Chapter 39: Another Breakthrough

Within three breaths of swallowing the One-Halo Star-Replenishing Pill, its power instantly transformed into roaring stellar energy flooding into Xu Jin’s star patterns.

Xu Jin’s depleted star patterns were being rapidly refilled.

After ten breaths, Xu Jin’s expression changed.

His star patterns were already full, yet the pill’s power continued to radiate.

Wouldn’t the star patterns burst?

In the next instant, Xu Jin shot away like a rabbit, executing the Five Stars Killing Fist at top speed.

If the star patterns didn’t burst, then Xu Jin would.

Each basic Star Shield technique consumed the excess stellar energy still pouring into his patterns.

After four consecutive basic Star Shields, the pill’s power faded, yet Xu Jin’s Small Cluster Star Pattern remained completely full.

The test had yielded its conclusion.

Doubled.

The Star-Replenishing Pill, after being nurtured, had doubled its effect.

This enhancement was phenomenal.

In an instant, Xu Jin’s mind brimmed with ideas.

From now on, buying one bottle of pills, nurturing it for a day—wouldn’t that be like buying two?

A supreme cultivation aid!

Too bad only one pill can be nurtured per day.

But Xu Jin quickly realized something.

The true value of the Can Dou Platform’s nurturing ability wasn’t in ordinary pills, but in rare, uniquely potent ones.

The first pill that came to mind was the Spirit-Stabilizing Golden Core, the top reward for mastering the Great Cluster Star Pattern.

He must win first place in the Great Cluster Star Pattern and claim that Spirit-Stabilizing Golden Core.

Even if he nurtured only one halo, he’d effectively consume two Spirit-Stabilizing Golden Cores.

Others would get none; Xu Jin would get two.

The Can Dou Platform’s nurturing ability was truly incredible.

Xu Jin sank his thoughts into the Can Dou Platform, gazing at the Star-Replenishing Pill being nurtured beneath the star lamp—and a new question arose.

Could it nurture other things too?

And did this nurturing effect have a limit?

If so, what was that limit?

With six Star-Replenishing Pills left, Xu Jin decided to use them as test subjects and thoroughly investigate.

Once he understood, the path ahead would be clear.

In the next instant, the sound of fistwind slicing through air rang out again.

His star patterns were full—was he going to leave that energy idle, waiting to breed?

After completing eight rounds of the Five Stars Killing Fist, Xu Jin intended to end his training, but suddenly noticed the starlight on his left arm had reached his wrist.

Since refining the Small Cluster Star Pattern, his body tempering had surged—not only had his training frequency doubled, but he also received a daily streak of starlight, and today he’d consumed two Star-Replenishing Pills, one of them nurtured.

Thinking of how Tian Zhang had deployed death-row prisoners to force them to spill blood for training, Xu Jin realized the urgency.

He might as well go all out—keep training.

He swallowed a Mind-Clarifying Pill; after a moment, his stellar energy restored, and he resumed the Five Stars Killing Fist.

After eight rounds, Xu Jin swallowed another Star-Replenishing Pill, then did five more rounds, and swallowed another Star-Replenishing Pill.

On the third round again, a sharp whoosh pierced the air—Xu Jin’s punch unleashed a Star Arrow.

The Star Arrow dissipated three meters from his body.

Xu Jin focused—starlight now fully covered his left hand.

Meal Xia Third Stage—broken through!

Seeing this, Xu Jin excitedly clenched his fist.

Less than three days—just two and a half—to break from Meal Xia Second Stage to Third Stage.

Next, he’d temper his legs.

If leg tempering took three times longer than arm tempering, Xu Jin set himself a new small goal.

Ten days: Meal Xia Fourth Stage.

Twenty days: Meal Xia Fifth Stage.

Half an hour later, Xu Jin returned to his room, sat cross-legged, and the closed door suddenly opened on its own.

Xu Jin rolled his eyes—arrived right on time.

That green-clad man must be nearby, watching every move Xu Jin made.

But what could he do?

Xu Jin knew the green-clad man was nearby, yet he couldn’t find him.

Xu Jin had considered secretly reporting to Ning Yuchan.

He believed Ning Yuchan would help him.

But first, the green-clad man showed no intent to harm him yet; more importantly, Xu Jin feared Ning Yuchan wasn’t his match.

Whether Master Dong Zhao could handle him, Xu Jin didn’t know.

But Master Dong Zhao couldn’t protect him constantly.

With the green-clad man’s stealth, the academy’s seals were as useless as no barrier—he could slip in anytime and crush Xu Jin.

So Xu Jin decided to keep cooperating and wait for what came next.

“You train hard, kid—Meal Xia Third Stage already? Impressive.” Qi Shanye’s tone sounded teasing, yet carried an unspoken meaning. “Can I not train hard? My father has exhausted everything to help me—what’s left, I must fight for myself.” Xu Jin replied.

“Aren’t I here?”

As he spoke, Qi Shanye offered a Mind-Clarifying Pill to Xu Jin’s lips like presenting a treasure.

Xu Jin swallowed it without hesitation. “What are you to me? Your origins are unknown—you could be human or ghost. I won’t rely on you recklessly!”

Qi Shanye chuckled awkwardly.

His identity truly couldn’t be revealed yet, but this kid was downright ungrateful.

Just ate his pill and started insulting him.

Thirty taels per pill—and he’d borrowed the silver for it.

Disgraceful!

“Focus your spirit on the Upper Star Palace. Continue engraving the Pure Soul Star Pattern.” Qi Shanye’s voice rang out, and a gentle, soothing spiritual force flowed into Xu Jin’s Upper Star Palace.

But Xu Jin sensed that today’s spiritual force Qi Shanye sent into his Upper Star Palace was stronger than yesterday’s.

Precisely, over these four days, Qi Shanye’s spiritual force entering Xu Jin’s Upper Star Palace had grown stronger each day.

Xu Jin felt the first day was like a single drop, the second like a thin stream, the third like a flowing current—today’s force felt like a gentle trickle.

Strengthening daily.

Qi Shanye had come continuously for four days; Xu Jin’s talent was decent, and he’d already memorized the Pure Soul Star Pattern.

Yet strangely, when Xu Jin tried engraving it himself, it had no effect.

Even within the star lamp, he’d tried—no success, not even a shape formed.

Very odd.

After an hour, Xu Jin’s spiritual force was drained. He thought it was over, but Qi Shanye handed him another Mind-Clarifying Pill.

“Isn’t consecutive ingestion ineffective?” Xu Jin asked.

“Not ineffective—just that taking them in quick succession drastically reduces efficacy. The second pill is roughly half as effective as the first; the third, only one-tenth; the fourth, nearly useless.” Qi Shanye said.

“Then why—”

“I have no time tomorrow. The Pure Soul Star Pattern must form preliminarily first—if interrupted, all effort is lost.” Qi Shanye said.

Xu Jin’s mind stirred—he cautiously asked, “Are you leaving?”

Qi Shanye saw through Xu Jin’s thoughts instantly. “It’s not that I have no time—it’s that you have no time.”

Xu Jin froze. Indeed, this mysterious man knew something.

“Don’t ask. Keep training. You’ll know tomorrow.” Qi Shanye urged.

Xu Jin swallowed the pill.

Half an hour later, his head throbbed violently.

The second Mind-Clarifying Pill’s effect was indeed half.

Consecutive ingestion was still a bit extravagant.

“Your Upper Star Palace’s Pure Soul Star Pattern has taken preliminary shape—but only a Chuxing . The rest, you must complete yourself.” After assisting Xu Jin for an hour and a half, Qi Shanye sounded exhausted.

“Remember, from tomorrow, every twelve hours, spend fifteen minutes visualizing your Upper Star Palace. If possible, every six hours, do the same—this will shorten the time to fully complete your Pure Soul Star Pattern.” Qi Shanye instructed.

“How long must I continue? Or when will the Pure Soul Star Pattern be fully complete?” Xu Jin asked.

“At least half a month, up to a month.”

If it succeeds, you’ll know it yourself.

Also, since the Pure Soul Star Pattern has taken initial shape in your Upper Star Palace, it already possesses slight power—you’ll feel it tomorrow.” Qi Shanye said.

“What kind of feeling?” Xu Jin pressed.

“You’ll discover it yourself tomorrow morning.”

Xu Jin sighed helplessly—this was really…

“Here, take this. Use it over the next few days.”

As he spoke, Qi Shanye handed Xu Jin three vials of elixirs. Xu Jin took them and examined them: one contained an unknown powder, the second was Star-Replenishing Pills, and the third was Spirit-Reviving Pills—all full.

Xu Jin’s eyes widened sharply. Was this a bit too generous?

He had just handed out five hundred taels of silver—confused, he turned to look at Qi Shanye.

Qi Shanye also deliberately dispelled the green glow shielding his face, revealing his true appearance.

His face was slightly elongated and square, with thick, stick-like eyebrows, very dark, and a full beard of coarse bristles. Amidst the weariness of his features, there shone a sharp edge.

“That powder is high-grade wound salve—excellent for both internal and external injuries before casting the Star. The other two, use them as you see fit. Don’t hoard them. This stuff is meant to be consumed,” Qi Shanye instructed.

Xu Jin stared, stunned, unable to process it all at once.

He had always assumed Qi Shanye might be some great demon lord or something similar—now, suddenly, he was being kind to him, and it felt...

“Why are you giving me so many elixirs all of a sudden?” Xu Jin asked.

SMACK!

A heavy palm landed on his head, making his skull ring. “Just take it. Why so many questions? Don’t you know that when an elder gives, you don’t refuse?”

Xu Jin wanted to say, “You’re not an elder,” but then he remembered that blow that had made his head ring—and decided against it.

“Also, take these four Star Seals. The brighter one is for offense—it’s called the Dawn Seal. When you face an unbeatable foe, channel Star Qi into it and throw it at the target.”

“These two darker ones are called the Concealment Seals. When you need to hide, find a suitable spot, activate them, and within fifteen minutes, your enemies won’t detect you. Their effect is slightly weaker by day, but exceptional at night.”

Xu Jin’s eyes widened again.

Seals?

What kind of thing are these?

And why, suddenly, was this mysterious man being so kind to him?

It was so unfamiliar.

(End of Chapter)