were stunned.

The next instant, Overseer Tian Zhang pointed to the first prisoner: “Condemned prisoner Fang Da—raped his sister-in-law, murdered his brother, drowned his own nephew who witnessed it!”

“Condemned prisoner Zhao Er—addicted to gambling; sold his wife for debt, killed his father when he intervened, then killed his brother when he pursued him!”

“Condemned prisoner Bian Hu—pretended to be a porter, ambushed travelers, murdered twenty-one strong adults and elderly alike!”

“Condemned prisoner Li Qi—acted as an inside man for mountain bandits, caused the deaths of over ten households in Li Family Village; after exposure, personally killed seven members of the Li family!”

»

Overseer Tian Zhang recited the crimes of all twenty-four condemned prisoners; throughout, none lowered their heads—they all stared like wolves at the seventy-three youths.

“To train your combat skills, these condemned prisoners will be split into two groups and fight you in mixed combat. Myself and the instructors will not intervene.”

“As I said before: if they kill one of you, their death sentence becomes hard labor; if they kill two, they are released on the spot!”

“If any of you slay one of them, you will be rewarded ten taels of silver and immediately promoted from reserve to active Star Patrol, receiving monthly stipend.”

“Those who perform exceptionally will be directly promoted to Star Patrol Squad Leader!”

Did you understand?」 Tian Zhang barked.

The group of youths erupted in murmurs; some were excited, some tense, and one shouted loudly, 「Supervisor, what if we’re actually killed?」

「Then you die in battle!」

「I’ll report your deaths as fallen in combat, and your families will receive compensation,」 Tian Zhang said coldly.

All the youths drew in a sharp breath.

He’s serious!

Some were terrified, but others’ eyes gleamed!

Like Song Ye, Luo Geng, and also Xu Jin.

Tian Zhang’s bounty was actually extremely valuable.

The reward of ten taels of silver was high, but even higher was the status of being an active-duty Star Patrol Guard and a Squad Leader.

In Chen Guo, the military hierarchy of the Star Patrol Guards in each commandery’s Dao Academy was at least one rank higher than the Commandery Guards.

That meant a regular Star Patrol Guard was at least equivalent to a Squad Leader in the Commandery Guards, and a Star Patrol Guard Squad Leader was at least equivalent to a Company Commander in the Commandery Guards.

The pay would certainly not be low.

More importantly, becoming a Star Patrol Guard Squad Leader meant a complete transformation of status.

In Xu Jin’s understanding, it was like going from an ordinary worker straight to becoming a police station chief.

Xu Jin had already decided: he would fight for it!

He absolutely had to fight for it!

「Don’t any of you have balls?」 Luo Kexing suddenly pointed at the youths and roared.

「Thirty-six against twelve—they’re just ordinary people who’ve killed and done evil, but you all have cultivation base and armor on you, and you’re still afraid? What’s the point of cultivating? Go home and wash your wife’s feet!」

Luo Kexing’s outburst made many youths laugh, lessening their fear and boosting their battle spirit.

「Switch to standard long blades, prepare for battle!」 Tian Zhang bellowed, making every youth stand at attention!

(End of Chapter)