Chapter 40: The Star Emblem

Xu Jin was examining the Star Emblem when Qi Shanye slipped away silently.

By the time Xu Jin noticed, Qi Shanye was already gone.

This enraged Xu Jin, who had just received his life-saving treasure and was elated—details on how to use it were given, but nothing about its power.

What level of expert could this Dawn Emblem threaten?

Could it kill a Casting Star cultivator? What about a Refining Star cultivator—could it defeat one?

And the Concealment Emblem—before which level of expert would it easily be exposed?

This manual was far too incomplete.

Complaining aside, Xu Jin still tucked it securely against his body.

Since arriving in this world, the first protection and true affection he received came from his father Xu Dajiang and his sister Xu Jiang.

The gift from the green-robed man wasn’t true affection, but it was undeniably protection, giving Xu Jin a measure of confidence.

But why would the green-robed man do this?

What did he want?

He didn’t seek wealth, so it must be about people.

But “seeking people” has many facets—and Xu Jin was a little afraid.

At the first watch of the next day, Xu Jin rose as usual to cultivate.

Today he began refining his legs, starting with the right leg; once both legs were refined, his physical condition would completely crush ordinary people—even those who had trained for decades.

The first change upon reaching Meal Mist Third Stage was that his star force became even more substantial.

With Meal Mist Second Stage combined with the Minor Star Gathering Emblem, Xu Jin could now perform ten rounds of Five Stars Killing Fist instead of eight while at full star force.

After six rounds of morning and evening cultivation, that amounted to sixty rounds; with Soul-awakening Pills, it would be even faster.

But soon, a surprise arrived.

Suddenly, Xu Jin understood what the green-robed man meant by the faint power of the Clear Soul Star Emblem once it took rudimentary shape.

That tiny power gave Xu Jin a pleasant shock.

Previously, his spirit force could barely sustain three rounds of Meal Mist cultivation; after three rounds, he felt fatigue, and forcing a fourth would bring unbearable headaches.

At that point, he had to take a Soul-awakening Pill to begin the fourth round.

But this morning, after three rounds of Meal Mist cultivation, he felt not the slightest fatigue.

Had his spirit force grown?

Under this suspicion, Xu Jin assumed the Meal Mist posture and began his fourth round.

Twenty minutes later, a fullness spread through his chest—his star force replenished completely—and he performed ten rounds of Five Stars Killing Fist.

Only then did he faintly sense a hint of fatigue.

His spirit force had increased.

By a full third, directly.

This wasn’t “a little”—this was explosive.

It instantly raised his daily cultivation baseline from six rounds to eight.

This was just the power after the Clear Soul Star Emblem took rudimentary shape—what if it were fully completed? Would his spirit force grow again?

That would truly be explosive.

This cultivation advantage had improved again.

Under these circumstances, Xu Jin felt that, without delays, he could break through to Meal Mist Fourth Stage in at most eight days.

On the path to the dining hall, a laborer suddenly blocked Xu Jin: “Senior Xu, Instructor Ning told me to wait here for you—she wants you to visit her small courtyard.”

Even the laborer’s address had changed.

Half a month ago, they’d just shouted “Xu Jin, Xu Jin”; now, they called him “Senior Xu,” with greatly increased respect.

“Now?”

“Yes.”

A few minutes later, Xu Jin arrived at Ning Yuchan’s small courtyard: “Master, you called for me?”

This address was opportunistic—a leftover from his past life’s social maneuvering; in interpersonal relations, you had to be bold.

After all, an instructor belonged to everyone; a master belonged to just one person.

“Wait, I’m your instructor, not your master—masters require kowtows,” Ning Yuchan hurriedly said.

“You’ve personally taught me so much—you’re my master. Let me make up for it with a few kowtows now,” Xu Jin pretended to kneel.

Though his words sounded heartfelt, Xu Jin still felt some resistance to kneeling and kowtowing.

Ning Yuchan glared at him: “What do you mean ‘personally taught’?”

That’s an exaggeration.

Her iron crutch shot out, blocking Xu Jin’s descent: “Stop joking. You haven’t used up the Star-Replenishing Pill I rewarded you with, have you?”

“No,” Xu Jin replied.

“Good. Remember, when traveling, always keep your star force above half. Since you haven’t yet cast your star, maintain your cultivation base at seven or eight tenths—only then can you mobilize star force calmly in danger.

If your star force runs low, use it when needed—don’t hoard it. Survival comes first.

Also, when traveling, don’t over-cultivate; keep your spirit force at a certain level,” Ning Yuchan warned, making Xu Jin feel his “master” title was well earned.

“Take these two Whirling Blade Emblems—they can save your life in critical moments,” Ning Yuchan suddenly pulled out two shimmering jade tablets and offered them to Xu Jin.

This time, Xu Jin didn’t joke—he accepted them quickly and asked: “Master, what are these Whirling Blade Emblems? How do you use them? What enemies can they handle?”

All the questions he hadn’t had time to ask Qi Shanye now tumbled out. “Time is short—I’ll be brief. You must hurry to breakfast; assembly is coming soon,” Ning Yuchan said.

Of course.

No wonder Qi Shanye gave him so much last night—and even wasted pills to imprint the Clear Soul Star Emblem to rudimentary form. He knew today’s operation was coming.

But it wasn’t strange that Ning Yuchan knew about the Dao Academy’s operation.

How did Qi Shanye know?

Soon, from Ning Yuchan’s words, Xu Jin gained a preliminary understanding of the Star Emblems.

Cultivators who have achieved success seal powerful star arts into materials capable of holding star force—these artifacts are called Star Emblems.

The sealed star art’s power diminishes slightly.

Different sealed star arts result in different names for the Star Emblems.

The Whirling Blade Emblem must seal a Whirling Blade Star Art.

According to Ning Yuchan, this Whirling Blade Emblem was made by her hand: it kills instantly below Refining Star Late Stage, severely wounds at Refining Star Late Stage, and only slightly hinders those above Refining Star Stage.

But the likelihood of encountering an expert above Refining Star Stage during their mission is extremely low.

Not only are Xu Jin and the other new Dao Academy disciples acting—the Dao Academy itself has coordinated operations.

Ning Yuchan revealed little, just a few words, yet they greatly reassured Xu Jin.

He wasn’t being sent out as cannon fodder.

He rushed to the dining hall and devoured two large bowls of food in record time—then the urgent gong sounded.

Within a hundred breaths, all seventy-two new disciples were present, except the one who had been seriously injured yesterday.

Tian Zhang, Ning Yuchan, Luo Kexing, and Tian Zhang’s six personal guards were all already assembled.

“Six squad leaders, step forward!” Tian Zhang barked.

Xu Jin, Yue Daqi, Lu Xianbing, and others stepped forward together.

“The Dao Academy has an urgent mission for you new disciples. Others may freely choose one squad leader to join his unit, becoming his subordinate—each squad is limited to eleven members today.

After a hundred breaths, those without a squad will be assigned directly.”

Tian Zhang spoke bluntly, and the disciples chose just as directly.

After all, choosing a squad leader you trusted—or were close to—was more comfortable.

Qian Xiaohu and Qiao Ruonan rushed out first and stood behind Xu Jin; then Song Ye and Fang Zixing also joined him.

But Yue Daqi’s squad filled fastest.

He was the top cultivator among this cohort—Meal Mist Fifth Stage for nearly a month, nearing Meal Mist Sixth Stage.

Following the strong was safest—none were foolish.

Then Lu Xianbing’s squad filled, followed by Ren Xiaoxiang’s and then Xu Jin’s.

To everyone’s surprise, the last squad to fill wasn’t Luo Geng’s from the Outer Academy, but Yu Guan’s.

The last two, slow to act and left with no choice, reluctantly joined Yu Guan’s squad.

During that bloody battle with the death row prisoners, Yu Guan had claimed a head, but his performance was slightly worse than the other five squad leaders.

“Good. Squads are set. From this moment, military law applies.

During missions, every movement—advance, retreat, concealment—must follow your squad leader’s orders. Violators during combat may be executed on the spot by their squad leader!

However, since you are new to military service, I have personally assigned one of my personal guards to each squad as military judge and guide.

Time is tight; my personal guards will relay mission details en route.

Those who complete the mission will be rewarded.

Those who die in battle will receive compensation.

Those who violate regulations or disobey orders must know: military law is merciless!”

After these words, everyone’s expression turned solemn.

Military law!

This wasn’t a joke.

As he spoke, Tian Zhang’s six personal guards each selected a squad and entered it.

Funny enough, the personal guard who joined Xu Jin’s squad was Niu Gui, the very same guard who had earlier volunteered to spar with Xu Jin—he was practically an acquaintance.

“After collecting supplies, each squad shall immediately depart for the mission destination. Complete the mission as soon as possible—no delays allowed!”

Following Tian Zhang’s order, all disciples received a supply pack: a ration of dried food, a waterskin, and five elixirs—three Blood-Replenishing Pills, one Mind-Clarifying Pill, and one Star-Replenishing Pill.

Fifteen minutes later, the six squads mounted their horses and departed from different directions of Jinshan County City; Xu Jin’s squad headed toward Heshui County, one of the six counties under Jinshan.

At the same moment the six squads left the city, in the Lecture Hall of the Dao Academy, Deputy Head Feng Shu, Supervising Officer Cao Chun, Supervisor Tian Zhang, Chief Instructor Ning Yuchan, Alchemy Master Gan, Forge Master Zheng, and other instructors—including the wounded Squad Leader Luo Kexing—were all present, gazing upward toward the mountain peak.

They were waiting for Head Dong Zhao to issue his command.

(End of Chapter)